(John Sheppard/Radek Zelenka) NC-17
Author's Notes: This started from a discussion in PrimeNotPrime chat, where Andromeda suggested vampire fic. The bunny wouldn't leave me alone, shamelessly egged on by Andromeda, sweetsubbie, and reedfem. Kageygirl didn't exactly discourage me either. Written as six seperate stories in the same universe. Beta by kageygirl and sweetsubbie.
Spoilers: "Defiant One", "Poisoning the Well"
John's favorite part of the Pegasus Galaxy was nights like this, when the full moon rose over the waters of Lantia and the waves shimmered in the white light. He could stand on the balcony and watch the water all night, were it not for other, pressing needs.
Like hunger.
Turning away from the balcony, he ambled back inside, nodding at the scientists and military personnel as they changed from the late to the graveyard shift. That term had always amused him. He'd spent time in a graveyard one summer, earning his college spending money by digging graves. It had been an interesting experience.
He wondered what the others in Atlantis would think of him, if they knew what he was. Only one person knew the truth, and he had a vested interest in keeping silent. It wasn't that John was ashamed of his heritage; on the contrary, he was proud of being one of the few left on Earth, and now in the two inhabited galaxies. No, he knew of the stories and rumors that twisted his heritage into something profane and evil, a thing to be destroyed. He'd managed to successfully mask his true self from the military on Earth, but here in Atlantis, there were fewer options. He'd had to risk revealing himself to at least one person. To his relief, he had chosen the right person.
Stopping at the door, John knocked quietly. When the person inside called for him to enter, he opened the door and stepped in, smiling.
Radek was sitting at the desk, working on his laptop. He looked up at John, then out the window to the moon. He nodded, closing down the computer before getting up. Wordlessly, he stepped forward into John's arms, leaning up to kiss the other man. It was a hot, wet kiss, tongues entangling and blood rushing through veins. Radek moaned as John broke off the kiss to lick his way down Radek's jaw, suckling on the skin. His lips settled over the pulse point, pulling the skin into his mouth, tongue stroking over the skin.
Radek was making needy sounds, whimpering. John hummed in his throat, knowing Radek was almost ready. A few more strokes, and John sighed against Radek's skin, feeling his mask drop away and his true self take over. Canine teeth elongated into razor-sharp fangs, increasing John's hunger. He could taste the blood in the vein through the skin. His eyes turned a luminescent green as his mouth opened wider, placing the fangs right over the vein. They sank through Radek's skin and into his vein easily, droplets of slick blood welling up past the teeth to tease John's tongue. He licked them away as more blood flowed through the veins and down his throat. The salty taste was more intoxicating than the most expensive champagne to John, and he drank it greedily.
Radek's whimpers were becoming continuous moans, and John reached down to run a hand across the front of Radek's trousers. Radek came with a shout, blood rushing more freely as he shook with the force of orgasm.
As Radek came down from the high, John withdrew his fangs, licking the wounds to close them. They closed with almost invisible scars -- someone would have to know what they were looking for to find them.
John urged Radek toward the bed, lying down and holding him close. He knew Radek would sleep through the night after this, but John wouldn't leave him. John would never leave him.
Radek woke first, stretching in John's embrace. John was still asleep, but that wasn't unusual for the night after a feeding. Radek traced the almost invisible marks on his neck, knowing that they would be considered ownership marks in some areas of his country. In the more extreme areas, Radek would be on a slightly higher rung than cattle.
John, however, put Radek on a pedestal.
Not for the first time, Radek wondered about John's tribe. The other man never spoke of them, usually changing the subject when Radek brought them up. Eventually, Radek had stopped asking. Still, he wondered. After all, there weren't a lot of tribes outside Eastern Europe, even now. The numbers dwindled every year as more and more of John's kind chose not to procreate -- most out of fear for their children as the world got smaller.
John stirred, pulling Radek closer before opening his eyes. They were their usual dark hazel now, not the luminescent green of feeding.
The hazel eyes darkened even more as John reached up to trace the feeding scars. He didn't say anything, instead pulling Radek into a gentle kiss. It was almost apologetic in its sweetness, as if John were sorry for hurting him. But Radek knew that John was not ashamed of what he was. Just as Radek was not ashamed of his choice to be with John.
He'd known what he was getting into when John had approached him. His grandmothers had told him stories of the vampire tribes in their country and how they treated those they fed off exclusively. It was a dangerous bargain that he would be making. Yet John didn't push. He had waited for Radek's answer patiently, instead of trying to force the issue. Trust was important, and John knew that.
He had been nervous, that first feeding. It was one thing to agree to this bargain, another to offer up your neck. But John had been gentle, using foreplay to dispel Radek's fears, making him want to be bitten as much as he wanted to come. The pain of the first bite had been almost orgasmic in itself, and John's next touch had brought him off. The next morning, Radek returned the favor, wanting John to come at his touch, to cry out his name in sexual need, not just hunger. Wanted to bind John to him as surely as he had bound himself to John.
Some might wonder at Radek's decision, to become Life's Blood to a Child of the Night. Radek had wondered himself in the beginning. But now, as John drew him deeper into lovemaking, Radek knew in his soul it had been the only choice he could have made.
"A Wraith captured Sergeant Bates's team. He tried to feed off Dr. Zelenka."
Elizabeth's announcement caused John's heart to stop. He was grateful for Rodney's presence, as the scientist asked the question John couldn't. "Is he alive?"
"Amazingly enough, Dr. Zelenka is fine. The Wraith . . . isn't. He's dead."
"What happened?" John finally asked.
"We don't know. According to Sergeant Bates, the Wraith was in the process of feeding when he screamed in pain and fell over. He never got up. I've sent a team to see if we can safely recover the corpse for an autopsy. Before you ask, Rodney, Dr. Zelenka is fine. This isn't like Dr. Gaul."
"How is that possible?" Ford asked.
"We're not sure," Elizabeth replied. "Dr. Beckett is checking Dr. Zelenka now."
Rodney took off for the infirmary. Teyla and Ford followed. John stayed behind. "You're wondering if we can turn this to our advantage," he said.
"If we can without hurting anyone, yes. I don't want this to be another Hoff."
John nodded. One of the control room techs called for Elizabeth and she nodded at John before turning away. John left to drop his gear off in the makeshift armory before heading to the infirmary.
Radek was in one of the far beds, dressed in the white medical scrubs non-critical patients wore. Rodney was sitting next to the bed, talking loudly and gesticulating wildly. John looked around for Carson, finding him peering into a microscope.
"So, what's up with Zelenka being a Wraith killer?" he asked the doctor.
Carson looked up. "I have no idea, Major. There's nothing in his blood work or his DNA that makes him different than any other human. It's possible there may have been something wrong with the Wraith's ability to feed, and it had nothing to do with Dr. Zelenka at all. I won't know until I get a chance to examine the Wraith." Carson looked over to where the two scientists were talking. "I'm keeping him overnight, just to be on the safe side."
John nodded, although he didn't like that last sentence. The full moon wasn't until the next night, but he'd been off world for a few days, and that often threw off his schedule.
"Let me know when he's been released, Doc. I'd like to talk to him about the incident," John said casually. Beckett nodded as he went back to studying the specimen in the microscope. John glanced over again at Radek and Rodney and left for his quarters. He had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Radek shifted in the infirmary bed, watching the moonlight stream in through the window. The night nurses were on the other side of the room, talking quietly as they did whatever nurses did at night.
He did not need to be here, but he could not tell that to Dr. Beckett and the others. He couldn't even tell Rodney what had truly happened. The only person he would be able to tell was John. But John had not come to see him. He'd talked to Beckett, but had not approached Radek.
Radek knew why. He could feel the hunger building in John, more so than usual on a night before the full moon. But John had been off world. Gate travel apparently threw off the moon cycle. John had once been gone for a week at the new moon, and come back as hungry as if he hadn't fed in two months. It had been scary and exhilarating for Radek, seeing how much John needed him, and how much his own life was at the mercy of John's inner soul when the vampire took over.
Radek pondered his options. John could not come here to feed -- that would be rather difficult to explain to the nurses and Dr. Beckett. It would also expose John to the fears and prejudices of the others on Atlantis. Or worse, to Radek's mind, the endless tests and questions of the scientists. After all, one could view vampires as cousins to Wraiths, taking blood instead of life.
John could wait until tomorrow night, but Radek did not think that was a good idea. The hunger was strong. Which meant Radek had to go to him. The nurses did not seem likely to let him go, however. They had fussed at him before when he got up to use the restroom.
Dr. Beckett appeared in the infirmary then, frowning as he saw Radek sitting up in bed. "You should be asleep," he said as he checked Radek's vital signs.
Radek shrugged. "I don't sleep well in strange beds. Took me a week to sleep normally after we got here." Which was true. Except for sleeping in John's bed. John's presence made all the difference.
Beckett frowned. "You don't appear to be suffering any ill effects from the Wraith attack, but I'm not sure about letting you go off on your own, just in case."
Radek shrugged, hoping the doctor would change his mind.
Beckett sighed. "Tell you what. I'll release you back to your own quarters, but I'm going to ask Major Sheppard to keep an eye on you. He wanted to talk to you anyway, about the incident. And you have to come back here first thing in the morning, before you go to your lab, understood?"
Radek nodded. "Ano . . . yes. I understand." This was better that he could have hoped for.
Beckett moved off to call John, while a nurse brought over his uniform. He changed in the restroom, grateful to be leaving.
Beckett was waiting for him. "The major's going to meet us at your quarters."
The walk was silent, with very few people around. John was outside Radek's quarters, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, a smirk on his face. "This is a change, usually it's McKay I have to baby-sit."
Radek gave John a disdainful look. "You are not babysitting, you are ensuring the health of a vital resource to Atlantis," he said loftily, with as much of McKay's arrogance as he could muster.
Beckett shook his head. "Play nice, you two."
John gave Beckett an innocent look that Radek knew did not fool the doctor. Beckett turned to Radek. "First thing in the morning."
Radek nodded and opened the door to his room. John followed him in, and Beckett walked away as the door shut.
For long moments neither man moved, waiting for Beckett to be safely away. Then Radek sat down on the bed and lifted his chin, exposing his neck. John's eyes went from hazel to pure green in an instant, before he tamped down the hunger.
"No, not like that," he said as he sat down next to Radek. He reached up to trail his fingers along Radek's jaw. "I thought I'd lost you. Not my Life's Blood, but you," he whispered.
Radek leaned forward to press his forehead against John's. "I know."
John was silent for a few moments, before asking, "How?"
Radek sighed, knowing John wanted to know how Radek survived. "Before he died, I heard the Wraith say something about me being marked as food for another, and that I was," Radek closed his eyes, "death to others who would feed from me." He opened his eyes to look at John.
John sat up, staring at Radek. "He knew you were Life's Blood?"
Radek nodded. "I don't know how he knew, but it appears that because I am your Life's Blood, they cannot feed off me, and they die if they try to do so."
"Beckett said he found nothing in your blood or DNA that would differentiate you from other humans, but that doesn't mean a Wraith wouldn't know." John gave a self-deprecating laugh. "After all, I'm not much better than the Wraith."
Radek grabbed John's shoulders. "You are not Wraith. You do not feed indiscriminately, with no thought as to the people you feed from."
"I still feed off people." It was a simple statement of fact, but alarming to Radek. It was the first time John had ever seemed ashamed of what he was.
"No. You feed off me, by my choice. You may not have had a choice about being what you are, but I did. If I had said no, would you have fed anyway?" Radek shook his head. "No." He narrowed his eyes. "If you couldn't find anyone else to approach, you would have starved to death, wouldn't you?"
John looked away. "Probably," he admitted.
"See? Not Wraith."
John shook his head, looking up at Radek with amusement. "Not Wraith," he echoed with a small smile. "Just me."
"And you are hungry," Radek stated. He leaned forward and kissed John. "When the Wraith came after me, I was worried about leaving you behind."
"I may never let you go off-world again," John said in between kisses. "I may never go off world again," he murmured against Radek's jaw.
"You will," Radek said with amusement. "Unless you tell Dr. Weir why you do not want to go."
"I think she'd been cool with it. Although she might want to watch," he added as he stripped off Radek's shirt, then his own.
Radek leaned back, pulling John with him. "Her, I do not mind watching. Rodney, that is another story."
"As long as it's not Kavanagh," John said before sucking on Radek's pulse point. The surge of lust that ran though Radek cut off whatever response he could have made. He arched his body, trying to get closer to John. This exposed more of his neck, and John hummed in appreciation as he licked the spot, getting ready.
Radek moaned. As always, he was balanced between wanting to come and wanting to be bitten. Either way would release the tension building inside him. He couldn't imagine having this reaction to anyone other than John.
John pulled back, and Radek could see the bright green of his eyes as the fangs slid into place. He shivered, wanting John badly. John leaned down and Radek exploded in pleasure as he felt the first prick of John's fangs against his skin. He continued to come as John drank, spiraling down when the fangs left his neck, whimpering at the loss. John licked the wounds closed and pulled Radek to him.
Radek looked up at the now hazel eyes and smiled. "Mine," he whispered as he reached up to trace John's jaw line.
John smiled back as his kissed Radek's fingers. "Yours," he replied before Radek could no longer hold back sleep.
"I'm the last of my tribe."
Radek looked up at the stark words. John never talked about his tribe, so this revelation was unexpected. He saved his work and put away the laptop, wanting to give John his full attention.
"We were never large, but we were close. More of a family than other tribes I've met. My mother raised me herself, since my father was human. He didn't find out about what my mother and I were until he came to visit the night before my 18th birthday."
John was quiet for a few moments. "It was a full moon. The one night my tribe has to feed. My father . . . didn't take it well."
John turned from the window to face Radek. "He came back to our camp two months later on the new moon with Hunters and . . . slaughtered them."
Radek blinked in shock. Hunters were barbaric, killing everyone in a tribe -- vampire or not. For John's own father to hire them meant he wanted the entire tribe dead -- including John.
"I was already at the Academy. It's the only reason I was spared. I knew it had happened, though. I knew it that night, long before the chaplain came to tell me. Of course, my father tried to have me kicked out of the Air Force, but my superiors never quite believed his tales of vampires. Plus, I only had to feed once a month, and there are ways around having to feed off humans."
Radek nodded, remembering the tales his grandmothers had told him.
"I want to rebuild my tribe when I get back to Earth. But I can't demand that you help me, Radek. No matter what the so-called rules regarding those who are Life's Blood say." John came over to sit next to Radek, fingers gently tracing the feeding scars. John's eyes began to lighten, and Radek felt the pull of John's hunger, despite it not being a full moon. "I always believed that when a person agreed to become your Life's Blood, it was a gift you should never take for granted. I don't want to be like the Wraith."
Radek reached up to capture John's fingers and pull them to his mouth. "You could never be Wraith." He sucked a finger into his mouth, watching the light in John's eyes get brighter as Radek lightly scraped the top of John's finger with his teeth. "I would never willingly let a Wraith feed on me." He let go of the finger. "And I would not have joined my soul to someone I did not trust completely."
John's eyes became blindingly green as his hunger took over. Radek pulled John down into a kiss, and then moved to offer his throat to John.
As the fangs slid in, Radek felt the change in John as the other man realized what really bound the two of them together. Not mere hunger or lust. Love.
John Sheppard was dying.
Radek stood on the balcony off the control room, hands white knuckled on the railing, staring into the water. The moon was full, creating white streaks on the black liquid. John loved these nights, Radek knew.
John would never see one again.
The Wraith had captured John's team on a mission, one of them grabbing John and feeding off him when the major had stepped in front of Rodney. The others had managed to hold off the Wraith and get John to the jumper, but the damage had been done.
He hadn't aged, like Dr. Gaul, but the feeding had knocked him out. It had been six days, and he had yet to regain consciousness. Radek had gone to visit him not long after he had first been brought in, accompanying a subdued Rodney. As soon as he entered the room, Radek had known what was truly killing John. The Wraith had drained his life energy, but John could have recovered from that, if he'd been allowed to be himself. If he'd been able to feed.
John Sheppard was literally starving to death.
The worst part, in Radek's view, had been when he had gone to Dr. Weir, in confidence, and told her about John. About what he needed to survive this attack, that it was related to how Radek himself had survived a Wraith feeding months earlier. Dr. Weir had been appalled, then angry with Radek and John for keeping this from her. When she calmed down, she'd forbidden Radek to try to feed John. It had been three days by then, and she was concerned that John would kill Radek in his need. She'd also told Beckett, and had Radek barred from the infirmary in case he might try to feed John.
So not only was John dying, but Radek couldn't even be at his side when it happened.
The doors behind him slid open, but Radek didn't turn. He just stared at the water, thinking about the night he and John had gone to one of the deserted towers and found a balcony that overlooked the ocean, not visible to the occupied areas. Outside, under the full moon, they'd made love before and after John fed, his pale body gleaming in the light. He'd been beautiful that night - green eyes the only spots of color, shining with lust and love, emotions Radek knew had been reflected in his own eyes.
"Radek." Rodney came to stand next to him. "I've heard rumors that you can save Major Sheppard."
Radek didn't respond, still looking over the water.
"Teyla, Ford, and I got permission from Beckett to spring John to a balcony, to see if maybe being outside might help. He said you weren't allowed into the infirmary. Nothing was said about balconies."
Radek sighed. "No. But Dr. Weir forbade me to try to save him, for fear it would cost my own life."
"Hm," Rodney said. "So you're going to let Major Sheppard die because Dr. Weir's afraid? Or are you?"
Radek turned to glare at Rodney, and something in his expression made the other scientist step back. "I would offer up my own still-beating heart cut from my chest to save John," Radek said fiercely.
Rodney looked startled, but then nodded. "The balcony by the infirmary, in half an hour," he told Radek before he left.
Radek turned and stared at the water again. Dr. Weir would be unhappy, but Radek truly did not care. John was all that mattered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Radek slipped onto the balcony, noticing that John was still hooked up to a few monitors. Rodney was fussing over the wires, while Teyla held John's hand and Ford was watching the monitors.
"Doctor Zelenka, is it true?" Teyla asked softly when she saw him.
Radek kept looking at John. "I can try. I make no guarantees." John was more pale than usual, his eyes sunken and his skin looking like an orange peel. This close, the hunger John felt, even while unconscious, was almost overwhelming.
"What do you need for this, Radek?" Rodney asked.
Radek looked up. "Privacy. This is not something I think I can do with an audience, and you will be able to tell Dr. Weir that you had no idea what I was going to do."
Ford looked as if he were about to protest, and Rodney looked disappointed. Teyla merely nodded. "Come," she said to the others. "The doctor is right."
They followed her, although Rodney gave one last look before the doors closed behind him. Radek turned to the bed, wondering if this would even work. If John had been able to feed not long after the Wraith had attacked him, he would not have been this weak. Blood would have replaced the life force taken from him. Instead, he had grown weaker as his body was deprived of the sustenance it required to survive. An IV drip or human food could only keep him going for so long.
Radek walked up to the bed and raised the head of it so John was nearly sitting upright. He then pulled a knife out of his pocket and made a small cut on one of his left fingers. Squeezing out some blood, he traced a line over the pulse point on the left side of his neck. Putting the knife away, he squeezed out a few more drops and put his fingers to John's lips, sliding them inside, hoping the taste of his Life's Blood would rouse John.
He felt something move against his fingers, and looked down at John. The man's eyes were opening, and the green of his irises was almost blinding in its intensity. Radek removed his fingers and tilted his head to expose the drying blood on his neck.
Before he could blink, John was on him, sinking his fangs into the vein, drinking deeply. Radek could feel the sharp hunger begin to abate. He closed his eyes, shivering as his body reacted to John's actions. This was the first time John had ever fed without some form of foreplay, but Radek still felt frissons of lust running through his nerves.
For long minutes John fed, and Radek never moved, even when he felt himself getting light headed. He would give up his life for John's, without question. It made no difference to him if he stepped in front of a bullet or let John drain his blood. The knowledge that John would survive gave Radek the peace to face his death.
Radek felt the 'pop' when John's fangs retracted and shivered again as John licked the wounds closed. John pulled back, staring at Radek with a confused expression on his face.
"A Wraith fed on you. It's been six days since the attack, but this is the first time you have fed," Radek explained.
John frowned. "Are you insane? I could have killed you."
Radek reached up to trace John's jaw line. "I was willing to take that chance for you, John."
"You're still insane." John looked around, noticing they were not in the infirmary. "Why am I out here?"
Radek sighed, but started swaying on his feet before he could answer. John reached out and grabbed him, pulling Radek onto the bed. "Easy, there," he said as Radek laid down. "God, Radek, I'm not worth killing yourself. You're way more important to this mission than I am." John shifted as Radek moved to rest his head on John's shoulder, wanting to feel the man's warmth.
Radek felt himself falling asleep, but managed to rouse enough to talk. "Not about mission," he murmured. "About love."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Furious, Elizabeth strode past the guilty trio and onto the balcony, aware that they were following her. She stopped short at the sight that greeted her -- Radek Zelenka curled up against John Sheppard. Radek's head was on John's shoulder, one arm around John's waist. John's head rested against Radek's, a hand resting on Radek's arm. The monitors showed marked improvement in John's vitals since the last time she had seen him in the infirmary.
Behind her, she heard Rodney give a soft exclamation of surprise. In response, John's eyes opened, and she idly noted they were a brighter green than usual. He glanced at all of them before closing his eyes again. "Later," he said quietly.
"John," Elizabeth began.
His eyes opened again. "Later. Otherwise you'll wake up Radek."
That stopped her. She hadn't been able to tell if Radek had been alive or not, but she doubted John would lie to her on this matter.
"I want Dr. Beckett to take a look at him," she finally said.
"Fine. Just don't wake him up." John looked behind Elizabeth. "Rodney, Teyla, Ford . . . thanks for getting me back here," he said as his eyes slid closed.
Carson arrived then and examined the two men. "Dr. Zelenka should be all right. Major Sheppard has improved almost seventy percent from when he was moved two hours ago. I'd like to get them both into the infirmary as soon as possible, though."
Elizabeth sighed, recognizing that they'd all done an end run around her. She shook her head. "Not until Dr. Zelenka's awake. John seems to be very determined that he get some sleep."
Carson chuckled. "I'm sure the major knows more about the situation than we do." He looked at Elizabeth. "And had a good reason to keep it a secret, apparently."
The subtle rebuke from Carson was unexpected. Elizabeth stared at him, but he didn't look away.
"Let me know when they're both awake," she said as she turned to leave. "We all need to talk."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
John woke, still hungry, but not the mindless feeding need of earlier. That had frightened him, when he'd regained enough of himself to realize that he was on the verge of draining Radek. Despite the hunger he had stopped, unable to kill Radek to save his own life.
Radek's eyes opened, and he smiled sleepily up at John. "Morning."
"Morning," John replied. "How do you feel?"
"Fine. But you are still hungry," he added with a frown.
"I can wait a few days. It's too soon for you." John was not about to let Radek put himself in danger again.
"Besides," came Dr. Beckett's voice, "I'd like to check you both over in the infirmary before there's any more neck biting going on, no matter what the reason." The doctor stepped into view from where he'd been hidden by the door, a small smile on his face. "I know Dr. Weir wants to talk with both of you as well."
"How long can we put her off?" John idly wondered. He really did not want to have to talk about this right now.
"It is worse than you know," Radek said softly. "I was not supposed to feed you. She would not let me into the infirmary. That is why you are out here, on the balcony."
John frowned at Radek. "She what?"
Carson sighed. "It's a long story, Major, but I'll put off Dr. Weir as long as I can."
John leaned his head back against the pillow. "It's times like these that I start to reconsider the whole 'indiscriminate feeding' taboo."
Radek arched an eyebrow. "You would cheat on me?"
John looked at him. "No," he said seriously. "You are my Life's Blood and my mate. You are the only person who could have brought me back after the Wraith attack." John's voice dropped to a whisper. "I love you too much to hurt you that way."
Radek ducked his head. "I love you, as well."
John felt rather than saw Carson withdrawing. He knew the doctor would be back, but right now, kissing Radek, he was thankful for the privacy.
John Sheppard was sitting next to Radek's infirmary bed, reading his book, when Elizabeth, Rodney, Teyla, and Ford walked into the infirmary. Sighing, John marked his page and closed his book, setting it on the bed. Radek looked up from his own book, but refrained from sighing as he closed his own book. They looked at each other, knowing that the discussion they'd hoped to put off for as long as possible was at hand. John got up and sat on Radek's bed next to him, wanting to be close.
Carson walked in, took one look at the group, and sighed as he came over to Radek's bed to check on him. He'd removed the saline IV from Radek earlier that morning. "Well, I think you're both well enough to leave, though I don't know about duty just yet," he added with a glance over at Elizabeth.
John shrugged, waiting.
Elizabeth glanced away, and then back. John kept looking at her. He didn't feel the need to make this easy for her. Not after she'd almost let him die, and would have kept Radek from him at the end. Of course, John pretty much figured it was a toss up between Elizabeth and Rodney as to who spoke first.
When the silence seemed to stretch, Radek picked his book back up and began reading again. John looked down and smirked. His lover wasn't about to make this easy for them, either.
"I just have to ask, do you really have to feed off live human blood?"
John looked at Radek, who shook his head. They'd both agreed that would be the gist of Rodney's first question.
John looked up at Rodney. "Yes, I do."
"But I've seen you eating human food." Rodney sounded puzzled.
John rubbed his eyes with a hand. "All right, here's the deal. Yes, I am a vampire. No, I don't burst into flame in sunlight or turn into a bat or die from a stake through my heart. There might be vampire tribes out there that have those problems, but not mine. Mine just needs human blood to survive. Once a month, on the full moon, I have to feed. If I don't, I'll get progressively weaker until I do feed, or I die. Human food keeps me going the rest of the time, but blood is required."
Radek set his book down. "Of course, gate travel tends to throw the cycle off for him, and he needs to feed more often at times." He shrugged. "But yes, once a month is required."
"It has to be live?" Ford asked, looking slightly disturbed. "Like, you can't just use the stuff the Doc keeps on hand?"
"First of all, the doc probably needs that for patients," John said. "Second, ever dump salt in your coffee instead of sugar? The chemicals in stored blood really make it unfit for consumption." John refrained from adding that fresh was always better than stored, since Ford was looking a little pale.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Elizabeth finally asked.
John sighed. "Because not everyone understands what I am -- Hollywood has made up so many myths and distorted the truth that revealing myself would lead to a lot of misunderstanding and fear." John looked away, and felt Radek take his hand. Radek knew what he was going to say. "My father was fully human. When he realized what my mother and I were, he had our tribe destroyed. I was the only survivor." Looking up, he saw the shocked faces of his friends. "It's hard to trust people after that."
"Your own father?" Carson asked quietly.
John nodded. "Needless to say, I don't talk to him anymore."
"If you weren't telling anyone what you are, how did you feed all these years?" Elizabeth asked.
"I can survive on animal blood if I have to, and generally, I can find people who aren't so closed-minded about vampires. Mostly civilians, but a few military personnel here and there. I don't like to feed indiscriminately; it raises way too many questions. There have been times I've gone for a few months without, just because there wasn't anyone around. It's not easy."
"Can you make someone else a vampire?" Rodney seemed eager to hear the answer. John sighed. Radek shook his head, and John leaned against him.
"In extreme circumstances, I could possibly turn someone," John began, "but in my tribe and most of the other tribes I know of, vampires are born that way. We don't actually have to feed on blood until we hit puberty, but we're born with the fangs. We just learn how to hide them."
Teyla finally spoke up. "I don't understand why you came to Atlantis if you were unsure about being able to feed while here."
John felt Radek looking at him. He squeezed Radek's hand. "There were a lot of reasons why I came, the main one being that I had the ATA gene and Dr. Weir wanted me on the mission. Not to mention, I had no idea if my vampirism was linked exclusively to Earth's moon or not. For all I knew, once I got here, I wouldn't be tied to that feeding schedule or have to even feed at all. But if I had to feed," John shrugged, "I hoped I would be able to find someone here, but I was resigned to not finding anyone."
"In other words, he planned to starve to death if he could not find someone," Radek said. "Not a pleasant way for a vampire to die." By the tone of his voice, Radek had not yet forgiven Elizabeth.
"So why Radek? Why not Ford, or Carson, or --"
John cut Rodney off, noting that the two other men were staring at him in shock. "Or you, Rodney?" Trust Rodney to be slightly offended by the fact that he wasn't on John's list of potential blood donors. "Actually, the reason I approached Radek first is that my tribe originated in what is now the Czech Republic. Tribal legend told of villages of humans that co-existed with vampire tribes, long ago. I'd hoped that maybe Radek had heard some of those legends and would be open-minded about it."
"My grandmothers told me the legends that survive in my country, so when John approached me, I was surprised to find that he was a vampire, but not surprised by their existence. He asked, and I said yes several days later. He gave me plenty of time to think about it, and make my decision. A decision I do not regret." Radek said the last looking straight at Elizabeth. She had the grace to look away.
"It's part of why Dr. Zelenka was able to withstand the Wraith feeding. He's bonded to Major Sheppard in such a way that renders him unfit for Wraith consumption," Carson said with a smile. "I can't find out what it is, but the Wraith can."
"And the Wraith can't kill Major Sheppard, though they can feed from him," Teyla said.
Carson nodded. "They don't age him; they just take the life force he gains from feeding on Dr. Zelenka."
"So if we'd put Dr. Zelenka in the jumper with the major when we returned, a few hours later he would have been fine," Ford stated.
"Yep," John replied.
"So why didn't you just feed off one of us when you'd regained consciousness in the jumper for those few moments?" Rodney asked.
John looked over at Radek, who was looking at him with surprise. "I couldn't have," John said. He wanted to say more, but found it hard with everyone watching.
"Life's Blood," Radek said softly. John nodded. Radek smiled at him and turned to the others. "When a vampire decides to feed off one person exclusively, a bonding can occur, where the vampire finds himself unable to feed from anyone else other than what's known as his Life's Blood. Since we both knew it was likely we'd be here in the Pegasus Galaxy for possibly the rest of our lives, I became Life's Blood to John. He could not feed off anyone else unless he was near dying and I was not close enough for him to feel my presence."
"Even when I was out of it, I knew Radek was close, so I never tried to feed from anyone else." John shrugged. "You never wondered why I didn't try to feed off one anyone who was treating me?" he asked.
"We assumed it was because you were unconscious," Elizabeth said.
"That was part of it, but I also knew they weren't the one I needed. Even if you had tried to feed me stored blood, I wouldn't have reacted. Not they way I did to Radek."
"You could have killed him." Elizabeth's tone held a trace of accusation.
"Yes, he could have killed me," Radek said. "But he did not."
"It was a near thing," John said with a scowl. "You took too much of a risk."
"You are worth it," Radek said with an air of finality. John shot him a look -- this discussion wasn't going to be over for a few days, but he wouldn't pursue it with the others in the room. Radek just smiled and patted John's hand.
"Have you fully recovered from the Wraith feeding?" Rodney asked. "I mean, that's it, Wraith feeds on you and you feed on Radek and it's like nothing ever happened?"
"He is still hungry." Radek scowled at John. "He just will not feed."
When everyone looked shocked, Radek looked up at the ceiling and rolled his yes. "Yes, I know when he needs to feed. I knew he was starving to death, after all."
"And I won't feed because it's too soon for you."
"I am fine! The doctor says so. You wait much longer, it will be worse. You know this." Radek frowned at John.
John narrowed his eyes at Radek. "Should I just feed right now?"
"Hello! We're still here," Rodney interrupted. "As much as watching might be scientifically intriguing, do you really want an audience?"
Radek shrugged. "I am sure Dr. Weir is going to want to make sure that I am in no danger from John."
Elizabeth looked abashed. "The thought had crossed my mind."
"So why not right now? Then we can get back to important things like defeating Wraith," Radek said. John smirked. For the two of them, this was life as usual. Feeding was only an unknown to the others.
"You really want us to watch?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, I'd really rather you not, but if it's going to convince you that I'm not about to go around indiscriminately sucking on necks or draining Radek for the heck of it, then I'll consent to it," John said. "Let's face it, feeding is very personal. To be honest, I've never fed on anyone unless we were alone."
As Elizabeth conferred quietly with the others in the room, John turned to Radek. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I hate having to make this public just to get them off their backs, but I can't see any other way."
Radek cupped John's neck with his free hand. "I know. I do not want to make this public either. But they will not let us alone until they know."
"Are you really ready for this? We can get, well," John looked down and blushed.
Radek squeezed John's neck. "They want to watch, they get what they deserve," he said with a quirk of his lips.
"You are evil," John said admiringly.
"I know."
Elizabeth came over then. "Rodney, Carson, and I will stay. Teyla and Ford would rather let you have privacy." Unspoken was that Ford was really uncomfortable with the idea of his C.O. being a vampire and Teyla probably had issues with John being not much different from the Wraith. John knew he was going to have to talk to both of them in the future. If they wanted off his team, he wouldn't object. He'd be personally disappointed, because he considered both of them to be friends. Yet he couldn't deny them the opportunity to make their own choices, just as he had made his when he'd come to the Pegasus Galaxy and asked Radek to be his Life's Blood.
John shifted on the bed as Teyla and Ford left and Carson and Rodney set up screens around the area.
"Just so you know, I do tend to fall asleep after being fed upon," Radek warned them.
Carson nodded. Rodney looked like he was itching to take notes. Elizabeth's face was impassive. John had the feeling that she was staying because she felt she had to, as a way to make up for how she'd behaved before.
John looked at Radek. "You ready?"
Radek nodded, then pulled John close and kissed him. John could hear the gasps of surprise behind them, but he was too involved in the taste, the smell, the sound and feel of Radek to care. It was hot and wet and carnal. They spent long moments just indulging themselves before John felt the hunger really take over.
He broke off the kiss and licked his way down Radek's jaw to the vein where his pulse beat the strongest. Settling over it, he sucked and stroked, bringing the blood closer to the surface, feeling the increase in Radek's heartbeat.
John opened his eyes as his fangs appeared. He barely took notice of Elizabeth's surprised face before he closed them and bit down. Radek whimpered as John felt the blood flowing through the fangs into his throat. He hummed in pleasure as he fed, finding satisfaction not only in the blood, but in the connection with Radek.
Radek pressed closer to him, and John bit down with just a touch more force. Radek gasped as he came, holding onto John. John could hear Radek whispering something in Czech, but John couldn't quite make it out.
John withdrew his fangs as Radek's breathing evened, and licked the wounds closed as he always did. He lifted his head and looked at Radek, who smiled, and said one of the few phrases in Czech that John knew.
John smiled, even as he heard Elizabeth's soft gasp. Not surprising, that she knew Czech. He leaned down to kiss Radek again.
"I love you too," John said. Radek rested his head on John's shoulder and slid into sleep. Carson came over and checked on Radek, but said nothing. He seemed a bit embarrassed. Looking over, John saw that Rodney was looking a bit embarrassed as well, but he managed to meet John's eyes. Elizabeth wasn't looking at them at all.
John mentally shrugged and rested his head on the pillow, still holding Radek. He could hear the others leave the room. Elizabeth stopped by the bed on her way out, a gentle hand resting on John's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly before she left.
John didn't say anything. He knew things could not go back to how they had been, not after this. He had already discussed this with Radek. They were both willing to resign their positions on Atlantis and head back to Earth the next time the Daedelus arrived. This mission was too important. If the people here were no long comfortable with the two of them in the city, then they would leave.
Besides, John thought as he slid into sleep himself, it didn't matter where he was, so long as Radek was there too.