Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.
Part 9/?
-Chapter 8-
Teamwork
Teyla tumbled face-first into bed around three o'clock in the morning. The police closed up her and Elizabeth's old room, and the hotel graciously granted them a new room, conveniently (and deliberately, Teyla was sure) placed between Ronon's and John's. The latter had grudgingly agreed to share his double-bed room with McKay. Though the scientist been talked into remaining in Egypt, he'd refused to have his own room for a moment longer. So they wound up moving all his equipment to Sheppard's room, as well as all of Teyla's and Elizabeth's things into their new room.
Exhausted, Teyla buried her face in her pillow. She was even too tired to yawn, and it seemed like doing something as simple as closing her eyes was too much of an effort.
It was amazing how quickly her magnificent night had turned into a nightmare. In a matter of a few hours, it seemed like her dinner with Ronon had occurred weeks ago. Fun was a commodity out of her reach – it existed, but not for her.
Ronon's words came back to her. Obviously someone else wanted to find Atlantis, but there was no guarantee that that individual (or those individuals – she shuddered at the thought of there being more than one) had happened upon the room when it was empty by accident. She wondered if she and Elizabeth would have been hurt – or worse – if they'd actually been in the room when it was broken into.
Yet another reason to be grateful to both John and Ronon.
Rolling onto her side and curling into a ball, Teyla felt the events of the night catch up to her. She began to shiver, teeth chattering, as ice flooded her veins. The door between her and Elizabeth's room and John and Rodney's was open, upon Sheppard's insistence. He wanted to be readily available just in case. And Ronon slept on the other side of the wall from her bed, so there was another level of protection there.
But still. . . If it was that easy for someone to get in and get out, it would surely be easy for them to do it again. And this time she and Elizabeth might not be out of the room.
A vicious shiver rattled through her. Moaning softly, Teyla drew the covers up to her chin, around her shoulders, hugging herself into a fetal position so tight her muscles cramped. She liked to think she was imperturbable, unshaken in the face of danger. When she'd found out that her room had been broken in to, she'd been too angry to feel in danger. But now, in the quiet darkness of her room, she suddenly realized how vulnerable she really was. Too bad she'd left her father's gun locked tightly in her apartment at home.
And it was a good thing Ronon wasn't around to witness her weakness. He'd think she was a ninny, when she really hadn't thought she was.
Across the room, Elizabeth breathed deeply and easily. She'd offered Teyla some sleeping pills, but the latter had refused. Now Teyla was wishing she'd accepted the offer so she could sleep as deeply and unaffectedly as her friend. Next time (though she sincerely hoped there wouldn't be a next time) she wouldn't turn down the offer.
It took her until well after her bedside clock struck five a.m. to fall asleep.
-Luxor, Egypt-
Teyla stared down into her breakfast plate, wondering if the effort of picking up her fork took too much of her strength to be worth it. Keeping herself from falling face-first onto her plate was already zapping more energy reserves than she had to spare.
Ronon's hand patted her knee under the table, then curled around her fingers. He gave her a quick look, his own eyes tired. She wondered if he'd spent the whole night sitting up on his bed, ear pressed against the wall, listening for more midnight marauders. The thought made her smile.
Dr. Hawass joined them not long after they reached the dining room, briefcase in hand. It didn't take them long to catch him up on what had happened, and now he sat shaking his head, his usually smiling face grim. He said a few words under his breath that weren't typically used in polite company – both she and John swallowed hard to hold in their laughter, since they understood Arabic – and shook his head. "Did you contact the authorities?"
Elizabeth nodded. "We coordinated with all the necessary people last night. They're working on it. It would appear this theft is connected to our search for Atlantis, though," she said in a low voice. "Only Teyla's and my papers were taken. All our valuables – jewelry, money, things like that – were left alone. And no other hotel rooms were touched."
"Fortunately, the women weren't in their room," Ronon said, voice tight. "These people are, undoubtedly, ruthless. Finding a lost city filled with amazing riches and untapped power—" He shrugged. "That's something serious enough for some people to kill for." His fingers twitched tighter against hers protectively.
Rodney's eyes darted toward the door, then back. He was probably considering the wisdom of staying.
Zahi nodded. "It is a good thing you're in a group," he said. "And now the police will be looking for those scoundrels."
"We have to start searching today," Teyla said. "It's a race now, us against them. They have all my notes, and all of Elizabeth's. They know what we're planning, where we're going. We have to find it first."
Dr. Hawass picked up his briefcase and handed it to her. "Here," he said. "These are the papers you need." He hesitated, taking a drink of coffee before continuing. He looked nervous. "The only reason why they allowed me to speed up the process is if you agreed to leave anything you might find here in Egypt. That is – all the artifacts, if there are artifacts."
Teyla and Elizabeth exchanged glances. It was fair, after all. "We can copy any clues we might need?" the latter asked. "Take pictures, write down the facts, things like that?"
Zahi smiled, looking relieved. "Yes. All we ask is that you leave the artifacts themselves here."
"Fair enough," Elizabeth said.
"Excellent." He stood, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry, but I must return to Cairo. There are urgent matters that require my presence. Please keep me apprised of what happens – I find this whole thing very exciting." Zahi grinned, his tanned face morphing into jovial wrinkles. "Teyla, the Heart of Egypt. Effendi Sheppard, old friend. Dr. Weir, it was a pleasure to meet you. And you as well, Dr. McKay. Specialist Dex, good luck in all your endeavors. I look forward to hearing from you in the future." He left, clapping his famous hat onto his head as he exited the hotel.
"So where do we start?" Elizabeth asked.
McKay drained his coffee cup. "America, somewhere in the neighborhood of Fort Knox," he muttered. "You know – the safest place on Earth."
"Sometimes you have to go through perilous times to reach safety," Elizabeth said calmly. "Giving up means they win. And I don't want them to win."
"Me either," John said, tapping his fist on the table. "We're going to find Atlantis first. These guys can't mean well, considering they broke in and took Elizabeth and Teyla's stuff. I very seriously doubt they want Atlantis for the ocean view."
"I don't like fortune hunters. Even worse than that, I don't like thieves. I say we find Atlantis ahead of them and keep it safe from whoever else wants to find it." Teyla lifted her head determinedly.
"I'm with you," Ronon said. There was a very dark look in his eyes – dark and dangerous. It made her swallow hard.
Rodney groaned, sliding down in his chair. "You guys just had to lay on the guilt trip," he grumbled. "Okay, fine. I'll stay. We'll beat the forces of oppression, champion the underdogs, find the Lost City, etcetera, etcetera." He rolled his eyes. "Just don't expect me to like it, okay?"
Elizabeth slapped Rodney on the arm as everyone else buried their grins and chuckles in their respective cups of coffee. "Dr. Negative," she was sure she heard Elizabeth mutter good-naturedly.
Looking around the table, Elizabeth's lips quirked into a smile. "So – are we ready for this?" She held out her hand, palm down.
Teyla reached out to put her hand over her friend's, Sheppard's right after. Ronon joined them a moment later, then McKay, who grumbled something that sounded decidedly unenthusiastic.
"Onward and upward," Elizabeth said.
"Expedition: Atlantis," everyone else finished.
"We're a team." Weir stood up, a determined smile on her lips. "Let's stick together, shall we?"
"Stick together and find Atlantis," Sheppard said.
"How about we go rediscover America," McKay groaned.
Teyla glanced over at Ronon as they left the hotel. Her eyes were drawn down to his lean waist, where she saw the cleverly hidden sheath. A handle protruded from one end.
Ronon followed her gaze. When he met her eyes again, his were serious. "Things are getting too dangerous," he said. "I may be just a diver, but I'd like to think I'm a good protector, too. Nothing is going to happen to this expedition, not if I have anything to say about it."
Slightly unsettled, Teyla looked away. Once more, she wished for her gun; just as quickly wished her father hadn't given it to her.
She didn't want weapons – any sort of weapons – to be necessary.
-To Be Continued-
Bunnylass: Whoa, thanks! Actually, I felt horrible for that – all that romantic tension building up, and he kissed her and everything. . . And then they found out her room had been broken into. That made me feel awful for doing that. But I am very glad you thought it was a nice twist! It will be a while yet, but I promise it is eventually revealed who else is trying to find Atlantis. And I know! Teyla and Elizabeth have found themselves very nice men. . . I'm glad you liked Rodney's line – I kind of wanted to end the chapter on a lighter note, after all the intense things that had happened earlier. Thank you! More about Ronon's past will come out later in the fic. Thank you so much for the review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
bailey1ak: Thank you! I'm glad you liked the part were Teyla and Ronon were freely sharing the experiences of their pasts. I particularly enjoyed writing that scene! I wanted to end the chapter on a slightly lighter note, since the rest of it was so intense – so I'm glad you liked Rodney's line. Thank you so much for the review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
The City of Atlantis: Yes! I felt horrible for their showing up in the last chapter, though. All that romance, all that building tension – and then boom. I felt awful for killing the mood! LOL It will be a little while yet, but I promise the identity of the others who are searching for Atlantis will be revealed – then have at them with that P-90! -wink- Thank you so much for the review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
SpaceMonkey0941: It's okay! -hugs- Yes, Teyla's a little off-balance around Ronon, but I don't think she thinks that's necessarily a bad thing. -snicker- And you're right, Ronon basically feels the same way around her – for a multitude of reasons. I'm very glad you like the turn this story has taken! It is, essentially, a darker story, though I did start it out with a lot of fluff and general excitement and happiness. I felt it would need that, considering what is to come. . . But perhaps I'd better say no more than that. I hope you enjoyed watching last Friday's ep! Thank you so much for the review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter! -hugs-
TheWelcomeStranger: It will be a while yet before the meanings are revealed, but I promise everything Ronon says is important! I also promise that there is going to be more of Rodney soon – not the next chapter, but the one after that. I'm glad you thought it was cute that John and Elizabeth were so absorbed with each other – you can thank my beta for that one, she begged me for it. LOL Thank you so much for the review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
