Chapter 4:
During the next two weeks, Teyla and John spend less time with each other, both of them usually has an excuse why they are too busy. John decides to go on a scouting mission alone. Scanners have detected a ship, but it's not like any ship they have seen before. So, John figures that he can go check it out in the Jumper while cloaked. Once he gets close enough to the ship he starts to describe it, but soon they hear John saying, "Oh, crap!" It is the last of their communication and the ship disappears on the screen. Rodney, Sam, Ronon and Teyla all stand stun and looking at each other.
The technician reports that there is no sign of any debris. Rodney pushes the technician out of the way and confirms the report. Rodney further deducts that they must have taken both John and the Jumper. Lorne, Ronon, Teyla, and Rodney are ready to jump into another Jumper to go find John, but Sam stops them, she's not willing to lose another Jumper to whoever they were. Sam points out that they were able to detect him while cloaked. Knowing that John's team is upset, Sam tells them that the Daedalus is on its way to Atlantis and she'll get a hold of Colonel Caldwell and inform him of the situation. She suggests that they try to keep busy until they come up with a better plan.
Ronon is frustrated because he feels useless and hates waiting. Teyla calms him down and convinces that Carter's plan is the most reasonable, even though the waiting is killing her inside as well. Ronon asks her to do some sparring with her, but she declines and goes to her quarters. Rodney is with the technicians and Radek to see if they missed anything on the scanner that can help them with finding John.
While Rodney, Radek and Sam are in the control room, an audio message comes from John. "I don't know how long I can talk. I'm being held captive by these… space pirates, if you want to call them that. I'm pretending to help them. They need me for the Ancient genes," he says as quietly as he can. "I'm not sure wh…" all goes silent. Rodney and Radek believe that with short message was just enough to locate where John is. Rodney gives the coordinates to Colonel Caldwell and Sam updates Ronon and Teyla. She also asks them to meet Rodney and Major Lorne in the gate room in twenty minutes and then Daedalus will beam them aboard. Teyla and Ronon quickly say yes and run towards the gate room.
It didn't take long for Colonel Caldwell and his crew to get to the coordinates the Rodney gave him. They can see a ship not to far from their position.
Rodney points to the ship, "That's gotta be it! We're picking up Sheppard's life sign signature."
Colonel Caldwell asks the technician to open a channel, "My name is Colonel Caldwell. I know that you have Colonel Sheppard and we want you to give him back to us immediately."
"Colonel, they are preparing to take off sir," yells one of the techs.
"I want a lock on Sheppard and beam him directly to the bridge," demands Caldwell.
When John is beamed aboard, he is laying on his side, curled up slightly and barely conscience. Teyla and Ronon run over to check him out. They can see that he was badly beaten. Caldwell orders a medical team to the bridge.
John looks up and sees Ronon and Teyla. "Hey beautiful and hey to you too Teyla," he says with a mischievous grin. Teyla and Ronon start to giggle and John grabs his side and begins to moan, "I think I have a couple of broken ribs."
"Do not worry John, you are safe now and you will be taken care of," Teyla reassures him.
John closes his eyes and mumbles, "It's good to be going home."