Please see first chapter for disclaimer, rating, warnings, pairings, etc.

Part 11/?

SpaceMonkey0941: LOL! I love your reviews, they always make me laugh, and right now I really needed a laugh. And because you asked so nicely, here's the next chapter. . . :D I hope you enjoy!

Wraith named Michael: Okay, geez Louise, I'll make it turn out okay. You're mean to me, you know that? (pouts) LOL I got it, I understand completely. And yes, poor Teyla. . . LOL, I hope you and your friends like this chapter, too, yes, for my sake. . .

Thedummie2: Thank you! I've had this story in my mind for about a year, I'm just now getting around to writing it, LOL, but when I saw "Sateda" I started freaking out, afraid that people would think I was trying to copy off the episode. And, as far as the other Runners, I felt the exact same way. . .you'd think they would have helped them out, too! And it's okay about the rant. . .I do that to, and sometimes it's best to just get the words out (some other people have ranted before too, and given me ideas that are better than my own, it's kind of cool how that works out!). I hope you enjoy this chapter, too!

Chapter 10

Finding Hope

Ronon's warm breath hit the frigid air with a puff of thick steam, and he shrugged his coat a little tighter around him as he followed Sheppard through the dense forest. This was the first planet that they'd decided to search in hopes of finding Teyla, and for the moment they were looking for anyone human whether it be Teyla or another Runner.

Behind him, Doctor Beckett kept looking around nervously, as though he expected something or someone to pop out at him. He had come along so he could remove the tracking device from Teyla if they found her; or, if they met up with another Runner, he could help that person as well. Other members of the expedition's medical staff were with the other teams out searching, but Beckett had chose to come along with Ronon's team, saying that he was sure they would have the most luck finding Teyla.

Ronon hoped Beckett was right. Now that he knew for sure that Teyla was alive, fighting, and why she hadn't come to Beta Site, he was more determined than ever to find her and bring her back so she could go home. McKay felt sure he was close to figuring out the mirror, and was busy trying to reconstruct the remote device he'd dismantled almost a year ago to try to figure out how it worked. Once he got that put back together, he said, he was sure he could get the mirror turned on and back to Teyla's reality.

That was good news: it would be even better if they could find Teyla so they could help her go back home where she belonged, where she really wanted to be. She didn't belong in this reality, it wasn't hers; she needed to go back to her reality, her home, and her people.

Dex was broken out of his thoughts when Sheppard abruptly stopped walking and knelt down, one fist up in a silent motion for everyone to stop. Ronon immediately dropped to his knees and glanced around, weapon up and ready for action.

That's when he heard it, whatever it was that Sheppard must have been hearing. The snap of a twig here, the rustle of leaves there. . .

The foliage to his left stirred in only a moment's warning before a small, dirty figure stumbled onto the path, staring at them in obvious terror as she realized that she'd broken her cover and was now out in the open with four men who were pointing weapons at her.

McKay spoke from behind Ronon, his voice low. "She's the Runner on this planet. The tracking device in her back is sending my tracking equipment haywire."

Dex slowly holstered his weapon, holding out his other hand in a bit of a placating gesture. "It's okay," he said, trying not to sound gruff. "We won't hurt you."

The young woman, who couldn't have been much older than sixteen, looked at him with frightened blue eyes out from under matted and tangled dark hair. "Rescue?" she whispered, hope in her voice.

Ronon and Sheppard traded a silent glance before Dex nodded. "Yes, we're here to rescue you. We'll get that tracking device out of your back, and then we'll take you home." He took one step forward, hand still out. "Okay?"

She shook her head. "Home's gone," she whispered. "The Wraith destroyed it."

Dex swallowed back his anger. "What's your name?"

"Tessa." She still looked scared, but at least she didn't look like she expected to die any second now.

"Tessa. My name's Ronon, and that's John Sheppard, Carson Beckett, and Rodney McKay. If you want, we'll take you back to our planet until you can find somewhere you want to stay."

Tessa swallowed hard and nodded. "But what about the tracker?" she questioned, motioning to her back. "It would bring the Wraith to your planet like mine."

"I'm goin' to get it outta ye here, lass," Beckett said softly. "I'm a doctor, and I promise I'll be gentle."

Tessa agreed, and while Beckett set up his equipment Ronon reached into his pocket and pulled out Teyla's locket. On the off chance that perhaps this young woman had seen Teyla, he held it out to her and pointed to the picture. "Have you seen her before?"

Tessa looked intently at the picture, her brow wrinkling. "Yes, in the face she does. I met a woman who looks like her yesterday, but her hair was a little shorter and lighter colored. She was a Runner like me, and we killed the Wraith pursuing us together, then went our separate ways. We didn't say much to each other, and pretty much all she said was that she was fighting to go back home."

Ronon reined in his want to jump for joy. "I don't suppose she mentioned where she was planning on heading next?" he asked hopefully.

Tessa shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. She didn't." Beckett called for her, and she shot Ronon an apologetic glance and headed over to the Scottish doctor.

Dex closed the locket again and slid it into his pocket as Sheppard came to stand next to him.

"Well, she said she's seen Teyla. They met up on a planet once, killed the Wraith pursuing them, and went their separate ways. She said it was yesterday."

Sheppard seemed to be doing some mental calculating. "Yesterday by standards of this planet?"

Ronon shrugged. "Probably."

John still looked unconvinced. "Well, it's the most recent sighting of her that we've had reported to us, so I suppose it's a start. We'll just have to keep looking and hope that we can find her before it's too late."

Unknown planet

Teyla had been struggling against her bonds for so long she'd lost track of time, but it had not gotten her free. All it gave her were rope burned wrists and aching shoulders, definitely not the results she'd been hoping for. These injuries, in combination with the rest she'd sustained at the hands of the brutal men who had captured her, made her wish she could get free if for no other reason than to kill them all.

She closed her eyes in exhaustion and leaned her head back against the pole behind her. She knew that it would be only a matter of time before the Wraith showed up, and then it would be all over for her. As long as she was running she was trying to get home; but here she could do nothing but wait for the inevitable.

All she wanted to do was go home to Atlantis. To everything familiar, everyone she loved, her people, her team. . .Ronon. Was that such a bad thing to yearn for? Perhaps not, but she had a terrible feeling deep in her stomach that told her she would never see them again.

Two tears trickled out from beneath her closed eyelids and made paths down her dusty face. Ronon, I am so sorry. So sorry I never told you how I feel, so sorry this happened, so sorry for not understanding you more, and so sorry that I will never see you again. . .

To Be Continued. . .

Short chapter now, but I promise that the next one will make up for it! I hope you enjoyed, and keep an eye open for the next chapter tomorrow, because this story is far from over!