Alive
Major Sheppard stepped out of the gate with Teyla clutched in his arms. Dr. McKay and Lt. Ford, quickly follow. The gate shut down. Shocked silence greeted them.
Dr. Weir rushed forward, "Major, what happened?"
Sheppard's response was short, abrupt, "We made contact. They weren't friendly."
He walked over to Dr. Beckett, dumped Teyla into his arms, and headed for the stairs.
Teyla struggled away from Beckett and limped after Sheppard.
Both she and Dr. Weir called after him, "Major Sheppard?"
He didn't stop or acknowledge that he heard them.
Teyla stopped at the bottom of the stairwell, "John?"
Sheppard paused, glared over his shoulder at Teyla, and then turned and walked away. His retreating footsteps echoed down the hall until there was nothing but silence.
Sheppard stood on a balcony high above Atlantis. He'd never been to this part of the city before. Tightly gripping the rail, he took a deep breath, and waited. Waited for his heart to slow down. Waited for his breathing to become deep, even. Waited for his mind to be still. He closed his eyes and let the memories come.
Major Sheppard and Lt Ford stepped through the gate, Dr. McKay and Teyla brought up the rear.
"Cool." Ford turned to survey the surrounding area.
It was breathtaking. The gate stood high on a platform near the edge of a cliff, overlooking a wide valley. Two aqua blue moons hung majestically in the air. They were so large, so close that it seemed as if you could reach up and pluck them from the sky.
"Come on, let's get going."
Sheppard led the team down the hill. The forest was dense, lush with greenery and wild life.
"Which way?" Ford asked when they reached the clearing at the bottom of the hill. The trail branched off into three directions.
McKay looked to his left, "How abou-"
"Heads up, we've got company." Ford gestured to a group of natives headed there way. Everyone turned to see. After being spotted the natives picked up their pace, the group dispersed and merged into the tree lines. Shots fired. Everyone took cover. Sheppard took a quick glance around a tree. The natives were still a ways off.
"Back to the gate, go!"
They exited the forest at the top of the hill within inches of the cliff's edge. Ford pulled up short, "Damn, that was close!"
Sheppard shouted orders as he entered the clearing, "Rodney, get that gate open. Ford, keep watch from the other side of the clearing. Tey-"
Sheppard paused. He felt the ground shake. A low rumbling sound could be heard coming from the forest.
Ford turned to Sheppard, "Is that a tank?" They stood looking at each other, eyes wide.
Teyla screamed. Both turned in time the see ground give way under her feet. Sheppard rushed forward and jumped arms out. The upper half of his body hung over the cliff. He would have gone over the edge completely had Ford not grabbed his belt as an anchor. Sheppard looked down at Teyla. She clutched tightly to his right hand.
"John?" She pleaded, her eyes glazed with fear.
Sheppard smiled, "Don't worry, I've got you."
He grabbed her right hand in his left, "Ready."
Teyla nodded.
"Pull us up!"
McKay pulled Sheppard's legs and Ford pulled with his belt. Teyla began to sway back and forth, and tightened her grip.
"Hold on, we're almost there."
John pulled Teyla up over the edge of the cliff, he turned to McKay. "Get that god damned gate open! Now!"
Rodney took off full speed, Ford trailed after him.
The rumbling had grown louder. "We've got to get moving."
Teyla was visibly shaken. She tried to stand but stumbled, "My leg."
Sheppard looked back at the gate as the worm hole shot open. He scooped Teyla up and ran. Sheppard stepped through the gate just as the natives entered the clearing. Dr. McKay and Lt. Ford dove in after him.
Teyla couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she relived her fall all over again. The low rumble, the sound of the gravel sliding under her feet, the feeling of weightlessness as her body flew through the air, the look of horror on John's face as he watched her fall. Even now, if she held still long enough, she could feel her body swaying in the breeze. There had been nothing to hold on to, no foot holds, no tree limbs, only John. She sighed. Teyla had been in danger many times before, but this was different. She had not mentally prepared herself for the possibility of death. She had been caught completely off guard, and it had shaken her to her core.
Teyla sat up and looked at her watch. It was late, but she didn't care. They needed to talk. She'd tried to find John earlier, but he'd disappeared, and everyone seemed eager to let him be.
Teyla glanced down at the white bandage on her foot. She pushed off the bed she applied weight to her leg, hissing as a burning sensation shot through her ankle. Teyla waited a moment before applying more weight; she gritted her teeth and stood.
Sheppard lay in the bed. He doubted he'd get any sleep tonight, his mind wouldn't let him. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Teyla falling and his stomach dropped to the soles of his feet. He remembered the fear in her eyes as she hung from the cliff and he remembered how her body shook as her carried her through the gate. It had all happened so fast. One minute she was there and the next she wasn't. He'd gone on an emotional roller coaster. Terrified at the thought of loosing her, elated that she was alive, scarred that she'd slip away from him, and angry that he'd been so careless. It had been a close call. Too close. Something had snapped inside of him on that cliff. Thoughts, emotions that he'd held at bay, burst through his wall of control. He wanted to see her, wanted to hold her in his arms again, but he wouldn't. He couldn't-
Sheppard froze when his door slide open. He knew it was her. She was the only other person who knew his code.
Teyla paused as the door slide home behind her. "Major Sheppard?" She called softly.
Sheppard rose from the bed and walked to the middle of the room, she met him half way.
He noted her limp. "Didn't Dr. Beckett tell you to say off that leg or he'd throw you in the infirmary for two days?"
"How did you know that?"
"I spoke with Carson this afternoon. Now, let's get you off that foot."
"No wait."
Sheppard bent to pick Teyla up and she struggled to stop him. Shifting her weight, Teyla wobbled and slammed into Sheppard. In a tangle of arms and legs they fell to the floor. He took the brunt of the fall. Teyla landed with her face in his neck. She pulled back to apologize, but the haunted expression on John's face gave her pause. Teyla could feel his hands circling her waist. One hand ran its way up her back and cupped her neck. She read the need in his eyes.
"Come here," he whispered, lifting his head. Their lips brushed lightly. John applied more pressure and she opened for him. He rolled Teyla onto her back, deepening the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and ran her fingers through his hair. She tasted sweet, sweet, and warm and soft. Sheppard deepened the kiss even further, ravaging Teyla's lips. He could feel his control slipping. It was too much. She smelled too good, tasted too good, and felt too good. He could vividly imagine himself easing her pants down and-
Sheppard pulled back from the kiss. Teyla gazed into his eyes and licked her lips.
Minx.
"Let's get some sleep." Needing to put some distance between them, Sheppard pushed up only to feel Teyla tug on his ear. He looked at her, eyebrows raised in question. "About today," Sheppard turned away; he wasn't ready yet to discuss it. "John," she touched his cheek, turning his face back to hers. "I just wanted to say thank you." Teyla kissed him lightly on the mouth.
Sheppard stood and helped Teyla to her feet. He scooped her up before she could protest and headed for the bed.
"Where are you going? My room is that way." Teyla laughed pointing towards the door.
"You're sleeping here tonight, with me." Sheppard laid Teyla on the bed, pulled up the covers, and slid in behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. Sheppard sighed, feeling the fatigue of the day wash over him. His heart beat was steady; his breathing was deep, even, and just before he gave in to oblivion, his mind echoed one thought. Teyla is alive.