Title: The Naked Truth
Rating: M
Warnings: None

Pairing: John and Teyla

Characters: John/Keller POV
Disclaimer: The characters of SGA don't belong to me. For fun, not profit.
Size: Words 4, 688 Total
File Format: Word
Comments: This fic has two purposes, it started with a tag between me and Gater/Laura with the theme in mind of "secrets" and then it morphed into the Black and White Challenge here at Beya. So, this one is for you Laura and for All of you! I just can't get enough of John and Teyla. I will love these two forever!

HUGE, HUGE thanks to Hope/Paulie for her wonderful insight and encouraging words. Thanks also to Steph/Loveconquers and Gater/Laura….Love you guys!

This fic has 6 chapters and they are all completed. The entire fic should be posted by the end of this week.

Comments are greatly appreciated.

Chapter 1: Intoxicating Words

John put his hand against the wall for it looked like it was about to collapse on him as he lifted the carafe of wine to his lips, swallowing deeply.

Am I dreaming again? He smiled at the thought.

This planet was unlike any he had ever visited. It had a vintage appeal with cobblestone roads, barbaric decorum and rooms filled with exotic duchesses willing to entice any man's desires. The food and entertainment in the dining hall was definitely interesting, but after a few glasses of wine, the chatter all around him had lost all intelligibility.

The feast along with the after celebration certainly foretold of tonight's' delightful midnight encounters. And John had no arguments there. Although he did attempt to lure the rest of the team back to Atlantis requesting that he be left behind to tie up all the loose ends. Yet, that only earned him a menacing stare, a lopsided grin, a rough pat on the shoulder, and a grumble from afar.

This was all Rodney's idea, to come to Candaria. And he must remember to thank him, well someday! But it was John's idea to have Dr. Keller join them on this mission.

She had taken kindly to the Chief Councilor of Candaria. After the feast, they both left the dining area to continue their discussion of Ancient medicinal artifacts found in their immense library located on the other side of the town. At first, John was hesitant to let her go alone with the Councilor, but one look from Teyla, who was also accompanied by a local officer of the court, quickly made him shut his thoughts aside not daring to contradict the young warrior's wishes.

Ronon had left the dining hall, as well. He was invited to a dual match with the Candarian's elite group of assassin warriors. John could have sworn he heard Ronon breathing heavily at the chance to finally meet some worthy opponents. He briefly thought of Ronon fighting like a true gladiator in a large arena, but then dismissed the thought, for surely, if Ronon is fighting, John himself wouldn't be too far behind. And that was not his current idea of relaxation.

In the back of the dining area a delighted Rodney was offered full access to the kitchen while continuing his questions with the scientist of the Candarian planet. Certain that the scientist could handle himself with a platter of food and a bunch of geeks, John decided to skip that encounter and head about his own way, preferably alone.

True, there was a particular duchess that had caught his attention with her flirtatious conversation, but his eyes and ears betrayed him every so often as he looked around the room to find a persistent young officer of the court marveling at Teyla, intoxicating her with his fermented words and his exuberant charm.

But that was none of his business. Teyla was a free woman again, and although he didn't know if she was interested in pursuing another relationship...yeah, he wasn't going to give that anymore thought.

It really didn't bother him, (he kept convincing himself) for everyone was here enjoying a well-deserved R&R and he wasn't about to interfere with his team's moment of peace and entertainment; well, as long as they were all safe and out of harm's way. But, he'd be damned if he was going to stick around to witness what he clearly didn't care to see. Not to mention that the entire time on this planet, his spidey senses were starting to hit overdrive.

On this last night, while eating dinner, between the spinning in the room, the chattering voice of the very enthusiastic duchess, and the sudden laughter coming out of Teyla's lips; The hell with it, it was time for him to take in some fresh air; Alone!

So, he'd gone looking for a bit of solitude and he found it in the garden. There was a statue of one of their goddess whose image he'd seen in several murals around the dining hall. He doffed an imaginary hat at the naked saint who stood in the center of a small courtyard. He continued till he spotted a marble bench and opted to sit and finish the rest of his wine. Sitting by the warm caress of the night's pale moonlight casting an iridescent glow upon the small fountain in front of him, slowly, he lifted his carafe again in toast for the Candarians hospitality, when a feminine voice interrupted his reverie.

"John!"