A Quick Grammatical Note: Please no questions about the use of 'a herbal tea', the grammar is correct for British English, but American friends will immediately think it should be 'an herbal'. I am going with the belief that Teyla speaks with a more British-like pronunciation of words, where we pronounce the 'h' in herb and therefore use 'a herbal tea', so I am going with that. Any comments, please accept the difference and move on;)

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Chapter 11 - Emergence

The dim early morning light glowed softly over the wall across her quarters. For the last half an hour she had watched it moving, gradually brightening and angling further into her quarters around the tight lines of the curtains. The soft quiet of early morning was almost a weight around her, filling the air with comfort, accompanied only by John's soft breathing against her ear.

The last three days of her life had been extraordinary, though in truth any number of days could have passed by in embraces, kisses, and lovemaking, for if it had not been for the regular meals in the Mess Hall, she and John would likely not have emerged at all from her quarters.

Lying here now in her large bed, pressed up tight against John's naked side, she surveyed her quarters beyond the bed. There were cups and plates on the coffee table, her blanket tangled up in a pile by the sofa and pillows fallen to the floor. Various items of clothing were scattered across the room between the sofa and the bed, and she smiled at the memories the sight provoked.

She angled her head back slightly, drawing her eyes away from fallen clothing and the early light, to look up at John, dozing after their earlier escapades. He looked so relaxed and peaceful.

And he felt wonderful.

She pressed her cheek back down against his warm chest, his hair tickling against her skin. Smiling in peaceful comfort of her own, she stroked her hand across the wide handsome expanse of his upper chest, feeling his heart beating slowly deep under her touch. Trailing her fingers lazily upwards, she traced a line along his furthest collarbone, keeping her touch light so as not to disturb him.

She loved this part of him, though had many favourite other places now, but the flat muscular expanse between his nipples and his collarbones had become her new pillow. Flattening her hand, she ran her palm across his skin and chest hair, enjoying the masculine lines and heat filled with his scent. Turning her cheek, she pressed her nose and lips against his skin and inhaled deeply.

He shifted slightly under her abruptly, inhaling louder as he woke from his light doze. She tipped her head back, feeling the rise of his arm and shoulder behind her head, and smiled up at his handsome face.

His long eyelashes rose sleepily as he lifted his head up from the pillow, blinking slowly.

"Did I fall asleep again?" He asked with a broken deep, sleep-filled voice.

She smiled up at him as he looked blurrily around. "Only lightly," she replied, though truthfully he had been sleeping for half an hour, but he needed his rest. They both did, considering how active they had been over the last few days. She should have slept herself, but lying with him was just too enjoyable to miss. Besides, she was used to being quite sleep deprived as a mother.

"What time is it?" He asked as he focused down at her, the growing morning light showing how darker his chin had become through the night. At her shoulder, his fingers returned to their former absent circling against her bare skin.

"You will have to leave soon," she regretfully informed him as she enjoyed the play of shadows and light across his features. She had always thought him attractive, but now knew how truly handsome he was in body and soul. She had not expected how affectionate and passionate he had been through these past days.

"Is it six already?" He asked, tensing. His chest and belly tightening under her hand and leg as he strained up slightly to look over towards where her alarm clock stood on the bedside table. He was always a little slow and confused when he first woke up after a good sleep, and she found him particularly endearing in such soft honest times.

She pressed her hand flat against his chest. "In ten minutes it will be," she informed him.

His body relaxed instantly and he dropped his head back down to the pillow with a sleepy sigh. "Ten minutes, okay. That's good," he uttered as his eyes closed again.

Chuckling at him, she set her chin against his chest. "Do not fall asleep again," she warned.

He made a grumbling noise. "I can't help it," he replied, his lips lifting though his eyes remained closed. "You've tired me out."

She shook her head at his explanation of recent events, knowing he could feel her doing so against his shoulder and chest. "You hardly seemed unwilling," she pointed out to him.

"What chance has a guy like me got against you and your feminine wiles?" He suggested, his eyes still closed, but he was fully awake now for sure.

Adjusting herself against his side, she sat up a little from him, the covers falling away from her upper back. The air was cooler outside the covers, but almost immediately his warm hand slid up across her exposed skin, keeping away any chill.

"You seduce me as frequently I do you," she argued.

As she had expected, his eyes had finally opened again at her use of the word 'seduce'. He rolled his head against her pillow so that he was looking directly up at her and he smiled. He no doubt had discovered the power of his smile now, for far too frequently had he employed it over the last three days.

His eyes, sparkling and freshly bright in the morning, were shinning up at her with a familiar open warm appreciative look now, which always proved as seductive as his smile and kisses. She tried to control her expression, to appear unaffected by him during their 'discussion'.

"Let's face it," he said, his voice soft and warm, "we're both pretty easy.

She laughed at his summation, but she would not let him win this playful discussion that way. "I believe that you are 'easier' than I," she suggested and his eyebrows lifted, "for I only have to smile at you and you are ready to go."

He chuckled at that – yes, it was likely he was very aware of how powerful his smile was upon her.

"Like it takes more than that with you," he challenged as he lifted his free arm up from the covers, reaching over his head to plump up his pillow, allowing them to look more directly at each other.

She glanced away, trying to break the power of his smile for a moment before looking back to the teasing heat of his eyes. There was a new element to his gaze now after their three days today – and it was full of satisfaction, that she felt mirrored in her own heart, along with a full intimate knowledge of her body. He knew how best to make her tingle, dance, and moan. But then, she knew the same about him now as well.

"I do not know what you mean," she decided on as her argument as she sat up a little further from him, turning to rest up on her elbow, the covers falling down around her waist, exposing her breasts to his gaze. She smiled down at him, as his gaze slipped down to her chest.

His eyes snapped back up to hers with a knowing frown. "Don't go starting anything now," he said firmly, but his eyes were bright. "I've got to go get beat up by Ronon, remember."

She pulled an innocent expression, which she felt she had perfected from seeing his own so frequently.

He frowned though. "Can't quite remember why I thought sparring with Ronon would be a good way to spend this morning," he muttered before looking back to her, his eyes sliding slowly up from her breasts, "When I've got you here all naked and ready at just a smile?"

His hand was wandering across her back, teasing gentle circles that he knew she very much enjoyed.

"Because you have lied to him these past three days as to why you could not meet up to spar, and now you feel guilty," she supplied honestly.

He let out a loud breath. "Yeah, yeah," he replied with a defeated air.

Trying not to smile too much, she settled back down, nestling her body against his, as she angled up over him. "Besides, I will be here when you return, ready at a smile," she told him softly and pressed a smiling kiss to his lips.

He grinned up at her as she pulled back, his hand tightening against her middle, preventing her from moving very far away.

"That makes me feel all better," he told her, using what was clearly a seductive tone, before he pulled her back down to him. She flattened herself against his chest and moved to press her lips to his once more, but he moved his head aside.

"But, you're right, I can't stay here all morning, seeing to your needs," he stated theatrically as he sat up, dislodging her from him as he did.

She pursed her lips at his teasing playful denial of her kiss, as he swung his legs off the side of the bed and stood up.

She forgot about her playful hurt though, for the most enjoyable sight of naked John walking through her quarters more than made up for any slight. She settled onto her side, propping her head up on her hand as she watched him move away, on the hunt for his scattered clothing.

"You know you should really tidy this place up," he teased as he reached down for his shirt that had been piled up in a heap.

She chuckled. "Please feel free to do so," she suggested, and he looked round at her lifting an eyebrow at her new posture, watching him.

"You just gonna lay there and watch the show, huh?" He asked.

"Yes, I am," she replied honestly, adjusting the covers over herself to be more comfortable while she enjoyed the 'show'.

He turned away to continue hunting for his clothing, but now waggled his backside as he did so and she laughed.

"Do Athosian guys walk around naked?" He asked as he found one of his socks around the back of the sofa. He often asked her questions about Athosian culture now, but the questions were always phrased in such a way as to subtly suggest that his Earth ways were more superior and right for her than an Athosian man's.

So far she had held back from telling him just how more satisfying he was in every way than any lover she had before – she did not want him to get too satisfied with himself. And he was looking quite smug and satisfied this morning.

"Only in the sleeping area of the tent," she replied to his question, "for it is never all that wise to move around further at night when there is an open fire and canvas walls for your shadow to be cast upon."

He stood up from where he had found his other sock and looked back at her. "Sounds like there's an interesting story behind that cautionary tale."

She smiled as she reached down and adjusted her covers over her slightly, the early morning chill becoming more apparent without John in the bed to keep her warm. "There is, but I will need more time to tell you of it."

"Sounds good," he replied with a smile as he moved around the sofa, unconcerned about his nudity, though she felt he was strutting slightly more than usual. Not that she was complaining. "Do you remember what you did with my boxers?"

"I think you took them off yourself," she reminded him.

He reached the front of her sofa and began rummaging through the cushions. "No, pretty sure you were trying to tear them off me," he teased, sending her a heated look across her quarters.

"That was the night before," she replied. "Last night you were sat on the floor while we were watching the movie."

"Oh yeah," he agreed as he pushed the sofa cushions back into place. "I don't remember seeing the end of the movie."

"No, we became distracted," she replied with a grin and he grinned back before he turned, affording her an especially good view.

He crouched down and lifted up the bunched up blanket they had been wrapped up in last night. "Got 'em!" He declared victoriously, as he pulled out his boxers and trousers.

She smiled as she watched him stand up and pull on his boxers.

"Wouldn't want to go get beat up by Ronon without these," he declared.

"You are not going to change first in your quarters?" She asked, knowing that he would.

"Sure, but these were fresh on last night," he replied with a smile as he stood up, snapping his boxers into place around his hips.

They had not worn all that much clothing over the last few days, but she knew she would have to get back to the domestic chores of cleaning clothes and tidying her quarters today. It was almost as disappointing as watching John pull his clothes back on. She much preferred him naked now.

"You sure you don't want to join us sparring?" He asked as he pulled on his shirt.

"Thank you, but no, I will leave you to your time alone with Ronon," she replied as he sat down on the arm of the sofa and pulled on his socks and shoes. "And besides, we are all meeting up for breakfast in two hours, so I will see you there," she reminded him.

"Fine, I'll go get beat up alone then," he replied dramatically as he stood up.

She grinned at him. "If you keep up your left guard, you will do far better against him."

He rolled his eyes at her, "Yes, dear," he replied as he moved across the room.

She sat up in the bed as he neared, fully dressed now, making her aware of how undressed she was under the covers she held against her breasts.

"You gonna miss me while I'm gone?" He asked her with a flash of a seductive smile.

She controlled her expression as she shook her head. "I have much I need to do," she replied to tease him, but actually she knew she would miss him the moment he left, but he did not need to know that for sure.

"Good point," he replied as he reached the bed and sat down on the edge beside her, "And I've got sparring, so I won't miss you at all."

The warmth of him teased at her through the covers, his wide shoulders filling her view, and his eyes were dark and sultry despite the fact that he would be leaving at any moment.

She was sorely tempted to pull him down over her, back down onto the bed to pull his clothes from him again, but she stopped herself. Their days together would have to be broken by something eventually, and a sparring session and breakfast was hardly that long apart. However, it was nice to know that he too would rather remain here with her, if his lingering presence and heavy gaze meant anything.

"We have more than enough to fill our lives outside our time together," she agreed as she sat up closer him, sliding one arm around the tempting line of his shoulders.

"Exactly," he replied as he leant in towards her, one of his warm hands sneaking in around the covers to slide around her bare back. His touch was familiar now, but it still sparked sensations across her skin, tingling up her spine. She considered drawing him down to the bed again.

"I'll barely think about you," he whispered against her lips.

A shiver teased down through her as she sealed her lips to his, releasing her hold on the bedcovers to wrap both her arms around his neck.

His kiss was warm, wonderfully familiar, and filled with just enough passion to tease at them both. She lightened the kiss first, pulling back from the temptation to just spend the rest of her time lying with him. How wonderful life would be to just be lost in sensual seclusion with him? No worries of Wraith, duties, or the rest of the universe. Just the two of them, curled up together, lost in passion and pleasure.

He pulled back from the kiss fully, pulling their lips apart sharply, and she drew in a deep breath.

"You're not helping me leave here," he told her.

She realised that she was practically sat in his lap, her naked chest pressed against him, and her arms tight around him. She smiled at herself and pulled back, lifting the covers back over herself as she settled back on the mattress.

He made a rumbling grumbling noise, expressing how much he would prefer to join her, but he stood up abruptly.

"Enjoy your sparring," she told him with a calmer smile. She did want him to go sparring, for it was important for him and Ronon to have their sessions together, not only for John's training and health, but also as the friends they were.

"Stupid sparring," John muttered though, not entirely agreeing with her assessment she guessed, as he turned away.

She grinned at him as he walked away towards the doors out of her quarters. Once there, he turned back.

"All covered up?" He asked, as he had any time he had opened her doors now. He was always concerned in case someone might happen to see her through the doors once they were open.

She rolled her eyes, but nodded as she pulled up the bedcovers even higher to conceal her shoulders.

John nodded his approval and triggered the crystals to open the doors. "I'll see you at breakfast," he called as the doors opened.

However, he did not disappear immediately out into the corridor outside, instead he peered out cautiously, looking both ways down the corridor to check that no one would see him leaving her quarters so early. She laughed as she watched him peer back the other way and then dash out.

He looked back into her quarters at the last minute and the bright lighting outside let her see one of his sexy smiles before he disappeared from view.

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She spent the next two hours without John in busy activity. She had not only done two loads of laundry, using the amazing washing and drying machines in the closest city washing room, she had also thoroughly tidied her quarters. Then, after a refreshing warm shower, she had pulled on some clean clothes and had headed for the Mess Hall.

Pleased with her successful morning so far, and not having allowed thoughts of John to distract her, not that he hadn't been present in her thoughts all through the last two hours. In fact, she had missed several people saying good morning to her until they had literally stood in front of her. Too lost in sensual memories and warm thoughts, she had floated in her busy chores without concern.

Now though, she had a nice breakfast to enjoy with her friends, and soon John would be back at her side.

The Mess Hall was strangely quiet this morning, but then as the team was off rotation, they ate breakfast later in the mornings. She had arrived a little later than she had planned as well, for she had lost some time in trying to decide what to do with some of John's clothes that had been included in with her laundry. She had folded up his two shirts and a pair of boxers and decided that they could be stored in a cupboard. She had cleaned out an entire shelf for his clothes, but then had felt a little nervous about the move, wondering if he would appreciate the small space for himself or if he would find it unnecessary when his own quarters were so close. She had lost some time in internal debate about the shelf, but had finally decided to go with her instinct, and had put his freshly cleaned and folded clothes in on their own shelf.

With such distraction she would have thought she would have been one of the last to arrive, but as she entered the large light and airy Mess Hall, she saw that only Jennifer and Rodney were sat at the group's customary table. And from their body language, Teyla suspected that the couple were having a small disagreement. Rodney was bent over his tray, head down, but clearly responding to Jennifer's rather insistent looking words. Teyla was too far away to hear anything of what was said, but she suspected that Jennifer was annoyed at Rodney about something. That was not a new occurrence, but Jennifer appeared rather irritated this morning.

There were only two other tables occupied in the Mess Hall this morning, and one was for a chess game. Teyla would have to sit with the arguing couple alone until John, Ronon, and Carson arrived.

Trying not to resent the approaching social discomfort disrupting her own happy distracted thoughts, she focused on the table spread with breakfast selections. She decided on some toast with raspberry jam, a small bowl of fruit, and a herbal tea. As she set the tea on her tray, she felt a presence arriving alongside her, and she was already smiling as she looked round.

John slid up to the breakfast table right up close to her. "Morning, Teyla," he said, as if they had not spent the night together.

"Good morning, John," she replied politely, and on seeing Ronon stood on the far side of him, she add, "Good morning to you as well, Ronon."

"Mornin'" Ronon replied around the bread roll he had already pushed into his mouth.

Teyla turned her full attention back to John stood beside her, drinking in his presence, but trying not to appear she was doing so.

"How was your sparring session?" She asked in as normal and casual tone as she could.

"Fine," John replied, but his tone was a little tight as he reached for the large spoon set in the tub of cornflakes.

She looked up at his face to see that he remained in profile to her, not looking directly at her, but then they were playing casual, so she looked away back to her tray.

"Had a good morning?" John asked more conversationally, and perhaps aware that his previous reply had been unusually short.

"Very productive," she replied as she reached out for some more toast so that she could remain close to him a little longer.

As he filled up his bowl with cornflakes, his arm brushed against hers.

"I believe Rodney and Jennifer are having a disagreement," she added more quietly.

Both John and Ronon looked up across the Mess towards the couple, though Ronon immediately returned his attention to filling up his tray with as much food as he could.

"Wonder what that's about," John considered.

"I am not sure," Teyla replied as she picked up her tray. It was very light, so she easy held it in one hand. "I am sure we will hear all about it," she added as she glanced around the Mess Hall. Everyone in the room was focused on their food - no one was looking their way.

She turned to move away, which would take her behind both John and Ronon. Ronon was still intent on filling his tray, whilst eating the last of his bread roll. Freely unobserved, as she passed behind John, she ran her free hand across his backside, squeezing slightly just before she had to drop her hand away. She had felt him tense slightly at first, surprised by the public touch, but he had relaxed instantly and she had no doubt he would be smiling down into his breakfast selection.

Feeling very pleased with her playful move, she continued on past the rest of breakfast table to where she could head out towards the group's usual table. However, she spied Carson walking towards her, having just entered the Mess Hall. With a flush through, she realised that had she timed her caress of John's backside a fraction later it was likely Carson would have witnessed it. It had been a close call, not that Carson would have said anything, but if it had been anyone else, someone in John's command, it would have been highly unprofessional of her. She would have to remember to be better behaved.

She pushed those thoughts quickly out of her mind though, so as not to show anything in her expression as she smiled at Carson as he approached, heading towards the breakfast selection behind her.

"Good morning, Carson," she greeted him.

"Mornin', Luv," he replied with his usual bright friendly smile. "How are you this morning?"

"I am very well, thank you," she replied. "You are rather late to the meal, are you still working on the Glisi genetic tests?"

"Aye," he replied as he reached her, "so much to get through, but it's fascinating work."

"I am sure that it is, but you must make sure to eat regular meals," she admonished him slightly, knowing he had reminded her of the same in the past.

"I know, Luv, thank you," he replied with a smile. "I'm here now though, ready to eat."

"Good," she said and went to move away, "I will see you at the table."

He nodded, but as they moved past each other, he leant a little closer to share something. "And don't think I didn't see that," he told her, indicating John behind her.

She froze in place – had he meant that he had seen her touching John? Carson grinned, confirming in his smile and the amused shine in his eyes that he had indeed witnessed her inappropriate moment, but he reached out and squeezed her arm as he headed away towards the food.

Feeling a heady mix of embarrassment, relief that it had only been Carson, and amusement at the event, she forced herself to carry on towards the tables.

Though she and John had agreed that they both wanted a proper relationship together, they had decided to keep it private still for the time being. At least until their week together was over and they were due to return to duties, at which point the decision could be made on what would happen with the team. For now though, they were enjoying their private time together, but she trusted Carson would be discreet over what he had witnessed.

Reaching the tables, she headed straight for Rodney and Jennifer, who looked up towards her, both smiling somewhat relieved smiles. Clearly the disagreement was tiring them both.

"Morning, Teyla," Jennifer greeted her as she sat down opposite her. "Are you enjoying your rest days?"

Teyla smiled politely and nodded. "Yes, I am thank you."

"It must be nice to have so much time free, especially with Torren with his father for so much longer," Jennifer continued.

"It has been, though I am very much looking forward to Torren's return tomorrow," Teyla replied as she spread jam across a piece of toast. "Are you both well?" She asked, internally wincing, ready for what such a question may provoke.

"We're fine, thanks," Jennifer replied for them both.

Teyla smiled more directly at Rodney, assessing his expression. He smiled back at her, but there was definitely some strain around his eyes – she surmised that he was in trouble over something.

"How are things proceeding with the Glisi science station?" She asked as she took a bite of her toast, however Jennifer tensed up across the table, and Teyla realised she might have inadvertently discovered the subject of the couple's disagreement.

"Its fine," Rodney replied, in a very short unemotional response, which was very unlike him.

Silence descended over the table, as the couple both focused on their food.

Teyla looked round back towards the selection table to see what was taking the others so long to get here. John and Ronon were talking with Carson. She looked back to the couple.

"Do you know how long it will be until the Glisi move their camp?" She asked to fill the tension.

"They've put back their departure date," Rodney responded more animatedly this time. "Think they want to keep an eye on Radek's work on the station before they leave."

Jennifer rolled her eyes and sighed. "Rodney," she warned. "Radek is perfectly capable of seeing to the project."

Teyla frowned at them. "I thought you were overseeing the project, Rodney?" She asked. Jennifer looked up with a warning look, but the words were already out.

"Woolsey's taken me off it," Rodney protested.

"You've finished your part in the design and construction of station," Jennifer argued, "You were the one who said you had better things to do than configure the new station's instruments."

"I do have better things to do," Rodney replied, "but it was my project."

"You said you didn't want it and that Radek could oversee it," Jennifer argued.

Teyla looked away hopefully and was greatly relieved to see John and Ronon only a few steps away. She sent a pleading look up towards John, only he did not look directly at her again. He smiled though, but his eyes were on Rodney as he reached the table.

"I hear you've been taken of the Glisi project because you were whinging too much," he asked unhelpfully as he pulled out the seat next to her and sat down.

Teyla rolled her eyes and saw Jennifer doing the same across the table, which made them both smile.

"I wasn't taken off the project," Rodney protested, in direct contrast to what he had just told her.

"He upset Zelenka," Ronon supplied as he took the seat at the far end of the table.

Teyla shared a smile with Ronon, before glancing back to John sat beside her, his arm brushing against hers as he picked up his spoon. However, he still hadn't looked round at her, and he was sitting slightly stiffly as if he was purposefully looking only straight ahead.

"Rodney," John warned, "I told you not to push it about working on Hoth."

Hoth had become the new unofficial name for the Glisi home world among the teams who had visited the frozen planet.

"It wasn't my fault," Rodney protested loudly, only for Jennifer to tell him to calm himself.

Teyla looked back up at John, willing him to look at her properly, beginning to worry that something was wrong.

Perhaps sensing her full attention on him, John finally glanced round at her, which brought the far side of his face into view. She noticed the large growing bruise across his left eyebrow immediately, which explained why he had remained in profile to her so long. She shook her head at him and he shrugged sheepishly. Clearly he had not listened to her about keeping up his left guard.

She angled her head to look at the injury more clearly, while Rodney and Jennifer continued to debate the importance of politics in the workplace. John's eyebrow was not very swollen and the skin hadn't been broken, it was just a colourful bruise.

Oddly though, she felt a new response rise inside her, which had her looking at Ronon at the end of the table. Everyone who sparred received injuries and she knew that Ronon was good at controlling the power of his strikes, but some part of her still felt great annoyance at him for hitting John. She knew it was foolish, she had hit John many times herself in sparring, but she felt far more protective of him now.

Ronon saw her look and shrugged at her. "It was his fault," he summarised.

Teyla frowned at him and then back up at John. Ronon was likely right, but she still did not like to see John hurt in any way.

"Someone else tired him out first," Ronon added and she snapped her eyes back to him, seeing John look round as well.

Did Ronon know about them?

Ronon smiled at her as he lifted an apple and bit into it, his eyes sparkling with clear amusement.

"Who are you talking about?" Rodney suddenly asked, having caught the end of their conversation. "Has he been Kirking again?" He asked gesturing to John.

Teyla looked down back to her food, feeling a mixture of amusement and some embarrassment at the topic. She and John had talked about their past relationships, and he had told her that he had a couple of short, casual affairs since being in Atlantis, but she did not need to hear Rodney talking about such things.

"Shut it, McKay," Ronon said sternly, surprising her, and she looked back to her friend with a smile at his own protectiveness.

"I don't believe this," Rodney muttered though as he sat back, crossing his arms. "I'm off building houses in freezing waist-deep snow and he's off Kirking his way around the newbies. Who is she?" He demanded.

"We're not going to talk about this, Rodney," John warned, his tone more serious than she had expected.

Across the table, Teyla saw Jennifer's expression shift, having caught the edge in John's tone as well. Rodney, however, had not.

"Is it that tall pretty redhead?" Rodney asked. "I knew it! Everyone's all over her, typical you would get in there first."

"Which pretty redhead is that exactly?" Jennifer asked Rodney pointedly.

Rodney's eyes snapped round to her, wide and worried all of a sudden. "I just heard the others talking about her, that's all."

Jennifer nodded with disbelief.

"Like I would be interested in her," Rodney added weakly. "Not after Kirk's been..." He trailed off, finally seeing which direction he was digging himself with Jennifer.

"I'm sure she's very nice," Jennifer said to John.

"I'm not seeing a redhead," John protested rather defensively, "And I'm not talking about this."

"So you are seeing someone," Rodney concluded, annoyingly stubborn on the matter.

"Rodney," Teyla warned, not because she felt some embarrassment for herself, but because she knew Rodney would not realise how defensive on this subject John would now be.

"Come on, he's been a monk for ages," Rodney protested. "And he always gets the hot ones."

"A minute ago, I was Captain Kirk," John pointed out, "Which is, McKay?"

"I'm just-"

"Getting in trouble again, Rodney?" Carson asked, arriving at the table with perfect timing.

"Sheppard's seeing someone and he won't tell us who it is," Rodney told him as if that was defence enough for his behaviour.

"I think we can all respect John's privacy, Rodney," Carson replied calmly as he took the seat next to Teyla, putting him at the end of the table opposite Ronon.

"Exactly," John added, "I'll talk about my new girlfriend when I'm ready, okay?"

Teyla felt a flush of happy pride to hear herself described as such. She was tempted for a moment to reveal their relationship now, but on looking at John, she saw that he remained tense, glaring at Rodney. Now was not the time.

"Okay, fine," Rodney replied almost sulkily.

"Anyone else you want to piss off?" Ronon asked Rodney from the end of the table.

Teyla tried to tune out the rest of the bickering between the men, turning her attention back to her meal.

"I don't think there's anyone else left for him to upset," Jennifer whispered at her across the table.

"I believe you are correct," Teyla replied with a smile and Jennifer grinned in reply. She had not seen much of Jennifer this week. "How has your week been so far?" She asked.

"Busy," Jennifer replied, as the men continued their discussion, on fishing now by the sounds of it, Carson joining in over her and Jennifer's quieter conversation. "I've just finished two night shifts in a row, so I'm a little cranky," Jennifer added and angled her head towards Rodney beside her, silently communicating that it was the reason behind her impatience with Rodney. "I could do with a few days complete rest myself," Jennifer added quietly to her. "I've hardly seen you around the city."

"No, I've been staying mostly in my quarters," Teyla replied as she quickly looked down to her fruit, feeling a little uncomfortable at the partial truth.

"You timed it well, taking the same time off as Colonel..." Jennifer's words trailed off and Teyla looked up sharply to see Jennifer look at John and back to her with sudden suspicion.

Teyla tried to look innocent.

Jennifer lifted her eyebrows in silent question.

Teyla tried harder to look innocent, trying to appear confused at Jennifer's unspoken question.

Jennifer's mouth dropped open and she leant low across the table. "Teyla?" She asked with a teasing shocked smile. "You've haven't been resting have you."

Teyla gave up and, glancing aside to ensure that the others were not involved in the discussion, she finally shook her head and grinned at her friend.

Jennifer sat up with a wide smile. "I thought you looked tired for someone who's had three days doing nothing."

"What?" Rodney asked her, confused that he had missed something Jennifer had said to him.

"Nothing," Jennifer replied to him, "Just thinking out loud."

Rodney frowned, but nodded. "Is it okay?"

"I'm sorry?" Jennifer asked, confused now herself.

"We're planning a fishing trip," John supplied as he sipped his coffee, whilst under the table, his outer thigh pressed solidly against Teyla's. She looked round at him, to see him smile as he put down his cup.

"That's fine, Rodney," Jennifer replied, "You don't have to ask my permission to go on a trip."

"You could come with us," Carson suggested with his usual enthusiasm for such events. Teyla wondered some days if he knew about the ill-fated fishing trip that the original Carson had missed. She suspected it had not escaped his notice that the men now always had time for such trips.

"And Teyla, you could come too," Carson suggested to her.

"And Sheppard can bring his new girlfriend," Rodney said, innocently unaware of the truth.

"McKay," John, Ronon and Carson all warned together.

Rodney looked at them with shock. "What? I meant it nicely."

"I don't think it's my kind of trip, but thank you, Carson," Jennifer replied, reaching out to touch Carson's arm affectionately.

"Like its Rodney's kind of trip," John commented, "Last time we had to come back early because he got a hook stuck in his thumb."

"It was excruciatingly painful," Rodney complained.

"He did need minor surgery," Carson defended as he smiled.

"Well, still, I'll give it a miss," Jennifer replied, "Besides, perhaps Teyla and I could have a girls night in?"

Teyla smiled at the idea and nodded her agreement.

"We can paint our nails, watch some girly films, and talk about men," Jennifer added, with a pointed emphasis on the last point. She would want to know all about Teyla's new relationship.

Teyla nodded, though feeling somewhat conflicted about the idea. It was not common among her people to discuss such personal things with others, even with close female friends, but another part of her wanted to share the joy she felt in finally being with John. As much as she was a private person, as was John, she rather looked forward to when their relationship would be out in the open among their friends.

She looked round at John beside her and saw him smile at her. The smile would appear casual and just friendly to anyone watching, but, under the table, the heat of his thigh pressed against hers, and she smiled back.

"Great, it's settled then," Carson stated and Teyla snapped her eyes away from John, to see Jennifer smiling down into her coffee.

"Can you at least bring some anaesthetic with you this time," Rodney asked Carson down the table.

"Sure, Rodney," Carson replied. "Anything you need."

"Don't offer him that," John protested and they laughed.

"Good point," Carson agreed as he stood up. "On that note though, I've got to get back to my work, not all of us are on vacation this week."

With mass agreement, they all stood up, cleared the table, and filed across the empty Mess Hall.

Jennifer walked beside her through the empty tables, discussing which movie they might watch on their girls night next week, while Teyla worked hard not to stare at John walking in front of her. He was still in his workout clothes, which she had not seen him in since they had gotten together. She had noticed how well such trousers fitted him before now, but this time she knew what lay beneath. She could not quite get the image out of her head of him walking naked away from the bed this morning.

"I'll see if I can get the dvd from Julia," Jennifer said, "if you heard anything I just said."

Teyla looked round at her in surprise. "I heard what you said," she replied, though in truth she could not recall exactly which movie Jennifer had been describing.

Jennifer gave her a knowing smile before they reached the area to leave their used trays and cutlery.

Adding her empty tray to the stack to be cleaned, Teyla reminded herself that she really needed to pay more attention to how she behaved around John now. Ironically, she had predicted that he would have been the one to drops hints and sneak in small touches whilst they were in public, but it appeared that in this she was the weaker link.

As they all moved out of the Mess Hall, she let her eyes drop to his backside just briefly once again.

She could perhaps forgive herself a little today though – after all they were still on vacation.

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TBC