Warning for torture and bad language. The story takes place just before and during "The Storm" Atlantis is not owned by me, I just borrowed it. Thank you for all your kind reviews - you really cheered my day up, with special thanks to NatalieJ.

2. Negotiate with the Devil

Rodney McKay's senses were slow to return, unfortunately pain was one of the first sensations to present itself but he had the presence of mind not to groan – as much as his hurt demanded it. He lay still and pretended to still be out to get time to think. Since this roller coaster of abuse had started he had not had time to think, Kolya had deliberately kept him off balance. He had only once asked him a relevant question 'What is your plan to save Atlantis?' and from then on had tried to belittle his worth and terrorise him into submission, emphasising of how little import his well being was. That was peculiar – Rodney, his whole life, had been able to get away with almost murder because of the brilliance of his mind – people were willing to put up with a lot just to get the 'McKay solution to the problem'. So that would imply the Genni would also value him. So whatif Kolya's treatment of him were a bluff, and that the commander's superiors had ordered him to break Rodney and get him to work for the Genni but not kill him, then his torture would have to stop before the point of destruction (this thought was not as comforting as Rodney had hoped, however….) Kolya had been very strident about how little Rodney's health mattered, what if the reverse were true, and he was one of the main reasons for coming to Atlantis? The C4 was important, yes, but they would still need someone, him to utilise it. So they had come to Atlantis for their data recorder, for medical supplies, for C4, and the real weapon, Rodney McKay. 'Am I being egotistical?' Rodney asked of himself. 'Of course I am, I wouldn't be me if I wasn't, but if I am right, I have a big lever to use against Kolya, because no matter how much he tries to deny my worth to the Genii, I have that final ace to play.' Gods he hated card game analogies – he was the world's worst poker player, and hated the fact – his mind was agile enough to count cards and play the odds but he had never developed the ability to bluff, Vegas should have been at his knees, but instead… concentrate Rodney.

"He's awake." Someone said and kicked him in the ribs.

"Ooof!" Rodney curled round the pain of the blow. The situation was still bad, but at least he was not as helpless as they would like him to believe.

"Get up." Kolya's voice.

"Why should I co-operate, as soon as I stand you'll only start torturing me again?"

Kolya nodded to his men who grabbed Rodney by the arms and hauled him to his feet. His arm still had the knife embedded in it and the movement made him cry out in agony, in fact every joint and tendon in his arms and shoulders protested the treatment where the flesh had already been injured. "Stop that! God that hurts." He protested exhausted. The men tried to get him to stand on his own two feet but he slumped to his knees, swaying between consciousness and the blackout that threatened again, cold sweat soaking his clothes to his body – he was getting close to shock, he fought for breath, hoping the oxygen would straighten out the pain muddled thoughts in his head. They should never have moved him, the pain from his arm, the blood dripping down his wrist, everything hurt. All of it was more than his system could stand, and his blood sugar was low – this day was turning into one of the worst days of his life.

He panted words out. "Kolya, lets stop playing games." Rodney saw the blow coming but couldn't marshal his muscles to move out of the way in time. The blow to his jaw sent him falling over backwards, he managed to get an arm out to cushion his fall then realised it was his impaled right arm. 'Oh crap!'

He woke up again and began talking fast before anyone decided to kick him or worse. He opened an eye to see where the commander was and rolled over onto his back to face him as well as the supine position would allow.

"Kolya, I know the Genni consider me of value, which is why you are trying so hard to deny it – but I worked with your scientists and know how much they value my knowledge." Rodney panted breath, cursing the pain from his ribs, he fought to focus the words and get them out before another blow or blackout lost him his chance. "Everything you have done so far has been very convincing, but we both know you will have to stop before you do any permanent damage to me." He saw Kolya's look change to one of calculation. "The Genii want me because I am intelligent and because I am intelligent you will not be able to convince me otherwise."

"If I do not get cooperation from you McKay I will use Dr Weir as leverage. My men here will have great sport with her in front of you. Such a pretty face, such a nice body, I believe you are fond of her? "

"She is my boss, how fond is anyone of their boss?" He sneered, trying to bluff, but realised Kolya must have spotted his shocked look at the idea of the Genii hurting Elizabeth. The concept of her fine spirit being defiled by these gross soldiers repulsed him.

Kolya stepped forward, kneeled and dragged McKay up to face him by his jacket. "I am a good observer of people, and know you are fond of her. But let us say you allow us to destroy her and still resist, then perhaps I will let my men have you next, pain is a good way to break a man's spirit, total humiliation and sexual degradation is another way."

Rodney swallowed hard. 'He can't mean it, he can't mean it, he can't mean it. Hold your ground.' He felt the panic rise but fought it down, just. 'Oh god, I can't let them hurt Elizabeth. And I can't let them hurt me, not like that, not…there has got to be a way to seem to co-operate but wait for the opportunity to strike back… got to be.' The thoughts raced through his brain as the feral presence of Kolya impacted into his senses, this was alpha male stuff, he hated alpha males. He should be alpha, he was smarter than all the rest but still he was nerd material. Well today he was gonna have to bluff and be an alpha to outwit this maniac at his own game. First he'd better start submitting then he'd search out opportunities to win back Atlantis and keep Elizabeth safe.

"We both want to save Atlantis, we both have something to gain here." Rodney said, desperately trying to gain control of the situation before Elizabeth returned.

"What is your plan to save Atlantis?" Kolyer asked.

And this was the moment of truth, Rodney thought. He searched inside himself, examined his motives, he was about to betray the trust of his friends. Was it purely to save himself from more pain? Yes, on some level, he had to admit it. On some level he knew he could not take much more of the abuse, even of the impermanent kind of damage Kolya was held to. He could not use the excuse to himself that it was purely to save Elizabeth either, although that was a big part of it, and a big part of that was not having to watch as Kolya's men tortured her and abused her and destroyed her bright soul. In the end he freely admitted to himself he was a coward, hated pain and was not made of stern stuff. However, he had risen to the occasion in the Pegasus galaxy andmore than once had found the strength from somewhere to face his fear and take the pain, to overcome his terror, he had saved lives. And over the past 20 minutes of hell he had not caved in, even with a knife being twisted between his bones. Every man had his breaking point, and Rodney had not really reached his, but living to fight, deceive and manipulate another day just seemed like the better part of valour right now. Time to start capitulating.