Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis.

Note: Spoiler alert to include 'The gift' purely because of the use of a character.

John sat in the office of resident psychologist Dr Kate Hightmeyer. She was sat across from him, clipboard in her hand.

"Major, we've been sat in here for over 30 minutes and you haven't said a word to me."

John just looked at her, responding with silence. Kate frowned. Aiden had been right, he was getting worse.

"John, please talk to me, that's what I'm here for."

John remained in silence and Kate wondered whether he was still with her, she leant forward and placed her hand on his arm. This got her a response, John looked at her before withdrawing his arm away from her.

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, I didn't mean too."

John looked at Kate. She stared into his eyes, she saw the coldness and hurt in them.

"John, please open up to me, I'm hear to listen. I know you're close to Dr's Weir and McKay and that this is difficult for you, but you have to talk about it"

John shifted slightly in his chair before looking at her again.

"I can't help but feel responsible…" Tears fell from John's eyes "…I'm the one who made an enemy of the Genii, I'm the reason Elizabeth and Rodney are missing, how do you expect me to feel?"

Kate looked at him sympathetically, she really did feel sorry for him, she knew some of the personal were blaming him and SGA-1. She didn't blame him, she knew Ford, Teyla and Peter didn't blame him. They were his friends and they'd be there for him for as long as he needed them.

Genii Home world (5 Months later)

Kolya found himself thrown to the ground by the woman who was now circling the room. Kolya got to his feet as the woman twisted the two sticks, she now held in her hands. Kolya grabbed a stick from the floor and circled the room himself. He charged at the women who bent backwards raising the sticks in a cross above her head so Kolya's stick connected with hers. She then lent forward and pushed him away and through his stick across the room. Kolya came at her again, but this time she dropped her sticks and pulled him into an embrace. Short, sweet, before releasing him.

"This is training time"

The woman sighed

"It is always time to train"

Kolya kissed her

"Do you want to be prepared, for when the time we shall seize Atlantis."

She sighed

"Of course, it is imperative that I be there to rescue my niece, my Sora and to punish she that killed my brother."

Kolya held her cheek

"Do not be set on revenge for your brother. Sora allowed herself to be captured by trying to seek revenge."

The door opened and a guard walked in

"Commander Kolya, sorry to interrupt Sir but Commander Cowen wishes to see you"

"I'll be right there."

He kissed the women one last time

"Go rest my love"

He walked out of the room, changed and went to Cowen's office. He knocked on the door before entering; Cowen looked up from the paper he was reading.

"Acastus, how our things with Dr Weir?"

Kolya couldn't be sure but something in Cowen's voice told him to be afraid for Elizabeth.

"She is fine, the programming worked. She does not remember a thing."

Cowen sat forward.

"And this…relationship you have formed with her…"

"Is of part of her life with the Genii, it was imperative she hold some attachments to this world in order to forget her past."

Cowen glared at him

"That was why we used Sora and Tyrus as her attachments."

"Without Sora and Tyrus it was impossible, she'd never even met Tyrus and only spent a small amount of time with Sora. I did what I had too."

Cowen lent back,

"How can you be sure she is loyal to the Genii?"

"She as never said nor done anything that would suggest that she is not loyal. She believes she is Genii. That will come in valuable when we attack Atlantis. Her people will not harm her."

Cowen lent forward to Kolya

"Don't become too attached Kolya. If she becomes a liability to us. I will order her killed."

Kolya nodded

"I understand. Everything I do is to ensure she doesn't remember who she is."

Cowen nodded

"I would like you to pay a visit to Dr McKay, some of the scientists have been complaining about him. I would like you to remind McKay that we are in charge."

Kolya nodded

"Yes commander."

Kolya left the room and made his way to the lab where McKay was currently 'helping' the Genii prefect the atomic bombs.

When Kolya entered the lab, he heard a distinctive voice, which could have only come from one person.

"No, you see that's stupid. That'd never work. It would kill us all."

Kolya walked behind McKay and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Dr McKay?"

McKay turned round and saw Kolya.

"Kolya, where's Elizabeth?"

Kolya smirked

"You know, you've been here for over seven months and every-time I see you, I get asked that same question, and like always I shall answer. Elizabeth is fine. She is being very co-operative."

"I want to see her."

Kolya shook his head; he was still smirking.

"That's impossible. I simply will not allow it."

Desperation entered McKay's voice.

"What have you done to her?"

"Nothing…" Kolya's smirked widened "…nothing that she hasn't consented too."

McKay felt sick. The smirk was telling McKay that Elizabeth was in trouble.

"I swear if you hurt her in any way…"

"You'll do what Dr McKay? You are in no position to do anything."

McKay sighed, he knew Kolya was right, there was nothing he could do that wouldn't cause more harm to Elizabeth.

"Just let me see her, let me see her and I'll do anything want me to. I just want to see she's okay."

Kolya thought for a moment. Letting McKay see Elizabeth could mean that the programming he'd worked so hard to prefect could be lost, or Elizabeth would remain under the programming and McKay would realise they'd done something to her. Kolya finally came up with a solution. But not letting McKay see Elizabeth could lead him to believe that she'd been killed at that point McKay would stop helping them in exchanged for her safety.

"You may see her, but you shall not communicate with her in any way. Do you understand?"

McKay nodded

"I understand."

Kolya smiled

"I shall set up a meeting for tomorrow."

Kolya walked out of the lab and, after changing, went up to the surface.

Atlantis

John sat in Elizabeth's office like he'd done for the last seven months, seven months without so much as a lead on where the Genii were keeping them, if they were even keeping them on their home world. Seven months without Elizabeth's warming smile, Hell he even missed the smile she gave him when she was trying to be pissed at him. John had one last shot at getting them back, they'd tried it before with no response from the Genii, maybe this time would be different.

John left the office and walked through the corridors of Atlantis. Wherever he went he received concerned looks and this time was no different, people watching him to see if he would break, people giving him judgemental looks. John was used to it, it had been happening for over seven months. However this time the looks he was receiving were bordering on scared and worried as he made his way to were Sora was being kept. In the last seven months, John had not visited Sora once, but now he was, and he had that glint in his eyes.

John walked into the area where they were keeping Sora. St Bates came up to John.

"Sir."

"Bates, ready the prisoner for transportation."

"Sir?"

Bates was confused over what he was being asked.

"Ready the prisoner for transportation. I'm contacting the Genii, I'm suggesting a trade. They get Sora we get Elizabeth and McKay."

Bates shook his head.

"Sir, I must ask you to reconsider. We've tried a trade before and they didn't get back to us."

"I know"

John walked away from Bates. Bates knew he was up to something, he only hoped it would save Weir and McKay and not harm them more.

TBC…