AN: So, this is the final chapter (at least for now), and I know it's short. I never really meant for this story to be super long, anyway, as it was just a teeny idea I had in the first place. Oh, and since I have you here, let me explain a few things. Some people have wanted to know why John was alone in the first place...why the whole team didn't rescue him...well, some of that is explained in this chapter. As to the rest - here is my explanation...

It's just a story.

That's it. No "everyone was busy"-type things, or "he went on one of his little rogue missions". My brain just said, "Hey, let's write about what would happen if John crashed a Jumper on an isolated planet, and got injured in the crash. Fun, right?" And I said, "Sure. Let's do that!"

So, if that's not a good enough reason, well, I apologize. But sometimes my brain can't handle making up a whole huge story, and so I have to pick and choose which details to have fun with. I mean, it is Science Fiction, after all.

Okay, back to the story...Please enjoy, and feel free to leave a review!

Chapter Five

The infirmary was mostly dark, the only light coming from the lamp above Sheppard's bed. In his hands was his copy of War and Peace, and though his eyes scanned the words on the page, he comprehended nothing. Deciding he was too tired to read, he stuck the bookmark into the book and set it aside. He was reaching for the light switch when someone walked into the room.

"Hey, you're awake!"

Sheppard turned toward the voice and smiled. "Hi, Rodney!"

McKay pulled a rolling chair over to the bedside and flopped down into it. "Jennifer says you'll be out of here tomorrow morning, but I wanted to come and check on you tonight."

Sheppard nodded. "Well, thanks. It's so quiet in here tonight. Feels like a morgue." He managed to shudder even as a grin worked its way across his face.

McKay smiled back. "I hear ya. So, I read the report on what happened. Sorry I couldn't go with Teyla and Lorne, by the way. I had to fix a mess that naturally, the other, less-educated scientists created."

"It's okay, Rodney. I'm just glad to be back." Then, he quirked his eyebrow and glanced around. "Where's Molly?"

"Molly?" McKay asked. "Oh, you mean the bird."

"Yeah, the bird. Where is she?"

Rodney waved for him to calm down. "Teyla's got 'er in her room. Said something about them having built up a rapport while you were all camping out on the planet."

Sheppard held up his hand. "Hey, we were not 'camping'," he protested, though he himself had said as much only hours before. "Trust me, it was not fun in the least bit."

"Uh, I never said camping was fun, either. I actually find it to be tedious and taxing, sleeping in a tent instead of my nice, specially-made bed."

"Of course you would, McKay," Sheppard chuckled. "Anything that involves nature seems to get you running the opposite way."

Rodney grinned. "Yes, it does, my friend. And for good reason – do you know how many different kinds of germs there are in one inch of soil? You'll never look at dirt the same way again, I can guarantee that."

"Well, if it makes you feel better, I spent most of my little 'trip' either in pain, or sleeping."

As Sheppard shifted to get comfortable, Rodney thought about what he had said. Then, he shook his head. "No. No, actually, it doesn't." He stood to pace around at the end of the bed. "I should've gone with you. I could've helped you fix the Jumper..."

"The Jumper was totaled, Rodney. There's nothing you could've done."

The physicist's hands fluttered helplessly. "Still, I could've figured out a way..."

"Rodney!" Sheppard cried then, and the other man stopped pacing to stare at him. Holding back a sigh of frustration, Sheppard lowered his voice and said, "Listen, none of this is your fault. I know you want to find some way to feel guilty, but you can't."

"But you were hurt. You could've been killed."

Sheppard nodded. "And so could you, if you'd been there."

Rodney gazed at him for a moment. "I hadn't thought of that."

"Right."

Rodney dropped back into the chair next to Sheppard, slouching so much that his spine actually looked like a half-circle. Sheppard reached out and laid his hand on his friend's shoulder, a slight smile on his lips. "Besides, thanks to Teyla and Molly, I'm alive and healing up, so...it all worked out."

"Your optimism is never-ending," Rodney said, half-sarcastically. "And, speaking of women, how is it that you get lucky enough to have not just one, but two females looking after you? That is so totally unfair!"

Sheppard lifted an eyebrow. "Rodney, you are aware that one of them is a bird, right?"

"Yes, I am," Rodney snapped. "But still. Every time something happens to me, I get stuck with you or Ronon dragging me around. Just once, I want to be rescued by a beautiful woman."

Sheppard's face suddenly turned serious. Removing his hand, he said softly, "You already were, McKay."

"Oh, yeah? By whom?"

"Keller."

Rodney pondered this, and then ducked his head sheepishly. "Yes," he replied, "yes, I suppose she did."

Sheppard tried a smile, but it failed to reach his eyes. "You're a lucky man, Rodney. Don't forget it."

"I won't." Then, to lighten the mood, he said, "Hey, you know it's not too late for you. There could be someone here in the City..."

Though his mind drifted to Teyla, recalling the way she had leaned against him outside their tent on the planet, Sheppard replied, "Nah. Too much work. I'll just stick with Molly."

"Okay, that's just weird," Rodney scoffed. He checked his watch and then shrugged apologetically. "Well, I'd better get going. See you for breakfast?"

"Here's hoping Keller lets me out by then," the colonel replied.

"Well, If not, I'll snag something for you and stash it in my lab til you get out of this prison."

This made Sheppard laugh aloud. "It's not a prison, McKay. It's an infirmary."

"Yeah, whatever. That's just what they've conditioned you to think."

Sheppard laughed again. "Go to bed, Rodney; you're getting crabby from lack of sleep."

"Haven't you noticed, Sheppard?" Rodney asked, sounding peevish though he smiled broadly. "I'm always crabby."

As he watched his friend leave the room, Sheppard recalled Rodney's comment about finding a woman on Atlantis. If he was honest, he had thought about that exact thing quite a bit since the beginning of the expedition, often taking the opportunity to ask one woman or another on base to dinner. And then, there was Chaya, and – if he felt extremely generous – Larrin; but each time he pondered over the qualities he wanted in a woman, only one face came to mind.

"How are you feeling, John?"

Sheppard's head swiveled toward the door again. Teyla stood there, with TJ in her arms and a questioning look in her eyes. He smiled and waved her over.

"I'm okay, thanks."

Now that she stood beside him, he could see that TJ was awake. Loud smacking noises emanated from the baby as he sucked on his curled fist, and Sheppard grinned wider. The kid was always hungry, it seemed.

"You sure he isn't Ronon's kid?" He asked her, and she threw her head back and laughed.

"I am sure." Then, she quickly added, "And he is not Rodney's, either. I have heard nearly every variation of that particular joke."

"I bet."

"I was wondering, if you are not in too much pain..."

Gesturing for her to hand the baby over, he interrupted, "I'm not. Give 'em here."

She set Torren into Sheppard's waiting arms, and the baby immediately grinned as he recognized the man holding him. Sheppard smiled back and gently ruffled the boy's wispy black hair.

"Hey, pal," he greeted TJ quietly. "What's new?"

Torren cooed up at him, causing both Teyla and Sheppard to laugh. Snuggling Torren closer to his chest, Sheppard pointed at the chair beside the bed, and she sat down in it. When she was comfortable, he gazed at her and said, "I know I said this already, but...thank you for coming after me, Teyla."

She nodded. "You are welcome. And as I said before, it is what friends do for each other."

He let her comment go unanswered, his eyes once again locked onto Torren. The baby was falling asleep, the tiny fingers of one hand curled around Sheppard's pinkie. As Teyla's son drifted off, Sheppard looked up and suddenly asked, "Where's Kanaan?"

The way she wrinkled her nose was so cute that Sheppard had to bite his tongue to keep from remarking on it. "Gone to the Settlement. It is planting time now, and he is quite talented in that regard."

"I take it you don't enjoy it near as much," he said, and she shook her head.

"No, I do not. It is tedious work."

"So how long's he gonna be gone?"

She frowned. "I am not certain. Perhaps three days."

They sat in silence together, completely at ease with the quiet between them. It was a practiced ease, borne out of hours of "forced" companionship on long missions, and of their team movie nights spent eating popcorn out of their favorite green bowl. He laid his head back against the pillow and shut his eyes, letting out a soft sigh. Sitting there, with Torren sleeping in his arms, he felt completely happy.

"Molly is doing quite well here," Teyla said then, a smile brightening her features. "Although she definitely misses you."

"I miss her, too. But I'll see her in the morning."

"Jennifer is letting you out then?"

He nodded, his eyes still closed. "You know how much she hates keeping me in here any longer than the minimum."

Teyla's smile widened. "Yes, because you are always such a terrible patient."

He grinned at the exasperated tone she used. "Can't help it. Too much to do...can't be laying around here, useless."

She rolled her eyes, unaware that he had cracked his eyelids slightly and now peeked at her through them. "John, I hardly think that healing from an injury can be considered 'lying around'. It is important that you heal properly, and resting is often the best way to accomplish that." Now, she did see his half-opened eyes, and stared directly into them. "Even if it is boring."

"Party pooper," he said, and they both chuckled lightly.

They let another pause hang between them, until Sheppard yawned reflexively. Teyla grinned and reached for her son, who was now sleeping so soundly that he did not notice the change of hands.

"Get some rest, John," she said to him. "I am glad to see you are better."

As he shifted into a more comfortable position, she cautiously reached over and ruffled his unruly dark hair, and he shut his eyes as visions of his mother swam before him once more. Many people over the years had touched him in the same manner, but only Teyla could do it just as his mother had. The way her fingertips pushed through the dark strands was exact, especially when they angled down and to the left, to caress his bangs. It took every ounce of restraint he possessed to keep from letting her see how it affected him, instead glancing up at her and murmuring, "'Night, Teyla."

"Good night, John."

She started to leave, but he called, "Tell TJ and Molly good night for me."

Turning to look at him, she replied, "I will. I promise."

The smile she gave him just before she exited the room was as bright as the sun. Sheppard sighed and lay back.

It was good to be home.