Title: Salvation

Author: atlantis child (Command Dynamics), innocent choir girl John and Elizabeth are separated from the team during a diplomatic mission off-world when they are ambushed by Genii. Hope is far and survival is the only thing on John's mind. They must struggle against Kolya in order to keep information from him and to break out of the Genii prison. Spoilers for seasons one through three.

Genres: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort

Warnings: Abuse, Character Death, Drugs, Torture, Violence

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 1 "Never An Easy Mission"

Author's Notes: This story idea popped into my head, and as much as I fought it off to write later…when one of my other three stories was complete…or when I was already settled into the upcoming semester, it's still poking at me. So, here it is. I tried to research things in this as best as I could, I even had help! So, hopefully it'll all make sense throughout, so I can at least hope. Please read and review! Constructive criticism is always welcome.

"I still don't like you coming along like this," John said voicing his opinion as they left the Stargate and headed in towards the settlement in which one of the Atlantis teams had started to trade with. But John would much rather have gone there with his team and some Marines to scout the place out himself before he allowed Elizabeth along, but she had other plans.

Smirking, Elizabeth looked over at him, "You always say that."

"And bad things always happen," John pointed out.

Rodney decided to put his two cents in, "I have to agree with Sheppard on that. Plus, nothing ever goes as easy as we think. There's usually something incredibly horrible on each and every mission. Wraith…arrows aimed at sensitive body parts…angry village people…"

"Come on, you act like I'm a jinx or something," Elizabeth teased. "Name one time when I went off-world and bad things happened."

A smirk spread across Ronan's face as he thought of something to add to the banter of the group. He didn't speak often, but when he did, he meant it. "That planet blew up that one time."

"Niam attacked you and you almost died," John added adding emphasis on 'died'. He shook his head, "I'm not saying you're a jinx, Elizabeth…it's just that I'd feel better if you were on Atlantis…or if we had checked the place out first."

"Don't you trust Major Keane's team?" she asked curiously.

Teyla smiled, "I believe Colonel Sheppard would just like to see things for himself first. Is that not what you meant, Colonel?"

"Exactly!" John agreed. "You know…different people pick up different things. What Keane's team might not have seen, we might see."

As the settlement came into view, Elizabeth noted the serene look of the place. The main marketplace was in the center of the place with the homes surrounding it. Everything in neat lines. The buildings were on story built out of what Elizabeth could only figure was wood and some form of cement compound. They were still primitive as in comparison to Earth, but the goods they had to trade were in good quality. Not only a surplus of food that could be traded, but personal luxuries as well such as cloth and handmade decorations. Elizabeth was hoping that if they turned out to be as friendly of allies as she hoped that they would agree to take them in in case of emergency or even set up so that her people could vacation there.

Ronan brought up his gun when a child came bounding their way and then stopped to point at them and yell back at the village.

Teyla's hand quickly went up and pushed the gun down, "Ronan! That is a child!"

"Still could be dangerous."

The team just looked at Ronan. "Let's try not to point weapons," Elizabeth suggested. "Especially the children. They tend to bounce around and be loud, but are harmless."

The meeting with the council of elders was going along smoothly. Elizabeth was becoming more and more confident that the settlement, Tipene, would become a great resource for Atlantis. The elders seemed all in agreement and happy with the idea of opening trade with them. Elizabeth was feeling the need to poke back at John that she was not a jinx, that the diplomatic mission they were on had gone wonderfully so far when there were screams. Looking around, she tried to figure out in which direction they were coming from and the reason behind them, but before she could figure out anything, she was being dragged from the open area towards one of the buildings. She wasn't the only one though; the council had retreated in a structure on their side of the table. They were safe, Elizabeth thought as she felt the hardness of a wall against her back as she was pushed back against it.

"Genii," Teyla spoke softly after looking around the corner.

"Great," John muttered. He looked over at Elizabeth, wondering if this had been a trap or if this was just a stop for the Genii to try to conquest. Either way, Genii that shot first were the enemy and seemed to be hell bent on killing him or Elizabeth, and he wasn't about to let either happen. "Rodney and Elizabeth, you two start running for the Stargate. We'll cover you. When you get to the gate, don't stop. Dial out; we'll be right behind you."

Rodney nodded quickly.

"John," Elizabeth started to argue.

"Do you have a gun?" John asked a bit harshly, and he already knew the answer, but he was trying to make a point. She was a diplomat, not a solider. He really only let Rodney go on the missions because he was getting better at defending himself, at least he carried a gun, plus he came in handy with Ancient devices and other devices every once in awhile.

"No, but—"

"You'll go with Rodney. We'll cover you." When she went to open her mouth again, he cut her off. "Elizabeth, I'm not arguing with you. The Genii aren't getting you or Rodney."

"And what about you? They almost killed you last time, John."

John smiled and then motioned to Teyla and Ronan, "I have back-up this time. Don't worry; we'll be right behind you." When she nodded, he waited for Teyla to nod, before telling them to go. He watched them run for a minute before nodding to Teyla and Ronan and opening fire on the invading Genii. There were Genii shooting into the buildings and trying to knock down doors, but when they were finally seen, the Genii switched their focus.

Elizabeth stopped and looked back briefly when the first wave of bullets went off. She wondered if they were okay. What was going on… But before she could think anymore, she was being pulled along again.

"Elizabeth, they're fine. I mean, it's Sheppard and Ronan and Teyla… They can handle themselves. Ronan could take like the whole Genii army…by himself. They can handle a handful," Rodney told her as they headed again towards the Stargate.

As they hurried into the trees suddenly a tree branch came down and knocked Rodney over the head sending him down face first and unconscious. Elizabeth started to look him over and tried to look around when she heard a branch crack behind her. She froze and wondered if she should look or just stay still. But before she could figure out what to do there was a voice.

"Doctor Elizabeth Weir…it's been too long," Kolya said before swinging the large tree branch once again, knocking her to the ground and unconscious as well. He pulled McKay out farther to the edge of the trees, leaving him face down and so that he could not be missed when Sheppard and his team retraced their steps towards the gate. Going back to Weir, he propped her up so she was leaning against a tree and then grinned at his handiwork as blood trickled down her forehead.

As Teyla hurried towards the tree line where they had cut through when they had come from the Stargate she stopped for a minute at what she saw close by. Looking back, she called out to Sheppard, "Doctor McKay is injured!" she shouted before running to Rodney's side. She checked on him, and when she realized he was only unconscious, she let out a breath of relief.

"Where's Elizabeth?" John demanded looking around.

"Doctor McKay has a head injury, Colonel. He is bleeding out quite heavily. We should get him back to Atlantis," Teyla told John.

Nodding, John ordered, "You and Ronan get Rodney to Atlantis. I'm going to find Elizabeth and I'll be right behind you."

"I should stay with you," Ronan argued.

"The Genii aren't following us; it'll be easier with less people. Plus, Teyla's gonna need your help hauling Rodney to Atlantis. I'll be fine," John assured.

Finally, Ronan nodded and picked up McKay slinging him over his shoulder before starting out with Teyla towards the gate.

John pulled his gun up tightly ready for anything that would jump out from behind a tree. Elizabeth had to be close by, he knew it. And if Rodney was any kind of example to go off of, Elizabeth was injured. He half wanted to shout her name, but he didn't want to give away his position in case there was someone waiting. As he walked deeper into the trees, he was starting to loose hope in finding her. Why would she be so much farther in? But then he saw her and he froze.

The blood that was trickling down right above her eye told him that she was injured and likely hit over the head as McKay had been. But she was propped up, which meant that someone had done it. "Elizabeth," he called out knowing that whoever had propped her up was close-by and no doubtingly could see him. When she didn't respond, he moved a bit closer still cautious of the surroundings.

"Sheppard, we meet again."

John spun around to try to locate where the voice was coming from. But when he heard the charge of a weapon from Elizabeth's direction, he turned back to her to see Kolya had her on her feet with a gun to her head. He aimed for Kolya, "Let her go!"

"You said you'd kill me next time you saw me…but will you risk her life?" he asked with a smirk.

"I'm not aiming for her, and you know how good my aim is," John reminded him remembering the last time Kolya had Elizabeth hostage.

Elizabeth started to stir, mumbling softly as she found the fact that she was on her feet confusing and then the fact that John had a gun aimed at her.

Changing his original plan, Kolya pulled his knife from his side and stabbed Elizabeth with it, just her shoulder, but he only wanted to make a point. "I can kill her first, Sheppard." Moving the knife to Elizabeth's heart, he pressed it hard against the fabric of her jacket. "I can feel her heart beat…and I can stop it."

Holding her breath, Elizabeth closed her eyes remembering the last time Kolya had her hostage like this. "Just shoot him, John!" she yelled out. But when Kolya pressed harder and she could could feel the knife on her skin, she let out a loud gasp.

"Put down your weapon, Sheppard and turn around," Kolya ordered.

John nodded and slowly unlatched his weapon from his chest and slowly let it drop to the ground. He wasn't about to let Kolya kill Elizabeth. He knew Kolya would do it, too. It wasn't just an idle threat. Elizabeth was already injured enough; he didn't need to risk her further injury.

"And the rest…" Kolya prompted.

Going through slowly, he dropped the rest of his weapons down in front of him in a pile.

"Now, we're going to walk to the Stargate…and you're going to lead. Don't do anything stupid, Sheppard. I doubt you can save Doctor Weir with my knife stuck in her heart…"

Elizabeth opened her eyes and felt her heart stop for a second when John turned around with his arms raised and then started to walk. Kolya was going to kill them both. She just hoped that the others were waiting, and would stop him before they made it to the gate, but as they walked closer to the gate, more Genii joined them forming a guard.

TBC…