A/N (saphire): First off thanks to Lantia4ever, Charmed225, and JenniDinoRobot for reviewing the last chapter! We were a little disappointed to only get 3 reviews though when we have quite a few alterts, so please r & r! Well, here's the 3rd chapter (written mainly by shimmer). Hope you like it!
AN (sparkly): So many thanks for all the reviews and alerts! Heres the next chapter, enjoy! Please review and tell us what you like!
Chapter 3
The replicator – Dolan – threw John back into the cell. He stumbled in and sat up. He noticed that Rodney and Ronon's blindfolds had been removed, though all three of them were still tied up. Ronon glared fiercely at the men as they left.
"You OK?" asked Rodney nervously, afraid of the answer.
"Yeah, I'm fine." John answered, though truthfully his insides were in turmoil.
"Where'd they take you?" asked Ronon.
John couldn't answer. He just stared hard at the floor, jaw set, eyes clouded.
"Sheppard?" Ronon prompted.
"They took me to Elizabeth." He finally gave up quietly.
"Uh, I'm sorry what?" Rodney asked, "because I thought you just said they took you to Elizabeth, as in our friend and old leader, and given the fact that she is dead right now, I don't see how that's possible." He rambled, needing to understand but unaware of how the harsh words hit his friend.
"That's what I said Rodney." He stated simply, "And it's true."
"How?" Ronon asked.
John shook his head, still in some disbelief. "She's their leader."
Ronon took on an angry look as Rodney exclaimed aloud, "What!?"
"She…After we left the Asuran planet, they did something to her, but she escaped with some of them. They made her their leader and whatever they've been doing, they need our help." As he spoke he found it hard to keep his voice strong.
"So – so she's alive?"
"Yes Rodney, she's here."
"Huh." Rodney smiled slightly. "Well then, that's good, right?"
"I don't know Rodney. I'm not sure we'll be able to get her back. At least not right away."
"Oh." His voice and face fell and the three men lapsed into a suffocating silence. But soon enough the sound of voices drifted to them, breaking their thoughts. Four replicators came in front of the cell, following Elizabeth.
Rodney and Ronon sat up straight immediately after seeing her. Though John had told them, it was still a shock that almost shattered their bones.
She stepped lightly up to the bars as they opened and stepped in. she smiled at them, lingering on Ronon and Rodney. "Hello boys." The three stood up.
"Hi." Ronon grunted.
Rodney looked at him. "Yeah, uh, hi."
"So Elizabeth, are you gonna tell us what you have planned? Why we're here…what you want us to do…anything?"
"We found a weapon, Ancient design, on a planet. We know it will help in our fight against the wraith. It will cause serious damage."
"Sounds nice."
She smiled sarcastically at John. He was still the same. Perhaps his eyes were a bit more bitter and haunted than when they'd last seen each other, but he hid it well beneath his attitude.
"The weapon won't work. And although we have scientists aboard, we can't get it to work." She turned to McKay. "So we want you to help us fix it."
"Well-" Before Rodney could finish the thought, John cut him off.
"And what if we don't?" he gazed steadily at her. As much as he wanted to do this, to have a weapon against the wraith, to try and get Elizabeth back, he knew they couldn't just agree to it.
She turned to look at him again, and this time his eyes widened at her demeanor. She gave the appearance of authority as coldness radiated from her eyes. The reminiscent smile was gone, leaving a harsh frown in its place. John just stared, trying to make sense of this new, very different Elizabeth.
"Sorry Colonel?" she asked, though knowing full well what he had said.
"Do you really think we're just going to help you?"
"This isn't exactly a choice for you." Her voice authorized no argument in its iciness.
The three stuck in the cell remained quiet so she continued. "If you all want to get back home, I suggest you fix this weapon." She nodded to the men who had come with her and thus far done nothing but watch approvingly. Two of them took their weapons out and aimed them at John and Ronon. The other two grabbed Rodney's arms, who started to panic.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Her voice softer now, but still rather emotionless, she said, "You are going to come with me." With that she turned and left, McKay being pushed after her. Ronon glared and practically growled at the replicators that were left. As soon as Elizabeth and Rodney were out of view they left.
Ronon and John sat back on the floor again, another silence approaching.
"Are you finished yet?" Elizabeth demanded as she came into the Jumper where Rodney was working, guarded by a replicator named Huron.
Rodney glanced at her uncomfortably. She was disconcerting this way, a leader that didn't always care, just wanted the job done. Similar to how she was when Phoebus had occupied her mind. Except that this was her... she wasn't possessed, she just wasn't her usual self…
He gave himself a mental shake and let it go. It was confusing to think about. But no matter what kind of state she put him in, he was still going to answer with his annoyance obvious.
"You think I can have this damage fixed in less than half an hour!? And with this guy here with a weapon five feet from my chest!?"
She eyed him sharply. "How much longer then?"
He sighed. "Twenty minutes tops."
"Good. Thank you Rodney."
"Right. At least you untied me." He mumbled.
He watched her leave then turned back to the controls.
About forty minutes after Elizabeth had left, she strode back up to the cell with Dolan.
"Where's McKay?" Ronon said, sounding threatening.
"He's fine." She nodded to him.
"Look Elizabeth, what do you want us to do? Sure McKay is good, but you have no idea if he can fix this weapon."
"He's going to at least try. I have faith in him."
"Well he doesn't have any equipment with him. How do you expect-"
She cut him off. "Which is why you will be going back to Atlantis to get whatever he needs."
John tilted his head at her. "Ok, sure. When do we leave?"
She smiled and raised an eyebrow at him. "You leave right now Colonel."
She moved aside and Dolan opened the cell. John stepped out cautiously. Ronon walked forwards, but Elizabeth stopped him with a hand up. She glanced apologetically at John.
"I'm sorry, but you misunderstood me. John and Rodney will be leaving. Ronon, you're staying here."
John groaned inwardly. Of course! Ronon for his part tried to fight his way out, but his arms were still confined behind his back and while Dolan had his weapon trained on John, Elizabeth took out one of her own and stunned Ronon quickly.
John stared in shock at her once again. She lowered her arm and locked eyes with him. Confusingly, he saw her eyes looked sad, agitated.
John looked away.
"Let's go." she commanded.
"Sheppard!" Rodney exclaimed. "Where's Ronon?"
"He's not coming."
"What?"
"They're letting us go back to Atlantis so you can get equipment. Ronon is Elizabeth's way of making sure we come back."
"Damn."
"Yeah." Huron stepped out of the jumper and John moved near Elizabeth.
"Tell Sam you'll be with us for about a week. I want you back in at least six hours."
"And if we aren't?"
"Don't test me Colonel." Her face was very stern, but other than that unreadable. He wasn't sure he'd be able to read her at all while McKay worked on the weapon. "I know you'll come back in that time. You're not leaving Ronon. You didn't the last time."
She was right. Ronon was his family and a member of Atlantis. He would do anything for him. And he wasn't leaving her either.
"And don't come with more than Rodney and yourself."
John nodded and looked at Huron. Elizabeth gestured for him to leave. Then they were alone as Rodney stood in the jumper looking slightly impatient, but understanding John's need to talk to her. She looked down.
"Look, John, I'm sorry for doing this."
He remained silent, having nothing he could possibly say. All he wanted to do was crush himself to her smaller body in a comforting hug. But he didn't dare. Her behavior left it unclear as to whether or not it would be acceptable. One minute she was aggressive and the next the compassionate woman he knew.
"I just want to get this weapon online. And then if you let us we'll leave you alone." Pain stabbed John's heart at the thought of losing Elizabeth again. If they did bring her back though, they'd be handing her right over to the IOA. God this was a mess.
"Well, I don't mind killing some wraith." He felt the need to reassure her."So I guess I'll be seeing you soon." She smiled and took a step back from their rather close proximity. Neither had noticed.
"See you then." She said.
John hesitated. "I…I'm trusting you Elizabeth." He turned and went into the jumper glancing back once before the door shut. He wasn't sure, but he swore he saw tears start to roll down her cheeks. Despite what was happening, he did still trust her. Somewhere in there she was still Elizabeth.
"Sheppard?" Rodney asked, pulling John from his thoughts as he just stared at the back of the ship. "Are you alright?"
"Fine, McKay." He responded. "Let's get out of here. We have an interesting debriefing ahead of us."
