Thanks everyone for the encouragement so far. I really appreciate it.

A day later: Atlantis

Rodney drained the last dredges of his coffee and slammed the cup back down onto Doctor Weir's desk. He looked up in time to see Zelenka leaning against the doorframe, arms folded at his chest.

"I see you've made yourself comfortable," he said taking the extra step into the room to stand in front of him.

Rodney rubbed at his face wearily and cleared his throat, "I'm just keeping Elizabeth's seat warm," and then casting his eyes over the gate he said, "I cannot believe she listed me as her choice for a replacement in the event of-" he paused and rubbed the back of his neck, "I don't know how she does this. You know earlier I had somebody contact me asking if Atlantis had a laundry chute. A laundry chute," he said with disbelief.

Zelenka gave him a grim smile and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair and was about to speak when Rodney continued.

"I mean Doctor Weir is the expedition leader of Atlantis, not the expedition leader of laundry."

"We have problem with power in sector three G," said Zelenka sighing, "But I see you are busy."

Rodney gestured at the pile of paperwork on her desk, "I thought, Id help with her reports. So when she gets back, she can relax."

"Very thoughtful," said Zelenka nodding.

"I thought so," said Rodney.

"You know, it has only been one day," said Zelenka.

"A lot can happen in one day," said Rodney rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Major Sheppard is trained for these circumstances," said Zelenka.

"Its not him I'm worried about," said Rodney picking up the empty coffee cup and holding it out to Zelenka, "Could you?"

"I'm scientist, not personal coffee maker. Go make yourself," said Zelenka throwing his hands up in the air exasperated.

"You said yourself, I'm busy." Said Rodney dejected.

"We're all busy," said Zelenka.

"But I'm the busiest. Head of Atlantis, remember?"

"And you wonder why they didn't let you go off-word with them,"

"Why? Because I didn't make my own coffee?" Rodney snorted.

Zelenka raised a quizzical eyebrow, "You are funny little man."

"They didn't let me go because the military are all hyped up glory hunters and my brilliant mind would have misplaced amongst their Neanderthal-"

They were interrupted by Sergeant Bates clearing his throat noisily and knocking on the open door, "We've received word from the off-world team," he said walking into the room. He glanced at Zelenka and then back at Rodney. "Am I interrupting something?"

Zelenka shook his head, "No, if you'll excuse me." And he left without a further word.

"Well," said Rodney motioning for Bates to continue.

"One of the teams was ambushed. Lt Blake was captured, he's assumed dead." He cleared his throat.

"Assumed dead, what are you saying?" asked Rodney nervously, "You're saying you think the Major and Doctor Weir are dead too?" he stated sinking back into his seat.

"It's a distinct possibility," said Bates

"Did they follow the men who ambushed them?" started Rodney, "Or find any evidence of their whereabouts?"

"Nothing so far, but they have recovered the wreckage of the puddle jumper."

"Well I'm glad you wasted valuable manpower retrieving that piece of water logged junk," said Rodney standing up, "Or maybe the puddle jumper will tell us where they are." He said sarcastically.

"The retrieval of the ship was necessary. If it was too fall into enemy hands then-"

"The retrieval of our leaders is far more important don't you think?" asked Rodney, "I mean, I cant run this place forever. I'm an extremely busy man. Scientific discoveries do not find themselves."

"Perhaps you should delegate this position to somebody more qualified then." Suggested Bates.

"I didn't say I wasn't qualified. I said I was busy. Two completely different things."

"Doctor Mckay, we have to proceed with caution and in this case I am more qualified to assess that we can't go to that planet, guns blazing, to rescue the Major and Doctor Weir. Not without more information"

"I knew you didn't like Major Sheppard but this takes it to a new level. You want his job don't you?" said Rodney narrowing his eyes. "Don't think this will go unnoticed."

Bates didn't answer but Rodney knew the answer already.

"We should never have left them behind."

"Stackhouse made the right decision," said Bates jumping in, "If you had all been captured we wouldn't even know where to start looking. We haven't given up hope of finding them."

They had arrived just in time to hear Johns cried for them to leave.

Stackhouse had taken the cries as a direct order by his CO and had forced them back to the gate, despite furious protests from both Ford and himself.

"I still say it was the wrong decision," Rodney muttered.

"Doctor Mckay why don't you get some sleep, we'll call you if we hear anything more."

"Sleep at a time like this?" Rodney snorted, "Just find them," he said sitting down in Elizabeth's chair.

Bates stood for a moment as if perhaps trying to think of something else to say. Perhaps he was going to defend the earlier slur against his character. Rodney wouldn't give him that chance and looked up before saying, "Close the door to my Office as you leave."

---------------

The slap to his face, the motion of being moved into an uncomfortable position, restraints at his wrists and the hard floor on his knees bought John to a swift consciousness.

His eyes jerked open and he hissed when he sucked in his breath too hard. He felt himself choking on the air he so desperately needed and coughed until his throat was raw.

John took a moment to scan the room. It was dark and smelt overpoweringly damp. He was in stone walled room and at current he was kneeling in the centre of the room, his hands bound tightly behind his back.

"Glad you could join us," said Kolya crouching down in front of him.

John could feel his aching body tremble. He was still wearing his wet t-shirt and it clung to his body tightly. In a word, he was freezing. Not only that but to add insult to injury he could feel the gritty sand which had become lodged in the waistband of his pants and clung uncomfortably to his back.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance," said Kolya rubbing his hands together. John thought perhaps he was rubbing sand off them.

John gave him a look and nodded, "I'm starting to think the same thing."

A swift punch to his ribs and John found himself leaning to the side and being gripped firmly to right him again. His heart tested the construction of his ribs and with every beat a sharp pain stabbed at his side.

"Where's Elizabeth?" asked John as an expression of pain flashed across his features.

"Not Doctor Weir?" asked Kolya, "Elizabeth?"

John took a deep breath in and tried again, "Where….is…she?"

"I thought your relationship was purely professional," said Kolya, "Perhaps I was wrong."

"Where is she?" asked John through the throbbing pain that lanced through his insides.

"She's enjoying the hospitalities we have to offer here," said Kolya standing up, "Don't worry about her."

"If you touch her," said John raising his eyes to Kolya's, "I will kill you." Just like I killed your company of men." He added as an afterthought.

The kick to his side connected with such force John could feel the white hot pain burn and surge through his gut and he felt the acid rise at the back of his throat. He wouldn't cry out though and instead straightened up again and stared straight forward, "I see I hit a nerve," he said through clenched teeth.

Another slap across his face and stars danced in front of his eyes, threatening to send him to the ground.

"Sixty men was it? Or more." said John.

"You will repay me for that." Spat Kolya smoothing down his uniform.

"You're military Kolya. Men die in war. You placed that cost on their heads."

"It wasn't a war," snapped Kolya.

"You tried to take over my city," said John licking blood off his lips.

"Enough," said Kolya holding up an unsteady hand, "Enough," he repeated a little calmer.

"Besides revenge, what do you want with us?"

"I have plans for you."

John breathed in a ragged breath, "The worst you can do is kill me." He said readjusting his position on the floor. Already his knees were protesting.

"Oh I can do much worse than that." said Kolya.

"Yeah, you could talk me to death."

John gritted his teeth and twisted his hands in his restraints trying to find a bit of give.

Kolya knelt down in front of him again and this time reached back, grabbed John by the hair and pulled his head backwards, "Atlantis," he said pulling back harder.

John felt the muscles in his neck throb at the awkward position and he struggled to swallow.

"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say you have some hostility issues," said John readjusting his position on the floor.

"Atlantis. It's important," he said into John's ear, "Why?"

"Ah Kolya, I had you pegged as a smarter man," rasped John, "You know i'd never tell you anything."

"You fought hard to protect it."

"In case you hadn't noticed. We live there." said John, "No Atlantis, no home."

"Where did you all come from?"

"Go…..screw yourself," said John.

Kolya released his grip, stood and kicked John forward at his shoulder. John hissed as his face hit the concrete hard and he bit through his lip.

"I can keep doing this all day," said Kolya placing a well placed foot on his shoulder.

"So can I," said John.

Kolya stared at him for a moment, as if deciding whether or not the man in front of him could indeed be broken.

At current that seemed debateable, but he didn't need him to talk. He just needed him as an instrument in a larger design.

John lay breathlessly on the floor waiting for Kolya to make his next move. He wished he was alone here, but knowing that Elizabeth was close by didn't make this any easier. It was a distinct possibility that she would be used against him, perhaps to talk or perhaps for revenge for his past misdemeanours, either way when it came to Elizabeth he wasn't so sure he could sacrifice her life for the good of Atlantis.

Kolya perhaps being aware of that fact suddenly stiffened and started to smooth down his uniform, "I'm going to pay Doctor Weir a little visit. But you stay right there. I'll be back."

"Kolya!"" John shouted from the floor, his ribs digging into his side, "Kolya!"

---------

Elizabeth leant her head against the stone cold wall and closed her eyes. She had been bought here hours ago, separated from Sheppard and bound by the wrists. Attempts to release herself proved futile and shouting had only given her a sore throat.

Now after pacing the dark cell, she had settled down onto the floor and was trying to remember how the last book she read ended. An inconsequential thing, but she couldn't remember and it disturbed her.

Possibly the last few hours of her life and she couldn't even remember something as simple as that.

Boots outside her door woke her from her thoughts and she at up straighter as the door was unlocked.

Kolya stood at the doorway, peered inside, and on seeing Elizabeth smiled, "Comfortable?" he asked.

Elizabeth schooled her face to look as neutral as possible. "Kolya." She said hesitantly, "Where is Major Sheppard?"

Kolya didn't comment on her use of Major Sheppard, and in turn Sheppard's use of Elizabeth. Instead he walked over to her and took out a hip flask of water, "Major Sheppard is fine." He said first untying her restraints.

Elizabeth reluctantly accepted the canister and sniffed it before taking a sip. A cry echoed down the corridor followed by the sound of something dropping to the ground and she stiffened.

Kolya took the water off her and screwed the cap back on, "That's nothing to worry about." He said quickly before standing up.

"What are you doing to him?" asked Elizabeth. She hesitantly started to stand up. She was surprised when nobody stopped her.

Kolya smiled, "Major Sheppard insists that he can handle anything that's thrown at him." He paused, "I'm just testing that theory."

"What do you want with us?" asked Elizabeth. She took a step forward, "We're both diplomats. I'm sure we could arrange some kind of-"

"Diplomat?" questioned Kolya bridging the gap between them and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Doctor Weir, I'm a mercenary and you, you're in over your head."

Elizabeth bit her bottom lip and let out a shaky breath, "We all want the same thing. The wraith wiped out."

"That's true." Kolya ran his hand down the length of her arm and lingered at her hand. She pulled away quickly and watched the flash of anger in his eyes. "But the Genii work alone."

"We have nothing to offer you." said Elizabeth rubbing her arm where he had touched her.

"You have much to offer us," said Kolya, "Perhaps an alternative planet?" he questioned.

Elizabeth didn't flinch. "But I can see that you wont give us what we want."

"So what," said Elizabeth, "You'll settle for revenge. You won't get close enough to Atlantis to inflict any kind of revenge Kolya."

"Strong words," said Kolya and he bought a hand up to sweep a piece of hair out of her eye, "I'm impressed."

There were sounds of muffled cries and thuds in the background, "What is that?" she asked fearing the answer. "If you hurt him-" she began.

Kolya took a step backwards towards the door, "Your concern for Major Sheppard's welfare is touching. I'd sit tight for now"

TBC

Duh duh duh please read on……….