Admissions

Admissions
Chapter Four

Teyla walked into the bathing room after Michael had taken his leave. Though she doubted he would invade her privacy, she felt the need to close the door behind her. She wondered who had been kind enough to make the dress for her. Did they know that it was Michael’s child she carried?

Sighing heavily, she opened the cabinet he had directed her to. Inside, she found Athosian undergarments as well as shampoo, soap, lotion, and a soft bristled brush. All were made by her people and in the scent that she preferred to use. She felt touched at his thoughtfulness and made a mental note to thank him when he returned.

After removing a large, fluffy towel, she turned to the bathtub and began to run a hot bath. As much as she longed to soak for a while, she suddenly realized just how tired she was. There was a device built into the wall of the tub similar to the showers in Atlantis. After quickly figuring out how to turn it on, she undressed and carefully stepped in. The hot water soothed the tense muscles in her shoulders as she stood under the spray, just letting the water lull her for a few minutes. She then quickly washed her body and hair. Stepping from the tub, she dried off and wrapped her hair in the towel. After applying the lotion, she put on the undergarments and the dress. Though he had not had her measurements, everything fit perfectly. She looked at herself in the full length mirror he had placed in the room. She was fairly certain that it had been put there for her. The dress was low cut and tight in the bodice, before flaring out around her belly, and falling to her ankles. The earth tones in the dress matched her skin color.

She took down her hair and brushed it out. She would normally have towel dried her hair better, but her eyes were growing very heavy. Exiting the bath room, she looked around for Michael. He had yet to return. A surprising pang of disappointment moved through her. Making her way to the bed, his bed, she laid down. The pillow on which she rested her head smelled like him. She breathed in deeply, feeling comforted by his familiar sent. Before she was even aware of closing her eyes, Teyla fell into a dreamless sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Michael had spent about a half an hour on the control bridge before making his way back to his quarters. He hoped he had given Teyla enough time to relax and bathe in privacy. Arriving at his door, he took a deep breath before opening it. The room was dimly lit, but, with his enhanced, Wraith-like sight, he could clearly make out Teyla’s form. She was lying asleep in his bed. He hesitated, not wanting to wake her. The urge to stay and just watch her got the best of him. He crept into the room as quietly as possible. After closing the door and locking it, he went to the desk not far from his bed. He sat down on the chair and stared at her.

She’d put on the dress he’d brought for her after her bath. It complimented her skin color and showed the beauty of her pregnant form. Her face was relaxed, making her look peaceful and very beautiful. Her damp hair was splayed out behind her across the pillow. She had one arm curled under the pillow on which her head rested and the other draped over her belly.

How many times had he dreamt of having her in his bed? How many nights had he awoke, covered in sweat and aching with such burning desire for her? He had tried to relieve his own physical discomfort. The first time. Though he’d found release, it had done nothing to sate his need for her. It was as if she had permeated every cell of his being when they’d been together and when she was no longer with him, everything he was yearned for her return. He’d never bothered to try to give himself relief again, knowing the futility of it. He’d lie there, where she was now, and fight to control himself. In those tortured moments in the dead of the night, he’d desperately wanted to reach out and touch her mind, if only for a moment. But, he knew that he couldn’t risk it. He had to be able to call her to him when he was ready for her. If she felt him touching her mind from so far away, she might panic and tell the others. They would never have allowed her to leave Atlantis when he called to her and then everything he’d fought so hard to accomplish for her would be for not.

He shifted uncomfortably as his body responded to his erotic thoughts and his pants grew tight. Forcing his thoughts away from such things, he thought of how eager he was to get Dr. Beckett on his ship. The sooner he gave Teyla and his son a clean bill of health, the better. Michael was fairly certain that her earlier illness had been entirely stress-related, but he would feel better hearing that from someone trained in these matters.

He hated to admit just how relieved he was that he had someone with his clone’s extensive knowledge at his disposal. He may hate it, but he wasn’t too proud to admit it. He had no idea what to do for her when she was in labor. Beckett had explained, in great detail, as he’d requested, what would happen. He also explained all the things that could go wrong and cost one or both of them their lives. He shuddered in fear and dread. He could not loose either of them. He needed Beckett to ensure that Teyla and his son would survive and be healthy.

He felt the ship drop out of hyperspace. He regretted that he had to wake her, but the time of reckoning was here. Sighing, he studied her peaceful expression one last time. The peacefulness was about to be replaced with anger as soon as he told her about his clone.

Suddenly, before he could make a move toward her, an explosion rocked the ship. He barely caught himself, managing not to fall flat on his face. Teyla had woken up with a cry of fear and surprise.

Raise the shields! Return fire! Who is attacking us? he yelled into the minds of his hybrids on the bridge.

“Michael, what is happening?” Teyla asked as more weapons fire rocked the ship.

He raised a finger to silence her. We have already raised the shields and are returning fire. The Lanteans’ ship called Daedalus was here when we exited hyperspace.

Fury filled him. Set a course for the base where the Athosians are. Jump into hyperspace as soon as you can. I’m on my way.

He was almost to the door while telepathically communicating with the control bridge when he once again he heard Teyla’s frantic voice. “Michael! What is going on?”

He turned to see her attempting to get out of the bed. “Remain here! The Lanteans are here with the Daedalus. I must get us out of here before they destroy this ship!” He knew that his anger filled his voice, but he didn’t have time to explain to her who it was really directed at. Hopefully, she would know without him having to clarify it later.

He quickly exited the room and took off at a run for the bridge. He desperately hoped that the hyperdrive hadn’t been damaged before the shields were raised. He felt the ship enter hyperspace just as he reached his destination. He sighed in relief.

Teyla, can you hear me?

Yes, Michael, I can.

He sighed again. She sounded surprised at this kind of communication, but he heard the anger and hurt she tried to hide. I’m sorry that I was so abrupt with you. I was afraid that you would be hurt. We’ve entered hyperspace and are headed for the planet where your people are. We should be there in an hour or so. I must see to the repairs of the ship and then I’ll return to you. Try to get some rest. Do you need anything?

No, I am fine. Thank you.

I’ll be there as soon as I can.

He broke the connection and began fuming. How did they find his base? They must have allies that he knew nothing about. The thought disconcerted him. How many other bases had been compromised? He had no idea what to do now. They had almost killed Teyla trying to get her back.

He took deep breaths, attempting to calm himself before he succumbed to the blind rage threatening to consume him. Once he felt himself back in control, he decided that he would take her to the world they were headed for. It was highly unlikely that they would find that base after searching for it for so long. He was angry that they had found his clone of Beckett. He knew of no other doctors. And he was sure that none in this galaxy knew anywhere near as much as Beckett. Perhaps one of the Athosian women was a… Midwife? He believed that was the term. He would need to find out as soon as he got there.

Looking over the consol, he began issuing orders for repairs. The first volley had done some damage, but the shields had protected the ship from the rest of the weapons’ fire. It could have been much worse. Much worse.

~*~*~*~*~*~

As soon as Michael rushed out of the room, Teyla rose to follow him. She was angry that he had dared order her to stay here, and she wanted to see for herself exactly what was happening. She paused at the door, the only thing stopping her was the promise she had made to him to stay here. She was not the type to go back on a promise if she could help it. The warrior in her could not stand to stay here and do nothing. The safety of her child and herself hung in the balance. Not to mention Michael. And what of her friends? Were John, Ronon, and Rodney aboard the Daedalus? Would her friends destroy the ship that her family was on or would Michael kill all of her friends?

Teyla felt the ship enter hyperspace. She had not heard or felt a large explosion so she desperately hoped that the Daedalus was not badly damaged.

Teyla jumped when she heard Michael’s voice in her mind. Teyla, can you hear me? He had not tried to communicate with her in such a way since her arrival and, now that he did, it surprised her.

Teyla straightened her back and shoulders in pride. She would not let him know just how much he had hurt her feelings or how angry she was at him. At least not right now.

Yes, Michael, I can.

I’m sorry that I was so abrupt with you. I was afraid that you would be hurt. We’ve entered hyperspace and are headed for the planet where your people are. We should be there in an hour or so. I must see to the repairs of the ship and then I’ll return to you. Try to get some rest. Do you need anything?

No, I am fine. Thank you.

I’ll be there as soon as I can.

She felt him pull away from her after that. He had apologized and she would soon see her people. She should just let the incident go, but she could not allow him to believe that ordering her around was acceptable behavior. They would need to talk when he returned.

Teyla began to pace the length of the room, deep in thought. One of her thoughts just before the jump into hyperspace had been that her friends might hurt her family. And now she was considering talking to Michael about his treatment of her. When had she stopped thinking of herself as a prisoner? When had she begun thinking of the three of them as a family? Why had she not been more hopeful that her friends would get her and her child off of this ship?