Kanan woke in a dark room feeling the bodies of frightened people pressed against him. He recognized the whispered voices of those who were bold enough to speak out and wondered where they were and what had happened. The blackness of the room was so complete that it was a surprise when a light suddenly appeared. It grew brighter and he watched as four Wraith guards escorted a Wraith queen into the room. He quickly bowed his head as if blocking his eyes would keep him from being seen by them.

“Which of you is leader to these people?” Her question was met with silence, so she moved closer to the tight crowd and paced in front of them. “Surely there is someone here who will represent you. By your silence, it is clear that you are nothing more than a group of strangers we happened to find inhabiting the same village. A nation without a leader is a nation without a future. Someone answer me!”

Kanan lifted his head cautiously, ready to speak out, but he heard someone else’s voice before he could open his mouth.

“I will represent the Athosian people,” a young woman said as she stood to her feet. “My name is Ava. I’m second cousin to Teyla Emmagan, our leader, who was not with us when we were captured.”

The queen nodded in approval. “I am Shani. My hive has accepted guardianship of your people. Follow me. We have much to discuss.”

Kanan watched Ava leave the room with the queen leading the way. The light went out when they were gone, and he let out a breath of relief, but at the same time, cursed himself for his weakness. He was thankful that Teyla was not present to witness it.

New Athos
M34 227

The light of the campfire was very welcome to the five people circled around it. After a day of lying low, hoping that the Replicators were really gone, they decided to allow themselves the one comfort, which gave them more than just warmth. They had expected to be killed in the crash after the Jumper was shot down, but they had shifted gears effortlessly like a team with years of experience instead of a mere week when it came time to execute plan B. When all four of the Replicator scouts entered the jumper, Rodney triggered the shield emitter to put out a low frequency flux field.

“So, what exactly is that going to do for us, Rodney?” John had asked while they were taking off in the Jumper in an effort to divert the Replicators’s attention from the gate.

“It’ll put them in a loop. They’ll think we’re dead, leave, and then report what they saw to Oberoth.”

“What happens if they don’t think we’re dead?”

Rodeny looked up from the data tablet he was working on. “I’ll start the pulse when all of them have entered and cut it off when I think they’ve gotten a good enough look. Just play like a dog for as long as you can.”

“Play like a dog?” Teyla asked.

“He means play dead,” Elizabeth provided.

John let out a sarcastic laugh. “What if they’re not convinced? I’d rather die than be a prisoner of the Replicators again.”

“Look, when they leave the Jumper they’ll only remember what happened inside the loop, so that means we just have to get them to leave the jumper once it’s recorded. They’ll probably try to shoot us if they notice we’re not dead.” Rodney snapped his fingers. “We could use that. John, they’ll head to the front of the ship. I’ll be at the very back so they’ll pass right on by me. When they get close to you, look up at them so they are completely focused on you. Feel free to insult them because they’ll probably shoot you anyway. That will give me enough time to get to my feet, double check the integrity of the loop, and challenge them to chase me outside where they’ll promptly forget that I’m alive.”

“You know, your plan sucks,” John whined. “Even if we can heal, it’s no excuse for you to start factoring death scenarios into your plans. I’ll still feel it when they shoot me. What you’ve proposed is way beyond cutting open our hands and watching them heal quickly.”

“In case we don’t get the crash landing we’re hoping for and get blasted into pieces in a few seconds,” Ronon spoke out, “I’m glad we escaped, and I’m glad we’re still a team even if we’re not them.”

Ronon dropped an arm full of wood beside the fire and pulled a knife out of his belt as he sat down. Rodney looked across the fire at him with hopeful eyes. “Hey, what are you planning to do with that? Are you going hunting, ‘cause I’m starving?”

Ronon grabbed one of the dreadlocks at the back of his neck and cut it off. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

“Ronon! You’re cutting your hair?” Teyla gasped.

“Woah! Wait a minute,” John said as he took a step closer to Ronon.

“What? It’s my decision. I’m not him, so I don’t want to look like him.”

“I get that you’re pissed about this—we all are, but changing your appearance isn’t going to keep people from recognizing you,” John stated. “If anything, it will get us killed. We’re going to be interacting with people we have alliances with so we’re going to have to pretend we’re the real deal. What happens if a week after we leave some place the other Ronon shows up and the people threaten to kill him because he’s suddenly grown back several year’s worth of hair?”

“They won’t be happy when they find out we’re using their identities,” Ronon pointed out.

“Hey, even if they arrive at a village that we’ve just left and get the awkward, “you’ve come back so soon” greeting, they’ll know it was just us and they’ll see that we’re trying to help,” Rodney said. “No one is going to get hurt by our plan.”

“Plan? We have a plan, Rodney?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes, of course, a plan to help. By now my other self has figured out how seriously screwed we are. We did a good job of almost killing everyone in the galaxy by waking the Wraith, but this business with the Replicators will wipe out everyone in the Milky Way and Pegasus galaxies if we don’t do something to stop them.”

“Hey, we weren’t the ones who ‘woke’ the Replicators,” Ronon interrupted. “That was them!”

“Well don’t we all get gold stars for not being responsible this time. My point is that we’re human and just as doomed as all of the other humans. The question you should be asking right now is, ‘How are we better than the team at Atlantis?”

“We’re hard to kill?” John guessed.

Rodney turned to glare at him. “Besides the obvious. Look, we don’t have the SGC or the IOA breathing down our necks. No mission reports. Everything we do is off the radar.”

“My dream come true,” Elizabeth whispered.

“When you put it that way, it does seem like we have the better end of the deal,” John added.

“I wish I had had more time to talk to myself—him—to find out what they know. He told me that they have a Wraith scientist who voluntarily came to Atlantis to help with the fight against the Replicators, so I think it’s safe to say that the Wraith have taken a hard hit and are probably desperate at this point.”

“I’m going to have to get used to this. All my life, the Wraith have been the bad guys,” Ronon stated.

“I feel the same,” Teyla said, “but, we must be willing to work with the Wraith if it will help us some time in the future.”

“What’s the plan, Rodney,” John asked.

“Trial and error. We need a copy of the Replicator’s base code as it’s currently written.”

“What about Dr. Keller’s code?” Ronon asked. “You said something about—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, but Dr. Keller’s code isn’t the same because she was on a quest for ascension so it’s missing thing like dispositions for aggression, revenge—”

“Rodney!” Elizabeth gasped. “Could we use that? I mean, can use Dr. Keller’s code as a template for what the Replicator’s code will need to look like in order for us to get them to stand down?”

“Hey, yeah,” Rodney smiled as he thought about it. “Okay, but we’d still need the current code so I can write a transition code. I’ll need a few days to figure out just how much our nanites can help us with this, but I think if we get close to any Replicator, our nanites will be able to read their code.”

John smiled and looked at Teyla. “That’s sort of like how you crack into the minds of the Wraith, right?”

“Yes, but I risk exposing myself each time in the process. Will they not also be able to connect with our nanites and possibly influence them like when Niam attacked Elizabeth?”

Rodney paused for a moment. “That’s a very good point, but we have a symbiotic relationship with the nanites that are inside of us. They thrive when we’re thriving which means that the nanites will go to every extreme to keep us that way so they don’t suffer.”

“That’s cool,” John said and then looked at Ronon. “So, next time I spar with Ronon, if I just tell those little guys that it’s in my best interest to kick his ass, they’ll help me pull it off no problem?”

“You can develop your super powers for your sinister purposes on your own time. Right now my only concern is shutting down the Replicators. Just give me a few days to figure things out, and then I’ll brief you on the next step.”

“I’m going to pull rank right now,” Elizabeth stated. “Although I agree with everything you’ve said so far Rodney, there’s no way I’m just going to sit around while you work. I may not be Dr. Zelenka, but apparently I have a certain influence that the Replicators don’t want spread around.”

“Sounds good. Dr. Keller’s program with a touch of Elizabeth’s good sense,” Rodney said to himself.

“You’re addicted to playing God, Rodney. You’re going to pay for it eventually, you know,” John commented.

“Oh, come on. You’re still jealous that I’m winning the game.”

“Rodney,” Elizabeth interrupted. “Let’s head back to the Jumper. I want to see what you’ve got right now.”

“Awe, but I’m hungry,” Rodney complained.

Ronon picked up his knife. “I’ll go find dinner.”

“Oh, that would be great, Ronon. Thanks!”

“Sure, but you’re on for dinner tomorrow,” Ronon grinned. “Teyla, John, are you both up for a hunt?”

“Sure,” John said.

Teyla shook her head. “No, some other time.”

Ronon stopped in the woods when they were a good distance from the campfire. “I can do this on my own, John. You should go back there. Something’s wrong with Teyla.”

“Thanks,” John replied. “I was going to wait another five minutes before bailing on you.” They parted ways and John stopped to watch Teyla when he was near enough to see her. She was crying—sobbing, but he was confused by her emotions when he heard genuine laughter mixed in with it. He purposely made noise as he approached to give warning that she wasn’t alone.

Teyla wiped her face with her hands and stood up when she saw him. “What’s wrong, John? Did Ronon get tired of you already?”

“I came back to talk to you.”

“About what?”

John reached out and took her arm. “Is everything okay? We’ve all had different reactions to learning the truth of what we are. I’ve gone over it with Rodney and Elizabeth, but you and I haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet.”

“You dropped out of the hunt to come back and talk to me?” Teyla quickly sat down. “I didn’t realize my emotions were so obvious.”

“You didn’t say much during our planning session and then you turned down a chance to go hunting. I just wanted to be here in case there was something you wanted to talk about.”

“It’s not going to work, John,” she said.

He sat down next to her. “What’s not going to work?”

“Our plan.”

“Well, why didn’t you say something earlier, Teyla. What did we miss?”

“It’s a very sensitive matter, and I wanted to discuss it with you in private first. In time, the worlds that we travel to will notice the difference between us and the team at Atlantis.”

“I thought we dealt with that already. Ronon won’t cut his hair and we won’t wear the old uniforms anymore.”

Teyla let out a bitter laugh. “I can sense more than just Wraith, John.”

“Really? Are you talking about the Replicators? Are your nanites picking up something?”

She shook her head. “When I saw Teyla yesterday, for a brief moment we let our guards down so we could confirm each other’s identity. I saw more in her than I was prepared for.”

“You both looked the same to me.”

“Give her a few months and she’ll look very different.”

John stared at Teyla while his mind processed the statement. “She’s pregnant! You were able to see that?”

“It’s very early in term, but I was searching for differences, not similarities when I touched her. It was the only thing I could find, otherwise we are the same person.”

John laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “Do you remember that conversation we had in the mess hall of the Daedalus when we were going to rescue Ronon from Sateda?”

“Yes. A few days later we encountered the Replicators for the first time.”

John smiled. “It’s been several months since then for the other team. If she’s pregnant, then apparently I got around to telling you everything I meant to say to you that day.”

“How long have you felt this way, John?”

“I felt something for you the day we first met on Athos, and it gets stronger every day. I love you, Teyla, and until this moment, I’ve been afraid to admit it to anyone—even myself. I’m not very good in relationships because when it comes down to priorities, I always put duty above those I care about.”

“Not being very good in relationships means nothing to me, John. I’ve always wanted you as you are,” Teyla replied. “Do you understand how the situation is changed with her being pregnant?”

John nodded. “I can imagine the arguments that will take place between us at Atlantis. You’re stubborn and she’ll probably insist on going off world, especially with all of the damage the Replicators are causing. People always feel assured when they see you.”

“This is worse than Ronon and his—”

“We’re both thinking it, so I’m just going to say it out loud,” John interrupted. “Let’s make it real for us so no one will be able to tell the difference between our two teams.”

“There is more to this than appearance. We’d be creating a life, John. Is that even possible for us with the way we were made?”

“We’re human—the same as they are, but I have a feeling that I have it better.”

“What do you mean?”

John put his arm around her and pulled her to him. “He’s got a city to worry about protecting. I only have to worry about you, and we’ll have plenty of time alone together. I do, however have one complaint. She hasn’t told him yet. I wouldn’t pull you from duty for being pregnant, but I would have done more glancing over my shoulder when I heard the Replicator ships break atmosphere.”

“She’s conceived in the middle of a war. She’s probably waiting for a good time.”

“There is no ‘good time’ because this war may exist for the rest of our lifetimes.”

Ronon returned with his kill and found the campsite deserted. Elizabeth and Rodney continued to work for another hour before joining him for dinner, and none of them could find John and Teyla, so they ate without their absent team members. In the morning, Ronon woke early to catch breakfast because he found hunting to be a much-needed distraction . In his wandering, he was surprised to come upon a small campsite set on a small rise in a clearing that looked out over the Stargate. Glowing embers were all that was left of the campfire and off to the side he saw John lying on his side with Teyla snuggled against his body. They both were asleep and partially naked; it had been a warm night. He smiled to himself as he turned away to hunt in another direction. I knew it, he told himself. Those two are so predictable.

Atlantis
(3 month after This Mortal Coil)

The Stargate closed after Dr. Keller, Rodney, Ronon, Teyla, and John as they entered the gate room, and the team headed straight to the conference room where Samantha Carter was waiting for them.

“Did you find anything?”

John looked at Sam with pained eyes and only shook his head.

“One by one... I feel like I’m dying slowly just watching this,” Rodney said. “I know there’s a lot of Replicator ships out there, but I thought we’d have at least a few more months before there was nothing left of this galaxy.”

“How many worlds did you visit today?” Sam asked.

“Sixteen,” Ronon replied. “We fly over them with a Jumper and they all look like the settlement on New Athos.”

“Wait, I thought we had determined that the Wraith were responsible for the damage on New Athos.”

Teyla shook her head. “At first, that is what I truly believed because of what Nabel told us, but at the time my people were attacked, the Wraith themselves were desperately fighting against the Replicators.”

“Nabel could have been a spy for the Replicators,” John said. “They would have more interest in finding Atlantis right now than the Wraith.”

“We have a serious problem now and I don’t know what to do about it,” Rodney said. “For the past two weeks we haven’t been able to find anything other than ruins on every planet we’ve visited. I mean, is it already over? Have we lost? Are the people here at Atlantis the only ones left in this galaxy?”

“I sure hope not,” Dr. Keller said. “It makes me sick just thinking about that.”

“Rodney, what’s the status of the changes you and the Wraith are making to the Replicator’s base code?”

“We’ve had a few breakthroughs, but Todd says we won’t know how much progress we’ve made until we can release the coded virus out into the Replicator populations, which means we need to come in contact with a Replicator ship somewhere.”

“Todd?” Sam asked curiously.

“You know, as in Todd and Copper—natural enemies who became friends,” Rodney stated. “It’s from The Fox and the Hound. He needed a name so I gave him one and he didn’t object to my choice. He doesn’t object to much actually.”

“The Disney movie?” Dr. Keller asked.

“Yeah. Anyway, we should quit wasting our time because there aren’t any habited planets left in this galaxy. I hate to be so callus about it, but we need focus on shutting the Replicators down before they can make it to the Milky Way galaxy. We need to engage an Aurora class ship so we can test our code.”

“I want you and Colonel Sheppard to come up with a mission plan. How long do you think that will take?” Sam asked.

John and Rodney glanced at each other. “What do you think, a couple hours?” John asked.

Rodney shrugged. “Give or take.”

“Report to me when you’ve got something. All of you are dismissed,” Sam said.

Everyone filed out of the room and went their separate ways. Teyla tripped on the stairs as she was making her way down to the floor of the gate room and caught herself, but not in time to keep Dr. Keller from seeing.

“I think it’s time for you to have a check up, Teyla.”

“I am fine.”

“You almost fell down a flight of stairs and it didn’t look like you were just being clumsy. You’ve been stressed out and your electrolytes are probably out of balance. Come with me.”

They entered the infirmary together and remained silent while Dr. Keller drew some of Teyla’s blood and ran tests. “I thought you would have told them by now,” Dr. Keller said when she was holding the results in her hands.

“We’ve been very busy, and I’m not showing noticeably. I don’t know how to tell them, Jennifer. I didn’t expect to be alone in this.”

“You’ll only be alone as long as you keep this to yourself.” Dr. Keller finally scanned the results on the screen of the tablet and frowned. “This isn’t good.”

“What is it?” Teyla asked.

“You have gestational diabetes.”

“How is that possible? I eat healthy and exercise.”

“It is common in pregnant women who are under a lot of stress. When was the last time you ate anything?”

Teyla thought about the question for a moment. “This morning.”

“That’s your problem.”

“You need to eat four or five small meals during the day to keep your blood sugar levels constant. Two or three very spaced out meals are not enough for you.”

“What do I do?” Teyla asked.

“We’ll start with changing your dietary habits, and if you don’t improve, I’ll prescribe insulin shots, but proper rest and eating should solve things. I also hate to do this to you, but I’m going to have to insist that you inform the team of your condition. Otherwise I will have to declare you medically unfit for duty.”

“Dr. Keller, please!” Teyla begged.

Dr. Keller shook her head. “Uh-uh, this is really serious, Teyla. You and the baby are at serious risk. You could collapse off world and have a seizure. Your teammates have a right to know.”

“Can you give me a few days? Please?”

“You have until the next briefing. I won’t back down on this. I’m sorry.”

Teyla hardly paid attention to what John and Rodney were saying during the briefing on their mission to upload the altered code aboard one of the Replicator ships because she was busy trying to figure out what she was going to say to the group.

“We’re ready to leave as soon as we’re done here,” John concluded.

Sam nodded her head and stood up. “Then get to it and come back safely.”

“Wait,” Dr. Keller interjected.

“Was there something else?” Sam asked.

“Yes.”

Teyla caught her breath and stood to her feet when the doctor looked at her. “I…I’m pregnant.”

“Are you serious?” Rodney laughed.

Teyla kept her eyes diverted for as long as possible, but finally allowed herself to focus on John’s face. He was pale and his lips were parted, but he was holding his breath as if he were trying to stop time while he processed the emotions that flooded his body.

“Congratulations, Teyla,” Ronon said cheerfully as he reached out and hugged her shoulder.

John coughed and wiped his hand over his mouth. “Will all of you excuse me? I have a few things I want to check up on before we go.” He pivoted sharply and quickly headed for the hall. He quickly lost touch with the world, and when he was able to focus on his surroundings again, he realized he was kneeling in front of a toilet, puking his guts out. It was so unexpected. His body slumped back against the stall as he sat on the floor and stared up at the ceiling When? How? Why? The questions were unending, and he finally realized that his underlying emotion was regret that he had never been honest with her—that he had taken her for granted.

The door to the bathroom crashed open and he looked up to see Ronon storm into the room. In a swift movement, he was pulled to his feet, shoved against the wall, and gasping for breath as Ronon held a knife to his throat.

“I feel like beating you until you’re unconscious, John. No one hurts Teyla when I’m around. Especially you.”

“I was surprised, Ronon. I can’t control how I react to news like that. She’s pregnant!”

Ronon jerked John forward and slammed him against the wall again. “She has loved you for as long as I’ve been here, but because of the customs of her people, she has been unable to do anything until you make the first move. I tried to be subtle when I mentioned that I thought you and Teyla would get together a couple of months ago, but you just cocked your head to the side and said ‘eh’. You missed your chance, so deal with this like a man instead of a child.”

“Look, I’m sorry Ronon!”

“Tell that to Teyla, John! Make peace with her and maybe I’ll forgive you.” Ronon released his hold and walked away.

Of all places, Teyla found herself in the science lab. Colonel Carter had postponed the mission for a day because she wanted all of them thinking clearly when they set out. Her unexpected news had set off a diverse set of reactions—many negative and a few neutral, but only Ronon had managed to be positive. The Wraith was working alone with freed hands, but there were two guards positioned at the corners of the room.

“Did you want something?” he asked when he noticed her.

“What do the Wraith plan to do if the Replicators can’t be stopped?”

“They can be stopped. It is not a matter of if, but when.”

“There are no people left on the planets we travel to. Villages are destroyed and there are no signs of battle or dead bodies anywhere. My own people are missing and every day my grief becomes worse. I have to wonder what your people have been through if our loss has been so great?”

“You believe your people are dead?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You long to be united with your people and I desire to be united with mine. Perhaps we can help each other.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“They are alive, just as the missing people of other worlds are alive. I can help you find them, but the leaders here at Atlantis still do not trust me.”

“Alive? How is this possible?” Teyla gasped.

“The Replicators seek to destroy us by killing off our food supply. We are determined to preserve our race by guarding the lives of the humans we depend on for survival. Our queens now feed on the blood of their warriors instead of humans. Your people are living on another world under the guardianship of a Wraith hive that attends to their needs for food, shelter, and supplies. They are not being harmed.”

“And what will happen when this war is over? Will the Wraith then begin feeding on our people again?”

“Yes, but only when the human population is stable after the people have resettled on their worlds.”

“We will never accept that!” Teyla argued. “We will always fight against you because you kill us.”

“Feeding is the only way we survive. What other choice do we have but to take human lives to end our suffering?”

“You end your suffering by making us suffer.”

The Wraith studied her enraged face. “I have noticed that your people have the ability to cause suffering that can surpass that which even the Wraith bestow.”

Teyla stepped back in shock when she realized he was talking about John. “You were in my mind!”

“You opened it to me. You must remember to remain guarded if you wish to keep secrets in the presence of a Wraith. I will help you find your people, Teyla, without demanding your trust.”

Valkaryn
M5S 115

John, Teyla, and Ronon walked through the busy trade market while the early morning sun rose in the sky overhead. It was a beautiful day and Rodney and Elizabeth were in a different section engaged in bargaining that would probably last for several hours. The three remaining team members were in charge of obtaining needed supplies that could be purchased at a reasonable price without much effort.

Ronon stopped suddenly. “What was that?”

Both Teyla and John turned to look at him and listened in silence.

“Shit!” John hissed. “Wraith!” He reached out and drew Teyla against him. “Elizabeth, we’ve got company! Wraith are coming,” he called through his earpiece.

“Where are you, John?” she asked.

“Stay where you are. We’ll come to you.”

John grabbed Teyla’s hand and headed in the direction of one of the trade tents. “This way.”

Stalls were knocked over as people scattered. Rodney and Elizabeth ran to meet them, but just as the group merged, the ray of a Wraith Dart cut across the land in front of them and drew the five of them up in the beam.

John woke sandwiched between the people in a crowded dark room. By the smell of the place, he knew they were on a Wraith hive ship. “Teyla?” he called out. He felt a hand press against his chest.

“I’m right in front of you. Elizabeth and Rodney are also near, but Ronon is still making his way through the crowd to get here.”

“Rodney, how are we going to get out of this?” John asked.

“I think we’ll just have to ride the wave for awhile. Escaping Wraith hive ships is your area of expertise.”

The lights turned on and a group of Wraith entered the room. It was huge. Teyla rose up on her knees and guessed that there were over five hundred people there. A queen approached the group. “Who is leader over you?”

An old man stood up. “My name is Kos Dortmon I am Patriarch of the Valkaryn. What do you want with us?”

“We received intel that the Replicators were about to destroy your world. I am Lariet and my hive is now to protector to your people. Come with me. I wish you to comprehend the severity of the matter before you attack me with prejudices as so many other leaders have done.”

The queen turned to lead the Patriarch away and Teyla jumped to her feet. “Wait!”

“Teyla?” John asked as he stood up behind her.

“Someone else wishes to speak?” the queen asked.

“My name is Teyla Emmagan. I am leader to the people of Athos. I and four others were on Valkaryn to trade when we were captured. We are grateful for your hive’s intervention, but we wish to return to our people.

The queen squinted her eyes. “I see the man beside you. What other three belong with you?”

Elizabeth and Rodney stood up beside them and Ronon stood up amid a group of people fifty feet away.

“All of you, come with me,” she said.

The queen sent the Patriarch with her guards so she could be alone with the team in a private bunkroom. “The Athosians have been settled with their protectors for several months. How is it that you are not with them if you are their leader?”

Teyla stepped forward. “We have been searching for them, unaware that the Wraith were responsible for their absence. We were off world when my people were taken. If they are with another hive, we wish to be brought to them. We have no place among these people.”

“My hive will risk much in uniting you with your people, but if they say you do not belong to them, you and those here with you face death. Your situation with them will be no different from the life I am offering to the Valkaryn people.”

“We understand that, and I assure you that my people know me and will be much relieved when we are reunited with them.”

The queen nodded. “There are only five of you?” she asked curiously.

John unconsciously reached out and grabbed Teyla’s hand. “Only five,” he replied.

The queen smiled and left the room.

“I wish there was some way for us to let the people of Atlantis know that the Athosians are safe,” Teyla said when the queen was gone.

John sat down on a bed and motioned for her to lay down beside him. “Let’s get some sleep. I like that they’re being nice to us, but it might not last.”

Wraith workers brought them food over the next four days and allowed them to venture about a small portion of the ship. The team chose to remain apart even though they were free to interact with the Valkaryns. At last they were summoned, and when they entered the thrown room, two queens and a delegation of Wraith warriors greeted them.

“These are the Athosians?”

“They claim to be,” Lariet replied. “Will you take them, Shani?”

“Bring Ava,” Shani ordered.

A Wraith entered from another room with Ava who immediately ran across the room and caught Teyla in a warm hug. “Oh Teyla! I’ve missed you, and I’ve begged them to let me leave a message in the settlement stating that we were okay, but they said the Replicators might intercept it.”

“Are the people well?”

“Yes. The Wraith have seen to all of our needs, although we are always on the run because the Replicators are hunting us. We’ve lived on nine worlds in the past four months, but not one life among us has been lost.” Ava gave a nervous glance back at the Wraith queen and then spoke again to Teyla in a low voice. “They have sacrificed much for us. I have stepped up because there was no one to lead, but since you are here again I gladly give that place to you.”

Teyla shook her head. “For now it will be best for you to continue as you are, but I will help you in whatever way I can.”

“So, you ask payment for five?” Shani said to the other queen.

“Six.”

“Six? How is that?”

Lariet smiled. “The leader is with child.”

“Prove it to me and I will give you what you ask,” Shani said.

“You’re pregnant, Teyla?” Ava laughed. “So am I!”

“How did you know?” Teyla asked Lariet.

The queen flashed a hideous grin. “It is in my best interest to know these things. You forget that human reproduction is of great interest to the Wraith. You lay with your man, but the other woman with you sleeps alone.”

Two Wraith scientists pushed a gurney out into the room along with a strange machine and motioned for Teyla to lay down. “It’s alright,” Ava said. “I have undergone the same exam. Kanan and I were able to see the baby. It’s amazing!”

“A Wraith ultrasound machine. You’ve got to be kidding,” Rodney commented with a wry laugh.

“I think it’s pretty cool.” John said. He held her hand while the scientist pressed a flat paddle to Teyla’s belly. An image appeared on the screen and both queens moved closer to see it.

“It’s a healthy male child,” the scientist said.

“I give you six as you have asked and thank you for bringing these to where they belong,” Shani said. She turned and motioned to her entourage and six of the warriors stepped forward and knelt before Lariet who hissed and shot her palm out, catching one of the Wraith in the chest.

Teyla sat up, grabbed John’s shoulder, and hopped down onto the floor as she watched the queen feed. “We were just traded for Wraith lives!” she gasped.

“Better them than us.” He kissed her forehead and they followed Ava and their new Wraith guardians to a ship that would take them to the surface of their new home planet.

Atlantis

Teyla stood in Colonel Carter’s office as she relayed the details of the plan she and Todd had come up with over the past week that would allow them to find the Wraith hive that was guarding the Athosians. “John and Rodney’s mission was a failure, and there is nothing more that Todd can do to help us right now. He has promised to return with me after we determine that my people are being well treated. All I ask is that you allow us to use a Jumper and give us a few days time where Todd, Dr. McKay, Dr. Keller, Ronon, and myself can set out to find the Athosians.”

“What about John?” Sam asked.

“I did not ask for his help and his presence isn’t necessary.”

“What’s going on between the two of you?”

“I believe I make him uncomfortable,” Teyla replied.

“I can see that it has something to do with you being pregnant, but what I don’t understand is—”

“Colonel Carter,” Teyla interrupted, “the answers you seek are none of your business. Our strained relationship did not affect our performance on the last mission so you have no reason to be concerned.”

“I’m glad to hear that. You’re a team and I believe that it is important for the whole team to be present on off world missions. I’ll only approve your proposal if Colonel Sheppard goes with you.”

Teyla gave a reluctant nod. “Thank you.”

Teyla opened her eyes and stood up from where she was meditating when she heard a chime at the door. When she opened it, she was surprised to see John on the other side.

“Teyla, I need to talk to you. I…” Instead of continuing, he pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for the way I reacted and the way I’ve been lately.”

She stepped away and looked at the ground. “What do you want from me, John? I cannot change what has happened.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Teyla.”

She glanced up and let out a heavy sigh. “Actually, I expected worse from you. I dreaded telling you because I knew I would be hurt by your reaction, but I did not expect to feel this much pain.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Todd knows where to find the Athosians. Colonel Carter has approved my use of a Jumper to find them. She insisted that I include you.”

“You didn’t want me to go with you?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I am going to see Kanan and it seems that your people often become jealous over things that don’t even belong to them.”

“Teyla—“

“What do you want from me, John! I am nothing to you.”

“You’re my friend,” he argued.

“Then why are you jealous? Why are you angry? Why are you hurt that I am pregnant by another man? Did you think that I would wait for you forever? For four years, I have endured ridicule and given up a life with my own people to serve yours here at Atlantis. Forgive me if in a moment of weakness I gave into my loneliness and for once allowed myself to love someone other than you. When we find my people I will stay with them and the rest of you can return here without me.”

“Teyla, please,” he said as he grabbed her arm.

“It’s over, John. Whatever existed between us has died. Let it be.” She walked past him and out the door. He glanced around the room and realized that everything had been rearranged as if she planned to leave and intended to not come back. A small pack was lying on the bed. He sat down beside it and for the first time in many years, he allowed himself to cry.