Trials of Faith – Chapter 3

Underneath

'I can't thank you enough; really, you saved all of our lives! Is there anything that I may do for you in return?' She smiled.

John smiled sheepishly, walking into a wall whilst trying to pry the woman off his arm. She must have been in her early twenties, a pretty girl with a beautiful smile. He knew that if the circumstances weren't so strained, he would be telling her that there was much she could do. But now was not the right time, maybe later. She smiled widely again, casting him that look - most definitely later.

'No, really, Kaydence, I was doing my job.' She stroked his arm and he tried to gently pry her fingers off, but with little success. There was no sense in being rude. She may be here for a long time, the last thing he needed was for an alien female to cast him death glares everywhere he went. 'No need to thank me.'

'Oh but I really do want to pay you back for your heroics. You were so brave. You slaughtered so many Wraith! You are a great warrior Colonel Sheppard.' Her hand slid across his belly.

'Ah! Okay! Here we go!' He jumped away from her to stop in front of a door. 'Some of the Athosians lived here before and they found it okay, so you should be fine.'

Kaydence stopped directly in front of him, so close that he had to lean back. 'So you know where I sleep?' She said playfully, tracing a finger up and down his torso until she stopped at his cheek. John grabbed her hand, gently putting it at her side.

'Yeah, I know where all of the people who came through the gate sleep.' He smiled awkwardly. 'So, have good night. If you have any problems just contact-'

'-you?' She asked hopefully.

'- whoever's on the night shift, in the control room. They'll be happy to help.' John bobbed his head before slipping away.

'Goodnight Colonel Sheppard.' She waved, batting her eyes at him.

John waved back, grinning to himself. 'Easy John.' He chuckled.

'Another one of Kirk's conquests, wonderful.'

John stopped in front of Rodney Mckay who was giving him the 'you're unbelievable' look.

'What?' John asked innocently.

'Little Miss Pretty Smile over there responding to your oh so subtle charm.' He snapped.

'I was a perfect gentleman.' John held up a hand in his own defence. 'It's not my fault that she thinks that I was the hero of the mission.'

'And I bet you stumbled over your words in a rush to explain to her that you weren't?'

'It must have slipped my mind.' John continued on, Mckay in tow. 'Why aren't you in the infirmary with Ronan?'

'He's getting the last of the names; I needed to get a sandwich.' And sure enough, there was a large cheese sandwich clasped in his hand. 'So have you finished relocating the…survivors?' He glanced back at the girl's quarters.

'Pretty much. Some of 'em don't wanna leave the infirmary until they know that their loved ones are gonna be okay, so we've put some comfy chairs around the place for them to sit.' John continued walking toward the infirmary, his mind set firmly on finding Teyla.

'Mh. Do you really think that it's likely you're gonna find a city official sitting in Atlantis, out of the thousands of people-'

'It's worth a shot Mckay, there's something more going on here and we need to know as much as possible about it.' John just loved these little sensitive moments Mckay had, he quickened his pace.

'I'm just saying, the possibility is remote.' He began to unwrap the sandwich, taking a huge bite. 'Bethides, we'yre no' sure vat ve Waith are doin' anyfin ova van feedin-'

'Mckay?' Sheppard said incredulously.

'Wot?' He looked at him, surprised that he was stopped.

'Swallow.' John made a hand signal, and gave him a look of disgust.

'Wew, I'm thorry if I haven' eaden all day, bud-'

'John!'

Both men saw Teyla jogging toward them, a look of anger in her face.

John took a moment to scan her body – still filthy and still bleeding in some places, although most of her cuts had been seen to and she had had stitches put in her arm and in her face. She was very pale.

'Teyla? You should go and lie down-'

'Not now John.' She snapped. John fell silent as did Mckay. They both stared. 'Marine believes that the Talosian council met three days before the culling and that they discussed the possibility of a Wraith attack. They knew they were coming and did nothing!'

'Slow down Teyla, how does Marine know-'

'Rodney, have you compiled a list of all the Talosian people on Atlantis?' Her eyes snapped to the Scientist who was taken back by her ferocity.

'Ronan was just-'

'Where is he?'

'He's along the other corridor knocking on doors-'

Teyla was gone.

'What was that?' Mckay had swallowed in fear and glanced at John.

John said nothing but followed Teyla, feeling a little anger of his own. She had every right to be angry. But to be angry with him – no. He wasn't one of the bad guys, he was her friend. And as her friend he had every right to give her a kick when she was out of line.

They rounded the corner and saw Teyla fly past, leaving a confused Ronan in her wake. He jogged over to them.

'She's angry.'

'No kidding.' John raised an eyebrow.

'She took the list.'

John growled low in his throat, he just knew that all of this would end badly. He led the three of them to the infirmary.

'Carus!' Teyla jogged to his bed, waking his wife and children. She swiftly handed him a piece of paper with names. 'Do you recognise any of them?'

Carus, startled by her sudden arrival, took the paper slowly and placed it where both he and his wife could read it.

Teyla waited, trying to be as patient as possible but couldn't help fidgeting. She heard footsteps behind and knew that the boys had caught up with her. The pain in her chest was excruciating from running, she clutched her side and did the best she could to ignore it.

'Teyla, can we have a little chat?'

The voice in her ear belonged to Colonel Sheppard, before; she would have delighted in having him so close. Right now she had to focus.

'It can wait Colonel; Carus is viewing the list of names.'

John did not look back at Mckay and Ronan as they exchanged glances of surprise.

'And I'm sure if he sees anything he'll tell you, this won't take long.' He reached for her arm, firmly tugging. She shrugged him off.

'Later.' She growled.

John was stunned for a few moments before anger took hold.

'Now Teyla.' He had said it loud enough for a few heads to turn, including that of Carus and Marine.

'Carus, continue, I will return shortly.' She gave John a dark look as she marched into the hallway, the Athosian man looking uncomfortably at Ronan and Mckay.

'She has good reason to be angry; I hope Colonel Sheppard knows this.' Carus studied the Satedan.

'He does.' Ronan said. 'Keep looking.'

Rodney smiled weakly, mouthful of sandwich stored in his cheek like a Chipmunk. 'Don't worry, it'll be fine. They're good friends, things like this happen all the time.'

Marine and Carus were unconvinced.

'What is so important that it could not wait?' She whispered viciously.

'Your attitude.' He snapped.

'My…? You have taken me from them because you do not like my attitude?' She growled getting close up to his face.

'When you start talking to your friends like we're a bunch of Wraith, I get a little pissy.' His brown eyes burned, he hated speaking to her this way, but then he also hated hearing her talk to him in the same way.

'There are more important things at stake than my social life, Colonel!' She snapped, about to head back in when John grabbed her by the arm and spun her round.

'Teyla. I get that you're angry, I get that you're upset. But talking to us like this is not going to help.' He said firmly, hoping that he was getting through.

'You do not understand what it is like!'

'Then explain it to me!'

'I have lost of 109 members of my family to the Wraith! They should have stayed on the mainland where I should have stayed also! Joining your team was a mistake!' She pushed him away. 'And now I find that they could have died for no reason except politics!' John stared at her in awe, he had seen Teyla upset, but had never seen her loose it. It disturbed him. 'If there are no Council members on Atlantis then I will return to Tolas and find them! I will make them pay for what they have done to the Athosians!'

'By doing what? You're going to kill them? You'd be no better than the Wraith!'

Teyla back handed him. John flew against the wall.

'You should not have come here John Sheppard. It is not your fight! There must be survivors on Tolas, if the people I need are not here, then I will go there, and take my leave of Atlantis.'

Tears shining in her eyes, burning like acid. Her heart punching against her chest, the pain was unendurable, she was having trouble breathing. But her heart was in so much pain – she was so angry at the world, at John for trying to calm her down. How could she be calm? Why would he not let her be angry, she had a right to it! And now he looked at her, livid and disappointed. Mostly surprised and hurt. She had split his lip. She didn't care.

Ronan stood in the doorway, watching, ready to stop her from doing anything truly stupid. Mckay peeked over the top of his shoulder, looking at Teyla with disgust. He had never seen her like this.

'Do not approach me again.' She growled, wiping the tears from her face, clutching her side and turning.

Doctor Weir stood with her arms hanging at her sides, glaring at Teyla. Her face was unreadable; she was not angry or surprised. She just stood there, watching her.

Teyla moved past her, ignoring this impassive face, heading to her quarters.

'John?' Elizabeth folded her arms. 'Are you alright?'

He stared at the corridor where Teyla had walked down. 'No.' He moved to follow, but Ronan blocked his path.

'Don't.' He said.

'Ronan's right, Colonel. Teyla needs time to come to grips with this.' John considered ignoring them and going after her any way. That face, so angry and hurt. It hadn't been Teyla, she would never hurt him. She was grieving the loss of half her people. Still, his lip smarted a tad.

'I was just coming to see where that list was.' Elizabeth led the way back into the infirmary, people watching them closely.

John lingered as did Ronan.

'She's not ready yet.' He said simply. John knew he was right.

He marched into the infirmary, his fists balled. Anger plaguing his face. He could think of nothing other than what had just happened.

'Colonel Sheppard?'

Marine touched his arm gently, bringing him back down from his thoughts.

'There are no Council members in Atlantis.' She stated.

Rodney slumped. 'Are you sure?'

'We are.' Carus said from his bed. Marine perched on the edge stroking his head. 'But there is a name that may help you.'

Elizabeth, Rodney and Ronan stared at him, waiting. John merely paced.

'Councilman Jardus has a niece here in Atlantis.'

'That's close enough, she may know lots of things, or at least where we could look for him? What's the girl's name?' Mckay demanded.

'Kaydence Farren.'

Rodney and John rolled their eyes. 'Little Miss Pretty Smile.' Rodney turned to Elizabeth. 'We best let Kirk deal with this one.'

Sheppard had not been in the mood for Leech Lady, as he liked to call her, and ordered Ronan and Mckay to deal with her. Elizabeth had then ordered him to get his lip seen to and then go to bed. He was not to see Teyla.

He didn't have a problem with that. Had she not said that she didn't want to see him ever again? And blamed him indirectly for the death of her people. Angry or not, you didn't blame things like that on a friend.

Meanwhile, Ronan was about ready to strangle Mckay with his bare hands, an impulse he had had repeatedly ever since arriving on Atlantis.

'I mean, okay, so Kirk was the Captain and Shepard's the Colonel – but come on, the man was never as suave as Kirk! At least I never thought so –'

'Mckay, I have no idea what you're talking about.'

'It's a TV show on Earth, definitely an under rated TV show. Colonel Sheppard is like the Captain who romances various alien women-'

'I don't care.'

'Of course you don't, it goes with your whole 'I'm a big Neanderthal-'

'We're here.'

'Am I ever going to get to finish a sent-'

'No. I'll talk. You listen.' Ronan knocked on the door.

It slid open almost immediately. A pretty girl saw Ronan towering over her and her face fell. She had expected someone else.

'Colonel Sheppard is off elsewhere, I'm afraid.' Rodney said with enough attitude to make Ronan look at him with a warning.

She looked bored of them.

'Kaydence Farren?' Ronan asked.

She nodded. 'Is there a problem?'

'Your Uncle a Councilman?'

She nodded slowly, her eyes welling with tears. 'I do not know if he survived the culling.'

'Yes, sorry about that, but, did he ever mention to you that he may have had an inkling that the Wraith were coming to Tolas?' Rodney jumped in. Ronan glared.

'No. He did not. And if he had, he would have also told me to prepare to leave our home.' She said, clearly offended.

'Is there any possibility he's still alive?' Ronan folded his arms.

She paused.

'What?' Rodney pressed.

'He said to me that if the Wraith were to come that I must go to the shelter, under the Council's meeting Chambers. It was meant only for family. No one else knows of it.' She looked away suddenly. 'I tried to reach it, but I was too far. The Wraith were closing in and I ran with the crowd.'

'You got to safety. That's all that matters.' Rodney said with clipped tones, unsure of how comforting really worked.

'Sleep.' Ronan commanded. The girl nodded.

They turned to leave.

'Oh, if you see Colonel Sheppard, tell him that I would still like to repay my debt.' She smiled merrily, wiping a tear from her cheek and retreating back into her room.

They both stared.

'Kirk.' Rodney mumbled.

They walked on in silence for a while before Ronan spoke.

'We need to tell Sheppard and Weir.'

'Mh. You do that and I'll stop by my lab and make sure that Zalenka has turned in. Can you believe that I actually have to order that man to go to bed, otherwise he is up all night looking over calculations he already knows he'll get wrong because he's exhausted!' Rodney gave a final wave before heading off in another direction, mumbling about stupidity and the like.

Ronan shook his head and continued on.

Rodney did indeed tell Zalenka to get some sleep, repeatedly, forcefully, until the Czech could no longer stand his constant whining. With that done, Rodney headed to bed himself, thinking over the days events.

He paused suddenly, and then turned around heading in the other direction. To Teyla's quarters.

She deserved to know what was happening. She wanted to know what was happening. And although he was a little wary of her now that she was in such a foul mood, she was still his friend. And wasn't there a really annoying saying about company and misery being friend's or what not?

It would take two minutes to tell her what they had discovered, and then he would be on his way to bed. To the land of dreamless sleep.

Rodney stopped outside her door, took a deep breathe and knocked sharply before realising he had done so too harshly and clutched his hand, massaging his knuckles.

He waited for what seemed an eternity and began to wonder if she was even in. He was about to turn away believing that she didn't want to be disturbed when he heard movement inside.

'Who is it?' She called, not sounding at all inviting.

'Rodney.' He decided against using his last name in the hope that it would sound friendlier. That she would know that he came in peace and didn't want to get beaten up.

The door slid open and Teyla stood glaring at him.

'What is it, Doctor Mckay?'

Oh fine, if she wanted to be formal they could be formal.

'I though you should know that Carus didn't find any Council members on the list –' Teyla shut her eyes, disappointed '- but they did find a niece.' She looked up at him.

'On Atlantis?'

'Yes.' He said bluntly.

Seeing that Rodney was clearly unhappy, she seemed to melt slightly. Her anger subsiding for only a moment. 'You have spoken with her?'

'Mh. She said that there was a place where the Councilmen and their families could hide, under a meeting chamber or something. They could be alive; Ronan's telling Sheppard and Weir.'

It was strange, this tension between them. They had been through so much.

'Well, I thought you should know.' Rodney went to leave, but Teyla put a hand on his arm.

She looked at him with sorrow in her eyes, and smiled weakly.

'Thankyou Rodney, for everything.'

He nodded, returning the awkward smile, thinking nothing of her words.

He left Teyla who watched him walk away.

She would be sad, but one day it would be better. One day. She went back inside, walking over to her bed where a half filled bag sat.

She had almost finished packing.