Thwack! Thud! Thud, Thud! Whoosh! Thump!
Groaning, I dragged myself off of the floor. Teyla raised an eyebrow at me as she helped me up, before getting back to her ready position with her bantos sticks held steady infront of her. Narrowing my eyes slightly, I focused as much of my concentration on the fight as I could and swung my bantos stick up, preparing myself to attack her. We'd been training together like this since we first met, but ten minutes into todays session and I was losing all focus and getting my ass kicked, which was something that never happened. Not this badly at least. Stepping into it, I swung my stick around and it clanked against Teyla's hard. She pushed it back and brought hers up to strike my side but I blocked it easily. I swung my other free arm up and aimed for her shoulder for her shoulder, but she caught it and twisted it back to the floor. I remembered that John had used that move on me once when we'd been- Thud! Thump! A throbbing pain shot through my knee as I collapsed to the floor with a groan. Teyla sighed slightly and offered a hand to help me up. Furrowing my eyebrows in frustration, I tried to push any and all thoughts of John out of my head, he was the one thing distracting me from this today and I needed to stay focused. Rubbing my knee for a minute I shook the thoughts from my head before I finally took her hand.
Teyla observed me closely as she pulled me to my feet,
"You seem out of sorts today Tegan." she commented finally. Shrugging slightly I didn't bother to reply, not about to tell her I had a school girl crush on our CO, besides, I was never really one for the girly pillow talk. "Is it because of what is occuring between you and the Colonel?" she asked calmly. My eyes widened slightly before I schooled my face back into a blank mask. Twirling my bantos sticks in my hands I shook my head,
"There's nothing going on between us Teyla." I denied it casually and got back into my ready position. She raised her eyebrows in an almost amused manner and smiled slightly,
"If you say so." she dismissed the subject to easily and I was overly suspicious of her as she launched her next attack. It was a quick succession of hits coming from left and right, aiming at any body part she could find and blocking them was the only thing I could focus on, getting hit by one of those sticks hurt! "But..you and the Colonel seem to be...sharing looks...and you have an understanding...that none of us have with each other...recently." She panted out between hits. For a moment, my shock had stunned me, allowing her to bring her stick down sharply behind my left knee. She hit me again with a crushing force on the right side of my rib cage and I knew I had had enough punishment. Coughing and groaning I shook my head, collapsing onto all fours,
"Okay okay, I...I concede." I wheezed feeling wind. Taking deep steady breathes, I watched her pack away the sticks before coming and sitting beside me to meditate, something we often did after training.
Crossing my legs underneath me I sighed a little, "Teyla, there's nothing going on between us okay? I swear." I said, shaking my head slightly. That didn't mean I didn't want there to be though. We had a problem however, if other people were seeing it too, I didn't want to be removed from the team but I hadn't realised anybody else noticed the way we acted around each other, I didn't realise we were acting any different. Or maybe it was just Teyla and Ronon, they were both very observant people.
"But you want there to be?" Teyla pressed for the information which would confirm or deny her suspicions and, taking a deep breathe, I decided to give it to her. Rodney had been on at me to start trusting people right? Well, Teyla was one of those people that deserved my trust more than anyone.
"Maybe." I confided. Her eyebrows lifted in a way that told me she was about to admonish me or advise me against it in a motherly way that she'd already nailed for Torren's benefit. "Not anything serious though Teyla I mean...I know as well as anyone that it would practically be impossible unless one of us quit our jobs and clearly neither of us will, but I just...I can't help wanting more than just a friendship sometimes, you know? But I don't want to risk my career and I certainly wouldn't risk his. I just...you know what I mean?" I explained with a frown. Teyla merely nodded her head,
"I do know. But from what I see, Colonel Sheppard feels the same way. He shows you more of him than he has ever shown to anyone, and apparently he craves your good opinion." she replied with a small smile.
Laughing I shook my head,
"My opinion doesn't mean much, I'm only a Lieutenant." I pointed out, thinking she meant he craved a good opinion of his leadership. She shook her head,
"Not on a professional level, a more personal one." she amended, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath through her nose. Deciding to stay silent, I pulled my shoulders back and tried to relax my tense muscles. The comm system sprung to life in the room, John's voice echoing through and causing Teyla to give me a smug glance that made me roll my eyes,
"Teyla and Tegan to the armoury, we've got a mission."
"I regret telling you that now." I grumbled as we stood up and stretched our limbs, my knee was aching and so were my ribs but I wouldn't let it get in my way. "Think we have time for a shower?" I asked as Teyla quickly changed into her uniform. Smiling she shook her head,
"I do not think so." she replied. We walked out the room, dropping off her gear back at her quarters and saying a quick goodbye to Torren before entering the armoury.
Gearing up by Rodney, I found I was unable to avert my eyes as John checked over his P-90 and clipped it to his vest. He looked like one of those hot bad boys you get in the movies. Shaking my head I walked out with Rodney towards the Jumper Bay, a huge grin coming onto my face. I loved flying in the jumpers, I felt weightless, everything was easy in space where there was nothing but stars and planets of all sizes and colours. Entering through the back I sat behind Rodney, since Ronon had so nicely given up his seat and instead favoured standing between me and Teyla since I had arrived. Teyla took her usually seat behind John.
"Anyone would think you were happy to be here Tegan." the man himself mocked. Rolling my eyes I shot him a cheeky grin,
"Just push the pedal down flyboy." I teased. Teyla smiled at me knowingly and I discreetly stuck my tounge out at her, leaning back in my chair as John took us up into the air. The expanse of blue sky was mesmerizing and soon gave way to the inky black night sky speckled with silver stars. Even from here I could smell him, that addictive, fresh, apple scent that screamed John Sheppard. I could see his lips turn up in a slight, secret smile he thought no one could see. He really did love flying.
"So when do we get there?" Jumping in my seat with a yelp I was on my feet in seconds, aiming my P-90 at the new voice. My heart was thundering in my chest as Ronon pushed my gun down with a chuckle. John gave me an amused look that I pointedly ignored. Doctor Keller looked white as a sheet. My eyes widened,
"Jesus christ! Sorry Keller, you scared the crap out of me, when did you get here?" I asked, bewildered. I slowly sat back down and felt my heart rate come down a bit.
She gave me a hesitant smile.
"Been here all along Lieutenant." she assured me, though she was currently watching me like a hawk. Focusing my gaze back on the front screen, I tried to ignore the apple scent assaulting my nose and the touseled black hair across from me as we approached a spacegate. Rodney punched in the adress,
"What is the nature of our mission?" Teyla asked curiously. John glanced back at her over his shoulder while the gate dialled up, the familiar blue dots chasing each other around and around before opening up the shimmering puddle of a wormhole infront of us.
"We have a proposal for Todd. You remember the Hoffan drug problem they've been having? Keller thinks she's found a solution, so we're meeting up to...negotiate, so to speak." John explained, but his tone implied that this was a take it or else situation. Exiting the space gate we came upon a huge hive ship and my eyes widened slightly, awe had dropped my jaw and I stood up a bit to get a better view through the windscreen, holding the back of Rodney's chair in a grip so tight that my knuckles were white.
"Holy shi-"
"Language!" Rodney chided like we were sixteen again. Rolling my eyes at him I continued to gaze up at it in awe.
"Well Tegan, your first hive ship. You like it?" John asked. He was right, of course. I'd been in a wraith facility before and had fought the wraith face to face, but never had I seen a hive ship, not even a picture. Well it's not like you could use google images is it? Smiling faintly I replied,
"The décor of the exterior leaves something to be desired."
John chuckled at my response and Rodney scoffed a bit under his breath,
"Wait until you see inside. I hope you like haunted houses because these things are close on the creep factor." Rodney grumbled. There was a bleep from the console and we watched a set of information fly up on the screen.
"Docking instructions, not even a simple hello." John said grimly. Rodney shot him a look as he flew us into the belly of the beast, and I found myself wanting to back out suddenly. The place gave off a cold, unwelcome vibe and I felt like a trespasser. Standing up, John looked at all of us, "Keep your weapons ready, remember that we may have an alliance but there still wraith." he reminded us. Nodding once, we checked everything over once more. I heard Ronon's gun power up as I cocked my P-90 and clicked off the safety so it was ready to fire. Walking to the rear hatch, John punched the button to open it. The door slowly descended to reveal several wraith guards aiming stunners at us. It was hard to tell who's gun came up first, mine or Ronon's. John was a clear third place winner, Teyla fourth and Rodney definitely last. My finger tensed on the trigger, waiting for John to give the order or for the waith to make a move that would justify me shooting them.
"Stand down!" A raspy voice called out. The wraith guards lowered their weapons and slowly, we did the same. John glanced back at us for a moment before stepping out with me and Ronon flanking him. Then, the infamous Todd came into view. He looked much like any other wraith to me but I knew he was special, that him and John had an understanding. He had saved John's life and for that I was incredibly thankful.
Todd's hair was the same bleach-white, long, untameable mess as the other wraith I had seen. He had a long black trench coat too, and the same pale green, veiny skin. His claws were dirty, yellow, and at least two inches wrong. The thing that stood out though was that Todd had a long white beard, almost like Dumbledore in Harry Potter but not quite as long, and he hadn't tied it up either. With a creepy smile, he opened his arms in welcome,
"Colonel Sheppard..." his voice was as hissy as the others and sent a shiver down my spine, "Welcome to my hive." he greeted us like he would a friend but I still couldn't relax. His eyes flickered over each of us in turn and when they rested upon me, he frowned slightly. John had followed his gaze and moved a little closer, almost imperceptable to the naked eye but I could feel it as he got closer. The air got hotter and a more tangeable electricity became noticeable.
"Thanks. Todd, our new team member Lieutenant James. James, Todd the wraith." his voice was curt, cold, his eyes narrowed suspiciously and his body tensed, almost as if he was warning Todd to stay away from me with his body language. Todd nodded in understanding,
"A pleasure. Colonel Sheppard, meet my second in command. He will be meeting with us." Todd introduced us to another leather clad wraith with long white hair, and we all glanced at him in acknowledgment. The air was tense, nobody particularly felt as if they wanted to be here but Todd seemed oblivious to it.
Motioning for us to follow him, he lead us in an uncomoftable silence down the gloomy corridors, it was all very haunted house like just as Rodney had said, with pulsing lights behind the dark walls. It was like being inside a giant body. Shivering at the thought I stuck close to John, who seemed to sense that I needed the comfort and allowed me to stick nearby. He brushed his hand ever so carefully across mine as we walked side by side, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm. Neither of us spoke or even looked at each other as we walked into a room behind the two wraith. There was a long table inside with three bowls piled high with colourful fruits. A few candles sending a burning smell into the air as the wax dribbled down and spilled onto the table. Time seemed to drag as we stood awkwardly in the doorway before Todd sat down and gestured for us to do the same. Slowly, we lowered ourselves into the wooden chairs and he smiled almost cheerily.
"Please, eat, just a little something to make you feel more at home." he nodded at the fruit bowls and Rodney immediately reached forward and grabbed a banana. John gave him an incredulous look and he slowly put it on the table infront him and left it there. Todd chuckled, "It's not poisoned, it's safe to eat. May they be as delicious as the farmers who grew them." he said, putting Rodney right off of his banana. Swallowing I sat up straighter, my hand never leaving the trigger of my P-90 under the table. This was going to be a long meeting.