Chapter 25

Before Methos could start laughing at the shock on their faces he was squished against his lover's chest.

Jacob looked at Methos in surprise before jumping forward and embracing him in a tight hug. He wasn't even irritated by the additional weight holding his lover down. "Methos," he sighed in relief.

"Jacob," Methos leaned up and kissed his lover tenderly.

"Harumph," a throat clearing broke their kiss. When they looked in the direction they saw their friends and family looking back at them.

"Hey, old man, welcome back," Jack greeted grinning happily. "You want to tell us why you broke the nice wraith trying to help you?"

Shaking his head in exasperation Methos replied, "Hey! Who you calling old, grass hopper! And I didn't break him; he absorbed the wraith energy back into himself. And before any of you argue, I promised him he could stay!"

"WHAT!" Rodney sputtered. "You can't just go around and decide these things alone! Do you know how dangerous he is?"

Looking fondly at Rodney Methos answered, "Yes, I know. But he hasn't been feeding properly because of the feelings his bond with John woke inside him. A while ago I read about Dr. Beckett's and Dr. Keller's 'Retrovirus' and I think with Thor's help we could adjust it." Turning his head towards John Methos said, "The favour he wanted from you, Sheppard, was to kill him."

"What?," John shouted shocked, "He wanted me to…"

"Yeah, he planned on dying since he got back to his hive. After what happened with the genii he didn't feel like a wraith anymore. I explained that it was due to your influence rather than the genii's."

"My influence?" John asked confused.

"Your bond with him had more side-effects than he had calculated. It changed him so much more than it could have ever changed you. Your emotions reached him on a basic level and he discovered what the wraiths were missing. Now he just wants us to find a way to stop his need for feeding, and make it possible for him to eat normal food."

Looking down at the wraith still lying unconscious in his lap Methos ran his hands soothingly over the long white hair. "He didn't know whether or not he would survive helping me. His intention was to help me, that's what protected him from my powers. I couldn't let him die…"

Ronon stepped forward and lifted Todd up. Putting him on the bed next to Methos' they could see him properly for the first time.

His face was as pale as a newborns with the tattoo standing out darkly. The armour he still wore hung around him.

Carson came over and turned to Ronon, "Please help ma get him outta this. And we've already tried the Retrovirus and look at the disaster it caused!"

Methos looked confused at him, "Who are you?"

Surprised Carson looked at the man on the bed, "Oh! We haven't properly met yet! I am Carson Beckett!"

"What? I thought you were in cryogenic sleep?"

"I was, but with the help of Thor I was healed."

"Wow…I sure missed the existing part around here!"

Snorting Carson looked up from Todd and replied, "Don't worry, things are never boring around here!"

Laughing Methos decided he liked the Scot and asked, "What did you mean by disaster?"

"Michael…"

"Oh, I read about him in your files."

"Yeah, and when I reviewed Keller's files I found the reason why her retrovirus worked even worse than mine. The degeneration of the cells was sped up to the point where a human would have died within the first hour. It looks as if Jennifer tried to find a way to kill all wraiths instead of strengthening our alliance."

"Keller? What about her? Where is he by the way?" Methos looked around for the doctor.

Jacob cleared his throat, "That would be one of the things you've missed, love. She was an agent of the Trust."

"WHAT? Did she do something? Did she hurt anyone?"

"No, she just planned on killing the whole expedition team once we won against the wraiths!" Rodney exclaimed.

Blinking Methos sat back on the bed, "I think you better start from the beginning."

Todd woke feeling disoriented. Feeling eyes resting on him he looked up straight into the eyes of the human male he had become to admire within a few minutes of meeting him.

"Good to see you awake," his visitor greeted him.

"I did not expect to wake again." Todd fixed the man with a glower, "And what happens now?"

Daniel Jackson looked surprised, "Well, we haven't decorated your room yet and Dr. Beckett would like to keep you here…"

Surprised Todd sat up causing Daniel to step back in surprise, "You mean I can really stay here?"

Confused Daniel nodded, "Yeah, Methos promised you that. Didn't he?"

"Well, yeah he did, but I learned that wraith and human are almost never truthful with each other."

Shaking his head in exasperation Daniel looked down at Todd, "They also started working on the Retrovirus again. With the help of Thor they hope to tweak it just right and help you."

Todd deflated at the news and lay back down, "It's not just for me. If it really works this time we could change all wraiths and maybe this pointless and endless war and search for new food sources will come to an end."

"Many have died in this galaxy just because they have been used as food, right?"

"Yes, but if I'm truthful I don't really want this for the humans. But for my whole race…We have become stagnant and didn't evolve in the last thousands of years. Then there is the wraith your people call Michael… He isn't what I hoped the next stage of the wraith would be like."

Daniel sat back down on his chair, "How did you think your race would be like?"

After contemplating this for a few minutes Todd answered, "Not peaceful, I wouldn't go that far. But I always imagined us to be free and able to be more than mindless drones serving our queen, we would be able to evolve our science rather than take it from others, we wouldn't be dependent on finding humans as food but something else."

"Why not be like Michael then? He is independent and doesn't have to feed."

"That is true but he is somehow possessed by the idea of destroying everything else. After we found one of his abandoned outposts I managed to restore some data and found out that he is slowly loosing himself in madness. Wraith and human are at war within him. He also mentioned his desire to reproduce with your athosian woman, Teyla."

Daniel paled, "He would force her to carry his child?"

Nodding Todd felt his energy leave him and he closed his eyes, feeling save in this human's presence and in the knowledge that he had been granted asylum.

"Jacob?"

The Tok'ra lifted his head from its position on Methos chest, "Mmh…"

Shamed that he had made his lover worry about him again he mumbled, "I'm sorry…"

Sitting up Jacob looked at his lover with stern eyes, "For what exactly?"

"For running off like that, for being careless, making you worry, take your pick!" Methos snarked.

"Methos, you don't have to hide from me, you know? You don't have to hide behind a brave facade or your snarky attitude." Cradling his lovers face in both his hands Jacob looked deep into those old and ageless eyes, "I promise to always be here for you, no matter what crap you pull."

Biting his lower lip Methos looked steadily up at the Tok'ra, "In the beginning I felt I didn't deserve to be with you, to be happy, after the things I have done…Now I couldn't image existing without you." Sighing deeply after that confession Methos' eyes sparked with what Jacob knew to be a leer, "So you not gonna go and punish me?"

Straddling Methos Jacob pinned his lover's arms above his head and forcefully held them down, "Haven't made up my mind about that yet. Maybe you'd remember to look after your hide better if I beat it into you…or I could just keep you chained to our bed. Then you wouldn't be able to get into trouble and I could have you any time I wanted and wouldn't have to wait for you to get home from whatever hair brained idea that caught your fancy."

The glint in Jacob's eyes made Methos shudder as he passively lay on the bed waiting for his lover's next move.

Afterwards Jacob cradled Methos protectively in his arms as if to protect him from harm. When Methos nuzzled his cheek he looked down and saw the sleepy and satisfied eyes slowly loosing focus. "Sleep, Methos. Tomorrow will be a hard day."

"You think I did the right thing with granting that wraith asylum?"

"That's not for me to decide. But he definitely is different than the others we've met. Maybe this will be the start of a new era."

Yawning Methos cuddled closer and let sleep claim him, "Hopefully."

"Rodney, come to bed." Katie Brown looked at her boyfriend and swore that the man had unending energy when it came to rambling. 'As well as other things,' her mind reminded her of the energy Rodney used when they made love. Once he had taken over an hour to drive her crazy and higher into pleasure until he finally claimed her in a round of gentle and outdrawn lovemaking. 'Never once has this been fucking!'

"Katie! Are you even listening to me?" Rodney's screeching voice brought her back from the pleasurable place she had let her mind wander to.

Flushed and aroused from her memories of that night she looked at him from under lowered eyelashes, "Not really, lover. I remembered the birthday present you gave me."

Seeing her coy look he went beet red as arousal coursed through him. "Th…That…Katie! Stop distracting me!"

"Oh, am I distracting you from anything important, Rodney?" she asked playing with her hair. Katie knew she wasn't playing fair, Rodney loved her hair and could never resist touching it. Whenever she played with it herself he would soon be touching her.

"You know that!" he pouted then changed his mind and prowled over to where she lay draped on their bed. "And if you don't stop I'll have to take some drastic measures…"

Heart beating wildly Katie asked in a husky voice, "And what would that be?"

"I would turn you onto your back…"

"…what else?"

"Than I'd bind your hands," Rodney's gaze grew hotter as he let his eyes wander over her form.

"And after that?"

"I'd make you listen to me the whole night." Rodney smirked at the disappointed groan that escaped her.

"Rodney! That wasn't nice…"

"Never said I was nice did I?"

"No but you didn't warn me about you being cruel!"

"Oh poor baby, here let me kiss it better."

Paul looked on as John paced through his quarters like mad. He couldn't even begin to imagine how the Colonel had to feel. To discover that the being he had been bound too, however unwilling and dangerous it could be, wishing to die and practically making him promise to kill it had shocked the man to the core.

"John…" just as Paul wanted to ask him how he was doing John turned to him.

"I didn't see that coming! He wanted me to kill him, just like that! I mean in battle is one thing, but not with him helping Pierson and then deciding he couldn't live with me in his head! I wouldn't have been able to do it, Paul! I couldn't have pulled the trigger and killed him, even if I promised!"

"John!" Paul exclaimed when he saw his lover running out of energy and slumping on the bed. "It's okay, Todd will stay here and we'll find a way to adjust the Retrovirus. He doesn't want you to kill him anymore. Daniel said so after he talked to him."

"It's just…I expected him to ask for technology or information and I was ready to give him whatever he wanted…"

Paul pulled John up and made him stand while he started undressing his mentally exhausted lover. Leaving him in only his boxers he made John lie down before lying down himself. Covering them both with the blanket Paul was glad when John embraced him and kissed him before finally settling in for the night.

Already half asleep Paul barely registered the tender kiss on his lips and the whispered confession, "I love you, Paul."

When Evan woke up the next morning to Ronon's watchful eyes he immediately knew that something was irking his lover, "Morning, love" he yawned and stretched.

"Hmm."

'Back to damn short answers' Evan sighed before getting up from the bed. He felt his lover's eyes follow him to the bathroom but the Satedan didn't make a move to join him.

After showering and shaving Evan entered his bedroom again, just to find Ronon now sitting on the bed, still naked. He had buried his head in Evan's pillow and was breathing deeply.

"Ronon?"

The taller man's head snapped up and he tensed when he saw Evan's concerned gaze.

"What?" Ronon's voice was harsh and Evan knew that his lover probably hadn't slept at all.

"What happened? Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?"

Evan knew this tactic and also knew that his lover didn't want to talk about this. It didn't stop the anger from taking over, "Like that! Why didn't you sleep and why are you watching me like that?"

"Didn't know I needed your permission." The second Ronon said it his eyes softened. He knew it hurt Evan when he talked like that.

Evan turned from his lover and pulled on his uniform, he had a meeting in an hour and had hoped for them to spend the time together. 'But not if he behaves like this!'

Seeing Evan starting for the door Ronon jumped forward pushing his lover against the wall.

"What the f…!" Evan exclaimed when Ronon pushed his head against his lover's neck and began pulling off the uniform he had just put on.

"Don't leave…" Ronon pleaded. "Not like this."

Anger leaving just as suddenly as it had appeared Evan embraced Ronon. "What is it, Ronon? Please tell me…"

"The wraith, I don't want it here."

'Aha, that's the problem.' Evan pushed against Ronon's chest and made his lover step back in surprise. Straightening his clothes Evan made Ronon sit on his bed, "I know you hate the wraith, Ronon. I understand that, but please consider what we could achieve with Todd's help. And Beckett is probably already up and working on the Retrovirus…"

"It's not right to change them against their will! Killing them is one thing, but to experiment on them!" Ronon raged as he remembered Michael.

"But this time it's not against Todd's will. He asked us to do this. We don't know his goals or what will happen in the future but we can't throw him out. He helped us and now we're helping him."

Ronon confessed in a troubled voice, "I dreamed of him feeding from you. I saw you dying and couldn't protect you."

"You won't always be there to protect me, Ronon. But trust me, I am a trained soldier, I can take care of myself." Evan pulled Ronon up and after dressing hurriedly both went to the mess for breakfast.

Three weeks later

Everyone but Ronon had slowly become used to seeing the wraith on Atlantis. Not that they were happy with this but it was unavoidable.

Todd meanwhile had taken a liking to Daniel Jackson and could often be found in his company. The only thing that surprised them was that General O'Neill didn't seem to have a problem with that. Oh, sure he snarked about Daniel neglecting him and smirked when he called Todd Daniel's shadow, but he knew that Daniel was learning as much from Todd as the wraith learned from him.

Ronon had calmed down a bit but as soon as Todd started growing weaker from not feeding properly he began shadowing him all over Atlantis to prevent the wraith from harming the Lanteans.

He was following Todd when the wraith was called to the infirmary to test the new retrovirus.

Ronon was sure that he saw the wraith's hand tremble before Todd turned around to make his way to the infirmary. With sudden insight Ronon realised that Todd was scared, scared of them and the changed they would bring on him, of the possibility that it didn't work…

Speeding up his steps he walked up to Todd who stopped and tensed in preparation of a fight. "Going to the infirmary?"

Todd meanwhile didn't blink, "Yes, as you very well know."

"I'll come with you."

Confused Todd cocked his head, "Why are you telling me this? You've followed me the whole time I have been here."

"Saw something when they called for you."

"And what would that have been?" Todd didn't know what to make of the Satedan.

"You're scared."

Growling Todd turned around and continued on his way, "That is none of your business."

"Sure." Ronon grinned and followed the wrai… Todd.

"Now, Todd, with Thor's knowledge of stem cells we were able to adjust the Retrovirus. Are you sure you want to test it?" Carson asked gently seeing the hesitation in his cat like eyes.

"Yes, Doctor Beckett. I…"

Sheppard interrupted from the door, "You don't have to, Todd. We could go and catch another wraith and see if it works."

Todd looked at the human in surprise. The whole time he had been here John Sheppard did his best to ignore his very existence and know he wanted to…what? Protect him? "That will not be necessary, John Sheppard. I wish to do this."

"Why? You still want to die?"

"No, I want to live. But I want us to make peace and I believe that this will be the first step." Turning away Todd nodded at Carson and the Doctor gave him the new Retrovirus.

Everyone waited; even Thor seemed to be concerned with the outcome. A few minutes later the door opened and Daniel entered with Methos, Jack and Jacob as well as Sam and Rodney.

"Hey, Todd." Daniel greeted him and without preamble sat down on the chair next to his bed.

"Doctor Jackson." Todd acknowledged him and eyed the other warily. "What are you doing here?"

Before Daniel could answer Jack stepped up to them, "Wanted to see how this works out. Daniel would pout at me if you died. So…" he shrugged before suddenly grinning, "can I have your coat if you die?"

Daniel sputtered but didn't say anything when Todd began laughing at the absurdness of the man's statement. After calming down he asked, "What could you possibly do to stop it, human!"

"We prepared all of Atlantis emergency systems and could infuse you with energy to keep you alive," Methos replied.

Before he could laugh again Todd felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. The others looked on worriedly when the wraith paled further and started sweating.

Carson stepped forward and asked worriedly, "Todd, are you alright?"

Shaking his head Todd started having problems getting air as his breathing grew heavier due to the pain. A sudden electric current ran from his abdomen down his legs and up his torso, spreading into his toes and fingers. When the current arrived at his hand Todd began screaming in pain. The feeding slots were sensitive and tender, but now it seemed as if someone was stabbing his with a knife.

When Todd curled up into himself Jack and Methos looked at each other before stepping forward. Each laying a hand on Todd's shoulder they began soothing the pain, they would wait with the energy infusion until it became necessary but if they could stop the pain from making it worse they would do so.

It seemed as if hours had passed until Todd finally collapsed exhausted and lay still.

Daniel looked at Jack and asked in a hushed voice, "Is it over?"

Jack smiled at his lover and nodded, "Yes, and right now it seems that it was a success." He pointed at Todd's hand and when Carson picked it up to examine it they saw that the slot had closed and the skin looked unbroken.

All of them were relieved that the pain was gone. Even Ronon had winced at the pain filled screams the wraith had emitted.

John looked at Carson and asked what everyone of them wanted to ask, "And now what?"

"Now we wait."

Tbc