Sorry guys for the long delay but it took me forever to figure out how to end this and my muse and Tylan were definetely not cooperating! :) Thanks as always for the reviews and your patience. I was going to end this chapter on a cliffhanger but thought I'd done that enough in this fic G Tech stuff isn't my specialty so forgive any glaring error and classify it as a plot device. :) Enjoy.

Title: Hope
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Lorne/Keller
Notes and summary: see part one

Pain was the first thing that registered for Rodney.

The scientist groaned as consciousness returned.
Along with it came sensations.

Something liquid was dripping down his right shoulder and forearm.
His whole arm felt like it was on fire.

Shot.
He'd been shot.

Forcing down panic Rodney took several deep breathes. He mentally checked his other limbs and was relieved to find he wasn't injured anywhere else.

Rodney moved and instantly regretted the motion as the pain in his arm intensified ten fold.
For a long time all Rodney could do was concentrate on the pain.

There were no noises around him just his heart hammering in his ears and the sound of his ragged breathing.

God he hated being shot.

But it'd be worth the pain if his plan had actually worked. Rodney had been bluffing to Tylan on getting word to Atlantis. He hadn't got communications working that far yet but what he had got working Rodney could only pray had worked enough to bring the Cavalry.

If they ever needed Sheppard riding in on the proverbial white horse it was now.

Not that Rodney would ever admit that.

With gritted teeth Rodney attempted to move once more but darkness closed in and he sank into the painless void.

**********

Teyla should by now be used to John Sheppard.
She should by now know that when he says one thing it might mean something else.
No matter how well intentioned.

"You alright?"Noyce called up as Teyla lay on her stomach in the small tunnel.

"Yes."Teyla called back. "Thank you."

The Athosian began to move forward once again. It was a slow journey as her shoulders touched either side of the maintenance shaft.
Twice she had already banged her head on the gray metal ceiling of the tunnel.

Teyla kept her gun in front of her as she crept along. She'd been afraid that once she reached her destination that she would not be able to remove the weapon if it was on her back.

As she neared a bend in the shaft voices could be heard.

One, Tylan the other Caldwell.

"I have been very generous with you, Colonel. If you value the lives of your crew you'll hand over the ship."

"It's not my ship to give."Caldwell replied. "And my government isn't one to hand over a multi-billion dollar ship lightly."

"You are willing to sacrifice their lives then?"

Her destination in view Teyla activated her com and whispered. "Colonel, I am in position."

"Good….as soon as we have his attention take your shot."

"Understood."Teyla replied as she crept closer to the small vent.

Luckily the slots in the vent were just wide enough for the barrel of her gun. All Teyla had to do was aim and shoot.
Teyla scooted her weapon into the right slot. John hadn't said so but she knew she only had one shot, one chance.

One chance to free her friends.

Teyla double checked her aim and settled in to wait.

She didn't have to wait long.

********

"Remember."John began catching Evan's attention as they stood by the door to the bridge. "My call, no matter what."

Lorne nodded as he tightened his grip on his gun. "Understood, Sir."

Sheppard looked back at Ronon and Tilson making sure everyone was ready. Then he reached forward and activated the door control.

Evan didn't realize he was holding his breathe until the door was open and they were inside.
The air rushed out of him and his body went cold as Evan saw Jennifer in Tylan's arms.

Fragile and vulnerable.
Still…..too still.

Lorne barely heard Tylan's greeting to Sheppard.

His heart was beating loudly in his ears as rage swept through and threatened to overwhelm.

Jen's clothes were torn.
The C4 hung loosely around her waist resting on her stomach.

She looked like a broken doll.

With a great effort Evan forced himself to remember the plan.
To remember Teyla.

Lorne dragged his attention back to Sheppard.

John could almost literally feel Evan's anger. He didn't blame him.
Not a bit.

Seeing Jennifer on a screen was one thing.
Seeing in person was quite another.

Jennifer had been the first thing John had seen when they had stormed in.

Then he'd almost tripped over Rodney.

There was a small pool of blood by the scientist's right shoulder.
John hadn't been able to check for a pulse but he'd been close enough that he could tell his friend was still breathing.

Sheppard gritted his teeth as he stepped around Rodney and faced Tylan.

This ended now.

******

"Come to escort everyone off my ship, Colonel?"Tylan asked as he shifted Jennifer in his arms drawing her up to his chest.

"You have one chance to end this peacefully and let the Doc go."Sheppard replied as he felt the others form in behind him.

"You're in no position to make threats."

Teyla's finger rested on the familiar trigger. She checked her aim once more and began to squeeze.

Just as Teyla fired the Daedalus shifted as the ship drifted off course.

Tylan heard the gunshot an instant before the pain hit. A firey hot sensation swept from just below his neck and through his left shoulder.
Black spots swam in front of his eyes and he nearly dropped the young woman in his arms.

Tylan blinked the spots away in time to see Sheppard move towards him. He stumbled back feeling liquid drip down his neck and shoulder. The mercenary fought to control the detonator in a sweat soaked hand.

Just as Sheppard and the others reached him Tylan got a firm grip on the small device. He raised it and nearly lost everything as pain sliced relentlessly through his body. Dizziness began to form.

Tylan could feel Jennifer sliding from his grasp.

Anger flashed through the pain….

It would not end this way.
Not after all he worked for.

With his good arm Tylan tightened his grip on the young doctor. He stumbled as the effort became too much but with grim determination he turned to face the military men.

*********

Evan felt his arms instantly reach for Jen as she slid from Tylan's grasp. He forced himself to stop when he saw Tylan still held the detonator.
Bastard still had control.

"It's over, Tylan."John stated as he inched forward.

"Y-you are wrong."

As if Pegasus and fate were proving the pirate right the emergency lights flickered and failed.

John swore silently…..damn virus. It was becoming faster….gaining more control of the ship.

"Tylan."John called as his eyes slowly adjusted to the dark. "Let the Doc go. You're hurt….but nobody has to die today. You can still make it out of this."

Tylan tried to concentrate. The pain made it almost impossible to think. He shoved it to the back of his mind.
He'd been hurt worse.
The goal was what was important here.

"Sheppard's right."Caldwell began. "I….."

The Daedalus interrupted her commander as the ship shuddered violently as the virus reached the engine room.

Everyone was thrown off balance.

Tylan struggled to keep his wits about him as everything shifted. He swore as Keller and the detonator slipped from his grasp and hit the floor.

Instinct began to take over through the pain and survival was winning.

The mercenary used the confusion to dodge through the military group and reach the door.

This wasn't failure.
He hadn't lost.

He still had control of the ship he just needed to regroup.

Tylan slipped out the door but that was as far as he got.

Ronon was the first to notice the pirate's escape.
He was moving even before Sheppard's order came.

However Lorne had been faster.

Dex reached the hall to find Lorne and Tylan tumbling head over feet.

He stepped forward and he saw Tilson's group fall in behind him.
They waited and watched ready to intervene if necessary.

Ronon smiled grimly he had a feeling Lorne would not need any assistance.

"Go."Caldwell ordered to Sheppard just as Teyla reached them. "We'll take care of McKay and Keller."

Teyla nodded as she kneeled down next to Jennifer.

John looked at his friend's still forms once more before he turned and took off after Lorne and the others.

Tylan deserved whatever punishment the Major gave him. John wanted to add more than a few punches in himself.
As much as John wanted that kind of cowboy justice he could almost hear Elizabeth's voice in his head.

There was a right and a wrong to everything.

Right now John wasn't sure how he could convince Evan to let the son of a bitch live.
Part of John wasn't sure he wanted to.

But he knew he had too….some how.

As John entered the hall and moved around Ronon one thing was clear.
The Doc would not want Evan to lose his career over this.

John owed it to her to keep that from happening.

But as he looked at the maylay before him John realized that was going to be tough.
Damn tough.