Away From Atlantis

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not the episode The Seer or John.

Chapter Fourteen song Truth by Seether

(Week Twenty Five and Five Days)

John jogged up to the gate room, it was rare Teyla just called a planet out of curiosity, but then she had explained and he found himself just a curious. How many planets had a 'known' seer? This was just another reason he loved his job, getting shot and shot at aside, and kidnapped, it didn't get much better then this.

Coming to a stop next to Rodney he gave him and Ronon some stern looks, "Now Teyla says these people are a little skittish, so be nice children."

Ronon gave him a look, and Rodney scowled at him, Rodney refused to believe there was even the slightest chance the man could do what his people claimed. He wasn't happy about being dragged from his lab.

He stepped through the gate and came to a sharp stop just out the gate, he found six people waiting for them, two women, four men, the blonder of the two women stood in front so she seemed to be in-charge. They weren't armed, just excited, hearts beating fast as far as he could tell, but not because they were gonna fight.

The leader's words explained why; "Welcome. You must be the people of Atlantis."

These people weren't very surprised, they were expected.

Teyla and Ronon looked confused but Rodney's face was just great, stunned silent. No such thing as people who could see the future hun. In Rodney's face.

The woman looked over their faces and explained, "We've been expecting you for some time now. My name is Linara."

"Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard."

She smiled graciously. "We know. We know all of you."

There wasn't too much to say after that, they started back to the village, and Linara walked next to him.

"So, you're telling me Davos knew we were coming?"

She nodded and looked at her feet, "He had a vision of your arrival. Before I take you to see him, there is something you should know. He's very ill. Our healers have done all they can, but it's not enough. Some of us were hoping, well, if you do come from the City of the Ancestors..."

He got where she was going, nothing's free after all, even if this was a very low price, something they might have done anyway. "We might be able to help."

She sighed, clearly relieved he understood, "We would be forever in your debt."

Teyla smiled. "He must be very important to you."

"We own him our lives. Two years ago, he had a vision that the Wraith were coming. We had time to gather our provisions and escape to the caves in the northern mountains. Even from deep under ground, we could hear their ships searching for us. Eventually, they went away and never returned. Not a single Vedeenan was taken."

It was always good to hear of survivors. "Impressive."

She smiled and went on, "Of course, for me, it's much more then that. He's my father."

That explained why she had been the first to greet them, and why she was leading the way back the others were simply honor guards. He smelled smoke, and looking a ways up the low rolling hills he could see large tents. They didn't look like anything short of a hurricane would move them, but he suspected they were easy enough to move when the time came. As they got closer he began to smell the normal smells of a large camp, the privies, the stews, the smoke. Scented candles? They smelled pretty good, he wouldn't mind taking one or two home.

She walked to one of the biggest tents and opened the curtain like doorway. "Father? The people of Atlantis are here to see you."

Stepping into the shade he took his glasses off, the reason this was one of the biggest tent was clear; this was a meeting house, and an old man sat on a large throne like chair. But for all the importance the chair gave him he looked relaxed and easy going... if ill. The slightly yellow tones to the pale skin and the vague trembles told of pain and a rebelling body. He pushed away from the arm he'd been leaning on, and smiled, "Yes. Yes, come in. I've been expecting you."

Looking over them, he smiled. "Curiosity is a curious force is it not?"

John frowned, most coming to see Davos would have a stronger reason then curiosity, but they didn't, they'd be willing to trade, or medicine, but curiosity was why they were here. This guy was the best fake ever or he was real. At the moment he was leaning toward real.

Then his eyes lit on Rodney, "You have doubt in your heart."

Rodney looked at him, and then looked away uncomfortable with the intense stare he was getting from the old man. Another moment of silence and Rodney gave in. "Yes, anyone who had a basic understanding of body language could have said that."

The man stared him down and then offered his hand, clearly he knew what to do with doubters. Prove them wrong.

Rodney hesitated, he knew he wasn't going to like this, the harsh stare he was getting said the man had no fear of being proved a fake.

"Among my gifts, is the ability to show others what I can see."

Rodney tried to pass, waved his hand nervously, he liked his little world just the way it was. He nudged him with his shoulder, Rodney needed to be shown he didn't know everything once and a while, and beside they were right there, he wasn't gonna get hurt.

Rodney was staring at him, hoping he'd step forward.

"You're the skeptic."

Rodney got a sulky look on his face, "Fine."

He stepped up the two steps and took his hand. Rodney gasped and his head jerked sideway, John felt himself twitch, but heard no further sounds from Rodney other then his heart rate was getting faster... so was the old man's...

Rodney's chin dropped and his head moved in a little circle, then his hand dropped from Davos' and he blinked about disoriented. "oh..."

Davos sunk back in the chair, and gave a little groan, Linara stepped forward and put her hand on his shoulder, concern on her face.

"What did you see?"

Rodney blinked seemingly trying to clear his head, "I think I just had a vision."

"Of what?" Ronon asked bluntly.

"Of us, being captured by the Wraith."

Unable to stop himself he turned back to look at the weakened Davos, the man saw that?

The grim look on the tired, wasted face told him yes, that was the case.

Six Hours Later

He found himself playing with a pen in debriefing, Rodney's vision was convincing but they had no clue when it would happen, no time table except the next few years.

But Sam seemed fixated on the description of the planet.

"That's what I saw, yes."

Rodney noticed it too, "What?"

"While you were gone, we received a report that the people of M2R-441 were recently visited by a Wraith."

He caught on the words a Wraith, like that was important.

Carter looked over at him. "Now, from descriptions of his facial markings, it sounds a lot like the Wraith who helped you escape from the Genii last year."

That was not what he'd expected, the Wraith was hunting him down? Why? "My old buddy?"

She nodded. "Apparently he has a matter of great importance that he wants to discuss with you. We already sent an advanced team to the address that he purposed for the rendezvous. Interestingly it sounds much like the planet Dr. McKay has described."

Ronon spoke up sounding disbelieving; "So, we're believing this now?"

Teyla spoke up, "Davos did know we were coming, he just didn't know we were coming today. These vision may have several false leads before it happens."

So someone else saw what he saw, though it did seem unlikely they would be ambushed by Wraith on misty ruin covered planets without fulfilling the vision. And that Wraith being there added to that, but he had to admit he was curious, what did that Wraith think of him? He had kept him alive when he had been vulnerable. And even gave back what he took, and the way he had said most loyal worshippers and brothers had him thinking over the part he had seen in the Wraith Queen's mind, what made a human a Wraith brother? He hadn't been part Wraith then, had it been the fact he didn't care that had fed on him, if it got him out it could have been Joker...

Maybe the Wraith had been trying to tell him it would be back, back looking for him.

"Did no one else see anything?"

John sighed, Woolsey, he didn't care for the man and it had only gotten worse with his senses sharpened. That cologne he was wearing made his nose itch, and if he breathed too deeply cough. Not to mention the nasally tone the man some times took annoyed him more then ever. "No Davos fell ill and they were hoping we could help with that."

Carter nodded. "I'll send Dr. Keller."

"In the mean time, there is only one way to know for sure if he's right. Go to the rendezvous check it out." He pleased when Carter agreed with him right away, giving him a swift nod of the head.

Of course Woolsey popped his bubble.

Sam knew Woolsey was going to annoy her too but she was polite about it. "Do you have something to add Mr. Woolsey?"

"Well, as I said before I am here strictly as an observer. But since you ask, I have to wonder how wise it would be. I may share some of Dr. McKay's skepticism, but we don't need any mystical visions to to tell us that this Wraith probably can't be trusted." Mr. Woolsey turned to look straight at him, his stare was rather accusatory. "You're talking about deliberately walking into a trap."

Woolsey wasn't getting it. "Exactly."

(Week Twenty Five and Six Days)

The woods were eerie, he had to admit as they tromped through the woods. But Rodney was being ridiculous they had two Jumpers following them, what was there to be worried about? Really, this Wraith in all honestly was probably being honest about just wanting to talk, at least for the moment. Not that he'd say that out loud because then it would sound like he trusted him.

"It's like Blackjack. You never know exactly what's going to happen next, but a card counter can certainly increase the odds in his favor."

Since he couldn't say anything he hoped Teyla could feel them too, it felt like the dozen or so Rodney said he had seen, and he'd say they were in stealth mode, he could barely hear them, just feel them.

"And frankly this feels like hitting an eighteen."

Rodney didn't play Blackjack much did he? "It's more like doubling down on against a ten."

Then they came out of the woods right in the ruins, just like they'd planned for, they walked forward and he realized they were surrounded, where was the Wraith Lord? He spun feeling his team take positions around him, back to back. He got lucky, the Wraith lord stepped from behind the rocks in front of him, he noticed the Wraith sensed him or at least was feeling... him, there was no intrusion, no push, but there, looking at him with more then his eyes.

"You were suppose to come unarmed."

He snorted to himself, just him maybe, his team hell no. "Yeah, sorry about that."

The Wraith came to a stop not a foot and a half from him. He tried to feel afraid, nervous, he knew how easy he could be knocked back into his friends knocking them down and making them easy to stun, but he sensed no intent, the Drones were just guards, no attack orders... unless they shot first?

The wraith shifted a little looking over at Teyla, John got the feeling the wraith was now looking at her the way he had been him, but Teyla didn't react as though threaten. Something ponder later. The two jumpers took that as a sign to return to visibility. The Wraith looked up and then back at him, he could see some trepidation, a bit of nervousness but no surprise.

The Wraith had known how he left after dropping him off.

He had planned for this, after all hadn't he said they were more alike then they knew? That was even more true now.

He shrugged and then looked and smirked, ignoring his own sense of it was the Wraith's turn to make a move. He didn't care for chess much, he was good, but he didn't like it, not enough unpredictability to be real life. Well he had a feeling he had just stepped on the playing board. The real question was at the end of this game would they both get what they wanted or was it a set up?

Four Hours Later

He strode on down to have a chat, Ronon at his back, his distrust strong enough he swore he could almost taste it, it was a strange feeling, and it made him feel like wraith. They after all were the creepy alien vampires who went around saying you taste of defiance or fear or whatever you were feeling at the moment. He wasn't a creepy alien vampire, but he feared this was just another sign of the changes.

He noted the moment he walked in to the holding cell he could feel the disease the Wraith felt at being locked up again by humans. There was some confidence, but mostly restrained fear.

He'd almost say it was like the wraith had P.T.S.D. But except for the control, most guys with it were marked by their lack of it, they held it back as long at they could, but then they'd snap, and then the pressure was back to building again. Or at least that was what he'd seen with the men allowed to return to duty, mostly because they did have enough control to hold it in.

Unable to help himself he reached out just a little and realized the Wraith was thinking loudly about the last time he was in one of these, he had been captured for experimentation and that had been the first time he had seen an Ancient, he had been rescued by a worshipper... brother? That had been how the Ancients found out about Worshippers, and decided they had to wipe out all wraith.

He pulled away realizing he had been a little to quiet for too long, and the Wraith had showed him that on purpose. Startled he locked his mind down, he didn't need a history lesson he already thought the ancients played god way too often for everyone's own good.

"So much for trust."

He noted the double speak there, he wasn't gonna get into this with him, what happened to 'all bets are off'?

"You tired to ambush us." Ronon sounded a little too pleased that they had been ready for it.

He had failed the realize the Wraith had planned for this.

"I had no intention of causing you harm, but I could not guarantee your cooperation simply by throwing myself at your mercy."

Then what do you have planned? he wondered. You knew this was a possible move, what did you plan to counter it with? Ronon started to pace around the cell trying the distraction intimation tactics he often used, that wouldn't bother this wraith, this wraith knew who he needed convince was him, not Ronon. Ronon would have just shot him.

"My intent was to have this discussion on neutral ground." The Wraith stood and walked slowly forward keeping eye contact with him the whole three steps, slow measured, non threatening.

"Just a discussion?" That felt right, but not honest. A half truth then.

"The reason for my contacting you. I require your help." he didn't look entirely pleased by that fact, maybe he had not intended to find him again, or at least not nearly so soon.

The Wraith looked at him, John could feel his curiosity for the changes he sensed but he did not ask.

"We worked together once before."

"Doesn't mean I want to do it again."

"You will."

The sureness was back, this was his move, his trump card. "More predictions, just what I need."

"As you know, the Wraith are at war. I believe you refer to our enemy as the 'Replicators'."

He wondered how he knew that, it wasn't from him, but Rodney... no Lorne. Lorne had flown the Jumper that brought him back here. He could have done something of a mind search without Lorne knowing if he kept it passive. No commands... he probably had practice with all that time with Kolya. He knew how the human mind worked and knew how to slip in undetected. That was probably why he had seemingly stood back and watched or looked at his and Teyla's defenses.

"Sounds familiar."

"Well, we have a weapon, a virus that was designed to reset their attack directive, causing them to stand down and return to their own planet. At present, it is not working."

The tone, it was almost accusatory? Or sarcastic? "Get to the part where we care."

"It is well known among the Wraith that Dr. McKay made certain changes to the Replicator base code. Opening the door for them to alter their own programing. Well, knowingly or not, they have since repaired the weakness our virus took exploited, which means in order to get it working again. I need to know the changes Dr. McKay made."

"Now, here's the part you're not getting, we're glad they're kicking your ass."

"Only I believe because you are as of yet unaware of their new tactic."

"What are you talking about?" Ronon demanded from next to him.

He had a sinking feeling he could guess, can't feed your troops, they can't fight. As old a time.

"They realized we have a significant vulnerability. Our food supply."

He could hear everyone else in the room shift, only him and the wraith stood still. If he hadn't been in front of a large number of marines he would have sworn, he should have seen this coming. A fucking mile away. He had already personally seen how much they thought of humans.

"They have begun to annihilate human worlds."

Twenty Minutes Later

He and Rodney stood in Carter's office.

"You think he's telling the truth?"

"He gave us an address. Claims it was a human planet the Replicators destroyed." He was glad his eyes while lighter then normal weren't gold, he was holding on to his calm waiting for a moment where he was alone, then he suspected he was gonna smash something.

Carter looked at Rodney, "Is it in the database?"

"Mmm. M5S-768. We visited last year. It was a thriving pre-industrially society."

She nodded, Send a MALP."

"Okay."

He and Carter followed Rodney over. Rodney gave the orders, and less then ten minutes later it was rolling through the gate. Rodney hovered over the console, pressing a feel keys he said, "Receiving MALP telemetry. Here we go."

They looked at the screen, the sky as far as they could tell was stretch red and black, the buildings of what had been town square were broken and blackened, pillars toppled, it was clear to him right then and there, that was the truth of the matter. Once again he had messed up.

"No life signs." Rodney said sounding shocked.

"How do we know the Wraith didn't do this?" Mr. Woolsey asked.

John didn't answer even though he knew the answer.

"The MALP is detecting residual radiation. The energy signature is consistent with Replicator weapon's fire. He's telling the truth."

John closed his eyes, one he wasn't sure what color his eyes were and two, Rodney felt guilty even though it wasn't his call.

"How many people lived on that planet?" Teyla asked softly.

"We estimated some where between fifty thousand and seventy fire thousand."

He felt rather then heard the group around him slump, he opened his eyes, and scowled st the screen, the Wraith was right, that was one damn good trump card.

He left first, he needed a moment, a moment to punch something, a moment to swear, something, then he could talk sense into Rodney, it wasn't Rodney's fault, yes he'd offered but he gave the okay.

That Night

He walked in to Carter's office, "It's been confirmed, two more worlds destroyed, and that makes three."

She turned to look at him, her arms crossed she asked, "How many dead?"

He sat needing to sit still for a moment, he hid his hands behind him so she wouldn't see the faint smears of blood from where he'd cut his hands again. "Well this is just an estimate..."

She shifted, "How many?"

"One hundred and fifty thousand."

She sighed and looked down at the floor, he noted her arms tightening around herself, her fingers digging just a little into her arms. "And this is just the beginning, isn't it?"

He just nodded his head, she didn't need him to tell her what she already knew, they were gonna have to work with the Wraith.

"There is no reason to assume their going to stop."

She needed to talk it out didn't she. "No." he gave her a second then asked, "What about Woolsey?" The man clearly was frightened by the idea of the Wraith, probably would have been the first to try to lock him up if he told. He allowed himself a moment to be glad he had hidden it, but time wasn't on their side.

"He's contacted the IOA. They're taking the matter under advisement."

He held back a snort, "Oh, well, they're good at that. They'll bicker and argue, but at the end of the day they're going to leave you holding the bag, just like they did with Elizabeth."

Carter sighed, "Now I know why you didn't want the job."

He let her think that, never mind that was only one of close to fifty reasons.

"Look, John, Woolsey was right about one thing. You have had more experience with the Wraith than just about anyone, and in particular with this Wraith. You have a history."

She put it that way and he found himself split, they were right, he just wasn't sure which part of himself was right this time. The first time it had been easy, do or die, and not much change in the way he died, but this... this was his home, his friends. And he didn't know if he could trust his gut on this, his gut could be on the bad guys side. "Well, it's not like we're dating."

Carter smiled but stayed serious, waiting for his answer.

He stayed silent struggling with the words, he wanted to trust him, he had been honest thus far. But he had a feeling the Wraith may trust him but not his bosses, he was sure to have some more back up his sleeve.

She broke the stare off and looked down at her hands. "I know we can't trust him, not completely, but what I don't know is wether or not it's worth the risk to play along with him, at least for a little while."

John closed his eyes. "Carter, I want to say trust him because he saved me when any other would have finished me off, and I almost think he trusts me. But I don't think he trusts we'd work with him without some other threats."

John opened his eyes and stared into her blue eyes. "He has something more planned, I don't know what, but he knew we'd bring him back and he gave us the address, the next move he's gonna make is to make sure we have no choice but to work with him. He's trying to give us reasons not to say no, he's trying to keep it as pleasant as possible, but we've threatened him by locking him up, so it only fits with what I know of him, he'll make one soon."

Carter closed her eyes, "What are you saying?"

He sighed, "Don't get defensive when that threat rolls around, he seems to believe in an eye for an eye. We give he gives, we take he takes. I admit any other Wraith I'd say shoot it now, but him... I don't think he'd try to kill us unless we start it. He wants us to help with the virus and then he wants to leave. That simple. What happens between now and then... up in the air."

Carter opened her mouth and then was cut off by the radio, "Colonel Carter. This is Dr. Keller, I've something you need to see."

She sighed and then looked at him, then a little smirk playing on her lips she said, "I'll take that under advisement."

He nodded accepting that as a to be continued.

(Week Twenty Six)

Seeing Woolsey's ugly mug was not what he wanted to see before breakfast. Listening to the man have a panic attack was even lower on the list of things he wanted to see or hear today.

"We should stop trusting that Wraith right now!"

John was unaware Woolsey trusted it to began with and so far no official moves had been made yet. "I'm not buying it."

Woolsey whirled and started in on him, "Dr. McKay's vision came true exactly as he saw it."

"I don't really care, what he thought had happened and what happened were two different things. And the Replicators are not destroying the city."

Carter jumped in, "Maybe Rodney's right. Maybe what Davos can see is only probably futures."

"Well his track record's pretty good, so I'd have to say it's highly probable."

He bit his tongue and turned away, there was no good reason to think the Replicators could find them to destroy the city, or for all they knew this could or would happen a few years down the road. No reason to think this was important here and now.

"Which means it's going to be harder to avoid. For all we know, nine out of ten courses of action lead us to the same fate, Now unfortunately the vision I saw had no context to it. We have no way of knowing why the Replicators were attacking."

"Isn't it obvious? We're contemplating joining forces with the Wraith against them."

"We don't know that's what causes it."

"That's a pretty safe assumption. Right now we're not a target."

He couldn't stop himself, "No, no. Just every other human in the galaxy, and it's our fault. Not to mention how the hell would they find out we are working with this Wraith? Unless someone here is a spy and even then I would think they would have given themselves away."

Woolsey seemed to ignoring the last part of his argument, "Nevertheless, our priority remains the safety of this expedition, and you know as well as I do the Wraith can't be trusted."

Carter clearly was remembering what he had said last night if her face was anything to go by behind Woolsey.

"Now look here Woolsey I would agree with any other Wraith, but this one has shown he can keep a deal."

Woolsey sighed and seemed to roll his eyes, clearly treating him like he was compromised. "ahh, yes, I read the file."

John fisted his hands, he could swear Woolsey was trying to piss him off, first dismissing his arguments, second treating him like an idiot, mean while losing his own head in fear of the Replicators.

"He helped you escape a Genii prison, and as a reward you let him live." Then Woolsey looked at Carter as though she would call him off, or at least sensor him for his tone or even what he'd said. "Let's hope we don't all come to regret your decision."

Woolsey didn't even have the balls to look him in the eye as he said that. The fucking bastard, he lowered his eyes to the floor hoping to keep them from noticing his yellow eyes. The discussion was about to be interrupted as someone was coming over to tell them what the whispering had been about.

"Colonel Carter, we've got a problem."

She lead the way, he and Woolsey following. Chuck spoke to Carter as he lead them to the screen where there was a picture up. "We routinely track a number of hive ships with the long range sensors. They don't usually do anything out of the ordinary. Most the time, they're just passing through. But a few minutes ago, this one suddenly changed course."

He showed them it's flight path, and looking at Carter said, "It's headed straight for us."

He looked at Carter she looked at him, her expression said she was only a little surprised he was right.

"But they don't know we're here..." Woolsey said, that squeaking tone of fear back in his voice.

"We need to have a little talk with our little Wraith friend."

Carter nodded and held out her hand indicating for him to lead, he did so, he was annoyed, irked even, still in a bad mood over Woolsey and he still hadn't eaten. Talking about why there was a Hive ship coming only made a bad day worse. But he was inclined to think it being only one meant it was the threat not an actually bid to attack. Walking in he let his anger seep from him, he wanted to see how well he could influence this Wraith, hide his real feelings. Leading the way in he let Carter follow along behind him.

"Your ship is on the way."

The Wraith while sitting seeming relaxed, but he mentally tensed as though he knew this would the sticking part.

"Good they picked up my signal."

"What signal?"

"Ask your Satedan friend. He should be very familiar with the technology."

"Subspace tracking device."

The Wraith was staring at Carter, and he was relaxing, he had read that they understood what was going on. John stopped projecting his anger and the abrupt switch made the Wraith turn to look at him.

"I had it implanted."

"We would've detected it."

"Which is why I only activated it on once you brought me here. The ship is necessary to complete my plan. The Replicator Virus is contained within it's databanks. When it gets here we can began our work."

He looked over at Carter, she nodded and spoke, "Open this door."

The door shut door and Lt. Stevens stepped forward following her in stunner in hand, he walked in and stood beside her, Carter decided to be polite. "I'm Colonel Samantha Carter."

The Wraith nodded, but having no spoken name could not offer his, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

John held his face still though he was amused this Wraith had taken the time to learn such pleasantries, he had been around humans for far to long if he was bothering. He could also tell Carter was surprised if a mix of pleased and suspicious.

"I understand you're proposing that we work together on a joint venture."

"That is correct."

"Last time we went down this road, things didn't exactly work out as we'd hoped."

"You were betrayed."

John was surprised when he saw a flash of a few other Wraiths, one looked a hell of a lot like this one, a family member? They still didn't know much about the family structure of Wraiths. He also realized this Wraith disapproved of such tactics, in an odd way seemed to think of it as a last resort.

"Believe me, I understand your reluctance."

That was totally honest.

"If we do this, we do it our way. Your ship remains in orbit. They make the slightest false move, and they'll be destroyed."

The Wraith was already nodding, he had planned for this, if he knew they'd been betrayed the ship was both a warning to play nice, a way to leave, and a bargaining chip. "Fair enough."

"The program with be downloaded into a non-networked computer in one of our labs. All work will be conducted on this base. You will remain under constant guard, and when you're done we keep the virus."

He felt how nervous the Wraith was becoming until Carter said 'we keep the virus' he supposed because that implied they'd let him leave. Which was the plan, they couldn't just keep him, shooting him was one thing, but just letting him starve was another.

"It won't be easy to unload it into the Replicator network. Are you sure you're up to the task?"

Carter nodded once, "We did it before, we'll do it again."

The Wraith stared at her for a moment seeming to test for her resolve, or feel for her honesty. Then he nodded, "I agree to your terms. You see I want this as much as you do."

"Then let's say this works. What happens then?"

"In my time as a prisoner among the Genii, I lost my position among the Wraith. I still have a few loyal followers, but nothing like the standing I once had."

John saw a flash of a small armada, at least twenty ships. "So you want to use this to regain some influence then."

The Wraith looked at him, a curious light in his eyes, a half smirk crossed the Wraith's lips, "In a manner of speaking Sheppard."

That was creepy, it felt like the Wraith had hummed his name across the mental network, testing his mind or something. It felt creepy. The look he was getting was even creepier. This Wraith knew more then he was there, he knew John was paying attention to the things there. So he was testing his reactions.

"Sooner or later, we're going to end up on opposite sides."

The Wraith looked back at Carter, something almost regretful there. "Yess. But not today. Do we have an agreement?"

Carter nodded, "Yes. We do."

Something wicked appeared in his eyes, John tensed but felt nothing but amusement. "I believe among your people customary to shake hands." he held out his hand.

The amusement got louder as Lt. Stevens twitched raising his weapon higher behind him and Carter, the others outside the cell doing the same thing. He got it, this was a twisted little joke, a test. Carter made no move to take his hand and the Wraith started to laugh. Waving his hand very humanly he let it drop to his side. "Just a little Wraith humor."

He couldn't keep silent, "More like a little too much time alone."

The Wraith looked a him, eyes deep and old, something sad there. "That too. Of course maybe I listened to you needle Kolya one too many times."

He took it in the spirit it was meant, he already knew what they had in common had already grown. It was just as clear that he wasn't the only one who left wondering where the line between the two of them was.

In The Mess Hall

He was eating breakfast, finally, things had been settled the Hive would be here in three or so hours. Maybe it was just because he had been spending so much time touching the Wraith's mind but he found himself thinking over the horrible day he had spent captured. First he'd been shocked and angry Kolya had captured him, and then when he'd found out... the next time he saw Kolya he would shoot first. Not even give him a chance to open his mouth.

And when he had realized his executioner was the one who had talked to him, he had been angry, it dare talk to him like they had something in common, but after that second feeding. He wasn't sure what made him offer; the fact he knew his team, Elizabeth everyone needed more time to find him, the fact the Wraith was clearly treated like dirt... the fact he had tasted starvation. Maybe not like the Wraith spoke of, but the empty ache, the desperation. That he understood.

The pain of the feeding had shocked him, but... the thought of everyone seeing him there and coming for him only to find his body. That was the worst. Elizabeth had heard him speak, but it had been in her hands. So if they only found his husk... she would blame herself, Ronon would probably break off and hunt Kolya down, Teyla and Rodney...

He needed to survive for them, they needed to know they hadn't failed him. It wasn't their faults. It was his, he hadn't killed Kolya he knew what a snake the man was, he had known even as he left him in that hole the man would come for him again. He just was furious the man was hurting his friends, his family. He just was waiting for that day when he found Kolya again.

He took a bite of his apple, that thing Carter said; about one day they would fight each other, one day be on the wrong sides, it made him think of the retrovirus, if Wraith didn't need to eat humans... they wouldn't need to fight. Carson in his early research had suggested the Wraith needed to feed on humans, because over time their body absorbed the DNA of what they ate. The whole you-are-what-you-eat thing, but that feeding on animals reduced them to drones.

But if they came up with a way to stabilize the virus, or tone it down, and allow Wraith to eat food like him, things would or at least could get much better in the galaxy.

A couple of trays thumped down on his table, he looked up even as the scent of Teyla and someone else wafted to him. It was Davos. "Good morning."

Teyla nodded, "Good morning John."

Davos watched him curiously again. Knowing the guy could see the future he wondered just a little if the man knew what he was. "What is it you're eating?"

He looked at his hand, "An apple, it's a kind of fruit from Earth."

Davos nodded, "Is it good?"

He shrugged, "I like it, some people might not, but I do."

Davos nodded again, and John noticed on his plate the man had an apple too, an adventurous guy. Teyla started in on a bagel, something she liked, Davos had one too, a blueberry one it looked like.

"So John what were you thinking about?"

He looked over at Teyla, "What do you mean?"

"You just looked you were thinking hard that's all."

"Oh." He glanced over at the man digging cheerfully into some eggs, "Just how I met the guy down below it all."

Teyla's face turned grave, he supposed it was because out of everyone he had taken it the best, probably because the Wraith had given him his life back and then a few years, but aside from a short but nasty week of withdrawal. He had been able to handle the fact a Wraith had fed on him, was he angry yes, did he some times have nightmares about overly touchy hands yes. But other then admit he would love to have a wraith of his own and spread Kolya's feeding out a week, Kate had given him a few weird looks and signed off.

"Are you upset by his presences?"

"Not exactly the words I use, but I suppose. I find it more weird I made enough of an impression he remembered my name, W.. his kind don't really seem to make that effort."

Davos spoke up, "If you mean the Wraith in the holding cell I know about him, no need to sidestep the matter."

Teyla gapped at him and he found himself wondering was it a vision or merely the ears that had nothing much to do but listen. "That's nice, I still find it strange."

Teyla looked back to him, her normal calm expression restored. "You have noted before Queens pay you a lot of attention. Why not any other Wraith?"

He shrugged, "Queens push, invade, try to know what I know, but this Wraith... he acts a little too human. The others made no attempt to pretend we were barely allies. He... he seemed..."

"Spit it out John."

"Upset by our distrust, something was bugging him."

Teyla frowned, she probably was remembering Ellia. He knew he was too, the Wraith was much like her, had it been his imprisonment? Nothing to do but watch humans, or was it that history he had glimpsed in that Queens mind. The time where Wraith and Humans really walked among each other fearlessly.

"What else is bothering you?"

He scowled, she had noticed. He wasn't going to blurt the truth out here, so the next best thing; "Why am I not more angry with him? He fed off of me, it was agony. So why I can't I find in myself to be angry?"

Teyla was taken aback by that, he could tell, she had centuries of hate on her side, he just had the fact most Wraith liked to play with him like a cat and a mouse, but this Wraith hadn't. He felt human. More human then Kolya. More human then a fair number of people he knew. John still remembered the bliss in his voice when he'd laid out on the grass and looked at the stars and said, 'it was worth it just to see the stars again'.

He knew if this Wraith hurt or even just threatened his friends he could shoot him, but anything less then that... he was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to do it.

Teyla looked at him wordlessly, she didn't have an answer, but he had another question.

"Do you blame him for feeding off of me or for being a Wraith?"

She blinked at him even more stunned and he had feeling it was because it wasn't the first thing that burned brightest in her emotions, it was the being and he did get that too, sort of. And even stranger he didn't blame her, but the Wraith had given him everything back, he could have taken it all away. It would have been understandable, if being human wasn't good enough he came from Atlantis, the city that killed Wraith. But he didn't, he didn't even just leave him a shell, he gave him it all back.

Somehow, everyone had forgotten the Wraith, yes 'a wraith' fed off of him, but Kolya did it, master minded it, watched it. This Wraith was one he'd worked with, not the one that almost killed him. And he didn't blame anyone, that was how he thought of it too. Well maybe Ronon didn't think of it that way, Ronon would eagerly kill any Wraith.

He waited for Teyla to try and deny it but Davos spoke up first, the penetrating stare was back, for a very sick old man this guy wasn't just a tack, he was sword. "Something has become clear to me while I have watched you Colonel Sheppard something that weighted on me for some time."

He held out his hand.

John hesitated, a glimpse of a future he feared he could already guess about, or walk away.

Davos saw his decision. "Don't walk away, you need to see this, I have faith it is not what it seems, do you?"

"No."

"Then you need to see this all the more, for that day when you can tell yourself it's not that bad yet."

Teyla was looking between the two of them, confusion and concern warring on her face.

That did it, what could be so bad? He touched Davos' hand.

He stood on the main deck of a Wraith hive, that Wraith stood behind him asking or ordering he wasn't sure.

"Are you ready?"

His future self, grinned, "You betcha."

He saw the planet below the hive, the planet they were on now, over Atlantis. His other self's hands moved out over the controls and he saw the bottom of his own hand in the future, he had a feeding slit.

He yanked his hand away, he realized he had stood knocking his chair over, Teyla was watching him, something more then shock painted across her features. Davos looked up at him with heavy lided eyes.

John felt his heart break, he was gonna have to run. Run for his peace of mind and to keep his friends safe, he wasn't misreading the signs. "Why?" He almost flinched at the anguish in his own voice, any other time he would have been embarrassed, but this...

He could feel his pulse pounding through his body, the heavy feeling he had been ignoring becoming stronger, food pushed it back, but after another injury he wouldn't be able to fight it any more.

Davos blinked up at him and he realized the sour smell he knew was sickness was getting stronger. "Because you know things aren't what they always seem to be. Because you need to know. Be ready."

"I was happier without it."

Davos looked up at him pity in his eyes, "I would have been happier if I hadn't seen a lot of things. We don't get what we want."

Seeing the sway to the mans body he stepped around the table and steadied him, tapping his radio, he ignored the beat of his heart, beating out his anguish, "Infirmary we need a wheelchair."

Teyla stood, her dark eyes still on him, "John what did you see?"

He didn't answer focusing on holding the dying man up, he had pushed himself, showing him that last vision, weakening himself taking his few weeks down to a week. Two guys came running in pushing a wheelchair, he helped them put Davos in it, then watched as they took him away. Teyla touched his arm, "John what did you see?"

He shook her hand off, feeling unclean. "Nothing I'm up to talking about, it's personal."

He walked away, needing a moment to find some place to box up this fear and agony, he needed to get his head on straight enough to help Atlantis with this Wraith deal, then he'd make plans, actually he start that tonight. He'd start writing his letters, they'd find them when they cleaned his stuff out of his room when they realized he wasn't coming back.

He closed his eyes, John Sheppard, betrayer and coward. Wraith hybrid. Freak, and monster.