As things turned out he had to deal with his feelings a lot more now. On missions with the Wraith he had to remind himself not to stare at him all the time and on meetings he had to concentrate really hard to not lose the thread.
That he arranged a room for Todd he justified with the fact that the Wraith was far more often on Atlantis in the last time, as they had started a new try on a cure. And Sheppard only escorted him everywhere to do those a favor that were still afraid of Todd. And that were indeed many, but then, not everyone got free hugs that easily.

What he could not justify, however, was the fact that he had drunk. It was the third anniversary of their first encounter, but never before had he been this wasted. That was the reason why he stumbled through Atlantis with a Wraith on his side that held him upright.
At least Sheppard had managed to convince the Marines that guarded Todd, or rather the humans around him, that he was sober enough to walk the Wraith to his room and make sure he did not harm anybody. Now, it was more the other way around than anything else, because Todd accompanied him to his room and made sure he did not hurt himself.

God, this was so embarrassing, he would be sorry for that in the morning, when he woke up with a hangover. But right now Sheppard just could not decide whether he was melancholy or the happiest human alive. After all, he had his Wraith at his side. Yes, Todd was his Wraith, he decided. He was his personal body heater and his pillow and his save haven.
"I want my bed!" He whined, he knew it, but he still did it. He was Lieutenant Colonel; he was allowed to whine, when he wanted to whine. Todd guided him away from the next wall he nearly ran against and shook his head, "I will never understand why humans poison themselves like this."

He wagged his finger at the Wraith, "I did not poison myself. You poisoned me. Admit it! When you gave me this gift you poisoned me." He mumbled into his nonexistent beard, but Todd heard him and frowned, "Why should I have poisoned you?"
Sheppard stopped midstride, tearing his hair, "How am I supposed to know, when you do not know it yourself? I just feel it!" He began whining again and it made an impact; Todd stopped, too, tilting his head, "What do you feel, Sheppard?"

He closed his eyes and took some deep breaths, "The headache. I cannot think straight anymore. I think too much and all just because of you!" Before the Wraith could give him an answer to that or even think about one, Sheppard had made the last few steps to his room and disappeared inside.
He instantly slipped out of his clothes and into the t-shirt and sweatpants he used for the night; why was it so hot? When he turned, he saw that his room was empty of any other living being, so he quickly made his way back to the corridor. He already feared the Wraith might have gone, but there he stood, just as he had left him.

"Are you coming?" When he heard Sheppard's voice, Todd looked up from where he had abused the floor with his glances. Suddenly he had to think about Todd with collar and whip, but he doubted the Wraith liked bondage or something like that just because they liked leather.
Pushing those thought to the back of his mind he beckoned Todd over and led him into his room. "Make yourself at home." When Todd looked around with some curiosity he noticed that the Wraith had not been in his room before, because there had not been any reason for it. Well, there was no reason now, either, but what the hell.

"The guards will not be pleased when I am not in my room tomorrow morning", Todd noted. Sheppard launched himself onto his bed, "I will just tell them I showed you my newest Star Wars conquest."
He had already taught the Wraith how Sudoku, chess and poker worked and was glad that they had not played with money, since it was of no use to Todd. He blamed the telepathic abilities of his green friend, because no beginner was that good. Or maybe he had just been too tired; after all, they had always played in the night. When he had not been able to sleep he had gone over to the Wraith's room and spent his time there; it was far better than going to one of the doctors to ask for sleeping pills and risking to be reported. His team had to accept the strange bond he had with Todd, whether they liked it or not, but he did not need any more people worrying about his wellbeing.

When he rolled onto his side he saw that the Wraith had not moved. Todd seemed a little bit lost, so Sheppard pointed to his bed, "What are you waiting for?" His bed surely was not the biggest, but neither was he a bad host. They had managed to solve more difficult problems.
The Wraith did indeed slip off his coat and boots, but only sat down on the edge off the mattress, before he hesitantly asked, "Are you sure?" He just pulled Todd down, wrapping his arms around him. The Wraith tugged at him until he lay on top of him and then embraced him, too. As long as Todd hold him he would not fall off the bed, so Sheppard snuggled into the Wraith's neck and relaxed.

"I like you", he stated quietly and stroke from Todd's shoulder down to his hand, before he laced their fingers. The Wraith huffed, but squeezed his hand, "You are drunk, Sheppard." He was not sure if he should laugh or cry and instead sulked, "I am poisoned."
Todd fell silent for a long time, but then he tightened his grip and murmured, "We are poisoned." His head jolted up and he could not help but stare at the Wraith. Todd smirked, showing his teeth, "I think, I like you, John Sheppard."

Nervously he rubbed the back of his neck and averted the Wraith's gaze, "Do Wraith kiss?" "What?" Todd stared at him funny. Sheppard began to explain, "You know, pressing lips together and –" "I know what a kiss is, Sheppard", The Wraith interrupted him softly, "Why do you want to know that?"
He sighed, "Ah, does not matter. I am drunk, remember?" In the blink of an eye he found himself lying on his bed with Todd over him, growling, "Sheppard, why did you want to know that?" Now he had to gulp not just because he thought of sharp teeth, "Well, you only think that you like me and I plan on changing that to knowing you like me."

His green friend watched him, looking incredulously and Sheppard closed his eyes. The Wraith would bolt and he would have to explain why Todd ran amok. Considering his thoughts, one could not condemn him for yelping, when he felt warm lips on his own.
He always knew it; the Wraith were a sadistic race. And Todd was the worst from all, still enjoying giving him heart attacks. This Wraith would kill him some day, but at least was Todd his Wraith. In that moment he really was very glad that he never considered Todd his brother.