Conversations

Summary: Post-Ep for Suspicion. Sheppard has some necessary conversations and decides what he wants. Weir/Sheppard.

Spoilers: Everything up to Suspicion

Disclaimer: Stargate Atlantis and its characters do not belong to me, I'm just borrowing them. I promise to give them back the same way as I got them...mostly.

Author's Notes: Total fluff. It didn't start off as a shippy story, but I couldn't help myself. Hope you like it.

Major John Sheppard walks out of his quarters, starts to turn left toward the Jumper bay, sees Dr. Weir approaching, and turns to walk in the other direction.

"Major Sheppard? Could I talk to you for a second?"

Damn.

He was hoping to pretend that he didn't see her, but stops walking and turns around.

"Can it wait? I promised Teyla I'd take her to the mainland."

"Actually, I'd like to speak to you now. I promise it won't take long."

Sheppard's jaw clenches – clearly impatient to move on. Weir walks over to stand in front of him with her hands behind her back. She is the picture of patience as she ignores his apparent discomfort.

He has a feeling he does not want to have this conversation now or ever. But the hallway is empty and he has no opportunity for a rescue. Teyla should be waiting for him at the Jumper bay. The halls of Atlantis weren't as busy now that the Athosians had moved to the mainland. Being reminded of that fact made Sheppard's jaw clench even tighter.

"Fine." He bites back at Weir. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You're still angry." A statement, not a question. Only a slight tilt of her head gives away any possible emotion and he can't quite figure out if it's confusion or disbelief.

Of course I'm still angry!!

"What would I be angry about?"

Weir's shoulders slump a little and he catches what looks like disappointment flash in her eyes for a split-second before the "boss mask" falls back into place. She moves to clasp her hands in front of her. Sheppard can almost see her struggle not to cross her arms in front of her defensively.

"I think that, given time, we'll see that this is the best arrangement for the Athosians. They weren't meant to be confined to a city. Even one like Atlantis."

"So throwing them out of Atlantis was your way of trying to help them?"

"Let's get this straight. I – did – not – throw – anyone out of Atlantis. Yet."

Her voice had turned to steel and Sheppard had to marvel how she managed to yell at him without raising her voice. He almost flinches. The lightly veiled threat is received loud and clear. He had heard about how she had brought Kavanagh down a few pegs, but never expected to be on the receiving end of an ass chewing. He knew she was right. The Athosians he'd taken over to the mainland had almost swooned at being back on solid, non-floating dirt.

Not that I'd admit that to her.

"Fine. But it's not like you begged for them to stay."

"No. I didn't."

Hah! She admits it.

"I will honestly admit that it was a convenient solution to a bad situation."

Damn her for being mature.

"But you have to admit that it really is the best solution for both us and them."

"No. I don't." Great. Way to go for mature there Sheppard. You might as well have started stomping you foot, covered your ears, and gone waaaah. She looks like she's trying not to laugh at you.

"John..."

Oh no. She hardly ever uses my first name for a good reason.

"I know you want Teyla to be happy, which means being with her people. But the Athosians really do seem happy to be someplace where they can grow crops and be outside and..."

He stops listening.

Just what was everyone's fixation on Teyla? What does Teyla being happy have to do with the Athosians being on the mainland? What was she implying?

"What the does this have to do with Teyla?!"

Weir looks startled at his interruption of the why-the-mainland-is-good list.

"Excuse me?"

"WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH TEYLA? WHY IS EVERYONE ACCUSING ME OF NOT THINKING CLEARLY WHEN IT COMES TO HER?"

"Because you're not."

"WHAT ARE –"

She holds up her hand to silence him and he instinctually shuts up.

"Major Sheppard. If you insist on screaming at me, may I suggest we at least go into your quarters so that the rest of Atlantis can be spared the argument?"

I was not screaming. Yelling, maybe, but I do not scream. McKay screams, not me.

"That won't be necessary."

She raises an eyebrow like she doesn't believe him, but stays where she is.

"I understand that you and Teyla are...close. I understand that you want to protect her but..."

"Of course I want to protect her. She's on my team."

Weir gives him the eyebrow raise again, then nods.

"Okay. Your teammates, all of them, are important to you."

Why do I think she's just placating me?

"But there was a definite security hole in Atlantis and it needed to be found."

Sheppard opens his mouth to retort, but Weir holds up her hand again.

"Please. Let me finish." Sheppard closes his mouth and nods at her to continue.

"There was reasonable evidence that Teyla was why your team kept getting ambushed. It wasn't fair for Teyla to be accused of being a spy, but it also wasn't fair for you to question Sgt. Bates who was just trying to do his job. In the end, you were both right."

"I suppose." Sheppard wasn't quite ready to let his anger go yet.

"This time, I agreed with you. I could not see Teyla intentionally helping the Wraith. I commend your loyalty to your...team. Your trust was well placed. However, I also trust that you will place the same importance on your broader responsibility to all of Atlantis."

Sheppard opens and closes his mouth a few times, not really knowing how to respond. He knows that was a warning. A well deserved warning. He hadn't wanted to accept the possibility of Teyla being the mole. But he could have been wrong. What if he had been wrong?

"Did I take the wind out of your sails, Major?"

"No."

Great. Now he sounded like he was pouting.

"I guess you should get to the jumper bay then."

"Yeah."

He started to walk past her.

"But before you go."

He stops just as he was shoulder to shoulder with Weir.

"I wanted to let you know that I was the one that asked for Teyla's things to be searched, not Bates. So there's no need for you put any extra force behind your blows the next time you two are in the gym sparring. If you want to stay angry at someone, then fine. Be angry at me."

In the back of his head, Sheppard knew that Bates would never have done anything that invasive without talking to Weir first. He wasn't really that surprised at what she had just told him. He was done being angry. It wasn't in his nature to hold a grudge.

"Are you saying you'd like to spar with me, Doctor?" he says with smirk.

This earns him a broad smile from Weir.

"Anytime, Major."

He grins back at her and walks off towards the Jumper bay. He's in a much better mood than he was ten minutes ago. Arguing with Weir was never a fun experience and he was starting to enjoy seeing her smile. She had enough to frown about with his adding to it.

Sheppard finds Teyla waiting for him and he apologizes for being late. They are soon in the air, flying quickly towards the mainland.