Chapter: 21 - John

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John didn't like it. Well, in truth he currently had a very long list of things he didn't like but this one was climbing the list. He edged further forward, the rocky ground under him warm with the long day's sunlight. Through two gaps across the landscape he could just about see the shapes of the enemy moving. Their clothes were dirtied, the their bodies thin yet toned and they held themselves in such a way to make it clear they were ready to fight anyone at anytime; which was pretty much how everyone looked on this planet. That fact was also on John's list. But, this new movement of the enemy group was the most suspicious item on that list.

He shuffled forwards again, using his elbows and his hips to crawl into a better position. Even at this far distance they had to be very careful, the enemy group had sharp eyed scouts and a strong willingness to take offense to anyone seen even watching them.

Violet Eyes arrived beside John, his body also flattened against the ground. "What do you think?" He whispered quietly.

John glanced round at him briefly before he turned his attention back to the group in the distance. "I see why you were worried." John replied. Violet Eyes had asked John to join the scouting party as he was aware of John's long experience in the military and he often asked for John's opinion. John had agreed reluctantly as what threatened the camp threatened Teyla and her pregnancy. Not that she saw it that simply; she had wanted to join them on the scouting mission, but John had already been preparing little speeches on such subjects and had had a calm logical argument ready to make her stay. He had been surprised that it had worked so well. Of course he knew what she would be doing back in the camp; probably training in the tent. She would have pushed everything to the sides as she so often did to work through her routines to keep up her strength and skills. And of course she was always working with her new weapon of choice; a strong sharp blade that looked like it could separate a Wraith's head from its body if necessary. John approved of the weapon, but its sharpness also worried him when she flashed it around so close to her body. His worrying was worrying him; he was always worrying about something, especially when he was away from Teyla. Which reminded him he needed to focus on this scouting mission and then he could get back to her as quickly as possible.

So he watched the enemy as carefully as possible. What was strange was that they were heading away from the camp and their own camp. John pulled his binoculars out of his pocket again and squinted through them at the enemy. He recognised the expressions on their faces and their attitude; he had seen it far too many times in the past.

"They're moving troops." John said quietly. "I recognise that bored wandering look. They're in no hurry to get anywhere and they don't look like they're preparing for a fight." He lowered the binoculars and passed them to Violet Eyes.

"Maybe they are simply moving their camp?" Violet Eyes asked as he looked through the dusty binoculars.

John frowned. "Maybe. I thought you said they had a sweet place near a spring or something?"

Violet Eyes lowered the binoculars. "Yes. Their camp is quite large, maybe they require further resources? Or perhaps a smaller group have split away?"

"How many of these groups have been seen recently?" John asked. He estimated there were only about fifty people in the group up ahead.

"Three groups that we've seen and their numbers were similar to these."

John sighed, his breath causing a tiny cloud out of the light rocky dust in front of his face. "Have they been seen around the other sides of the camp?"

"No. I was concerned at that as well; that they may be working to surround us."

John pulled his eyes away from the last members of the enemy group as they headed off into the distance. "I thought you said their numbers were too small for such an attack?"

"That we know, yes." Violet Eyes dropped his head down behind the slight ridge he hid behind and he turned his strange eyes to John. "I fear this is part of the new strategy we suspect they may be employing."

John conceded the point with a half shrug and looked back at the last of the enemy he could see. "They're on edge, but they seem more bored and annoyed than anything else." John considered out loud. "Like they don't like where they're going."

Violet Eyes laughed quietly. "You can tell all of that from this distance?"

John smiled in return. "I recognise the signs from experience; believe me I've been in that situation plenty of times. You should have seen my assignment before Atlantis."

Antarctica couldn't have been further removed from John's current situation; there he had been always cold, vaguely lonely and happy to brood silently. Here it was always warm, sunny, the camp was jam-packed with people and he spent his nights tucked up with Teyla. Out of the two John realised he would choose this scenario. Though; Antarctica with a nicely heated house and Teyla would be even better. He found his mind wandering into a little fantasy of a beautiful house with a large cosy bed for him to keep Teyla warm in.

Reality snapped back and he felt abruptly depressed. He would never see Earth again. So he focused back on the here and now. "I agree with you; they're up to something, but without scouting out further we can't know what that is." John told Violet Eyes.

The man sighed. "Scouts that head out any further are always seen and never return, at least not in any survivable state. So, we will have to wait and see what they do."

John hated it as much as Violet Eyes, but there wasn't really anything else they could do. Just wait and keep watch. They turned and carefully and slowly made their way back towards the camp. As they entered the camp the light was still bright; another weirdly long day with no hint as to when night would fall. Violet Eyes headed back towards his ship and John made his way along the tent lined streets, his hand tight around the handle of his knife. Now that Teyla was showing her pregnancy enough to be seen through clothing they had been given more space by the others around them, and John had felt slightly more comfortably leaving Teyla for short spells whilst he collected water, made tea or helped out Violet Eyes on a scouting mission occasionally like today. But, John never let down his guard. Only yesterday two people had been killed on the other side of the camp during a massive fight that had wrecked many tents and had left bystanders injured. This place was a powder keg, eagerly waiting for fuses to be lit.

Finally he turned the last corner towards their tent and he quickened his steps to the entrance. He exchanged polite tense nods with a few neighbours, before he leant down and entered the tent. "It's me." He announced as he parted the fabric and entered their home.

Teyla was sitting on the sleeping mat, her knife in her hand ready, but she relaxed when she saw him. She smiled up at him and slid the knife back into its scabbard.

"I thought you'd be training or something." John said feeling a little disappointed; he loved watching her train.

She gave him a knowing look as he leant down and kissed her smiling lips.

"I did, but you have been gone longer than usual." She replied once he pulled his mouth from hers.

John moved over to the water skins and took a long drink before he pulled off his vest and boots. "We had to go out further. Looks like the bad guys are moving troops away from their old camp."

Teyla settled backwards to recline against her newly made cushions. She frowned. "Why would they leave their camp? I thought Violet Eyes said it was a good location with excellent resources."

"He did." John replied as he pulled off his dusty shirt and trousers and pulled on the cleaner set. He bent down over the water bucket and washed out his hair quickly and washed his hands, using a small dish of the washroom soap he and Teyla had acquired. When he sat up rubbing the piece of fabric he used for a towel over his hair he saw Teyla was frowning deeply, her attention focused inwards. "What?"

"I wonder if they are setting up more than one camp. Or maybe there have been divisions in their camp?" She considered.

"We don't know." John replied as he combed his fingers through his hair, trying to gain some control over how it would dry. He had allowed Teyla to cut it several times with a knife, but it was still longer at the back than he usually liked it. It seemed to grow quicker here, as did his beard, but he kept his stubble under good control, not liking the red rash it gave Teyla's skin.

"They may be planning to surround this camp." She said sounding lost in her thoughts. She stretched her back as she did, her hand floating to that point of her lower back that bothered her.

"They don't have the numbers for such an attack, but who knows." John said. He crawled forward to the sleeping mat and settled down beside her, reaching for her back. She rolled slightly onto her side so he could reach her lower back and she sighed as he slid the heel of his palm right into the aching area.

"If they are making such large changes it may be a very bad sign." She said, but her voice was softer now as she enjoyed his gentle massage.

John rubbed circles into her lower back, working gradually deeper as her muscles relaxed. "Or it could mean we have longer. Those I saw today didn't look like they were revving up for some big battle. They looked bored and slightly grumpy." He didn't want her to dwell on this new development, mostly because he was far more interested in something else right now.

He pressed his body up against her back as he began to massage round her hip. She murmured out a long pleasured sound as he slid his hand under her trouser's waist band and caressed down between her legs. One thing he liked about these long days when they came around was the chance to make love when there was enough light to see Teyla properly. He eased her trousers from her waist and hips, pushing them down and away so he could touch her properly. As he did she stripped off her shirt, leaving herself completely naked.

John peered up towards the entrance to the tent slightly nervously. Though making love in the daylight was enjoyable it did mean that there were more people around outside and that made him nervous. But, he turned his attention back to Teyla and slid his lower arm under her neck so he could wrap his arms around her completely. She caught his hand in hers as he did and she turned her head towards him and he met her mouth eagerly.

Since they had leant of her pregnancy, and once he had felt comfortable that he wasn't going to hurt her or the baby, their love making had changed. Before they had slept together quickly, rather anxiously and with an intensity of speed and depth that had been enjoyable and at times had edged on the rough side. Now, it was slower and they spent more time with the build up, enjoying holding, touching and lingering. He knew that were they alone in a room in Atlantis, or anywhere else, that things could be even slower and louder, but compared to before the pregnancy things were more relaxed. During these sessions John allowed himself to lose himself in her completely, pouring out his desire and love for her in the only way he knew other than to worry about her. He loved the way she responded to him; almost instantly like she was constantly aroused by him and that his touch was all she needed.

Like now she licked into his mouth as he slid his fingers into her. She moaned quietly, using his mouth to muffle the sound. He penetrated her deeper drawing out a deeper moan from her that she barely contained. He wished yet again for that quiet empty room in Atlantis where they would be free to linger longer, shout moan and groan as loud as they wanted, but for now he enjoyed her response that was so close to losing it, it made him feel powerful and loved.

He drew his touch out of her and at her little sound of complaint he kissed her throat, smiling against her soft skin. He pulled off his shirt and trousers freeing his own complaining body and pressed his front up against her back even tighter. She made a contained little growling sound as she lifted her upper leg up for him, angled her pelvis backwards slightly and he reached between her legs again, parted her folds and eased himself into her. They shuffled around slightly, discarding several cushions from under them until he slid into her completely, her backside tucked up right into his groin and he paused to bite her shoulder gently to muffle his own groan.

Her hand caressed over his hip, the edges of her nails occasionally grazing his skin. He kissed her neck, licking and sucking her skin in return, marking her gently as he so often did in bed. He had never felt the need to mark a woman before, not since he had been a hormonally charged teenager, but with her he liked the little shadows of love bites on her skin and she didn't seem to mind. In fact she arched her back in response, moving herself over him and he groaned as he lifted his mouth from her skin and began to thrust slowly into her. Her nails bit into his hip. He didn't like to lay directly over her anymore, worried about crushing the baby, so he didn't sport her claw marks on his back and shoulders anymore. Her new target areas were his hips, sides and arms and he liked the little marks that told him how much he had pleased her; little reminders of her orgasms.

She groaned again slightly louder than normal and she pulled his other hand to her mouth and tested her teeth against his thumb to quieten another moan. The flat edges of her teeth slid over the back of his hand, her fingers tightly holding him in place and he drove into her deeper and faster, pulled in by the growing tightness of her body. She arched her back again and she released her hold on his hip, reaching back and she caught hold of the back of his neck. He buried his nose and mouth into the side of her neck again, seeking out a sweet spot. He reached down and pulled up her upper leg, opening her further and he felt his own release building as a deep growing pressure in his lower back.

He ran his lips up her throat to her ear, breathed across her skin and bit her ear lobe gently. She wrapped her mouth around his thumb again as her release finally hit. Her body undulated against him, pushing back against his invasion, pulling and holding him deeply and he surrendered to it allowing his orgasm. He set his mouth against the side of her neck again, sucking onto her skin almost biting her to hide his own groaning shout. He bucked against her and her hand fell to his hip again as her body squeezed his one last time and with a heavy sigh she relaxed and pulled her mouth from his hand. He rested his lower arm against the mat supporting her head as she relaxed down and he lowered her upper leg which had been around his other arm as his own body began to sink into that glorious deep warm relaxation following sex.

They lay panting together, both still facing the entrance to the tent, both resisting the temptation to sleep whilst it was still daylight and there were so many people outside. John worked to keep his eyes open, so kept his gaze back on the entrance, watching the passing silhouettes across the front of the tent of people passing outside. The light was sinking he realised; it would be night very soon. So, he settled his nose against Teyla's neck, and allowed himself to relax a little more than normal.

She lay calmly in his arms, her breathing slowing and deepening. He stroked his free hand around her again, running lightly over her breasts before sinking down to rest over her belly, over their growing child. She laid her arm over his, her fingers running over the back of his hand gently. He drew in her smell, the feel of her warm skin against his front, around his leg that lay between hers, and under his hand.

The baby moved slightly under his palm and he smiled. Teyla laughed lightly. The light flutters could be felt occasionally and had only just started a few days ago. John loved to feel them; such a clear sign that his child was alive and growing. He stroked a circle around her belly.

"You know I love you, don't you?" He asked her quietly.

Her hand tightened over his and she took a slightly shaky breath he thought.

"I know." She replied before she shifted her shoulders round so she could look back at him. He kept his place, letting her shoulder slide down his chest as she turned her upper body. They kept their linked hands over her belly. She looked up at him with soft almost wet eyes. He had never told her so directly before, instead believing she would understand without him needing to say the words. He had feared saying them like to say them would bring an end to something, but as he lay with her, their child moving inside her he realised he was just scared. He was scared he would lose her, lose their baby or that something might happen to him and he wouldn't get to see his child grow up. He understood now a little of how Teyla felt about losing Torren; he knew she still cried occasionally for him. Loving Teyla and their baby was both wonderful and deeply painful; for now he really had something to lose.

She smiled up at him, reaching up to run her hand through his hair. "I love you too." She said equally as softly.

He hadn't been waiting to hear the words, so lost in his own self realisations, but hearing them was deeply satisfying and moving. They were both in the same boat, both of them had a lot to lose, but they had each other. He pressed his lips to hers, kissing her gently, but thoroughly.

They parted lips and she turned back into her previous position, settled into his arms again, but she kept her head turned towards him and they laid with their cheeks touching. The sunlight was dying outside, the sounds of people lowering and John began to stroke circles over her belly again.

"What would you like to call the baby?" Teyla asked eventually.

John paused in his circling. "I hadn't really thought about it. We don't know if it's going to be a girl or a boy." He hadn't wanted to think about it, because what if it didn't survive?

"We can plan for either. Are there any names you would like to use?" She asked. Her fingers were still gently caressing his arm as he began to circle her stomach again.

"No, not really. You choose it." John replied.

"Are there any family traditions, or names from your family you wish to use?" Teyla pressed.

"No, no traditions. You choose." He repeated. He was quite happy for Teyla to make that choice; she would make the better decision anyway.

She smiled against his cheek. "How about you choose its second name?"

John paused in his circling again. "Okay." That didn't feel like too much to decide. It would be known by its first name anyway.

"I will start thinking of some names and you can tell me ones you do not like." She added. Now it was his turn to smile at her clear attempt to involve him.

"Okay. But, I can tell you right now we're not calling it Meredith."

She laughed, her body moving interestingly against his as she did. The baby shifted under John's hand again. "It seems to like the name." She teased as the baby moved again.

John slid his hand over her belly tracing the movements. "No, it was agreeing with me. We're not calling it Meredith."

She laughed again. "Alright." She replied but she shivered slightly, so John reached down the mat for the blankets and pulled them up over them, making sure to cover all of her. He settled back against her properly, wrapping his arms around her again and resettled his hand over their child.

The light was almost gone and Teyla was clearly falling asleep, but John remained awake, listening to the dying sounds of the camp. His mind drifted back to the enemy camp and he had to wonder what they were up to. He wondered if they were out there now in the dark plotting their attack, closing in on the camp. He tightened his hold around Teyla and over his child and kept listening intently as the light finally disappeared leaving a thick impenetrable darkness behind.

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TBC