Chapter Summary: A lesson in hope and love.
Epilogue
Dr. Kate Heightmeyer heard the commotion from all the way down the hall and allowed herself a smile at the antics of her next patients. A quick glance at the clock showed they were only a few minutes late, a vast improvement from when their sessions first started several months ago. Kate had gone from dreading the weekly sessions (and often wanting to pull her hair out in frustration while screaming at the top of her lungs at the mere sight of any of them), to now finding them 'adorable'. Though she had to admit, even when one or more of them had to be literally dragged into a session, they had all worked hard at tackling the issues facing them.
Kate liked her job but today she liked it even more, composing herself and hiding the affectionate smile as Ronon playfully dragged in an equally playful if protesting John by means of a headlock. Teyla and Rodney followed, watching the pair with amused exasperation as they chatted between themselves.
It was nice to see them all relaxed when so many of their sessions had ended in screaming, in quiet rage, or in pain. She still hadn't found out who amongst their group had suggested group therapy. It had been a question deflected by all of them at one point or another though she suspected it had been John.
He had been desperate to keep his team together and would have done anything for any one of them, especially Rodney.
Ronon dropped John into a chair and offered Kate a happy grin. "We're here."
"I'm sure everyone heard." Rodney rolled his eyes, taking his usual place next to John. Teyla and Ronon flanked the pair.
Team dynamics were as complex, if not more so, than those between a married couple and it was rarely a place a psychiatrist was allowed. Visits were almost always on an individual basis and almost always ordered with the consequence of suspended gate travel before a team member would attend any sessions. Avoidance had been a hard and fast fact at the SGC and Atlantis had proven no different. So Kate had been honored when they came to her asking for her help, all of them projecting a curious mix of strength and fragility. They had asked for help for the sake of the team, the cracks in their relationships deep and festering like an infected wound. At times it was only for the team that any of them remained in the sessions, especially during the more difficult periods when therapy had been the only time the four saw each other during the week.
Now, she watched as Ronon poked at John while John nudged just a little closer to Rodney as Teyla tried and failed to show a dignified front before leaning in to whisper something into Rodney's ear that made him turn pink.
"I have good news for you." Oh how she would miss them; one of the unfortunate occupational hazards about her job was being actively avoided in nearly all social situations.
"Good news is - good." Ronon offered another toothy smile, nearly knocking them all down when he nudged John.
"How very eloquent." Rodney's tone held exasperation but his expression was one of warmth.
"Please, if you would allow Dr. Heightmeyer to continue." Teyla intervened.
"I didn't interrupt her!" John practically pouted.
Before the bickering could continue, Kate held up her hands. "You've all come a long way during our time together and as long as you keep in mind the issues we've discussed and use the skills you've developed, I don't believe anymore sessions are warranted."
For a moment they looked at her, stunned. It hadn't been the reaction she'd expected. She'd honestly thought more than one of them would have bolted out the doors, not look as if the very idea frightened them.
"It's good news." Kate emphasized. "You've worked very hard on the skills you need. You don't need me to facilitate anymore." She allowed a mischievous grin to cross her face. "Though I do have a new therapy protocol around emotional bonding that - "
"No, no, that's fine!" Rodney was on his feet, John a split second behind him. "We're fine, we're good, being finished is good! This will give us some extra time to - to - " the blush was curiously interesting, " - you know - work on - ah - things." Rodney bolted with John on his tail and Ronon laughed at them as he followed after the pair.
"We are truly finished?" Teyla asked, the uncertainty something she rarely showed anyone.
"Yes, all of you have worked diligently. It's a delight to discharge patients on a happy note but you know I'm always available, Teyla."
The Athosian leader came foreword and touched their foreheads together. "Thank you, you have fought with great courage and honor to help me keep my family."
Kate felt herself blush as they parted and Teyla stood to leave. "You're welcome, Teyla." Through the open door and down the hall came a rather loud crash and even louder voices. "And good luck!"
When the door closed, Kate sat back in her chair and looked out the window to the view of the city beyond. Life in this galaxy was never easy and the resulting decrease in moral when Rodney was believed to have died had been visually measurable. What SGA-1 might not have realized in their efforts to repair their team was that their efforts had not gone unnoticed by others in the city. No other teams had stepped forward as theirs had but more individuals had sought help and the over all moral in the city had risen.
Kate wondered if Sheppard's team realized their willingness to fight for what was important touched nearly everyone in the city; that it gave people the strongest weapon they would need.
Hope.
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Team Night had been fun despite Rodney being left with the mess to clean up afterwards. He surveyed the new quarters he'd moved into a few weeks ago and sighed, willing to forgo cleaning tonight for sleep. Stripping down to his boxers and a t-shirt, Rodney crawled into his bed to discover the lumpy mess was, in fact, a drowsy and very naked John Sheppard.
No longer tired, Rodney slipped out of the last of his clothes and pulled the pliant body closer. "God damn it, John, you better not be teasing because if sex is not in our immediate future, I will drag you back to Heightmeyer for couples therapy!"
The last thing Rodney had ever suspected was John volunteering to attend counseling and talk about his feelings, much less with the entire team in attendance. At times, it had been the only thing that had kept Rodney going when the emotions had run high but it showed how serious John was in keeping the team together and repairing their relationship.
Sleepy and aroused, John stretched out under Rodney's hands as the sheet slipped down around his hips. "Rodney," he drawled out the word and tilted his neck to expose a long line of neck, "I've practically moved in with you - "
Two weeks ago, John had surprised Rodney with new, spacious quarters that happened to be right next to his own with a secretly installed adjoining door. They'd spent nearly every night making out like teenagers but nothing more. "And given me a case of blue balls for the last few weeks! You promised once Heightmeyer discharged us from therapy - " the blush returned in full force.
"Rodney, we're naked in your bed, even I'm not that much of a cock tease."
As Rodney pulled the tanned and naked (just where were the tan lines?) soldier into his arms, he knew that much of life in Pegasus was grueling and demanding but he had learned one lesson well.
Loving John was easy.
-End
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Chapter End Notes:
This is for lavvyan and only a year (or two) late! Unfortunatly, the boys were a little shy and so decided to have their very hot sex off-screen.