Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.

Part 12/22

-Chapter 11-

Reality

The door chime rang, pulling Teyla from her reflections. She sighed and clung to her precious solitude for another moment before she went to open the door.

"Tayara?"

The Quitari scientist smiled demurely and tipped her head to the side. "Am I disturbing you?"

Teyla quickly glanced at the two Marines serving as Tayara's escort before she reluctantly shook her head. "No. Please, come in." She stepped back and allowed Tayara to move past her into the room.

The door closed behind Tayara as she awkwardly paused just inside the door. Her dark eyes scanned Teyla's quarters, and a small smile lifted the corners of her lips. "Atlantis is beautiful," she said softly. "And so are your quarters."

Teyla smiled politely. "Thank you. Please, have a seat." She motioned to the chair positioned next to her bed. "Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, please." Tayara followed her across the room and very carefully removed the teapot from Teyla's hands. A meaningful look at Teyla's noticeably-expanded waistline preceded another smile. "I will prepare it, if it does not bother you. Perhaps you should rest. A young life is a fragile thing – and every moment is precious." A sad look briefly flickered in her eyes before she turned to separate the tea leaves into two cups and warm the water.

"Thank you." Teyla went to sit on her bed. "Do you drink tea often?" She knew her attempt to fill the silence with meaningless chatter was weak. But in truth she didn't know what to say to this woman who seemed to have stolen Ronon's heart and affection.

Tayara glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "It is my preferred drink," she admitted. "But I do not believe I have ever had this kind before."

"It is Athosian," Teyla said. "My people have brewed it for generations."

A cup fell to the floor and shattered. For a brief moment Tayara's face convulsed into a look of panic. Her eyes darted to Teyla, then down to the cup. Just as quickly, her expression smoothed. "I apologize," she said. "The water is very hot."

"It is fine. I have more." Teyla moved to clean it up.

"No, no. It is my fault – I will clean the mess." Tayara knelt and began to pick up the sharp pieces of broken pottery.

Teyla went to retrieve another cup, eyes narrowed as she saw Tayara's hands subtly begin to shake. Why had such a graceful woman become a klutz when Teyla mentioned her people?

Tayara dropped the broken cup into the trash receptacle in the corner and turned to take the new one from Teyla. "I am so sorry," she apologized again. "I feel terrible for breaking your cup."

Teyla accepted the cup of tea Tayara had already finished and cradled it in her hands as she watched the Quitari woman prepare her own. "It is fine. It is not the first cup ever to be broken, and I doubt it will be the last."

Tayara sank into the proffered chair as Teyla resumed her seat on her bed. "Thank you for being so forgiving," she said.

"Forgive me for being rude," Teyla began, "but why did you come to see me?"

Tayara looked down into her steaming cup and shook her head. "Ronon told me you are a very good, forgiving woman," she said softly. "But I do not know if you will be able to forgive me after I tell you what I came to tell you."

Teyla's hands unconsciously tightened on her mug. She encouraged the other woman with her eyes, suddenly desperate to hear what Tayara had come to say.

"I – did not realize before that you are Athosian," Tayara said softly. "But after the briefing, Ronon explained the situation to me, that your people are missing. Including the father of your child."

Teyla swallowed hard and clenched her jaw. Her fingers flexed around the handle of her cup.

"A few months ago the Wraith came through the Ancestral Ring – the Stargate. At first we believed they had come to cull us, despite our agreement with them. But the Queen of the Hive informed us that they had brought us some of their worst enemies, and they wanted us to use them to help us make weapons against the Atlantians." She bowed her head, and a crystal tear shivered down her cheek. "I hated it, but I knew there was nothing one person could do to change the situation. The people the Wraith brought to us – they are Athosian."

Teyla very carefully set her cup aside as to not drop it. "My people – are on Quitari?" she whispered, her voice strangled. After all this time, had she finally found not just another clue, but her people themselves?

"We were told that the Athosians had spent much time in Atlantis, and thus were familiar with 'Lantian technology. They wanted us to use – unkind methods to withdraw whatever information we could." She quickly raised her hand to swipe at the tears on her face. "I managed to convince most of my people that kindness might be a better method than torture."

Teyla couldn't breathe.

"But even though we had your people's help, our progress was very slow. The Athosians did not know as much about Atlantian technology as the Wraith presumed." Tayara shook her head. "When the Council found out you were from Atlantis, they became excited. They knew you would have the knowledge required to show us how to work the Ancestors' technology. How to make it compatible with the technology the Wraith gave us. But. . ." She trailed off and let out a shaky sigh. "I wanted to tell you about our prisoners when you first came to Quitari, but I could not. I did not know if I could trust you. I needed time."

"Where are they?" Teyla demanded. She had to use every last shred of self-control she had not to scream the question.

"They are in the underground." Tayara sniffed and shook her head. "That is partly why I told you and Ronon about it – in hopes that I would soon be able to tell you the Athosians are on Quitari."

Teyla clenched her hands into fists. "Did you – ever meet someone named Kanaan?"

Recognition flickered in Tayara's eyes, and she nodded. "Yes. He was the most cooperative Athosian," she whispered. "He is. . .?" Her voice trailed off as her gaze once more moved to Teyla's pregnant belly.

Teyla nodded and swallowed hard. "Is he—?"

"The last time I saw him, he was fine."

Teyla closed her eyes and breathed a shaky sigh of relief. At that moment she wasn't entirely sure what to do with all this information – it was so much to process.

But there was one thing of which she was sure: Her people were alive, and they needed to be rescued. As soon as possible, preferably.

Tayara tucked a silky lock of dark hair behind her ear and leaned forward. "I want you to know that I am going to do whatever I can to help you rescue your people," she said earnestly. "It is the least I can do to thank you for your people – the Atlantians, I mean – allowing me sanctuary here."

Teyla smiled wanly and nodded, still too caught up in Tayara's revelations to pay attention. Her people: alive! Kanaan: alive! And waiting to be rescued. . .

She needed to talk to Col. Carter and her team immediately. Something needed to be done. A rescue mission needed to be scrambled, and she needed to convince them that she had to be on it.

Tayara smiled thinly and stood. "I came here because Ronon convinced me you needed to hear this story from me," she said softly. "I do hope I have been able to help ease your mind about your people, at least a little."

Teyla quickly stood. "Yes. Thank you, Tayara." Perhaps she'd been a little too harsh on the alien woman. After all, she didn't have to tell the Atlantians anything. But she had. So Teyla decided she would try to be a little nicer from now on.

Tayara bowed her head. "Thank you, Teyla." Quietly she turned and left the room. Her Marine escort trailed silently along behind her around the corner and out of sight.

Teyla pressed one hand to her mouth and the other her stomach as the door shut again. Ancestors – my people are alive. Kanaan is alive. She closed her eyes. I need to rescue them. Then I can sort out this mess of the baby, Kanaan, and Ronon. If either of them will speak to me.

That wasn't important now. What was important was the fact that she needed to get her team together and convince them that a rescue team needed to be scrambled.

And that she needed to be on it.

-To Be Continued­-

sarcasmqueen66: Thank you, I'm glad! I can promise you that Ronon and Teyla talk with each other next chapter, but past that. . . I don't want to say any more. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and thank you so much for your review!

Bunnylass: Actually, in my original plan for this fic, Tayara never came to Atlantis. But, as inevitably happens when things go from the concept to the writing stage, the character of Tayara decided she wanted to come to Atlantis, and Ronon begged for her to come, so I had to let her come. lol I think I can promise that things are going to get really interesting in this chapter. Here's the next update, and I hope you like it! Thank you so much for your review!

SpaceMonkey0941: I'm sorry? But I'm really excited about this chapter, so I really hope you like it (and that it kind of makes up for the whole Ronon/Tayara thing?)! Here's the update, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks so much for the review! -hugs-

TubaPrincess: I'm sorry I'm loading you down with so much angst! There is some more this chapter, but I think (and hope!) you'll like it. And I promise Ronon and Teyla finally talk to each other in the next chapter! I really hope you enjoy this chapter, and thank you so much for your review!

TeylaFan: Thank you! As far as Tayara – yikes. I think I made you mad. LOL And thank you for not hurting me for the last chapter. I'm sorry if I overdosed you on Tayara last chapter. There is more of her this chapter, but no Ronon with her. . . And I promise that Ronon and Teyla are together (well – they talk) next chapter! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and thank you so much for your review! -hugs-