A/N: Comes in at 496 words. Thanks to all those still following.
Chapter 4- Getting Closer
Teyla looked up at John and blinked several times, trying to understand the hidden meaning in his words. "What do you mean?" she questioned.
"I…well…um. It's just that," John wondered if this is what Rodney felt like when he got nervous. He mentally cursed himself that the Canadian's mannerisms were starting to rub off on him. "I was just thinking," his words trailed off, unable to vocalize his thoughts. He wanted to help Teyla with her problem but his fear of the truth stopped him.
The Athosian looked perplexed, as the usually smooth talking man was tongue-tied. "John, this is most unlike you. I don't understand what you are trying to say." Teyla paused for a moment, "I do not wish to take Torren away from his father if that is what you are suggesting. Things may be strained with Kanaan and myself, but I will not deny him his son." She could not do that to him especially since Kanaan had already lost a son, but John did not know that unless Rodney had broken his promise and that did not seem to be the case.
John kept a stoic expression. Part of him wanted to scream and ask what made her so sure that Torren was Kanaan's son. Did she even remember their night together? "I'm not saying that Torren should be denied his father," he was careful not to mention Kanaan's name. "I just meant that if…" the slightly panicked man met her soulful eyes and hoped she could understand what he meant without having to say it.
"Colonel Sheppard, don't," Teyla addressed him formally. She knew what he was trying to say and she was not going to have this conversation with him in a public venue. As soon as she had found out she was pregnant after the Athosians had gone missing, Teyla had convinced herself that there was no one else who could have fathered her child. When Torren had been born, he looked like her and no one mentioned the father. It was not until recently that the boy started to take on a similar appearance to John that the thought that he could have fathered her son entered her mind. By this time Kanaan had become attached to Torren and thought of the boy as his own and she could not break the bond the two had formed.
After a long pause Teyla took a deep breath, "You have been talking to Rodney, haven't you?"
"I talk to him all the time. I don't know what you mean," John acted ignorant. It was true that McKay had awakened the lost thoughts, but he had done nothing other than that. "He might have mentioned something that happened when he and Jennifer babysat a couple months ago. I just have to wonder if…"
John's train of thought was broken by Chuck coming over on the PA system, "Colonel Sheppard's team to the gateroom immediately."
So much for finding out now.
To be continued...
End A/n: The fact of Kanaan losing a son prior to Torren comes from the SGA novel Homecoming, where Teyla did tell Rodney about it.