"Secrets and Challenges"
Ch. 24
(Atlantis, Gym)
Teyla and John were sparring. As usual, Teyla was beating the crap out of the Air Force Major.
"Have you thought of anything for Dr. Grayson's birthday, Major?" Teyla asked, as the two went for their water bottles and towels, with a slight grin on her face. Beating the Major never gets old.
Yeah, he's been planning for the special day for weeks.
"Of course," John answered.
"What are you planning?" she asked.
"I don't want to tell," he said.
"Why, not?" she asked.
"Because Stacey has her feral hearing," John told her. "She can listen to everyone in this city if she wanted to."
Teyla gave a slight bow. "I understand, Major. You want it to be a surprise."
"Exactly!"
(Puddle Jumper)
John blindfolded Stacey with a piece of cloth.
"Now, don't use your feral senses!" John told her as he sat down in the pilot's seat.
"I won't!" she said. "I want it to be a surprise, just as much as you."
"Good," he said as he took her out of the Hanger.
Moment's later . . .
It had only been a few minutes and Stacey was already getting bored.
"Could you at least give me a hint?" she asked.
"Nope,"
"Just one!"
"No," John said more firmly.
"Only one clue, please," she whined.
"No,"
"Please, John,"
"Would you stop!" he said, with a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Fine," she pouted.
"Thank you," John said. "You know that pouting thing you're doing isn't gonna reveal anything any sooner."
Stacey gave up and sighed.
A hour and a half later . . .
"We're here!" John said suddenly.
"Finally," Stacey complained.
"Here, take my hand,"
She reluctantly obeyed. John lead her out of the Puddle Jumper and onto firm, green grass. They had walked some distance before they reached their final destination.
"Okay, we're here," he announced.
"Where is 'here'?" Stacey asked.
"You'll know in a sec," John laughed.
Major Sheppard pulled off the blindfold. Stacey gasped at the site. John had taken her to a newly found spot on the Mainland. There were two waterfalls, a hot spring pool, and fire fly bugs flying around that light up the area. The sun began to set and it was a clear night. The sight was a beautiful thing.
"John," she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him gently. "Thank you. This is beautiful."
"Happy birthday," he smiled.
Stacey looked at him.
"So, when did you find this place?" she asked.
"Do you remember when Ford and I went on a little field trip to the Mainland?" he asked as they made their way up a hill.
"Yeah, but you two had a lot of 'little field trips to the Mainland' for the past few weeks," Stacey said.
"Well, those field trips were for this. I wanted to make sure there weren't any other diseases or anything like that lurking around here," John took her hand and helped her with a difficult step. "Luckily there weren't."
They finally reached the top of the waterfall. The view from up there were just as spectacular as on the ground.
"Okay, let's go for a little dive," John said, starting to take off his radio, jacket, boots and shirt.
Stacey's hair rustled in the early night breeze. She began to follow John's lead. John grinned and dove off the edge, yelling like a little boy. Stacey laughed at her husbands childish manner and dove in after him.
To be continued . . .