Chapter 4

Teyla walked ahead of John and Rodney in comfortable silence. Or as much silence as she could acquire with the two men behind her. They bickered like they were siblings or an old married couple, but that was a rather disturbing image. John and Rodney were definitely closer than when they first came to Atlantis. John could barely stand the presence of the good Doctor years ago. Now, he found the team incomplete without him, just like Ford.

A brief sadness came over her at the remembrance of the young Lieutenant, but she quickly brushed it away. She brought her attention to the surrounding scenery and smiled lightly. It truly was a beautiful place, almost more beautiful than Atlantis. It flourished in a way she had never seen before it was obviously an untouched land. She glanced over her shoulder at John and Rodney and her smile broadened.

"All I'm saying is you've been acting strange since the Athosian gathering," John commented conversationally with a shrug.

Rodney tried to hide the annoyed look on his face. "What's that supposed to mean? Am I supposed to be miserable all the time because I'm not roguishly handsome or something? Can't I be happy if I wanna be?" he shot out rambling. "Well, for your information I'm not miserable and on another note you wanna talk about someone acting strange? Maybe you should look in the mirror pal."

"What's that supposed to mean?" John retorted in much the same manner as Rodney had.

Rodney rolled his eyes, "You've been acting all funny since before the Athosian gathering my friend."

"I have not," John said defensively.

"Have too."

"Have not."

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Gentlemen!" Teyla called stopping ahead of them. If she did not interfere then and there they would go at it all afternoon without interruption.

Both men turned their attention to Teyla with a what expression.

She nodded ahead of them, "I can hear a waterfall." She waved for them to follow as she started to jog towards the sound.

"What's with her?" Rodney asked curiously.

John smiled knowingly, "You know Teyla, come on." He nudged Rodney along and they reached the edge of a cliff that overlooked a beautifully secluded pond with a good sized waterfall.

"Wow…" Rodney was in awe at the beauty before him. "It's like right out of a National Geographic magazine."

John was too struck to speak as he looked around. He spotted Teyla at the bottom of the fall at the edge of the pond taking a sip of water. He cringed lightly, "Dammit, I wish she'd stop doing that!" he said annoyed.

Rodney rolled his eyes and started to look for a way down. "How the hell did she get down there so quick?" he said aloud.

"Probably jumped knowing her," John opted lazily looking for the way down along with him. "I hope she didn't jump…" he muttered hopefully unable to find a way down.

"There is a tree that leads to the bottom," John jumped slightly as Teyla stepped up behind him.

How does she move so damn fast…

"Oh duh!" Rodney smacked himself in the head and made his way for the tree.

Teyla chuckled silently as she watched him make his way for the tree.

John watched him with a perplexed expression. "I'm telling you Teyla there is something going on between him and Elizabeth," he couldn't shake the feeling. "Something happened between them at that gathering."

Teyla turned an amused smirk his way, "And why may I ask are you concerning yourself so?"

John rolled his eyes at her hidden insinuation, "It's not what you think." He shifted his P-90. "They just shouldn't feel like they have to hide it from everyone that's all. It's not like there's any regulations against it and besides were billions of miles from Earth. Some of the rules can be bent."

"In other words you hate being left out of the loop," she concluded tilting her head up at him. She loved the height difference between them.

He snapped his fingers. "Yes!" he hissed in a happy tone like a giddy kid.

She chuckled, "John, if there is something between them they will let everyone know in their own time. Do not go where you are not wanted." She hoped he would heed her warning. John didn't like it when people butted into his personal business so he should be just as respectful in return.

John sighed, "Whatever, as long as they're happy…" he trailed off.

"Hey guys! This place is amazing!" McKay called from the bottom of the fall.

Teyla grabbed John's hand, "Come on, let's go swimming."

He instantly tensed not budging, "Swimming?"

She jerked lightly at his sudden halt and looked at him curiously, "What is it?"

He quickly shook his head, "Nothing, let's go." He started past her still holding her hand to help her down the cliff side. The soil was very moist but it still had a decent grip to it so they had no difficulties getting down. "Easy…" he warned quietly helping her take the last step onto the boulders that surrounded the pond around the fall.

Teyla immediately went to removing her shoes.

John sat on a nearby boulder and made himself comfortable as he watched her openly. Wouldn't be the first time he saw her naked or near naked. Her sparring outfit left little to the imagination, at least over the last five years it hadn't.

She glanced over her shoulder as she removed her shoes and smiled playfully. "Are you going to join me?" she turned and started to remove her jacket.

He tilted his head and looked her up and down, "Ladies first."

"Hmm," she nodded letting her jacket fall from her shoulders to the ground.

John watched her as she undid her pants and slid them down her slender tanned legs. An inaudible groan escaped him as she turned away from him and removed her shirt to leave her in nothing but a pair of black panties and bra. She cast a teasing smile over her shoulder before making her way to the waters edge. The sway of her hips could hypnotize any man, even Bates if he would admit it.

"Hey I found more crognits!" McKay acclaimed coming to stand near John. "Want one?" he asked holding out his hand.

John shook his head only glancing at them, "No thank you." He shifted on the boulder to make himself more comfortable, which didn't go unnoticed by Rodney. He put two and two together and had to stop himself from laughing.

"How many of them did you have?" Rodney asked his voice laced in humor.

John cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "A few…" he admitted hesitantly.

"You're not wearing boxers are you?" Rodney poked teasingly, but ironically strait faced.

John gave Rodney a fuck you look and turned his attention back to Teyla who was testing the water with a single toe.

"It is not so bad," she called over her shoulder then began to step into the water. She faced her companions and smiled giddily. "Come on!" she dove backwards into the water with a courageous laugh.

Both John and Rodney couldn't help but laugh at her.

"Just get in when she's not looking she'll never notice," Rodney advised finishing off his handful of crognits. "Hmm, I've got to use the little boys room." He looked around and sighed knowing he would have to climb up the cliff. "I'll be back."

"Be careful," John called as Rodney made his way up the cliff side and out of view.

"Colonel Sheppard!"

John quickly looked back to Teyla to find a pair of panties hanging off the end of her foot above the water.

Oh shit…