Author's Note: A year ago I wrote a Sheyla story as a gift for a friend. Now, a year later, as another gift, I had to find a way to make this into a Sheyla story when it wasn't designed that way. So...

This is THE SAME ENDING with a very slight SHEYLA TWIST. By adding a few words to the scene I can more finely specify the time ~ the story takes place in early S7, when John & Teyla are a new couple and Torren is barely two years old. In the timeline of my stories, 'Hurdles' is before this, then 'All In A Day' and 'Misdirection' take place after this adventure.

Word Count: 519

An Author's Note follows this chapter.

SGA ~ SGA ~ SGA

"And I'm not going to forget it!"

John came to, suddenly, in the midst of an argument. In the infirmary; he recognized the beeps of monitors and the hiss of Rodney letting off a full head of steam. He had a headache and it hurt to breathe. He opened his eyes and looked around.

"And how're ye feeling, Colonel?" Beckett came over to check monitor leads. His question interrupted the argument.

"Pah!" Torren shouted from his place on Teyla's lap.

"Hey, Pahdner. How's my best boy?" John held his hand out to Teyla, who sat on his left, then looked at Rodney sitting next to her, and then at Ronon, who had his feet on the end of the bed. "Why am I the only one in bed?"

"They only had to deal with hypoxia, son. Ye're recovering from hypoxia, concussion, cracked ribs and a bruised kidney."

"That's doctor-speak for 'you missed a day'," Rodney interpreted as he closed his laptop on his knees. "The rest of us were set free this morning. Jennifer said you had a restless night."

"I'm fine. Bit of a headache." John released Teyla's hand to pat TJ's fingers. "What about the planet? Where'd the people go? How could a world so advanced escape notice of the Wraith?"

"They can't be that advanced if they're still using paper." Rodney cleared his throat when John raised an eyebrow. "Ahem, yes. Unfortunately there's nothing in any of the papers to tell us who they are or where they went. No mention of the Wraith, or anything about their technology, either." McKay wasn't about to let it go. "This needs to be a high priority. We look for someone who has visited that world recently or who has seen one of their colonies ~ a world where there are cars. Those people took everything so they could rebuild. They're out there, using the same technology." He leaned forward. "Think about it: the power plant wasn't operating, yet there was electricity. We have to find them!"

"Talk to Woolsey, but if those guys can hide from the Wraith, I don't think we're going to find them." John yawned. "So, what happened down there? Any way we can go back?"

Rodney snorted and stretched to set the laptop on the bed. "The valley is toast ~ the lava ignited the methane, plus they were essentially in a bowl, so lava will probably cover what's left of the town and maybe even reach the Gate. Lorne showed up and heard you tapping and Carson estimates we had, oh, at least three minutes befor- " He stopped mid-sentence, glared at Ronon and pointed a finger. "He stunned me!"

John closed his eyes. "We needed to conserve oxygen, Rodney. Can you depress your breathing by meditation, like Teyla?"

"No..." McKay's tone was hesitant.

"Or fall asleep at will, like a Runner?"

"Uh..."

John opened his eyes. "Or take seven-minute catnaps?"

"Seven-min- You can't do th- Really? Well, um, still, it wasn't his call. He shouldn't have taken it upon himself to- "

"He didn't. I told you- I did the math, Rodney." *~*

Author's Note: By making a Sheyla ending, certain gestures in the main body of the story take on a different light - Teyla being beside John in the vault, for example. For people who don't believe, then the story is what it is and there is no underlying meaning. For those who do believe, small gestures can have great import.

Thanks for reading.