Title: The Enemy Within

Series: Stargate Atlantis

Theme: Alternate Universe

Characters: John & Teyla; select cast of SGA

Rating/Warning: R/Sexual Situations/Language

Summary: All children had an imaginary friend at one time or another. Why should she have been any different?

Links: http://devinem27 dot livejournal dot com

Chapter 2: The Enemy Within

Teyla awoke a few moments later to the smell of charred flesh and blood. She glanced down at the gaping wound in her side. There was no way to stop the bleeding and she was too weak to reach help. She looked around at the familiar walls of the caves and let out a soft sigh. She'd always known that her life as a Colonial would eventually end in death, but not like this. This was wrong; unfinished. She refused to believe that this was how her life was supposed to end, but there was no way to………well,…maybe there was……

Athos Nine, Space

He was real. It was the one thought that resounded throughout Teyla's mind. After years of wondering if she could ever be happy. If she could ever find a man who could live up to the dream, the dream had suddenly appeared. And it was made of flesh and blood.

Teyla leaned back in the pilot's seat and closed her eyes. She'd held her secret close to her heart for a long time. Not questioning it, but merely accepting it for what it was. Or at least what she'd believed it to be. What harm could it cause? None that she could think of except for the fact that she'd lied to her self for nearly twenty years.

An imaginary friend, that's what she'd called him. All children had them at one time or another. Why should she have been any different? But Teyla's friend hadn't come to her during the day. He'd visited at night, in her dreams. And he hadn't come at will, only when she desperately needed him or he her. Over time they both grew, changed and so did their relationship. Her imaginary friend had become much more than just a friend; he'd become her soul mate and her lover.

Teyla had tried having normal relationships, but they'd never last. After a few failed romances, she'd come to realize that she preferred being alone with her dreams rather then wasting her energy on men that she could never really love. Instead, Teyla buried herself in her work, hoping to stifle the loneliness she felt inside and waited for the next time that she dreamed of him.

Teyla was still deep in thought when her teammates Aiden Ford and Logan Bates entered the bridge of the ship. Ford said her name a few times to get her attention, but when that failed he finally kicked the back of her chair. Teyla glanced up in surprise.

"When did you two come in?"

Aiden frowned and glanced at Logan, before turning back to Teyla.

"Are you okay?"

Not liking the looks that they were giving her, she turned back to the control console.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Logan sat in the co-pilot chair, situated a few feet across from where Teyla was seated. Aiden sat on the edge of the console and folded his arms.

"Are you sure? You've been a little distracted every since we left Sula Prime."

Teyla didn't glance up from the console.

"I assure you, I am well."

Aiden stared at the top of her head. They'd been friends since they were eight and he could when she was lying.

"I don't mean to pry, but if you're upset about Duncan that's completely understandable. I can see how you'd fall for that 'bad boy' image of his. It's okay to be sad that he's gone."

Teyla rolled her eyes and glared at Aiden.

"I did not 'fall' for Duncan."

Aiden stared blankly at her.

"Umm, hmm."

"Ford!"

He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Okay."

Teyla turned to Logan for support.

"Will you tell him, that I did not 'fall' for Duncan."

It was Aiden's turn to roll his eyes.

"Of course he's going to agree. He doesn't want to see you fall for anyone but him. He's biased."

Logan frowned.

"I am not."

Aiden smirked.

"Yeah, right."

Logan rose from his seat.

"I am not!"

Aiden looked thoughtful before he replied.

"Well, at least some good has come from this."

He turned to face Logan.

"You're acknowledging the fact that you don't want to see her with anyone else, but denying that you want her for yourself."

Teyla could see that Logan's temper was about to explode and stood to intervene. She glanced between the two.

"Stop it. I've had enough excitement for one day. The last thing I need is you two tearing up this ship in a childish brawl. Besides, we have more important matters to worry about. Like how our cover was blown. The Superintendent will want a full debriefing in the morning and I'd prefer that we give him one without any black eyes or bruises. "

Aiden's brow knotted.

"Did Duncan say how he found out?"

Teyla shook her head.

"No, but it's very possible we could have a leak at Headquarters. And the Superintendent will not be happy to hear about that. Now, can I trust you boys to play nice while I go to sleep?"

Aiden nodded. She turned to Logan. His only response was to return to his seat. Teyla sighed.

"Good night."

Aiden sat in the pilot's chair and glanced over his shoulder.

"Sweet dreams."

Atlantis Fifteen, Space

"Any word yet?"

John Sheppard glanced up as his teammates, Ronon Dex and Evan Lorne, entered the bridge and shook his head. He turned back to the ship's controls and leaned back in the pilot's seat.

"The call should come through in the next couple of minutes."

Ronon rested his hip against the console.

"What's the holdup? The arrest should have taken place the moment the ship docked on Nourdon."

Lorne frowned.

"If they haven't called by now-."

A loud beeping from the console drew everyone's attention. John leaned forward and flipped a switch activating the video comm. Superintendent Caldwell's image appeared on the screen. John frowned when he saw the look of concern on the older man's face.

"We're listening."

"Athos Nine has not returned to the Capital. We've had no contact since the ship departed Sula Prime. Track them down and bring them back to Nourdon. We want this taken care of as quickly and as quietly as possible."

The transmission ended and John turned off the monitor. He turned to the navigational system and began inputting new coordinates.

Evan arched a brow at Ronon, who shrugged and then glanced at John.

"Mind telling us where we're going?"

John frowned. He'd hoped it wouldn't come to this. A quick arrest on Nourdon would have been less complicated, but a man hunt, well……..that could get messy. He sighed and glanced up a Ronon.

"Rhea."

Echo Caves, Planet: Rhea

Teyla walked down the rear hatch and shaded her eyes against the glaring sun. Where the hell was everyone? This was not Nourdon, they were late for their debrief and if something was wrong with the ship no one had bothered to wake her, Logan and Aiden were both dead. She didn't care what kind of lame excuses they came up with, she was going to kill them.

Teyla could hear the low rumbling of voices coming from the rear of the ship and headed that way. She immediately saw Aiden, but he was facing away from her. From his stance she could tell he was angry. Hoping to avoid another fight between him and Logan, she hurried to the rear of the ship. As Teyla rounded the side of the ship, the discharge from the gun caught her by surprise.

"Teyla!"

Teyla saw Aiden run to her as her body slowly crumpled to the ground. When he pressed down on her side, she groaned in pain. Teyla could see his lips moving, but couldn't make out the words. Her heart was beating too loudly. The burning pain in her side intensified with every breath she took. She could feel it spreading throughout her body. It made her feel lightheaded, groggy.

A woman suddenly appeared beside Aiden and placed her hand on his shoulder. He glanced back at her and shook his head. Teyla struggled to stay awake, but her eyelids had grown too heavy. Moments later, she was unconscious.

Echo City, Planet: Rhea

John glared down at the man sitting at the table. Vale Curtis was a moron, of the highest order. He constantly underestimated his enemies and honestly believed that nothing should be given away for free; whether it be valuables, trinkets or information. The man could easily try the patience of God. Unfortunately for Vale, John wasn't in a patient mood. He wanted information and he wanted it now.

John slowly pulled the bowie knife out from under his shirt, watching as Vale's eyes grew large with fear. He leaned threateningly over the table.

"I'm a busy man Vale and time is of the essence. So I'll ask you one last time. Have you seen any unusual activity? Anyone who looks a little out of place?"

Vale opened his mouth to speak, but John cut him off.

"If you lie to me again, I'm going to take off one of your fingers. So, I suggest you think real hard before you speak."

Vale sat frozen in fear. He glanced at Ronon, who looked as if he wanted to take more than just a few fingers and then at Evan, whose shoulders shook with laughter. He frowned. Something wasn't right. Vale glared back at John, deciding to call his bluff.

"What kind of joke is this?! You so much as lay one hand on me I'll-."

John shook his head to clear it, suddenly feeling very strange. He could hear faint whispers, but couldn't catch the words. He felt… pain. Suddenly an image of caves flashed before him and just as quickly as the strange feelings and image had appeared, they were gone. She was in trouble. She was in pain.

John glared at Vale, who was still making threats and drove the knife's blade deep into the center the other man's hand. Vale's screams filled the room.

"Where are the caves?"

Vale continued to scream. John backhanded him to get his attention.

"Where are the caves?"

Vale clutched at his hand. .

"North...Echo Caves are north of the city."

John snatched the knife from the table and used Vale's shirt to clean the blade. He glared as the other man cradled his injured limb.

"If you're lying, I'll be back for the other hand and a few pieces as well."

John nodded to Ronon and Evan and headed for the door. They hurried back to their ship and took off moments later.