Disclaimer: I do not own any rights concerning SGA. I do not own any right concerning parts of the original spoken text taken directly from several episodes.

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Hey guys, here is the next part! Hope you like it. Be kind and leave me your thoughts. Really would like to know what you think.

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Chapter Three

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Ground Rules

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Slowly, John moved closer to Teyla, and she to him. After a painstakingly long moment their lips finally met in a probing first kiss.

No, not the first kiss, their second kiss; only this one so much gentler than the first and not as unexpected, yet so much more arousing.

Their lips parted a fraction and both took a breath inhaling the sense of the other, before resuming their new dance. Soon their kiss deepened and Teyla let herself be guided to lie on her back by John who seemed very aware of her injuries and obviously wanted her to be more comfortable.

Much too soon he pulled away.

"Dr. Cole ordered me to get you back to the infirmary immediately," he informed her a little breathlessly.

Teyla tightened her hold on John's shoulders.

"Please," she said her voice pleading. "Please just hold me for a while. I promise to say if I hurt."

John looked uncertain for a moment.

"Please?"

John nodded slowly. "Okay."

Teyla smiled and pulled him close to her again knowing that if he didn't want to, he would free himself.

There were still many unattended topics and matters that needed to be discussed, but for now they continued to explore their newfound love.

After about an hour of kissing and snuggling Teyla wasn't able to hide her discomfort any longer so the two reluctantly parted.

"We will have to talk about this," John said and Teyla nodded her agreement.

"I believe it best to keep quiet until we figure out how to move on."

"I can't go back to how thing were," John blurted, panicked.

"I do not want that either."

To seal their intentions they kissed once more.

John got up and then helped Teyla up too. Glad he had an excuse to be this close to her as they slowly made their way to the infirmary.

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After Teyla was settled in her bed Dr. Cole gave her and John a stern, but caring speech about disregarding one's health. John wondered if the speech was designed more for him than Teyla as Teyla was usually more level headed than him. When Cole was done he quickly took the blame on himself.

"It's my fault. Teyla was asleep and I thought it best to let her rest," he said sheepishly.

"That's what's your com is for, Colonel," Cole snapped back. "To call us and let us decide."

"Sorry," John mumbled, lowering his head.

Cole huffed and left.

John turned to Teyla and they shared a meaningful glance.

"Sleep," John told her and settled in the chair next to her bed. Teyla gave him a small smile and closed her eyes.

John longed to hold her hand, but knew he couldn't, people would immediately know something was up. Keeping his distant and hiding his feelings just had become a major problem. How was he supposed to not react to Teyla when he now knew how it felt to hold her?

He sighed and settled deeper in his chair. He would not leave her side.

XOXOXOXOXO

Teyla woke hearing hushed voices. She blinked and quickly turned to see if John had returned despite the fact that she had threatened to kick his butt in their next sparing session.

But the chair was empty. She briefly wondered if she had dreamed the voices, when she heard them again.

"But she loves him," the one voice exclaimed.

"Yes she does, but they could be court-martialed," the second voice hushed.

"For being in love with each other, you're serious?"

"There are very strict rules for relationships between ranks. And she is a higher rank. Why do you think Sheppard's always getting involved with women that are not here on Atlantis? He could get in serious trouble dating anyone in the military or under his command."

"Just out of curiosity, what about Teyla?" the other voice asked almost amused.

"Technically it would be okay, but she is on his team and therefor under his command. I think that's the reason he never made a move on her. Seriously, she's hot."

"Maybe he is…, you know."

"Don't be ridiculous. You should have seen him going for the Ancient chick we met the first year."

"But Teyla is on his team voluntarily."

"I'm not sure that's going to fly in a court-martial, even if she is on his team voluntary or not, the rules apply for her too."

"Come on, what's the worst that could happen?"

There was a moment of silence and Teyla held her breath.

"Depending on the opinion of the judges about the seriousness of the offence, he could be sentenced to jail time."

The conversation continued, but Teyla had stopped listening. What had she done? She could not lose John, but she also did not want to stop being on his team. The whole relationship thing had just gotten a very sour taste to it.

Teyla sighed closing her eyes. They would find a way, she knew they would. Nevertheless she could not help a tear sliding down her cheek. She could not lose John, not now, not ever.

By now she had learned enough about Earth to know what a court-marital was and that John had already faced one before. Though she had been aware of the many rules, she had never thought they would also apply to the personal life of those she had severed with so long.

But now that she thought about it, she realized how often military members choose to have relations with non-military personal.

Could she allow John to risk everything, just for what might be a short time anyway?

XOXOXOXOXO

John slowly made his way to the infirmary a cup of coffee clutched in his hand. He had had a rough night. He wanted to be with Teyla now that everything was out in the open, but he also wanted to keep his team as it was.

So last night he had gone to Elisabeth. He had needed to tell her, as awkward as he had felt. She hadn't been as surprised as he had expected. But she had also warned him that if she got the feeling that their relationship would influence their work or put them at risk she would intervene.

She had also told him in no uncertain terms that she expected him to treat the relationship with care. No public showing of affection, no moving in together, at least not now, maybe later.

All in all she had ordered them to have a relationship behind closed doors. John never had been one for showing what he felt and thought openly anyway, he just hoped Teyla could live with the conditions.

When John arrived at Teyla's bed she already sat on the edge waiting for him. She looked much better today.

Though she smiled at him, John could tell that something was bothering her.

"Hey, Cole already released you?"

"Yes."

"Good."

They stood together in silence for just a moment when Dr. Cole returned.

"Good morning, Colonel. Can I assume you are here to take Teyla home?"

John grinned and nodded.

"Okay Teyla, I want you to stay off your feet as much as you can. No heavy lifting."

Teyla nodded.

"It's on you to get her home safely, Colonel."

"Thanks, doc," John said offering Teyla to take him as leverage.

"I will be able to manage on my own. Thank you, John," she said her look telling him that she appreciated the gesture and understood the true meaning.

There was no talking on the way to Teyla's quarters and for the first time ever the silence bothered John. Had Teyla changed her mind?

Teyla was surprised how relaxed John seemed. His face had been open and his smile genuine when he had picked her up.

As soon as the door closed behind them she chose to break the silence.

"I missed you," she said bluntly turning to him.

Her answer was a relived chuckle. He bent over and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"You were the one threatening me to leave!"

"I did."

"Care to tell me what was bothering you," he asked leading her to her bed.

"Can you really be sent to jail for loving me?"

John froze looking at her.

"What?"

"Last night, I overheard a conversation in the infirmary," she explained.

John sighed and shook his head.

"Okay, we'll talk as soon as you are in bed."

"Agreed"

When Teyla was comfortable in her bed John sat down next to her hip facing her, his face serious.

"The truth is I don't know," he started to explain. Teyla's face fell.

"We cannot …," she started miserable.

"Teyla, stop right there," he interrupted her. "I love you. I want to be with you." John couldn't help smiling. He took a deep breath. "And telling you this straight forward is by god not as easy as it seems." He looked deep in her eyes. "You know me good enough to know that I'm totally screwed. I'm barely able to voice my thoughts and feelings and at time I'm just a monumental jerk."

Teyla could not help but chuckle. His words sounded like a fair warning. "I do know you and I am aware of your flaws. I am also not perfect and I am sure at times we will have disagreements, but I am also sure we will survive."

John looked slightly dubious, but nodded, "just wanted to let you know."

"I know you."

"Okay so we really want this?" he asked just to be sure.

"I do not want you to get into trouble or lose you because of this."

"I won't as long as we are careful. Can you live with that?"

"Yes."

"Good because I already talked to Elisabeth about us."

"You did?" Teyla asked surprised.

John nodded gravely. "Trust me; it's not a conversation I want to repeat any time soon, but to be honest I was a little worried about getting into trouble."

"Elisabeth agreed?"

"Elisabeth did, however she also stipulated that we follow a few rules." Teyla nodded anxious to hear what Elisabeth had said.

While John explained what Elisabeth had said, he shifted so he sat next to Teyla and the two could cuddle. John was surprised about himself as he had never been the cuddling type. He found however that holding Teyla felt especially nice and enjoyable.

"So Elisabeth said we have to keep our relationship hidden?" Teyla asked amused. "She does know you right? Did she really expect you to suddenly change your personality and hug or kiss me for everyone to see?"

John grinned. "Not sure what she was thinking."

What he thought was that it would be hard to have a real love life if it was supposed to just be in their quarters. He was sure he wasn't supposed to be seen coming out of Teyla's quarters in the middle of the night or early morning either.

Suddenly the sound of a door opening could be heard. John's head snapped to the door, but it was closed.

"You heard that too, right?"

Teyla nodded looking around.

"John, look!"

John turned to see what Teyla had spotted.

"That door is new right?"

Teyla just nodded. John slowly got up and inched towards the door his hand on his gun. He took a stable stance and looked around the corner and froze.

There was a short hallway about thirty feet or so long, but what was really surprising was the sight greeting him on the other side.

"That's my room!" John exclaimed turning to Teyla who was getting up, she stopped midway looking at him confused.

"Your room?"

John nodded dumbly, getting back to the bed helping her up. Together they walked down the short hallway and stepped into John's quarters.

"Never knew our quarters were this close together," John stated looking back to Teyla's room.

"I never thought about it, but our corridors are parallel to each other."

John nodded again a grin spreading over his face.

"The good thing is we can live together and still have separate rooms."

"You want to live together?"

John blushed when he realized what he had said, but after a moment he nodded, "I guess."

Teyla chuckled.

"How about we take one step at a time and for now just enjoy that we are together? I would like to watch a movie."

"Sounds good to me. Let's go over to your place."

John and Teyla spent the rest of the day in bed, not really watching, but talking. It had been many years John had felt this close and confident with another person and Teyla made it easy for him to just talk.

They talked about plans and things they deem necessary. To John's surprise Teyla never inquired what he thought or felt about this and that, though he couldn't help tell her anyway.

When night closed in and things started to heat up between the two, both felt so comfortable around the other that they just let their emotions lead the way. Soon their passion filled moans and grunts filled the room.

By the time Ronon and Rodney returned, things between John and Teyla had settled in their new routine, friends and teammates on the outside, lovers and partners in the sanctuary of their now connected quarters.

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Thoughts please, please, please!