A/N: you may want to thank Haruka83 for this chapter, it was their review that prompted me to post this chapter... enjoy and please review!

Chapter 10: Comfort

Across the corridor David was watching his younger brother closely, he knew that what John did was dangerous but he still couldn't understand why he felt so good and why his brother and his companions would talk about spaceships as though they were real, let alone as if they were common place. Turning back to the occupants of his cell, he couldn't believe he'd even thought that, he pushed down his fear and stated; "I'm not even going to ask what's going on because your last attempt at an explanation was quite simply bewildering but what is going on with my brother; why is he moving so stiffly?"

He saw Mitchell and Ronon exchange a look before Mitchell sighed, "A few months ago Shep and his team were captured while they were on a mission, we rescued them but there was a fair amount of fighting on the way out and they weren't in the best of shape anyway. John helped quite a few people but because of that it's taken him a while to get back on his feet."

David didn't really know what to say to that but then something Mitchell said registered. "A couple of months! What happened to him?"

Ronon discreetly caught Mitchell's attention and indicated the lady still standing near the bars, Mitchell got the message. "Look, it's a really long story, now probably isn't the best time."

David contemplated arguing the point that it didn't look like they were going anywhere soon but then he heard the lady they had been put with sob softly.

Mitchell sighed, he had seen enough similar situations in the past that he was getting used to the feeling of helplessness that accompanied it but he still remembered the first time he had been captured. At the time he had the support of his team and the knowledge that his family were safe from harm and unaware of his situation on earth. This woman was on her own and separated from her infant son and, on top of that, she had no idea where she was or what was going on. "Your son couldn't be in any better hands given the situation." He put a comforting hand on her shoulder "I know nothing really makes sense but trust me; those men will protect your son, no matter what."

She seemed to take a moment to compose herself before she turned to face Mitchell. "How can you be so sure? Who are you people?"

David noted she had an accent and it took him a moment to place it as British. As she looked around the room he also noticed her bright green eyes which glinted intelligently and contrasted starkly with her pale skin and black hair.

Mitchell stepped towards her and lowered his voice; he was more than a little suspicious of listening devices. "I'm a member of the United States armed services as are the men in the other... room opposite we've had some, ah, experience in this sort of thing."

"Forgive me if that doesn't comfort me." The lady said frowning slightly; "You Americans have a bit of a reputation for being gung-ho."

Mitchell knew that American forces were not always popular with citizens from other nations, even those of their allies, but he wanted to try and win the lady over. Keeping her calm and gaining her trust could be important if and when they came up with a plan. "I can't force you to trust me but I give you my word; we would never do anything that could potentially hurt bystanders, sometimes to the detriment of ourselves just look at Sheppard over there." He indicated Sheppard in the other cell just as he was in the process of lying down and it was evident to everyone watching that he was hurting.

Mitchell knew that he was stretching the truth slightly when it came to Sheppard but it was a good way to illustrate what he was saying and he knew that was the truth. The lady seemed to give a little when she noted the stiff movements of the man opposite and Mitchell forged ahead; "I know you are probably confused right now but our people are probably already looking for us so it's only a matter of time..." This last part he wasn't so sure about but in the past team members had gone missing and been taken far away and they had still managed to find them again, the odds in this particular instance were no different. What he really wanted to do was gather more intel so he knew for sure what they were dealing with, suspicions alone were not good enough.