A/N: You're all in luck I managed to swipe a laptop from a friend of mine for a little while today to type this up. The next chapter should be out sometime this week if the repair guy can figure out what's wrong with my computer and fix it.
There's some language in this chapter but I don't think it's too bad, nothing most of you haven't heard before.
"I know, I know I'm late." John rushed out in a single breath as he jogged into the gate room ten minutes late. "Kilik was in a clingy mood this morning. Took nearly half an hour for Kate and me to pry him off me."
Over the last few months John and his team had started going off world again. In the begining Kilik hadn't been to pleased with the idea of John leaving the city with out him, so to give Kilik as well as John time to adjust the team had started out with one or two missions every other week. Now they were up to at least one a week and even though Kilik was a bit more comfortable with the whole thing, every once in a while Kilik would throw a fit and not want John to leave.
"Don't worry about it John. I'll drop by Kate's quarters and see if maybe I can't take his mind off it for a while." Elizabeth offered as she watched AR-1 prepare to leave.
"That would probably be a good idea." John gave a little wave as he stepped through the gate.
Stepping into Kate's room Elizabeth was nearly plowed over as Kilik instantly latched on to her legs. The tear stains on Kilik's face and the way he was biting at his bottom lip told Elizabeth that John's leaving had really upset the boy; she couldn't remember the last time she'd seen Kilik this upset.
"What's the matter?" Elizabeth knelt down to be eye level with Kilik. As soon as Elizabeth was low enough Kilik threw his arms around her neck, holding on for dear life, burying his face in the nape of her neck. Wrapping her arms around Kilik's waist Elizabeth stood back up and looked in Kate's direction, a questioning look on her face.
"He's been like this since John left." Kate answered. "I can't get him to tell me what's wrong. I can't even get him to sign." Even though Kilik had started talking a few months ago he still prefered to use sign language more often than not.
"Want...back..." Kilik sniffled between tears.
"Kilik you have to tell us what's wrong. We can't help if we don't know." Elizabeth sat down in a near by chair rearanging Kilik in her lap. Gently grabbing his chin Elizabeth turned it so that Kilik was looking at her.
"John...back..." Kilik was starting to cry harder.
"Kilik I know you miss John, but you've never been this upset when he goes off world before, why is this time different?" Kate knelt down by Kilik one hand soothingly rubbing the boy's back.
'Something bad happen. Feel it in here.' Kilik signed, too choked up to speak, while pointing to his chest.
"You think something bads going to happen to John?" Elizabeth could feel her heart breaking at the raw emotions Kilik was showing.
Kilik nodded his head yes before burying it in Elizabeth's neck again. Not sure what exactly it was that had Kilik feeling so sure something was going to happen to John and having no way of reassuring him that John would be fine, after all anything could happen off world, Kate and Elizabeth just sat silently trying to comfort the frightened child.
Stepping out of the event horizon John quickly scaned the immediate are around the gate with his eyes. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary John moved away from the gate his team right behind him.
The Stargate stood in the middle of a small clearing surrounded by trees and thick lushes greenery. In the distance a small mountain range stood tall enough for its peaks to be graced by white snow. The sky was a brilliant clear blue with sunlight trickling through fluffy clouds warming the back of John's neck.
The scene reminded John of something General O'Neill had said once before the expedition had left earth. 'If there's one constant in life, it dosen't matter what galaxy or reality you're in there will always, always, be either lots and lots of trees or lot's and lot's of sand no matter what planet you're on .'
"Alright McKay lead the way this is your little field trip." John gestured for Rodney to lead them to where ever it was they were headed. If he was honest with himself John had't really been paying attention in the briefing, so wasn't exactly sure why they were there in the first place.
Taking the lead Rodney started heading north of the gate in the direction of the ruins they were there to look at. After about twenty minutes of walking John slowed his pace when he caught sun light reflecting off of something out of the corner of his eye. Cautiously taking a closer look around John spotted several shadowy figures moving through the trees parallel to the team.
"I believe we are being followed." Teyla quietly stated as she gracefully moved up beside John, never taking her eyes off the path in front of her.
"Yeah." Was John's clipped answer.
Carefully watching the figures out of the corner of his eyes John discreatly grabbed the back of Rodney's vest and started back peddling. Whipping his head around Rodney was about to demand to know what John thought he was doing, but clamped his mouth shut when John threw him a 'Shut-The-Hell-Up-We-Got-Company' look.
The team hadn't even made it five steps before they were completly surrounded by men carrying guns that to John looked like shot guns on steriods. Opening his mouth to try and talk their way out of this John stopped short when one of the figures stepped away from the group towards the team. Swearing up a storm in his head John stepped forward as well and stood toe to toe with the figure.
"Grunt." John couldn't keep the contempt he felt for the man standing in front of him out of his voice.
"Major." Grunt replied with just as much contempt in his voice. "If this isn't a surprise."
The two stood staring each other down for what felt like an eternity before John struck out with his fist knocking Grunt flat on his butt. John knew with out a doubt he was going to pay for that later but at the moment he didn't care; it had felt good to finally be able to do that. Holding his bleeding nose Grunt signled his men to grab the four team mates. AR-1 was quickly disarmed and their hands bound. Walking past John, Grunt gave him a good whack to the ribs knocking the breath out of John, before disapearing into the trees, his men following.
"Oh joy, looks like we get to experience Sa'tareeian hospitality first hand." John wheeezed out sarcastically.
"Sa'tareeian as in the same people that put you and Kilik through the ringer?" Rodney questioned quietly, disbelief in his eyes. John nodded his head. "And you thought it would be a good idea to antagonize them by knocking their leader on his ass?"
"No I knew it would be a bad idea and I assure you I will be paying for it later. But god it felt good to knock that bastard on his ass."
"Quiet!" Grunt took pleasure in slaming the butt end of his gun into John's chest. Getting the message John and the other's kept their mouths shut for the rest of the journy. It wasn't long before the group came upon a small military like base.
After being thrown in a holding cell the team huddled in the far corner trying to figure away out of their situtation. Leaning back against the wall John listened to his team mates debate possible ideas back and forth. John didn't want to worry his team but he was pretty sure Grunt had cracked maybe even broken a few ribs with that jab to the ribs with his gun.
"Sir you ok?" Aiden asked noticing how his CO was holding his ribs and not breathing as normal as he should have been.
"Fine."
"Major?" Teyla raised an eyebrow, she also hadn't missed John's trouble.
"I said I'm good." John was being short with them he knew but didn't care at the moment. A few busted up ribs was nothing compared to what was in store for them.
Of course Rodney being the scientist that he was had to test John's conclusion. Reaching over Rodney gently probed John's ribs.
"Fuck! Rodney." John choked out as he clutched his ribs and slid down the wall to lay on his side.
"Nope definitly no fine." Rodney stated the obvious.
"Give the man the 'Mr. Obvious' award." Aiden mummbled under his breath, but Rodney heard it anyway and was about to snap back at the Lt. when the door swung open.
"You come." The guard hauled John to his feet dragging him out of the room, ignoring the protests from the others.
Arriving in a room that frightenly resembled the room John had been intarrigated in the last time he'd met the Sa'taree, John was stuffed down on the single chair in the room and left to wait for whatever was about to come. On one side of the room there was a table with all his and his team mates' grear spread out on it, but before John could even think about over coming his guard and grabbing his gun, Grunt came walking into the room a slight smirk on his face.
"As much as I hate to admit it Major I have you to thank for my new position." Grunt paced around the room.
"How do you figure that?" John kept his eyes looking straight head, refusing to let grunt get to him with his pacing.
"Do to his failure to obtain anything of use from you as well as letting you escape my superior was swiftly dealt with by his superiors and I was given his position." Grunt stopped to look John directly in the eyes. "You should know I will not make the same mistakes that fool made. You will tell me what I want to know. Even if it means having to kill your friends and then you, I will get my information."
Turning to walk out of the room Grunt quickly stopped and moved over to the table when he heard a voice coming from one of the radios. Smirking he picked it up and walked back over to John.
Walking to the control room Elizabeth couldn't shake the feeling that Kilik was right something bad had happened to John and the others. After an hour of trying to get Kilik to calm down with out success Kate with Elizabeth's approval had gone to find Carson. When the two returned Carson gave Kilk a mild seditive to help calm him down. Shortly after Kilik started to doze off. Deciding Kilik would be more comfortable in his own bed the three adults moved to John's quarters.
Once she'd been sure Kilik would be ok Elizabeth left him with Kate and Carson and returned to the control room. AR-1 wasn't due to check in for another two hours but Elizabeth decided it might be a good idea to check on them anyway. Just for Kilik's peace of mind Elizabeth tried lying to herself, but who was she kidding she knew she was doing it just as much for her own peace of mind as much as Kilik's.
"Major Sheppard come in please." Elizabeth spoke into her radio once the gate was open. "Major do you copy?"
"The Major's other wise occupied at the moment, but maybe I can be of some help." A voice Elizabeth didn't recognize replied over the radio.
"This is Dr. Weir, with whom am I speaking?"
"Seeing as how your Major Sheppard here is so fond of calling me Grunt, you may call me that if you wish."
Elizabeth felt her blood run cold and a shiver run up her spine at hearing who had John. She didn't want to believe it was the same person that had held and tourtured not only John but Kilik too, but what other choice did she have but to believe it was the same person. Quickly getting over her shock Elizabeth shook her head and went to speak into her radio again.
"What have you done with my people?"
"They are alive for the moment. How long they stay that way is up to you. As am sure your Major told you after the last time my people came across him we are the Sa'taree, friends of the Genii. If you wish to see your people again you will tell me what I want to know."
"How do I know you haven't killed them already?" Grunt didn't reply right away, in the background Elizabeth could hear the russle of cloth and a whispered command to speak.
"Teams fine. Don't give this bastard anything." Elizabeth gave a small sigh of relief at hearing John's voice. "Fuck!" John's shouted curse rang through the control room.
"You see Dr. Weir your people are fine. But unless I get what I want they will not stay that way. you have one hour to contact me with your answer...oh and don't bother attempting to send anyone through the gate my men have it heavily guarded." Knowing the conversation was over Elizabeth signaled Peter to shut the gate down.
"Major Sheppard come in please ... Major do you copy?"
At hearing Elizabeth's voice over the radio John felt a wave of hope wash over him before squashing it. John couldn't let Grunt use those kinds of emotions against him. Watching as Grunt lifted the radio to his smirking mouth John wanted nothing more than to wipe that smirk off Grunt's face.
"The Major's other wise occupied at the moment, but maybe I can be of some help." Grunt had an air of superiority about him that made John hate him even more than before.
Every instict in John was screaming at him to do something, to jump out of his seat and kill Grunt with his bare hands, something, anything. But John fought the urge with everything he had in him, he knew if he tried anything now he'd be dead before he even got out of the chair and he was no good to anyone dead. Busy keeping his emotions in check John zoned out on part of the conversation between Grunt and Elizabeth.
"How do I know you haven't killed them already?"
Hearing the fear in Elizabeth's voice brought John back to the conversation just in time to feel Grunt grab the front of his shirt and order him to talk to Elizabeth.
"Teams fine. Don't give this bastard anything." John wasn't going to give Grunt the satsifaction of having his full cooperation. The way Grunt's eyes narrowed John knew a blow was coming about two seconds before it hit. "Fuck!"
After the breath taking blow to the ribs John must of black out for a moment because the next thing he knew he was getting an ice cold bucket of water thrown over him. Shocked at the coldness of the water John had no warning when a fist came flying at his head. Before John had the chance to recover Grunt grabbed a fist full of John's hair pulling his head back.
"For your sake you'd better hope your Dr. Weir cooperates." Was the last thing he heard before something slamed into the side of his head sending into darkness.