Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Stargate Atlantis.

Title: A Future of Possibilities

Characters: John and Teyla

Words count: 1349

Type: Vignette

Summary: She wasn't quite sure what to think of John's suggestions, although she found them quite amusing, and she had the sneaking suspicion that John was in deed toying with her.

***

John Sheppard winced from the wound at his right side. The wound wasn't fully healed it had been a couple weeks. He suspected he would have some permanent scaring along with the memories. The wound was his memento, his reminder of their attempt and rescue of Teyla from Michael, frowning. The frown on his face was a common occurrence with any thoughts of Michael. Dr. Keller had ordered him to take it easy for a few weeks his repercussion from his injuries. He hadn't complained too much. He figured he owed the Doc one, anyway. The one, for him talking her into letting him go on the mission to rescue Teyla. In his mind, there weren't any thoughts of him not going on that mission even with the Doc advising him that he had needed surgery and a transfusion, but Keller could have been a major stumbling block as well as Colonel Carter.

Keller had advised him the best she could do was suture the wound for now, to give him some IV and plasma and to give him some medication for the pain, but she did advised him that his condition was on borrowed time. He had been graceful to her for what she did and keeping mum about his condition to Colonel Carter. Colonel Carter, who had seemed to have her own doubts about whether he was fit enough to go on the mission, but had not made too much of an issue of it. There is no doubt in his mind he would have gone against any order that Colonel Carter would have given him that would have prohibited him from going on the mission. And had pretty much stated that fact to her. He would have dealt with the consequences afterward as long as it meant saving Teyla. But in hindsight, he knows his condition could have become a liability to the mission and to his team mates. But failure wasn't an option.

So after an operation to repair his insides and a few weeks of recovery, things weren't too bad. Even if, it meant, he was stuck behind a desk. At least he wasn't in the infirmary anymore. He could finally make sure his mission reports were filed away. He could do some staff evaluations of his men, maybe change up some of the teams, and order a full diagnostic check of the city's security systems. Things he didn't have time to do before. He had a lot that could keep him busy. A thought occurred to him. John glanced down at his watch. He was supposed to meet up with Teyla and Torren John in a few minutes. John smiled. He felt a certain pride. Teyla felt him worthy to name her son after him although he had been more than a little surprise when Teyla first mention her choice of name for her son. "Well, if it's all right with you, I was thinking of Torren John, after my father and after you." He had been so honored, even with him being wheeled out of the room for surgery. Yeah, he was on his way to have major surgery and he had such a huge grin on his face. What a picture he must have been to the others there in the infirmary? And Rodney subsequent complaining since about how come Teyla named her son after him, John and not himself considering he was the one who helped with Torren's birth did give him some cause for amusement at Rodney's expense. John smirked at thought.

****

"Hey. Waiting long?" John asked as he took the seat opposite Teyla. Torren was in one of those Earth's baby carrying apparatus probably given to Teyla by someone in the city on the seat next to her. John took a peek at Torren. The kid seemed to be dosing off. He hadn't seen Teyla for a few days. Teyla had taken Torren to visit what remain of her people on the mainland.

"No, Torren and I have just arrived ourselves." "How are you feeling John?"

"Well, pretty good, I think. I mean, still have some limited movements at the moment, but the Doc said I'm recovering nicely."

John saw Teyla smiled, one of those smiles that seem to give her face an effervescent glow, a smile that somehow had been lost at the discovery that her people were missing. It was a smile that stirred responding emotions in him, emotions that should go nameless. To look deeper, to place a name on them would be to admit and he's still wasn't ready for that, yet it wasn't as simple as before.

Both John and Teyla looked at the other smiling, almost shyly. Then John watched the smile fade away from Teyla's face and in its place a thoughtful expression.

For Teyla, she was extremely happy that John was making such good progress. To hear the kind of condition John was in when he attempted to mount a rescue for her had awe her and brought on a little more hero worship of him, but she knew it was more than simply that. She thought she had gotten past those feelings she had for him sometime ago. No, she had fought to bury them, to act like they didn't existed. She tried to move on. She had tried to more on, with Kanaan, but she knows now that decision was not steep in wisdom.

She could truly never care for Kanaan, not the way she does and still cared for John. She saw that now. Had Kanaan survived Michael's experiments, what kind of future would they have had? Would it have been a union of passion and commitment? Now, she knew it could not, not even with the present of their son. She will grieve for Kanaan, for he gave her warmth, compassion and understanding when she had craved it. He was her friend before they became lovers for their brief moment of togetherness. Those memories she will cherish. Kanaan will live on through their son. That she will make certain of. Her future is with another. That is never more certain to her than now. She sees a future of possibilities. Teyla looked at John. Her face seems a little more serious.

"John, I, I want to..."

"Teyla, don't you go thanking me again." John quipped. Doesn't she know I would do anything for her John thought? Anything but tell her how you feel that is. That is the one fight that he still seems to shy away from still. But you almost lost her, his mind screamed at him.

"Alright then. But I want to thank you none the less."

"You thank me before remember. Maybe, you could find a different way to thank me you know." John offered teasingly. John was a little stun by what he said trying to hide his own surprise at his remarks. He saw Teyla's brow arched.

"Really?"

"Yeah, maybe you could..."

"I could what?" Teyla asked with some puzzlement.

John shrugged his shoulders then sat back in his chair, folding his arms around his chest, tilting his head up as if he was giving it some thought. "I don't know." He said, biting his teeth softly into his lower lips. John found he was actually enjoying teasing Teyla.

"Wait I have a few suggestions. It would be nice to get some flowers. Candy is nice too. Popcorn! Ever better."

John watched as Teyla sat back and looked at him questioningly.

Teyla frowned. She wasn't quite sure what to think of John's suggestions, although she found them quite amusing, and she had the sneaking suspicion that John was in deed toying with her. She did have a good grasped on the Earth's customs of giving flowers and candy. And it was usually customary for the man to give it to the female of his interest. Teyla looked at John who seemed to be trying not to smile, unsuccessfully. She rolled her eyes and chuckled.

"Wait I'm not done. There is the dinner date too." He grinned at her sheepishly.