Author: Obsessed1
Character(s): John Sheppard and team.
Genre(s): Stargate Atlantis: H/C -Angst
Rating: T
Warnings: Nothing too explicit.
Summary: Being Unique isn't always a good thing. Un-beta'd so all mistakes are mine.

"I don't like this world," McKay groused, swirling the remnants of his drink, "And I don't see why we have to spend the night here. They don't have anything to offer us!"

Ronon, leaning up against the bar, shot him an irritated look, "Sheppard seems to like this place."

He nodded in the Colonel's direction and McKay twisted on his stool to have a look. Oh yes! The Colonel! Of course he was enjoying MX454. Ever since he'd activated that ancient device that was just lying around on the bar, he'd gained the adulation of the town's folk. They'd never seen anything like it before and now they were sitting around him, offering him drinks and listening to his stories. Fêted like a God. And for what? Oh yes, because he had the gene.

"I have the gene too you know," McKay provided.

"Shame you couldn't make that device work then."

McKay shot him an aggrieved look.

"Well you didn't."

God he'd tried, but the damn thing wouldn't glow for him. And what was it doing just lying there anyway? Of course Sheppard had to find it and then just had to activate it. He'd looked just as shocked when it had lit up between his fingers; the town's people had gaped and made little "ooooh" and "ahhhhh" noises. McKay had instantly snatched it from his hand, the device dulled and he was left wondering why on earth there was a piece of ancient technology on a planet consisting of farmers and wooden huts.

McKay continued to watch Sheppard. He didn't seem happy to be the focus of attention. He looked uncomfortable penned into the corner, back against the wall, surrounded at every side and his smile didn't reach his eyes.

One woman was all over him; stroking the side of his face, her hand lodged somewhere between the chair and his back. Sheppard reached up to her hand and without force removed it from his personal space and shuffled away. Unfortunately, he shuffled into the adoring arms of another woman and this time, from the look on his face, her hands were definitely not on his back.

Sheppard met his eyes and McKay deliberately ignored his pleading looks to go save him. It was his own fault after all.

"Maybe we should go and rescue the Colonel?" Teyla suggested, "He looks…..……anxious."

"No, no," McKay said a little too loudly, "He shouldn't have activated the device if he didn't want attention. No. Not going to help him."

Sheppard was attempting to stand up from the table but one man pulled him back down by his wrist.

"He's going to hit somebody," Ronon noted with a feral grin.

"McKay, jealousy is ungracious."

"Teyla…….Jealous? Me? Ha!" McKay tightened the grip on his glass, "I just think we're wasting our time here on medieval world. I have important things to do."

"Of course you do," Teyla placated.

"I have ancient devices to fix! It's all good and well to be able to turn them on but who comes running to whom when they break?" he hooked a finger at his chest, "Oh look…..could it be me?"

"I think you're jealous," Ronon smirked.

"Why would I want all of those strangers invading my personal space? That girl's practically sat on his lap!"

"Jealous."

"Ronon, I am not!"

"Yes you are," In the interim Sheppard seemed to have extracted himself from his group of admirers.

He leaned against the bar and gave a paranoid look over his shoulder; some of the townsfolk waved. He smiled crookedly and then sagged onto the stool next to McKay. He looked exhausted.

"My face hurts from smiling," he noted rubbing his jaw.

"You didn't seem to be complaining," Ronon smirked.

Sheppard glanced at the Satedan and shook his head, "I think I'm going to find our accommodation for the night."

"Not enjoying your new friends company huh?" McKay asked.

Sheppard gave him a pointed look.

"And now that you're bored with them you've come back over to us."

"I was never interested," Sheppard stated, "They cornered me. And I'm not coming back to you. I'm going back to our room." He smiled and then amended it when Teyla gave him the 'look'.

"And you couldn't have excused yourself?"

"Rodney-"

Sheppard was interrupted by one of the town's people coming over and clapping him on the back. A drink was thrust into his hand and he held it stiffly, forcing a smile onto his face.

"Colonel, won't you stay a little longer?"

Sheppard placed the drink on the bar.

"Sorry. Got an early start and……."

"One more drink? We've never seen an Ancient before."

McKay snorted loudly. Ancient? He was a bastardized cousin if anything.

"I really couldn't," Sheppard looked to his team-mates, "Pretty tired."

"Oh I'm sure you could stay for one more-" McKay intervened.

Ronon elbowed him in the side and he promptly clamped his mouth shut.

"Like I said," Sheppard made a show of 'fake' yawning, "I'm really tired."

The man's face grew dark. He obviously wasn't happy with Sheppard's reply and McKay felt unsettled by his change in demeanour. The open posture, the kind eyes, they vanished in a heartbeat and were replaced by something dark and disturbing. He couldn't put his finger on it.

"Very well." The man grabbed Sheppard's arm and squeezed it tightly, "If you wish to leave," he glowered.

Sheppard didn't say anything more and the man staggered back over to his friends. Disapproving looks were thrown his way and McKay smiled.

"You've offended you're new friends."

Sheppard waved a hand at him dismissively, "I don't know why they're so damn interested anyway."

"Neither do I," Mckay muttered. Okay, so maybe he was a little jealous.

"I'm going to hit the hay-" and then to Teyla and Ronon's confused expressions, "-bed."

Teyla told him, "We will stay for a while longer."

Sheppard moved towards the door and he shook his head, "Don't be too late."

And then he was gone and McKay was smiling his little smile of victory, "I think I'm going to go talk to the towns people," and he hopped off the stool and headed over to Sheppard's former seat.

--

Sheppard was arching his back and relishing his new found freedom when he felt something sting him in the neck. He rubbed at the area with a grimace and continued across the square.

Being cornered all night had taken it out of him. He was suddenly very tired and wanted nothing more than to lie down for a while. And he'd lock the door. Perhaps barricade it with a chair.

"John?"

He stopped, tensed and turned, relieved to see Teyla rushing over to him and not one of his stalkers.

"What's up?"

"I just wanted to check that you were okay."

He smiled tightly and his jaw ached, "I'm fine."

"The town's people have obviously taken a shine to you."

"Yeah," he rubbed at his neck again, "Seems that way."

"I believe this could be advantageous. Perhaps tomorrow we could try the trade negotiations again. While we are on their good side."

He couldn't think of anything worse. Trade negotiations had never been his thing. He either offered too much or too little and they always ended up offending someone even if it hadn't been their intention. If he could help it, he'd send another team along in the morning to pick up where they'd left off. Of course, he didn't tell Teyla that.

"Sure. I'm going to head back. Watch your backs."

"Very well." She turned and walked back to the bar.

He waited until she was safely inside before moving off himself.

He'd only taken a few steps when he suddenly felt weird and off-keel. The cool air against his face was a welcome relief after the stifling atmosphere of the bar, but it did nothing to make him feel grounded to reality. He considered going back to the bar, but where they were staying wasn't too far away and the last thing he needed or wanted, was to be the centre of attention again. He'd had enough of that for a lifetime.

So he moved on, feeling felt hot and flushed; every step making the world lurch and turn. He'd only had one drink of water; any other beverage that had been pushed his way he had made a show of taking a sip and then covertly tipped it onto the floor by his feet.

There was no sense in getting drunk. These people had shown themselves to be hospitable and polite but it didn't mean he could let his guard down. He hoped his team-mates showed the same judgement. The last thing he needed in the morning was to have them, Ronon especially, nursing hangovers on the long walk back to the gate. Make that Rodney too. Rodney bitched the loudest when he wasn't feeling a hundred percent.

He staggered a little and managed to catch himself before he fell.

"Are you okay?"

A man grabbed him by his arm and hauled him into an upright position.

Sheppard didn't like the way the guy had trapped his arm between his, or just how close he was. His thigh holster was digging into the guy's leg. It was too conspicuous. Who knew what someone could perceive as a threat?

"M'fine," he stated backing away and raising his hands.

"You sure?"

"Just-" Sheppard moistened his lips, "I'm fine. Thanks for the help."

"You're that ancient guy aren't you?"

Sheppard sighed, "No."

"Yeah…I saw you in the bar…." And now the man was walking alongside him, a little too close, "Saw you light that device up."

"Look," Sheppard held his hands out and blinked when everything blurred a little, "Thank you for helping me up but……..goodnight."

He turned and kept walking. All the while feeling as though he was being watched in the darkness.

He managed to get back to their room, clipping his shoulder on the door frame as he entered. He didn't bother removing his gear or kicking off his boots; instead he went over to his bed and flopped backwards, placing his arm over his eyes to stop the room from spinning.

This whole planet was beginning to creep him out. He hadn't noticed it at first; but gut instinct was telling him that something was off. The people were too polite and too interested. Ordinarily, that wouldn't be a bad thing but it still didn't sit right with him.

He heard the door open and a latch fall into place.

"You're early," he said miserably into his arm, "Thought you were staying for another drink."

Somebody touched his arm.

"Just leave me a minute," he said waving a hand and letting it flop back onto the bed.

And then they were stripping him of his weapon.

"Hey!"

His team knew better than to do that, which was why he was starting to get the disturbing feeling that it wasn't them. In fact, they'd be talking more. McKay would be moaning and Teyla would be checking if he was okay. And Ronon, well Ronon would be doing that annoying thing where he poked him in the face until he jolted upright, confused and wide awake. It had been funny the first time. The fifth, not so much.

"What are yo-" the words wouldn't seem to form on his lips.

The hands that moved over him weren't careful or caring. They were hard and clumsy.

The room suddenly felt colder. Sheppard felt sick when they jostled him into a sitting position and had to do all he could not to throw up.

He opened his eyes.

"You……"

The man in front of him wasn't one of his friends. It was the man from earlier. The man who had obviously watched and followed him in the darkness. To what end? To rob him?

Instinct kicked in; he tried to get to his feet. His knees buckled beneath him and before he could react he was crushed into the ground and any rational thought rushed out. He tried to squirm, tried to reach for the knife in his belt but his fingers felt fat and numb.

"Who are-"

The words were cut off; his mouth was dry, he couldn't feel his lips.

The man crouched down and lifted his chin, "You don't know just how lucky a find you are, Colonel."

He couldn't feel anything. Nothing. Not when his head struck the ground with more force than necessary. Not when he was turned onto his back and patted down. Not even when they grabbed his wrists and dragged him bodily from the room.