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John knew how to dance, from the waltz to the tango and a lot in between. His father had made him attend classes when he was a teenage boy. Back then he couldn’t care less about the dances, but he did care about his classmates. Most of them had all been beautiful young women and dancing with them made his teenage hormones go crazy. It was the only reason he did his best in class, so his classmates would choose him as a dance partner.
Now though all his classmates paled in comparison to Elizabeth who was wearing a tight-fitting long burgundy dress with a slit on the side that seemed to go on forever and an open back. Under it, she wore impossibly high black heels.
He gaped and he knew he wasn’t the only one.
He was leaning against the bar as she walked up to him, grabbed the champagne glass from his hand, and took a gulp. These kinds of parties used to make her feel at home. Now they felt crowded and stuffy and not at all pleasant. She knew Atlantis had changed her, but only now she realized just how much.
Looking at John, she couldn’t help but grin. He was still staring. At least she still made heads turn and John had never seen her dressed like this in the two years they had been working together.
“Close your mouth, Colonel.”
He did and swallowed, looking a bit sheepish. “Sorry.”
Her grin turned into a soft smile. When he looked at her like that, it didn’t bother her at all. It actually made her feel good. Made her feel more feminine than she usually felt.
“Grab us another drink and I might forgive you.”
He nodded and turned to the bar where he took two more glasses of champagne and then handed her one.
“I see you’ve positioned yourself near the source of the alcohol.”
He shrugged. “I’ve done enough of these to know alcohol will get me through it.”
“And here I am, thinking I would get you through it.” She surprised herself. Was she openly flirting with him?
John smirked. Was she flirting with him? He was all for it, but he also knew not to push it. SGC and IOA people were here too and drawing attention to themselves was probably not the best strategy. He couldn’t help himself though. “If you want to help me through it, I’d need at least one dance.” At the moment he said it, he regretted it. Dancing with Elizabeth? With that outfit she was wearing... Why had he mentioned it?
She looked at him for a moment, seemingly unsure of how to react. Dancing with him, in the White House, among their peers, whom she knew were keeping an eye on them, but she also didn’t want to miss this opportunity. “I can do the one dance.”
John’s face showed surprise, terror, and elation all at the same time. He extended his hand to her and she took it. For a moment they just stared at each other. Touching was usually not something they did, unless it was in a dire situation.
He swallowed but started walking towards the dancefloor where they turned to each other.
Their hands stayed together as she put her other hand on his shoulder and he put his other hand just above her hip.
He swallowed again as they gently started swaying to the music.
*So close, yet so far,* sounded through the speakers and John realized just how right that was. This was probably the closest they had ever been, besides life-or-dead situations, but he also knew this was the closest they could ever get. Neither were ready to risk their positions in Atlantis for a fling. Though he doubted very much, that if anything ever did happen between them, it would just be a fling.
The song ended and she took a step away from him, a trace of regret flashing on her face.
“Thank you for the dance, Colonel.”
He nodded and watched her walk away. For some reason, he was absolutely certain she had entertained the same thoughts about them.
Maybe one day they will be ready to face their feelings… but not yet…