Chapter Three: The Harbinger Of Doom!

At 0855 the Senior Staff of Atlantis were gathered at the base of the Stargate awaiting the new arrivals to be transported down from the Daedalus.

John was trembling even more as the time went by.

"Calm down Colonel Sheppard."

"For God's sake Teyla, you're in my mind, call me John." Sheppard turned to see her grinning at him. "For how long is Colonel Caldwell on Atlantis?"

"Two weeks. We have to be careful connecting."

"Do you remember the last time he believed he had caught us up to something?" John nodded, how could he forget?

Sheppard had been confined to the briefing room and interrogated for the better half of the day by Caldwell and Weir before being admitted into Carson's care to undergo testing. Caldwell had become the new Bates when Teyla and security mentioned in the same sentence. He had to hand it to Bates; the man had helped 'keep an eye' on him while Rodney changed the test results to show that he had no telepathic ability, Bates had put his own career on the line helping them disguise his and Teyla's ability. Only five people, other than he and Teyla, knew what they could do: Carson, Bates, Rodney, Radek and Kate. That was another thing; John had to go under psychiatric evaluation as well that day. They decided against telling Weir what they could do because Teyla was worried that Weir could use it against them. Everyone knew she had a bit of a thing for John, thankfully, he didn't feel the same.

"Here we go!" Was John's last sentence before he severed their connection. Teyla didn't expect such an abrupt end to their telepathy. She slipped her hand into John's and squeezed it reassuringly. A flash lit the area before them. When the light subsided, twenty new team member stood in front of them; Colonel Steven Caldwell ahead of them all with a smiling General at his side.

Teyla had a suspicion of who he was when Sheppard stiffened and pulled his hand away.

"You must be General Sheppard." Dr Weir said as she stepped forward to greet him.

"Call me Alex." He turned to glare at his son.

"You two look amazingly alike." Observed Carson in his Scottish accent. John just winced. "Like father like son." The Athosian leader noticed John look at the floor.

"Johnny…" Liz, McKay and Beckett sniggered.

"Oh…erm…yes…this is Dr Elizabeth Weir – Head of Atlantis, Dr Rodney McKay – head of science, and Dr Carson Beckett – our chief medical officer." Alex nodded to each of them but stepped forward to take Teyla's hand.

"And who is this attractive thing?" Teyla blushed at the compliment.

"This is Teyla Emmagen, leader of the Athosian and my closest friend."

"In more ways than one." A soft voice said in his mind. Carson's eyes met Rodney's and they shared a knowing smile. Weir had no idea what they were grinning about. As Alex stepped back his eyes were stern as he watched his son.

"Steven tells me you were promoted, I'm surprised you didn't tell me Johnny."

"It really wasn't that much of a big deal." He mumbled.

"And you were promoted on Earth."

"I was going to visit but I had so many mission reports to sort out…" John looked at Caldwell. "Permission to be dismissed sir? I have to show the new recruits the ropes."

Caldwell accepted his request. "Dismissed."

"Is it the chair later Rodney?"

"Yes, I would ask Carson but he's 'busy'." John turned to Teyla.

"Training later?"

"Agreed." John leaned forward and met her forehead half way. They stayed like that for a few moments. "Behave yourself!" She told him.

"Don't I always?" He replied as he walked away, Teyla knew there was his boyish smile somewhere in that statement.

"That is Teyla's greeting/salute gesture. As John is our makeshift Ambassador to them he uses that with Teyla out of respect." Bates quickly covered for them. Teyla nodded to Bates in thanks, he smiled in reply.

Teyla and Bates had become the equivalent of bother and sister among her people. Shortly after Bates was attacked they had a long talk and realised that they were only trying to do what was best for the safety of their people. Since then they never argued again which kept John happy because he didn't have to sort any thing out. Sheppard was always worried that they might try and beat the crap out of each other again. They 'argued' for show in front of Caldwell and Weir but they needed to keep up their act of enemies.