Chapter Three

John began to stir first, about 10 minutes after being brought to the infirmary. Jennifer leaned over him and shined a penlight into each pupil. "What the hell happened?" John asked groaning and trying to rise. "Not exactly sure yet, Colonel. Now you need to lie still and tell me what you remember." John fought through the fog in his head to concentrate on the doctor's words. He remembered getting up on the platform with Teyla. "Teyla!" He said her name with worry, again trying to rise. "It's okay, Colonel. She's right over there and her vitals are good but she hasn't come around yet."

John relaxed slightly and allowed himself to be pushed back down onto the bed. "My head hurts and so do my ba…." He trailed off then, embarrassed at what he almost said in front of a room full of people, most of whom were women. "Colonel, I need to know all of your symptoms in order to determine what exactly happened to you and Teyla. What EXACTLY did you see and feel?" John closed his eyes and then related all that he had seen from the platform as well as the sensations he had experienced.

As he was finishing with the details, Teyla let out a low moan and began to move restlessly in the bed next to him. Jennifer immediately switched her attention to the young Athosian. "Teyla, take it easy. You're going to be fine." But it was no use, Teyla was becoming more and more agitated. She was having trouble waking and was frightened, not knowing what was going on. John swung his legs off the side of the bed, stood, and took a couple of steps towards Teyla's bedside. "Colonel! You need to lie back down!" Jennifer admonished him but he never took his eyes off of Teyla. He gently took one of her hands in his then touched her face. "Teyla, it's alright. You're okay. Just open up those beautiful eyes and let me know you can hear me, okay?" He smiled as her eyelids fluttered and brown eyes locked onto his hazel ones. Jennifer just stared between the two of them, feeling like she was intruding on a private moment between lovers. She had noticed what a close relationship the two had, but had truly thought it only a close friendship until now. Watching them both now, Jennifer could tell that there was much more than simple friendship between them, even if they weren't ready to admit it yet.

John stayed by Teyla's side while Jennifer questioned her in the same manner she had him. He was not really surprised when Teyla, with a slight blush on her cheeks, spoke of a warm, tingling sensation in the area of her womb. "Teyla" Jennifer said with a sideways glance at John. "I would like to do a pelvic exam, if you would allow me and an ultrasound as well." At John's encouraging nod, Teyla agreed to both procedures. He was ushered out of the room as a curtain was drawn around her bed but that was as far as he went. He wasn't about to leave before he knew if she was going to be alright. John was quickly putting two and two together and had come to the conclusion that they might have been "probed" in some way, maybe even had (he gulped audibly) some kind of procedure done to them by the machine. He was hoping that the light beams had just been some kind of preliminary scan, but he had a sinking suspicion that they would not be that lucky. Why would they get lucky now he pondered, when SO many other things had gone wrong since they had come to Atlantis! Well, there had been good things too he had to admit, like meeting Teyla.

John found a chair and sat, not far from her bed, remembering the first time he ever saw her, and the many moments since that time. There were so many memories over the last few years -- so many times when they were in jeopardy, so many times when they talked and laughed. He thought to himself "When did she become such a huge part of my life? When did she become more than just a friend?" Suddenly the curtain was drawn back to reveal Teyla in her own clothes again, sitting on the edge of the bed. She had a strange, pinched expression on her face. John walked over to her cautiously. "You okay?" There was that gentle question from him again along with that worried look on his handsome face! "That was NOT pleasant and I do not wish to have to go through that procedure again!" John looked at her uncomfortably, not knowing what to say. Lord knows, he didn't even want to think about what the heck a "pelvic exam" entailed! He simply patted her shoulder awkwardly and stood there, not sure what to say or do. He was just about to ask her what she thought might have happened to them when Jennifer joined them. "Give me a little time and I should have some information for both of you. In the meantime, please try to relax, maybe get something to eat. I'll give you a call in an hour or so."

They left the infirmary together, both feeling very unsettled. John simply followed Teyla, content to let her set the pace. He wasn't sure where she was going or even if she wanted him to come with her. After walking for a few minutes without even a glance from her, John began to slow down, thinking that maybe she just wanted to be alone. But as soon as Teyla sensed that he was no longer beside her, she slowed and turned back to him. "John? Where are you going?" John quickly scanned the corridor for other people, then approached her. "I...I thought, maybe you needed some time alone...maybe away from me. Since you were, you know, walking so fast...and not talking and all. I just wanted to give you some space...if you need it." Teyla immediately looked apologetic and placed her hand on his arm. "No, it is not that at all! I just wanted to get away from all of the...the looks and questions and...procedures for a moment. I want to be with you! I, I mean I want to be alone but...with you. Does that even make any sense?" Teyla asked, blowing out a breath.

"Yeah, it does. I understand. You were just trying to get me alone weren't you?" John joked playfully. Teyla blushed and smiled prettily then stepped into place beside him linking her arm through his. Once they began walking again she said softly "Maybe". Though barely a whisper, that one simple word caused John's heart to do a funny little flip-flop and he quickly glanced down at her. Was she saying what he thought she was saying - what he hoped she was saying? "Wow, this is NOT what I envisioned for my day when I woke up this morning!" he thought to himself. When they finally arrived at one of the west balconies, John smiled. This was his favorite place to be on Atlantis -- did she know that? As if reading his mind she said "I have seen you come out here before when something is troubling you. I was hoping you would not mind if I came here now, with you." Nervous then that she had revealed too much of her feelings for him, she walked over to the railing and looked out at the sea.

John watched her for a moment and then walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. It surprised her, for he had never touched her like this before. But she found it very comforting to be there, in the circle of his arms, and she relaxed back against him. It surprised him too, both that he had actually done it AND that it felt so right, so good to hold her. They stood like that until Jennifer's voice sounded in their earpieces "Colonel Sheppard, could you and Teyla come to the main conference room?" John tilted his head to look down at Teyla's tense face and smiled an encouraging smile at her. "We'll be right there, doc" he said, confirming what the good doctor had suspected -- that they would be together, wherever they were.