Chapter Twelve:


M65-644, Pegasus Galaxy

John swore. It was the only thing he could do in a situation like this. He had his hands up in the air, his gun lying at his feet as Wraith circled around them. Jack was lying unconscious on the ground, his nose twitching.

John sighed. The mission had started out well. Where had it deteriorated the way it had? John knew. John knew it well. It was when Jack had paid no heed to his warnings of traps, walking right into a Wraith detection beam, setting the darts on their position as Jack was knocked out by an automated stunner from the trees.

John sighed. The best laid plans…He slowly nodded.

"Hey guys…I just want you to know, you're the guys who I admire…you're the ones-" He was cut off as a Wraith stunner knocked him into oblivion.


Atlantis, Pegasus Galaxy

Elizabeth watched anxiously as the personnel bustled around her. How long overdue were John and Jack? Oh yes. Five hours. A person just didn't forget to come home. Everyone knew. Something had happened to them.

"How many teams do we have on Atlantis?" Elizabeth asked, looking around. Zelenka, now a constant presence in the control room, sighed.

"None. You sent the last one out a few hours ago, remember?"

Elizabeth nodded. But truthfully, she didn't remember a second of it, too engrossed in her own problems.

"Elizabeth." Rodney walked up behind her placed a reassuring hand on her arm. "You can't do anything more here." He whispered gently, "It's time you got some rest." Elizabeth felt her mood flare with irrational anger. It took all of her strength not to burst out in tears, so instead she nodded and walked stiffly from the room, feeling Rodney's eyes on her back as she left him standing alone.

Walking into his quarters, she curled up under his sheets, taking deep breaths, and letting the smells of his aftershave lull her into a nightmare ridden sleep.


M65-644, Pegasus Galaxy
John looked desperately around, the darkness keeping him from seeing a thing as he blindly reached out for the body he knew was near him. Finding an arm, John blindly pulled it closer, his eyes adjusting slightly as he slowly make out Jack's face and BDU's. Slapping the unconscious man softly on the cheek, he heard a mumble, before Jack's eyes flew open and a single, pained word escaped his lips.

"Sam?"

John sighed.

"No General, it's John-"

"…Jack…?" The soft female voice broke John off swiftly as he looked around, not seeing anything. Jack sat up quickly, giving John a look of pure terror as he looked for the source of the pain-filled voice.

Jack scrambled to his feet, his fingers groping out as he looked around, his face contorted in a look of inner turmoil. Dare he get his hopes up?

As John followed his movements with his eyes, his eyes clearing as he finally noticed the benches along the sides of the cells, one with a woman, a blonde haired familiar woman, sitting, her eyes wide and dark as she looked at the man drawing closer.

"Sam…?" He whispered, finally seeing her form. John gave them a minute, watching from the center of the room as he grabbed her, pulling her into an embrace. He knew he would have done the same if Sam had indeed been Elizabeth, he felt blessed every second he had with her, even when she was acting professional, shooting him small, special smiles from the other end of the room. He felt a small smile grace his features, until Jack pulled back slightly, and John noticed Sam had gone limp.

"John…" Jack croaked, falling to his knees. John leapt forward, noticing for the first time the blood all over the colonel. Checking her pulse, he noticed it was weak, almost thready. Dried blood caked her face, and her arm was at an odd angle.

"We need to get her outta here." He whispered, pulling off his jacket and tearing it, tying the pieces around her many wounds.

Jack nodded numbly, looking at the woman he loved more then life itself. Jumping slightly, he heard the sound of large feet hitting a cold hard floor, the footsteps drawing closer as John and the General shielded the Colonel's body with their own, a wraith walking through the door, his stunned aimed at the trio.

"You." He said, pointing to Jack. John stepped forward.

"I don't think so. He's new. You want me; I'm the leader of Atlantis and-" Taking to quick steps forward, the Wraith struck John on the nose with the butt end of the weapon, John flew backwards, smashing into the bunk and falling to the ground, cradling his nose.

Jack pulled him to his feet.

"Take care of Sam for me." He whispered, walking past the Wraith and to the doorway. The bastard smiled before prodding Jack out through the door. As the door slid shut, the Wraith grinned.

"I'll have him screaming for his life, like the female did before while I tortured her. She was most forthcoming."

Feeling rage, John ran at the Wraith, but it was too late, the door had already slid shut as he slid the ground, watching the unconscious woman, and knowing he had get her the hell out of this place.


Atlantis, Pegasus Galaxy
Rodney sighed. It wasn't the ordinary 'I'm tired, under paid and overworked' sigh; it was his sigh as he stood at the door to John Sheppard's quarters, looking through the open doorway at the woman curled up beneath the sheets. He had no idea what was going through her head. A small pained sigh escaped her, and Rodney swore he heard a pain-filled 'Simon don't' whisper from her mouth, the frown lines that were always there during the day deepening.

All he knew was if John didn't return soon, Elizabeth was going to deteriorate. Badly.

He stepped through the door, hating himself for having to wake her, but knowing he had no choice.

"Elizabeth…" He whispered, sitting on the corner of the bed and prodding her. She rolled over and a smile appeared on her sleep filled face.

"John?" She whispered, "I missed you…"

Rodney grimaced, poking her again.

"Elizabeth, you have to wake up." Her eyes opened, and when she saw it was Rodney, her hand flew to her mouth. He patted her shoulder supporting.

"It's okay…" He whispered, "You need you get up now, Elizabeth…"

She nodded and climbed out of the bed, smoothing out her wrinkled clothes.

Rodney stood as well.

"No one knows how hard this is for you Elizabeth…" He said quietly, as she looked at him, her eyes imploring him to stop. "But we all care for you. He will come back."

As her eyes filled with tears, he quickly hugged her, her cheek resting on his chest as she cried. As the door to the quarters slid open, John turned to see Kate standing there. He looked at her, hoping she would understand.

She nodded and smiled for him, her expression saddening as she looked at Elizabeth. The door slid shut as she walked away, leaving them alone.

Rodney sighed as Elizabeth pulled away, wiping at her eyes.

"Thanks Rodney." She whispered, dabbing at her puffy red eyes.

Rodney smiled sadly.

"Anytime Elizabeth…" He whispered as she walked out through the door. "Anytime…"


M65-644, Pegasus Galaxy

John watched in silent horror. The door to the cell had opened, and Jack had been thrown in, his clothes torn open and bruises covering the majority of his face as he moaned in pain, struggling to his knees as John ran forward, only to be dragged to his feet by the collar. John looked at the Wraith, who smiled sneeringly.

"You turn." He whispered, throwing John from the room.

Ttfn!