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He couldn't resist it anymore. The cold water, the shock, they both proved to be too much for him to fight. John's breath was hitched as his teeth chattered beyond his control and he felt the tension permeate his body, despite his best efforts to quell it. He squeezed his eyes shut, as what had become an even, persistent pain, ramped up in response to his involuntary shivering. "Damn..." he managed. He opened his eyes as he felt a strong grip on his shoulder and looked up at Ronon.
"Sheppard?" Ronon's voice was quiet.
John stared into Ronon's eyes, mildly surprised at the compassion he saw there. Inwardly, he chastised himself. Just because the ex-runner hid his feelings well, didn't mean he didn't have them. No less than me... "Could use… that help," John managed through his chattering teeth. He watched as something akin of frustration took over
Ronon's expression an instant before he looked away. "Not... your fault." John added.
Ronon's gaze narrowed as he looked back at John. "I don't like being helpless."
"Join... the c-club..." John managed a small halfhearted smile and a hint of understanding in his expression as he held gazes with Ronon.
After a moment, Ronon nodded slightly. "What can I do?"
John swallowed hard and fought to think straight. "Sh-short of getting us... out of... here? Not... much. Unless you... can set... bones?" John swore he could hear Ronon grinding is teeth as the big man shook his head.
"No."
John struggled to talk coherently. "Then... j-just keep me... company with that... charming personality... of yours." Despite his pain and shivering body, John flashed Ronon a small smile.
After a long moment, the corners of Ronon's mouth curled up slightly. His chuckle was cut short by a grimace and slight groan.
John's eyes settled on Ronon's arm, which he tightened protectively at his side. Forcing himself to concentrate John made eye contact with Ronon again. "W-what's wrong... with you?" he stammered.
"I'm fine," Ronon muttered.
"Like hell... you are," John countered. He found himself in a battle of wills with the big Satedan but in spite of his condition John refused to back down. "We-ll?" his voice hitched but John held onto his no-nonsense gaze. Try again, big guy...
"Hit my ribs when I landed," Ronon finally replied.
Considering Ronon's words, John stared at him a moment longer, the concentration helping him hold onto his lucidity. When he spoke at all, Ronon had a gift for understatement, which seemed to increase in direct proportion to the seriousness of the situation. The worse things were, the less he talked. John's gaze narrowed. "Broken?" It was a question, but he was pretty sure he knew the answer.
Ronon stared hard at him for a minute, a slight hint of surprise in his expression. After a minute he nodded. "A couple."
An exhaled staccato breath was the closest thing to a sigh John could manage. "Take it... easy then."
Ronon abruptly stood, groaning quietly as he straightened. "May not be able to."
John watched him look up at the gaping hole above them. He thought for a minute. "Teyla and McKay?" he asked quietly.
Ronon looked down at him. "Yeah. They should've been back with help by now."
"Yeah…" John swallowed hard. Through the persistent, unending pain that flowed through his body, he felt his gut knot, as worry settled in. They weren't that far from the gate. Even if Atlantis needed time to organize people and equipment, Teyla and McKay would've grabbed Beckett and came straight back. He'd expected them to be back in thirty minutes tops. "How… long?"
Ronon's expression darkened as he looked back up at the gaping hole. "Almost two hours."
"G-great," John muttered. His eyelids felt heavy and he surrendered to the weight that pulled at them. His pain ebbed slightly and strangely John felt like he was floating.
"Sheppard!"
John's eyes snapped open at Ronon's call and he tensed, earning a bout of searing pain from his leg and arm. "Damn!" He felt the big man's hand on his shoulder and looked up into Ronon's serious expression.
"You need to stay awake," Ronon stated simply.
Realization dawned on John and he exhaled carefully against his broken ribs. Crap! Almost lost it! "R-right," he stammered. "Th-thanks."
Ronon nodded once and settled back on his heels next to John, while watching him intently.
---------------------------------
"Please," Teyla sat up as tall as the small, wood cage would allow her and stared imploringly at the guard nearest to her. "Let me talk to your leader. It is very important."
"He's not listening to you," Rodney muttered. He shifted his weight and grimaced. "Sitting in two inches of mud," he groused, "just what I've always wanted to do." He grabbed one vertical wood bar next to him and shook it experimentally. "Surprisingly strong. Nothing a knife wouldn't fix. Where's Ronon and his endless supply of concealed knives when you need him?" Rodney bowed his head for a moment, before looking at Teyla.
Silently, Teyla nodded once, noting how her concern was mirrored in his eyes. She sat up straighter, sighing quietly as her head met the top of the cage. Barely tall enough for either of them to sit up straight, much less stand, Teyla felt like a caged animal. She inhaled deeply, her expression turning determined. "They must talk to us." Giving one last silent look to Rodney, she returned her attention to the guard. "We must talk to you leader now." Teyla stared at his unmoving back, frustration welling within her.
"I am here. What do you want?"
Teyla's head snapped around at the voice, her gaze finding the tall dark haired leader. "Why do you hold us?" She asked immediately. "We have done nothing to you."
The man's short, bark of a laugh was cynical. "Have you not? Your people, with weapons much like these," he pointed a short distance away where Teyla and Rodney's weapons and gear lay in a heap, "have visited before. They killed and tortured many of my people, burned our homes, destroyed our village. All because they believed we knew something we did not." His gaze narrowed in barely concealed anger. "You will pay for what your people have done!"
"We have done nothing to you!" Teyla countered. "You are mistaken!"
He shook his head. "I think not." He lifted his chin in a haughty and commanding manner. "Your people will not deceive me again." Without another word, he turned and stalked away.
Teyla sagged back against the side of the cage, her mind racing. Who did this to these people and how could Colonel Sheppard's team be mistaken for them?
"What the hell is he talking about?" Rodney questioned quietly. "Did the Athosians…"
"No," Teyla immediately cut Rodney off. "My people would never do this nor do we possess weapons such as yours. I do not know who he speaks of, but it is neither your people or mine."
"Tell that to him," Rodney muttered.
"I do not believe he is of a mind to listen," Teyla shook her head. She looked around for a minute and found that the three guards' attentions were elsewhere. "We must escape and make our way to the Stargate," she whispered.
Rodney snorted quietly and looked around his eyes finding armed villagers everywhere. "Right," his snappy voice was low. "Want to clue me in on how, exactly, we're going to do that?"
Teyla once again glanced around the village before she looked back at him. "I do not know yet," her expression turned cunning. "But, I will think of something."
