Spring

by J. M. Griffin

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asj/jmgriffin/spring.php
Summary: Spring brings new developments to Atlantis

The first person to notice it was one of the soldiers who was on KP duty. As he bent his head to his work, out of the corner of his eye he saw something floating on the water beyond the clear barrier that kept the ocean at bay. Squinting in the morning sunlight that streamed in the huge windowed wall, the soldier called out to a friend, who motioned to someone else, and pretty soon the whole kitchen staff was standing there looking at the tiny white flowers that floated on top of the water.

"Are they water lilies?"

"Does this mean its spring?"

"Maybe we should go out and retrieve some so the scientists can do some experiments on it."

People talked, but no one moved, they just stood watching as the flowers began to collect against the barrier. As the water lapped silently, the tiny starry flowers began to stick to the glass.

Rodney McKay saw them when he came into the kitchen in search of a snack. Caught off guard, the scientist did what everyone else was doing, stood stock still and stared at the pretty designs the flowers were making, marveling at the profusion of them. He forgot all about eating, and instead, went to find John.

"Major, did you see? There are flowers in the kitchen!" McKay said as he burst into John's room.

John Sheppard, caught in the act of tugging a shirt down over his head, finished what he was doing and turned toward Rodney with a sour expression on his face. "McKay, would you stop barging into my room. Why can't you knock like a civilized person?"

Rodney just stayed where he was, leaning against the open doorway. "You're going to miss it if you keep whining," he commented. He had enjoyed the sight of John's bare chest. He liked the way John's small brown nipples peeked out from his chest hair; he often dreamed of....

"McKay, did you even hear a word I said?" John groused.

Rodney shook his head. "Come on, John. You're going to miss the show," he said, and then took Sheppard by the arm and dragged him from the room.

"The show" was still in progress when Rodney and John got there. By then Weir was on the scene, as were Zalenka and Beckett and just about everyone else. Who was minding the Atlantis store? No one seemed to care.

The tiny florets pirouetted on the waves, dipping and bending to the water's sway. They covered the ocean as far as the eye could see, and on Atlantis that was a long way.

"Come on," Rodney said suddenly to John. "Let's go topside and see what they look like from up there."

They left just behind a group of botanists who were on their way to collect samples. Without any discussion, the two men went to John's favorite balcony spot. Rodney knew the major liked to go there when he had something on his mind. More than once he'd tracked John to that spot and insisted the man go in and eat, or sleep, or just take a break. In Rodney's opinion, John was as bad as any scientist, forgetting to take care of himself when he had some problem to puzzle out.

So there they stood, looking down at the flowers, such pretty little things, and so many.

"Do you think its some natural cycle, or maybe we've disturbed some status quo and they're going to choke the pond, so to speak," John mused.

Rodney snorted. "And you call me a worry wart!"

John sighed. "They're pretty."

Rodney noticed the man had a frown on his face. John had been frowning a lot lately – a hazard of the trade he was in. Planet saving could be a bitch, Rodney thought, he'd done enough of it himself to know. But he didn't worry about things the way John did. Often, Rodney went the Scarlet O'Hara route– he put off worry for some other day. On the other hand, he was quite well acquainted with obsession.

"Yes, they are," he commented absently.

John nodded. "I wish I could touch one," he said wistfully.

Rodney turned toward the man, reached out and took him by the chin and kissed him softly on the mouth.

John swayed in toward him, then shoved Rodney away with a sharp jab to his chest. "Whoa, what was that about?" he asked, rubbing his mouth, his eyes flashing.

Rodney shrugged his shoulders. John took a step back, and rubbed at his mouth some more. It took Rodney a moment to realize John was blushing.

And that John had responded to the kiss. This second revelation gave Rodney a mental startle: John had opened his mouth and for the tiniest moment, rested against Rodney's body!

"It's spring," Rodney said, in lieu of an answer for John.

"Huh?" John sighed and looked down at the toes of his shoes.

"John?" Rodney tilted his head and looked hard at the major's down turned face.

John flicked his eyes up. There was something in them, some emotion Rodney didn't quite get. He ran his eyes up and down the man, taking in the tense stance, his clenched fists, and the arousal that pushed against his grey pants so obviously. Suddenly he understood what he was seeing in John's eyes.

It was longing.

He'd seen it in his own mirror often enough. Rodney licked his lips and bounced on his toes in hesitation. The sunlight haloed John's head, streaming around the inky spikes. Rodney had often wondered what it would feel like to run his hands through that hair. Late at night, when he was alone in the lab, his mind would wander, and he frequently imagined John loved him – that they loved each other.

John made a funny sound in his throat, and Rodney shook himself out of his reverie and looked directly at the man.

"Who have you slept with since we got to Atlantis?" John asked all in a rush.

Rodney knew his eyes had widened in surprise. He pretended to think and then he said, "No one."

John nodded at him. "You're gay? Bi?"

"Does it matter?" Rodney asked with a touch of archness in his tone. "Are you?"

John turned away to look back out at the flowers floating on the ocean. "I'm...I, uh...."

"Does it matter?" Rodney asked again, more softly this time.

John turned back toward Rodney and made a gesture down toward his own crotch. "Can we do this?"

"Do you mean can we allow ourselves to do this?" Rodney shot back.

John nodded, but did not look away.

"You tell me," Rodney told him. "I already made my move. It's your turn now."

John reached out and touched Rodney very lightly on his shoulder. It was an acknowledgment, and an invitation.

John turned and left the balcony. Rodney followed him into a nearby vacant room; it was obvious that John had secured the door behind them.

As Rodney watched, John stripped off the shirt he'd donned only a short time ago. But before he could truly get his fill of the sight of John's bare chest, the major had stepped in close and slipped his hands under the waistband of Rodney's shirt.

Rodney's hand's latched onto John's biceps, and they fell against each other for a fierce kiss. They broke apart and then grappled again, finally co-ordinating their efforts to get Rodney's shirt off. Next, shoes were toed off and pants puddled on the floor. They sank down beside their clothing, and Rodney "oofed" when John's elbow caught him in the side.

"Sorry, sorry," John murmured distractedly as he hovered over Rodney.

"Don't be," Rodney said succinctly, pulling John down even closer.

They shoved and pushed against each other, and their harsh breathing filled the small room. Rodney grunted in surprise when John wrapped his hand around both of their cocks. He added his hand to the mix for good measure, and together they stroked up and down, nice and slow.

Rodney cupped John's ass in his other hand, let a finger slide into the crevasse and probe the small hole.

John's mouth came open on a deep gasp, and his eyes grew very large. He bucked against Rodney, obviously wanting, needing, more. By unspoken, mutual consent, they picked up the pace, and John ducked his head and latched on to Rodney's right nipple, and it was good, good, good. They continued to push and shove against each other, frantic now, straining hard with mouths open, not kissing, but needing to breathe, needing to come.

With a short clipped cry, John climaxed in a shuddering rush, and Rodney followed him just a beat or two later. Hot ribbons of come blossomed between them.

John collapsed down on Rodney's chest, his head in the hollow of Rodney's shoulder. Turning his head, Rodney lipped at the spikes of hair that brushed against his mouth.

Pressing a kiss against Rodney's skin, John got up slowly, then bent down to pick up his discarded clothing. He saw that Rodney was watching his every move and smiled a cat-ate-the-cream smile, then he tossed Rodney his things.

They dressed in companionable silence.

As they exited the room, Rodney said softly, "We could just chalk it down to spring fever."

John stopped in his tracks, and Rodney almost ran into his back. Turning, John looked Rodney in the eye. "Something that only happens once a year?"

That look of longing was back on the major's face.

"Or we could call it the start of something new," Rodney offered.

"I like that best," John said, bringing his chin up in challenge.

Rodney tapped John's chin back down with his forefinger. "Me, too," he assured his new lover.

The flowers were still there when they got back to the balcony, still floating like foam on the crest of each wave. The two men watched for a long time, standing shoulder to shoulder, content in the warm spring breeze that caressed their faces.