Written for the LiveJournal community "letter love", for the letter H. Teyla/Rodney friendship.
x x x
Hold
On their third day in the infirmary they stage a quiet but defiant mutiny, and Carson reluctantly lets them go with the threat of violence if they do not return for a check-up in the morning. They walk side by side in silence to the living quarters, as close as is possible without touching each other. If she notices the slight quiver of Rodney's hand as he reaches for the transporter's control panel, she doesn't say. And if he notices the way that Teyla's shoulders tense as a Marine brushes her arm at a tight corner, he doesn't say.
They reach her room first. She turns to him and opens her mouth before sighing and closing it again. There is no invitation, but he follows her in regardless, stopping in the middle of the room as the door slides shut behind him.
They haven't spoken to each other since their rescue. He thinks that Elizabeth has noticed, and will no doubt question him about it soon. But for now, she watches their interaction with more curiosity than concern.
Teyla has her back to him, running her fingers lightly over the small pot that lies on her table. He wants to ask her about it; where she got it from, what it means to her. Instead, he takes a deep breath before striding towards her. She hears his footsteps, and turns to face him. Her arms reach up for his shoulders and she leans forward, but instead of returning the gesture he pulls her roughly into his arms and buries his face in her hair. He sighs as she relaxes against him, her hands moving lower until they reach the hem of his shirt and can slip below it. He may not be ready speak nor listen to her words, but this he understands. The desire to feel warmth, flesh, blood. To feel life.
"Rodney?"
Her muffled voice sounds so far away, and he holds her closer, the fear of losing her that has haunted him for the past week making an unwelcome return.
"Not yet," he whispers into her hair.
Her arms tighten around his waist. He knows that she'll be here when he's ready to talk.