Chapter 25: Return to normality.

Teyla and Torren were up early the next morning, because they knew they had a lot to do. It was Teyla's intention to move all of Torrens, hers and John's possessions into their new apartment before John came out of the infirmary.

Carson had stopped by her apartment late last night and informed her that John was going to be okay and that he would be out of the infirmary in two days' time.

Arriving in the mess hall at 0700 she was surprised to see so many people there. Normally the scientists slept late and the military personnel got up early, so it tended to be quiet at this time of the day.

She scanned the room to see if any of her friends were there and she was happy to see that Carson, Ronon and Rodney were all sitting at a table overlooking the ocean. She couldn't think of a better way to start the day.

Approaching the serving table, she looked down at her son and asked, "What do you want for breakfast Torren?"

"Pantates momma."

"Of course you do." She murmured smiling down at him. He was growing up so fast, he would be two very soon and it would be lovely for him to be able to celebrate that occasion with his friends and family on Atlantis.

Once she had loaded Torren's plate up with pancakes and chosen some fruit and tea for herself, she walked over to the table where her friends were seated.

"Good morning, how is everyone this morning?" She asked placing their trays on the table and helping Torren into a high chair.

"I'm good." Ronon mumbled.

Carson paused in between mouthfuls to answer, "I feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep."

"I'm not feeling to bad this morning, especially now that I've been able to have some breakfast." Rodney replied while stuffing another mouthful of pancakes into his mouth.

"Does anyone know how John is this morning?" Teyla asked while sipping her tea.

"He was still asleep when Jennifer threw us out an hour ago." Rodney complained, "why did she have to throw us out I wanted to see him when he woke up."

"You can go and see him a bit later, when you've had a rest. The only people I want in there this morning are Teyla and Torren and that is because they have both had a good night's sleep." Carson instructed.

Teyla looked at Rodney and saw that he was about to say something, so she spoke first. "Thank you Carson and I have something to ask you all?"

"What is it Lassie?" Carson asked.

"If you have time today would you please be able to help me move John's and my things in to our new apartment."

"Sure I'll help this afternoon after lunch." Ronon responded with a smile.

"Aye lassie I'll help later this afternoon when my shift is finished, "Carson replied.

"I could help, but I can't lift anything that is too heavy, because of my back," Rodney complained.

"Thankyou Rodney, any help that you can give me will be much appreciated." Teyla placated him, "and thank you Ronon and Carson for your offer of help. I will ask Major Lorne if he can round up some marines to help as well."

She watched as Carson stood to his feet and as he started to walk away he turned and addressed them all. "Well I must get to the infirmary to start my shift. Teyla you can come by for a little while after breakfast with Torren, but I want to get a cast on that leg first. If I'm convinced that John can move around well enough on crutches, I will release him from the infirmary tomorrow afternoon. Ronon, Rodney I want you to get a few hours' sleep before I see you in the infirmary again."

Teyla nodded her head at him, "I will see you soon then Carson."

Ronon and Rodney soon followed Carson out of the mess hall, so she sat there with her son enjoying the morning breeze. It looked as if it was going to be another beautiful day in the Pegasus galaxy.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

John awoke the next morning feeling refreshed, relaxed and pain free. It was a nice change considering how he'd felt when he'd woken up in the last few weeks. Looking around the infirmary he found that he was alone, which was a relief. He'd woken up a few times throughout the night and his body guards had insisted on talking to him, which meant he didn't get as much sleep as he would have liked.

He was startled from his musings by Dr Keller entering the room, "How are you feeling this morning Colonel?"

"I'm fine thanks Doc." He smirked.

She smiled at him while she took his vitals. "Well that gives me a lot of information," she replied sarcastically, "which is completely what I'd expect from you."

"I'm in no pain and I feel rested, even though I could probably do with some more sleep. Ronon and Rodney insisted on talking half the night."

"Well you won't be going far today, so I suggest you catch up on some sleep this afternoon."

"Okay thanks Doc, what's for breakfast."

"What would you like, Colonel?" She asked with a smirk on her face.

A look of mischief crossed his face, "Bacon and eggs, coffee and pancakes and lots of maple syrup," he replied putting on his best puppy dog look.

"Don't think those puppy dog eyes are going to work on me, you haven't eaten anything substantial for quite a while, so you can have some scramble eggs and toast. And you can have some juice."

He put on his puppy dog look again, "please can I have some coffee?"

John thought he'd almost convinced her when she laughed at him, but she still said "No."

He put on his best grumpy look, "Okay Doc, but don't think I'm happy about it."

At that moment Teyla entered the room and he couldn't contain the excitement in his voice, "Teyla!"

"Good morning John," he watched as she turned to Jennifer and asked with a grin on her face, "has he been giving you trouble Dr Keller?"

"No more than usual."

"Well that means he has been giving you a lot of trouble than." She said with a twinkle in her eye. John knew that twinkle; she usually used it when she was teasing him.

John was incredulous at the way they were speaking about him, so he had to say something, "Hey do you mind, I am right here."

"Yes John I am aware you are here that is why we are talking about you." She had the same twinkle in her eye as she said it.

He turned his head away from both of them and pouted, as much as he liked Dr Keller and he loved Teyla he really hated being teased by them, but then he loved to tease others, so he knew he had to learn to accept it when others teased him.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and then he heard Jennifer's voice, "I think I'll go and get you some breakfast Colonel."

He turned his head and smiled at her, "thanks Doc."

He watched her leave the room and then he turned to Teyla. He knew it was time to apologise to her, because he was pretty sure he'd probably upset her big time.

Summoning all of his courage, he broached the subject, "Teyla I'm sorry if I upset you, I know that I was upset with you when Ronon told you about my nightmares, so if I've given you any indication that I don't want to be with you, I didn't mean it. I love you and I want to move in with you and Torren. Speaking of Torren, where is he?"

"He is with Carson at the moment and he will bring him in when he starts his shift. As for you upsetting me. I don't even remember what you said. You were in a lot of pain at the time and I love you too. I can't wait till you get out of here and we can be together as a family."

He sat up in his bed as she leant into kiss him and he responded passionately only to be interrupted by a small voice, "Kissing yucky."

John quickly pulled away and Teyla smoothed her hair down, just in time for Carson to put Torren on John's bed. "I'll just leave him here and head back to my office and Teyla let me know when you leave, so I can put a cast on his leg."

They both watched as Carson left the room. It wasn't long before Torren was vying for his attention, "Da." He squealed and threw his arms around his neck.

"Hey T.J how are you doing buddy."

Before T.J had a chance to say anything, Teyla interrupted, "did you just call our son T.J?"

John was shocked for two reasons, number one; she'd just called Torren their son and number two; he thought that she was upset that she'd called Torren T.J. "I'm sorry don't you want me to call him T.J?"

She smiled at him as she answered, "I really like it, but I suspect that you will be the only person I let use it."

Jennifer interrupted them when she walked in the room carrying his breakfast. She smiled at them both and left the food on the bed table and left the room.

John looked at the plate with great anticipation, he was absolutely starved and he hoped that the Doc had actually managed to get him some real food. Taking the cover off, he was surprised to find a stack of pancakes and a jug of maple syrup; and the best part of all was there was a cup of coffee on the tray. Next to it was a note that read.

Don't think that those puppy dog eyes are always going to work on me, but for some reason they did this time.

Enjoy, Doc Keller.

He greedily started to attack his stack of pancakes, not actually aware that Torren and Teyla were watching him until Torren spoke, "Me eat pantates Da?"

John was considering giving his some when Teyla spoke, "leave daddy's pancakes alone please, you have just had two stacks of your own."

"Sorry Da." He said and John almost choked on his pancakes when he saw Torren using the same puppy dog eyes that he used.

"Please stop looking at Daddy that way Torren; we do not want him to choke on his food?" Teyla suggested.

"Sorry Momma." Torren said turning his gaze towards his mother.

They talked and laughed for another half an hour before Carson came in and announced that it was time for them to leave.

"I need to get that cast on your leg laddie and then I want you to have a rest for a few hours before lunch." Carson instructed after Teyla and Torren had left the room.

For the next few hours John allowed himself to be poked and prodded, while Carson took yet more scans of his leg and then it was put in a cast.

He felt absolutely exhausted by the time it was all over and he really felt he needed a nap, so once he was alone he let his eyes close and he fell into a deep sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Teyla stood in the middle of the lounge room alone and enjoyed the view. Her friends had spent the whole afternoon helping her move hers and John's things into their new apartment.

It had been a busy afternoon, but she'd promised John that she would be in after dinner to visit with him for a while and then she would pick Torren up from Amelia's and head to bed in their new apartment.

Their lounge room looked quite sparse, as the only things in it at this stage was John's lazyboy recliner that he had picked up when they were on earth, a large screen TV and a small couch that came from her quarters.

Feeling tempted she sat down in the recliner and put her feet up. I'll just rest for a while, she thought settling in and before she knew it she was fast asleep.

She awoke sometime later, not knowing what time it was, looking at the clock on the wall she realised that it was 2100 hours and that John would probably be asleep by now. It was also about time that she picked up Torren up.

Jumping to her feet she headed out of the door, calling Amelia along the way.

"Teyla to Amelia, come in please?"

"Go ahead Teyla."

"It is going to be a while longer before I pick up Torren. Is that alright with you?"

"He's fast asleep, so why don't you let him stay the night?"

"That is a marvellous idea; I will see you in the morning to pick him up, Teyla out."

"I'll see you in the morning, Amelia out."

Arriving in the infirmary a few minutes later, she headed to John's private room, only to find that he was fast asleep. There was a slight grin on his peaceful face, which made her happy after all he had been through in the last two weeks.

Deciding that she was tired herself, she climbed up on the bed next to his and fell into a deep restful sleep.

TBC…