Fyd818 – Thanks for the review, I wanted to hug John and Ronon too. I'm glad you like the Elizabeth and Teyla friendship, there is so much potential on the show but I don't think they ever explored it enough. I hope you like this chapter.

- - -

Chapter 6

Teyla left the museum after yet another day of work, she had authenticated two artefacts, set up a new display and helped to train a new employee. She was exhausted and just wanted to go home, curl up on her bed and sleep. As she approached her car she could hear footsteps following behind her. She turned around and had to stifle a gasp as she saw who it was.

"Michael," she said fear running through her which she refused to let show.

"Hello Teyla, how have you been?"

"That's none of your business, what the hell are you doing here?" she asked.

"I came to see you, I figured you'd still be working here though you were just a tour guide making her way through college last time I saw you," he explained taking a step forward forcing her to take one back.

"What do you want?"

"Dinner, how about we catch up, it's been a long time."

"I don't want to go to dinner with you or catch up with you or even see you again, so why don't you just go back to where ever it is you came from," she told him and was relieved when she heard her bosses voice.

"Is there a problem here?" he asked stepping up beside Teyla.

"No, Michael was just leaving," Teyla informed him and Michael nodded his head before turning and walking away. Her boss stood there and waited until Michael was out of sight before turning to Teyla.

"What is he doing back?" he asked Teyla and she shook her head.

"I don't know."

"I remember what happened, if it happens again I want you to tell me," he told her firmly.

"I will, thanks Adam."

He smiled "No problem,"

Teyla turned away and got in her car under the watchful eye of her boss. She drove away from the museum forcing herself to keep her feelings at bay. She finally arrived home at her house and went in locking the door behind her. As She dropped to the floor with her back against the wall she let out a shaky breath cursing herself. After all these years she shouldn't be like this, she thought she had become stronger but the fear was still there.

She hated that he could still do that to her, she hated herself for letting him do that to her. Adam was right though, she couldn't allow herself to fall into the same trap she had all those years ago. Both she and Adam had been tour guides at the time, Adam's father had been the boss. They'd both been different people back then, naïve and eager to please. Adam had been one of her closest friends and had witnessed what had happened between her and Michael. It had been just before she had met Ronon, John and Elizabeth and she had never told any of them about it and she had no plan to do so now.

She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around them. Maybe he would just go away, maybe her telling him she had no interest in him and Adam showing up would make him leave and go back to wherever he had been for the past eight years.

- - -

John and Ronon had spent over an hour questioning the people working at Denny's Diner and had got very little helpful information. They had learnt that one of the waitresses wanted to be a singer or an actress. One of them had just broken up with her boyfriend of five days and another was planning to quit and work as a secretary somewhere.

The only information they had got that was relevant to the case was that their victim, Marie Bartlett had got along with everyone at work and the only thing that annoyed her was the occasional annoying customer. Ronon had then gone back to the station and John had headed to the hospital.

He got there earlier than he usually did and was surprised when he didn't find Teyla sitting next to Elizabeth's bed. He shrugged it off figuring she had got caught up at work or had simply left early. Sitting down next to the bed he automatically reached for Elizabeth's hand.

"Hey," he said quietly "I finally got to go back to work, Ronon and I have a new case to work on. Young woman, your age actually, she was killed in her home. Ronon and I think the husband did it but we're biased against happy marriages so we could be wrong."

John continued to talk to Elizabeth about his day about times when they were happy for hours before he stood up to leave. He leaned over Elizabeth and planted a soft kiss on her forehead, lingering for a few moments before moving back and leaving the room.

He saw Dr Beckett as he left and walked over to him, "Excuse me Dr Beckett, has Teyla been here today?"

"I don't think so, she wasn't in there when I went to check on your wife which surprised me because she usually is. I kept my eyes open for her but I haven't seen her."

"I'm sure she just got caught up at work," John stated and turned to walk away unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong. He'd known Teyla for years and there was no way she'd let work keep her from coming to see Elizabeth. As he left the hospital he switched on his phone and located Teyla's number before pressing the call button. It continued to ring for several moments as he walked toward his car before he heard Teyla's voice.

"Hello," she answered and John was momentarily surprised, that wasn't her usual greeting and she sounded kind of… wary.

"Teyla it's John, are you okay?" he asked as he opened the door to his car and sat down in the drivers seat.

"Yes I'm fine."

"It's just Carson said you didn't come by the hospital today, I was just worried," he told her noting the relief that he'd heard in her voice when she'd realised it was him that had called.

"Something came up at work and I couldn't get away but I'll be there tomorrow," she explained.

"Okay, well I'll probably see you then."

"Okay, bye"

The line went dead and John stared at the phone for a moment, why did he feel like she was lying?

He shook his head deciding he would make sure he arrived at the hospital early again tomorrow so he could talk to her. Hopefully he'd be able to figure out was wrong with her if there was anything wrong at all. He dropped the phone into the passenger seat as he started the engine of the car and drove away from the hospital.

TBC