sorry for the long wait between chapters! Things have been crazy with exams and life stuff, but I'll be putting out more chapters now. Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter 4

The Daedalus

Sheppard was bored enough that he was counting the lines on the ceiling. 55, 56... They had been on the ship for sixteen days and- he checked his watch- twenty hours. Not that he was counting or anything. He checked his watch again. And 23 minutes.

He'd retreated to his quarters to escape Rodney's incessent whining after the latest round of complaints. 'You'd think that the people who built this ship would at least get some mattresses that are comfortable! Soldiers are supposed to be ready to... shoot things in case of... well anyway, I'm putting in a complaint when we get back to Earth!'

With a groan, Sheppard rolled off of his bed. There was no way he was getting any sleep, so he might as well go see if he could scrounge something up in the kitchen.

He walked into the kitchen area whistling, but stopped when he saw the familiar curvy figure of Teyla sitting in one of the chairs situated around the table. She looked like she was far away from the ship and it's occupants, staring out the window.

John couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked with her reddish- brown hair spilling over her shoulders. In fact, he probably would have stood there for a while, leaning against the doorframe and staring at her if she didn't choose that moment to turn around and notice him.

"Colonel." She looked behind him, as if expecting to see someone standing there. "You are up late." A small smile graced her lips as he entered the room.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep. What about you? Uncontrollable urge for Ben and Jerry?" He asked, gesturing to the open carton of ice cream sitting in front of her. He grabbed a chair, spun it around, and sat down across beside her- making sure he was far enough away so he wouldn't arouse suspicion if anyone else happened to come in.

Teyla stuck a spoon into the ice cream and took a large mouthful. "I could not sleep either. I seem to have developed a -sweet tooth?- for this particular flavour. Cheery Vanilla, I believe it is called."

John grabbed her spoon and the ice cream and followed her example. "Cherry Vanilla. It's one of my favorites too." They sat in companiable silence for a minute, sharing the cold treat.

"So, you're finally going to get to see my planet." John said, already making up a mental list of things he was going to show her after the mission was over. He couldn't wait to show her the wonders of his planet.

"I do not thnik that a tour of your planet for me is the first thing on the minds of your superiors, while it would be interesting. I will see the inside of the base we are going to. Perhaps after the mission is over, if all goes as planned, you could show me your ferris wheels." Teyla had been wondering about ferris wheels since she had met John.

Grinning, John ate the last bite of the ice cream. "Definately. I'll take you to an amusement park. I bet you'd love cotton candy." He would also love for her to meet his sister, but wasn't sure what that meant on her world, meeting the family. For all that he knew, meeting the family to her people meant that you were engaged or something.

Teyla smiled at John's excitement. At times like this, John was much like a young child. It was one of the many things she enjoyed about him. She would enjoy spending time with him on his planet if it was allowed.

" What are the Goa'uld like? Could they be a danger to the Wraith?" Teyla asked, reluctantly breaking the spell that had been cast around them. She had asked many aboard the ship, but it seemed like those she asked didn't know much about them.

John fiddled with the spoon. "I really don't know much more then you do. I wasn't even supposed to be on this expedition. The only reason I'm here is because I can't seem to follow orders. I found out about the ancients and Atlantis when I sat down in one of those chairs. After Elizabeth found out I had the gene, she insisted I was on her team. So there wasn't really any time to brief me on something that I wouldn't be running into anyway."

"All I know is that they're parasites that take human hosts and then pose as gods. That and they have a healthy like of themselves." John said, grinning.

"That was the extent of my knowledge as well." Teyla said with a yawn. "I believe I will head back to my quarters. We are arriving tommorrow, are we not?" She asked, stifling another yawn.

"Well, it'll be today now, but yeah. Sleep would be a good idea. 'Night, Teyla." "Goodnight, John. Sleep well."

Caldwell called the team to the bridge when they were in orbit around Earth. "Ready to go kick some gould ass, Colonel?" Caldwell asked, sounding a bit annoyed that he couldn't go as well.

"Yes, sir. Wraith ass too. Sorry you can't come." Sheppard said. Caldwell just ignored him. "We should be setting down in about ten minutes, so make sure you're ready."

"All we need is our weapons and ourselves, so we're ready sir." John replied, patting his P-90 and then frowning. He was spending too much time around Ronon. Next he would be shining it up and wearing it 24/7. And attacking peolpe for trying to take it.

After the ship landed, the team was hurried into an unmarked van that screamed 'government issue' to anyone who noticed it.

Rodney immediately buckled up and sank down into the surprisingly comfortable seats. "Finally! Someone who knows what the word 'comfort' means. This is more like it." He muttered.

"Yes, Rodney, I'm sure they did all this for you." John replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes at Teyla, who just smiled in that serene way of hers and looked out the window.

It only took about half an hour to get to the base, and they were immediately ushered into the briefing room of the SGC.

SG-1 was waiting for them, looking worried and terse. "Sit down, make yourselves comfortable." General O'Neill said, looking serious then Sheppard had previously thought possible. Something had happened.

"What's going on?" Rodney asked after leering in Colonel Carter's direction and getting a glass of water.

" The Tok'ra screwed up again." O'Neill said, smirking and shaking his head. Carter took over. "The information the operative heard was wrong. The summit that was supposed to take place in two days is taking place today. In exactly twelve hours."

"Will that be enough time?" Teyla asked, worry creasing her brow.

"Well, it'll be tight, but we should be able to make it. The Wraith and the Goa'uld are meeting on Ba'al's ship in orbit over P5A- 906. We sent a team to check out the area, and right now we're in luck. Ba'al has his ship on the ground right now, and there aren't any guards posted outside. We should be able to sneak right in."

"Just like that." Rodney said, looking like he was about to argue. "Piece of cake, Rodney. We've done crazier things then that and lived to talk about it." Sheppard said, clapping his hand roughly on the scientists shoulder to slience him. It sounded easy enough, sneak in, blow some stuff up so the two alien races would think it was the other, and crash the summit. Now, all that had to happen was for everything to work according to plan.