Chapter 11:
"Very Well." He heard Kolya say before he turned around and nodded to his men to release the Wraith.
John didn't know what to expect when it came to being fed upon. The moment he felt the fiery tendrils of pain snaking through his veins he tried to block it out, squeezing his eyes shut in the effort. When the pain increased ten fold, spreading throughout every part of him it could find, igniting every nerve ending, he couldn't block it out anymore. His eyes opened and widened in surprise at how intense it was, then they closed as it consumed him. He would not scream his agony, he wouldn't make a sound. Not only was the gag making it impossible but he wasn't about to give Kolya the satisfaction.
He didn't notice when they pulled the Wraith off until he felt the fire in his nerves die down to a slow burn. GOD it hurt! John looked up at Kolya thinking "When I get out of this I am going to kill you!"
He was surprised to see, was that regret or hesitance in Kolya's eyes. Surely the former Genii Commander wasn't regretting this! He probably thought it was over too quick. John didn't know and right now he didn't care, he just hoped his team found him soon. He didn't want to experience that again.
John awoke flailing like a fish out of water and panting for breath. It had been 2 years since he had been kidnapped and tortured by Kolya and he still couldn't shake the nightmares of it. He could still feel Todd's hand on his chest and the pain of being fed upon. He put his own hand on his chest to reassure himself that it was just a dream and upon finding no mark exhaled a sigh of relief.
He looked around his room, slowly taking in the comforting look and feel of Atlantis and upon noticing his clock he let his eyes fall upon it to read that it was 5a. John got up out of bed and walked around a little to stretch his stiff muscles before he went for his jog. He left his quarters and headed for his usually route, starting slowly to work his body into a rhythm before he picked up speed. Once he found that rhythm he let his mind wander over the last few days.
He had woken up from his nap hungry and went to the mess hall for dinner. He found his team and Jocelynne at a table already eating so he quickly grabbed some dinner and joined them. He noticed the blossoming attraction in the air between Jocelynne and Ronon and smiled. Good for him! She really was quite a lovely young lady, inside and out, and he thought she'd be good for Ronon and maybe Ronon would be good for her. She seemed embarrassed and self conscious from Ronon's attention (or anyone's really) and he thought having someone pay more attention to her would do her good.
Each time John saw Jocelynne she made it a point to ask him how he was feeling and even to touch him. Her touch wasn't that of someone interested in him it was that of a dear friend or a sister and each time he felt unexplained warmth spread through him and any aches he had at the moment would reduce themselves to barely noticeable or cease to exist altogether. He couldn't explain it but he had a feeling it was because of her but he didn't say anything to her about it yet, he wanted to wait.
John, Teyla and Elizabeth took turns keeping Ford company while he was kept in the infirmary. The exhaustion Ford had been experiencing when he first arrived at Atlantis had seemed to fade after a day and soon the Lt. grew restless. Carson explained that they had found something in the ancient database that would help the Lt. for now but it wasn't a permanent treatment. He determined that the Lt. would be free to go within 3 days of arriving on Atlantis and told John that if he continued to improve as he had than Carson would let him be the one to fly the Jumper and explore the village like Ford had wanted.
The team themselves spent more time together over those three days. John was still on light duty so he was not allowed to spar but he was allowed to lightly train and perform exercises that were seen as physical therapy. Teyla helped him to stay limber and flexible by stretching while Ronon helped him to gently (for Ronon at least) strengthen his muscles. John chuckled to himself as the days passed and whenever Ronon was around so was Jocelynne (by Ronon's request).
On the night before the return trip to Adora, the team ate together on the balcony of Atlantis. Rodney had decided that once again he would stay behind to work on the device and Elizabeth decided that, with Ford being the leader, Teyla would be a good diplomat to send to broker an alliance. She made sure Teyla knew what was needed and wanted and what she was allowed to promise to get it. Teyla felt honored by being trusted with this responsibility and was more than willing to do it but she hated leaving Torren. Elizabeth suggested that she take a short trip to the mainland and leave Torren with Halling so that he would be around family. Teyla agreed it was a good idea and therefore agreed. She had just come back when they had joined each other on the balcony.
They all sat around for hours, talking and eating. When Teyla let out a yawn they all decided it was time to go to bed. Teyla and Rodney were the first to leave, each exiting quickly eager to get to their respective places. Ronon left next with a curious look at Jocelynne but nodding his understanding.
Jocelynne turned to John with an intense expression. "I was wondering if I might be able to speak with you before you leave." She said.
John, more than a little surprised at her intensity, merely said, "Um, sure, yeah, ok."
Jocelynne fidgeted to get comfortable and then spoke again. "I'm sure you've been getting curious as to why you're healing so fast." She began, waiting for his silent but uncomfortable nod before she continued. "It was me." She said with a big sigh. "I'm able to help others heal, physically at least."
John sat stunned into silence, for awhile his brain refused to comprehend what she just said. When it did he asked, "How?" He was curious but suspicious as well.
She drew in a ragged, shaking breath. "Like you, I have a strong ATA gene. Within that gene is a genetic code that seemed to have been released a long time ago. I do not know how it got released but I do know that I am a descendant of one of the Ancients." She said her eyes scared.
"And this code made you able to heal others?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Yes. I am also able to sense moods, feelings and thoughts. I believe the Ancient I descended from was a strong and powerful empath as well as a healer and that is why I am able to do the things I can." She said firmly. The fear was still in her eyes, but her voice was strong and determined.
"So, the warmth I seem to be feeling from your touch is you healing me?" he asked, slowly putting 2 and 2 together.
"Yes." She replied simply.
"Why?" he asked. "Not that I'm not grateful, I am but why would you choose to help heal me?"
"Because you are needed around Atlantis healthy and 100%, there is something going on that you need to fix. The explosion that injured you was not a natural occurrence, it was the work of a spy who was able to get on Atlantis and get back off again without being seen." She said her entire posture intense with severity.
"How do you know this?"
"I could read it from the minds and moods off someone in the mess hall about a week ago." She said.
"Wait, did you say a week?" he asked suddenly. She nodded slowly, clearly confused as to why he was asking about the time frame. "The Genii were here around that time, they were in the mess hall waiting for us to tell them they could leave. I remember Atlantis being agitated and desperate to get rid of them but she didn't know why."
"Yes, she relayed that to me as well. I had just figured out why when I saw Dr. Weir come in and tell the Genii they could leave. I would have said something sooner but I didn't know WHO the feelings and thoughts were coming from." She told him defensive and pleading.
"I understand. Empathy isn't a science." He replied lightly, smiling at her. "Why are you telling me this now?" he asked her.
"Because I think that the ancient device was only part of their plan and I wanted to put you on your guard for when you leave tomorrow. I get the feeling that we have not heard the last from them and that they have someone working with them from outside their race." She told him.
"Who else knows about your abilities?"
"Teyla and Ronon." She replied. "Teyla has been a good friend and, as I'm sure you're aware, it is hard to keep things from her. She's exceedingly sharp." She said smiling. "I told Ronon because I knew that he was interested in me and I didn't want him getting in too deep without knowing who I really am."
John nodded, "I appreciate that." he said, truly grateful at the consideration for his friend. He sat quietly processing the information he was just given when he focused on something she had said earlier, "Does this mean that there's something in my genetic code that needs to be or can be unlocked?"
She paused for a minute before nodding. "It is possible but I'm sure Dr. Beckett would be able to answer that better than I, could he not?"
"I don't know he hasn't yet." John replied.
"That's because he hasn't been told to look for it." She said smiling.
John sat there contemplative while Jocelynne sat quietly. After 10 minutes of quiet he stood up, "Right. Well thank you for trusting me, for the healing and the advice." He said smiling while looking at his watch. "I think we should get some sleep now."
She smiled back and nodded, "Yes, you are right. Good night Colonel and be safe tomorrow." She said before she walked away leaving him to his thoughts.
John had spent a good part of the night trying to make sense of what Jocelynne had said which left him getting very little sleep. He felt himself tiring earlier than normal and decided then was a good time to head back and shower. He had a quick breakfast before heading down to the infirmary to get his final check up. Carson had insisted he come in for one before he flew the Jumper, still not 100% convinced that John was ok enough to go on the mission.
When John got there he discovered that Ford had been released earlier and was taking one last tour of the city before he left. Carson came over and gave him a full examination before announcing that he was able to go on the mission. He advised John to try to take it easy and keep in mind that his body was still healing even if it didn't feel like it. John agreed to be careful and quickly left to get ready and then headed to the Jumper Bay.
He got there noticing that he was the last to arrive. "Sorry guys, Doc's a little paranoid." He said, apologizing to the group. Teyla, Ronon, Lorne, Stackhouse, Morgan, Ford and Radek just smiled and nodded knowing full well that it was true and then followed him onto the jumper, getting into their respective places.
John performed the pre-flight checks and alerted control that they were off and heading to the gate room.
"Be careful and check-in in 4 hours." Elizabeth's voice called through the radio.
"Will do. Try to not miss me while I'm gone." John quipped causing everyone in the Jumper (and on Atlantis) to roll their eyes.
While Lorne dialed the gate John felt Atlantis and Jocelynne brush his mind Be careful they both said, And good luck Jocelynne continued. John smiled in spite of himself. Thanks guys, you take care he told them both before they whirred through the gate.
They parked in the same spot as last time and left Sgt. Stackhouse and Lt. Morgan with the Jumper, leaving them with secret instructions to move it when they left. The rest of the group walked to the village quietly, each lost in their own thoughts. Radek had his scanner out and was scanning the surroundings. The last time he was here he noticed strange readings and he was looking forward to figuring out what those readings meant.
After sharing a relatively light meal with the villagers they all split off in their own directions. Ronon and Lorne took the challenge of taking on Adora's military happily, Teyla and Ford sat down to negotiate and Radek and John wandered the village with one of the villagers named Nehemiah.
Nehemiah wordlessly led them into another main building. Ford had introduced him as the leader of the military and John could see why, the man was seemingly built for battle. He was easily Ronon's size and probably had Ronon's abilities in hand to hand combat.
"So, where are we going?" John asked lightly.
"Aiden has asked me to show you and your friends our military and our routes underground." Nehemiah responded back coldly clearly not wanting to talk to or get to know the Lanteans.
"That's what those readings were!" Radek exclaimed quietly.
"Readings?" John inquired, noticing the uneasy eye Radek was receiving from Nehemiah.
"The last time we were here, I was picking up some faint energy readings and some interference. I did not fully understand where it was coming from so I wanted to come back and investigate more." Radek explained.
"Interference? So if we go into the tunnels we'll be able to maintain radio contact or use our scanners?" John asked uneasily.
"Yes." Radek said simply while nodding.
"OOk, how about we wait until everyone is able to join us before we go exploring the tunnels?" John suggested to Nehemiah while he quickly turned around to leave with Radek following.
Right when he turned around John heard the sound of a gun meeting flesh and an "oof". He turned around to see Radek on the ground, unconscious. He had no time to see if Radek was ok or to prepare for the attack that came next as he felt Nehemiah slam his body into John, effectively forcing John to slam into the wall with jarring speed. He tried to get up and retaliate but only managed to catch the glimpse of a gun coming down hard on his head before darkness claimed him.
It was around mid-day when Teyla and Ford took a break deciding it was time for some lunch. They went out and grabbed Ronon and Lorne who were still training with the military men.
"Where is Colonel Sheppard?" Teyla asked them, clearly expecting him to be with them.
"I don't know we saw him and Dr. Z go with a different villager." Ronon responded growing slowly concerned that Teyla didn't already know that.
"He was supposed to be here with you guys." Aiden said, concerned and a little suspicious. "Do you know who the villager was?" he asked.
"I think it was Nehemiah." Lorne replied.
Just then Ronon took off toward one of the buildings. Clearly confused the group turned their eyes to the building he was running to and noticed Radek Zelenka stumbling out of it, blood trickling down the side of his head. The rest of the group was off like a shot with Lorne radioing Sgt. Stackhouse to radio Atlantis and let them know of the situation and be ready to take off should they need to.
When they arrived at the building, Ronon was helping the scientist to sit down. It always amazed them at how gentle he could be when he wanted to.
"What happened?" Aiden asked immediately.
"Colonel Sheppard and I were getting ready to tour the tunnels under the village when our guide attacked us." Radek replied shakily, trying to recall what happened. "When I woke up our guide and Colonel Sheppard were gone."
"Are you alright?" Teyla asked, concerned about the scientist.
"Yes, I am alright." He reassured her though she didn't look totally convinced. "I tried to find them but our scanners don't work underground. There seems to be some sort of interference that is blocking the signal from getting through." He told Lorne and Ronon.
"It's alright doc, we'll find them." Lorne told him. "Teyla would you help Dr. Z to the Jumper? They are ready and waiting to take him back to Atlantis."
"I would like to stay and help." She said not making it a request.
Lorne nodded, "Of course, but I still need you to help him to the Jumper. The marines inside the Jumper can take it from there." He told her patiently, understanding what his request sounded like.
"Of course." She replied as she gently helped Radek up. They slowly walked back to the Jumper with Mikhail helping them both.
Lorne turned to Aiden. "What is in the underground tunnels and why would Nehemiah take Colonel Sheppard there?" he demanded.
"We use the tunnels for a place to stay when the Wraith come. It stores enough food for the village to survive on for a week and it has little caverns that serve as rooms." Aiden explained. "As to why Nehemiah would take Colonel Sheppard there, I have no idea. As far as we knew there was nothing down there but the tunnels do go deep into the mountains and we haven't had time to explore them fully."
"Take us there." Ronon growled menacingly.
Elizabeth was idly playing chess on her computer, hoping she looked like she was working, when Rodney came bursting in.
"Elizabeth!" he yelled urgently.
"Rondey, what?" she asked surprised by his manner.
"I have finally figured out where the device came from and how we didn't notice it before." He said quickly. "The reason why we didn't notice it is because WE didn't find it. It was planted in my office while we weren't looking. It was designed to target every main room in Atlantis and cause the same reaction as it did in my lab." He rambled on.
"Who could have planted it and what could their possible goal be?" she asked.
He held up a finger and smiled. "Someone else arrived with the Genii almost a week ago. They had a personal cloak on so we didn't see them but our systems were able to detect them. When I discovered the purpose and origin of the virus I began looking further into the scanners and I noticed anomalies. When I delved further, I found one that traced from the gate room to my lab to the mess hall and back to the gate room. After more inquiry I noticed a radiation signature and linked it to the same one that comes from our Jumpers when they're cloaked." He rattled.
"So, what your saying is…"
"That the Genii were behind the attack from the start, yes." He finished for her.
"Is it possible that they were at the planet while we were there and we didn't notice them?" she asked.
"Yes. Radek and I were talking and he was telling me about readings he found when you guys were last there. He said that he thought he found life signs under the village but couldn't get a clear read because of some sort of interference or something."
"So the team that is there now is possibly in trouble?" she asked.
"Yes! Weren't you listening?" he asked impatiently.
"Yes Rodney I was but I wanted to make sure that I had all the facts right first." She replied testily.
Right at that moment the gate dialed up and the alarm blared. "Unscheduled off world activation!" Chuck called out. "It's Sgt. Stackhouse's IDC Ma'am."
"Atlantis this is Jumper 1, we are inbound with a medical emergency." Came Lt. Morgan's voice.
"This is Weir, what's the nature of the emergency?" she asked.
"Dr. Zelenka was attacked and has a pretty bad head wound." He responded.
She nodded to Chuck to lower the shield before she responded, "You're clear to come through Jumper 1." She turned again to Chuck, "Alert Dr. Beckett that they need a medical team to the Jumper Bay." She told him before she left to head down there as well.
She arrived just as Carson did and in time to see Sgt. Stackhouse and Lt. Morgan helping Radek off the Jumper and onto a gurney.
"What happened?" she asked of the marines.
"From what we were told it sounds like Dr. Zelenka and Colonel Sheppard were attacked in an underground tunnel. When Dr. Zelenka awoke the Colonel and their attacker were gone." Sgt. Stackhouse reported.
"Alright, I want you to gather some marines and head back to the planet. Tell Major Lorne that I want him to contact us immediately. I want to know exactly what's been going on." She told him before she walked out and headed back to the control room.
"I think it's time to call Ladon Radim back." Rodney growled, obviously not happy at the idea.
"Yes, I think so too." Elizabeth replied just as darkly. Oh John, what have you gotten yourself into this time?
John awoke to a cold hard floor and a fierce headache. He shivered as the cold seeped into his clothing, noticing for the first time that he only had on his t-shirt and pants. His vest, shoes, socks, wrist band, watch and jacket had been taken. He tried to look around but immediately stopped when the pain in his head intensified drastically creating a nausea that was hard to quell. He laid there for a few moments, taking deep breaths to suppress the acid that he could feel climbing up his esophagus. He reached up to feel his head, grimacing as an ache in his shoulder and side made itself known. He pulled his hand back when he noticed wetness and wasn't surprised to see blood. Figures!
He laid there for another 10 minutes waiting for the throbbing in his head to decrease to a more tolerable level. When he felt that it had, he turned his head to look around. He noticed the stone was all around him except for the iron bars that blocked his escape. An underground prison. He thought immediately. Just great! He rolled over onto his stomach, breathing deeply to keep from expelling the light meal he had had all over the floor and the black dots that clouded is vision at bay. He managed to sit up, leaning against the cold stone wall.
He sat there trying to figure out who he had pissed off this time when 4 guards came to get him. The leader of the guards was Nehemiah. What did I do to piss you off Neo? He thought as they came in to escort him.
"It's about time." He said when they opened the door. "You guys really need to do something about your accommodations." He quipped receiving nothing in return. "This could be a 5-star place, all it needs is a little throw pillows, blankets, windows-" he was cut off by a quick punch on the jaw snapping his head back.
"You will speak when spoken to." Nehemiah warned.
"Well, I've never really been good at being cooperative when someone has kidnapped me." John replied earning himself a hard kick in the ribs, knocking the wind out of him.
"Do not make me warn you again. I have my orders to bring you unharmed." He said again as two guards came up behind him and wrenched his arms behind his back and binding his hands. Nehemiah waited with an inpatient air while they bound John and then upon noticing they were done said, "Let's go."
With that John was led out of his cell and down a series of winding tunnels, making it almost impossible to tell what way was the exit. They finally came to a wide cavern. The guards untied John's binding only to sling the bindings over a beam, leaving him to hang by his wrists with barely enough room underneath him to put his feet down. He heard the groaning of metal and noticed that the beam was being lowered to where he could stand with relative comfort with his hands still above his head.
Nehemiah's ugly face came into view. "Make yourself at home, the boss will be with you in awhile." He said sneering, his cold hateful eyes staring at him.
"Great, can't wait!" John quipped as they left the room, leaving him to contemplate on who he would see.
Major Lorne, Teyla, Ronon and Ford had been in the tunnels for 2 hours trying to find some sort of trace of Colonel Sheppard or Nehemiah when they noticed that Lt. Ford seemed to be tiring and so decided to head back. Ronon led with Lorne and Ford behind him and Teyla bringing up the rear. They were almost out when Ronon thought he noticed something and went to check it out while he urged the others to go on ahead, Teyla decided to stay behind with him feeling better with 2 of them in there rather than one.
"What is it?" She asked.
"It seems to be footprints but it dead ends at this wall." He told her.
"How many sets footprints?"
"One, they are dragging something with them, probably Sheppard." He told her still examining the wall.
They heard the sounds of footfall behind them and automatically whirled around to see who it was. They noticed a guard pointing a gun at them and debated on taking him on when the wall behind them opened up to admit 4 more guards all with guns in their hands.
"Please, do not struggle. Our boss seems to think you could be of some use to him." One of them said.
"Where's Sheppard?" Ronon demanded
"The last we saw of him, he was hanging around waiting to meet the boss." One of the guards replied with a wide sneering smile on his face. "I'm sure he has gotten fully acquainted now. The boss has ordered us to take you to see him."
"Who is your boss?" Teyla inquired.
"You'll see, now come with us." He replied more sternly.
They felt the barrels of the guns being pushed into their backs and they immediately began to walk hoping they could memorize the path out and rescue John.
John didn't know how long he stood there waiting for "the boss". When the he heard the door finally he open he breathed a sigh of relief. Waiting was never a strong point of his especially when it came to waiting to be tortured.
"Good Afternoon Colonel." The familiarly cold voice greeted sending surges of hate through John.
"Kolya." He growled. He should have known! Who else would want him so badly and then keep him in an underground cell, it just screamed KOLYA. "So, you're not dead." He responded disappointed.
"No, as you can see I am very much alive." Kolya responded punching John in the stomach. "Had you stuck around, you would have watched me get up hours later."
"Luck you." John quipped. "What do you want?"
Kolya chuckled a cold, calculating and merciless chuckle. "It's quite simple really. I want Atlantis but first I believe a little vengeance is in order."
"Vengeance? Vengeance for what?" John laughed.
"For killing my men, for helping Ladon overthrow Cowen and taking my place, for managing to escape with the Wraith, for shooting me twice and most importantly, because I want to hurt you." He explained with a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Besides, I believe you could use some weapons training and what better way to teach than to use them on you." He said laughing as he grabbed, what looked like to John, a bamboo stick. "We'll start small first of course, with sticks and rods. Then we'll escalate into more fun and deadly weapons."
The first strike struck John on the middle back causing him to choke back a cry of pain as he felt muscles scream their abuse. John struck out with his leg receiving a satisfied grunt. He heard the groaning of metal and the beam was raised again to where he was fully suspended by his wrists. Kolya struck again, smacking the stick against his side and then bringing it down again in his stomach. He seemed to be doing circles around John, letting the stick strike where it wanted.
John continued to hold in his cries of pain as Kolya continued striking him repeatedly on the upper parts of his body. When he got tired with that, Kolya seemed to move to John's limbs, not sparing any part he could find. He struck John's upper back near the shoulder blades. Then he aimed for John's arms which were still strung up overhead. Next he aimed for John's dangling legs, causing them to go flying and his wrists to get shredded from the rope when his body was jerked around.
Kolya kept up the high-low sequence until he was panting hard and sweating profusely. The last thwack landed on John's left forearm causing him to cry out in pain as he felt the bone in his arm break. Satisfied, Kolya then decided to stop, grabbing a towel and a drink of water.
John was finding it hard to focus, the pain in his body muted by the screaming agony in his arm. He managed to look up at it to try to determine how badly it was broken and had to hide his dismay in seeing it slightly deformed. The smoothness of his arm was replaced by a sharp point pushing up in the skin. Thankfully the skin wasn't broken but that it didn't make it hurt any less. The opening of the door caught his attention snapping him out of his pain induced musings. He saw Kolya smile maliciously before he heard two familiar voices.
"John!" "Sheppard!" he heard Teyla and Ronon yell at the same time. His heart sank, he didn't want them here. He didn't want them to see him like this or maybe even subject to the same treatment.
"Hey guys." He said, gritting his teeth. "Come to join the party?"
Kolya chuckled, "Still joking are we Colonel? Maybe I didn't practice enough." He said as he instructed his men to bring Teyla and Ronon around so they could see him, forcing them to kneel and watch.
"What do you want Kolya?" Teyla asked with such fury in her voice John didn't think it was possible.
"As I've already told Colonel Sheppard, I believe he could use some weapons training and the best way to teach it is to show how it feels." He replied, the malicious glint still in his eyes.
Ronon struggled against the men that held him. "I'll kill you for this!" he swore.
"Ah, I see your friend doesn't want to behave Colonel." Kolya said, the excitement back in his eyes. "Shall I show him what happens if he doesn't behave?" he asked.
"Go to hell." John spat back at him just before he felt a blow to his right knee. He tried to keep from crying out as he felt something in his knee snap and pop and the movement on his body jostled his broken arm but was unsuccessful.
Teyla's heart broke when she heard John cry out in pain. "Please stop!" she pleaded as she watched Kolya strike him again in the same spot causing him to cry out more.
Kolya stopped. With a humorless smile on his face he turned to John's two friends, "Here is the way this will work. Obey and no harm will come to you, disobey and more harm will come to Colonel Sheppard."
"That's not really an incentive for us to obey," Ronon growled. "since you're already going to harm him more."
"That is true, I am, but how much depends on you. Attack the guards and any wounds they receive, he receives, try to break out of here and I break him, try to break you all out of here and I kill him." He said gleeful hate in his eyes.
"What do you want us for?" Teyla asked having noticed that he hadn't explained that yet.
"Ah, you're my insurance that he will behave." He replied. "Should he try to do anything, harm will come to you."
"Kolya let them go!" John growled, his voice filled with pain. "You don't need them as insurance. You have already disabled me enough to where I'm not a threat to you."
"You see, that's where you're wrong Colonel because I happen to know that you have the ability to heal quickly." Kolya said. "So if you should find yourself "feeling better" we have them to assure us that you do as you're told."
John wanted so desperately to tell Kolya that it hadn't been him that had healed himself and that it was someone else but he kept his mouth shut. He spared a glance at Teyla and Ronon and saw that they were all thinking the same thing he was but kept their mouths shut as well.
Kolya took their silence for assent and said, "Very well. Release him and take them all back to the cell."
"Kolya you must at least give us some bindings to help his injuries." Teyla stated.
"Food and water wouldn't go amiss either." John and Ronon quipped at the same time, drawing weak smiles from all of them.
Kolya studied them closely before saying, "Very well, you shall have them." He nodded to his guards who lowered the beam enough for them to release John. The movement on his broken arm and the act of being forced to stand on his own two feet caused him to groan, growl and hiss in pain. "You two will help him back to the cell, insuring me that you won't try to escape. Nehemiah and 4 others will show you where to go." He told them, motioning for them to leave.
Ronon and Teyla swiftly went over to John and stood there for a moment while they tried to determine how to get John to the cell while causing as little pain as possible. They both had the same idea and looked at each other before Teyla turned to Kolya.
"Would it be possible for Ronon to carry him? We do not wish to pull on his injured arm while we transport him." She asked.
"Ronon, you are not carrying me. Just help me to the damn cell." John gritted out.
"I must agree with Colonel Sheppard, holding him up will assure me that you two won't do anything. Do what you can to get him there but you both must do it." Kolya said before he walked out of the room.
"Let's go guys, I would really like to sit down sometime soon." John told them sounding like he may pass out at any minute.
Teyla went over to John's left side, guessing that she would not need to pull on his arm as much since she was shorter than him while Ronon took his right guessing that John would need more help on that side since he couldn't put much weight on his leg. They silently apologized to him before they all began their slow and painful (for John) walk to the cell.