The title is a line
from the song "Blessed Night" by Howling Bells -
Every path bares a cross for tomorrow
Give me a sign
Give me you
And I'll follow.
x x x
He watches as the hand lingers on the small of her back, fingertips creeping over the edge of the fabric to graze her bare skin. He thinks that he can hear her gasp from across the room as she lifts her head to make eye contact with her partner. John wishes that he could see her face. He can just imagine her look of surprise. If he's lucky, there will be reproof mixed in there too. If not, there will be that small wondrous smile that is so rarely witnessed. The smile that makes his stomach somersault.
Then, she slowly pulls away. Her partner lets her go reluctantly, his gaze flickering between Teyla as she walks away and John as she approaches his seat at the edge of the room. She smiles briefly and sits down next to him, accepting the drink that he holds out for her.
"Old flame?" His tone isn't as light as he would like.
"We were only children when we last met, John."
He glances at her before turning his attention to the centre of the ballroom once more. "Doesn't answer the question."
Teyla sits back in her chair, her dress spilling across her body like fluid. "Is there someone in your life who reminds you of a specific time or place? Someone with whom you associate a period that is so full of happy memories that you want nothing more than to return to it?"
He turns to face her now, surprised by the emotion in her voice.
"Jaran is precisely that person. My mother and father brought me to his world. His people held a celebration in honour of our alliance with them, much like this one. Memories of those nights sometimes feel like they belong to another, and not to me. It is nice to be with someone who shares them, who revives them."
Nice one, John. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean -"
"It's fine. Really." She turns to him. "They are happy memories, ones that I want to be reminded of."
She looks around the room, her eyes still glistening. "I'm glad that you accepted Jaran's invitation."
He clears his throat, pausing for a moment before jumping to his feet. He doesn't meet her enquiring gaze until he has placed her glass next to his on the nearby table.
"May I have this dance?"
Teyla takes his outstretched hand hesitantly, and he holds it lightly as he guides her to the centre of the room. He waits until her arms reach up and he feels the warmth of her fingertips against his spine before pulling her closer.
She presses into him as the music begins, and he can feel her steady breath through the thin fabric that covers his shoulder. They turn slowly, and John's eyes fall on Jaran as the other man watches them with a neutral expression. His attention is on John's hands where they rest on Teyla's lower back as if they belong there.
John's breath hitches as his fingers edge upward until they brush exposed flesh, warm and smooth beneath his touch. This time he really does hear her gasp. He raises his head slightly, waiting for her to pull away. Instead, she moans lightly and follows him to rest her temple against his cheek.
John closes his eyes and releases the breath that he's been holding. He finally has the sign that he needs. /lj-cut