Hi everyone! No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you – this is in fact an update for Sleep Study that you are reading right now! Thank you for all the reviews and all the private messages enquiring about this story, it's lovely to know that so many of you like it! I'm not going to give you my usual apologies for taking so long to update, because I've had a bit of trouble deciding where to go with this story… as I've explained to a few of you, the idea I had went as far as John and Teyla making the deal they did in the last chapter, and then it really was just missing moments, ending who-knows-how. I still don't know, but I've decided to get on with the missing moments!!

Okay, this chapter is really, really short, and a complete filler chapter. I fully intended to write more, but when I got to the last sentence I just wanted to stop – it seemed like a good place. Never fear though – I'm starting the next chapter right now, and I promise faithfully that you won't have to wait a year for the next update! You can trust me, honest!

As always, I'd love to hear from you, and enjoy!

Chapter Nine

Weeks passed, turned into a month, and Teyla and John stayed in their separate quarters. Outwardly, nothing changed in their relationship – nothing at all. They were as friendly as ever, joking with each other, sparring with each other, going on missions and not once discussing their 'deal'. Not that Teyla ever felt a strong need to. There were some nights when it took her longer than usual to get to sleep, but nothing approaching the restlessness she had felt before.

What bothered her was the niggling worry that neither of them would honour the deal, if it came to it. Neither of them were particularly good at expressing their weaknesses or their feelings – John especially – and though the deal had been his idea, Teyla doubted whether he would really turn to her again if he needed to. It would be so much more like him to just pretend nothing was wrong.

It would be just like her, too. There was no use denying it – she was just as stubborn as John. The thought was frustrating.

The problem was that it had been easier before, when it had been a constant state. Even though she had been embarrassed by her sleeping problem at first, it had soon become a habit, and she hadn't really thought much of it. If she were to suddenly turn up on John's doorstep now, after a month apart, it would feel awkward. And it would also be admittance – John would know that there was a specific something keeping her awake, and it would be admittance of weakness.

Teyla rolled over onto her back for the third time in as many minutes, and sighed. Tonight was definitely one of those nights that having John near would help, but it wasn't so much that his presence would help but her to sleep – it was that his absence was keeping her awake. John was away on a mission, a solo mission to see if the Apollo's plan to destroy the Replicator ships has worked. He was due back any moment – in fact he might already be back – but Teyla didn't know if he was. She wasn't going to check.

It was silly anyway. What would she say? John, I can't sleep because I'm worried you won't come back from the mission. Well, that would be a bit of a moot point. Besides, that wasn't really what was bothering Teyla – yes, she was worried about John, of course she was. She hated being left behind on missions, even when she wasn't needed – anything could happen. Something else was bothering her tonight, and it was something she couldn't explain. Perhaps it was the sheer power of the Replicators, the reminder of the terror they held and danger they posed that Colonel Ellis' plan had brought with it; perhaps it was Elizabeth's doubts about the plan rubbing off on her. All Teyla knew was that she was uneasy.

With another sigh, Teyla rolled onto her side again and determinedly shut her eyes.

TBC