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xoxoxoxoxo

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"What happened? How'd he get hurt?" Rodney cried out as he hurtled into the infirmary where Teyla was waiting.

She'd had a quick post-mission check and had been put in scrubs to replace the filthy clothes that were covered in ash from the planet. They wished to watch her for a short while as she had been breathing the toxic air for a while. She also had several small burns on her arms where falling debris had touched her. With all her thoughts on John, she had never even noticed that happening.

"Are you okay?" Ronon asked as he saw her outfit. He was carrying Torren and the boy immediately whined for his mother.

Teyla reached for her son and snuggled him close to her chest as she answered her friends.

"I am fine, Ronon. Just a few minor burns," she responded to his look at her bandages. "John is in surgery. As we were leaving, one of the creatures attacked and John was picked up in its claws. I feared he would be devoured but John threw a grenade into its mouth and killed the beast. Unfortunately one of its claws embedded itself into John's chest."

Teyla held Torren tightly and the child clung to his mother as if he sensed her sorrow. She looked to where they had taken John and took a deep breath.

"John lost much blood and Jennifer is trying to repair the wound. She believes he has internal damage and I know he was coughing up blood. The angle the claw was inserted in John; it most likely hit his lungs."

Rodney and Ronon simply nodded but remained quiet. There really wasn't much to say. Teyla lay back on the bed she was resting on and spoke softly to Torren. The child sat up and looked anxiously at his Mom.

"Where Dohn? Mama, I see Dohn?"

Teyla smiled at her son's attempt to say John's name. Many times it sounded like Da which was what many children in this galaxy called their fathers. She stroked her hand down the child's precious cheek.

"Dr. Keller is fixing him right now, Torren. He will be better soon and then we can see him."

"Tay," Torren replied and nodded and picked up the little car he had brought along with him. It was one that John had bought for him. John had insisted all little boys needed to play with cars even though this one lived in a galaxy where there were none.

Teyla's eyes strayed again to the surgical bay and her soft sigh echoed through the quiet room. She needed John to be fine so he could teach Torren more of Earth's culture. He had started doing this during their short stay in San Francisco before the city was allowed to come back to this galaxy. And Torren had been fascinated with many of the things John had bought him.

As she thought of how much John had spoiled her son, Ronon cleared his throat and assured her, "He'll be fine, Teyla. You know Sheppard. He won't let something like this keep him down. He'll be fine."

Teyla smiled appreciatively at her friend and saw in his eyes that he knew how she felt. He had known for some time and had urged her on more than one occasion to tell John how she felt. She had always brushed him off saying that things were complicated and that John could also tell her if he wished.

But Ronon would simply scoff and say that Sheppard didn't know how to do emotional very well. That he needed a little help every now and then. And Teyla figured maybe it was time to help him. As soon as he was well again. And he would be. She needed to have faith.

"I will tell him when he is recovered," Teyla whispered softly but knew Ronon heard her as his face lit up and he grinned at her.

"About time," he muttered and Rodney looked up from his key tapping and had a puzzled look on his face.

"What? Tell who what?"

Ronon glared at him and grumbled, "Forget it, McKay. Nothing you need to worry about."

Rodney just rolled his eyes but immediately lowered his head to stare at his computer screen again. Teyla and Ronon smiled at each other at their friend's actions.

It was several hours before Jennifer came out of surgery and Teyla had actually fallen asleep during that time. But when the doctor came in she roused while still allowing Torren to sleep beside her. It was after his bedtime but she had not wanted anyone to bring him back to their room. She needed him here with her.

"How is he?" Teyla asked anxiously.

Jennifer took a deep breath and Teyla's heart sank. She was not expecting good news.

"He's in recovery now," Jennifer started and Teyla wondered if that was all the good news she would have for them. But at least that meant he was alive.

"The internal damage was severe and it took quite a while to fix it all. The claw punctured his lung and introduced some nasty bacteria there as well. We've got him on a broad spectrum of antibiotics hoping one of them will do the job and keep the infection from spreading too much. He also somehow cracked two ribs and has a mild concussion."

Teyla winced when she thought of the damage done. "The creature flung him around for a while before attempting to eat him. And his claws were very tightly around John's ribs. It was difficult to pry them apart to free him."

"But he'll be okay, right?" Rodney asked nervously bouncing on his feet.

Jennifer took another deep breath. "I hope so. We did have one minute there where it looked like we would lose him but we managed to defibrillate and got his heart started again. But for right now his lungs aren't in great shape. We've inserted a drainage tube and put him on a ventilator. Hopefully that won't be for long and he'll start breathing okay on his own."

"May we see him?" Teyla pleaded softly.

Jennifer smiled and answered, "Of course, though you know the drill. He needs rest and nothing to get him excited. He lost an awful lot of blood and so he'll be pretty weak for a while even with the transfusion we gave him. The surgery took a lot out of him too. Don't expect him to wake up anytime soon."

They all nodded and Teyla slipped from her bed and looked at her son still sleeping there.

"We'll watch him," Ronon offered. "You go and sit with Sheppard."

Teyla nodded her thanks and noticed Rodney had already gone back to his typing. She padded along on her bare feet and entered the recovery area where John had been moved. Marie was adjusting his IV and checking the dials on the ventilator.

"He's resting for now, Teyla," Marie said as she touched Teyla's arm sympathetically. "I'll bet he'd like some company though; hear your soft voice. He'll get better in no time."

"Thank you, Marie," Teyla replied and planted her hip on the side of John's bed and lifted his hand.

She pressed a kiss to the tips of his fingers and felt a tear slip from the corner of her eye. This man meant so much to her and she realized he did not know just how much.

She slid her hand across his cheek and then pushed back his wayward hair from his forehead. "I promise you, John," Teyla whispered, "when you are well, and you will be, I will let you know exactly how I feel about you. I will not be afraid any longer. I promise."

She tenderly kissed his head and then settled back to watch his chest rise and fall with the rhythm of the machine. It was all she could do for now.

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xoxoxoxoxoxo

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"Torren, be careful," Teyla warned the boy as he barreled into John as he came through the door of Teyla's quarters. "Uncle John is still not all the way healed."

John rolled his eyes as he leaned over to pick the boy up then thought better of it when he saw Teyla's stern face. "I'm fine, Pal, but maybe you'll let me sit down first before I get you in my lap, huh?"

John tried to hide the groan that accompanied his lowering himself to the couch. Torren scrambled onto the couch and plopped into John's waiting lap.

"Dohn, wead me a boot?" Torren demanded and bounced a bit as he settled down.

"Sure thing, Pal," John said then looked around. "Teyla, I hate to ask but could you …"

Teyla appeared at his shoulder with several storybooks and smiled sweetly. "Here you are. Torren, be careful. I told you Uncle John has an injury on his side. Remember it is why he was in the infirmary for so long."

In fact he had only been released this afternoon and Teyla thought he should be in his quarters resting but John had been antsy and knew he'd probably be spending way too much time there over the next week or so, anyway. He'd spent over a week already having the doctors and nurses fuss over him and now they wanted him to spend another week or more off duty, taking it easy. This being hurt stuff really sucked.

"But I'm well enough to read to you, little man, so let's do it."

"Do it!" Torren parroted and John laughed. He pulled the child in closer to his chest and pressed a kiss to his head before he began.

Several stories later, Torren's head was sagging and his thumb was in his mouth. Teyla, who had been sitting next to John as he read the stories, reached to take him.

"I will put him down to sleep for the night. Be right back."

Teyla settled Torren in his bed then turned the lights lower in that section of the room. She moved back to sit next to John and took a deep breath. She had promised herself that she would speak with John once he was better. And he may not have been completely healed but he was well enough to hear what she needed to tell him.

"I brought a few movies," John said and indicated the dvd's he'd left on the dresser by the door. "You interested in watching one of them or do you just need some time to yourself. I can head back to my room if you're tired."

Teyla faced John and breathed in deeply again. She did not know why she was so nervous. This was John. She trusted John above all others and knew he would never hurt her. At least intentionally. She was still somewhat hesitant about exposing her heart to him. What if he did not want it?

"John, there is something I wished to speak with you about," she began and saw his eyes gaze appreciatively at her and his mouth twist into a crooked smile. The one she loved so much from him.

"Sure, Teyla, what is it? Something important?"

"Yes," she hesitated then proceeded without caution. "There is something I wish to tell you. Something I should perhaps have told you long ago."

John's eyes narrowed with concern. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes," Teyla assured him with a smile. "It is just for many years now I have looked upon you as a very good friend and colleague and have enjoyed our time together immensely. I am thankful for that friendship and the trust you have given to me for so long."

"I've always trusted you, you know that, Teyla," John shrugged.

"Yes," Teyla nodded. "But now I must trust you with my heart and hope that you will not cause it pain."

"I'd never …" John started to argue but Teyla reached up and pressed a few fingers to his lips.

"Shh," she whispered. "Let me finish. What I am trying to tell you, John, is that my heart has belonged to you for many, many years and yet I have never let you see that. You are important to me in so many ways and yet the one way in which I truly wish to be with you, I am not. Because I have not let you know how deeply I care for you and this is something I should have done so very long ago."

John looked deeply puzzled and Teyla worried that he was embarrassed at her admission. But then he lifted his hand to touch her cheek and a tiny smile twisted his mouth.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying, Teyla? Because I can be pretty dense at times. Reading women is really not my strong suit."

As John's hand continued to stroke her face, Teyla's courage grew. "I am saying that my feelings for you are romantic in nature and have been for a long time. I have never had the courage to tell you before now."

Now John's eyes lit with delight and Teyla felt her heart lift. "So you're saying that …"

"I love you," Teyla finished. "Yes, John Sheppard, I am in love with you. I have been since early in our relationship and I am hoping that perhaps your feelings are even remotely similar to mine."

John just stared at her and his expression almost showed disbelief. Then his crooked grin reappeared and he moved his face closer to her as he whispered, "My feelings are exactly like yours."

Teyla laughed in relief but also that John had not actually said the words. But he had told her years ago that he was terrible at expressing feelings. So for now she would accept this.

"This pleases me, John," Teyla softly said as she took his hand that was still touching her cheek. "I was unsure how you would react to this revelation."

"How about if I react by kissing you? Would that be okay?"

"I think I would like that very much," Teyla responded breathlessly and watched as John's lips approached hers.

"I know I would like it very much," John emphasized. "I've been dreaming of kissing you again ever since the first time. The taste of your lips has haunted me for years now. I keep wondering if it's just my imagination or if they really were as sweet as I thought."

Teyla shifted her position and leaned closer. "Then you must try it and see."

John didn't wait for any further invitation. He slipped his hand behind her neck and pulled until his lips could press against hers and taste them again. He spent a few minutes drifting his lips along hers and taking little nips as her hands pushed through his hair.

When the kiss ended, Teyla eased back only slightly. "Are they as you remember them, John?"

The grin that lit John's face told her the answer but he pulled on her head and claimed, "Not really sure. It may take me a while to figure this one out. You don't mind though, do you?"

Teyla's lips caressed his again as she breathlessly responded, "I do not mind at all. You may take as long as you wish. You may take forever."

"Mmm," John moaned as his tongue ran along her bottom lip in exploration. "Forever. That sounds just perfect."

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xoxoxoxoxo

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