Chapter Eight: Memories

After admitting the truth John started to cry, Teyla gathered him in her arms as he cried. Rodney bandaged his shoulder the best he could and splinted his wrist.

"We'd better get him to Carson soon."

"I agree."

"John when did he start to hit you?" John shook his head, which was buried in Teyla's neck. "When did it happen again? Why does he hit you? We can help deal with this."

"I don't want to see Heightmeyer." He mumbled.

"John you do not have to tell us. I can enter your mind and find out that way, but only if you want me to." John nodded. "Teyla held out her hand for Rodney to take.

"I can see what happened?"

"Yes, it is possible, take my hand and relax, you may feel disorientated at first but it will pass quickly." McKay took her hand and closed his eyes letting her guide him into John's mind.

1st Memory

When he opened his eyes Teyla stood next to him and they were watching a young, four year old John Sheppard draw, Rodney smiled when he saw what John was drawing, Teyla looked puzzled.

"Aeroplanes."

Young John stood up and walked over to his mother who sat in a large leather chair.

"Mommy will you draw with me?" She ignored him, but he pressed further. "Mommy? Just for a little while?"

"John…" She said calmly, "GO AWAY!" She finished by yelling at him. Rodney was surprised he didn't cry a normal child would.

"Sorry mommy." John walked off. They waited about five minutes then John's father walked in and John stood up to walk over to them carrying a picture in tow. "I drew this for you mommy." She grabbed the picture off him and threw it down.

"CAN'T U EVER LEAVE YOUR MOTHER ALONE?" Alex yelled. He lashed out and hit John cleanly across the face; he fell backwards clearly confused at why he'd been hit. Silently John stood and left the room.

Rodney looked across at Teyla who was holding back tears. "He did nothing wrong. Yet they hit him."

"Some are sick that way, they take out their frustration on their children." He explained to her.

"That would have been punishable on Athos."

"On Earth people are too scared to say anything, so it continues."

2nd Memory

As the scenery changed around them they found themselves to be outside a door listening to his parent's screaming at each other.

"Don't you throw that in my court Alex!"

"We have him don't we Julie?"

"You're as much to blame! It took two to make him!"

"He's constantly in the way!"

"It's not like I asked to be a mother. He was a mistake got it? John's an unwanted mistake! He understands it well enough!"

3rd Memory

They turned round to see Alex kick one of John's toy planes.

"You're always in the way!" Alex grabbed John buy the scruff of his neck and marched him up the stairs.

He reached the door at the end of the hallway and threw John into the small room. Teyla saw John sit down on the bed, as they heard the unmistakable click of a key turning in a lock, John curled up on the bed and cried.

The last and more recent memory

"I didn't know about it then…"

"Poor excuse Johnny boy." Teyla recognised the day as being when his father first arrived, John was in his training clothes. She thought he'd forgotten obviously he was made to stay.

"Aren't I bit old for this father?" Alex stepped through Teyla towards John.

"You're never too old for discipline to be reinstalled." A punch was thrown the caught John straight in the jaw. "Just think about that young girl that you so obviously have fallen in love with. She doesn't even know about your idiotic side." Another punch landed in John's stomach. John doubled over in pain. "I only have to whisper in Weir's ear and she'll be sent back to the mainland so fast, after all Weir is more your type – being from Earth and all." Just as John was about to receive another clout they remerged in the puddle jumper.

Reality

"Forgive me I couldn't watch any more."

"I understand Teyla. I'd better get back to work." Teyla looked at John he'd passed out due to his loss of blood. His head had turned on her shoulder to resting against her. She gently kissed his forehead and stroked his hair.

Almost twenty minutes passed until the ship was ready to fly again. They took off, and Teyla sent a signal to have a medical team waiting just before they went through the gate.