Okay I did not forget this story, just got sidetracked with my other "You're With Me" and then had some finals to work on.
Once again…I am the proud owner of nothing…that's right…absolutely nothing…oh well…
The blonde man walked closer until he was standing in front of Teyla. He reached up as if he were going to cup her cheek but instead he reached behind her head and pulled the orange flower out of her hair band, 'You remembered."
PART 2:
"You remembered.'
Two children approaching the age of self discovery walked side by side through a field of orange petals. The boy cautiously moved closer to the girl and tentatively touched her hand. When she made no movement away, the boy grew braver and lightly grasped her hand in his. The girl shyly smiled and chanced a quick glance at the blond haired boy next to her before quickly darting her eyes back to the field of flowers.
They walked in silence until the sun started to set in the distance and they slowed. The girl looked back at the path they had been walking and in the distance she could see a silhouette against the fading sun. She turned to the boy, "It is time for me to leave. My father has finished trading for this season's crops." The girl slowly started to pull away but the boy held on to her hand. At the curious expression on the girl's face, the boy looked around, searching for something and saw the orange flowers. He bent down and grasped one, plucking it from the ground, "Here." The boy reached up and slipped the stem behind the girl's left ear so the petals brushed across her face, "So you will remember me…You will remember me Teyla?"
The young Teyla looked at her friend, "I will not forget you…I will be back at the next harvest. I will remember you Kalen." Teyla smiled and turned to run across the field to where her father was standing, waiting for her so they could return home.
As Teyla reached her father she turned and called out, "Until next harvest Kalen" not knowing that she would not see her friend again for a long time until…
The fair headed man brushed the orange petals softly across Teyla's cheek.
The man chuckled lightly, a wide grin highlighting his features as Teyla remained motionless, her eyes still widened in disbelief.
Two large tan hands grasped either side of Teyla's face. The man slowly lowered his head until his forehead touched hers in the Athosian gesture of friendship, "I am real…feel me…my skin against yours…like so long ago…"
A strangled gasp wrenched itself out of Teyla's throat as she threw her arms around the man's neck, grasping him tightly.
"Kalen," the name slipped of Teyla's lips in a mere whisper.
The blonde man, Kalen, laughed out loud, wrapping his own arms around Teyla's waist picking her up and twirling her in the air.
…And all the while, John watched, speechless, feeling as if someone had taken his P-90 and rammed it into his gut…Kalen…Teyla knew him…
"Ahem! Excuse me! While you all look like you're getting along, I still have a weapon pointed at my face and that does not bode well for a happy scientist!" Dr. Rodney McKay having seen Teyla's reaction to the stranger slowly eased himself out from behind the tree trunk and now stood slightly behind Col. Sheppard.
All heads turned to settle their gaze upon the scientist who now, finding himself the subject of scrutinizing enemy eyes, started to shuffle uncomfortable on his feet.
"Kalen," Teyla slowly loosened her hold and Kalen in turn lowered her to the ground.
Teyla stepped back and stood beside Col. Sheppard again, "These are my friends…allies of my people in our fight against the wraith." Teyla's voice grew stern, "and they do not deserve such treatment as this" looking pointedly at Ronon, hands bound with weapons still pointed at him.
Kalen studied Teyla for a moment then gave a slight nod of his head towards the men standing guard over the Satedean warrior.
The men surrounding Ronon lowered their weapons and stepped back. Teyla walked quickly over to Ronon and using the knife from her vest, sliced through the rope binding his hands.
Freed from his constraints Ronon jumped to his feet and made to lunge at Kalen but Teyla's quick reflexes had her grasping Ronon's arm before he could attack.
Teyla's eyes shifted from Ronon to the warriors standing nearby, their hands hovering by the weapons holstered on their hip.
John Sheppard seeing the same movement also moved to place himself between Teyla and the foreign warriors.
"Take it easy Ronon," John slid his gaze to Teyla before returning it to the guards, "So Teyla…I take it this is a friend of yours. Nice greeting."
John shifted ever so slightly to stand even closer to Teyla, ready to protect her…
Teyla placed her free hand upon John's shoulder and then spoke, "Kalen…these are friends…I trust them with my life…they have saved me and my people many times…this is not the way to make new friends…'
A slight smile flickered over John's face as Teyla echoed words that he had spoken before on previous missions…
A smile hovered on John's lips but a frown started to appear across Kalen's forehead as he took in the image that Teyla and the two men she was with made. Kalen ignored the whining man to his left as he came closer to Teyla, "I am sorry my kesa," and brushed the back of his hand across Teyla's cheek.
"These newcomers to our home are to be welcomed. If they are trusted by Teyla then I too will trust them." Kalen looked around at his men, those still surrounding Teyla, Ronon and Sheppard and also those still keeping watch from the upper ridges of the cliff, "Let no one treat them with disrespect…already much has been done to cause strife," Kalen look Col. Sheppard in his eyes, "And that is no way to make friends, especially when old friends have been brought back to us."
Kalen grasped Teyla's hand that had slowly slipped from Ronon's arm and turned starting to walk back towards the cave opening.
"Come, we have much to discuss, my kesa…I will show you why my guards protect this area so well."
"Kalen, stop." Teyla pulled on the hand holding her, pulling free so she could walk back to stand beside her teammates.
"Col… Ronon… Dr. McKay…this is Kalen…a friend from very long ago, his home world was Dados…a trading partner with Athos for many seasons while my father led the Athosians…" A bewildered look crossed Teyla's features, "But Dados was culled soon after my father was lost…" Teyla looked at Kalen and John could see pain reflecting in their depths, "My people went to Dados searching for survivors after we heard of the attack, offering our help but…you were gone…taken…how can you be here?"
John looked at Teyla and felt an uneasy feeling settle on the bottom of his stomach, never before has he seen the expression he now witnessed on Teyla's face…
Kalen walked slowly over to Teyla and lowered his head until it once again touched hers in the Athosian gesture and softly said, "Come Teyla…we have much to speak about."
Raising his head, he took Teyla's hand, "Come?"
Teyla shook her head in acceptance and then spoke to the Col but did not turn her head to look at him.
"We came to this world seeking other allies…Kalen has much to tell us I believe" and then Teyla followed her friend into the cave…
John looked as Teyla walked away and then followed, "Let's go."
To Be Continued
Shorter then I had originally planned but thought I had better post so people wouldn't think I'd forgotten their reviews..Thanks so much for them!