Murus

by Thoseeyesoh

When an expected trade mission turns sour, the team find themselves in an unknown world. There, John Sheppard falls ill with a virus but that is the least of his problems. Team fic but Shep centred. *COMPLETE*

1. Chapter 1 - The Fourth Day

Murus

Chapter one – The Fourth Day

SGA SGA SGA

It was on the fourth day that Sheppard knew he wasn't well. He had felt a bit off the day before but figured he wasn't alone on that one; given the four of them had been held captive for that period of time with hardly any food and each one taken from the others for copious reasons and then returned a little worse for wear; but noticeably shrugged off any ailments as best as they could so as not to worry the others. Sheppard was trying hard for that image this morning but Teyla being Teyla, forever astute, had picked up on his shaky rise from his bed and the hand reaching for his forehead was a dead giveaway. Before he could straighten his back properly and try and pull himself together, he felt a hand on his back.

"John, are you feeling unwell this morning?"

Sheppard looked at Teyla over his shoulder, all pretence of standing gone when he sat back down heavily on his bed.

He bowed his heavy head and just stared at his feet for a moment feeling dizzy. Maybe the moment was longer than that because he then felt Teylas hand on his knee as she knelt down to look in his eyes.

"John, look at me?" She commanded quietly.

"Huh?...um, sorry…not feeling so good." He kept his head down.

"In what way?" Rodney piped up, getting more and more worried in case it was something he had inherited also.

"I dunno Rodney..just feel off, no energy." He looked up at three sets of worried eyes and gulped. They did not need his moans today, not when this was the dreaded fourth day and that meant they had to get out of here now or succumb to … to… dammit!...ill health! Sheppard always knew that by the fourth day of being held captive, any resolve they had to escape was historically weakened by now, especially by a lack of nutrients and the occasional beating slowing down the body and mind. At least they had a plentiful supply of water and a bed each. Small clemencies.

Said water was handed to him silently in a beaker and he drank greedily. He was hot, very hot and worryingly, he seemed to be the only one with his shirt clinging to him, soaked in sweat.

A hand on his forehead and Teyla confirmed it for him.

"You are very hot with a fever and it is quite chilled in here. How long have you felt like this?"

Having no reason to lie anymore, Sheppard looked embarrassed. "It started last night but I thought I would have slept it off."

"You should have said something." Ronon said with just slight annoyance. He knew, probably more than anyone else that Sheppard had his reasons for keeping quiet. Normally it was so he would remain the strong and stoic leader they always knew in situation like this, so having to admit his failing health was hard on the leader. Still, they had to figure out what was ailing him and looking around, nobody else.

"Do you have a headache? Feel Sick? Pains?" Teyla continued her study of him.

Sheppard slowly nodded. "All of the abov…"

He suddenly turned green and was sick over the side of his bed, Teyla held his convulsing frame and gently pushed him back down on the bed once it was over. Ronon rushed to clean it up before the smell made him heave more; or Rodney, who was pacing back and forward with his nose scrunched up and holding his stomach in sympathy pains.

"Just lie still a minute and close your eyes." She held her hand over his eyes as she did for Torren when he couldn't sleep, the darkness it brought always bringing some relief. Teyla looked up at Rodney and Ronons worried faces. No words were spoken, none were needed at this point but the question hung in the air. "What was wrong with John? And what were they going to do now?"

SGA SGA SGA

Mahonet stood with his fingers clasped behind his back, facing away from the door of his office, looking out his large one-way window at the row of confines where his prisoners were held until their worth was either confirmed or denied. The morning lights were switched on heralding a new day one at a time with a loud clicking noise at each one on the long row, unfortunately most were unoccupied but one reserved for a larger party had been showing some activity already and it was this one Mahonet had been watching with great interest since they had arrived a few days earlier after some careful planning. One of his prisoners was of great value to him and from what he could see from where he was standing, the man was beginning to show signs of the temporary sickness they had infused into him.

Behind him the door opened and the visitor knew to stand to attention until he was spoken to, also making sure the door was firmly shut behind him after he had entered. Mahonet grated his teeth at the intrusion but continued to watch the prisoners help their leader as he was violently sick. He did, however, spy the reflection of the morning attendant standing with a silver tray of daily papers that needed his attention and signatures.

"Anything I should know?" He asked without turning round.

"No Sir. All is quiet."

"I believe one of them is sick. Make sure the doctor visits the confine."

The visitor didn't need to ask which one he was talking about, so obsessed by him was Mahonet.

"I will see to it immediately."

The visitor knew he had made a mistake before Mahonet even turned round to face him.

"Sir!...sorry Sir, I meant to say, "I will see to it immediately"…"Sir." Pauley stuttered in panic.

Mahonet could feel his face burn hot. It took a long time to train his assistants to his high standards. This present one, who was always on the morning shift, had shown enough promise that he might be elevated to one of his personal assistants, but his continued lack of using his salutation was making him annoyed to say the least.

"You have family still alive?" Mahonet asked now turning away from the window and striding towards him.

Pauley nodded. "Sir, I do." And he trembled for his young wife relied on his stipend, her wage as seamstress being of little value.

Mahonet stood in front of him and was appeased at his obvious discomfort.

"My tray?"

Pauley stepped forward a small step. "Would you like it on your desk Sir?"

Mahonet nodded and smiled to himself as Pauley placed the silver tray down on his desk next to some weapons he did not recognise and other items taken from the latest prisoners and then took a step back and awaited further instructions.

"Sir?"

"Dismissed."

Pauley did not breathe again until he had exited Mahonet's office and the door was firmly shut behind him once again.

He could have quite easily slid down against it and sat on the floor, his legs feeling that weak after his visit to the High Agent, but he knew to get the doctor to see to the prisoner immediately or incur more of his wrath, so he hurried along the corridors behind the confines until he reached his office and passed on the message to which the doctor's eyes betrayed his suspected awareness of the event but he grabbed his bag and summoned a key keeper to let him in to assess the ill man.

Pauley knew his job would be to follow on and remain as a quiet observer to report back to Mahonet. He walked fast behind the doctor and key keeper to keep up with their fast pace and just occasionally looked up at the darkened glass, knowing on the other side, watching quite clearly the scene below, was the most dangerous man he had ever known. He worried for the occupants of the confine they were now opening the door to, for they had no idea what he had in store for them; or to be more accurate, the man who was lying so still on his bed. The sickness would remain for a while yet he knew, he had witnessed this scenario before but never had the High Agent shown quite so much excitement as he had when they had been brought him in. Pauley was not privy though to the reasons why, of course; that was not for his ears but he knew that Mahonet would have been joined in his office by the two others who were and they would wait on his report back. Pauley stood back as the door to the confine was opened and the key keeper demanded the others step away from the stricken man. For a moment Pauley looked worried as the larger prisoner took a step towards the key keeper but a hand on his arm from the woman stilled his threatening behaviour and he reluctantly allowed the two men to enter their confine. Pauley caught his eye but looked away quickly. He was here to watch and report back, not show weakness towards the prisoners. It could only be a wrong thing to give away his feelings.

SGA SGA SGA

Ronon had heard voices coming towards them as more lights were being switched on the remaining cells, reaching far out of sight. In the bright light they could all see just how ill Sheppard looked. His pale skin was shining with sweat, his hair damp and lifeless. Dark rings round his eyes made them look hollow and as he looked down at his friend they fluttered open and shut, fighting for consciousness but Teyla gently spoke to him and told him to remain still. Sheppard would occasionally moan and pull his legs up further to his stomach, which had one arm wrapped round it and the other gripping the edges of his bed, obviously as a reaction to pain gripping him. Ronon had hoped once he was sick he might have felt better but it was something stronger that was ailing him than a simple upset stomach, and besides they had all eaten the same thing and they were showing no signs of the discomfort that Sheppard was going through.

"Stand back and away from the prisoner on the bed."

Ronon knew the key keepers, as they liked to call themselves on this world – he would have said torturers – meant business with their stun rods so, for now, he did as he was told as he knew Sheppard needed medical attention and seeing a physician's bag with the man that had joined the key keeper, he knew Sheppard needed to see this doctor but he couldn't resist some intimidation, only to be thwarted by Teyla with an annoyed look thrown his way.

"John needs help." She grounded.

So feeling helpless, all three friends walked backwards towards the far side of the cell, but keeping their eyes firmly on their friend and leader.

The doctor was all business as he curled his hand around Sheppard's wrist to take his pulse whilst the back of the other hand felt and then jolted away from his forehead.

"Hot." He said out loud to no one in particular.

Ronon shifted in his stance but caught the eye of a young lad who had not entered their cell but chose to remain outside. For a second he had looked worried for Sheppard and then he looked away and up at the glass window, a look of fear on his face. Ronon knew the lad would not speak to them so turned his head back towards Sheppard and studied his friends face for more signs of discomfort. A yelp, when the doctor pressed deep in Sheppard's stomach had him almost reaching for the doctor by the throat if it hadn't been for Rodney holding him back this time. Ronon threw his arm away from Rodney and glowered at him; but he was right. Now was not the time. Find out what was wrong with Sheppard first and then get him the hell out of here.

The doctor continued to lean over Sheppard, pressing and prodding and taking readings from many hand held devices. He remained too quiet and still the whole time so Ronon suspected he had fallen asleep after all, which was disturbing given the tests the doctor had submitted him to. A couple of injections were pressed into his neck from a solid silver injector, which had Ronon grimacing and Teyla grabbing his arm.

After a few minutes, the doctor packed up his bag and motioned to the key keeper he was leaving.

"Wait!" Rodney cried in disbelief "What's this about, leaving like that? Tell us what's wrong with him and what did you give him?" He took a step forward without thinking.

Unfortunately Rodney was on the receiving end of a quick jab of the keepers stun rod and yelped, clutching onto Teylas arm for support but still managing to transmit to Ronon a message to hold back.

Sheppard moaned on the bed and all heads turned towards him.

"He has picked up a virus that some people new to our world pick up. As none of you are showing signs this morning, I can tell you that none of you will fall ill with it." He said, now looking at their worried faces. "But your friend here has fallen very ill with the sickness." He looked pointedly at Rodney, "I have given him some anti sickness medication and pain killers; he will sleep now but you must keep him hydrated. I will come back later in the day to check on him but you can expect nausea, headaches and alternating fever and chills. Joint pain will keep him from sleep so you must keep him calm."

"Thank you for your help." Teyla said quietly and simply, but it conveyed so much to the doctor and he hesitated as he walked out the door which was being closed by the key keeper.

He stopped and turned to look through the bars towards her. "He will recover from this, but he will be quite ill and weak for a while. It was unavoidable." He hoped she had understood what he was trying to convey to her but he knew he was being watched so he walked away. He had done all he could to ease the man's sufferings for now.

Teyla ran to Sheppard and knelt on the floor by his side and noticed the doctor had also left some wads of cotton. She quickly soaked one and set about bathing his neck and face in the hope of reducing his temperature. As she leaned over him she felt the bed dip and looked up to see Ronon also sitting on the small bed watching her gently wipe Sheppard's hot, fevered face.

"He said it was unavoidable that Sheppard would get ill. Why did he say it like that?"

"I do not know Ronon, but I am strengthened by the fact that he will get better in time."

"Yes, in time! ...just now he looks like death warmed up."

"Rodney, please calm down?"

"No, he's right Teyla, he looks terrible?"

"I am aware of that Ronon, please be quiet like the doctor said and let John sleep, I think we are going to have a long day."

Teyla continued to wipe down Sheppard's face, and, after they removed his shirt, his upper body also. As they had nothing else to do, Rodney and Ronon sat or lay on their beds and watched her until she took a time to sit on her own bed to leave him to sleep, slightly cooler in temperature. He would stir occasionally throughout the morning but Teyla would just put her hand on his face and whisper in his ear to go back to sleep.

"Remind me how we found ourselves in this predicament?" Rodney started looking over at Ronon with just a hint of sarcasm leaking out from his question.

Ronon growled. "You did not need to follow me into the office of that trader Rodney, I could have handled the situation."

"Since when did you handle negotiations...or for that matter...speak!"

"Since Sheppard asked me to because he didn't trust you to not mention the obvious Ancient carvings on the cave walls near the Stargate he had sneaked back with Teyla to look at!"

"And he should have stayed put, I know more Ancient than him anyway."

"He, wanted you two to distract that man for a few minutes, urgh!" Sheppard held his head.

Teyla pushed him back down on the bed as he started to rise on his elbows and took time to throw Rodney and Ronon a look that told them in no uncertain terms that she was extremely annoyed with them for waking him up.

"Ssh John, do not concern yourself with their conversation. It will stop now, go back to sleep."

"Report...?" Sheppard spat out anyway but fell back on the bed.

"We are still in the holding cell. The doctor came to visit you a few hours ago, you will maybe not remember as you were pretty sick." Teyla explained quietly, studying him carefully. "How are you feeling now?"

"Rough. What's wrong with me?"

"You have a virus that likes to zap strangers to this planet, but we don't have it, only you." Rodney shouted over, making Teyla glare at him again, so he stood up and pinched his lips.

"Sorry. I'll shut up now." Causing everyone, including Sheppard, to raise an eyebrow.

Teyla held out some water for Sheppard to drink, allowing him only a small amount at a time to see if he could keep it down.

"You must stay hydrated as this fever will drain you. Do you still feel sick?"

Sheppard nodded and looked over at Ronon. "Slightly, but, can you help me up buddy, I'm kinda needing a hand up for, well you know..."

Ronon, eager to help, was by his side, throwing off his covers and holding out a hand to steady the wobbly man as he slowly tried to raise his pained body up without grimacing too much. Ronon then found his other hand on his elbow to pull him up as well. He had went so weak, so fast, Ronon was worried and threw that worry to join the other two friends' expressions.

As Ronon helped Sheppard go about his business, several guards came with their one meal a day of bread and cheese, some fresh water and even clean sheets and blankets which Teyla was especially pleased to see for Sheppard's bed sheets were soaked through with sweat.

Ronon was too busy keeping Sheppard steady to mount an attack as he usually tried to do so settled for baring his teeth and the guards just ignored him and carried on to the next confine which seemed very quiet so they presumed that they were the only ones in a group setting. At least their neighbours had kept themselves to themselves. It was enough listening to Rodney drone on all the time. Still, Ronon took note of the armoury the guards wore and sized them up for a possible fight. Something he was sure they were sizing him up for.

Teyla stripped Sheppard's bed quickly and threw the soiled sheets on the ground and quickly made up a new bed for him just as Ronon helped him shuffle along.

"You don't look good Sheppard, lie down." Rodney ordered.

"Trying...Rodney!"

Rodney did feel sorry for his friend though and helped Ronon lower him onto the bed.

"Sleep John, but drink some more water first."

Sheppard took the beaker and handed it back to Rodney with a nod. "Thanks." He blew out a breath. "I'm floored with this guys, don't mind admitting it. Be careful while I try and sleep this off...hey, how come only I am ill?"

"We don't know John. Only, it is a virus on this world and you caught it." Teyla sat back down on the bed beside him.

"The doctor said you will be ok, just try and not think too much about it, we are here keeping watch over you."

Sheppard groaned inwardly so as not to hurt her feelings, but he hated being this ill and observed by the others, their faces showing worry. They were on a planet they had no idea where or why even, other than that a trade deal brokered over a couple of weeks with another planet had gone sour at the last minute, leaving them knocked unconscious with a stun gun and somehow ending up together in a holding cell, awaiting their fate, by some overbearing power hungry 'Agent' who looked like he would beat anyone who looked at him wrong, to a pulp. Sheppard knew that that should be the focus of all their worries and not his ill health. But, he truly did feel very ill and as they seemed to be getting left to themselves today, he would take advantage of the time and he shifted himself further down the bed into his clean sheets...scratch that, cleaner sheets as he spied a large blemish on it. Tomorrow, when he was hopefully feeling better, they would maybe find out why they were being held against their will. He knew one thing and that was that Lorne would have no idea where they were, so a rescue was out of the question for the moment. He started to shiver, damn now he was cold but he closed his eyes and was asleep in seconds.

Teyla noticed him shiver and piled a couple more blankets on him and tucked him in.

"What do we do now?" Rodney asked.

"We watch and we wait Rodney." Teyla said as she went to sit on the floor beside Sheppard, just watching his chest slowly rise and fall but watching his eyes squeeze with an occasional spasm of pain.

Ronon started doing some press ups, not wanting to let himself get out of shape but he also used the time to stare up at the dark window, which he suspected someone was looking out of, watching them carefully.

SGA SGA SGA

Mahonet's two customers rose from their seats when a knock on the door heralded the doctor's return from visiting their procurement, both were eager to know if travel back to their own planet with John Sheppard was now imminent.

"Enter." Mahonet's voice boomed out.

Pauley entered first followed by the doctor but Mahonet dismissed him as he had been watching the proceedings below and didn't require the bumbling reports of his assistant as well.

The doctor knew not to stare at anyone else in Mahonet's office when he was in it and as he opened the door he could feel the tension step a notch; these must be the latest customers showing an interest in the latest supply of prisoners; so the doctor aimed straight for the High Agent, not wanting to look upon the faces of such abhorrent men. How people could buy and sell other humans was something he, fortunately, could not fathom. He had been brought here as a slave himself many years ago now, forced into working for the autocrat after good reports had about his capabilities as a doctor had reached the ears of Mahonet and the man had been rich enough and powerful enough to 'offer' him the job. He remembered well how he had been told that his family would be well looked after in his absence and how, if he refused, they would have been sorry to hear that he had been most likely killed on the deadly tunnel trains that only the brave rode on their way to the other side of the small planet. It avoided the deep canyons, lakes and mountains and the doctor had heard of many who had not made the journey home. Air travel was for the rich, like Mahonet, so stories of the tunnels put fear into the hearts of those who dared to travel and were poor.

Resigned to this life, living on his own in his small apartment, the doctor went about his work with great care and attention until he had cases like this one, and then he felt sick to his stomach at what Mahonet made him do; something that went against all his ethics.

Occasionally Mahonet would have a prisoner considered too dangerous to be contained by handcuffs alone, so he would 'ask' the doctor to inflict on the poor, unsuspecting man or woman, an injection of an indigenous virus that brought people down low with sickness, often it was just enough to subdue them so that they could be taken away with hardly a decline to their health, others were given the full bottle and an antidote always accompanied them until their final destination so that they could make a recovery, unless of course it was left to run its course as some unpleasant punishment.

The prisoner he had just come from had been given the full bottle.

"Well, how is the prisoner?" Mahonet was eager to get rid of the group and receive his payment.

The doctor sighed, knowing he was condemning the man to his fate. "He is quite ill and slow to regain consciousness. A fever grips him."

"Excellent work doctor, he will offer no fight to my friends here. Have you the antidote to give to them?"

The older of the two customers took a step nearer Mahonet. "That will not be necessary." The two tall men looked at each other and Mahonet smirked before clapping his shoulder. "That is all right with me my friend, I think we share the same sense of humour."

Eager to conclude the transaction, he ushered the men to take a seat on the other side of his large desk to do the transfer of funds.

"That will be all doctor."

Hesitation was not something Mahonet tolerated, so when the doctor didn't move but continued to look at the bottle of antidote, he pulled the doctor up by his lapels before he even knew he had moved to stand in front of him.

"Is there a problem?"

The doctor gulped and swiftly pocketed the bottle. "Um, no, I am going now."

Mahonet glowered and still holding on to his coat, he opened his door and threw the man out with such strength the doctor had to halt his fall by crashing into the wall opposite the heavy door. He remained there for a minute or two panting with fear and anger. He made his way to his apartment which wasn't far from the Agent's and sat down in his chair before his wobbly legs couldn't hold him anymore. He pinched the space between his eyes and then reached for the only solace he could find in his life, a tall thin bottle of golden rice spirit. Drinking the amount he drunk would probably kill him he knew, but maybe he deserved it after all he had done and continued to do to people. These latest prisoners were especially upsetting him. He had witnessed how concerned for their friend they were and they didn't look like any other prisoners he had dealt with before who were normally as fierce and violent as he knew from experience Mahonet was and yet they appeared military, but the doctor did not feel confident in their ability to be exclusively dangerous.

Unfortunately, he could do nothing to help them, so he closed his eyes and willed sleep to take him for a couple of hours so he would not witness the anguish caused by the removal of the team into the hands of the two purchasers, whoever they were.

Mahonet walked down a sloping corridor that lead to the lower levels and to a room that was kept locked to many. Inside, he took in the contents for what his customers had paid a high price for, noticing with satisfaction the results a couple of days of drugs and technology had accomplished and he smiled for once again his reputation for what he could achieve had reached good results.

He looked down at the unaware man lying on the bed and then up to the scientist standing waiting on the next stage.

"Where is this one from?"

"He was a guard on the night shift, fitting the form perfectly." And then, with no emotion. "I need the clothes from the real one."

"Yes, he is being fetched now. After you have changed his clothes, our guests will be leaving. I trust I do not need to question your certainty that he will survive for at least the next few hours?"

"He will survive."

Satisfied, Mahonet turned to leave but spoke over his shoulder. "Your cut has been transferred." The other man did not answer, so unaffected by the announcement. He moved to the prone man on the bed and proceeded to strip him of his hospital style gown. The man gave no resistance to what was happening to him but Mahonet noticed his glazed look and flushed face and hoped the scientist was correct in his estimations about how long he had left to live or Mahonet could find another scientist and he suspected the man already knew that.

Mahonet walked further down the corridor until he stood in front of the Ring and awaited the exit of first, his prisoners and then his customers with their acquisition. For years now, this former bounty hunter had honed his craft into an elite business, seeking out elusive prey and organising their capture for his customers. Some other requests came with the capture and he relished the challenge. This one had been rare and intriguing; quite the challenge, but the scientists that he had 'working' for him were the best and their ability to change the appearance of someone astounded him yet. The man he had just left to be readied for departure was the spitting imagine of one Lt. Colonel John Sheppard who, at this very moment, was about to be handed over to the two men who had hired him for this job, leaving the three other members of his team to be allowed back to wherever they lived with a substitute replacement, none the wiser – well at least until their 'friend' died soon after they had left their confine , leaving them to believe that they had lost him forever to the virus caught on this planet.

What Mahonet particularly loved about his world was that the address of the Ring had never been broken by anyone and he kept it that way. All customers and prisoners were blindfolded from another address so they had no idea where they were taken. Refunds or retributions were never on the menu and Mahonet had kept it that way for decades.

SGA SGA SGA

The doctor had not long left his visit to Sheppard when Ronon heard several booted footsteps come their way and he was instantly on alert. Rodney noticed immediately and got up from his bed to nudge Teyla awake after her head had started to fall onto her chest, she had not slept well during the night.

"John?"

"Ssh, not John, I hear several people coming our way."

Teyla and Rodney joined Ronon at the bars of their cell and waited on what would happen next.

"Perhaps they are coming for one of the other cells?"

"I count at least six pairs of feet Rodney, have you heard much disruption needing that much attention from one of the others?"

"Ok, ok, I'm just saying big guy."

Teyla palmed his arm. "Perhaps they are coming to release us and show us the way home!" She tried to placate him, whilst not believing a word she said herself.

"Sheppard will have to be woken…"

"No, leave him be. Let's see what's happening first."

Rodney looked over at the sleeping Colonel and stepped back from the door to be at his side, sitting down on his bed, offering some kind of guardianship.

Two key keepers arrived first and banged the bars of their cell with stunners.

"Step back!"

Reluctantly Teyla and Ronon stepped back enough to allow entry, but shielding Sheppard and Rodney, who now stood up as four guards appeared to join the party and they were all dismayed to see that two of them carried a stretcher, leaving no doubt in their minds, the purpose of it.

"The doctor wants to give the prisoner in the bed a scan, move aside and you will be spared the stun rods. You don't need to give us any trouble, you are going back to your world."

Home! Three stunned faces looked at each other and then over to Sheppard, weighing up the dangers of their splitting up when he went for the scan.

"Home?" Teyla voiced. "Why were we here in the first place? Has a ransom been paid?" Knowing full well Woolsey would not pander to such demands.

"We don't know these things. Now hands behind your backs."

Ronon took charge and nodded to his two team mates to conform – for now. He did not believe things were going to be as simple as that for one moment but with Sheppard in danger, he wanted to gather more intel before he dared an escape, if one was actually needed. He was confused as to what was going on.

Their arrival on this planet had been hazy for all, ambushed somewhere whilst appearing to making a trade they had been stunned unconscious and then woke up bound and blindfolded and then shakily marched through a Stargate to wherever they were now. Ronon had to hand it to his captors, they were good, professionals to the extreme. He had no idea where they were or even the purpose to their detention.

They were bound once again and made to stand outside the cell whilst Sheppard was none too gently loaded onto the stretcher, only slightly shifting at his change of position. Teyla looked at Ronon and Rodney's sharp gasp was audible to all.

"I'm going with him to get his scan." Ronon announced on deaf ears. The guards walked in silence and prodded them forward when they tried to look back to see how Sheppard was faring.

It was a good tactic by the guards having them in front because the next time Ronon turned to look round, Sheppard was gone.

"WHERE IS HE?" Ronon bellowed.

"No, no." Rodney gasped.

Teyla tried to calm down Ronon by pressing her elbows into his side but the big man was growing angrier by the second and was pushing against the hold the guards had on him.

"Take me to him?" He demanded.

The lead guard drew his blaster, set the setting to stun and shot the three friends who fell into a pile on the ground.

"Knew they would be trouble. Pick them up and take them to the Ring…and watch the big one, he will probably wake quicker than the others. Shoot him again if you have to, I don't care if it'll kill him."

"Mahonet will care you fool."

"Na, the transfer is through and besides, it's the other one that's the real prisoner, the others were just along for the ride."

SGA SGA SGA

Habitual pacing had worn away a section of the ground in front of the Ring over the years by Mahonet and today was no exception. Things had to go correct in the next few minutes as he never wanted his reputation to be tainted.

Sheppard's three friends had been dumped, unceremoniously, onto a chair each a few minutes ago beside it and were just starting to wake up. The big man had woken up first but the expected attack did not happen, this was not a surprise to Mahonet. He could see that the man called Ronon was from Sateda by his tattoo so knew instantly he was a survivor and briefly wondered about his story and how he had ended up with an Athosian woman and the other two humans – where they were from he had no idea and was not interested.

He smiled at the Satedan again but it did not reach his eyes and the dark look that found his made him smile broader. It was a shame he had not had more time with the big man, he had not had a satisfying fight with another for a long time and he thought he might have had enjoyed an encounter with the prisoner.

A clang of heavy doors opening and Mahonet tensed. In walked two guards holding between them the Sheppard replacement and now was the time for the friends to accept him as the same one seemingly returned to them from having his scan. Up high, the real Sheppard was awake, albeit just, and made to watch his friends depart with his replacement, helpless to watch and not able to alert them. His rough linen shirt and jacket were soaked through with sweat and the brown trousers and brown leather boots he now wore were picked so he would fit in where he was going next. His new captors remained out of sight, unwilling for him to see them for now.

Sheppard screamed but the soundproofed room held his voice captive as he sagged exhausted in the guards arms when he witnessed Ronon and Rodney take an arm each of his accepted replacement and together with Teyla, stepped through the Ring and out of his sight.

TO BE CONTINUED...OH DEAR, WHAT HAS JOHN GOT HIMSELF INTO NOW?