A/N: Episode alert! Some dialogue is mine, but a lot belongs to the actual show. Now comes the fun part of inserting an OC into a visual episode. I hope you enjoy. PS—I have tweaked some things so that Brady can actually be in this episode. It isn't exactly the same. Don't fry me.
BROKEN TIES
July 25, 2008
It was a nice day on Atlantis. Brady stripped out of her uniform jacket and spread it on the tiles that floored the Central Tower balcony. She stretched out on the floor, stacking her hands behind her head as she sighed. The sun's rays felt wonderful on her skin. She closed her eyes and breathed the salty ocean air, shutting out all ambient noise, listening to the roar of the waters far below. She lay like that for a long while, until the blare of the loudspeaker jolted her back to consciousness.
"This is Richard Woolsey. I need the members of Alpha team in the control room immediately."
Brady sat up with a frown. Half of Alpha was on a trading excursion to one of the neighboring planets. Ronon and Teyla weren't due back for another few hours. Curious, she stood and snatched up her jacket, zipping it over her tank top as she hurried to the central station of the tower.
"What's going on?" she asked Amelia as the other woman hurried toward the control room.
"I'm not sure. Chuck was on duty when she came back through, so I don't really know what's—"
"When who came through?" Brady asked.
Amelia chewed her lip and shook her head. "I don't have time to get you caught up, Brady. I'm sorry. Maybe Carson can fill you in." With an apologetic look, her friend rushed away.
Brady took a transporter to the infirmary. Jennifer Keller was still head of Atlantis's medical team, but Carson still liked to hang around and help when he could. Truth be told, it still weirded her out a little that a clone of Carson Beckett actually existed, but other than a few months of missing memories because he was locked in a secret bunker somewhere, he was the same man as the original Carson. And now that Keller had recreated the serum that kept his cells from deteriorating, he was out of the stasis pod for good.
"Brady, dear, I'm glad you're here. Put your finger here," Carson said, thrusting a device and sticking her finger over a hole.
"Um, is this thing supposed to be whistling like that?" Brady asked.
"No. The bloody thing is busted and I'm waitlisted for equipment repair," Carson said, bustling around the exam room. "Ah!" he said, producing a roll of stiff medical tape. He pulled off a tag and stuck it beside Brady's finger. "One, two, three," he said, slapping the tape over the crack as she jerked her finger away. He wrapped the tool several times, sighing in relief as the high-pitched squealing stopped. "Thanks a lot," he said, taking the device from her.
"No problem," Brady said. "So what's going on with Alpha? Why the meeting? I thought Ronon and Teyla were still off-world."
Carson sighed. "Why am I always the messenger?" he mumbled to himself before turning to look at her. "Brady, Teyla was sent back through the Stargate hours ago. She was hit with a stunner, but otherwise unharmed. A team went through and searched the planet for Ronon, but didn't find—where are you going?" he asked when she turned and strode for the door.
"I have to go talk to Sheppard."
"Brady, the team is back. They didn't find anything. They're meeting with Mr. Woolsey now and you can't just barge in!"
"Watch me," Brady muttered. She took a transporter back to the central station and raced up the stairs toward the conference room.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Thatcher," a Marine said as he stepped in front of her. "Alphas only."
"Step aside please, Colonel Sullivan," Brady said.
"I can't let you in, ma'am," Sullivan said. "Mr. Woolsey expressly ordered no one but Colonel Sheppard and his team be permitted to enter. I really am sorry."
Brady sighed, but nodded. "I'll just wait here," she said, taking a seat on the top step. Sullivan relaxed a bit and went back to his sentry duty. Brady jumped to her feet the second the conference room walls opened.
"—would still like to accompany Colonel Sheppard and Dr. McKay to Belkan," Teyla was saying to Woolsey.
"Of course," Woolsey said.
"Sheppard," Brady called, stepping forward. "What's on Belkan?"
Sheppard sighed as he went down the stairs. "Do you just skulk around listening to other people's conversations? Don't you have a job?"
"It's my day off," Brady said, keeping her steps even with his. "I was taking in some sun when I heard the call for you guys, then Carson told me only Teyla came back, so I thought—"
"You thought you'd come muscle your way into another mission," Sheppard finished.
"What's with you, Shep?" Brady asked. "And where is Ronon?"
"Are you asking as an archaeologist-slash-linguist or as Ronon's girlfriend?" Sheppard asked. "Because neither is particularly helpful to me right now."
"I'm asking as a member of this expedition," Brady said coolly. She reached out and pulled Sheppard to a stop. "John, talk to me. What is going on?"
Sheppard sighed again. "Look, I'm sorry. I've just got a lot on my mind right now. Teyla and Ronon were ambushed on their trade mission. Teyla was hit with a stunner blast and Ronon...we don't really know where he is. We searched for him and didn't find anything. The Daedelus confirmed that his transmitter isn't on the planet. We've got a lead on another Satedan who might—"
"Why do you need a Satedan?" Brady asked.
"Tyre was behind the ambush," Sheppard said. "Look, Brady. I'll sign off on you going if you want to be our fourth, but I can't guarantee what we'll find by the time this is over."
"You think he's dead?" Brady asked.
"I don't know," Sheppard answered honestly. "I think maybe it would be best if you stayed here," he said, biting his lip. "But it's your choice."
"I'm going," Brady said. She gave a small smile. "You know me and waiting aren't close friends."
Sheppard chuckled and jerked his chin. "C'mon then. We've got a Satedan to find."
"I believe that is the man," Teyla said as she, Sheppard, Brady, and McKay entered a dusty tavern. She pointed to a table on the other side of the room.
"Solen Sincha?" Brady asked as they approached the man. He sat bent over the table with his head resting on his arms.
"Go away," the man groaned. "Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?"
Sheppard's gun clattered on the table as he pointedly dropped it and Brady kicked the bench, sliding it back and straddling it. Sincha looked first at the gun, then over at Brady. He turned his attention to Sheppard and squinted up at him.
"We need your help," Sheppard said.
"Ronon Dex is in trouble," McKay said, eyeing the drunken man with derision.
"Ronon Dex is always in trouble," Sincha muttered. "What do I care?"
"His life is in danger," McKay said.
"Again, what else is new? What's he gotten himself into this time?"
"He was abducted by a fellow Satedan, a Wraith worshipper named Tyre," Teyla explained. Sincha snorted.
"You mean former Wraith worshipper. Word is the dog disappointed its masters so they turned him loose."
"Well, that's uncharacteristically kind of them," McKay commented.
"Not exactly," Sincha said. "So long as he's on the run, he's a living, breathing example of what happens to humans who disappoint them." He looked at Sheppard. "Tyre's a marked man now. Most anyone I know would kill him on sight. It's just a matter of time," he said with a shrug.
"He was once a proud Satedan, not unlike yourself," Teyla said. "He was subjected to unimaginable torture. Perhaps he had no choice."
"There's always a choice," Sincha replied savagely. "He could have chosen death like a true Satedan."
"That's real easy to say from a pub bench by someone coming off a three day drunk," Brady said evenly. Sincha looked at her icily.
"Yeah? What's it to you, pien'ta?"
"That's not very nice," Brady hissed, leaning forward and holding the man's challenging stare.
"Any idea where we can find Tyre?" Sheppard interrupted, drawing the Satedan's attention again.
Brady got up from the table and went to the bar, placing her shaking hands on the counter as she took deep breaths to control her anger. She was worried—more worried than she had ever been where Ronon was concerned, and that was saying something.
"You alright?"
She looked over her shoulder at McKay and nodded, smiling weakly. "Yeah, just trying to refrain from going over and beating that guy's face in until he tells us what we need to know."
"Yes, well, there's nothing like a good strong bout of violence to make one feel better," McKay said sarcastically and Brady chuckled.
"Pack it in," Sheppard said as he passed the bar. "We're going home."
"Did he know where Tyre might be?" Brady asked, slinging her bag across her chest.
Sheppard shook his head. "But he'll keep his ear to the ground."
"So what do we do now?" McKay asked.
"I am afraid the only thing we can do now is wait for news that Tyre has been spotted," Teyla said quietly. She slipped a comforting arm around Brady's back. "Come. Let's go home."
Brady sat in the alcove between her bedroom and bathroom, bouncing a rubber ball against the floor and wall. She glanced at the clock and sighed. It was the middle of the night and she had no desire to sleep. She was restless and worried, and she had nervous energy in spades. She rolled and pushed herself to her feet, tossing the ball onto her bed and tugging some jeans on over her boxers. She left the room and padded down the corridor with bare feet with no destination in mind, unsurprised when she found herself waving open the door to her office. She piddled around with a couple of case files, hoping to pass a few hours. By the time she left her office, the sky around Atlantis was beginning to lighten.
"Dr. Thatcher?"
Brady turned, surprised that anyone else was up. "Mr. Woolsey. Hi. I was just...working on a couple of projects," she said with a shrug. "Do you always wake up this early?"
"Usually," Woolsey said with a nod. "Unfortunately, I haven't quite adjusted to sleeping on Atlantis yet," he admitted. "I generally go for a run around the city before starting my day. And you?"
"Me? Oh, no sir. I always have two or three alarms set, and usually Ronon still has to come back in and wake me up. I, uh...I don't suppose there's been any news tonight?"
"I'm sorry," Woolsey said with a shake of his head. "Nothing yet."
Brady nodded. "Um, I was just on my way back to my room. I guess I should try to get a few hours sleep. Just in case."
"Of course," he said, waving her on. "By all means."
"Goodnight, Mr. Woolsey," Brady said.
She went back to her quarters and kicked off her jeans before falling onto her bed. She tossed and turned for the next few hours, unable to sleep more than fifteen minutes at a time. Her alarm finally went off and she got out of bed, tugging her jeans back on before shuffling from her bedroom.
She went to the cafeteria and eyed the healthy breakfast choices balefully. She liked Richard Woolsey okay, but she was avidly against some of his instituted changes...especially the removal of her Fruity Pebbles and other sugary cereals. She snatched up a cup of grapes and crossed the dining room to sit beside Rodney. He barely spared her a glance and kept talking to Sheppard.
"Like the Greek mathematician who came up with the Archimedes principle. The physical laws of buoyancy? Yeah, according to legend, the idea came to him when he was sitting in the bath, so-"
"What are we talking about?" Brady asked, popping a grape into her mouth.
"McKay was explaining why he was thinking about Ronon while he was in the bathtub," Sheppard said.
McKay harrumphed. "The point is that the revelation occurred while Archimedes was, ya know, relaxing. Not thinking about the problem. The solution, as it turns out, was right in front of him all along."
"You think we've overlooked something?" Sheppard asked.
"I don't know," McKay said, sighing. "Maybe. Look, all I know is I was up all night going over it and I'm drawing a blank."
"I'm not taking a bath with you," Sheppard said.
"Me neither," Brady added.
"I'm ignoring both of you," McKay said snidely. "Let's just go over what we know."
"Brady's buddy on Belkan said that Tyre's on the run. We can assume he's operating alone because if he had backup they would've been in on the ambush."
"And chances are they would have just killed Teyla instead of only stunning her," Brady said.
"So he's alone, with Ronon, on the run," McKay reiterated. "Where would someone like that go?"
Brady scoffed and finished her grapes. "Where wouldn't they go?" she said around the mouthful of fruit.
"I can think of something like two hundred planets that would be perfect. Where do you want to start?" Rodney asked Sheppard.
Major Lorne approached the table and looked at Sheppard. "How about Sarif Sur?"
"What?" he asked.
"Sarif Sur?" Brady asked, looking at the Major hopefully.
"We just got a message from Ronon's buddy Solen. He hears that Tyre and Ronon are holed up on a planet called Sarif Sur."
Brady pushed back her chair and stood, waiting for Sheppard to give the word.
"Major, get your team ready," he said. He nodded at Brady and stood. "You sure you're ok to go?"
"Damn straight," she said with a nod.
Sheppard jerked his chin toward the exit. "Let's go. After you, Archimedes," he said to McKay, slapping the man on the back as they headed for the door.
Brady hurried to the gear room and suited up. She strapped on a tac vest and checked the clip on her 9mm before slinging on a P-90. Once she had it locked and loaded, she waited by the exit for the rest of the team.
"Eager, doc?" Lorne asked with a grin.
"Just prepared," she replied. "Where's Teyla?"
"I'm not sure," Lorne said. "She must be on baby duty."
"Alright, guys. We gotta stay focused out there," Sheppard said to the group. "We don't know what we're going into. We don't know if they're even on the planet anymore. I want everyone alert and on guard when we go through the gate. Clear?"
"Yes sir," the Marines said. McKay and Brady nodded.
The teams entered the gate room as the event horizon opened.
"Godspeed, gentlemen," Chuck said from the balcony. "Oh, and Dr. Thatcher," he added.
The teams stepped through the gate and immediately took up perimeter positions. When the all-clear was given, they made their way down the narrow dirt road until they came to an abandoned village.
"Lorne, take your men that way," Sheppard said, pointing. "Radio if you find anything."
"Yes sir," Lorne said. He gave the signal and his team moved down the street.
Sheppard, McKay, and Brady searched house after house, all with the same result.
"Nothing," Sheppard said, frustrated.
McKay sighed. "So we were wrong. It has been known to happen," he said.
"Still, it sets us back to square one," Brady said, letting her rifle rest on its strap as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Hey, I always said this was a long shot," McKay said.
The radios crackled and everyone tensed. "Colonel, this is Lorne. We've got something."
"I knew it!" McKay said excitedly.
Brady and Sheppard shared a glance before filing out of the house. They met Lorne in the street.
"Over here," he said, leading them to a house around the corner. They went inside, stopping in the front room and staring down at Tyre's unconscious body. "We checked his pulse. It's barely there. We've gotta move him or we lose him."
"Any sign of Ronon?" Brady asked, and Lorne shook his head.
"Well if he's not here, where is he?" McKay asked.
"Good question," Sheppard said darkly.
The teams transported Tyre back to Atlantis. Once he was restrained in the infirmary, Sheppard and Lorne took their teams to debrief Woolsey.
"Permission to guard the prisoner?" Brady asked Sheppard when they were heading back to the gear room.
"Denied," Sheppard said. "Brady, you aren't military," he reminded her.
"Yeah, but—"
"No, no buts. Look, I've already appointed two Marines to stand guard over the infirmary. Keller is with Tyre. She said there's no telling when he will wake up. I'm going to strip my gear, take a shower, get some sleep, and then go and get an update from her. Feel free to join me outside the infirmary in a few hours."
"Shep—"
"No arguing. And stop following me. This is the men's showers," he said.
Brady looked around and backed out the door. "Sheppard—"
"Nope," he interrupted, shutting the door in her face.
She sighed and checked her watch. She had time to take a shower, but then she would go hang around the infirmary. She wanted to be there the second Keller had any info.
"His injuries are minor but both his heart rate and blood pressure are elevated," Keller said, glancing at her patient as he twitched in his sleep. His wrists and ankles were bound, but the doctor still tensed every time he jolted. She looked back at Sheppard, McKay, and Brady. "He woke up about an hour after you brought him in. He was delirious—sweating, nauseous, trembling, so I sedated him and ran some tests." She pointed and walked away from the bed.
Brady stayed beside Tyre, staring down at him, willing him to wake. The bastard knew where Ronon was. The information was rightthere, so close...and yet so far. She looked up at Sheppard's soft whistle and followed the group out of the infirmary.
"If he dies, our chances of finding Ronon die with him," Sheppard said quietly to Keller as Brady approached.
"Of course," Keller said, looking uncomfortable. "But it could be days before he's coherent enough to tell us anything. Withdrawals of this magnitude...I don't know what drug to liken it to, Colonel."
Sheppard nodded and straightened as Teyla ran up to them.
"John, why wasn't I informed about the mission to rescue Ronon?" she demanded.
Brady sensed the tension and grimaced. "Um, what time is it?" she asked, looking at her watch. "Oh, a little after two. I've got to..."
"Oh, I'm gonna, um, see if they're still serving lunch," McKay said. "It's Taquito Tuesday."
"I think I'll join you," Keller said, sliding past Sheppard and walking down the hall with Brady and McKay.
"Wow, that is one conversation I do not want to witness," McKay said.
"What's the deal? The tension was so thick back there you could cut it with a knife," Keller said.
"Teyla's quitting the team," McKay said.
"What?" Brady asked. "When did she decide that?"
"Well she hasn't exactly decided," McKay said. "Yet. But, I mean, come on! Raising her baby," he said, holding up one hand. "Or getting shot at seventy percent of the time?" he finished, holding up the other. He mimed balancing them. "That's a really tough choice."
"I've never thought of the possibility that Teyla would go off duty," Brady said. "I mean, I know most of the time I only go offworld for language stuff—unless someone goes missing—but still...that means most likely she'll leave Atlantis and move with the Athosians."
"Relax," McKay said. "You aren't a child whose parents are getting a divorce. I'm sure she'll stay on Atlantis. I mean she made Kanaan move here. Don't worry about that. We've got plenty of other stuff to worry about."
The days dragged by with excruciating slowness. Brady spent most of that time hovering outside the infirmary and talking to Carson until Woolsey ordered her back to her office. Reluctantly, and with great resentment toward the new expedition leader, she went back to work.
Three days after Ronon's capture, Tyre broke through the restraints and fought with the two Marines stationed to guard him. Dr. Keller used the medical bay's emergency stunner and rendered him unconscious. When news of the scuffle reached the science wing, Brady rushed to the Isolation Observation room.
"I thought it would be best to put him in Isolation," Keller said to Woolsey and Sheppard. She glanced at Brady before continuing. "At least this way if he breaks free again, he won't be an immediate danger to anyone."
"Dr. Thatcher?" Woolsey said, looking at her. "Do you need something?"
"I was just checking on Tyre, sir," Brady replied, the image of professional courtesy. She looked down into the room where the Satedan lay writhing in pain. The man screamed in agony as he looked up at his observers.
"How long is it gonna take him to go through this?" Sheppard asked.
"To be honest, I'm not even sure he will," Keller said.
"That's not an option," Brady said quietly, never taking her eyes from the patient.
"Please!" Tyre screamed. "You're killing me! Please!"
Brady steeled herself against his pleas, though it was hard to watch anyone suffer that much.
"Can't you give him something for the pain?" Woolsey asked.
"Sedatives'll make him more comfortable, but they'll also slow down his recovery," Keller said. Brady jerked her head up and looked at Sheppard.
"I want this to go as quick as possible," he said, watching Tyre. He shook his head. "No sedatives."
Brady sat in the Observation room the next day, watching Tyre sleep fitfully. Woolsey had finally given up on trying to keep her in her office, though she had finished translating a ceremonial disc to soften her blatant disregard for his authority. Sheppard and Teyla had both been on her to do her job, but she ignored them like a rebellious teen ignored her parents, to use Rodney's metaphor. Besides, she wanted to be there when Tyre woke up.
IfTyre woke up.
As if on cue, the Satedan's eyelids fluttered and opened. Brady caught her breath, waiting to see if he passed out again. When the man turned his head and croaked something to Keller, Brady bolted from Observation and ran down the stairs to the Isolation room.
"How is he?" she demanded as soon as she entered.
"The Wraith enzyme is gone. He asked to talk to Colonel Sheppard," Keller replied. "Brady, you can't be in here."
"Go and get Sheppard," she said. "I'll behave. Just go get Sheppard." Keller looked torn, clearly not wanting to leave. "Jen, please," Brady said quietly.
Keller pointed her finger at Brady. "You'd better not do anything stupid. I'll be right back. Stay with her," the doctor barked at the Marine standing outside.
"What's on your mind, little bookworm?" Tyre asked, leaning his head back against his pillows and letting his eyes drift shut.
"Why did you do this?"
"At the time? The Wraith wanted Ronon and I needed the enzyme. When your people left me on that Hive, the Wraith cut me off. They should have killed me," he said, lifting his head and looking at her. "Their rage should have been enough to end it. They should have killed me," he said again, dropping his gaze. "I wish they would have. Then Ronon wouldn't..."
"Then Ronon wouldn't what?" Brady asked. "Answer me!"
The door to the Isolation room swooshed open and Keller led Sheppard inside. His eyes landed on Brady and he looked annoyed, but then he gave his attention to Tyre.
"I know where they've taken Ronon," he said without preamble.
"Can you give us a Gate address?" Sheppard asked.
"Better," Tyre replied. "I'll lead you right into the heart of the facility."
To his credit, Sheppard didn't audibly scoff. His tone, however, belied his concern. "Well, you're still recovering."
"Dr. Keller told me there were no longer any traces of the Wraith enzyme in my system," Tyre insisted.
"Well that's not really the point—"
"Colonel, please!" Tyre said desperately, his eyes sincere. "Let me help you get Ronon back."
Sheppard chewed his lip as he thought. Brady turned and leaned close to him, her back to Tyre. "Shep, Woolsey will never sign off on us taking Tyre with us," she whispered.
"You let me handle Woolsey," Sheppard said. "Go and get McKay. Tell him the situation and meet me in the conference room in twenty. Go before I change my mind and you stay your ass here," he added. Brady gave a sharp nod and left the room, heading back to the science wing.
Somehow, Sheppard managed to finagle Woolsey into letting them take Tyre onto the Wraith cruiser, and much to Brady's relief, Teyla made it as well. The plan was briefly explained to the teams in the embarkation room: get in, set explosives, get Ronon, and blow up the cruiser.
As Sheppard and Lorne led their teams down the corridor of the cruiser, Tyre walked in front. He held up his hand, signaling that they stop, and slowly withdrew his sword. Suddenly he slashed out, dropping two Wraith drones in seconds.
"This way," he whispered.
The teams made their way to a lab of some kind. Brady lifted her gun to neutralize the guard, but Tyre threw a knife. The blade buried itself in the Wraith's forehead with a sickening squelch and the creature slumped to the floor. Tyre rushed to retrieve his weapon.
"What is this place?" Teyla asked.
"You were looking for a target area that'll maximize the effects of your explosives," Tyre said. "Well, this is it—the facility's power relay chamber." He jerked his chin as Lorne passed out blocks of C-4 to the team members. "Hide your charges to avoid discovery."
The team ferreted away their charges, securing them and double-checking the wiring and placement.
"You think here's ok?" McKay asked Brady.
"Sure. It's very Feung Shui," she said. McKay grinned, looking pleased.
"I assume you have means to remote detonate from a safe distance?" Tyre asked.
"Where's the fun in that?" Brady asked.
"Yeah, don't you ever watch movies?" Lorne asked with a grin at her.
Sheppard shook his head and pulled out the detonator control. He flipped it open. "Just flip and click," he said.
Tyre nodded and waved the teams out of the room, leading the way back down the corridor. "This way."
The door to a transporter opened and everyone crammed inside. Brady hummed the opening notes to the theme from Magnificent Seven and grinned when Lorne and two other Marines joined in.
"All right, children," Sheppard said as the transporter stopped. "Quiet."
They stepped out into the new corridor and made it around the corner before halting. Ronon stood at the other end of the hallway.
"Ronon!" Sheppard said, clearly relieved. He lowered his gun and the others did the same. He stepped aside as Brady stepped forward.
"Sheppard," Ronon said in greeting. He looked at Brady and smiled. "It's about time."
Something in his tone made Brady's smile falter. She noticed the way Sheppard's hand tightened on his gun. He knew something was off as well.
"What's going on, buddy?" Sheppard asked warily.
"We were beginning to wonder if you'd ever show up," the Wraith commander said as it stepped around the corner and stood behind Ronon.
Brady noticed movement behind her and assumed Wraith guards surrounded them. Her eyes, however, never wavered from Ronon. He stared at the group of Atlanteans with cold indifference.
"Ronon?" she whispered. No,no,no...please,no, she thought. Behind her, she felt Teyla move closer in a secret sign of consolation and solidarity.
His gaze flicked from Sheppard to her and the corner of his mouth lifted in a sneer. Brady's stomach rolled, but she straightened her shoulders and put on her game-face.
"You're at a disadvantage," the Wraith said. "You can attempt an escape, but you'll have to sacrifice your friend's life to do so."
Sheppard lifted his rifle. Lorne, Brady, and Teyla did the same. "Ronon," Sheppard said. "Get out of the way."
"I can't do that," Ronon said as he stepped more fully in front of the Wraith.
"Ronon, step aside," Sheppard ordered slowly.
Ronon remained rooted to the spot, meeting Sheppard's surprised gaze with a challenging one of his own. From behind Teyla, Tyre wrapped his arm around her shoulders and placed his blade tightly against her throat.
"His life won't be the only one forfeit," Tyre said. "Lower your weapons," he said, looking at Lorne and Brady, who turned to Sheppard.
Sheppard kept his eyes forward but reluctantly lowered his gun. Brady glared daggers at Tyre but allowed Lorne to push her rifle down. She turned around as Ronon strode toward them.
"Take them away," the Wraith said to the drones that flanked them.
"Ronon, what's happening here?" Sheppard asked, shaking his head softly.
Like a flash, Ronon's fist struck out with brutality, punching Sheppard in the face.
"Ronon!" Brady shouted, lunging forward. He caught her by the chin, his large hand securing her face. She gripped his wrist as she stared into his eyes, pleading with whatever piece of her Satedan there was left. Ronon smiled cruelly and leaned close to her, taunting her. He released her with a shove, pushing her back into the arms of the waiting guard. The guard hauled her away with the rest of the Atlanteans as two more dragged Sheppard along behind. "Ronon, you stupid sonofabitch!" Brady screamed. "Remember who you are!"
The guard tossed her into a cell with Sheppard, McKay, and Teyla. She stumbled, but righted herself quickly and turned to challenge the Wraith guard. Unconcerned, the guard lowered the shield on the cell. Brady sighed and sank to the floor. She looked across the cell at Sheppard.
"How's your face?"
"Feels like a wookie tried to touch the back of my skull through my nose," Sheppard said, sniffing. "But I'll live."
"Yeah, for now, maybe," Rodney muttered.
Brady leaned her head back against the wall of the cell and closed her eyes as McKay took up his usual prison habit of pacing and talking.
"Well you know, on the bright side at least we don't have to go back to Atlantis and hear Woolsey say I told you so."
"We're gonna get out of here," Sheppard said doggedly.
"Oh sure," McKay said sarcastically. "I mean, all we have to do is escape from this cell, right? I mean, get past all the armed Wraith that are guarding the facility, and free Lorne and his team from wherever they're being held, to get back to the Jumper which is probably being disassembled as we speak, and..." He paused, pretending to think. "Right! Of course! We've got to rescue Ronon, who—I don't know if you happened to notice or not—isn't quite himself."
"Rodney, your sarcasm is duly noted," Sheppard said. "Listen, we're gonna get Ronon and we're gonna go back to Atlantis."
"And even if we do, then what? Huh? I mean, Tyre's recovery hasn't exactly been the rousing success we were hoping for."
Sheppard stared up at McKay pointedly, flicking his eyes toward Brady, and spoke slowly.
"We're going to get Ronon back."
McKay caught on and sighed quietly. "Yeah. Of course," he said, resuming his pacing. He gave Teyla a thumbs-up and forced a smile. "We're gonna get him back."
"When you retire from the Stargate program, McKay, don't try to be an actor," Brady said dryly, lifting her head and arching a brow at him.
It was quiet for a few minutes as everyone lost themselves in their own thoughts and Rodney paced. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers.
"All right, I got it," he said. "We tell them we have some vital information that we're willing to give up, but we will only share it with Ronon. So, they send Ronon, he shows up, we appeal to him—I mean, the part of him that's still him."
"I can only think of three things wrong with that plan," Sheppard said.
"The most important being that there isn't anything of Ronon left near the surface," Brady interjected.
"But go on," Sheppard encouraged.
"He hasn't been brainwashed as long as Tyre, which means he might be more susceptible to our influence," McKay said. "We convince him to let us out or, or, or lead us out of here and then, you know, worst case scenario, he's not entirely convinced."
"That's your worst case scenario?"
"We could take advantage of the moment of uncertainty and—"
Brady lurched to her feet and paced behind Rodney as Tyre approached from the corridor.
"Sheppard." The cell door slid open and Tyre stepped aside. "You've been summoned."
"You wanna go over the plan one more time?" McKay whispered to Sheppard. Brady ignored him and kept her attention rapt on the traitorous Satedan.
"Guess it's my turn for the sales pitch, huh?" Sheppard asked Tyre.
Tyre nodded and turned his back to them. Sheppard slapped McKay on the arm in encouragement and nodded at Teyla. He glanced at Brady.
"Behave, kid," he said quietly. He followed Tyre down the corridor.
"What do we do? What do we do?" McKay chanted to himself in a whisper, resuming his pacing.
"McKay, you seriously have to relax," Brady said.
"Relax? Why would I possibly do that? I don't know if it has escaped your attention, Dr. Thatcher, but our one and only militarian was just picked as the Wraith's next Anakin Skywalker."
"Calm yourself, Rodney," Teyla said. "We will think of something to get out of here. We only have to put our minds together."
"Or I can just open the door." The trio whirled at the sound of Sheppard's voice.
"How'd you get away?" McKay asked.
"I didn't," Sheppard replied, jerking his head toward the end of the corridor. Tyre stood at the corner, his arms crossed over his chest. When Sheppard opened the cell and the team joined the Satedan at the end of the hallway, he gave them directions to Lorne's cell and passed the team their confiscated weapons.
"I have to take Sheppard with me to the commander," Tyre said. "If I don't return with him soon, he will get suspicious and sound an alarm. Take the second left after you free Major Lorne. Follow that corridor all the way down and it will take you to the feeding chamber." He looked at Teyla. "I'm sorry for the deception, but I had to do it. There was no other way to get an opportunity to get Ronon and get out of here."
"Well, just this once we'll excuse you," Sheppard said. "Come on. We'd better get this thing rolling."
Brady, Teyla, and McKay followed Tyre's instructions and wove their way through the bowels of the cruiser until they finally came to Lorne's team's cell. They dispatched the guards and opened the cell.
"How'd you get out?" Lorne asked, astounded.
"Tyre freed us," McKay said as he passed weapons to the other Marines. "Let's go."
"Plan's in progress," Brady said with a smile.
"Ok," Lorne said with a nod. "Come on, guys."
The teams carefully picked their way down the hallways, picking up speed when they heard machine gun fire from up ahead. "That sounds promising," Brady said.
They approached from behind a flood of drones, cutting through them until they could set up inside the chamber. The soldiers laid down suppressing fire while Teyla, Brady, and McKay rushed to assist Tyre and Sheppard. Ronon had Tyre pinned and was beating him. Teyla blasted him with a stunner, but it had no effect.
"Hit him again!" Brady shouted over the gunfire. Teyla fired again and Ronon's punches slowed, but he kept going. Shaking her head, Brady slid out of her rifle strap and held the gun like a baseball bat. "Sorry, sweetheart," she said, rushing over and swinging the weapon with all of her might. Ronon's head snapped to the side and blood poured from his mouth. He turned a furious gaze to Brady for a split second before falling unconscious to the floor. Brady's shoulders slumped in relief and she helped Tyre to his feet as Teyla ordered McKay and a Marine to carry Ronon. They went to Sheppard's side.
"How's it going?" he asked.
"Not so good!" McKay said.
"My guys are holding them off," Lorne called, but not for much longer.
Sheppard snatched a sidearm from Teyla's holster and put his foot on the chest of the Wraith commander, pointing the gun at his head.
"Tell them to back off," he ordered.
"My life will be a small price to pay for the lives of you and your team," the Wraith said.
Sheppard kicked the commander hard in the bleeding wound on his torso and the creature groaned. Tyre crossed to Sheppard and lifted the detonator remote out of his pocket.
"And how about the destruction of this facility?" he asked, showing the Wraith the remote. "Is that a small enough price as well?"
"You lie," the Wraith growled.
"I told them where to hide the charges for maximum effect. Enough explosives to destroy this place and all its research. Any advantage your Hive may hold over its rivals will be gone with the push of a button." He met the Wraith's doubtful gaze with defiance and flipped open the remote.
"Wait," he hissed as Tyre placed his thumb over the button.
"Bring him," Sheppard said, striding away from the Wraith. Two Marines hurried forward and secured the commander.
The Atlanteans walked through the cruiser halls, dragging Ronon's unconscious body and shuffling the Wraith between them. They blasted their way through many of the guards, but wave after wave kept coming.
"Tell them to let us through," Sheppard ordered the Wraith as they picked their way to where the Jumper was stored.
The Wraith stared at him coldly. "What's to stop you from triggering the explosives from a safe distance?"
"My presence here," Tyre interjected. He winced as he stepped forward and for the first time Brady noticed a large slash across his stomach. "You let them go," he said, "and I'll remain behind."
"Tyre?" Teyla asked, uncertain.
"Sheppard, he can't stay here," Brady whispered.
"Once they have reached the Gate, I'll trade you this device for my freedom. Or we all die together," he added when the commander hesitated.
The Wraith glared at Tyre, but eventually nodded. "Let them go!" he called to his guards. The guards shuffled as if they were debating disobeying orders, but slowly they began to back away.
"I'll be right behind you," Tyre said to Sheppard as he passed him his sword. Sheppard nodded knowingly, his expression regretful. He jerked his head to his team.
"Let's go!"
McKay hurried ahead, leaving two Marines to juggle Ronon. Brady threw a look at Tyre over her shoulder. The Satedan gave her a solemn nod before she disappeared around the corner.
Brady hovered near the corner of the Plexiglas window in the observation room, staring over the ledge at the heart-rending sight below. Ronon had regained consciousness not long after arriving back on Atlantis and was strapped onto a bed in Isolation. He writhed and pulled at his restraints, raging at them to let him go. Sheppard stood nearby, his face full of pain as he looked into the room. McKay turned away, unable to witness the scene any longer.
"How long..." Brady began quietly, stopping when her voice stuck in her throat. She shook her head and tried again. "How long can he do this?" she asked Teyla. Ronon screamed furiously at them to let him go. Teyla remained silent and gently squeezed Brady's hand.
"What kind of time frame for recovery are we looking at?" Mr. Woolsey asked.
"It's impossible to predict," Keller said. "He has so much of the enzyme running through him that his body can hardly process it. When it eventually does, that's when he'll come down."
Sheppard flinched as Ronon shouted his name. "I'm gonna talk to him," he said, turning.
"John?" Brady whispered as he passed. She looked at him questioningly, her eyes pleading to go with him.
"You stay behind me and keep your distance from him," he said. "He's not himself right now," he continued as they descended the stairs. "But maybe if he sees you it'll help calm him down or something. Open it," he told the guard.
The doors slid open and Ronon sat up, straining against his bonds. "There he is. Hey buddy." He caught sight of Brady hovering behind Sheppard and smiled. "Well, this is cozy. You brought my woman to heel, Sheppard?" He tossed his dreadlocks and tugged at his wrist cuffs. "So, how long are you planning on keeping me prisoner?"
"As long as it takes to clear your head," Sheppard said evenly.
"My head is clear."
"You may be feeling fine right now, but things are gonna get pretty rough for you. We're gonna get you through this," he said, glancing back at Brady.
"Ronon, you have to trust us," she said quietly.
Ronon caught her gaze and stared her down, but she refused to look away. "Whatever you've got planned, it's not going to work," he said darkly. "You've got a choice. You can either kill me," he said, looking back at Sheppard, "or you let me go."
"Look-"
"And if you let me go," he continued, interrupting Sheppard's sentence, " I promise I won't come after you or Atlantis. And you tell Tyre I won't come after him either."
"Tyre's dead," Sheppard said coolly. "He sacrificed himself taking out the Wraith lab."
Ronon's eyes narrowed, but otherwise he looked uninterested. "Yeah? Well, he was a traitor."
Brady bowed her head and closed her eyes. Ronon saw the action and spoke to her, preying on weaknesses.
"Did you say a prayer for the fallen?" he asked acidly. "Save your prayers, little office rat. When I get out of here, you'll need them for yourself," he added, licking his lips. The smile he gave her had Brady's stomach roiling. It wasn't hard to catch his threat.
"Tyre was a good friend," Sheppard said, stepping between them. "We all are. You're gonna realize that pretty soon." He took Brady by the shoulder and turned her, ushering her out.
"Yeah, well you just kill me or you set me free. Sheppard!" he shouted furiously. "You kill me or set me free!"
The doors had barely closed with Sheppard and Brady on the other side before she turned and leaned her forehead against the wall.
"You alright?" Sheppard asked.
"I'm fine, Shep," she replied. Her words were belied by the sob that shook her shoulders seconds after the statement.
"Hey," he said gently, chewing his lip. "We're gonna get him back."
Brady nodded and ran a hand through her hair, pushing herself away from the wall. "I know. I just...I hate that he has to go through this."
"I know," Sheppard said. He draped an arm around her shoulders. "Come on. Walk me to the cafeteria. You haven't eaten since we got back. You need your strength, kid. It's gonna be a hell of a few days."
It was night on Atlantis. The suns had set and most of the personnel had retired to their quarters. Brady sat in the corner of Isolation with her knees pulled to her chest as she helplessly watched Ronon writhe in agony. She turned her eyes upward and saw Teyla and Sheppard watching from the Observation room.
"Kill me, please," Ronon whispered, rolling onto his side and drawing his legs up. He wept as his eyes met Brady's. "Kill me, please!" he said louder, rolling back over onto his back. "Please kill me!" he shouted.
Brady covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a sob. Sheppard and Teyla looked away from the window, their faces matching expressions of anguish. Brady stayed in the corner for most of the night, but eventually moved to a chair that sat near the bed. Ronon hissed and growled at her like a trapped animal, then crumpled into agonized tears as his body was wracked with tremors. Sometime in the morning, Brady saw that McKay had spelled Teyla in Observation. Keller came in to check Ronon's vital signs and mopped his brow with a cool cloth. His body was painfully tense, his eyes wide as he watched her every move.
"His vitals are starting to level," Keller said quietly to Brady. "The next 24 hours are gonna be the most critical."
Brady nodded. She reached up to rub a crick out of her neck as Keller left. She jolted as a hand closed over the back of her neck, gently squeezing the kink. She turned he head and offered Sheppard a weary smile.
"You need to go get some sleep. I'll stay with him for a bit."
"I've slept some," Brady said. "Thank you for the offer though."
"It wasn't an offer, Brady. It was an order. Go get some sleep."
She could see by the stubborn set of his jaw that he was in military mode, which meant no matter what she wanted or how much she argued, she would be leaving Isolation one way or another.
"I'll be back in an hour," she said. She left the room and headed for her quarters, first swinging by the cafeteria for something to eat.
"Need a hand?"
She looked up at Carson and smiled. "Thanks," she said as he took the tray from her so that she could fill a cup with juice. "How's it going, Carson?"
"It's going well," he replied. "How's Ronon?"
"He's starting to settle," she said, lidding the cup. "Sheppard ordered me to rest, so I've been banished from Isolation and Observation. Figured I'd come get some snackies and head down for a few minutes of sleep."
"It's for the best," Carson said. "No offense, dear, but you've certainly looked better."
Brady laughed. "Gee, thanks. Could you be more charming?" she deadpanned.
Carson grinned, his dimples flashing. "Want some company while you eat?"
"Sure," she said with a shrug. They went to her room and Brady sat her tray on her desk. She sat and Carson pulled up a chair, stretching out his legs and crossing his arms over his chest. Brady eyed him carefully. "Sheppard didn't send you to babysit me, did he?"
"Where'd you get that idea?" Carson asked. "Eat your meal," he added, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the wall. "Did I tell you about the village we found on Mx9-487?" he asked. "It was beautiful. The people there were warm and welcoming. The place reminded me of a small community near where my grandmother lived, in Scotland. It had that same folksy air to it. You'd have loved it," he said. He went on talking about the village and the people, listing the things they saw that would have interested her. "Maybe once Ronon is back to himself, you can go with my team to-" He let the sentence drop as he lifted his head and looked at her. She lay on the desk with her head resting on her outstretched arm, her other hand still curled around her fork. Carson chuckled to himself and shook his head.
When Brady awoke, she was in her bed. She didn't know how long she had been there, but the suns had set once again. With a curse, she tossed back the blanket and threw her legs over the side. She slung on her uniform jacket and reached for the door panel just as the doorbell chimed. She nearly ran into McKay in her haste to leave.
"Ronon, um, just woke up. They moved him to the infirmary. He's asking for you," he said excitedly.
Brady rushed down the corridor and into the transporter, tapping her foot impatiently as she was taken to the medical wing.
"There you are," Sheppard said as she entered the room. Ronon sat on a bed beside him, looking pale but much better. He offered her a weak smile.
"Hey you," he said.
"Hey you," she replied, approaching the side of the bed.
"I'm gonna go fill Woolsey in," Sheppard said, patting the bed. He looked at Ronon and nodded. "It's good to have you back, buddy."
Ronon lifted his chin in acknowledgment and then looked back at Brady. "I told 'em not to wake you," he said. "Sheppard said you barely left."
"Yeah, well, I wanted to make sure you were ok when you woke up," she said, picking at her fingertips.
"I'll be ok," he said. She nodded and looked at him, smiling sheepishly when tears filled her eyes. He opened his arms and held a hand out to her. "Come here."
Brady fell into his embrace, burying her face against his neck and breathing his scent as she had done on so many nights. He wrapped his arms around her and sighed, gently rocking. He stroked her hair and trailed his fingertips along her cheek, swiping away the single tear that rolled down.
"Hey, we're ok," he said soothingly. "Everything is ok."
"It was close this time," she whispered. She leaned up and kissed him, taking him off guard by the desperation in it. "It was almost not ok," she breathed against his lips as she rested her forehead against his.
"Almost never counts," he said, trying for a smile. She gave him one in return and cupped his neck, lightly stroking her thumb over his tattoo. She placed another kiss on his mouth and stood up as Keller pulled the curtain aside.
"Sorry," she said with a smile. "Gimme ten seconds. You won't even know I'm here."
Brady trailed her fingers down Ronon's arm and linked them with his. He squeezed her hand reassuringly as Keller fluttered around his monitors. True to her word, the doctor worked quickly and silently, leaving almost immediately. Brady noticed the sleepiness on Ronon's face and tilted her head to the side.
"Why don't you go on to sleep?" she suggested. "I'll hang out here if you need anything."
Ronon nodded and pulled her down for one more kiss before releasing her hand. She perched on the side of the empty bed beside his and watched him until his breathing evened and he drifted off to sleep. Then she lay down on her side and let herself be lulled by the steady rhythm of the monitors. She awoke when Sheppard entered the room, but she kept her eyes mostly closed and feigned sleep. Sheppard approached Ronon's bed and held out Tyre's sword. Ronon looked at it solemnly and Sheppard silently laid it on the bed beside him. They looked at each other for a long moment, neither speaking, neither needing to. They understood each other clearly. Sheppard slowly turned and left the room. Ronon picked up the sword and unsheathed it, holding it up and examining the glinting blade. His brows furrowed and he closed his eyes in sorrow, holding the weapon close as he wept for his lost brother.
Brady ached to go to him and offer comfort, but she knew the Satedan well, and this was something he needed to do on his own. She rolled away from him, offering him as much privacy as she could.