Title: In the Blood, ch 26

Author: Whytewytch/Whytewytch4

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis

Characters/Pairings: Evan Lorne/OFC

Word count: 5,070

Rating: NC-17, adult concepts

Spoilers/Warnings: None

Summary: The first assignment for Lorne's Atlantis Reconnaissance Team after Kate's death. It seemed like an innocent enough assignment, but nothing in Atlantis is ever what it seems.

A/N: Thanks to jagnikjen for all her help!

Disclaimer: Any characters or things you recognize from TV, I don't own. I'm not making a red nickel off of this, much to my sadness. I write this only for fun.

P3R-924 was an unassuming little planet with a space gate. The jumper's life signs indicators showed only one village, located at the base of a mountain range in the northern hemisphere. Doctor Giles had a team there, setting up terrace fields in the nearby hills to help the people grow more food. Giles had sent back a report that the Salosians, as they called themselves, were pale from mining in the mountain and under-nourished from lack of proper nutrition. His report also claimed that they were not very bright, nor very healthy, and were wary of outsiders, but friendly enough once they got to know the new people.

It was the first assignment for Lorne's team since Kate's death. They were bringing supplies and giving the natives physicals. Evan was relieved to have such an innocuous assignment right now. They'd had enough excitement for a bit and it would be nice to see how Kemp fit in with their team in the field. The man had been nothing but respectful since his punishment and eager to learn about his new posting. He'd taken quickly and easily to stunner training and was a natural gene carrier, although he was still so new to it that every time something in Atlantis turned on for him with a thought, he exclaimed, "cool".

The jumper touched down in an open field two clicks from the village and Evan made sure everyone was geared up before he opened the back door. It paid to be prepared for anything in Pegasus. The door landed on the grass, revealing a warm, sunny day. A light breeze blew down from the mountain. The group exited the jumper and Evan closed it back up, putting it in stealth mode.

"Cool." Kemp's voice was tinged with awe and respect.

Evan smiled at the kid's enthusiasm. "Everyone remember where we parked."

"Donald Duck, row 36," chimed in Sheffield.

Justinia looked at Sheff, one eyebrow raised. He grinned back at her. "You know, when you get off the tram at Disney and they tell you where you're parked—Donald Duck, Goofy, Mickey Mouse."

Justinia continued to stare at Sheffield as if he'd grown a second head.

Coughlin clapped Sheffield on the back. "Give it up, boy. I don't think the fine doctor here's been to Disney."

Sheffield's eyes went wide in mock horror. "We will have to fix that. Next leave. All right, you've killed off the Wraith and the Replicators. Now what're you gonna do?"

"We're going to Disneyland!" the four men chimed in unison. Evan grinned; Justinia merely shook her head.

"C'mon, gang. Let's move it out. Doctor Giles is expecting us." Evan pocketed the remote for the jumper and they started walking.

Within half a mile, shade trees began to dot the landscape. A wide cart-path parted the trees and made walking easy. Despite the lack of immediate danger, Evan kept them in formation—himself on point, Coughlin on their six, Doc in the middle with Sheff and Kemp flanking her. He'd seen enough innocent situations turn sour that he held the artist in him in check, allowing it to see the shading and lighting but tempered by the warrior's sense of if this would make good cover or that would be a good place for an ambush.

Birds quieted at their approach and the bushes rustled as small animals scurried away. Twenty minutes later, they began to hear the sounds of human occupation—shouting, the clanging of metal being worked, the squealing of small children. Soon after, they emerged into a clearing at the base of the mountain. Everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at the new arrivals. Some glared, some scurried away to hide in ramshackle lean-tos. One man, larger and stronger-looking than the others, wiped grimy hands on equally grimy clothing and stepped forward to greet them.

He held out his hand and Evan took it, noting the strength in the man's grip. He appeared neither underfed nor unhealthy.

"'Lo."

Evan looked up at the mountain before him. "Hello, sir. My name is Major Lorne. I'm looking for Doctor Giles."

"Doc's in the hills," the man mumbled, gesturing with his head toward the foothills of the mountain.

"Thank you. I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name."

"Didn't give it."

"I see. Can you take us to Doctor Giles?"

"Can."

The man turned and went back to his work, hefting a piece of metal with some large tongs and dipping it in a cauldron of water that bubbled at the metal's touch. He held the metal piece up, examining it briefly before sticking it back in the glowing coals.

Evan frowned, unsure if the man was being purposefully rude or if he was just naturally uncooperative.

"Excuse me, sir."

The man looked up and stared at Evan quizzically.

"You still here?"

Evan ignored the question. "Can someone take us to Doctor Giles, please?"

"Course they can." The smith turned back to his work again, pulling the metal from the heat and placing it on an anvil. He reached for a hammer and began banging the metal into shape.

Evan sighed. He was getting nowhere fast with this man. He turned to look back at the rest of his team, who wore various expressions of amusement and impatience. Glancing skyward and shaking his head, he turned back around, looking for someone else—anyone else—to help them, but everyone he saw was studiously avoiding his gaze. He began to get that uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something was definitely wrong. He turned back to the team, letting them see that this was no longer an amusing situation to him, silently warning them to be ready for anything.

"Sir, I would appreciate it if you would take us to Doctor Giles immediately."

The man stopped his hammering to look up once more. "Huh?"

"Doctor Giles? Now."

"What about him?"

Evan's patience was at an end. Protocol dictated that he go through the leaders of whatever people they encountered, but this man was being completely uncooperative. He clicked on his radio. "Doctor Giles?"

There was a tense moment of silence and then the doctor's voice answered. "Yes? Who is this?"

Evan sighed in relief. "Doctor Giles, this is Major Lorne, from Atlantis. We are in the village but are having a hard time getting anyone to bring us to you."

Doctor Giles' laughter sounded over the radio. "That's not surprising, Major. I'll be right down."

A few uncomfortable minutes later, Doctor Giles loped up. He was tall and lanky, with carrot red hair and green eyes. His skin was darkly tanned, an odd contrast with the red hair, and laugh lines were deeply etched into the corners of his eyes and mouth; freckles dusted his nose and cheeks. He held out a hand and Evan took it, surprised to find the doctor's grip firm and strong, his palms rough with calluses.

"Major Lorne. I'm Doctor Giles. Most people call me Gilly. Good to meet you."

Evan smiled, thinking of how unlike the Marine sniper's Ghilly suit this man was. Where that suit was made to help the wearer blend in with the environment, the doctor would never be able to do so with that hair of his, not without a good dye job.

"You have no idea how glad we are to see you. The way the villagers were acting had us nervous, wondering if you were okay."

"Oh, yes. We're very much okay. They're just…wary of strangers. But they've taken us in and they treat us as if we were family. Come with me. I'll show you the fields we're planting."

Evan turned to the others and motioned with his head for them to follow with him. Justinia's voice halted him.

"Major, I should set up somewhere to start the physicals."

Giles turned and smiled. "Silly me. I'm so excited by the agriculture, but of course, you're here to check on the villagers' health. Let me show you where to set up."

Evan trailed behind Giles and Justinia, the rest of the group fanning out around them until they came to one shack that was in better repair than many of the others. They stepped inside and Giles pulled open some shutters to let in the light and the air. The place reeked—an almost sickly sweet smell mixed with sweat. Evan glared around the room.

"This is the best place in town for sterile equipment?"

Giles shrugged. "At the moment, yes. We've been busy with the planting. You're more than welcome to sanitize it if you have what you need."

Justinia looked around, a frown darkening her face. "Maybe we should set up just outside the building."

Giles gestured back the way they had come. "As you wish. I'll tell the people to get you whatever you need. Their leader over there at the forge is Achaz. I'll introduce you and then I must be off. Mother Nature waits for no one."

Evan watched Giles and Justinia walk over to the forge. Despite Giles' reassurances, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off here. The big smith stopped his hammering, turning and smiling at the doctors.

Evan narrowed his eyes as the smith's gaze raked over Justinia like she was the prize cow at the country fair. Giles waved Evan over but before he went, he turned to the men, fishing the remote out and handing it to Coughlin. "Kemp, you and Coughlin stay here. Watch Doc Morgan and keep her safe. Sheff, you come with me to check out Giles' farming operation. Keep a sharp eye. Something's not right."

"Yessir," the men responded in unison.

Evan stalked over to the forge with Sheffield hot on his heels. He pulled Justinia aside and spoke softly to her. "I don't want to worry you, but something's not right here. I'm leaving Kemp and Coughlin with you. If they tell you to high-tail it to the jumper, you do it immediately, no questions asked. Coughlin's got the remote and he can fly the jumper. Get back to Atlantis and send a rescue team. Don't worry about me or the others. Understand?"

Justinia's eyes were wide. She swallowed and nodded.

Evan needed to be sure she would follow his orders before he went off with Giles. His hands itched to touch her face, to hold her chin while he kissed her, but this was neither the time nor the place. "Don't be scared, but don't let your guard down. Just stay sharp and do what Coughlin tells you. Promise me."

Her voice was barely a whisper of ragged sound. "I pr…I promise."

Evan nodded. "Good. Now I'll be back before you know it. In the meantime, get set up, conduct the physicals, act normal."

Justinia nodded again before plastering a fake smile on her face. She glanced over his head, presumably at Achaz.

He waited until she was back with Coughlin and Kemp before he followed Giles and Sheffield out of the village.

Justinia watched Evan until she couldn't see him anymore through the trees that surrounded the village. With a sigh, she turned back to the men and her bags of equipment.

"What d'ya need first, Doc?" Coughlin's no nonsense words had her focusing again on the task at hand.

"First, I'll need two tables and a chair, set up over there in the shade."

He nodded and went to speak to Achaz. Achaz ignored him. Coughlin spoke again and pointed back at her. Achaz stopped and turned, a slow smile lighting his face. He nodded and moved to a nearby table, upending it and dumping the contents—worked metal—onto the dirt and grass. He lifted the table up over his head and onto his back, refusing Coughlin's offer of help. Justinia took a step back as the big man approached.

"Where d'you want this, pretty lady?"

Justinia flushed and licked her lips. The man was definitely making her nervous. His show of strength was no doubt meant to intimidate them and it had worked, at least for her. She looked around and spotted the perfect place—toward the back of the building, near the trees, giving her both shade and a bit of privacy. She would ask for some sort of sheet and a rope to hang it from to give her patients even more privacy while she conducted their physicals.

Achaz placed the table down and lumbered off to go get another one. Justinia moved over, gesturing for Kemp to help her move the table into place. She and Kemp had barely touched the table when a roar and a crash made her jump; Kemp had his P-90 out and was in front of her instantly, staring up into the face of the red-faced village leader. Coughlin was standing just behind the big man, his own gun out and ready as well.

"You need the table moved, you ask me, pretty lady. I'll take good care of you."

"Hey! Her name is Doctor Morgan. You'll show her the proper respect." Lieutenant Kemp's shoulders were tight; he held the rifle pointed at Achaz's torso. A bead of sweat trailed from Kemp's forehead down his cheek. A fly was buzzing by his eye but he never blinked. Justinia had no doubt that, despite the village leader's size, the lieutenant could and would take the man down with or without the gun.

People around them had stopped in their tracks, waiting to see what would happen next. Achaz's ire seemed to dissipate, replaced by a superior smile. He looked down at the weapon. "My apologies, Doctor Morgan. We are all friends, aren't we? I was just trying to be friendly to an extraordinarily beautiful new friend."

Justinia's heart was pounding in her throat and she gulped for air like a fish in a dried-up pond. Achaz's words had done little to soothe her nerves.

She placed her hands on Kemp's shoulders and when he glanced back at her, she nodded her head and he moved aside, although she noticed he stayed close, ready to defend her. Coughlin lowered his own weapon but kept it at his side.

"I'm sorry, Achaz. We were just trying to help. Would you mind setting up the table this way?" She showed him how she would like the table to sit with the short end against the cabin wall about midway down the building's side. Achaz nodded and moved the table before retrieving the one he had thrown to the ground and placing it where Justinia told him to, at the back of the building.

Kemp hovered by her right shoulder, his eyes scanning the villagers as their leader walked off to grab the two chairs. It seemed like a collective breath was released and the villagers started moving once more as their leader sauntered off. Coughlin trailed the man, head swiveling constantly as he scanned the village.

"Doctor Morgan?"

Kemp's nose was pinched, his eyes scrunched in worry. A slight nod of his head toward the path they had traversed from the jumper asked the question he seemed reluctant to say out loud.

She placed a hand on his arm. "It'll be fine, Lieutenant. But stay close."

"Yes, ma'am."

Achaz arrived with the chairs and Justinia showed him where to put them.

"Achaz, may I have a blanket, some rope, and two buckets of boiling water, please?"

"You cold, beautiful?"

He leered and raked her body with his eyes. Justinia's heart pounded and her lips were suddenly dry. Her stomach had found a permanent place in her throat.

"I need the blanket for privacy." His smile widened and Justinia quickly added, "For my patients."

"Then I'll be right back. Anything to help our friends."

"Doctor Morgan." Kemp's voice was pitched low and his breath was warm on her ear. She turned, nearly bumping her nose with his. His brows were still drawn and his eyes only settled on her for a moment while they searched the area behind her continuously. "I don't like the way that guy looks at you, ma'am. I don't think you should stay here. I think you should be called back to Atlantis and one of the male doctors should replace you."

Justinia fisted her hands and bit her lip. Morgans didn't back away from their assignments. How many times had her father pounded that into her head when she was exhausted and over-whelmed? Achaz was frightening, yes, but she had a job to do, and military support.

"I appreciate your concern, Lieutenant, but I'll be fine. You're here, Coughlin's here. Ev—Major Lorne will be back soon, along with Sheffield. And there's Doctor Giles and his people."

"All the same, ma'am, the smith makes me nervous."

"Good. Then you'll be on your toes."

Justinia stepped back and walked over to her makeshift clinic just as Achaz appeared with two blankets and some rope draped over one shoulder; he carried one large bucket of steaming water in each hand. The big man set the buckets down and reached into the folds of his shirt, pulling out a scrub brush. Justinia stared in surprise.

"What? You think we don't clean things in our village? When a woman wants boiling water, she's either cooking or cleaning. I guessed you weren't cooking." Achaz's smile seemed more genuine this time, but Justinia couldn't shake the feeling that much more lurked behind the façade.

Justinia stared at the results on her tablet. The physicals were finished, all except for Achaz and the people in the field. There must be a lot of men working the fields. Very few of her patients had been young males and there were not enough children around considering how many women there were. In a pre-industrial society like this one, each woman should've had half a dozen children clinging to her skirts. And the fact was, too many of the women had complained about being unable to get pregnant or carry to full term. All of them appeared to be healthy enough, so Justinia wondered if it was something in their environment that was affecting them on a genetic level. Today was just for cursory exams, but it might not be a bad idea to bring a team down to do some pap smears or gather some sperm samples.

At that moment, the sheet was pulled aside and Achaz strolled in, a predatory grin on his face.

"May I help you, Achaz?"

"I'm ready for my exam, beautiful." With that statement, he lifted his shirt over his head and reached for the waist of his pants.

"Hold that thought." Justinia darted for the partially open covering and stuck her head out. Lieutenant Kemp was standing just outside and Justinia nodded to him, gesturing him to follow her inside the examination area. Before she could turn around, he was there. His curled lip and scrunched up nose, along with the slight hesitation in his step told her that Achaz had not stopped undressing. Kemp was a good soldier, though, and stepped inside, pulling the sheet back in place.

"What is the meaning of this?" Achaz's tone was belligerent.

Justinia allowed herself a small smile before turning back to the chief. He stood, hands on hips, legs wide. His very large erection told Justinia she had been right to call for Kemp. Her eyes went wide for a moment before she pulled her professional persona back in place. She held up his pants. "You may put these back on. We don't require them to be off for this exam."

Achaz grabbed the pants from her hand and jerked them on, still glaring at Kemp.

Justinia indicated the table and followed the chief over to it, waiting for him to sit. She removed a pen light from her left pocket and turned it on. She took the chief's chin in her hand, holding it while she checked his pupils. "Stare into the light, please. It is our custom that when a physician of one sex examines a patient of the opposite sex, someone of the same sex as the patient must be in the room. In this way, nothing illicit can happen nor will any accusations of illicit behavior ruin anyone's reputation."

"Sex does not ruin, it elevates. I am chief. I have sex with every woman in this village."

Justinia stepped back a moment, frowning. She raised her finger, asking Achaz to follow it with his eyes and watching the reaction of his pupils, knowing that her own must have widened at his words.

"Don't their husbands get upset?"

Achaz grunted. "What is a husband?"

"Sit very still. Look up, please." Justinia moved closer and pulled on the bottom of each of Achaz's lids in turn, checking for the discoloration of the membrane covering his eyes that would indicate conjunctivitis. It was difficult to ignore that his tented trousers were so close to her belly, but she did her best, focusing on the conversation. "A husband is a man to whom a woman has promised herself. Husbands and wives live together and have children to make a family unit."

"Than I am husband to all." Achaz's large hands were suddenly on her hips, grinding her against him.

"Let her go!" Kemp was immediately by her side, his P-90 pressed against Achaz's chest.

Achaz complied, his eyes calculating and Justinia stepped back, swallowing against the very real fear that this man, left to his own, would rape her. She was one hundred percent certain of it. It would be best to finish the exams quickly and then to do as Kemp had suggested for follow ups and ask one of the male doctors to conduct them.

"You must keep your hands to yourself, Achaz. I need to finish the exam. Can I trust you?"

"Of course you can trust me." Achaz lightly pushed against the rifle's barrel.

Kemp glanced at Justinia and she nodded; the lieutenant stepped back.

Justinia moved forward once more. She tried to keep her hands steady as she opened his lids with her fingers to examine the eyeballs. She used the examination to gather her thoughts. "Look up, please. Good. Now to your left. Down. To your right. Good. Other eye."

Finished with his eyes, she washed her hands in the hot water that Coughlin kept changed for her, then used the rubbing alcohol to disinfect. She took out her otoscope and asked Achaz to tip his head to one side, pulling on the lobe of the opposite ear. "So no other men are allowed to take women to their beds?"

"The others are Wraith food. Why would a woman even want them in her bed? I am strongest, so I have breeding rights."

Justinia's gut clenched as a picture of what he was saying began to form in her head. "So all of the children here are yours? Tip your head the other way, please."

Out of the corner of her eye, Justinia caught Achaz's grin. "Of course they are."

"What of the female children you produce. Do they not take other men as mates?"

"Why would they when their father is the strongest? When they come of age, they come to my home and breed with me, just as all the others do."

Justinia's head felt light. She turned and looked up into the disgusted face of Kemp, who was thankfully remaining quiet. Inbreeding, if it had been going on for some time and on such a close familial level, would definitely explain the lack of fertility.

She turned back to Achaz and continued her examination, checking his lymph nodes for enlargement. "What of the male children that you produce?"

"When they come of age, they are welcome to challenge me for breeding rights."

Justinia placed her hands on the sides of his neck. "Swallow, please. And if they lose?"

"They are sent to work the mines and must give themselves up to the Wraith when they come."

"How often do the Wraith come?"

"Once every year."

"They don't take you or the women?"

Achaz shot her a heated look as she lifted his hand and held it, checking the fingers of each in turn. "I disappear, along with the women who please me. It is the arrangement we have with the Wraith. They allow one strong male and his favored females to escape their wrath. In this way, we always breed new food for them."

"But you told Doctor Giles that your numbers are dwindling. And many of the women have been complaining of being unable to get pregnant or to carry to term."

"Those will become Wraith food on the next culling."

Hence their desire for a "cure". "So only those who give you children are allowed to live."

Achaz nodded as Justinia took out her stethoscope to check his lungs.

"How long have you been chief?"

"I became chief a short while after reaching manhood."

Justinia did the calculations in her head—if she was right about his current age and his age at the time he'd become leader, Achaz had been the only male to produce children on this planet for over twenty-five years. Bearing in mind that these women were not only his "wives" but his sisters and daughters as well and it was no wonder that the women were having troubles with conceiving and carrying to term. Justinia shuddered involuntarily. She hated to ask, but curiosity got the better of her.

"Your people have had this deal for many years with the Wraith?"

Achaz nodded.

"Then you need new blood."

"What do you mean?"

Achaz's tone had sharpened and Justinia's stomach roiled in fear as she realized—too late—that she had said the wrong thing. She swallowed hard. Nothing for it but to go on, though. "I only mean that the reason your women are infertile is because you have been inbreeding for too long."

Achaz raked her body with a blatant stare and flexed his biceps. Justinia quickly changed the subject. The man's muscles were huge. Add to that his height and there were not many who could take him in a fight. "You said you are the strongest. How is it that you are so strong when the others are not?"

"For many years, I practiced fighting, learning from the mistakes of my brothers. I stole from my father's food stores to keep myself from being weak with hunger."

"Food stores?"

"Only the chief is allowed to keep food. I give to those who deserve it. Men get only enough to survive. The females who pleasure me best and give me children get the most. You look well-fed. You must be giving your husband much pleasure."

"I don't have a husband." Damn it, Justinia. You should probably just shut up now. "Besides, we don't hold people hostage for food. Lie down please."

As she palpated his abdomen, she noticed the cloth of his trousers was moving ever so slightly. Achaz was obviously enjoying the feel of her fingers on his skin.

"None of these men is your husband?" His voice held a frightening tone of interest.

"Well, I…I mean… " Justinia shook her head and focused on finishing the physical. "That's none of your business."

"Come to my home tonight. Pleasure me and I will keep you safe."

Justinia felt sick at his invitation. One word stuck out—tonight. "Do you mean the Wraith…"

She heard Coughlin screaming at the same time that a high pitched whine hit her ears. "Doc! Time to go—darts!"

Kemp reached for her but Achaz moved fast for a large man. He jumped from the examination table, lifted it and swung it at the lieutenant. The table was too large to duck and Kemp was sent flying into one of the nearby trees, landing with a sickening thud.

Achaz grabbed Justinia and dragged her into the dwelling through a back door, even as women came streaming in through the front. He pulled aside a rug and lifted up a section of wood, shoving Justinia down through the hole. The women scrambled in after her, their ingress blocking her from escaping. Seconds later, Achaz jumped down and pulled the wood after him. One of the older women had remained above to conceal their escape. Achaz grabbed Justinia and hauled her down a dark hallway, the other women jostling behind them.

Justinia tried desperately to break free of Achaz's iron grip. "Evan!" If the Wraith took him…

Achaz slammed her into a wall, holding her arms above her head. "Shut up, woman. The Wraith are becoming impatient with the numbers of their harvest lately. This time, your friends will satisfy them. And in the future, you will heal the women of this village so that they produce offspring. Your own children will swell the ranks and give us the new blood you say we need."

A wave of nausea rolled over Justinia's body making her knees go watery. "No, Achaz. You must let me go. Our people can help you. Please. I have to get to my friends."

His fetid breath rolled over her as he shoved his face toward hers. "You are mine now."

Justinia shook her head. "Our people will not leave me behind. They will come for me."

"They will be taken by the Wraith. And even those that are lucky enough to escape will return to Atlantis with the sad tale of how I tried to save you, but watched in horror as you ran right into a beam of Wraith light. Once this harvest is over and your people have left, you will pleasure me until you carry my child. You will enjoy it, I promise you." Achaz crushed his mouth to hers and Justinia bit his lip. He pulled away with an oath.

She spat on the ground to try to remove the taste of his tongue from her mouth. "No! Achaz, I cannot. I am mated to someone already."

"You said you had no husband." His voice was a low, menacing growl.

Justinia swallowed, but refused to drop her gaze. "There has been no ceremony, but we are promised."

Achaz's grin was triumphant. "Then you have no husband. I will put many children in your body."

"You will not touch me." Justinia raised her chin defiantly.

Achaz's meaty fist was the last thing she saw before the world went black.