A/N: Thanks for the reviews, you may or may not realize how much they mean to me as a writer.

Beta done by Angw and Trickster's Queen of War

XXX

John went back to his room. He grabbed his sparring pack and withdrew the two sticks. He took a deep breath before taking time to stretch and prepare himself for practice. He stretched like a football player, legs and arms first, followed by neck and then his fingers.

He clenched the sticks in his hands. He knew that he had to practice hard if he was to have any chance against Ronon. He normally wouldn't practice too hard, he enjoyed just spending time with Teyla.

He twirled the sticks as he remembered the first technique Teyla had taught him. Smooth and simple, elegant movements. They are the beginnings of the Athosians fighting arts. He focused on slowly fighting an imaginary version of Teyla. He had fought her enough to know how she fought.

He worked each movement until he was proficient in each. He then started to string the moves together, learning how to correctly balance his feet so that he wouldn't trip during a fight. The sticks are nothing more than an extension of your body. John channeled his every thought into the slow graceful art.

He slowly worked into jumps and twists, refraining from twirling the sticks. He simply let them become an extension to his body. He constantly watched all around him, partially to avoid hitting his stuff, partially to prepare for when he next had a chance to fight Teyla.

Think several moves ahead of what your doing. Know what your enemy will do simply by watching them. He watched the imaginary version of Teyla as she fought and parried his subtle trusts and jabs. He knew what Teyla could do, he just had to master how to counter when she attacked.

He kept his attacks simple, never stringing more than two together. He balanced easily on his two feet, giving ground as necessary and taking it as the opportunity presented itself. He was in a zone of perfect concentration, his every being focused on the task of preparation.

The second tier of the arts involve defending yourself better. You must be able to shunt you enemy's attacks away from you, only then can you attack. He stopped attacking all together, only blocking and shunting. He could easily block with his two hands, provided he didn't focus on returning the attacks.

The advantage to shunting was that it allowed him to make an attack while his opponent, in this case the imaginary Teyla, was already fully committed and not defending. He worked on shifting his weight so that he could easily swap sticks for blocking, always leading him with one free stick to fight back with.

If he timed it right, he could hit his opponent with his elbow as he shunted an attack away with the same arm. All he had to do was make sure it was almost instant. He also had to be spinning away as soon as he did it because she would have the immediate advantage.

He finally stopped practicing hours later, covered in sweat. His every muscle ached. He placed his sticks back into his pack, then threw it under the bed. He quickly took a shower before heading back out into the city.

Tonight was the Athosian's treat for the people of Atlantis. It had become a weekly tradition. Once a week, the Athosians would come back from the mainland and serve a traditional Athosian dinner. John generally enjoyed the meals. They were different and he generally got to talk to Teyla for a long time.

He took his plate from the kitchen, thanking the Athosians inside. He then walked to the outside balcony and was almost to his normal table when he spotted Teyla and Ronon. He could suppress the irritation he felt. Scowling bitterly, he turned and found Elizabeth sitting alone near the center of the balcony. "This seat taken?" He asked, trying to keep the bitterness from his voice.

"No, of course not." Elizabeth replied, motioning for him to sit. "Though I thought you sat with Teyla during this night."

"Most the time I do." John breathed deeply, trying to let the bitterness out of his body. "Just not tonight apparently."

Elizabeth glanced over at Teyla and Ronon. "It's good to see Ronon having some company though. Lord knows he needs it."

John snorted at that. "I just wish it wasn't my company."

"John..."

John held up a hand. "Pretend I didn't say that. Did you get my reports?"

"Yeah. Just finished reading through them before dinner. I edited a couple of them to make them a little more professional."

"What do you mean?"

"John, I've spent the last several years of my life writing reports for people. I know what they want and I want to make sure you stay here in Atlantis."

"I know, they read like action novels, but that doesn't mean they're not professional."

"I didn't say that. I've just got a little more experience than you do. I'm trying to help John."

"I know, sorry I snapped at you. I've been a little stressed lately."

"Carson finished with your blood work."

"And?"
"Nothing anonymous. You're in perfect health, as far as he's concerned."

"Believe me now."

"I can't see any reason not to, though I think we're going to avoid that planet for the time being. I've scheduled your team for your next mission tomorrow afternoon, somewhere around 3:30."

"Where are we headed?"

"P3Z-885. The stargate is in orbit so you'll need to take a jumper."

"Any idea what we'll encounter?"

"No, so keep Atlantis a secret."

"Atlantis was recently destroyed by the Wraith. I know."

"Good, finished your book yet?"

"Uhh... not really. I still haven't finished the first chapter yet."

"You're the only person on Atlantis who hasn't exhausted their books yet. You know that... right?"

"Of course. I also know that I spend the least time reading."

"By least time, once in a blue moon."

"The moon doesn't get blue here."

Elizabeth laughed. "No, but you know what I mean."
"Of course I do. That's why I made the joke." John forced a smile.

Elizabeth finished the last of her meal. "This was a great idea, to have the Athosians do this."

"Yeah..." John replied distantly. "I really did enjoy the meals."

Elizabeth ignored John's distant reply. "It's also a real moral booster for both of our people. The Atlantis personnel don't ever get something like this. The Athosians really enjoy seeing the people the owe so much to, enjoying something as simple as a traditional Athosian meal."

"That's true." John finished the last of his food. "Thanks for the company Elizabeth." John stood to get up. He collected his plate and cup. He handed them to the kitchen staff before heading back to his room.

He opened his computerized journal once again as soon as he got there, adding another page to today's already several page entry. He felt bitter. Generally tonight was his night with Teyla. They'd sit there for at hours, talking about everything. From Earth and it's customs to Teyla's people and their customs. John never realized how much he enjoyed that time. He guessed he took it for granted.

Once finished with the journal he walked out onto his balcony. It was an advantage to having a room built along the outer wall. He could look down upon the city, glowing with light. The waves lightly splashed against the floating city. He scratched his head. He was glad that some things never changed.

"Colonel Sheppard." Rodney's voice came over John's radio.

John walked over to it and pressed the button. "Sheppard here. What do you want Rodney?"

"Could you come down to the chair room? I need you to help me run some tests on the new ZPM."

"Coming Rodney." John shoved his radio into his jacket pocket and walked out of his room, locking the door on the way out. He was in no hurry to find Rodney. He knew he was going to be there for at least an hour, if not more. It's not like he had anything he was doing. If it had been a typical Athosian meal night, he would've been spending time with Teyla right now.

As he entered the chair room, he noticed Rodney was under the control console. John guessed Rodney was making the chair use less energy or something equally brilliant. John really didn't care, if it worked great, if it didn't oh well. "I'm guessing you want me in the chair." He said.

"Yeah... I want you to think about recharging the drones."

"Is that even possible?" John sat down in the chair, which activated instantly to his presence. His fingers found their natural grooves in the gel on the arms of the chair. He concentrated on exactly what Rodney told him, recharging the drones.

"Well?" Rodney asked impatiently.

"Got it!" John stated triumphantly. "Recharging drones at a rate of three drones per second."

Rodney started messing with the control console.

"What are you doing?" John asked.

"Just checking your readings." Rodney replied, concentrating more on his work than on answering John's question. Rodney let out a startled cry, the a laugh.

"Is that your best evil laugh Rodney?" John asked sarcastically.

"No... it's my best happy laugh. We have actual drone regeneration. I need you to keep concentrating until it's full. I'll be watching the power drain, we don't want to deplete the ZPM."

"That'd be bad." John continued focusing on the drones. He could feel each one being created, could see through each of them. They were rapidly filling up the formerly depleted bay. John loved that about Atlantian technology. It was almost like working with a dog or cat, only a whole lot cooler.

Through the chair, Atlantis was talking to him. He could hear it as if it was a person standing next to him. He could see what had happened to it. He could see every scar from the battles it had been through. He could feel the imprints the ancients had left behind on the city. It was like listening to a real person, even though it was the city.

"Rodney," he said, in awe. "the city's talking to me."

"What do you mean?" Rodney's voice was skeptical.

"It's like working with a dog or a cat. It's alive."

"You mean it's sentient?"

"Assuming that word means what I think it means then yes. I'm feeling all kinds of things."

"Describe a few."
"Well, it happy to be awake again, it slept for a very long time."

"Something more useful."

"It's been repairing damage to it since it got the ZPM."

"Are you serious, like a self repair system."

"Yeah, it still needs us to help it, but it's fixing the stuff we can't reach."

"Oh my god. It's like we're in a living being."

"And I'm the conduit. This chair interfaces me with the city's mind."

"How come you never felt it before?"

"Could have something to do with the city not having a ZPM."

"Why thank you Colonel, you have a talent for stating the obvious."

"Shut up Rodney. I'm the only one who can do this."

"We're all pointedly aware of it. Now concentrate on the drones, I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Where're you going?"

"To go find Elizabeth, I need to tell her about this."

"Take your time." John said to the empty room.

He will The city echoed.

"Wow. This is cool!" John's voice was quiet, almost inaudible.

We are glad to be awake again.

"Glad to know your enjoying yourselves. Sorry it took us so long."

Sorry it took you so long to find us.

"How about we call it even?

But first apprentice, you must heed our advice.

"You know about the old man?" John was shocked.

Yes, he was a caretaker so long ago, before we slept. He and his order gambled everything to try and save Atlantis.

"But they failed, right?"

Yes, the evidence is clear with your arrival. The ancestors left their legacy for you, their children.

"Just hope we can live up to your expectations. You said I had to heed your advice?"

Yes, you heart is clouded apprentice. Your mind must make peace with your heart before you can begin the journey.

"The journey to where?"

The end of this war. You have the strength within you to stop the Wraith.

"How do I do that?"

Make peace with yourself Colonel Sheppard, then worry about having the strength.

"How the hell do I do that?" John asked.

The city didn't reply.