AN: Okay people, listen up! Re the last chapter (slashy), I do not condone rape in ANY form or fashion. Frankly, I don't know how it could even enter your mind that I did. This is a fiction story, and the PTB have done things almost to that level to the actual TV characters themselves (i.e. experimenting on a pregnant woman). I CLEARLY labeled my chapters so they would not be offensive to anyone that did not want to read anything of a sexual nature. I have upped the rating on this story to a T, just to be safe, even though those chapters that require a T rating are clearly labeled as such. Also, Doctor McKay's 'enjoyment' of said rape is a defense mechanism, aka a 'fugue'. In stressful situations, some (actual) people have been known to switch gender roles and lose all or some of their long-term memories- frequently disappearing on loved ones. It is actually quite an interesting psychological study, but I'm not going to get into that now. Also, regarding Rodney's rationalization of Kolya being 'not that (bad) different' from him- it is just that. A rationalization. It has no basis in truth; it is simply a part of another psychological issue (Stockholm Syndrome) in which the captive connects emotionally with the captor in intense situations, frequently defending the captors actions. For all those that understood that already, I apologize for this long author's note. Sorry. Now, let us continue.

Chap 10- Non-slashy

Rodney was still staring at the door, his mouth open in confusion.

His brain was spiraling in a constant cycle of questions- why did he stop, what will happen now?

"Okay, there is no way that should have worked," Rodney said to himself, absently pulling on the rope around his ankle. He shook his head, snapping himself out of it.

"Ok, now what? I just sit here, looking pretty? I know he said he was attracted to me, but this is ridiculous, what am I, some kind of a decoration?! Well, I'm not gonna just sit around waiting for something else to happen!" Rodney said determinedly, "I'm smarter than Kolya; I should be able to think my way out of this mess." He looked down at his tied ankle.

"First things first; I've got to get Kolya to free me." Rodney's eyes lit up with a sudden idea. "So he's attracted to me… I can use that." He frowned, "Of course, I can't go too far… but a little feminine wile should be just the ticket." As he formed his plan, he began to grin.

-000-

Kolya returned from his hunt to find the woman asleep on the bed. She sat up at his entrance and stretched- the shirt she wore slipping up just slightly. Kolya's eyes flickered to the shapely legs, settling for a moment.

Internally, Rodney grimaced, but he didn't react, sitting up and pulling slightly on his trapped ankle.

Setting down the bag, Kolya sat in the chair facing the bed.

The woman's gaze flicked up, the large blue eyes holding Kolya's for a moment before she looked down shyly, still pulling on her ankle.

"I would release you, if I knew that you were not going to run," Kolya said softly, unconsciously trying to catch her gaze once more. She looked up hopefully, her eyes wide and moist.

"I… I won't, now. Before, I just couldn't stand the thought…" she said softly, fading as she looked away again.

Kolya's voice tightened, "Of being with me?" he asked.

She looked up, blue eyes wide again, "Of being with anyone!" she cried, turning away to wipe at her eyes and sniff slightly.

Taken aback, Kolya lifted her chin with his hand, gently forcing her to look at him. "Why?" he asked softly, peering into her eyes.

Tears started to form, and she sniffed once again, "It's just that… I was going with a man for a while. A soldier. We decided that we were going to wait until we were married, but then… he died." She yanked her head away and crossed her arms angrily, "He was always taking chances!" she muttered, her eyes closed tightly.

Kolya sat back, thoughtful. "This, soldier, he served under Sheppard?"

She looked up, surprised, "Of course! They all do."

Kolya leaned forward, "And do you blame Sheppard for his death?"

She looked away guiltily, "Of… of course not."

Kolya smirked, "You should," he said, watching her intently.

She looked up and frowned, "He could have made his own choices. He could have disobeyed. He was an adult!"

Kolya chuckled, sitting back and shaking his head, "You know nothing of soldiers, do you?"

Her eyes lit up with an angry fire, "I know they're always taking stupid chances, risking their lives for no reason! They have a suicide wish!"

Kolya laughed, "Indeed! Some more than others." He stood, leaning over her slightly. "You have a lot to learn, Doctor." He whispered in her ear, pulling a knife from nowhere and cutting the rope, releasing her.

She gulped, her eyes wide, apparently not realizing he had a knife handy. "Thank y-you." She stuttered, sitting up fully as he pulled away.

Kolya put away the knife, disappearing it back to where it had originated. He smiled tightly, "I suggest you do not betray my trust, Doctor, or you will learn more about soldiers than you ever wanted to know."

She nodded quickly, rubbing her arm, as if from a phantom pain.

-000-

The time passed oddly, to say the least. Rodney decide his best bet was to get Kolya to trust him, so he tried to keep his mouth shut and cooperate… and milk this dead boyfriend thing. Anything to keep Kolya hands off.

Unfortunately, there was nothing Rodney could do about the leering, but that was marginally tolerable.

Oddly enough, Rodney found himself beginning to respect Kolya. Without the constant threat of death or rape, he realized that Kolya was very, very smart. For a soldier.

They had decided that they needed a water pump, sick of carting water in puny buckets. Rodney immediately took charge, forming the plans and specifications, assuming, of course, that Kolya would do the grunt work.

To Rodney's astonishment, Kolya came up with a couple of impressive improvements, including one that would allow twice the volume to be pumped in half the time. In turn, Rodney liked to think he had impressed Kolya, finding and cutting the local version of bamboo to use for pipes.

Rodney was not sure of the actual passage of time, as there wasn't exactly a calendar or watch handy, and the days seemed a little shorter here, but the wounds from the wolf-thing were nearly healed, the scars pink.

The bad thing was, as time passed, Kolya grew more impatient. He sat closer now, when they talked during the cold nights, and while they worked, he eyed Rodney with disturbing regularity.

Rodney, in turn, grew used to wearing the long skirts Kolya provided… not that he had much of a wardrobe selection. It was becoming disconcertingly easy to pretend to be friendly. The only real barrier being the memory of a certain knife, a certain wraith, and the lecherous looks thrown his way.

The night fell once again, and they were sitting in front of the fire, warming their chilled hands.

"Meredith?" Kolya asked, breaking the silence.

Rodney looked over, raising an eyebrow, "Yes?"

"I was thinking. I feel that we have grown closer…" Kolya trailed off, looking intently at Rodney.

Rodney shifted, suddenly uncomfortable, the fear returning. "What are you saying?" he asked quietly, looking into the fire, peripheral vision on Kolya.

"I'm asking you, Meredith, if you'll be with me."

Rodney nearly fell off the chair, his mouth dropping open. He cleared his throat before responding, "B-be with you? I-I… can't," he said, crossing his arms protectively. He looked up, half-wincing in the expectation of an explosion.

Kolya stood, pacing angrily. He looked over, his face hard, "I could take you, you know? Anytime I wanted to, I could have. I chose to ask."

"I-I know," Rodney said softly, still cringing.

Kolya stopped, his gaze fully on her, "I will not let you return to your people, Doctor!" he said harshly.

Rodney looked down, hands wringing. "I-I was hoping, Aca, that eventually you would."

"Don't call me that!" Kolya roared, looming in front of her, using his mass to intimidate, "Only my wife could call me that!"

Rodney gasped as Kolya yanked him to his feet, his angry face inches away.

"I WILL take you now!" Kolya growled.

Her blue eyes widened, then narrowed, angry.

"You WILL not!" she said boldly, "I KNOW you now, Kolya. I know you don't want us to end up like that! And you know me! Do you think I'll just take it?! I WILL fight, Kolya! And you may win, but at what price?" She pushed closer, shoving against him, "Are you willing to kill me, Kolya? Because that's what it will come to, I guarantee it!" she said lowly, her voice a snarl.

His hand wrapped around her throat, the fingers encircling her thin neck. His face was blank, and, even as her face turned red, she didn't drop her gaze, still confronting him. Her eyes started to roll back before he let go, and she stumbled back, gulping in air.

She glared, rubbing her throat, "Happy, now?" she croaked, "Once again, you've proven you could kill me, and, once again, you've failed to. Why don't you just kill me? Give me freedom, or give me death," she spat, striding forward once again, presenting her bruised neck.

Kolya squinted, looking down at her, the blonde hair just brushing the collar of her simple dress, her bright blue eyes alight. She was beautiful. Kolya took her arm, pulling her close.

"I want you, Meredith. I get what I want," he said, and then he released her and walked away.

Rodney rubbed his bruised throat, wondering briefly where the sudden burst of bravery had come from.

It was time to leave.

-000-

AN: I'm listening to Natalie Imbruglia's 'Torn'. "Cold and chained, lying naked…" lol! And Destiny's Child – I'm a Survivor for the last part.

I got stuck with this chapter; I thought Rodney didn't sound girly enough, so I asked my mom what I should have him say. She said, "Just say what you would say. You are a female Rodney. But you're nicer… sometimes." LOL! (She was serious!)