They didn't sleep again. Rodney sat by himself in a corner of the room, staring at his hands and resisting all attempts at conversation. None of the others were willing to force conversation on him – and didn't really speak with each other, either.

Teyla sat on the edge of the bed, throwing the occasional sympathetic look in Rodney's direction, while Teal'c and Ronon both guarded the door, weapons ready in silent vigilance. Mitchell and Sheppard stood near the window, each watching a different direction of the Village, but not too concerned, really. They were fairly certain there wasn't anything out there they couldn't handle, and they already knew that Talon could jerk Melony out of a dream, now, and she could do the same with the rest of them. Johvon wouldn't have another chance at getting to them in their minds. They were just going to wait for morning, and give Rodney his chance to say good-bye, and then get the hell out of there.

OOOOOOOOO

When the dawn finally came, it was greeted with a soft knock at the door. Teal'c opened it, while Ronon covered him, and Joy found herself staring along the barrel of Ronon's big weapon. She paled, but looked past it – and him – and met Rodney's gaze.

"I… I've come to speak with you…"

McKay glanced over at Melony and Sheppard, clearly asking what he should do. Neither of them moved, though, or said anything. It was Rodney's decision what he wanted to do, and they couldn't make that decision for him. Ronon lowered his gun, looking at McKay as well, and Rodney swallowed hard and nodded, pushing himself to his feet.

"Don't go far," Sheppard said, not moving away from the window.

McKay nodded again and moved past Ronon and Teal'c to meet Joy out in the hallway. They walked about ten feet down the corridor and Joy reached out her hand to stop him.

"You're leaving, aren't you?"

He hesitated, but then nodded.

"How did you know?"

"I dreamed it…" her lower lip vanished between her teeth for a moment as she studied his face intently. "I don't understand… I thought you liked it here…"

"I do," he said. "I mean… I did. But I… I can't stay here."

"Why not?"

"Because…" he hesitated again. "Because I have responsibilities at home. With the others."

"But they do not appreciate you as-"

"Yeah, they do." He ran a hand through his hair, looking back towards the room the others were in. "They might not show it, but they do."

"We need you here," Joy told him. "I need you."

He couldn't help himself; he took her in his arms and hugged her close – and she clung to him tightly.

OOOOOOOOO

"Do you think Rodney will be all right?" Teyla asked.

She was the first to break into the silence in the room that had fallen once McKay had left with Joy.

"He'll be fine," Sheppard said, still looking out the window. His tone suggested that he wasn't as sure as he was trying to sound, though. "He's tougher than he looks…"

Teyla didn't look any more certain of that than John sounded, but she simply nodded.

"We-"

Another knock on the door startled all of them. To allow Rodney all the privacy they could give him, they hadn't been watching him with his discussion with Joy – although Teal'c and Ronon were close enough to the door to hear if McKay needed them.

Teal'c answered the door again, and again Ronon covered him – although he didn't point the big weapon directly at the door this time. At the door was a man Teal'c didn't recognize, but Sheppard, Mitchell and Ronon all did. It was the tailor they'd met on their tour the day before, and he was holding a fair-sized bundle in his hands.

He looked into the room uncomfortably – clearly not used to having the scrutiny of so many people with weapons (which was a clear indication of the society he'd been raised in, Talon pointed out to Melony as she made the observation) – and gave Mitchell an uncertain smile.

"I heard you were leaving," he said.

"Who informed you of that?" Teal'c asked.

The tailor's smile faltered.

"I… actually, I dreamed it. But I wanted to make sure to give you this before you left…"

He dropped the package he'd been carrying onto a small stand that was beside the door, and hurriedly left before anyone could say anything.

Ronon frowned, looking at the package suspiciously, but Rodney was suddenly in the doorway. He avoided making eye contact with anyone, but headed instead directly to his pack, which was sitting in the corner he'd been occupying most of the night.

"I'm ready…"

Sheppard nudged Mitchell, who hadn't had a chance to move away from the window, and looked pointedly down to the street below them. Melony turned her attention from Rodney to the street, and they both watched as Joy hurried away, her head bowed and looking as dejected as McKay did.

You have to wonder how Johvon thinks this is taking good care of his people… Talon said, clearly disgusted – and feeling a bit sorry for the woman who hadn't had anything more to do with things than Rodney had.

Melony gave silent agreement as she met Sheppard's gaze.

"Let's get out of here."

Sheppard nodded.