Alienated
by YappiChick
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.
John's teeth chattered as he wrapped his arms around his body. "Tell me again how we got into this mess," he said, looking at the snow heavily falling outside the cave he was standing in.
"You separated us into teams. Ronon and Rodney searched the hills to the east while you and I explored the caves to the south," Teyla answered, forcing herself not to shiver. "A blizzard was coming, but by the time Atlantis realized it was coming, it was too late for us to return to the Gate. So we are in this cave finding refuge from the storm."
"It's like being trapped on Hoth. I feel for Luke Skywalker," muttered John. At her confused look, he sighed, "Never mind."
Nearly two hours passed with few words spoken. Most of their energy was spent on trying to stay warm. Fortunately, Teyla had her Athosian lighter with her and they were able to start a small fire within the cave.
Sheppard looked at her and saw how close she was to the fire. If she wasn't careful, she was going to be burned, he thought. "Are you trying to be the human marshmallow?" he asked grumpily. The cold was not helping his mood.
She frowned. "My people are not accustomed to this kind of weather. We seldom see snow," she answered.
Immediately he was ashamed. "I'm sorry, Teyla. It's this damn blizzard."
"I thought you use to fly your people's aircraft in a land like this," she responded, rubbing her hands together.
He thought of his time in Antarctica. He enjoyed it there, but this was nothing like it. "Well, it's a bit different when there is a nice cozy base to stay on if the weather goes bad. Besides, I liked it for the solitude, not the weather."
"You do not like spending time with your people?" she asked, confusion in her voice. Throughout her time on base, she knew that most people enjoyed the colonel's company.
"It's not that. Sometimes, I don't feel like I fit in. It's like--" he stopped. Opening up was too difficult for him. "Never mind, you wouldn't understand."
"I believe I do. When I visit my people there is a distance there that was not there before the city of the Ancestors was discovered. At times, I feel like an outsider amongst my own people," she admitted sadly.
"Come on, Teyla, your people love you. They rely on you to help them from Atlantis," he argued.
"Still," she said, "there are those occasions when I can feel as though I am not 'in the loop'. It makes me question my leadership."
John couldn't believe it. During all the time he had known Teyla, her efforts had been on defeating the Wraith to help protect her people. "Well, you're wrong. Teyla, there is no one more dedicated to her people than you."
She forced a smile at his kind words. "Thank you."
They stared at the fire for a few minutes before John asked to question he feared, "Do you ever want to go back?" Please say no, he thought.
She shook her head thoughtfully. "No. My place is here on Atlantis. With you." A pause. "And Ronon, Dr. Weir, Rodney, and the rest of those on the expedition."
John smiled despite the cold. "Well, that's good." He looked out the cave front. Changing subjects, he looked at her with a smile. "When this storm is over, I'm going to teach you how to snowboard."
She looked at him suspiciously. "This isn't anything like golf, is it?"