Live or Die.. That is the Question {John, openish}

[John Sheppard]

Oh great, grandpa was still yapping about! Didn’t the man get tired of his own voice? Could he just kill the guy? No? Bummer! His incessant babbling was making John want to rip off the guy’s head and feast on the blood…and that freaked him out. Was he now the kind of creatures they hunted, slave to his basic instincts? A monster?

No, Kat wasn’t a monster. He had to follow her example and learn to live with that, even if that meant he had to listen to general jackass over there. Not that he would like it or make it any easier for the guy however.

So while the idiot babbled away, he just turned his back to him, flipping the bird to the guy over his shoulder as he moved for that bottle. It was that or the guys blood, and he wouldn’t ever touch that moron with his lips. Vampire or not he had standards to uphold.

Reaching his bunk he reached under the bed, moved the loosen floor board there and luckily his prize was still there. So sitting in the floor, he pulled the top and took a long hard pull. Hell, it was possible that it tasted better now that he was dead?

SHIT!

He was dead, still moving, but dead. Isn’t that a bitch?
Who was he now?

Cradling the bottle in his arms as if it was something precious, he stood there in silence for a long time. The recent events kept replaying in his mind over and over again and he couldn’t make it stop. Hell, after more than a few long pulls he didn’t even felt a little dizzy anymore. Before he would already be acting like an ass and having the time of his life. Now he couldn’t even get drunk anymore? That was crap!

He had to stop thinking about that or he would go crazy, he needed something to occupy his mind with. So letting go of the now empty bottle, his feet moved on their own, leading him to where he wanted to be.

The door was unlocked, so he let himself in. The sound of running water gave him a direction to follow and soon enough he was staring at the beautiful red head.

Sniffing the air, he discovered not even the running water masked her scent, and that scent ringed deep into his emotions. Lust and love wrapped all in one it seemed.

Leaning into the wall behind him, he stared at her silently for a moment not wanting to disturb her before he spoke in a soft whisper.

“Hey kitten. Sorry for hurting you...but I wouldn't mind going at it again.”

[Lt. Commander Katarina Foster]

With the back of her body against the cool tile of the shower wall, Kat was so lost in her own thoughts that she failed to hear the sound of movement nearby.

Eyes closed and engrossed in the feel of the water against her sore muscles, she about came out of her skin when the deep voice broke through the silence. Blue depths flying wide, she stared at the man who'd invaded her sanctuary. For a long moment, the young woman simply stood silent and then she slowly reached out to turn off the water. Somehow... She wasn't that surprised to find him there and felt oddly relieved that he was.


By all rights, she probably should have scolded him and sent him on his way but ... Kat was simply to tired and to confused to do it. Besides, it was a little to late to try to cover up what they'd done back in the holding cell. A bit like closing the barn door after the horses were all out. She'd no doubts that the whole team had already noted their extracurricular activities.

Finally, unable to put off facing him any longer, Kat slid the shower door open and reached for a towel. Never one for false modesty, she didn't hurry but she felt a bit more on even ground once she was covered. Tucking one corner of the towel in to secure it, Kat raised her gaze and meet John's gaze levelly.

"Is that so???" she said huskily. "Well, I'm sorry to have to disappoint you, soldier.... but I'm about done in for the night. While you were sleeping off the effects of your turning... I was pulling double shift and even I need my beauty sleep."

Giving him a slight smile, she reached for her brush and pulled it through her long hair.

"I need some food and some sleep before we do any more of those acrobatic maneuvers..... Your welcome to stay though if you want..... I can't promise to be much company when I snore away but....."

Stifling a yawn just as she finished that sentence, the redhead felt true exhaustion steal through her body.

[John Sheppard]

Her skin was so smooth, he could still recall how it felt under his fingertips, that silky feeling. Seeing the mark on her neck troubled him a little even if he wouldn’t admit it. He had a faint recollection of biting her and drinking her blood, but at the same time it felt like it hadn’t been him…or that he hoped it wasn’t him.

All this about dying and coming back as an undead bloodsucker was playing havoc with his mind right now. Emotions all mixed up so he didn’t knew exactly what he was feeling, but her…John always knew where he stood about her. Since the first time he saw her, the first time he tried a move and she introduced his ass to the hard floor. Call him crazy, he loved a woman with attitude and fire in her eyes.

His eyes were on her all the time as he studied her reaction to him. No, she wasn’t kicking him out this time nor was she afraid of him, regardless of being spooked for finding him here at first. Had he slipped under her radar? She was either too tired – what brought a smirk to him – or the new vampire skills were kicking in.

When she covered her body with the towel, it seemed so out of purpose after what they had just done.

And then he snorted with a teasing smile.
“Nancy.”

At the mention of food, his hand instinctively moved to his stomach as it growled faintly. Yeah, he could go for a juicy steak, some potatoes and gravy…wait, it wasn’t that what he did eat anymore, was it? Crap! He pulled the hand from his stomach smoothly, hoping she didn’t notice it and willed himself to ignore the hunger. That idea of taking blood still disgusted him and he would avoid it as much as possible.

“It is alright if I crash next to you? I’m tired too and after all the whole team already know by now what went on.”

He was a liar. John was too wired from the change and the sex to sleep. But he wanted to hold her, to feel her close and smell her scent next to him so he would feel grounded…sane.

[Lt. Lucien Calugarul]

Well, wasn’t this a clusterfuck to end all clusterfucks? Rubbing at his temples as the arguing went on, Lucien did his best not to give into the urge to scoop up his woman and hightail it out of Dodge. Did it really concern him, whether or not John was under the jurisdiction of the schmuck vampire or not? Did the fact that John was a vampire really concern him?

No on all counts. The only thing he cared about was a) if the Commander was about to change their future battle tactics, but that would come in a later briefing, and b) the fact that Mercy was talking to him. Nothing else.

Feeling the need to shield her from the others, Lucien turned his body so that his back was to the rest of the group. He threw a ‘you’re on your own’ look in Logan’s direction, not really caring about helping the stranger out with anything other than keeping Rae from killing him.

“I would only mind it if you came out into the field with us,” He said truthfully, after turning back to her. “What we do…is dangerous, Mercedes. I know you are strong, capable woman, but I would see you safe.”

Seeing her yawn, Lucien just shook his head and slid his arm around her shoulders, nodding toward the exit before he started toward it. "Come, we can talk about this in private, yes? The others...we are not needed right now."


For her part, Rae was on the losing side of keeping her temper in check. When Kat stomped by, she couldn’t help but let loose a giggle that earned her a ‘die later’ glare, but once the only lady she respected out of the entire group was gone, it was back to being pissed the FUCK off.

If there was one thing that she really, really couldn’t stand, it was anyone taking liberties with her friends. Sure, she liked to talk tough and had been known to beat the crap out of them, despite her fuzzy feelings, but still…they were HER friends! Only her and their respected lovers were allowed to beat on them!

Gnashing her teeth, she glared at Logan. With Lucien distracted by his wolf-girl and Kat gone, she had to rely on her own self control.
…Which meant that, with a frustrated growl, she stomped over to Curse and planted herself next to him with a ‘hold me back!’ look on her face.

“We are helping you out,” She said after a minute of trying to convince herself to stay where she was. Man, she was never known for her self control! It freaking hurt to be good! “By not kicking your rank ass! Shepperd knows what he has to do, and dealing with your ass is one of ‘em.”

Marching right up to the vampire, despite Lucien’s over-the-shoulder glare, she proceeded to poke the General right in his sternum with enough force to make her knuckle throb. Hawk could stick her in the hole later, but it was so worth it. “And let’s just get one thing straight,” She went on. “I ever see anymore inter-Team smack downs outside the practice ring, I’ma fuck you up so bad, you’ll be put down for mercy. Fuck you, fuck your mother, and if you’re hanging around here, you better stay the FUCK away from me, you fucktard. You start shit with John, you start shit with all of us, so you BETTER be helping his ass, or you’re dead meat, bud. Stick that in your pocket, General, and keep it close.”

That said, she gave him one last sniff and spun around, curling her lip at the outraged glare from her CO’s direction. Waving her hand at him, she sauntered down the hall toward the exit. “Yeah, yeah; ‘get yo ass to the brig; I’m goin. Later, my homies.”

[Mercedes Rowe]

Mercedes tilt her head at Lucien’s statement. Her eyes darted back to Rae as Lucien slid his arm around her shoulders and headed towards the exit. The girl was all up in that one man’s grill, giving him the business. She couldn’t help to stare. She was thinking Rae was one awesome woman. As Lucien spoke, she peeled her eyes away and looked at him. “Talking in private would be good,” she smiled at him, trying to mask the sleep in her eyes, but was certain she was failing at it.

“Why’s field work dangerous?” After she asked her question another popped up. “And exactly what do you guys do on the field?” Her thoughts went back over tonight’s events. All she knew was they brought in a man injured and she did what she could to help. Other than that, she had no flippin’ clue what the hell had gone down or what all these people did. She felt completely clueless.

She decided to wait on asking anymore questions until they got somewhere a little more private. She had no idea where this private spot was or if there was even really a spot in this whole place that could be considered private. It was turning out to be quite an experience for her.

“Where exactly are we? What is this place?” God, she couldn’t keep the questions from rolling out, even though she did try to wait for that private room. There were too many things left unanswered. “Is this some government agency? FBI or CIA maybe?”

Then she looked at him. This would be the first time she actually knew about his job. “What is your specialty in this group?” Her eyes shot down at her feet as they walked. “I’m sorry. I’m bombarding you with questions. I’m just…really tired, out of focus, and have a lot of questions.” Then a sigh followed. “You can tell me to shut up whenever you like.”