"Ronon, calm down." Sheppard ordered as he reviewed the empty bathroom. "The fact he took her means he needs her alive. So at the moment she is safe." He said with confidence, although deep down he had his doubts.

"Sir." Lorne said holding some fabric out towards Sheppard. "Chloroform."

"What's that?" Ronon demanded nervously.

"It is a chemical that would have knocked the doc out. She'll be fine when she comes to." He said as Ronon growled. "It's a good thing. If he is carrying the doc it will slow him down and narrows down our search area."

"You sure you don't want me to go in there?" Lorne asked sticking his head into the maintenance shaft that ran along the ceiling.

"According to McKay it splits into ten routes five feet from the room. Each of those split thirty feet later. We could search each path for hours with no luck. When we find him I want as many hands as possible available." Sheppard explained as McKay's voice came over the radio.

"Tell me you have something Rodney." Sheppard said into the radio as Ronon and Lorne looked on expectantly. Eventually Sheppard congratulated McKay and signed off.

"The Daedalus have pinpointed Levin's tracker. They can't get a transporter lock, as it is too deep in the tower so we are going to have to go in the old fashioned way."

"Yes Sir." Lorne said, relieved they had made a break through. "I'll go assemble the team." He added hurrying out of the room. When the door hissed shut Sheppard turned to Ronon.

"I know you want to come, but in your condition you'll hinder the operation. You have to stay put. We both know I don't have time to argue. You have to trust me, it will be best for Jennifer if you stay here."

Ronon threw his head back and growled in frustration. Lowering his head again he said. "Go." Sheppard nodded and hurried out of the room.

Deep down Ronon knew Sheppard was right, but that did not alter the fact that he alone was responsible for Jennifer's safety and he alone had let her be taken from under his nose. He knew that while Sheppard may not be able to track her through the ventilation shafts, he could. Moving to the shower he looked up at the vent and lifted his arms to the opening, trying to ignore the pain in his ribs. He was about to lift himself up when he considered the fact that they may now be a long way from the shafts. Sighing he lowered his arms and picked up he crutches from the floor. He shoved them through the opening and then hauled himself up. The pain radiating from his ribs causing him to be drenched with sweat by the time he made it into the small crawl space. He paused to catch his breath and clear his mind of his pain, knowing he had to focus on the task in hand. Shutting his eyes he focused on the smells and sounds first before scanning for any visible clues. Detecting a hint of a clue he followed his instincts down the long shafts, cursing his fragile body.

As he clambered through the shafts, dragging his broken leg behind him, he lost track of time. He knew his worry made time seem like it was passing faster, but that did not negate the fact he still hadn't found any real proof that Jennifer or Levin had passed through. Maybe Sheppard had been right he thought. In his current state he was worse than useless. He stopped moving and raised his wrist so that he might punch the side of the narrow tunnel. However, before his hand impacted something caught his eye. Moving his head closer he saw a piece of cloth. Thinking he may not be quite so useless after all he started crawling again. As he did so he realised what was missing, sound. There was no hint of conversations happening nearby. That could only mean he was now in a disused part of the city. He didn't even want to think about what that meant.

When he finally heard muffled sounds he slowed his crawl so he made next to no sound. Edging forwards the sound became clearer and he could make out Jennifer's voice. Sagging with relief he paused to listen, hoping to get a handle on the situation.

"Where are you planning on going?" Jennifer asked.

"I don't know yet. I need time to think." Levin said in a strained voice. "I don't want to hurt you, I just need some leverage."

"Leverage?"

"This was meant to have been the last sale. Then I could retire and live more than comfortably. Then you left and...if only they hadn't moved. All I know is that you are valuable to some important people and right now you are my only chance of escape." Levin said, pacing.

"They will find us soon." Jennifer said, more in hope than anything else.

"Maybe. But right now they are tracing my tracker, which I left in a different tower. That should buy me a couple of hours."

"Then what?"

"We trade."

"Sheppard won't negotiate."

"For your sake you had better pray he does. Just because I don't want to hurt you doesn't mean I wont if needs be. You being in need of medical attention may help my position."

"They-" Jennifer started only for Levin to cut her off.

"Enough." He shouted. "I need to think. I can't do that with the interruptions. You really need to sit quietly." He said gagging her. As he placed the gag to her mouth he felt her tremble. "If it is an consolation I am sorry it is you I-" He stopped mid sentence and looked up. Then moving swiftly, he brought the gun up to Jennifer's temple, causing her trembling to increase. In a raised voice he said.

"I will kill her. Move to the entrance and slowly throw your weapons out. One false move and she dies." Jennifer looked at Levin like he had lost his mind. That was until Ronon's blaster came out of the hatch to the maintenance shaft. Never moving his gun from Jennifer's temple he said. "Now slowly show yourself." Seconds later, to Jennifer's delight and dismay, Ronon emerged.

"You really should have followed doctors orders. Did no one tell you what she went through the last time she thought you died?" He asked causing Jennifer to whimper. "Come out of there slowly."

Obediently Ronon dropped the crutches to the ground then followed, grunting in pain as the vibration of hitting the ground traversed first his leg then his ribs.

"Move over there. Slowly." Levin ordered pointing to the far side of the wall. Ronon was the last thing he needed in the room right now. The whole situation was spiralling out of his control and he did not want to waste time worrying about Ronon. Killing him would solve the problem, but also destroy any chance of a deal. Focussing solely on the Satedan, Levin edged forward and crouched down to pick up Ronon's blaster, never taking his eyes off Ronon. That was his mistake.

His lack of attention to Jennifer gave her time to cut the rope binding her wrists with her the knife she had concealed up her sleeve. Free from her restraints she launched herself at Levin sending him to the floor, with her sprawled on top off him. Levin was too large and too well trained for Jennifer to stand much of a chance and seconds later Jennifer was lying on her back dazed. But those seconds were all Ronon needed to raise one of his crutches and to begin to unleash a barrage of blows on the Captain. Even after Levin stopped fighting back Ronon kept swinging, oblivious to the pain in his ribs. He was solely driven by his rage. In the end it was only Jennifer's shaken voice calling his name that caused him to stop the attack. Looking down at Jennifer who was huddled against a wall he threw the crutch down and limped over as quickly as he could. Sliding down the wall next to her he took her in his arms and told her it was over and she was safe.

When Sheppard, Teyla and Lorne's team entered the room twenty or so minutes later they found Ronon cradling Jennifer, whose head was hidden from their view, buried deep in his chest. Meanwhile he kept his gun trained on the motionless Levin.

"Ronon? Doc? You two ok?" Sheppard asked as he took in the sight before him.

"Yeah." Ronon replied for both of them, never releasing his grip on Jennifer.

"I see you found a new use for your crutches." Sheppard commented as he looked at the fallen Levin, the discarded crutch laying nearby. Turning to Lorne he ordered.

"Get the med team in and keep him under guard." Motioning to Levin's unmoving body.

"Yes Sir." Lorne replied as he started issuing orders down his radio.

Sheppard then moved over to Jennifer and Ronon and crouched in front of them, worried with how shaken Jennifer looked. "I think we need to get you two to the infirmary." He said softly.

Looking up Jennifer, suddenly alert, shook her head. "I'm fine. He didn't hurt me. But Ronon needs to get checked. He shouldn't walk there."

"Ok, well I can arrange some transport." Sheppard said. When Ronon didn't object the Colonel grew very concerned.