Marshall Sumner liked his coffee with two creams and a sugar.
She'd seen him drink it without when there was no other option. Every morning in the cafeteria,
however, Elizabeth had watched him prep his first cup the exact same way, with motions so practiced
that he didn't even have to watch what he was doing. Some days he'd be reading a report, some days
he'd chat with his fellow Marines, the whole table breaking out into laughter every now and then. A
few times, they'd shared breakfast together, discussing preparations and personnel. She'd always been
struck by his stark blue eyes, eyes that never seemed to change whether his tone was serious or sly.
Stark blue eyes, occasional smile, growling voice, and ubiquitous cup of coffee at his elbow, carefully
stacked empty white cylinders topped with a torn paper packet crown off to the side.
Elizabeth hadn't really ever felt like she knew him, but she knew little things about him. Things she
wondered if anyone else knew. One morning, he'd even confessed to her that his preferred coffee was iced
and spiced--but he only ever indulged in frou-frou drinks while he was on leave. They'd chuckled together
after he said it, then dove back into negotiating the expedition stores.
She didn't think they'd brought enough coffee. She had a sinking suspicion that hadn't brought enough of
a lot of things, but with luck and hard work, they'd find a ZPM and be resupplied before they had to resort
to rationing.
Still, Elizabeth made it a point to savor each cup to the last drop, fortifying herself each morning before
taking on the challenges of Atlantis. Their makeshift cafeteria was finally starting to come alive a week
into the mission. The small jitters that came with a new home were fading, the big fearful realities were
being faced or ignored, and everyone was settling into routines. She liked watching them, matching faces
with habits, noting the way groups were forming. People as a whole were the same no matter where she found
herself, yet their individuality kept them fascinating.
"Doctor Weir."
Elizabeth pulled away from her revery to find John Sheppard smiling at her, waiting for her attention before
he slid into the seat across from her.
"Major," she said, smiling back at him. "How are you this morning?"
"Just peachy," he said, nodding back at her. "You?"
She nodded as well, then found herself without anything to say. John smiled again and let her be as he started
in on his breakfast. Powdered eggs and biscuits with a side of fruit cocktail. If this morning was like the
previous few, he'd finish quickly, then move on to coffee and a straightforward discussion of the day's agenda.
As his fingers stole towards the packages of creamer next to his plate, Elizabeth decided that today, she
needed to start learning more about her colleagues than just the little things.