Chapter 4: Roadblock Number One
By: Taya Henderson
"Teyla!" John shouted, firing on the Genii in vein.
"Sheppard, come on!" Ronan called. "We will be back for her!"
"Colonel, let's go before this storm hits!" McKay grabbed John's arm.
The three men turned and ran for the gate as the storm increased behind them.
The gate closed behind them as they ran through, drenched from head to toe, and dripping all over the gateroom.
"What happened? Where's Teyla?" Dr. Weir asked.
"The Genii were there. We were leaving the area because of the storm when the Genii showed up. There were too many of them, so we ran. Teyla must have fallen or something, because I looked and she was there, then I looked again, and she was being carried off by the Genii. The storm was getting worse, so we had to leave." John explained. "Permission to go and get her back?"
"Denied for the moment." Weir sighed. "All of you get to the infirmary, get some dry clothes on, and get some rest. Then we'll talk rescue mission, okay?"
"Yes ma'am." John nodded curtly, his mind already working on ways to get Teyla back.
The three walked to the infirmary, and, after being put in dry fatigues, Beckett began examining them.
"Colonel, hold still." He sighed, giving John a check-up. "This will all be over in a moment."
"Teyla is still out there." John said through gritted teeth.
"I realize that, and I understand. But you have to relax and keep a cool head if you want to keep your bargain with Doctor Weir." Beckett replied.
"How'd you know about that?" Sheppard asked.
"Teyla told me. You'll get her back, stop worrying." Beckett replied.
"I wish people would stop saying that." John sighed. "She's out there, in the hands of the Genii, they're doing who knows what to her, and…"
"Colonel, you have every right to be worried, we all are. I'm just saying some discretion would be wise." Beckett smiled reassuringly. "You're free to go."
Weir, McKay and Ronan were already in the meeting room when he arrived.
"Well, what's the plan, gentlemen?" Weir asked.
"We should go back." Ronan replied.
"He's right. The only way to know where they took Teyla is to follow their tracks. The storm was getting too bad. They must have had some sort of shelter nearby." McKay reasoned. "But we need to do so quickly. It won't be long until they gate away, and then we may never find her."
"Colonel Sheppard?" Weir asked.
"We have to go back." Sheppard replied, keeping his voice in check. "And now."
"Alright. I'll send teams three and four as back-up." Weir nodded. "You depart in one hour."
The three men stepped through the gate and onto the muddy ground of the planet. It was swamped from the recent rain and flooded in some areas.
"Teams three and four set a perimeter, we'll call for assistance." Sheppard said and the three set off.
They walked in the direction the Genii had taken Teyla and found some farely obvious tracks.
"What do you think? Too obvious?" Sheppard asked.
"They were trying to get away quickly. They may not have had time. Wait…faint tracks, there. It looks like…three men leading with two men dragging a woman." Ronan pointed off the path and into the woods.
"Trap?" John reasoned.
"This way is a trap." Ronan pointed towards the obvious tracks.
"Thought so. Let's follow this one." Sheppard nodded to the mostly hidden path.
"Through the woods?" Rodney groaned.
"Rodney…" Sheppard warned, letting a threat hang in the air.
"Shutting up." Rodney sighed and they pressed on.
The trio came to a clearing just in time to see several vehicles pulling away from a camp-like area.
"Team 3, head into the woods a click and make some noise. Do not engage, just distract." John whispered into his raidio. "Confirm then maintain radio silence."
"Yes sir." A voice came back instantly, the boys were obviously itching for action.
"So where's Teyla? With them?" Rodney pointed in the direction the vehicles had just left.
"There." John pointed at a tent guarded by two armed Genii.
"How can you tell?" Rodney whispered.
"It's the only building with guards." Ronan looked strangely at McKay.
"Lay down some cover fire if I get company." John instructed. "Ronan, you mind?"
"Already done." Ronan grinned, firing twice and knocking out both Genii guards.
"Thanks." Sheppard grinned and headed over to the tent, crouched low to the ground.
Teyla was lying on a table, half-conscious and bleeding from a wound in her lower abdomen. John restrained himself from going out and killing every Genii he could fin and gently scooped her up in his arms, wary of her injury.
"John?" Teyla asked, her voice barely audible.
"It's me. You're going to be okay." He kissed her forehead gently and carried her back to where Ronan and Rodney were waiting. "Let's get back. Radio ahead, tell them to have Beckett waiting in the gateroom."
"John…is he okay…" Teyla muttered.
"It's okay, you're going to be okay. You're safe. Beckett will fix you up and you'll be back on your feet in no time." John said soothingly.
The gateroom was swarming with people when the teams arrived back. Beckett was waiting with a stretcher.
"Give her here, Colonel." Beckett patted the stretcher. "We'll make sure she's okay."
"Anyone else think that was way too easy?" Rodney asked as they walked towards the infirmary.
"Don't. Just be happy we were successful." Ronan shook his head.
"How is she?" John asked, hovering over Beckett's shoulder.
"Colonel, if you do not stop hovering, I'll never be able to help her. Go get some rest. That's an order, lad." Beckett looked sternly at the anxious Colonel. "Don't make me do anything drastic."
"Call me when she wakes up." John frowned.
"Of course." Beckett nodded and Sheppard walked reluctantly out. "This can't be right."
"What can't be right?" One of his assistants, Dr. Fero asked.
"Did you run this test?" Beckett asked.
"That's the result I got." Fero shrugged. "I'm sorry Dr. Beckett, I've run them twice."
"And there's no chance this was a mistake." Beckett wondered aloud. "Next time I come within a yard of the Genii…"
He slammed the folder shut, furious at the results.
"No one would do that on purpose, would they?" Fero frowned. "Should I get Dr. Weir?"
"No. We have to respect Teyla's privacy." Beckett rubbed his forehead. "This isn't going to be easy to hear."
"Would you like me to tell her, Carson?" Fero asked.
"No. I'll tell Teyla, then she can decide from there what she'd like to do." Beckett sighed.
"Carson?" Teyla asked, sitting up slowly. "John? Where's John?"
"I ordered him to get some rest." Beckett tried to smile, but faltered. "Teyla…I have some bad news."
"The baby…is not well." Teyla nodded, tears glistening in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, love, it had no chance. Where you were wounded…it just couldn't survive." Beckett placed a hand on her shoulder. "What would you like me to do? I can get Colonel Sheppard for you or I can send in Dr. Hightmeyer."
"No. I need some time alone right now." She shook her head.
"Did you know you were pregnant?" Carson asked.
"Yes." Teyla nodded. "At least, I suspected. How far along was I?"
"Six weeks." Beckett replied. "Everything else is fine, we cleaned and bandaged your wound and you'll need to come back tomorrow to have it changed, but…you are free to go. Nothing strenuous for two weeks or so, and no fighting."
"Of course. Thank you, Carson." Teyla nodded and walked out, completely stoic.
She found John in their quarters, sitting on the bed and staring at the far wall. He grinned when she walked in and embraced her, holding her close.
"What's wrong?" He asked, noticing the tears that were threatening to fall.
"I…John…" Teyla swallowed, trying to compose herself. "They…they killed him."
"Yeah, you were babbling like that on the planet. Killed who?" John asked.
"Our son." She whispered, her tears finally getting the better of her.
"Our son?" He looked shocked and confused, holding her as she cried.
John held Teyla until she cried herself to sleep and gently put her to bed. He still didn't understand exactly what Teyla was talking about, but he had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, so he walked down to the infirmary.
"Colonel? How's Teyla?" Carson asked.
"Sleeping. I don't understand. All she managed to say to me was 'They killed him' and 'our son'. What the hell happened to her, doc?"
"Lad, I don't know how to put this gently…" Beckett sighed. "Teyla was pregnant. When she was stabbed, it broke the umbilical wall and the embryo's blood flow was cut. I'm sorry, she's had a miscarriage."
"Miscarriage?" He backed into the wall in disbelief. "I didn't even know she was pregnant."
"I'm sorry, Colonel. She will still be able to have more children, but I would recommend not taking any chances and wait at least a year for physical and psychological damage to repair itself." Beckett explained.
"My..." John whispered. "Excuse me."
John ran to the gym, tears burning in his eyes, and began throwing anything and everything he could find in a furious rage. He finally ran out of things to throw and sunk to the ground, sobbing. Teyla walked in a few minutes later to find him on the ground, hot tears still running down his cheeks.
"John?" She asked gently, sitting next to him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He looked fiercely at her.
"Because I wasn't sure. Because I wanted to wait until the danger time was over. I wanted to be positive before I ever even believed it myself." Teyla took his hand. "I was going to tell you as soon as I got tested by Dr. Beckett. That would have been today."
"Teyla...I'll kill them." John finally let the anger leave him and the sadness in his eyes nearly crushed her. "They stole our first chance at a family…I was gonna be…a…father."
"The Genii are long gone. That wasn't even the sanctioned Genii. They were renegades. They didn't know…they didn't even know whose life they were destroying. I wouldn't tell them where they could get C-4…so they stabbed me…and they killed him." Teyla sighed, tears threatening to fall again.
"I know, baby. We're in this together. I guess it wasn't meant to be right now." He pulled her into his arms. "And we can have other children."
"This was supposed to be our first." Teyla sobbed.
"I know, baby, I know." John said soothingly, holding her as they both cried. They soon settled and he helped her up. "Come on, let's get you something to eat."
"I don't want to be around people." Teyla shook her head.
"Well, considering the time, I don't think that'll be a problem. If you don't want to stay, we'll leave, okay?" He suggested. "But we both need to eat."
Teyla just nodded and allowed herself to be led away to the galley.
The only people in there were Ronan and Rodney, who were sitting with food and cups off coffee.
"How are you feeling, Teyla?" Rodney asked as the couple sat down.
"I am…I am beginning to get better." Teyla swallowed.
John shot the other two a look and shook his head. It was clear that both of them had been crying recently, their eyes were red and puffy. Ronan and Rodney instead started talking about anything but the last few days. John and Teyla ate silently, half-listening to the other two.
"So, I was thinking about moving into the larger corridor." Rodney nodded, finishing his story.
"McKay, those are for families. It's for people like Sheppard and Teyla who might actually start a family sometime soon." Ronan admonished.
Teyla looked sick and then ran out of the room, crying.
"What did I say?" Ronan asked.
"Um…the Genii…Teyla was…she was pregnant." John managed to choke out. "When they stabbed her...it…killed…"
With that, he ran out after Teyla, fresh tears again stingning his already red eyes. Ronan and Rodney sat there for a moment and then they ran off to the infirmary.
"What's wrong with Teyla?" Rodney asked.
"Who did they kill?" Ronan looked at the starlted doctor.
"Teyla was stabbed. It caused her to have a miscarriage." Beckett explained,
"What!" Rodney looked shocked.
"Miscarriage? What's that?" Ronan asked.
"She was pregnant. Her wounds caused complications and she lost the baby." Beckett explained.
"Can we fix it?" Ronan crossed his arms.
"You can't fix it. The only thing that is even remotely applicable is revenge, and that doesn't do anything." Carson shook his head.
"But it'll make us feel better. Come on." Ronan said and walked out off the room.
"Where are we going?" Beckett asked, following the former runner.
"Just go, Carson." Rodney replied.
"Elizabeth, we have a plan." Rodney said, opening the door.
"Rodney, what is this?" Elizabeth asked, confused.
"We have to go back to that planet." Ronan replied. "And we have to go now."
"What? Why?" Elizabeth looked at the three men, very confused.
"We can't tell you. We just have to go. Elizabeth, just trust us." Rodney waved his hands.
"I'm not authorizing any gate travel until I know what the hell is going on." Dr. Weir crossed her arms.
"We can't tell you." Ronan said. "We have to go back now. No questions asked."
"Carson?" Weir looked at the Scot.
"This is ridiculous. I will not condone this." Carson sighed. "Either tell Dr. Weir or go to bed, I'm not supporting revenge against the renegades, no matter how mad I am."
"Carson, what are you doing?" McKay asked.
"I'm trying to keep you from getting arrested, Rodney." Beckett replied through gritted teeth.
"Arrested? Rodney." Elizabeth warned.
"When Teyla was stabbed, it caused her to have a miscarriage." Beckett explained. "These two decided that they need to take revenge on the renegade Genii."
"Gentlemen, sit down. All of you." Weir furrowed her brow. "Now, I realize that you are angry, I am too. However, you will not, under any circumstances, go through that gate merely to seek revenge."
"But-" Ronan started to get up to argue with her.
"Sit down Ronan, I am not finished." Weir snapped. "Now, you are going to be supportive and caring for your friends WITHOUT leaving this city. Try anything like this again, gentleman, and you will not be going through the gate. Ever. Am I clear?"
"Yes." Carson nodded, agreeing.
"Fine." Rodney sighed.
"Yes Ma'am." Ronan glowered and stood. "Can we go?"
"Yes." Weir nodded.
Later that night, Dr. Weir headed to the upper observation deck balcony and walked outside. She soon discovered she was not alone when she realized Colonel Sheppard was sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall, his head in his hands.
"Colonel Sheppard?" Weir asked.
He didn't look up, didn't movie. She could tell from this reaction that he was crying and he didn't want her to see.
"Are you alright?" She knelt down near him. "John, nothing I can say will make this better, but…I'm sorry."
"Elizabeth…" John whispered. "I'm sorry, this doesn't…thank you."
"No. As far as I'm concerned, you haven't brought your personal feelings into this matter any more that you would have if you and Teyla were just friends. Regs or no, this is wrong, it never should have happened. Go to her, you two need each other right now." Wier said.
"No. I have to be strong for Teyla, she can't see me like this." John shook his head.
"That's exactly why she needs you. John, this is something you need to help each other on, not sitting apart, mourning. Take a few days off, go to the mainland or Athos…just go and find some peace." Elizabeth smiled warmly at him.
The only sounds they heard was the water slowly flowing past as first John, then Teyla, threw flowers in the water in memory of the child they would never know.
"I believe I am ready to return to Atlantis, now." Teyla smiled, watching the flowers float away.
"Me too." John put his arms around her. "I love you."
"I love you too." She said, turning around to kiss him.
He returned the kiss and then walked back to the jumper hand in hand.
"Hey Tey, you wanna get married?" He asked.
"Are you propsing a permanent joining, John?" Teyla smiled at him.
"Yes. A very permanent joining." Sheppard nodded.
"Then I would like to be married." She replied, grinning.