Hope this isn't confusing at the moment, but you'll get the gist if you keep reading. They are definitely out of character at the moment huh?
John had managed to hold onto consciousness and bolted down the corridor towards the infirmary.
His legs were pumping so hard he thought he might explode. His heart was pounding in his ears, his ribs screamed out for him to stop and his throat burnt as he tried to suck in air.
He had to get to the infirmary and tell Carson before, whatever had happed to Elizabeth, happened to him. He decided to take a short cut and ran through a door which connected to an outdoor balcony.
It was raining, but he continued to run at full pelt. All the while, rain smacking his face and getting in his eyes.
He looked up to see a figure stood up ahead. They were unmoving, waiting and he skidded to a stop before he crashed into them.
"I knew that punch wouldn't keep you down?" said Elizabeth leaning against the wall.
John looked up at the rain falling from the sky and the looked back at her.
"Where are you going?" she asked taking a step forward.
"Nowhere," said John lying.
She looked at her watch and shook her head, "You're trying to get to the infirmary to tell Beckett," she said reading his expression, "I'm sorry but I cant let you do that. I still have things to do."
John took an exaggerated step backwards and felt his back hit the railing.
He went to put his hand up to his ear, "Beckett!"
Elizabeth took a step forward and managed to rip the radio out from his ear before he could speak again.
John was angry, but Elizabeth was still Elizabeth and he fought off the urge to grab back the radio and seriously injure her. She threw it over the balcony and he closed his eyes.
The next thing he knew, he heard a click and felt cold metal against his wrist. He looked down and saw that Elizabeth had handcuffed him to the railing.
"What are you doing?" he said pulling on the restraints and feeling the burn as it chaffed against his skin.
"I'll be back for you soon," she said smiling. She looked at her watch and then back up to him, "Eight minutes to go."
"What's it like?" he asked over a rumble of thunder.
Elizabeth looked puzzled and cocked her head to the side, "Major Sheppard?"
"Whatever it is that's making you so crazy."
She took a step forward, "Seven minutes Major. It hurts less if you don't fight it."
"Elizabeth," inquired John.
Elizabeth patted his arm, "I have something to do. Enjoy the weather. I hear its going to get much worse."
John blinked and turned to her with a smile, "I like the rain."
He watched her walk off and pulled on the railing to see if it would budge. It was certainly strong, and the more he pulled, the more he just served to aggravate his wrist and his anger.
"Shit!" he called out into the rain and looked down at his watch.
SIX MINUTES.
He was stuck. No communication. No way out, just a throbbing headache and rain pounding at him with sick amusement.
FIVE MINUTES.
He walked along the railing, but found he could only go so far before the cuffs got stuck.
I'll fight this, he thought.
There was no way in hell he was going to let himself lose control.
It was terrifying. Elizabeth was acting in antithesis to her usual calm exterior. He remembered with sickening clarity Koyla's remark.
"You'll only know when it's too late."
He wondered if he would lose himself altogether and if Elizabeth was already lost.
FOUR MINUTES.
John sank down to his knees and ran a hand through his soaking hair. He looked down to his feet and watched as the rain hit his boot. The pace was quickening. Along with his heart rate.
He was about to look up when he noticed something beyond his foot.
There was a ledge just beyond the railing, and on that ledge was his radio.
THREE MINUTES.
Moving himself round to a more comfortable position he attempted to reach for the discarded radio. He pulled as hard as he could but there was no give in the cuffs and he could feel his shoulder pulling as he reached out. His fingers brushed it and it moved away farther.
"Son of a bitch," muttered John as he felt a strange hot sensation sear up his neck.
Not long now.
TWO MINUTES.
He was pulling and pulling, his fingers brushing the earpiece. All he had to do was inform Doctor Beckett or anyone of the situation before whatever happened to him.
He turned around and with little hope cried out, "Hello? Anyone around!" he waited and strained his ears against the rain. But all he could hear was the steady tap, tap of rain on the metal railings.
He turned around again and reached out as far as he could.
He was too far away to reach.
Deciding the only way he could do this was by something giving he did the only thing he could think of and stood up, braced himself against the railing and slammed his shoulder into it. He felt his shoulder give and dislocate and proceeded to get into his previous position. He had minimal and excruciatingly painful movement but his fingers connected with the radio and he managed to pick it up.
ONE MINUTE.
The pain in his shoulder was terrible and he knew what was even worse was that he might have to pop it back in himself.
He had dislocated it years ago when he was in training and had since suffered the often irritating reminder as it had a nasty habit of coming out of place.
He put the radio in his ear and was about to activate it when he felt a blinding pain at the base of his neck and he went down to his knees.
"No," he managed to slur.
He tried to remain focused. Tried to keep his eyes open.
Something a lot stronger was pushing at his mind, giving him ideas and instructing him to do something he didn't want to do.
The more he tried to push against the information, the more pain he felt and after a good few minutes of futile struggling he felt his resolve well and truly disintegrate.
--------------
"Lt Ford, I need you to come down to the balcony on the East pier. Bring some pliers."
"Sir, what's going on you sound strange?" asked Aiden as he tapped his earpiece.
"Lt, just do what I say. Oh, and bring me my gear."
TBC
Please keep going not long till you find out exactly what koyla did to them.