A/N: Thanks for reading. And thank you also for the feedback.
A quick note about this chapter. Its written to emphasise how the team has been broken up in the months since Atlantis' return to earth.
I promise they will all work their way back to each other.
Chapter Two: Game Time
"Sheppard!" shouted Ronon, hoping to get his team leader's attention as the bullets flew past his head.
John spun round, noticing the big man ducking and weaving under the gunfire from their dogged pursuers. Ordering Jenkins to dial the gate, Sheppard and Major Andrews dropped into cover to provide suppressing fire as Ronon sped towards them. As the final chevron clicked into place, the familiar and comforting sound of the gate opening told John they had almost completed their latest high-risk assignment.
"Jenkins, into the gate now. And make sure you take what we came here for" proclaimed Sheppard, his head motioning towards the box laying next to him as he fired another burst, though his eyes did not leave the targets moving through the tree line.
Jenkins didn't need a second invitation, picking up the box before racing into the portal. Sheppard was forced to reload as the blur that was Ronon tore past him and, without breaking stride, launched himself head first through the Stargate.
"Ronon next then" said Sheppard sarcastically, drawing a slight chuckle from Major Andrews as he launched another burst of rounds towards their attackers.
"Your turn Andrews" he nodded towards the young officer next to him, who acknowledged the order and headed backwards towards the gate whilst still providing fire. The cessation of gunfire from behind him confirmed that he too was safely back at SGC, leaving Sheppard as the last man standing. The Lucian Alliance men were closing in, the continuous fire of their weapons growing ever louder in John's ears. The event horizon behind him was beginning to dissipate so without a second thought, he put everything he had left into getting himself into the gate before he was trapped here.
The landing back at SGC was not pleasant but after checking for bullet holes and finding none, John breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly congratulating himself on another job well done. Getting to his feet, he saw the rest of his team were none the worse for wear either, though he did notice that Ronon was panting like an asthmatic rhino. The look he flashed in Sheppard's general direction forced the smart-mouthed remark the Colonel was contemplating to remain unspoken.
As the team gathered their bearings, the doors to the gate room opened and General Landry walked in, his face as stoic and unemotional as ever.
"Report, Colonel Sheppard" he said passively, the routine of teams returning through the Stargate in such a manner now so commonplace it was no longer even worthy of mention.
"Mission complete sir. Package was secured despite heavy enemy presence" replied Sheppard modestly.
"Very good Colonel. And the package is where exactly..." said Landry, looking around in an exaggerated manner
A forced cough from Sheppard prompted Jenkins to step forward and hand the box over to the waiting technicians, offering an apologetic look to Sheppard as he fell back into formation, like a scolded child who had been forced to return a stolen toy to the kid down the street.
"Well it looks like another successful mission for SG-17. Mission debrief tomorrow, 1300 hours. For the moment, dismissed" said Landry and with that he turned and left the gate room, leaving Sheppard and his team to their own devices.
"That was fun" said Ronon, a hint of a smile etched on his face.
"I think you and I have very different ideas of fun sir" replied Jenkins, surprising everyone and getting a laugh from Sheppard as Ronon pulled him into a playful headlock. The two had formed an unlikely friendship ever since Jenkins intervened in a bar brawl Ronon started a few weeks back, though it's doubtful he remembered much about the incident, considering he was knocked out cold soon after getting involved.
"Speaking of fun, drinks on me tonight boys. That is, if you don't have any plans" announced Andrews, drawing approving nods from both Ronon and Jenkins. "Beckett will be coming too, once he's finished patching up Major Lorne's team..what say you Colonel?"
"Sorry Major, already have plans. You guys have fun though." he paused and then headed towards the gate room exit before turning around to add "And try to keep the fighting to a minimum. This time". He exited to the sniggering of his team, genuinely pleased at the bond developing between them.
The truth is that he did have plans, made a couple of weeks ago. Since he had returned to Earth, he and Teyla had spent hardly any time together. She was busy settling in with her new family on a strange world and he had been swamped with SGC assignments. Its understandable, he thought to himself, but not acceptable.So he was taking Teyla to her first football game, albeit only a local college match.
But the game was unimportant as his ultimate aim was to make sure she was happy enough on Earth and whether he could do anything else to help her settle. After all, she could be stuck here indefinitely. Fortunately, Kanaan would be looking after Torren so it would just be the two of them, making it far less awkward. Or maybe more so.
- - SGA - -
He approached the door nervously, not knowing exactly the reception he would receive. After a slight pause, he pressed the buzzer to her apartment, their apartment and was pleased when the door unlocked and allowed him inside the building. Taking the stairs as opposed to the rather ominous looking elevator, he arrived on the fourth floor, his anxiety causing him to pause several times on the way up.
Apartment 4C, he reminded himself silently before stopping outside the right room. He went to knock on the door but before he had chance to, it swung open to reveal Teyla like he had seen her only once before, back when they were trapped in a false reality. She had adapted to Earth fashion very well it seemed, her jeans hugging tightly to her legs whilst her blouse accentuated her incredible physique. John had to inwardly chastise himself for thinking those thoughts, knowing that it was simply not an option he could pursue anymore.
"Colonel Sheppard" she said excitedly before correcting herself "...John. It is good to see you." She flashed him a smile that could melt steel and he was immediately under her spell again.
"Likewise...you look incredible" he proclaimed, returning her enchanting smile as best he could "Shall we get going?" he continued, to which she offered a polite nod.
The journey to the local football stadium was filled with chat and gossip, mainly about what was happening with their former friends and colleagues. John thought he detected a hint of sadness in Teyla's voice as she spoke of Ronon and the others, though her outward demeanour remained warm and friendly. They reached their destination and after purchasing the obligatory popcorn and soda, took their seats among the several hundred spectators for the crunch college clash.
Normally, live football would be exciting for John but he just couldn't pay much attention to the game, so nervous was he about being alone with Teyla after weeks apart. The game got underway but Sheppard's mind was somewhere else, possible still back in the Pegasus galaxy, as he had not been in the right frame of mind ever since returning "home".
"So the Quarter...back sends his warriors into enemy territory to receive the...ball and claim that territory?" enquired Teyla innocently, drawing John out of his trance-like stupor.
"Pretty much. Except we generally call them receivers, not warriors" replied John, reminding himself that she wasn't exactly familiar with the sport, despite previous efforts to teach her about the game.
"This is a most interesting activity, John." she said genuinely.
"Told ya!" he replied, a satisfied grin etched on his face. She senses the playfulness of the gesture and responded with a slight squeeze of John's hand.
Though he did not want to spoil this amazing moment, John knew he eventually had to ask whether Teyla was happy here. It was eating away inside him, knowing that she had travelled to another galaxy solely to help save his world, only to discover she may not find happiness here. As the buzzer blew for half-time, John sensed the time was right and after working up the nerve, he asked timidly. "So how are things with you?"
She paused for a moment as she considered her response. He could see her mind working, trying to figure out what to say. Can she be honest with him? Can she really tell him that she feels uncomfortable on his homeworld? In the end, she settled for a diplomatic response, hoping he would accept it without further question.
"I am quite content here, John. Your world has many amazing sights to see."
"But?" he replied and she knew she had been caught out. He was far better at reading people than he gave himself credit for. Or maybe just at reading her.
"But...I feel like an outsider here, even more so than when I first arrived on Atlantis. And I worry for my people, alone in another galaxy with no-one to look out for them. And.." she paused briefly, wondering if this was too personal but decided to press ahead, feeling the need to confide in someone. "Kanaan and I are experiencing...problems in our relationship." She had taken the first step, now she wondered how he would respond.
John looked upon Teyla and saw something he never wished to see for her; pain and suffering. Not physical nor torturous but enough to make her confide in him, which in of itself suggested the seriousness of the situation. And he knew he had to say something. He just didn't know exactly what.
"Look Teyla...if I could take you back home tomorrow, to be with your people, I would do it in a heartbeat. If there was one person in this entire universe I'd want to be happy, it would be you..." he admitted honestly but unsure if he had crossed a line. The look Teyla flashed him, a combination of respect and encouragement, urged him to continue "And relationship problems are entirely normal. Believe me, I know. But if you love him, then it will work itself out.."
Teyla knew how difficult this must have been for John to say, given his awkwardness in talking about "feelings", so to show her appreciation, she leaned her forehead into his, an Athosian tradition that John had grown to like immensely and that she too enjoyed, particularly with him. The contact threatened to break down the walls that had for so long stood between them. With their heads still touching gently against each other, Teyla considered her next words carefully, unsure of herself and her current state of mind. Eventually, she settled for a simple "Thank you John."
As if fate itself had intervened to prevent them from going any further, John's pocket began to vibrate and the familiar chimes of his cell phone broke the magic of the moment. They reluctantly broke the contact and relaxed back into their respective seats, enjoying the comfort they drew from each others presence.
John pressed the key to answer the call, not speaking for several minutes but looking rather concerned at the message he was receiving. With a courteous "Yes Sir", he ended the call before looking grimly at Teyla.
"Is there a problem John?" Teyla asked worriedly
"Yes...and no. We need to get back to Stargate Command..."