Strange Bedfellows

A/N: Thanks once again for your reviews, guys! Especially all you newbies. If there are any other lurkers out there who haven't reviewed yet, what are you waiting for! This chapter picks up the pace, which will carry over to the next chapter.

Oh, and my beta has decided to become lazy, so I apologize for any errors.

elemental-sparky: I named him after your pen name, of course! Just kidding. I didn't know Joe's character in CSI was 'Sparky"... kinda a weird coincidence, huh? You'll find out about his callsign later. It has to do with one of his early missions when he was a young pilot.

Chapter 19: Comings and Goings

"Receiving MALP telemetry," Rodney announced. He couldn't help but feeling that this scenario was all too familiar. Twice before he had uttered those same words, and twice before they had not met with success. This time was different, though. He knew this time they would catch a break.

"Incoming video feed…." God, can't this thing go any faster? There. The recognizable setting of the planet Klaan registered on the laptop's screen. A windswept meadow spanned the entire length of the screen, just as they had all seen several times before. But this time, there was one noticeable difference: there were no Wraith.

"Pan the camera," Dr. Weir ordered quickly, hoping this was not too good to be true. McKay did as told, and the results confirmed the previous assessment. The Wraith had apparently vacated the immediate are around the Stargate.

"Why do you think they left, ma'am?" Ford asked. He found it a bit odd that up until today, the Wraith had been so intent on blocking any of his men from attempting a rescue mission. And now they had just picked up and left? It didn't make any sense.

"I don't know, but I really don't care," she responded frankly with a slight grin. This was the best news she had gotten in a long time, and she wasn't about to pass up the opportunity. She wondered how long the Wraith had been gone. While she was sulking in her room, could they have used that time to get a plan together? Would they be too late now?

"I agree," Teyla voiced her opinion. "We must act now while we still have the chance."

Elizabeth looked to Rodney, who shrugged and replied, "I'm ready. I'm your regular Rambo, I am." He rolled his eyes and laughed nervously before looking away. God help me. I'm a dead man.

That earned a small smile from the other members of the team despite the seriousness of their situation. Finally, Elizabeth looked in Aiden's direction. Ultimately, military matters were his decision. She trusted him to make the right call, but right now she honestly didn't know if anything at all could keep her from going through that wormhole. Moreover, she wanted to go before she lost her nerve.

"All right, let's do it," he confirmed.

Keying her radio, she called to Stackhouse. "Sergeant, do you have that Jumper ready?"

"Yes, ma'am. Jumper Three is ready to go with six Marines onboard, including myself. We have a full load of ammo and room for four more people."

"Copy that, Sergeant. Stand by in the Jumper bay; we'll meet you up there." Turning off her radio, she turned to Grodin. "Peter, you're in charge until we return." She figured that by all proper procedures and protocol, Bates should technically be in charge, but right now Elizabeth didn't have too much sympathy for the man.

Grodin paled with the added responsibility but nodded anyway. He knew about the recent clash between Bates and Ford over the risk of such a mission as the one they were about to go on. By now, the whole base knew. Peter had never liked the sergeant and thought he had seriously overstepped his bounds. He understood why he had command and Bates did not.

Ford, Teyla, Rodney, and Elizabeth all made their way to the Jumper bay upstairs. All walked with an air of determination, though Elizabeth slightly trembled at the thought of the upcoming task. She hoped no one noticed; they all needed to be strong. Here she was, in another galaxy, voluntarily going back to Hell itself to face her own demons - a long way from negotiating treaties in the Baltic.

Reaching Jumper Three, Elizabeth looked inside. Six well-built Marines were armed to the teeth with P-90s, pistols, grenades, you name it. These were the men she would be counting on, the ones who would actually be going back into the outpost. All she had to do was provide directions, and that thought gave her at least a small amount of comfort.

Elizabeth took her place beside Stackhouse in the co-pilot's seat and her breathing automatically quickened as the craft took to the air. When they reached the Gate room, she knew this would be her last chance to opt out. No. Not a chance, she decided. I can do this. John put his fears aside all the time. I can do the same for him. Besides, she thought amusedly, if Rodney could do it….

As they entered the wormhole, a familiar icy sensation grabbed her. This time, however, Elizabeth was sure it was because of the severity and pressure of their situation, and not because of the physics of subspace travel. It was the same feeling she had while in the outpost, and she expected the closer they got to their destination, the stronger the feeling would grow.

Bright sunlight greeted them on the other side, quite a contrast to the atmosphere of where they were going. She immediately recognized the trail that led to the village and unconsciously grabbed the armrests of her seats a little tighter.

Stackhouse noticed the action. "Ma'am? You alright?"

Elizabeth didn't respond. She stared out through the windshield as the memories of her imprisonment played through her head.

"Dr. Weir?" Sergeant Stackhouse tried again.

"What? No… I'm fine. Really, I'm fine." It was more of an attempt to convince herself than to convince the Marine.

"Where to, ma'am?"

Elizabeth studied her surroundings. Okay… there's the path to the village… we walked along that for an hour or so… before that we came from a sort of rock formation…. "That way," she ordered, pointing in the direction of a large cliff-like structure in the distance.

What had taken them hours on foot, the Jumper covered in mere minutes. Soon they were in front of a mammoth rock face that spanned the length of several football fields. Stackhouse set the cloaked spacecraft down half a kilometer from the structure as a precaution.

"Are you sure this is it, ma'am? It just looks like a giant rock."

Elizabeth found herself unable to respond. It was getting harder and harder to breathe. She shut her eyes tight, not wanting to even look at the awful place, and nodded to the sergeant. Finally finding her voice, she pointed to a camouflaged doorway that was hidden behind a protruding stone slab. "That's the entrance."

"Okay people, listen up," Ford announced. "Porter, Stackhouse, you take point. Webber and myself will cover our sixes. Everyone else pair up in the middle. As soon as we get to the entrance, McKay might need to open the door for us, so I want everyone else to stay sharp while he's doing so. And remember to plant the C4 as you go. Teams of two at all times. We may have to split up to find the major, but no one, no one, goes off by themselves. Got it?" He received nods from all the team members. "Once we find Major Sheppard, we get the hell out of Dodge. Questions?"

There were none.

"All right. Stay in radio contact at all times. Let's move." Ford turned to Elizabeth and tossed her a spare handgun. "If you see anyone coming that's not us… shoot them. Just keep your radio on and you'll be fine here."

Before Elizabeth could respond, Ford and the others were out of the Puddle Jumper and headed toward the doorway. She looked doubtfully at the 9 mil in her hands and remembered the last time she had handled a gun. She and John had been taken by the Dart shortly after. Elizabeth hoped a similar string of events would not ensue this time.


Teyla jogged silently behind one of the Marines toward the outpost's entrance, the only sound being the soft scraping noises as the team moved over the gravel. Although it appeared to be simply a natural rock formation, she sensed fear and hate emanating from the structure. No wonder Dr. Weir had been so adamant about not returning. Teyla couldn't blame her. Putting the feeling of foreboding she got from her Wraith-sense aside, she still felt an evil to this place that would ward off anyone with a modicum of common sense.

The group reached the entrance of the edifice. Aside from the well-hidden door they were now standing in front of, one would still not be able to tell one was about to enter a Wraith stronghold. While the Marines adopted defensive positions around location, Rodney immediately approached the door.

"This is amazing…" he breathed, not able to suppress the scientist in him. "It's an exact replica of the Wraith door we encountered on the Hive Ship, the one we went to with the Genii. Look at the similar spine-like structure-"

"You can admire it later," Ford chastised.

"Right. Sorry." McKay immediately set to work, using a sensor to detect the point in the wall adjacent to the door that would house the power components. Once located, he then used a knife to cut through the thick, tissue-like outer shell. McKay imagined that if he were to ever touch a rhinoceros's skin, it would feel something like this. Spreading apart the two flaps of the 'skin,' the astrophysicist revealed a series of tubes that were channeling energy. Next, a clamp was placed on one of these tubes, and soon after running some diagnostics, the door was open. Thirty seconds flat. Not bad, he thought with a smile.

"Good work," Aiden complimented. Pressing two fingers together and waving them in the direction of the door, he signaled the rest of his team to move in. After everyone had entered, he placed a C4 charge on the wall and joined the rest of his men inside.

The first thing he noticed was the cold -quite a difference from the hot climate they had been in only moments ago. And while the noon sun blazed overhead, this place was as dark as the deepest shadows. It was sinister. The pungent stench reached them soon after. They could only speculate as to its source, but they all had a fairly good idea that it was the smell of rotting flesh.

"McKay," Ford began, and the scientist immediately began sifting through his gear for the life signs detector.

"Got it." He studied the screen for a moment, examining the numerous hallways and rooms of the structures. There were dozens of life signs scattered throughout the base, but which one was the major? "There's a cluster of individuals in an intersecting hallway about one hundred yards straight ahead," McKay warned.

Ford nodded and gave another hand signal. Five of his team members moved to one side of the hall while the remaining four stayed on their current side. Doing their best to stay hidden, they slowly moved forward, guns up and at the ready.

"Any sign of the major?" the lieutenant whispered.

"There are life signs all over the place," Rodney responded. "There's no way of telling which one is him and which ones are either the Wraith or the Klaans."

"Then we shall have to investigate each one of them, one by one," Teyla offered.

Great, Ford thought. Just what I wanted to do. He was about to radio Dr. Weir in the Jumper to ask her if she knew where they were holding Major Sheppard, but he stopped himself when he saw six Wraith and three men approaching their location. Motioning for his team to halt, Ford pressed himself against the wall of the corridor. His team followed suit, but the enemy continued to come. There was nowhere to retreat to; they had passed no intersecting passageways, and if they attempted to run through the open entranceway, surely they would be seen.

They were cornered.


John lied curled up in the corner of his cell. He was hurt, and he was tired. Over the past few days, he had gotten at least a few hours of sleep, and ever since Elizabeth had left, he noted, the horrible nightmares had stopped.

He let his mind wander. How long have I been here? A week? Two? John wasn't sure; it had felt like years to him. He wondered what Atlantis had been doing in the meantime. Rodney's probably solved the mystery of the universe, Teyla should have mastered the game of football by now, Ford might have even named the planet, and Elizabeth

He paused, and his thoughts lingered on her. Each time he remembered what could have happened, what almost happened to her, he died a little inside. Each time she had been taken away to be questioned and God-knew what else, a part of him had been taken away, too. And when she returned home through the Gate, a part of him went along with her.

Thinking about her was his only escape from this horrifying prison. Elizabeth was flawed, as any human was, but to him she was perfect. In fact, that was what he loved about her: her quirks. Like how she twisted her hair in apprehension when she thought no one was looking, or how the belongings on her desk had to be in some exact, incomprehensible order only she knew.

All his life, he had never stopped long enough to get to know anyone the way he had known her. Though she hadn't shared too much of her past, he had already felt like he had known her for years. Her actions alone showed her true nature, and in many cases that was more important, more telling than any conversation could be.

Suddenly, he frowned. Had he honestly thought that he had had a chance with her? Simon aside, he could never have ended up with a woman like her. She was too perfect for him, so completely and utterly above him. And despite what everyone thought, he wasn't just a flyboy with a girl in every port. Oftentimes, he preferred to be alone. Sure, he had dated a number of women, but she was different somehow. Maybe it was her refusal to put up with any of his crap, or maybe it was the way she made him feel as if he could do anything. Either way, it terrified him. He was afraid that one way or another, he would end up hurting her in the end.

Feeling a set of eyes upon him, John opened his eyes and feebly turned to the entrance of the cell. Hergon stood there, just judging him in silence, something that did not sit with his prisoner too well. Behind the Klaan, standing stoically as ever in the hallway, were Tiny and Number Two.

After several beats of stillness, the commander spoke. "Get up."

John wanted nothing more than to tell the man to piss off, but that required energy he no longer possessed. Instead, he simply closed his eyes and returned to a more comfortable position. Standing would be an impossible task; he didn't think he would be able to if he so wanted.

What little patience he had left now vanished, and Hergon stormed up to John and yanked him roughly to his feet. John supported himself against the wall, without which he would have surely toppled over.

"Your little façade grows wearisome, Major. The siege of Atlantis and your people is all but inevitable." He spoke matter-of-factly, as if what he said was an ordained dogma handed down by God himself. "Now, I am a kind man and will therefore give you one more chance to tell us what we wish to know."

John snorted at the commander's assessment of himself. He had known the man to be pompous and arrogant, but this was too much.

Hergon leaned in and spoke in low, threatening tones. "Help us gain access to your city and we will go from there." He stepped away and moved toward the entrance once more. "It is your choice. If you decide to cooperate, come with me. Otherwise," he said as he gestured to Tiny, "my colleague here would dearly love to… speak with you. And believe me, once he has begun his interrogation, you will be begging for me instead."

Leaning heavily now against the wall, John eyed the beast in the corridor. He sneered wickedly in anticipation. Moving his eyes to Hergon, he saw the commander motion to the entrance, beckoning for John to follow.

Hergon cocked an eyebrow in warning. "This is your last chance, Major…."

Time seemed to freeze. There on one side of the room was his chance at life, extending his hand toward at least temporary salvation. And standing behind that man was the very creature who could take it away from him with the touch of his hand. What would seem like the obvious choice, though, John knew he could not take. A deal with the devil himself. He could picture the Wraith inside Atlantis, mercilessly feeding upon his friends, upon her. He'd rather die first.

That very message seemed to reach Hergon as John remained motionless, refusing his offer. The commander frowned. He had no doubt he would get inside the city sooner or later, but this minor obstacle would mean the latter case, unfortunately. No matter; he would accomplish his goal.

"Very well, Major Sheppard. You will regret your decision sooner than you think." With that, he walked out and returned to another part of the outpost.

The door remained open, leaving a clear path between Tiny and his next potential meal. The Wraith remained unmoving, savoring the fear he could practically taste radiating from the man against the wall. Tiny slowly walked in, Stunner in hand although he knew he would have no need for it today.

John watched the creature move in, his posture screaming confidence. This was a being at the top of the food chain, with no natural enemies, who had nothing to be afraid of. It was like death itself was walking toward him. And although he was terrified of the Wraith, he was not scared of dying. As soon as Elizabeth had walked through the Gate, he had known this had become a one-way trip for him. He was at peace with that. If that meant he died so that others may live, than that was what happened. No regrets….

Tiny stalked about in front of him, toying with his prey. Major Sheppard got the feeling he had done this before. Tiny enjoyed watching those he fed upon squirm in fright. This one, however, he noticed hid his fear well. Instead of cowering or begging for mercy as the others had, this one just warily followed his every movement with his eyes.

The Wraith stopped several feet in front of John. "Tell me the code that will lower the shield to your city," he demanded in a raspy voice.

Sheppard remained standing against the wall, not knowing how long he could remain that way before his legs gave way. Here he was, staring death in its face. All he would have to do is answer a simple question…. His eyes were suddenly drawn to the outside hallway. A group of eight Wraith marched past, and judging by their clothing and armament, John could only guess that it was the same group of eight that Hergon had left guarding the Gate. But why are the coming back here? he thought. He could only come up with one answer: they were gathering their forces in preparation for taking the city.

His attention snapped back to the present as Tiny took a step toward him. The creature reached out a long, gnarled finger and pressed it to John's throat. He prodded his skin, as a rancher would prod a cow, to find the most tender area of meat.

John drew in a sharp intake of air and could not suppress a shiver. Closing his eyes, he willed it all to disappear. No, he wasn't ready to go; not like this, anything but this. He wanted to go down fighting at least, not as the next Insta-cuisine for some ugly-ass alien. He wanted to see more of Atlantis, more of the Pegasus galaxy, and wanted to see Elizabeth at least one last time. Since leaving Earth, his life had only just begun.

Tiny immediately felt the panic emanate from his prey and decided to use it to his advantage. "What is the code to lower Atlantis's shield?" he whispered again slowly as he leaned in toward John's ear.

John remained quiet and kept his eyes shut. He fought to keep his breathing under control. They often said one's entire life flashes before ones eyes when facing death, but John saw nothing. He wondered what that meant. Was it a cruel joke? All he could think of was the terrifying face staring right through his eyelids, through his eyes, and into his soul, about to wrench it from his body and devour it whole.

"This is your last warning, Major Sheppard," Tiny prompted. He sounded almost as if he didn't want his captive to cooperate, just so he would be able to consume him.

His hands were shaking now, something he hoped Tiny did not see. He knew, however, that there would be no hiding the fact since they were still bound in front of him. John didn't care. It would all be over soon. Opening his eyes, he looked at his tormentor and gave him his answer.

Tiny smiled delightfully and wasted no time. "Kneel," he commanded.

John continued to stand, drawing the last of his strength to remain vertical. He didn't know why, but this last act of defiance gave him some small comfort. Perhaps it was knowing his friends and thousands of other humans would be safe, or perhaps it was his refusal to oblige with such loathsome creatures. Either way, all the pain, the torment, the suffering was about to end.

"Kneel!" Tiny ordered again, more forcefully this time. He was growing irritated and his hunger was overwhelming. This prisoner surely tried his patience.

The major continued to disobey his order. It was his last big 'fuck you' to the Wraith and the Klaans.

Grabbing the Stunner by gripstock, Tiny swung the large weapon at John's legs. It hit behind his knees and the force of the blow sent him to the floor. He now kneeled in front of the monstrous Wraith.

Tiny again smiled at the thought of what was to come. He wanted to take pleasure in every last moment of breaking this one, the one who had caused them so much trouble and disruption. With one swift motion, Tiny had cut through the major's shirt, exposing his chest.

So this is it, then, John thought. He remembered seeing Colonel Sumner and how much pain he had been in as the Keeper drained the life from of him. The thought sent shivers down his spine. In the past, he had never admitted to being scared, because truthfully he hardly was. But now, he had no problem doing so. John was terrified, not because of the agony he was about to endure, but because of something else, something more important. With him gone, who would take care of the city? Who would have the patience to teach Teyla all of Earth's idioms? Who would keep an eye on Ford? Who would let Rodney run crazy experiments on him? Who will take care of her? That was something he didn't want to entrust to anyone else. It was too meaningful, too precious.

With one last look at his captor and one last deep breath, John braced himself for the inescapable. He saw a sadistic grin on Tiny's face as a massive hand rushed toward him. He felt the weight of it against his chest as the Wraith began to feed.

TBC


Holy crap! Now THAT was an evil cliffy! The good news is that there aren't that many chapters left, so there can't be that many more cliffies. I'm just going to duck now as you throw random objects at my head...