Gift One
Comments: I set out to use the word "gift" in each of my five ficlets. The first was set in the first season, the second in the second season, and so on. This final gift takes place post series finale (season five). I hope I was successful. This was originally written for the 2012 Beya Christmas gift exchange on LJ
Title: Tea with Thee
Set during the second half of Season One
Teyla walked quietly down the corridor leaving the raucous party behind her in the dining area. She had attended as a courtesy and out of curiosity. So rarely did their visitors from earth indulge in such frivolous and spontaneous gaiety that she was drawn by the infectious nature of their joy. The last such gathering had been shortly after they had all come to the City of the Ancients. That celebration, a coming together of two peoples, had been cautiously friendly, a sigh of relief at disaster barely averted. Yet, hanging over the celebration like an oppressive weight had been the newly awakened threat of the Wraith.
Today's celebration was different. The Lanteans, as they had come to be called over the past year, had indulged in an earth holiday the religious origins of which Dr. Zelenka, in a somewhat inebriated state, had tried to explain to her. She had listened patiently, and understood that these people represented many beliefs and yet they had suspended them all in favor of observing one that involved, among many other things, a giving of gifts.
Although her people gave simple gifts for a variety of reasons, a day devoted to gift giving intrigued her and she had stayed as they exchanged, more than once, a variety of brightly wrapped objects that had resulted in gales of laughter from those in the room. She had finally slipped away. She too had a simple gift to bestow. As she left the room she gathered a full carafe of hot water and two heavy china mugs. In the pouch at her side was a selection of spices and a rich herbal tea. She stood a transporter to the living area and within minutes stood outside his door.
It had been painfully obvious that Major Sheppard was the only off-duty member of Atlantis expedition not in attendance. It disturbed her that he chose to remain distant from his people when they were at their happiest and in some ways most vulnerable. She thought on the day they met. She had been uncertain of the sincerity of the earth soldiers, but could not forget his cheeky, lopsided grin as he informed her how much he loved a good cup of tea. We shall see, she thought raising her hand to the entrance bell to his quarters. We shall see.
