I don't have the words to say sorry. So many apologies to give so please know in every language I send them your way. I thank you for your reviews and encouragement. Many of you have checked on me through PMs and in your reviews. ShepsGirl, E, Tylna52, John'sgirlfriend2date, Fohrar, you pushed me forward…got the rock up the mountain a little to finish it. I always publish with a little fear because I worry so much about disappointing. I am going to try to write smaller chapters and see if that helps. Thank you for your patience. Thanks of Highonscifi for your beta and helping me reduce mistakes..any existing are mine. I still don't get a profit for this labor of love so you know where wall the rights are reserved. This is just for fun.

Chapter 10-Becoming Dracula

They had sent Sauriko because he was the one who could best stand up to Sheppard. Sauriko interacted quietly with Sheppard. Of all the uncles, it was this Guardian most like the warrior that seemed to be able to understand how Sheppard would react. They all loved their "nephew" and they certainly all respected him, but Sauriko was the one who could, if necessary, exert the most authority. It is why they sent him to greet Sheppard and his team upon their return. Word had been sent that the victory had come swiftly and easily. Perhaps Sheppard would be in a good mood. That would only last until he heard the news.

Sauriko sighed as he watch the young king make his way down the ramp of the Scabuer. He was speaking quietly with O'Neill and appeared relaxed. The two even exchanged a quick smile. Then, despite his efforts to block his own thoughts, Sheppard turned toward the Guardian and his eyes narrowed slightly. O'Neill must have sensed something as well because the General's smile also faded and he looked first at Sheppard then at Sauriko.

Sauriko did not feel the king probing his mind. Sheppard respected the privacy of others, but Sauriko could not completely contain his dread. When Sheppard approached, Sauriko bowed deeply and smiled. "My lord. I am glad that your team was successful. We have arranged a de-briefing in two hours."

"Yeah thanks," Sheppard said without taking his eyes off of the Guardian. "What's going on?"

Sauriko looked Sheppard in the eye. There was no use stalling and there was no way this could be kept from him. Tristan and Etienne had made their way to Sheppard and O'Neill. Sauriko self-consciously stood a little taller. "My lord. I regret to inform you the Lady Teyla is no longer on your worlds. She left approximately 4 hours ago. We traced her destination to a planet in the center of the galaxy and immediately sent a team by circuitous route to find her. However, they reported that they were unsuccessful. We sent them 30 minutes after we discovered that the gate had been activated.

O'Neill cringed slightly as the room seemed to develop an energy that needed to be discharged somewhere. There was no doubt to anyone in that room that Sheppard was not a happy camper.

"Briefing room now," Sheppard said in a clipped voice. The five men moved quietly but quickly to the briefing room located just down the corridor from the entrance to the hangar.

"What the hell happened? I said no one should leave these worlds. The gates were shut! We have been working to slowly cut down trading so as not to draw suspicion."

Sheppard was pacing back and forth. He was worried and he knew it was wrong. Teyla was a warrior in her own right, and she could take care of herself. His love for her would destroy them if he let it. She left only because she had to. He had created the barrier between them because of his own fear of losing her; and the only way to break that barrier was to trust her.

He stopped pacing and turned to Sauriko. His voice was calm as he tried to silence the fear inside of him.

"What happened?" he asked again as he sat at the head of the table. O'Neill nodded to him as he sat. Sheppard had grown into his role and O'Neill knew from experience that it was sometimes hard to set aside personal feelings…especially feelings this deep.

Sauriko sat to the left of Sheppard and across from O'Neill.

"Word had reached us here that a small group of her people from her home world had been asking about her. They had been separated when the Wraith had come."

Sheppard suppressed a shiver as he remembered that day and night and, frankly, so many other days like that. He broke himself from his thoughts. "How many?" he asked quietly.

"She did not say but it did not seem large."

"Did she say when she would return?"

Sauriko shook his head. Sheppard was taking this quite well. "She did not, my lord."

Tristan could see the muscles on Sheppard's jaw tighten. Sheppard turned to the Pegasi, then to O'Neill. "We will continue with our plan. Prepare the teams for their continued attacks and prepare for the defense of our planet when they come-and they will come. We need to make sure Rodney is also good to go before we start the full scale battle but we cannot wait any longer. I won't be hidden much longer."

He could feel the presence of the First Queen searching for him. A far away tendril, still not yet certain if he really existed or was just another wish the humans conjured up. He could sense her but not locate her-not yet. He hoped to keep the fight away from here, but they would be ready.

He stood up and began to head out the door. "What of Lady Teyla, my lord?" Sauriko asked.

Sheppard turned around with a sigh and looked at the Guardian directly. "She will return to us when she has completed her mission. She can take care of herself." She could take care of herself and she certainly did not need him to protect her and keep her safe. That was his issue and not hers and he decided then that he would have to learn to live with it. He would destroy them if he tried to keep her like a bird in a cage. He pushed down his anxiety about her safety.

0000000000000000

"How are you faring, my lord?"

Sheppard shook his head. "You know, I just stepped out of the shower and was getting ready to grab some dinner with Ronon and you are already hovering over me." Sheppard pulled his shirt over his head and hid his smirk. "Honestly, I should have called you Mother Hen."

Samsus snorted as he stooped to pick up a shirt off the floor before Sheppard stopped him. "You need looking after. It is my responsibility to ensure that both your body and mind are well."

"Well, are they okay?" Sheppard said more sharply than he wanted. He sent a mental apology to Samsus. "It's just…well dammit…I don't know….Damn…Damn…Damn!" Sheppard threw his boot across the room. It wasn't that he was tired of being poked at. He was, but that wasn't the main issue. He sighed as he bent down to grab the boot off the floor. He looked up at Samsus. "My mind and body are fine, ok? I do what I need to do. Tonight I have dinner with Ronon. Tomorrow...I don't know yet. Maybe I'll spar with the Marines and the Pegasi."

The message was clear. He was not going to talk about Teyla or anything else right now.

Sheppard stood and looked at the old man, daring Samsus to inquire about Teyla. Samsus only sighed. "Very well, my lord."

Man cannot change the world, he can only change himself from within. Sheppard decided that, if he was going to beat the threat out there, he needed to stop worrying about all the outcomes. He had to accept that there would be loss and that he would mourn. He would do everything to protect those he cared for and, most of all, Teyla. He knew her loss would change him in a way he might never return from, but she had to make her own choices. He had come to terms with his own death ages ago. Samsus nodded slightly and smiled. He bowed as he handed Sheppard his other boot. "I will take my leave of you then, my lord. This hen has other chicks to attend to."

Sheppard laughed and gently bowed his head in respect. "Thank you." He knew he was lucky to have so many people concerned about him. He frowned when a thought crossed his mind. They only care for Evander's Heir, and that just happened to be him. He remembered the vileness that had spewed into him thanks to the little "presents" left for him in the dagger and the stones. He smiled to himself as he thought of how the evil just annoyed him and tried to tear down his confidence rather than have him destroy everyone else. This was a lot easier to handle.

He slipped on his other boot and walked out the door to meet Ronon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sheppard was facing Etienne. The cave was dark and cool. This was where the Pegasi came to train on their own when they weren't training the general forces. Not even Ronon came here. It had been a very good workout. The sword master had put him through his paces and Sheppard breathed heavily from the exertion; but Etienne was only giving him time to catch his breath. "You have improved, my lord."

Sheppard looked at the blue eyes of Etienne. The blond-headed Pegasi had hardly broken a sweat. "But you were holding back," Sheppard replied.

Etienne looked thoughtful for a moment and almost, but not quite, embarrassed that the king had noticed. "I think you are ready."

Sheppard nodded and sighed all at the same time. He hadn't been looking forward to this. The Pegasi were formidable-even more so than a dozen Ronons. They were ancient and had been practicing for over a thousand years-all to help him do what he had to do. Tristan had told him about the last trial…meant to prepare him to kill the Wraith of all Wraiths. The one who, once killed, would mean the end of all the Wraith-at least the ones that had not been willing to convert to a human form. Carson was nearly done with the antidote and Sheppard, despite despising the Wraith, also understood that it was about survival for them as well.

"So killing that Wraith Queen was just a warm up," Sheppard said as he noticed more Pegasi coming into the room. He had known about this for some time. It was supposed to have happened sooner but he had not been able to train as much and, after Elizabeth had died, it didn't seem important. He wondered why he had to endure so much at first-the stones, the attempted assassinations, the beatings, and then Erebus. His body had the scars as memory of those experiences. He had changed. He wasn't humorless; but he was more focused. Especially now, he needed to be focused; but he sensed the end approaching and then he could relax. He could spend time with his friends and maybe even have a family with the woman he loved; and he could laugh like he used to even before Afghanistan. It had been a long time since he had been that person.

Etienne did not smile but grew serious at the Kings attempt at humor. "That was too easy for you and, quite frankly, for all of us. It will not be so again."

Sheppard felt the weight of his sword in his hand. "What is the purpose of this? I've already had enough hazing. Is this another list of ways to humiliate the Heir from the great book of Evander? Or maybe it is from the book of Erebus that apparently laid out how I should be killed.

"No, my king," Tristan's voice said from behind. "You have shown that you can heal others, nearly at the cost of yourself; but you must be able to heal yourself and quickly. The battles ahead will not be easy and the Enemy will come here. Your ability to heal others must extend to yourself. After this trial, you should be able to quickly heal. You are unique even to our healing abilities because…"

"Because I have had Wraith blood in my own and have been restored by a Wraith."

"Yes, but because of your genetic inheritance you do not need the life force of another to do this."

"So you developed this trial yourself," Sheppard said as he looked at Tristan. The tall Pegasi shrugged. "With consultation." Sheppard knew what that meant. The Pegasi could communicate with the ascended and, no doubt, Evander himself had thought of this. Sheppard shoved aside a pang of anger. He knew they only meant well.

Sheppard eyed the dagger in Tristan's hand woefully, then looked up at the Pegasi. "Why does there always have to be a dagger?"

Tristan frowned as the other Pegasi stripped Sheppard of his shirt to match their own attire. Sheppard tilted his head slightly. "Gaius, is that a new tattoo?" The Ancient Pegasi smiled and bowed as he stood with his staff to the floor. "How observant, my lord."

He had thought that he had been given the power to heal and that it would just happen; but it was never that easy and no one else could help him if he was near death-at least not without consequence to them-and he would not let that happen. He had slowly worked on the skill since Elizabeth's death; but he needed to be able to do it without assistance from the Pegasi. Saving Lorne had happened quickly and his urgency had given him the ability. He needed to be able to do this when he was calm.

He smiled briefly. I will be like Dracula, he thought. Then he frowned. Or maybe like the Wraith. "Well, no use wasting any time. Let's get on with it. It will be the last time you will be allowed to try to kill your king."

Gaius was the first to attack with his staff. Sheppard easily blocked it with his own and landed a blow on the Pegasi's thigh. Augustus then leaped forward with his own short sword and Sheppard deftly stepped out of the way, but was met with a hard kick to his leg. He managed to land a sharp punch to Etienne's chin. Then the warm up was over. Though he was able to continue to land punches and kicks, they did not give him time to catch his breath. He had a flashback to that cold night when he almost died-when the assassins of Erebus had been sent. He felt a rib crack as Etienne landed a solid blow to his side. He staggered forward and Gaius served as a temporary support until Augustus approached swinging a short staff that landed on Sheppard's shoulder. He spit out blood that had pooled in his mouth and used the distraction to use everything he had to land an elbow squarely on Gaius' jaw knocking the larger Pegasi out cold. Sheppard managed to fight them off for two more minutes and then he felt a coldness surround his mind. Images of his friends dying oppressed his thoughts. It was so personal; and he wondered where it came from until he saw Tristan with his eyes closed. All his fears began to crush him as if the building around him was falling all around and on top of him. He fell to one knee and steadied himself with his hand. He was about to get up when someone kicked him in the side again and then again. He felt his left arm crack as a boot caught it below the shoulder and crushed it to the floor. He could hear his own rasping breaths and, as he tried to push himself up, he could see the blood rush from his mouth to form a dark pool on the white floor. A hand grabbed his head and pulled it up roughly as he was hauled to his feet. He cried out as someone grabbed his broken arm and someone else grabbed the other arm. He looked into Etienne's eyes. He saw no maliciousness, as he expected-just a sad resolve and even love. He did not expect that but had little time to think anything else as another blow caught him in the same bruised side followed by the mental assault.

He sobbed in misery as an image of Teyla flashed in his mind and he vividly could see her alone and hurt. He reached out his hand as if to touch her as she seemed so real in his mind's eye. A strong hand caught his and he stared into blue, tear-filled eyes. An image of Teyla smiling at him replaced the face of Tristan just as he felt the Pegasi's blade pierce his chest. He held on to Tristan for support and saw only Teyla now…malevolence on her face as she laughed at him. "No," he whispered. It wasn't real. He knew it wasn't real. He sank to the ground and let the misery he had become accustomed to surround him. Gentle hands caught him and laid him down before he fell completely.

He was aware of the Pegasi sitting around him. The mental and physical assault was over. "My lord, Heir of Evander, you must focus and heal thyself," came Tristan's soft voice as a warm hand touched him. It was a stark contrast to the cold floor. He could hear his own heart beat and, with it, feel blood pour out of his chest. He tried to catch his breath and vaguely heard it rattle. He was dying. Focus my son. Sheppard pushed aside the last image of Teyla and replaced it with her smile. Then he focused on his most critical injury first and willed his body to heal itself.

Tristan and the other Pegasi watched quietly. The pool of blood was getting larger and he could see Augustus eyeing him nervously. We cannot help him, Tristan told them mentally. He had argued with Evander. 'It was too much for Sheppard,' he had told Evander. 'The boy had been through enough.' But Evander had faced this threat before and had barely survived to escape Pegasus to Earth. Sheppard had to be immortal, nearly an all powerful god like the mythology of Ancient Earth. The Great Evil that had started all of this had been waiting for Evander's Heir and, if Sheppard lost, it would be Hell in Pegasus. No one would be safe anywhere and then it would extend beyond this galaxy to the next. The skill, the immunity, had to be built slowly. Sheppard had called it stress inoculation. He had said it with humor. It was not stress inoculation but rather a transformation. Tristan had been amazed at the king's humility and strength. There was no arrogance, except maybe from what he had heard when he had battled Erebus. Sheppard would be immortal if he chose to be after this trial. Evander had not expect his heir to have been bitten by an iratus bug or to be rescued by an "honorable" Wraith. It had given him an ability none of them had expected; and it took time for Evander to determine how to use it to help his heir.

Tristan heard a moan. He could feel Sheppard's physical pain but the king had managed to block any mental pain, at least for the moment. He had gotten significantly better at that. Sheppard's breathing was labored but Tristan noticed that the blood flow had stopped. The goal was not for Sheppard to completely heal himself in this moment-only enough to not die. They would do this over and over until he could do it quickly-perhaps almost instantaneously. Tristan was not sure if that was possible. Sheppard had mentioned that "Dracula" could do this. It took Tristan a moment to make the connection-of course Dracula was an Ancient. A fallen one, but one nonetheless, until he had been redeemed and ascended with Tristan's help.

Tristan turned when he saw movement to his left. Gaius had had regained consciousness and found a seat next to Augustus.

Sheppard coughed as he choked on the blood that had accumulated around his lungs and seeped out his mouth. His brow was furrowed in concentration or pain-Tristan knew not which. The Pegasi warrior sighed. He tried to sense if Sheppard was succeeding. He could hear the king's heart beat…dangerously fast. The king's eyes were open and focused on the ceiling. Come on, dammit!, Tristan willed. He could sense Etienne's own anxiety. The blond Pegasi's eyes glittered with tears that would not fall. Tristan looked at all the Pegasi in the circle. They sat stoically all eyes on Sheppard and with the utmost concern.

Sheppard coughed once more, then took a deep breath. He was doing it! Tristan saw that the knife wound had closed. Sheppard's breathing was returning to normal. Tristan felt Etienne's hand on his own arm. A breach of their protocol when in the circle, but understandable given the circumstances. Tristan nodded with a smile as Etienne withdrew his hand in embarrassment.

Sheppard moved his leg. No pain there. No searing hot pain in his chest anymore and he could breathe almost as before. He moved to get up and hissed. His side still hurt as did his arm. Strengthened by his own resolve he focused again to these areas. The arm was easy, but the ribs would have to wait because they required more time. He pushed himself up to his knees and reached out to his knights. Whoever did that to my ribs is in for a world of hurt. It took only two seconds before Sheppard realized who it was and his eyes landed on Etienne. The knight's eyes shown brightly with humor and he bowed in respect. Sheppard stood up, shaky at first, but then more steady. The Pegasi all stood and in unison bowed at the waist.

Sheppard looked at Tristan and tilted his head slightly. "Again?"

Tristan smiled and sensed the power from his king. He was not completely healed but enough to fight and heal again. The transformation was nearly complete. Evander had been right. Sheppard had all the strengths of the Ancients and now the strengths of the Wraith.

The Pegasi moved forward and Etienne, ever the trainer, aimed his staff directly for Sheppard's ribs.

000000000

McKay stood next to Carson as a cloaked figure walked down the hallway surrounded on either side by one very tall Ancient and one very blond one. He knew it was Sheppard just because of his size and the way he walked. His gait was stiffer than usual today. The scientist turned to the doctor. "They've been down to their secret cave," he quipped as his eyes followed his friend. Carson, ever watchful, nodded in agreement.

"That makes five days in a row," Carson responded. He knew when Sheppard was hurt. The first day he had been nearly carried into his room as well as the second day. The third and fourth day he only needed some assistance. Today he walked on his own.

"Do you know what they are doing?" McKay asked as the three figures disappeared around the corner.

"No," Carson admitted. He had his suspicions. He had confronted Sheppard who only laughed and said Dracula had nothing on him. The doctor was not called for any assistance. Carson also noticed that some of the Pegasi were a little more bruised than usual.

McKay studied the doctor's face then decided to change the subject. "Has he heard from Teyla?"

"Yes. A scout returned with a message from her two days ago. She had found her people and they were carefully making their way back here."

"That's good. Hey I'm hungry. Lets go see what the royal chef has cooked up for his royal highness."

Carson laughed. No matter all the changes in the past few years one thing had not changed...and that was McKay's appetite.

000000000000000000

Sheppard eased himself onto his bed. He was tired and sore. He focused on his arm to begin the healing process. He was getting better at healing without feeling tired. It wasn't a complete fix but the soreness dissipated quickly. "I should be Dracula soon," he said to himself. He could feel the change happening within him. Mind and body in sync like never before. Erebus had probably never imagined that, by what he had done to Sheppard, he had, in actuality, made the king more powerful in the end. He could feel The Enemy reaching out searching for him, but he easily blocked it for now. He wasn't sure if he was even afraid anymore because of what he could do; and it didn't bother him that he wasn't sure. Maybe I really am Dracula. His arm was healed and he grinned as he held it up. He stared at it for a moment, than an idea crossed his mind. He reached across to the small table next to his bed and pulled open a thin drawer. He pulled out Evander's knife-his knife now. He took it and hesitated as he held it next to his wrist. I must be nuts. He took the knife and swiftly swept it across his wrist. Blood immediately gushed out. He focused his mind on the wound and watched it heal immediately. A shiver ran down his spine and he smiled. Bring it on.

00000000000000000000

Sheppard was sparring with Ronon and the Pegasi when Saphides came rushing in. Sheppard sensed him and turned to him. The Guardian bowed deeply and surveyed the Pegasi strewn on the floor and Ronon standing shakily next to Tristan who appeared to be the only one unscathed.

"My lord," Saphides said quietly. "Teyla has returned with her people."

Sheppard's intense gaze softened as he nodded. "That's great. Where are they?"

"Currently in quarantine, my lord. They have already expressed an interest to join the others after they have been interviewed and cleared."

"How many were there?" Ronon asked as straightened himself up and moved closer to Sheppard.

"22 in all," the Guardian responded as he handed both men a towel. Tristan and the other Pegasi had moved off to finish their maneuvers. Tristan knew that Sheppard would brief him if needed.

"Okay. Well, I am going to get cleaned up then I'll go and say hi to everybody."

Saphides nodded. "My lord. You have not acted on LaPierre yet."

Sheppard frowned and Ronon sensed him stiffen. "No," Sheppard said moving past the Guardian. "I have not."

"My lord," Saphides said quietly but firmly. "Our laws require that he be allowed to defend himself and that he should not languish without charges or trial in our prisons."

Sheppard stopped quickly and Ronon nearly ran into him. "I am the king," Sheppard said coldly, "or so you all have kept reminding me. I can keep him in my dungeon for as long as I want according to whatever law I dictate." He turned and left.

Saphides bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Royal Highness." He sighed inwardly. LaPierre had been interrogated and Sheppard had sent Ezekiel from the Pegasi and a small team to track down Gareth. The former vice president had made it off world as conveyed by the authorities on Earth. Sheppard had been furious but then they had picked up the trail. LaPierre had no further information to offer and Saphides thought he was likely losing his mind with fear. The Guardian shook his head. He hoped Gareth was found soon or he could become a problem.

0000000000000

Sheppard stepped out of his closet and entered the library part of his room and nearly jumped in surprise at to the figure standing in front of his book case. "Teyla!" he said with a smile.

She grinned but she also looked cautiously at him. "John," she finally said. "I know I shouldn't have gone. I know you didn't…" Before she could finish he had closed the distance between them and put his arms around her. She stiffened in surprise at first, then relaxed in his embrace. The old John Sheppard would never had shown such affection. He had been awkward in the past; but so much had changed since the early days. She looked up at him as he gently pushed back to look at her.

"I'm the one who should be sorry," he said quietly, "I was wrong, so wrong. I just worry so much about losing you…all of you…but especially you."

She put a hand on his face. "I know, John. I know how much you love all of us, but you must focus your efforts on saving all of us."

"I know, but if I lose you, Teyla…"

"You will mourn…just as I would mourn you, John. It has taken us so long to get to this point. Do you not think I have the same worries about you and the same wishes for you?"

He smiled and held her close to him again. "You are a warrior, Teyla. I did not mean to ever make you feel like less than that."

She laughed as she pushed him away. "Do you think that you, even as King Armentarius, could make me feel any less than who I am? Of course I am a warrior, John. I needed only to give you time to remember that!"

He grabbed her hands. "Thanks for being so patient. I have been really stupid. I can't wait for it to just be us-John and Teyla living in peace with the rest of the galaxy."

She wondered if it would ever be that way. "You mean King Armentarius and his queen."

He laughed gently. "My very formidable warrior queen." He leaned down to kiss her and she felt the heat rise in her cheeks. She could sense in him an electricity and she let herself enjoy this one private moment because he did not truly know how much she feared losing him. She wrapped her arms around him and then put her head on his chest. "I do love you, John Sheppard, Evander's Heir, King Armentarius, most powerful man of not only this galaxy but…"

She could feel him laughing as his chest shook gently. "I should have you punished for your insolence," he joked.

She looked at him coyly. "Perhaps, Your Royal Highness, but I think you wanted to meet your new subjects. Saphides has arranged a welcome feast for them as they await the transfer to their new home," she said as she walked with him towards the door.

And a means for them to be gently interviewed and screened, he thought.

"Anything for a party," Sheppard laughed. "I think we should have him plan our wedding."

00000000000000000000000000000000

Gareth waited for his Master. Erebus had been quieted by Evander's monster. He had failed in stopping the line of Evander but the battle was not over. He knew what to do. Escaping Earth had been easy, but avoiding the dogs of Evander's Heir was much more challenging. He would find Evander's enemy and let him know that Evander's heir was real and in the Pegasus galaxy.