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slashing_lorne2010-12-25 05:41 am
calcitrix.livejournal.com) wrote in slashing_lorne2010-12-25 05:41 am
Entry tags:
Fic, 12-days, Lorne/Parrish Part One
Title: Misconceptions, or: Believe What You Want to Believe (1/2)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
calcitrix
Fandom: SGA
Characters: Lorne/Parrish, McKay/Sheppard
Word count: 12,800
Rating: NC-17
Contains: language, adult situations, also ridiculous ones
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate: Atlantis.
Author's Notes: This is the fic that goes with my artwork from Sunday, and wow, it's late (early?), and this fic ate me, and honestly I didn't even re-read though the last few thousand words. But it's Christmas, and I hope everyone has a happy one!
Dammit. Rodney was out of Power Bars again. He rummaged through already-searched desk drawers with no luck. Now he'd have to either go without or venture down to the mess, where the after-hours snack options were limited to jell-o and fruit. He sighed and slammed the last drawer shut. Leaving the program running unattended for a few minutes wouldn't be catastrophic, but neither was it ideal. He rose from the stool and stretched, feeling his back twinge from being bent over the computer console for so long. A single step away from the desk, he spotted it: a Power Bar, sitting just on the edge in a blind spot behind the monitor. Normally Rodney would take this simply as a fortunate event and move on, except for one thing: the Power Bar had a bow on it. A fluffy, sparkly bow with tiny white snowflakes dangling off of it. He picked it up and peeled off the bow, tossing the decoration into the garbage. It was a chocolate toffee almond Power Bar, which was impossible. He appropriated the best flavors the second supplies were unloaded from the Daedalus, and he'd finished off the last of that particular one over a week ago.
Rodney stared down at the gift, pondering. Either the Secret Santa exchange had started early and someone with some real pull had drawn his name, or else someone was trying to poison him. His stomach rumbled just as his computer beeped, prompting him to sit down on the stool again and rip open the Power Bar. He didn't think he'd yelled at anyone more than the usual amount in the last week and anyway, anyone trying to poison him could probably find some method of delivery that wouldn't waste a perfectly good Power Bar. He chewed happily, tapping on the keyboard as the city hummed in the background.
Evan awoke completely confused and disoriented. Something wasn't right. He sat up in bed, scrunching up his nose and trying to figure out why he was in a pine forest. But no, those were his sheets and it was his room. He threw back the covers and walked to the center of the room, from where he had a vantage point of every corner. In the farthest one, tucked alongside one of the Ancient wall sculptures, stood a tree. It was a few feet short of the ceiling and had long dark branches. If he were going to paint the perfect tree, that would be what it would look like. There was a red bow on top; long strands of ribbon wove artfully through the branches nearly to the floor.
It was almost, but not quite, the perfect Christmas tree, as it was lacking other sorts of decoration. But as he moved closer, he spotted a stack of thin cardboard boxes. Upon careful inspection--because you never knew when mysteriously appearing things were booby-trapped--Evan discovered that the boxes contained glass bulbs in green, red, and gold. It didn't make any sense; who on Atlantis would know that decorating the tree was Evan's favorite Christmas tradition? For that matter, who could have sneaked into his room with a six-foot Douglas Pine in the middle of the night without waking him...and where the hell had they found it? Had they brought it through the Gate? Evan stood there pondering the situation until the sky outside his window turned pink with the sunrise. Then he shrugged and started to get ready for the staff meeting in an hour.
John wasn't really paying attention to the meeting. He was watching Rodney. He couldn't quite figure him out. Rodney claimed to be busy with work almost every time John asked him to hang out. It was probably at least partly true; the number of hours Rodney spent in the depths of Atlantis' systems was staggering. But if he was too busy even for the occasional game of chess, where had he found the time to track down and order the brand new 460cc titanium Taylormade driver that had been leaning against John's nightstand when he woke up? There was no question that it had been Rodney. Barely a month gone, Ronon had gotten a little too aggressive at the improvised driving range on the South Pier and had bent John's favorite driver almost in half. Rodney had been working on a water flushing system nearby at the time; as far as John knew, no one else was aware of the incident, and he could strike Ronon off the list of potential gift-givers by virtue of his distinct lack of several hundred dollars in Earth currency.
He jerked upright in his seat when Elizabeth's voice cut sharply across the room. "Are any of you listening to me?"
Major Lorne leaned forward on the table and said, "Sure. You were talking about the Secret Santa exchange."
Elizabeth's lips flattened into a hard line. "That was the topic five minutes ago, yes." She tapped the table to get everyone's attention. "Since you are all apparently distracted this morning," she shot John a particularly venomous glare, "Let's finalize how we'll run the gift exchange and leave the issue of food supplies for our next meeting."
Now that John thought about it, he realized he'd never been assigned a recipient for the exchange. He vowed to plow through his email inbox first thing after they were dismissed.
"I think that this year we should include everyone in the city, regardless of their holiday traditions," Elizabeth said. "We'll call it a Winter Gift Exchange rather than Secret Santa," she nodded firmly at Major Lorne, "so that no one feels left out."
"Wait a minute," Rodney said, looking up from his laptop. "Firstly, I object to removing all traces of holiday from the title; otherwise we might as well do this in July." He frowned. "And anyway, haven't you given out names already?"
Elizabeth spread her palms flat on the table and regarded Rodney patiently. "Fine. Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Gift Exchange." She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Have you gotten a name from me, Rodney?"
"Well, no." Rodney hunched his shoulders and darted a glance around the room. "But I've been too busy to keep up with my emails."
"What kind of gifts?" Ronon asked. He shifted in his chair and looked at Teyla, who gave him a reassuring smile.
"Fruitcakes are good," John said with a smirk. "Everyone loves fruitcake." Rodney rolled his eyes at him and John would bet he wanted to stick out his tongue, too. So. If no one had names yet, that meant his gift hadn't been related to Secret Santa, which he would continue to call the gift exchange in his head forever. Or. Or Rodney planned on rigging the results so that he ended up with John's name. When Elizabeth asked Rodney to devise a program that would randomly assign each person in Atlantis a gift recipient, John was sure that was the case.
When everything was settled to Elizabeth's satisfaction, John rose and stretched. Both Rodney and Major Lorne hurried from the room but John lagged behind and waited for Ronon and Teyla. Ronon might need just a little help with this Earth tradition and John figured he should offer some advice that was better than "fruitcake."
Evan hadn't concentrated much during the meeting, though at least he knew that whoever put the Christmas tree in his room hadn't been his Secret Santa. He headed toward his office where he would deal with paperwork and refresh his email inbox until McKay sent out the names. Who would give him a Christmas tree? His office door swooshed open in front of him and he stopped as the answer came to him. There was really only one person who could get his hands on a tree in the middle of the City. Well, maybe more than one, but he doubted that Doctor Brown would go to all the trouble. The door switch blinked at him politely, wanting to close, and he continued into the little room and sat at his desk.
So he had an answer, but another question popped up just as quickly: Why? He tried to forget about it and concentrate on his work. Just before lunch time the email finally arrived. In it was Doctor Weir's explanation of the exchange, politely worded to imply that it was mandatory, and a single name at the bottom. Evan groaned. McKay was the very last person he wanted for his Secret Santa recipient. Winter Gift Exchange. Whatever. He printed out the email and headed out of the office, determined to find Colonel Sheppard.
Wonder of wonders, Sheppard was actually down the hall in his own office, though he was playing computer golf rather than working. "What can I do for you, Major?" he asked when Evan walked in. Evan wordlessly handed over the email. Sheppard skimmed it and grinned when he reached the bottom. "You need advice?" Sheppard asked. "Everyone in a million mile radius knows all Rodney ever wants is coffee."
"I'd like to trade, sir," Evan replied, taking the chair opposite the desk. "Anyone would have to be better than McKay." Sheppard raised his eyebrows and Evan quickly amended, "I was thinking of giving some drawings and I just don't think he'd appreciate that as his Secret Santa gift--I mean, Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Gift Exchange."
Sheppard sighed dramatically and reached over to hit a button on his keyboard and his printer hummed. "Fine. I'll take McKay off your hands. But you owe me big time; I was going to score some major brownie points." He lifted the printed sheet from the tray and held it out. Underneath Doctor Weir's message was her name.
Well, at least it would be easy to find someone to trade with. Before Sheppard could change his mind, Evan snatched the paper and headed out of the office with a wave. Evan considered the options briefly, then walked to the nearest transporter and tapped the location of the science labs. He started thinking again about the Christmas tree. Later tonight he would have time to decorate it; he should invite Doctor Parrish over to help, seeing as he was the one who put it there. He was certain of that now. Evan ducked his head in the largest lab, but it only contained Doctor McKay, tapping furiously at a keyboard. He wondered if the other members of his team had also received Christmas trees, but neither Reed nor Coughlin had said anything about it when he'd checked in on them earlier. Maybe it was Doctor Parrish's way of feeling less lonely at Christmas time, a problem that plagued many of Atlantis' residents, regardless that many of them didn't have a lot of family back on Earth. Thus events like the Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Secret Santa, to keep anyone from hiding in their rooms for the duration of the holidays.
Doctor Zelenka was in one of the auxillary labs, frowning at a whiteboard and tapping the marker against his forehead. "Hey, Doc--got a minute?" Evan called as he walked into the room. Doctor Zelenka looked up and gestured for Evan to join him in front of the scribble of equations and notations that covered the board.
"Tell me, Major," Doctor Zelenka said before Evan had a chance to ask his question. "Has anything unexplainable happened to you recently?"
Evan thought about that. Aside from the Christmas tree, which wasn't so much mysterious as it was a surprise, it had been a normal week. "I don't think so," Evan replied.
Zelenka wrinkled his brows and turned back to the whiteboard. "You are sure? Nothing?" He put the end of the marker against his lips and Evan could almost see the gears working in his head.
"No," Evan repeated, and before he lost the Doc's attention asked, "Did you get your Secret Santa assignment yet?"
Zelenka waved a hand. "Yes, yes. I am to be the Secret Santa for Doctor Beckett, for whom I have no idea what to get or make."
Perfect. "Wanna trade?" Evan asked, holding out the paper from Sheppard. "I've got Doctor Weir."
Zelenka's eyebrow swent up and within seconds Evan had the bottom half of the print-out torn off with Beckett's name scrawled in dry erase marker on the bottom.
From there it was just a matter of waiting, because Evan went straight to Lieutenant Cadman and told her he'd give her Carson--but would only trade his name for Doctor Parrish's. After all, why should Evan do all the leg-work? That's what subordinates were for. Laura didn't even grumble or swear at him. Much. That done, Evan headed to the mess for a late lunch. Then he went to find Doctor Parrish.
The greenhouse was brightly lit and fresh-smelling as always, and Evan felt himself relax as soon as he walked in. There was something soothing about the smell of plants, which might explain why Parrish was always so laid back. He walked through a thin mist made by the watering system and headed to the back, from where Evan could hear Christmas music playing.
Doctor Parrish was checking the soil in a line of pots, from which tiny seedlings were starting to sprout. An iPod was propped up next to him, connected to a small speaker. Evan walked into his line of sight and waved, earning a grin in response. Parrish set down the digital hygrometer and wiped his hands on his pants. "What can I do for you, Major?"
"Well," Evan drawled, "I thought you might like to come over tonight and help me put up Christmas decorations."
"Oh." Parrish looked surprised, but pleased. Evan was glad he thought to invite him. "I'd love to. But...why me? I don't have an artist's eye for detail like you do."
Evan would disagree with that, seeing as Parrish had picked out the most aesthetically perfect Christmas tree he'd had ever laid eyes on. He rested his hip against the table and said, "Oh, come on Doc--I figured it out." Leaning forward he added, "Actually it was pretty obvious once I gave it some thought."
Parrish blushed to his hairline, making his dusting of freckles stand out. "Oh. Well, I--" He looked away, embarrassed, then continued, "I didn't think you'd find out. I wanted to say something, but--" He stammered to a halt, then took a deep breath. Looking back up he met Evan's eyes. "I'd love to come over. What time?"
"Whenever you're done here. After dinner, maybe? Or we could get dinner together first." Evan figured he could have his paperwork done by dinner time if he hurried. The important stuff, anyway. Paperwork was never really finished.
Parrish was all nods and smiles. They agreed on a time and Evan left the serenity of the greenhouse to get back to work. He hummed Christmas carols all afternoon and finished up early enough to shower before dinner.
Evan's sense of excitement must have been showing because when Parrish saw him in the mess, his smile brought out his dimples. It was nice enough weather to sit on the balcony, and the sun was just beginning to set. "Doesn't feel much like Christmas, does it?" Evan said, settling into his chair. "It got colder than this back home even though we didn't get snow."
"We never got snow, either," Parrish said. They chatted for a while about their homes and childhood memories of Christmas and found they had a lot in common despite being from opposite sides of the country. Evan was soon laughing at Parrish's story about when he and his siblings had found and opened all of their presents before Christmas and re-wrapped them, thinking that their parents wouldn't notice. "Unfortunately they were re-wrapped about as well as you'd expect them to be by three excited little kids." David grinned and took a bite of casserole. "My mom took one look and exploded. She also blamed me because I was oldest, but it was all my sister's idea."
"My sister got me in trouble all the time," Evan laughed. "I only hope her kids give her as much grief." Evan noticed Lieutenant Cadman waving at him from a nearby table; she raised her eyebrows at him, then pointed at Doctor Parrish and gave a thumbs up. Evan found himself blushing without really knowing why. Something about the way she smirked, probably; that woman could make anyone blush with a single raised eyebrow that implied you were thinking dirty thoughts and she knew it.
Evan was surprised that David--they'd gotten to first names at dinner--had not to said anything about his not-Secret Santa gift through the entire meal or on their way to Evan's quarters. If he was keeping up the pretense just for fun he was doing a good job. He even reacted to the sight of the Christmas tree like he'd never seen it before. "It's lovely," David said, crouching down to peek under the lowest branches. "It's even in a pot so it can be planted later."
"And look," Evan said, deciding to play along, "there's all this." He pulled open the top box of bulbs and handed one to David. "My sister and I decorated the tree every year and my mom never fixed them, even when we could only reach the bottom half of the tree."
David hung the gold ball and said teasingly. "At least this one is short enough that you can reach all the branches."
"Be nice or Santa will put you on the naughty list." Evan laughed and grabbed another ornament.
David's expression stopped Evan in mid-reach, hand inches from the needles. "I can be nice," David said. "And also very naughty," he added with a devilish smirk
It felt like the room tilted and everything slid into place. The blushes. The stammering. The tree. "Oh," was all Evan could say as everything tilted again and he found himself flush against David, lips pressed to his. David cupped his jaw and held him in place, exploring softly as Evan opened his mouth. David pulled back and took the ornament from Evan's hand. "Do you want to finish decorating, or--?"
Evan took the ornament back again and very carefully hung it on the nearest branch. Then he turned and pulled David down for another kiss. He guided David toward the bed and started on the buttons on David's shirt, thinking that it was like unwrapping the best Christmas present ever. He took his time, cherishing each inch of skin as it was exposed: broad shoulders, flat stomach, thin hips. He knelt in front of David, hands braced on David's thighs, kissing where fingers met flesh. David watched with rapt attention, muscles jumping under Evan's mouth.
Evan wondered why he'd waited for an excuse like the tree to get David like this, because it was glorious, perfect. David's straining cock was begging for attention, so Evan took it into his mouth, sinking all the way down until his forehead was resting on David's stomach. David moaned and tangled his hands in Evan's hair and when Evan started to apply pressure with his tongue the moan became a gasp. The sound traveled right down Evan's spine to his dick and he realized he hadn't even managed to get his own clothes off. But it didn't matter, because every time Evan slid up and down David's length the pitch of his breathing got higher and Evan was enjoying this too much to stop.
Except that David was leaning on Evan now to keep his balance, and it wouldn't do to have him collapse. He pushed on David's legs a little and David fell back onto the bed. Evan crawled forward between David's bent knees, and this was better because now he could apply tongue and fingers everywhere, listening for the little sounds that meant yes, that, and again. It had been a while since Evan had done this and he felt greedy for it, starved. He didn't want to hurry and yet he couldn't not hurry, because causing David to make that breathy whine and to hitch his hips was easily the greatest accomplishment of his week and so he circled his tongue again and again until David was panting in rhythm to Evan's movement. David gasped Evan's name in supplication and release; Evan swallowed and held David on his tongue, rubbing his hands up and down David's thighs until he was breathing normally again.
Then Evan stood and smiled at the way David was sprawled messily across his bed. That was certainly a sight he could get used to. He gave David a minute to recover as he removed his own restrictive clothing. Then he tugged on David's legs and got him all the way on the bed, stretching out beside him and running a hand over his chest. "I believe you said something about being naughty," Evan said. "Or was it nice?"
That earned a lazy grin and another flash of dimples. "Oh, yes. But that tree isn't going to decorate itself, you know." Evan laughed and moaned at once, and David rolled until he was on top of him, settling his hips between Evan's legs. Smiling wickedly, David reached up a hand and brushed his thumb over Evan's nipple. "Of course it is the season for getting and giving." Evan arched into the touch, wanting more. David obliged, circling his thumb until Evan was bucking his hips and groaning. He ignored it, moving to the other nipple instead. Evan's muttered, "God, David--" only made David's smile widen. Then David finally slid his long frame down until his lips brushed Evan's cock. It was a feather light touch, no more, and gone in a moment. It was difficult to lie still instead of the thousand things he wanted to do to David then. David seemed to sense this and held his hand flat against Evan's stomach as he continued to tease. Evan was ready to beg if he had to, only his breath was so ragged he wasn't sure he could. Then, with a suddenness that made Evan gasp, David's tongue licked across Evan's hole and fuck that felt good.
It was difficult to keep track of time after that. David continued to flick his tongue over the ring of muscle and up across his perineum, and Evan thought he hadn't ever felt anything so good until David pushed a single finger inside him and wrapped his other hand around Evan's cock. Then his brain exploded and went offline for a while. When he managed to open his eyes, David was grinning down at him. "I'm not sure if that counts as naughty, or nice."
"Nhhh," Evan managed, feeling that it could go either way. He closed his eyes again as David lifted off the bed, returning a few moments later with a washcloth and smelling like he'd used Evan's mouthwash. Which was great, because he could do with some more kissing right now. Kissing, and maybe a nap, and then possibly he'd be able to move enough to get up and finish decorating the tree.
Rodney awoke to the smell of brewing coffee. He figured Radek must have started a fresh pot and wondered what time it was. Then as the fog of sleep completely lifted he realized he wasn't slumped over his keyboard; he wasn't even in his lab. He was in his own quarters, which sadly never smelled like coffee because the professional-grade coffee maker he'd requisitioned on the very first re-supply trip the Daedalus ever made had ended up in the science lab after everyone had ganged up on him and told him he had to share. He didn't have a coffee maker in his room. Except he did. It was sitting on his rarely-used Kitchen counter, gurgling happily.
It was, in fact, a very nice coffee maker; Rodney could see that much even from where he lay propped up on his elbows in bed. Then he saw it: a bow, stuck to the outside of the pot. The smell was too enticing to stay where he was. Tucked behind the machine was an unlabeled brown bag of beans, a grinder, and a huge mug with a candy cane-shaped handle. He stared at it for almost a full minute until a beep alerted him that the brewing process was complete. It wasn't until he'd poured a cup and taken a sip that the reality set in: he had the best Secret Santa ever. Anyone who gave him a full pound of Jamaican Blue Mountain gained his absolute adoration. Then he wrinkled his brow and asked the empty room, "But who?" They'd only gotten their assignments yesterday, and Rodney doubted that the person who'd drawn his name had conveniently had a coffee maker sitting around just waiting for the occasion. Nor did it explain the Power Bar, which he'd gotten before anyone had names at all.
No, it hadn't been his Secret Santa. Rodney finished the first cup and held off on a second until he'd finished getting dressed. He managed to empty the pot and took his last cup with him to the science labs. By the time he got to the science wing he'd come to the only conclusion possible: John. John was the only one who knew how Rodney felt about coffee and didn't make fun of him for it. Not much, anyway. Less than other people. He'd have to think of something suitable to give John in return.
Pondering the options, Rodney almost walked into Radek, who was just coming out of one of the smaller auxiliary labs. "Oh, Rodney," Radek said, flattening against the doorframe. "I was just coming to look for you. Tell me--has anything odd happened to you lately?"
Rodney, still distracted by thoughts of John, furrowed his brows and answered, "What? No, of course not. Have you heard me complaining about anything odd happening to me?"
Radek sighed. He looked like he hadn't slept in a few days. "But I was sure--" he muttered.
Rodney stepped around him and said, "Well, when you figure it out--whatever it is--talk to me then. I have work to do." But before he started anything else, he'd have to give John's present more thought. What was equivalent to the best coffee he'd had in almost two years?
John was about to step out of the lunch line when the airman on KP duty said, "Hey, Colonel, I almost forgot. This was sitting here for you this morning." He handed John a cardboard box decorated with reindeer. John tucked it under his tray with a thanks and headed to a nearby table. Teyla and Ronon greeted him as he sat and eyed the box with curiosity.
"Is that for the Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Gift Exchange?" Teyla asked. John shrugged and pulled off the top. In the box were nestled a few dozen cookies, each kind piled in a ruffled white paper cup. In the center was a plastic-wrapped fruitcake.
"Sweet," Ronon said, reaching over to snag a red and white pinwheeled cookie. "Secret Santa cookies."
John let him take the cookie, and two more, before it even registered that his treats were going to disappear as quickly--if not as mysteriously--as they'd appeared if he didn't protect them. But Teyla was politely raising an eyebrow at him, so he nudged the box in her direction and snagged a decorated sugar cookie. His mom had made cookies like this. After she'd died, he and his brother had tried to take over the tradition, but it hadn't been the same.
"I'm not sure it was my Secret Santa," John said. He'd told Rodney about his pathetic stint at cookie baking when they were exchanging reasons why they disliked the holiday. It could be a coincidence--the cookies were too fresh to have come on the Daedalus, and Rodney had never used his kitchen, as far as John knew. But for some reason he was sure it had been Rodney.
"Well then, someone likes you very much," Teyla said, choosing another of the baked treats.
Could that be it? Rodney had never been one to talk about feelings, and if anyone ascribed to the adage that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach, it was him. John chewed and thought about that. After lunch, which at this rate would consist mostly of cookies, he'd go find Rodney in the labs and ask him one last time to...hang out. In John's quarters. Just the two of them.
But Rodney wasn't in his lab. John poked around until he found Radek in one of the smaller adjacent rooms. "Hey, Radek," John called from the doorway. "Have you seen Rodney?"
Radek gave him a dismissive wave and continued to type. "He said he has gone to get more coffee." He glanced up and added, "But Colonel, while you're here--have you noticed anything strange lately?"
John laughed. "Other than the fact that Rodney keeps disappearing on me?" He shrugged. "Nope."
Radek visibly sagged and John squelched the urge to ask him what was wrong. He had more important things to do than listen to a rant about power fluctuations or whatever the problem was.
How had he missed Rodney between the mess hall and his labs? He vowed to track down Rodney later. If he didn't see him by dinner he'd take the cookies to Rodney's quarters to share some and to...thank him.
They'd finally managed to get the tree mostly decorated after a morning of mind-blowingly awesome sex. Evan and David had then parted to head to their respective jobs and agreed to meet for dinner again. Evan made a brief stop at his quarters after lunch and broke into a fond smile at the sight of the tree; he'd never look at one quite the same again. David had never admitted to putting it there, but then, he had been a little distracted. Evan grabbed the folder he was looking for off the desk and stopped short at the sight of a box of candy canes sitting next to his clock. He'd mentioned that it was the only thing the tree was missing, and here they were. He'd have to find out how David had managed it. He'd have to thank him, too, and he had a few pretty good ideas about that.
And he had to find time to work on David's presents while he was at it. He'd wanted to use the cover of the Secret Santa exchange to give him the sketches he'd been working on, but he didn't really need the excuse now. Still, he needed to find something to give David in the meantime so that their gift giving was a little more even. He thought about it as he headed back to his office, and halfway there changed direction and went to the gym instead.
Teyla was there as he'd hoped she'd be. She was finishing a self-defense lesson for a few of the scientists, and Evan waited on the box seat under the stained glass window until everyone else had left. Finally she turned to him and asked, "Can I help you with something, Major?"
Evan explained what he needed. Teyla readily agreed and told him she would speak to him again at the same time the next day. That done, Evan returned to his office and spent a few distracted hours doing paperwork and thinking about David.
It seemed like it was becoming a pattern. Dinner and then back to Evan's quarters, where they managed to hang one ornament apiece on the tree before falling into bed together. It was a pattern that could continue indefinitely as far as Evan was concerned. They were familiar with each other now, though certainly not past the stage where they were eager to explore, and explore they did. Evan laid curled over David's chest, fondly running his hand up and down David's stomach from the top of his ribcage to the first curls of hair under his bellybutton. "If we finish putting the candy canes on the tree tonight," Evan suggested, "We'll have more time for sex in the morning."
"Mmmm, sex is good." David murmured contentedly. He kissed the top of Evan's head and added, "Candy canes?" He sounded genuinely curious, and Evan wondered for a moment if the box had come from his real Secret Santa. But no--they'd talked about candy canes just that morning. Evan reluctantly stood and walked over to pick up the box. He tossed it onto the edge of the bed and pulled on a pair of sweats.
"Candy canes," Evan said.
David touched the bow on the top of the box. "I think someone has a crush on you," he said.
Evan grinned. "Think so?" He leaned over to kiss David and then pulled him to his feet. Evan eyed David's discarded uniform and rummaged in his drawer until he came up with another pair of sweat pants. He threw them to David and pulled out his one holiday shirt. His nephews had picked it out for him, which was the only reason he'd ever worn it; it was bright green and had jingle bells on the front. David grinned at the choice and pulled it over his head.
They made short work of putting the candy canes on the tree, and Evan unwrapped the last one and stuck it in his mouth. They plugged in the lights and admired their handiwork, then David sat on the couch and pulled Evan into his lap. "You've certainly been nice," he said. "I bet Santa will give you whatever you want."
"I thought I was naughty," Evan said around the candy. He shifted until he could rub against David through the sweat pants, then leaned back and drew the candy cane slowly from his mouth and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. David gave a short huff of laughter and leaned in to suck hungrily on Evan's neck.
The Christmas tree was just close enough for Evan to reach over the back of the couch and hang the partially eaten candy cane on the end of a branch. He pulled David up and kissed him as thoroughly as he knew how. Then he pushed at the green shirt until it was bunched up under David's armpits and rubbed his thumbs over his exposed nipples. He knew exactly what he wanted; David's offer--joking or not--made his pulse race. Anything. "Bed, or stay on the couch?" Evan asked.
In answer, David pulled his shirt the rest of the way off and shimmied under Evan until he'd managed to pull the sweat pants down around his hips. Evan shifted his weight onto his knees and tugged down his own sweats; he rubbed their cocks together, slowly moving his hips until they were both moaning at the contact. Evan leaned forward and brushed his lips against David's ear. "I want to fuck you, David," he whispered, and just saying it out loud made him shiver.
"God, yes," David answered, sounding hoarse. Evan padded across the room to rummage in the nightstand, David watching his every movement. The couch was the perfect height for Evan to kneel with David's knees over his shoulders. He slicked his fingers and pushed in and twisted until David's eyes shut of their own accord while he used Evan for leverage to lift his hips into the movement. When David started to plead, Evan straightened and pushed forward, sliding into David slowly because, God, what a view. And the perfect angle, judging by David's gasp and shudder. Evan stilled, reveling in the feel of it, marveling in the needy look in David's lidded eyes.
For all that this was new, Evan felt like they'd done this a hundred times, David braced against the back of the couch and rocking forward with every thrust; the already-familiar gasps and little hums of pleasure; their crescendos rising in harmony as Evan couldn't hold back anymore and drove with abandon, David's tightening grip on his biceps encouraging him on. When David started to clench his muscles around Evan at the cusp of each thrust, Evan had just enough awareness left to wrap his still-slicked hand around David's cock and lean into his thighs as he stroked. David came with a choked-out gasp and Evan followed a moment later. Evan pulled out as David's legs slid off his shoulders, and he leaned forward to rest his head against David's chest with a happy sigh. David rubbed at the back of his neck until the sweat started to cool on their bodies.
By the time they'd showered and curled up in bed, Evan was too relaxed to care that he still hadn't asked David where he was getting all of the goodies. He vowed to find out the next day, and slid into sleep.
But the next day was too hectic, what with Sergeant Coughlin nearly driving a four-wheeler off the south pier. Evan was startled awake by the crackle of his radio; Lieutenant Reed was shouting through the earpiece and whooping with excitement, yelling for Evan to get down there now and Evan nearly put his pants on backwards in his hurry.
"What--? David asked sleepily from the bed.
Evan leaned down to kiss him and said, "Raincheck on the morning sex, sorry," and bolted out of the room. Three transporter rides later he was running out into the morning, toward where a small crowd had started to gather. Colonel Sheppard and Ronon were there looking like they'd been out for their daily run, and it took Evan a moment to figure out what was going on.
As he pushed his way through the gathered marines and airmen, Reed grabbed him and pulled him toward the front. "Check it out, sir!" Reed yelled. "Neil got an ATV from his Secret Santa!"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Evan finally broke through the line and sure enough, Coughlin was tearing toward them up the pier on a bright red ATV. "That's--what the fuck?" Evan couldn't believe it, but there it was. He'd been amazed at the thought of David sneaking a Christmas tree across half the city, and here someone--how? Who?--had managed to bring a four-wheeler into the city? Coughlin swerved in a circle that was a little too close to the crowd for Evan's taste and raced back in the other direction.
"Lorne," Colonel Sheppard said casually from behind his shoulder. "Please explain to me what's going on here."
Evan glanced back with a shrug. "Your guess is as good as mine, sir." He hitched his thumb in Reed's direction. "Says his Secret Santa gave it to him."
"Was it, by chance," Sheppard asked, "listed in the Daedalus manifest?"
"Don't think so," Evan answered. There had been a few crates large enough to hold the vehicle labeled "science equipment" in the last run, but surely they would have passed some sort of inspection before being loaded?
Sheppard rubbed the back of his head. "Is it against regulations?"
Evan considered it and realized that no one had probably ever, in the entire history of the SGC and possibly the military in general, had to actually create a rule about sneaking ATVs onto an installation. "I don't think so, sir," Evan said. "Technically speaking."
"Does that thing have weapons?" Ronon was watching Coughlin as he spun and came towards them again, apparently happy just to drive up and down the pier's length.
"No." Sheppard sounded disappointed. "But that would be cool." Ronon seemed less interested after that, and took off to finish the run. Sheppard stayed beside Evan, though, waiting for Coughlin to finish his joy riding. "It's electric," Sheppard said after a moment, and Evan realized that yeah, the thing was running almost silently. "Think he'd let me use it on missions?"
Evan grinned at his commanding officer. "He's on my team, sir." Though frankly, Evan didn't see Doctor Weir approving it for offworld use. In fact, they should go make a report, though word of the gift had probably already reached her. He suggested it to Sheppard and the man nodded, and as they turned to go, Coughlin let out a yell. Evan whipped back around to see the four-wheeler skid on a patch of salt water and head toward the edge of the pier. It would have been disastrous if the thing's battery had not chosen that moment to run out. Coughlin rolled to an inelegant halt inches from the water.
Coughlin's face was white, but he put his arms up into the air and whooped. The crowd clapped in appreciation. "That man is a menace," Evan muttered.
"He's on your team," Sheppard smirked.
They left Coughlin and a few straggling onlookers to push the vehicle back inside and headed to Doctor Weir's office. She had, in fact, heard about the morning's events but seemed completely unperturbed.
"It's just not appropriate for a Secret Santa exchange," Sheppard argued. "I'd feel stupid giving my recipient bootlegged porn when Coughlin got an ATV."
Weir raised her eyebrow at that. "Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Gift Exchange," she amended. "And really, John--porn?"
"For example," Sheppard said, looking embarrassed. "Seriously, who'd give something like that?" Evan wondered if Rodney knew everyone's assigned Secret Santa, and if he'd spill if they asked not-so-nicely.
"Let's just be pleased that people are taking this seriously, if a bit over-zealously," Doctor Weir said, making it clear that that was the end of that.
"What have you gotten so far?" Evan asked her, giving in to her stubbornness. Surely not everyone was giving outrageous presents. He was pretty sure Teyla had been on her way to give her recipient a set of scented candles, if the bundle she'd had when they passed her on the way up here was any indication.
Weir smiled pleasantly. "Well, today I received a lovely pair of wool socks," she said, pulling up a pant leg to show them. It looked like they'd been knitted by the Athosian children; it was decently made but drooped around her ankle.
"Yeah, that's...great," Sheppard said. He and Evan exchanged a glance and made their excuses to leave.
"Something's weird," Evan said when they were in the corridor and out of earshot. David had never acknowledged giving him anything, but it was impossible that his gifts had come from his Secret Santa. "I mean, Coughlin and the ATV, plus I got a Christmas tree and boxes full of decorations..."
"You got a Christmas tree?" Sheppard asked in surprise. "Cool. I bet your Secret Santa is Doctor Parrish."
Evan blushed. "Maybe," he said evasively. "But don't you think it's a little strange?"
Sheppard slapped him on the shoulder and smiled. "Well, I doubt this is some trick by the Wraith," he said. "And we'll find out in a few days at the Christmas party who everyone's Santa is."
Evan nodded, but couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
John headed back to his quarters since he was still wearing his running clothes. He jogged the distance, partly because he hadn't finished his run that morning, and partly because he hadn't gotten a Secret Santa present yet that day. He hoped something would be waiting in his quarters, and wasn't disappointed. Sitting on his bed were two remote-controlled cars. He grinned. He'd always wanted toys like these as a kid, but his father always insisted on educational ones instead. Ripping open one of the boxes, John saw that it had a rechargeable battery pack--perfect, since getting a regular supply of double-As was a pain in the ass. He opened the other package and plugged both of them in to the adapter in the wall. He'd challenge Rodney to a race later, and it was possibly the one thing the scientist would stop work for.
Thanking him for the cookies had not gone as planned. He'd taken them to Rodney's quarters only to find him hyped on caffeine and barely able to sit still. The extra sugar hadn't helped. John had been in Rodney's room only long enough to connect Rodney's new coffee maker to his excited state before he'd grabbed a handful of John's cookies and said that he had to get back to his lab. Tonight John promised he'd find a way to keep Rodney pinned in one place. So to speak.
His laptop was also finished burning the DVD he'd started before he left that morning. He didn't care what Elizabeth thought. Guys liked porn. John had chosen his favorites from his hard drive, and he figured if nothing else it would send a pretty clear message to Rodney. He took the bow from one of the race car boxes and stuck it to the top of the DVD case. Then he showered and changed and headed to his office, swinging by Rodney's place first to slip the DVD onto his desk.
There was another package already there. It was wrapped in red and green striped paper, and had a fluffy green bow on the top. John itched to open it. Someone else was giving Rodney presents. He thought about the amount of time Rodney supposedly spent in his labs, despite the fact that he was never actually there when John went looking for him. Then there was the fact that Rodney hardly spent any time with him or the team anymore. Maybe...maybe he was already seeing someone else. John grimaced and dropped the DVD case on the desk. At least Rodney could still get some use out of the gift.
John was definitely not in the holiday spirit when he returned to his office to work.
part two
Author:
calcitrixFandom: SGA
Characters: Lorne/Parrish, McKay/Sheppard
Word count: 12,800
Rating: NC-17
Contains: language, adult situations, also ridiculous ones
Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate: Atlantis.
Author's Notes: This is the fic that goes with my artwork from Sunday, and wow, it's late (early?), and this fic ate me, and honestly I didn't even re-read though the last few thousand words. But it's Christmas, and I hope everyone has a happy one!
Dammit. Rodney was out of Power Bars again. He rummaged through already-searched desk drawers with no luck. Now he'd have to either go without or venture down to the mess, where the after-hours snack options were limited to jell-o and fruit. He sighed and slammed the last drawer shut. Leaving the program running unattended for a few minutes wouldn't be catastrophic, but neither was it ideal. He rose from the stool and stretched, feeling his back twinge from being bent over the computer console for so long. A single step away from the desk, he spotted it: a Power Bar, sitting just on the edge in a blind spot behind the monitor. Normally Rodney would take this simply as a fortunate event and move on, except for one thing: the Power Bar had a bow on it. A fluffy, sparkly bow with tiny white snowflakes dangling off of it. He picked it up and peeled off the bow, tossing the decoration into the garbage. It was a chocolate toffee almond Power Bar, which was impossible. He appropriated the best flavors the second supplies were unloaded from the Daedalus, and he'd finished off the last of that particular one over a week ago.
Rodney stared down at the gift, pondering. Either the Secret Santa exchange had started early and someone with some real pull had drawn his name, or else someone was trying to poison him. His stomach rumbled just as his computer beeped, prompting him to sit down on the stool again and rip open the Power Bar. He didn't think he'd yelled at anyone more than the usual amount in the last week and anyway, anyone trying to poison him could probably find some method of delivery that wouldn't waste a perfectly good Power Bar. He chewed happily, tapping on the keyboard as the city hummed in the background.
Evan awoke completely confused and disoriented. Something wasn't right. He sat up in bed, scrunching up his nose and trying to figure out why he was in a pine forest. But no, those were his sheets and it was his room. He threw back the covers and walked to the center of the room, from where he had a vantage point of every corner. In the farthest one, tucked alongside one of the Ancient wall sculptures, stood a tree. It was a few feet short of the ceiling and had long dark branches. If he were going to paint the perfect tree, that would be what it would look like. There was a red bow on top; long strands of ribbon wove artfully through the branches nearly to the floor.
It was almost, but not quite, the perfect Christmas tree, as it was lacking other sorts of decoration. But as he moved closer, he spotted a stack of thin cardboard boxes. Upon careful inspection--because you never knew when mysteriously appearing things were booby-trapped--Evan discovered that the boxes contained glass bulbs in green, red, and gold. It didn't make any sense; who on Atlantis would know that decorating the tree was Evan's favorite Christmas tradition? For that matter, who could have sneaked into his room with a six-foot Douglas Pine in the middle of the night without waking him...and where the hell had they found it? Had they brought it through the Gate? Evan stood there pondering the situation until the sky outside his window turned pink with the sunrise. Then he shrugged and started to get ready for the staff meeting in an hour.
John wasn't really paying attention to the meeting. He was watching Rodney. He couldn't quite figure him out. Rodney claimed to be busy with work almost every time John asked him to hang out. It was probably at least partly true; the number of hours Rodney spent in the depths of Atlantis' systems was staggering. But if he was too busy even for the occasional game of chess, where had he found the time to track down and order the brand new 460cc titanium Taylormade driver that had been leaning against John's nightstand when he woke up? There was no question that it had been Rodney. Barely a month gone, Ronon had gotten a little too aggressive at the improvised driving range on the South Pier and had bent John's favorite driver almost in half. Rodney had been working on a water flushing system nearby at the time; as far as John knew, no one else was aware of the incident, and he could strike Ronon off the list of potential gift-givers by virtue of his distinct lack of several hundred dollars in Earth currency.
He jerked upright in his seat when Elizabeth's voice cut sharply across the room. "Are any of you listening to me?"
Major Lorne leaned forward on the table and said, "Sure. You were talking about the Secret Santa exchange."
Elizabeth's lips flattened into a hard line. "That was the topic five minutes ago, yes." She tapped the table to get everyone's attention. "Since you are all apparently distracted this morning," she shot John a particularly venomous glare, "Let's finalize how we'll run the gift exchange and leave the issue of food supplies for our next meeting."
Now that John thought about it, he realized he'd never been assigned a recipient for the exchange. He vowed to plow through his email inbox first thing after they were dismissed.
"I think that this year we should include everyone in the city, regardless of their holiday traditions," Elizabeth said. "We'll call it a Winter Gift Exchange rather than Secret Santa," she nodded firmly at Major Lorne, "so that no one feels left out."
"Wait a minute," Rodney said, looking up from his laptop. "Firstly, I object to removing all traces of holiday from the title; otherwise we might as well do this in July." He frowned. "And anyway, haven't you given out names already?"
Elizabeth spread her palms flat on the table and regarded Rodney patiently. "Fine. Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Gift Exchange." She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Have you gotten a name from me, Rodney?"
"Well, no." Rodney hunched his shoulders and darted a glance around the room. "But I've been too busy to keep up with my emails."
"What kind of gifts?" Ronon asked. He shifted in his chair and looked at Teyla, who gave him a reassuring smile.
"Fruitcakes are good," John said with a smirk. "Everyone loves fruitcake." Rodney rolled his eyes at him and John would bet he wanted to stick out his tongue, too. So. If no one had names yet, that meant his gift hadn't been related to Secret Santa, which he would continue to call the gift exchange in his head forever. Or. Or Rodney planned on rigging the results so that he ended up with John's name. When Elizabeth asked Rodney to devise a program that would randomly assign each person in Atlantis a gift recipient, John was sure that was the case.
When everything was settled to Elizabeth's satisfaction, John rose and stretched. Both Rodney and Major Lorne hurried from the room but John lagged behind and waited for Ronon and Teyla. Ronon might need just a little help with this Earth tradition and John figured he should offer some advice that was better than "fruitcake."
Evan hadn't concentrated much during the meeting, though at least he knew that whoever put the Christmas tree in his room hadn't been his Secret Santa. He headed toward his office where he would deal with paperwork and refresh his email inbox until McKay sent out the names. Who would give him a Christmas tree? His office door swooshed open in front of him and he stopped as the answer came to him. There was really only one person who could get his hands on a tree in the middle of the City. Well, maybe more than one, but he doubted that Doctor Brown would go to all the trouble. The door switch blinked at him politely, wanting to close, and he continued into the little room and sat at his desk.
So he had an answer, but another question popped up just as quickly: Why? He tried to forget about it and concentrate on his work. Just before lunch time the email finally arrived. In it was Doctor Weir's explanation of the exchange, politely worded to imply that it was mandatory, and a single name at the bottom. Evan groaned. McKay was the very last person he wanted for his Secret Santa recipient. Winter Gift Exchange. Whatever. He printed out the email and headed out of the office, determined to find Colonel Sheppard.
Wonder of wonders, Sheppard was actually down the hall in his own office, though he was playing computer golf rather than working. "What can I do for you, Major?" he asked when Evan walked in. Evan wordlessly handed over the email. Sheppard skimmed it and grinned when he reached the bottom. "You need advice?" Sheppard asked. "Everyone in a million mile radius knows all Rodney ever wants is coffee."
"I'd like to trade, sir," Evan replied, taking the chair opposite the desk. "Anyone would have to be better than McKay." Sheppard raised his eyebrows and Evan quickly amended, "I was thinking of giving some drawings and I just don't think he'd appreciate that as his Secret Santa gift--I mean, Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Gift Exchange."
Sheppard sighed dramatically and reached over to hit a button on his keyboard and his printer hummed. "Fine. I'll take McKay off your hands. But you owe me big time; I was going to score some major brownie points." He lifted the printed sheet from the tray and held it out. Underneath Doctor Weir's message was her name.
Well, at least it would be easy to find someone to trade with. Before Sheppard could change his mind, Evan snatched the paper and headed out of the office with a wave. Evan considered the options briefly, then walked to the nearest transporter and tapped the location of the science labs. He started thinking again about the Christmas tree. Later tonight he would have time to decorate it; he should invite Doctor Parrish over to help, seeing as he was the one who put it there. He was certain of that now. Evan ducked his head in the largest lab, but it only contained Doctor McKay, tapping furiously at a keyboard. He wondered if the other members of his team had also received Christmas trees, but neither Reed nor Coughlin had said anything about it when he'd checked in on them earlier. Maybe it was Doctor Parrish's way of feeling less lonely at Christmas time, a problem that plagued many of Atlantis' residents, regardless that many of them didn't have a lot of family back on Earth. Thus events like the Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Secret Santa, to keep anyone from hiding in their rooms for the duration of the holidays.
Doctor Zelenka was in one of the auxillary labs, frowning at a whiteboard and tapping the marker against his forehead. "Hey, Doc--got a minute?" Evan called as he walked into the room. Doctor Zelenka looked up and gestured for Evan to join him in front of the scribble of equations and notations that covered the board.
"Tell me, Major," Doctor Zelenka said before Evan had a chance to ask his question. "Has anything unexplainable happened to you recently?"
Evan thought about that. Aside from the Christmas tree, which wasn't so much mysterious as it was a surprise, it had been a normal week. "I don't think so," Evan replied.
Zelenka wrinkled his brows and turned back to the whiteboard. "You are sure? Nothing?" He put the end of the marker against his lips and Evan could almost see the gears working in his head.
"No," Evan repeated, and before he lost the Doc's attention asked, "Did you get your Secret Santa assignment yet?"
Zelenka waved a hand. "Yes, yes. I am to be the Secret Santa for Doctor Beckett, for whom I have no idea what to get or make."
Perfect. "Wanna trade?" Evan asked, holding out the paper from Sheppard. "I've got Doctor Weir."
Zelenka's eyebrow swent up and within seconds Evan had the bottom half of the print-out torn off with Beckett's name scrawled in dry erase marker on the bottom.
From there it was just a matter of waiting, because Evan went straight to Lieutenant Cadman and told her he'd give her Carson--but would only trade his name for Doctor Parrish's. After all, why should Evan do all the leg-work? That's what subordinates were for. Laura didn't even grumble or swear at him. Much. That done, Evan headed to the mess for a late lunch. Then he went to find Doctor Parrish.
The greenhouse was brightly lit and fresh-smelling as always, and Evan felt himself relax as soon as he walked in. There was something soothing about the smell of plants, which might explain why Parrish was always so laid back. He walked through a thin mist made by the watering system and headed to the back, from where Evan could hear Christmas music playing.
Doctor Parrish was checking the soil in a line of pots, from which tiny seedlings were starting to sprout. An iPod was propped up next to him, connected to a small speaker. Evan walked into his line of sight and waved, earning a grin in response. Parrish set down the digital hygrometer and wiped his hands on his pants. "What can I do for you, Major?"
"Well," Evan drawled, "I thought you might like to come over tonight and help me put up Christmas decorations."
"Oh." Parrish looked surprised, but pleased. Evan was glad he thought to invite him. "I'd love to. But...why me? I don't have an artist's eye for detail like you do."
Evan would disagree with that, seeing as Parrish had picked out the most aesthetically perfect Christmas tree he'd had ever laid eyes on. He rested his hip against the table and said, "Oh, come on Doc--I figured it out." Leaning forward he added, "Actually it was pretty obvious once I gave it some thought."
Parrish blushed to his hairline, making his dusting of freckles stand out. "Oh. Well, I--" He looked away, embarrassed, then continued, "I didn't think you'd find out. I wanted to say something, but--" He stammered to a halt, then took a deep breath. Looking back up he met Evan's eyes. "I'd love to come over. What time?"
"Whenever you're done here. After dinner, maybe? Or we could get dinner together first." Evan figured he could have his paperwork done by dinner time if he hurried. The important stuff, anyway. Paperwork was never really finished.
Parrish was all nods and smiles. They agreed on a time and Evan left the serenity of the greenhouse to get back to work. He hummed Christmas carols all afternoon and finished up early enough to shower before dinner.
Evan's sense of excitement must have been showing because when Parrish saw him in the mess, his smile brought out his dimples. It was nice enough weather to sit on the balcony, and the sun was just beginning to set. "Doesn't feel much like Christmas, does it?" Evan said, settling into his chair. "It got colder than this back home even though we didn't get snow."
"We never got snow, either," Parrish said. They chatted for a while about their homes and childhood memories of Christmas and found they had a lot in common despite being from opposite sides of the country. Evan was soon laughing at Parrish's story about when he and his siblings had found and opened all of their presents before Christmas and re-wrapped them, thinking that their parents wouldn't notice. "Unfortunately they were re-wrapped about as well as you'd expect them to be by three excited little kids." David grinned and took a bite of casserole. "My mom took one look and exploded. She also blamed me because I was oldest, but it was all my sister's idea."
"My sister got me in trouble all the time," Evan laughed. "I only hope her kids give her as much grief." Evan noticed Lieutenant Cadman waving at him from a nearby table; she raised her eyebrows at him, then pointed at Doctor Parrish and gave a thumbs up. Evan found himself blushing without really knowing why. Something about the way she smirked, probably; that woman could make anyone blush with a single raised eyebrow that implied you were thinking dirty thoughts and she knew it.
Evan was surprised that David--they'd gotten to first names at dinner--had not to said anything about his not-Secret Santa gift through the entire meal or on their way to Evan's quarters. If he was keeping up the pretense just for fun he was doing a good job. He even reacted to the sight of the Christmas tree like he'd never seen it before. "It's lovely," David said, crouching down to peek under the lowest branches. "It's even in a pot so it can be planted later."
"And look," Evan said, deciding to play along, "there's all this." He pulled open the top box of bulbs and handed one to David. "My sister and I decorated the tree every year and my mom never fixed them, even when we could only reach the bottom half of the tree."
David hung the gold ball and said teasingly. "At least this one is short enough that you can reach all the branches."
"Be nice or Santa will put you on the naughty list." Evan laughed and grabbed another ornament.
David's expression stopped Evan in mid-reach, hand inches from the needles. "I can be nice," David said. "And also very naughty," he added with a devilish smirk
It felt like the room tilted and everything slid into place. The blushes. The stammering. The tree. "Oh," was all Evan could say as everything tilted again and he found himself flush against David, lips pressed to his. David cupped his jaw and held him in place, exploring softly as Evan opened his mouth. David pulled back and took the ornament from Evan's hand. "Do you want to finish decorating, or--?"
Evan took the ornament back again and very carefully hung it on the nearest branch. Then he turned and pulled David down for another kiss. He guided David toward the bed and started on the buttons on David's shirt, thinking that it was like unwrapping the best Christmas present ever. He took his time, cherishing each inch of skin as it was exposed: broad shoulders, flat stomach, thin hips. He knelt in front of David, hands braced on David's thighs, kissing where fingers met flesh. David watched with rapt attention, muscles jumping under Evan's mouth.
Evan wondered why he'd waited for an excuse like the tree to get David like this, because it was glorious, perfect. David's straining cock was begging for attention, so Evan took it into his mouth, sinking all the way down until his forehead was resting on David's stomach. David moaned and tangled his hands in Evan's hair and when Evan started to apply pressure with his tongue the moan became a gasp. The sound traveled right down Evan's spine to his dick and he realized he hadn't even managed to get his own clothes off. But it didn't matter, because every time Evan slid up and down David's length the pitch of his breathing got higher and Evan was enjoying this too much to stop.
Except that David was leaning on Evan now to keep his balance, and it wouldn't do to have him collapse. He pushed on David's legs a little and David fell back onto the bed. Evan crawled forward between David's bent knees, and this was better because now he could apply tongue and fingers everywhere, listening for the little sounds that meant yes, that, and again. It had been a while since Evan had done this and he felt greedy for it, starved. He didn't want to hurry and yet he couldn't not hurry, because causing David to make that breathy whine and to hitch his hips was easily the greatest accomplishment of his week and so he circled his tongue again and again until David was panting in rhythm to Evan's movement. David gasped Evan's name in supplication and release; Evan swallowed and held David on his tongue, rubbing his hands up and down David's thighs until he was breathing normally again.
Then Evan stood and smiled at the way David was sprawled messily across his bed. That was certainly a sight he could get used to. He gave David a minute to recover as he removed his own restrictive clothing. Then he tugged on David's legs and got him all the way on the bed, stretching out beside him and running a hand over his chest. "I believe you said something about being naughty," Evan said. "Or was it nice?"
That earned a lazy grin and another flash of dimples. "Oh, yes. But that tree isn't going to decorate itself, you know." Evan laughed and moaned at once, and David rolled until he was on top of him, settling his hips between Evan's legs. Smiling wickedly, David reached up a hand and brushed his thumb over Evan's nipple. "Of course it is the season for getting and giving." Evan arched into the touch, wanting more. David obliged, circling his thumb until Evan was bucking his hips and groaning. He ignored it, moving to the other nipple instead. Evan's muttered, "God, David--" only made David's smile widen. Then David finally slid his long frame down until his lips brushed Evan's cock. It was a feather light touch, no more, and gone in a moment. It was difficult to lie still instead of the thousand things he wanted to do to David then. David seemed to sense this and held his hand flat against Evan's stomach as he continued to tease. Evan was ready to beg if he had to, only his breath was so ragged he wasn't sure he could. Then, with a suddenness that made Evan gasp, David's tongue licked across Evan's hole and fuck that felt good.
It was difficult to keep track of time after that. David continued to flick his tongue over the ring of muscle and up across his perineum, and Evan thought he hadn't ever felt anything so good until David pushed a single finger inside him and wrapped his other hand around Evan's cock. Then his brain exploded and went offline for a while. When he managed to open his eyes, David was grinning down at him. "I'm not sure if that counts as naughty, or nice."
"Nhhh," Evan managed, feeling that it could go either way. He closed his eyes again as David lifted off the bed, returning a few moments later with a washcloth and smelling like he'd used Evan's mouthwash. Which was great, because he could do with some more kissing right now. Kissing, and maybe a nap, and then possibly he'd be able to move enough to get up and finish decorating the tree.
Rodney awoke to the smell of brewing coffee. He figured Radek must have started a fresh pot and wondered what time it was. Then as the fog of sleep completely lifted he realized he wasn't slumped over his keyboard; he wasn't even in his lab. He was in his own quarters, which sadly never smelled like coffee because the professional-grade coffee maker he'd requisitioned on the very first re-supply trip the Daedalus ever made had ended up in the science lab after everyone had ganged up on him and told him he had to share. He didn't have a coffee maker in his room. Except he did. It was sitting on his rarely-used Kitchen counter, gurgling happily.
It was, in fact, a very nice coffee maker; Rodney could see that much even from where he lay propped up on his elbows in bed. Then he saw it: a bow, stuck to the outside of the pot. The smell was too enticing to stay where he was. Tucked behind the machine was an unlabeled brown bag of beans, a grinder, and a huge mug with a candy cane-shaped handle. He stared at it for almost a full minute until a beep alerted him that the brewing process was complete. It wasn't until he'd poured a cup and taken a sip that the reality set in: he had the best Secret Santa ever. Anyone who gave him a full pound of Jamaican Blue Mountain gained his absolute adoration. Then he wrinkled his brow and asked the empty room, "But who?" They'd only gotten their assignments yesterday, and Rodney doubted that the person who'd drawn his name had conveniently had a coffee maker sitting around just waiting for the occasion. Nor did it explain the Power Bar, which he'd gotten before anyone had names at all.
No, it hadn't been his Secret Santa. Rodney finished the first cup and held off on a second until he'd finished getting dressed. He managed to empty the pot and took his last cup with him to the science labs. By the time he got to the science wing he'd come to the only conclusion possible: John. John was the only one who knew how Rodney felt about coffee and didn't make fun of him for it. Not much, anyway. Less than other people. He'd have to think of something suitable to give John in return.
Pondering the options, Rodney almost walked into Radek, who was just coming out of one of the smaller auxiliary labs. "Oh, Rodney," Radek said, flattening against the doorframe. "I was just coming to look for you. Tell me--has anything odd happened to you lately?"
Rodney, still distracted by thoughts of John, furrowed his brows and answered, "What? No, of course not. Have you heard me complaining about anything odd happening to me?"
Radek sighed. He looked like he hadn't slept in a few days. "But I was sure--" he muttered.
Rodney stepped around him and said, "Well, when you figure it out--whatever it is--talk to me then. I have work to do." But before he started anything else, he'd have to give John's present more thought. What was equivalent to the best coffee he'd had in almost two years?
John was about to step out of the lunch line when the airman on KP duty said, "Hey, Colonel, I almost forgot. This was sitting here for you this morning." He handed John a cardboard box decorated with reindeer. John tucked it under his tray with a thanks and headed to a nearby table. Teyla and Ronon greeted him as he sat and eyed the box with curiosity.
"Is that for the Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Gift Exchange?" Teyla asked. John shrugged and pulled off the top. In the box were nestled a few dozen cookies, each kind piled in a ruffled white paper cup. In the center was a plastic-wrapped fruitcake.
"Sweet," Ronon said, reaching over to snag a red and white pinwheeled cookie. "Secret Santa cookies."
John let him take the cookie, and two more, before it even registered that his treats were going to disappear as quickly--if not as mysteriously--as they'd appeared if he didn't protect them. But Teyla was politely raising an eyebrow at him, so he nudged the box in her direction and snagged a decorated sugar cookie. His mom had made cookies like this. After she'd died, he and his brother had tried to take over the tradition, but it hadn't been the same.
"I'm not sure it was my Secret Santa," John said. He'd told Rodney about his pathetic stint at cookie baking when they were exchanging reasons why they disliked the holiday. It could be a coincidence--the cookies were too fresh to have come on the Daedalus, and Rodney had never used his kitchen, as far as John knew. But for some reason he was sure it had been Rodney.
"Well then, someone likes you very much," Teyla said, choosing another of the baked treats.
Could that be it? Rodney had never been one to talk about feelings, and if anyone ascribed to the adage that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach, it was him. John chewed and thought about that. After lunch, which at this rate would consist mostly of cookies, he'd go find Rodney in the labs and ask him one last time to...hang out. In John's quarters. Just the two of them.
But Rodney wasn't in his lab. John poked around until he found Radek in one of the smaller adjacent rooms. "Hey, Radek," John called from the doorway. "Have you seen Rodney?"
Radek gave him a dismissive wave and continued to type. "He said he has gone to get more coffee." He glanced up and added, "But Colonel, while you're here--have you noticed anything strange lately?"
John laughed. "Other than the fact that Rodney keeps disappearing on me?" He shrugged. "Nope."
Radek visibly sagged and John squelched the urge to ask him what was wrong. He had more important things to do than listen to a rant about power fluctuations or whatever the problem was.
How had he missed Rodney between the mess hall and his labs? He vowed to track down Rodney later. If he didn't see him by dinner he'd take the cookies to Rodney's quarters to share some and to...thank him.
They'd finally managed to get the tree mostly decorated after a morning of mind-blowingly awesome sex. Evan and David had then parted to head to their respective jobs and agreed to meet for dinner again. Evan made a brief stop at his quarters after lunch and broke into a fond smile at the sight of the tree; he'd never look at one quite the same again. David had never admitted to putting it there, but then, he had been a little distracted. Evan grabbed the folder he was looking for off the desk and stopped short at the sight of a box of candy canes sitting next to his clock. He'd mentioned that it was the only thing the tree was missing, and here they were. He'd have to find out how David had managed it. He'd have to thank him, too, and he had a few pretty good ideas about that.
And he had to find time to work on David's presents while he was at it. He'd wanted to use the cover of the Secret Santa exchange to give him the sketches he'd been working on, but he didn't really need the excuse now. Still, he needed to find something to give David in the meantime so that their gift giving was a little more even. He thought about it as he headed back to his office, and halfway there changed direction and went to the gym instead.
Teyla was there as he'd hoped she'd be. She was finishing a self-defense lesson for a few of the scientists, and Evan waited on the box seat under the stained glass window until everyone else had left. Finally she turned to him and asked, "Can I help you with something, Major?"
Evan explained what he needed. Teyla readily agreed and told him she would speak to him again at the same time the next day. That done, Evan returned to his office and spent a few distracted hours doing paperwork and thinking about David.
It seemed like it was becoming a pattern. Dinner and then back to Evan's quarters, where they managed to hang one ornament apiece on the tree before falling into bed together. It was a pattern that could continue indefinitely as far as Evan was concerned. They were familiar with each other now, though certainly not past the stage where they were eager to explore, and explore they did. Evan laid curled over David's chest, fondly running his hand up and down David's stomach from the top of his ribcage to the first curls of hair under his bellybutton. "If we finish putting the candy canes on the tree tonight," Evan suggested, "We'll have more time for sex in the morning."
"Mmmm, sex is good." David murmured contentedly. He kissed the top of Evan's head and added, "Candy canes?" He sounded genuinely curious, and Evan wondered for a moment if the box had come from his real Secret Santa. But no--they'd talked about candy canes just that morning. Evan reluctantly stood and walked over to pick up the box. He tossed it onto the edge of the bed and pulled on a pair of sweats.
"Candy canes," Evan said.
David touched the bow on the top of the box. "I think someone has a crush on you," he said.
Evan grinned. "Think so?" He leaned over to kiss David and then pulled him to his feet. Evan eyed David's discarded uniform and rummaged in his drawer until he came up with another pair of sweat pants. He threw them to David and pulled out his one holiday shirt. His nephews had picked it out for him, which was the only reason he'd ever worn it; it was bright green and had jingle bells on the front. David grinned at the choice and pulled it over his head.
They made short work of putting the candy canes on the tree, and Evan unwrapped the last one and stuck it in his mouth. They plugged in the lights and admired their handiwork, then David sat on the couch and pulled Evan into his lap. "You've certainly been nice," he said. "I bet Santa will give you whatever you want."
"I thought I was naughty," Evan said around the candy. He shifted until he could rub against David through the sweat pants, then leaned back and drew the candy cane slowly from his mouth and waggled his eyebrows suggestively. David gave a short huff of laughter and leaned in to suck hungrily on Evan's neck.
The Christmas tree was just close enough for Evan to reach over the back of the couch and hang the partially eaten candy cane on the end of a branch. He pulled David up and kissed him as thoroughly as he knew how. Then he pushed at the green shirt until it was bunched up under David's armpits and rubbed his thumbs over his exposed nipples. He knew exactly what he wanted; David's offer--joking or not--made his pulse race. Anything. "Bed, or stay on the couch?" Evan asked.
In answer, David pulled his shirt the rest of the way off and shimmied under Evan until he'd managed to pull the sweat pants down around his hips. Evan shifted his weight onto his knees and tugged down his own sweats; he rubbed their cocks together, slowly moving his hips until they were both moaning at the contact. Evan leaned forward and brushed his lips against David's ear. "I want to fuck you, David," he whispered, and just saying it out loud made him shiver.
"God, yes," David answered, sounding hoarse. Evan padded across the room to rummage in the nightstand, David watching his every movement. The couch was the perfect height for Evan to kneel with David's knees over his shoulders. He slicked his fingers and pushed in and twisted until David's eyes shut of their own accord while he used Evan for leverage to lift his hips into the movement. When David started to plead, Evan straightened and pushed forward, sliding into David slowly because, God, what a view. And the perfect angle, judging by David's gasp and shudder. Evan stilled, reveling in the feel of it, marveling in the needy look in David's lidded eyes.
For all that this was new, Evan felt like they'd done this a hundred times, David braced against the back of the couch and rocking forward with every thrust; the already-familiar gasps and little hums of pleasure; their crescendos rising in harmony as Evan couldn't hold back anymore and drove with abandon, David's tightening grip on his biceps encouraging him on. When David started to clench his muscles around Evan at the cusp of each thrust, Evan had just enough awareness left to wrap his still-slicked hand around David's cock and lean into his thighs as he stroked. David came with a choked-out gasp and Evan followed a moment later. Evan pulled out as David's legs slid off his shoulders, and he leaned forward to rest his head against David's chest with a happy sigh. David rubbed at the back of his neck until the sweat started to cool on their bodies.
By the time they'd showered and curled up in bed, Evan was too relaxed to care that he still hadn't asked David where he was getting all of the goodies. He vowed to find out the next day, and slid into sleep.
But the next day was too hectic, what with Sergeant Coughlin nearly driving a four-wheeler off the south pier. Evan was startled awake by the crackle of his radio; Lieutenant Reed was shouting through the earpiece and whooping with excitement, yelling for Evan to get down there now and Evan nearly put his pants on backwards in his hurry.
"What--? David asked sleepily from the bed.
Evan leaned down to kiss him and said, "Raincheck on the morning sex, sorry," and bolted out of the room. Three transporter rides later he was running out into the morning, toward where a small crowd had started to gather. Colonel Sheppard and Ronon were there looking like they'd been out for their daily run, and it took Evan a moment to figure out what was going on.
As he pushed his way through the gathered marines and airmen, Reed grabbed him and pulled him toward the front. "Check it out, sir!" Reed yelled. "Neil got an ATV from his Secret Santa!"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Evan finally broke through the line and sure enough, Coughlin was tearing toward them up the pier on a bright red ATV. "That's--what the fuck?" Evan couldn't believe it, but there it was. He'd been amazed at the thought of David sneaking a Christmas tree across half the city, and here someone--how? Who?--had managed to bring a four-wheeler into the city? Coughlin swerved in a circle that was a little too close to the crowd for Evan's taste and raced back in the other direction.
"Lorne," Colonel Sheppard said casually from behind his shoulder. "Please explain to me what's going on here."
Evan glanced back with a shrug. "Your guess is as good as mine, sir." He hitched his thumb in Reed's direction. "Says his Secret Santa gave it to him."
"Was it, by chance," Sheppard asked, "listed in the Daedalus manifest?"
"Don't think so," Evan answered. There had been a few crates large enough to hold the vehicle labeled "science equipment" in the last run, but surely they would have passed some sort of inspection before being loaded?
Sheppard rubbed the back of his head. "Is it against regulations?"
Evan considered it and realized that no one had probably ever, in the entire history of the SGC and possibly the military in general, had to actually create a rule about sneaking ATVs onto an installation. "I don't think so, sir," Evan said. "Technically speaking."
"Does that thing have weapons?" Ronon was watching Coughlin as he spun and came towards them again, apparently happy just to drive up and down the pier's length.
"No." Sheppard sounded disappointed. "But that would be cool." Ronon seemed less interested after that, and took off to finish the run. Sheppard stayed beside Evan, though, waiting for Coughlin to finish his joy riding. "It's electric," Sheppard said after a moment, and Evan realized that yeah, the thing was running almost silently. "Think he'd let me use it on missions?"
Evan grinned at his commanding officer. "He's on my team, sir." Though frankly, Evan didn't see Doctor Weir approving it for offworld use. In fact, they should go make a report, though word of the gift had probably already reached her. He suggested it to Sheppard and the man nodded, and as they turned to go, Coughlin let out a yell. Evan whipped back around to see the four-wheeler skid on a patch of salt water and head toward the edge of the pier. It would have been disastrous if the thing's battery had not chosen that moment to run out. Coughlin rolled to an inelegant halt inches from the water.
Coughlin's face was white, but he put his arms up into the air and whooped. The crowd clapped in appreciation. "That man is a menace," Evan muttered.
"He's on your team," Sheppard smirked.
They left Coughlin and a few straggling onlookers to push the vehicle back inside and headed to Doctor Weir's office. She had, in fact, heard about the morning's events but seemed completely unperturbed.
"It's just not appropriate for a Secret Santa exchange," Sheppard argued. "I'd feel stupid giving my recipient bootlegged porn when Coughlin got an ATV."
Weir raised her eyebrow at that. "Winter Celebration and/or Holiday Gift Exchange," she amended. "And really, John--porn?"
"For example," Sheppard said, looking embarrassed. "Seriously, who'd give something like that?" Evan wondered if Rodney knew everyone's assigned Secret Santa, and if he'd spill if they asked not-so-nicely.
"Let's just be pleased that people are taking this seriously, if a bit over-zealously," Doctor Weir said, making it clear that that was the end of that.
"What have you gotten so far?" Evan asked her, giving in to her stubbornness. Surely not everyone was giving outrageous presents. He was pretty sure Teyla had been on her way to give her recipient a set of scented candles, if the bundle she'd had when they passed her on the way up here was any indication.
Weir smiled pleasantly. "Well, today I received a lovely pair of wool socks," she said, pulling up a pant leg to show them. It looked like they'd been knitted by the Athosian children; it was decently made but drooped around her ankle.
"Yeah, that's...great," Sheppard said. He and Evan exchanged a glance and made their excuses to leave.
"Something's weird," Evan said when they were in the corridor and out of earshot. David had never acknowledged giving him anything, but it was impossible that his gifts had come from his Secret Santa. "I mean, Coughlin and the ATV, plus I got a Christmas tree and boxes full of decorations..."
"You got a Christmas tree?" Sheppard asked in surprise. "Cool. I bet your Secret Santa is Doctor Parrish."
Evan blushed. "Maybe," he said evasively. "But don't you think it's a little strange?"
Sheppard slapped him on the shoulder and smiled. "Well, I doubt this is some trick by the Wraith," he said. "And we'll find out in a few days at the Christmas party who everyone's Santa is."
Evan nodded, but couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
John headed back to his quarters since he was still wearing his running clothes. He jogged the distance, partly because he hadn't finished his run that morning, and partly because he hadn't gotten a Secret Santa present yet that day. He hoped something would be waiting in his quarters, and wasn't disappointed. Sitting on his bed were two remote-controlled cars. He grinned. He'd always wanted toys like these as a kid, but his father always insisted on educational ones instead. Ripping open one of the boxes, John saw that it had a rechargeable battery pack--perfect, since getting a regular supply of double-As was a pain in the ass. He opened the other package and plugged both of them in to the adapter in the wall. He'd challenge Rodney to a race later, and it was possibly the one thing the scientist would stop work for.
Thanking him for the cookies had not gone as planned. He'd taken them to Rodney's quarters only to find him hyped on caffeine and barely able to sit still. The extra sugar hadn't helped. John had been in Rodney's room only long enough to connect Rodney's new coffee maker to his excited state before he'd grabbed a handful of John's cookies and said that he had to get back to his lab. Tonight John promised he'd find a way to keep Rodney pinned in one place. So to speak.
His laptop was also finished burning the DVD he'd started before he left that morning. He didn't care what Elizabeth thought. Guys liked porn. John had chosen his favorites from his hard drive, and he figured if nothing else it would send a pretty clear message to Rodney. He took the bow from one of the race car boxes and stuck it to the top of the DVD case. Then he showered and changed and headed to his office, swinging by Rodney's place first to slip the DVD onto his desk.
There was another package already there. It was wrapped in red and green striped paper, and had a fluffy green bow on the top. John itched to open it. Someone else was giving Rodney presents. He thought about the amount of time Rodney supposedly spent in his labs, despite the fact that he was never actually there when John went looking for him. Then there was the fact that Rodney hardly spent any time with him or the team anymore. Maybe...maybe he was already seeing someone else. John grimaced and dropped the DVD case on the desk. At least Rodney could still get some use out of the gift.
John was definitely not in the holiday spirit when he returned to his office to work.
part two