Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.

Part 6/?

-Chapter 5-

Traditions

"A week?"

Teyla winced. "I can't help it!" she said. "Dr. Hawass has only so much pull. We're lucky he managed to reduce the paperwork to what he has, and gotten a rush on it."

Elizabeth rubbed her forehead. "A week is rushing?"

"There's a lot involved with getting a grant to excavate anywhere in Egypt," John told her. "Usually archeologists start the process almost a year before the season they plan to spend here. It just takes so long to get things in motion, do the paperwork, get the approval – and, you have to act fast and soon if you want to make sure you get that spot. We're lucky to even have a chance at the Valley. It's a very popular area."

"Thank you, Howard Carter," Teyla muttered.

Sheppard chuckled. "You've been trying to get a grant for the Valley since you started working in Egypt."

She nodded sheepishly. "This is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said.

Elizabeth's expression softened. "Then I guess one more week isn't too much to ask," she said. "Sorry I flew off the handle."

"A week is still a long time!" Rodney protested. "What are we going to do in the meantime?"

"Wait," Ronon rumbled from his chair in the corner. He grinned when all attention was on him. "That dive in the Nile is starting to look better and better."

Sheppard rolled his eyes. "I doubt you'll find anything in there," he said. "At least, nothing of interest."

Dex shrugged. "You never know."

Elizabeth glanced at her watch. "Hmm. I lost track of the time! It's almost dinnertime." She looked at Teyla, then John. "Can either of you recommend a good place to eat?"

The two Egyptian experts swapped grins. "Well – it all depends on whether you want American food, or if you want to be daring and try some Egyptian cuisine," John said.

Rodney spoke up. "Just so long as it's nothing weird."

Elizabeth grinned. "Well, I feel particularly daring – how about Egyptian?" She glanced across the room to Ronon, who shrugged and nodded.

"Excellent," Teyla said. She looked at John. "Abdullah's?"

"Perfect choice." John fell into step alongside Elizabeth as they all left her and Teyla's suite, where they'd gathered for a quick meeting. "Don't worry – I'll help you figure out what's what," he assured her.

Weir looked relieved. Rodney kept pace with them, continuing to ask questions about the future of the expedition.

Ronon hung back to walk with Teyla, his hands in his pockets. "Thanks for giving me this job," he said quietly.

Teyla looked up at him in surprise. "You're very welcome," she said. "But it's Dr. Weir who's in charge of the hiring and firing. She's the one who you should thank."

A wry grin curled his lips. "Yeah, I know," he said. "But – aw, I don't know. I'm just so grateful." Reaching up, Ronon tapped his shoulder. "I was just afraid it'd be hard to get a job after this, you know? Not many people would trust a man whose shoulder could go out on him again. Especially if I try to push it and dive right after my six weeks are up." Longing filled his intense, beautiful green eyes. "But I so want to dive again. I miss it – very much."

She saw it in his expression, heard it in his voice – he was as passionate about his diving as she was about her Egyptian excavations. "Tell me – where are some of the other places you've worked?"

Ronon raised his voice slightly to be heard over the hustle and bustle of the street as John led them through the crowd. "Hmm – you knew about Crete and Hawaii. I've also done some diving around the Bermuda area, close to – but not in – the Triangle." He chuckled. "Not that I believe in it. Anyway – I've also seen the ruins at Bamini, what some people believe might be the remnants of Atlantis."

"What do you think?" Teyla asked.

His eyebrows rose a little. "Personally? I don't think so. It's an interesting place, I'll give it that. But I really don't think it's Atlantis, or a remnant of it. Or even connected to it, for that matter." Cocking his head to the side, he looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "What about you? Where are some places you've excavated in Egypt?"

Teyla shrugged self-consciously. "Not nearly as many as my parents," she said. "I've done some work in Deir el-Barhi, Deir el-Medina, half a season in the ruins of el-Amarna, and the rest of that season I spent working at Hatshepsut's temple at the mouth of the Valley. But most of the work I've done has been at Abu Simbel."

Ronon whistled, low and long. "Wow. You've done some extensive work here."

She looked away from his admiring gaze, feeling a blush creep up her neck and suffuse her cheeks. "I grew up here," she said softly. "Even though I split my time between Chicago and here, and am – technically – American, Egypt will always be my home."

Conversations paused when they got to Abdullah's establishment. It was not listed in many – if any – guidebooks; someone had to know it existed and its exact location to be able to get there. It reminded Teyla of a series of books she once read.

"Teyla, the Heart of Egypt! Why did you not tell me you were coming?" Abdullah shouted in Arabic as he came out of the kitchen, his ruddy cheeks colored from the heat of his cook stoves and his apron splattered with the chosen menu items of the day. "And Effendi John! Both of you have returned to Egypt, at last! It makes my old heart proud!" He hugged Teyla and enthusiastically shook hands with John. "You honor my humble establishment." He hurried to prepare a table for them, asking questions all the while. Teyla introduced the other members of the party while they settled into their seats.

It didn't take them long to order, John and Teyla helping Elizabeth and Rodney respectively. Ronon surprised Teyla by ordering for himself, thanking Abdullah in crisp, fluent (and flowery) Arabic. When he saw her looking at him, he shrugged self-deprecatingly. "What can I say?" he said. "I wanted to be able to speak at least a little of the language before I came. And I've learned some more since I got here. Besides, I heard that it helps a lot if you shower compliments upon the person from whom you're requesting service." He looked around curiously. "I've been to quite a few authentic Egyptian restaurants like this during my time here, but I hadn't heard about this one."

Teyla grinned. "You have to know it exists – and the right people. This is – er – not exactly the most revered establishment, at least if you ask the Americans. It's been in Abdullah's family for years. When he dies, he'll probably leave it to his grandson – Selim – who led me to you – who currently owns a cart in the suk." She shook her head. "Though it's hard to imagine old Abdullah not being around anymore. For as long as I can remember, he's owned this place and done all the cooking."

Their food was delivered then. As everyone tried their dishes and exclaimed happily at the tastes, Abdullah beamed proudly and nodded. "Thank you, thank you," he said in broken English. "I am honored." When at last he retired to the kitchen again, the table's occupants were over half-finished with their meals.

"This is wonderful," Elizabeth said. "Though I have a feeling I probably don't want to ask what's in it."

"Lots of tomatoes," John chuckled. "Did you see the smears all over Abdullah's apron?"

She nodded. "I didn't know that's what it was, though."

Teyla smiled. "If you come here enough, you'll be able to figure out what's being served on certain days by looking at his apron. His whims change, so nothing is ever the same. It's always an adventure here."

Even after everyone finished their meals, and Abdullah brought out cups of strong Turkish coffee for dessert, they lingered at the table, talking and learning more about each other. It was hard to remember that the group hadn't been together for very long, they'd all bonded so well.

About an hour and a half after the meal, music started up toward the back of the establishment. Cheers floated after, and more people started flocking in from the street. Abdullah rushed around serving more coffee, shouting things in cheerful Arabic.

"What's going on?" Elizabeth asked, puzzled.

Before she could respond, someone called her name. "Teyla! Is it really you?"

"Lapis!" Teyla leaped to her feet to hug the approaching girl, who jingled with jewelry as she returned the hug. "Oh, is there a party?" she asked in Arabic.

Lapis nodded, her shocking blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "It is Daoud's birthday. We will dance." A grin stretched her lips, showing off her sparkling white teeth. "Will you come?" she begged. "Please, dance with us!"

Teyla demurred. "I don't know – it's been so many years!"

Her friend shot a glance across the table at Elizabeth. "Your friend, she will join, too, yes?"

Teyla turned to everyone else to translate, though John had been able to understand the conversation and was now grinning into his second cup of coffee. "There is a party – one of Abdullah's sons' birthdays. There will be dancing." She felt flustered, out-of-place. It had been many years since she'd last danced – she wasn't even sure she remembered all of the steps. "I will join them. Lapis also invited you, Elizabeth. It is – tradition. And a lot of fun."

Elizabeth look terrified. "What – what kind of dancing?"

Lapis murmured under her breath, sounding hurried and excited.

"Middle Eastern folk dance?" Teyla offered.

John leaned over and whispered: "Belly dancing, basically."

Weir turned bright red, her green eyes suddenly looking far too large for her face. "B-belly – dancing?" she inquired hesitantly.

"Is fun!" Lapis assured her. She couldn't understand much English, but that she did understand. Nodding up and down, she smiled winningly. "Is fun, and good." She patted her tummy. "Good work."

Teyla took Elizabeth's hand and pulled her up. "Just watch me," she whispered. "What I do – you do. We'll be doing some of the more playful dances – the steps will be easy to pick up."

In the cramped back room, Teyla and Elizabeth quickly changed into costumes. Lapis had brought extra, just in case some other women decided to join. Teyla's deep green-and-gold ensemble richly complimented her complexion, while Elizabeth's quieter red and silver made the blush of her cheeks even rosier, her eyes a little greener.

Teyla drew a deep breath. Was she ready for this? No. But she couldn't disappoint all her old friends. The music changed tempo, and she swirled out into the room with the other dancers, losing herself in the rhythm and fun of the dance.

-Abdullah's Restaurant: Cairo, Egypt-

Ronon, having grown up in Hawaii, was used to seeing hula dances. His mother and aunt had been members of a professional group, and he'd constantly seen them practicing.

But, he soon discovered, hula couldn't hold a candle to "Middle Eastern folk dancing," as Teyla had called it. The movements were light and playful instead of intense and focused; the costumes brightly colored and beaded instead of the traditional grass skirts; and jewelry abounded: earrings, necklaces, and bracelets aplenty for arms and legs. He'd never seen so much jewelry in one place before – except in a store.

At least fifteen women were spinning around the cramped room in time with the music, some in pairs and some alone. But one dancer in particular caught and held his attention: a girl in green, whose movements seemed more pronounced than the others' – crisper, sharper, more like she personally was having fun rather than entertaining the others. She spun, and Ronon was shocked to realize it was Teyla. She's quite a woman, he mused to himself. Is there anything she can't do?

A strangled noise to his left caught his attention. Rodney sat with his elbows on the table, face hidden in his hands. Sheppard sat with his mouth hanging open, traditional post-meal Egyptian water-pipe halfway to his mouth, staring in Teyla's direction. For a moment Ronon felt uncomfortable – Teyla is as close as his sister indeed! he thought grimly – until he noticed Sheppard's attention was on Weir, who was quietly shadowing each of Teyla's movements. Ronon felt ashamed that he hadn't noticed her before – all he could see was Teyla.

Teyla, who seemed to trust him so fully, so easily. It's wrong. He remembered how his parents' marriage had turned out, after. . . He shook the memory out of his head. That was over with. Besides, what business had he having such – interesting – feelings for Teyla? She was the team's Egyptian expert, and was obviously quite devoted to her work. Surely she had no time for men, and surely no time for men like him.

But still, there was something about her that drew him. She spun by their table, skirts, veils, and hair flying, and Ronon clenched his hands into fists to keep from reaching out, grasping her wrist, and yanking her to him for a kiss. That would certainly not help the team. This was business, strictly business – he had to remember that. Falling for someone was not part of the job description – he was there to help: to assist them in gathering information, then to dive for the mythical Atlantis, if they found undeniable evidence of it. At the moment, though, he had a feeling Teyla could find life on other planets if she put her mind to it. She really was a remarkable woman. . .

Ashamed, Ronon once more forcibly shook himself out of his thoughts. Business, Dex. This is business. But his gaze softened again as he watched Teyla, with her glowing smile and happy eyes, as she playfully and oh-so-gracefully danced her way around the room. But I want it – at least part of it – to be pleasure, too. . .

-To Be Continued-

The City of Atlantis: Thank you! Your reviews never cease to leave me with a smile on my face – I enjoy reading them so much. I'm very, very excited about this chapter, so I hope you enjoy it, too! Thanks again so much for the review!

Bunnylass: Wow, thank you! As I write each chapter, I just find myself getting caught up in the enthusiasm and excitement of the characters. I feel like I'm discovering everything right along with them, so I'm very happy to hear that you feel the same way! I think this is the most fun I've ever had writing a fic. To be truthful, I don't want to stop writing this fic, either – I'm trying not to think about the ending (except as for it being fa-a-a-r into the future!). I really hope you enjoy this chapter, and thank you so much for the review! -huggles back-

SpaceMonkey0941: Thank you! Though I don't want to overwhelm you – should I slow it down a bit? lol I was very happy to read your enthusiasm, though – it made me very happy, and smile so big my Mom asked if I had taken allergy pills that made me loopy. LOL I tried to update as soon as possible – I hope you enjoy this chapter (it was a lot of fun to write -wink wink-), and thank you so much for the review! -hugs-