John rounded the corner, glancing apologetically at Elizabeth. She rolled her eyes, but said nothing.

"Hey, I arrived just ten minutes late yesterday and you treated it like the bloody wraith had invaded" Rodney complained, "He waltzes in a good twenty minutes late and nothing!" he continued, glaring at a now smirking John.

"I'm sorry Rodney; I will deal with John suitably after the meeting. Now I would appreciate it if we could proceed. I presume your last trip through the gate went according to plan?..." Elizabeth replied, quickly putting an end to Rodney's bickering. An hour or so later, Teyla, Ronon and Mackey left the briefing room; John remained behind to be "dealt" with.

"John? Is there anything you want? I really need to get on with paperwork." Elizabeth said, shuffling mounds of paper.

"Well, apparently I need to be "dealt with suitably"" he grinned.

"Oh, I forgot. Err, brush your teeth quicker or something. I only really said something to end Rodney's rant."

"Will do" he replied, "Need a hand with any of that?" he asked, gesturing to the paper work.

"No, I think I've got it under control"

"I can barely see you from behind it all! You look your practically drowning in the stuff. I really have nothing better to do, all I had planned today was bugging Rodney. Honest"

Elizabeth sat up and looked at John smiling "As much as I appreciate the offer, I'd rather just do it on my own. You'd better hurry up, missing valuable time with Rodney. Make sure you mention how cruel I am"

"What?"

"You know, pretend I "dealt" with you harshly" she grinned.

"Oh!" he laughed, "if you're sure." Elizabeth smiled and nodded, turning back to the mountains of paper work.

John's day passed quickly; a trip to the Gym, a lunch with Beckett and various trips to the labs to irritate Rodney filled his day comfortably. It was almost 4 in the morning before he finally decided to call it a night.

"Oh come on, they do it on the star ship enterprise"

"Sheppard, Atlantis is not the bloody star ship enterprise, food replicator's do not exist, and they won't do in your life time. Don't you have someone else to annoy?"

"I'm sure there are others, but none turn that nice shade of red you do" he sniggered.

Rodney, too tired to think of comeback, just rolled his eyes and walked out of the room. John momentarily considered looking at the experiment Rodney had been running. After one brief look down a microscope at species of grass, he decided to leave. Walking along the corridors he passed no one, Atlantis's inhabitants asleep after another hard days work. Rubbing his eyes he saw a light on in the distance. Soon enough he stood outside the briefing room.

"Liz?" John spoke quietly, walking in to the room. Elizabeth Weir was at her desk, head buried beneath paper, fast asleep. He stood there, just watching her sleep, a rarely seen expression of calm across her face. Turning to go, his hand brushed a stapler on her desk. The sound of metal hitting the floor woke her suddenly, sending paper flying.

"John? Wh-what are you doing here?" she asked, bending down to pick up the paper.

John bent down to help out. "I was passing and noticed the light was on. You should really get some sleep" he answered.

Standing back up, pushing the hair out of her face, she looked at John wearily.

"Thank you major, I can look after myself. I just needed to rest my eyes for a while."

"Elizabeth, when was the last time you slept?"

"C'mon John, I'll be finished in an hour at the most. Let it go"

"When did you last sleep?"

"John…" she trailed off, looking down at the floor.

"Well?"

"I don't remember" she confessed. "But I have to get this done; Atlantis won't run properly other wise"

"Elizabeth, Atlantis won't run at all if its leader keeps nodding off" John smiled, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Go to bed, this can wait"

"But…" Elizabeth began, pointing despairingly at the paper work. John rolled his eyes, and led her out of the room. Walking down the corridor, Elizabeth could barely keep her eyes open, relying on John's hand on her waist to lead her to her room. John opened her bedroom door and switched on her light,

"Now, get some sleep before the meeting tomorrow." He smiled

"I thought I was the one that gave orders" she smiled back yawning.

"Well, I don't think you're in a position to give orders right now. You can barely stand" he answered. "Night Liz"

Elizabeth nodded then walked towards her bed. Fully clothed she climbed in to bed, just about summoning the strength to reply, before falling in to a deep sleep.

John smiled, and shut the door, before making his way back to his own room. He smiled. Two hours before the morning meeting, Elizabeth was going to be shattered.