Question - Am I getting too long-winded with this thing? Sometimes I think it's taken on a life of its own.

Snow'sLuckyCat - Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. The nightmare was from something that happened on earth. I'm sorry I didn't make that clear. I'll try to work on that.

Chapter 5

Teyla looked at Sheppard as they walked down the hall toward the practice room. "Are you sure you want to do this? You look...tired."

"I'm sure," Sheppard said, watching his feet as he walked. "I just had a ...nightmare...last night and it...woke me up. I didn't sleep so good." She had noticed he seemed sluggish and distracted this morning. Now she thought she understood why. "I still want to practice," he said anxiously, looking at Teyla for confirmation they would continue as planned.

"Okay, we will practice then." She smiled at the relief apparent on his face.

A few minutes later, they faced each other, sticks held high, ready to practice. Teyla went slowly at first, unsure of how much of what Sheppard had learned he would be able to remember and execute. The first few rounds, he was hesitant. He seemed to know the moves, but lack the coordination and speed to properly carry them out. In the third round, he faultered a little and Teyla smacked him on the wrist before she could stop herself. He yelped in pain and surprise.

"I am so sorry, John. I did not mean to hurt you."

Sheppard rubbed his wrist, but did not cry. He looked at her in frustration. "I'm okay. I just don't understand...I can do this." He rubbed his wrist once more, a distant expression on his face. Suddenly looking as though he had an answer, he staightened and crossed the sticks just in front of his chest. Closing his eyes, he began breathing slowly and deeply, exhaling through his mouth.

Teyla smiled. She had taught the major this exercise as a way to relax and focus just a few weeks ago. She was pleased to see that he remembered. After several deep breaths, he opened his eyes and smiled. "I am ready to beat you, Teyla Emmagan." He was so serious, she had a hard time not laughing.

The next round was faster and more coordinated, but she was still holding back, giving him time to adjust and work his way up to speed. "Very good," she told him and she meant it.

They were preparing to go again, when Lt. Ford walked in. "Hey!" He gave them a wave. "Dr. Beckett said you guys were down here. Mind if I watch?"

Sheppard smiled broadly as he proudly proclaimed, "You came to watch us! I'm gonna beat Teyla."

Ford smiled and winked at Teyla. "Yeah, in your dreams."

Sheppard frowned. "No, I mean here."

Teyla and Ford twisted their mouths in an attempt not to laugh. After a moment, Teyla and Sheppard went back to their ready position. Each of the next several rounds increased in both speed and intensity. Sheppard was able to hold his ground against Teyla a little longer each time. His concentration level seemed to increase with each round and all talking ceased, so that they proceeded wordlessly from one round to the next. Ford realized he had slowly worked his way to the edge of his seat, becoming more unsure each time of who would come out on top.

John once again assumed the ready position, sweat running down the side of his face. Both he and Teyla were breathing hard, their clothes wet and beginning to cling to them.

"Are you not tired?" asked Teyla. "Perhaps we should rest for a while."

"No, I want to do it again," said Sheppard impatiently. She looked at him a minute, deciding what to do.

"One more time and then we stop. You may not be tired, but I am." She had a feeling it wasn't so much that he wasn't tired, as it was that he wanted to win.

"Okay! And then can we eat?"

"Yes," she said, thankful that there wasn't to be an argument. "Then we'll get cleaned up and eat." Teyla took the ready position.

Ford sat with his mouth open as the exercise unfolded before him. The session was as fast and intense as he had ever seen it and he wondered if they could go on forever. They matched each other perfectly, blow for blow, the sharp rapping of the sticks almost creating a musical beat all its own. And then, suddenly, the flow of movement changed. Sheppard began moving left and then switched to the right with lightning speed. He caught Teyla off guard and, in an instant, she was face up on the mat, Sheppard's stick held horizontally across her throat. Her face registered her obvious suprise.

Sheppard jumped up immediately. "I won!" He reached out his hand to help her up. Slowly, she reached out and took it, getting to her feet.

Ford was already on his feet, staring in amazement. "Oh, wow! That was awesome! You guys should do some type of demonstration for the whole city. I've never seen anything like that."

Teyla looked warily at Sheppard. "That was very good, John. You have improved. I am impressed."

Sheppard just grinned. "That was fun. Can we eat now?"

After much persuasion, Teyla finally convinced Sheppard they needed to shower and change before they ate. Apparently, six year olds are perfectly content to run around in nasty, sweaty clothes, oblivious to how they smell. Teyla, however, was not.

Ford met up with them in the mess hall for lunch. After filling their trays, they found an empty table and began to eat, Sheppard seated between them. The room was full of people, so Teyla was relieved when John expressed no interest in holding her hand. He seemed to be more at ease with moving around Atlantis.

After a few minutes, Teyla began to notice a table behind her getting louder and louder. One voice began to dominate the conversation. It didn't take long to recognize who it was...Kavanagh.

"...such a freak. First the whole mutant gene thing and now, apparently, he's turned into a moron. I heard he now has the mind of a five-year old. He wasn't much use before. Now he's not only worthless, but he's using up precious resources. I don't know why Weir brought him along in the first place. No, actually I do. She probably brought him because he's a pretty flyboy." She heard others at the table laugh.

Without moving her head so as not to alert the major, Teyla slid her eyes over to Ford in order to see if he had heard. The anger in his eyes and the tightly clenched jaw answered her question as their eyes met. They both glanced at Sheppard, praying he hadn't been paying attention. Her heart dropped.

Sheppard had stopped eating mid bite and sat staring sadly at the table. He slowly put his fork down, bowed his head so low it was almost touching his plate, and shoved his hands down in his lap. He looked rather like someone had just punched him in the gut.

"John? John, look at me." She waited until he looked up, his lower lip quivering slightly as he fought back the tears.

"Am I really a...freak?" he asked so softly she almost didn't hear him.

Hot anger boiled up inside her. She looked at Ford and saw him clenching and unclenching his fists. She knew he wanted to give Kavanagh a quick trip to the floor. She shook her head, indicating this was not the time or the place. He clenched his jaw even tighter, but nodded that he understood. She turned her focus back to Sheppard.

"No John, you are NOT a freak. And you are most certainly a valuable member of Atlantis. You have helped the people of Atlantis much more than Dr. Kavanagh ever could or would. He is a selfish man who seeks to make himself look important to others. I assure you, there are more people in Atlantis who like and respect you than will ever like or respect Dr. Kavanagh."

Sheppard looked uncertain. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."

Teyla smiled. "I do want you to feel better, but that is not why I am saying this. I know it to be true. Search your heart, John. You said that you remember people and how you felt about them. Do I lie to you."

She could almost see him processing that as he searched her eyes. "No," he finally said. "You would never lie."

"Then believe me. YOU are not the freak here."

His face relaxed a little. He didn't look happy, but he didn't look quite so down. "Thanks, Teyla."

About that time, Kavanagh and two scientists got up from their table and began walking toward the door. They were coming up from behind Teyla. Ford whispered across the table, "They're coming." As they approached, the two scientists noticed the three of them at the table and the look on their faces. Guilt and embarrassment washed over their faces as they realized Kavanagh's remarks had been heard. Ford and Teyla stared at one another, trying to draw strength from one another not to start anything that could further hurt Sheppard.

Kavanagh saw them as he passed their table. "I see you two drew babysitting duty, huh. I bet that's a fun job."

Teyla looked up at him, her eyes narrowed in anger. "I have no idea what you are talking about. We are simply having a meal and, unlike you, not bothering anyone."

"Yeah, right," he said sarcastically. "Hey, major." Kavanagh patted Sheppard on the head and laughed. Teyla saw Sheppard's eyes flash in anger. She immediately jumped to her feet, her voice strained with her own rage.

"You will NOT touch him or speak to him or about him again, is that clear?"

"Why, are you his mommy?" Kavanagh sneered. He seemed oblivious to the fact that the rest of the mess hall had gone silent as everyone watched the scene before them...and he was the only one that thought it was funny. It was almost like the whole room held its breath.

Teyla narrowed her eyes. Ford was thinking if Kavanagh was smart, he would just make a run for it. But then, in spite of the D and the R in front of his name, he didn't really seem to have a lot going on upstairs. Ford smiled. This could be good.

"Did your mother never teach you how to treat people with dignity and respect? Major Sheppard has saved you and many others on several occasions. He has been injured while performing his duty helping Atlantis. He deserves everyone here's respect and patience as he tries to recover. It is deplorable that you would treat one of your finest warriers like this. You are a pitiful excuse of a man. Maybe it is you that should not be here. Major Sheppard certainly belongs."

Kavanagh quickly brought his hand up and stuck his finger in Teyla's face. "NO! You are the one who doesn't belong. You're not even from..."

Sheppard was between them in an instant, his eyes blazing as he slapped Kavanagh's hand away. "You leave Teyla alone. She wasn't even doing anything to you. Why can't you just leave us alone? Why are you so...mean?"

Kavanagh reacted by trying to grab Sheppard's hand. Before anyone else could respond, Sheppard snatched Kavanagh by the wrist and jerked his arm out straight. At the same time, he whirled around so that his back was to Kavanagh and drove his elbow into the man's abdomen. As Kavanagh doubled over in pain, Sheppard used this forward momentum to flip him over his outstretched leg onto the floor, knocking the breath out of the scientist. Sheppard was on him in an instant, his forearm pressing against Kavanagh's throat.

"I may be a ...moron...but I can still look after my friends. Are you going to leave us alone?"

Kavanagh was panting heavily as he tried to respond. "You...maniac...gonna...file...report..."

Sheppard pressed down harder. Kavanagh looked panicked. "Okay," he managed to croak. Sheppard eased up a little so Kavanagh could breathe. "Okay, what?"

"Okay...leave...you...alone."

Sheppard smiled. "See. Wasn't that easy? Now we can play nice." He stood to see Ford and Teyla staring at him, their mouth slightly ajar. Sheppard looked down. "I'm in trouble, right?"

And then the clapping started. Slowly, but surely, everyone in the room began to stand and clap. Someone in the back even yelled, "It's about time! Way to go Sheppard!" Sheppard looked around the room, embarrassed to discover everyone looking at him. "I want to go," he said urgently.

Teyla and Ford snapped out of their state of shock. They weren't sure whether to be happy or worried. Kavanagh was angrily trying to get to his feet muttering something about court martial. They quickly decided to cut and run. Grabbing Sheppard by the hand, they quickly made for the door.

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Elizabeth Weir entered the infirmary and looked around. "Dr. Beckett?" she inquired of a nurse straightening things in one corner of the room.

"He's been locked up in his office most of the morning," she replied.

Weir made her way to the doctor's office and peaked in. He was sitting behind a desk piled high with medical books, journal ariticles, and test results. He seemed to be digging through one of the piles, looking for something.

"Carson, has there been a storm in here recently or is this supposed to be what some people call organized chaos."

"Oh, there's nothin' organized about this mess. I think just plain chaos is as good a name as any." He looked at her sadly, eyes bloodshot with dark circles underneath.

"When was the last time you slept?"

"Sleep. I'm not sure. I think I vaguely remember doin' that somewhere in my past."

"Do as I say and not as I do? You're always admonishing the rest of us to get some rest and look at you."

He sighed deeply. "I've let him down. I can't make heads nor tails of this thing. I just...don't know what to do."

"Carson, you're doing everything you can...and a little more, I suspect. We're not always going to have the answers."

"I've spent hours looking at the test results from yesterday, from right after the...accident, some old test results from before, and what is considered normal. Other than a few shifts in the EEG and a slight increase in blood flow to certain areas of the brain, I can't find anything. Some of the results aren't unexpected. There is an increase in the wave patterns normally found in children. Overall, there is a decrease in the patterns normally found in adults. There are some irregularities I can't explain though."

"What about the slight increase in blood flow you mentioned?"

"I've got a couple of ideas, but no real way to check them out...at least not that I can think of yet."

"If you get too tired, you won't be able to help anyone, much less Major Sheppard. Sedate yourself or something tonight so that you can get some rest."

"I don't think I'll have to do that. I can hardly keep my eyes open."

"Hey, where is the prodical son, anyway?"

"Teyla took him to work out with sticks. They probably went and got some lunch, too. They should be back...ah! Speak of the devil. I hear them coming now."

Teyla, Ford, and Sheppard walked into the infirmary as Weir and Beckett emerged from his office just in time to hear Sheppard ask Teyla, "Do we have to tell Dr. Weir? I don't want her to be mad."

"Mad about what?" she asked, one eyebrow raised in curiousity. The three of them looked at each other sheepishly, guilty expressions on their faces. "What have you three been up to?"

Teyla got up nerve to speak first. "Dr. Weir, we need to talk to you. There was...an incident...in the mess hall."

"Oh boy. I bet this is going to be good," Weir said with mock joy.

The three looked at each other again. Ford muttered, "Well, that's one way of looking at it."

TBC