A/N: For Camy, in response to her challenge for a Sheyla Critical Mass tag.
John walked quietly down the halls of Atlantis. It was nighttime and he was on his way to his quarters. He hadn't had the time to see Teyla at all in the last few days because of all the activity associated in dealing with a trust bomb. But that hadn't stopped him from thinking about her and what she was going through.
Her mentor, her grandmother, for lack of a better word was dead. Dead of natural causes, and while he knew Teyla was happy for that, she was devastated after her passing. He stopped just outside her quarters.
He couldn't hear anything happening inside, but that didn't mean anything, the doors were pretty sound proof. He stepped up to it and knocking gently on the door. "Teyla?"
The door opened to reveal Teyla standing in the same dress that she'd worn during the ring ceremony. John stood shell shocked for a moment, realizing that this was a side of Teyla he wasn't used to seeing.
"Colonel, is there something wrong?" Teyla asked, perplexed by his silence.
John snapped out of the daze. "No, I just wanted to stop by and make sure you were okay. I know Charin's death hurt you."
"I was not ready for her to die." Teyla said, stepping into her room and sitting on her bed.
John stepped inside, letting the door close behind him. "I should've been there for you."
"You were busy, there was nothing you could've done. Charin wanted this." Teyla closed her eyes against the bittersweet memory.
"Teyla, I can't imagine how you feel." John sat down next to her.
This was the part of Teyla that she never showed anyone. The part of her that he'd only caught glimpses of. Teyla was strong, incredibly so. He knew this; but he also knew that she was human. There were things she feared, things she enjoyed. Right now, he knew she was feelings pain.
The loss of a dear friend wasn't something new to John. He'd lost his two best buddies, Mitch and Dex, over Afghanistan. It was how this loss had come to Teyla. Carson could've kept Charin strong and healthy for years more, but Charin wouldn't have anything of it. Teyla had respected this, against her own emotions.
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I wish there was some way I could help."
One single tear slowly made its way down her face. "Just stay with me." Teyla said quietly, leaning against his shoulder. His arm looped around to encircle her small frame. She breathed in and out slowly. He could feel her body swelling and compressing with each impact.
He was aware of how close they were, not that he didn't mind. What shocked him the most was how easily both he and Teyla had settled into this routine, one comforting the other. He guessed he shouldn't be surprised, considering how visibly she had missed him when he'd been trapped in the Sanctuary.
He'd missed having her by his side, to help him deal with the threat that the Trust had brought to Atlantis, but he couldn't have realistically asked her to not spend Charin's last few minutes with her. The feelings became acute. He loved her, more than he would ever say.
"I missed having you with me." He said, making some of his thoughts known.
"I know." Teyla replied, her voice barely a whisper.
His radio squawked. "Colonel, this is McKay, I need you in the chair room."
John turned his radio off. He had no intention of leaving Teyla now to help Rodney. He let her lean fully against him. "I'll always be here for you Teyla."
A/N: Ahhh... that was cute wasn't it.