Spoilers – Window of Opportunity (SG-1)
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Chapter Twelve
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again – no one makes onion rings quite like you."
Kyle laughed as he continued to clear plates from their table. "Thanks Jack," he said. "We use real onions for you."
Everyone laughed and Kyle walked off to put away the plates. Earlier in the evening the bar had been almost empty and he had sat with them and shared some drinks, and fussed over Jasmine like he'd never seen a baby before. He was a natural with her, and Jasmine hadn't stopped smiling as he made faces at her.
She was dropping off now, though, as Teyla rocked her gently. Her eyes were drooping, though she was trying to keep them open. Teyla had a feeling that she would grow to be a child who tended to take issue with her bedtime.
"So, you sad you're leaving?" Cam asked John, who was sitting opposite him. Teyla looked past Teal'c at John, wondering what his response would be. She knew he loved Atlantis, but he had obviously enjoyed being at home for this short time.
"Don't know about glad," said John. "But I'm eager to get home."
The members of SG-1 (past and present) laughed and John blinked at them in confusion. Teyla smiled and looked back down at her daughter.
"You've become such a native," said Vala. "It's very sweet."
John shrugged. "Yeah, I guess I have," he said.
Jasmine was now asleep. Teyla laid her very carefully in her carry-seat and buckled her in, tucking Soccer under her arm.
Teyla turned back to the group and sipped at her drink. It was her second beer of the evening – John was not letting her drink too much, even though she had tried to tell him that Athosian alcohol was far stronger, but she did not mind too much. John was drinking nothing at all, as he was driving.
Teyla watched John talk and laugh with Cam and General O'Neill (who had told her to call him Jack, though he had not extended the offer to John. Teyla felt that he was doing this to annoy him rather than snub him.)
Anyway, John seemed to be having a good time. He and Cam were obviously very good friends, and they both got on very well with Gen – Jack. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering him. He barely looked at her, and did not say much to her directly, and while this was not particularly worrying in a large group like now, during the day it had been very awkward.
He had collected her and Jasmine from Elizabeth's and they had spent the rest of the day packing all the things they had to take with them on the Daedalus. The baby things they had bought filled about a half-a-dozen large boxes, and that was just clothes and toys. The other things, such as diapers and formula, were left in their bulk packaging. Airmen from the Daedalus had arrived early in the evening to take everything to the ship, and had been astounded by the amount they had bought. Luckily, it seemed Colonel Caldwell had told them to take everything there was without complaint, something Teyla had to remember to thank him for.
While they had been packing John had been very quiet. He told Teyla very little about his meeting with the IOA – just that it had gone well. She was not sure that she believed him, but did not feel comfortable interrogating him. He would not keep anything important to do with Jasmine from her, she was sure.
Vala picked up John's digital camera from the table and turned it on to look through the pictures. She had claimed it as soon as John had produced it, and had been taking pictures of the group all evening. Now she flicked through the pictures she had taken, giving her opinion on them all.
She stopped at one and gasped. "Oh, that is adorable!" She exclaimed. She looked up at Teyla. "Did you take that?"
Teyla leant over Daniel to see the camera and looked at the display. It was the photograph she had taken the night before, and had completely forgotten about.
The night before she had gone to take a bath, leaving John watching a football game in the lounge and looking after Jasmine.
When she had gone back into the lounge a little while later, the football game was still on but John was fast asleep. He lay on his back on the sofa, his head turned towards the screen, a small smile on his face. His hands were wrapped tight around Jasmine's back, who was lying on her front of his chest, her tiny body moving up and down as her father breathed. She was also fast asleep.
Teyla had never seen anything so sweet or so beautiful, and her heart had overflowed with a feeling she had no trouble in identifying. She had sat on an armchair and watched them sleep for a minute or so, but then reasoned that it was getting late and she had to put Jasmine to bed properly.
Still, she hadn't been able to resist taking a photograph before waking up John. But she hadn't shown it to him yet.
Teyla nodded in response to Vala's question, and Vala quickly held out the camera across the table to John. "Sheppard, you have to have this framed!"
Teyla watched John closely. He peered at the camera in confusion, and then his eyes widened and his cheeks got oddly flushed. He looked straight at Teyla for the first time that hour, and Teyla offered him a sheepish smile. He narrowed his eyes but smiled at the same time, obviously amused.
"We'll see," he said, looking back at Vala, who grinned and showed the picture to everyone else.
"So," said Jack loud enough for everyone to hear. "I've been thinking about what we should do now, and I have a crazy idea…"
"No!" Exclaimed Daniel and Cam at the same moment, looking stricken.
"An excellent suggestion, O'Neill," said Teal'c, bowing his head graciously.
"What?" Asked John, looking as confused as Teyla felt.
"Please Jack, I really –"
"I'm begging you Sir –"
Jack cut off both Daniel and Cam, who had started to talk at the same time. "Crazy Golf, Sheppard!" He said. "There's a course round the corner."
"It's a twenty minute drive away!" Protested Daniel, but only Teyla seemed to hear him, as both John and Vala proclaimed their enthusiasm at the same time.
"I've always wanted to go to crazy golf, but Daniel always refuses to take me!" Said Vala, looking delighted.
"Dump him," said Jack. Daniel rolled his eyes and took a gulp of his beer.
"This is brilliant, I haven't been to Crazy Golf since… er… jeez, I can't even remember!" Said John, grinning widely. He looked down the table at Teyla.
"You can't get out of this one Teyla, so don't even try!" He said. Teyla widened her eyes innocently.
"I would not dream of doing such a thing," she said.
John quirked an eyebrow at her. "Yeah, right," he scoffed.
"Play golf in Rio, do you?" Asked Jack.
"We hit balls into the ocean from one of the piers," said John.
"Heck of a driving range," said Jack. John nodded.
"Yeah, it's not like there's anywhere else we can play there," said John.
Jack grinned wolfishly. "T and I developed a pretty great method at Cheyenne," he said. "We used the gate."
John's eyes widened. "Active?"
"Oh yeah."
John burst out laughing. "That's brilliant!" He said. "Can you imagine lobbing balls through to 514?"
PG3 -514 was one of the most heavily-occupied Wraith planets they knew of. Teyla wasn't sure what John was talking about but he seemed to find it very amusing.
"We could write insults on the balls… it would be so funny!" He said. "Oh, Elizabeth would never let us… we'd need some kind of diversion… how did you get away with it?" He asked Jack.
Jack chuckled. "I'll tell you later," he said. "So, we agreed? Crazy Golf?"
Cam sighed. "If we must," he said.
John smirked. "You're just really bad at it, aren't you?" He asked.
Cam glared at him but didn't respond.
"You playing Danny boy?" Called Jack down the table.
Daniel looked defeated for a moment before brightening up. "I'll carry Jasmine," he said.
Cam glared at Daniel as though jealous he hadn't thought of that excuse. Teyla had to laugh.
She did not know what Crazy Golf was, but she hoped it was more fun than what John did on Atlantis.
XXXXXXXXX
John handed Teyla a putter and watched, amused, as she twirled it in her hand like a bantos stick.
"Stop showing off," he said with a smile. Teyla smiled back and obediently held the putter normally.
John was feeling very excited. He had trawled through his memory and identified his last game of Crazy Golf as being eight years ago. That was practically illegal, in decent society.
And this looked like a great course.
John had been feeling on edge all day after that meeting with the IOA and his conversation with General O'Neill after. He had felt unable to look at Teyla properly while they had been packing - he'd been so embarrassed by what he'd said - and all evening he'd been nervous that the General might say something.
But he hadn't. General O'Neill had acted like absolutely nothing had happened, and John had started to relax. Now he felt like Christmas, his birthday, Thanksgiving and the Superbowl had fallen on the same day.
Once everyone had putters and balls (except Daniel, who had Jasmine's carry-seat held securely to his chest) they made their way over to the first hole.
"Okay, so the point is to get the ball into the hole by hitting it with the putter," John said to Teyla, gesturing at the first hole. It was relatively simple – it was straight line with a bump in the green to navigate over.
Teyla narrowed her eyes and surveyed the hole. John got the feeling that she was going to put far too much thought into this game.
General O'Neill went first. He got it in two. Teal'c got it in one. Cam went next, and John was proved right. It took him four. Vala went next and got it in two. John got it in one. Then it was Teyla's turn. She hit the ball way too hard and it almost came back over the bump. But she managed to sink the ball on her second go.
Teyla was very happy she hadn't come last, and John was happy for her, though he had a feeling she was going to have trouble as the holes got harder. He had noticed that her grip was completely wrong, sending her ball in a completely wrong direction. And in this game, aim was everything.
Cam's bad luck continued on the next hole, much to his chagrin and John's delight, but everyone else managed it in under three shots. John got it in one, which he was gleefully able to use as extra ammunition against Cam.
It took Teyla four shots to sink her ball, and the next hole had a tunnel to aim for. The lessons had to begin.
When it was Teyla's turn on the next hole John stopped her before she could take her shot.
"Teyla, you need to correct your grip," he said.
Teyla frowned up at him. "What do you mean?" She asked. John stepped onto the course and stood in front of her. Most of the others had wandered onto the next hole, and the people behind them were only just starting, so he had time.
"You're holding the club wrong, and it's throwing off your aim," he explained. He demonstrated the correct grip on his own putter. "You see?"
Teyla looked and adjusted her hands on her putter. It was almost right, but not quite. John didn't really want to get too close – he didn't want to have to endure knowing looks from General O'Neill (or Cam for that matter) – but they had moved on and he couldn't very well keep his distance from her forever.
He stepped closer and stood next to her. He reached in front of her and placed his hands on hers, adjusting them so they were right.
This isn't so bad. Well of course it wasn't bad, but John was able to concentrate on what he was doing and not just on the nearness of Teyla, which was good. There was hope for him yet.
"Okay, now plant your feet shoulder-width apart, keep your knees loose and don't hit it too hard," he said, stepping back.
Teyla nodded and hit the ball. It was a perfect shot, and went straight through the tunnel, hit the wall and rebounded into the hole.
John whooped and clapped as Teyla grinned.
"Nicely done!" He said. It had taken him two shots.
Teyla went to get her ball, still grinning widely, and then they caught up with the others.
John continued giving Teyla pointers throughout the evening, and though she didn't get any more hole-in-ones she managed to make par for the most part.
Teal'c had an uncanny ability when it came to Crazy Golf and was obviously going to win, and so the game quickly became a competition between John and General O'Neill. By the end of it, the General managed to beat him by one shot.
John consoled himself with the fact that he beat Cam by thirty-seven.
They all walked back to the car park together, laughing at Cam's dismal score. He scowled at them all but refused to say anything.
They had to part ways by the cars. Teal'c was driving Cam, Daniel and Vala back to Cheyenne Mountain, while John and Teyla were giving the General a lift back to his apartment, which was near Elizabeth's.
Vala softly kissed Jasmine on her forehead, careful not to wake her up. "It was so nice to meet you Teyla," she said, smiling brightly at her. "Take care of Jasmine, and make sure you keep sending us pictures!"
Teyla smiled back. "It was wonderful to meet you too, Vala," she said. "We will be sure to send you pictures. Take care."
"You too," said Daniel. "Both of you. And good luck"
"Back at ya," said John, shaking his hand warmly and allowing Vala to kiss him on the cheek.
Teal'c stepped forward and shook John's arm again, smiling. "Farewell, ColonelSheppard," he said. He nodded at Teyla. "TeylaEmmagen, it has been an honour."
Teyla nodded back. "For me also, Teal'c," she said.
"Keep in touch, Shep," said Cam, shaking his hand. He pulled John into a loose hug, and John chuckled.
"I will, Mitch, take care buddy," he said, patting him on the back.
"Look after your family," said Cam, smiling as he stepped back. "Teyla, it's been a real pleasure. Bye Jasmine!"
"Hey! I'm going away as well!" Said General O'Neill, mock-glaring at SG-1.
John and Teyla laughed as SG-1 glanced at each other and then suddenly surrounded the General and pulled him into a huge group hug. He managed to squirm out of it, but he was grinning as he did so.
"Alright, alright," he said. "See you guys in a few weeks."
"Give Sam a hug from me!"
"Take care O'Neill."
"Have fun, Sir."
"Don't break anything."
Jack glared at Daniel. "That was not my fault!" He said. Daniel just raised an eyebrow, and Jack turned to John and Teyla.
"Let's get out of here before he turns nasty," he said.
John grinned and, with a final wave to SG-1, they climbed into his rented car. They strapped Jasmine into the backseat and General O'Neill, ever the gentleman, insisted Teyla have the passenger seat.
"I should get used to looking after babies again, anyway," he said as they started off.
Teyla smiled. "Only three months to go, is that right?" She asked
Jack grinned. "Three and a half," he said. "I can't wait."
They chatted idly about arrangements for the next morning – Airforce cars were arriving for them to take them to Cheyenne Mountain, where they would be flown by helicopter to the Daedalus' landing site.
John was looking forward to flying in a helicopter again and said so.
"Yeah, you must miss it," General O'Neill. "Puddlejumpers are great, don't get me wrong, but there's nothing like pulling Gs."
John nodded. "Oh yeah," he said. "Do you think they'll let me fly the copter?"
General O'Neill chuckled. "You're such a kid," he said. "Must be tough, Teyla, to have two babies to look after."
"Four," Teyla corrected him, her eyes twinkling with amusement. John and the General laughed.
"You looking forward to getting back?" Asked the General.
Teyla nodded. "I must admit I am," she said. "I have greatly enjoyed my time here, but I am anxious to get back home."
It was almost exactly what John had said earlier in the bar, and he glanced at her in surprise. She was looking at him, and smiled slightly before looking out of the window. John couldn't help but smile.
As he looked away he happened to glance in the rearview mirror and saw that General O'Neill was smirking slightly as he caught his eye, though he looked away quickly.
John glanced at Teyla, but she hadn't noticed. He gripped the wheel tighter and stared straight ahead. A few minutes later they arrived at O'Neill's apartment block and the General got out.
"See you tomorrow, then," he said.
"Good night, Jack."
"See you later, Sir."
John was silent as he drove them back to his apartment, mentally kicking himself every second. He had thought that he was alright, that he was able to act like nothing had happened, that nothing had changed. But one simple statement from Teyla, one look from O'Neill, and he was back to being an awkward, embarrassed wrack again.
What was he going to do?
They got into the apartment and thankfully Teyla said she was tired and going straight to bed. She disappeared into her room and John wandered into his, throwing himself onto the bed fully clothed. He kicked off his shoes and lay staring up at the dark ceiling.
He couldn't believe he had said all that to General O'Neill. He had felt it for months – years, probably – but now that he had said it out loud it was though it had taken on new meaning. Now he couldn't ignore it.
But he had to. He had to get things back to normal, if not for his own peace of mind then for Jasmine.
The Daedalus was the perfect place to start. He wouldn't have to spend all his time with Teyla – in fact there'd be quite a few new recruits he'd be able to begin training – and he could work on getting his friendship with Teyla back to normal without too much pressure on him.
He could do it. He could do it for his daughter.
TBC…
