Chapter 12
Title: The Night That Changed All Others
Chapter Title: Chapter 12 - Unexpected (Part 1)
Author: Nytel
Rating: PG-13, (maybe even only PG)
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:
Teyla, who had been staring at the floor, looked up at John again. “Teyla, I’m not sorry that this happened.” When she didn’t respond he continued. “I care about you Teyla…a lot… and I don’t want to screw things up again. If there is a chance for something between us Teyla, then I want to take it slow. And if not…I don’t want to do any more damage to our friendship.”
Teyla quickly averted her gaze and she could feel the blush spreading across her face. “I’m sorry John.”
He squeezed her shoulders once. “Hey, it’s ok.” Then he dropped his hands to his side and walked to the door. “So tomorrow?”
Teyla glanced up at him and nodded. Then she watched as John quietly slipped out the door.
Chapter 12 - Unexpected
John walked past the two marines stationed outside Teyla’s door without even seeing them. He was still way too focused on what had just happened in her quarters. They had kissed, and it had been a damn good kiss. Then they had talked a bit, but for the most part he was still focused on the kiss.
It had been just over five years since the last time they had kissed. He was certain that his memory was fading, because kissing her this time had felt ten times better than the last.
Ok John, focus, he thought to himself. He had stopped the kiss before things went too far. Actually, John was proud of himself from exercising that restraint, and for keeping the damage to a minimum. He had meant what he said. He didn’t want to screw things up again.
Then John started to think about how Teyla was upset when he put a halt to things. So I have a chance? he asked himself.
Then he noticed that he was just down the hallway from his quarters. Immediately after entering them, John threw himself on his bed, not even bothering to turn the lights on.
He knew that she still cared about him as a friend, that much was obvious. But now something else was becoming increasingly obvious too; her care ran deeper than just friendship.
John knew that she had felt something more before she left, but he thought that she had given up on those feelings after he rejected her. He realized that he was wrong, and for once it felt good to be wrong.
***
Teyla dimmed the lights in the main room of her quarters before she headed into the bedroom. She would have slept on the couch that was in the main room, but she needed to be close to her kids.
The twins were still sleeping soundly on the bed. She settled into a large, semi-comfortable armchair that was off to the side of the room. She had taken off her boots and had tucked her feet underneath her. Teyla, who suddenly felt a little chilled, realized that she did not have any kind of blanket to keep her warm. All of the blankets were on the bed with the twins and she did not wish to disturb them.
It was just then that she noticed John’s jacket lying on the floor. Surely he will not mind, she thought as she picked it up and draped it over herself. It wasn’t all that warm, but it would be sufficient.
Teyla closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, hoping to calm her racing heart enough so that she could sleep. Unfortunately that did not work; it only made her more restless as she recognized the lingering scent of his cologne.
She let out a quiet, but frustrated sigh. She knew from experience that when her thoughts were centered on John, sleep would not come easily. Why are things so difficult? Teyla asked herself, even though she knew the answer.
She didn’t think things between John and her would ever be easy, but at the same time some aspects of their relationship, whatever that was, seemed so simple. She liked him, she respected him, and she trusted him unconditionally, even despite everything that had happened since that night five years ago. She knew that John liked, respected and trusted her too. That’s why her mind was screaming at her that this shouldn’t be hard.
But then Teyla remembered the rejection, and the hurt that he had caused her. She knew he was only doing what he had deemed right at the time, but that didn’t lessen the pain. He had asked her forgiveness for his mistakes, and she had given it freely. She was happy to have regained the friendship that she had so sorely missed, and with any other man that would have been enough. But this wasn’t any other man: it was John.
***
John left the mess hall at a brisk walk carrying a large tray of food. He was headed back to Teyla’s quarters and he thought it would be a good idea to bring along some breakfast. Quite frankly he wanted to spend more quality time with his kids, and Teyla. They wouldn’t have been able to achieve that in the mess hall, so John had decided to bring the food to them.
He was almost at her quarters when he caught sight of Ford. “Good morning,” John said in a chipper voice.
Ford smiled at him and said, “Morning Sir.”
When John finally reached the quarters he saw Ronon was emerging from them. He felt a surge of jealousy and he gripped the tray of food a little tighter.
“Ronon,” he said tersely, acknowledging the other man’s presence.
“Sheppard,” Ronon said, or more accurately growled.
“What are you doing here?” John asked, trying not to let any of the emotion that he was feeling carry into his voice.
“Just visiting a friend,” Ronon replied. Then he brushed past John, but not before glaring at him first. He knew that look; it was a warning.
***
Teyla quickly pulled on a shirt before she left the bedroom. Ronon had just left, and she had decided to change before John arrived. Just then, she was able to barely make out two voices from the hallway. Teyla opened the door to investigate.
She found John, who was carrying a tray of food, standing outside the door. He was staring down the hallway at Ronon’s retreating back.
“John,” she said quietly from behind him. He jumped in surprise before turning around.
“Teyla, hi,” he said seeming slightly preoccupied. “I was just…” He gestured with one hand in the direction that Ronon had gone.
“Yes,” she said. “Ronon had just stopped by for a few seconds.”
“Right.”
“Shall we?” she said as she motioned her hand toward the room.
“Ladies first,” said he with a smile on his face.
***
Once they were inside, John let Teyla take the tray of food out of his hands. “It was very thoughtful of you to bring breakfast John.”
“It’s nothing,” He replied happily as he watched her set the food onto the table.
Just as John was about to ask where the kids were, they exited the bedroom. Abrianna was the first to notice him and she smiled shyly.
“Good morning,” John said to them.
“Morning,” Tagan said grumpily. Obviously he wasn’t a morning person.
“Morning Dad,” Abrianna said quietly as she walked up to him and lifted her arms above her head.
John felt his smile get even bigger as he picked up his daughter and held her in his arms. He looked over at Teyla, and saw that she was smiling. God she’s beautiful.
He was now smiling so hard that it hurt; things were definitely looking up.
TBC
Chapter Title: Chapter 12 - Unexpected (Part 1)
Author: Nytel
Rating: PG-13, (maybe even only PG)
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:
Teyla, who had been staring at the floor, looked up at John again. “Teyla, I’m not sorry that this happened.” When she didn’t respond he continued. “I care about you Teyla…a lot… and I don’t want to screw things up again. If there is a chance for something between us Teyla, then I want to take it slow. And if not…I don’t want to do any more damage to our friendship.”
Teyla quickly averted her gaze and she could feel the blush spreading across her face. “I’m sorry John.”
He squeezed her shoulders once. “Hey, it’s ok.” Then he dropped his hands to his side and walked to the door. “So tomorrow?”
Teyla glanced up at him and nodded. Then she watched as John quietly slipped out the door.
Chapter 12 - Unexpected
John walked past the two marines stationed outside Teyla’s door without even seeing them. He was still way too focused on what had just happened in her quarters. They had kissed, and it had been a damn good kiss. Then they had talked a bit, but for the most part he was still focused on the kiss.
It had been just over five years since the last time they had kissed. He was certain that his memory was fading, because kissing her this time had felt ten times better than the last.
Ok John, focus, he thought to himself. He had stopped the kiss before things went too far. Actually, John was proud of himself from exercising that restraint, and for keeping the damage to a minimum. He had meant what he said. He didn’t want to screw things up again.
Then John started to think about how Teyla was upset when he put a halt to things. So I have a chance? he asked himself.
Then he noticed that he was just down the hallway from his quarters. Immediately after entering them, John threw himself on his bed, not even bothering to turn the lights on.
He knew that she still cared about him as a friend, that much was obvious. But now something else was becoming increasingly obvious too; her care ran deeper than just friendship.
John knew that she had felt something more before she left, but he thought that she had given up on those feelings after he rejected her. He realized that he was wrong, and for once it felt good to be wrong.
***
Teyla dimmed the lights in the main room of her quarters before she headed into the bedroom. She would have slept on the couch that was in the main room, but she needed to be close to her kids.
The twins were still sleeping soundly on the bed. She settled into a large, semi-comfortable armchair that was off to the side of the room. She had taken off her boots and had tucked her feet underneath her. Teyla, who suddenly felt a little chilled, realized that she did not have any kind of blanket to keep her warm. All of the blankets were on the bed with the twins and she did not wish to disturb them.
It was just then that she noticed John’s jacket lying on the floor. Surely he will not mind, she thought as she picked it up and draped it over herself. It wasn’t all that warm, but it would be sufficient.
Teyla closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, hoping to calm her racing heart enough so that she could sleep. Unfortunately that did not work; it only made her more restless as she recognized the lingering scent of his cologne.
She let out a quiet, but frustrated sigh. She knew from experience that when her thoughts were centered on John, sleep would not come easily. Why are things so difficult? Teyla asked herself, even though she knew the answer.
She didn’t think things between John and her would ever be easy, but at the same time some aspects of their relationship, whatever that was, seemed so simple. She liked him, she respected him, and she trusted him unconditionally, even despite everything that had happened since that night five years ago. She knew that John liked, respected and trusted her too. That’s why her mind was screaming at her that this shouldn’t be hard.
But then Teyla remembered the rejection, and the hurt that he had caused her. She knew he was only doing what he had deemed right at the time, but that didn’t lessen the pain. He had asked her forgiveness for his mistakes, and she had given it freely. She was happy to have regained the friendship that she had so sorely missed, and with any other man that would have been enough. But this wasn’t any other man: it was John.
***
John left the mess hall at a brisk walk carrying a large tray of food. He was headed back to Teyla’s quarters and he thought it would be a good idea to bring along some breakfast. Quite frankly he wanted to spend more quality time with his kids, and Teyla. They wouldn’t have been able to achieve that in the mess hall, so John had decided to bring the food to them.
He was almost at her quarters when he caught sight of Ford. “Good morning,” John said in a chipper voice.
Ford smiled at him and said, “Morning Sir.”
When John finally reached the quarters he saw Ronon was emerging from them. He felt a surge of jealousy and he gripped the tray of food a little tighter.
“Ronon,” he said tersely, acknowledging the other man’s presence.
“Sheppard,” Ronon said, or more accurately growled.
“What are you doing here?” John asked, trying not to let any of the emotion that he was feeling carry into his voice.
“Just visiting a friend,” Ronon replied. Then he brushed past John, but not before glaring at him first. He knew that look; it was a warning.
***
Teyla quickly pulled on a shirt before she left the bedroom. Ronon had just left, and she had decided to change before John arrived. Just then, she was able to barely make out two voices from the hallway. Teyla opened the door to investigate.
She found John, who was carrying a tray of food, standing outside the door. He was staring down the hallway at Ronon’s retreating back.
“John,” she said quietly from behind him. He jumped in surprise before turning around.
“Teyla, hi,” he said seeming slightly preoccupied. “I was just…” He gestured with one hand in the direction that Ronon had gone.
“Yes,” she said. “Ronon had just stopped by for a few seconds.”
“Right.”
“Shall we?” she said as she motioned her hand toward the room.
“Ladies first,” said he with a smile on his face.
***
Once they were inside, John let Teyla take the tray of food out of his hands. “It was very thoughtful of you to bring breakfast John.”
“It’s nothing,” He replied happily as he watched her set the food onto the table.
Just as John was about to ask where the kids were, they exited the bedroom. Abrianna was the first to notice him and she smiled shyly.
“Good morning,” John said to them.
“Morning,” Tagan said grumpily. Obviously he wasn’t a morning person.
“Morning Dad,” Abrianna said quietly as she walked up to him and lifted her arms above her head.
John felt his smile get even bigger as he picked up his daughter and held her in his arms. He looked over at Teyla, and saw that she was smiling. God she’s beautiful.
He was now smiling so hard that it hurt; things were definitely looking up.
TBC