Chapter 8

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"I still do not quite understand the purpose of this meeting, Mr. Woolsey," Teyla said as she walked beside the man down the hall of the building they had just entered. Ronon and Rodney walked just behind them. "And why I would need to attend? Would not John's possessions just be given to his next of kin?"

"If he didn't have a Last Will and Testament, yes, they would," answered Richard Woolsey. "But Colonel Sheppard had me draw up this amendment quite a few months ago and attach it to the will he made up when he first went on active duty many years ago. And you, as well as Dr. McKay and Ronon, are here because Colonel Sheppard left you things in his will."

"I hate this!" Ronon muttered under his breath as Woolsey led them into the lawyer's office who had allowed them to use their conference room for this legal transaction. "Sheppard should still be here with us."

Teyla placed her hand on Ronon's arm in agreement and comfort. She knew Ronon had stated that John had died honorably in battle, saving others but she also knew the man was missing his best friend as well.

"I know, Ronon," Teyla nodded at him. "And he is with us; he will always be with us, in our memories and in our hearts." And Teyla yet again felt John's presence as if he were standing alongside her as they spoke. It had felt unsettling for a while but after so many weeks of the feeling she was getting very used to having it there.

Woolsey was greeting his lawyer friend and gathering papers and documents to be witnessed and signed.

"Al, these are some of my associates," Woolsey introduced the middle aged man who was much taller and broader shouldered than Woolsey and had a full head of thick dark hair. "Teyla Emmagen, Ronon Dex and Dr. Rodney McKay. This is an old college buddy of mine, Albert Franklin. Al, I appreciate your letting us use your conference room and being here to witness some of this."

The man started shaking everyone's hands and they heard the door open again. Teyla turned and saw David Sheppard walk in, dressed in a sharp business suit and impeccably manicured. Teyla still had a hard time picturing this man related to John. John was extremely handsome, there was no doubt, but more often than not he looked as if he had just rolled out of bed and she did not believe his hair had ever stayed as flat and styled as this man's. But he was John's brother and that made her feel closer to him.

She walked toward him and saw his eyes immediately light up. "Teyla, it's great to see you again. I wish it wasn't under these circumstances though. How've you been?"

The question was a simple one of courtesy but Teyla saw the underlying meaning in his eyes as he asked and knew he was showing concern. John had a similar way of expressing sympathy. And this man was aware of how deep her feelings for John were. He would know she was still mourning his loss. As would he.

"I am as well as can be expected," Teyla replied with a tiny smile as she reached out her hands to grasp his. She held them firmly and squeezed as one eyebrow raised and she returned the inquiry. "How have you been faring?"

A sliver of pain crossed his handsome face but he quickly got it under control. He gave a crooked smile reminiscent of John and repeated, "As well as can be expected."

Woolsey walked over now and extended his hand. "Mr. Sheppard, I'm glad you could make it. I know it was a bit of a trip for you but I appreciate your taking the time from your busy schedule."

"Not a problem, Mr. Woolsey."

David took a few steps and greeted Ronon, Rodney and then Woolsey and Franklin gestured for them to head into the conference room. Once seated, Woolsey got straight to business.

"First off, I believe these papers are for you, Mr. Sheppard," Woolsey said as he pulled out a few sheets from a large folder he had brought with him. "Colonel Sheppard had me notarize them several months ago but they somehow never got put on the mail transport back to the States. They're the inheritance papers from your father's will. I assume you'll find them all in order. Unfortunately Colonel Sheppard never really had the opportunity to enjoy any of his inheritance. But he did have the foresight to include his new gains in his own Will and Testament."

Dave accepted the papers from the man and had to swallow a large lump that had formed in his throat. Damn John for getting himself killed! He took a deep breath and got his emotions under control and gave a nod to allow Woolsey to continue.

He saw Teyla watching him and her sad smile affected him more than he thought it would. Then she reached over and touched his arm, bringing him some comfort at the gesture. Woolsey was already starting with the preliminary information and David didn't feel the need to listen too closely as he'd heard it all before and it was mostly legal mumbo jumbo. He continued onto the main part of the will.

"To Ronon Dex, I leave the beach house in Maui and my surfboard. Use it well, my friend. You've got real potential as a surfer."

Ronon looked confused. "What's a Maui?"

Rodney rolled his eyes and looked frustrated. "It's a place in Hawaii. I can't believe Sheppard left you a house in Hawaii. And his surfboard. Ha, what'd he leave me, his skateboard?"

"Rodney!" Teyla scolded and the scientist looked properly chastised. She knew he was still very heartbroken at the loss of his friend and being what John called 'snarky' was his way of dealing with the pain.

Woolsey just gave a patient look in his direction and continued, "To Dr. Rodney McKay, I leave the chalet in Aspen. It was the only place that wasn't in the hot sun and I know how much you burn."

Teyla actually saw Rodney's eyes grow moist at the gesture. He knew how much John had always teased him about his skin tone and the fact that John thought of that in his Will had Rodney forgetting all his snide comments.

"Next, Teyla," Woolsey looked through several sheets of paper. "To Teyla Emmagen, I leave the cottage in Nantucket. You'll love it, Teyla, it's quiet and peaceful and Torren will have a blast playing in the ocean waves."

Teyla merely nodded her head knowing she would have enjoyed it so much more if John had taken them there. Now David placed his hand on her arm and smiled. "You will love it. John and I couldn't get enough of the beach when we were kids. I brought Amy and the kids there a few years ago and we had a great time."

"Then perhaps you should …" Teyla began but David shook her off knowing she was offering to give it to him. She amended, "Then perhaps you and your family would join us there someday."

Dave nodded at this, knowing John would be pleased if they did. "That would be very nice. I think we'd enjoy that immensely."

"Teyla," Woolsey continued, "Colonel Sheppard also left you a considerable amount of money and some stock in Sheppard Industries. He knew you might not wish to live in the States but he wanted you to have the choice to live here and have enough to get by on if you did choose that."

Teyla took in a deep breath at the generosity of the man she had fallen in love with. And it was not just his generosity, it was his caring and concern for her future and safety. But he had made it a choice, not an obligation and she appreciated that John had known she might not wish to remain on this planet.

"And one last thing, Teyla," Woolsey went on and Teyla wondered what else he could possibly have to say. "Colonel Sheppard set up a trust fund for Torren. There's enough in it right now so that if your son wishes to go to college here in this … country, he can go without worrying about the cost. With the interest it will build over the next seventeen years there's also enough for him to get by for quite a few years after that."

Teyla sat there stunned. She did not know how to respond. John had ensured that she and Torren both would be able to stay here in this Wraith free world and live comfortably. It was just like him to offer her this choice. It was just one more way he had of protecting those he cared about and it made her heart ache painfully knowing he would not be there to share this world with her.

Woolsey now moved on and addressed David Sheppard. "Mr. Sheppard, your brother seemed to realize you had more than enough to live on and certainly didn't need any of his resources. However he felt you might appreciate a few more shares of stock in the company and so he left you enough to give you fifty-one percent, thereby assuring your complete control over the company. He had faith that you would and I quote, 'Use your power for good and not evil'. He said you would understand what that meant."

Dave gave an emotional snort at John's whimsy. They had used those words often as kids when they had played superheroes and villains. He chuckled now that John would actually write that into his will.

"The one last thing Colonel Sheppard requested, Mr. Sheppard, was for you to be the executor of the trust fund for Torren John Emmagen. If you choose not to accept that responsibility then he gave me legal authority to choose someone else."

Dave looked at Teyla sitting next to him and knew it was something he could actually do for John. And for the woman who loved him. He had a feeling that John had been in love with her too. And with all that John had left for Teyla and the boy, his confusion as to the child's parentage became stronger. He nodded at Woolsey and said, "It would be my pleasure."

Woolsey went on to name off a few of John's smaller items, like his golf clubs and skateboard and the people he planned on leaving them to but Teyla was uninterested. She wished for this dissection of John's property to be over. She did not like to dwell on his absence.

Soon enough Woolsey was done and his friend had helped notarize and authorize whatever needed to be done and they found themselves out on the sidewalk getting ready to leave.

David had followed them out and shook hands with the men. But as he approached Teyla, she enveloped him in a big hug. Teyla felt his reluctance at first and it reminded her so much of John that she felt tears fill her eyes. But he gave her a quick squeeze and then said, "I'll be looking forward to that invitation to Nantucket, Teyla. Just let me know when and we'll start packing."

Teyla nodded as she took a step back but she kept her hands in his. "Thank you, David, I will not forget. I still have the card you gave me. I will need to make arrangements with my superior," and she looked pointedly at Woolsey, "but I am hoping it will be before I am required to go back home."

The Town Car that had brought them there pulled up to the sidewalk and Teyla followed her friends inside. As it drove away she saw David still standing there looking at her. She lifted her hand and gave a small wave. It would be nice to get to know John's brother better. She thought that John would like that.

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"Uncle John, look what I found!" Scotty came running over to where John was sitting building a sand castle with Torren and Kristy.

John looked up at his six year old nephew and smiled. He adjusted the sunglasses that were perched on his nose and watched as Scotty came closer, something held in his hand.

"It's a crab, Uncle John, and I caught it all by myself," the young boy enthused as he knelt by his uncle. "It was over by the rocks in a little pool of water."

"Those are tidal pools, Scotty," John informed him. "Even after the tide goes back out, there's still a little bit of water that stays there and quite a few animals like to hang out in them. Now this guy would make a tasty little snack. We could fry him up on the grill right in his shell…"

John hid his chuckle at Scotty's horrified look. "We can't eat him!" Scotty cried and stood up with the crab held away from John. "Uncle John, you wouldn't …"

John did finally laugh. "No, Scotty, we won't eat him, I promise. He's a bit too small actually to make a meal for anyone except maybe a few seagulls. But you know that people do eat crabs and other ocean animals, right? Those crab cakes you were sucking down that your Mom made yesterday … those were made with one of these guys."

Scotty's face grew disgusted at the thought and John chuckled again. He remembered when his Dad had first told him that they were eating all the little critters he had found on the beach too. He had stopped eating anything for almost a whole day. Then his grumbling belly made him rethink his vow not to eat. Maybe Scotty needed to know what his other options were.

"You know if you don't want to eat the sea creatures, you could always become a vegetarian."

"What's a vege …. a one of those?" Scotty asked looking thoughtful like maybe he had some choices. Children always liked choices.

"A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat, animals," John answered and saw his nephew's eyes light up with interest. He knew he needed to clarify things a bit more the way his Dad had with him. "They eat mostly vegetables like spinach and green beans and peas and squash."

He made sure to name off all the vegetables that he knew Scotty didn't really care for. As he continued he saw Scotty's face fall even more and a distasteful grimace cross his features. He looked down at the crab in his hands and checked it out carefully.

"Well, maybe I won't be a vege … one of those people but I still don't want to cook this one up. I think I'll go put him back in the tidal pools where he was."

John smirked and replied, "That's probably a very good idea, Pal, but how about you show your sister and cousin the crab first. They might think it's cool."

Scotty nodded and moved the few feet to where Kristy was shoveling sand into a bucket and Torren was simply throwing handfuls of sand into another bucket filled with water, resulting in lots of mud. When Scotty approached them Torren stopped to look at what he was holding but when Kristy saw it her face crumbled and she shrieked loudly.

John immediately wrapped his arm around her and calmed her down. "It's just a crab, honey. It won't hurt you. It's too small. Scotty just wanted to show you what he found."

At the explanation and assurance from her big, strong uncle, Kristy settled and actually touched the shell. Torren tried to grab for it but John cautioned him to be gentle. The toddler then reached out with just one finger and stroked it down the crab's hard shell.

"Thanks, Scotty, you can put it back now if you want. I think your Mom and Auntie Teyla will be bringing lunch down here soon."

Scotty looked up, nodded and said, "Yup, they're right there. I better go put him back quick or Mom might get the idea to put him in some crab cakes tonight."

John turned his head and saw Teyla and Amy with big baskets wending their way through the tall sea grasses on the path from the cottage to the sandy beach. Dave was trudging along behind with a large cooler. John licked his lips suddenly realizing he was pretty hungry.

His eyes roamed and he looked around thankful they had been able to get away and come here to the cottage. Although he had to chuckle that they called the house a cottage. It was far bigger than most typical houses but he supposed compared to some of the places they had lived, it was a little smaller. And everyone here on the island called the houses cottages. He knew they thought it made them sound more quaint.

As Teyla approached and called out to Torren, John gazed at her appreciatively. She was wearing a conservative two piece suit and had a sarong draped around her hips but she still had quite a bit of skin showing and he was glad the beach was private. He certainly didn't want anyone else ogling his woman.

"Thanks for keeping an eye on the kids for us, John," Dave grunted as he deposited the cooler on the sand next to his brother. "I think you deserve a beer for that. Help yourself."

John reached inside and drew out a Sam Adams, thankful the local beer was much cheaper than when he tried to get it in other parts of the country. He popped the top and took a long swig of the cold brew.

"No problem, Dave. Happy to watch them. Although I will admit it is a hardship to sit here in the warm sun with the ocean breeze blowing and listening to the sound of the waves crashing on Nantucket Sound. I might need a few of those beers to make up for it."

Dave walked past and 'accidentally' knocked him on the side of the head. John just laughed and took another long swallow. Torren was now standing and toddling up to him to try and take hold of his bottle. John pulled it away quickly and sat the boy in his lap.

"That's not for you, Pal. I'm thinking Mommy has something else for you to drink."

John reached over and opened the cooler and found a variety of juice boxes inside. He extracted one and handed it to the boy once he had stuck the straw inside the little hole. "Here you go, TJ, all yours."

The thirsty boy sucked heartily and John had to remind him to slow down. "You're gonna choke if you drink it too fast. And you'll want some to wash down your lunch."

Torren held the drink up for John to take then looked at Teyla. "Mama, eat?"

Teyla spread a blanket next to John and sank onto it, setting the basket between them. "Yes, sweetheart, I have some food for you to eat. Are you hungry?"

Torren nodded and held out his hands, this time hoping for some food. Teyla reached into the basket and pulled out a small container of cut up fruit. John knew this one was specifically for TJ since he only had a few teeth and couldn't chew things as much as they could.

"Here, you may start with this," Teyla said and gave it to the outreached hands. Torren took it and settled back in John's lap to begin his lunch. Teyla pulled out another larger container and handed it to John. "And you may begin with this, although you must share it with me."

John scooted back a few feet until he was on the blanket now and set Torren's juice box and his beer in the sand next to it. Teyla moved closer and took out another container that she set between them near the first.

John saw that they had some fruit as well as slices of cheese and ham and then she pulled out some rolls. John took the roll and added the ham and cheese and then took a huge bite. It was hard work watching children play on the beach, he thought with a chuckle.

John watched as Teyla took a dainty sip from her water bottle then nibbled on some of the fruit. He didn't think she realized how sensual she was when she ate. The tip of her pink tongue would dart out to taste the fruit first and then she would take a small bite as the juice dripped on her lips.

John gazed at her and after a few moments she turned her head and caught him staring. He smirked and said, "Hey gorgeous, come here often."

Teyla simply rolled her eyes and laughed. "I seriously hope you did not use that line often when you were trying to court women."

They heard Dave laugh from nearby on the blanket that he, Amy and the kids were sharing. "Are you kidding me, he didn't need to use a line. The girls came by in droves. He usually had to fight them off, when he even realized what they wanted. Most of the time he was too busy doing his daredevil stunts to even notice them hanging around drooling over him."

John glared at his brother. "I seem to remember that you had more than your share of ladies drooling over you, especially when you were pulling life guard duties at the Country Club."

Dave now grinned. "Yeah, I remember all my buddies thinking it was horrible that Dad made us get jobs while we were in high school and college. But they weren't thinking it was so bad when I had the bikini clad hotties swarming around the pool."

It was Amy's turn to glare at him. But she merely rolled her eyes and shook her head. She was aware that Dave Sheppard was a good catch. But she was the one who had caught him and she wasn't planning on throwing him back. And she was confident enough to know he had no intention of going anywhere either.

Teyla took a nibble on some cheese and looked curiously at John. "And what job did you do while you were young, John?"

"In the summers, I worked at an amusement park and ran some of the rides. After a few years I got good enough and they let me run the Ferris Wheel. Always a favorite. I've got to get you on one sometime like I promised."

John and Dave reminisced some more about the times when they were younger and especially things they had done while on this island. Teyla showed an interest and John promised her he would show her all the sights while they were here.

And that afternoon they did enjoy many of the activities to be had on the beach. John took Torren into the ocean and jumped the waves, making sure to hold the boy tight. But he seemed to love the water and John couldn't have been happier. He loved the water too and any child of his should enjoy it just as much as he did.

Teyla was a bit more cautious as she was not a strong swimmer but she did venture in up to her waist and allow the water to pull her back to shore. She especially loved watching John and Torren splash around in the surf and make designs in the sand.

Kristy and Scotty had fun with their uncle and John was glad he had a chance to spend time with them. It wasn't often they got back to Earth. He wasn't sure how long he and Teyla had back on the planet.

"Uncle John," Kristy asked as they sat a few feet away from the water's edge drawing pictures in the wet sand. "How do you spell TJ?"

Scotty scoffed at her. "Those are his initials, silly. His name is Torren. Uncle John what does the J stand for?"

John smiled and answered, "It stands for John, like my name."

"Oh," Kristy perked up with understanding. "Cause you his Daddy. He has your name."

Scotty now piped in. "Like I have Patrick as my middle name because of Grandpa."

John nodded. "Yup, just like that. Do you know how to write your name, Kristy?"

"Mama tried a teach me," the little girl answered, "but the first letter is weally hard."

"Hmm, a K huh? Yeah, that's not an easy one," John agreed. "Let's see if we can't work on that a little."

He smoothed out a place in the hard packed sand and picked up the stick they had been using to draw with. He pulled Kristy into his lap and took her hand to hold it also.

"The first thing you do is a big straight line, like this." He showed her and she had no problem making that. "Picture a very tall person standing up straight and that's this part."

"Like you, Uncle John. You very tall, wight?"

John nodded. "Well, your Dad is taller than me, and he never let me forget it when we were younger, but I suppose compared to some people I'm tall."

John directed her hand back to the sand again. "Now think of this next part as this tall person's arm. Put your arm in the air like this." And he lifted her arm and proceeded to tickle right under it resulting in loud squeals and wiggles.

John settled her back in his lap and this time raised her arm without the tickles and said, "See how your arm is, this is like the arm of the letter K." Then he lowered their intertwined hand to draw what he had just described to her.

"See, doesn't it look like a person with their arm up?"

Kristy nodded quickly and said, "It does. Maybe I should tickle it."

"But then they'll put their arm down and it won't look like that anymore. So we'll just leave this guy alone for now. The last thing we need to do is draw his leg. But you see this letter K is a bit of a wise guy and he likes to trip people so we're gonna draw him with his foot sticking out. Watch."

John took her hand and traced an extended leg on her letter K and Kristy got excited and started wiggling in his lap.

"That it, I did it!" she yelled. "I made a letter K. Mama!" she screamed over at her mother a short distance up the beach. "I made a letter K!"

Kristy got up and abandoned John and ran over to pull her Mom back to where she had been sitting. Amy pulled herself out of her beach chair next to Teyla's and followed her daughter back to the sand drawing.

John took that opportunity to get up and move toward Teyla who had just gotten up to fill another bucket with water for Torren. The boy was getting the biggest kick out of just making mud. John snuck into Teyla's beach chair and watched her face pinch a bit when she saw what he had done.

She placed the bucket next to Torren then folded her arms across her chest and stared.

"Hi!" John said with his most charming grin and a raised eyebrow.

"You have taken my seat," Teyla stated plainly, her eyes now narrowing, knowing he was teasing her.

"You can still sit here," John told her as he patted his lap. "I think I'd kind of like it if you did." And he reached for her hand and pulled her to sit on his outstretched legs. Teyla struggled for a second but as John's arms wrapped around her middle, she leaned back and burrowed into his chest.

"See, isn't that nice?" John asked and lowered his nose to nuzzle the spot between her neck and shoulder.

Teyla tilted her head slightly to one side and purred, "Mmm, yes, very nice. I do not recall this feature being in this seat before now."

"It's a limited time offer," John claimed and one hand slipped under her sarong to caress her thigh. "Though it does come with a few bonus features too."

Teyla turned her head and flashed him a sassy smile. "I think I may like some of these bonus features."

"I will admit they're some of my favorites." John now pressed his lips to her slightly parted ones and gave her a gentle kiss. He really wanted to do so much more but even though the beach was very private, they still had company. And Dave and Amy were throwing them funny looks.

John kissed her a few more times but then Torren came toddling over and deposited himself in Teyla's lap, muddy sand covering most of his bathing suit clad body. But Teyla simply held him close and allowed him to snuggle against her and very soon his eyes had drifted closed.

"I believe you are stuck with us here for the moment, John," Teyla commented as she stroked the boy's tangled curls. "Unless you wish to wake him."

"Never wake a sleeping baby," John quoted. "I remember hearing that from someone at some point."

"A very wise person, apparently," Teyla teased back knowing she had said this to John on numerous occasions. John had been so enamored of Torren after he was born that he had wanted to hold him all the time. Teyla had imparted her words of wisdom then.

John settled back into the chair, more than happy to have these two most important people snuggled up next to him. It was more than he could ever ask for.

Time passed and the sea breeze kicked up and John rubbed his hands over Teyla's exposed arms.

"Maybe we should see about getting this little guy back to the cottage. It is getting a little chilly out here and he's still somewhat wet."

John helped Teyla up and started to rise himself.

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"Come on, Sleeping Beauty, Athena gave you a little extra time out here today as the sun was shining. She thought you looked a little pale lately."

John felt his hands being unchained and two sets of arms pulling him to his feet. Even though he knew it would be useless, he still gave a last ditch effort to pull away. He managed to get a right cross into Guido's face and his knee into Bruno's stomach and actually take a few running steps. But he was barefoot and the cobblestone terrace he was on hadn't been swept in forever so there were a million jagged pebbles and stones scattered across it.

And of course he paid for his insolence with a few well-placed punches and kicks. Well, no pain, no gain, he always said although he couldn't for the life of him figure out what he had actually gained by his little stunt. Maybe his dignity. Then he thought about tomorrow and the fact that it would be Saturday, bath day. Yeah, there was no dignity to be found there.

He slumped in their arms and made them haul his dead weight back to the darkness that consumed him as soon as they closed the door. He waited for his eyes to adjust and then a smile came back to his face. He hated the darkness but he loved it too. For he knew that he now could go back to those who waited for him.

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