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Chapter Four

"I would guess that the system scanned them, detected Teyla's inability to conceive a child in her womb, and that, combined with Sheppard's Ancient Gene…..well, the machine did what it was designed to do – gave an infertile Ancient couple a baby."

He heard Teyla's sharp intake of breath when Jennifer mentioned that she couldn't conceive and he turned to look at her. It was said almost casually, like it meant little, but John saw the way Teyla reacted and knew it meant everything to her. Teyla was staring at the opposite wall but he knew she wasn't seeing it. Her mind was trying to process all that was happening to them just as his was. He swiveled in his chair until he was completely facing her. "Teyla?" He said it softly, then a little louder. He wasn't even aware that everyone else in the room had become silent and was watching them closely. All he could focus on was Teyla and the pain he saw written on her beautiful face.

She turned until she faced him, their knees almost touching, and they stared at each other for almost a full minute. Looking directly into his eyes, she spoke in a weak voice. "I did not know…..I was afraid that I could not…I always wanted…..but I….." Her voice broke and she abruptly looked down, taking in deep breaths. Then she raised her eyes once again to his and asked softly "John, can we go somewhere and… talk -- alone?" He gazed into her eyes for a few seconds, then reached for her hand and rose to his feet. She rose with him and they turned and walked out the door still holding hands. They never looked back and so didn't see the stunned looks on the faces of the people left sitting around the table.

"Wait! Where are they going?" asked Rodney, suddenly breaking the silence. "We have to figure out exactly how this machine works! This could redefine infertility and child-bearing as we know it!" he said excitedly. "Maybe they'll name it after me -- the McKay treatment! Has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?"

"McKay" Colonel Carter said in a low, warning voice. "John and Teyla obviously have some things they need to discuss." Rodney just looked at her like she wasn't making sense. "What, they couldn't talk in front of us? Why not?" Sam smiled slightly and shook her head at the denseness of the genius sitting next to her. Ronon, meanwhile, just sat there with a bemused expression on his face looking at the door through which John and Teyla had just exited. "It's about time" he said gruffly, with a small smirk. "Time for what?" Rodney asked. At this, both Sam and Ronon chuckled and rose to leave. "What, you're leaving too? But what about the machine?" Sam told him sternly "Rodney, you go run all the tests on that machine you want, but leave John and Teyla alone! Meanwhile, I'm going to check the Ancient database for any references to fertility treatments and pregnancy. I'm sure we'll here from John and Teyla once they've had some time to sort things out."

Jennifer also rose to leave the conference room. Once in the hallway, she turned toward the infirmary but paused and pinched the bridge of her nose, hoping to stifle the headache that was raging behind her eyes. Ronon stopped beside her and she turned her head to look up at him questioningly. "You okay?" he asked gently. She smiled hesitantly at him. "I think so. But I could sure use some coffee. You…want to join me?" At his pleased expression and nod of his head, she blushed slightly, glad she had asked him. They walked in companionable silence until reaching the cafeteria and she was taken aback when he said "Go find us a seat. I'll get your coffee. You want anything in it?" At the negative shake of her head, he turned and walked towards the huge coffee machine that was always kept on, no matter the time of day or night. She watched his back for a moment then proceeded to a small table in the corner.

A few minutes later he walked up with a tray, and placed not only a steaming cup of coffee in front of her, but also a turkey sandwich, bowl of fruit and glass of water as well. She just stared at the food and then at him while he turned his chair around backwards and sat down across the table from her. At her raised eyebrow, he simply shrugged. "Wasn't sure if you had a chance to eat anything today." It was said casually but she could see the intensity in his gaze. Wow! Did he even know how incredibly sexy such a thoughtful gesture was? She didn't think he did. He wasn't doing this to get anything from her. He simply cared about her. Man oh man, was she was in trouble! Falling for a man from another galaxy, albeit a gorgeous man, had not been a part of her plan when she agreed to come to Atlantis!

TBC – I promise!