Part: 2/?
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The staircase echoed under John's boots as he descended away from the control room and his shift. The corridor was bustling with activity below and as he joined the flow of human bodies he checked his watch. He had ten minutes till he met Rodney in his lab, so that left just enough time for him to get to his quarters and then head over to Rodney's lab via one stop. He smiled to himself as he dodged around a couple of bickering scientists – it was over something to do with an electromagnet or something.
Christmas was only a month away and the research teams were working overtime to complete as much of their work as they could before the holiday season. Woolsey had allowed an extra three teams into the city to hurry along the schedule which meant an extra strain on resources, and clearly also on the rota for the electromagnet. John wasn't sure what use an electromagnet was to the research teams in the city, but it didn't really matter to him.
He made it into the tightly packed transporter only because he was recognised by those inside and space was made for him. He pressed in and wondered why it mattered, as it wasn't like it was an elevator. But then he didn't want to lose any seconds on his schedule. Fortunately the first stop on the transporter was the right one for him and being right up against the doors he was first out. He strode quickly down the hallway to his quarters. He entered and made his way to the shower room. A quick wash after his shift and a change of shirt and he was ready to go again. He checked his watch and headed towards the door, reaching for the book as he did so.
The hallways were quieter here and he strode purposefully around three corners until he reached the right area. He paused, peering around the corner to check that the coast was clear. There was no one around so he hurried towards the right door. He dipped and set the newly purchased book down on the floor, leaning it against the edge of the door frame so she would be able to see it when the doors open. He smiled smugly to himself and triggered the chimes on her door, just in case she was inside. Then he hurried away, trying not to snigger to himself.
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The fabric was very beautiful as Teyla brushed her hand over it and she glanced up at her friend with a smile. "Thank you, Jennifer."
"I thought the colour would suit you," Jennifer offered from her seat opposite Teyla.
"I think I shall make a skirt or perhaps a dress out of it," Teyla thought out loud. The thick material would sit well and the merging colours from deep red to deep green would look lovely as either. She thought it might make a lovely outfit for her trip to the ballet. She controlled her smile as she folded the fabric back up. She glanced over at her friend and it was clear that Jennifer was in a low mood today. Teyla suspected it had to do with Rodney, but she felt rather conflicted on that matter, for she had promised John that she would not interfere in any way in the couple's relationship, but at the same time Jennifer, and Rodney, were her friends. It would be odd and rude for her not to ask.
"How was your trip?" She asked as she set the folded material aside on the table.
Jennifer glanced down at Torren who was playing on the thick carpet near their seats. "India was lovely. So much colour and life there. Though, Rodney complained through most of it," she added. Teyla detected the sullen edge to that last part.
"You have not visited India before?" Teyla asked carefully steering the conversation away from the darker subject. She regretted that her friend was struggling in her relationship and yet she associated something quite different with the relationship – a lovely day out or a dull golf course. Teyla didn't like herself very much at the thought. She should be a better friend.
"No, and I hope to visit again sometime. Though perhaps without Rodney," Jennifer said.
"He did not enjoy himself," Teyla observed. She had to support her friend and regardless she had hope that the bond between her two friends was strong to last.
"He didn't stop going on about the water, the service and healthcare issues. It was a beautiful place and he was being ridiculous."
"Rodney does worry," Teyla replied with a smile.
"He sure does," Jennifer added with a heavy smirk.
"Did you take photos?" Teyla asked.
"Yes, loads, though we managed to lose a lot. Well, Rodney did, he deleted a load 'by accident', but I think he just didn't like the fact that he was in most of them," she said.
Teyla laughed, focusing on the humour of her words and not on the undertone. "I would love to see them."
"Of course, I didn't think to bring them with me. I'm sorry, Teyla," Jennifer replied with a frown.
"They can wait, it is good to have you back in the city."
"It is good to be back," Jennifer said with her first proper smile since she had arrived ten minutes ago. "And I'm sure Torren has grown in just a week!"
Teyla smiled as she looked down at Torren who was mumbling to himself as he stacked up his toys in a wall on one side of him. She watched him put a brick on top of a soft toy and of course they all collapsed. She watched Torren frown, not understanding, but he picked them up and tried again. She smiled down at him happily.
"And how have things been here?" Jennifer asked.
Teyla looked back at her friend, aware that the doctor was trying to turn the conversation away from her sullen feelings. "There have been so many more people visiting the city, so parts of the city are so busy with people," Teyla told her.
"I guess everyone wants the opportunity to get home for the holidays."
"What are you planning to do for Christmas?" Teyla asked. She knew that Jennifer did celebrate that holiday though not everyone in the city did.
"I hope to visit my folks back home, but I would like to spend Christmas Eve in Atlantis."
"What is Rodney doing?" Teyla asked, skipping around the edges of the promises regarding influence.
"He's going to spend Christmas day at his sister's. She invited me as well, but I'm still undecided. I really should visit my family this year."
Teyla nodded, holding back any comments she may have normally have said. "Well, it will be nice that most of us will be in the city Christmas Eve."
"Yes, it's going to be nice to spend it here on Earth for a change," Jennifer said with a proper smile. "It may even snow," she added.
Teyla smiled at that. "Torren has yet to see snow."
"That will be so much fun to watch," Jennifer's smile dropped a little. "How have things been with Kanaan?" She asked carefully.
Teyla glanced back down to Torren. "We have found a good routine and Torren seems happier now. He spends three days a week with Kanaan."
"That's good," Jennifer replied. Teyla could feel the sympathy and slight concern from her friend. "Its better that his father is in the city and not back in Pegasus."
"Yes, Kanaan is a doting father," Teyla replied. She was aware that her feelings regarding her breakup with Kanaan seemed old and resolved now. "I am happy with how everything has worked out," she said.
"That's good. I suppose the Christmas holidays don't mean that much to you, but this time of year is considered to be a time of year to focus on family. I wouldn't want you to be feeling sad."
Teyla was touched at her friend's words. "Thank you, Jennifer, but I am fine." In fact the last month particularly had been very enjoyable. She had been spending more time with John again and they had even begun to spar once more. She had been very impressed by the increase in his skill from his training with Ronon, and sparring with him now presented more of a challenge for her than it had before. It was clear that he had developed more of his own style, which was heavily influenced by Ronon and clearly the more competitive sparring sessions they had shared.
John usually tried to 'win points' as he and Ronon had referred to it, with hand to hand work around the sticks and he constantly worked to distract her with his lessons on the 'perfect golf swing'. She felt an odd moment of regret though at Jennifer and Rodney's return from India, for with them away and Ronon with Amelia, mealtimes had been mostly just herself and John. They had been playful happy meals through which they teased each other about the bet. She had felt like they had been a small island unto themselves of late, but with their friends' return those private meals would be far fewer. She wondered, not for the first time, at the change to her interaction with John.
When she and Kanaan had neared the end of their relationship she had become aware of how distanced she had become from particular people socially, especially John. Once she had more free time away from Kanaan she had promised to try and mend some of the distance between her and John. At first it had been simply spending more time in his presence, but then something else had begun to appear. Something from the earlier days of their friendship. A teasing sense of playfulness that she had thought lost, but it had returned. Though, it did feel different. She wondered if it felt so different because she was comparing being in his presence to being in Kanaan's. Kanaan was a calm, quiet man with a deep open heart, yet he had also been very passive and happy to step into the background. She considered that it may have been those qualities that had meant it had taken so long for him to voice his displeasure with how their relationship had been. And perhaps she had also avoided talking to him about the clear growing void between them.
Being around John felt very different. He was playful, challenging and had a very fast mind that interested her. Whereas she had enjoyed Kanaan's deep quiet stillness, now she appreciated the light and ease of John's company. She did not doubt that John had great depth, which he had shared with her on occasion, but with him she found herself feeling more equal and at ease. She felt she had to do less than she had with Kanaan, as much as she had cared for her childhood friend and former lover. John's company lifted her and she had allowed herself to be more playful with him in return.
However, there seemed to be an aspect to the teasing playfulness with John that worried her - the aspect of her affection for John that went beyond what one felt for a friend. She had thought it long lost, but it had returned, perhaps never having truly died. That part of her that seemed to glow hotly in her chest as she watched him sit for long periods of time with her son, the two of them building something, or painting a smudgy picture. She glanced across the room to the notice board on which were pinned the paintings the two had made for her only last week. One was covered with handprints in various colours and the other was filled with sweeping brush strokes of differing colours. She could easily pick out John's demonstration ones for Torren, for the brushstrokes were straight and controlled, whilst her son's were done with wild happy abandon. She smiled at the paintings.
She had caught herself staring at John yesterday, just blatantly staring at the colour of his eyes. He had been focused on Torren, unaware of her intense interest. The light had been shining at just the right angle, and he had been leaning past her close enough for her to see the fascinating mix of green, blue and touches of light brown to his irises. She had not noticed how much colour there was mixed in his eyes before and she had simply studied them in silence. He had eventually moved and she had snapped her eyes away, surprised at herself. She had thought that she had control of her attraction to him, but it appeared that with the new teasing between them, that she was finding herself lost in him again. She had considered whether it may be best to pull back a little, to protect herself. Yet, was he not teasing and flirting in return with her? She felt rather torn between simply enjoying herself and risk some heartbreak, or to pull back from him. But distance between them was something she had not wanted to repeat and yes, there was that deep part of her that still hoped…
"…and I said to him why bother?" Teyla suddenly realised Jennifer had been talking and she had missed it all. She looked at Jennifer and nodded, hoping that was the best response. "Exactly," Jennifer said which seemed good. "He told me that he had only seen her twice in the city, but Maggie in Resources said she saw them talking outside his lab last Tuesday just before we left for India."
Teyla frowned at where the conversation had headed without her being aware. Jennifer was sounding suspicious of Rodney and whereas before now she had always talked happily about how lovely Rodney was, now she seemed full with frustration with him. Teyla began to wonder if she should have been paying more attention to John's instructions on how to swing a golf club.
The door chimes echoed through the room halting Jennifer in her sentence and giving Teyla an excuse to turn the conversation away from complaining about Rodney.
"Come in," Teyla called out. She wondered if it might be John, as his shift would have ended five minutes ago, but there was no movement from the door. Perhaps whoever it was hadn't heard her call. The walls of the ancient rooms were very soundproof, though the doors were far less so. She stood and moved across the room and opened the doors herself.
An empty corridor greeted her. She stuck her head out and looked one way and then the other in case whoever it was had given up and was walking away, but the hallway was empty. She frowned at that and turned, only for her boot to catch against something on the floor. She looked down at the book leant against the doorframe and began to smile as she read the title. She reached down for it and as she picked it up she noted how thick it was. It felt new as well. She rolled her eyes as she tried not to grin so much. She stuck her head back out into the corridor again, just in case he was hovering around the corner to watch her find the book. There was no movement and she smiled again as she turned back into her quarters. The doors slid shut behind her and she shook her head as she moved back towards her chair.
"What's that?" Jennifer asked.
"Just someone trying to make a point," Teyla replied as she set the book down on the table.
"Golf for Dummies?" Jennifer read out the title with a confused question.
Teyla shook her head as she tried to control her grin. She would have to think up some way to get back at him. "It doesn't matter. What were you saying?"
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John was still smiling to himself as he reached Rodney's lab. He wished he had waited to hear Teyla's reaction to the book, but at the same time the not knowing was just as good as he would have to wait to see if she said anything later. He glanced at his watch as he turned into the lab – he was only one minute late.
"Hey, Rodney," John greeted his friend who he hadn't seen for over a week, but he paused as he entered the room. "What the hell happened in here?" He asked as he took in the massive amount of tinsel hanging across the walls, strung from each corner to the central light fixture and along the edges of all the work tables. A half sized Christmas tree stood in one corner, heavily weighed down with various bright and sparkly decorations. Beside the tree a foot high Santa Claus stood with one hip out and a big smile. John frowned down at it and as Rodney clapped his hands the Santa began wiggling its butt along with to the loud bars of 'Santa Claus is coming to town'. John barely suppressed his smile.
"Jenkins and Matthews are what happened to my lab," Rodney answered once Santa had stopped his dance. The two lab technicians had clearly taken full advantage of Rodney's absence.
John walked further into the lab to find that the wall beside the door had Christmas cards tapped all over it. "It looks like the Ghost of Christmas threw up in here," John remarked.
"Nice," Rodney muttered. "I've just got to finish this report then I'll be with you."
"Great," John replied and purposefully clapped his hands together. Santa began dancing again and John thoroughly enjoyed the impatient glare he got from Rodney.
"Very funny," Rodney said. "Like you aren't the first one to do that today." He turned his attention down to his laptop, but John knew the guy could continue a conversation as he worked.
"If you don't like it why haven't you switched it off already?" John asked as he settled onto one of the tall stools across the table from Rodney.
"I hardly notice it," Rodney mumbled.
"Really?" John asked and clapped his hands again. Over the Santa music he watched Rodney purse his lips angrily. "Why haven't you ripped all this down?" He asked suspiciously.
"Jenkins bet I couldn't 'get into the Christmas spirit'," Rodney replied, his eyes fixed on his laptop.
"Since when do you care?" John asked.
Rodney tapped away on his keyboard for a long moment and John wondered if the answer would involve Keller in some way. "Jennifer may have said something similar."
"Oh." John had been right. Great. "So, how was India?"
"Okay," Rodney replied. Okay, this was all sounding interesting, but John didn't want to push. Firstly because it wouldn't be like him to push and secondly he had promised to keep to the rules he and Teyla had set up. Because there was no way he was going to end up at the ballet simply by forfeit. "I got you something," Rodney said finally as he reached across to another table and tossed a small packet to John.
John caught what was clearly an airport bag with a small box inside. "They didn't let you use the Daedalus' transporter then?" John asked as he opened the bag and pulled out a small plastic box. He shook his head down at the small model kids toy of an AirIndia commercial jet. "Gees, thanks McKay," John replied as he glared over at his friend, to see Rodney was smirking as he worked.
They lapsed into silence as John put his gift back in its bag and turned to look at the excessive Christmas-ness around him. He bet silently to himself that it wouldn't last to the end of the week. He then wondered if he had a possible budding gambling problem.
"You were married right?" Rodney asked abruptly.
John turned back to him with a wary look. "Sure."
"So, you went on long trips with your wife, what was her name?"
"Nancy, and it's still her name. We went on two long trips," John confirmed.
"Only two?" Rodney asked.
John really didn't want to open this can of worms for himself. "Well there would have been more, but I tended to get called up on short notice for missions. It tended to ruin vacations."
"I can imagine. I would never just leave Jennifer to fly off somewhere else," Rodney replied.
"I didn't just leave her in the middle of some desert, Rodney," John argued, though one occasion had been close.
"I've heard people say that if you can't last a week alone together that a relationship isn't going to last," Rodney said.
John frowned at him. "People say a lot of things," he replied. He wanted to ask if things hadn't gone well in India, but he also didn't want to get into the conversation if he was going to end up influencing Rodney's mind. But, it didn't feel right to just ignore the implication for advice from his friend. "You've spent time alone just the two of you before, haven't you?"
"Not for as long as this trip," Rodney replied as he began to shut down his computer.
John took in the sullen expression on Rodney's face and found himself feeling bad for the guy. "Things didn't go well then?"
Rodney shut the laptop and carried it over to another table to put it away. "I think I irritated her a lot," he said as turned back towards John.
"I'm sure she's used to that," John joked, but Rodney gave a half shrug of acceptance in reply. "I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you think," John offered.
"I don't know," Rodney replied. "I just…I keep finding myself thinking about…other things lately." John began to think that Teyla's book may have been a good move. "Since seeing Katie again…" John carefully kept his expression blank – he knew he had been right. "It's made me think about how things ended with her," Rodney confessed. John kept quiet, keeping to the not interfering rule, but did nod helpfully. "Not that I don't care for Jennifer, it's just that I know she finds me difficult a lot of the time. Katie is more like me…you know…?"
John had a moment of indecision – what should he say? "Is she?" He said in the end.
Rodney sighed and shook his head. "Maybe I'm just worried about how things may turn out."
"Hey," Ronon's voice surprised John and he turned to see the big man enter the lab. "Why are you still here?" John checked his watch and realised he and Rodney had been here for fifteen minutes, no wonder Ronon had come looking for them.
"Rodney's thinking about his feelings," John said as an explanation.
"Oh," Ronon replied as he entered, only to stop and look round at the decorations. John waited till Ronon's eyes landed on the Santa and then clapped his hands. Ronon only lifted his eyebrows as he watched the Santa jiggle its hips.
"I'm not responsible for any of this," Rodney protested over the carol.
"Matthews?" Ronon asked John.
"And Jenkins," John replied and Ronon nodded as he walked further into the lab.
"So, are we going?" Ronon demanded.
"Why, you got an important date?" Rodney asked. "Of course, you always have a date."
Ronon gave him a smug smile in return. "I'm sparring after lunch," he replied.
"After you eat?" Rodney asked.
"A fight can happen at any time, McKay," Ronon said as he prodded the Christmas tree next to the Santa.
John watched him suspiciously. "Who you sparring with?"
"Does it matter?" Ronon asked.
"So you mean Amelia," John replied with a grin.
"Do you two do everything together now?" Rodney asked. "We only ever see you when you're eating."
"Re-fuelling," John clarified.
Both of them gave him a look. "You know relationships based solely on sex are usually very short lived," Rodney said.
"If you say so," Ronon replied with another wide smug grin.
Rodney sighed. "Whatever, let's go eat." He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
"Great," John exclaimed as he stood up and clapped his hands. Santa danced away as they followed Rodney out into the corridor.
"What's up with him?" Ronon asked John as they fell into step behind Rodney.
"Seems he's worrying about women," John answered.
"Which one?" Ronon asked teasingly.
Rodney stopped and turned back towards them. "Great, here I am seriously trying to look at my situation and possible future and you guys can only make jokes."
"What do you want us to do? Give you a hug?" John asked.
Ronon opened his arms wide towards Rodney and John chuckled. Rodney sighed again and turned away, but John saw the smile on his face this time. John and Ronon followed him.
"You know, Rodney, Ronon doesn't hug many people," John pointed out. "You should take the offer seriously." Ronon glared at him, but John ignored him.
"Maybe its Amelia." Rodney said over his shoulder.
"What about Amelia?" Ronon demanded.
"Maybe it's because of her that you're becoming all cuddly," Rodney replied over his shoulder, a glint in his eye now.
"Maybe," John replied as he looked up at Ronon. "You getting all soft on us, Ronon?" Rodney chuckled.
Ronon glanced down at John. "I never have that problem," he replied haughtily.
"We don't need to hear those kind of details, Ronon," Rodney protested.
"I got nothin' to hide," Ronon replied confidently.
"Please, there are some things that are best kept hidden," Rodney pointed out as they reached the staircase. They began to climb up towards the mess hall level. John and Ronon made Rodney use the stairs, as without going on missions off world anymore Rodney had no real form of exercise. He had seemed unwilling to join John and Ronon in their exercise routines, so it was the staircase over the transporter.
"So, what's with you and Jennifer?" Ronon asked, surprising John, and Rodney as well if the guy's shocked suspicious look meant anything.
Rodney seemed willing to unburden today though, because he answered Ronon – the man he had faced off against to win Keller. "I think she's getting bored with me," he replied glumly.
"Then prove her wrong," Ronon replied. "You've got to fight for your woman, McKay."
John was more than a little impressed with that – so simply and confidently put.
"You think it's that simple?" Rodney asked thoughtfully as he stopped on the stairs to look back at Ronon.
"Sure," Ronon replied. "Then if she wants you she will fight for you as well. If not then you find someone better."
Rodney frowned. "How do you know if there's someone better?"
John could guess at which other woman Rodney was thinking about, but he found that his own thoughts were turning to Teyla. As they did so much lately. He had regrets from the past about her and the changes to their friendship lately had given him some hope that perhaps another opportunity was presenting itself. He looked to his friends ahead of him as they talked their way up the staircase. One of them was struggling with his feelings for two women, maybe questioning what it was he wanted, and the other seemed to have thoroughly immersed himself into a lustful relationship. The two of them were wound up in their relationships and John had serious doubts that either of them would last, but that wasn't his business. Okay, a golf game and escaping from a day of hell made him a little invested in Rodney's Christmas relationship status.
As he followed them quietly he found himself working out how long it had been since he had been in a relationship, and decided that no small part of that had been due to his serious attraction to Teyla. And now he perhaps had the opportunity to 'fight' and see if there really was anything between them. He was pretty sure that if there was that it would be something much deeper than a purely lustful romance, not that he wouldn't want some of that, nor would it be a relationship in which he could ever imagine himself doubting his feelings for Teyla.
They arrived at the mess hall some time after that, but John had been lost in his own thoughts. The door opened and he saw that as usual of late the large room was pretty busy. But, what drew most of his attention was Teyla standing beside Keller at the buffet table of lunch selections. Torren was standing by Teyla, one arm wrapped around her leg.
Ronon snuck up behind Torren and made him jump, which in typical baby form meant only fun. John watched Ronon pick up the boy and swing him round. John followed Rodney towards them and he watched as Rodney and Keller said hello, which consisted of rather strained smiles and a brief touch on the arm. John glanced at Teyla and saw her look back at him with one eyebrow lifted. He shook his head doubtfully and she shook her head at him in return and rolled her eyes theatrically.
John felt a brief moment of regret that their quiet little meals together would be mostly over with everyone else back, as much as he loved them all around. He picked up a tray and joined in the line behind her and Ronon, who had Torren sat up high in one arm. Torren waved at John and John winked back. Everyone gathered up their food, but John held back waiting patiently until it was only him and Teyla left at the table as Ronon carried Torren to the table.
"You been talking to Keller then?" He asked innocently as he forked some sliced meat onto his tray.
"Yes, she even brought me a lovely gift from India," she replied clearly avoiding his true meaning.
"She say anything about how their trip went?" He asked as he reached for the salad selection.
"She said India was very colourful and beautiful," she replied. He smiled at her tone, knowing full well that she knew more than that.
"I guess Rodney had more to say then," John remarked.
"To which of course you said nothing," she pointed out, looking round at him.
He gave her his best innocent look. "Of course," he replied. "And of course you said nothing to Keller…"
"Of course not," She replied with a smile as she reached for the salad.
"Try the sweetcorn mix," John suggested. "It was really good last week." She reached for the sweetcorn. "You get any other gifts today?" John asked, watching her face as he reached for the juice.
She straightened and looked up at him with a very blank expression. "No. Though someone had littered outside by door," she added as if it was a curious thing.
He lifted the jug of juice asking if she wanted some. She held out her empty cup and he poured it full of apple juice. "It's a thick book and there's only three and a half weeks till Christmas," he pointed out as he poured out some juice for himself. "You should really get started on it."
She sipped at her juice and he watched as she licked her lips with a smile. "I doubt that will be necessary."
John set the jug back down on the table and lifted his tray as he turned to her. He looked past her to the very full table of their friends and family and wondered if she would miss their quiet meals together. She turned and looked at the table as well and he realised he had been a bit obvious.
"It is nice to have everyone back," Teyla said with a smile in her voice.
"It sure is," John replied.
"Though not as quiet and relaxing as it has been," she added and he smiled lightly. She looked back at him. "It will be a good thing then that we will have the spa trip to help us relax after Christmas is over."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "I doubt that will be necessary," he repeated her words back to her.
She grinned up at him, her eyes sparkling and he smiled back, caught up in the darkness of her eyes. The moment lasted longer than normal as they looked at each other.
"Excuse me," a soft voice made them break eye contact as they looked round to realise that they had been blocking part of the buffet table. Blocking it from Katie Brown.
As John moved away from the table he gave Teyla a pointed look towards Katie. It had to be a sign, but Teyla rolled her eyes again and led the way towards their busy lively table.
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TBC