Aches of the Heart
"We've been waiting for this trading mission for weeks now," said Colonel Sheppard. "You should know all about it Rodney."
"I just feel that my many other talents would be better used elsewhere for the many hours it's going to take to complete the renewal of the trade agreement," Rodney McKay countered.
The guys were walking into the conference room in order to meet Teyla, Ronon, and Mr. Woolsey to go over the details of the mission for the trade agreement set for later in the day. The Pletons, a culture that the Athosians had introduced them to their first year in Atlantis, were expecting them for the annual renewal, which usually took a few hours to complete.
"Guess I'll just have to eat enough of their near roast pork for the both of us then," John sighed as they took their seats.
"When do we leave again?" Rodney asked, completely missing the look Sheppard gave him as Ronon walked in.
"Thought you were too busy McKay?"
"I am, however, the programs I am currently running could possibly greatly enhance our ability to utilize the ZPM with Earth technologies while also decreasing the power consumption, but I still have to eat, don't I?" Rodney replied.
Ronon and John just shook their heads with laughter as Woolsey walked in and preceded to the front of the conference room. Teyla hastily entered behind him.
Everyone began to settle down and get quiet so the meeting could begin. When the discussion about the impending process was complete, the meeting was soon concluded.
"I will not be able to join you this evening for the duration of the mission to Pleton. Torren is sick and I feel that it is best if I were to stay with my son during his time of need," Teyla informed the men in the room.
"Is he alright?' John asked concern clear in his voice.
"He will be fine," she stated," I was informed by Jennifer that it was nothing more than a bad cold but that it was affecting him more than normal for a child his age."
"I'm glad it's nothing serious. The only problem is the Pletons require a representative of Athos to be included in the proceedings," John stated.
"There are no worries. Since Torren has been sick, he has wanted to spend very little time with anyone but his mother. Kanaan has readily agreed to take my place. He has been there before and h knows the people, the customs. He knows what to expect, and what is expected."
"Okay, if you're sure…"
"I am sure."
"Alright. We'll be leaving in three hours," John stated.
"I will be sure to inform Kanaan," she replied.
"I believe we have discussed everything that is needed at this time. Be sure to include their near roast pork, as you call it, in the trade agreement. Have a safe journey," Woolsey stated as he concluded the meeting.
As everyone got up to leave, John quickly followed Teyla out.
"Hey, Teyla, is everything okay? I know what you said Keller told you, but I just wanted to make sure you're certain everything is fine."
Teyla smiled tiredly as she answered, "He has been extremely cranky lately and has not been able to sleep very well the past few nights. He was extremely exhausted this morning and there has been times when he has done nothing but cough. His nose has been running a lot and he has been suffering from fevers averaging 100 to 102. Jennifer says all we can do is continue with the current regimen we are following and try to keep him as comfortable as possible until he gets well. Jennifer did take a blood sample just to make sure that there was nothing else for concern. He has become very clingy the past few days, which I am assured is usual for children his age who are sick. All I want to do is comfort my child while he is ill and all I can do is be there for him," she replied. "Kanaan and I have been trying to comfort him the past few days, all he seems to do is cry."
John stopped walking down the corridor and turned to face her. He took a good look at her while he contemplated what she had said. He could see traces of tiredness she must be feeling; he knew she hid it well. But coupled with the long explanation she had just given, which she usually didn't do, he knew she was exhausted.
"Let me take him for a couple of hours and let you take time to at least get some food in peace," he offered.
She looked skeptical at his proposal.
"Besides, it would give you and Kanaan an opportunity to go over the specifics of the agreement one last time. And it might also help Torren with a change of scenery."
"Ok," she replied at his pleading look. "But only for a couple of hours, as you have to leave soon."
Twenty minutes later, John found himself walking the halls with a fussy Torren towards his room.
"You're mom wasn't kidding when she said you were fussy, did she?" The baby looked entirely miserable and John felt bad for the little guy. When Torren coughed for the third time, followed by red rimmed watery eyes, John thought of a possible helpful solution and took a quick exit out to a nearby balcony.
"How about some fresh air?" John asked the baby as the doors closed behind them. As soon as the baby felt the sun shine down on him, there was an automatic change. He seemed to calm and brighten in John's arms. He sat the bag down on the bench, his body quickly following.
Torren started to fuss again and rubbed his eyes like he was tired. John glanced up and happened to see a rainbow and pointed it out to the young child. The boy calmed down while John talked to him about rainbows. As soon as the man stopped talking to the child, he began to fuss again. So John began to just talk to the child, telling him about his day – breakfast with Rodney, his training with Ronon, his worry of Torren….and Teyla. Every time he stopped talking, the baby would begin to fuss. He found he soon ran out of things to talk about. When nothing else came to mind, he began to sing the only songs he knew. He sang through Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and he started on "Sunday Morning" when he realized Torren's breathing had evened out. When he looked down up the child, he was sound asleep. Careful not to wake the sleeping child, he gently moved him into a more comfortable position lying on his chest.
When Teyla walked out onto the balcony over two hours later, she found both man and child fast asleep. Even with her worries, she couldn't help but smile. She didn't want to wake either one, but she knew John was already going to be late and she had no choice. She gently tapped John on the arm to wake him. As his eyes fluttered open, he grinned up at her sheepishly.
"Sorry, must have fallen asleep."
"So I see," she said playfully. "You are going to be late for departure." She said after she gave him a moment to fully awaken.
"Crap." He said as he tried to sit up straight with a sleeping Torren on his chest.
"I apologize. My discussion with Kannan went longer than I anticipated and then I could not find you in your room."
"Why didn't you try calling me? I would have met you somewhere to make your trip easier."
"I did. You never answered. I was beginning to worry, but now I see there was no need."
He looked at her quizzically when she replied. He reached up to check his ear wig when he realized it was no longer there. He happed to look down on the ground next to the bench and saw it.
"Well, that explains why I didn't hear you call. I'm sorry to have worried you. Torren must have knocked it off."
"Think nothing of it," she assured him as she reached down to pick it up for him. She handed him his earwig and waited for him to put it back in place before reaching for Torren. As he handed the baby back to his mother, he saw sadness in her eyes, a sadness he had not noticed earlier in the day. He opened his mouth to ask her if she was alright, but she beat him to it.
"You must hurry if you do not wish to be later than you already are going to be," she reminded him.
He quickly rose from the bench, somehow scraping his finger on the underside of the armrest as he rose. He grimaced when he felt the pain.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah," he answered," just caught my finger on something. It's fine," he replied as he brought his finger up to see the scratch. He quickly reached down and retrieved the bag from the bench and handed it to her so she wouldn't have to lean down with the sleeping baby.
"Thank You."
"You're welcome. See you when we get back," he replied as he caressed sleeping baby's face.
"Safe journey. I shall see you when you return."
With those last words they quickly went their separate ways down the corridor. John headed towards the armory to quickly get his things for the mission, while promising himself to check back with Teyla upon their return. There was something about that look in her eyes.
