Hey guys, here is next. There is one more. Hope you enjoy. Would really like to know what you think so shoot.

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Chapter Nine

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Choosing a New Path

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When Teyla returned to John, he actually was asleep; Ronon and Rodney already sitting silently next to the bed.

Torren was in Amelia's arms obviously still not fully awake, but at least not crying at the tops of his lungs.

"I'm going to take him for a walk," she said in a low voice. "And then wait in your quarters later."

"Thank you."

"Oh, it's my pleasure. I missed the little guy. You missed me too?"

Torren looked at her for a moment but then nodded. "tee thutk," he asked around his thumb.

"Sure thing," Amelia answered chuckling. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," Ronon said smiling.

Rodney just waved, distracted looking at his tablet.

Teyla rolled her eyes. "I shall see you later."

She settled on the other side of John and watched him sleep.

"You sure he's up to this?" Rodney asked. His voice not as silent as Teyla would wish.

"I am, McKay," John's sleepy voice said from the bed. Teyla watched him yawn and writhe on the bed, knowing he felt stiff, but barely able to do something about it as he still was too weak to get up and stretch his legs as he would say. His chest was still pretty sore and stretching too was out of the question.

It took a few minutes, but by the time Woolsey and Lorne arrived with Jennifer, John was wide awake.

It took about twenty minutes for the group to sum up what they already knew and another twenty minutes for Rodney to tell them what his team had found. When John was satisfied, he closed his eyes for a moment, his face in an intent frown.

"As I said, we have to do something now, before they decide to move" he finally said.

"We could take the Daedalus and take them out one after another," Lorne mused.

"No," John and Ronon said simultaneously.

"Don't forget their minds are linked," Rodney added.

"They might figure out what is going on," Teyla threw in.

"We have to get them all at once."

"Colonel, we have six addresses," Woolsey said.

"I know, but we know that the groups are fairly small and they don't have a ship at the moment," John said.

"Cloaked jumpers," Ronon stated.

John nodded. He was starting to get tired again. "We put together small strike groups of three to four teams," he added, barely able to hide a yawn. "Lorne, Teldy, Lenard, Ramirez and Blake will lead the teams to the ground gates and I'm sure Caldwell would be willing to help and take the Daedalus to the last address." This time the yawn slipped out unintended.

"Okay, that's enough," Jennifer interrupted, not having missed the first yawn the Colonel had tried to hide or the way his eyes closed ever so often.

This time all the men left at once.

"I shall come back later," Teyla whispered to John, bending over him and placing a kiss on his lips. Her answer was another yawn and a softly whispered I love you, though Teyla could tell that John was already half asleep.

XOXOXOXOXO

Teyla stood in front of Kanaan's quarters unsure what to do, but John was right - she needed to talk to Kanaan and had already waited too long.

Two more days had passed since John had talked to her about Kanaan and the only reason she was here was because she would be leaving in the morning with her team.

John had been surprised and less than happy when she had told him, she and Rodney had decided to go with Ronon and Major Teldy's team and help destroy Michael. It was something she needed to do.

She just hoped John would be in a better mood later. She was sure after this she would need him.

She lifted her hand and activated the sensor.

After a moment the door slipped open.

Kanaan stuffed the last of his belongings into his bag. He looked down at himself, wondering if he actually would need any of the stuff.

Earth clothes were vastly different from the clothes he usually wore.

The chime activated and he knew immediately who was at the door. He was mildly surprised as he hadn't expected to hear from Teyla after Halling had told him to stop trying to reach her mind.

He moved to the door and opened it.

He could see the surprise in her face upon seeing his attire.

"Teyla," he greeted stepping back to let her in.

"Kanaan," Teyla said taking a hesitant step inside the room.

Neither said a word and just looked at the other.

Teyla was the first to break the silence. "It is good to see you returning to our people."

Kanaan's face fell with her words and she wondered if she had said something wrong. She looked once more at his attire.

He cleared his throat. "I thought you knew," he stated.

"Knew what?"

Kanaan swallowed hard. "Listen, Teyla, I am really sorry for what happened to the Colonel."

"You had no control over what happened."

Kanaan shook his head. "Hear me out," he demanded and Teyla inclined her head.

"I am not sure that this is true. You have been my friend since my first memories. I never meant to hurt you or those you love, but I must admit that your choice angered me and I was jealous. You know that I blamed the Colonel for what happened, and to be honest, I still do." Kanaan paused to gauge Teyla's reaction.

"Michael used my feelings to control me."

Teyla just looked at him her face blank. Kanaan smiled bitterly.

"Even when we were little you embraced that we were different. You never feared to feel the wraith and you do not fear the possibility of being controlled. You are stronger than any of us others," he stated sounding bitter too.

"I do not understand," Teyla said at a loss for words. Kanaan had just admitted what she had feared - that deep down he wanted to hurt John.

"Michael could control me because I am weak and could not fight back. I am a danger as there are many wraith out there and most of them could control me. I fear that one day I will betray our people again."

"I do not believe that; we surely will be able to help."

"I was already offered help." He said taking a deep breath. "It has helped to talk to Dr. Sanders, but I am tired of being afraid and I am not the only one."

"I do not know what to do," Teyla admitted, upset she was not able to take his fear away.

"In light of what happened, Mr. Woolsey offered me and the others the chance to move to Earth. There are no wraith and no fear. I, Maika, Liro and Tinya took the offer. We will leave after the ship returns from your mission. "

Again Teyla was speechless. So many things had happened. Deep down she knew that she would miss Kanaan one day, but at the moment she was glad he would go.

"I wish you the best."

"Thank you Teyla, I'm really sorry for what happened."

Despite her feelings she stepped forward and offered the traditional greeting.

"Farewell Kanaan."

"Farewell Teyla."

XOXOXOXOXO

"You talked to Kanaan?" John grumbled when Teyla arrived in the infirmary. Teyla shook her head - he still was in a foul mode, but at least he was talking to her.

"Yes," she said keeping her voice calm. "You knew Kanaan would leave?" She asked, suddenly sure she knew why John had told her to talk to Kanaan.

"Woolsey asked me for my opinion."

Of course he did Teyla thought bitterly.

"Are you still angry with me," she asked looking at John. She realized that his face was flushed.

She quickly closed the distance between them, suddenly worried.

John sighed. "I'm not really angry with you," he huffed. Teyla could see the worry and fear for her and his men in his eyes and felt it over their connection.

"I know you are not," she said, taking his hand in hers while settling on the bed next to him.

She lifted her hand to stroke over his forehead. What was covered as the usual exchange of small loving gestures; was also her way of checking him over.

John closed his eyes. To her chagrin he felt much warmer than he had earlier.

"Has Jennifer been here to see you?" she asked careful. John opened his eyes surprised and confused.

He slowly shook his head so Teyla could tell he was not sure. He closed his eyes again. Though Teyla doubted he was in the mood to actually sleep.

"I promise to be careful and always stay behind Ronon," Teyla said as a peace offer. Her words had the desired effect. He started to smile.

"Okay," he huffed again. After a moment he sighed.

"John, do you not feel well?"

"Huh? No, I'm fine. Why?"

"You feel warm."

"I'm fine."

Though Teyla doubted he was honest she let it go for now. She wanted to spend a few quite minutes with John. She would have to go soon and sleep. She needed her rest for tomorrow.

"You okay," John finally asked, pulling her down to lie beside him.

"I will be," she said while telling John what Kanaan had said.

"I'm sorry," John grumbled when she was done.

"There is nothing to be sorry for," Teyla said firmly. "Please go to sleep. I would prefer to sleep with you next to me tomorrow."

"Maybe I should stay here just in case," though his voice was teasing she also could feel the true worry behind it.

"Do not get any ideas; we will sleep in our bed tomorrow night. Take this as a fair warning when you do anything that keeps you here. We will have a discussion as soon as you are healed in the gym."

John chuckled and pressed a kiss against her forehead. "Tomorrow night our bed," he said. "It's a date."

"Good," Teyla nodded looking at John. Their lips met in a lingering kiss. All too soon John ran out of air.

"We'll have to practice that a little more tomorrow," John huffed.

"I love you, John," Teyla answered capturing his lips once more.

"Mmmm," John murmured, gladly following her lead.

Teyla stayed with John until she was sure he was asleep, but instead of heading home she went to see which doctor was there to care for John tonight.

"Good evening, Carson," Teyla greeted waiting at the door to be asked inside.

Carson looked up, smiling, waving her in.

"Your husband is alright," he said before Teyla could ask. Obviously knowing why she was here. "His fever rose a little, but is well within the usual. If it doesn't get worse and nothing else comes up you two will have your date."

Teyla couldn't help blush. "Thank you," she stammered quickly retreating.

"Good night, Carson," she added half way out.

XOXOXOXOXO

Todd smiled satisfied to himself, so not everything had gone his way, part of it had. He had played an essential role in saving Colonel Sheppard and even if it only meant they were even, it was better than being in his debt.

He knew Sheppard would be grateful and the human had a strange sense of honor almost like most wraith had towards their hive queens. He still couldn't understand what drove the man, but he understood that it was better to be on his good side than on his bad.

For a human he was resilient. He had never met one like him before and that included a life span of thousands of human generations. There always had been strong ones, but when compared, John Sheppard's mind was closer to that of their great opponents, but still unique.

The people of Pegasus called them Ancestors while Sheppard called them Ancient, both a fitting description. The difference was that John Sheppard was not as confident in his superiority as his forefathers had been and that made him so much more dangerous. Todd could feel the looming potential in the human and that was what scared him.

John Sheppard was an enemy you wouldn't be happy with. He had learned that lesson in the past. Sheppard and his cohorts were the key that could finally destroy his kind as it had been foretold when his kind had been young.

The question was if he was willing to fight the inevitable and go down or find a way to survive. Todd had chosen. He wasn't going to fight just to lose. He was going to use the knowledge of the new Lanteans and what he could learn from Michael to find another way, if it meant to leave this galaxy so be it. There were many more stars out there and not every galaxy housed the humans from Earth.

Over the past their knowledge had already brought his kind forward and he would continue to use it. Every time he came together with them, he learned something new. Their reluctance to tell him of their new home bothered him.

Too bad his queen had seen through him. He wondered how much she really knew as they were still letting him go.

They still had a common goal and he had already manifested his wish to continue their work on the retrovirus. Maybe he could incorporate Michael's work with it.

He couldn't wait to find his labs.

He hoped to get the chance and learn more about their ship when it picked him up.

"Time to go," Major Lorne's voice cut into Todd's musing. The wraith looked up and his eyes widened in surprise.

The shield of the cell vanished and he was hit by several stunner bolts. His last thought was his regret to not learn more this time as he was sure the next time he woke he would be alone.

XOXOXOXOXO

John sat on his infirmary bed his arms crossed over his chest. Despite everything Keller was releasing him today and he should be happy about that, but the fact that his team and half of his military contingent were out there hunting down the last of Michael's labs and clones, while he was still trapped, bothered him however, he knew he was in no condition to get out.

Hell, he was barely able to take a trip to the bathroom without being totally wiped in the end. Still, Keller could at least have allowed him to have his com, so he'd know what was going on. But no, she had threated to sedate him instead and keep him in the infirmary longer if he didn't obey and rest.

He had no clue as to how Keller expected him to rest. He had barely slept last night. He had had no trouble falling asleep with Teyla by his side, but when he had woken a little later, alone, his worries had kept him awake. Since Teyla had told him she was going with their team, he had been on edge.

Lately, he had smiled about Teyla and even found it adorable when she had been more reserved and nervous about him going on missions without her, but now he understood. She was out and he sat here feeling helpless. He couldn't do a thing, but hope she was alright and trust Ronon to keep her safe.

He huffed in annoyance, at least this time Ronon and Rodney were with her. He didn't even want to think about what had happened last time when she had been out with Lorne's team … no, he would not go there.

"Dada," Torren's cheery voice cut into John's brooding. His head snapped up and he saw Torren quickly toddling in his direction, smiling at him.

"Dada," he yelled again, speeding up at seeing John.

"Easy tiger," John tried to slow Torren as he was not that stable on his chubby legs yet. John couldn't see who was with him and eased from the bed in case Torren fell.

True to his fear Torren stumbled over his own feet and fell forward, landing on his hands and knees. He froze for a moment and then settled on his butt looking up, his face surprised. When he saw that John was standing next to the bed he smiled again and started to crawl to him.

John relaxed against the bed relived Torren hadn't been hurt or started crying.

It only took a moment for Torren to reach him. He looked up again and smiled. "Dada," he practically sang, grabbing John's jogging pants to pull himself up.

He lifted his arms, wanting John to pick him up.

John looked up and around but no one had followed his son. He looked down again into the expecting face of his son.

No lifting Keller's voice echoed in John mind.

"Dada," Torren started to whine, pulling at his pants.

"I know pal, but Aunt Jenny said I'm not supposed to pick you up." Nevertheless, he started to bend down, grabbing the bed to keep his balance.

"And I meant it," Jennifer's voice stopped John in his descent.

"Found him!" she yelled over her shoulder. She quickly moved over to John and Torren, picking up the boy, while John tried to straighten himself again, without letting her see just how much movement still hurt or made him dizzy.

"You better sit down," Jennifer commanded, making it clear that he wasn't fooling her.

"Dada!" Torren protested whining, pushing against Jennifer and leaning away from her. By the time John was back on his bed Halling had joined them and Torren was crying in earnest.

John watched the boy rub his eyes tiredly while still struggling towards him.

Jennifer settled the boy on the bed and Torren turned away from her, crawling to John and into his embrace. As soon as he reached John he settled against his chest and popped his thumb in his mouth.

"I have to apologize," Halling said when Torren had calmed. "Dr. Keller and I were talking and Torren slipped away from us when we were not watching. He has been in a foul mood all morning and asked to be with you."

"I think it's a family thing," Jennifer stated, obviously amused. John's gaze snapped from Halling to Jennifer. "The Colonel is in a foul mood, too."

John glared at Jennifer knowing it was true, but he refrained from commenting, afraid he wouldn't be allowed to leave and he wanted to leave as soon as possible so he could get his hands on his earpiece and his tablet.

"Halling is here to bring you home, Colonel," Jennifer said in her firm voice. "He will look after you until Teyla gets back." John smirked, but nodded. He didn't need a babysitter. "And don't get any ideas, Teyla has put your com and tablet away for me and Halling knows that you are not allowed to use them."

John saw Halling smirk; obviously the man thought along his lines and was not intent on following her rules.

John pulled Torren closer to him and looked down, shutting Keller out. Torren's eyes were semi closed and his mouth pulsated intently around his thumb.

John couldn't help yawning.

When he had finally managed to fall asleep again last night, he had been woken by a nightmare, not that he told Jennifer that.

"I think it's time for your nap, too," Jennifer commented shaking her head, "and in bed, not on the sofa. Your fever just broke this morning, and I'm aware you haven't slept well. I'm going to come and check on you after lunch."

"I'm fine, doc," he smiled at Jennifer for good measure. "You heard anything from our teams?"

"No, and I mean it, Colonel. I know you are worried. That's why I allowed Mr. Woolsey to brief you, once every two hours or if something comes up," she admitted. "I don't want to have you back here anytime soon. Your injuries are healed enough to let you rest at home, but that's it, rest. You remember what I said when we talked about releasing you?"

"It's your party," John grumbled.

"Still is," Jennifer nodded. "Your meds are in your room. I know you feel fine at the moment, but the more you move and stay upright, the more your chest is going to hurt. Take them sooner rather than later; they won't help much if you are already in too much pain."

John nodded again, slipping from the bed and settling in the wheelchair Marie had just brought. Halling helped get Torren settled against John as the boy was fast asleep already.

XOXOXOXOXO

"Get in there, destroy the lab, come back home," Rodney mumbled to himself as he crouched behind the wall. His M9 pointed into the darkness in front of him.

It had sounded simple enough. Of course it had - it always did sound that way. There are no life signs just destroy the small outpost.

He should have known better. Things were never that simple - at least not in Pegasus. The only plus point was they didn't have to worry about Sheppard as the man was safely tucked away in his infirmary bed, or by now, probably in his own back home.

If he had been here, it would have been him getting hurt protecting Teyla instead of Ronon and thank God the Satedan was built even harder than Sheppard.

Things had gone downhill so fast Rodney was still trying to wrap his head around what had happened. He squinted in the dark, looking for movement. But the corridor remained calm which was a small relief.

His thoughts travelled back to what had happened.

There had been two facilities, so their team had split up. He, Ronon, Major Teldy and Teyla had walked to the smaller facility that had been close to the gate, while Dusty and Captain Backers' team had taken the jumper to the bigger facility that was behind a mountain range east of the gate.

There had been no life signs so they had believed the four of them would be enough to just blow the lab up, after getting the data core. They had been deep in the facility when they had started to understand that this was not a lab, but a growing ship.

Teyla, of course, had been the first to realize. They had been in a wider corridor following the scanner to the faint energy signal when she had frozen.

She had yelled for them to take cover and moments later tendrils had shot out of the wall. Ronon had thrown himself at Teyla after realizing the tendrils were mainly going for her.

One had impacted into the Satedan and thrown him down the corridor thirty feet and into a wall. They were only lucky it hadn't impaled the Satedan as it had Sheppard the last time. But still the Satedan had been down for the count.

The tendrils had retreated as suddenly as they had showed up when Teyla and Teldy had started to shoot at the things.

"It is a growing ship," Teyla had announced then, not that Rodney had already guessed that. "We have to find the main chamber and kill the host, they are not one yet," she had explained further.

They had hurried to Ronon to check the big guy out. Ronon had been still unconscious, his shoulder seemed to be broken and he had a deep gash on his temple.

While Teyla and Teldy had tended to him Rodney had taken a quick look around, luckily he had found a console to the left and had quickly inserted his tablet. After a few moments he had all the data he had needed.

"It hasn't enough power to finish," he had announced. "It's dormant for now to restore its energy level."

"It will strike out again. How long before it has built up enough power to do so?"

"We have about fifteen minutes," Rodney had confirmed Teyla's suspicion.

The hive was incomplete and at some places holes were sealed with the surrounding rocks. After five minutes of searching they luckily found a part that also held a cave. They had managed to wake Ronon long enough to move in there. He had put up a fight, wanting to go with Teldy and Teyla to destroy the ship, but his attempt to move had ended with him sprawled on the floor, out cold again.

Teldy and Teyla had left soon after that and now Rodney was waiting for something to happen.

Time seemed to crawl. He looked at his watch they had another four minutes left before the hive had enough power to strike out again. He wondered what it would do this time.

Rodney eased back against the hard wall behind him. "If I have to go through that antidote cure again," he vowed, vividly remembering the last time they had been exposed to the hive growing pathogen. He had felt like crap for a week after taking the antidote and no matter how easy Sheppard had made it look, just sleeping off the tiny side effect of having ones heart stop hadn't helped, at least not him. "I'll never leave my lab again."

"Liar," Ronon's weak voice sounded behind Rodney, making him jump and pull the trigger of his gun.

"Are you nuts?" Rodney pivoted around, before looking back into the dark, hoping they hadn't been detected.

"Rodney, are you alright?" Teyla's worried voice immediately sounded over his com.

"Ronon is awake," Rodney threw back as a way of explanation.

"Have you been attacked?"

"I scared him," Ronon stated clearly amused. "He pulled the trigger accidently."

Rodney turned and glared at Ronon. "Great, thanks, Conan," he said irritated.

Ronon grinned and shrugged immediately regretting the movement as it pulled his broken shoulder and he felt the broken bones grind against each other. Pain shot down his arm and back.

"We have found the main chamber, try and stay quiet. We will be back soon," Teyla said and the line went dead.

Teyla looked at Teldy, rolling her eyes. Sometimes her teammates were like little children.

The two women took position; they had a little under three minutes left if Rodney was right. Teyla gave a silent nod and the two burst into the main chamber. The looked around to find the host, to their surprise he was imbedded in a cocoon at the back wall. They started to shoot at the alcove the moment they were sure it was their aim.

The ship jerked and the sound of explosions could be heard. Teyla and Teldy stopped shooting when the wall released its host, another of Michael's clones.

More explosions rocked the ship seemingly getting closer.

"Rodney?" Teyla yelled in her com the moment another explosion rocked the ship throwing her off her feet.

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Sorry for another cliffy. Or maybe not ;). Let me know if you like.