From the Author's note at the beginning of the last posted chapter:

Well, I haven't updated this in months!! Sorry about that… I seem to have trouble concentrating on one WIP at a time.

Ah well, hopefully I won't keep you waiting another few months for the next chapter.

Well, that didn't work out too well, did it?

I'm really sorry about how long it has taken me to update this… this chapter's quite long, so I hope that makes up for it a little. Anywho, do let me know what you think, and I really will try and update it again sooner rather than later.

Chapter Three

Teyla rolled onto her back and sighed.

She had been tossing and turning for four hours now, unable to snatch more than a few moments of sleep. Her head was starting to ache from weariness.

It was two days since she had spoken to Heightmayer, and Teyla had already spent the previous night in a similarly sleepless state. The doctor's advice on the subject kept coming back to Teyla, and she pondered on the truth of it. Could it really be that John's presence helped her to sleep? Given the times she had managed to sleep lately, it was a definite possibility. But even if it was true, what was she going to do about it?

"Seriously, I'm just down the hall."

Teyla rolled onto her front and buried her face in the pillow. No. Absolutely not. She couldn't. John was just being polite. She thought back to a conversation they had had earlier that day.

"So, how did you sleep last night?"

"Better, thank you." Teyla was lying through her teeth, and only hoped John couldn't tell.

"Good, that's good," he said. "I guess Heightmayer got it wrong then?"

Teyla smiled. "Yes, I guess so," she answered.

His relief that she wasn't reliant on him for sleep had been evident, and Teyla had been very glad that she had lied. He did not need to have to worry about her.

He also doesn't need a member of his team dead on her feet.

Teyla tried to ignore the traitorous voice in her head by burying her head underneath her pillow. It didn't work all that well.

"Listen Teyla – if you can only sleep when I'm there, then… well, you need to sleep."

Teyla emerged from under her pillow and turned onto her back again, staring up at the dark ceiling. She was so tired.

"Just down the hall…"

With a growl of frustration, Teyla threw her covers off and swung her legs out of bed. She hesitated for a moment, her bare feet brushing the cool floor. Was she really doing this?

Decision made, Teyla stood up before she could change her mind. She headed towards the door, and then turned back to pick up the throw from her bed. She left her quarters and hurried down the deserted, moonlit hallway to John's quarters, which were just around the corner from hers.

She hesitated again outside his door, wondering what John was going to say to see her on his doorstep in the middle of the night, and then activated the door chimes before she could run away.

Teyla could hear movement on the other side of the door, and bit her lip nervously, fiddling with the throw that she held over her arm. What was she doing here?

The door slid open to reveal John. He was wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, and his hair was even messier than usual. His bleary eyes widened when he saw Teyla.

"Teyla – are you okay?" He asked, sounding worried. His voice was slightly croaky – he had obviously been asleep. Teyla wished fervently that she had stayed in her bed, but now that she was here she wasn't about to back down.

"I can not sleep," she said quietly.

John stared at her in silence for a moment, and then took a step back and jerked his head at his quarters. "Come on in," he said.

Teyla took a deep breath and walked into his quarters.

"Did you really sleep better last night?" He asked her as the door slid shut.

Teyla shook her head, and he rolled his eyes. "You should have come over," he said.

"I did not want to bother you," she replied. "I really am sorry –"

John shook his head. "Don't worry about it," he said. "So… you wanna watch a film or something?"

Teyla smiled. "No, it is alright," she said. "You were sleeping… could I… would you mind if I stayed in here?"

John stared at her again, and Teyla shifted under his gaze, once again regretting her actions. Then he nodded. "No problem," he said. "You take the bed and I'll –"

"No," said Teyla firmly. "No – I will sleep on the couch."

John rolled his eyes again. "You haven't been sleeping Teyla – I'll take the couch," he said.

Teyla shook her head and started to walk to the couch, giving him a determined look as she passed him. "This is your room, John, and I am imposing on you," she said.

"You're not imp –"

"I will sleep on the couch," she said. She sat down on the couch to emphasise her point.

John gave her a pained look and for a moment Teyla thought he was going to argue further, but he just sighed and walked over to his bed. Teyla smiled slightly and stretched out on the couch, arranging the throw over her as a blanket. A moment later a pillow landed on her lap.

Teyla looked up to see John folding his fleece up to use as a pillow on his bed. "John…"

"Good night, Teyla," said John, a little louder than he needed to. He climbed into bed and closed his eyes.

Teyla shook her head, a small smile on her face. "Good night, John," she said. She propped up the pillow against the arm of the chair and sank her head down onto it. It was warm, and smelt of John's aftershave. She closed her eyes, and listened to John's breathing become deep and even, as she drifted off to sleep.

XXXXX

Beep beep beep beep.

John shut off his beeping alarm and snuggled back down into his fleece.

Wait a minute – his fleece?

John's eyes snapped open and he quickly sat up, looking across the room to where Teyla still lay. She was fast asleep. He watched her for a moment, trying to decide whether or not it was a good thing she was sleeping so peacefully. On the one hand, she was finally getting the sleep she needed; on the other hand, this meant that it definitely was him that helped Teyla sleep.

Which was probably going to cause some problems.

John got up and stretched, his eyes still on Teyla. The couch was way too short for her – her knees were bent and her head was twisted on her shoulder in what looked like a highly uncomfortable position. Her neck was really going to hurt.

Why had he let her sleep on the couch?

John walked over to the couch and cleared his throat. "Teyla?" Nothing. "Teyla…" He leant down and grasped her shoulder, shaking lightly. Her eyes flew open and met his.

"Good morning sleepyhead," he said.

Teyla sat up and, as John expected, hissed with pain and raised a hand to rub her neck.

"I told you not to sleep on the couch," said John.

Teyla rolled her eyes and swung her legs round so she was sitting. John sat down next to her – the couch was still warm from her body. He scooted forward so that he was right on the edge of the seat.

"So… I guess Heightmayer was right, then," said John.

Teyla smiled and ran a hand through her hair, looking awkward.

John cleared his throat. "Okay, well, tonight I'm taking the couch," he said. And, before Teyla could answer him, he got up and went into the bathroom.

XXXXX

John lay awake that night, wondering where Teyla was. She had gone to New Athos that day and so he hadn't had a chance to talk to her after she had left his quarters that morning. Apart from his quip about the couch they hadn't discussed whether or not she would be coming to sleep in his room again, but he had been kind of expecting her to.

However, it was now gone midnight, and she wasn't here, so maybe she wasn't coming. Though it had been much later when she had turned up the night before.

Maybe she was asleep. Maybe she had managed to drop off, and he was lying there wondering for no reason at all.

Just then, John's door chimes sounded. He jumped out of bed and hurried to open his door.

Teyla was on the threshold, a sheepish smile on her face and a small pile of bedding in her arms. John just smiled and stood aside.

"You know, you could try coming here before letting me lie here for two hours," he said as the door closed.

Teyla gave him an apologetic look. "I am sorry," she said. "I was very tired and I thought I would be able to fall asleep…" She sighed and dropped the pile of bedclothes onto the floor. It was only then that John realised what she had brought with her – a pillow, a quilt, and a bedroll.

"Wait, you're going to sleep on the floor?"

Teyla nodded and started to arrange the bedroll. "Yes, I thought it would be more comfortable than the couch," she said.

John snorted. "It won't be," he said. "Take the bed."

"No, John," she said, giving him an exasperated look.

"You're gonna be freezing," he tried.

"It is not cold in here."

"But –"

"John. I will be fine."

Well, at least she'd have room to stretch out. And they would both have a proper pillow. He might have just left her to get on with it if he hadn't noticed her rubbing her neck as she straightened out her quilt.

"Well, good night then," said John, going back to his bed. He crawled back into his bed and turned onto his side, hoping that he looked like he had given in and was going to sleep. As Teyla wished him good night and the sound of her moving around ceased, John guessed that she had believed him.

He kept his eyes wide open, listening hard. It took a little while for Teyla to drop off, but eventually her breath evened out and John risked sitting up. There was just enough moonlight filtering through his curtains to see Teyla's face – she was lying on her back, and she was fast asleep.

Being as quiet as he could, John got out of bed, pulling his quilt off his mattress as he went. He tiptoed over to Teyla and stood over her, watching her sleep for a moment before bending down and scooping her up into his arms, quilt and all. She stirred slightly and John froze, wondering what the hell he would say if she woke up, but she just snuggled closer to his chest, still asleep.

John couldn't help a small smile as he walked back over to his bed. He lowered her to the mattress as carefully as he could. She frowned slightly as he let her go, but didn't wake up. John made sure the quilt was covering her properly and adjusted the pillow under her head.

Smirking a little smugly, John retrieved his duvet from the floor and walked over to Teyla's bedroll. Curling up under his quilt, he quickly fell asleep.

XXXXX

Beep beep beep beep.

Teyla frowned at the sound of the alarm. Her alarm did not make that noise.

Beep beep beep beep.

Teyla remembered with a start that she was in John's room, and that therefore the alarm must be John's. She opened her eyes and saw the alarm on the bedside table, flashing 0600 at her. She reached over and shut it off, and then retreated back into the warmth of the bed.

Wait a moment.

Teyla's eyes flew open and she sat up, clutching at her quilt. It was definitely her quilt, but she was in John's bed. And, lying on her bedroll in the middle of the floor, was John.

"John!" She exclaimed loudly.

John turned his head away from Teyla, frowning. A moment later he looked back at her, his eyes open.

She glared at him. He grinned. "Well, look what happened."

Teyla's glare deepened as she threw the quilt off and climbed out of the bed. "John, why would you do that?" She demanded, striding over to him.

John's only response was to place his hands behind his head in a maddeningly casual way and smirk up at her – Teyla felt an almost overwhelming urge to kick him. Hard.

"Do what?" He asked, his voice dripping with innocence.

Teyla folded her arms. "John… you know how much I hate having to disturb you –"

"Aw, come on Teyla," said John, sitting up and dropping the innocent act. "You needed a decent night's sleep."

He stood up and fixed her with a don't-argue-with-me look. Teyla had no intention of complying.

"I would have slept perfectly well on the floor," she said firmly.

John rolled his eyes. "Well, I guess we'll never know," he said. "Good morning, by the way."

He smiled his charm smile, and Teyla felt her indignation start to ebb away. It was a very sweet thing he had done for her, after all. However, she didn't want him to see his smile working on her, so Teyla walked back to his bed and gathered up her quilt.

"You might as well leave that here," said John. "You can put it in the closet."

Teyla turned and looked at him, slightly surprised. She could see the logic in the proposal, but leaving her quilt here meant that it was certain she would be back tonight without even trying to sleep in her room alone.

Teyla could see that the same thought was occurring to John, but he met her gaze calmly, waiting for her answer. After a moment, she nodded. "Alright," she said. "Thank you, John."

XXXXX

"Take the bed, Teyla."

"No, John."

"Teyla –"

"No."

"Teyla, if you don't take the bed, I'm just gonna put you in it when you fall asleep like I did last night."

"Then I will not fall asleep."

"Teyla!"

"John!"

The two of them glared at each other from where they stood on either side of the bed. They were each holding a quilt that they were trying to spread on the bed – John was holding Teyla's, and Teyla John's. John was also holding Teyla's pillow.

"John, I can not let you sleep on the floor again because of me," said Teyla, willing him to understand.

John sighed, obviously thinking hard. "Okay, fine," he said. He climbed onto the bed, pushing the pillow to one side and placing Teyla's pillow next to it, which he laid his head on, spreading her quilt over him and the rest of the bed. Teyla went to reach for the free pillow, but John lifted up the edge of the quilt and looked at her.

"Get in," he said.

Teyla's eyes widened in shock. "What?"

"Get in," John repeated. He raised an eyebrow at her. "You have a better idea?"

Teyla stared at him, her mind racing. First they were sharing a room, and now they were sharing a bed? How did this happen? There had to be another way – why couldn't she just sleep on the floor? Why was John so stubborn?

Hard on the heels of those thoughts came the reasonable voice telling Teyla that this was not a big deal. They had shared a tent many times, and they would not be much closer in the bed.

It was late and they were both tired. Teyla dropped John's quilt to the floor and climbed into the bed next to him, laying her head down on his pillow.

John let the quilt fall over Teyla and lay back down. The bed was just wide enough for the two of them, and their arms, which were lying at their sides, were touching from shoulder to hand. At the same moment, John and Teyla both moved their arms so that they were lying across their stomachs instead, no longer touching. They both stared at the ceiling.

John cleared his throat. "Good night."

"Good night."

TBC…. And hopefully quicker…

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