fic: Augment [Not Human challenge] by Tielan

[tielan]

TITLE: Augment
AUTHOR: Tielan
SUMMARY: With her son beneath her heart, and the city around her, Teyla is not alone.
CHARACTERS: Teyla
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: 4.12 - Spoils Of War

Augment

In the dark of the night, Teyla lies in her bed and feels the presence of her son beneath her heart.

Earlier this day, he seemed so tiny and fragile a presence, like a candle too easily snuffed out. But, now, like a candle, he drives away the darkness within her spirit, filling her with quiet comfort.

Her people are gone and Kanan with them; Teyla has her team-mates, but they cannot be to her what her son is within her. She was one, but now she is two. And for a little while today, his mind augmented hers to control the Wraith Queen.

She should not have done it - if she had known what price might have been asked-- But, no, she would not have appreciated the price without the cost laid out before her. One life, so small and buoyant, giving her a reason to fight, to hold on, beyond even the friends she feared to lose.

It was the feel of her son's mind by hers - so young and yet with her fighting spirit and Kanan's stubbornness - that kindled a flame within her. She had seen such fire in other women - Jielle, mother of Jinto, Mila, mother of Tanys, Lifidi, mother of Abnon - a protectiveness that Teyla had felt in part towards her people, the lifeblood of her reason for joining the Lanteans, but never in full.

Never like this.

As she tugs another blanket over her too-cold legs, Teyla remembers her struggle against the Wraith Queen, the sense of being torn in too many directions: her team's need of her attack against her son's need of her defence, her need to be loyal to her friends against the growing need to protect the life that she sheltered with her body.

She spoke with Jennifer afterwards, a sudden concern in the face of her control over the Wraith Queen. "Will he be human?"

Jennifer seemed surprised by the question. "You're human, aren't you? And I haven't detected anything unusual about the pregnancy. But if you're worried, we can run some tests..."

"No." Teyla decided. She would wait and see what time would bring, if anything. Physically, she is not so concerned. If there is trouble with his health, they can be dealt with.

Mentally... She asks what she has done this day - what her son has faced before he ever has grown enough to face the world. The mind of one who would have stolen his life without remorse if Teyla had not protected him, if John had not shot the Wraith Queen.

Voices pass outside her room, a gradually-rising murmur in the night that fades again as they pass by.

As she pushes gently at the fullness of her belly, feeling the skin tender and stretched there, Teyla wishes for the comfort of her people. She wishes for her parents, for Charin, or any one of the Athosian elders who remembered her mother's pregnancy with her, her own birth. Her gift was her mother's legacy, and Teyla would give much to know if her mother's sensitivity to the Wraith had strengthened during her pregnancy, even as her own has strengthened beyond belief.

But there is no-one who can tell her such things, no-one who can plumb such depths. She has only those who are willing to support her, succour her, whatever may come.

Look, I'm really bad at this, but you won't be. I mean, you won't be bad at being a mother.

Ronon's a good name, you know, boy or girl.

You're a part of my team. You always were.

The city rises above her, around her, a womb of safety and assurance filled with people who care in their own, sometimes awkward ways.

Teyla is the last of her people, with the exception of her son within her.

But that does not mean she is alone.

- fin -

Comments

[purple-cube.livejournal.com]

Simply beautiful, and very fitting for the episode

[tielan]

Thanks. :)

[oran.livejournal.com]

Yes! Excellent.

[tielan]

Thanks!

[iamza.livejournal.com]

Loved this peek into Teyla's head, while she mulls over her encounter with the Wraith Queen, and what it all means. And I really liked her realization at the end, that she isn't alone.

[tielan]

Thank you!

[unanon.livejournal.com]

Yes! Just the Teyla coda this episode needed! :) I love it!

[tielan]

:D

[jennytork.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!

[tielan]

Thanks! :)

[leesa_perrie]

Lovely - powerful and fitted the episode well. Love the lines from her team-mates (especially Rodney's, lol! Oh why couldn't we have had his reaction on-screen!!). Really nice.

[tielan]

I hope they have *some* kind of reaction shot between Rodney and Teyla - although I suspect we're going to get cheated on that front. :(

[crazy4orcas.livejournal.com]

Very touching. Very much in character for Teyla -- you do her voice so well. I love this image -- "The city rises above her, around her, a womb of safety and assurance. . ."

[tielan]

Thanks! :)

[crazy4orcas.livejournal.com]

This is way off topic, but do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions regarding feedback?

[tielan]

Sure! Mail me at tielan @ livejournal.com if you want to ask them privately.

[accidentalfan.livejournal.com]

*makes little happy noises*

This was beautiful. Thank you.

[tielan]

You're welcome! Thank you! :)

[pansychubb.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think "beautiful" is the appropriate term here.

:-) Thanks for sharing.

-Pansy Chubb (aka LilRicki)

[tielan]

Thanks for commenting!

[madjm.livejournal.com]

This was a perfect tag to the episode. I love the changes in Teyla -- the full realization of motherhood as well as the realization that she's not alone, even if she never finds her people. Thanks for writing. :)

[tielan]

If this was any other character, there'd probably be loads of post-ep fic. I haven't checked, but I doubt there's much, and there should be more!!

[lamaudite.livejournal.com]

Fitting. Well done.

[tielan]

Thanks!

[xueyie.livejournal.com]

I really love how portray Teyla, as a mother, a leader and a team member.