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Title: Clearing the Air Fandom: Stargate Atlantis Characters: John Sheppard, Elizabeth Weir (friendship) Rating: PG Word Count: 500 Disclaimer: They're not mine, I'm not making money. They're just fun to play with. Summary: Elizabeth's angry. Hot Zone tag. Elizabeth was angry at him. Truly angry this time, not the usual “I’m annoyed, but you’re so charming and funny that I can’t help but let it go” kind of reaction that he usually got when he did something she didn’t like. This anger made her cold, distant, hard. There was no warmth in her eyes when she looked at him now, just ice. John didn’t like this new Elizabeth. So while he still believed he was in the right (for the most part), he knew he had to do something to make things better. It wasn’t until she’d answered the door to her quarters that he realized he had no idea what he was going to say, or do, to achieve that end. The cool look she gave him killed any friendly greeting he might have produced. He took a deep breath and decided to forego the pleasantries altogether. “Our conversation the other day got interrupted,” he said instead, “and I know I’ve kinda been avoiding you since then… but I think we need to talk.” Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment he was afraid she’d shut the door in his face. Then she backed up, indicating for him to come in. He did so, the door closing behind him. She sat on the foot of her bed; he remained standing. Before she could say anything (if she was even so inclined) he started talking. “Look, I can see why you’re mad,” he began. “No one likes having their orders countermanded in an emergency. And you know, if there were ever another attack on the city and you didn’t follow my orders, well, I’d be pissed, too. But at least I’d know that the orders I gave were the right thing to do.” He paused for breath, searching for words. “In that room, I had no way of knowing if the right things were being done. I barely knew what was going on at all! Everyone in Atlantis could have gotten infected and I wouldn’t have been able to do anything! I had to do something, can’t you see that?” He was practically yelling at her, but she just looked at him with a speculative expression on her face. That stopped him. “What?” he asked. She spoke quietly, calmly. “Your only problem with my orders was that I tried to lock you up.” He felt like she’d kicked him in the gut. All he could do was nod. Abruptly, she thawed. His Elizabeth was back. She leaned back and looked up at him, her expression unreadable. “I keep thinking you’re just a cocky flyboy,” she murmured, shaking her head, “and then something like this happens.” She cocked her head. “I think I understand better now. Thank you for explaining it to me.” It felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “You’re welcome. And thank you, for listening,” he added. He’d revealed more than he’d intended, but – he felt better. She smiled softly. “Any time, John.”