Mine Cave
CHAPTER SEVEN
SGA SGA SGA
"John, I feel them. They are here! Tell She'llyn to run!" ...
This was what all the practice sessions had been about, and now She'llyn felt her father's broad hand on her back urging her forward into a run towards their hidden place. She wanted to please her parents, so ran as fast as her young legs could manage. Her heart was beating so fast she thought she would burst apart, but she ran and ran; skipping over rocks and dust in rehearsed ease.
Not all things were falling to plan, though, and She'llyn worried that her father would be able to run back and grab her mother and little brother, from where they had been outside, in the time he had allocated them to reach their hidden room before someone would catch them at its entrance.
She risked a glance back and smiled with relief as she heard their loud, hurried feet ringing out against the cave walls. It hadn't taken long for her to find her own way to the hidden door. She pushed against the weight of it, glad to feel it slide open on its rough wheels. She'llyn paused just inside the room to await her parents for a few seconds before the words of her father flashed in her mind, and she remembered that she was to close it straight away if she arrived first, as he could easily open the door again from his side.
So She'llyn closed the door and waited.
When eventually, after too long a period of time, a very scared She'llyn had dared to step outside of her hiding place again, it was to the distress of walking a very lonely path back to the outside world; knowing in her heart her parents and brother were gone.
It looked like the disturbance had been brief as she came across signs of intertwined footprints of her parents and those of heavy boots in the sandy ground near the exit to the cave – and from which she now reckoned, they had been the ones running behind her and not her father after all.
She closed her eyes tight as she walked out into the dusky sky. The dimming light still brighter than what she had been used to the last few hours.
Of her parents there was no sign of, and she suddenly felt cold and very alone. She stumbled along, not sure where she was going, until she reached the solid mound of compacted earth that her father liked to stand on in the morning and evening. She half climbed it, thinking that perhaps he stood on it once again this evening, but when she got to the top it was of course bereft of his calming and loving presence. She'llyn felt tears start to fall but quickly dismissed the supposed weakness as its last, and wiped them away with a strong determination coming in its place that she would survive this. Her parents had prepared her well in survival techniques and, yes, it would take some time, but she would pull through from this terrible day.
Eventually, from her raised height, She'llyn spied a body lying at the other side of the caves entrance and ran with renewed hope that it was one of her parent's still alive, but as she got closer she came to a sudden stop as she looked down in horror at the dead monster.
Wraith!
Her parents had swithered telling her about them in detail at such a young age, but their situation dictated she should know everything about them in case, one day, this valuable information could save her life.
In the end, watching them decide what to tell her, her father had nodded at her mother and they had told her everything. She had sat on her mother's knee and remembered the horrors of what they then told her, only softened by her mother's comforting and broad smiles.
Now, with one of them dead on the ground, obviously by the hand of her father – which made her smile slightly – she understood why her parents had done what they could to prepare her. Feeling brave she searched the Wraith's pockets and kept what she thought might be useful. The Wraith's stunner she twirled in her hand, already understanding how it would fire, before raising it and firing her own shot into the body as retribution….
SGA SGA SGA
She'llyn's father had failed with only one thing before he died – he had never told her who her family really were, and it had weighed on her all her life.
Now, with her ship falling about her; the last of her material life disappearing as fast as she could watch, She'llyn felt more alone and abandoned since that fateful day all these decades ago.
Somehow, she knew that M'atra was standing in front of her and speaking to her, actually probably shouting through the din of the newest explosion, but it was all one consuming noise that she couldn't filter out into a single thing to focus on. That was until John Sheppard arrived and sought her attention; having ran to her with a thought to helping her and his team. His heart had soared to see Teyla was unhurt, so turned his attention to She'llyn; desperate to know if she had any other way of communicating; now that her ship was destroyed.
She'llyn became very aware of him; that he also was shouting something to her. Then he was grabbed away by M'atra and another guard and they threw him to the ground with M'atra placing his knee against his throat to subdue him as he fought against their hold. More guards came running towards Sheppard's two friends as they had come to his aid. A short fight had ensued, leaving Sheppard's two friends on their knees and pinned in place by several of her guards, bruises on both sides starting to bloom on any exposed flesh, and Sheppard still struggling against M'atra, although he was now winded.
M'atra stood up from the Atlantian on the ground but kicked him in the ribs several times as he did so. This action seemed to get She'llyn to get out of her fugue state and she raised her hand out towards M'atra to stop what he was doing.
"STOP!" she bellowed.
Almost like the natural explosions heard her also; everything went quiet as she shouted out, her hands in the air as she sought out Sheppard's face.
"Just stop what you are doing!" She rang out again, and M'atra stepped back from Sheppard; thinking he had been about to attack She'llyn, but now obeyed his leader's command. He nodded quickly towards the other guards and they stepped back from Ronon and Rodney, with them both swirling around to face another possible attack as they stood upright again.
"Just…stop." She repeated once again, her voice dipping to a level that could hardly be heard. It was pathetic, woeful and almost to be pitied. But Sheppard, remembered the woman from the days and hours previous, so he just straightened himself and brushed himself down, whilst watching her with unease; waiting on her next move and hoping against hope she wouldn't revert to the sinister person she had been earlier.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sheppard also watched Teyla, as she was now within reach of their position; having had to skirt around the ruins of middle ground. He quickly looked towards her hand and she awarded him with a brief glimpse of the credit card object she hid in it-he had wondered where she had got to when she doubled back the other way. Unfortunately, the quick look he gave her hand did betray him and She'llyn had noticed their brief interaction.
"What is it? What do you hold back from me? …Tell me?" She fairly shouted.
Sheppard held up his hands and moved them slowly up and down.
"I'm hoping it's something I do not need to use, She'llyn. I am here to help you…and my friends. What say you tell your men to back off and everybody just calms down?"
She'llyn studiously spied him. "You have something of mine." She said and shoved out her hand, palm side up.
Sheppard fingered the remote in his pocket; weighing up if she meant what Teyla had in her possession or the necklace from earlier. Fatigue plagued him; the latest dip in the cold, churning waters doing nothing to help his aches and pains. The dying wilderness around him and given up its contents in spectacular fashion; no doubt to bring about peace to itself again; that was until time and man had decided it had regrown enough to be stripped once again of its riches.
This unwanted exhaustion, was not something he could afford just now, as their freedom or death would be decided in the next few minutes he could sense.
It was the look on her face that caused Sheppard to hesitate for a second too long. It was filled with loss and sadness and Sheppard realised he probably held the only thing she now held dear in his hand. He withdrew his hand from his pocket, holding the necklace chain tight and considered his next move. Clutching it tight he took a step towards her. She'llyn could wait no longer and took a menacing looking step towards him and he put up an arm in readiness for the blow he knew she would try on him.
The gun shot that rang out next seemed extra loud in the aftermath of their shared horror, but it brought a shock of its own. Sheppard's form obscured the view of She'llyn as they both fell to the ground in the next second, and where they fell to the ground on their sides, they lay there unmoving.
Rich, peaty undertones, mixed with the sulphur odour of the spent round, but Ronon ignored all these pungent smells as he ran to tackle R'ishba to the ground himself, seeing that he was the cause of the gunfire.
Rodney and Teyla ran to Sheppard's side, but before they reached him, he got himself up to his knees and pressed his right hand into his left shoulder, wincing in pain; blood soaking a circle on his clothes and he gaped at it in surprise
"John!" Rodney said and gripped him hard as he swayed on the spot.
"M'fine…She'llyn?"
M'atra had flung himself down beside the grey clad woman and picked her up unto his arms, but then stopped as he realised he had no-where to go with her for help. She hung, unconscious, in his strong arms, blood flowing freely from a gaping wound in her right shoulder.
Teyla reached their side and pointed to the ground, unbelievably still maintaining her silent role.
She had swiftly looked at Sheppard first, but on Sheppard's command, Rodney urged her forward and she nodded, knowing that She'llyn was bleeding too much. M'atra; caught in the moment, hesitated, but Teyla pointed again and he relented his load. Teyla stuffed as much material as she could from She'llyn's own torn shirt and pressed down hard on the wound, eliciting a soft moan from the downed woman which made M'atra tense, but he sat down on the ground beside her, carefully moving her soaked hair away from her pale features.
Sheppard felt Rodney grab his elbow and swayed slightly at the speed at which he was turning round to face him. "Where are you hurt?" Rodney searched, even as he asked.
"Got…tail end of bullet…through She'llyn…" He gasped.
Rodney then realised that a bullet, most surely meant for Sheppard from R'ishba gun, had ripped through She'llyn instead as she had they had both moved at the same time; with Sheppard stopping the bullet's journey; taking the two of them out.
Rodney then glanced as his back and was dismayed to see there was no exit wound.
"Sheppard. You have to sit down. The bullet is still in you!" Rodney's voice was bordering on panic. This was all getting too much and now his friend was injured yet again.
But Sheppard, being Sheppard, raised his arm. "Later, just hold me up until I see how She'llyn is?"
"You ask too much of yourself, John." Rodney warned in his ear.
"Perhaps, I do. But not this day." He wafted his fingers. "Come, on…"
Rodney knew his friend, so reluctantly put an arm around him, which Sheppard grabbed and only slightly added to Rodney's strength to keep him upright; as weak as he was.
Sheppard looked first at Teyla tending to She'llyn; M'atra standing guard with a face full of worry, and then towards Ronon as he took delight in knocking R'ishba out with a well-aimed punch as he had tried to rise again. More guards surrounded the downed R'ishba, stunned at what he had just committed.
M'atra then got control over himself and stood, striding over to his fallen ex-comrade. "Get him secured and stand guard over him. Tell me when he wakes." The last part he said ominously, and then turned to look at Ronon.
"We must help She'llyn." He said to the big man, seeking his understanding. "She is …important to me!"
Ronon nodded and went to see for himself if Sheppard was ok. Once he reached his side, he dipped his head to look at the wound; and found out for himself the very real danger Sheppard was in with that bullet still inside of him. It could travel to his heart at any given minute.
"I'm fine. See to She'llyn, she…"
"Sheppard! Oh my goodness, look!" Rodney suddenly shouted out, pointing over to the near distance.
Ronon now supported Sheppard with an arm around his waist as they both slowly turned to see what Rodney was shouting about.
The mound of earth, that She'llyn liked to stand on every morning; akin to her father, had been shaken with the many explosions and shifts of land and the movements had caused the ground to loosen and break up. Underneath, as it turned out, was not hard compacted earth as they all expected, but the cream coloured wall of the outer shell of what looked like a Puddle jumper – She'llyn's fathers missing Puddle jumper. Sheppard must have fallen on the remote and clicked the jumper back into view, cancelling the cloak.
Ronon said, "Sheppard."
"Go, go." Get the earth off of that ship! Let's hope it's got medical aid in it still." He said, but didn't move to join them and stumbled slightly when he was left to stand by himself.
Teyla looked up and caught his eye through the slits in her mask. She'llyn was losing blood too fast. Sheppard frowned and then raised his head to watch Tain and the other Shoana people gather together and organise an exodus back to the gate; they too knew it was all over, Sheppard felt one problem rectify itself and he was glad. Everything seemed to be progressing towards calm between the slaves and their guards as if they knew it was all coming to an end and were resigned with it to keep calm and see where the next few hours would take them.
Next, he watched as Ronon flung himself at the hidden jumper like a mad man, breaking the large chunks away easily that came away like jigsaw pieces in reverse. Rodney, who also was kicking and smashing the earth with a large stone in the area of the rear door, screamed, when, at last, with the help from several guards organised by M'atra, the rear door was cleared and gleaming brightly against the dark earth.
"Hit it, Sheppard. Hit the button!" he cried.
But Sheppard was in a fuzz, and as he fumbled with the remote, it fell to the ground. He woozily reached down but soon found himself fall down onto his back-side; groaning against the pain that ignited.
"John?" Teyla called out; this time forgetting her role.
It had been quiet enough that Sheppard didn't think anyone had heard; still, it knocked some sense into him, and he plucked at the small piece of possible freedom and pointed the remote at the jumper as he pressed, in an age old fashion.
It only took a minute, but the jumper had not forgot its mechanical instruction, and slowly; creaking with the effort of having been closed for decades, the door swung down and let the burning air enter into a cavern closed off for so long. The returning air was musty and old and everyone turned away for a moment. Ronon grinned and continued smashing the earth off with renewed fervour.
Rodney's gene was enough to start the lights and the inside glowed in welcome. He ran inside and Sheppard watched as M'atra commanded more of his guards to help Ronon rid the space craft of its earthy casing, before racing to be beside She'llyn again.
Sheppard watched his puzzled face as he grew nearer. "It is a Puddle jumper. One of ours. Trust me, M'atra and pick up She'llyn to take in it. Rodney will show you to one of the benches and you can put her down. There will hopefully be medical supplies."
"You?" M'atra even asked of him.
"I'll be behind you…go."
M'atra nodded and scooped She'llyn up gently before walking at a fast stride towards Rodney who had appeared at the open door with a thumbs up.
Teyla was then looking into his face and he squeezed out a smile.
"I'm fine, Teyla. Go, please and see to She'llyn. I've had worse."
Teyla cocked her head to the side at that; she begged to differ, but she ran off, trusting Sheppard would follow.
He did. But each step was an exercise in pain, where every time his foot stumbled, it fired through him like the first time the bullet had went in deep all over again…and again!
Eventually, he made his way to the jumper and rested his hand on the familiar shape and feel of a long lost friend. It purred under his hand and he made his way inside to see Teyla pulling open every access to see if there was medical boxes hidden. She had accumulated enough bandages and pain killers but without liquids and Carson or Keller's input, her abilities were limited.
Numbly, Sheppard made his way to the front of the ship and the H.U.D. came to life at his touch. Ronon shouted on him before he could ask it anything, however, and he felt his chair turned around against his will.
"What are you doing? Sit down in the back." The large man had crossed the space without him even noticing.
"Am sitting!" He said childishly.
"Not here. You can see to that later…let's see to you first."
"She'llyn…"
"John." Ronon growled, not taking no for an answer.
Sheppard acquiesced and allowed his friend to guide him to the other bench where he gently prised apart the ripped material caused by the bullet. The jarring made him wince and Rodney came to his rescue quickly. "With scissors, you big oaf." He said, worried for the pain his friend was in. Knowing this, Ronon let him off with a look that warned of revenge at some stage, but took the tool and started cutting a large enough piece of material away to start cleaning the area.
Rodney sat down beside him and placed his fingers over his pulse. Sheppard yanked his arm away and groaned, but allowed him to do it the second time if it made him feel like he was doing something to help him.
"Hand me some of these bandages out of the kit and see if you can get some clean water." Ronon barked out quickly when he saw the bloody mess the hole had made.
"It's not through and through, is it?" Sheppard asked, catching up at last.
"Nah, sorry John. Try and not move about so much. If you do, it could travel in you."
"Okay." He breathed out and laid a weary head on the wall behind him.
He must have zoned out for only a minute or two, but woke up with Teyla placing a hand over his knee. She'llyn was awake and looking at him.
"Hu...rt?" She asked faintly.
Sheppard nodded only slightly, before shifting down to sit beside her on the jumper floor.
"You will be fine. We have supplies now."
"Where…where, am…I?"
Sheppard took her hand and placed her necklace in it before closing her fist. "Your father's secret he never told you about. Your necklace was actually a remote device for this craft. He must have hid it here all these years ago."
"Hid?" She breathed oddly and grimaced every so often.
Sheppard looked at Teyla and caught her expression. She shook her head. She'llyn was not going to make it. Teyla had been unable to stop the bleeding and Sheppard watched in disbelief as it flowed out of the wad of material on her shoulder and down her stomach to pool on the floor beneath.
"No!" He whispered, feeling true regret that this woman with the ancient gene was dying in front of him before he found out her true story, and why he felt such a connection with her.
Teyla, he noticed, was clutching her other hand tight and he saw tears build up in her eyes, ready to fall. He looked outside at all the Shoana people walk free; tall and proud and he sighed in relief at how well things were progressing. She'llyn had been pure evil, and yet here the two of them were, upset at her imminent passing. Perhaps it was her story, or lack thereof, that was appealing them to her, but they watched her now with sorrow at the painful death they had no time or expertise to stop.
"Sheppard?" The woman's small voice croaked.
"Yeah?" He said and bent over her body as much as he could without uttering a cry of pain.
"That was my father's name."
"Yes, you said. She'llyn rest."
"Sheppard, look." Rodney was heard to be saying, but he didn't look up.
He heard Teyla's sharp intake of breath, but he waited on her telling him what was happening, afraid to move for pain igniting.
"You are so …like …him..." she grinned as her eyes opened and close.
"Yes?" Sheppard said quietly and smiled back.
She'llyn nodded tiredly. "I…"
Sheppard felt a hold on his shoulder and looked up. Teyla had her mask off, and her beautiful hair cropped and sweaty under the leather's guise, framed her beautiful face and Sheppard suddenly felt he had to hold her and stroke it until it grew again. He looked at her and then at what was in her hand and gaped at what she was showing him. He looked at Teyla again and made a grab for her hand, pulling her down beside him; any pain was ignored this time at the turn of events.
She'llyn tried to speak again and this time they were dismayed to see blood escape her mouth and slip down into the grooves of her neck. She coughed once, and Sheppard held his hand on her stomach as it bubbled up.
"She'llyn, hold on, I have something to tell you." She'llyn held the necklace; clenching and unclenching it and focused on his face.
"I…I don't remember."
"She'llyn?"
"She is delirious and doesn't know anything." Ronon said.
"Not true." Sheppard said.
Teyla moved slightly and She'llyn caught her face with the mask off. "Wh…what?"
Teyla caught her flailing hand. "I am sorry. We had to deceive you and your guards so that I would remain safe."
She'llyn looked stunned, and realisation of her behaviour was way too strong as she now lay dying. "I have been so bad a leader…I…"
"Shush, now." Teyla pushed back her grey hair now tinged with red blood. "We are here, these things are in the past."
She'llyn seemed to stare at her for a few minutes, her brow frowning. "I…I know you, don't …I..?"
Teyla smiled and gripped her hand again. "In a way. She'llyn, I have something to show you. Are you ready?"
She'llyn looked at Sheppard and he nodded. "It will answer some of your questions and remind you of how your mother looked."
She'llyn looked puzzled, but when Teyla held up a type of worn photograph towards her she visibly paled even further.
She fingered it and then looked at Sheppard, followed by Teyla. "It's…me as a …baby… with …my …parents!"
Teyla smiled. "Well, it looks like…in some alternate universe anyway, we are your parents, She'llyn."
"Alternate…what?" Her arm fell to the ground and the necklace fell out of her palm. "You…are my father?" She said looking at Sheppard.
Sheppard sighed. "Hard to explain, and no, not me myself...but well, kinda…from another time."
M'atra chose that moment to return and he stared at Sheppard, wondering what had just happened. Rodney silence him with a look and together with Ronon; they sat down to watch the unbelievable scene going on in front of them – mainly, that of She'llyn with her parents from another time.
Rodney was going to have a field day with this at some point, Ronon knew, but for now, they allowed Sheppard and Teyla to be kind to a woman who would succumb to her wound very soon.
Teyla smiled as she leant in closer, tending to the young woman.
"I'm confused." She turned to Teyla. "Your smile…I remember your smile..." Teyla smiled brightly and She'llyn herself smiled back, her pain forgotten in the final stages as shock settled in. "…mother." She finished, lost now in the past.
Sheppard put a hand to her forehead, unknowingly doing something she always remembered her father doing. Teyla covered it and together they watched as She'llyn drew her last breath.
"I wanted …to know. Thank…you!" She shuddered in speech to Sheppard and then closed her eyes.
Teyla felt for a pulse, but she was gone.
It seemed no-body knew what to say or do for the next couple of minutes, until Ronon stood and covered She'llyn with a blanket. M'atra, grieving, left them and went quietly outside, no doubt contemplating his future.
"Come on, Sheppard. Let's see if we can get out of here and take you home for treatment. Sooner the better, eh?" Rodney said.
"No. There are others needing help. Some burned badly. We need to take them too." Sheppard said whilst still staring at She'llyn's covered body. "How weird is this?"
"I'm glad someone mentioned this being weird before I did!" Rodney piped up, which made Ronon snicker slightly, and he then added, "And besides, how is you being her parents even possible!"
"Well, you know as much as we do, Rodney. I, for one, am curious to know how this photograph looks like me and John."
"Alternate universe …as I said; that's the only …explanation." Sheppard nodded and started to rise.
Ronon grabbed his arm and tugged him over to the bench again; not letting go of him until he thought he wouldn't pass out. He looked over to Rodney. "I'm going to see if we are near being free yet. There is not so much banging going on anymore. Fire her up and see if you can contact Atlantis from here."
"Tried that earlier. Maybe once we are nearer the gate. I'll check the schematics and see what's what with this ship.
"Ronon, please see who is of need to come back with us to Atlantis." Sheppard ordered.
"Will do." Ronon said and he ran from the jumper, leaving two confused friends staring at each other. Teyla moved to sit with Sheppard and put a hand to his forehead.
"You are as white as a sheet, but no fever so far. How do you feel?"
"Sore. The usual. What on earth, Teyla?"
Teyla smiled gently. "I know. Somewhere, in another time, we were parents to this…life."
"I know, weird eh? Shame we don't know more about her and her parents."
"Yes. It is." Teyla said, still musing over the facts they knew. "So, if she was, say late thirties, and word is her parents died over thirty years ago…" Teyla shook her head, "that means, she was left all alone as a very young child. I wonder what happened to her to make her the person she became."
"Doubt we will ever know." Sheppard said sadly. He turned slightly to face Teyla and smiled. "Hey, nice to see you again, by the way. You look beautiful. That mask must have been difficult."
Teyla grimaced and made a face. She then realised that she still wore the offending gloves, and hurriedly tore them off and flung them over to the other bench. Sheppard took her right hand and folded it into both of his. "So soft." He whispered.
Teyla cupped his face. "We will get home soon, John." She dipped her head before coming back up to look at him again. "And then perhaps we could talk?" Teyla was panting fast, had she taken all this the wrong way?"
She needn't have worried. Sheppard returned the gesture, cupping her face with his good hand. "Maybe more than talk?" He smiled.
Teyla beamed and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I like the sound of that!" But Sheppard groaned suddenly and pitched forward slightly.
"John?"
"Ah, it hurts."
"Then lie down, please John. I'll get you some pain relief."
Teyla assisted him to a reclining position and ran to the outside quickly. Ronon was there in the near distance talking to Tain. "Ronon!" She cried, and he came running with Tain.
"What's up? Is it Sheppard?"
"Yes, he is getting worse. I am frightened the bullet has moved. We really should go now."
Tain grabbed her hand. "It is good to see you again at last, my friend." Teyla nodded and bowed her forehead towards him in the Athosian way before grabbing his arm.
"Tain. We must leave now… if our craft is able."
"Yes I understand. There are six that need to go back with you urgently. The rest of my people are wary and troubled though, and do not wish to go with the unknown. Please, just you get back to Atlantis and we will caravan towards the Ring. You may then come back and give us aid, it would be most welcome, but I think you had better get your Colonel some help first."
"Thank you. You will see us again soon." Teyla said and ran back inside the jumper; Ronon just behind her.
Ronon strode up to the cockpit. "Okay, Rodney. The jumper is as clear as it needs to be. Can we go?"
Rodney nodded. "I'm not the smartest guy in two gal…"
"Just tell me if we can go, Rodney!?"
"Yes. Ronon."
"Good."
"Good!"
Rodney bit his lip but concentrated on the flight ahead of them and pulled the jumper up with much relief and started on the path back to the gate. They saw M'atra beneath them as they sped off, the red after fire of a blaster tainting the air, and the recently killed body of R'ishba lying on the ground beside him.
"He said it wanted to deal with him himself." Ronon said quietly.
"Had that coming." Rodney looked at him. "Hey, cheer up, we are going home."
"Thank goodness." Ronon said and smirked. "Well done, Rodney." He threw in for good measure.
Rodney just shook his head and looked behind him towards the rear compartment.
"How's he doing?"
"Not so good. Teyla thinks the bullet has moved, as he has gone very quiet."
Rodney just blinked and urged the small craft to go as fast as it could. It was doing remarkably well for being in storage for so long, but its energy was limited until it could all be checked over and fixed accordingly.
The four friends flew the rest of the journey in silence, with Teyla and Sheppard watching the several wounded Shoana people being given fresh water to drink, keeping them hydrated until they reached Atlantis.
Teyla gripped Sheppard's left hand tightly, not wanting to let him go. He had sagged onto her shoulder in the last few minutes, and his breathing was slightly off. Teyla bit her lip and prayed he would be alright. They had a lot to discuss.
Then…
"We are here, Teyla." Ronon was standing in front of her. "Rodney is speaking to Atlantis. They have a medical team waiting to take him in to the operating theatre."
Teyla let out a breath and Ronon squeezed her shoulder. "He's out."
"I know, I felt him go but I was frightened to move and disturb him."
"He'll be fine. Any minute now."
Teyla looked up at him and smiled.
"Not sure about that hair style, though." He had wondered if to mention it or not.
"Me neither!" came from up front.
"It was necessary at the time. Please do not mention it again." She said with a hint of sadness.
Ronon ruffled her shorter hair anyway and smiled. "It kinda suits you!"
"Sit down!" She pushed him away, but smiled at the banter.
"Here we are!" Rodney shouted and she relaxed.
SGA SGA
"Hey you."
"Tey…la?"
"Yes, it is me. Don't try and talk just now, save your energy, you have just come round."
But Sheppard never did listen to advice. "Is it out?"
Teyla took his hand and squeezed. "Yes. It was on the move though, but Jennifer managed to get it out with minimal damage. You will be fine."
Sheppard fidgeted slightly. "John, do not move your arm."
Slowly the usual sluggish feeling of an anaesthetic wore off, and Sheppard turned his head towards the warm hand that was stroking his face. He turned into it opening his eyes, and felt the sweep of his eye lashes slide on warm skin.
Teyla smiled down at him. "There you are."
"Here I am." He responded with a doped up and groggy smile. "E'vryone…okay?"
"Cuts, bruises, nothing serious. Some of our friends have severe burns that are being treated but they will be as good as new eventually." She cocked her head to the side and got nearer his ear so he would take note. "You, on the other hand have a hole in your shoulder, a concussion, severe bruising; outside your body and in, with your kidneys being kicked like that and need I go on?"
Sheppard coughed slightly, trying not to ignite a painful reaction. "No..no need to continue, I get the picture." He managed to smile reassuringly up at her.
"Keller ordered everyone to their beds, in case you are wondering why it is quiet."
That answer a question. "What about you?"
"I slept whilst you were in theatre so I could be with you when you woke up."
"That's nice."
"What is, John?"
"To have you as the first thing I see when I open my eyes." He even managed a wink.
"John Sheppard, you are …I don't know what you are actually?!"
"Not yet anyway!"
Teyla laughed at that and stroked his forehead as she could see his headache was still bothering him. "Sleep."
"Okay, but first; did we find out anything else about our other selves?"
SGA SGA SGA
"It's a boy"
"I just knew it would be somehow. Happy?"
"You betcha. He is going to be just as lovely as his mama."
"Would you like to hold him?"
"What do you think?"
Teyla could be heard laughing at his awkward movements.
"He is so little, do you think he will grow up to be as strong as his sister?"
Teyla nodded. "The strongest."
"I love you."
"Love you too. John?"
"Uh huh?"
"I watch you sometimes; please do not think too much of Atlantis, what's done is done and you did not mean to start a war with the Wraith, remember that. It does not really matter now anyway I suppose, I just felt I had to get you to relax more."
"Colonel Sumner would be an old man by now anyway. He can't blame me anymore. I suppose crash landing on Carsellan was a blessing to get us away from my trial; what with the time dilation field, and us now hiding out here on this planet, we will be the safest we can be."
"Papa, can I hold him?"
"Sure thing kiddo and She'llyn; he's going to need you to help mama look after him. Up for the challenge?"
"Yes, papa. I love him already."
"Good girl, papa loves you!"
"And mama?"
"Mama too!"
Kiss.
SGA SGA SGA
The wind was blustery but warm as Sheppard and Teyla stood on Lars looking out onto the diamond encrusted blue sea, its jewels dancing in the twin suns. Below them Ronon and Rodney walked along the shore deep in conversation; but leaving Sheppard and Teyla occasionally laughing at the muted outbursts that came their way from Rodney's mouth and rather exaggerated body movements. Ronon looked up and waved; he sure knew how to press all the scientists buttons.
They had given them peace to say their goodbyes to She'llyn; having picked this planet to scatter her ashes. Sheppard entwined his fingers with that of Teyla's and she squeezed his waist; mindful of his arm in a sling.
Further along the cliff top to their left, a cloud of grey ash spiralled in the sky before settling in the water and mixing with it before it was taken out to sea. Sheppard looked at M'atra as he closed the lid on the container and they both briefly waved. Sheppard left him alone and turned Teyla to face him.
"Well, that last bit of research from the jumper has warned us against going to that planet Carsellan. One good thing to know…been there, done that!"
Teyla snuggled in closer, now that everyone it seemed was out of sight. "I could get used to living here, it's beautiful."
"No wonder She'llyn fell in love with it. I'm glad we brought her back here."
"Hey, where's M'atra going? He has taken his bag out of the jumper, look!" Teyla said.
Sheppard half ran to catch up with the man, but M'atra stopped when he heard his feet and bowed his head before raising it again and giving him a slight salute. He was leaving them to stay on Lars.
Sheppard respected his decision and the pair watched him walk away from them until he was just a pinprick.
The empty Athosian container that had held She'llyn's ashes was on the ground waiting on them when they looked down, so Teyla picked it up and cradled it up against her.
Sheppard took her face in his hands and kissed her softly, until he pulled himself away, a drunk smile on his face.
"Do you want to live here? It's so beautiful." He said dreamily, looking at how every primary colour showed itself in all its glory on plants, landscape and the ocean.
Teyla looked surprised and delighted; all in one telling blink of the eye.
"Perhaps! When the time is right."
"Yes, when the time is right." He echoed.
"Come on, let's gather the troops and go home."
"Yes, we had better. I know Rodney is desperate to see what that credit card artefact can really do; as well as all the other ones we have managed to gather."
"And who will be the recipient of these? He is no worse than She'llyn forcing them on me!" Sheppard joked!
They walked for a mile or two until Sheppard took her by the arm. "I am truly sorry for you having to wear that mask, Teyla. It must have been hard."
"What was hard, was not being able to communicate with you as I would have wished. That's all."
"I love you, Teyla. I may not say it enough, but I do."
"I know, John. I love you just as much!"
"Not possible!"
SGA SGA SGA
"I'm telling you, these numbers do not make sense to me. It's the only file left that I cannot get into. What do you make of it?" Rodney said red faced with exasperation.
Sheppard leaned into Rodney's space and looked at the file he was pointing to, a smirk appearing on his face, but he turned to Rodney and shrugged. "No idea, sorry!"
The walk back along the halls of Atlantis to his/not really his Puddle jumper was not too far really, but Sheppard sped it up with urgency. He had felt bad about not telling Rodney that he did understand what the file was saying to him, but this was private. This was his own private code that he had made up in his teenage years and he, himself could open it. The excitement was rising as he boarded and quickly shut the doors behind him.
He thought the H.U.D. on and swept his hand over the file until it was opened larger on the screen for him to enter the secret number.
The file opened and he watched as a man started to appear on a video, perched in the same seat he was sitting on now. It was John Sheppard.
"Hi…uh, John..uh, Sheppard!"
Sheppard actually smiled and said, "Hi!"
"So…" the other John continued, "I guess if you looking at this, I have either lost my jumper somewhere or…well, I have lost my life. That's sad huh! Look, buddy…buddy! That's a fine name to call me..or you! Cos I do know there are different universes out there, so it's not to say you are from a different time…I'm bloody rattling on here…crap!"
Sheppard frowned. Was he like this?
"Anyhow, I don't have long, Teyla is calling. Hey, are you with your Teyla? Hope so, pal. Well, we have a baby boy, to go with a big sister and I am beaming."
Sheppard noticed his face fall. "But we are in trouble, John. I think we have been found by either the Wraith, as I keep hearing darts above us and I am pretty sure it's not my imagination or my own people after all these years – long story!"
There was silence for a time while the other John shifted on his seat before looking straight at the lens. "Why do we do this huh? Well, I found that out years ago. Book Four:1806 Chapter Nine. Go on, check it out; know where to find it! Sheppard out." The other John Sheppard done a cavalier salute.
Sheppard ran from the jumper and straight to his quarters; palming the door open with such a speed he almost went flying into it. He went straight to his book of War and Peace on his bedside table and flicked through the pages until he found it, impressed the other Sheppard had read so much of it.
He found the words he knew his other self, wanted him to read and looked up at Teyla as she walked in. He seized her quickly and kissed her many times…and then many times more after that.
The book fell to the ground as they lay on the bed, open at the very page he had just read.
…"Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly…"
THE END