Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis.
Summary: The team, including Todd, goes on an off world trek and get a little surprise.
"This can't be good." Ronan grunted.
"Well spotted Runner!" Todd snarled in agitation, causing Ronan to glare at him. Teyla decided to intervene.
"I believe it would be prudent to evaluate what just happened." She said calmly. "Until then it is essential that we all stay calm." Here she glared pointedly at the two adult males left.
Stay calm indeed, Todd groused. She wasn't the one with a child version of Atlantis' commander clinging to her, calling her 'big brother'! Although, she did have McKay to contend with.
Speaking of McKay, he was now flattened against Teyla. He had his hands locked together behind her neck and was pressing himself into her in an effort; it appeared, to not be noticed by Todd. So even as a bratling McKay was still afraid of him? Well, Todd thought, at least some things were still going normal. Now, on to other matters.
Todd looked down again at Sheppard, who still had not let go of his trench coat, and was still smiling up at him.
"Sheppard, what are you doing?" Todd asked the child in front of him. John merely tilted his head to the side and stuck out his lower lip slightly in a thinking manner. He was admittedly, cute, with his big bright blue eyes and dark hair that seemed to have a very slight wave in it. Not that Todd would ever admit that to anyone.
"What do you mean, big brother? I'm sticking close to you since there was a big 'boom'. Now you know where I am and don't have to go looking for me."
Not like I would look for you, Todd thought grumpily. He so did not handle kids. Ever. Human or wraith. Seriously, he avoided the youngest member of his hive (only about 300 years old) like the humans did with a plague.
"Whose that boy? Why is he crying? Who's that lady by him? She looks nice. Wow! Look at the caveman Todd! He looks really grumpy. You'll beat him up if he tries to eat me right? I bet you would win. Where are we again? Why are we here? Why did that thingy explode? Hey Todd –"
"Enough, Sheppard." Todd said, interrupting the young child's rambling. This is why he didn't deal with kids. Come to think of it, why did Sheppard remember him and not the other members of the team? Teyla seemed to be thinking along the same lines.
"John, do you not know me?" she asked. When she received a shake of the boy's head in answer she frowned, as did Ronan.
"Why does he only remember him?" Ronan said, while nodding at Todd.
"My guess is that it has something to do with the bond we share since I gave him the Gift of Life." Todd answered. "Perhaps it allowed Sheppard to remember me when the conversion took place. It also would explain why Dr. McKay does not seem to remember anyone at all."
Teyla and Ronan looked back towards Rodney who still seemed to have a death grip on Teyla. Teyla began to speak gently to the frightened child. "Meredith do you know who I am?"
Little Meredith looked at Teyla curiously before he shook his head. A very cute head with adorable blondish brunette curls and big, wide eyes, she noted.
"Are you an aunt?" he asked. She frowned, not understanding the term.
"An aunt?" she repeated. She looked to both Ronan and Todd to see if they knew what he was talking about. Surprisingly it was Ronan who answered.
"On Earth, that is a sister of someone's parents. It also is a term used for a close friend of the parents so that they can have a closer bond with the child. Sheppard spoke often of one of his favorite 'aunts'. She was not related by flesh and blood, but had grown up with his mother and was extremely close to her." He said. Teyla nodded in understanding before turning back to Rodney.
"Yes, Meredith. I am your Aunt Teyla, and that man there is your Uncle Ronan." Rodney's eyes lit up.
"Oh so your married to the caveman? Wow!"
Ronan let out a groan as Todd smirked at his humiliation. Teyla merely sighed before she gently corrected Rodney. "No Meredith. We're not married, but we are very good friends." Rodney nodded again before he glanced over to Todd and John, who had been contenting himself with grabbing onto one of Todd's arms and swinging himself around the wraith while using his 'brother's' arm as a lever. Todd had steadfastly ignored him.
"Who are they?" he whispered to Teyla. She looked over at them and couldn't hide the grin that formed on her face as she watched little John play with the stone still wraith. Todd noticed and glared at her. He had also heard McKay's question and guessed on what she planned to tell the youngster.
"Don't you dare Athosian." He threatened. Clearly, Teyla had no qualms about not listening to him. With a smile she made the proclamation that officially doomed him.
"That's your Uncle Todd and cousin, John."
"Are you sure he won't eat me?" Rodney asked, referring to Todd.
"Yes Rodney, I'm sure that your uncle won't eat you." Teyla answered.
Oh great, now he'd have to contend with two brats. What had he done to be this unlucky? A sharp tug on his arm brought his attention back to John. The four-year-old had taken notice of the five-year-old looking at him and was curious to who he was.
"Big brother, who is he?"
Todd sighed again. " That is your cousin Rodney." Might as well play along he thought. John tugged at his arm again.
"Who are the other people?"
"That's your Aunt Teyla and Uncle Ronan." Todd answered patiently. It was a good thing that wraith were noted for their patience.
"Are you sure he won't eat me?" John asked, referring to Ronan.
"Yes John, I'm sure your uncle won't eat you." Todd answered.
Here he glared at the smirking Runner. How dare that inferior meat sack take enjoyment in his humiliation! Ronan merely glared back. The stare down didn't go unnoticed by the two kids.
"Why don't they like each other Aunt Teyla?" Rodney asked. She merely smiled down at him even as she beckoned John towards her. He willingly came over to check out her and Rodney.
"Oh, there from different sides of the family so to speak, sweetie." She answered.
"I bet big brother would win!" John exclaimed happily. Rodney looked scandalized.
"No way! Uncle Ronan would sweep the floors with him!" he shot back. Both Ronan and Todd were watching the blooming argument with nothing but hardly suppressed glee if their grins were anything to go by.
"My brother could beat your uncle any day!"
"He's your uncle too you know! And he would win any day!"
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"Boys." Teyla interjected while at the same time glaring at Ronan and Todd. They at least had the grace to stop grinning.
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"BOYS!"
Both kids turned around to look at her. With a sigh she stood up, preparing to gather everyone together so that they could figure out what to do next. The moment she turned to call Ronan and Todd over to her the kids resumed their fight.
"You're a pansy!" John exclaimed. A dramatically loud gasp could be heard from Rodney.
"Well you're an idiot!" he shot back.
"Stupid!"
"Moron!"
"Bird brain!"
"Turtle head!"
Teyla sighed again in exasperation before turning back to the two adult males. "Well?"
Todd shrugged. "I believe they'll sort it out."
Ronan just grunted. "It builds character."
Teyla quickly took on the resemblance of a drenched hen. With hands on her hips and death in her eyes she glared daggers at the two. "Fix it!" she hissed at them. "Now!"
They practically jumped to attention, before nearly fleeing away from her and towards the kids where the insults were getting rather interesting. Once again, a pregnant woman was a scary woman.
"Whiny poser!" John yelled.
"Unintelligent dunce!" Rodney yelled back.
"Okay you two, break it up." Ronan said while he caught up Rodney before fists could fly.
"He started it!" John accused.
"Did not!" Rodney shot back, waving his arms from his position in Ronan's hold.
"Did too!" John stated while trying to jump up at Rodney. It was then that Todd decided to scoop the mini commander up so that he couldn't get to Rodney.
"Enough Sheppard." He said while he walked away with a squirming four-year-old in his arms.
"But Todd!"
"No buts. Your argument is now over. No more yelling." Todd answered.
"Awwwwww. You're no fun at all!" John pouted, causing Todd to quirk an eyebrow at the child he held.
"Sheppard, you have no idea how often you've told me that."
"Well it's true." John grumbled as he crossed his arms. Todd merely smirked.
Ronan meanwhile wasn't having as much luck with little Rodney, who was now pitching a screeching fit in his arms.
"He called me mean names!"
"I know, but they're just words Rodney." Ronan answered gruffly. While having to console Atlantis' chief scientist when he was in a tantrum mood wasn't exactly new to him, he normally had at least a teenager's rationale when it cam to any wrongs committed against him. However, a five-year-old mind set? Ronan was completely lost. Fortunately, Teyla stepped in and took the crying child from him. Rodney calmed almost immediately. At least he was down to quietly sobbing.
Todd made his way over to them after he had ended Sheppard's whining. Teyla barely hid a smile as she noticed that John had chosen to piggyback on Todd instead of walking. The wraith, once again, chose to ignore the belittling of his dignity.
"I suggest we get them back to Atlantis where they can be checked on by your doctors to make sure nothing is adversely affecting them while they are in this state." He said.
Teyla nodded. "Agreed. We better get going it's starting to get dark and the temperature is dropping. We'll send Dr. Zelenka back with a team to recover the device."
"Just one question." Ronan said. "Who is going to drive back?"