Name: Something Pretty
Summary: John has to find just the right present for Teyla on her birthday.
Rating: K
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Something Pretty
Birthdays are always hard, especially if you are in another Galaxy, and can't go to the mall to shop for someone. And even more so if the person you were shopping for was a girl ... a girl from a different planet.
And that was where John Sheppard was today. He was trying to find a present for Teyla, but he didn't know what she wanted. Stretchering his sore back, John started wishing that he hadn't gone to practice. Teyla had wiped his butt so badly, he was still aching three hours later. But it had been fun, because he had won. Once.
"So, can you help?" John pleaded, perching himself on the edge of Elizabeth's office table and rubbing his back.
"So, let me get this straight. You want me to help you find a gift for Teyla?"
"Yes!" John said, placing his hands in his lap. "I really don't know what women like." He sighed, admitting defeat.
"Something pretty," Elizabeth said, enjoying John's pain. He frowned at her, his eyebrows meeting in the middle.
"Care to elaborate on that?"
"Sure. Jewelry, glass frogs, necklace, ring, bracelet..."
"Gee, thanks for naming everything I can't get here in the Pegasus galaxy," John said sarcastically, his mind going a hundred miles an hour. Elizabeth smirked.
"You're welcome."
John groaned as she turned back to her game, ignoring him completely. He sighed, whispering a few choice words under his breath as he exited the office. Stuffing his hands in his pocket, he began wondering the halls, not going anywhere, really.
Passing by the gym, John noticed that Teyla was teaching a young girl how to fight. He smiled as Teyla got the little girl into a head lock and turned her around, showing her what she had done wrong. The girl looked to be only ten. Sighing to himself, John continued to walk the halls.
Stopping mid-step, John snapped his fingers and started running. A few seconds later, he realized that he was running in the wrong direction and turned around, smiling as he passed the gym again. This was going to be good.
Hours later, John snuck into the kitchen and turned on the overhead light of the stove. It was enough to see, but not enough for anyone to find out where he was. Once he had this made, he just had to keep it safe until Teyla's birthday. Two days...
Rummaging though the cupboards, John pulled out everything he needed. Soon, he started mixing it all together in a bowl. When he was done, he poured it into a cooking pan and put it in the oven. Dropping into a chair, and praying that he did the cake right. After ten minutes, John jumped up and checked the cake. It hadn't even begun to cook. Deciding to pace, he started walking from the stove to the door of the mess hall.
An hour later, the cake was done. Pulling it from the oven, he looked it over. It was fine. Well, it looked fine.
Frosting it, he stuck it in the refrigerator and walked out. He had hidden it quite well, if he did say so himself.
The next morning, as he walked by Rodney's office, he saw the scientist eating something. Wasn't he always? But this was different; he actually seemed to be enjoying it. Deciding to investigate further, John walked in.
He exploded.
"Rodney! You ate the cake I made for Teyla's birthday!" He whined, running his hands through his hair and trying not to strangle the scientist.
"It was good, too," Rodney said through a full mouth.
Growling and squashing the urge to pounce McKay and punch the stuffing out of him, John walked from the office. No big deal, he could make a new one. But Teyla's birthday was the very next day! How would he finish it in time?
He walked through the halls again, pacing. He only had to wait until about midnight, when everyone, well, almost everyone, would be sleeping, then he could start over.
A tap on the shoulder made him jump. Spinning around, John came face to face with Teyla.
"What is wrong?" She asked, startled from the look on John's face. It was one of worry, rage, and something else.
"Nothing ... look, um, I ... uh..." John found no reason that could explain himself without giving the surprise away. Teyla just smiled, cocking her head to the side.
"Just nothing," he said slowly.
"Very well. I am going to go to the gym. Would you care to join me?" She asked. John nodded, smiling and falling in step beside her. When they got to the gym, they both picked up their sticks and started. John held out for a while, until tiredness from his lack of sleep last night set in. Teyla quickly put her sticks around his throat, pulling him against her.
"Ouch. I lose. Again."
"OK, two of this ... three of this ... one of this ... " John mumbled under his breath, wondering if he was going to have this done in time. Everyone was late going to bed, and it was now two-thirty in the morning. Quickly throwing everything into the bowl, he mixed and stuck it into the oven. He resumed his pacing until it was done.
Just as he was finishing frosting it, he heard the door of the mess hall open. Ducking behind the counter and taking the cake with him, John hoped that whoever it was didn't find him.
They did.
"John?" The curious voice of Teyla asked. It was funny. John was on the floor, wearing only boxers and a T-shirt, clutching a cake tightly.
"Yes, Teyla?" John asked, straightening up and placing the cake on the counter. He was busted.
"What are you doing?"
"Um ... cooking? What about you?" He was nervous. Maybe she wouldn't know...
"I could not sleep, so I came down to see if there was any popcorn left."
John became defensive.
"My popcorn. But ... yea, I have some hidden," He said, sighing and reaching into one of the drawers, coming out with a small bag. It wa sher birthday, after all. H could afford to give her some of his popcorn. Teyla smiled.
"Thank you. What is the cake for?" She asked, pointing to the chocolate frosted cake. John knew that he had been found out.
"You," he said simply, looking at the floor and suddenly realizing what he was wearing. "Your birthday is tomorrow and Rodney ate the first cake."
"A whole cake?" Teyla asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Yep. Look, I know it is early, but would you like some now?" John asked, pointing at the cake. It was still a little on the warm side, but it would be fine.
"Sure."
Soon, the two each had a slice and were eating happily, talking about different birthdays that they remembered. John's was the best.
"Well, one day, I stayed up all night before my birthday, so when my mom showed up with the cake, I fell asleep in it."
Teyla laughed along with John. It had been pretty funny when it had happened. He was still finding green frosting for weeks after that.
"Thank you for the cake, John, it was lovely," Teyla said, standing and putting her plate up. John followed suit. They both then walked from the mass hall, after hiding the cake better this time. John smiled. Next year, he would have to do this again.
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