Response to a challenge at the Live Journal community "FicForMe" for a Teyla/Caldwell story...

He watches her as she makes her way from one bed to the next in the infirmary, trying to comfort the soot-covered Taranian people as well as make a crude assessment of their injuries. In that moment he sees what an incredible leader she is. Qualities in her that he had never noticed before are visible for all to see: her patience, empathy and warmth give her an almost angelic demeanor.

Her mere presence seems to nullify any fear or doubt that the Taranians may have had with regard to the Atlanteans' intentions. She realises that she has attention when a small girl jumps out of a nearby bed and into her arms. Surprised, she tries to deposit her back onto the bed but fails, the girl clinging tightly to her top. Her eyes meet his, silently asking for his assistance, which he is only too pleased to give. Striding over to them, he gently picks up the girl and sits on the bed, placing her between him and Teyla.

"Your mother will be here for you shortly, she's just getting looked over by our doctors. Why don't I tell you a story while we wait?" The girl looks at Teyla, who smiles at her, before turning back to him and nodding her head, the fear in her eyes receding slightly. He proceeds to recite the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, with Teyla joining in to provide analogies to the Milky Way names and expressions that the girl doesn't understand.

He glances at Teyla when he is finished to see a mixture of surprise and admiration on her face, as though she has seen the real him for the first time too. Their attention is diverted from each other as the mother of the child appears following her check-up, and scoops up her daughter to take her to the nurse.

When he looks back at her he sees that she has moved along the bed to cover the distance left between them by the girl's absence. "Carson tells me that there are more children to tend to in the recreation room who are waiting for their parents to finish their check-ups. Perhaps you would like to join me in their supervision?"

He smiles and reluctantly stands up. "I'm afraid I have a meeting with Dr. McKay to discuss the state of the Orion. Besides, babysitting is not really my forte."

"On the contrary Colonel, you appear to be quite proficient. Tell me, do you have many more hidden talents?" They smile at each other for a few moments before he notices Carson and John watching them, doing their best to hide their shock at witnessing such a scene and failing miserably. He leaves the room abruptly, waiting until he finds himself alone in the transporter before letting the smile break out on his face.