Sanctorium

Ch 29 First Impressions

John watched Teyla go until he couldnt see her anymore. He turned back to his dad.

"She is a very beautiful woman, John. You always were a good judge of character, so I know her inner beauty matches, and most likely exceeds her outer beauty."

John smiled 'Teyla is an amazing woman, on both accounts...I'm glad she came with me, to meet you and David."

Patrick looked his son over. "You look good John. I was so worried when David told me he was contacted that you had been injured and were placed in a coma. It was hell not knowing how you were doing...then General O'Neill called to say you were on the mend. I can't tell you how relieved I was to hear that"...He smiled.."You've grown into a fine-looking man, but then you got your mom's good looks...and you're a Colonel now! Congratulations! After what happened in Afghanistan, I thought your military career was finished. I'm glad they gave you a second chance. Obviously you made the right choices this time, John. I'm really happy you are doing well...Are you happy?"

John cringed on the inside at the little jab about his "screw-up". He wanted to tell his father off for making assumptions about what happened in Afghanistan, but that little gem would have to wait. He was committed to making this visit work, so he would let it go. He found it interesting that he now knew his dad had been keeping tabs on him. He wondered if he did it to make sure he was alright or to find out how his career was going. He bet his father had been really smug when he learned about his demotion. He could practically hear Pacil telling him to let his inner demons go. He sighed.

"Yeah, I am happy. The work is pretty dangerous, but the base and the people there are top-notch. Also we get to meet alot of different cultures."

"Like Teyla?"

John smiled and confirmed "Like Teyla" He felt the conversation was drifting into dangerous waters so he decided to turn the direction of their conversation before it was too late. Keep it light and friendly, John.
"Dad, how are you doing? David said you're making great progress. He said you go to physical therapy three times a week. I, ah...need some physical therapy after my injury-maybe I can see about having it at the same place you are going."

"My therapist's name is Gerald Stone and he's one of the best-David made sure of that. I'll have David call him in the morning to set up an appointment. Do you have your records with you?"

"No, but I can get them faxed right away, once we know where to have them sent to."

"I'd like that. I'm sure Gerry can help you...he's been tough on me, but it's been worth it.

John smiled "I have my own unofficial PT coordinators back home, who've been pushing me really hard too. No pain, no gain, right?"

Patrick chuckled "Yeah! Ah...Listen, John..."

At that moment David and Teyla came back in. Both wore smiles as they walked through the door but those smiles faded as they became apprehensive, both wondering if they had come back too early or at a bad time.

David spoke up first "I don't know about you two, but Teyla and I are hungry. It's almost five o'clock-how about I get the grill going and we can have some burgers and some chicken too. I can make a salad too..."

"That sounds good. I haven't had barbeque in -geez, I can't remember when! The thought of a juicy beef burger made his stomach growl loudly.

"John and I can help make the salad and set the table, David" Teyla offered quickly.

"Teyla, maybe the boys can do that. I was hoping to get to know you a little better. Maybe you could wheel me out to the patio where we can chat. Please? " Patrick asked kindly.

Teyla smiled, but was unsure. Looking over at John, he smiled. "Go ahead, Teyla...I think we can manage. You two go get acquainted."

As John watched Teyla manuever the wheelchair out the patio doors, he refilled Teyla's ice tea glass and then poured a glass for his dad. He took the ice teas out to them. "Be easy are her, Dad." He playfully warned as he leaned in to kiss Teyla quickly.

"Oh, John...I just want to get to know your girl...thats all!" Patrick had caught the warning wrapped nicely in his son's smile.

"Oh, it's not Teyla I'm worried about, Dad!" John smiled at Teyla, then more pointedly at his dad. He raised his eyebrows and Patrick could see the challenge in his son's eyes. John saw his message got through and the quizzical look on his father's face was priceless. Satisfied, John turned his attention on lighting the grill so it could preheat, then left to help David in the kitchen.

The sun was still shining brightly but a stand of tall trees shaded the section of patio where the table was located from the its direct rays and it was a bit cooler. The pool however was situated to get the sun's maximum exposure and the reflections off the water was mesmerizing. Teyla thought how beautiful the yard was, how lucky these people on Earth were to have such beautiful things. She wondered if, one day-when the Wraith were no longer a threat-if her people would come to know such luxuries.

Patrick saw the lines of deep thought that played on Teyla's face as she looked over the backyard. He was reluctant to tear her from her thoughts and chose instead to just observe her for a few minutes. She was quite lovely. From the brief few moments with her, he had already deduced that she was a strong proud women. His first impressions never failed him, in his business and in social settings-being able to read people was a gift he used wisely.

He watched the ranges of emotion from awe to contentment to resignation, before he felt inclined to interrupt her musings. "I'm guessing from the look on your face that you aren't use to this type of place.

Teyla smiled slightly. "This is quite beautiful...I have never seen water contained so...John has shown me many movies, some showing such things...but to see it firsthand is quite...impressive." She turned towards him and smiled. "My people do not enjoy such things, but even with the threat we live under, there are measures of peace and contentment. We cherish these times deeply. Because of John and his men, our lives have been graced with much improvements that make our lives easier and perhaps more carefree."

Patrick picked up on John's involvement with Teyla and her people. "So...John and the military have helped to make your home safer? They have made a difference?"

"The threat we live under is a constant burden, never knowing when attacks will come weighs heavily on the soul. While the threat is still present, knowing that John and his men are there to help us, if need be, has lifted a heavy weight from our daily lives. We are indebted to Atl...we are indebted to John and his people and all those on the base for their assistance." Teyla had caught herself. How easy it was to slip scared her and she knew she would need to be diligent to keep this information secret, even from John's father.

Patrick let Teyla's little slip go, he would never try to trick her into telling him anything John would consider classified. He respected the need for secrecy, even if he didnt agree with some aspects of it. "Can you tell me how you met John?" Maybe he'd learn a little more unclassified information about his son through Teyla, because he knew that John had never liked talking about himself before..and he doubted that had changed.

"John was among a group of soldiers that came to my village initally seeking trade. At that time, he was not in charge, but his commanding officer was not...approachable. I fear if John had not stepped in, our relationship with them would be quite different ...or nonexistent." She knew Patrick wanted to know more about his son and in this, she was more than willing to provide him with facts.

" Where Colonel Sumner failed in his meeting to impress my people, John stepped in and succeeded. Your son is very charming and engaging, Mr Sheppard." A bright smile played on her face. "He won my people over with his respect and willingness to see them as equals. In return, he-and he alone- earned the respect and trust that allowed our peoples to eventually meet to gain mutual respect and trust on a wider scale."

"John earned your own respect and trust that day, didnt he..." Patrick sensed that Teyla had perhaps had more of a stake in their initial meeting.

She smiled. She now knew where John got his deductive reasoning. "Yes...I am leader of my people. And I do not take that lightly. I trusted that John represented a better picture of the whole of his people...and I found his sincerity and honesty most unique and so, trusted my instincts to seek further contact...however, our enemy interrupted that first meeting with an attack. Colonel Sumner, along with a few of his men, some of my people and myself were captured and taken to the enemy base."

She grew pensive as she remembered that day. "John had to convince his base leader that a rescue mission was feasible. Needless to say, his mission proved...to all but John... successful, though two lives were lost. John holds himself responsible to this day, for the loss of one of my people and that of Colonel Sumner and considers the rescue mission a failure."

"John thinks the mission was a failure-yeah, that sounds like John. He was always hard on himself, but I think I'm partly to blame for that. As a military man, he surely knows there may be casualties in any conflict!"

"John knows this, he is a very intelligent man. Of course he knows casualties are sometimes unavoidable. John takes the lives of each of his men and those of innocents as his personal responsibility. I believe that is why he is so loved and respected by his men and by those he protects. We all know he is personally invested in each one of us. Unfortunately, when even one is lost-he takes it as a personal failure. Wrong as that might be, that is who John is..."

This information about his son bore heavily on his conscience. He was extremely proud realizing the strong caliber of man his son had become, actually-had always been...John had always fought for what he believed was right. He had never backed down, ever, when he thought what he believed was right.

Since his stroke, Patrick had spent alot of time thinking about his estranged son, the one he had banished from his own family. He had realized how wrong he was to have expected John to bow to his demands to do his bidding. Every single fight along their turbulent way was about him expecting John to act a certain way, to be what He expected him to be, to do what He had expected him to do. He knew he had been really tough on John, maybe too tough. Of course, John being who John was, had rebelled and fought tooth and nail not to bend to his wishes or curtail his own dreams and aspirations. He grudgingly had admired John for standing up to him, though he had never admitted it to anyone. But maybe, now-he would tell John.

Patrick felt he was finally starting to understand his youngest son. It had taken Teyla's account to confirm what Patrick really had known all along. Why had it taken him all these years to finally admit that John had a strength of character as strong, if not stronger, than his own. That despite his own plans for his son, John had been born to follow a different path, to protect and serve and to use his determination and skills for the betterment of others.

Patrick mused, if only John had been interested in the business! What a dynamic asset he would have been! David was great and had made him proud, no doubts about that, but he had always aimed to please...he had never really had that blinding drive behind his actions. However, John had always possessed the inexhaustible drive and passion that superceded everything. He had always stayed true to himself and for that-Patrick had the utmost respect. Now he just had to find the right time to tell his son that, and more...

TBC Ugh! These chapters are eluding me and I'm sorry you had to wait so long for an update...I'm not finished yet and vow to complete this story-so bare with me! Thanks so much to you all who have stayed around! Thanks especially to Joaniexjony for all your help! I want to thank you all for the great reviews and please dont stop! It really, really helps!