John yawned and stretched, wincing when the muscles in his back and legs gave a little twinge. He shifted his hips a little, thinking that he could ignore the pressure in his belly a little longer but his bladder had other ideas.

He sat up and pushed the blanket back then sleepily realized that he was alone on the narrow bed. He reached out, rubbing his hand over the spot where Susan had been curled up beside him. The space was still warm but that didn't mean anything. The bed was so small that they'd had to sleep practically on top of one another, not that he'd minded that one damn bit.

Swinging his legs out, he got to his feet and scrambled around under the blanket until he found his boxers. Pulling them up over his lean hips, he slipped into his pants and tucked his bare feet into his boots. Pulling his shirt over his head, he stuck his head out from behind the curtain that separated their space from the main living quarters and frowned slightly.

It was strangely quiet. He couldn't even hear the gentle sounds of Jaiya snoring and when he finally pushed back the curtain and stepped out, he realized why. Jaiya's bed was made and though the narrow table was set for breakfast, no one was in sight.

John rubbed his hand through his mussed hair and scratched his fingers over the stubble on his face. He didn't want to feel worried. Quickly, he pushed that thought out of his head before it even got a chance to take root in his brain. His bladder suddenly reminded why he'd gotten up in the first place and he turned toward the door. Pushing back the curtain, he stepped out and shivered slightly when the cool air touched his skin. He started to go back for his jacket but his other need was too urgent and he stepped out letting the curtain fall behind him.

Quietly, he made his way through the line of huts. The village was slowly starting to wake up but thankfully he didn't meet anyone else on his way toward the clump of bushes near the leading edge of the forest. Some of the bushes were taller and wider than he was and he stepped behind the closest one. He nearly caught himself in the zipper of his pants when he heard a noise coming from somewhere behind him.

“Shit!” He grimaced and turned his head. But no one was behind him. He cocked his head slightly, listening. When he didn't hear anything else, he zipped up, turned around and his jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

He shook his head, thinking that he hadn't seen what he thought he'd seen. And then he saw it again. He heard a definitely female giggle and then the flash of a creamy white thigh as something darted through the bushes next to him. It was a young woman, her hair bound up in braids and a thin gauzy looking thing that looked like a towel wrapped around her. She turned and winked at him and then was gone as quickly as she had appeared.

John felt his face getting red and he backed up a step, only to stop short when he bumped into something and felt the touch of someone's warm, firm hands on the back of his shirt. He cringed, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand up when he recognized the woman's soft scent.

“I hope you got an eyeful.”

He swallowed hard and turned around. Susan was standing behind him, the hand that wasn't on his back was propped on her hip and she had a teasing smile on her face.

“Susan, I-”

“Oh, shut up.” Her hair was wet and she pulled it back from her face as she looked up at him. Standing on her tip toes, she lightly kissed him on the mouth. “I'm not worried about that.”

“Really?” He slid his arms around her, smiling slightly when her breasts pressed flat against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head back. “So you don't mind if I look?”

“Looking is okay.” She grinned at him. “But touch and I'll break every bone in your body.”

“Hmm...dangerous woman. I'll have to keep my eye on you.”

“Eyes, hands...you can keep anything on me that you want.” She pressed into him and slipped her leg between his knees.

He laughed and nuzzled his cheek over the soft skin of her throat. “Where the hell did you go? I woke up and you were gone.”

“Female thing.” She nestled closer, pressing her face against his chest and rocking slightly in his arms. “Teyla and Jaiya invited me.” She looked up at him and grinned slyly. “Bunch of naked women sitting around in a hot tub sharing an early morning bath. You would have been bored.”

“Damn. You'll have to tell me about it later.” He slid his hands down her back, slipping his fingers under the short hem of the towel. He rubbed his hands over her behind.

“You want me to tell you about a bunch of women taking a bath?”

“Just you.” He ran his hand over the cool, soft skin on her arm. “You know, maybe a little demonstration-”

“Or perhaps you can show him now.”

Startled, John jumped and dropped his hands. Letting go of her, he took a step back and nearly fell over a stick on the ground behind him when he looked up to see Teyla and Jaiya standing there. Susan laughed and he felt his face getting hot.

“Oh, isn't that sweet. He's blushing.”

“I must say, John.” Teyla smirked as she and Jaiya shared a look. “Red is a most becoming color on you.” She looked at Susan. “Perhaps you could persuade him to wear it more often.”

“I would say that she makes him wear it enough.” Jaiya laughed. She took Susan's hand and gave it a squeeze. “Your Colonel looks as if he needs a cleaning up. The bath's should be empty by now if you wish to take him there.”

“Mmm...that's okay.” John mumbled.

“Oh, stop being such a baby.” Susan laughed. “Look, you can even use my towel.”

John grabbed her hands when she started to tug the thing off of her. “That's okay, honey. I can wait until we get back to Atlantis.”

“But why?” Her lips titled into a saucy smile as she let her gaze travel over him. Then she grinned, patted his belly and turned to Teyla and Jaiya. “Oh, I forgot. He needs a bigger towel.”

Teyla and Jaiya burst into laughter and John felt his face go beet red.