Chapter 28

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"Teyla!" Halling called loudly as Teyla stepped out of the gate and onto the soil of New Athos. Her excited smile transformed her face.

"Halling, it is wonderful to see you again after so long," Teyla returned and reached for her friend. They lowered their heads in the traditional Athosian greeting then stepped away. Ronon came through next, a backpack strapped to his shoulders and he and the Athosian nodded at each other.

"Ronon, it is good to see you again, too. Our people are very thankful to you for being so diligent in finding Teyla and returning her home. All were saddened when they thought you were lost to us, Teyla."

"I have missed you all greatly as well. I am thankful to be back."

"And Colonel Sheppard is well, too, I hope. His presence has also been missed."

Teyla turned her head to see John exiting the shimmering blue horizon, the large sling slung across his left shoulder with their son snuggly inside. Halling noticed the sling and grew concerned.

"Are you injured, Colonel?" he asked but also noticed neither arm was inside the sling.

Teyla smiled widely and took Halling's hand to lead him to where John was standing.

"Halling, many things happened while we were away. This is one of them."

Teyla pulled the side of the sling open and Halling peered inside. The sight of the sleeping baby had him taking a step back and opening his eyes wide.

"You have a child? The two of you, together?"

"Yeah," John responded apprehensively. "Is that okay?"

Halling chuckled at Sheppard's anxiety. "A child is always a joyous thing. And I could think of no one better for our Teyla than you, Colonel Sheppard. I have seen how you hold her in high regard and treat her with dignity and respect. And I know your feelings for her have always been strong."

John looked at Ronon as if to say, 'How come everyone knew but me?' and Ronon just smirked. But John felt his nervousness decrease with Halling's words. He hated to admit he was a little scared that he'd be run out of New Athos with a stick.

"And what name have you given to this child, Teyla?" Halling smiled as they began on the path leading to the settlement.

"His name is Torren John Emmagen Sheppard," Teyla announced proudly.

"A boy!" Halling exclaimed. "And named after your father and his. I could think of no fitter tribute to two very great men."

John actually blushed at this and Ronon poked him with his elbow when he saw Sheppard's reaction. Halling looked at the bags that Ronon and Teyla were carrying and gave a puzzled look.

"Supplies from Keller," Ronon filled in and Teyla held her bag out and said, "Diapers and extra clothes for Torren."

Halling reached out and took the bag from Teyla knowing that Ronon was certainly capable of carrying the heavier bag for the lengthy walk. Teyla was also capable but he did not feel right carrying nothing while a new mother did.

As they walked, Teyla and Halling traded information about what had happened in the last year and John pretty much tuned it all out for most of the walk. He knew what he and Teyla had done and as much as the Athosians were great people he didn't really need to know that this one had done some wonderful trading on this planet and so on and so forth. When he heard the name Kanaan come up though, his ears perked up with a bit more interest.

"He was quite distraught at your disappearance and the lack of information available to locate you," Halling was telling Teyla and John noticed Halling's voice had lowered a bit. John tried to look nonchalant and uninterested in their conversation. He peeked in at Torren who was still sleeping soundly, probably due to the rocking motion while he was walking. But his ears tuned in to what the two were saying ahead of him.

"Yes, he has been a good friend to me," Teyla brushed off Halling's words.

"I believe Kanaan desired to be more than friends with you, Teyla. This has been apparent for many seasons. I am not sure what he will think about this child you have had with Colonel Sheppard."

"John and I have been joined in marriage so Kanaan will need to accept that. We will remain friends as we were before," Teyla stated.

"You and Colonel Sheppard are husband and wife? I am happy for you, Teyla. He will be a good husband to you. He is strong enough to keep you in control but also strong enough to allow you to be the dedicated leader and warrior you were meant to be."

John saw Teyla give Halling one of her looks. He knew that one. It translated as 'watch what you say to me because I can kick your ass'. Halling just laughed at it. And he knew he would never want to 'control' Teyla. He had fallen in love with who she was, the fierce warrior, the patient diplomat, the calm negotiator, and the passionate fighter of all that is right and good. Why would he wish to keep that in control?

The topic steered away from Kanaan and his lust for Teyla and John's attention drifted as well. Shortly they came to the settlement and within seconds Teyla was surrounded by many people, all greeting her traditionally. Ronon handed his bag over to their healer and John just stood back, not wanting the noise to waken their son.

He watched as the man he knew to be Kanaan approached Teyla and many stepped aside to allow him to greet her. His hands lifted to gently caress her bare shoulders as his head bowed to touch hers. John saw Teyla move back a pace quickly after and her eyes swung toward his. It took him a second to rearrange his face to show indifference but he was pretty sure Teyla had caught him shooting daggers at Kanaan's back.

Teyla gave him the smile that was his alone and he relaxed a bit but Torren must have sensed his tension and began to wail loudly. John reached into the sling quickly to calm him but by the time he removed his son from the fabric, all eyes had moved to him.

"Everyone," Teyla called out to her friends, "It is wonderful to see you all again and I am thankful we have been returned to where we belong. Colonel Sheppard and I spent quite a long time away from here and during that time we were given the miracle of a child."

She walked over swiftly to where John had Torren draped on his shoulder. "This is our son, Torren John Emmagen Sheppard. He is a most gracious blessing that has been bestowed upon us."

More cheers went up and John was soon surrounded by people congratulating him and wishing to see the newest Athosian. But as John's eyes lifted from his son, he caught the eye of Kanaan and he did not look happy. The daggers than John had sent his way a few moments ago had just been sent back, in triplicate.

But John was soon pulled toward the encampment and someone shouted, "We must celebrate this occasion. It is not every day we have a new Athosian. And one named after such a remarkable leader."

John thought for a second they were talking about him, then realized they were talking about Torren, Teyla's father. He was glad he hadn't said anything. He would have felt foolish. People scrambled around the tents and began pulling out vegetables and meat to begin cooking and bowls of fruit appeared and everyone began moving around in a very festive mood. Okay, so not chased out of town with a stick, John chuckled to himself; that was always a good thing.

The next few hours were quite exhausting, for John and Teyla anyway, as people demanded to know all the details of their time away. John and Teyla had decided earlier that they wouldn't share any of what really went on in the beginning with anyone else. It was bad enough they had needed to go through it themselves but the last thing they wanted was to relive it. And they didn't wish for anyone to be horrified at what had happened or start feeling sorry for them. They simply said they had been captured by slavers and then managed to escape to a planet where the gate was inactive.

Torren was passed around from Athosian to Athosian and John grew anxious as each person passed him to another. He knew they would never hurt him but he was so used to having the child with them all the time, it was nerve wracking when he heard the child whimper or cry, even for a moment.

John finally got his son back while everyone was eating and regaling Teyla with stories of recent events. John moved away from the encampment and settled in a small field behind one of the furthest tents. He had brought along one of the thick quilts that had been made for them by the ladies on Dimitta and he placed Torren on it on his back.

They were under a tree so the sun was not too bright and John lay on his side next to TJ. He loved just gazing at the child and seeing him perk up at all that was around him. The sunlight was dancing on the leaves above him and flickering in between. TJ seemed enthralled at the play of light and reached up his hands to try and catch it.

"I don't think it's gonna work, Pal," John chuckled quietly to the fascinated boy. "Sunlight is a really cool thing but unfortunately you can't actually touch it and take it home."

He took out the key ring he'd taken to carrying around with him and handed it to the child. None of the keys fit anything on Atlantis, except his locker, but Torren had liked playing with them so he carried them around when nothing else would keep him quiet. He knew they would need to get this kid some actual baby toys soon but that would mean ordering them from Earth. Although Teyla said the Athosians had toys made from wood that worked well enough. Maybe they could put in an order for some of those.

The key ring dropped from TJ's unpracticed fingers and John picked it up and hung it over his head so he could push at them and hear them jingle. He still couldn't get over the fact that he had a child. Teyla had called him their miracle and John couldn't agree more. The fact that he and Teyla had escaped from the hell they'd been placed in, and all before too much major damage had been done, was a miracle in itself. And then to finally be able to express their feelings for each other and truly become a couple, that was also miraculous. But this child happily cooing in front of him was the biggest miracle of all. He had brought them so much joy and happiness and had made everything bad that had happened just disappear.

John kept up his typical running dialogue with Torren but soon found his voice was not enough to keep the child from whining. He would need to be fed soon. John hated to leave this place as it was very peaceful and the other side of the tents was filled with much more distraction. But he should probably find Teyla.

As he looked around, he saw that Teyla had actually found them. She was walking toward them with a big smile on her face and Torren's bag in her hands.

"I knew he would be hungry as my milk is quite heavy. Ronon told me he had seen you come this way. Let me change him and if he falls asleep while nursing he will be more comfortable."

John volunteered to do the diaper while Teyla settled herself on the quilt beside John. He offered to let Teyla lean against him while feeding as he knew it would be uncomfortable on her back in this position. Teyla gladly accepted.

John propped himself with his hands behind him and Teyla leaned against him between his legs. Torren was at her breast, a light blanket thrown over him in case someone wandered by. John still loved this whole process although he knew at times Teyla grew tired of it. Not so much the feeding itself but just the constant need. She never really had a break. But he knew she would never complain and so he just tried to make things as easy on her as possible. Of course he'd never tell her that. Teyla hated to admit to weakness, not unlike him.

Once the baby had filled his belly and had slipped into a deep slumber, Teyla gently placed him on the quilt again. She and John watched him sleep for a few minutes then John pressed a kiss to her neck.

"So that nap thing isn't going to happen, I guess," John moped as his tongue darted out to run up the side of her neck to her ear.

Teyla sucked in a shaky breath at the sensations John was creating deep inside of her. "Perhaps not as completely as we would wish, no. That does not mean you need stop what you are doing at the moment."

"You like this, huh?" John chuckled and Teyla could hear the mischief in his voice.

"Very much," Teyla breathed out on a sigh and tilted her head to allow him better access.

"Then I'll just have to continue." John nipped at her earlobe and travelled his lips down the side of her neck again, nudging the fabric of her shirt aside on her shoulder. His hands moved around to her front and slid between her top and bottom, caressing the silky skin there.

Teyla was now trembling and John lowered her to lie next to Torren. He straightened himself out next to her and reached to press his lips to hers. Teyla's arms immediately wrapped around his neck and drew him as close as possible. Their mouths whispered across each other's and John's tongue darted out to trace her bottom lip. Her tongue became envious and snuck out to join the fun.

As their mouths battled, John's hands snuck under her loose top that she had only done the top button of. As his thumbs flicked over her hardened peaks, her mouth stopped for a soft gasp to escape, then John plunged back inside with his tongue. Teyla's hands ran through John's hair and slid over his shoulders, wishing she could remove his shirt and feel his warm skin. But she knew they were out in the open and could not risk it even though their location was fairly private.

John's mouth moved back and forth between Teyla's neck, throat and mouth in deep exploration and his hands caressed her luscious curves. He pulled the blanket Teyla had used for feeding Torren so it covered where his hands were exploring and became a bit braver.

While his left hand snuck under Teyla to hold her close, his other stayed on her torso, skimming the golden skin and curvaceous mounds. But John wanted more so he snuck his hand under the edge of her pants and let his fingers slide back and forth in temptation.

At Teyla's little whimper, he unbuttoned the top and slid the zipper down so his hand could fit more comfortably inside. He closed his eyes at the feel of her womanly mound covered in soft curls and allowed his fingers to play quietly for a short time. Teyla didn't seem to object so he crept them further until he could curl them into her moist, warm center.

Teyla's mouth opened and John covered it with his own to keep her cry from being too loud and she closed her mouth around his and opened it again in a rhythmic fashion. Her hands clung to his shoulders and her hips began to move in anticipation. John did not disappoint. He dipped one finger inside and found her slick and wet and ready. But there was only so much he could do out here in the open and they were probably already doing more than they should. But Teyla was just so damned desirable and sexy; he just lost control whenever he was near her.

He pushed another finger inside and heard her gasp again at the intrusion. He pulled them out slightly to moisten the feminine nub at the opening and Teyla's head arched back as she whispered, "Oh, yes, John, that feels incredible."

"I like making you feel incredible," he murmured back in her ear and slid his fingers back inside. They moved in and out and around a few more times and flicked over her sensitive area until she was grasping every ounce of control she had to keep from crying out. Her arms held him tight and close and his hand took every opportunity to give her pleasure.

John kept at it until her arms squeezed tightly and her body tensed. He could feel her convulse and then shudder a few times right after. Then she breathed out a deep sigh and fell back completely against the quilt.

John removed his hand and pulled her in as close as he could and whispered sweet words in her ear. Teyla pressed kisses along his neck now and repeated his words back to him.

"That was quite generous, John. I will have to find a way to repay you for that after Torren goes to bed tonight."

"I'll hold you to that, you know," John threatened seductively.

"I am happy any way that you hold me, John. I love you."

John's grin grew even though he knew she would have the last word. "Love you more."

Teyla's lips split wide open as she stated, "And I love you the most."

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Leaves rustled as a figure slunk away, back through the trees. They had not seen him as they were too involved with each other. It was just as well. He had harbored hope for far too long, hope that even the news of her death had not dashed. But this, he could not dispute that Teyla was in love with Sheppard as he knew Sheppard had always been in love with Teyla. The man's affection for her had been obvious to him from the beginning. Kanaan took one last look at the couple holding each other close, whispering intimately to each other, their son sleeping soundly beside them.

He moved back past the tents with a distressed but resigned expression on his face. It was time to move on.

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"McKay, you coming over later to watch a movie with us?" Sheppard asked as he poked his head in Rodney's lab the day after their visit to New Athos. He'd been working all day and hadn't seen his friend since breakfast.

"I don't know," McKay whined. "I'm really busy right now. Ask me later."

John looked at his watch and said, "It is later, McKay. Ronon's coming over in about an hour. We'll put the movie on after that."

Rodney looked up and saw Sheppard staring vacantly around the room. His eyes seemed like they were a million miles away. Rodney was still worried about his friends. They had seemed to be just fine since they came back but he knew what they'd gone through and he wondered if they still had nightmares about what happened. He knew he would, probably for years. Heck, he was still dreaming about the damn whale from Moby Dick.

Sheppard turned back and caught Rodney staring at him like he was covered in dirt. He glanced down at his BDU's and didn't see anything unusual about them. But when he looked up again, Rodney was still staring.

"What are you looking at McKay?"

"Huh, oh, … what, nothing," Rodney stammered. He paused for a few seconds then said, "I was just wondering if you were okay. You know, after being gone for so long and everything."

"Do I look like I'm not fine?" John shook his head. "I'm fine, McKay. You don't need to worry."

"Okay, I won't … worry," Rodney replied unconvincingly. "It's just that it was a year and after all you went through, … I mean … if you wanted to talk about it … I just want to say I'm here for you."

"Taking over Heightmeyer's job, McKay?" John quipped. "You get your Ph. D. in psychology while I was gone or something?"

"No, … no, no, no. Just sometimes it's easier to talk to a friend and I am that, aren't I? Your friend."

John sighed. "Yes, you're my friend, McKay. Is that what you were worried about? Teyla and I made new friends on Dimitta and now you're worried you aren't my friend anymore."

"Oh, no, … I mean, I know I'm still your friend. I just … wanted to be a good friend and be there for you … if you needed me, you know."

John nodded slowly and patiently. "I appreciate that, Rodney, but you saw for yourself that we were doing okay where we were. There wasn't any electricity or modern technology and you would probably need therapy after living like that for a year, but Teyla and I managed quite nicely, thanks."

"Oh, sure, there you were fine but before … that wasn't so great."

John's jaw clenched when he thought of that time and again he wondered how much they actually knew. He wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"Rodney, did you actually go to the place where we were held originally?"

"No, Lorne went and threatened them with big weapons. I just got the picture from the tape."

"What tape?" John moved closer and Rodney clamped his mouth shut, hardly believing he'd just said that. Sam would kill him. No, Ronon would kill him first.

"Oh, no, … it wasn't really a tape, it was , …. Um you know," his eyes searched the room for something plausible he could get Sheppard to buy. "Surveillance. I got a picture of the people who bought you from a surveillance tape when they first walked in. The slave lady didn't have a name. Remember we told you that's why it took so long to find you because we had to look everywhere and only use the picture we had."

John could tell Rodney was lying. The man was a terrible liar. He thought about the time when they were in the slave cages and he knew they'd had video cameras around but he never actually knew when they were on. Apparently they had been on when the Masters had been in. And when he thought about what had transpired during that time, his heart almost stopped at the thought that someone had seen that; someone from Atlantis.

"Were the tapes on when those bastards came to buy us?" John whispered viciously, his voice like sandpaper.

Rodney's eyes grew wide and he looked panicked. Shit! That means they were. John looked at Rodney again and he could tell more bull would be coming out of his mouth.

"No, I mean, they were just when they first walked in. We didn't see you and Teyla in them at all. I mean, we didn't see anything at all. Nothing, really."

John closed his eyes and knew that they had also taped when he and Teyla had 'performed'. It was part of the whole marketing scheme. Was that on the same tape?

Rodney saw John's eyes fill with intense pain and he suddenly knew he was remembering what had happened. He'd never seen Sheppard hurt that much; not when the Iratus bug had been attached, not when the Wraith had fed on him or even when he'd turned into a bug. But that had all been physical pain; this was emotional pain. And it was severe; Rodney could see it quite clearly.

Rodney watched as Sheppard walked over to the window and stared out. His shoulders were tensed and his hands gripped the windowsill tightly. Rodney moved up behind him.

"Sheppard," McKay said softly to get his attention. "It's okay. Nobody knows. Well … except me."

Rodney was determined to get this lie out right. Sheppard might know that he had seen a little bit but there was no way he was telling him that Carter, Lorne and Ronon had seen it, too. He could do this. He had to for his friend's sanity. He knew Sheppard was an extremely private person and knowing that people had seen what had happened, that could most definitely push him over the edge. He could do this!

"Nobody else saw this tape," Sheppard clarified. "How is that?"

"Lorne didn't have the right equipment to play it and so they gave it to me to finagle some way to watch it," he fibbed. "And when I saw what was on it, I wouldn't let anyone else see it. I told them I managed to get a picture of the people who had you but that most of it was compromised and blurry."

"And they bought that?" John asked doubtfully.

"Yeah, they did, because I made sure once I got the picture, the rest of it was compromised and blurry."

John looked like he wanted to believe him and Rodney hoped he did. He couldn't let his friend know what they'd seen.

"Where's the tape now?" John asked looking around the lab like he might see it just lying around to be picked up by any schmoe.

"I destroyed it!" Rodney said proudly and he saw that John had bought that lie and seemed a bit more relieved. But come to think of it, that really wasn't a lie because he really had destroyed the tape. Maybe that's what made him more believable.

John stared out the window for a few more minutes and then turned slowly around. "Did you see when Teyla and I … when we … " his mouth turned into a twisted version of a smile, "when Torren was conceived?"

"Oh, wow, really, that was when … oh um no, … I fast forwarded through that part." Rodney really had, so he wasn't lying too much on that.

"But it was on there, wasn't it?" John's voice was choked with emotion and Rodney could almost feel his pain. He just nodded.

John took another deep breath and then his jaw grew even tighter. When he looked up at Rodney his eyes were like steel. "Teyla can never know that this tape existed. Do you understand me? I swear, McKay, if she ever finds out I will personally rip your tongue out with my bare hands."

Rodney knew he wasn't really serious, although the look in his eyes certainly made him think that his friend could actually do that. He shook his head vehemently back and forth and promised, "Never, never, never. I wouldn't do that to Teyla."

John stood staring at him and Rodney knew when John realized that Rodney meant what he said, that he wouldn't ever tell anyone. He cared for Teyla, too, and he would never want to see her hurt this way.

It took another few minutes for Sheppard to get his emotions under control but when he did it was like nothing had ever happened, except the tension around his eyes. Rodney didn't know how he did it. It was like he flipped a switch or something.

John checked his watch as he walked toward the door and turned back to instruct, "One hour, McKay. And we'll be watching a comedy."

McKay just shook his head. Good, after what just transpired, they'd need a good laugh.

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They ended up watching 'How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days' and McKay just thought it was really silly but Teyla seemed to find it amusing so he didn't nitpick like he usually did. And he was a bit worried about what Sheppard would be like after their conversation.

The man didn't seem to be overtly upset with him but Rodney did notice he was especially solicitous toward Teyla. He had gotten the baby ready for bed after Teyla had fed him and then gotten her a cup of tea and made her popcorn. He figured maybe John had done all this stuff for her while they were on the other planet but he still thought it was a bit much. He'd never cater to a woman as much as Sheppard was accommodating Teyla tonight.

But he also saw Sheppard watching Teyla more than he watched the movie. Of course he was keeping his eye on Sheppard more than the movie also. But as much as he usually was grossed out and disgusted by lovey dovey couples, he almost didn't mind it when he saw them do it. They weren't obvious and sickening about it, first of all. And he could truly see how much they cared about each other.

Sheppard had one arm around Teyla's back and she was relaxed against him. He kept leaning over and either whispering in her ear or pressing his lips to her neck. It was only for a second each time he did it but it always made Teyla smile and then she would look up at him with that big smile. And then John would smile back. And Rodney could tell they were really happy together. And he felt good about that. After what had happened, they deserved some happiness and he was glad they had found it with each other. Of course that didn't mean he would stop giving them crap about their almost non-existent PDA but they expected that from him so he didn't want to step out of character. He knew they'd start worrying about him.

The movie was just finishing when the chime on the door sounded. Ronon was closest and opened it to admit Colonel Carter. She greeted everyone but looked straight at John. "Sorry, to interrupt your movie, John, but I finally heard back from the SGC and thought you should know."

"From the look on your face, it's not good news," John guessed.

Carter shrugged and her smile twisted. "I don't really know what they have planned, John. But they want you back at the SGC immediately for an in-depth debrief. They'd like for Teyla to come, too. When I told them about the baby they agreed that he would most certainly be welcome as well. Aside from the debrief they didn't give me any more information about your status here as Military Commander."

"When?" was all John said.

"They've authorized a direct wormhole back to Earth for first thing tomorrow morning."

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