FANFIC ATLANTIS : SANCTUARY Part 1
FANFICTION : STARGATE ATLANTIS
Title : Sanctuary
Disclaimer : I don’t own anything. It’s just for fun.
Summary : What if Teyla had been thrown into the Sanctuary with Colonel Sheppard (alternate reality)
Takes place in season 2 : Episode 'Epiphany'
Rated T : Friendship and romance (pairing Teyla Emmagan and John Sheppard)
(1) Nalla and Zabetha are both names borrowed from the wonderful « Alliance » saga of the author Wedjatqi. Go check her stories on www.fanfiction.net.
***
The sun was high in the sky, bathing the forest with its white beams. Colonel John Sheppard was lost in the contemplation of the mountains above him, aware of Rodney's babbling behind him but somehow, indifferent to his complaints.
Over the years, he had learnt how to block Rodney's monologues away from his mind. And some days, he even enjoyed the rambling thoughts of his friend. Most people on the expedition wondered how he put up with McKay's ego and to be fair, he was getting on his nerves sometimes... well, most of the time. And while the other off world teams would gladly steal Ronon and Teyla away from him, they would certainly not fight for McKay. But they were wrong. What made his team so efficient was the disparity of its members.
Ronon was a solid rock, a true fighter with amazing instincts. Rodney was a genius... with a master ego, sure. But he had saved his ass on multiple occasions. Teyla had the ability to adapt to every situation. Her position as leader of the Athosians also proved to be useful in negociations with Pegasus' residents. John always welcomed her advice. She was the voice of reason. But she was not a damsel in distress, far from it. And she never backed down in a fight. Like Ronon, she was a warrior. And John's military training paled in comparison. His job was exciting but dangerous and he couldn't even think of anyone else to be part of his team. They had eachother's back and he trusted them more than he trusted himself.
John's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Rodney pointed in the direction of the energy signal he had noticed from the Jumper. They cleared the path to the arch that was sculted in the rock. It appeared to be an entry to a dark -and not so engaging- cave. Why was he not surprised ? He thought about all the worlds they had visited and realised that they had found trouble in almost every one of them. And he had this weird feeling, warning him that this mission would not be the exception.
He sighed, resigned, and put these thoughts aside « Alright, let's check it out ». He took the lead, his attention now focused on the mission, all his senses on alert. He took a step ahead when Rodney interrupted him again « whao ! whao ! Wait, there's something there. Some kind of energy barrier, right into the threshold ».
John took a moment to consider his options, then bent down to pick up a rock. He threw it into the threshold and it disappeared. « It disappeared », echoed Teyla. « Or it went right through a cloak » he said, intrigued.
Rodney agreed « It has the same properties of a cloaking shield ». 'Interesting' thought Sheppard. The mission seemed more appealing suddenly. Then he added, at loud « The ancients did tend to hide all their really cool stuff »
While Rodney tested his theory by creating a 'malp on a stick', Teyla noticed ancient symbols on the wall and could make a few words as 'welcome' and 'acension'. At least, it did not mention any danger. The camera did not show anything out of the ordinary. What could possibly go wrong ? But the tingling in his stomach returned.
« Ok then, any volonteers ? » asked McKay, staring at him. He got the message. Besides, he was the leader of this team and he would do anything to protect them. « I'll go » he said.
« Just back out if you encounter something problematic » warned Rodney. John turned around to face his friend and was annoyed by the cocky smile on his face. « Problematic ? ». Rodney's smile widened and he suddenly felt the urge to wipe it out permanently.
« Yeah, like poisonned athmosphere, acide athmosphere, no athmosphere. Hey, it's a malp on a stick, only shows you so much ». Rodney really had the sense of drama and his words only amplified John's apprehension. He carefully stepped into the threshold, not knowing what to expect. The tingling returned. Only this time, it had nothing to do with his instinct. « Weird ».
The shield was pulling him into the cave. The tingling was growing. He tried to back out of it but couldn't move. « What is wrong ? » asked Teyla. He could hear the concern in her voice.
« It kind of hurts my hands a little » he said, trying to remain calm.
« Ok, so get out of here » came Rodney's brilliant idea.
« I'm trying to but it's pulling me in ! » he said, exasperated.
Then he sensed Ronon's solid grip on his vest. « I got you ». His presence should have reassured John but he soon realised that it was far worse than before since he was now torned between Ronon's strong hands, that were trying to drag him out, and the cloaking shield, that was pulling him in with force and efficiency.
It was painful and he could not hide the worried tone in his voice, as he said « Ok, come on guys. Get me out of here ». Ronon's voice raised in frustration « I'm trying ! ». Teyla joined them and pulled on his belt. But nothing changed.
« Try harder » he said. Somewhere behind him, McKay was babbling « It shouldn't be happening ». John was usually not the one to state the obvious but in his current state, he couldn't hold back the sarcastic, and so pathetic « Well, it is ! ».
He could feel Teyla's arms tightening around his waist and for a second, he was afraid that she would be pulled into the shield with him. He tried to warn her but half of his face was drawn into the forceshield. He heard Rodney yelling « Don't touch the barrier ! » and suddenly, he fell into darkness.
***
A painful sensation brought her back to the edge of consciousness. Pins and needles darting through her entire body. Her fuzzy mind lost track of time for what seemed like long minutes but more probably, were only seconds. She forced herself to concentrate and remember what had happened.
Something stirred in the back of her mind, warning her about an imminent danger. Her senses in alert, she focused on her surroundings, willing her legs to move but unable to do so. Complete silence responded to her, adding to her discomfort.
There was no need for panick right now, she just had to make her mind work again. She took a deep breath and then, slowly exhaled. She repeated the action twice and finally opened her eyes. But she saw only darkness. For a brief moment, she feared she had become blind. But after a few seconds, her eyes could make out a flat wall a few meters away. It looked like a cave. And suddenly, all the pieces rushed together.
She remembered the threshold, John cautiously stepping into it. She remembered sliding her arms around his waist, desperately trying to pull him out of the forceshield. She must have fallen with him. Despite the pain, Teyla lifted her head, merely inches to be fair. It was so heavy she had to put it down again, fighting nausea.
« Teyla ? » She frowned. Was it her imagination or had she just heard John's deep voice ? She felt movement under her and she suddenly realised that she was on top of John, her arms crushed between him and the cold floor.
Feeling both uncomfortable and relieved, she cleared her sore throat and tried to speak. « John ? Are you alright ? ». She willed herself to move again. Her arms seemed to follow her command and she tried to distangle herself from John's warm body.
« Yeah, I'm good. You ? » He was moving again, his body seemingly more responsive than hers. « I am fine. Though I can not feel my legs ». John slowly turned around and she tried to give him some space, resting her arms on the cave's dirty floor. She was struggling to stand up when she felt strong arms lifting her up. Loosing balance, she crushed into John's chest. « Sorry » she apologized. But he didn't seem to mind. He had one forarm resting on the floor behind him, while holding her tightly against him with the other.
« Your legs were stuck in the forceshield. Don't worry, you'll be able to walk again soon ». Teyla nodded. Not that she was eager to get out of his warm embrace, but their position was somewhat distracting and she tried to sit down. With John's help, she turned around and sat between his legs, her back resting against his chest.
« Well, we just have to seat tight and wait till we're able to stand » he added. She nodded again « Yes. Hopefully, the pain will go away ». John tightened his grip around her waist and she let her heavy head rest against his shoulder « I guess we'll just have to stay here and give McKay a chance to figure this one out ».
Teyla sighed and closed her eyes. She felt tired but despite their precarious situation, she was confident in Rodney's abilities « I am sure he's working on the problem as we speak » she said.
***
« What the hell just happened ?! » wondered Ronon, still shocked by the disappearance of his two best friends. He could not believe he had let go of Sheppard so easily. What kind of magic was that, pulling people into dark places without warning ?! The ancients were supposed to be the good guys. He had to go after them, make sure they were safe.
He was about to enter the forceshield when Rodney yelled at him « Do NOT enter this cave ! ». Ronon turned around so quickly, Rodney had to take a step back to keep his balance. « Why not ?! » he yelled back, only two inches from the scientist's face. But apparently, Rodney was too preoccupied with his toy to notice the Satedan's menacing posture. He kept talking to himself, babbling incoherent sentences. Ronon really needed to hit something right now... or someone !
« There's absolutely nothing on that tape that could possibly indicate... oh no ! »
Ronon sighed « What ? ». Finally, Rodney raised his head and looked at him « The memory is full. It's recorded almost two hours and the battery just died. Damn it ! ».
Ronon watched as the scientist cut a flower from the nearest bush and held it into the forceshield. « What are you doing, McKay ? » he asked, not even sure he wanted to know the answer.
« I'm trying to determine how much faster time is passing on the other side ».
« It doesn't make any sense » complained Ronon, his anger and frustration growing by the minute.
When the scientist pulled the flower out of the shield, it was withered. « I need to get back to Atlantis » Rodney said. Ronon stepped in front of him « You're not going anywhere ».
Now it was Rodney's turn to show frustration. « It is a time dilation shield. The time is passing much faster on the other side of the barrier than it is here for us ». His tone was pressing and it worried Ronon. « Empty your pockets, everything you think they might need to survive » he said, gathering the items into his knapsack and throwing it into the forceshield. « It might just buy them a little more time in there. Now come with me to the Jumper, I need you to do something for me while I'm gone ».
Ronon did not have a clue of what was happening but he had to trust McKay. He was the scientist of this team, after all. And the only person able to get his friends out of this stupid cave.
***
It had been two days. Two long days since the forceshield swallowed them into the cave. John was begining to worry. Something must have happened back there because McKay would have found a way to send him a message by now. Not that they didn't appreciate the canteens of water and the whole handful of power bars. But soon, they would need to leave this place and go further out to find food and water.
Teyla was by his side, throwing a twig into the campfire. She was very quiet and judging by the little wrinkle forming between her eyes, he bet she was sharing his fears and had come to the same conclusion.
Knealing by the fire, he began to collect and arrange stones on the dirty floor of the cave. Silently acknowledging his intentions, Teyla smothered the fire and switched the light button of her P90. John mirrored her actions and stood up, the lamp of his gun sweeping through the arrow shapped stones.
« Time to move » he said gloomily « Ready ? ». Teyla nodded, determination showing on her face. Despite the evident difficult situation they were going through, John smiled at her and tried to lighten the mood « As much as I hate the thought of being stranded on an ugly planet with a dysfonctionnal ancient forceshield, I'm really glad you're the one stranded with me. Imagining McKay in this situation... I shudder at the idea ! ».
Teyla smiled « I guess he would already have complained about starvation ». John nodded « Yep ». They started to walk along the dark and cold corridors of the cave. John guided Teyla to the exit he had discovered yesterday, while searching for combustible for their fire. It had been a relief to see the light of the sun and a weight had suddendly been lifted off his shoulders. At least, they had a chance to survive outside, hunting for food, searching for water... And lucky him, he had the best hunter of Athos by his side !
As they reached the end of the cave, a light breeze brushed against his face. A warm breeze that washed away the claustrophobia he had began to develop the past hours. John stopped and took a moment to appreciate the scenery. They had stepped into a wooded area. The breeze was carressing the leaves of the thin trees, the sun was piercing through it, warm, welcoming.
He turned around to face his partner and couldn't help but smile at her beautiful face bathed in the light, her eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of the sun beams. « I missed it » she whispered in a breath. John couldn't look away from her. His eyes followed the curve of her neck and slowly ascended to finally rest on her tempting lips. The memory of their first encounter suddenly flashed through his mind. Facing her in that cave on Athos, loosing himself in her beautiful brown eyes, her face brightened by the warm light of the lamp torch.
« My people live outdoors » Teyla said, smiling « We always breathe the fresh air, we look up and see the stars ». She opened her eyes and glanced at the sky briefly, before turning her attention on him « They guide us ». John smiled at her, aware that he was staring but too weak to do anything about it. « It must have been hard for you to move to the city » he realised.
Teyla tilted her head, a sparkle of mischief lightening her eyes « There are a few windows on Atlantis ». John rolled his eyes, pretending to be offended « I mean, we have a roof above our head... »
« … I can see stars from my bed » teased Teyla. John sighed « I give up ». Teyla smiled, obviously enjoying the banter. « But you are right. It has been hard, at the begining. I was often wandering on balconies, thinking about my people ». She paused « But Atlantis is my second home now. I like it ». She smiled and looked away. John broke out of her spell and followed her into the woods. He had to keep in mind that he was on an unknown planet, with potential threats. He had to stay alert and professional. As if to prove his point, a loud growl echoed in the forest. They both stopped, all senses in alert « What was that ? » he whispered. « Anyhow, either you're gonna eat us or we're gonna eat you ».
***
He did it again. Overconfidence was his biggest fault. How could he not see what was in front of him ? He should have watched the tape more closely. He should have been more careful. Instead, he had sped things up and lead his friends into a trap. The kind of trap that could cost them their lives. He could be such an idiot, sometimes. Not that he would admit it in front of his co-workers. He had a reputation to preserve.
« Rodney ». He jumped in surprise, as he heard Elisabeth's voice behind him. « Rushing is what brought Sheppard into trouble in the first place ». He turned around and paused a few seconds. « It was not his fault, it was mine ». Grabbing his laptop, he rushed into Cason's lab to help him fasten the pace. He couldn't believe he had just admitted his mistake in front of his commanding officer. Curiously, it did not bother him. But he knew Dr Weir could see through his attitude. She could see that he cared for his friends too. « I should have looked more closely at the video. The clues were there before he even stepped through. » He grabbed a bag nearby and threw anything useful he could think of in it. « Look, all I can hope to do now is fix this thing within their lifetime ».
« Their lifetime ? » came a surprised scottish voice to his left. Carson was standing by an empty medical bed, obviously confused. McKay really had no time for this. Every minute counted. But he admitted that he had to fill them in about the seriousness of the situation so that they could understand the urgency to go back there asap. « If it takes a week to ten days to fix this » he explained, « it won't matter because they'll probably would have died of old age ».
He threw the bag into becketts' hands and began to leave the room. He heard Elisabeth's whisper behind him « Oh my god ». And couldn't help to add « Hence the rushing ! ».
***
The sun was high in the sky. It was getting warmer and there were no more trees to protect them. They were now walking across a large open field, hoping they could find a way to come around the mountain and go back to the gate. It had been several hours since they left the cave and they had found no living soul on their way, not even the growling animal that they first heard in the forest.
They were walking in silence, all their senses in alert. The planet seemed uninhabited but it didn't mean that it was safe. They knew better. That's why they needed to stay quiet and focused on the mission and its potential threats. Teyla was leading the way. The Colonel was behind her, 'watching their six' as he liked to say. She smiled as she recalled his previous joke about her natural instincts being 'off the charts' and the fact that she would find a way home way faster than he would. She did not agree with him, John had good instincts. He simply had to stop second-guessing every decision he made and trust himself. She knew he was under a lot of pressure, having to prove himself to the IOA and his commanding officers in the military. It was not an easy position to fill but he was doing fine and he had earned the respect of everyone on Atlantis. Except maybe for Dr. Kavanah. But it seemed that the man did not like many people.
Teyla suddendly stopped and raised her fist, silently warning John of a potential danger. She was not sure at first but then, she heard footsteps coming from the line of trees ahead of them. Whoever was heading in their direction, he or she was in a hurry.
A frightened voice raised all of a sudden and a young man dashed off the forest « Help ! Help me, please ! ». John was by her side in a second, menacing the already scared man with his P90. Then, they heard a loud growl, the same growling they heard before, in the forest. Was it an animal ? Teyla did not sense the Wraith's presence. So it had to be a local animal. And hopefully, their futur meal. She was hungry.
« Where is it ? » asked John. The young man turned around and pointed his finger in the direction of the forest « It's there, in the trees ».
« What is it ? » Teyla asked, curious.
« The beast... » came the answer. And suddenly, the beast appeared, big, large and half cloaked it seemed. How could you fight something that you couldn't see ? John reacted quickly though and asked « You know a safe place for us to go ? ».
The man replied immediatly « To the cloister, but it's too far from here ». Teyla shared a look with her C.O. and prepared to fight the beast. « Stay down, and stay behind us » ordered John and the man crawled on the ground, terrified.
« I'll just scare it away » he told Teyla. He fired his P90 but the beast didn't move an inch. It was surreal, what kind of monster was this ? They both fired at the beast but it did not have any effect on it. They were soon out of bullets. Teyla tossed her gun away and took her army knife. She carefully took a step forward, preparing for the imminent fight.
***
Slowly, John emerged from his nightmare. Everything was a blurr. He tried to open his eyes, they were so heavy. A little girl was standing by his side. She smiled at him.
« Hi » he said, his throat sore and dry. He was thirsty. The girl ran to the nearest window and shouted « He's awake again ! ». He definitly was awake now, thanks to her ! The door opened a few moments later and a woman appeared on the threshold, followed by a young man. He looked familiar.
« I am Teira » the woman said.
« Have we met ? » asked Sheppard, looking at the man and trying very hard to remember what had happened to him. The woman spoke again « When Avrid first brought you here, you were terribly injured from fighting the beast. Avrid carried you halfway across the Sanctuary ».
John sat up abruptly, his memory coming back all at once. He frightened the little girl in the process. He remembered shooting at the invisible beast, slicing it with his army knife and still, loosing the fight. « Where's Teyla ? » he asked, worried.
He saw a moment of hesitation in the woman's eyes and his heart skipped a beat. Then, she turned her head around and looked on his left. He followed her movement and saw Teyla laying on a tiny bed, at the far end of the room. She was not moving, her eyes were closed. His fear returned and he rushed by her side, fighting dizziness.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he grabbed her wrist and searched for a pulse. All he could feel was his own heart pounding in his chest and he had to force himself to calm down before focusing again on her heartbeat. She was alive, thank god. Alive but unconscious. She had a couple of bruises on her face and shoulders, her uniform was gone, so was his, he realised. Someone must have got them out of their clothes and put them into these... gowns ?
« I healed you both » said the little girl. John took his eyes off Teyla and smiled at her « You did ? ». She nodded proudly. « A little young to be a doctor ».
« Hetta is one of the few among us who possesses the healing power » the woman said. John was impressed. He remembered McKay mentioning the healing power of the ancients, once. Colonel O'Neill had stuck his head in one of the ancient devices and had developped healing powers.
« I couldn't heal all the bruises though », Hetta said sheepishly « Because I got very tired. But I feel better now, I can try again. John smiled at her « Thank you ».
The woman, Teira if he remembered correctly, took a step forward « It's we who should thank you, for saving our brother from the beast ». John turned his attention on Teyla again, gently brushing away a strand of hair from her face « That's funny, I don't remember winning ».
The young Athosian was awakening now, mumbling incoherent sentences. He sincerly hoped she didn't have a concussion. « Teyla, hey. Wake up » he whispered, taking her hand. The woman frowned, turning her head in the direction of his voice. « John ? » she asked, confused.
He smiled, relieved « Yep, it's me. Wake up, sleepy head ». She opened her eyes and stared at him a brief moment. Then she closed her eyes again and sighed « The beast... You were injured. I thought... ». John squeezed her hand « Hey, I'm alright. Don't worry about me. You need to rest, ok ? ». She nodded.
Avrid sat down on John's empty bed, a big smile on his face « It's good to see you're awake and well again ». John asked, curious « Didn't it come after you ? ». The young man shook his head « No. Only the ascended know why. Teira was worried and sent Herid after me, my friend over there ». He pointed a thumb behind him, in the direction of the window. Herid was standing outside. He waved in his direction and John waved back at him politely.
« Herid and I carried you both here ». He stood up and lifted a tray of food from the bedside table « Are you hungry ? ». Teyla slowly sat up, staring at the tray « I'm starving, thank you very much ». John smiled, relieved « Okay, what do we have here ? » he said, taking the tray and putting it down on Teyla's lap.
***
Confined spaces made him really nervous. The idea of being trapped in a tiny ship, flying into the empty universe was not appealing. Although he had to admit that it was not one of his recurring nightmares. Wraith draining life from his body was still number one on his 'scary list'. But right now, he was seriously questionning his decision regarding his application for the job.
At first, it had been an exciting and SAFE job in a scientific facility, somewhere in Antarctica. Then Dr. Jackson had discovered the address of the mysterious city of the ancients and his world had collapsed. It was not his first mission out of the city and not the scariest, he admitted. But still, he couldn't help it. He had all the symptoms of a panic attack.
« Carson ? ». He turned his attention on Dr. Weir, who was leaning into her chair, right in front of him. She seemed concerned and was lifting a questionning eyebrow at him « Are you alright ? ». Despite his sweaty hands and his nauseous state, he tried to look confident « Peachy » was his pathetic response. Not very convincing.
Rodney was working on his laptop next to him, explaining technical aspects of his plan and Carson tried to concentrate on the mission. To be honest, he was not really sure why they had wanted him to accompagny them. The Colonel and Teyla were trapped on the other side of the planet. They were probably fine. Teyla was a good hunter and Sheppard had strong survival instincts. All they had to do was wait for McKay to solve the shield problem and go home.
In retrospect, a couple of hours on this side of the barrier meant half a year for John and Teyla. They would easily question their rescue after being trapped that long on a deserted planet. At least, they had eachother. In a way, it was a good thing, Carson thought. It would give the Colonel and Teyla a little break and he sincerly hoped they would consider enjoying their time in there, relaxing, away from the agitation of the city and the crazy schedules of the missions. They both needed it.
He had reminded John, on several occasions, not to work so hard but the man wouldn't listen. He was acting like he was fine but Carson knew he was under a lot of pressure. Teyla would miss her people though and Carson felt bad for her. But the Colonel and Teyla had a strong connexion and he was certain that they would support eachother. Carson had acknowledged their great chemestry from the very moment he had witnessed their Athosian bow. Teyla had never shared such an intimate salute with anyone on Atlantis. She only bowed to her fellow Athosians and dear friends. And yet, she had bowed to him immediatly after their first encounter. Also, when everything lead to believe that she had betrayed the Atlantis expedition, Sheppard was the only one standing for her. They had someting special, beyond friendship.
Carson smiled despite his current state, confusing Elisabeth who was still staring at him. McKay was starting the count down, fairly confident that the probe would desintegrate the forceshield. They patiently waited and watched it descend in the athmosphere through the Jumper's windshield.
Then nothing. Without a sound, the probe disappeared. Rodney groaned « The probe was ripped apart by tidal forces almost instantly ». Carson's anxiety returned in full force and he lost all colors « So we can't fly through and rescue Colonel Sheppard and Teyla ? » he asked. McKay's words earlier came back to haunt his thoughts 'If it takes a week to ten days to fix this, they'll probably would have died of old age'. All Carson could do was staring at Rodney, silently praying his friend to find a solution. The scientist was currently analysing the data, typing furiously on his computer.
Carson shared a brief look of concern with Elisabeth but returned his attention on McKay. The air was thin suddendly and Carson had difficulties breathing. Definitly a panic attack. Finally, McKay lifted his eyes off the screen and smiled « I've been able to determine the location of the power source in the field. Once we know where the generator is, I should be able to turn it off ».
Carson sighed, relieved « Thank god ». His friend finally looked at him, a mischivious grin on his face « It means we'll have to enter the cave ». Carson glared at him « You better be right. I don't want to be stuck in the time shield for the rest of my life ».
***
John had spent an hour wandering in the cloister, following Avrid, who was very eager to introduce him to his friends. People here were very nice and polite. Never a bad word, not even a shred of suspicion for their new guests. It was very surprising and a little destabilizing.
Avrid was a few feet ahead of him, walking him back to his cabin « Welcome to your new home » he told him happily. John was very grateful for his hospitality and he tried to be as gentle and diplomat as possible when he answered him « Avrid, I'm happy to visit and I'm grateful for the food and the healing, but if you know the way out... ».
His new friend slowed his pace « There is no way to leave, John, other than to ascend ». John stopped in his tracks, forcing Avrid to do the same « What exactly do you mean by 'there's no way' ? ». Avrid smiled at him, oblivious to his discomfort « That is the sole purpose of this place, to meditate upon ascension and one day, join those who created the Sanctuary ».
This day was getting better and better, John thought. What did they get themselves into, this time ? Were they stuck on this planet with no way out ? Had he heard him correctly ? John cleared his throat, trying to remain calm and collect his thoughts « The thing is, we've got other plans ».
Avrid frowned, confused « Well then, why did you enter the portal ? » he asked, curious. Sheppard shrugged, sheepish « Well, call it a mistake. I tried to stop it but the damn thing sucked me in ». Avrid nodded, understanding now the delicate situation John and Teyla were in.
« I am very sorry to hear that. Unfortunatly, as I said before, there is no way to leave. You and your friend may have to accept the idea of living with us now ». John let his host's words sink in for a minute, standing still and watching him leave. « This is awesome » he said out loud.
A soft voice behind him brought him back to reality « What is it ? ». He turned around to face Teyla, who was walking towards him, drapped in a long red dress that suited her well. The bruises on her face and shoulders were gone.
« How are you feeling ? » he asked. Teyla smiled « Hetta healed the last bruises I had. She has an amazing gift ». John agreed. Now that he had learned the purpose of this Sancuary, he understood better the behaviour of their hosts. These people came here in order to ascend. The only way to achieve their goal was through meditation, peaceful and welcoming thoughts. And judging by the little girl's abilities, it was working.
But John had no intention to ascend. And even if he wanted to, he was not sure that he could do it. Maybe Teyla, but not him. The idea of sitting all day on the floor and doing nothing but contemplate life was beyond him and just thinking about it was depressing. They really had to find an other way out. There had to be an exit somewhere.
Teyla was staring at him now. The little crinkle between her eyes was betraying her concern « What's wrong ? » she asked. John led her to the well, inviting her to sit down on the edge. First thing first, he had to break the news to his team mate. Then together, they would figure out what to do next.
***
It was quiet outside. Not far from him, Avrid could hear his fellow comrades silently preparing for meditation. Soon, he would have to join them. The ascension was near, he could sense it. Each session was bringing him closer to the ancesters.
During the long hours of meditation, his mind cleared of all thoughts and he could feel his conscience leaving his body, floating around. He knew ascension was within his reach.
The sound of wood sticks knocking against one another brought him back to reality and he focused his attention on the young couple before him, fighting with 'bantos', as they called it, while joking around. These newcomers were nothing like him or his friends. Avrid had to admit that he was a little intrigued. It had been almost three months since they had arrived and they had shown no interest in ascension. Teyla though had joined them a couple of times. She had told him that she used to practice meditation on occasion, to rest her mind. Maybe he could convince her to join them more often. With time and focus, she may be able to follow them in ascension. As for John, the journey to ascension promised to be full of pitfalls. He had tried to be polite and joined them in meditation a few times but you could tell that it was not something he was interested in. In fact, he suspected him to doze off during the sessions. He had once witnessed Teyla knocking her elbow into John's side.
Avrid chuckled at the memory. He liked them a lot. They were nice persons, very polite, sharing shores, helping in every way they could. He had never heard a single complaint from them, even when they had every reason to. After all, they had not chosen the path of ascension, they had crossed the threshold by accident and were now forced to live in exile, separated from their families and friends.
He could see the sadness in their eyes, sometimes. A shadow momentarily clouding their souls. Years of meditation had sharpened his mind and he could see now right through a person, diving directly into her soul. He watched them in silence, admiring their skills. John's dark blue soul melting with Teyla's silvery one, both dancing around eachother with grace.
Avrid was mesmerized, he couldn't take his eyes away from them. What had begun as a playful game had soon evolved into a more intense fight, both focused and silent. The hits became more violent, vibrant and he could see now the warriors 'strengh awakening. He had witnessed their bravery facing the beast on the very first day they had met. They both had a strong will. The path they had chosen did not surprise him anymore. They had decided to stand up for their beliefs, having faith in a brighter futur for the people of this galaxy.
Avrid understood now the frustration of his new friends, unable to return home, feeling useless now in the fight against the wraiths. He had heard stories about these creatures but had never met one. In a way, he was relieved that the cloister was protecting them from it. After all, one scary beast was enough here.
A loud groan soon followed by a thud broke him out of his reverie. John was suddenly on the floor, his back wipping the dust. Teyla was standing victoriously above him, a bright smile on her face. They were both breathing heavily, letting the adrenaline cool off. Avrid smiled, amazed by the physical abilities of Teyla. He had never seen a woman so strong before.
« Well, Teyla has been victorious, once again, John » he said, hoping not to insult the Colonel. John sat up, his forearms resting on his knees. « Yep » he responded, « Teyla won't even let me win one fight ». He looked up at Teyla and smiled « She's such a gentleman ».
Avrid watched, amused, as Teyla offered her hand. John took it and he was up in a heartbeat, all exhaustion gone. These people were very resistant, he thought. All the running and sparring sessions were keeping them in good shape.
« Would you let me win if the positions were reversed ? » asked Teyla, doubtful. Still smiling, John walked past her and winked « I would ». Teyla returned his smile but remained silent. Avrid enjoyed their banter. They made him laugh and John's stories were always welcomed during lunch hours. He surely was going to miss them. Maybe he would find a way to help them, once ascended. He hoped so.
Teyla turned to him, smiling « Would you like to try, Avrid ? You seem interested in the art ». He shook his head vigorously, stepping away from the wood sticks that she was expertly sweeping in her hands. « I don't engage in violence, it's not the way to achieve ascension ». Teyla nodded her understanding.
« Well, technically, we didn't fight. It's just exercise... and a way to pass time » John added, bending down to grab two towels on the ground. The light breeze of the afternoon was now becoming more powerful and the wind had blown the fabrics away from the fence, where Teyla and John had initially put them.
John walked to his companion and offered her one of the towels. Funny how Avrid had misinterpreted their relationship. He and his sister had different opinions back then. From the very moment they had stepped foot in the cloister, he had seen the chemestry between them and mistaken it for a love relationship. He had been very surprised when they had answered Hetta's innocent question, asking them if they were married. They had quickly denied any love interest, telling them that they were part of a team, working together and being good friends. Teira had shared a knowing look with him, smiling. But even now, as he was watching them, walking towards the fence, joking and smiling, he couldn't help but think that their friendship was hidding something deeper.
A bell tinkled in the distance, announcing the gathering for meditation. « You could also come with us in meditation. It is a very healthy way to pass time, John ». The Colonel shared a look with Teyla « Thanks, but I'll have to decline your offer... very tired, you know... from the sparring session... ». He cleared his throat « Maybe tomorrow ».
Avrid glanced briefly at Teyla, who was trying to hide her amusement. She finally came to his rescue, also pretending to be tired « I am going to wash up and rest until dinner time ».
Avrid smiled « Very well. I should join the others now. Would you excuse me ». John and Teyla nodded, watching him leave. While walking away, he could hear them making plans for the rest of the afternoon. Avrid was well aware that the Colonel had lied to him. He wasn't mad, though. He had not wanted to offend him, just trying to be polite. At least, they were not planning to cross the fields and climb the mountains anymore.
They had spent the first two months searching for a way to leave this place. They would go away for days, hoping to 'cover more ground' as they said, in order to find their way home, only to return with sad thoughts and gloomy faces. He could sense their despair and frustration. Their souls were clouded, darkened. They would hide it from his people. But Avrid could tell it was taking a toll on them.
In a way, it was a good thing that they were not alone and had eachother to share their grief. They had a deep connexion, one of a kind. Avrid had observed them on occasion, no voyeurism intended. His abilities allowed him to see distinctly the state of mind of the persons next to him. His friends, his sisters, did not bear such a heavy burden and therefore, he was instantly drawn towards Teyla and John's troubled souls. Teyla had lived in fear for so long, always on alert. John had also chosen a hard life, full of danger. In a way, they were alike and they seemed to understand eachother.
As he arrived at the shelter, he was greeted by Herid. He sat down next to him, having a last glance at his new friends, who were slowly making their way to their cabin. Closing his eyes, he cleared his mind of all thoughts and soon, his surroundings disappeared.
(End of part 1)
Title : Sanctuary
Disclaimer : I don’t own anything. It’s just for fun.
Summary : What if Teyla had been thrown into the Sanctuary with Colonel Sheppard (alternate reality)
Takes place in season 2 : Episode 'Epiphany'
Rated T : Friendship and romance (pairing Teyla Emmagan and John Sheppard)
(1) Nalla and Zabetha are both names borrowed from the wonderful « Alliance » saga of the author Wedjatqi. Go check her stories on www.fanfiction.net.
***
The sun was high in the sky, bathing the forest with its white beams. Colonel John Sheppard was lost in the contemplation of the mountains above him, aware of Rodney's babbling behind him but somehow, indifferent to his complaints.
Over the years, he had learnt how to block Rodney's monologues away from his mind. And some days, he even enjoyed the rambling thoughts of his friend. Most people on the expedition wondered how he put up with McKay's ego and to be fair, he was getting on his nerves sometimes... well, most of the time. And while the other off world teams would gladly steal Ronon and Teyla away from him, they would certainly not fight for McKay. But they were wrong. What made his team so efficient was the disparity of its members.
Ronon was a solid rock, a true fighter with amazing instincts. Rodney was a genius... with a master ego, sure. But he had saved his ass on multiple occasions. Teyla had the ability to adapt to every situation. Her position as leader of the Athosians also proved to be useful in negociations with Pegasus' residents. John always welcomed her advice. She was the voice of reason. But she was not a damsel in distress, far from it. And she never backed down in a fight. Like Ronon, she was a warrior. And John's military training paled in comparison. His job was exciting but dangerous and he couldn't even think of anyone else to be part of his team. They had eachother's back and he trusted them more than he trusted himself.
John's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Rodney pointed in the direction of the energy signal he had noticed from the Jumper. They cleared the path to the arch that was sculted in the rock. It appeared to be an entry to a dark -and not so engaging- cave. Why was he not surprised ? He thought about all the worlds they had visited and realised that they had found trouble in almost every one of them. And he had this weird feeling, warning him that this mission would not be the exception.
He sighed, resigned, and put these thoughts aside « Alright, let's check it out ». He took the lead, his attention now focused on the mission, all his senses on alert. He took a step ahead when Rodney interrupted him again « whao ! whao ! Wait, there's something there. Some kind of energy barrier, right into the threshold ».
John took a moment to consider his options, then bent down to pick up a rock. He threw it into the threshold and it disappeared. « It disappeared », echoed Teyla. « Or it went right through a cloak » he said, intrigued.
Rodney agreed « It has the same properties of a cloaking shield ». 'Interesting' thought Sheppard. The mission seemed more appealing suddenly. Then he added, at loud « The ancients did tend to hide all their really cool stuff »
While Rodney tested his theory by creating a 'malp on a stick', Teyla noticed ancient symbols on the wall and could make a few words as 'welcome' and 'acension'. At least, it did not mention any danger. The camera did not show anything out of the ordinary. What could possibly go wrong ? But the tingling in his stomach returned.
« Ok then, any volonteers ? » asked McKay, staring at him. He got the message. Besides, he was the leader of this team and he would do anything to protect them. « I'll go » he said.
« Just back out if you encounter something problematic » warned Rodney. John turned around to face his friend and was annoyed by the cocky smile on his face. « Problematic ? ». Rodney's smile widened and he suddenly felt the urge to wipe it out permanently.
« Yeah, like poisonned athmosphere, acide athmosphere, no athmosphere. Hey, it's a malp on a stick, only shows you so much ». Rodney really had the sense of drama and his words only amplified John's apprehension. He carefully stepped into the threshold, not knowing what to expect. The tingling returned. Only this time, it had nothing to do with his instinct. « Weird ».
The shield was pulling him into the cave. The tingling was growing. He tried to back out of it but couldn't move. « What is wrong ? » asked Teyla. He could hear the concern in her voice.
« It kind of hurts my hands a little » he said, trying to remain calm.
« Ok, so get out of here » came Rodney's brilliant idea.
« I'm trying to but it's pulling me in ! » he said, exasperated.
Then he sensed Ronon's solid grip on his vest. « I got you ». His presence should have reassured John but he soon realised that it was far worse than before since he was now torned between Ronon's strong hands, that were trying to drag him out, and the cloaking shield, that was pulling him in with force and efficiency.
It was painful and he could not hide the worried tone in his voice, as he said « Ok, come on guys. Get me out of here ». Ronon's voice raised in frustration « I'm trying ! ». Teyla joined them and pulled on his belt. But nothing changed.
« Try harder » he said. Somewhere behind him, McKay was babbling « It shouldn't be happening ». John was usually not the one to state the obvious but in his current state, he couldn't hold back the sarcastic, and so pathetic « Well, it is ! ».
He could feel Teyla's arms tightening around his waist and for a second, he was afraid that she would be pulled into the shield with him. He tried to warn her but half of his face was drawn into the forceshield. He heard Rodney yelling « Don't touch the barrier ! » and suddenly, he fell into darkness.
***
A painful sensation brought her back to the edge of consciousness. Pins and needles darting through her entire body. Her fuzzy mind lost track of time for what seemed like long minutes but more probably, were only seconds. She forced herself to concentrate and remember what had happened.
Something stirred in the back of her mind, warning her about an imminent danger. Her senses in alert, she focused on her surroundings, willing her legs to move but unable to do so. Complete silence responded to her, adding to her discomfort.
There was no need for panick right now, she just had to make her mind work again. She took a deep breath and then, slowly exhaled. She repeated the action twice and finally opened her eyes. But she saw only darkness. For a brief moment, she feared she had become blind. But after a few seconds, her eyes could make out a flat wall a few meters away. It looked like a cave. And suddenly, all the pieces rushed together.
She remembered the threshold, John cautiously stepping into it. She remembered sliding her arms around his waist, desperately trying to pull him out of the forceshield. She must have fallen with him. Despite the pain, Teyla lifted her head, merely inches to be fair. It was so heavy she had to put it down again, fighting nausea.
« Teyla ? » She frowned. Was it her imagination or had she just heard John's deep voice ? She felt movement under her and she suddenly realised that she was on top of John, her arms crushed between him and the cold floor.
Feeling both uncomfortable and relieved, she cleared her sore throat and tried to speak. « John ? Are you alright ? ». She willed herself to move again. Her arms seemed to follow her command and she tried to distangle herself from John's warm body.
« Yeah, I'm good. You ? » He was moving again, his body seemingly more responsive than hers. « I am fine. Though I can not feel my legs ». John slowly turned around and she tried to give him some space, resting her arms on the cave's dirty floor. She was struggling to stand up when she felt strong arms lifting her up. Loosing balance, she crushed into John's chest. « Sorry » she apologized. But he didn't seem to mind. He had one forarm resting on the floor behind him, while holding her tightly against him with the other.
« Your legs were stuck in the forceshield. Don't worry, you'll be able to walk again soon ». Teyla nodded. Not that she was eager to get out of his warm embrace, but their position was somewhat distracting and she tried to sit down. With John's help, she turned around and sat between his legs, her back resting against his chest.
« Well, we just have to seat tight and wait till we're able to stand » he added. She nodded again « Yes. Hopefully, the pain will go away ». John tightened his grip around her waist and she let her heavy head rest against his shoulder « I guess we'll just have to stay here and give McKay a chance to figure this one out ».
Teyla sighed and closed her eyes. She felt tired but despite their precarious situation, she was confident in Rodney's abilities « I am sure he's working on the problem as we speak » she said.
***
« What the hell just happened ?! » wondered Ronon, still shocked by the disappearance of his two best friends. He could not believe he had let go of Sheppard so easily. What kind of magic was that, pulling people into dark places without warning ?! The ancients were supposed to be the good guys. He had to go after them, make sure they were safe.
He was about to enter the forceshield when Rodney yelled at him « Do NOT enter this cave ! ». Ronon turned around so quickly, Rodney had to take a step back to keep his balance. « Why not ?! » he yelled back, only two inches from the scientist's face. But apparently, Rodney was too preoccupied with his toy to notice the Satedan's menacing posture. He kept talking to himself, babbling incoherent sentences. Ronon really needed to hit something right now... or someone !
« There's absolutely nothing on that tape that could possibly indicate... oh no ! »
Ronon sighed « What ? ». Finally, Rodney raised his head and looked at him « The memory is full. It's recorded almost two hours and the battery just died. Damn it ! ».
Ronon watched as the scientist cut a flower from the nearest bush and held it into the forceshield. « What are you doing, McKay ? » he asked, not even sure he wanted to know the answer.
« I'm trying to determine how much faster time is passing on the other side ».
« It doesn't make any sense » complained Ronon, his anger and frustration growing by the minute.
When the scientist pulled the flower out of the shield, it was withered. « I need to get back to Atlantis » Rodney said. Ronon stepped in front of him « You're not going anywhere ».
Now it was Rodney's turn to show frustration. « It is a time dilation shield. The time is passing much faster on the other side of the barrier than it is here for us ». His tone was pressing and it worried Ronon. « Empty your pockets, everything you think they might need to survive » he said, gathering the items into his knapsack and throwing it into the forceshield. « It might just buy them a little more time in there. Now come with me to the Jumper, I need you to do something for me while I'm gone ».
Ronon did not have a clue of what was happening but he had to trust McKay. He was the scientist of this team, after all. And the only person able to get his friends out of this stupid cave.
***
It had been two days. Two long days since the forceshield swallowed them into the cave. John was begining to worry. Something must have happened back there because McKay would have found a way to send him a message by now. Not that they didn't appreciate the canteens of water and the whole handful of power bars. But soon, they would need to leave this place and go further out to find food and water.
Teyla was by his side, throwing a twig into the campfire. She was very quiet and judging by the little wrinkle forming between her eyes, he bet she was sharing his fears and had come to the same conclusion.
Knealing by the fire, he began to collect and arrange stones on the dirty floor of the cave. Silently acknowledging his intentions, Teyla smothered the fire and switched the light button of her P90. John mirrored her actions and stood up, the lamp of his gun sweeping through the arrow shapped stones.
« Time to move » he said gloomily « Ready ? ». Teyla nodded, determination showing on her face. Despite the evident difficult situation they were going through, John smiled at her and tried to lighten the mood « As much as I hate the thought of being stranded on an ugly planet with a dysfonctionnal ancient forceshield, I'm really glad you're the one stranded with me. Imagining McKay in this situation... I shudder at the idea ! ».
Teyla smiled « I guess he would already have complained about starvation ». John nodded « Yep ». They started to walk along the dark and cold corridors of the cave. John guided Teyla to the exit he had discovered yesterday, while searching for combustible for their fire. It had been a relief to see the light of the sun and a weight had suddendly been lifted off his shoulders. At least, they had a chance to survive outside, hunting for food, searching for water... And lucky him, he had the best hunter of Athos by his side !
As they reached the end of the cave, a light breeze brushed against his face. A warm breeze that washed away the claustrophobia he had began to develop the past hours. John stopped and took a moment to appreciate the scenery. They had stepped into a wooded area. The breeze was carressing the leaves of the thin trees, the sun was piercing through it, warm, welcoming.
He turned around to face his partner and couldn't help but smile at her beautiful face bathed in the light, her eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of the sun beams. « I missed it » she whispered in a breath. John couldn't look away from her. His eyes followed the curve of her neck and slowly ascended to finally rest on her tempting lips. The memory of their first encounter suddenly flashed through his mind. Facing her in that cave on Athos, loosing himself in her beautiful brown eyes, her face brightened by the warm light of the lamp torch.
« My people live outdoors » Teyla said, smiling « We always breathe the fresh air, we look up and see the stars ». She opened her eyes and glanced at the sky briefly, before turning her attention on him « They guide us ». John smiled at her, aware that he was staring but too weak to do anything about it. « It must have been hard for you to move to the city » he realised.
Teyla tilted her head, a sparkle of mischief lightening her eyes « There are a few windows on Atlantis ». John rolled his eyes, pretending to be offended « I mean, we have a roof above our head... »
« … I can see stars from my bed » teased Teyla. John sighed « I give up ». Teyla smiled, obviously enjoying the banter. « But you are right. It has been hard, at the begining. I was often wandering on balconies, thinking about my people ». She paused « But Atlantis is my second home now. I like it ». She smiled and looked away. John broke out of her spell and followed her into the woods. He had to keep in mind that he was on an unknown planet, with potential threats. He had to stay alert and professional. As if to prove his point, a loud growl echoed in the forest. They both stopped, all senses in alert « What was that ? » he whispered. « Anyhow, either you're gonna eat us or we're gonna eat you ».
***
He did it again. Overconfidence was his biggest fault. How could he not see what was in front of him ? He should have watched the tape more closely. He should have been more careful. Instead, he had sped things up and lead his friends into a trap. The kind of trap that could cost them their lives. He could be such an idiot, sometimes. Not that he would admit it in front of his co-workers. He had a reputation to preserve.
« Rodney ». He jumped in surprise, as he heard Elisabeth's voice behind him. « Rushing is what brought Sheppard into trouble in the first place ». He turned around and paused a few seconds. « It was not his fault, it was mine ». Grabbing his laptop, he rushed into Cason's lab to help him fasten the pace. He couldn't believe he had just admitted his mistake in front of his commanding officer. Curiously, it did not bother him. But he knew Dr Weir could see through his attitude. She could see that he cared for his friends too. « I should have looked more closely at the video. The clues were there before he even stepped through. » He grabbed a bag nearby and threw anything useful he could think of in it. « Look, all I can hope to do now is fix this thing within their lifetime ».
« Their lifetime ? » came a surprised scottish voice to his left. Carson was standing by an empty medical bed, obviously confused. McKay really had no time for this. Every minute counted. But he admitted that he had to fill them in about the seriousness of the situation so that they could understand the urgency to go back there asap. « If it takes a week to ten days to fix this » he explained, « it won't matter because they'll probably would have died of old age ».
He threw the bag into becketts' hands and began to leave the room. He heard Elisabeth's whisper behind him « Oh my god ». And couldn't help to add « Hence the rushing ! ».
***
The sun was high in the sky. It was getting warmer and there were no more trees to protect them. They were now walking across a large open field, hoping they could find a way to come around the mountain and go back to the gate. It had been several hours since they left the cave and they had found no living soul on their way, not even the growling animal that they first heard in the forest.
They were walking in silence, all their senses in alert. The planet seemed uninhabited but it didn't mean that it was safe. They knew better. That's why they needed to stay quiet and focused on the mission and its potential threats. Teyla was leading the way. The Colonel was behind her, 'watching their six' as he liked to say. She smiled as she recalled his previous joke about her natural instincts being 'off the charts' and the fact that she would find a way home way faster than he would. She did not agree with him, John had good instincts. He simply had to stop second-guessing every decision he made and trust himself. She knew he was under a lot of pressure, having to prove himself to the IOA and his commanding officers in the military. It was not an easy position to fill but he was doing fine and he had earned the respect of everyone on Atlantis. Except maybe for Dr. Kavanah. But it seemed that the man did not like many people.
Teyla suddendly stopped and raised her fist, silently warning John of a potential danger. She was not sure at first but then, she heard footsteps coming from the line of trees ahead of them. Whoever was heading in their direction, he or she was in a hurry.
A frightened voice raised all of a sudden and a young man dashed off the forest « Help ! Help me, please ! ». John was by her side in a second, menacing the already scared man with his P90. Then, they heard a loud growl, the same growling they heard before, in the forest. Was it an animal ? Teyla did not sense the Wraith's presence. So it had to be a local animal. And hopefully, their futur meal. She was hungry.
« Where is it ? » asked John. The young man turned around and pointed his finger in the direction of the forest « It's there, in the trees ».
« What is it ? » Teyla asked, curious.
« The beast... » came the answer. And suddenly, the beast appeared, big, large and half cloaked it seemed. How could you fight something that you couldn't see ? John reacted quickly though and asked « You know a safe place for us to go ? ».
The man replied immediatly « To the cloister, but it's too far from here ». Teyla shared a look with her C.O. and prepared to fight the beast. « Stay down, and stay behind us » ordered John and the man crawled on the ground, terrified.
« I'll just scare it away » he told Teyla. He fired his P90 but the beast didn't move an inch. It was surreal, what kind of monster was this ? They both fired at the beast but it did not have any effect on it. They were soon out of bullets. Teyla tossed her gun away and took her army knife. She carefully took a step forward, preparing for the imminent fight.
***
Slowly, John emerged from his nightmare. Everything was a blurr. He tried to open his eyes, they were so heavy. A little girl was standing by his side. She smiled at him.
« Hi » he said, his throat sore and dry. He was thirsty. The girl ran to the nearest window and shouted « He's awake again ! ». He definitly was awake now, thanks to her ! The door opened a few moments later and a woman appeared on the threshold, followed by a young man. He looked familiar.
« I am Teira » the woman said.
« Have we met ? » asked Sheppard, looking at the man and trying very hard to remember what had happened to him. The woman spoke again « When Avrid first brought you here, you were terribly injured from fighting the beast. Avrid carried you halfway across the Sanctuary ».
John sat up abruptly, his memory coming back all at once. He frightened the little girl in the process. He remembered shooting at the invisible beast, slicing it with his army knife and still, loosing the fight. « Where's Teyla ? » he asked, worried.
He saw a moment of hesitation in the woman's eyes and his heart skipped a beat. Then, she turned her head around and looked on his left. He followed her movement and saw Teyla laying on a tiny bed, at the far end of the room. She was not moving, her eyes were closed. His fear returned and he rushed by her side, fighting dizziness.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he grabbed her wrist and searched for a pulse. All he could feel was his own heart pounding in his chest and he had to force himself to calm down before focusing again on her heartbeat. She was alive, thank god. Alive but unconscious. She had a couple of bruises on her face and shoulders, her uniform was gone, so was his, he realised. Someone must have got them out of their clothes and put them into these... gowns ?
« I healed you both » said the little girl. John took his eyes off Teyla and smiled at her « You did ? ». She nodded proudly. « A little young to be a doctor ».
« Hetta is one of the few among us who possesses the healing power » the woman said. John was impressed. He remembered McKay mentioning the healing power of the ancients, once. Colonel O'Neill had stuck his head in one of the ancient devices and had developped healing powers.
« I couldn't heal all the bruises though », Hetta said sheepishly « Because I got very tired. But I feel better now, I can try again. John smiled at her « Thank you ».
The woman, Teira if he remembered correctly, took a step forward « It's we who should thank you, for saving our brother from the beast ». John turned his attention on Teyla again, gently brushing away a strand of hair from her face « That's funny, I don't remember winning ».
The young Athosian was awakening now, mumbling incoherent sentences. He sincerly hoped she didn't have a concussion. « Teyla, hey. Wake up » he whispered, taking her hand. The woman frowned, turning her head in the direction of his voice. « John ? » she asked, confused.
He smiled, relieved « Yep, it's me. Wake up, sleepy head ». She opened her eyes and stared at him a brief moment. Then she closed her eyes again and sighed « The beast... You were injured. I thought... ». John squeezed her hand « Hey, I'm alright. Don't worry about me. You need to rest, ok ? ». She nodded.
Avrid sat down on John's empty bed, a big smile on his face « It's good to see you're awake and well again ». John asked, curious « Didn't it come after you ? ». The young man shook his head « No. Only the ascended know why. Teira was worried and sent Herid after me, my friend over there ». He pointed a thumb behind him, in the direction of the window. Herid was standing outside. He waved in his direction and John waved back at him politely.
« Herid and I carried you both here ». He stood up and lifted a tray of food from the bedside table « Are you hungry ? ». Teyla slowly sat up, staring at the tray « I'm starving, thank you very much ». John smiled, relieved « Okay, what do we have here ? » he said, taking the tray and putting it down on Teyla's lap.
***
Confined spaces made him really nervous. The idea of being trapped in a tiny ship, flying into the empty universe was not appealing. Although he had to admit that it was not one of his recurring nightmares. Wraith draining life from his body was still number one on his 'scary list'. But right now, he was seriously questionning his decision regarding his application for the job.
At first, it had been an exciting and SAFE job in a scientific facility, somewhere in Antarctica. Then Dr. Jackson had discovered the address of the mysterious city of the ancients and his world had collapsed. It was not his first mission out of the city and not the scariest, he admitted. But still, he couldn't help it. He had all the symptoms of a panic attack.
« Carson ? ». He turned his attention on Dr. Weir, who was leaning into her chair, right in front of him. She seemed concerned and was lifting a questionning eyebrow at him « Are you alright ? ». Despite his sweaty hands and his nauseous state, he tried to look confident « Peachy » was his pathetic response. Not very convincing.
Rodney was working on his laptop next to him, explaining technical aspects of his plan and Carson tried to concentrate on the mission. To be honest, he was not really sure why they had wanted him to accompagny them. The Colonel and Teyla were trapped on the other side of the planet. They were probably fine. Teyla was a good hunter and Sheppard had strong survival instincts. All they had to do was wait for McKay to solve the shield problem and go home.
In retrospect, a couple of hours on this side of the barrier meant half a year for John and Teyla. They would easily question their rescue after being trapped that long on a deserted planet. At least, they had eachother. In a way, it was a good thing, Carson thought. It would give the Colonel and Teyla a little break and he sincerly hoped they would consider enjoying their time in there, relaxing, away from the agitation of the city and the crazy schedules of the missions. They both needed it.
He had reminded John, on several occasions, not to work so hard but the man wouldn't listen. He was acting like he was fine but Carson knew he was under a lot of pressure. Teyla would miss her people though and Carson felt bad for her. But the Colonel and Teyla had a strong connexion and he was certain that they would support eachother. Carson had acknowledged their great chemestry from the very moment he had witnessed their Athosian bow. Teyla had never shared such an intimate salute with anyone on Atlantis. She only bowed to her fellow Athosians and dear friends. And yet, she had bowed to him immediatly after their first encounter. Also, when everything lead to believe that she had betrayed the Atlantis expedition, Sheppard was the only one standing for her. They had someting special, beyond friendship.
Carson smiled despite his current state, confusing Elisabeth who was still staring at him. McKay was starting the count down, fairly confident that the probe would desintegrate the forceshield. They patiently waited and watched it descend in the athmosphere through the Jumper's windshield.
Then nothing. Without a sound, the probe disappeared. Rodney groaned « The probe was ripped apart by tidal forces almost instantly ». Carson's anxiety returned in full force and he lost all colors « So we can't fly through and rescue Colonel Sheppard and Teyla ? » he asked. McKay's words earlier came back to haunt his thoughts 'If it takes a week to ten days to fix this, they'll probably would have died of old age'. All Carson could do was staring at Rodney, silently praying his friend to find a solution. The scientist was currently analysing the data, typing furiously on his computer.
Carson shared a brief look of concern with Elisabeth but returned his attention on McKay. The air was thin suddendly and Carson had difficulties breathing. Definitly a panic attack. Finally, McKay lifted his eyes off the screen and smiled « I've been able to determine the location of the power source in the field. Once we know where the generator is, I should be able to turn it off ».
Carson sighed, relieved « Thank god ». His friend finally looked at him, a mischivious grin on his face « It means we'll have to enter the cave ». Carson glared at him « You better be right. I don't want to be stuck in the time shield for the rest of my life ».
***
John had spent an hour wandering in the cloister, following Avrid, who was very eager to introduce him to his friends. People here were very nice and polite. Never a bad word, not even a shred of suspicion for their new guests. It was very surprising and a little destabilizing.
Avrid was a few feet ahead of him, walking him back to his cabin « Welcome to your new home » he told him happily. John was very grateful for his hospitality and he tried to be as gentle and diplomat as possible when he answered him « Avrid, I'm happy to visit and I'm grateful for the food and the healing, but if you know the way out... ».
His new friend slowed his pace « There is no way to leave, John, other than to ascend ». John stopped in his tracks, forcing Avrid to do the same « What exactly do you mean by 'there's no way' ? ». Avrid smiled at him, oblivious to his discomfort « That is the sole purpose of this place, to meditate upon ascension and one day, join those who created the Sanctuary ».
This day was getting better and better, John thought. What did they get themselves into, this time ? Were they stuck on this planet with no way out ? Had he heard him correctly ? John cleared his throat, trying to remain calm and collect his thoughts « The thing is, we've got other plans ».
Avrid frowned, confused « Well then, why did you enter the portal ? » he asked, curious. Sheppard shrugged, sheepish « Well, call it a mistake. I tried to stop it but the damn thing sucked me in ». Avrid nodded, understanding now the delicate situation John and Teyla were in.
« I am very sorry to hear that. Unfortunatly, as I said before, there is no way to leave. You and your friend may have to accept the idea of living with us now ». John let his host's words sink in for a minute, standing still and watching him leave. « This is awesome » he said out loud.
A soft voice behind him brought him back to reality « What is it ? ». He turned around to face Teyla, who was walking towards him, drapped in a long red dress that suited her well. The bruises on her face and shoulders were gone.
« How are you feeling ? » he asked. Teyla smiled « Hetta healed the last bruises I had. She has an amazing gift ». John agreed. Now that he had learned the purpose of this Sancuary, he understood better the behaviour of their hosts. These people came here in order to ascend. The only way to achieve their goal was through meditation, peaceful and welcoming thoughts. And judging by the little girl's abilities, it was working.
But John had no intention to ascend. And even if he wanted to, he was not sure that he could do it. Maybe Teyla, but not him. The idea of sitting all day on the floor and doing nothing but contemplate life was beyond him and just thinking about it was depressing. They really had to find an other way out. There had to be an exit somewhere.
Teyla was staring at him now. The little crinkle between her eyes was betraying her concern « What's wrong ? » she asked. John led her to the well, inviting her to sit down on the edge. First thing first, he had to break the news to his team mate. Then together, they would figure out what to do next.
***
It was quiet outside. Not far from him, Avrid could hear his fellow comrades silently preparing for meditation. Soon, he would have to join them. The ascension was near, he could sense it. Each session was bringing him closer to the ancesters.
During the long hours of meditation, his mind cleared of all thoughts and he could feel his conscience leaving his body, floating around. He knew ascension was within his reach.
The sound of wood sticks knocking against one another brought him back to reality and he focused his attention on the young couple before him, fighting with 'bantos', as they called it, while joking around. These newcomers were nothing like him or his friends. Avrid had to admit that he was a little intrigued. It had been almost three months since they had arrived and they had shown no interest in ascension. Teyla though had joined them a couple of times. She had told him that she used to practice meditation on occasion, to rest her mind. Maybe he could convince her to join them more often. With time and focus, she may be able to follow them in ascension. As for John, the journey to ascension promised to be full of pitfalls. He had tried to be polite and joined them in meditation a few times but you could tell that it was not something he was interested in. In fact, he suspected him to doze off during the sessions. He had once witnessed Teyla knocking her elbow into John's side.
Avrid chuckled at the memory. He liked them a lot. They were nice persons, very polite, sharing shores, helping in every way they could. He had never heard a single complaint from them, even when they had every reason to. After all, they had not chosen the path of ascension, they had crossed the threshold by accident and were now forced to live in exile, separated from their families and friends.
He could see the sadness in their eyes, sometimes. A shadow momentarily clouding their souls. Years of meditation had sharpened his mind and he could see now right through a person, diving directly into her soul. He watched them in silence, admiring their skills. John's dark blue soul melting with Teyla's silvery one, both dancing around eachother with grace.
Avrid was mesmerized, he couldn't take his eyes away from them. What had begun as a playful game had soon evolved into a more intense fight, both focused and silent. The hits became more violent, vibrant and he could see now the warriors 'strengh awakening. He had witnessed their bravery facing the beast on the very first day they had met. They both had a strong will. The path they had chosen did not surprise him anymore. They had decided to stand up for their beliefs, having faith in a brighter futur for the people of this galaxy.
Avrid understood now the frustration of his new friends, unable to return home, feeling useless now in the fight against the wraiths. He had heard stories about these creatures but had never met one. In a way, he was relieved that the cloister was protecting them from it. After all, one scary beast was enough here.
A loud groan soon followed by a thud broke him out of his reverie. John was suddenly on the floor, his back wipping the dust. Teyla was standing victoriously above him, a bright smile on her face. They were both breathing heavily, letting the adrenaline cool off. Avrid smiled, amazed by the physical abilities of Teyla. He had never seen a woman so strong before.
« Well, Teyla has been victorious, once again, John » he said, hoping not to insult the Colonel. John sat up, his forearms resting on his knees. « Yep » he responded, « Teyla won't even let me win one fight ». He looked up at Teyla and smiled « She's such a gentleman ».
Avrid watched, amused, as Teyla offered her hand. John took it and he was up in a heartbeat, all exhaustion gone. These people were very resistant, he thought. All the running and sparring sessions were keeping them in good shape.
« Would you let me win if the positions were reversed ? » asked Teyla, doubtful. Still smiling, John walked past her and winked « I would ». Teyla returned his smile but remained silent. Avrid enjoyed their banter. They made him laugh and John's stories were always welcomed during lunch hours. He surely was going to miss them. Maybe he would find a way to help them, once ascended. He hoped so.
Teyla turned to him, smiling « Would you like to try, Avrid ? You seem interested in the art ». He shook his head vigorously, stepping away from the wood sticks that she was expertly sweeping in her hands. « I don't engage in violence, it's not the way to achieve ascension ». Teyla nodded her understanding.
« Well, technically, we didn't fight. It's just exercise... and a way to pass time » John added, bending down to grab two towels on the ground. The light breeze of the afternoon was now becoming more powerful and the wind had blown the fabrics away from the fence, where Teyla and John had initially put them.
John walked to his companion and offered her one of the towels. Funny how Avrid had misinterpreted their relationship. He and his sister had different opinions back then. From the very moment they had stepped foot in the cloister, he had seen the chemestry between them and mistaken it for a love relationship. He had been very surprised when they had answered Hetta's innocent question, asking them if they were married. They had quickly denied any love interest, telling them that they were part of a team, working together and being good friends. Teira had shared a knowing look with him, smiling. But even now, as he was watching them, walking towards the fence, joking and smiling, he couldn't help but think that their friendship was hidding something deeper.
A bell tinkled in the distance, announcing the gathering for meditation. « You could also come with us in meditation. It is a very healthy way to pass time, John ». The Colonel shared a look with Teyla « Thanks, but I'll have to decline your offer... very tired, you know... from the sparring session... ». He cleared his throat « Maybe tomorrow ».
Avrid glanced briefly at Teyla, who was trying to hide her amusement. She finally came to his rescue, also pretending to be tired « I am going to wash up and rest until dinner time ».
Avrid smiled « Very well. I should join the others now. Would you excuse me ». John and Teyla nodded, watching him leave. While walking away, he could hear them making plans for the rest of the afternoon. Avrid was well aware that the Colonel had lied to him. He wasn't mad, though. He had not wanted to offend him, just trying to be polite. At least, they were not planning to cross the fields and climb the mountains anymore.
They had spent the first two months searching for a way to leave this place. They would go away for days, hoping to 'cover more ground' as they said, in order to find their way home, only to return with sad thoughts and gloomy faces. He could sense their despair and frustration. Their souls were clouded, darkened. They would hide it from his people. But Avrid could tell it was taking a toll on them.
In a way, it was a good thing that they were not alone and had eachother to share their grief. They had a deep connexion, one of a kind. Avrid had observed them on occasion, no voyeurism intended. His abilities allowed him to see distinctly the state of mind of the persons next to him. His friends, his sisters, did not bear such a heavy burden and therefore, he was instantly drawn towards Teyla and John's troubled souls. Teyla had lived in fear for so long, always on alert. John had also chosen a hard life, full of danger. In a way, they were alike and they seemed to understand eachother.
As he arrived at the shelter, he was greeted by Herid. He sat down next to him, having a last glance at his new friends, who were slowly making their way to their cabin. Closing his eyes, he cleared his mind of all thoughts and soon, his surroundings disappeared.
(End of part 1)