“Katana warned me about you.”

Intrigued, John stopped walking down the corridor and turned towards an amused Teyla. “Warned you about what?”

“Your voice and charisma,” she said, standing next to him. “Apparently, Larrin feels as though they are far more of a threat than any weapon you can carry.”

John smiled as his ego did a victory lap in his brain. “Really?” he asked, pleased with himself.

“Does her opinion of you matter that much?” she asked with a slight frown.

“Of course it does.”

“I had no idea that you held her in such high regard,” Teyla said flatly.

Something, most likely John’s common sense, screamed at his ego to reassess the situation. Sure, John was feeling great about himself, but there was something about Teyla that made him think she wasn’t as happy for him as he thought she should be.

“I don’t really, but my pride is a different matter,” he answered awkwardly.

Her raised eyebrow urged him to continue.

“It’s just…” he paused as he considered his words. “It’s nice to hear when an attractive woman finds you attractive as well. But, that’s it. There’s nothing more.”

“I see,” she said nodding slightly. “So, if Larrin arranged a meeting with you for purely personal reasons, you would decline her invitation?”

Busted.

“Um, no.” John resisted the urge to fidget. “I would want to see what she wanted, of course.”

“Of course,” Teyla said dryly.

They stood facing each other for a couple of uncomfortable seconds before Teyla took a step back. “I just thought that you would like to know what she said.” She turned and began walking away.

“Hey,” John called before she got too far away. “You never did tell me what you told Katana.”

A brilliant smile illuminated her face. “I told her I appreciate her concern, but I find talking with you shirtless to be much more distracting,” she answered playfully.

As she turned away, John grinned. Oh yeah, his ego bragged, I am good.