A/N: Many thanks for all the reviews, it keeps me going.

Teyla stepped through the gate first. She tried to hide her hand behind her P90. It was only partially successful.

"What happened Teyla?" Elizabeth asked. "You'd better go see Carson."

Teyla mumbled something incoherently before walking away. She didn't head for the infirmary. Instead, she darted into the nearest transporter and took it a small secluded spot far outside the bounds of the occupied area of Atlantis. She dropped her P90 in the hallway just outside the balcony.

The balcony was only a few inches above the water. She dipped her blood soaked hand into it. The blood washed away and disappeared, at least physically. She then stuck her boots into the water and rinsed them off. She glanced over her mission gear, they were clean enough.

She slipped her boots from her feet and took her socks off. She then pulled up her pant legs and let her feet dangle off the edge of the balcony. It brought back the best memories. If she looked quickly enough, she could almost she John sitting next to her.

They'd spent an entire night out here once. It had been the most enjoyable time of her life. She'd never felt so content before in her life. The tears started to fall, she really needed John now.

Then the face of the soldier she had just murdered rose to the surface of her thoughts. She immediately pulled her feet from the water. She pulled herself up into a ball against the wall, tucking her legs in close and cried. She was a murderer; she'd failed to honor John's memory; the pain was just too much.

XXX

Aiden nervously stepped into Elizabeth's office. "Doctor... may I come in?" He asked nervously.

Elizabeth frowned, obviously catching onto his nervousness. "What's bothering you Aiden?"

"It's Teyla mam." He hated himself for what he was about to do. "I don't think she's stable."

"What do you mean? I know she's in pain but..."
"Yes mam, she's in pain. But it's not the kind of pain you can walk away from. She slit the Genii soldier's throat, while he was tied and unarmed."

Elizabeth stared at him dumbfounded before swallowing. "That couldn't have been Teyla."

"It was, the blood on her hands wasn't hers, it was his."

Elizabeth was going to respond when Carson walked into her office. "Have you all see Teyla?"

"She didn't report to the infirmary?" Elizabeth asked.

"No and no one's seen her in the last thirty minutes."

Elizabeth tapped her ear piece radio. "Bates assemble a search team and begin searching the city for Teyla."

"That's not necessary." Aiden stated defensively.

"You just finished telling me that we have a mentally unstable Teyla that's in some unknown part of the city. How do you expect me to react?"

"I have an idea where she went. All I ask is that you let McKay and I go alone."

"Take stunners, I want Teyla brought to the infirmary for Carson and Heightmeyer to look her over." Elizabeth turned towards the back of her office and motioned for Aiden to go.

Aiden took off at a sprint. "Come on McKay." He said to the bungling scientist as he passed through the control room.

Rodney immediately stopped what he was doing and chased after Aiden. The two of them reported to the armory.

Aiden quickly grabbed a pair of hand-held wraith stunners. He handed one to Rodney. "We've got to get to Teyla first."

For once in his life, Rodney McKay said nothing. He simply nodded.

Aiden raced to the end of the hall and into the transporter. Rodney was a few steps behind. Aiden looked at the map of the city. John had told them of the place he and Teyla went to when they needed to be alone. Aiden pressed the panel.

The doors closed and then opened, only they were in a darkened passageway. Aiden cautiously stepped out. He then walked slowly to the end of the hallway. At the end of the hallway was Teyla's P90, laying discarded on the floor.

Aiden glanced at McKay. "Leave the stunners." Aiden set his stunner on the floor.

"You sure that's a good idea?" Rodney asked. "I mean, if she's mentally unstable..."

"Then bringing weapons isn't a good idea. We've got to be friends McKay. She deserves that much."

"Right, I didn't think of that." Rodney placed his stunner on the floor.

Aiden took a deep breath before stepping out onto the balcony. He instantly spotted Teyla. She was curled into a ball against the wall. He could hear her quiet sobs. He instantly felt terrible about what was happening. He stopped a respectful distance from her. "Teyla?"

She glanced up before shuddering. "Leave me alone Aiden." Her voice was distance and horse.

Aiden risked sitting down next to her. "You don't have to do this alone Teyla."

Rodney sat down on the other side of her. "We're here." He said, unusually unsure of himself.

"I am a murderer." She spat at them.

"That is in no way true!" Rodney replied instantly. "I mean... you... did kill him, but he probably deserved it and..."

"You're not helping McKay." Aiden said quietly. He turned to Teyla and extended a hand. "We're here for you Teyla."

Teyla leaned into his shoulder and her tears streamed anew. Aiden slowly placed a hand around her shoulder. His heart painfully reminded him just how much it hurt not to have John here.

"Shouldn't we be getting back." McKay suggested.

"We'll stay as long as we have to." Aiden replied. "We owe it to her."

"Uhhh... right."