I thank all my readers and reviewers. I'm sick at the moment and try to get back to each of you. Hope you enjoy.
I thank my wonderful Betas Em and Amy.
Chapter Nine
Staying the Night
"Koran," John greeted the village elder walking his way.
"Colonel Sheppard, you came."
John nodded. "Yeah, since we were already here, we decided to just come all the way."
"You were very lucky. The weather has been unusually cold for the past weeks. It only started to snow last night. Let us go inside. I am certain you are frozen."
Before they could enter, a loud growl could be heard.
"What is that?" Rodney exclaimed.
"The snow is very heavy, and there have been several snowslides already."
John smirked. "I know we said we would stay for lunch, but maybe it's better to just head back to the gate."
"I fear that it would be more secure to stay, as the way to the gate is very dangerous in this weather. It should clear in the morning and you should be able to go back in the afternoon."
"No," Rodney yelped, but quickly shut his mouth when he saw Ronon's glare.
"Thank you," John quipped, not really happy either. Atlantis would dial in in three hours and he wasn't looking forward to his talk with Teyla.
Just as much from the cold as it was from the idea of spending the night here without Teyla to warm him, John shuddered. But there wasn't much he could do about it right now. He would have to smile through this.
They went into the cabin and John quickly shed his cold and wet jacket. He was grateful for the warm fire, though, and settled as close as he could with Ronon and Rodney close behind.
After a while, Koran and the other elders joined them.
John knew he was on his own navigating through the talks. Rodney had pulled out his tablet and scanner moments after sitting down and Ronon had gotten up to join his hunter friends five minutes after the elders had sat down.
John was glad he had paid attention the last time they had been here. He managed to get through the trade talks pretty quickly and move on to small talk. He even had to contribute as the elders asked about Teyla and Torren; after that he had mostly just listened and answered a question every once in a while.
XOXOXOXOXO
Teyla kept watching the other woman. She was smiling and, even though Teyla wanted to keep her distance, her nice and open demeanor made it hard for Teyla to do that without making Woolsey or Caldwell wonder about it.
The briefing went very smoothly and Nancy Harrison kept stressing that she had no intention to dig up every little detail of the couples lives or judge any personal relationships. She wanted to see how they behaved in stress situations. She even suggested that Dr. Jarvis, the base psychologist, could help her and that the two could discuss the best way of actions regarding the different couples. Teyla was grateful that they had sent Nancy who seemed honestly concerned about poking into the private lives of her friends. This made her like the woman a little more.
A little after an hour into the meeting, her com activated and she heard John's voice.
"Teyla?" he asked, his voice a little subdued.
Teyla's hand snapped to her com. "One moment, Colonel Sheppard," she answered. "I'm in the meeting with Mr. Woolsey and need to step out."
She looked at Woolsey, and at his nod, she stood up and moved out of the room, again not missing the interest in Nancy Harrison's eyes as they followed her outside.
She quickly moved over to Woolsey's office to have some privacy.
"Teyla?"
"I am here, John," she said, relieved to hear his voice. "I am in Mr. Woolsey's office now."
"How's it going?" he asked and Teyla immediately knew what he really wanted to know.
"She is very nice and not really interested in being too nosy," Teyla said diplomatically.
"That's good," he said and to her relieve changed the topic. "Listen, there's a problem."
"Are you alright?" Teyla interrupted before he could say more, immediately worried for his wellbeing.
John chuckled. "I'm fine. We just can't walk back to the gate. It didn't stop snowing all day. We have to stay overnight."
Teyla sighed.
"Yeah, I miss you too," John said and Teyla knew they both hoped no one else was listening. "It's really cold."
"I promised to warm you as soon as you are home."
"I would love that. You're okay being on your own?"
"I have been alone many times, and I am very capable of keeping busy," Teyla said amused. "As long as you, Rodney and Ronon are unharmed I will be happy, too."
"We're okay, though I can't promise that I won't harm Rodney before getting home."
"I am certain you will not harm him," Teyla said, amused.
"I'm not," John grumbled. "He's being really trying."
"He still is your friend."
John chuckled at that.
"Is everything okay with Torren?" he suddenly asked and Teyla could hear the worry in his voice.
"Your son was not very happy that you were gone this morning and he was not happy that I left, too. Though I am sure he is very happy at the moment as Amelia has not called yet."
"He is," John admitted and Teyla could hear the smile in his voice. "I asked Chuck to patch me through to her first. Amelia is playing Twister with him."
Teyla chuckled.
"And letting him win," he added, happily. "I talked to him and he complained about me being gone, but then told me Amelia had promised him extra pudding if he was good."
Teyla groaned. "I already told Amelia I'm sure we both would appreciate if she would not bribe him," John quickly assured her.
"Thank you, John."
"I also told Torren that I'm sorry I couldn't be home tonight and that I love him."
Teyla chuckled at John's need to make sure his son knew he was loved.
"Still, could you give him a hug for me?" he asked quietly.
"I will. I love you, John." Suddenly, Teyla could hear a loud rumble in the background. John was very quiet.
"What was that?" she asked, worry coloring her voice again.
She could hear John sigh. "There have been several snowslides already," he explained, his voice carefully undisturbed. "But they have been far away. We just hear the echo. It's still pretty loud, though."
"Are you really safe?"
"Koran said that we are safer here than walking back to the gate," he explained and Teyla could hear that he was trying to convince her as much as himself.
Teyla kept from pointing out that she knew he was worried.
"I love you, Teyla," he said after a short pause, and Teyla knew he was going to cut the connection.
"See that you can come home tomorrow."
"I'll come back as soon as I can," John promised and the connection cut a moment later. Shortly after that the gate shut down.
Teyla sighed and waited a moment before returning to the conference room.
"Is everything okay?" Woolsey asked as soon as Teyla walked into the room.
"The team is unharmed. The weather, however, makes it impossible for them to return. They will stay with the Ishrans for the night," she explained. "Colonel Sheppard has ordered for calls to be made every four hours in case something happens; there have been several snowslides already, though they have been in some distance from the settlement."
"If it's okay with you," Caldwell said and quickly stood up. "I will fly over and pick up the team, just to be on the safe side."
Woolsey looked at Teyla thoughtfully; something must have shown on her face as he started to nod. "Thank you, Colonel."
"We should be back in eighteen hours," Caldwell said, already on the move.
Teyla settled in her chair. After Caldwell was gone, Woolsey spoke up again. "I think we have been discussed everything we need to for now." He looked at Teyla. "Is it still alright for you to show Mrs. Harrison around?"
"Of course," Teyla answered smiling, glad to have a distraction.
They got up and Mr. Woolsey left the two women alone.
"If you don't mind, I will first show you the way to your quarters, and then, how to get to the mess and infirmary from there."
"That would be great."
"My son Torren and my friend Amelia will join us for lunch later, if you don't mind."
"Of course not," Nancy quickly answered.
"Very well," Teyla nodded. "Amelia has to work in the afternoon and I just found out Torren's father won't be back in time to watch him. I will have to put him down for his nap, but after that, he can be watched by another friend."
"Please, I wouldn't mind spending the afternoon with you and your son. I also think that I might need a little break after lunch to just get settled in my quarters."
"Thank you, Mrs. Harrison."
"Please, call me Nancy."
"Very well, Nancy. Please, call me Teyla."
The two women shook hands, Teyla leading the way. They walked the hallways and Nancy tried to memorize everything that Teyla explained.
They walked in silence most of the time; Teyla was giving Nancy time to absorb everything.
After a while Nancy's curiosity perked up again and she decided to see if she could ask some personal questions.
"You're usually on away missions with Colonel Sheppard?"
"Yes," Teyla answered smiling, but confused by the question.
"And you have a son? How old is he?"
Teyla chuckled at Nancy. She knew that even if there were women working in dangerous jobs on Earth most quit when they became pregnant.
"Yes, Torren, he is sixteen months old."
"And you still work on a gate team?" Nancy asked again, this time awed.
Teyla chuckled again. "Being a mother does not make me incapable of working on a team."
"Oh, I didn't mean that you're …. I'm just surprised." Nancy stammered, fearing she had offended Teyla. "I don't really know anything about your work other than that it's dangerous."
"I do understand that our cultures are vastly different and, yes, it is dangerous. But I keep fighting in the hope that my son will have a different life."
Nancy chuckled relieved. "That I can understand."
The two chatted on while walking to Teyla and John's quarters.
"How long have you been married?" Nancy asked and Teyla's gaze traveled to her ring.
"Sometimes, it feels like forever," Teyla evaded.
"I know what you mean." Teyla wasn't sure, but the other woman sounded bitter. "I felt that way, too."
"You are married?"
"Kind of," Nancy stated then quickly changed the topic. "Your husband will join us later today?"
"No, he is off-world and will not come back for some time." Teyla was confused at the woman's reaction. If she was married, what did she want from John?
"Oh, he is on a gate team, too?"
"Yes," Teyla answered, opening the door. She was curious now, so she decided not to tell Nancy that John was her husband. It was still a secret anyway. As far as Teyla knew, only Mr. Woolsey, General O'Neill and Colonel Carter knew. And she only knew about the last two because they had sent a present and a card.
"Mama," a small voice called happily. Torren was walking to her as quickly as he could.
He giggled and then looked around, spotting another person. "Dada?" he called, peering behind Teyla.
"Daddy is still working," Teyla said, picking up her pouting son.
"Dada tum bad soon," Torren told Teyla, chewing on his hand.
"He will as soon as he can. He told me to give you a hug."
Teyla settled her forehead against Torren's and hugged him to her exactly the way John always did, she turned to Nancy. "Torren, this is my new friend Nancy. She will accompany us to lunch and spend the day with us. Nancy, this is Torren and my friend, Amelia Banks. She works in the control center and is the partner of Ronon Dex who is also on my team."
Amelia greeted the woman, before turning back to Teyla, her face curious. Teyla indicated that they would talk later and then turned back to Nancy smiling.
"Let us go eat," she announced and Torren squealed in delight, making the women laugh.
XOXOXOXOXO
John sat at the fire, looking outside. It still hadn't stopped snowing and they had heard the rumbling noises all afternoon. He still wondered if they were really safe, but the noises had always been far away. Jura, Koran's daughter had explained that usually not this many avalanches could be heard, but the weather had been unusually cold and the new snow didn't hold on the icy ground, causing the slides.
John turned back to look around the room. Rodney was sitting next to Ronon, both drinking beer.
"Why did you have to drag me here?" Rodney suddenly exclaimed. Thankfully, his voice was so slurred that even John needed a moment to make out what he had said.
"Still your own fault," Ronon growled, equally as drunk as Rodney and obviously, better able to understand Rodney's babble.
"Thanks, Caveman."
"Okay, that's it! Just shut up and be nice, both of you. We were invited for dinner and the night; we're going to play along. Or do you want to walk back to the gate in the dark and through your blizzard?" John hissed, fed up with the whining.
"Next time, take Teyla," Rodney stated.
"Gladly. She doesn't complain at all," John said before adding in a low voice, "and keeps me warm at night."
"What was the last part you mumbled?"
"Just shut up McKay," Ronon and John said at the same time.
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In danger of repeating myself still like to hear from you ;).
