Chapter 4
Story Title: The Night That Changed All Others
Chapter Title: Chapter 4 - Getting to Know
Author: Nytel
Spoilers: Up to 203 for sure, but very light spoilers, if any, after that.
Summary: Teyla and John spend one night together, and they could never have imagined the series of events that would unfold because of it. These events would change the lives and the future of everyone in Atlantis.
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis
Previously:
John and Teyla had started to make their way to the stairs. Dr. Weir had held out her hands to the two children. They both took hold. The little girl then asked in a quiet voice, “Are you Dr. Weir?”
“Yes I am.” She replied smiling.
Then the little boy spoke. “Mom told us about you.” As he said this he glanced back at Teyla.
John’s step faltered. Mom?
Chapter 4 - Getting To Know
John turned to look at Teyla, but she had averted her eyes. He glanced back at the kids and for the first time realized that both of them looked a lot like Teyla, especially the girl. She looked like a much younger version of Teyla, but perhaps with a shade lighter skin. The boy looked very similar to the girl. They must be twins.
John stopped for a few moments, forcing Teyla to stop as well. She still wouldn’t look at him. John knew this wasn’t the best time, but he needed to know.
“Teyla, are those your kids?” he tried to keep his voice calm, but it was difficult. He knew that if the answer was yes, there was also a very good chance they were his kids.
Teyla hadn’t responded. “Teyla,” John asked again quietly. “Are those your kids?”
He stared at her for a few seconds more before she slowly nodded. She still wasn’t meeting his eyes.
John was shocked. Teyla had kids, two of them. They had to be at least four years old. This meant that either as soon as Teyla had left she had met someone else, or they were his kids.
But before John could ask her if the kids were his, Dr. Beckett called from ahead. “Colonel, we need to get Teyla to the infirmary. So if you could please try and pick up the pace a little bit, that’d be great.”
John reluctantly started to help Teyla along. He would have to ask her later.
***
With the help of John, Teyla gingerly sat down on a bed in the infirmary. The members of their little group were the only people in there at the moment. The rest of the Atrians had already completed their medical examinations and were in the process of being assigned living quarters by Sergeant Bates.
Dr. Beckett had already begun to examine her for any other injuries. “Well lass,” he said. “There’s nothing else wrong with you. Only the wounds on your back and your ankle.”
“Only?” John asked.
“Aye, from the looks of things, it could have been much worse.” Dr. Beckett said as he began to wrap a tensor bandage around her ankle. He had already given her something for the pain, so she hardly felt a thing.
While all of this was occurring, Teyla looked over at her children who were both sitting on chairs. They were both staring back at her. They looked worried, but it was not a surprise given what they had both just been through. Teyla was in fact proud of them. They had kept their heads surprisingly cool, considering the situation, and they were now waiting patiently for her.
Teyla also used this time to look over at John. When he had asked her about the kids, she hadn’t known what to say. Teyla had known that he would have to find out eventually, so instead of avoiding it she had told him the truth. They were her kids. Now all that she had to tell him was that they were his kids as well. She wasn’t looking forward to doing it, but it was something that had to be done no matter what. In fact, Teyla was now regretting her decision to ever hide that knowledge from him.
Teyla had assumed by John’s reaction to the night they spent together that he never wanted to talk about it again. After all, that was what he had said. But Teyla still knew that she should have told him. No matter how much he may regret that night, he still had the right to know the truth.
“There you are lass,” Dr. Beckett said interrupting Teyla’s thoughts. “We’re all done with that, now I’m just going to give you a mild sedative to help you sleep.”
“No Dr. Beckett, I am fine.” Teyla said. “I need to tell Dr. Weir what happened, and then look after the children.”
Before Dr. Beckett could even reply, Dr. Weir was speaking. “Teyla’s right Carson, we need to know what happened.” At his disagreeing look she continued, “And then after we have finished talking to Teyla, you can give her the sedative.”
“But the children…” Teyla began.
“Don’t worry Teyla,” Elizabeth said. “When we’re done talking I’ll take them down to the mess hall to get something to eat, and then they can come back and sleep in here tonight. Alright?”
Teyla nodded. Then she began to recount the events of the night. Surprisingly it didn’t take that long. They didn’t know much except that the wraith were back. As soon as she was finished Dr. Beckett started to prepare the sedative.
***
John sighed. The wraith were truly back. Unfortunately that was about all the information Teyla had been able to tell them. Now Dr. Beckett was preparing to give Teyla a sedative.
John quickly took off his jacket, mentally berating himself for not doing so before. He handed it over to Teyla who was still wearing only a bra on her upper body.
“Thank you.” She said quietly. She then quickly put it on, and zipped it up.
A few minutes later Dr. Beckett had administered the sedative, and Teyla had fallen asleep. Elizabeth then caught John’s eye and mentioned that she wanted to speak to him in private. They both stepped off to the side, out of hearing from the rest of the group.
“John, I want you to take the kids to the mess hall and get them something to eat. When you’re done you can bring them back here.” Elizabeth whispered.
“Ok,” John whispered back. “But I thought that you were going to take them.”
Elizabeth smiled halfheartedly. “I think it would be better if you do it.”
John shrugged and then went off to gather his charges. The two kids were sitting in chairs on the other side of the infirmary. When John reached them the boy said, “Who are you?”
John was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly recovered. “I’m Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. Who are you?”
The boy, who was apparently taking this all in stride, said “Tagan Emmagan.”
John raised an eyebrow in surprise. He did hear Teyla correctly when they were in the gate room.
John looked over at the girl. She still hadn’t said anything. John crouched down in front of her, looking her in the eye. “What’s your name?” he asked, trying not to sound too intimidating.
She quickly glanced down at her knees, but said quietly. “Abrianna.”
John smiled, stood up and said, “Well Abrianna and Tagan, we are going to go to the mess hall to get something to eat.”
“Good,” was Tagan’s response. “I’m hungry.”
John stifled a laugh. Tagan had apparently recovered quite quickly from his ordeal. When he had first come through the gate he had been scared, and very quiet. And now… not so much.
“Alright then,” John said. “Let’s go.” He started to leave the infirmary but stopped at the door when he noticed that he only had one kid with him. Looking back over his shoulder he saw that Abrianna was still sitting in a chair.
“Abrianna, are you coming?” he asked.
She shook her head. John sighed and told Tagan to wait at the door. He walked back over to Abrianna and crouched down in front of her once again. “Why not?” he asked.
She pointed at Teyla, and John could see tears in her eyes. John felt a surge of sympathy for her. It must be so hard to see your mom lying in a hospital bed, especially after all that had transpired that night.
John put his hand on her knee and said, “Your mom is going to be fine. She’s just sleeping.” Abrianna turned to look at him and he continued. “She’s just sleeping right now Abrianna. We’re going to go get some food, and then both you and your brother can come back here to stay with your mom. Ok?”
John was relieved when she nodded. John had stood up and was about to turn around when surprisingly Abrianna lifted her arms over her head, indicating that she wanted to be picked up.
John reached down and lifted her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. John suddenly felt very protective.
His mind didn’t dwell on that thought for long, because Tagan was waiting impatiently at the door. “Can we go now?” he asked.
“Yes.” John replied and then they headed for the mess hall.
By the time that they got there John’s arms were starting to get sore. Abrianna was heavier than she looked. They entered the mess hall, and John turned on the lights. There was no one else there. After all it was well past midnight on Atlantis.
John led the kids over to a table and gently set Abrianna down on the ground. Both her and Tagan hopped up on the chairs.
“Ok,” John began. “So what do you guys want to eat?”
Tagan shrugged and Abrianna didn’t say anything.
“How about turkey sandwiches?” John suggested.
Immediately Tagan asked. “What’s a turkey?”
“It’s a kind of bird.” John replied.
“What does it look like?” Tagan asked.
“Uhh,” John said trying to think of a good way to describe a turkey. “Well…it’s got feathers, and…”
“I know what a bird looks like, but what does a turkey look like?”
“It’s a big ugly bird.” John said, hoping that Tagan wouldn’t ask him anything else.
Tagan nodded. Apparently he was satisfied with this description. John then quickly went into the kitchens to grab two turkey sandwiches and some juice. He came back out a few minutes later with the food, and the kids were still sitting quietly at the table.
He handed them each a sandwich and a glass of juice. Tagan began to immediately eat. John had to stop himself from laughing. Well he did say that he was hungry.
John noticed that Abrianna hadn’t touched her sandwich. At his inquiring glance she said softly, “I’m not hungry.”
“Do you want something else?” John asked.
She shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”
“Ok,” John said. He wanted to say something more, but couldn’t think of anything. Abrianna and John sat there for a few minutes watching Tagan eat before Abrianna spoke.
“Did you know my mommy when she was here before?”
John was taken aback by the question. “Yes.” John said before asking a question of his own. “Did your mom tell you about being here before?”
“Yes,” Abrianna said softly. “She told us bedtime stories about the city of the ancestors.”
Now John was curious. “What did she tell you?”
Abrianna shrugged. “She told us lots of stuff.”
“Like…”
“Like the time there was a huge storm that almost hurt the city. And when the wraith were attacking the city and Dr. McKay made it invisible. Just, lots of stuff.”
“So,” John began. “She never said anything about me?”
“No.” Abrianna said.
They sat in silence for a few moments. John had known Teyla was mad at him, but he was still surprised to find out she had completely left him out of the stories she had told the children. He wasn’t trying to be cocky, but he did play a rather integral role in both of those incidents.
John looked over at Tagan who had been silent the entire time, and noticed that he had finished his sandwich and was now beginning to eat Abrianna’s. John couldn’t stop from smiling. That kid can sure eat. Then, John suddenly thought of a way to find out if these kids were his.
“Abrianna,” he said. “Did your mom ever say anything about your dad?”
Abrianna shook her head. “No, I asked her once but she didn’t tell me anything.”
Then all of a sudden Tagan joined the conversation. “We don’t got a Dad.”
“I’m sorry.” John said, unsure of what else he could say. Since the kids didn’t know anything about their father, he would have to ask Teyla tomorrow. Noticing that Tagan had finished eating he said. “Let’s go back to the infirmary. Ok?”
“The what?” Tagan asked.
“The infirmary,” At the puzzled looks of both kids he continued. “Where your mom is.”
“Ok.” They said at the same time. Tagan started making his way out of the mess hall, but Abrianna lifted her arms up over her head again. John picked her up and they followed Tagan back to the infirmary.
TBC
Feedback is muchly appreciated!
Chapter Title: Chapter 4 - Getting to Know
Author: Nytel
Spoilers: Up to 203 for sure, but very light spoilers, if any, after that.
Summary: Teyla and John spend one night together, and they could never have imagined the series of events that would unfold because of it. These events would change the lives and the future of everyone in Atlantis.
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis
Previously:
John and Teyla had started to make their way to the stairs. Dr. Weir had held out her hands to the two children. They both took hold. The little girl then asked in a quiet voice, “Are you Dr. Weir?”
“Yes I am.” She replied smiling.
Then the little boy spoke. “Mom told us about you.” As he said this he glanced back at Teyla.
John’s step faltered. Mom?
Chapter 4 - Getting To Know
John turned to look at Teyla, but she had averted her eyes. He glanced back at the kids and for the first time realized that both of them looked a lot like Teyla, especially the girl. She looked like a much younger version of Teyla, but perhaps with a shade lighter skin. The boy looked very similar to the girl. They must be twins.
John stopped for a few moments, forcing Teyla to stop as well. She still wouldn’t look at him. John knew this wasn’t the best time, but he needed to know.
“Teyla, are those your kids?” he tried to keep his voice calm, but it was difficult. He knew that if the answer was yes, there was also a very good chance they were his kids.
Teyla hadn’t responded. “Teyla,” John asked again quietly. “Are those your kids?”
He stared at her for a few seconds more before she slowly nodded. She still wasn’t meeting his eyes.
John was shocked. Teyla had kids, two of them. They had to be at least four years old. This meant that either as soon as Teyla had left she had met someone else, or they were his kids.
But before John could ask her if the kids were his, Dr. Beckett called from ahead. “Colonel, we need to get Teyla to the infirmary. So if you could please try and pick up the pace a little bit, that’d be great.”
John reluctantly started to help Teyla along. He would have to ask her later.
***
With the help of John, Teyla gingerly sat down on a bed in the infirmary. The members of their little group were the only people in there at the moment. The rest of the Atrians had already completed their medical examinations and were in the process of being assigned living quarters by Sergeant Bates.
Dr. Beckett had already begun to examine her for any other injuries. “Well lass,” he said. “There’s nothing else wrong with you. Only the wounds on your back and your ankle.”
“Only?” John asked.
“Aye, from the looks of things, it could have been much worse.” Dr. Beckett said as he began to wrap a tensor bandage around her ankle. He had already given her something for the pain, so she hardly felt a thing.
While all of this was occurring, Teyla looked over at her children who were both sitting on chairs. They were both staring back at her. They looked worried, but it was not a surprise given what they had both just been through. Teyla was in fact proud of them. They had kept their heads surprisingly cool, considering the situation, and they were now waiting patiently for her.
Teyla also used this time to look over at John. When he had asked her about the kids, she hadn’t known what to say. Teyla had known that he would have to find out eventually, so instead of avoiding it she had told him the truth. They were her kids. Now all that she had to tell him was that they were his kids as well. She wasn’t looking forward to doing it, but it was something that had to be done no matter what. In fact, Teyla was now regretting her decision to ever hide that knowledge from him.
Teyla had assumed by John’s reaction to the night they spent together that he never wanted to talk about it again. After all, that was what he had said. But Teyla still knew that she should have told him. No matter how much he may regret that night, he still had the right to know the truth.
“There you are lass,” Dr. Beckett said interrupting Teyla’s thoughts. “We’re all done with that, now I’m just going to give you a mild sedative to help you sleep.”
“No Dr. Beckett, I am fine.” Teyla said. “I need to tell Dr. Weir what happened, and then look after the children.”
Before Dr. Beckett could even reply, Dr. Weir was speaking. “Teyla’s right Carson, we need to know what happened.” At his disagreeing look she continued, “And then after we have finished talking to Teyla, you can give her the sedative.”
“But the children…” Teyla began.
“Don’t worry Teyla,” Elizabeth said. “When we’re done talking I’ll take them down to the mess hall to get something to eat, and then they can come back and sleep in here tonight. Alright?”
Teyla nodded. Then she began to recount the events of the night. Surprisingly it didn’t take that long. They didn’t know much except that the wraith were back. As soon as she was finished Dr. Beckett started to prepare the sedative.
***
John sighed. The wraith were truly back. Unfortunately that was about all the information Teyla had been able to tell them. Now Dr. Beckett was preparing to give Teyla a sedative.
John quickly took off his jacket, mentally berating himself for not doing so before. He handed it over to Teyla who was still wearing only a bra on her upper body.
“Thank you.” She said quietly. She then quickly put it on, and zipped it up.
A few minutes later Dr. Beckett had administered the sedative, and Teyla had fallen asleep. Elizabeth then caught John’s eye and mentioned that she wanted to speak to him in private. They both stepped off to the side, out of hearing from the rest of the group.
“John, I want you to take the kids to the mess hall and get them something to eat. When you’re done you can bring them back here.” Elizabeth whispered.
“Ok,” John whispered back. “But I thought that you were going to take them.”
Elizabeth smiled halfheartedly. “I think it would be better if you do it.”
John shrugged and then went off to gather his charges. The two kids were sitting in chairs on the other side of the infirmary. When John reached them the boy said, “Who are you?”
John was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly recovered. “I’m Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard. Who are you?”
The boy, who was apparently taking this all in stride, said “Tagan Emmagan.”
John raised an eyebrow in surprise. He did hear Teyla correctly when they were in the gate room.
John looked over at the girl. She still hadn’t said anything. John crouched down in front of her, looking her in the eye. “What’s your name?” he asked, trying not to sound too intimidating.
She quickly glanced down at her knees, but said quietly. “Abrianna.”
John smiled, stood up and said, “Well Abrianna and Tagan, we are going to go to the mess hall to get something to eat.”
“Good,” was Tagan’s response. “I’m hungry.”
John stifled a laugh. Tagan had apparently recovered quite quickly from his ordeal. When he had first come through the gate he had been scared, and very quiet. And now… not so much.
“Alright then,” John said. “Let’s go.” He started to leave the infirmary but stopped at the door when he noticed that he only had one kid with him. Looking back over his shoulder he saw that Abrianna was still sitting in a chair.
“Abrianna, are you coming?” he asked.
She shook her head. John sighed and told Tagan to wait at the door. He walked back over to Abrianna and crouched down in front of her once again. “Why not?” he asked.
She pointed at Teyla, and John could see tears in her eyes. John felt a surge of sympathy for her. It must be so hard to see your mom lying in a hospital bed, especially after all that had transpired that night.
John put his hand on her knee and said, “Your mom is going to be fine. She’s just sleeping.” Abrianna turned to look at him and he continued. “She’s just sleeping right now Abrianna. We’re going to go get some food, and then both you and your brother can come back here to stay with your mom. Ok?”
John was relieved when she nodded. John had stood up and was about to turn around when surprisingly Abrianna lifted her arms over her head, indicating that she wanted to be picked up.
John reached down and lifted her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. John suddenly felt very protective.
His mind didn’t dwell on that thought for long, because Tagan was waiting impatiently at the door. “Can we go now?” he asked.
“Yes.” John replied and then they headed for the mess hall.
By the time that they got there John’s arms were starting to get sore. Abrianna was heavier than she looked. They entered the mess hall, and John turned on the lights. There was no one else there. After all it was well past midnight on Atlantis.
John led the kids over to a table and gently set Abrianna down on the ground. Both her and Tagan hopped up on the chairs.
“Ok,” John began. “So what do you guys want to eat?”
Tagan shrugged and Abrianna didn’t say anything.
“How about turkey sandwiches?” John suggested.
Immediately Tagan asked. “What’s a turkey?”
“It’s a kind of bird.” John replied.
“What does it look like?” Tagan asked.
“Uhh,” John said trying to think of a good way to describe a turkey. “Well…it’s got feathers, and…”
“I know what a bird looks like, but what does a turkey look like?”
“It’s a big ugly bird.” John said, hoping that Tagan wouldn’t ask him anything else.
Tagan nodded. Apparently he was satisfied with this description. John then quickly went into the kitchens to grab two turkey sandwiches and some juice. He came back out a few minutes later with the food, and the kids were still sitting quietly at the table.
He handed them each a sandwich and a glass of juice. Tagan began to immediately eat. John had to stop himself from laughing. Well he did say that he was hungry.
John noticed that Abrianna hadn’t touched her sandwich. At his inquiring glance she said softly, “I’m not hungry.”
“Do you want something else?” John asked.
She shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”
“Ok,” John said. He wanted to say something more, but couldn’t think of anything. Abrianna and John sat there for a few minutes watching Tagan eat before Abrianna spoke.
“Did you know my mommy when she was here before?”
John was taken aback by the question. “Yes.” John said before asking a question of his own. “Did your mom tell you about being here before?”
“Yes,” Abrianna said softly. “She told us bedtime stories about the city of the ancestors.”
Now John was curious. “What did she tell you?”
Abrianna shrugged. “She told us lots of stuff.”
“Like…”
“Like the time there was a huge storm that almost hurt the city. And when the wraith were attacking the city and Dr. McKay made it invisible. Just, lots of stuff.”
“So,” John began. “She never said anything about me?”
“No.” Abrianna said.
They sat in silence for a few moments. John had known Teyla was mad at him, but he was still surprised to find out she had completely left him out of the stories she had told the children. He wasn’t trying to be cocky, but he did play a rather integral role in both of those incidents.
John looked over at Tagan who had been silent the entire time, and noticed that he had finished his sandwich and was now beginning to eat Abrianna’s. John couldn’t stop from smiling. That kid can sure eat. Then, John suddenly thought of a way to find out if these kids were his.
“Abrianna,” he said. “Did your mom ever say anything about your dad?”
Abrianna shook her head. “No, I asked her once but she didn’t tell me anything.”
Then all of a sudden Tagan joined the conversation. “We don’t got a Dad.”
“I’m sorry.” John said, unsure of what else he could say. Since the kids didn’t know anything about their father, he would have to ask Teyla tomorrow. Noticing that Tagan had finished eating he said. “Let’s go back to the infirmary. Ok?”
“The what?” Tagan asked.
“The infirmary,” At the puzzled looks of both kids he continued. “Where your mom is.”
“Ok.” They said at the same time. Tagan started making his way out of the mess hall, but Abrianna lifted her arms up over her head again. John picked her up and they followed Tagan back to the infirmary.
TBC
Feedback is muchly appreciated!