Author's Note: Flashbacks will be in italics.
Loyalties Part One
"Spiderman."
"No way. Batman is infinitely cooler."
"Spiderman."
Rodney waved the tool he was using in the air. "Batman had cool gadgets, a car that could transform for whatever terrain he was on, and a batcave. What did Spiderman have? Red tights."
"Spiderman."
"Are you even listening?"
Drew flipped another page in his book. "No."
"At least Sheppard agrees with me."
"I don't know, Rodney. Spiderman had keen senses and could shoot webs to swing around the city. Pretty cool."
McKay looked at John dryly. "Yes, he was a regular Tarzan."
"He even had a Jane."
"What?! Oh. Ha ha."
The gate activated, Drew's feet instantly dropping from where they were perched. "Incoming wormhole."
Sheppard pointed at him. "Raise the shield."
The light haired man complied and after a few moments, Sheppard asked, "Any IDC?"
"It's Gamma site, sir."
"What do they want? I didn't think we were having any shipments today."
John looked at Rodney shortly then told Drew to lower the shield. Rodney followed in his wake as he trailed down the stairs, eager to see what goodies might have come through.
When a none-too-happy General O'Neill stepped through the gate, John stopped in surprise and saluted. "General, sir. We weren't expecting you."
"Funny," he replied dryly, "neither was I."
Another figure stepped through the puddle - a tall African American woman with shoulder length black hair and almond shaped eyes. She looked vaguely familiar and seeing that she was wearing slacks and heels, John figured she must be from the IOA.
Jack gestured between them. "Colonel Sheppard, Dr. McKay - your Commander In Chief. Mrs. President, this is Colonel John Sheppard and Dr. Rodney McKay."
John's eyes bugged out a little on realizing he was standing in the presence of the new president but other than that he remained remarkably calm. Outwardly.
Rodney on the other hand - "President," he 'manly' shrieked, "as in, of the United States?"
Jack couldn't help but think the scientist looked a bit like a scared mouse, unsure whether it should flee.
"I take it then you didn't vote in this past year's election, Doctor?," Naomi Percy asked with more amusement than any sort of disapproval.
"What? Um, no." Rodney shook his head minutely, his self-assurance making up for his initial nervousness. "I'm ...I'm Canadian."
"My apologies. I understand this base is full of the best of the best from around the world."
John found his voice. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good. You'll have to forgive me, Colonel. I just found out about all this yesterday. The only reports I've read about Atlantis have you as a Major so I'm a little behind."
"That's alright, ma'am. Nothing too exciting to tell."
"Somehow I highly doubt that."
Jack looked at his watch. "Well, enough lolli-gagging. Sheppard, where's Woolsey?"
"Off world, sir. He's on a diplomatic mission with Major Lorne's team."
Jack smiled. "Good. Looks like you just got tour duty."
John tried not to show how much he really didn't want to have 'tour duty' on his face.
"Oh, well, I've got to, um, go do some calibrations on some ...things," Rodney spat out, earning a traitorous glare from Sheppard. McKay nodded, "Mrs. President."
She returned the gesture. "Doctor."
Turning to Sheppard, she smiled largely, her obvious excitement shining forth. "Where to first, Colonel?"
John watched as Rodney quickly scurried away. He would pay.
Thirty more uncomfortable minutes later and the threesome were on their way to the infirmary. For the tour. Not injuries. They'd been to the control center where Drew and Amelia had both looked like they might soil themselves when introduced to President Percy, the balcony where Naomi insisted they would have to come back before General O'Neill and herself took their leave, the cafeteria, the VIP quarters, the labs, and everywhere in between. And now were on their way to the infirmary.
"I was hoping to meet the rest of your team before I left today, Colonel. I understand that Ms. Emmagan is the leader of her people."
"She is," John confirmed. "In fact, she's visiting with them now on Athosia."
Sneaking an amused glance at the General, Naomi said, "Maybe next time."
The General did not look amused.
John continued. "And Ronon is actually in the Milky Way galaxy at the moment."
"Really?" Naomi was curious as to what a native of Pegasus could have reason to go to the Milky Way for.
Sheppard nodded. "He was invited to Chulak by Teal'c. Uh...a former member of SG-1."
"Yes, I'm familiar with the name. How is it they became acquainted?"
"Teal'c came out while Colonel Carter was in command of Atlantis. They became fast friends." He smirked at the General when O'Neill gave him a wry yet somewhat amused look that clearly said, 'That's not what I heard.'
"And this is the infirmary." John motioned his hand in a sweeping gesture over the room.
Naomi smiled slightly to herself and stepped away from her two escorts. "How are the calibrations coming, Doctor?"
Rodney froze in his talking to a pretty blonde and turned slowly.
"Mrs. President. Uhhh, calibrations? Oh, um, fine. I was finished ages ago. But I always have something important to do," he added in the arrogant way that only he could get away with.
"I can see that," Naomi replied with a knowing look.
"What?" Rodney remember Jennifer still behind him. "Oh. Um, Mrs. President this is my w... uh, the head CMO of Atlantis, Dr. Jennifer Ke...Ma...Keller. Jennifer, President Percy."
Jennifer extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. President."
Naomi returned the handshake and greeting. "And you. McKeller?," she asked questioningly.
Jennifer smiled. "No. Just Keller." Tilting her head at Rodney and looking at him out of the corner of her eye with affectionate amusement, she continued, "We were just married recently. On paperwork, I'm officially Jennifer McKay but Dr. McKay is already taken and could get confusing, so I still go by Dr. Keller."
"Ah. I understand now."
Jennifer led Naomi on a quick tour of the facilities as her time was running short and John sidled up beside Rodney. "McKeller? I'll have to remember that one."
Sheppard's com went off. "Sir, there's an unscheduled gate activation."
"Activate the shield. I'll be right there." Looking at General O'Neill, John started, "Sir..."
Jack tipped his head toward the door. "Go."
Giving a curt nod, John rushed out of the room. On the way there, Drew came through again. "Sir, it's Teyla's IDC."
Teyla wasn't due home for another two days. "Let her in, Drew."
"Yes, sir."
By the time Sheppard got to the gate room, he heard his name being shouted. "John! John! Where's John?!"
"Torren?"
"John! You have to find her! They took her. You have to go right now!"
Feeling his heart seize in his chest, John crouched down to Torren's level and held the boy still by his arms, "Torren, slow down. Find who?"
"Mother! They took her and she's gone!"
John sharpened his knife while his companion put out the fire.
"We need to check the hide-out today."
John grunted in response. Ronon was right. They were low on supplies. Rodney always managed to stockpile some food and extra rounds by the time they got around to checking it again. Hopefully, he'd have some intel this time around as well.
Gathering up their things, the two men headed out.
John blinked against the bright sun on the other side of the gate. It'd barely been morning on the other planet - and wet too. The dry heat that accosted him made John's damp clothes feel heavy and stick against his skin.
They headed east in silence. Ronon was never much of a talker but John found he didn't have much he felt like saying anymore either. When they reached the cave, they found the requisite MRE's, water, and some of the twinkies Ronon liked. John found the computer tablet buried underneath the food packs and placed his palm on the surface.
His access was granted and Rodney's face appeared on the computer tablet. He looked tired.
"Hey Sheppard. Um, where to start? The amount of people missing is increasing about the same rate and the selections are as random as ever. We might have a lead for you, though. There's rumor of a man that went missing and came back. He stayed on M55-392 and bragged all about it at the local bar but was gone the next day. We managed to find out the address to the next two planets he went to but after that we didn't have any strong leads and Woolsey made us drop it. The people wouldn't say but Lorne thinks that the man frequents that planet. Now who knows if this guy is legit or not but it's all we've got. I've entered the gate address for the planet on the tablet. You might have better luck than us." Rodney's face looked out the screen, that little bit of guilt that was always in his eyes because he wasn't with them. "Good luck."
"Hey." John looked over the vacant eyed McKay sitting on the infirmary bed. "What'd you do this time?"
Rodney started. "Hmm? Oh. Um, I had a panic attack."
"You always have panic attacks."
"No, this was a real one."
"Really? Why?"
"Uh, Jennifer's pregnant."
"Oh!" Okay, that was shocking. "Wow. And you had a panic attack?"
Rodney looked genuinely upset. "I can't be a father, John. I can't even take care of myself. I don't even know what to do with a baby."
"You got pretty good with Torren after a while and the kid follows you around all the time now."
"That's because I give him chocolate so he'll let me work in peace."
"Admit it; you were proud when he blew up Zelenka's still."
"Obviously. I've never seen Zelenka turn so red."
"Well, then I say, 'Congratulations.'" When Rodney tried to smile but only managed a wince, John said, "You'll do fine, Rodney."
"You said it was the scariest thing you'd ever heard of when Teyla said I'd make a great father one day."
"Rodney! That was five years ago! You've mellowed a little since then."
"I don't wanna screw the kid up, John."
"And you won't. Jennifer will make sure of that."
After a pause, John continued, "So, how is Jennifer - what with you having a panic attack and all?"
"She's fine. Well, she said she was fine and she seemed like she expected me to freak out a little. We weren't planning this, obviously. I think she's scared, too, ya know?"
"Yeah." John rocked on his heels. "Woolsey called off the search."
"What?!"
John nodded, looking at the floor. "I'm leaving."
"Leaving? What do you mean leaving?"
"I'm finding her, Rodney. If Woolsey won't let me do that here, then so be it. I'm not giving up on her."
"But ...but how? I mean we can still get intel from other planets and..."
"I'm not doing a piss ass search when we just happen to have a chance! It's not good enough. She's been gone for four months! Four months, Rodney."
"I'm going with you." Rodney looked more shocked at his words than John was at hearing them.
"No."
"You can't go alone."
"Yes, I can. You have a wife and now a baby. You can't go. Besides, I need you here."
"Really?"
"If Atlantis gets any intel, I want to know it. Do you remember that cave on M6R-311?"
"Uh, yes."
"We can use that for communications." John paused. "Look, you don't have to do this. You could get in serious trouble."
Rodney looked at him like he was an idiot. "What? No, of course I'm doing it."
"Okay."
"When are you leaving?"
"Tonight."
"What about Ronon?"
"Don't tell him."
"John..."
"Rodney! I'm doing this alone. Don't tell him."
Reluctantly, Rodney nodded.
John looked across at Ronon, who was simultaneously eating a twinkie and packing up the MRE's. The first time John had come to the cave two weeks after he left Atlantis, he'd found a pissed off Ronon sitting by the supplies. Ronon hadn't said anything, simply tossed him a weapon that was similar to the one John had always been envious of, only smaller.
"You hear all that?"
"Yep."
"So, we'll head there today. See what we can find out."
Ronon grunted and stuffed the last of the supplies in his pack.
John grimaced when they stepped on the planet. It was raining. Rodney had said that the village was about three klicks south of the gate so that was the direction they headed.
When they finally spotted it, they were both soaked to the bone, moody, and covered in mud up to their knees. Or in Ronon's case maybe mid calf. The tavern was pretty easy to spot.
John and Ronon walked in, the former running his hand through his hair to try and shake the water out. Spotting the bar keep, John made his way over feeling Ronon following behind him.
"We'll take two of whatever ya got."
The man, older and stout with a hairline that had long since receded, gave John a nod and set about pouring the beers. He didn't ask them where they were from, where they were headed. Just handed them the drinks and went back to wiping down the bar.
John was anxious to ask. It was the first lead they'd had in a while, however flimsy it was. But he drank from his beer instead. It was good - potent stuff. It burned going down but that felt good against the chill from the weather outside. And at least it made him feel something. He'd ask in a little while. Didn't want to scare the man off or make him suspicious.
"John! You have to find her! They took her. You have to go right now!"The fear and adrenaline giving way to terrified grief, Torren started to cry.
Feeling his heart seize in his chest, John crouched down to Torren's level and held the boy still by his arms, "Torren, slow down. Find who?"
"Mother! They took her and she's gone!"
"Teyla?! Who took her?"
"Spirits!"
John shook his head. "Spirits? What did they look like?"
"I," Torren's voice shook with sobs, "I don't know. We were ...we were playing hide and seek in the high grass. Mother was just about to find me when she was gone. She was right there - I could hear her but she was gone!"
"Okay. What do you mean you could hear her?"
"I heard her trying to shout and then heard fighting. But it stopped and I couldn't hear anything. And then I saw the grass moving but the wind was not blowing and I knew it was Mother."
"Where did they go, Torren?"
"To the gate."
"Did they go through the gate?"
Torren nodded, wiping his nose with his sleeve. Teyla hated when he did that. "I saw the puddle move."
John closed his eyes. "Torren, please tell me you saw the gate address?"
"I did."
The gate address had not lead them to Teyla. But Ronon had spotted drag marks to and from the DHD. They'd used this as a jumping planet. They wanted to make sure they weren't found whoever the hell they were.
And they hadn't been. McKay had been unable to get anything useful out of the DHD. So the search had begun - asking around on various planets. What they had discovered was much bigger than they had thought. Twenty of thirty-nine planets visited had had a person go 'missing'. One day the person just didn't come home. Searches carried out to no avail. Some surmised that one of the few remaining Wraith had come upon them.
For months, they were always one step behind. No one ever saw anything. Atlantis kept track of the figures, trying to pinpoint a pattern to assimilate where they would strike next but it was always random.
"I'll have another beer." Ronon pushed his mug toward the keep.
The older man took it without a word.
"You ever come across a man claiming to have been one of 'The Missing'?," John asked, his voice a little rough.
He didn't look up from pouring the beer. "Can't say that I have."
The man was lying. And that infuriated him. Ronon must have known John was seriously considering beating the information out of the man because he said, "We're not looking for trouble. Our friend's among 'The Missing'."
The keep looked up at that. "I'm sorry." He looked toward the back of the room. "But I can't help you."
John's nostrils flared. "Listen..."
"Sheppard."
John glared in Ronon's direction. The Satedan shook his head but the look in his eye said he knew something. John leaned into a forced relaxed position on his stool. Ronon drank the rest of his beer slowly and way too casually. They must be being watched. Fuck. He was not in the mood for this.
Finally, Ronon stood and directed, "Let's go."
John gave him a look that demanded answers as soon as they were able and followed the big man out the door. Once they were a reasonable distance away, John asked, "Okay, what the hell's going on?"
"Wait for it."
John stopped. "Wait for it! What's that supposed to mean?"
"Calm down."
"Ronon..."
"There she is."
John turned. "She?"
A hooded figure walked out of the bar, trying to keep cover from the rain.
"C'mon."
"Who's she?"
"I don't know. But she knows something."
John gave up trying to understand what he'd missed. That answer was good enough for him. They followed her past four more shops or homes before she turned. She was waiting for them when they made the corner.
"You are looking for the man that escaped from 'The Missing', yes?"
The woman, who must have been in her late twenties, had fairly jumped toward them as soon as she'd seen them. Slightly taken aback, John answered shortly, "Yes."
"He comes here. For business. It will be time for him to return soon."
"How soon?"
"A few days. A week at most."
"Why did the keep not want to tell us about him?"
"The man does his business mainly within the tavern. He is not one you want against you so telling you of the mans whereabouts would mean bad things for him."
"Then why did he point you out to me?," Ronon asked.
She pursed her lips. "My sister went missing three days ago."
The woman looked over her shoulder as if expecting someone to come up behind her.
"The men in the bar work with him," Ronon stated.
She looked up at him. "Yes." Taking one more look around, she said, "I live just outside the village. You may stay with me. I will let you know as soon as he arrives."
It was a ten minute walk to her home. They walked inside and she set to work lighting candles and starting a fire immediately. John shrugged off his pack.
"What's your name?"
She looked up from her work starting the fire. "Bryn."
"John and Ronon," Sheppard introduced, pointing at first himself and then Ronon. Somewhere along the way, he'd lost all desire to be any more than the bare minimum in social politeness. Maybe it was because he was so damn tired.
Once the fire was started, Bryn removed her cape, revealing a mainly dry dress underneath. Her long hair was as fiery red as the flames she had just lit. "I will fetch you some clothes."
"These are fine," Ronon said of their current apparel.
Bryn put her hands on her hips. "I will not allow two soaked men to stay under my roof and catch a death of fever. You will change."
Guess she wasn't the least bit afraid of them. She came back into the room a few minutes later with pants and a loose shirt for John and what looked like long thermal underwear and an even looser shirt for Ronon. Ronon took one look at the thermals and said, "I'm not wearing this."
"It's either that or my dressing gown. I'm afraid my brothers aren't nearly as tall as you, sir."
"I told you, I'm fine."
Bryn stuck her nose up and turned. "I was planning on making you both some Ershwile stew, but I suppose John here will have to eat your share."
John felt the first urge to smile that he'd had in ages. Ronon simply crossed his arms petulantly, refusing to wear the clothes without saying a word. John, on the other hand, was more than happy to get out of his soaked uniform. It stank something awful anyway.
When John returned from the back changing, Ronon was asking Bryn about her brothers.
"They are traders," she told them. "Away most of the time."
Bryn's cooking was done soon enough and it smelled heavenly. Neither Ronon or John had had a home cooked meal in months - if you could even call what the cafeteria in Atlantis served home cooked anyway. Bryn pointedly only served John a bowl. Doing his best to ignore the glower that Ronon was sending the both of them, John dug into the bowl. It was really good.
Ronon rose from the floor with all the indignation of a teenager being forced to clean their room and grabbed the clothes to go change. When he returned, it took every ounce of willpower John had not to fall out of his chair laughing. The shirt went down to Ronon's thighs and was surprisingly baggy but the thermals were tight and too short, giving Ronon the appearance of a Shakespearean-age peasant. John half expected Ronon to start spouting sonnets.
"Not a word," Ronon growled as he sat at the table, giving Bryn a look that showed he expected double helpings for his cooperation. Then looking back at Sheppard, he added, "Ever."
John smirked into his bowl.
He walked into Teyla's quarters to find her forcefully setting down a pot of something.
"Uhh...Teyla?"
She turned to face him and tried to smile, polite as always. "John."
"Everything ...okay?"
"Everything is fine."
Fine. If there was one thing John had ever learned from his ex-wife, it was that when a woman said 'fine' in that tone, things were anything but fine. What he'd never quite figured out was how to get her to admit that without wanting to kill him.
"Okay. So, um, whatcha doing?"
"Making soup."
Her voice sounded entirely too angry about that.
"Um..not going so well?"
"It is fine."
There was that 'fine' again. Maybe he could just slowly back out of the room...
"Was there something you needed, John?"
Damn. "I was just coming to see if Torren wanted to go with me for a jumper ride."
"I'm sorry. He is with Kanaan on the mainland."
Teyla jerked open a cabinet and grabbed a large metal spoon, stirring the contents of the pot. Maybe Kanaan and Teyla had had a fight. That didn't sound very plausible as they almost always got along. Even when they had split up, it wasn't a huge production. Not that John would ever think Teyla would make a huge production of anything. Not her style.
"That's okay. A boy needs to spend some time with his father."
Teyla slammed something else down on the counter. John had evidently said the wrong thing.
"Yes, very true," she replied shortly.
"Teyla, are you sure everything's okay?"
She turned to him suddenly, looking greatly upset. "I cannot make tuttle root soup."
That was not what he was expecting. He hadn't really known what he was expecting but that was definitely not it.
"Umm..." He really had nothing for that. Finally he settled with, "And this is bad?"
Teyla sighed silently and turned back to what was not tuttle root soup.
"Torren loves tuttle root soup."
Starting to see that maybe this was a mother thing. "So, he can eat it when he goes to Athosia. You don't have to be great at everything, Teyla. Not that you aren't. Great - at everything I've ever seen you do."
"Yes, he does eat it on Athosia. He loves it when she makes him tuttle root soup."
She? "She?"
Teyla slowed her brisk stirring. "Kanaan is taking part in a joining ceremony."
Oh. This just got uncomfortable. "That's marriage, right?"
"Yes."
Majorly uncomfortable. She was upset. That was obvious. John had to say something ...comforting.
"I'm sorry."
Teyla looked slightly confused.
"I mean, I know you must be ...upset about ...ya know, with Kanaan."
Realization dawned in her eyes. "I am not upset Kanaan is being joined with someone else, John."
Well, then, he had nothing. "You're not?"
She shook her head with a calm smile. "No. It has been well over two years since Kanaan and I were together. I was the one who ended things between us. I am happy he has found someone."
"So then, what's wrong?"
That slightly upset expression returned. "I really cannot make tuttle root soup."
Then it dawned on him. "But she can?"
Teyla looked embarrassed. "I know it is absurd. I just ...I don't want Torren to think she's better than me."
"Impossible," John said before he'd fully checked his tongue.
Teyla smiled a small grateful smile at the sincerity in his voice. But she didn't looked convinced.
"Torren loves you," he said simply. "You're his mother. You could be the worst cook in the galaxy and he would still love you."
John broke eye contact with her when the look she was giving him started to make him too conscious of himself. His eyes landed on the bowl. "Is it done?"
Teyla followed his eyes. "Oh no. I don't want you to try it, John."
"C'mon. How bad can it be?"
So he tried it. "Yep," John said. "He'll love you anyway."
A large smile broke out on her face and Teyla shoved him playfully for his teasing.
That had been the last time he'd seen her.
God help him if it didn't hurt to think about her. And John was long past realizing exactly what that meant. It'd been ten months. She'd missed Torren's sixth birthday. Been forced to miss it. And they weren't any closer. They didn't even know who had taken her. But when they found her, he was going to kill them all.
"I want to go with you."
"I'm sorry, kid. You can't."
"I'm six now." Torren turned his head to Ronon. "You were five when you learned to track. Just like me. I can help you."
"Torren..."
"I miss her."
John crouched down in front of the boy. "I do, too." He almost couldn't admit it out loud.
"I want to go."
"I know."
"You're not going to let me, are you?"
John shook his head. "No."
Torren's lip trembled against his will.
Putting his hands on the boy's shoulders, John said, "Torren, I promise you I will bring her home. I'll do it or I'll die trying."
Lunging at John, Torren wrapped his arms around him in a fierce hug. John returned it. Torren was the only one he could ever show affection without feeling awkward about it.
"I don't want you to die, John," he said over John's shoulder.
"Not planning on it, kid."
Sheppard pat the boy's back and Torren loosened his grip.
"What's your name?"
Torren smiled the smile that was just like his mother's. "Torren John."
John tapped the boy's nose. "Don't you forget it."
John rubbed at his chin. "I'm gonna shave," he announced, standing from the table.
"I hope you bathe," Bryn replied, taking his bowl from the table. "What was the last time either of you boys took a bath?"
Ronon and John looked at each other. John finally said, "You probably don't wanna know."
Bryn threw up her hands. "That is enough of an answer." She pointed to the back of the house. "There is a bath in the second door to the right. I fully expect you both to use it." Turning to the still eating Ronon, Bryn said, "Sorry Ronon but you'll have to do with John's seconds tonight. I only have enough water stored for one bath."
Ronon grunted. Whether it was a 'that's fine' grunt or one of resigned acceptance, John wasn't sure.
It took three days, but Bryn finally came home about mid-afternoon on the third day and said that the man had come. Which was good because John hadn't stayed in one place for three days in almost a year and he was about to go insane with lack of purpose.
Strapping on his gear, John asked, "What's he look like?"
Bryn patted the front of her dress with a look of reflection on her face. "Oh, not as tall as you - a little darker than Ronon. His frame is small but do not let him deceive you. He's unnaturally quick - both in speed and temper."
"Right. No pissing him off. Got it."
"John - my sister..."
"Do you have a picture of her?"
Bryn shook her head. "No, but people say we look just alike. We have the same hair but her eyes are brown. And she's five years my junior."
"What's her name?
"Cora."
Ronon took in Bryn's upset features and tried to reassure her. "If this guy turns out to be legit, we'll find whoever's taken our people. If we find her, we'll bring her back."
Bryn nodded, suddenly overcome with emotion. "Okay," she said quietly. Then determinedly shaking the mood off, she looked over both of them. "Good luck, boys. And be careful."
"Yes, ma'am."
Bryn shot him a chiding look. "Ma'am, why I never! Do I look like your mother?"
"Not a bit," John replied easily. Seriously, John continued, "Thank you, Bryn."
"You're both welcome. I just hope we all get some good news out of this. And that you get her back."
John had been opening the door but he paused. "We never said she was a her."
Bryn just smiled. "I may have never had one directed at me, John, but a woman knows that look when she sees it."
John frowned and chose not to acknowledge that comment in any way, walking out the door.
They made it to town quicker than before. Not raining helped. John and Ronon entered the tavern. The bar keep didn't look surprised but he did look wary. Bryn had said that the man and his associates liked to do their business in the upper room and as John didn't see anyone of his description in the room, he took a seat at a table near the back with Ronon. They sat in silence for a while before John asked, "I don't have a look, do I?"
Ronon looked up from sharpening the blade of his knife. Without a word, he looked back down.
John frowned again.
"I don't believe it!" Laughter echoed from across the room. "John Sheppard! What brings you to this neck of the galaxy?"
He didn't believe it either. Aiden Ford stood at the bottom of the stairwell, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. If the kid had asked for an axe from Santa Clause, that is. Ford's eyes had more of a wild edge to them than even the last time John had seen him.
"Ford?"
"It's been a long time, Sheppard." He crossed the room and looked around their table. "Where's McKay? Teyla?"
"That's why we're here," Ronon replied gruffly.
"Why? I haven't seen 'em."
John sat up in his chair. "We heard that you were one of 'The Missing'."
"Yeah, I got free though." Aiden was grinning. "What does that have to do with the others? Did they get taken?"
"Teyla did."
"Man, I'm sorry to hear that."
"Tell us what happened when you got caught."
Aiden looked over at the others he'd come down the stairs with. He nodded at them and pulled a chair from the next table, sitting in it backwards with his arms resting on the back of the chair. "I dunno, Shep. My life's been kind of hell lately thanks to you."
"I'm sorry?"
"Blowing up all those Wraith ships or whatever you did may have overall been a great thing but it sure makes it hard for me to track any down."
"You could always come off the drug," Ronon replied bluntly.
Ford frown at him.
"Listen, Ford - what is it you want?"
"I want Wraith intel."
"If we had that, they'd be dead by now."
"No, you're little Wraith buddy. He's still out there."
"Todd? We aren't exactly on speaking terms right now." Blowing up his ship hadn't really helped, but even though they'd worked together in the past - at the end of the day, they were still enemies. "Besides, even if I knew where Todd was, I wouldn't tell you."
"And why's that?" Aiden looked offended.
"Because Todd would kill you and then I'd feel guilty. I hate feeling guilty. It doesn't work for me."
"I can take care of myself, Sheppard. In case you haven't noticed I've done just fine for myself without you."
"Yeah. Fine. It looks that way."
"Enough!" Ronon glared at the both of them. "Teyla's captured and we need to find her. You either help us or you don't but we don't have anything to give you."
Aiden looked down at the floor, clenching and unclenching his fists. Finally, he asked lowly, "How long has she been gone?"
John didn't answer right away. After a pregnant pause, he said, "Ten months." And nineteen days.
Ronon leaned forward. "Who are they?"
"I don't know," Ford answer honestly. "I didn't stick around to find out. They stick something in your head when they catch you. Makes it to where people can't see you. It's got some kind of sedative in it. Knocked me out. I came to before they expected me to. I was in some kind of factory or so it looked like. I got out. Took me two days to find the damn gate it was so far away."
"You do know the address, right?"
"Nope. I was still unconscious when I was brought there."
"Fat lot a good that does us then."
"I never said I didn't know the planet. I just don't know the address."
John gave him a look that said, 'explain'.
"You remember the first planet we went to with the space gate. At the very beginning."
"You mean the one where I got attacked by the bug? Yeah, kinda hard to forget."
"That's the one."
"That planet didn't have a gate."
"It does now."
"Are you sure?"
"The crater's still there, Sheppard. It hasn't changed much in the last ten years."
"Fine. Okay. I want details of this base. Everything you saw."
"How do you plan on getting there?"
"McKay'll figure it out."
"I heard you cut ties with Atlantis."
"Not all of them."
