Chapter 17: Hope for the future.

John was dozing and somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness, when he heard people enter his room. It had been a difficult day and he was trying to come to terms with what his life would be like from now on. Carson was one hundred percent sure that he would be able to perform most of the tasks he used to do with his hands, but even if he had surgery, Carson couldn't guarantee that he would ever gain full use of his hands again.

To make matters worse Carson had come in a few hours before and told him that he would probably be shipped back to earth for his rehab and physical therapy. Stargate command had said that after three months if he was able to, he could return and resume his position, but even he knew that wouldn't be possible, because it would take at least four months for his legs to heal and his hands may never be back to one hundred percent. He had cried himself to sleep for the second time that day when Carson had given him the bad news.

Now he was enjoying dozing and wallowing in his own self-pity, so the last thing he wanted to do was deal with people right now. He decided that if he ignored whoever it was maybe they would go away.

When a gentle serene voice spoke, he knew that it was Teyla and how could he ignore her, "John I have brought you a visitor, someone who may be able to help you."

Turning his head to face her, he saw someone that he had never expected to see again standing next to her, "Chaya," he whispered.

Walking up to John's bedside she bowed her head towards him, "hello John, it is good to see you again. I only wish it were under better circumstances."

John actually wondered why she was here, so he had to ask. "Why are you here?"

"I believe that what happened to you is the ancient's fault, so I would like to help. I
can't stay long, because they would become suspicious if I stayed on Atlantis too long. It is their belief that I shouldn't interfere, but as I said this is our fault, so I'd like to help."

John nodded, not really sure what she was saying, "Okay."

"Teyla can you take the bandages of his hands please, I sense that I don't have much time, before the others figure out what is going on."

John felt Teyla's gentle touch as she un-bandaged his hands, the pain was dulled at the moment, because of the pain medication he was on.

"Are you ready John?" Chaya asked moving towards him.

John closed his eyes and waited. He felt Chaya holding both of his hands and then suddenly he felt a warm tingling feeling come over his hands. He knew that something was definitely going on when he felt his ring and pinky fingers begin to twitch. Then as quickly as the warm feeling had started it stopped. He opened his eyes to find Chaya staring into space with a panicked look on her face.

He was feeling a little confused by what had just happened, "Chaya, what's wrong?"

"The others know what I'm up to, so I must leave now. I'm sorry, but I've done all that I can do for now. If I stay any longer I will be punished and I won't be able to stay and protect the people of Proculus any longer."

John watched as she rushed out of the room. He was still unsure as to what she had done for him, but he suspected that she had healed the severed nerves in his hands.

Teyla leant down and kissed him on the lips. "I must follow her John and then I will come back."

He nodded, unable to say anything. He was totally shocked by the fact that she had just kissed him on the lips.

He watched as she left the room, enjoying the sight of her walking away. He loved watching her from any angle. He really hoped that when all of this was over he and Teyla could become a couple and with Torren they could become a family.

He lay there quietly enjoying the sensation that he was feeling in his pinky and ring fingers, he began to feel the pain levels notching up a bit. He would call Carson later when it became too intense, but for now he was enjoying the fact that he could feel something.

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Teyla left the infirmary and chased Chaya through the city to the gate room, she caught up to her just as Chaya reached the control room, "Chaya please stop I need to talk to you."

"There is nothing to say Teyla, I must get going or I will be in trouble and I have to continue to protect my people."

"I completely understand that Chaya, but I have to ask if there is anything else you can do for John. He still has a long recovery ahead of him if you can't heal him further."

I'm sorry Teyla, but I fear I have already done too much."

Teyla nodded and asked Amelia to dial the gate. She stood watching as the Chevrons lit up and the wormhole sprang to life.

It wasn't long before Chaya had descended the stairs and walked through the wormhole.

Once the wormhole had shut down she turned and headed out of the gate room, it was really time she was getting back to Torren, as it was almost time for dinner. Jennifer had been keeping an eye on him, but she knew that Jennifer was due in the infirmary, so she had to pick him up now. She would go back and sit with John for a while later and maybe she could take Torren to see his Da.

She knew that John's recovery would still be a long slow one, but at least now there was hope. She knew that she would be there for him no matter what, because she wanted to be with him and she wanted him to be Torren's father and ultimately she wanted them to become a family.

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When John awoke again he was alone, he had no idea how long he had been asleep. Looking at his hands he realised that someone had come in and re-bandaged his hands while he had been sleeping and they had obviously given him some pain meds as well, because the pain in his hands was muted. He hadn't really given much thought to what had been happening with his legs over the last few days, as his hands were his major concern, but now that there was hope that he would gain one hundred percent mobility in his hands again, he stopped to think about what was happening with his legs.

Carson had told him right from the beginning that his legs should heal properly with physical therapy and rest. The only problem was that it would take four to six months, but he could live with that. He was hoping that Carson could conduct some tests and scans on his hands soon, so that he could know the eventual outcome there as well.

He was just about to close his eyes and go back to sleep again when Carson entered the room with a tray of food, "Hello Lad how are you feeling?" Carson asked as he deposited his food on the tray table.

"I'm not feeling too bad at the moment. How long before you can run some tests and you can tell me what's happening with my hands Doc?"

"We conducted some tests and scans while you were sleeping and I'm happy to report that the ulnar nerve has been repaired in both hands, so I believe that with rest and physical therapy you should regain one hundred percent mobility in your hands. Marie will help you eat your dinner in a minute and then afterwards I need to have a conversation with you."

John nodded as Carson left the room. Carson wanting to have a conversation with him, it all sounded mysterious and he was worried that it was only going to be bad news.

A few minutes later Marie came in and he had to suffer through her feeding him. Although he knew that is was her job and he would be feeding himself eventually, it was still embarrassing for him.

"Don't worry Colonel Sheppard, it won't be long and you'll be doing this yourself."

He sighed and closed his eyes, "I know Marie, but it won't be soon enough for me. No offence, but I hate to be dependent on anyone for anything."

"Really I would never have guessed," she joked.

A smile lit up his face, it had been a while since anyone had joked with him and it felt good, "thank you for everything Marie. If I haven't told you before, you are really an excellent nurse and I appreciate the care that you give me when I am in the infirmary."

She smiled and gave him another mouthful of food, "You're welcome Colonel."

Twenty minutes later when he had finished his dinner and his dessert Carson entered the room. Time for our little chat, he thought.

Carson sat beside his bed and began, "Lad Stargate command contacted us earlier today and we had no choice but to reveal your condition to them and they feel that it would be best for you to head back to earth to complete your physical therapy and rehab."

John looked at him with pleading eyes, "now that Chaya has healed the severed nerves can't I stay here?"

"I'm sorry son, but we contacted them again after we knew that the severed nerves had been healed and they still feel it's for the best."

John didn't know what to say a few hours ago he was celebrating and he had hope that he would be able to stay here, but now that hope was shattered. If he left Atlantis for any length of time, he may never be able to come back again.

Carson interrupted his thoughts, before he could talk himself into a hole, "it won't be forever. Once you are well again you will be able to return."

"I know Carson, but I just can't stand to be away from my friends, family and home for very long. I just wish that the ancients weren't so idiotic. It's their fault that this has happened and they wouldn't even let Chaya help me. I really hope she didn't get into too much trouble for what she did do." He replied with indignation.

"I know lad, but I assure you that you will be one hundred percent healthy in four to six months and when you are General O'Neill has promised you your command back."

"When do I leave?"

"In a couple of days."

"Can I get out of here for a while then?"

"Teyla's coming in a while, so when she does she can take you to the balcony for a while. I'll get you settled in a wheelchair, so when she arrives you can head out straight away."

Twenty minutes when Teyla and Torren came into the infirmary John was settled in a wheelchair and ready to go.

"Da!" Torren squealed, as Teyla placed him in John's lap.

"I missed you too buddy," John told him hugging him and kissing him on his cheek.

Teyla grabbed hold of the handles for the wheelchair and pushed him out of the room and towards the balcony. When they arrived, she parked him next to the railing, so that he could sit and look at the ocean.

"What are you thinking John?" Teyla asked him, as she came and knelt beside him.

"I'm thinking that I want to talk to Stargate command and try and fight this. I don't want to leave you or Torren for any period of time, because I love you and I want us to be a family."

"If you do decide to talk to General O'Neill, I would like to be with you. I believe if we spoke to him together we could present a united front."

"There is one other thing I need to ask you Teyla."

"What is that John?"

"If I have to go, will you wait for me, because I love you Teyla and when I get back I want us to move in together as a family?"

"Of course I'll wait for you John, because I love you too."

"Thank you Teyla, I really hope I don't have to go, because this is my home."

He stared out at the ocean watching the sunset. The sun was just sinking below the horizon and the sky was the most amazing shade of crimson. The last rays of sunlight were glinting of the ocean and there was a gentle breeze in the air.

Up above the stars were beginning to shine, they were just as beautiful, as they were on that first night on this planet. The constellations that had been strange to him on that first night had now become familiar to him and he thought that they were even more beautiful than the constellations you could see on earth.

It had been a long day which had begun with no hope, but now thanks to Chaya he had hope for the future.

Looking down at Torren asleep in his lap and then up at Teyla who was kneeling beside him, he knew that with the two of them by his side, he could face the future whatever that may be.

Fin…

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this story until the end. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and left comments, I really appreciate it.

I'm thinking that I will write a sequel to this one. Please let me know what you think?