Only one more chapter to write after this! Oh God, I could finish this before next week O_O I really hope you have enjoyed this tale, and I'm sorry it took soooo long to finish! Anyway, let's see how Teyla and Carson are as they wait for the return of the others.

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It was already the middle of the night on Caronaa. The three Jumpers sat next to the barn which now sat in darkness. No longer a makeshift hospital, it had been emptied once the last Goh tank was removed and taken to Ignothia. All that remained inside were some pitiful mattresses and blankets for the Atlanteans, with the three Jumper teams already asleep in some of them. Lorne had been the last to retire and said goodnight before crawling into his lumpy bed. Though the Atlanteans were guests, it was apparent they were not considered esteemed and never had been despite their help with the plague.

Teyla and Carson sat by the pond in the centre of the village, processing everything they had experienced throughout the day. At the forefront of their minds and the dominant topic of conversation, was the horrific death of the Groten. It lay heavy on their minds and made Carson question how far the Caronaans would go to further themselves. He had witnessed their eagerness to acquire anything that would further their advancement, even though they were already one of the ruling planets on this side of the Pegasus galaxy.

He feared they might take advantage of the Goh, especially once the cured Caronaans reappeared in public. Until now, their recovery had been kept secret, hidden away in Central, while their health was monitored. But once the news broke and people saw the miracle for themselves, Carson expected a surge in demand for more cures—the ramifications of which would be devastating.

"Do you truly think they would go as far as to use the Goh despite freeing them from the Groten?" Teyla asked.

"I've no doubt they will consider it. And if one of the big wigs catches wind of it, you can be assured that Ignothia will be plundered just as heavily as before."

"We have to ensure this does not happen. Perhaps speaking with the minister might help?"

"Oh, I highly doubt that," Carson said with a dry laugh. "The man can't stand me as it is. If I walked in there demanding he forget about the biggest medical breakthrough in history, he'd probably have me strapped into the interrogation chair myself."

Teyla shuddered. "You should not joke about such a thing."

"I'm sorry, lass," he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "That was insensitive."

Teyla nodded and tried to smile, her eyes haunted by what they'd seen. "We must figure out a way to protect the Goh. We cannot abandon them now, not after everything they have done for us."

"I think the only way to do that would be to stop the Caronaans getting to them. Cut off the supply, so to speak."

"That will be most difficult. They can fly there any time they wish."

"Yes, they can…" Carson said with a faraway look and a voice that faded to a whisper.

"What?"

"Well, they can only get to Ignothia through the Gate. But what if the Gate was no longer an option?"

"You wish to disable their Stargate?"

"No, that would be wicked. But we could disable the Ignothian one."

"Then Ignothia would be lost to us."

"Not necessarily. We have the Daedalus. It might take us a couple of weeks to get there, but we could get there."

A terrible scream from a dying animal rose from the forest and splintered the silence. It ended suddenly, making Teyla wince. Beside her, Carson yawned and stretched his arms above his head.

"I think I'll head to bed," he said getting to his feet. "I think you should, too."

"No, I wish to wait a little longer, and greet them when they return."

Carson nodded with understanding, and Teyla was grateful he didn't push the matter. She couldn't sleep, not with everything on her mind. He bid her goodnight and retired to the barn, leaving her alone beneath the pale light of the Caronaa moons, her gaze fixed on the distant stars above.

Rodney had been taken to Ignothia many hours ago, but no messages or updates had come through, and the silence gnawed at her. She couldn't help but think something had happened. The cured returned within a couple of hours, fully healed and able to walk from the Vipens that landed on Central Square. She had searched among their faces for Rodney and the others, and her disappointment and unease increased with every Vipen that returned without them. Teyla wasn't one to fear easily, but not knowing what was happening was a torment. What if Rodney didn't heal, or worse, not return at all…? She clenched her jaw and pushed the thought away.

She tried to meditate to ground herself, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the last time she saw Rodney. She'd seen him not long after he'd woken in the stasis pod full of Ignothian water. At first, he seemed well, awake and communicating, even managing a few steps before she'd had to leave. But she'd seen the pain behind his eyes, the tightness of his frame, and heard the agony with every breath he exhaled. The water hadn't healed him, merely patched him up a bit and Teyla worried that this might be the extent of the water's properties for Rodney.

The village around her slept, quiet and undisturbed. She stood, thinking about the three men who should have returned by now. Four strangers from worlds apart, finding each other in the same space and time, becoming a family against all the odds, and Teyla was thankful for such fate. They had all started as colleagues, three eventually becoming four with Ronon's arrival. Through years of travelling together, battles and close calls, the three men had become her brothers, not by blood, but by choice and time. Now, she just needed them to come home.

John was like the elder brother, the wise one, the peacekeeper, and the one who held their family together. John kept a cool head when things were falling apart, retaining a quiet wit and an intelligence he often tried to hide. He'd always been calm under fire, and steady when the rest of them shook. He smoothed conflict, encouraged compassion, spoke gently, and planned carefully. He was the glue that held them together, and the sensible one who stopped them from falling apart. Underneath the logic and quiet patience was a love so deep that John would walk through fire to save it because he cared almost too much. Teyla knew that to John, holding them together wasn't just a duty, it was love and devotion.

Ronon was the middle brother. The one who was bigger, stronger, always trying to prove himself the fiercest. He was the protector who kept the family safe and who would do anything for them. He'd watch the door while they slept and make sure he was first into battle. He growled more than talked, and most people thought he was just angry all the time, but Teyla knew that was just how Ronon kept himself together. While he didn't show love by conventional means, he showed he cared by standing in the way of what might hurt someone. Teyla knew he was a man who would do anything for the people he called family. He was their shield, fierce, loyal, and unshakable.

Then there was Rodney, like the youngest brother, he was the one who sometimes annoyed, sometimes amazed, and the one they all protected in one way or another. He talked too fast and thought even faster, a genius with a temper and a wild confidence that often led him into danger. He could be reckless, and impulsive and often needed saving from himself. But he could be kind and thoughtful in ways that most people missed because he wielded snark as a shield after years of being used and abused. He cared quietly, by fixing things before being asked, sitting nearby when someone was upset, and offering warmth when they were hurting. He often acted like he didn't care, but Teyla knew he cared so much it scared him.

She continued staring at the sky, seeing only stars. Cold began to seep into her bones so she started pacing around the village square, arms folded against the chill air, waiting for a sign. And then she heard it. Faint at first, the unmistakable sound of Vipen engines came from the north. Teyla stopped pacing and stared in the direction, searching for a moving light that would show her the ship's approach. Her eyes bounced from star to star, searching for one that moved until she saw it, a growing dot of light speeding through the night. It had to be them, all of the Caronaans had returned except for two warriors who stayed behind with Rodney and the pilot of the Vipen currently heading her way.

It approached fast, engines roaring through the night, then softened to a low drone as the craft slowed, no doubt aiming for a quiet descent toward the sleeping village. It landed near the Jumpers, the engines whining down until they just ticked and clicked, cooling in their mounts. Teyla hurried over, eager but also feeling a little anxious. The rear hatch opened and then swung down to form a ramp, the two warriors disembarking first. They waved to her as they stomped by and walked to the barn. John sauntered out into the night air behind them, yawning, not immediately seeing her. He stretched his back until it cracked then looked back up the ramp.

"I dunno about you guys, but I could sleep for a—" he grinned, surprised to see her. "Teyla!"

She smiled. "Well?"

"See for yourself," he replied, thumbing towards the ramp.

When she finally saw Rodney, tears welled in her eyes. He stepped off the ramp and walked forward as if nothing had happened to him. He no longer stooped or cradled himself, his face was free from signs of pain and he breathed easily. He was speaking with Ronon, who looked a little worse for wear. She ran forward, stopping in front of Rodney who halted mid-stride. A tear rolled down her cheek even as she beamed, relieved to see him whole once again.

"Hey," he said softly, smiling as he reached to wipe away the tear. "You okay?"

"Am I okay? I am fine! Especially now you have returned!"

"She's glad I'm back," he said over his shoulder to Ronon who rolled his eyes.

Teyla rested her hands on his shoulders and bowed her head. She heard Rodney's uneven breath, sensed his hesitation and feared he would not respond. Then she felt the light press of his forehead against hers, and in that quiet moment, she offered silent thanks to the Ancestors for his safe return. When she finally lifted her head and moved to step back, he caught her off guard, his arms wrapping around her in a hug so tight it nearly stole her breath.

"Are you really okay?" he whispered as she buried her head in his shoulder.

"I am," she replied and squeezed him back.

"Well, I'm tired," Ronon growled. "I'm going to the barn."

"Do you not wish to greet me, Ronon?" Teyla asked as Rodney let her go.

He stopped and turned back, looking miserable. She could see he felt left out, and he was the only one who remained injured, though where the bruise across his face came from she couldn't guess. He stood with his shoulders low, posture slack, wearing that familiar, guarded look as if he didn't care. But she knew he did. So she walked to him when he didn't make a move, and she reached up, placed her hands on his shoulders then bowed her head, but Ronon didn't respond. Instead, he whisked her off her feet and laughed heartily as he spun her in a circle, holding her tight with his good arm. He slowed and let her drop to her feet, smiling down at her as she found her balance.

"Okay, kids, time to hit the hay," John said walking toward the barn. "We have a long day ahead of us, and then, we get to go home."

"Now that, I am excited about," Rodney said, following him. "I've missed my custom orthopaedic mattress more than ever on this mission. My back just can't take lying on anything else. I get sore when I don't sleep on it, and I get grumpy when I'm sore, so it's a vicious cycle, really. Oh, and did I tell you about my shower? I modified it last month to always be the exact temperature and pressure I like, so I can jump in any time and it will always be just right. I could fix all of yours to be the same if you want. And, oh God, I hope the canteen has made that Athosian soup with the crunchy bits in it. A bowl of that with a nice crusty bread—"

"Would you please shut up?" John said, facing him with his hands on his head, gripping his hair. "You're like a kid who scoffed a whole damned bag of candy!"

Rodney chuckled but quieted anyway. He brushed past him and headed for the barn. "Took you longer to scold me than I expected," he said with a grin, slipping through the door.

"He's back," Ronon smirked.

"Oh he's back alright," John replied with exasperation. "He already makes me want to tear my hair out!"

Teyla followed them into the barn, smiling happily. As they bedded down for the night, she lay awake a while, her mind not quite ready for sleep. Everything was as it should be. All were safe and whole, and everyone would return home from this most complicated mission. She thought of everyone who slept in the barn and thanked the Ancestors that she was placed in their lives. From Lorne and Stackhouse to Teldy, Mehra, and the rest of their teams, Teyla offered silent thanks. They had risked their lives without hesitation, without question, and with no thought for themselves. They acted out of duty, but also compassion, driven by the belief that saving lives and preserving a species was reason enough. Though she knew they could never hear her thoughts of thanks, she decided that she would have to show her gratitude somehow. Once they got home, she would endeavour to repay their kindness, though she wasn't sure how. But that would be tomorrow's problem. Sleep took her gently for the first time in days, and she slept the night through in comfort and in the knowledge that everyone was safe.

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