Hello all! Sorry the updates are not regular, but RL has decided to whump me good this year. Thank you to all of you that read, review, favorite and follow this story. You make it worth it. A big thanks to my beta, Nacimynom, for taking the time to beat out the rough edges and to Mysra for reading it and dropping hints.

As a special note, I blame the basic idea for part of this chapter on Keira Marcos and her Ties That Bind series.

Now, on with our story ...

Chapter 10 - Reconciliation

Dave held his brother out at arm's length. "You look well. Teyla said you'd been turned into a cat. Is she serious or pulling my leg?"

"Huh, well you're still a good liar." John shook his head as he pulled back. He wandered over and dropped, with a soft thud, into his favorite chair. "No, she's telling the truth. I just spent the last two weeks as a tiger."

Dave's expression turned to one of shock. "My god, John, how …?"

John flashed Teyla a smile as she handed him a cold glass of water before she snuggled into the chair with him. His free hand caressed her swollen belly. "The Alterans, or Ancients as we tend to call them, were a very old race. They had conquered most of modern civilization's warts – disease, poverty, war, most crimes. In their search for new horizons, they found out about Ascension. Ascension allowed them to leave the world of flesh behind and become beings of pure energy. In their quest for Ascension, they turned to a lot of different paths. Some chose meditation while others tried to find a mechanical means. Many of these "Ascension machines" were so poorly thought out that we're pretty surprised they didn't blow Atlantis up."

Dave was silent as he processed what John just said. "And you encountered one of these devices."

"He did." Teyla took up the thread momentarily. "The device altered his DNA to that of an animal."

Dave was curious. "Why a tiger?"

John smiled - a hint of tiredness creeping in. "Because Rodney and Carson were arguing about the merits of cats and dogs while touching the device's control console. Just before the device activated, I was thinking about tigers being more regal than lions. Then the device triggered, there was a bright flash and when I woke up I was a black tiger." He shifted in the chair. "So, how did you get here? Because I'm sorry, but you weren't on the list of guests that I gave Woolsey."

A brief flash of pain crossed Dave's face. "A couple of months ago, I'd just gotten home from work when the doorbell rang. I opened it to find an Air Force General on my porch."

"O'Neill." John made the name a statement rather than a question.

"The very same. After he had me sign the most comprehensive Non-Disclosure Agreement on the planet, he proceeded to turn my worldview upside down. Then, if that wasn't enough, he invited me to my brother's wedding which, coincidentally, is being held in the lost city of Atlantis." Dave looked down at his hands then back up. "I hope you're not upset."

John took a sip of water. "Upset, no. Surprised, yes. I would've invited you, but you didn't have clearance, plus I figured you were probably too busy to come so why invite you if you couldn't come." It was John's turn to duck his head. "And I figured you wouldn't want to come since it was only my wedding and it wouldn't get you in the Society pages in the newspaper."

Dave crossed the room and knelt in front of John. "John, you're my brother. If I had refused, Julia would've smacked me upside the head for thinking like that. She never held with Dad's opinion of you. You were the one thing they agreed to disagree on." He reached out and grabbed John's shoulders. "You're my brother and I love you and I'm so proud of you." The two brothers hugged again before Dave returned to his seat.

"General O'Neill let me read some of your mission reports after I got to Colorado. Some of them are so unbelievable that I'd think they were cheesy science fiction if I hadn't seen the Gate in action." Dave paused and cleared his throat. "I asked how you got picked to go on the Expedition."

John stifled a yawn. "Oh, yeah? What did O'Neill tell you?"

Dave gazed at his brother. He'd caught the edge of the yawn and from the way Teyla was looking at John she had too. "Well, he said that your exceptional flying abilities saved both of your asses and earned you a trip to a top-secret research base. Once there, you disobeyed orders and sat in a chair."

John laughed. "Yeah, when we got off the elevator, he told me not to touch anything. I didn't know he meant literally everything. I sat in a chair that could've doubled as a throne from Conan the Barbarian. It lit up as soon as my butt hit the seat. Then McKay comes in and asks me to think about where we are in the solar system. No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a very detailed hologram appeared above me and my fate was sealed. Between Elizabeth – Dr. Elizabeth Weir, the first Head of the Expedition – and O'Neill, they pretty much had me."

Dave sobered. "He also told me that the Expedition was basically a one-way mission at that point."

"It was." John said softly, his gaze shifted to the window. "At that point, all I lived for was flying. Mom was dead; Dad practically disowned me for joining the Air Force; and you were toeing the line and cut me off too." He turned back when Teyla gently squeezed his arm. "Coming here was the best thing for me. I have friends that care about me, not my family's money. I have a family that doesn't give a crap about appearances."

Dave winced. "John, I'm sorry. After the funeral, I told you that Dad regretted the words between you. For so many years, all he saw was your brilliance and what it could do for him and the company. Mom tried to get him to leave you alone, but he refused to hear her. He kept track of your career, but he never said anything about it. I did too. I was proud of you, but the first time I tried to say anything about you, I was told to not bring it up again. We lost track of you in 2004, which would be when you entered the Stargate Program."

John swallowed another sip of water and said, "Yeah. So when did he change his mind?"

"When he got a letter from a family friend telling him how great it was that you'd made Lieutenant Colonel. Apparently the guy's son served at Cheyenne Mountain, recognized you and decided to write home about it. He couldn't tell the details, of course, but he said what he could. After downing about half a bottle of bourbon, Dad told me what an ass he'd been and how right Mom had been when you were little."

"Mom always told me that I was meant to do great things and that I would go far." He gave Dave a sad little smile. "She never knew just how right she was about that last part." He yawned again; this one caught him unaware and threatened to crack his jaw.

"John, you still need to rest. Your brother will be here for some time." Teyla awkwardly stood and dragged John with her. "We shall all have dinner together and you may talk more then. I have already arranged for food to be brought."

John kissed Teyla. Unable to stifle another huge yawn, he just waved at Dave as he headed back to bed.

After John left the room, Dave looked at Teyla as she returned to her seat. "He really loves you. Our mother was the only person he'd listen to like that."

Teyla was prevented from answering by a chime. Before she could rise, the door opened and a miniature whirlwind entered.

"Mama, where Da?" Dave watched as the speaker, a young boy about three years old, shot into Teyla's lap.

"Torren, we have a guest." Teyla pointed to Dave. "This is your Uncle David. He is your father's brother."

Torren looked up at Teyla. "Like Unca Ronon and Unca Rodney?"

She nodded. "Yes, except David and John have the same father. Can you say 'hello'?"

The boy ducked his head shyly. "Hello, Unca Dabid."

Dave laughed. "You can call me Dave."

Torren tried again. "Unca Dabe."

"Close enough."

"David, this is Torren John Emmagan."

"Hello, Torren. I've heard a lot about you."

A woman with a similar complexion to Teyla's entered, looking slightly sheepish. "Sorry Teyla, he got away from me."

Teyla waved it off. "It is no problem, Aleeah. I am certain that he was very anxious to return home." She gestured towards Dave. "Aleeah, this is John's brother, David Sheppard. David, this is Aleeah. She is the day minder for the children here in the city."

"Children? Isn't it dangerous for children here?"

"No sir." Aleeah's voice was soft but strong. "It is safer here than on many of the other worlds here in the Pegasus Galaxy. The Wraith are still a threat, as are bandits."

Dave stood and held out his hands for his nephew. "Your Daddy's resting. Let's go check on him."

Torren looked at Teyla and when she nodded he took Dave's hand. Teyla watched as the two went to check on John. They were gone for a while before Dave came back alone.

"Torren climbed up on the bed with John, sat beside him quietly for a few minutes then snuggled up with him and went to sleep." Dave passed, unsure how the question he wanted to ask would be received. "You can refuse to answer if you wish, but are you sure that Torren is not John's child?"

Teyla smiled, gesturing towards the chairs. "I am positive. Torren's birth father is a man of my people. Due to events, Kanaan was not around for my pregnancy. John was, and after his anger dissipated, he was very solicitous of me, spending much time with me to make sure I was comfortable."

Reminded of an old wives' tale he'd heard, Dave took a guess. Many women swore it was possible, and science had proven it to an extent. "Did he lay hands on your belly and talk to Torren before he was born?"

Teyla's smile grew wider. "Yes, and John and I have discussed this. He has done so with this child as well." She caressed her swollen belly. "We too feel that that is why they are so close. It does not hurt that John was the first man to truly hold him and rock him to sleep, even if it was in the cockpit of a Wraith Dart."

At Dave's look of incredulity, Teyla told him the entire story.

Dinner was jovial. A simple meal turned into a festive occasion that lasted into the night with all their guests having a good time before they headed to bed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

After recent events, John had a lot of paperwork to catch up on. Lorne had taken care of a good chunk of it, but there was some that had to have John's approval. With the wedding a short time away, John needed to get as much done as possible because there'd be more waiting on him when they got back from their honeymoon. He was over halfway through the files when Stackhouse escorted four of the newer troopers into his office. John took a moment to observe, leaning back in his chair as his eyes bored holes in the four men. He noted the signs of a scuffle. "Gentlemen, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"Colonel, I found Corporal Riggins, Airman Jones, Airman First Class Wilson and Lance Corporal Keene fighting in the locker room." Stackhouse reported. "None of them are willing to tell me why they were fighting."

John shifted his gaze from Stackhouse to Riggins then Keene, holding it there before drifting to Smith and Wilson. His eyes darkened with temper. "Men, we are here to protect this city and to fight the Wraith, along with any other group that dares to fuck with us. We are not here to fight each other. Now, you idiots have three choices." John held up one finger. "First choice is a reprimand in your jackets for fighting and loss of one month's pay. Second choice is that you fess up and serve your time on a punishment detail. Third choice "and another finger joined the first two "is that you face me or Ronon in the gym."

They looked at each other, a silent conversation going between the two pairs. John looked past them to Stackhouse who rolled his eyes. John smirked in agreement, his face schooled back to careful blankness before the four soldiers turned back to him.

"What do we get if we win?"

John exchanged a knowing look with Stackhouse. "For facing one of us, you get to keep your stripes, your pay and clean jackets."

Keene looked at Riggins then Smith and Wilson, who nodded. "We'll take the challenge."

"Very well." John nodded in acceptance. He'd expected it. Only a few had ever declined facing him or Ronon. Those that did had been transferred out quickly. "Me or Ronon?"

"You, Sir."

"Any questions?"

"No, Sir."

"Very well." John tapped his radio to the general military channel. "This is an All Call. Except those on guard duty in the Gateroom, I want all military personnel in the main gym in one hour." He closed the connection and turned back to Stackhouse. "Take these four to the locker room. Get them changed and warmed up. I don't want any half-assed excuses for a poor performance."

"Yes, Sir." Stackhouse prodded the four unlucky troopers out of John's office.

As he finished the form he'd been working on, John thought about Carson's surprise this morning. After a thorough exam, Carson informed him that he was returned to full duty instead of light, and reminded him to be careful. John shut down his computer and headed for the locker room.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Teyla enjoyed escorting Dave around and showing him the city. She knew John could possibly do a better job of explaining many of the wondrous things Atlantis had to offer, but she did very well on her own. Dave wandered over to one of the windows to look at the craftsmanship when she heard the All Call to the main gymnasium. She wondered what had occurred and decided that this would be a way for Dave to get to know John better.

Dave rejoined her and she guided their steps to the gym. Once inside, they skirted the room until they reached the stairs to the Observation Deck. At the top, they settled in chairs placed to one side.

Dave turned to look at her. "So, why are we here?"

"When certain types of discipline problems arise in the city, John gives the perpetrator the option of receiving a reprimand, confessing their crime and serving a punishment or facing off against himself or Ronon. We are here because the responsible party has chosen to go against one of the two of them."

"Pardon me if I'm wrong, but this is not the way things are usually handled by the military."

Teyla shook her head. "No, you are not wrong. John is a very unorthodox commander." She paused a moment. "Rodney once said it best. He said John thinks so far out of the box that the box might as well be in another galaxy."

Dave chuckled. "That sounds like John alright. So, what does the Military Commander of Atlantis do?"

"John is responsible for the safety and security of Atlantis and all who reside here. He is also ultimately responsible for the training and management of the military contingent here in the city. John, Richard and Rodney decide which planets are viable for exploration. John decides which teams will go to which planets. John also works with Rodney and Radek in testing some of the Ancient's devices that have been discovered."

"That is some list." Dave sounded impressed.

"Whenever a rescue mission is needed or an ally is in trouble, success is often due to John's abilities. His actions and quick thinking have saved the lives of everyone in this city many times."

"He must be good to do all that from the security of the city."

Teyla shook her head sharply. "No, John leads from the field. He does not believe in sending others to do something that he would not do himself."

Dave snorted. "So my easy-going brother takes the easy missions to show that he's willing to contribute."

"We often undertake the most risky or dangerous missions ourselves. By doing so, John can adequately get a feel for conditions on many of the worlds." Teyla peered down at the floor below and noticed that the room was nearly full.

Dave appeared shocked. Teyla wondered if it was because he was beginning to see John for who he really was or if it was something else.

"You said 'we'. Who is part of this we?"

"Ronon, Rodney and I are all part of John's team."

"But, you have a son … and you're pregnant."

"Until two months ago, I was still going on missions with John. At the request of his troops, John did take some of the easier missions for us."

"Was this a case of sucking up or …?"

"No." Teyla cut him off. "John's troops are loyal and respect him greatly. He is selfless, caring and has shown that he values each of them. We have been to many worlds where this is not always the case."

Dave grimaced. "It's not always the case on Earth either. Too many commanders throw the lives of their troops away for nothing."

"John lives by the motto that no one shall be left behind." She stared into the distance for a moment. "At one time, that did not include himself."

John's voice floated up from below and put a hold on their conversation. Movement caught her attention and she saw that Sam and Jack had entered and taken seats on the other side. They scooted forward to see what transpired below.

John stood at the front of the room looking out across the sea of faces, his eyes glittering darkly. Four soldiers, attired in workout clothes, stood in advance of the gathered troops. From his attire, Teyla discerned that those to be disciplined had decided to face him. She was interested in what may happen as they had not sparred since John had returned to his natural form.

"Men, what is the first rule of my city?"

"Protect the geeks, Sir!"

John casually crossed his arms. "And what is the second rule of my city?"

"Don't piss off the Colonel, Sir!"

"And what are the things that piss me off most?"

"Brawling, lying, stealing, and Wraith, Sir!"

"Corporal Riggins, Airman Smith, Airman First Class Wilson and Lance Corporal Keene – front and center!" The group of Marines and Airmen took two steps forward. "The four of you were caught fighting earlier today and have decided to face off against me in the sparring ring instead of having a disciplinary mark placed in your records. Is this correct?"

The four answered in slightly ragged unison. "Sir! Yes, Sir!"

John stepped over and picked up his bantos rods. "Well, gentlemen, choose your weapons." He twirled the rods in lazy loops. "C'mon, I don't have all day."

The unlucky quartet almost stumbled over each other in their haste to grab staves from the wall rack.

"Has my brother developed a death wish? He's going to face off against four soldiers at one time?"

"John is very skilled. He spars with myself and Ronon on a regular basis." The clacking of sticks echoed up from below.

"Does he win?"

"Against Ronon, no, but he holds his own and does not lose easily."

"And against you?"

"I have been teaching John the art of Bantos. Those are bantos rods that he holds. He has become very skilled in their use. I still, as he puts it, kick his ass, but recently we have been coming to a draw and there have been a few times that he has beaten me."

Exclamations from below drew their attention once again. They peered below to see John facing two of the men; the other two were on the mats. These two appeared to be more experienced. Instead of charging in, Teyla judged that they had held back to judge what John would do and allowed their comrades to take the brunt of the punishment. John stood still, rods raised to guard as the two circled, looking for an opening. John relaxed slightly and dropped one shoulder just a hair, but it was enough. They watched as one of the men stepped in, staff weaving figure eights. Closing in, John went to work rods flying as he blocked strikes from his opponent while he snaked his way through the other man's defenses to land stinging blows.

Seeing an opportunity, the second man decided to join the fray. Teyla watched as John shifted as though he had been expecting the second man to attack and was ready when the second staff swept in at mid-height from behind. John freed one rod from his attack against his first opponent in order to block the shot from behind as he backed away. She was pleased as John moved so both of his opponents were in front of him. As he blocked strikes from both men, John's rods were a blur; the clatter of wood on wood filled the room. Occasionally, one of the pair would get in a glancing blow, but nothing hard enough to throw John off. John, on the other hand, was landing a lot of blows – some glancing, but most not. The two men shone with sweat by the time the other two men recovered enough to rejoin the match.

"That … is … incredible. I have never seen anything like it."

"As I said, John is very skilled." Dave asked some questions about the various moves John was using which Teyla answered, but the better portion of her attention was focused on John. He moved with ease and, even though all four of his opponents were perspiring heavily, John's skin had only a light sheen of sweat upon it.

"Earlier, you said that John considered himself expendable. Can you tell me why?"

"When I first met John, it was shortly after the expedition arrived here in Atlantis. We did not know he had any living family until his father passed. Near the end of the expedition's first year here, the Wraith attacked the city in large numbers. Reinforcements from Earth arrived, but Colonel Everett's strategy of planting nuclear space mines was foiled by the Wraith." Teyla paused to center herself. She hated to think how close they had come to losing John during the siege. "In order to give further reinforcements time to arrive, he flew a Jumper carrying a nuclear warhead into the launch bay of a hive ship. He was saved by the timely arrival of the Daedalus. Colonel Caldwell beamed him from the Jumper seconds before the warhead detonated."

Dave looked stricken as she told the tale. "I had no idea the rift had affected him that badly."

Teyla looked over the ledge in front of them and watched John as she regained control of her emotions. With four opponents to face, John had shifted strategy. No longer content to stay in one place, he was in motion, ducking, spinning and weaving between the foursome, many of his moves calculated to make them foul each other and therefore create openings for him to strike. After a particularly vicious exchange, John managed to isolate one man. He took advantage of the momentary isolation, and struck out; he swept the soldier's staff away with one stick, which forced him to turn. He then clipped him at the base of the skull hard enough to knock him out.

"John was a Major when he joined the Stargate Program. Do you know how he became base commander? General O'Neill wouldn't tell me. He said I would have to ask John."

Teyla told Dave of meeting John in the company of Colonel Sumner and their capture by Wraith, John's subsequent rescue mission and of his having to kill Sumner.

"Oh my god, that's horrible."

"He was sick with worry and guilt for days afterward. It was only due to myself and Aiden Ford that we shook him out of it. His smile was rather strained for a time afterward. It was during this time that I discovered how high the walls he had built to protect his inner self truly were. It took me months to knock holes in them and get him to let me in. Even then I only managed to get in just a short distance."

Teyla saw a sad smile blossom on Dave's face. "Yeah, he was always good at building walls to keep people out. Most of it was due to our father's influence. He raised us to not show emotion in public. Our mother always tried to get us to express our feelings. John spent most of his time with our mother because he could be himself. She encouraged him to follow his dreams. It was only after he grew older and Dad started trying to push John down the path he wanted him to go that John started shutting everyone out and his rebellious nature took hold." Dave shook his head to clear his thoughts. "So when did you finally break down the Great Wall of John?"

Teyla smiled at his description even as she observed John below. His skill appeared to have greatly increased from their last sparring bout. He still had only a light sheen of moisture on his skin while his remaining opponents were breathing heavily. His speed reminded her of a Wraith. Surely he had not become infected again? She was starting to worry when she recalled what Carson had relayed about the procedure John had undergone on Praxis. The AI had stated that it had detected anomalies. At the time, she thought that it was referring to the changes wrought by the Ascension device, but now she wondered if it had been speaking of the Wraith proteins. She made a note to ask John about it later. "Slightly more than a year ago, after Atlantis returned here from Earth."

"But your son's name is Torren John. I thought that …"

"That John is his father? Torren's birth father is a man of my people. Kanaan and I were fond of each other when we were younger and at the time I despaired of John letting me know his intentions as it is traditional for Athosian men to make the first move. Kanaan shared his feelings with me and we spent some time together, but it did not work out. After Torren was born, Kanaan and I went separate ways. Torren bears John's name because I wanted my son to have the qualities of the two men I admired most in this life – my father and John. John stepped into the role of father with my blessing and loves Torren as his own."

Dave chuckled. "Yeah, I can see that. The two of them are inseparable."

They heard a crack and leaned forward in time to see a soldier go down with a pained cry, leaving just two others. They watched John as he took a guard stance, rods at the ready as he waited on the two remaining soldiers to decide their next moves. "Y'know, you two can lay down those staffs and yield. If you do, I'll only give you thirty days of punishment detail instead of sixty."

Shock danced across their faces. "You told us we'd get clean jackets!"

"If you won." John said. "You never asked about what you'd get if you lost." He pointed at the first, who was groaning and twitching off to one side. "Keene and Smith are going to spend sixty days in the sewers after Carson clears them for duty. Lay down those weapons now, and confess the reason for the fight, and you'll both get thirty days geek duty. If I have to put you down, you'll get sixty days at whatever job I can come up with that you'll hate."

After a lot of low voiced arguing, the pair said. "We yield."

Sheppard prodded them over to the center of the mat to face the rest of the company. "Company dismissed."

The two men lowered their heads, staring at the floor in shame as the room emptied. Soon, only Sheppard, Lorne, Ronon, Mitchell and Teal'c remained.

"Now, what was the fight over?"

Riggings swallowed hard then opened his mouth. "We, um … we were fighting over women.

"How so?"

"Well, because Wilson said Marines only get chicks when they pay for them. Then Keene chimed in and said Airmen only date ugly women because they don't want to be seen with anyone prettier than they are and that it's doubly true for pilots."

"And?" John's drawl packed a lot into the single word.

Riggins blushed as he stammered out the rest. "Um … um, then I asked Smith if his girlfriend dumped him because she couldn't stand to be with a guy that was prettier than she was."

As she watched her beloved, Teyla went back to her earlier thoughts. Had the device on Praxis that had returned him to human also made him somehow closer to the Ancients?

PS - If you haven't already, hop on over and check out the first of our joint stories under the name Stargatefriends. You won't be disappointed.