In the Naked Light I Saw10

Moira sat cross-legged on the floor of the nursery. Seamus was in her lap, snuggling against her.

Emily was cuddled next to her, sucking on the ear of her pink elephant toy. Little hands clasping her mother's thigh for support as she awkwardly sat. Moira kissed both children, cuddling them. Listening to John's low voice from behind the closed door where he was talking to their older son. His tone was mild, but serious. A thread of anger could be detected, however moderately he voiced his words. "And what's this?" she asked, turning the page of a book.

Seamus eyed the picture. "Mastodon!"

"Yes, honey! See how big it is compared to an elephant. And the tusks?" He nodded. She looked over as the door opened and closed. Seamus stared up at his father as John walked to them, expression somber. "John?" she asked softly.

"He's fine. I think he understands the gravity of what he's done. But he's still grounded. We can talk to him later. I've got to go secure the city and try to explain to Woolsey without telling him about the double ATA." He sighed. "Talk to him, Moy. Be with him. Last word I had was that the kid was stabilized. I'll be back ASAP." He eyed his son, his daughter. Left abruptly.

Moira sighed. "Okay, honey. Let's keep reading. It will be all right. What's this one?" She turned the page. Hearing a noise she glanced across the room. Johnny had opened the door a crack, stood peeking at them. Face red, teary. She pretended not to notice even as the dog thumped its tail on the floor in greeting.

Seamus touched the page. "I...I dunno, mommy. What is?"

"Mama, mama, mama, mama," Emily prattled, freeing the ear of her toy to stare at the page.

"It's a camel. A tall animal, see? And see the hump? It holds their water supply because they live in the desert, a very dry place full of sand. Now let's see what an ancestor of the camel looked like." She turned the page. "Ah. What's this now, honey?"

Seamus shook his head. "I dunno, mommy. What is?"

Moira glanced over to see the door opening a little wider. Johnny stood, pouting. "Johnny, come look at this. I bet you know what this is," she gently invited.

Johnny bit his lower lip. Hesitated. Then ran to her. He clambered into her lap as his little brother made room. He looked at the picture. "It's an Aepycamelus major. Really, really tall but it don't have a hump like a regular camel does."

"Yes, darling. I knew you would know this one."

"Mommy!" Johnny hugged her, hiding his face against her. "I sorry! I sorry!"

"Ssh, ssh, now," she soothed, kissing him. Hugging him. She stroked his hair as he settled against her, staring at the book. "You've been very bad, Johnny. Someone could have gotten hurt. You won't touch any Ancient tech again without our supervision, right?"

"Yes, mommy! I won't do it again! Ever!"

"All right, then. Johnny, I'm not going anywhere. I love you. No one could ever replace you. All right?"

"Mommy," he sniffed, comforted.

"This is my family. I'm not going anywhere. You are my son, along with Seamus. And Emily is my daughter. And daddy is my husband. You see?"

"And Meredith?" Seamus asked, in concern.

"Yes, honey, and Meredith. And even daddy sometimes too is like a boy, isn't he?" The children giggled. Even Emily chortled. "Okay, then. We're all on the same page here, aren't we? All Sheppards, yes, Seamus, even the dog," she said before he could ask. "Now let's see what is next. Ah! Bears. Here we go now. Listen."

John shook his head, standing in Richard's office. "Like I said, my son has a very strong ATA and he was very upset. Don't worry. It won't happen again. He's only a little boy and wasn't thinking clearly. The sooner that kid is gone the better. We have to find that ship and I am going to personally lead the team and find it."

"All right...but I get the feeling there's more you're not telling me," Richard said, assessing the man in front of his desk. "Rodney wouldn't say more than you have."

"There's nothing else," John stubbornly insisted.

"How is the boy?"

"I'm just going to check now. Then I'll prep my team and we'll go find that ship." John left. He strode to the infirmary. Neared the bed where the boy was reclining. An IV tube was attached to one hand. The boy was very pale, eyes closed. Twitching as if having a bad dream. He looked up as Teyla and Carson approached.

"He's running a low-grade fever. Nothing that I can't treat," the doctor informed.

"And the rest?" John asked.

"Worse, I'm afraid. Something is triggering the Wraith cells to multiply. For the life of me I can't figure out what that could be."

"Colonel, something is not right here. I keep sensing...something. At first I thought it was the boy, but now...I am not so certain."

"Something? Could you be more specific?" John asked.

Teyla shrugged. "No. It is like the Wraith, but it is not. I cannot explain it."

"Mommy..." the kid muttered.

Teyla stepped closer. Brushed his dark hair from his sweaty brow. A look of sad compassion swept across her face. She looked at John. "It is...awkward. This child. Knowing there is another Teyla out there. Another version of myself. One who had a son with..." She paused, glanced at the boy again.

"Yeah, you're telling me," John agreed, equally uncomfortable. There was an awkward silence.

"I will stay with him," Teyla finally stated. "Give what comfort I can to the child."

John nodded. "We'll run a sensor sweep...just in case there is something else here. In either case the kid needs to leave the city."

"John! It's too soon! I haven't begun to find the correct–" Carson began to harangue.

"Then find it, doc! He needs to go home, doesn't he? Once I find that ship. Teyla, you sense anything out of the ordinary alert Delta squad. I'll be back ASAP."

John entered his quarters. Heard Moira's soft voice, reading aloud. A string of Latin and then a string of facts about some prehistoric animal. He smiled. Stepped to the nursery. Saw her sitting on the floor with their two little boys in her lap, nestled together. She was stroking Johnny's hair, helping Seamus turn the page. Emily was clumsily crawling near her, prattling quietly. The dog thumped its tail in greeting but didn't move from its spot near them. John felt a wave of emotion. His precious little family. Something he thought he'd never have. Could never have expected any of this. A wife. Two sons. A daughter. Even a dog. His perfect circle. Safe. Secure. His.

Moira paused, looked up at him. Stared at the naked emotion on his handsome face. The sheer depth of emotions unspoken. Until he schooled his expression to a more neutral demeanor. "John?"

"Daddy?" Johnny asked, biting his lower lip again.

"You're still grounded, young man, but you can be out here. Just don't leave our quarters," John decided.

"Daddy, where go?" Seamus asked, seeing his father in a TAC vest.

"Yes, where go?" Moira echoed.

"Dada! Dada, dada, dada , dada!" Emily gurgled with a big smile. She crawled, stopped and stared up at the towering figure of her father. Patted one of his big boots with her little hand.

John smiled. "Just a quick recon. Back in an hour. I expect you boys to behave and to do as your mother says. You too, princess. Moy." He stepped out of the room.

She kissed the boys, gently moved them off her lap. Stood. "Here. I'll be right back." She followed after John. "A recon? Where?"

He drew her across the room. "I'll only be an hour, tops. I am going to find that ship and make certain it is in working order. You need to stay with our children. Carson has the kid stabilized and Teyla volunteered to stay with him. I'm sure he needs his mother now, or at least someone resembling her. Like our Johnny needs you."

Moira nodded. "John...okay." She kissed him. "I should have thought of that. You...you..."

"Yes," he confirmed to her suspicion. "He has to go ASAP, Moy. No," he touched her lips before she could protest, or argue. "End of discussion. Lorne's here if you need anything. Keep the doors locked. Teyla's sensing something but she's not sure if it's just the kid. If Johnny detects anything you listen to him, okay?" He looked over at the doorway suddenly. The two little boys were peering in, trying to listen. "Hey!" he bellowed. They laughed, darted back into their room. John shook his head. He kissed her. "Back in one hour, sweetheart. Look after the squadron for me."

"As ordered, colonel. John, be careful." She reluctantly freed him.

He smiled. "Aren't I always, baby?

Moira sighed. Paced, baby at her shoulder. The boys sat on her bed quietly watching a DVD. She spoke softly into her earpiece. "Any better?"

"Yes," Carson's Scottish voice sounded in her ear. "The fever is almost gone now. I've got him on a cocktail of antibiotics and the modified serum, plus the enzyme and it seems to be working on all fronts. I am trying to isolate the specific genetic strand of Wraith that seems to be replicating so we can stop it once and for all, but I need more time."

"I see. I'll join you as soon as John returns. He said he'd only be an hour." She glanced at the clock. An hour and a half had passed.

"Aye, but Rodney's with him and if they do find that ship, well, you know about boys and their toys."

She smiled. "True." She glanced at her sons. "Keep me informed, please. Moira out." She tapped the earpiece. "Here we go, Emily. There now. All fed." She set the baby into a playpen. Turned to see the boys watching her. "Cartoon over?"

"Yes, mommy. Where daddy go?"

"He'll be back soon, honey."

"Mommy, I sorry!"

"Okay, darling. But you are still grounded."

"Then who is going to walk Meredith?" Johnny asked.

"Oh. I guess I'll have to do it, or daddy when he gets back. Nice try, darling," she added as he pouted, finding his foolproof idea wasn't foolproof at all.

"I do it!" Seamus exclaimed.

"No, you're too little," Johnny shook his head. "Mommy, what for dinner?"

"I don't know, but we will eat it here."

"All of us?" Seamus asked.

"Yes, honey. All of us. We can wait for daddy to return."