Disclaimer: DO NOT OWN!

A/N: Four more chapters to go and then we will move on to the sequel.

Unedited!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Welcome to Atlantis, Teyla." Sam said smiling at the brunette. "I'm sorry we had to meet under such circumstances, but I'm glad to see that you made it un injured."

"If not for your people, it would have been a lot worse." Teyla inclined her head in a way that reminded Sam of Teal'c. "Thank you Colonel Carter, for my people and myself. We have never made it through a culling with so few casualties."

"I'm glad that we were there to help, Teyla." Sam told her fellow leader, "and please call me Sam. Between my wife and daughter we tend to get confused with all the Carter's running around."

Teyla surprised Sam by laughing softly, "I can imagine. Is Captain Carter your daughter? Forgive me, but you do not look old enough to have a child her age."

Sam smiled at her, "At least you flatter my ego." She joked before answering, "No Cassandra was adopted by Janet when she was 11. I've helped Janet raise her for the last 5 years."

"And Janet is your mate?" Teyla asked interested. These people were unlike anyone she had ever met. She knew that Xena had explained that they had come from another galaxy to settle Atlantis, but she was amazed that they could be so different, but have so much in common as well.

"Yes, we were married almost 6 months ago, right before we agreed to come of this mission." Sam indicated that they should start moving and Teyla fell in step next to her as Xena fallowed behind. "She is our CMO." At Teyla's confused expression she explained, "She is our head doctor."

"And that is your healer, yes?" Teyla asked and Sam nodded.

"What will happen to our people now, Colonel?" Teyla asked after a period of silence as they approached the infirmary. "Will you return us to our planet?"

Sam couldn't tell if her voice held hope or dread, "If you and your people wish the return we won't stop you, but we can offer other solutions as well. There is a meeting in a little while so that my teams can fill me in on what happened. I would like for you to join me if you would and we can discuss your options then."

"I would be honored to, Colonel." Teyla inclined her head again.

"Good, and it's Sam." The blonde reminded as she waved Janet over.

"Janet this is Teyla Emmagan." Sam introduced her wife. "She is the Athosian leader. Teyla this is my wife and our Chief Medical Officer, Colonel Janet Carter." She looked at the woman beside her and smiled, "If you will excuse me I need to see to things before the meeting, but Janet will bring you with her when she comes. She's going to check you out just to be sure you are ok and she can answer any questions you may have about your people who were injured."

"Thank you, Sam." Teyla told the tall leader.

Sam smiled at her and then looked at her wife. "Did your daughter come here yet?"

"Yeah I've seen her." Janet smiled, "She's stitched up and already off helping somewhere, now go. You have work to do."

Sam just winked at her wife and left with Xena following her. Janet watched her wife leave before turning to look at the patiently waiting woman. When she did she saw Teyla open her mouth to speak and she raised her hand cutting of the question she knew was coming. "Let's take a look at you first then you can ask me about your people."

Teyla bowed her head in acknowledgment and followed the Doctor, but couldn't help asking, "How did you know I was going to ask about my people?"

Janet chuckled softly, "Because all good leaders are the same. They want their people taken care of before themselves."

"I take it you have the same problem with you mate?" Teyla asked with a smile causing Janet to laugh.

"Do I ever." Janet admitted, "I've had to fight that battle numerous times."

"And how did you get her to comply?" Teyla asked curiously. "The Colonel does not strike me as someone who gives in easily."

Janet smiled at the truth of that statement, "Before or after I married her?" She asked with a teasing tone in her voice.

"Before, of course." Teyla countered, "I can already imagine how you keep her in line now that you are mated to her."

Janet laughed loudly at the comment and decided she liked the Athosian leader. "Needles, my friend, needles. It's any doctor's secret weapon against uncooperative Colonels. Big Needles."

Teyla chuckled softly as she allowed the doctor to look her over. She wasn't sure what would happen to her or her people, but she was just they had just made some very powerful friends.

"Alright, so tell me what happened?" Sam said as they all gathered together an hour or so later.

"As I said before, Colonel." Cassie answered and Sam could tell her daughter was getting tired from all the activity. Her tone was starting to sound frustrated. Sam just smiled to herself and waited for the young woman to continued, "Dr. Taylor and I had just returned from contacting you when the Wraith attacked. They game through the gate in their ships and with ground troops as well."

Sam raised an eyebrow in warning to her daughter and then looked at Xena, who had a smile on her face, "I'm going to be honest with you Colonel, I have never seen anything like it. Think of it as the old Sci-Fi movies they were literally beaming people up and the ground troops were the ugliest bastards I've ever seen. They were extremely hard to kill and they were feeding as they went."

"Colonel, if I may." Teyla's voice came from one end of the table and when Sam nodded she continued, "They were culling. Their victims are…well I guess Colonel Taylor had it right, they are beamed up into the Wraith Darts and then basically kept in storage. When the darts return to the hive ships they are returned to their normal forms and kept prisoner until the Wraith decide to feed on them."

"Is there any chance of us recuing the people who were taken?" Sam asked. None of her people were culled but she knew that Teyla had lost many of her people and she could not stomach the thought of leaving them to their fates.

Teyla shook her head, "I thank you for the offer, Colonel, but by the time we determine which Hive the darts belonged to, my people will be gone. I can only be thankful that we were able to save so many this time."

"Do they cull often?" Janet asked.

"There are smaller cullings like today, every few year." Teyla admitted. "But we weren't expecting this one for a few more weeks, they were early."

"What do you mean by smaller cullings?" Xena asked.

"The wraith live in a hive formation." Teyla attempted to explain. "Each hive, or ship, has a queen. The queen and the majority of the wraith sleep for cycles. Usually they sleep for a few centuries and then wake to feed. They ones we fought today were nothing more than the watchers and the drones."

"And do we have any idea when this cycle ends?" Sam asked, "When are they going to wake again in force?"

"It's anyone's guess." Teyla said, "The last large culling was 160 years ago."

"So we have some time to try and figure out a way to beat them." Sam said.

"Yes, but now they know you are here." Teyla told her. "You showed your technology and power today and those who escaped will report back to their hive."

"None escaped, Teyla." Xena said softly. "We destroyed all the ships and all the ground troops. I'm sorry about your people on the ships, if I had known there was a chance…"

Teyla waved her off. "You have nothing to apologize for, Colonel Taylor. You did what needed to be done, but even if they were destroyed the wraith will come looking for them. They will attempt to learn what happened."

"Which brings us to the topic of you and your people." Sam said. "It seems to me that it is not safe for you to return home. Not if the wraith will come looking for their missing drones."

"Now as I see it you have four choices." Sam said looking at the other woman. "One return to Athos and take your chances with the wraith. If you choose that we will help you where and when we can, but I'm afraid it might not be enough."

Teyla nodded in agreement so Sam went on, "two would be for you and your people to take up residence here with us in the city. We have the room, even with the other colonist coming. However, food might be a problem, but I bet with your knowledge of the system and your connections we can figure something out with that."

"That could be arranged." Teyla agreed, "My people are farmers and trader by nature so we can help with supplies and trading agreements. However, my people are not use to living in such a location and while some of us might adapt the majority won't."

Sam nodded, "I excepted enough which leads us to the final choices, your people could find someone new to settle. Either a different world, or on the mainland here. If you choose here we will be able to help you as much as possible. We don't have much until the many group of colonist arrives, but we can help with labor and protection if you need it."

"We can get the supplies, if you would help with labor." Teyla said. "But I cannot make that decision for my people. I must take it to the elders and see how they feel. I would like to settle here, but I cannot force my people to do so."

"I understand," Sam said, "You take your time reaching a decision and until then you are welcome to stay here. We would like to send a party back to your plant to search for survivors and any of your possessions that can be recovered. How long do you think we have until the wraith arrive?"

"Not long." Teyla said sadly. "As much as I hate to say it, it's too dangerous for us to return until tomorrow morning at the earliest."

"What about your people who still might be there?" Gabrielle asked.

"There are caves that any survivors will take refuge in." Teyla told her. "Hopefully they will be able to stay hidden there until we can return."

"If you are sure?" Sam asked, "They are your people so your call, but we will return with you tonight if you want to."

"Thank you, Colonel." Teyla said sincerely, "But I will not risk any more lives today. My people know what to do and where to go, if there are any alive they will be there tomorrow morning."

"Very well." Sam agreed. She might not like it, but she understood. "Xena tomorrow morning I want you and two teams to return with Teyla and her people to search for survivors. Take the shuttles and help them bring anything they find or need here for the time being until they make their plans for the future."

"Yes, Ma'am." Xena said, "I take it we are putting off our next mission?"

"No SGA 4 and 5 will go through the gate to the next planet." Sam told her 2IC, "But Xena make sure they know to use extreme caution."

"Of Course, Colonel." Xena smiled. "I'll talk to the leader tonight."

Sam nodded, "Alright let's go the mess hall. Teyla your people should be there and it's dinner time so why don't we get something to eat and I'll try to answer any other questions you might have."

"Thank you, Sam." Teyla smiled at the Atlantis leader and stood up. "I have to admit I am hungry."

"Well I can't say it will be anything other than rations." Sam warned her while taking her wife's hand, "Most of our supplies on the ship with the rest of our people, but it will do."

"You ready, my love." Sam said smiling at her wife.

"Lead on, Sammy." Janet said returning the smile. Teyla couldn't help but hope that one day she might find the same kind of love that Sam and Janet seemed to have, or Xena and Gabrielle, she thought as she watched Xena beam down at the small blonde.