Disclaimers: I own no part of the Stargate world, I make no money from this endeavour.
------------------------
The puddle jumper began its descent from the clear sky down into the Jumper bay. Dr Mark Martin sat behind the pilot and watched through the front window as their jumper settled to a rest. His eyes flew to the doorway of the bay; some part of him always hoped she might be there, waiting for him. Yet, as every time before, she was not there.
As the back door of the jumper began to descend, he thanked the pilot for the lift once again, picked up his belongings and headed out into the bay. He wanted to go to her now, talk to her now, but he needed to freshen up and it was late by Atlantis clock. He should wait till the morning. Yes, then he would talk to her. He needed to resolve this.
Slipping his backpack straps over his shoulders he headed out of the bay and into the dimly lit corridors of the Ancient city.
---------
Teyla studied her opponent. She watched the eyes primarily, taking in all the details of blink rate, eye contact and the subtle lines around the eyes. She focused on any small clues that would give away any of their owner's intent. Waiting for any hint to what they were thinking.
Her name was Sophie and she was a marine stationed as part of the military contingent of Atlantis. She was a bold, strong woman, but she would play on that image of herself. This woman knew how to fight any battle and so she remained laid back, seemingly relaxed. Teyla knew better.
Teyla shifted her focus now away from Sophie and down to the green before her. She had a decision to make. There was much at stake now. Looking back up at Sophie, she made her decision. Reaching forward she made her selection and threw out the coloured disks.
"I see your bet and raise you twenty."
There came a chorus to amused sounds from around the table. All eyes turned to Sophie, who was smiling slightly now. Teyla felt the woman's focus settle on her, knew she was being assessed in return now.
"You sure you want to do that, Teyla?" came Sophie's answer.
Teyla smiled, "Yes, Sophie I am sure."
Sophie began shuffling her cards around in her hands, which was an obvious stalling technique. "I heard that the handsome Dr Martin is returning tonight." She uttered over her reformed cards, her expression mischievous.
"I had not heard that." Teyla answered honestly.
"I am surprised. Rumour has it that you would be very interested in that fact." The glint in the woman's eye made Teyla want to smile, but she kept her face neutral.
"Your attempts to distract me will not work, Sophie."
Several people around the table laughed quietly.
"I am only taking a healthy interest in my new friend's social well being." There came more laughter again from the women who had indeed become her new friends. Teyla sent an exasperated look towards Laura Cadman, who had been the one to introduce her to the game of poker. Laura smiled back, obviously enjoying watching the resolution of the game.
"I thank you for the friendly interest." Teyla replied to Sophie. "Are you going to bet, or should I take all the winnings now?" She waved at the large pile of coloured disks at the centre of the table. They didn't use money for winnings; instead they traded various small items and favours. Teyla looked down at the pile of disks in the centre of the table. All this would earn her several extra slots in the gym, extra time in the rec room, less paperwork, some chocolate and other sweet goods and many movies to borrow.
"I'm gonna bet, don't you worry." Sophie shuffled her cards once again, the glint still in her eyes. "Like I've been betting on you and Dr Martin."
This did break Teyla's concentration. "What?"
"Sophie!" Laura warned. "You promised you wouldn't say anything."
Teyla lowered her cards to the table. "You have been betting on me? Why?"
There were various embarrassed noises form the women around the table. Laura shrugged and gave her an apologetic expression.
"Come on, Teyla, the man's been practically dribbling over you for the past few weeks." Sophie exclaimed with a big smile.
Teyla felt her cheeks flush slightly. "I am aware that he perhaps has some interest, however I assure you that there has been nothing more."
"Of course we believe you." Sophie added, though her tone implied she did not believe Teyla. She threw out two disks. "I meet your twenty and raise you a further twenty."
Teyla tore her attention away from her embarrassment and picked her cards back up.
"You know, the Doctor is not a bad catch. I mean he's handsome, knowledgeable, his spent all that time with your people and he can obviously stick fight judging by the shiner he gave the Colonel!"
Embarrassment flushed her and she could feel the heat in her cheeks. "People are truly betting on whether I start a relationship with Dr Martin?"
Donna, a nurse on Dr Beckett's staff sat forward eagerly, "Start a relationship? So you aren't going out with him already?"
"Donna! No cheating!" Exclaimed Laura as she threw a piece of popcorn at the nurse.
Teyla turned to the red haired nurse. "People are saying I am already seeing him?"
"I'm afraid so, Teyla. It's all around the city. Let's face it he didn't try to hide his interest very well." The women laughed.
"But, he acts that way with all the women." Teyla insisted.
"True enough he flirts with us all, but he seems to have a particular attraction to you." Laura offered in a sexy tone.
"Are you going to bet, Teyla?" Sophie asked impatiently.
Her attention drawn back to the game, she studied her cards and tried to regain her centre.
Yet, her mind couldn't let go of what she had just learnt. Surely Mark wasn't interested in her any differently than he was the other women in the city? Moments of their conversations entered her mind. He did seem to spend a lot of time with her when he was in the city, and in truth she enjoyed his company. He often touched her arm, or leant into her personal space, but she had put that down to his general flirty nature. She had not thought of him as a potential partner. Was it that obvious to everyone else that he had certain intentions towards her?
"Teyla?" Sophie asked again.
She attempted to focus on her cards again, but she couldn't let the comments pass.
"Does everyone truly think we are going out together?" She implored the table of friends.
Sophie groaned and dumped her cards on the table. The others all smiled and some laughed, indicating how obvious it was to them all.
"Yes, Teyla." Laura replied with a smile touched with a small amount of concern.
Renewed embarrassment filled her mind. Everyone? Dr Weir, Ronon, Dr McKay, John…
"I won't be competing with Dr Martin anymore"
Those had been his words. At the time she had thought the phrase slightly odd. Now, new light was cast on his words. What exactly had he meant by that? Had he and Dr Martin sparred together over her? The thought was almost ridiculous. Why would they?
A fleeting moment of hope flickered to light in her heart, in that place in her heart where she hid her most secret desires. The place where she kept hidden her deep affection for John Sheppard. A place she would hardly admit existed to herself and the possibility that he may in some way think of her other than friend, than family… No, he would want someone from his own world. She had seen him flirt with so many women, with Dr Weir. He would never feel for her that which she felt for him.
Yet now those deeply hidden emotions forced their way to the surface and demanded to be heard. She pushed down the torrent of emotion and tried to focus on the cards before her.
"I won't be competing with Dr Martin anymore"
What had he meant by 'competing'? She had to know. Now. She placed her cards down on the table and stood.
"Teyla? Are you alright?" Laura asked. The others all looked equally surprised and concerned by her actions as she moved towards the door.
"I am fine. I need to go. I am sorry." She turned and headed out of the door to a chorus of protests, over which she could hear Sophie. "Damn it, she had a full house!"
-----------------
She could not find him. She had looked in all the places in which he normally worked, or relaxed. She looked out of the nearest window and looked towards the end of the pier in which she had found him only a couple of days ago. She saw no light, no hint of anyone in that part of the city. She could go out there, but the rain was sheeting down and she had to cross several open areas to reach his building. It was doubtful he was there anyway.
She turned back to the empty mess hall. She had tried calling him over the radio, but he had not replied. Major Lorne said he was definitely in the city, but was off duty. He was probably asleep or somewhere by himself with his radio turned off. She would have to wait until tomorrow. But, sleep was far from her mind.
She poured herself some tea from the heated pot and helped herself to some fruit. At least she could enjoy the silence in the empty mess hall for a while. Sitting down by the window she watched the patterns of rain as it hit the glass. She tried to centre herself again. She did not like feeling so out of control. Emotions were of great value, but they could cloud judgment and give false hopes. False hope, was that what she felt now?
"Teyla?" Said a familiar voice and she looked up to see Mark Martin standing in the doorway. She smiled as best she could as he approached.
"Dr Martin, I did not hear you had returned to the city."
He frowned as he neared her. "Teyla, please call me Mark, as you have always done."
"I am sorry. I am tired." She offered as an excuse. She did not want to insult the man, but she could not help thinking of Sophie and Donna's words now. She noted the smile on his face and the kind look in his eyes. He was a very handsome man.
He sat opposite her and smiled once again. His smile was comforting in a strange way. "I was hoping to talk to you about something. I was going to wait until tomorrow, but since you are here…" His expression turned slightly nervous and Teyla had a sudden realisation as to where the conversation was headed.
"I've been meaning to ask you something for a while actually. You see I…really enjoy your company. I feel we have a lot in common and I would love to spend more time with you. So, I was wondering if you would like to go on a date with me sometime?"
Teyla felt her cheeks warming again and pressed her cool fingers against her cheek to cool it as she considered his words. His eyes never left her face, his expression open and appealing. His words were so honestly spoken, his affection clear in his eyes that she could not help feeling moved. For a moment she considered accepting his offer. He would surely be a kind and generous lover, a man with good humour and a kind heart.
Yet, her thoughts returned to John. He had said nothing to her even close to what Mark had just said. Had she imagined those small moments of connection between her and John? Was she pinning false hopes on a man who felt nothing for her? She had to find out.
She reached forward, placed her hand on top of Marks, and looked him straight in the eye.
"Mark. Thank you for your kind words. I do enjoy your company as well and I value our friendship.."
He looked down at that word. "Friendship. Is that all you feel for me?" He asked.
The doors to the mess hall slid open and they turned to see John Sheppard standing in the entrance. Teyla saw his expression of surprise and then watched his eyes drop to where her hand lay on top of Marks. For a moment something crossed his face, but the expression was gone before Teyla could read it.
"Sorry." He offered quickly as he turned and left quickly.
Teyla watched the doors slide shut, but that small flicker of hope now flared up into a burning flame. It was possible.
Mark pulled his hand out from under Teyla's drawing her attention back to him. He sat back in his chair and rubbed his hands through his hair. "Sheppard."
He dropped his hands to his lap and regarded her. "I thought it was just on his side."
Hope grew slightly stronger. "Was that why you two sparred?" She asked.
Mark leant forward, "Yes, but I don't think he realised that until we…talked." She looked at him questioningly. "The guy doesn't deserve you, Teyla. Are you sure you want to be with a man who didn't even realise he liked you until some other guy hit him round the head?"
Teyla couldn't help but smile at the image. Mark smiled along with her for a moment. "Look, if you want to out go out with Sheppard you go ahead. But, the guy has problems with emotions."
Teyla smiled again. "As do I." She reached out and placed her hand once more over his. "Thank you for your interest, Mark. If he were not so important to me, I would have gladly accepted your offer."
Mark turned his hand over under hers and squeezed her fingers gently. "If he's too stupid to realise what he's got, then you come and find me."
Teyla smiled at the sentiment as he released her hand.
"So, you gonna go talk to the thick headed Colonel?" He asked as he stood up.
Realisation hit her now that she had to speak with John. Now was the time to bring what had been unsaid into the open. She could only hope that by being honest with him, that he would be honest in return. And she could only hope that what he honestly felt wouldn't hurt her.
--------------
TBC
