For here on out I will be Stating which SGA Episode The Chapter is based on on whether or not its an AU version of the Episode and if it is AU or not. Since things are timey whimey with Moore's arrival and joining the team, some aspects of the Episode will change.
Takes place During "Suspicion" (Episode Timeline not AU)
The next morning Thomas heard a knock on the door. He sat up in his tiny yet very comfortable bed and stretched looking around the small room he settled in. It had took a while to move out of John's room he remained sleeping in every night in his descendant's room until he remained comfortable in the city. It was only recently he finally decided to move into a room of his own…..mainly because he need. His quarters may have been small and not decorated…..but it had its own balcony and had a view which no lights from the city slipped into the dark room. To Thomas it was grand and the way it was.
Still drowsy from a good night's sleep he put on a pair of sweatpants...another great modern invention of the world. He was able to move around comfortably and not even feel he was wearing them, he thought it was appropriate to not answer visitors in his underwear. He ran a hand through his hair and put on his glasses given to him after being diagnosed as being something called farsighted. But the things gave him much clearer vision without the aid of them. Quickly the door opened...he first half expected it to be John, Rodney or the Lady Elizabeth. But it wasn't...
"Halling," Thomas said with a grin, "this is a pleasant surprise. I am guessing you are asking me for Breakfast again."
The older Athenian man dropped the bag beside him and gave him a sad smile. Something had happened. Unconsciously his hand gripped his Rosary. Hopefully something didn't happen to Jinto. He was one of the rare lucky people in his time, not counting his stillborn child from his late wife Alice, who had all his children make it to adulthood. His children may have been long dead as he stood on soil that had seen centuries ahead of him...he couldn't imagine anything happening to his children.
"Is everything alright?" Thomas said concerned, "your son?"
"Jinto and I are fine,' Halling said causing Thomas to make a deep sigh of relief but there still something troubling, "Thank the ancients...my people and I have found our stay on Atlantis has out run its course...Your people have found safe land for our people to move to and close to the city so my people are packing up and moving there."
There was a twinge of sadness in his chest hearing this. Of course he couldn't dictate what Halling and the Athosians decided to do...still it was difficult to hear that his first friend he met here that was outside his circle between himself Rodney and John was going to no longer be in the same vicinity as him.
"I am sorry to hear that," Thomas said. He wondered what made him decided to leave this wonderful place...this beacon which was close to Utopia. Whatever it was...he couldn't see it! He was after a stranger like Halling and his people were but he was treated with nothing but the outmost respect. "Will you be very far?"
"It will be easily able to activate by the Ancient Ring," The other man responded. Thomas smiled and nodded his head. It amazed him that it was now that simple as walking through a large portal to go and see a friend rather than walking and taking a ship or a boat. "So you can come visit Jinto and I any time you want because I certainly enjoyed your company. We are after all despite from different worlds we have the same ideas."
"I certainly did as well," Thomas agreed leaning his hand up against the doorway. He tapped his fingers against the metal frame, "so I am guessing you came to say goodbye for now."
"That," Halling answered, "and I have a favor to ask you."
Thomas bowed his head. As much he didn't want to at times, he in the end loved helping his friends. There was something very awarding about knowing he did something to make someone's life easier...especially if it was a person who was very important in his life. Halling may have been a new friend but still he was an integral part of getting him used to life amongst the stars.
"Of course," Thomas said, "anything that could make you more comfortable leaving this place."
"Well not all of us are leaving," Halling began, "our leader Teyla Emmagan...is staying behind. She is staying for a good cause to hopefully help our people in our fight against the wraith. Have you met her yet? I believe you are soon to be part of our team."
Thomas felt ashamed. He had seen Teyla. He even heard about her a few times. She wasn't as talked about as Elizabeth but John said she was one hell of an exotic woman. But he never had time to meet her. He should have at least tried to engage in a conversation...but must have been self conscious. He never was good around women. Hell the reason she spoke so well with Elizabeth was because she could hold a conversation like a man. He didn't want to look awkward in front of Teyla. Especially if she would be one of the people whose life would be in his hands.
"Yes...but," Thomas said running his hand through his hair, "I am going to be honest with you Halling, I had plenty of time to start a conversation but around women...I am a bit...how should I put this?"
"Shy?" Halling said with a chuckle,"I am surprised you seem to be the most gentlemanly of men here. Yes Major Sheppard has been kind but you seem different I guess you had much different values in your time."
Thomas chuckled along with him and looked down with a smile before making a deep sigh.
"I had trouble speaking to women," Thomas said, "I wasn't the sporty sinful man like the other men at court...I was considered more of a, what do they call it in your world a geek?"
Hailing laughed harder and smiled.
"Well Teyla is a very kind and a very non judgmental woman," He said, "which should make it easier to do the task I am about to ask of you."
"I am guessing because Teyla is of course in the same position as me you would like me to help," Thomas said it seemed to be the logical answer. He couldn't find any other task besides that Halling wanted him to do.
"Yes it would make me more comfortable leaving her behind," Halling responded.
Thomas just smiled and rested his hand on the other man's shoulder.
"Halling you are by far a wonderful friend," He said with a sincere grin, "I will be sure that Miss Emmagan will be in very good hands."
After all, I did believe talking to someone who was in the same position as me would help me greatly. It was something we both needed…
He did not find Teyla until that night. The Athosians were far from the city and out on the mainland. John and his team had gone on a successful mission to capture a wraith. He was told that a necklace that Teyla was wearing constantly summoned the wraith to their position. This was after there was suspicion that the Athosians had sent the wraith information compromising them.
It was what caused them to leave. And now that the real reason the wraith kept attacking them was found out to be otherwise, it seemed to be for nothing the reason they left….and Teyla remained alone. It made his heart bleed for the woman…..he knew her pain. Just like him she lived her life surrounded by the same people. She laughed with them. She cried with them and they watched her grow. And just like him she had to start over. She may have not been far away from where she grew up or in her comfort zone. Thomas couldn't help but wonder how many people in her tribe with either family members or someone she loved dearly.
He walked outside and found her by the Balcony. Her back was turned towards him. But he knew it was her just by John's description. She was tall she was thin yet somewhat curvy. Her long brownish blonde hair flowed freely down her shoulders. He took a deep breath and walked over.
"Teyla Emmagan I presume?" He said.
She turned around to face him. John was right she was very exotic looking. Most women and England looked the same. They had pale skin, blonde or brown hair, most were small breasted until they had children. Katherine was one. Despite the fact that the Infanta of Spain as she was called at the time had a beautiful face and a gorgeous complexion...she didn't have the breast that stuck out at him. But when she started having children...it was very hard to look away. He resisted the urge to smack himself at the thought of Katherine and her breasts because was definitely sinful thought and looked back at Teyla.
Teyla was far different from the typical English woman in Harry's court. In fact if she walked in there men like Charles Brandon would have leapt on her like a frog jumping from lily pad to lily pad. In addition to her curves which was a clear sign of fertility where he came from...she was thin. Her stomach which was far from covered by her clothing was flat with not even an inch of covering. (Did people not have modesty laws in her world? Clearly that didn't seem to be the cases!) Her breasts were large and perfectly round. He somewhat doubted that her body grew into that without at least having one child but Thomas didn't want to be rude and ask that question so he of course avoided it. Her skin was a darker complexion. He knew of darker skinned people but they lived either across the sea or in a tribal country.
But seemed to be the most beautiful part of her appearance over the exotic body was her face. Instead of being short and round and it was long and oval with somewhat a defined Jaw. Her eyes were catlike, dark and very hard to avoid. And her lips were long and plump. She looked to be a serious young woman but her smile it was bright.
"You must be Doctor Moore!" Teyla had said interrupting him from his thoughts.
For a minute his face twisted in confusion. Why was she calling him Doctor Moore? But then he remembered...that was the name he was now given. He had a back story now completely fabricated life with some things that matched. For one he did go to Oxford to get a law degree and worked in politics. But then there were some lies that he was divorced twice and had no children...making it a life that was very undesirable for him to live. He sighed and focused back onto Teyla...even though he envied her that they didn't have to make a fake back story for her because she lived a life which was different from most of the Lanteans.
"Yes it is," Thomas said walking over and taking her hand and just like he did with Elizabeth as it was a proper gesture to do so in his time he kissed it, "It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Teyla."
"Lady Teyla?" She said raising an eyebrow. There goes the theory that even though her Athenian life was not as structured as his English life.
"Yes," Thomas said explaining himself, "I was told you were a leader of your people...which is very impressive since it was very untraditional in my time for young Women to rule a group of people...anyway as I told the Lady Elizabeth it's very proper for a leader of her people to be given a proper title."
She bowed her head in understanding.
"Some groups of people in their worlds that have still managed to have successful lives though touched by the wraith have that titling system as well as yours," Teyla stated. He tilted his head. He knew the wraith were dangerous but were their numbers so plentiful that they weren't able to live their lives and let their cultures grow? He knew the threat of war could be devastating but he couldn't imagine living in a world where these horribly described creatures could affect their way of life, "The Genii for example who were are expected to meet with soon call their leader a chief. If it makes you feel more like home doing that then I have no objections."
She sighed and walked over to the balcony once again. She rested her hands on the ledge. She was quiet….looking out into the ocean. The night was clear with not a single cloud in the sky blocking its beautiful view. The moon shined on the ocean floor reflecting it perfectly in almost a mirror image.
"I am quite saddened my people left," Teyla said as Thomas took his spot next to him, "I mean who would of thought the city of the great ancients would rise from the depths of the ocean and the people of this city let us stay…only to let us leave. As horrible as it is to say I am lucky I do not have any living family amongst my people. I do not know how I would handle it….but then I look at you…and I see….that you are much farther away from you home and your family…..how do you deal with it Doctor Moore?"
Thomas turned away for a moment. He was supposed to be here helping Teyla deal with her people leaving her behind in this place. Yet the conversation turned to him and his dilemma that had constantly haunted him day by day even when he tried to put it at the back of his mind. But maybe just maybe talking about what was happening to him now that he was no longer in Tudor England would help Teyla heal with her pain greatly. Also it could serve a twofold purpose...he could help Teyla deal with her pain while at the same time having to heal with his. He took a deep sigh.
"Well some days it is difficult," He said looking out at the stars above him, "little things remind me of home. Like now...as I look up into the stairs out here on one of the tallest towers of Atlantis...I think about the nights where the King and I would stand on the roof for hours and just talk about our lives of the world around us. I miss those days."
"I feel the same way Doctor Moore, " Teyla nodded gripping onto the rail of the balcony they were standing on, "I remember how when I was a child I would sit with my friends and I would stare at the stars for hours and be so grateful that I was able to live another day...what do you do to combat that pain?"
She quietly turned his head to him. Thomas closed his eyes for a moment. He thought about his first days on Atlantis. How he learned so much, how he grew. He had plenty of good days back in his times...but not like the days he had experiencing in the City. It could have been that he was so close to death he almost taste it. They often did say if one almost died they would learn to love the little things in life.
This was different. This distracted him from his pain he was feeling...isn't that what family was supposed to do? And then it hit him. It was the one thing that distracted him...the new people he had met in his life.
"Well for one," Thomas said, "I am very lucky...when I came here I not only left my friends and the people I have grown to love behind...but I left my family behind too. I thought I would never experience the wonderful feeling of being a father ever again...but then I found John. He told me he was my descendant. The way my heart leapt in excitement when I found out even though we had generations and centuries between us...was a very wonderful felling."
Teyla smiled slightly and looked down.
"John seems to admire you a lot," She said, "on my first mission Major Sheppard couldn't stop talking that he was finally meeting the man he had called a hero for years."
Thomas' heart swelled. It was one thing to be told by Harry or younger aspiring lawyers and politicians tell him he's a hero but when someone in his family...especially someone who lived years after he was supposed to be long dead meant even more. It meant he was being a good father or family man to his descendants. Sometimes he felt like he didn't deserve it...but he learned to deal with the complements he wasn't used to.
"He does," He said, "but with John I felt like I got this second chance god robbed me from. But I think it's especially important to John...he seems to be a lot like me...he doubts himself he needs someone to tell him he's worth something."
Teyla looked down at her feet sighing, closing her eyes just for a moment.
"I don't have that luxury though I wish I did," She said quietly, "the only family I have left went to the mainland just like the rest of them." She paused for a moment she sniffed. Thomas looked a little closer and saw the tear tracks falling down her eyes. She had been crying. Thomas moved his hand over to hers. He took it in his own. Her skin felt soft against his...and felt perfect in his hand. "I don't understand Doctor Moore...our people were pleased with an opportunity any man woman and child in this galaxy would love to have. We were offered a home in the city of the ancients. We got to walk the halls they walked and live the lives they did. Why did they have to leave?"
At that point the damn had broken. Tears began to fall down the young Pegasus Native's face. It wasn't the first time he had to act fast with someone breaking out into Tears. So often he had to do it with Harry when he was lost. He held Katherine as she sobbed for hours when Henry said he wanted that divorce. But he was going to remain kind and patient with her because it was something she needed at the moment.
Thomas let her cry. But he pulled her close against him for comfort. It was a surprise she didn't flinch, but she needed someone who understood what she was going through more than anything at that moment. She buried her head in her chest crying softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist. See in most situations he would be uncomfortable being in such an intimate position with a woman. But it was doing something he did best it was fine.
And maybe this was a sign he wasn't as awkward with women as he thought...after all if a woman was this comfortable letting out her emotions to him...then Thomas was fine with it. He pressed her head against his broad chest as he ran his hand through her hair and ran his fingers through her hair and ran reassuring circles against her back.
"It's alright," Thomas cooed, "let it out, you are amongst a friend."
As a leader she was probably afraid he would be judgmental...after all leaders had to have the guise that they were strong even when their hearts were breaking. But Thomas knew as a humanist that even leaders were allowed to have emotions and were able to be weak. The more a leader laughed, cried and loved...the more they were able to relate to their people. It told their people they were human.
Teyla's tears lasted for a few more moments before they stopped. She left his embrace...not entirely but enough she was still close enough to let him catch her if she fell again. She took his forehands running her thumbs reassuringly amongst his skin.
"Thank you," Teyla said with a grateful smile on her lips. "John was right you were the type of man to be understanding of someone's plight."
Thomas nodded his head.
"I know exactly how you are feeling Lady Teyla," He said nodding his head, "you are scared and confused. You are far away from the people you loved and grew up with. You are with a bunch of strangers and now you have to deal with starting over...beginning a life anew in place in a place where you are not used to...are you frightened are you not?"
Teyla nodded her head and squeezed his forearms gently...out of comfort and reassurance.
"It's okay," Thomas said giving her a very kind and reassuring grin, "I mean I've been here for almost a month…but I still I am trying to adjust….it will take a while…..but you are not alone….but I am already making a new life with new friends….and I new family…you will be able to do so too…..and besides….you can still visit your people cherish that."
"You're right Doctor Moore," She said for the first time during their conversation, "Thank you….for helping me."
"You're welcome," Thomas responded, "after all we're both strangers in a strange land….we have to stick together right?"
And for the first time Thomas was beginning to make sense of the situation. After all, he was no longer alone….he had someone to go through it with him, new friends and his family left. Slowly and sure this place was becoming…..home.