Start Chapter 17

"Rodney?" Keller asked softly.

He mumbled something while continuing to finish of his lunch. "So did you find anything on the planet?"

She sat down next to him with a drink, "Yes did you happen to figure out whose lab it was?"

"Michaels he was doing research on," he started before taking another bite. "On his hybrids, he stopped early that's why they died. I guess he doesn't want his experiment discovered yet."

"Probably just waiting to stab us in the back again."

"Have you seen Teyla yet?"

"No but if she's not here already she should be arriving shortly why?"

"I just wanted to make sure she's ok I mean this is the first hint of her people in months and it's because they're dead."

"Well we could go check," Rodney said getting up and heading to the door.

She got up and followed him.

***

As Teyla finished her meditation she saw John sitting patiently on the floor behind her she smiled at him, "I am ready."

He nodded in response and stood up slowly quietly making his way over to the door nearly asleep from the meditation. "I'll tell Ronon," he said leaving and calling Ronon on the radio to apprise him of the situation.

Ancient appeared a deep blue just outside the door as it slid shut, "John you do not have to use the puddlejumper to get from here to Atlantis."

John looked at him incredulously, "how?"

"This ship is equipped with several teleporters that can transport you to Atlantis. I can instruct you in their use as soon as Ronon vacates the chair." John headed up to the bridge and pried Ronon out of the chair long for the AI to give him lessons on using the beaming technology.

***

John went down to see Teyla and help her bring some of her stuff up into the room as he was heading down he ran into her, "hey Teyla head to the lounge."

She looked at him confused as to why she would head there when the jumper was outside.

"Ancient is allowing me to teleport you guys to Atlantis it'll be much quicker."

"You are not joining us?"

"No I figured I'd stay here and take the jumper back"

"Why do you not teleport with us?"

"Can't, someone has to stay behind."

She raised an eyebrow at him, "And you do not wish to join me."

"No it's not that I just thought that..." his voice trailed off as he turned a looked out the window.

"That I would not welcome your presence?"

John's discomfort became evident to her without even looking at him. After a moment to collect his thoughts he answered still staring out the window at the forest, "It wouldn't matter Ronon can't fly the jumper he'd have no way of getting back."

She nodded and left him alone knowing that she wouldn't get anymore out of him.

***

Teyla emerged from her solitude with a bag on her shoulder and the rest of her stuff packed, the message was clear. She wasn't coming back. He headed down and they brought up the remaining bags and placed them and the lounge admiring the planets beautifully blue sky. "Ready?" John asked as he and Ronon entered the room.

She took a breath steadying herself, "Yes."

"Well I…I don't…" he paused for a minute, "Let us know if there is anything we can do."

"Thank you again, John," she said to his retreating back as he headed towards the control room to send her and Ronon to Atlantis.

"How has Atlantis been?"

"Sheppard didn't tell you?"

"Not entirely he told me that Rodney got engaged."

"Yeah they had a party and then went off to Earth for a week or two."

"Why were we not invited?"

"Rodney said he sent you guys a message but didn't get any response back."

Teyla stopped and turned to face Ronon, "What?"

"We sent a message but we never got a response."

"Excuse me Ronon I must speak with John before I leave." She left before giving him any time to respond.

***

"JOHN" she yelled after him as he turned the corner at the end of the long hallway she wasn't sure if he hadn't heard her of had ignored her but she followed him nonetheless. As she rounded the corner she began running in order to catch up to him, "JOHN," she called again this time he turned around and jogged back to meet her.

"Teyla what's wrong?"

"Ronon told me that we were invited to a celebration back on Atlantis but you never told me of it."

"I never got the message in the first place," he was initially confused at her anger considering even if he had hidden it, it would be a rather minor thing. Then it dawned on him, she wasn't angry about some party she was just looking for an excuse to get angry.

"You truly did not know?" She seemed to realize how irrational her anger was, but her voice still contained a slight edge.

"No what you thought I hid it from you?"

"I was unsure if you would have been willing to take me back and forth and considering you are remaining here as opposed to coming to Atlantis…"

"Teyla I told you Ronon has no way of getting back he can't fly a jumper I can and this way you'll get back faster."

"And why can Ancient not simply transport us?"

"Well I suppose he could but I…I don't want to uh leave the Jumper," he said looking at the floor knowing it was a weak excuse but he didn't think he could handle seeing Teyla and her people it was bad enough for him to see the pain she was in from hearing about it but seeing them and preparing for their ring ceremonies. She nodded accepting his decision and left him alone.

***

Their radios crackled to life in unison, "ready?" Sheppard asked.

Ronon replied for both of them, "Yes."

Sheppard powered up the old teleportation system and activated it sending them to the top of Atlantis's main tower. After their arrival Sheppard tracked their progress using the ships life signs detector.

***

They made their way down the central spire and when they reached a transporter Teyla headed to her quarters while Ronon headed to the control room to inform Carter of their return.

A/N-Read and review please. I'm sorry for any spellings/grammar mistakes, but I'm trying to close up my Atlantis stories starting with this one, so I'm putting a bit of a rush on it.