stargateficrec | One to Let Go, by Smittywing (Adult)

Rec Category: Het

Pairing: Sumner/Weir
Category: Atlantis, het, Elizabeth Weir, Marshall Sumner.
Warning: Explicit sex.
Author on LJ:

smittywing
Author's Website: SmittyWorld!
Link: One to Let Go

Why This Must Be Read: Based entirely on this preview picture that was posted on Gateworld ages ago, Smittywing has managed to write a completely believable story. In the last weeks before they leave for Atlantis, Weir and Sumner find a common ground ... even though they know nothing will be able to come out of it if the wormhole to Pegasus actually opens.

They lapse into silence as they eat, and Elizabeth can't help but glance up at her host every few minutes. She's never liked military men, finds them too traditional and narrow for her tastes. But Marshall Sumner, against all odds, knows German opera and cooks and manages to smell good and be funny and respectful all at once. Her stomach tightens in a familiar shiver.

"So," she says, to distract herself from her embryonic crush, "Have you decided on your one personal item? One of your steins?"

"I figured maybe something a little more practical," Mack says, scooping a forkful of dinner into his mouth. "Not much use for beer stein on a dry expedition."

"It's not officially a dry expedition," Elizabeth says, pausing to draw a piece of chicken off her fork. "We've just never announced otherwise. The scientists are much more concerned with getting just one more computer and one more piece of scientific equipment on board, and there's only so much alcohol anyone can carry through the gate on their person."

"They'll have a still up and running inside of a week whether you make it dry or not," Mack agrees, scooping up the last of his rice on the side of his spoon. "Good call. No use making unenforceable rules. I'll make sure to keep an eye on things, keep it from getting out of hand."

"Thank you," Elizabeth says, more for the compliment on her decision than his promise to police the flow of booze. She hasn't gotten much -- as in any -- praise from him in past discussions and the matter-of-fact sincerity surprises her.

"So what are you bringing?" he asks, pushing his plate away and leaning back in his chair. Under the kitchen light, his sweater is a dark green, the same color as the trees visible from the windows.

"As my one personal item? Haven't decided yet," she admits. "I told Rodney he couldn't bring his cat, so I guess I have to leave my dog on Earth."

Mack smiles. "What kind of dog do you have?"

"She's a mixed breed," Elizabeth tells him, thinking fondly of Sedge, running around Simon's huge yard and being spoiled to pieces. "She's about eighty pounds, though, so I couldn't bring her anyway, not without knowing there were places for her to run around. I'll miss her."

"She got someplace to stay?"

"With a friend," Elizabeth says. Sedge is really more Simon's dog than hers these days. She's been away for months, working with the SGC, and before that, her frequent assignments have taken her away from home more than they've let her stay. It had been easy to move in with Simon, parking her boxes of things in the spare room, when she's so rarely there to share the space.

She doesn't know why she doesn't call Simon by name.