Claret

by chelle

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asc/chelle/claret.php
Summary: Not supplied

John leaned back against the wall and drew in a breath. Nights on Atlantis were usually quiet and calming. But not tonight, tonight the Atlantis team was celebrating their survival, with lots of Athosian wine.

He lifted his glass to take a drink and stopped. The deep red of the wine was visible even in the semi-darkness of the balcony. John had seen a lot of blood and this wasn't really the same shade, but it was close enough to be a reminder. There was no blood when the Wraith killed, just an empty husk. The husk was worse.

John had seen a lot of husks in the last few days.

He put his glass down on the floor beside him and looked up at the sky. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and tried to draw in some of the night's peace.

"May I join you?"

John shrugged and Rodney sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed.

"I thought you might need to get away," Rodney said sounding oddly kind.

It had seemed as though everyone had wanted to talk to him, wanted to touch him, wanted to say "Thank you." They didn't seem to understand that John had just been doing what was necessary. "I did."

That was all they said for what seemed like a long time. John suspected that most of Atlantis didn't have a clue that Rodney could be like this--quiet and still. Sometimes John wondered why Rodney was willing to be quiet with him, but he never complained.

"Were you scared?"

Rodney was looking out at the night sky when he asked, and John didn't turn to look at him when he answered, "Terrified."

"Good."

John smiled a little. There was one cluster of stars that seemed almost familiar. "Did the Ancients have constellations?"

"Obviously, there are clusters of stars." Rodney waved his hand at the sky. "And they labeled them for navigational purposes."

"But did they tell stories about them?"

"I don't think so."

John didn't think so either.

"There's no reason we couldn't." Rodney nudged John's shoulder with his own. "Come on, Major. Tell me what you see."

John tilted his head to the side and pointed. "You see that cluster there?"

"Yeah." Rodney tilted his head toward John's.

"It looks like R2-D2."

"That's cheating."

John looked over at Rodney, trying to keep from smiling. "How is that cheating?"

"I already know the story of R2-D2."

"But you don't know how it all ends."

"Vader throws the Emperor into a big hole."

"Yes, but you don't know how the third prequel or whatever ends," John pointed out. "And I have a theory."

"Do you?"

"I do, and if you're nice I'll share it with you."

"I can be nice."

John couldn't contain his smile any longer. "I know you can." He picked up his glass and took a drink, not noticing the color. "First, the Jedi..."