Cleaning Up After The Ancients - Chapter 166

Chapter 166 - Interlude - Teyla’s Day Part 2

Stepping into the puddle jumper that would take her to the mainland, Teyla was more than a little surprised to find John sitting in the small ship's pilot seat.

“John,” Teyla began in cautious surprise, causing him to spin his chair around to face the cockpit door. “Did something come up?” 

“Nothing like that.” John reassured her with a roguish grin that made Teyla’s heart flutter. “Our conversation earlier got me thinking about how I should probably put those days of leave to work. So when I heard the call come down for a pilot to take you to the settlement. I figured that since we just got back from spending all that time visiting my home, why not spend a day or two visiting yours.”

Teyla's objections died in her throat, because that was beyond sweet of him and she really couldn't find it in herself to deny the offer.

“I suppose Jinto will be glad to see you again.” She demurred since it wouldn’t do to directly reveal her feelings on the subject. “But do not forget, I am planning to stay at least a night, and you will not be able to share my dwelling.”

“Could always just tell them we got married.” John joked as he spun the chair back around and tapped the control to open the bay’s outer door.

Taking a moment to settle down into the copilot's chair, Teyla shot her partner a serious look of warning. “Do not joke about that in earshot of my people unless you actually wish it to become true before our return to Atlantis.”

John flicked on the communications system. “Jumper Three to Atlantis, we’re heading out to the mainland now.”

“Rodger Jumper Three.” Grodin’s voice echoed out. “Fly safe, and see if you can bring back some of those little purple fruits.” 

“No promises.” John returned as their ship shot up out of the bay and into the darkening sky.

Closing the channel, he spent a minute setting in the course to her people’s settlement on the mainland before turning a slightly worried look to Teyla. “You weren’t serious about that marriage thing, were you?”

“Not normally.” Teyla admitted with an apologetic tone. “However, as I have mentioned before, a number of my people are quite supportive of the idea given your standing.”

The discovery that she was pregnant would likely temper much of that given it would somewhat relieve the worry of her bloodline dying out. Unfortunately though it was also likely to push for some to insist that she should guilt John into an actual marriage. And while she knew from the type of man John was that such an attempt would be likely to succeed, it was not a foundation she wished to stake their relationship on.

“I kind of feel like I should argue that whole standing thing.” John muttered unhappily.

Teyla raised a skeptical eyebrow at John, well aware by now of his urge to downplay his own accomplishments. “Are you not a high ranking officer in your people’s military?”

“Lieutenant Colonel isn’t that high up.” John returned awkwardly. “Especially since I only really made it to the rank because Doctor Weir and General O’Neill pressured the Joint Chiefs to keep me in charge.”

“Which they would not have done if they did not believe you to be more than capable of doing the job.” Teyla told him pointedly. 

“Or it means they know I'm the only human around with any actual authority over the city.” John countered dryly.

“Did you not tell us that Eventus said that the city would not have given you the option if it did not think you were qualified for the position?” Teyla challenged, the memory of that particular conversation still fresh in her mind. 

“Well yeah,” John grudgingly acquiesced. “But I looked those up afterwards, and the Ancient's standards were kind of low.”

Something about the direction their conversation had taken was making Teyla suspicious, and she narrowed her eyes at John. “Why do I get the sudden sense that you are trying to draw the conversation away from something?”

John grimaced. “More towards something, I was just doing it kind of badly.”

“I see.” Teyla said to cover the fact she had no real idea where John had been trying to go.

“It’s just…” John hesitated, glancing out the window for several seconds before turning back to her. “I told you how I used to be married, right?”

“Yes.” Teyla confirmed.

It had been mildly interesting to discover, but not exactly surprising given John was several years older than her.

Nodding in acknowledgement, John continued. “Well… I didn’t exactly tell you how I screwed that up.”

“And I did not ask.” Teyla reminded him, the odd feeling taking root that he was concerned with something that her people would not find a concern.

“Thanks for that.” John shot her a quirk lipped grin. “But the truth is things kind of fell apart there because I was always doing the military thing. And that hasn’t exactly changed. There’s going to be stuff I can’t talk to you about, weeks if not months I’ll be gone, and eventually I might even get called back to Earth on a permanent basis.”

A feeling of bemusement washed over Teyla at the familiarity of what he had just said. “That is much of what I expected in a relationship, John.” An amused smile formed. “Though I will admit, usually it is me warning my prospective partner of those things.”

It was a big part of why she had been unattached when John’s team had arrived on Athos.

“You must understand, before your people came, it was normal for me to spend at least a third of the total year on other worlds handling various trade details. It is why no one finds complaint now with me spending most of my time on Atlantis assisting your people.”

“Oh,” John muttered as understanding seemed to hit. “Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. You were probably away doing stuff nearly as much as I was.”

“Much of which I could not discuss with those whom I shared a bed.” Teyla added in with a teasing smile to remind John that he was not the only one with past relationships.

John chuckled at that as a small bit of tension seemed to leave his shoulders. “You know, Rodney still thinks you were a virgin space princess when we hooked up?”

That reminder made Teyla smile. “I am aware. I looked up the John Carter he likened you to while on Earth. And while I can certainly see the parallels,” Her lips twitched slightly. ”I am sorry you do not have nearly the ability to pull off a loin-cloth that he did.” 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author’s Notes: Three more parts of this, then over to Rayla playing peacekeeper between a Tok’ra and Goa’uld who greatly dislike each other for a chapter or two.