AN: Here's the next chapter, and I'll be putting Four up as well. Thanks to sherry57 for reviewing already! Darn, you're quick! LOL Hope you enjoy the story!

Oh, and before I forget...DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own any of the characters mentioned. If I did, I'd be a *very* happy woman. (Dreamy sigh here)

Chapter Three

There were hands touching him.

They were cool, gentle hands, smoothing his hair back from his forehead and covering his shivering body with a blanket.

Then the hands were gone, and a voice drifted toward him, little more than an unintelligible whisper. He longed to see who was there, but his eyes refused to open, and when he moved, the hands came back, pressing him against the ground. Eventually, he gave in to their firm but caring insistence, and fell back into slumber.

It must have been nighttime. He could feel the cool breeze ruffling his hair, could hear the chirping of insects. He was too tired to open his eyes, but whoever was there with him knew he was awake. A soft hand – the same from before – rested on his shoulder, slowly rubbing comforting circles on his skin. Something about that hand was familiar, but he was in no mood to try and figure it out. He simply let them care for him, appreciating their coolness when his fever raged harder than ever. When his climbing temperature sent him into a seizure, he savored their feel as they wrapped around his hand, and as it ended and he flopped back on the ground, exhausted, he delighted in the feel of the velvety palms as they wiped the sweat from his face.

Again, he struggled to speak, to do anything but lie there, but as soon as he stirred, a finger was pressed to his lips, and a whispering voice said, "Go back to sleep. You will be all right."

Though he longed to disobey the voice, he lay still, soon drifting back to his dreams.

His fever had flared up again, soaking his entire body with sweat. He awoke shivering, desperately searching with his hands for some kind of covering – a blanket, a sheet, anything to ward off the chill. As if by magic, a thick, soft blanket was laid over him, its warmth instantly making him sleepy again, and once again his hair was pushed away from his forehead by the same cool fingers he'd come to love.

His eyes finally fluttered open, but his vision was too blurry to see anything other than dim outlines. His sense of smell was fine, however, and the scent of jasmine and roses filled his nose, reminding him of home – of Atlantis.

He thought he heard Molly squawking nearby, as well as someone shushing her, but then all was quiet again, and the next time he opened his eyes, it was daylight.

Humming.

Whoever was there beside him was humming in a soft, feminine voice, and when they bent over him, their long hair brushed against his cheek. He caught another whiff of jasmine-rose perfume, and he smiled as the fog lifted from his mind and he finally realized who she was.

"Hi, Teyla," he croaked, then grimaced and cleared his throat.

Surprised by his sudden words, she jumped, then turned and smiled ruefully at him.

"Hello, John. It is good to see you awake."

He moved to sit up, but she placed one hand against his chest, forcing him to lie still. Favoring him with a small smile, she ducked her head to peer into his hazel eyes.

"Lie still. You need to gather your strength."

Glancing around at the tent she had most likely set up herself, he nodded, but asked, "Where is everyone?"

"Still on Atlantis, except for myself and Major Lorne. It was he who brought me here, after we had received your distress call. I followed your tracks from the damaged Jumper, but I lost them in the forest, and nearly became lost myself."

Puzzled, he frowned and asked, "Then how'd you find me?"

Teyla smiled and nodded toward his right. He turned his head in that direction, and saw a familiar flash of emerald green feathers, seated upon his black backpack.

"Molly," he breathed.

"Yes. If it had not been for your winged friend, you would surely have died, and I would still be lost."

As if she knew they were talking about her, Molly chirped and flapped her wings. Sheppard stared up at the tent's ceiling, frowning as he remembered the last time he'd been fully conscious.

"I tried to clean the infection out of my leg. I guess I lost too much blood, 'cause I felt myself passing out. The last thing I remember was telling Molly to get help."

At this, Teyla nodded solemnly. "And she did. I saw her sitting at the head of the trail to the beach, calling very loudly. When I reached her, I tried to hold my hand out to her, but she flew away again. I followed her cries down to the beach, and soon found you. Your leg was bleeding badly, and you were quite feverish. I cared for you these past three days, until this morning when the fever finally broke."

"They were your hands," he murmured, and she gazed at him, puzzled. Grinning, he explained, "The first time I woke up, I could barely move, but I could feel a pair of hands touching me. I didn't know whose they were, but they felt familiar and somehow..." he ducked his head, embarrassed, "...safe."

"You were very ill, John." Her dark eyes stared disapprovingly at him. "Why did you not properly care for the wound, before the infection set in?"

He smiled as he recalled imagining this very same question.

"No water," he told her with a shrug. "Believe me, Teyla, if I could have, I would have."

She eyed him suspiciously for a moment, wondering why he had smiled. Then, she nodded and said, "Very well. I believe you."

He watched as she suddenly tapped the radio in her ear and said, "Yes, Major."

She listened for a while, then replied, "Very well. I shall remain here with the colonel until you return."

With an audible click, she shut off the radio, then turned to Sheppard and said, "Major Lorne has informed me that Dr. McKay has picked up some Wraith activity on a nearby planet. He is going to take the Jumper and rendezvous with a team of Marines in a second Jumper to, as he said, 'Take them out.'"

Sheppard's eyes widened at this, and he started to get up. Teyla pushed him back again, her palm firm on his bare chest.

"Where do you think you are going?" She asked him.

"To help Lorne."

She shook her head. "I do not think that is wise, John. Your strength has not fully returned yet."

He gave her his best puppy-dog look. "I'll be fine. Please, Teyla."

"No," she said, her tone firm. "The major can handle the Wraith. You will remain here."

He thought about challenging her, but then quickly decided against it. She never had a problem kicking his ass on his best day; if he dared to try now, she'd definitely put him down, all without breaking a sweat.

Finally, he nodded and leaned back. "Okay. You win."

"Thank you."

They sat in amicable silence for a while, each consumed by their own thoughts. One such thought seemed to jostle Teyla back into the present, and she suddenly asked, "Are you hungry?"

Sheppard shrugged, trying to seem unconcerned even as his stomach growled loudly. "I could eat. What've you got?"

"Not much, I am afraid. I tried to make some soup, but it seems I am not meant to cook at all."

"Can't be that bad," he said as she propped a pillow behind him so he could sit up. "Let me try some."

Teyla wrinkled her nose. "That is not a good – "

"Just, come on," he interrupted, and she sighed and threw her hands up in the air.

"All right." She poured him a bowl of soup, pulled out her multi-tool, and handed both to him. He took them with a smile, settling the bowl in his lap. Teyla filled her mug with water and set it nearby, as Sheppard tentatively took a spoonful of the soup and tipped it into his mouth. The broth was warm, and it soothed his scratchy throat. He swallowed, and though there was a slightly bitter aftertaste, he decided that it wasn't all that bad.

"It's good," he said, shoveling a second, then a third, spoonful into his mouth.

She eyed him suspiciously. "You are only saying that to be kind."

He raised his eyebrows, and then as a silent reply, lifted the bowl to his lips and drank its entire contents. When the bowl was drained of all liquid, he set it down beside him and sighed in satisfaction, then smiled at her.

"Now, what were you saying?"

Her lips curved in a smile. "Very well. I am glad you enjoyed it."

Molly whistled, reminding Teyla of her presence, and she told Sheppard, "Oh, and I have already tended to Molly. She ate heartily of the berries and nuts I picked for her."

He nodded, blinking slowly. He suddenly felt very tired again but fought it hard, not wanting to miss anything. Teyla noticed, and though she refrained from rolling her eyes, he could hear an audible huff from deep in her chest. Leaning forward, she fluffed his makeshift pillow – a simple, folded blanket – and then helped him lie down.

Although he allowed her to do so, he whined, "I'm not tired, really. I just need to rest my eyes a minute."

She pulled his blanket up over his chest and peered down at him, her hand resting lightly against the warm woolen surface. "That is fine, but I would feel better if you slept, if only for a little while."

He nodded silently and closed his eyes, snuggling down into the blanket's warmth. When she was sure he was comfortable, she moved to clear away his soup bowl, but he quickly slapped his own hand over hers, trapping it against her chest. Surprised, she looked back at him, but he kept his eyes shut as he explained, "Believe it or not, it helps me fall asleep."

Hiding a smile just in case he was peeking out under his thick, dark lashes, she replied, "Very well. I will stay until you are sleeping."

Seemingly happy with her decision, he took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. Teyla gazed down at the hand covering hers, following the lines of his knuckles, the few scars that streaked across the skin, looking like comet's tails. She liked the few stray dark curls of hair that gathered near his wrist, and the pale half-moon crescents of his nail-beds. She had just noticed a fairly large scrape on the edge of his hand when he said, "I really wanna go home, Teyla. This planet sucks." Then, he frowned in thought. "Well, except for Molly."

"John, hush," Teyla said, pressing the pointer finger of her free hand to his lips. "We will be home very soon. Now, rest."

"Yes, ma'am," he replied around her finger. Peeking one eye open, he found Molly and said, "See, told ya you reminded me of her."

Molly fluttered down off his pack and landed on his uninjured leg. Cocking her head to the side, she blinked once and then rubbed her head against him. He reached down and put his hand out, and she nuzzled his palm, bringing a smile to both his and Teyla's faces. When she flew back to her usual perch, he settled down into his bed and closed his eyes. Her hand still against his chest, Teyla sat beside him, and with a final sigh of contentment, he quickly drifted off to sleep.

TBC...