Through A Lens Darkly – Chapter Five

SGA SGA SGA

It took another few seconds for Sheppard to be able to stand before he was sure he wasn't going to fall down. Even though he was now upright, he leaned heavily on Teyla; with his handcuffed arms out in front of him, he could get no hold of the wall to support his weight. It was not the best show of authority he had ever staged, but it would have to do.

Todd. It was Todd – but what version of Todd?

It could be that he was not himself – whatever that was? All these thoughts took one second to swarm in his mind. He quickly glanced at Ronon and credited the big man with having just a stoic look, albeit, with a slight lip curl to show his distaste at the Wraith standing in front of them. At this stage, Sheppard did not want anyone to acknowledge that they already knew him and were actually allies – of sorts. Thankfully, not only Ronon, but Rodney and Teyla showed no signs of knowing him; although he noticed Rodney's jaw was jutting out to its fullest and he caught his eye and dared him to remain silent. Now was not the time for giving anything away. A slight sweat broke out on Rodney's forehead but that went with the scenery just now anyway. Teyla had a tight grip of Cassandra's sleeve and seemed transfixed on the Queen's face and Cassie – Cassie, the only innocent party to their relationship with Todd, was hanging on to his belt behind him as if she wasn't going to let him go. Sheppard bit his lip – he had not even told her about Todd before, seeing it as classified. She would have no idea what was going on between them that very minute or just exactly who the Wraith were.

Sheppard gathered himself and remained focused on the now and looked into the eyes of the Wraith that he had been through so much with before. He needed to get a gist of what Todd's next move might be.

The creature's thoughts washed back to him with frantic confusion and Sheppard knew that they had somehow scuppered whatever plans he had in place already with this motley crew. There were scars on him which had not been there the last time he was in his company and a weariness hung over him that was underlying through the focused, taut gaze he gave back.

Sheppard was now convinced that these people were not Wraith worshippers, but a new band of rogues that were somehow filtering a Queen's power for themselves. Whatever was happening, Sheppard was certain of one thing; Todd was still on their side, he just hoped he had a plan.

Todd realised he was taking too long to make a move, so laughed weakly. "My Queen, you do not want the weak one, for there is not much resistance there to sustain you."

The Queen hissed and her head slowly moved from side to side, her cheek suddenly grazing her shoulder and Sheppard understood she was trying to loosen her mask over her mouth.

"Why do you not let her speak for ...herself?" Sheppard panted out, weak but improving.

The Queen twisted her head to look at him and tried to move in closer but was held back from coming forward until the leader moved in front of her and took her chin, none too gently. Definitely not Wraith worshippers – they would never had dared to do that.

"Look what we have found for you…Queen, is it not to your liking? Choose one!" He shouted in her face, all of a sudden showing his impatience.

It was at that point, Sheppard noticed the small metal box the leader brought out of his pocket for a second; making sure the Queen had noticed it, before putting it back securely. A show of some device to prod the Queen perhaps? The move had not gone unnoticed from Rodney either and he scrunched up his eyes before seeking Sheppard's attention, already wondering what it could do. Sheppard caught Rodney's look. He knew the scientist would be eager to get hold of it. Rodney tapped the side of his head and he narrowed his eyes wondering what Rodney meant, until he looked to where Rodney had nodded and followed his eyes. The Queen had a small round metal disc on the side of her head, just above the ear. No doubt connecting to the box in the leader's pocket.

This they had to try and retrieve.

Todd took one step forward and looked at the Queen as if awaiting his instructions grudgingly. Sheppard tensed and willed his body to obey him if he had to make a sudden bid for freedom. The pain had settled down into very bad pins and needles, but he felt he could last the distance for whatever was needed. He had to protect Cassie and his team at all costs, to his own health. He knew that. He was prepared to die for any one of them. The beat of his heart quickened before he forced himself to slow it again.

The chattering in the background dissolved into a significant silence and the air felt charged with electricity. The Queen raised her head to look at the man poking her chest and narrowed her eyes. She then looked at Sheppard for a long time, cocking her head to the side as she studied him. After looking at each other member of his team, her eyes settled on Cassie and Sheppard felt a knot of fear tighten in his heart and ice cold fingers take hold of it and squeeze it until it would rupture. Sheppard tried to force a move in front of her, barricading her in between himself and Teyla.

"No!" He said quietly, but with a heavy heart, he witnessed the Queen's eyes suddenly shine bright and he could tell she was smiling underneath her mask. Risking a glance at Todd, Sheppard raised his arms and shook them at the leader.

"Unchain us, we cannot go to our deaths like this, without some defending … a Queen does not respect an easy meal." He said, buying for time and really struggling to come up with something to help stall the inevitable, so might as well play to the Queen's side of things.

Todd faked an unhappy growl at Sheppard's facetious remark and lunged at him, grabbing hold of his throat and hauled him away from Cassie and Teyla whilst several more men ran into the cell to hold back everyone but Cassie. It took four to hold Ronon and the big man took a few hits to subdue him. Todd looked on, unable to help him. He had had to act quickly and pulling Sheppard away, in his weakened state, was the only thing he could think of to do in short notice.

"No!" Sheppard shouted out this time, "Take…me!"

His heart was going to smash into smithereens.

He struggled against Todd's hold, dismayed that, even with Todd being lenient, it was still enough to refrain him. His strength wasn't up to par yet. Dammit. He only hoped Todd realised that too and helped him. Todd did not realise how valuable Cassie was to him.

Did Wraith even have relationships?

Cassie remained still, like stone, unable to move or fight back against the man holding her so tightly. Not having a clue as to what was happening, she had to trust in Sheppard and his team to get her out of this. This was outside anything she had ever encountered in war. She did think that there was a situation going on in the background, but she had no idea of where it was going. The air was tense and filled with a myriad of probabilities. Trouble was, she suspected she was the catalyst to something major about to happen and to her dismay, it looked like Sheppard was too weak, as of yet, to help her. Cassie's eyes darted back and forward between Sheppard's, the Queens and this other Wraith who seemed less brutal than she had been led to believe. Not only that, she had sensed words unspoken, between the creature and Sheppard. What was going on?

Unexpectedly, the leader suddenly nodded to his men and with a gun pointing at each one of them to remain still, their cuffs were removed quickly before they were once again held tightly by their guards. Sheppard noticed Todd look at the Queen in surprise but understood immediately it was her that had thought for their bindings to be free.

In the next second, Todd made his move. He pushed Sheppard to the side and make a lunge for the Queen's mask over her mouth and pulled it down. Free of the covering, she threw back her head and let loose a scream that had everyone reaching for their ears. Todd then moved fast and elbowed two of the guards hard in their sternums. Taking their weapons, he shot them and they fell to the ground dead.

"You forgot to keep a gun on me!" He mocked.

Ronon and Rodney fought against the diluted mind of the Queen's cry and grabbed for the insurgent's weapons, fighting against the men and the Queen to get to them. Todd reached into his hair and pulled out some sort of thin explosive device, he had been hiding there unchecked, and threw it along the ground and it skidded to a halt, blowing up amongst several of the men and then an array of projectiles spurted out of its metal body and sent everyone scattering into the crevices of the caves for protection; from fear of it and the hunger of the now free Queen.

Moving fast, Ronon and Rodney were fighting off several of their captors, but Sheppard, at the same time as he was reaching for Cassie, noticed the Queen make a bee line for her. Teyla was gripping her head in agony and Sheppard was dismayed to see a thin line of blood run from her nose with the onslaught of the pressure she was fighting the mind control with. As he reached for her, she fell to her knees and knelt there cradling her head at the same time as she tried to drag Cassie to the ground with her. The Queen's drone whirled to the defence of his Queen when the leader, struggling with the mind control, punched him hard in the jaw, but these things shields were made of strong stuff and the man fairly yelped in pain and pushed his broken hand in between his knees in agony until the drone pushed him roughly into the cave wall and he dropped onto the ground, unconscious.

Todd turned and opened his mouth and roared at the crowd that was left, causing more of them to high-tail away and he lunged for the drone.

Screams were everywhere; in the cell, out in the far reaches of the cave and coming out of the mouths of the people around them in the midst of fighting and running blind. Chaos reigned supreme and it provided a backdrop for their escape.

Someone managed to raise a weapon towards the Queen and fired, but she had sensed it coming and ducked, still intent on making her way towards Cassie, who was now cowering behind a broken Teyla. It proved to Sheppard, though, that these people had not thought capturing a Queen through properly, as their defences were poor, still they had the technology to somehow use them to their own gain and own instruction. It seemed too simple for the turn of events to be so much in their favour, as the Queen's usual nefarious mind control could quite easily penetrated their minds earlier. As he made his way on his knees to be with Cassie, he was jerked up roughly by his collar from behind to land on his backside and received a blow to the stomach that had him gasping for air and falling back down.

Ronon was there in an instant and his attacker was chopped down by a blow to his neck beside him on the ground. Sheppard took Ronon's hand and was pulled upright with the big man supporting his wavering body.

"Can you stand?"

"M'Kay." Sheppard nodded. He was not though but made a go at grabbing the man's fallen gun but Ronon pushed it towards him with his foot whilst he grappled with more men.

The fighting continued all around them, but the main players in the game were all now free of the cells, save Sheppard, Teyla and Cassie. Sheppard saw the Queen almost reach Cassie and fired a shot towards her that entered her shoulder. The shriek that followed had Cassie dropping to her knees again and instinctively put her arm around Teyla's shoulder to get her moving. Sheppard was there, looking stronger and his face was full of the same worry she felt.

"Ca…Cassie. We must run. You good…to move?"

"John..." Seeing him in military mode was almost a jolt for her, his stare at the Queen so intense and his worry for her and Teyla so raw, caused her heart to skip a beat.

"It's Teyla, she …"

"Leave her to me. Ronon?" He shouted.

Nearest to him, Rodney arrived, bloody nosed and looking worried. "John?"

"Take Cassie, Rodney. I'll get Teyla."

"Oh no, look out!"

The Queen had finally stopped screaming and slipped into the cell with usual stealth-like abilities, after her prey. Teyla woozily lifted her head and tried to push her aside before she reached for Cassie but the Queen was too fast and strong and Teyla was back-handed into Sheppard and together the pair sprawled on the ground, winded.

The Queen took delight in flexing her fingers, from the now released glove, and wasted no more time or energy being kept from her meal and landed on Cassie with a blow that knocked her flat on her back. Her feeding hand came down swiftly and landed on her exposed chest and started to feed. Cassandra's cry was like a knife piercing his soul.

"No!" Sheppard cried and found strength to spring upright whilst holding out his hand as if the Queen would stop what she was doing to pay attention to him.

Rodney's head whipped round and screamed for Ronon's help but he had already heard the utter helplessness in Sheppard's scream and found extra strength to fight his way to be with them. The insurgents seemed to be in all out fighting mode with each other now, as if pent up emotions had exploded and added fuel to the fire, that for Sheppard's team, was now all about saving Cassandra's life and in turn, the sanity of their leader.

"Get...off her!" Sheppard could be heard panting whilst he fought against the piercing pain that was suddenly erupting in his head – all of their heads. The Queen was getting stronger with Cassandra's life force speedily flowing into her.

Sheppard, however, could somehow, once again, move against it and he forced his way over to Cassandra and he knocked her to the ground away from the Wraith, his chest coming under the feeding hand in replacement. Startled at being taken away from her bliss, the smile grew vicious in its lunacy, until she saw it was Sheppard who had sacrificed himself for the woman.

Not so weak after all.

The Queen pressed down on the human's chest and drank his life. He held in his scream and faced her eye to eye and she pressed down more and found out through his blood who he truly was; not only a warrior but with the Ancient of blood and she convulsed with the knowledge of her understanding of whom the man was.

The Atlantean, named John Sheppard.

The very one who woke her brethren.

The very one that had caused them so much death and hardship.

His death by her hand would be one to be talked about for Millennia. She pressed harder.

Sheppard knew he did not have long, he only hoped he had saved Cassandra from losing too many years in his dash to intercept the feeding hand of the Queen. His eyes grew weary and he watched the Queen's face lick her lips when she finally realised whom she was feeding from. Serrated teeth on her hand bit deeper and he could not contain a scream any longer. He knew, although now struggling with their fierce headaches, his team and Cassie would be watching her fast consumption of his years and that angered him; already he could tell he was near the end.

It was almost over and he was upset he would not see Cassie again. Upset he would not see his team or Atlantis again - then a strange feeling caused his breath to stagger and his eyes opened wide in surprise - a new pain, like no other, hit him like a freight train.

It was like ice then fire.

Sharp and blinding, it stole his breath and his body froze.

Then there was darkness, the parting of light.

A breath, so foreign and yet familiar, grew in him until he gulped it down and begged for another, until light penetrated his eyelids once again.

The feelings speeding through him, moved from sour to sweet. Sweat poured off him. It was like good besting evil – it consumed him and caused him to thrash about wanting more of the good, but the hard, driving, life inducing pain, that his back was receiving, also burned with the touch of fire in his front.

He was the filling in a Wraith sandwich and he longed for the return of his breath, until suddenly it came back with a vengeance and he felt his starved body take it in more and more as the misery retreated until with a final push from Todd, Sheppard was separated from the hand of the Queen on his front and Todd's hand left his back. He had received a rare thing for a human – a kaa'lee.

Life taken and life given back at the same time, by two separate Wraith.

Both Todd and the Queen panted on their haunches at the effort each of them had in the part of the Act. With Todd giving Sheppard his life back, he had left himself weak and drained. The Queen had not faired any better and was furious with her Wraith, as her meal had been protected by the rogue and unusual Act and she couldn't help but stare at him with curiosity until, physically weakening, and seeing she was vulnerable in proximity to Sheppard's team, she backtracked out of the cell and sought out a new source amongst the people falling down clutching their heads, before she could make her escape.

Before reaching the mob, she was pleased to see her drone had broken free and was coming to her aid, so she raised her hand easily to feed on him, as her shoulder had been repaired, but Todd was there first and blocked his advance and replenished his need. Angrily, she ran on into the crowd to feed. She mimicked the screams around her and dived.

Todd, strong again, knelt down beside his fallen friend lying on the ground. "Shep-pard. Look at me!"

Sheppard groaned and turned to look at him with his eyes half shut; he knew only how to breathe at that moment, his mind was trying to catch up with his body and make sense of what was happening about him and to him.

"I have to leave you here. There is something I need to retrieve before the Queens's power gets too great. Can you get your people out of here?" Todd raised him up and shook him. "Shep-pard!"

Ronon was suddenly there and grabbed his other shoulder and calmed him. Like a rag doll, Sheppard flopped against his chest until one shaky hand reached up to his brow and he flattened his palm on it. "Wha…at happened to me?"

"The Act of kaa-lee. I do not know exactly what it will do to you John." Todd said softly. "It is usually only used on Wraith, but your life has been brought back during it and the enzyme will help your survival – I am sorry for the withdrawal that will inevitably come, but it is a necessary side effect. You must listen to me now. Yes?"

Sheppard nodded. The fire was stoking in his belly, he knew what he had to do was important and needed to be swift but his mind and memory were like mush and he had trouble concentrating. What was he trying to do?

Gradually, Sheppard remembered, and he clutched at both Ronon and Todd's sleeves. "Cassie!"

When he saw his beautiful Cassie, now almost double her age and lying in Teyla's arms panting for breath, he thought his world had stopped. Everything had gone quiet and he was only dimly aware of his Team speaking to him and to Cassie, but words were silent against the moving of their lips until enzyme made itself known and his head pounded with the surge of energy it brought forth.

"John. Your things are near the entrance." These were Todd's last words of assistance as he took off at a run back into the mix of people.

"No, stop. What about Cassie?" Sheppard needed him back to restore her life but he had vanished into the crowd.

"Nooo…!"

"John, we must go. Cassie needs you, he is gone!" Ronon was going to kill Todd next time he came up against him, he knew it.

Sheppard's eyes were red rimmed and mad, enzyme coursed through him and he didn't know which way was up. Ronon was worried. Sheppard moved and was at Cassie's side in an instant. He could afford no time to comfort her; simply lifted her up in his arms from Teyla's hold, grabbing a blaster as he bent down.

"Get out of here. Follow my lead and DO NOT STOP!" Sheppard bellowed.

Rodney took Teyla's arm and helped her to her feet.

"I am fine, Rodney. Thank you."

"You don't look fine. Your nose is bleeding." He looked up, "…hell, what's happened to Sheppard?"

"No time, McKay." Ronon pushed him forward. "Whatever's happened to Sheppard, we can deal with later. For now, let's get out of here."

The three friends ran after Sheppard who was making quick work in dispatching anybody that got in his way with either a firm kick or blaster shot. They watched as Cassie hung onto his shoulder for dear life, her face buried into his chest.

Ronon ran towards a group of men, blaster raised, that looked like they would block their path as they came nearer the mouth of the cave. Sheppard came to a stop as he noticed something of his in the man's hands.

"Your things." One of them said and held out their vests and gear.

"Why?"

"Take us with you." He said seriously. "Our leader, Korrs, he is too dangerous. He wants to control the Wraith and nothing will stand in his way, he will get us all killed."

"I'm not sure I can trust you." Sheppard replied honestly, not even feeling the weight of Cassie in his arms yet.

Ronon moved, blaster raised, to retrieve their things and the four men stepped back to allow him and now, Rodney, to pick it all up.

His own blaster in his hands, Ronon felt more secure.

"Come on! It is hell in there, you have no idea what that mad man has been doing, we…"

"Help us then." Sheppard commanded while he shifted Cassie in his arms, not daring for one minute to look down at her in case his strength vanished.

"Let me take her Sheppard?" Ronon offered.

Sheppard acted like he hadn't heard him, so Ronon stepped away, not in the least bit offended.

Caspva beckoned his small group of men to the entrance and grinned when they all suddenly pointed their weapons at the cave wall and fired on the hidden sensors. Sparks showered at the array and the cloak was disengaged.

Sheppard moved to run forward but was held back by the hand of Caspva. "We have wives, do you have a ship big enough to take us?"

"If we reach it, yes."

Within the cave, a sudden piercing shriek had everyone but Sheppard stare.

"Another reason we have to leave, the Queen has noticed!" He didn't explain further as a blast's shot dug into the rock above his head.

"Let's go." Ronon ran with Sheppard and the rest following him.

Caspva arched his arm and shouted on the woman to come out from hiding and followed the others out into the dark.

"What did the Queen notice?" Rodney asked, but it fell on deaf ears and then the small group was swallowed up into the inky darkness.

In Sheppard's dazed mind he was back in Afghanistan; the air was hot and stifling, then he was in a Wraith Hive ship and the natural material of the walls were closing in on him. He breathed in stops and starts, when he suddenly remembered how to do it, as dreams and realities collided. Someone was speaking or shouting but he was alone in his quest, wherever he was. He only knew that he was holding something precious and he had to deliver it to safety, so he ran on regardless of the voices and without a suitable plan.

At least he felt strong and vital. He remembered enzyme being the reason for it and was glad of it, because he didn't think he could run forever with the weight in his arms causing them to ache and throb, until he felt screaming would release the tension.

White blobs danced to a beat in the blanket of night, until he eventually realised someone was running beside him with a torch and the ground was suddenly brighter when more came to join the first until it went dark again as he sped on.

His neck muscles started to tear and fire burned the path in every muscle but he ignored it. His leg muscles matched the pain, but again, he carried on.

For a time he thought he heard a soft noise, so faint and he blanked it out. He did not want anything to deter him.

"John…please, put me down."

"Oh my goodness, Cassie…I…"

Sheppard flung himself to his knees, battering them on the hard ground, but he held his bundle still and then gently placed her on the ground.

"John?"

"Sshh Cassie, just…just breathe ok..." He watched her for a second.

"Teyla, Ronon, Rodney, are you there? I need light."

"Bloody hell, Sheppard. We have been trying to get you to stop for ages now!" Rodney berated him.

"Quiet Rodney." Teyla scolded, but also put an arm on his as he got closer to her, and squeezed. She had been worried as well.

A few more scuffling feet could be heard and then Sheppard remembered the men that had helped them escape.

"Do you know where we are? Do we have somewhere to hide until light and then we can find my ship?"

"About another mile just and there is a cave."

"Again!" Rodney griped to himself.

Sheppard stooped to pick up Cassie again, unable to stand to hear her cries of pain. He had to do it. His own chest and back ached with the feel of shredded skin and he felt too far wrenched from what was safe and pain free.

The men that had come with them were not rooted in this planet, so perhaps their way was not safe, not obvious, but Sheppard had to reply on this outside help to at least lead his team away from the dangers of Korr and his cohorts for the night. In the morning, once everyone had rested, either they would find their way back to the 'jumper or Lorne would be out searching for them.

As he ran, he adjusted his arms, and started to whisper words of encouragement to Cassie. In the night, without being able to hold a torch, Sheppard had to rely on Teyla at his elbow, guiding him in which way to go. He continually tripped over the unseen regardless, so Teyla and then also Rodney, on his other side, balanced him and kept a solid hold.

Teyla could feel fine tremors run up and down the arm she was holding, as he strained to stubbornly hold Cassie until they stopped their fast pace. He could not go on like this forever, she knew; enzyme or not, so prayed for the cave to come upon them soon so that he could relinquish his load.

"Up ahead" was called and Teyla was sure she heard Rodney sigh out loud to match her relief at having arrived at last.

The group rapidly climbed the short rock strewn incline and ducked into the shallow cave where Ronon, who was carrying Sheppard's vest, pulled out some glow sticks from one of his pockets, sure he was safe from any following mob.

The cavernous area was adequate for all there and they broke into two groups, with Caspva and friends keeping to one side and Sheppard's team, the other.

Teyla put her jacket on the ground and placed her hand on Sheppard's arm, guiding him to the spot to lay Cassie down. In the gloomy yellow light, Sheppard did not look well. His body was quivering and his eyes looked wild and unfocused. The enzyme was wreaking havoc within him and she had not forgotten that he had already been ill before the Wraith attacked.

Sheppard kissed Cassie, there on the ground, on top of her head, in sight of folk he did not know and those he owed his life.

It was time to take in what had been taken from her and he tried very hard not to show what he felt so as not to upset her.

Cassie looked shocked and frightened, her hair had taken on a grey colour and her skin was sallow and slightly wrinkled. Sheppard caught her eyes watching him and he felt like some stranger had taken over her, but he did not want to traumatise her further, so cupped her face as gently as he could with shaky hands and smiled a smile born out of love for her, not sympathy.

"John?" Teyla prodded him.

Sheppard slightly shook as he turned to look at the Athosian.

"Teyla."

"Would you step back and let me see to Cassie's wound and then I will see to you." She asked gently.

Sheppard had missed the background organisation of a fire and of water being distributed by their new friends. He looked around and caught Rodney and Ronon looking at him with worry. He did not want their sad looks.

He just wanted to take Cassie home and make her better.

Sheppard nodded and allowed Rodney to take his arm in support, but he did not sit down. Or rather, he could not sit down. He felt wired, the warmth of the cave felt strange on his skin and he felt like running away as fast as he could.

Ronon gently took Sheppard's jacket off him and winced at the sight of the wounds on his back and front. He flung it down as it was pretty much useless and caught Caspva's expression when he noticed the matching wounds. He had not known anyone to survive a feeding by the Wraith before, far less heard of a double feeding. He watched Sheppard with a mixture of awe and surprise. How could the man have survived it?

Ronon growled and spun Sheppard around so that he shielded him from view.

"Come on, buddy. Sit down and recover." But all he got for his efforts was a sharp shake of his head as he watched Teyla work and would have pounced on her when Cassie gasped at a particularly sore spot, if Ronon hadn't grabbed his arm.

"Sheppard! Come on, you know Teyla would not hurt her intentionally."

He did, he knew that. He tried to calm down, but the enzyme wouldn't let him.

"It's the enzyme." Rodney said, echoing his thoughts.

"Would you all be quiet, I am trying to think!"

Teyla stopped her bandaging and turned to look at the non-stop pacing Colonel.

"John, be calm."

His shaking, however, was in total contrast to what Teyla asked, so he leant against the stone and tried to still himself, but his hands were in constant motion and he desperately needed to stop. Fingers flexed and he punched the wall, slowly at first and then hard enough to draw blood.

Ronon had never taken his eyes off of him, allowing him time to come down by himself, but he could not stand back now and let his friend cause himself some more physical pain.

"What's wrong with him?" One of Caspva's men called.

Ronon ignored him and reached out, gently at first, but then using more force. Sheppard fought back until Ronon had had enough and he wrapped his long arms around his body and hauled him back from the wall.

"You're upsetting Cassie, Sheppard. Please sit down beside her. She needs you."

"I …can't…stop moving Ronon. Gawd, it hurts. What happened …to …me?"

Ronon sighed but remained patient. "You were fed on John…it's just…we don't know what the dual feedings have done to you…" He said it so gently, "…but it's obviously messing with you. Will you try and sit down. Teyla will take a look at your wounds next."

"Yes, Sheppard. Sit down, you look like hell."

Sheppard looked up at Rodney and even managed to give him a lopsided smile. "Bastard!" But he dutifully obliged.

Ronon grinned at Rodney. Trust the tactless scientist to finally get him to see some sense.

Teyla finished dressing the wound on Cassie's chest and drew the remnants of her shirt together, to afford her some modesty from the prying eyes across the other side of the cave.

"John…I…" Cassie's face crumbled and Sheppard gathered her into his aching arms, rocking her with a gentleness so unlike his wild behaviour just minutes ago.

Teyla felt a lump in her throat and walked over to Ronon, who drew her into his arms. He felt upset himself so pulled Teyla down to sit with him on the floor; near, but far enough away from Sheppard and Cassie so they could get some privacy. Rodney joined them and they leant back against the cool wall and listened to the soft winds outside, punctuated with the occasional garbled cry from Cassie and then soft, calming sounds from Sheppard, as he continued to rock her until she fell asleep.

Sheppard let her down gently and leaned over her to make sure she was sleeping before he raised himself up on shaky legs and went outside the cave and ran a good distance away from the hearing of the others.

He stopped and screamed.

Hurled free by the wind, the sound disappeared down the canyon, but not from Ronon's ears as he had followed his distraught friend.

John Sheppard eventually stood quiet and then had to bend over when he suddenly felt sick. Ronon hurried to his side as he heaved and expelled the meagre amount in his stomach. He jolted slightly when he felt a large hand touch his back once more and Ronon could have kicked himself for that mistake. Under his hand, Sheppard was burning hot, but he kept it still and stayed with him when the dry heaves followed. Sheppard coughed once and waved his hand.

"I'm good…Ronon. It's over."

"I'll help you back inside, get you some water."

"I can walk."

"Not on your own. I'll help you."

At first he felt resistance.

"You are wavering about John, we do not know what all that exposure to two different types of enzyme could do to you, so let us look out for you. At the very least, you are going to feel like hell in a few more hours. And as for what happened to Cassie…"

At the mention of her name, Sheppard's head snapped up. "He left without giving her the gift of life…how could he do that?"

"He did not know her." Why was he defending a Wraith?

"She was with me! That should have been enough!"

"He is Wraith…John."

Sheppard pursed his lips.

"Ronon…"

"What John? What can I do to help you?"

"Get everyone the hell off this bloody planet tomorrow."

"We will do it together."

He didn't answer him back and he felt a dip in his stomach. Sheppard had never mentioned himself, so he thought that Sheppard probably suspected he wouldn't last the night; so wired up with enzyme and blaster side effects, his body must ache from head to toe.

Thunder cracked and rain was falling by now. Ronon didn't care and pulled his friend into a tight embrace and tried to still his tremors with his strength and was secretly pleased when Sheppard didn't pull away.

The stars beamed from above in heavens he had no right to see. Patterns were different to what he knew and for the first time on a strange planet, Sheppard felt unsettled.

Soon, it made sense to make their way back when they realised how quickly they were getting wet, so Ronon helped Sheppard negotiate the terrain and eventually they made their way into the shelter.

Teyla and Rodney looked on worried but Sheppard ignored them. Heading straight for Cassie, he sat down beside her, pulled his knees up, folded his arms on top of them and then his head and kept watch over her, occasionally shivering, always alert.

Ronon shook his head when they looked his way and instead organised shifts to keep watch, with him taking the first, and letting Teyla and Rodney sleep. He let Caspva's men organise themselves but watched them also. Still unsure if he trusted them.

Teyla tried to sleep, but the thought of Sheppard sitting there awake with his wounds not attended to, did not allow it to happen, so she raised her tired body up once more - with a worried glance from Ronon, and made her way over to his side.

Not wanting to startle him, she gently touched his wrist. Sheppard raised his eyes and she winced when she saw how utterly hollow they looked, black rings stood out visible under them, even in the caves subdued lighting.

"I'm just going to look at your wound, okay?"

Sheppard just nodded.

"How are you feeling?" She asked him, as she pulled back his shirt and started to clean the wound. He remained quiet, so Teyla looked up to see him watching her as she worked.

"It will be okay, John. We will get home tomorrow when it is daylight. You'll see."

She put her hand up to touch his cheek – it quivered and was burning hot. Teyla next put her palm against his forehead.

"You are burning up." She patted down her pockets, pleased to see nothing had been taken out of them. "I'm going to give you a broad spectrum anti-biotic and some morphine for the pain."

"No Teyla."

"John, you have been through an ordeal and …"

"No, they might mess with the enzyme."

Teyla bit her lip, he was right – she wasn't thinking right. But without some relief, he would collapse." She looked towards Ronon for advice.

"Just keep him hydrated for now. He's buzzing too much with enzyme."

Sheppard had heard their interchange, but it was a struggle to reply. His head felt too heavy to hold up, so he put it on top of his arms again until he felt Ronon and Teyla gently pull him forward to enable Teyla to clean and bandage his back after she had finished at the front.

Then there no sound except for the soft snoring of their extended group. The air was slightly chilled, not like a wind, but something else instead leached the warmth and life out of them.

Today, they had endured a spectacle like no other. Ronon and Teyla, in particular, had never heard of a kaa'lee and were worried for what it could do to Sheppard. For now, all they could do was watch and wait to see what the next few hours would bring.

SGA SGA SGA

The morning came and Ronon ducked his tall frame outside and went to relieve himself. The sun was rising and he cursed the planet for its beauty and yet it was the host of a war just now, contrasting greatly with what its true potential should have been.

A tree stood off in the distance, in the shell of darkness, alone in its own space; straight, proud and solitary. Ronon was once akin to that tree, but now as he watched it, he felt as far away from that time as he ever had. He had family now; behind him in the cave, having suffered all sorts of abuse. Time to get them home and safe.

But, Sheppard.

How to treat him?

He would be hating this situation and his heart broke for the man. He had found a lovely relationship with Cassandra Moon and his greatest fear had been realised. She had been the victim of the Pegasus galaxy and the Wraith. Ronon was yet again reminded of Sheppard's earlier plea to Woolsey for the photographer to not come to Atlantis. If only that plea had been heard at the time they wouldn't be in this predicament today.

A small stone, kicked from its lodging, hit his boot and he looked up to see what had caused it. Caspva was walking towards him.

"It's a lovely planet." He stated.

"It was."

"My friend, we are thankful for offering to take us off this planet. How are your friends?"

Ronon grunted without replying. He was still unsure of Caspva and friends.

"Will the woman survive?" He prompted.

"I hope so."

"Please trust us, we mean you no harm."

"Who was that man?"

"Korrs?"

Ronon nodded.

"He used to be a friend. Then he got in tow with a scientist who boasted he could subdue the Wraith and he spent time and money helping his studies. The Wraith had left our planet barren, so our little band travelled about the galaxy until we were large in numbers and moved about, almost like travellers. I am ashamed now to admit we stole…lots!...found this planet uninhabited and kept all our things here in the large cave systems this planet has."

Ronon kicked the stone away. "The hive ship?"

"Ah, you noticed that big fellow. Well, that…"

"Ronon!"

Teyla's call was enough for Ronon to take off running back into the cave.

Sheppard was stumbling about, acting blind. He then twisted his body on the ground, trying to find some relief from the pain. Rodney was holding down his legs but his face was screwed up with the torture of the enzyme withdrawing from his body.

"Cassie!" He cried. He groped for her, finding empty air.

"I'm here, John." She said and Teyla helped raise her up until she knelt on older knees and stroked his head and face, smoothing back the fever sweats with a cloth handed to her by Teyla.

When Cassie had woke in the night to find Sheppard just staring at her, but unresponsive, Teyla had had no option but to explain just what had happened to her, who the Wraith were and what was happening to John with the withdrawal from enzyme. Cassie listened whilst she smoothed the skin over her hands. When she next looked up towards John, she saw for herself the fine tremors and pained expression on his face and she allowed a few tears to fall - for herself and the possible loss of their relationship.

She had been young and vibrant. Back on Earth, an exhibition of her photographs was being arranged– her first one. She was also entered into the big, annual, Journalist photographic competition and in various categories, so her hope had been on this mission, to extract a photograph that did not give away any secrets, but was different enough to get the judges attention. Boy, did she have! As it was now, she was a good deal older and unsure of the next minute, never mind the rest of her life, or even cared about such things.

Sheppard moaned and gripped her wrist until she flinched.

"S..s'rry.." Sheppard slurred.

"John, please open your eyes." Cassie asked in a voice so different than she remembered.

It was a struggle because the fight had gone out of him at that moment, but Sheppard had to obey her, so prised them open and only saw the woman he loved. He lifted a shaky arm and stroked her long grey hair that had come loose from its binding.

"So beautiful" He croaked.

"Me? I'm an old woman, please John, let go of my hair!" Cassie was suddenly embarrassed about how she looked.

The sad thing was, everyone knew she wasn't talking about her hair and they all drew in a breath and exhaled it slowly.

"Not to …me." Sheppard whispered before he closed his eyes and finally slept.

Cassie thought back to when she had found him swimming in the sea surrounding Atlantis when she had been allowed to return to the floating city. That day, they had went into a relationship head on – she realised then that Sheppard would not want to break it, he actually did love her – she could tell. Cassie took his hand and held it to her lips and kissed it several times, before placing it in the ground beside his hot and shaking body.

"Sleep." She whispered down to him. "Sleep."

Those watching, stayed still where they were, and watched as Cassie moved into position beside her man and cuddled into him whilst he slept.

"We'll get through this. I love you."

Sheppard never replied as he had fallen unconscious but these last three words haunted Teyla, Ronon and Rodney and they remained where they were until the bright light of morning eventually lit up their hiding place and the new day had arrived, bringing with it their hope of rescue or return to the 'jumper and with it, Atlantis.

SGA SGA SGA

To be continued.