Chapter Eleven

..

"So, are you going to turn the power back on for her when we get in there?" Rodney whispered to John as they walked down the hall behind the drones.

John shook his head just the tiniest bit. "If I did that she'd suspect something. I'm not that infirm yet, McKay. I'll have to put on a show for a little while at least. Don't freak out on me though."

"Oh, great, so I have to sit and watch you get tortured and not say anything."

John's eyes flew up to Rodney's. "You want to switch places McKay, 'cause I'm more than happy to do that, too."

McKay felt guilty and heaved a deep sigh, trying to find a little bravery of some sort. John was his best friend. He would do anything for him. "If you want me to."

John's lips turned into his crooked smile, a genuine one. "Thanks, Rodney. I appreciate the sentiment. But you've got work to do too, remember? Stuff you're better at."

Rodney just nodded. They were nearing the Queen's chamber. It was so weird that it looked like they were going to the conference room. Todd was waiting inside chatting with her majesty or maybe more like getting orders.

The Queen stood from her chair but waited for the drones to push them closer to her. John resisted and Rodney wondered if he should too. This Wraith Queen thing really freaked him out.

"I trust you had a pleasant night and are ready to give me what I want today."

"Oh, yeah," John snorted, "All set and ready."

She moved in front of Rodney and he panicked. He had no defense against this lady. "A- wimoweh, a-wimoweh…" he muttered under his breath. Sheppard said this worked for him. He better be right.

The Queen tilted her head as if she were confused then smiled that sick Wraith smile and Rodney found himself on his knees. How the heck had that happened? He hadn't even felt her in his mind.

"A- wimoweh, a-wimoweh, a-wimoweh, a-wimoweh…" he chanted faster.

Rodney looked up and saw John roll his eyes. Okay, maybe John could do this inside his head but he'd never done this resisting thing before. It was harder than he thought.

The Queen looked back at Sheppard and said, "Perhaps you will do as I wish if I take a few years from your friend here."

Sheppard's face twisted into what Rodney could only call something vicious. He smirked and replied, "Go ahead. But I don't know how to use any of this equipment."

The Queen paused for only a second then looked back at McKay, still crouched on the floor. "I think you would like me to get rid of him. This would be a favor to you?"

She moved away from Rodney and he didn't know whether to be relieved or mad. Sheppard wanted to get rid of him? Had she just read that in his mind or was she guessing? He had to believe John was just putting that in her mind. But was he that good? He knew Teyla could do stuff like that but when did Sheppard start being able to? Although he could read Teyla and Torren's mind. And apparently communicate with the baby. Had he branched out to bigger and better things? Well, not that a Wraith Queen was better but her power was definitely bigger.

Rodney looked up from his musings, realizing that he didn't need to stay kneeling anymore. She had her focus on John. And he could tell from his friend's face that she was very focused. John's jaw was clamped tight and his head trembled as he obviously tried to fight her. Damn! He should have kept her attention longer. It would have given John more time. He'd had to put up with her far too much and they'd only been here a little over a day.

John's breathing picked up and became labored and his whole body started shaking. How long could he do this? Did he have some other song running through his head now while he fought her control?

Rodney watched, like people watched a car accident. He couldn't look away. Sweat stood out on John's neck and face but he hadn't lowered an inch but McKay could tell he was losing the battle. He wanted to scream and tell him to just kneel. Give up and spill it all. But he knew Sheppard. He wouldn't give up without a fight. It was how he'd survived so many times when he should have been dead or worse.

Or worse? That was a stupid things to say, well, to think. He stared at Sheppard hoping he'd see him as he shook his head telling him to give up. Did the man realize he had put up more than a token resistance?

John fell to his knees, glaring at the Queen, his eyes daggers. She took the few steps to reach him and stroked her finger down the side of his moist face.

"It seems the night resting has garnered your strength again. You are quite strong for someone who was fed on so recently."

John's eyes slowly moved to Todd who was standing quietly by the open doorway. Then they swung back. "You'd be surprised."

The long finger continued its journey down John's face to his chin and lifted it. "I would not be surprised by much. I had heard of your strength from my sisters and I did not believe it. But there is something different about you. I could feel it when I fed on your yesterday. That short time was far more satisfying than I expected."

"Means you're full now, huh?" John quipped, his eyes gleaming with that sarcastic humor that was so him.

"Hardly. You only gave me a small taste. But I need you to give me control of this outpost, first. You'll do that for me, won't you?"

Sheppard chuckled. "Go to hell."

Rodney winced. Did the man have no fear or any idea what she could do to him? Well, obviously he did, probably better than anyone he knew.

The Queen stared down and her eyes narrowed, cold and hard. John started shaking more and his breathing picked up, shallow and quick. What the hell was she doing to him? Sweat dripped from his forehead, sliding down his cheeks. His expression was agonized but he clenched his teeth and stared back. Maybe he didn't have a choice with the staring. It was like he couldn't tear his eyes away.

The lights flickered and McKay whipped his head up. Several consoles from outside the room glowed and beeped. Had Sheppard done that on purpose or had the Queen finally gotten her way? He hoped this was just what John had planned and he hadn't turned on anything vital or dangerous the Queen could use.

As the noise drew her attention, the sick, Wraithy smile appeared on her face again and she waved her hand in the air. John flew backwards and landed on the floor, crumpled in a ball, his back to them. Rodney wished he could see his face so he could tell if he was okay.

The Queen walked quickly toward the door and stood in front of the consoles in what they'd used as the Control Center. Rodney moved closer to John but noticed only one console was lit up now. He'd managed to keep the rest off.

"Sheppard, you okay?" Rodney kneeled over his friend and saw that his eyes were open but they were glazed over and staring at the wall, unmoving.

"Sheppard, tell me that was all in your plan," Rodney said, his voice lower, still keeping his eyes on the Queen and Todd who had joined her.

"Yeah," Sheppard rasped out, "My plan."

Footsteps moved back near them and Rodney's heart beat faster. It was a drone who motioned for him to get up. McKay patted Sheppard on the shoulder and stood, nervously checking out where the Queen and Todd were. Still checking out the glowing console.

The drone shoved him with the end of his stun weapon and Rodney reluctantly walked out the door. He still didn't know how John was and he hadn't moved from his fetal position on the floor. That didn't bode well.

"You, get these working and tell me what they do," the Queen ordered. "I want as much information as you can get from them as soon as possible. He will help you," she indicated Todd, "So do not think you can get away with using this equipment to send a distress signal."

Well, at least she hadn't stuck one of the bulldog drones on him. Todd they could trust, well, to a certain extent.

As she moved away she ordered the two drones who had been standing outside the conference room, "Pick him up and attach him to the wall. I am in need of another taste of his defiance and strength. It fulfills me like I have not felt before."

"No!" Rodney yelled, a lump the size of Atlantis lodged in his throat. "I wouldn't hurt him too bad. This equipment still needs the gene he carries to work. He might have turned it on but that doesn't mean I can get it to do everything. We may need him for other tasks."

She bared her teeth and waved her hands for the drones to carry on. Then she moved from the control room back into the conference room and toward John. Rodney could just see him being manacled to the fancy Ancient décor. He was sagging and his head drooped but when the Queen walked closer he lifted his head and stared her down. Bravery or stupidity. He couldn't decide which.

"We must get to work, Dr. McKay. My Queen will not be entertained long with Shepparrrrd. The sooner you can find the information I desire, the sooner you can depart from here."

Rodney stared at Todd, knowing he was right. "Are you just going to let her do that? How can you watch it?"

Todd ignored the question. "We must work. Find something small to appease my Queen and then look for the information I need."

Rodney took one last glance into the room where John was now sagging against the wall. He turned back and started pressing buttons and checking the data that was available to him at this console. It was amazing what he was seeing and this wasn't even the important stuff. What was in here that hadn't been okayed by Sheppard?

A long groan echoed through the door and then a wail followed. Rodney whipped around to see the Queen standing in front of Sheppard, her hand pressed to his chest. His head was arched back, his mouth opened but the sound died down quickly. Did that mean …?

"You can't let her…" He turned beseeching eyes to Todd.

"I have no choice, Dr. McKay. If I object, she will suspect something and then you will have to do your research with one of her other subjects watching you. And I will be her next meal. Then you and Shepparrrd will have no chance of ever leaving here."

Rodney stared, his chest pounding, though he figured John's was probably louder. He didn't know what to do. Todd touched his arm gently and pointed to the console. "She will not take all of his years. As you said, we may need him and she is aware of this."

Rodney cringed as another cry floated through the air. He turned back to the work station and pressed more keys. He didn't know if he could actually concentrate enough to do anything. But within a few seconds it didn't matter. Silence cut through the room and was louder than the anguished sounds of Sheppard being fed on. She was done.

He couldn't help himself. He peeked through the door and his breath stopped. Sheppard hung from the wall, his head dropped forward. But he could see enough, gray hair, wrinkles, sagging skin. She'd taken another twenty years.

…

..

"I do not know what is wrong with Charin," Teyla apologized as she bounced the baby in her arms and rocked back and forth. "I am sorry, Julia. I hope she is not waking Patrick."

Julia walked over and put her arm around Teyla's shoulder. "Don't you even think about apologizing for a crying baby. Do you know how often David and I thought we'd pull out all our hair trying to get Patrick to calm down? He still gets into his cranky moods every now and then. And I think he's starting to teethe."

"I can feel that she is distressed but I do not know why. Her bottom is dry and she has been fed. I am holding her and sending her soothing thoughts but she still seems unhappy. Something is upsetting her, making her anxious."

Dave walked in with Torren on his shoulders as the Charin started wailing again.

"Patrick's all tucked in and sleeping. TJ here does a great job getting him to settle down. Guess he's got the touch, just like his Dad."

Torren wiggled and Dave lowered him to the ground and he skipped over to his mother. "Mama, Chawin want Daddy to tum home."

Torren stroked the baby's head and she lowered her volume. Teyla took the opportunity to sit on the couch and rest. She had been walking the child for almost an hour. David and Julia sat on the other side of the couch sending her sympathetic looks.

"We all want your father to come home, sweetheart. But you know that he is working right now."

Torren sat near the baby and began singing to her softly under his breath. Teyla felt the little girl's distress ease though she in no way was happy and content. But she felt her brother's presence and love and was soothed by it.

Teyla saw Dave and Julia's curious expressions and explained, "Even though I can feel Charin's emotions, Torren is much more in tune with her. It seems they speak the same language. That is what John has said anyway."

Thinking of John brought pain to her heart and she glanced down at her children hoping to feel better. She did slightly but still worried and missed her husband dearly.

"Chawin worwy about Daddy too," Torren said looking up, having felt her emotions. "She don't want him be hurt. She want him to tum home and be better."

"Be better?" Dave questioned. "That makes it sound like he's injured. He's not, is he?"

"I am sure he is fine," Teyla replied wishing she could convince herself. "He is too far away for us to feel any connection to him. Charin and Torren simply miss him. He occasionally has overnight missions but they rarely last longer than that. He has been diligent in being home to put Torren in bed each night. It is a responsibility he takes seriously."

David chuckled. "I still find it so hard to picture my little irresponsible, dare-devil brother doing the loving Dad thing. And doing it so well."

"John is a very loving father and extremely dedicated to—"

"I know, Teyla," Dave put his hand up in self defense. "I've seen him and I think he's amazing. I'm envious of how easy he makes it look. I only meant that if you'd known him when he was a kid, you would never have believed this would happen."

"Yes, I understand. When I first met him I also noticed the antics and boyish charm. It was quite hard to resist."

"But I thought you two didn't get together for a while," Julia said curiously.

"That is true," Teyla answered. "However his manner was so intoxicating, I found myself falling for him very early in our relationship. I was never brave enough to say anything though."

David nodded. "John says the same thing about you. It's amazing since you both are about the bravest people I've known."

Teyla gave a soft laugh. "In some things especially when others are affected. I think John and I both felt it would be inappropriate to give in to feelings that would only benefit ourselves when so many other lives were at stake."

"You still do that, you know," Julia piped in. "Look at you now. John's run back to another galaxy to try and find something that will help others, or at least keep others from danger. And you, you just had a baby but you aren't even angry that he left."

Teyla began to object but Julia stalled her. "I know you didn't want him to go and you aren't happy that he did but you still let him go without arguing or making a big deal about it. Let me tell you, if David had even mentioned going on a business trip a week after Patrick was born, I would have had more than a few harsh words to say."

David nodded emphatically. "Oh, yeah, she would have. And you probably would have been able to hear them all the way in the Pegasus Galaxy."

Teyla looked to Julia wondering if she would now have some words to say about David's statement but the woman just smiled and patted her husband's hand as if she agreed.

"John and I try not to interfere with each other's work if we can help it. I know how important he is, not only to Atlantis but to the entire galaxy. I have many friends in that galaxy and my heart would break if they were all destroyed because I selfishly kept my husband near me. I could not live with that guilt. John could not either. He already carries more guilt than any man I have ever met."

"He's always been that way." Dave said. "I know after our Mom died I found him hiding down by the lake. He was beside himself. He was upset that she'd died but it was more than that. He kept saying over and over again that he should have been better. He should have behaved better, kept out of trouble, told her he loved her more, done more nice things for her."

"I assume he was a handful when he was young," Teyla guessed. "He is still a handful today."

Dave smiled but it was melancholy. "He was definitely an adventurous kid but he wasn't much worse than most typical boys. And he wasn't a bad kid, he never did anything that would hurt others, he just liked trying to defy gravity far too often."

"Defying gravity?" Teyla queried.

"Yeah, he liked seeing how far up he could climb on things. Trees , the roof, the barn, mountains, he even tried climbing the radio tower near the school one time. He was actually pretty good at it."

"Yes, I have seen him climb. You remember I told you of the time he climbed the side of the central tower of Atlantis. But that time was not for adventure it was for me."

"Cherish that he loves you that much, Teyla, that he's willing to risk his life for you. Not that you want him to have to do it often but that kind of love is precious. It doesn't come around too often."

Dave pulled Julia closer and growled softly in her ear, "I'd climb a big tower for you. You know that, right?"

Julia chuckled and leaned in to kiss him. A small moan next to Teyla reminded her that her children were right there. Torren had gotten Charin to be calm and she had actually fallen asleep. He'd ignored the grown up's conversation but the kissing was too much.

"Why you all got a tiss so much?"

Teyla leaned down to press her lips to his head. "Some day when you are much older you will enjoy the kissing as well."

Torren made a face and shuddered. The adults laughed which caused Charin to startle. Teyla propped her on her shoulder and stood to rock her again.

"Torren, it is bed time. Could you go and get ready please."

"Yup, Mama," he answered and scurried off. He returned a few minutes later and gave kisses and hugs to Teyla as well as Dave and Julia.

Teyla felt Charin's thoughts and knew the child truly missed her father. It was not that she didn't love her mother, Teyla knew she did. But John and Charin had a connection, an Ancient connection, and it made their bond special. She wasn't sure if the child would sleep at all tonight. It had not been an easy night last night.

"John said he'd be back tomorrow night, Teyla. I'm sure he will be."

Her expression must have given away her concern so she pasted a smile back on her face. "Thank you, David, I am sure you are right. For now I am wondering how I will get Charin to actually allow me to sleep tonight, if only for a few minutes here and there."

"She tan sleep with me, Mama," Torren volunteered, his face eager with excitement.

"Perhaps I will lay her next to you for a short while. Would you like that?"

Torren nodded his head quickly. "Yup, I go get in bed now. Ga' night."

Teyla walked slowly behind her son and allowed him to get settled with his giraffe and quilt then she placed Charin on the bed next to him. The child immediately started fussing. Teyla sighed.

"Mama, she miss Daddy. We need something from Daddy so she don't miss him so much."

A memory surfaced and Teyla's mouth turned into a grin. "Torren you are brilliant. I have an idea. Watch your sister for a moment while I get something."

Teyla rushed across the hall and dug in the pile of dirty clothes John had left. She was now thankful she had not had time to do laundry yet. She took one of John's shirts and pressed it to her face. Yes, it smelled just like him. Longing for him permeated her body and she was frozen in place. But her children were waiting.

Torren was resting on his side but had his hand tightly around his sister's body. He looked up when Teyla walked in.

"I hold her tight, Mama."

"I see that, sweetheart. You are an excellent older brother. She is very lucky to have you."

"I know. She love me lots and I love her lots too."

Moisture filled Teyla's eyes so she blinked rapidly trying to keep the tears from falling. New mother hormones were very trying at times.

"I have this from your father. Perhaps it will help Charin not to miss Daddy too much." She placed the soft flannel near Charin's face and soothed it over her cheeks. Teyla immediately felt Charin's spirits lift. It was just like when John had been injured several years ago and Torren could not sleep on Atlantis without him. She had used one of his shirts back then to soothe Torren to sleep.

Torren moved his head closer and grabbed a sleeve of the material. He held it close to his face and his eyes drifted closed. It still worked.

While the children rested, Teyla took the opportunity to clean up and ready herself for bed. When she checked in a few minutes later, they were still happily slumbering. She did not wish to disturb Charin after so long being fussy but she knew she could not leave her here all night.

Teyla was extremely tired and the bed was very large. And it looked unbelievably inviting. She lifted the covers and slid underneath, making sure Charin was still snugly wrapped in her own blanket. Teyla stroked her hand down Torren's arm then did the same for her daughter. She felt the flannel of John's shirt and his absence sliced through her yet again. It was only because she had just recently had a child. Her hormones were all over the place otherwise she knew she would have been fine.

Still, she moved her head closer and took part of the cloth and inhaled the scent. Sweet memories floated through her mind, ones of John and her together, laughing, smiling, happy. Her eyes drifted closed and she hoped her dreams would be just as good.

...