Warning: Rated M for sexual content in later chapters.

Chapter: 7 of 10

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.

Field of Dreams

John scrambled down the bank toward the stream, suppressing the urge to whistle, because he was hoping to surprise Teyla. It might be February on Earth, but it was high summer here on New Athos, and the buzzing insects in the knee-high grass reminded him of endless summer days when he was a kid.

John had sent Lieutenant Jonas back to the city with the Athosian grain shipment. "You're not coming with, sir?" Jonas had looked mildly surprised.

"Nope. See you later," John tossed over his shoulder. He hadn't informed Jonas that he wasn't technically on duty when he had accompanied the lieutenant on requisition duty to New Athos, but what good was being military commander if he didn't get to do exactly what he wanted occasionally?

In the last week, John had forced himself to be polite to Lieutenant Jonas, although he felt the urge to roll his eyes every time he saw the kid. He couldn't blame him for making a play for Teyla; after all, who could resist her? But after the Valentine's Day fiasco, John had stopped hiding his interest in Teyla and made it pretty clear which way the wind was blowing.

He jumped across the stream and came through a stand of tall saplings to find Teyla in a field of poppy-like red flowers, Torren sitting nearby on a blanket spread over the grass.

"John!" She spotted him and waved, the grin that spread across her face reminding him of a certain day years past when she had been as thrilled to see him as she was now. The sight of her with the bright red flowers all around her, her hair lifting in the breeze, with a smile that was meant just for him, nearly took his breath away. He didn't think of himself as a sentimental guy, but you'd have to have a heart of stone to be unaffected by her beauty.

They both moved toward Torren and sank down to sit on the blanket together. "I am surprised to see you here," she said. "What brings you to the settlement?"

"You," he said laconically, smiling at her and holding her gaze. She blushed a little and ducked her head, then looked up at him with a smile of her own and sparkling eyes. After the last few weeks of flirting and spending time together, he was pretty sure she liked him. Especially the day she had thanked him for the flowers, looking up at him with that grin and touching his arm. The warmth of her hand on him had made his heart do a slow flip-flop and he had felt a wave of exultation and possession. It had been a bit of a stretch for him to make the romantic gesture—he felt pretty sappy while doing it—but he was too old to keep playing the non-committal game. He knew what he wanted, and he knew women want romance, and he would give Teyla anything in his power to give. Her shining eyes had told him that she had definitely appreciated the indication of his intentions.

John noticed that Torren was barely keeping his head up and reached across the sun-warmed blanket for the sleepy boy. "Must be naptime," he remarked and Teyla nodded, so he scooped Torren up and they headed back to the settlement. John held Torren and jumped across the stream, reaching back to assist Teyla, except once she was safely across, she didn't let go of his hand. Walking up the hill through the long grass, Torren in one arm and Teyla's hand in his, John thought his heart would burst with satisfaction.

.

.

.

After putting Torren down for his afternoon nap, they sat side by side on the thick rug in the shadowy tent, backs leaning against the frame of Teyla's bed, shoulders and knees pressed together. It was a small area of contact, but John had wanted to touch her for so long that it filled him with excitement.

"I see that you have behaved quite civilly to Lieutenant Jonas in the last week," Teyla said, one eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, I can't blame the kid for trying. I just didn't think someone would make a move so soon. I guess I wasn't the only one waiting for an opportunity." He smirked down at her and she laughed.

"So you were waiting for an opportunity?" Her face was full of amusement.

"Heck, yeah," he grinned, then became serious. "I missed my chance once, and I don't plan on repeating that mistake."

Her eyes softened and she whispered, "I am glad you did not wait this time."

He reached for her then, cupping her jaw in his hand and leaning toward her. He hesitated for a moment, waiting for her to pull away if she wanted, but she just gazed steadily at him, an invitation in her brown eyes. He bent down and brushed his mouth briefly against hers, the moment feeling surreal because he'd imagined it for so long. Pressing his lips against hers again, he ran his tongue along her lower lip and thrilled at the response of her own tongue sliding against his. A flush of excitement coursed through him, and he raised his other hand to her waist, pulling her closer and breaking their kiss to brush his lips against the softness of her cheek and down her neck. She smelled like cinnamon and vanilla and other girly stuff and he kissed along her delicate collarbone, inhaling her scent and running his hand down to the curve of her hip. She turned more fully toward him, pressing the softness of her body into him and reaching to lay her hand against his chest, raising her lips to his again. The feel of her mouth was soft and warm against his and he felt a primal rush rising in him and he forced himself to pull away. "We should stop, Teyla," he managed.

"Should we?" she asked uncertainly, panting slightly and gazing up at him with a look that set his senses on fire.

John cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "Yeah. Because I don't want to disturb Torren, and I have no intention of you being quiet when we finally do this." He looked down at her and saw her eyes widen and she laughed breathily.

"You are being presumptive," she teased him.

"Am I?" he said, suddenly worried.

Her face grew solemn but her eyes sparkled up at him. "No," she replied. "I have wanted this for a long time."

"That makes two of us," he smiled, eyebrows raised. "Are you still going to be here tomorrow night?"

"Yes," she sighed, pulling slightly from him. "I took two days leave."

"Do you think you can find a babysitter for tomorrow night?" he asked, running his hand up to her waist again. "For, you know, the whole night?"

She nodded and grinned up at him. "Yes, the whole night."

"Then I'll come back to see you tomorrow when I get off duty, okay?" He resisted the urge to kiss her one more time because he wasn't sure he'd be able to stop again. He had an obsession with out-performing Kanaan on every level, physical and emotional, and he wanted to wait til the moment was right. It took all of his self control, but he stood to go, crossing the tent and stepping outside to drag in a lungful of the cooling afternoon air.

TBC