how on earth did I never see this before now? it's doubly embarrassing given that you mention me in the story notes. This is the Teyla/Kate story I have always wanted, because you got them just exactly right; their mutual guardedness, politeness, and also the sheer looming difference between them. Incredibly well-characterized, and I love your steady, calm, simmeringly angry Teyla voice. The ending is perfectly dissatisfying - much as I wish for them to move past that moment, to get past that guardedness, that moment of hesistance and indeterminacy is all too believable. Gorgeous.

And, really, I can readily believe that this is the backstory for Teyla's reaction to Kate's death. Teyla standing on the other side of the room, drawn into herself, unable to even touch Kate to see if she's alive.