[For Sarah]

[t_emmagen]

The first day she did not see Beth Teyla did not worry. Beth went back to the hut she shared with Sarah often enough that it was nothing remarkable. Even the second day she told herself that there was nothing unusual. Except she kept hearing echoes of Beth's words from before Teyla had gone out into the jungle. About not leaving Beth without at

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[thedescent_into]

She's been strong, as strong as she could be, drifting in and out of awareness, tense and guarded and waiting for something horrible to happen. Something horrible, because if she has to fight, at least she doesn't have to think.

But when she sees Teyla standing there, being strong is almost too much, and her face collapses, losing the blank mask she's worn for months now. But it's only for a moment, a handful of seconds, before she pulls herself together again. "Hello, Teyla."

[t_emmagen]

It may have only been a moment, but it is more than enough for Teyla. She spent a lifetime watching people for clues, first as a trader and the leader of her people, later as part of her team on Atlantis. What she sees in Sarah's eyes is confirmation enough.

"She is gone." No longer a question, not to Teyla. Not to Sarah either, she is sure.

[thedescent_into]

She barely moves, bony knees drawn up to her chest and her arms draped loosely around them, but her head ducks in a tense nod, eyes flickering over Teyla's face and away.

"She's dead." It might be callous, but she's beyond the point of noticing or caring. Beth's dead, it's the truth and she can't hide from it now.

[t_emmagen]

Those were words she was not expecting. Words she had not wanted to hear. But she knew the nature of Beth's arrival on the island, she knew she had nothing to go back to.

"I am sorry," she said, not knowing why she was apologising to Sarah.