When You Least Expect It Part 6
Disclaimer: I don't own them
Thanks to Neuroscpr for reading.
I want thank everyone for the feedback.
Travor knew John should rest, but they only had a short distance to go. He had to get John to safety and get back to town before dusk. He knew that Darion would be looking for him by that time.
Travor half carried John the rest of the way, drifting in and out of consciousness. He knew he needed medical treatment, but there was nothing he could do.
John and Travor finally made it to what he hoped would be a safe hiding place for John. It was an ancient, ruined settlement, with many underground tunnels. Travor had frequented this place as a child, and still came to it when he needed to be by himself. He knew the tunnels like it was his second home.
He settled John in what he felt was the safest tunnel, deep in the settlement.
"John.John, wake up," Travor said shaking him slightly.
John woke, only to curl himself into a ball, hugging his midsection. He gasped at the movement. His breathing shallow.
"Travor," John spoke barely above a whisper. "Where are we?"
"In a safe place, John," Travor said with worry in his voice. He had definitely gotten worse in the last arn. 'Hold on my friend,' Travor thought positioning supplies in the tunnel.
"John, I am going to have to leave soon. If I don't return shortly I will raise suspicion. You should be fine until I can get back here. There is food and water for you, but try to sleep," he said rising as he laid a blanket over the shivering human.
John only nodded.
"I promise I will back. Hopefully I will have your friends with me when I return."
John pressed his lips together and closed his eyes.
xxxxx
Darion sent a unit of men out to find the others. They would have to proceed with caution now that the two aliens were here.
It was two arns before all of his men were gathered in the back room of the bar.
"The prisoner's friends are here looking for him. This is what we feared," Darion announced to the men.
The other ones became alarmed and the room became noisy with everyone talking at once.
"Silence!" Darion said. "We must keep things as normal as possible in the town. Tomorrow we will open the square again and carry on with business. Only one quarter of you men will continue the search. Is that understood? Travor, is this man's ship secure?"
"Yes. We have it hidden in one of the far buildings."
"Good. If they don't find it, perhaps they will assume he left." Darion said hoping this would work.
"Since we didn't find the prisoner today, we must assume he is in hiding. Tomorrow the buildings outside the city must be checked. Remember we must be discreet until his friends leave. We will meet here in the morning and split the duties."
"Goodnight," Darion said in dismissal.
The men dispersed to go to their homes and get much needed rest.
Darion turned his back to the group as they were leaving. "Travor, please stay."
Travor shuffled his feet nervously waiting for Darion to continue. He waited until all the men had left before he looked at Travor.
"Travor, why did you separate from your unit?" Darion asked suspiciously.
"Well sir, as you said already, perhaps he was hiding. I just double backed hoping to surprise him," Travor said hoping he sounded convincing.
Darion was thinking about Travor's statement, with a furrowed brow.
"Hmm," Darion replied studying Travor. "Did you see anything that could lead us to him?"
"No Darion," Travor said dropping his head. "If I had I would have said something."
"Travor I want you in the square tomorrow. Is that understood?"
"Of course sir."
"Goodnight Travor," Darion said not totally convinced of where his loyalties were.
Aeryn and D'Argo knew that Darion held the key to John's whereabouts. When they left the bar they found somewhere to hide close to the establishment. From their new hiding place they continued to watch the men come and go.
"Well D'Argo, I think he is lying," Aeryn said still watching the bar.
"I agree Aeryn. There is definitely something unusual going on. But how this will lead us to Crichton is still unclear."
"Frell D'Argo!" Aeryn said turning and leaning her back against the wall. "Why can't he stay out of trouble just once!"
"Aeryn!" D'Argo said loudly, then quieter, "We always assume it's his fault. How about we find him first."
Aeryn sighed, and then nodded. "I'm sorry D'Argo."
"You know Aeryn, sometimes I think we judge Crichton too harshly. It's become too easy to blame him for everything," D'Argo said hoping Aeryn would understand. "We need to step back and see things the way they really are, and how we fit in the picture."
Aeryn looked at him questioning.
"It's something John says, but I think you know what I mean."
Aeryn thought about this for a moment. "I think I do D'Argo. We are.." Aeryn started.
"Shh Aeryn," D'Argo whispered. "They are coming out."
Aeryn turned to watch the bar again. It looked like there were at least thirty men leaving. Aeryn and D'Argo looked at each other.
"Looks like there was a gathering of some sort, or a meeting," Aeryn whispered.
Just as they were about to rise, another man came out. They quickly dropped back down.
"Aeryn lets wait until the lights are out and then we go in," D'Argo whispered.
Aeryn nodded in agreement.
xxxxx
John was tossing and turning in a fitful sleep. His pain was bringing back nightmares he wanted to forget, Scorpy and the chair, Zhaan's death, the other one and Aeryn's death.
He was thrashing and moaning as the flashbacks kept coming.
His finally woke when the final memory flashed through his mind, Aeryn's death. "Nooooo!" He cried soaked in his own sweat. "Oh God," he said propping himself up against the wall. He wiped the sweat from his face, and dropped his head into his hands.
'Get a grip John. Just a nightmare.' He slowed his breathing and observed his surroundings.
"Well this sure as hell isn't a nightmare," he said aloud.
He remembered Travor bringing him here. He slowly moved, trying to keep the pain to a minimum, to reach the water. He slowly sipped the water, laying his head against the wall, eyes closed savoring the soothing liquid. His throat was raw, his lips parched from the hours without anything to drink.
He looked at the food, but just the thought made him feel nauseous. 'One thing at a time, waters enough right now,' he thought wondering how long he'd been here.
John slowly moved around the tunnel, investigating his surroundings. He needed to find an exit if he needed it. If Travor failed he would be on his own again.
'With the way my luck is going, I better be prepared to exit this joint,' he chuckled to himself, the laugh evolving into a fit of coughing.
"Oh God, that hurts," he said in a raspy voice, curling into a ball and wrapping his arms around his stomach. When the coughing finally subsided John slowly made his way deeper into the tunnel, taking care not to make any sudden movements that would bring on the coughing again.
The tunnel seemed to have several junctions in it, which made it more confusing. John wondered which ones would lead him out to daylight and which ones would just lead him deeper into the structure. John tried several different junctures, which seemed just to lead him deeper into the tunnels, and each one had several tunnels branching off of the original tunnel. 'Hell,' John thought,' it looks like I could hide forever in this place. Only problem, I would probably die trying to find my way out!'
John made his way back to the original tunnel. When he finally made his way back to where he started he was completely exhausted. He reached for the water, took a sip and laid his head back, wrapping himself in the blanket. He was shivering again. 'Must have a fever. Am so cold. Man Travor, don't forget me,' he thought drifting off to sleep.
xxxxx
Aeryn and D'Argo waited patiently outside the bar. The lights finally went out and Darion exited the bar.
They waited until there was no sign of any activity before moving towards the bar. They entered through the back of the bar very quietly.
"D'Argo, we can't turn the lights on. Do you have any light devices?"
"Just a moment Aeryn," D'Argo said reaching into his pocket. "How's that?"
Aeryn smiled, "Just enough for us to look around. Let's start here. If they had John he would not have been in the main bar. I figure he would be in the back room. If we don't find anything here we will proceed into the bar."
D'Argo nodded and they started looking around the room. Even with the device D'Argo had it was hard to see, so they had to proceed slowly.
After several microts Aeryn said, "Frell, I can't find anything to say John was here. But he had to be!"
"Just a moment Aeryn." D'Argo said examining some cloth. "Look at this."
Aeryn grabbed them from D'Argo and looked at them closely. "D'Argo," she said looking at him, "It .looks like.blood."
D'Argo nodded. "And look at this Aeryn," he said handing her some ropes he found on the floor. It looked like someone had tried to kick them under the bed.
"He was here," she said, holding the rope in both her hands. Aeryn was twisting the rope now, with her head dropped looking at the rope and envisioning what John must have gone through.
"Aeryn. Aeryn."
She looked at him with deep regret in her eyes. "We must find him D'argo. If.I" she started dropping her head, "If I had not treated him so badly this would never had happened."
"Aeryn," D'Argo replied softly. He lifted her chin with his hand so she would look him in the eyes. "We will find him. John is a survivor, you taught him that."
Aeryn could not find the words to answer him. The lump in her throat would not allow her to speak. She nodded looking away from him.
"We need to go Aeryn."
Aeryn was ahead of him.
Disclaimer: I don't own them
Thanks to Neuroscpr for reading.
I want thank everyone for the feedback.
Travor knew John should rest, but they only had a short distance to go. He had to get John to safety and get back to town before dusk. He knew that Darion would be looking for him by that time.
Travor half carried John the rest of the way, drifting in and out of consciousness. He knew he needed medical treatment, but there was nothing he could do.
John and Travor finally made it to what he hoped would be a safe hiding place for John. It was an ancient, ruined settlement, with many underground tunnels. Travor had frequented this place as a child, and still came to it when he needed to be by himself. He knew the tunnels like it was his second home.
He settled John in what he felt was the safest tunnel, deep in the settlement.
"John.John, wake up," Travor said shaking him slightly.
John woke, only to curl himself into a ball, hugging his midsection. He gasped at the movement. His breathing shallow.
"Travor," John spoke barely above a whisper. "Where are we?"
"In a safe place, John," Travor said with worry in his voice. He had definitely gotten worse in the last arn. 'Hold on my friend,' Travor thought positioning supplies in the tunnel.
"John, I am going to have to leave soon. If I don't return shortly I will raise suspicion. You should be fine until I can get back here. There is food and water for you, but try to sleep," he said rising as he laid a blanket over the shivering human.
John only nodded.
"I promise I will back. Hopefully I will have your friends with me when I return."
John pressed his lips together and closed his eyes.
xxxxx
Darion sent a unit of men out to find the others. They would have to proceed with caution now that the two aliens were here.
It was two arns before all of his men were gathered in the back room of the bar.
"The prisoner's friends are here looking for him. This is what we feared," Darion announced to the men.
The other ones became alarmed and the room became noisy with everyone talking at once.
"Silence!" Darion said. "We must keep things as normal as possible in the town. Tomorrow we will open the square again and carry on with business. Only one quarter of you men will continue the search. Is that understood? Travor, is this man's ship secure?"
"Yes. We have it hidden in one of the far buildings."
"Good. If they don't find it, perhaps they will assume he left." Darion said hoping this would work.
"Since we didn't find the prisoner today, we must assume he is in hiding. Tomorrow the buildings outside the city must be checked. Remember we must be discreet until his friends leave. We will meet here in the morning and split the duties."
"Goodnight," Darion said in dismissal.
The men dispersed to go to their homes and get much needed rest.
Darion turned his back to the group as they were leaving. "Travor, please stay."
Travor shuffled his feet nervously waiting for Darion to continue. He waited until all the men had left before he looked at Travor.
"Travor, why did you separate from your unit?" Darion asked suspiciously.
"Well sir, as you said already, perhaps he was hiding. I just double backed hoping to surprise him," Travor said hoping he sounded convincing.
Darion was thinking about Travor's statement, with a furrowed brow.
"Hmm," Darion replied studying Travor. "Did you see anything that could lead us to him?"
"No Darion," Travor said dropping his head. "If I had I would have said something."
"Travor I want you in the square tomorrow. Is that understood?"
"Of course sir."
"Goodnight Travor," Darion said not totally convinced of where his loyalties were.
Aeryn and D'Argo knew that Darion held the key to John's whereabouts. When they left the bar they found somewhere to hide close to the establishment. From their new hiding place they continued to watch the men come and go.
"Well D'Argo, I think he is lying," Aeryn said still watching the bar.
"I agree Aeryn. There is definitely something unusual going on. But how this will lead us to Crichton is still unclear."
"Frell D'Argo!" Aeryn said turning and leaning her back against the wall. "Why can't he stay out of trouble just once!"
"Aeryn!" D'Argo said loudly, then quieter, "We always assume it's his fault. How about we find him first."
Aeryn sighed, and then nodded. "I'm sorry D'Argo."
"You know Aeryn, sometimes I think we judge Crichton too harshly. It's become too easy to blame him for everything," D'Argo said hoping Aeryn would understand. "We need to step back and see things the way they really are, and how we fit in the picture."
Aeryn looked at him questioning.
"It's something John says, but I think you know what I mean."
Aeryn thought about this for a moment. "I think I do D'Argo. We are.." Aeryn started.
"Shh Aeryn," D'Argo whispered. "They are coming out."
Aeryn turned to watch the bar again. It looked like there were at least thirty men leaving. Aeryn and D'Argo looked at each other.
"Looks like there was a gathering of some sort, or a meeting," Aeryn whispered.
Just as they were about to rise, another man came out. They quickly dropped back down.
"Aeryn lets wait until the lights are out and then we go in," D'Argo whispered.
Aeryn nodded in agreement.
xxxxx
John was tossing and turning in a fitful sleep. His pain was bringing back nightmares he wanted to forget, Scorpy and the chair, Zhaan's death, the other one and Aeryn's death.
He was thrashing and moaning as the flashbacks kept coming.
His finally woke when the final memory flashed through his mind, Aeryn's death. "Nooooo!" He cried soaked in his own sweat. "Oh God," he said propping himself up against the wall. He wiped the sweat from his face, and dropped his head into his hands.
'Get a grip John. Just a nightmare.' He slowed his breathing and observed his surroundings.
"Well this sure as hell isn't a nightmare," he said aloud.
He remembered Travor bringing him here. He slowly moved, trying to keep the pain to a minimum, to reach the water. He slowly sipped the water, laying his head against the wall, eyes closed savoring the soothing liquid. His throat was raw, his lips parched from the hours without anything to drink.
He looked at the food, but just the thought made him feel nauseous. 'One thing at a time, waters enough right now,' he thought wondering how long he'd been here.
John slowly moved around the tunnel, investigating his surroundings. He needed to find an exit if he needed it. If Travor failed he would be on his own again.
'With the way my luck is going, I better be prepared to exit this joint,' he chuckled to himself, the laugh evolving into a fit of coughing.
"Oh God, that hurts," he said in a raspy voice, curling into a ball and wrapping his arms around his stomach. When the coughing finally subsided John slowly made his way deeper into the tunnel, taking care not to make any sudden movements that would bring on the coughing again.
The tunnel seemed to have several junctions in it, which made it more confusing. John wondered which ones would lead him out to daylight and which ones would just lead him deeper into the structure. John tried several different junctures, which seemed just to lead him deeper into the tunnels, and each one had several tunnels branching off of the original tunnel. 'Hell,' John thought,' it looks like I could hide forever in this place. Only problem, I would probably die trying to find my way out!'
John made his way back to the original tunnel. When he finally made his way back to where he started he was completely exhausted. He reached for the water, took a sip and laid his head back, wrapping himself in the blanket. He was shivering again. 'Must have a fever. Am so cold. Man Travor, don't forget me,' he thought drifting off to sleep.
xxxxx
Aeryn and D'Argo waited patiently outside the bar. The lights finally went out and Darion exited the bar.
They waited until there was no sign of any activity before moving towards the bar. They entered through the back of the bar very quietly.
"D'Argo, we can't turn the lights on. Do you have any light devices?"
"Just a moment Aeryn," D'Argo said reaching into his pocket. "How's that?"
Aeryn smiled, "Just enough for us to look around. Let's start here. If they had John he would not have been in the main bar. I figure he would be in the back room. If we don't find anything here we will proceed into the bar."
D'Argo nodded and they started looking around the room. Even with the device D'Argo had it was hard to see, so they had to proceed slowly.
After several microts Aeryn said, "Frell, I can't find anything to say John was here. But he had to be!"
"Just a moment Aeryn." D'Argo said examining some cloth. "Look at this."
Aeryn grabbed them from D'Argo and looked at them closely. "D'Argo," she said looking at him, "It .looks like.blood."
D'Argo nodded. "And look at this Aeryn," he said handing her some ropes he found on the floor. It looked like someone had tried to kick them under the bed.
"He was here," she said, holding the rope in both her hands. Aeryn was twisting the rope now, with her head dropped looking at the rope and envisioning what John must have gone through.
"Aeryn. Aeryn."
She looked at him with deep regret in her eyes. "We must find him D'argo. If.I" she started dropping her head, "If I had not treated him so badly this would never had happened."
"Aeryn," D'Argo replied softly. He lifted her chin with his hand so she would look him in the eyes. "We will find him. John is a survivor, you taught him that."
Aeryn could not find the words to answer him. The lump in her throat would not allow her to speak. She nodded looking away from him.
"We need to go Aeryn."
Aeryn was ahead of him.
