Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor or medical healthcare professional. Although I have tried to research medical terms, they may not be one hundred percent accurate.

This chapter is focused mainly on John and Teyla and the fallout from what happened to John.

Chapter 12: Things will get better.

John was lying in his bed staring at the infirmary ceiling it had been a week since he had returned to Atlantis and he was bored out of his brain. He'd lost track of the amount of times he'd counted the dirty marks on the floors, walls and ceiling. His friends seemed to be too busy to visit him and Teyla had been released the day before on the condition that she spent most of her time in bed. A roster had been set up to make sure that there was someone on hand at all times to help her if she needed it and to look after Torren.

The day after he had returned to Atlantis Carson had used the Iratus healing compound on his stomach, so he had slept for most of the week, until yesterday when Carson declared that the gunshot wound to his stomach had been completely healed. His legs and arm were a different matter. Now that his stomach was fully healed Carson had arranged to take him into surgery the next, to break the bones and align them properly, before using the bone healing device on them. Carson suspected that he would only be off his feet for another week or two. He couldn't wait to be one hundred percent healthy again, as he knew that Teyla needed his help right now and she would for the foreseeable future.

Deciding that it was probably time for another nap he closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep, but he didn't have much luck getting to sleep, because he'd done nothing but sleep for days on end. He sighed and kept his eyes closed, he had way too much time staring at the ceiling that he was sure that the inside of his eyelids were a much better attraction at this point.

He had finally settled into a comfortable position and was beginning to dose when he heard a loud gruff sound, as someone cleared their throat.

Looking around he saw a huge hulking figure standing next to him. "Todd it's good to see you again!" He exclaimed, as a smile spread across his face.

"JJohn SShheppard. I see you're in the infirmary again." Todd hissed a crooked smile crossing his face."

John gave him a dark look, "not my fault this time, so crazy psychopath decided that she fancied me and took me hostage."

"Yes, all the females tell me that you're considered a very attractive man, for a human. I think I would like to learn about human procreation. I hear that it can be very enjoyable and I may like to try it one day soon."

John's eyes almost bulged out of his head and his face went beet red at that comment. He shuddered at the thought of it and it just creeped him out, "I think you may need to talk to Dr Beckett or Dr Keller if you'd like to learn more."

"Yes I think I will. Now I've manage to smuggle in some pizza and beer, as I really enjoyed our last lunch together." Todd told him opening a large bag, which he had hidden inside of his coat.

John was a bit worried what the condition of the food and drink would be in, but he was pleasantly surprise to find that the pizza was still warm and the beer was still cold. "How did you get that in here?" He asked with a surprised look on his face.

"Well your friend Dr McKay helped me. Although he couldn't understand why you would want pizza and beer, when you could have infirmary food."

John just laughed at that comment and it felt good, as he hadn't really had much fun lately. "For some strange reason Rodney loves infirmary food. I can't stand it personally; because when you are sick and injured the Docs' won't allow you to have anything enjoyable to eat."

"Well I guess we better get started then?" Todd suggested handing him a plate with a piece of pizza on it and a can of beer.

"So how are things going in spreading the retrovirus to the wraith?" John asked in between mouthfuls.

"About half of the hives we encounter want to take it and the other half attack us, but the number of queens who have taken the treatment continues to rise, so we feel as if we are beginning to gain the upper hand. I do fear that a civil war is not far off and that grieves me greatly, because if doesn't have to be this way."

"I'm sorry it has to come to that, but I see a future peace between our peoples and that is what I'm fighting for Guide." John told him, using Todd's proper name.

"Thank you John. I agree I am fighting for the future also and if a civil war will achieve that outcome then I guess that is something I have to learn to live with."

Before John could say anything else Carson stormed into the room and he wasn't happy, "what's this I hear about you giving my patient pizza and beer?" Carson asked pointing at Todd.

"I am sorry Dr Beckett. I promise I won't do it again if you tell me all about human procreation." Todd hissed with a crooked grin.

John almost choked on the piece of pizza he was eating, when he saw the look on Carson's face, he could only describe it as a stunned and slightly embarrassed look.

"Yes well I'm sure I can find you some books on the subject. Now John no more pizza after that slice and no more beer after that can. I want you to start fasting, as I have you booked in for surgery first thing tomorrow morning."

"Sure Doc I promise to be a good boy." John smirked, using his best puppy dog eyes.

Carson rolled his eyes and smiled, "Ya cheeky bugger, you know that won't work on me."

"I will make sure he does not eat or drink anymore." Todd said, as he bowed his head to Carson.

"Thank you Todd and I will sort those books out for you, before you head back to your hive."

John looked up at his big friend and smiled, Todd was nothing like the first wraith that he had met nearly seven years ago now. Todd knew how to have fun and enjoy life, it was a shame there wasn't more like him, but if they continued to work towards the common goal of peace in their generation. It would come to pass.

"Well John, I must be going now, I have a meeting with another queen who is interested in using the retro-virus on one of her hives."

"Thanks for coming Guide. It has certainly made me feel better."

"Well I must get back to work, although I certainly enjoy having fun with you JJohn SSShhheppard."

"Bye Todd." He said as he watched his friend walk out of the room. It was strange that one of his best friends was a wraith who had almost sucked the life out of him four years ago, but Todd had called him a brother and shared his wraith name with him. He lay back thinking about what had happened over the last couple of years and how far wraith and humans had come towards establishing peace in the Pegasus galaxy. Atlantis had said that it would start with him, and Todd and he couldn't help thinking she was right.

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Teyla was sick to death of lying flat on her back. The instructions that Jennifer had given her before she left the infirmary were that she was to remain in bed at all times, unless she had to use the bathroom, or if she wanted to have a shower. She wasn't allowed to stand in the shower though; she had to use a shower seat. Torren was allowed to sleep next to her, but he had to be careful not to jump up and down on the bed. All of her meals were brought to her in her bed and once a day she was allowed to visit John providing she went in a wheelchair. She knew that it was for the good of the babies, but it was becoming rather tiresome. This had been going on for a week now and she had at least four weeks to go. Jennifer had told her that if the babies were delivered between 36 and 37 weeks there should be no complications.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Jennifer bringing her a wheelchair. She looked at her friend with a quizzical look, "why have you brought me a wheelchair at four o'clock in the afternoon?"

"I thought that seeing John is going into surgery early tomorrow morning, you may wish to spend some time with him before dinner."

Teyla heard a little voice from alongside of her, "we see Daddy?" Torren asked using his best puppy dog eyes.

Her face softened at the Sheppard trademark look. Both Torren and John used it when they wanted to get their own way, or if they knew they were in trouble and they needed to smooth things over.

"Yes sweetheart. We'll go and see him for a little while now. Daddy has to have a big operation tomorrow, so he will need a good night's sleep."

Torren tilted his head to the side, "Momma why Daddy always hurt?"

Teyla didn't quite know how to answer that one. It was totally true John had spent a good proportion of Torren's life in the infirmary.

It was Jennifer who came to her rescue, "Daddy has a very important job and sometimes it's dangerous and he gets hurt, or unfortunately sometimes people want to hurt him." Jennifer told Torren while helping Teyla into the wheelchair.

"People like Kanaan?"

Teyla thought back to the nightmares she'd been having when John was missing and Kanaan had been a big part of them along with Hannah. It all boiled down to the fact that people wanted to hurt John and she had no idea why.

"Yes sweetheart, Kanaan hurt Daddy and all of us, because he wanted something that wasn't his."

Torren looked at her thoughtfully, "he wanted us, but we are not his."

Teyla was almost in tears, her son was growing up fast and he was smart, "Daddy, you and I are a family and we belong together."

"And the babies are our family too?"

"Yes the babies too." Teyla told him softly.

"Otay, let's go and see Daddy now," Torren said climbing into her lap.

Five minutes later they were off to the infirmary and Teyla was feeling happier than she had all day.

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After Todd had left John felt uplifted for about five minutes and then he was bored again. He was sick of having no-one to talk too, not to mention the food was boring. If it wasn't for the Pizza and beer that Todd had brought him, he would have had to have bland chicken casserole and Jello for his dinner.

Again he had closed his eyes and was drifting off to sleep, when he heard a little voice, "Daddy, I hear now."

Opening his eyes and looking towards the door he saw his son sitting in his mother's lap and he couldn't be happier, "hi pal how was your day?"

"Daddy, I played with Sally and her dog."

"Wow I didn't know she even had a dog, when did she get that T.J."

"On Earth, when can we get dog?" Torren asked using his best puppy dog eyes.

John suddenly felt guilty, because he had told Torren that they would consider getting a dog when they were on earth for Rodney and Jennifer's wedding."

John looked at his son with compassion in his eyes. He knew that what happened wasn't his fault, but he wondered if Torren would understand, "I'm sorry T.J I meant to look for one on earth, but as you know a bad lady took Daddy and hurt him."

Torren looked at him and John sensed sorrow in his voice, as he spoke, "Daddy can you change your job?"

There were tears brimming in his eyes as he answered his son, "I wish I could, but what I do protects everyone in Atlantis and the Pegasus galaxy. I do it not just for you, but your children and grandchildren." He remembered the future timelines that he had seen and he knew that one day Torren would understand why he did what he did.

For one moment Torren seemed much wiser and grown up than he actually was, but then he was back to being a two year old again. This had been going on ever since Kanaan had manipulated his mind. Carson had assured them that everything was okay and that there shouldn't be any long term effects from what Kanaan had done to him.

"Otay Daddy, me seep here?" He asked pointing to his bed.

"It's okay by me pal."

Jennifer nodded that it would be okay and then she placed the boy alongside his father and pulled the safety rails up, so he wouldn't fall out.

Jennifer turned to leave the room, "I'm going off duty now Colonel, if you need anything Carson is in his office and Teyla please do not stay too long, as you really shouldn't be sitting up longer than you have too."

Once Jennifer had left John reached for Teyla's arm and asked her softly, "are you okay sweetie?"

"Not really, it is obvious that we are all getting quite tired of this life. Do you think we could go back to earth and live for a while?"

"I know how you feel sweetie, but the problem is after what just happened on earth I have no desire to go there again in a hurry. What about we run off to New Athos?"

"Although Halling and Jinto are still there, New Athos holds too many bad memories for me. It is where I met Kanaan and I will never forget what Kanaan did to us."

He looked up at her and smiled, "maybe once the babies are born, we need to get away someplace we've never been before, just the two of us. I'm sure that Dave will look after the children for us."

"It is certainly something for us to think about Honey, but for now I must go back to bed and rest. You must rest as well, as you are due in surgery tomorrow morning."

He nodded, he knew what she said was true, but he didn't want to go through yet another operation all because some psychopath fancied him and hit him with a car, "I wish the bone device would work without Carson having to break my legs again. I know that I will be back on my feet in a few weeks, but just the thought of Carson breaking my legs, freaks me out a little."

"I know Honey, but I also trust Carson to take excellent care of you."

"I know that too sweetie, but I wish I could come home and sleep with you again, like we did before this whole mess began. You have no idea what it was to wake up with that woman's hands all over me. I felt violated and sometimes it still bothers me."

"Do not worry about anything honey. All you have to do right now is focus on getting well, so that you can come home to us."

"Thank you for being so wise sweetie and thank you for being there for me not matter what."

"You are welcome, now I must go back to bed or Carson will be chasing me out of here in a few minutes."

John pressed the call button for Teyla and within a few minutes Carson had entered the room, "will you wheel me back to my quarters now? Amelia is going to stay with me for the night and help me look after Torren."

"Aye Lassie, I can do that."

John watched as Teyla stood to her feet and he felt her lips meet his, the only problem was that he remembered Hannah's lips on his and pulled away. When he saw the hurt look on her face he closed his eyes and tried again. He was thankful that he didn't pull away this time.

"Goodnight John my darling," Teyla said sitting back down in the wheelchair.

"Goodnight Sweetie," John said, as Carson took a sleeping Torren of the bed.

He watched as Carson took his wife and son away and then he lay on his back staring at the ceiling again. How much more could they take as a family he wondered and at the end of the day was it really worth it? This was one of the millions of questions that were rolling around in his head, as he fell into a troubled sleep.

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It had been twenty four hours since Teyla had seen her husband and now she sat a lonely vigil next to his bed. Carson had taken him in to surgery earlier that day and broken his legs and arm again. Dr James McKnight Atlantis' orthopaedic surgeon had been called in and they had decided between them to pin the legs, so the bones were definitely aligned, or so they told her. The two Doctors had also agreed not to use the bone healing device for another couple of days, just to make sure that they were healing properly.

She knew that he was going to be in a lot of pain when he woke up and she knew he wasn't going to be happy. She just really hoped that he would wake up when she was sitting with him. Jennifer had only allowed her an hour to visit John, as she was still supposed to be in bed to stop her contractions coming on again.

She started to hum a lovely Athosian lullaby to him, one that her father had sung to her and it was one of Torren's favourites as well.

She was rewarded a few minutes later when John opened his eyes and looked up at her.

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John was coalescing in the darkness and he wondered whether this was a place that he should stay. Despite the dull pain, it was peaceful, but there was that lovely angelic singing, he was hearing and he was sure that he had heard it before he just couldn't remember where. Then something or someone touched his hand and it was the most beautiful soft silky thing he had ever felt. He had to know what that was, ever so slowly he opened his eyes and what he saw was the most beautiful face he had ever seen and it took him a while to remember who she was, but finally he remembered that it was Teyla his wife, the love of his life.

"Teyla?" John managed to whisper through the pain that had awoken throughout his entire body.

"John it is good to see that you are awake, I will call for Doctor Beckett. He asked me to let him know when you awoke."

John lay there staring at the ceiling trying to remember why he was in the infirmary this time; it was a while before his garbled thoughts remembered that he had just had surgery to break his arm and legs again. All because some delusional bitch had a crush on him and hit him with a car and to make matters worse she hadn't even bothered so set the bones properly and that was why he had ended up in the infirmary this time. Looking down at his legs, he realised that they were bandaged heavily and in traction. His arm was also bandaged heavily and placed on a large fluffy pillow.

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud booming Scottish voice; "how are you son?" He wished that the man could speak more quietly.

"I'm fine, but can you please be quiet, as my head hurts."

"Sorry son," Carson said and lowered the volume of his voice.

"How's it looking Doc?" John asked softly, suddenly feeling like his throat was as dry as the Sahara desert.

"Would you like a drink of water?" Teyla asked lifting a glass up to his mouth.

John sucked in the cool soothing water through a bendy straw and it felt good, until she took it away from him. "Remember, not too much at first, as you don't want to be sick?" She told him with a smile.

"So how's it looking Doc?" John asked for a second time.

"Well the operation was a success. We were able to pin your legs into their rightful position and in a few days we will use the bone healing device and the Iratus compound on the breaks. My guess is that you will be back on your feet within two to three weeks, just in time for Teyla to have the babies."

He tried to smile, but he felt his pain levels notching up a little, so he ended up grimacing.

"How's the pain son?" Carson asked while taking his vitals.

"About and eight Doc, is it time for my pain meds yet?"

"I'll give you something now and once you're asleep I will take your lovely wife back to her quarters, so she can rest."

"Sure Doc," John muttered, as he felt a cool liquid flowing through his veins.

He tried to keep his eyes open, so that he could look at his lovely wife, but he didn't last long, because five minutes later he was fast asleep.

When he awoke again he found Dave and Jane sitting next to his bed,

"Hey," was all he managed to croak out.

"How are you feeling little brother?" Dave asked standing up to take his hand.

"Terrible."

Jane got to her feet, "I'm going to get Carson." She suggested walking out of the room.

"Jane and I want to do something for you and Teyla once the babies are born, so when Carson has checked you over there is something we wish to discuss with you."

John nodded, but he couldn't really show any enthusiasm, because he suddenly felt incredibly nauseous. He tried to lay as still as possible to settle his stomach, but no such luck, in no time he felt himself heaving over the side of the bed. His stomach kept rebelling until there was nothing left to expel and then he started to dry heave. Finally it was over, so he lay his head back on his pillow and moaned.

Carson and Jane entered the room, just in time to hear him moan. Carson immediately went into mother hen mode, "okay laddie let's get you cleaned up. Jane, Dave can you please wait outside until we've finished?"

They both nodded and left the room just as Marie came in with some clean sheets and a clean gown for him. He lay there quietly as Carson and Marie expertly took the dirty sheets off the bed and the dirty gown off him. He even lay there quietly when they subjected him to a sponge bath. Fifteen minutes it was over and Carson was checking his vitals.

"Are you in any pain son?"

"Yeh Doc it's about a nine at the moment. Is it time for pain Meds?"

"I'll give you something now, but try not to go back to sleep, because your brother and his lovely fiancée want to talk to you."

John nodded and then he felt a cool soothing liquid flowing through his veins. He knew that he wouldn't be able to stay awake much longer, so he hoped that Dave and Jane would be quick.

He had his eyes closed when they came back into the room and he almost jumped out of bed when Dave took his hand.

He opened his eyes to look at Dave, "Hey," was all he could manage to say, as his head was beginning to pound again.

Dave looked at him with compassion, "As you know Jane and I are supposed to be getting married in twelve weeks." When John nodded he continued on, "well we have decided to postpone the wedding for another four weeks, so that we can look after your children and you can go on a honeymoon."

John was instantly awake. He couldn't believe that Dave and Jane were willing to postpone their wedding for him and Teyla. More to the point he didn't want them to do it.

"Guys you don't have to do that for us. In fact I don't want you to do it."

Jane squeezed his shoulder and gave him her don't mess with me look, "John you don't have any say in the matter, we want to do this for you and there will be no complaints from you about it."

He thought about protesting again, but he knew how scary Jane could be; as scary as Teyla when she was in a bad mood with you. He chuckled to himself knowing that it took someone like that to put up with his brother.

He gave in graciously and smiled at his soon to be sister-in-law. "I accept your generous offer."

"That's all we ask little brother. Now Jane and I are going to leave you to get some rest. Oh and we've already discussed it with Teyla and she accepted to offer as well. In fact she told me if you didn't accept the offer that she would kick your butt." Dave smirked at him and squeezed his hand.

"Goodnight Dave, Jane." John mumbled his eyes beginning to droop.

"Goodnight, little brother."

"Goodnight John." Jane added as they both left the room.

He closed his eyes and wondered where they would go on their honeymoon, would they go back to earth; Maybe Maui, or would they go somewhere in the Pegasus Galaxy? John didn't have a chance to think about it much longer, because before too long he fell into a deep restful sleep.

TBC…

Don't forget that I always appreciate your personal messages and reviews.

There a few references in this chapter to my Story "Pegasus our home." You don't have to read it to understand this story, but if you have time you may like to read it.