Part 3

This chapter was written while I was in Reno at an Irish Dancing compition. I'm not sure why I'm telling you this, exept to let you know that I had this part written a while before posting. Sorry for the delay. Anywho, please R&R!

Dr. Elizabeth Weir sat with arms crossed staring at her laptop computer. Who would have thought that paperwork would be such a big deal in another galaxy? She still had dozens of mission reports to go over and more than a couple of briefings to plan. And it didn't help that it was the Atlantian equivalent of midnight. She absentmindedly looked out of her office at the stargate. Colonel Sheppard's team was off-world at the moment, and if everything went as planned, would return early tomorrow. Well, today, she reminded herself staring at the clock on her computer. It read 12:37. Elizabeth decided that she'd better call it a night and head to bed. She might manage to get a few hours sleep before Sheppard's team gated-in.

Grabbing her now cold coffee off of the table she left her office. The two gate technicians, unlucky enough to have gotten the graveyard shift that night, smiled at her as she walked by. Everyone on the city knew how Dr. Weir stayed up almost all night. And that included Dr. Beckett, Atlantis's resident CMO. Elizabeth swore that one of his favorite pass times was berating her about her sleeping habits. Telling her that coffee wasn't a good substitute for much needed sleep. Though she knew he was right, Carson himself had a reputation of working the clock around. In fact, most of the original expedition members found it hard to get to sleep at night. After all they'd been through sometimes it amazed her that they were able to sleep at all.

Elizabeth slowly made her way to her quarters, her warm bed waiting to give her some much needed comfort.

SGA-SGA-SGA-SGA

Pain was the first feeling Sheppard's still groggy mind registered when he began to regain consciousness. Next was the fact that he was lying on cold, hard, stone. Why was he on the floor? He started to lift himself up off the ground but his head immediately took issue with that. Damn, it felt like he was hung over. Oh right, he remembered, evil kiwi juice of death. Pulling himself the rest off the way into a sitting position, he quickly found the closest wall and leaned against it. Unfortunately, it did nothing to alleviate his headache or the growing nausea in his stomach. Whatever that girl put in that stuff was strong.

When Sheppard's headache was manageable enough, he opened his eyes. He was the only person in the room. Where was the rest of his team? When had they realized he was missing, or had they even noticed he was gone? It was hard to tell how long he had been unconscious.

While he waited for something to happen he went over items in his mental to do list. 'Find out why these people can't be trusted' just got a big red line through it. And 'find out what these insane sons of bitches want from me' was written in its place.They didn't know they were from Atlantis, so the fact that he had the Ancient gene probably wasn't it. They could want their advanced technology... John cringed inwardly, if that was the case offering to trade weapons with them probably wasn't the best of ideas, especially after the Genii. Even if he all he meant was a few small handguns. Okay, that was a really bad lapse of judgment. Elizabeth would have him scrubbing the jumpers with a toothbrush if she found out.

Just then the door on the other side of the room swung open. Bright yellow light flooded the doorway. The lights were so bright that John couldn't see the faces of the men that pulled him to his feet. He swayed unsteadily as his stomach threatened to send his dinner up for an encore. God, he hated being interrogated. It never ended well on his part.

"Bring him." a voice called from the doorway.

Sheppard got half led, half dragged out into a long hallway. The flicker of hope that he could somehow remember the way he was taken and escape, was immediately gone. This place looked like a maze. Passageways kept branching off of each other and intersecting. He doubted even Ronon could figure his way out.

"Move." One of the men gripping his arm ordered.

"You know, I think I'd rather just stay here."

"You will come with us." The man ordered growing more impatient.

"I don't think s-" One of the guards punched him in the face sending him reeling backwards on to the floor. Then they yanked him back to his feet and steered him through the hallways as he tried to stop a bloody nose. He guessed these guys had never heard of anger managment. Down, right, left, right, pretty soon he lost track of the halls he was going down and just concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Which was hard enough considering his head still felt like it was on fire.

After walking for what felt like hours they came to a large door. One of the guards yanked it open and shoved Sheppard inside. He stumbled under his own weight for a minute after the guards released him. Once he found his equilibrium, he looked up. Standing across the room from him, just like he expected, was Teram.

"Ah, John Sheppard, how nice of you to join us."

"Not like I had much of a choice." Sheppard retorted, referring to his bloody nose.

Teram chuckled, "No, you really didn't. Do you know why you're here?"

"Well, as soon as you tell me I will." John replied.

"Good answer." Teram said, "I like my prisoners to have spirit, makes the interrogation more fun. Have you ever tortured anyone, Sheppard?"

"Can't say that I have."

"Then you can't appreciate how enjoyable this will be for me." Teram grabbed a long leather whip and advanced toward John. A maniacal grin on his face.

SGA-SGA-SGA-SGA

Rodney woke up, and after being knocked out by a heavy iron bar, waking up is hard to do. Every inch of him ached like he'd been run over. When he got his hands on the driver of the truck they were going to pay, he thought angrily. Teyla and Ronon were talking somewhere nearby and their shouting was NOT helping his headache.

"Hello, dead man sleeping here."

"Rodney!" Teyla got up from somewhere else in the room and crouched at his side, "You're awake."

"Obviously," Rodney moaned, "What happened?"

"We got captured." Ronon pointed out.

"Again, obviously. Someone help me up." Rodney grumbled, attempting to pull himself into a sitting position. Teyla put one hand on his back and grabbed his wrist with her free hand and pulled. Together they got him leaning against the wall where Ronon was sitting. Rodney forced his eyes open. While he had been knocked out it seemed that his teammates both had their share of the fight that must have ensued. They both were sporting bruises of varying sizes all over their bodies. He wondered how many me it would take to do that kind of damage to both Teyla and Ronon.

"How did we get captured?"

"At least two dozen men," Ronon informed, "cane at us from all sides."

"Well, that should have been easy for you." Rodney felt the need to comment. Ronon and Teyla both glared at him angrily.

"We have been unable to locate Colonel Sheppard." Teyla said, changing the subject.

"We're assuming he was taken here." Ronon said.

"I do not believe he would be anywhere else," Teyla replied, "as we were only attacked and taken prisoner after we expressed a desire to find Colonel Sheppard."

"This is the last time I risk my ass for him." Rodnet groused.

"Rodney, John would do the same thing for us if we went missing."

"Well, maybe that's why we end up captured so often!"

No one could argue with that. There seemed to be an ever-present curse on their team. Especially when it came to 'routine' missions.

"So what's our plan of escape?" Ronon asked.

"Do I look like the one who comes up with the suicidal, let's just barely escape with our lives, plans? Ask Sheppard." Rodney snapped, "Besides, I'm sure that once we're overdue Weir will send a team in a Jumper to come and rescue us."

"And how, do you propose, Dr. Weir should find us? I do not know where we have been taken, and I doubt the villagers will present the information willingly." Teyla informed.

"Who said anything about them being willing?" Ronon asked.

"Dr. Weir would not authorize the use of force to obtain information unless it was absolutely necessary, Ronon."

"We're being held hostage by these people! I think that falls under the 'necessary' category." Rodney said sarcastically.

"I agree."

Teyla sighed, "But She has no way of knowing if the villagers are being truthful about knowing nothing of our disappearance."

"If She talks to that guy, Teglen."

"Teram"

"Whatever, if She talks to him She'll have no problems figuring somethings up." Rodney said. "He makes Caldwell look like and emotional teenage girl."

Ronon looked like he about to say something but fell silent. Rodney almost asked what was wrong, but Teyla put a finger to her lips.

"Footsteps." She whispered.

TBC

How do you think this last chapter went? Please do tell, I'm having some misgivings about it myself and want to know what other people think.