disclaimer: Atlantis is not mine, waaah!

rating: G for now, will change to M for the next chapter.

A/N: This was written as a final present for the Secret Elf Exchange on the John/Teyla Beya site on LJ. It has 4 chapters and they will be posted over the next few days.

feedback: reviews are always welcomed and appreciated and provide motivation for more stories.

Thanks: To Sagey, who is always there as my little cheerleader and as my sounding board for feedback for my stories. And to Camy, whose vast effort provided the means to participate in the exchange.

Distraction

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"Run, get to the gate!" Sheppard shouted as the four team members raced along the uneven ground, seconds ahead of the dozen or so Wraith who were chasing after them.

"Oh, like you really need to order us to do this," Rodney puffed as he slipped once again. Why did they always stumble across the Wraith wherever they went?

Ronon gave the man a rough shove and made him move faster toward the DHD. A flash of blue shot past his left ear and Rodney didn't need any more encouragement. His hands reached out and started slapping at keys on the device. Ronon moved quickly after McKay to where the gate was, leaving just enough room for the kawoosh to escape.

John followed as Teyla continued running, not quite at the DHD that was now abandoned. Rodney had finished dialing and was sprinting toward the shimmering blue pool that had just erupted. More flashes of blue whizzed by and John turned to point his P-90 and press the trigger. A volley of shots rang out and plowed down a few more of the pursuers. John knew it wouldn't last long and they would be up and about again soon.

He turned back toward the gate and saw Teyla's foot snag in a loose patch of dirt and she fell to her knees. As he approached to assist her, another blue flash hit her and she crumbled to the ground. John whipped back and blasted away at the few Wraith who had gotten close to them, knowing there were certainly some more behind. He needed to get Teyla through the gate before they showed up.

He clipped his P-90 to his vest and bent down to scoop her up in his arms but before he could make it all the way to the gate, it disengaged. Ronon and Rodney must have thought they were right behind and hadn't bothered to hold it open. He looked around trying to gauge the best way to deal with an unconscious Teyla and dial the gate back.

He saw movement at the edge of the tree line and knew he would never get back to the DHD, dial, get clearance and then get Teyla through before the Wraith got to them. He was hidden where he was now from the new Wraith approaching by a small outcropping of rocks but he would be in their line of sight in seconds if he didn't move immediately.

He picked up Teyla again, thankful she was so light and made his way behind a few bushes then slipped into the trees behind the gate. He pushed past a few more then paused and lowered Teyla gently to the ground to see if the Wraith had noticed that he and Teyla hadn't made it through. He was hoping they would merely think they had escaped.

The half dozen that he had shot were now springing back to their feet and his heart fell when he saw they were indeed looking around as if they knew someone was still there. And they had been joined by at least a dozen more. He knew Ronon and Rodney would insist on coming back but Weir was always cautious and he knew she wouldn't send them back without plenty of backup. And he also knew it could take time to mobilize enough men for the amount of Wraith they had encountered. He and Teyla could be here for a while.

He looked around the woods knowing they'd have to find a place to hide until either the Wraith decided to leave, and that was a long shot as they had already been here before his team had arrived, or Atlantis sent the cavalry in to save them. He couldn't see anything in the immediate vicinity so he wrapped his arms around Teyla once more and started trekking further into the forest.

After about fifteen minutes, in which he was cursing the loaded vests and weapons they were carrying, he saw a large hill of rocks ascend upward. He again laid Teyla softly on the pine needle laden ground and began a search for something that would keep them hidden.

It was only another five minutes before he found what he was looking for. There was a good sized fissure in the side of the rocky hill and peering deeper inside he found a snug, little cave that should be just large enough to keep them from being found. He carefully climbed down the rocks and hefted Teyla in a fireman's carry so he could concentrate on his footing as he climbed back up.

He lowered her inside then pulled a few of the scraggly, hillside bushes closer to the opening to protect them from discovery even more. He eased himself inside and arranged the shrubs to conceal the cave entrance. It wasn't exactly a five star hotel but it would have to do for now.

The bushes weren't super full so they still had a modicum of light filtering in to see. John arranged Teyla as comfortably as he could on the cold, stone floor and unstrapped his automatic as well as hers. He moved them so they were out of the way but still within reach in a moment's notice.

He shrugged off his vest and tucked it under her head then checked her breathing and pulse. He knew sometimes it took a while to wake up from a stun blast but he wanted to make sure she was okay. She was but he continued to stare at her anyway. She was simply too beautiful to do anything else. He'd always thought so. Maybe someday he'd get the nerve up to actually tell her what he thought.

It was another twenty minutes before Teyla began to stir. John pulled his hand back from stroking her hair when he heard her moan and saw her start to show signs of movement. He wasn't sure how he would explain his hands sifting through her silky strands and his fingers lightly caressing the soft skin of her cheek.

He did however move into her line of vision and give her a concerned smile. "Hey, sleepyhead, how ya feeling?"

Teyla squeezed her eyes shut then opened them again and attempted to focus her vision. John knew what it was like when you first woke from a Wraith stunner. You were disoriented and you felt like you'd been run over by a truck. And that was on top of the pins and needles that attacked every inch of skin.

Teyla looked past John who was facing the opening of the cave so his back was against a wall of rocks. She saw stone on all sides, very close then she turned and looked behind her and saw the small hole and the bush in front. Her expression grew confused.

"Where are we? What happened?"

John gave her a quick version then moved his head closer. "Looks like we're stuck here until the Wraith decide to leave or until Weir sends a search party back. Unfortunately they don't know that we're safe. It's possible they think we were taken and that may take longer to get an assault team ready."

Teyla let out a big sigh. "I do not think the Wraith will be leaving anytime soon. I can feel that there are a great number of them nearby; perhaps a hive ship or outpost."

Teyla winced and John took her hand as she began to shake it. "Pins and needles, huh? Let me see if I can help."

He began to rub her hands and then moved his fingers up her arm to her bare shoulders. He did so like when she wore these no sleeved tops. Her arms were amazingly toned and he had been in awe of them since the first time he had seen them. Her top today was a black, clingy knit with a crisscross front and John knew he would need to keep reminding himself not to stare. It hugged Teyla's body like a second skin and he could tell she wasn't wearing a bra. That always killed him.

He abruptly took his hands away on the pretense of reaching for his vest which had been under her head. The temptation of her smooth skin against his calloused fingers had been almost too much for him. The fact that they would most likely need to stay in this cozy, little space for a while might prove too much for his control, as strong as it was. And he didn't have the rest of his team watching over him to keep him in line.

"You feeling okay?" John asked as Teyla shook her head again, trying to clear the cobwebs. He pulled an energy bar from his vest and offered it to her.

"I am fine, John, thank you. Perhaps we should keep those for later. We do not know how long we will need to stay here."

John grimaced but responded, "You're right although I was hoping it wouldn't be that long, otherwise I would have found us a little better accommodations."

Teyla took a good look around at the cramped quarters and smirked. "I suppose we have stayed in nicer however we are not in a prison cell in a hive ship so I will not complain."

John grinned at her logic and said, "Good point. And I suppose we can always go out and see if we can find some place a little better if we have to."

Teyla started adjusting her position and when she folded her legs she let out a small cry and grabbed for her ankle.

"What is it?" John questioned anxiously.

"My ankle," Teyla grunted lifting the hem of her pants. "I fear I must have twisted it. It is why I fell on my way to the gate."

John grabbed his flashlight from his vest and shone it on her ankle. They both grimaced when they saw that it was beginning to swell.

"Shoe on or shoe off?" John asked hoping Teyla knew the best thing to do for an injury of this kind. If it was his high combat boots, he would say keep it on for support but she had on the standard hiking sneakers and there was no ankle support.

"Perhaps we could wrap it to keep it from moving too much," Teyla suggested. "I do not think we will be able to go too far for a while whether I have an injury or not. I sense the presence of many Wraith. And they appear to be aware that we are somewhere on this planet."

John nodded solemnly as he took out the ace bandage from his vest. Teyla shrugged out of her vest at this time and propped it behind her to rest against. She reached for the bandage but John shook her off. He started untying her shoe.

"I'll wrap it up. You just relax and let me know if those Wraith out there get any closer."

Teyla allowed John to remove her shoe and she was surprised at how tender he was with his ministrations. Once her ankle had been firmly ensconced in the cloth, John lifted it to rest in his lap. Teyla was about to object but John held tight and explained, "You need to keep it elevated for a while."

Teyla knew he was correct and so she leaned back against the wall to John's right so her left foot, the injured one, lay in his lap. She saw him staring at her foot and a funny grin appeared on his face.

"Why do you appear amused by my foot, John?"

John's eyes glowed with mischief. "You've got colored polish on your toes. I guess I never figured you for the toenail polish kind of gal. And I've seen your bare feet before when we spar and I don't ever remember you wearing it before."

"I did not realize you had studied my toes prior to this," Teyla defended. "And I do not typically paint them however some of the ladies that I play cards with each week insisted that we all partake of this activity the last time we were together."

John smiled playfully and nodded. "I like it. You should paint them more often."

Teyla's face flushed and she attempted to move her foot again but John held on tight. His eyes crinkled in amusement. He moved his head closer to hers.

"I'm just teasing, Teyla."

"Yes, I know," she sighed. "It is one of your favorite activities."

John chuckled. "And you're such an easy target. Now lean back and try to rest. We could be here for a while."

Teyla leaned back against her padded vest and closed her eyes. John watched her again as his hand subconsciously stroked her foot. But he could tell she was restless as her mouth stayed in a tight line.

"Are you okay, Teyla," he finally asked after about fifteen minutes. "You seem a little tense."

She took a deep breath in and nodded. "Yes, I am fine. But there are many Wraith on this planet and their presence is unsettling."

John couldn't really do anything about that but maybe he could take her mind off them, partially anyway.

"Tell me what it was like growing up on Athos," John requested, hoping to distract her. "I mean when the Wraith weren't banging on the door."

Teyla smiled at the question. "It was pleasant, even with the lingering fear always a threat. I suppose I may have been spoiled a bit more than some of the children as my mother was the leader of our people but …"

"Wait!" John interrupted. "Your mother was leader? I thought your Dad was the leader before you."

"He was after my mother died," Teyla supplied. "And then I became leader after he was taken."

John made a little scowling face. "So it runs in the family which makes you kind of like a Queen."

Teyla gave a hardy laugh then looked quickly to the opening of the cave with anxiety. But she could feel the Wraith and they were not close enough to hear her.

"The Athosians do not have royalty. Leaders are chosen from among the people of the village. My mother was a very intelligent and wise woman who had been chosen for her wisdom and fairness. My father worked closely with her to lead our people and so it was sensible for him to follow after her."

"And you?" John encouraged her to finish her story.

"My mother trained me in diplomatic ways when I was a child and then my father finished that training when he became leader. But he still remained a trader until his end and taught me how to deal effectively and fairly in all areas as well as introduced me to many people on many worlds."

John's hand rested on the soul of her foot and his fingers absentmindedly rubbed up and down. Teyla felt it tickle slightly but not enough for her to want him to stop.

"How old were you when your Mom died?"

Teyla smiled sadly. "I was just beginning my adolescent period. That is not a good time for a young girl to lose her mother."

Teyla saw pain flicker through John's eyes as he muttered, "Not a good time for anyone to lose a Mom."

John was never very forthcoming with his history but Teyla felt compelled to ask him anyway. There was something about the way he had said the last words that made her feel he had firsthand knowledge.

"Did your mother die when you were young, John?"

John looked past her to the mouth of the cave but not before Teyla saw that pain again in his eyes. Teyla thought he was not planning to answer her then he took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yeah," he said then faced her, his eyes shuttered again. "I was about fourteen. She'd been sick for a while and they couldn't do anything for her." He gave a little derisive snort then added, "It really sucked."

"But we were talking about you," he changed the subject and she saw him close off his emotions and bring the teasing John back. "And what you were like as a kid. Were you a rebel or one of those goody two shoes who did everything their parents asked?"

Teyla's expression was puzzled. "I am not sure what a goody two shoes is but I was very much an inquisitive child. It was difficult for my parents to always answer all my questions so I went looking for them. There were many occasions I found much more than I was searching for."

"I suspected as much," John grinned.

"You did?" Teyla asked curiously. "And why is that?"

"Well," John stalled, "I guess it's because most of your people are simple farmers and hunters with the occasional trader. And you, you're a full blown warrior. Maybe I'd expect that of someone who looked like Ronon but let's face it; you don't exactly have a rugged physique."

Teyla looked affronted. "What is wrong with my physique?"

John's eyes widened as he took in her cute, little figure sitting far too close for comfort. "Absolutely nothing, Teyla. I've always thought you had a very nice physique."

Okay he wasn't sure he should have said that but he had and now he watched her to see how she would react. It wasn't the way he thought she would. He was expecting her to maybe get mad or insulted that he had checked her out but she didn't. She blushed. She actually blushed and appeared almost embarrassed.

"You must know it, Teyla," John insisted, surprised. "I mean most of the Marines can't keep their eyes off you, especially when you spar."

Teyla thought John sounded almost … jealous. She glanced at his expression and saw that he was not really teasing her with those words.

"And this bothers you?" Teyla asked.

"Yeah," John answered indignantly. "I don't want guys ogling you all the time like you're some piece of meat."

"I have seen them do this to Lt. Falkland as well when she practices. I have never heard you complain about that."

"Well, that's because she isn't, … I mean … I don't , you know…, well, … you're … a member of my team."

"So it is all right for the other Marines to … keep their eyes on Lt. Falkland."

John shrugged. "Maybe not but she can take care of herself."

"And I cannot?" Teyla sounded insulted.

"No, of course you can; probably better than most. It's just that as a member of my team maybe I feel a little … territorial about you."

Teyla couldn't help but smile. It was an odd feeling but she didn't seem to mind John feeling territorial about her. She often felt that way about him, especially when she heard other women speaking about him when they did not realize she was near. Many of the women thought John was very handsome and she could hardly disagree. But there were many times that she wanted to interrupt their conversations when they were plotting how to get him to notice them. But he never did notice, much to their chagrin.

She noticed him now. He was looking at her as if he were unsure how she would react to his comment. She simply smiled at him.

"But that's not what we were originally talking about. We were talking about … " he looked confused, "I'm not really sure what we were talking about."

Her smile widened. He was so adorable when he was confused. She started to answer him but suddenly felt a wave of thought push into her mind. She stiffened and John immediately grabbed for her arm.

"Teyla! What's wrong?"

"So many Wraith," she whispered frantically and John kept his hands on her arms, staring anxiously at her face.

"Are they close? Do they have any idea where we are? I'm kind of curious as to why they're here and why they're still looking for us."

"I will try to determine this but I will need to concentrate."

"No, Teyla, you don't need to do that." John warned, concern for her utmost in his mind.

Teyla gazed back at John's anxious face. "I should try to find out why they are here so we can determine if it will be safe for us to return to the gate at some point. They were not guarding it when we came through. They only discovered we were here when we wandered toward their encampment."

"We'll be fine, Teyla," John insisted but Teyla had already closed her eyes and slowed her breathing.

Teyla reached out with her mind and attempted to connect with one single mind. There were so many though that it was difficult. She sifted through the thoughts and found information but then she felt the presence of someone in her mind and quickly shook her head to try and dispel it.

She opened her eyes, breathing heavy and her expression was filled with fear.

"What is it? What'd you find?" John asked his face close to hers.

"They are planning an attack on another hive ship and they think we are spies for the other Queen. That is why they are still hunting for us. And now that I have connected to them, they know we are still here."

Her face fell and became filled with sorrow. "I am sorry, John, I should not have done that. I am sorry."

John pulled Teyla closer until she was wrapped in his arms. "It's not your fault. You were just trying to help. They still don't know where we are though, righ,t so maybe we'll be okay. This is a pretty good hiding spot and I camouflaged our entrance fairly well."

"No, they do not know where we are," Teyla acknowledged and relaxed against John slightly. Her ankle was still throbbing especially after moving it off his lap. But she was enjoying her position curled up next to him against his chest. She would endure pain to be this close to him.

They sat that way for a while and John began asking Teyla questions about her childhood again.

"I will tell you some stories if you tell me some of yours," Teyla bargained.

John rolled his eyes and smirked. "Maybe I don't need to know then."

But John knew Teyla was stilled freaked that she had alerted the Wraith to their presence and he needed her calm so he began telling her about a time when he had gone camping in the woods and broken his arm falling out of a tree.

He felt Teyla's body soften against him and she regaled him with a story of her first hunting trip when she was six. He had to admit she would have been one heck of a cool kid to hang out with. Of course he probably wouldn't have appreciated her much past her bow and arrow and knife when he was six.

They exchanged several more stories and John was about to start another tale of his childhood when Teyla stiffened again. Her voice was breathy and frightened. "They are close. I am sorry, John, I have been trying to keep them out but there are so many I cannot help but think about them and then they can sense me much easier."

John felt panic creep up his spine. They'd be dead meat if they were found in this place. They could hardly hold off a few dozen Wraith from this position with their meager ammunition. He needed to find another way to keep Teyla's mind occupied so they couldn't sense her thoughts.

He looked down at her scared face and an idea popped into his mind. He hoped she wouldn't just kick his ass.

He slid his hand through her hair to cup the back of her neck and he closed the distance. ...

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