Author's Note: We are finally at the end. *sniffs* I am honestly very sad to see this fic go, because I've loved it dearly and it's taken me---all of us---on quite a journey. And I am SO grateful to all of you who have helped to make it so; you've made this so much better than the one-shot that was intended. Thank you for your reviews and kind words and support; you've made all of this crazy journey truly worthwhile :). GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!! :D ~jewel
Special thanks to all those who reviewed: sakurablue13, Grannanatlanta, Robert1000, PeaceLily4ever, AthosionWarrior, Sam, female'wraith, wicked wiz 1077, Lone-ranger1, The King's Soldier, Amandasnow, Eternal Destiny, BookFilmLover, SGA-Seven, Morgomir, and Manic Tater!
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Epilogue (Eatin' Speaks Louder 'n Words!)
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Teyla heard her team before she saw them; and she smiled when Torren's voice rose in a high-pitched squeal above theirs, and Kanaan desperately tried to quiet him (which he knew very well was a useless gesture). For a moment she merely laid still and listened, enjoying the sounds of familiar voices and feeling blissfully calm.
"Hey, she's smiling; she's awake!" Rodney's voice accused. Her grin widened as she opened her eyes and took in the people around her.
"See?" McKay demanded smugly of his team. "I told you."
"It's nice to see you too, Rodney," she said, rolling her eyes. She knew he meant well, though.
"How do you feel?" Kanaan asked as Torren---as usual---jumped straight for his mother's arms.
"I am fine, I think," she said, blinking. "Everything feels... oddly blurry, though. Did something happen with Todd? I remember something about him..." her friends exchanged glances.
"You fell," John offered after a moment. "And you hit your head."
"Really hard," Ronon added.
"You've been out cold all week," Rodney put it. "Maybe you dreamed about Todd?"
"You were talking about him, too," Kanaan reminded the scientist, before turning back to Teyla. "Perhaps you heard them in your sleep?" Teyla shrugged and nodded.
"Perhaps. I would not be surprised if that was the case." She paused. "So I fell?"
"Somebody spilled something halfway down a flight of stairs; you slipped and flew the rest of the way down, and did a ten-point nose-dove right into a sharp corner on the wall. But doc's been trying out some new treatments, and you're pretty much all healed up now."
"Aye, that she is." Teyla turned her head at the sound of a familiar Scottish lilt.
"Dr. Beckett!" she cried softly. He grinned.
"Hello, Lass. So glad to see you finally awake. Dr. Keller's treatments seem to have worked wonders on your bruises."
"So I am told." She smiled. "When did you get back?"
"A few days ago; though it was for entirely selfish reasons, I admit. I missed you all here."
"Well I am glad that you are back, then," she told him.
"Aye, so am I, love."
Teyla looked around at all of her friends, warmth and gratitude filling her.
"Thank you," she said sincerely. "All of you. I am glad that I have been in such good hands."
"Anytime," Sheppard drawled pleasantly, everyone else nodding in agreement.
Ronon leaned forward in his chair.
"Hey, Teyla, you hungry?" he asked suddenly. Teyla's brain took a second to process his question, and she found that in spite of her week-long coma---and much to her surprise---she didn't want to eat anything.
"No, thank you," she said. "I believe I am alright." She didn't notice the collective sigh of relief from her friends, only her limbs aching from disuse. She shooed everyone out, laughing.
"Go on! I want to get dressed so that I can get out of here!"
Fin.
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A/N: So there you go. I purposefully made the ending complete fluff; I think that I got dark enough through most of it to deserve that much. Thank you all once again for everything that you've done for me with this! Love to you all! ~jewel
ps. "Eatin' Speaks Louder 'n Words" is a quote from the Andy Griffith show, which I do not own. I just love the quote, and "Not Eatin'" speaks just as loud in this case ;) lol