I'm not an expert in anything. Forgive any ignorance betrayed. Don't own any part of the awesomeness that is Stargate. poo.

Much later that night (or early morning the next day) John slowly came awake.

He was warm, and felt as if a heavy blanket was draped over his brain and his body. He slowly opened his eyes. The light of the moon and the ocean was coming in through his window.

Ronan was sitting in a chair across from him. He roamed his eyes around the room and saw the glow of McKay's laptop. Rodney was tapping away at the keyboard and didn't notice that he was awake yet. John rolled a little to his right and saw that Teyla was sleeping next to him, on top of the covers. Ronan had his eyes closed, but they came open slowly and he was now studying John.

"How you feeling buddy?" Ronan asked.

Instead of answering immediately, John took stock of what he remembered.

He remembered telling his team he was gay (oh my god), and about his relationship with Cooper. He also remembered telling them about his suicide attempt and about Rowan finding him. After that, he didn't recall too much. Some flashes of emotion passed through his mind, he remembered feeling panicked and anxious. Did he have a panic attack?

He slowly started to push himself up to a sitting position. Teyla stirred awake as well. She gave John a smile while she too sat up. Rodney noticed that John was finally awake and he shut his laptop and rolled over in his chair to be near him.

John rubbed his hands over his face and through is hair, some of which was plastered to his head, but mostly was sticking up at all angles.

"Hey guys", he croaked. Teyla stood up to get him a glass of water from his bathroom. When she returned she passed him the glass and sat back down next to him with one leg on the floor and the other tucked underneath her.

"Thanks Teyla."

"I, uh, I guess I had a panic attack? Sorry about that guys. I don't know what came over me."

"Hey, don't worry about it Colonel, do you know how many times I've had panic attacks? Countless." Rodney's attempt at comforting him worked. John, while not proud of what had happened and that they all had to witness it, knew that they just wanted to help. And boy, he guess he needed it. John really thought he was doing ok...but obviously his own mind was just kidding himself.

"Thanks Rodney," he said with a smile.

"So. Gay, huh?" asked Rodney.

"Yup. " said John.

"Always?" asked Ronan.

"Yup." said John.

"What about all the women?!" Rodney burst, "I swear you have alien women throwing themselves at you on every other mission!" Rodney exclaimed.

"I can't really do anything about that Rodney" John said smiling. He knew Rodney was only joking, well a little anyway.

Rodney looked a bit deflated "Oh my god. It's SO not fair. Brains, good looks...charm...gah."

"Rodney! I am sure the colonel would have let it be known he was not attracted to them if he had been able to!"

"Yeah yeah, I know... I...uh..I can't imagine what it's been like for you John. I mean, I'm an asshole, I know that, and at least I'm allowed to behave like it...I can be an asshole all day long and it's OK-"

"Well, not to the people who run screaming and crying from your labs, Rodney" John replied with a smile.

"You know what I mean John..."

"Yeah, McKay I do. I feel OK right now though. Here, in this moment, I feel good. It feels really good to have told you guys about everything. I can't put into words...well...I can't thank you enough for being here. I, uh, I...I've been...alone..for a long time."

"I thought I had reconciled my choices with the...consequences a long time ago. I chose the military over Cooper...I chose it over my own sister- I know I had other options...but I can't NOT be in the Air Force. I have to protect people." He looked to Ronan, "You understand, right Ronan?"

"Yeah, Sheppard, I do. I've told you guys about Malena...I had to make the same choices, she stuck with me until...the end, but it was hard. Really hard on both of us. It sounds like you and your friend Cooper-? (John nodded and looked down to his feet)- made it 10 years, I don't know if Malena and I would've made it that long, the four years we had were hard, but it was worth it for me. For her, she hated every time I went out to do battle, hated it. I wouldn't have blamed her if she left. So, yeah, I get it."

"John," Teyla asked, "Can you tell us how you met Cooper?" Teyla wanted John to focus not on what had just happened, but maybe on happier times. She was also curious about his relationship. They all were. And John seemed to be in a place right now where he'd be OK talking about it.

John looked up at his friends and smiled. "Yeah, sure."

John's friends were studying him, it was clear on his face that he had loved this man, still did. John's face was smiling in a way that they had never seen. This was a genuine smile, not his flirtatious grin or his usual casual smirk. He was shining. A true grin had spread across his face. Or it could be the horse traquilizers he was doped up on.

"I was, uh, yeah, I was in my first year of flight school...and I had some leave time accumulated. I always tried to take my leave somewhere I could surf, away from base, somewhere different, you know? Anyway, I went to Hawai'i and we met there. Sometimes I like to fly private aircraft for fun and he was a mechanic at a small airport I was renting a small plane out of. I ended up spending most of my leave hanging out watching him fix planes instead of surfing or flying. Towards the end of my leave time, about 10 days after we met, I asked him to move out to Robins AFB with me. And he said 'Yes'! I couldn't believe it. He's amazing Rodney, you would like him, he's really smart. And you guys too, Teyla and Ronan, you'd all like him. He thought my jokes were funny, well, at least, he'd laugh for me."

John's body relaxed as he continued, "He's tall, about as tall as me. He likes to dress up nice every once in a while, you know- suits and stuff, cause he's always so dirty and stuff from work I guess. Oh man, he looked so great when he did." He covered his face with both of his hands, oh my gosh Teyla saw, was he blushing?

John, muffled, continued, "He was so handsome in his suits... I wonder if he still likes to do that? (sigh) Anyway, I didn't even have to teach him sign language! His grandad was deaf, and he'd hang out with him in the summers growing up. He was so excited he got to use it again when he met Rowan. He and Ro HATED each other at first, well pretty much everybody hates Ro when they meet her, but he was so excited to be using sign again, I think he'd pick fights with her just to sign."

John scrubbed at his face, then slowly stood up and stretched, "Anyway, I don't know where is now or what's he's doing. I never spoke to him again after he moved out." John was walking around his room now.

"After he moved out, it was - I think- maybe two days later that I ended up at my dad's house...and where Row found me. After that I was, uh, I was kind of messed up for a while. It didn't really matter anyway because I was transferred to Suffolk AFB when I got back to base. I, uh, I never spoke to anybody about what happened, I couldn't. I didn't trust the base shrinks anyway. Coop wouldn't have been able to find me without digging pretty deep with the Air Force and I know he wouldn't do that. And I, uh, I never saw him or called him again. I didn't want to have to tell him what I did after he left, I didn't want him looking at me like that or getting mad at me. I figured it was best for us if, uh, if we just didn't try anymore."

"I need to talk to Rowan. Man..." John sat down and put his head in his hands, "I thought I was doing OK, you know? Then she came here, and I started feeling so angry about everything again. Angry that my stupid job won't let me be with another man, angry that I've seen and heard my own men do and say hateful things about people like me, angry that Coop left...but mostly angry at myself for letting Coop and Rowan down and forcing them to leave."

"Sheppard. When you were blacking out, Rowan came here. She knew you were in trouble, I know it." Ronan said, "You should've seen here face, she still cares. She had to make sure you were OK. She still cares a lot."

"Oh god. She was here? Aw Jesus, she must think I'm such a fuck up! " John look dismayed.

Teyla spoke, "No. John, I only saw concern in her eyes. She simply does not know how to come to you. I agree with Ronan, you need to go speak to her. Let her know that you are OK. Let her know that you care and that you are sorry for what has happened between you... things will not get better for you until you do. I am sure of this.

"Yeah," said Rodney, "You guys need to make up. "

John sighed, "Well, obviously, my brilliant tactic of NOT talking didn't work out so well...so, OK. I'll talk to her. Tomorrow. I'll go in the morning, well later this morning."

With that he lay back down on the bed and closed his eyes while saying, "I'm OK now guys, you don't need to stay..." and he drifted off to sleep.

Ronan decided he would sleep on the couch, since they promised the doc someone would stay all night. Teyla and Rodney left for their quarters, both of them thinking about how sad they were that the Colonel has had to live a life of such compromise.

Just as the sun was rising, John awoke. His mind was clear and he felt good. He looked and saw Ronan sleeping on his couch. He didn't really think his team would've left him alone last night, and truthfully, he was grateful for the company.

He pulled himself up from the bed and leaned back on his pillows. He reached over to his bedside table and picked up his earpiece, where someone must have placed it, and called Lorne. Quietly, he said "Sheppard to Lorne."

"Good morning sir. How'r you doing? You looked pretty tired after the S & R yesterday."

"I'm fine Lorne, thanks. But I am taking another personal day today. Let Weir know will ya?"

"Yes, sir. Shouldn't be a problem. No teams are scheduled to go offfworld since the gate is getting some routine maintenance today. If I may ask, sir, are you finally going to talk to your sister, because it's beyond time. Sir."

John laughed to himself, he really was good friends with his 2IC, and Lorne really did know him too well. Over the past few weeks he had let slip a few details to Lorne about his sister, if not the specifics.

"Yeah I know Evan. And yes, I am going to talk to her today. And you as well, come to my quarters at 1700. Sheppard out"

"Yes sir."

Having taken care of that, John stood up and gathered some clean clothes. He was still in his black BDUs and covered in dirt. He went into the bathroom and shut the door. Looking in the mirror he thought he looked OK. Dirty and tired, but he didn't look as ragged as he knew he looked yesterday. He certainly felt lighter and more at ease, even if he still looked like he had taken a roll in the mud and been beaten by rocks. He stripped off his clothes and took a very long, very hot shower.

By the time he emerged from the bathroom, Ronan had woken up, tidied up his room, stripped and remade his bed, gone to his own quarters to change clothes and shower, and returned with some breakfast.

John emerged from the bathroom with steam trailing behind him, and a towel wrapped around is waist. He blinked, and looked around at his quarters. John exclaimed, "Geez, how long was I in the shower?"

"Hey buddy. Good morning. You look better." Ronan said as he was striding into the room, "I unlocked your door so I could get back in, didn't think you'd mind".

"No, problem. And yeah, I do feel better."

At that moment, the door chimed and simultaneously Teyla and Rodney came in with their own breakfasts.

"Well, geez, come on in everybody..." John said, but he really was happy that his friends were back. He quickly finished getting into his BDUs and joined everyone around his small work table/breakfast table and took a look at the food and drinks Rodney and teyla had brought. He hadn't eaten properly in weeks, and the thought of eggs or bacony meats and not-sages did not appeal to him. So he took a cup of coffee and toast that was on the tray.

As they all settled in around his small breakfast table, Teyla said, "John, I want to thank you for telling us about your family and past. I know it was difficult."

John, looked down and didn't say anything, he still felt embarrassed about it all, about how he had handled himself in the past few weeks.

Rodney put down his muffin and gulped. He looked at John, "Yeah Sheppard. Really. I...I can't believe that you had to keep all this secret. I'm OK with you being gay...and stuff. I'm still wrapping my head around it, but I don't care, not really. I just...I thought we were best friends. I mean, right? We're friends, right? I know, I'm an ass sometimes, but I don't care what, that, I don't care that you're gay or whatever... and I...I wish..., I dunno, I wish you could have told us..."

"What he said." said Ronan.

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. It's not that I didn't trust you guys. Really." John put down his coffee and looked at his friends.

"You guys don't know what it's like to be judged for being like this. It's awful, and... I can put up with a lot of shit, a LOT... and it's just easier sometimes to hide it. When my dad found out...well... Well, it was bad. He said and did some horrible things to me, which I still carry around with me. He was my dad, so it meant a lot to me, what he did...those awful things he said..he really made me believe I was... I dunno, a... letdown, a disappointment...and to him I was, still am."

John's eyes had an unfocused look, he was clearly thinking about his father's parting words and actions.

Surprisingly, it was Ronan who said something next. "Sheppard. Whatever stupid stuff your dad said to you, you need to forget about. You have a new family now. Your sister is here, in Atlantis. And from what I saw last night, she really cares about you. I've never met any twins before and guys are special, you guys have a connection nobody else has. I know you will work it out."

Teyla and Rodney were nodding their heads along with Ronan's speech. Teyla said , "I agree with Ronan. I believe Rowan is angry because she is afraid you are not happy, she knows what you've had to sacrifice and she has carried far too much anger on your behalf, for far too long."

She continued, "John...having to sacrifice yourself, and the people you love for your job...is a sacrifice you should NEVER have had to make. I am ashamed to admit that I have not made a better effort to understand people who... love like you do... better. In the future, I will never make this mistake again. "

Thoughtfully, she continued, " I never realized how much having to hide, having to push that part of you aside would cost. Having the freedom to express and talk about my life, all parts of it, is a freedom I never realized I took for granted."

John took her hand and said "Hey, it's OK. I knew what I was getting into. It's hard for people to accept what they don't understand. I know...hateful people will always be hateful people. I was young when my dad said those things to me. I should know better by now. But it's hard to break old habits and let go of old fears."

Rodney said, "I think mostly your sister pissed because she thinks you sacrificed too much, like Teyla said. You're not expendable John. You're not worth less because of who you are, or because you're different. You know that right?"

John's friends had been mortified when John had uttered those words, that he thought he was worth less, that he was expendable, just because he was a soldier, or different.

John just looked down, he didn't know what to say. "You hear bad things enough, Mckay, and you start to believe them."

Rodney just said "Well you've been listening to the wrong people."

They were silent for a moment, until John said, " I think I pushed Rowan too far. She gave up so much for me, and I turned my back on her... She left dad, she saved my ass when I, when I...uh, when I..did what what I did.. and I feel like I let her down. I know I let her down."

John sighed. "You know, McKay, you've spent more time with her in the past 3 months with her than I have in the past 10 years. Tell me about her, please?"

Rodney looked at John with an open face and said "I honestly have no freaking clue. She is so weird. No offense."

"None taken, " John, shook his head slowly. "She can be a tough nut to crack."

"Well, " said Rodney, "At first I really tried to get some dirt about you from her, but she has the ability to ignore people like no one I have ever met before. It doesn't help that she's deaf. I mean she acknowledged everything, I was asking her, she would just stare daggers back at me and type 'FUCK OFF'' on the tablet.

Ronan liked this girl more and more.

"Yup, that's my sister..." John nodded.

"So...yeah, I stopped trying after a few days. She's more that happy working here though. She's amazing. Kavannaugh is having a duck worrying about his work, she's been dismantling all his systems and rebuilding them, he can't stop her because he's too dumb to follow what she's doing- she's efficient- but everything she's doing has really made a lot of systems more effective as well. And she's not singling him out. I mean she's rewritten most of the code that any anyone has put together, or at least has plans to. I let her into a section of Atlantis' data banks, then a day or two later after she's figured her way around the programming, she gives me a list of functions she wants to implement to make it interface with Earth tech better- then she spends the next few weeks writing the programming code to make it happen. She's basically independent from everyone else."

He continued, "She does likes it here though. I can tell." McKay looked around kind of sheepishly, "And, I, uh, I kind of followed her around one day when she wasn't in the labs."

Everyone at the table glared at him, this was typical Rodney.

"She likes to go down to Parrish's lab sometimes and talk to him. I don't know what they talk about though. She's scrounged around the empty labs, and I'm pretty sure she's stolen things from the military stock rooms but she has a nice little gym assembled in a room off the north pier, it's way the hell out there. She, uh, she likes to blast music really loud and do ju jitsu or something, I dunno, but she likes to pummel things, I can tell you that. A lot. She's in there most of the time, if she's not in the lab or with Parrish. I like her. She hasn't done anything to make me not like her. And she's kind of hot."

John rolled his eyes and took up his coffee again. "I don't know what I'm going to say to her. She's so mad at me, and frankly has every right to be." He sighed again.

Right then, the door slid open and Rowan was standing in the doorway.

"Well, buddy here's your chance to figure out something to say" said Ronan grinning and slapping him on the back.

Everyone turned to look at who had opened the doors. John stood up and looked anxiously at Rowan.

Teyla, Ronan, and Rodney stood up and were making to leave the siblings alone to talk but Rowan raised a hand to them and gestured that they should stay.

[I know you're John's friends. I'd like you to stay.] she had typed out.

She walked up to Teyla and Ronan and introduced herself very formally. [Teyla Emmagan and Specialist Ronan Dex, I am Rowan Sheppard. I am very sorry that I have not introduced myself earlier, an appropriate opportunity did not present itself.]

She signed out her name for them, she made a point of doing it slowly. She held up her right hand, index and middle finger crossed together pointing up, thumb and last two fingers touching at the palm, then with a flick of her wrist made her crossed fingers point to the left as she brought her hand to her throat. She nodded an acknowledgement to Rodney, who nodded back at her. Then held out her hand to shake with Ronan and made the traditional Athosian greeting with Teyla.

"Hey Rowan." Rodney said. Rodney didn't really know what to do with his hands. Of course he was dying to see how John and his freak sister made up, because it sure was time, but he was also REALLY bad at being in situations like this. He decided he'd just stand with his hands in his pockets and speak when spoken to.

Teyla studied her for a moment. Rowan was a petite woman and had a thin frame, very much like her twin brother. As usual, she had a strip of black kohl on her face, and of course her multiple piercings. Her clothes were her usual grey, dark green, and blacks and her hair was ragged with spikes, the shaved portion had grown out into a pixie on one side. The overall effect was to make her presence much larger than her actual person. Her formal introduction was jarring, and didn't match up to the person in front of her. Teyla inclined her head and stated simply, "I am very pleased to meet you Rowan Sheppard, and look forward to becoming friends."

Ronan said "Yeah." He was definitely intrigued by this woman. She looked hot. And he liked how direct she was. Instead of waiting for Sheppard, which could take FOREVER, she chose to come here. And he could tell that she knew enough already to know that he, Teyla, and McKay were his family. She was gonna work out. He knew it.

Rowan, for her part, pretty much felt like she already knew McKay, she knew his type. He was OK. From their body language she could get the gist that Teyla and Ronan had accepted her introduction. She had very rudimentary lip reading skills.

Over the last few weeks, after getting over the initial shock that she was in another galaxy with her brother, she had been getting to know John better, even though he wasn't aware.

His friends didn't know it, but they were right. She had been so angry that John had to sacrifice so much!

She read through all of his mission reports. From these she was able to read between the lines and could tell that his team were important to him. She had been blown away by the mission reports. She was proud and afraid for all the things her brother had been through. After reading all the reports she could begin to see why he couldn't leave the military. Helping all those people, all over the universe ... she just wanted to get to know him again. She wanted to protect him... Who was protecting him, who was watching out for him? She knew it was John's fault that he let himself get so far gone, his friends weren't allowed to help, since John had never let them in. She should have been there for him. She should have been the one to make sure he was happy.

During this brief moment of silence, John had taken a step towards his sister. He signed to her and said aloud, [I'm sorry. For everything].

Rowan stepped back from John, a hurt look passed over his face, which he quickly hid.

After a second, Rowan signed [I'm glad you found a family here.] She pointed to each of his friends in turn, and made the simple 'Thank You' sign which she knew at least Rodney was familiar with.

[They're good for me... I understand why you left. I do.] John signed and said quietly.

A look of overwhelming sadness came over Rowan's features [Do you? Do you know what it was like? TO SEE YOU LYING ON THE FLOOR! DYING? You have no idea! NO IDEA! I died that day too. You tried to KILL yourself. You have no idea what that did to me. No idea.]

Finally saying this to her brother totally spent her. She was suddenly exhausted. So tired.

Ronan saw that she had suddenly wilted and went to grasp her elbow. She took a sidelong glance at him and signed [Thank you ,I'm ok.]

John's friends tried to leave and give them privacy again but Rowan stopped them again, [NO! STAY! I need... I need for you to be here. I need you to understand me, to understand US. And I'm tired of John hiding. I'm TIRED of him HAVING TO HIDE and be afraid! It's KILLING HIM! KILLING HIM! I can see it! I can't let that happen again! I can't! If he can't tell you WHO HE IS, then I will! It isn't RIGHT! It isn't right that his family can't know WHO HE IS!]

Obviously, the didn't understand her flurry of hand signs but understood that she was trying desperately to convey something to them.

John said "she wants you guys to stay. She wants me to tell you everything, she's worried about me."

Teyla broke in before Rowan had to feel she was going to betray any more of John's secrets. Teyla grabbed both her shoulders, "Rowan! John told us everything last night. He told us about Cooper, and about his... breakdown after. He told us about you, a little anyway. About how much you meant to him, and how much you helped him."

John signed in translation within her line of sight.

Rowan stepped back, looked to John and signed, [You told them everything]

"Yes," John said, looking first down at his feet, but then raising his eyes to look at Rowan, [I told them everything.]

He continued, [Rowan, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for what I did. And I'm especially sorry now, for not telling my family here about everything, about me, sooner than this. But I'm not sorry for choosing to do the work I do. It's important. I can't be anything else. I've lost so much because of the choices I've made. I can only ask that you'll forgive me and come back. I can't change who I am...]

Rowan closed her eyes. When she opened them again she look angry. [When I found you, a part of me died. I can never live through that again. You were going to leave me. You hurt me.] She closed her eyes again as tears rolled down her face.

John slowly walked towards her, he face looked stricken, and he was tearing up. As he approached her she opened her eyes. He continued to walk towards her, as he got close, she raised her hands to his chest and stopped him. She ghosted her hands over his chest and shoulders, looking him up and down, like she was seeing him for the first time.

[I've missed you] she signed. [Promise me you will try, try to take what you deserve. Don't give all of yourself away. Keep some for your friends. Keep some of you, for me.] she signed.

John looked at with earnest eyes, and signed [I promise. I promise I will try. Forgive me?]

[Of course.] she signed simply.

Ever so slowly, she stepped closer as she raised herself up on her toes and hugged him.

John was overwhelmed. He had his sister back. He clutched her to his body in a fierce hug. He breathed in her scent and held on.

Ronan said "awesome".

Rodney said "cool".

Teyla just smiled.

As they embraced, John began to laugh, releasing weeks of pent up anxiety and fear. Rowan pulled away from him, looked into his face and smiled. John pulled her face close to his, his hand on the back of her neck. Rowan pulled back for just a moment, then quick as a flash, slapped him really hard across the face. "Sorry" she said. "Had to do it."

Rubbing his face and grinning like a maniac, he pulled away and looked to his friends who were all pretending not to cry and laugh at the same time.

He turned to them, holding onto Rowan- wrapping his arm around her side. "Guys, this is my twin sister, her name is Rowan. She's amazing. She's the reason I am ME."

"Um, just now...she made promise to try and quote "keep some of myself for you guys. And for her. Not to give all of myself up for the job." and I will. I promise I will try." John continued, "And I'm gonna say I'm sorry one last time to you guys, for... everything."

Teyla, wiped a small tear from her eye and said, "Yes, John. We know. I'm very happy that you both have faced your fears. I knew you both were still capable of forming your old bond." She sniffed, and whispered to herself (that was good. sniff sniff).

Ronan (who had his back suspiciously turned) had just turned back around and said a little too gruffly, "Yea, that's cool."

Rodney was bawling his eyes out. "FINALLY! Oh my god! After everything we all just found out about you Sheppard.. I mean, the SISTER...the GAYNESS...the..well, the CRAP TIME YOU'VE HAD OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS! I can't believe that we get to see this! I mean, I don't mean to be girly and all, but gah! Can someone get me a goddamn tissue?!"

Everyone laughed out loud at this, Rodney looked a bit abashed, but was still sniffing, muttering "Everyone is crying. It's not just me. And it's really dusty in here. And I think someone was cutting onions somewhere..."

John, said,"By the way, Rowan can read lips. You have to speak clearly and look directly at her, but she's OK at it."

Rowan looked to Teyla, Rodney, and Ronan making eye contact with each of them in turn, [I can tell that you all have become my brother's family here. Thank you giving him that. He hadn't had that in a long time. You have been here for him, through all the stuff I've read about...thank you. I don't know how he would've made it this far without you guys here. I should never have abandoned him like I did.]

Rowan turned to watch John speak on her behalf and all John said was, "Rowan said thanks too". Ronan punched him on the arm and said "Tell us what she said."

John rolled his eyes then translated it properly, looking down. He was too abashed to translate the thanks while looking at his friends. "She said she could tell you guys had become my family, that I uh, that I hadn't had that in a long time. Thanks for being here and watching out for me."

John turned to his sister- [Rowan, I deserved it, you-]

Rowan cut him off, [John, you were sick. I should have stayed with you. But I got angry, and my anger, and your stubbornness caused us to lose SO much time...let's not waste it on blame or regret.]

John ducked his head, "Yeah, ok..." he said aloud.

"Hey guys? Uh, Rowan and I have a lot of catching up to do. I'm gonna take her on a tour of my city."

John took Rowan's hand and led her out of his room, into the halls of Atlantis.

Back in John's room, his friends were shaking their heads in disbelief over what they had just witnessed.

"Well this is weird," Rodney declared, "Now we're just hanging out in Sheppard's room. Let's go get lunch!" he declared rocking back and forth on his heels.

"Rodney, we just ate breakfast." reminded Teyla.

Ronan piped in, "Who cares, I'm hungry again. Too much talking. Sheppard's taking a personal day. I say we do the same. Or, let's go pick on new recruits in the gym."

"Ronan, you do that in an official capacity everyday! How is that taking a day off?" Teyla protested.

"Well I can't join in the fun" said Rodney,"too much stuff to catch up on. But I guess Rowan is gonna be with Sheppard all day so the power usage analysis and resassignment will have to wait...OOOhh Zalenka and I can finally try and modify Jumper 2 for deep water expl-" whatever else he said was lost as he walked out the door, his second breakfast forgotten.

Ronan and Teyla gaped after him.

***I hope that if you are reading this, that you are enjoying it! I'm certainly having a great time putting my story down on "paper"! Please take a second and leave me a comment or review! It's very much appreciated, and really does get me motivated to write more!

**coming up next is some romance for everybody and much later, maybe some whumpage. Wheeeee!