Disclaimer see Chapter 1

Eternities passed and nothing happened, nobody came to him, nobody had heard him.

„Help! Please help!" even to his own ears his voice sounded thin and weak. Frustrated and energized by desperation he struggled against his bonds and moved forwards on the rough ground. The uneven rock tore the fabric of his uniform, slashing into his already infected leg. Blinding white pain blotted out all his sensed and took over all his thoughts. Rodney never heard the strangled cry of pain that escaped him when the razor-sharp rock cut into his skin.

Bates and Stackhouse had been keeping to the front of the cave, not wanting to disturb the burial ground that lay deeper inside the cave. All those considerations were overridden when a very alive scream came from inside the cave. Barely taking the time to get out his flashlight, Bates stumbled forwards, trying to move as fast as possible between slick, wet rock and human remains. Stackhouse followed close behind. Although the face was streaked with dirt and screwed up in pain, the two soldiers recognized the man on the ground in front of them as soon as the light from the flashlight fell on his features.

„MacKay, are you all right?" Bates kneeled down next to the scientist.

„No, my leg. "Rodney hissed between pained gasps.

„Stackhouse." Bates started, but the other man was already using his knife to cut through the rope that had kept Rodney prisoner for so long. Even in the poor illumination that the flashlight provided, Bates had no trouble seeing that Rodney's leg looked bad. The cut was probably the least of Rodney's problems. Although it bled profusely, it would probably heal on it's own. But the entire leg, as far as the cut pants exposed it, looked horrible. It was swollen, the skin was blotchy bright red and purplish, blistered and flaking off in places. MacKay wasn't going to walk on that leg. Not through the jungle.

„Doc, do you think, you can sit up against the wall for a while?" Bates asked. When he got a mumbled reply that he interpreted as a 'yes', he shifted Rodney carefully towards the wall and then angled him upwards. Rodney didn't protest the movement, he even made an effort to help, in spite of being clearly weakened, by whatever had happened to him since Bates and Stackhouse had seen him last. Bates' training demanded that he knew, information was vital to controlling the situation, but sometimes, giving a wounded man his rest was just the decent thing to do.

Sergeant Jansen and who remained of his team were lying in wait at the outskirts of the alien village. It had taken the commanding officer longer than he had liked to assemble his men and head to the coordinates that Dr. Garber had transmitted to them. In the meantime night had fallen and had slowed them down further. But the darkness also provided excellent cover and so far, they had avoided detection by the villagers

The villagers didn't seem at all concerned about potential enemies. A wild party seemed to be in full swing. From their vantage point, Jansen could hear music, singing and intermitted laughter. Were they celebrating the capture of the off-worlders?

„I have Dr. Garber's coordinates worked out. She must be just at the edge of the village. This hut on the edge here." Captain Mars handed the night vision goggles to the sergeant.

„Are you sure?"

„Definitely, sir. I've got the eye for it." Mars replied with confidence.

Jansen scanned the area around the hut.

„I can't see any guards or anyone around for that matter. Mars, you and Masters are going in there. Do not use force unless absolutely necessary. We don't want to be noticed just yet."

„Yes, sir." The two captains left their hiding place and approached the village. They moved swiftly towards the hut that Mars had pointed out earlier. They didn't encounter anyone on their way. Silently, they entered the hut. The inside wasn't illuminated; it was just as dark as outside. In the corner, a slumped figure was huddled against the wall. The head was bowed, but the two soldiers recognized the familiar uniform and the long hair of the Atlantian medic. Captain Masters shook her shoulder. With a start, her head shot up, eyes wide open. Dr. Garber stared at the two men in front of her. She looked like she was going to say something, but remained silent. Instead, she looked up to her hands which were still tied to the wooden logs that comprised the wall of the hut. Mars quickly cut the bonds with his knife.

„Where is Teyla?" he whispered.

„I don't know. They took her early today. I haven't seen her since."

There was actually a dry spot in the cave. After thorough searching, Stackhouse had located it. Now, they had settled there to treat Rodney's injuries as best as possible under the conditions. While he had been sitting up, Stackhouse had been able to convince him to drink the dissolved contents of one of the oral rehydration solutions from the medkit as well as take a few bites of a protein bar.

Rodney had been uncharacteristically silent through everything so far, aside from the occasional pained groan when he had been requested to move, he had not even complained. It appeared almost as if he wasn't really there at all. Even now, he was leaving against the rock wall, staring ahead dully while bates was looking through the med kit for what to use on Rodney's leg. They had hoped that the cut would stop bleeding on its own since they were not sure whether bandaging would do all the blisters and flaking skin very good, but now they had no choice. Rodney had taken some Tylenol earlier but it didn't seem to be helping any. Bates stripped off his jacket and folded it into a bundle.

„Come on doc, lie down. We'll take care of that leg of yours." he said more cheerfully then he felt. Bates knew that his bedside manner sucked. But he was a sergeant and not a medic, after all. When Rodney didn't react, he grabbed the other man's arm and let him over, pushing him to the floor. When Rodney turned his face to him, he notices with concern how unfocussed Rodney's gaze was. It was as if he was looking right through him. Rodney stumbled forwards. Suddenly a scream echoed through the cave. Rodney was cowering on the ground, tears in his eyes.

„Doc?"

„Can't…put...weight...on it. Broken." Rodney had snapped back to reality for the time being.

„You broke your leg, too. We didn't you tell us?"

„Wasn't broken before, …just felt. bones snap." he answered still panting with pain.

„Okay, take it easy. Try to lie down. We'll give you something for the pain. If it's broken we'll have to splint it. I'm not going to lie, it's going to hurt, a lot. I think it's best if we give you the morphine now."

As soon as Bates had said it, Rodney felt the sting of the injection needle.

Teyla felt fuzzy. Suddenly she was in the arms of her husband and her legs wouldn't carry her anymore. Willingly she let him lead her to the large bed, grateful to be able to sit down. Everything was bathed in a golden light and the glow of the candles seemed to radiate mysteriously. She stared at them, drawn in by their shine and frighten at the same time. She hardly felt the hands that gently pressed her down onto the bed and started to undress her.

The singing and the music from outside filtered into the room and Teyla started humming in tune with the flutes and cymbals. Like the waves of an ocean, the music flowed through her carrying her away from the present. She didn't hear as her husband whispered sweet words to her in a language she didn't understand as he stripped her of her blue bridal dress. Once she was naked, he started undressing as well. Lost in anticipation of his wedding with his latest wife, the Chief was suddenly jolted back in the reality when and explosion, more powerful than anything he had ever heard, sounded outside, followed by panicked screams. Cursing, he dressed and stormed outside, his bride forgotten in light of the threat to his people.

The hand grenade had had the desired effect. They had thrown it had the hut were Dr. Garber had been held to create a diversion. As Sergeant Jansen had hoped, the villagers who had never seen such weapons had panicked when they grenade had detonated and the hut had suddenly burst into flames. The plan now was that Teyla would use the chance to escape. But that wasn't happening. Granted the plan had been a shaky one. There were all sorts of reasons why Teyla might not be able to escape, she might not be able to free herself, or she might even be injured.

Sergeant Jansen knew that it was now or never that they were going to get the Athosian back,

„Mars and Masters, you take a grenade each and throw them at one side of the village. Avoid the huts, we don't want to kill people if we don't have to. But wait for my signal. We need all the diversion we can get, Dr, Garber you are with me."

The team members nodded and hurried into action. Time was of the essence, they needed to make the most of the villagers' confusion.

Dr. Garber was panting as she sped after Sergeant Jansen across the dark village square. It was just exhaustion that made her heart beat frantically. The thought that the enemy could detect them any moment terrified her. Only the fear of falling back into the hands of her captors kept her running through the darkness. Before Dr. Garber could voice her thoughts, Sergeant Jansen came to a stop before the biggest hut of the village. Although it appeared unguarded, he had his weapon ready as he motioned for her to follow him. Dr. Garber's thoughts were racing to the point were she thought she was going to faint as she followed the soldiers through the dark entry way into the hut. She too held her weapon raised, but the Beretta was shaking in her hand and she feared accidentally shooting her commanding officer instead of using the weapon to defend herself against a potential attacker. While outside the blazing fire from the grenades had provided some light in the jungle night, it was completely dark inside the hut. The blackness complete with the heavy, sweet smell that had enveloped them the minute they had stepped inside, made her feel trapped. Every brain cell of hers seemed to scream at her to get out of this place. The walls of the hut appeared to be closing in on her as she followed Jansen towards a curtain that separated the main room from that back part of the hut. She clutched her weapon tighter, her muscles cramping around the handle. The curtain swayed in the wind coming from outside, moving ghostly in front of her. Dr. Garber swallowed, wishing not for the first time that she had not so eagerly volunteered to join the rescue mission. Those of the medical staff who had actually been on missions before were all not fond of it. Dr. Woods had never tested the waters, neither had Dr. Biro. Dr. Beckett had gone on missions before, but everyone knew how little he liked it. And considering how badly his collaboration with the people of Hoff had turned out, he was bound to be somewhat jaded. Besides, as the CMO, his place was in the City.

Sergeant Jansen roughly jerked the curtain back, his P90 at the ready. Behind the curtain was an elaborate room, lit by countless candles, the sickly sweet smell was even more intense there.

They both heard her first. Someone was giggling softly. Jansen and Garber both jerked at the sudden noise, but immediately relaxed when Teyla sat up on the make-shift bed. She was an unusual sight. Her hair was a mess. It was obvious that at one point it had been carefully styled, but it had come partially unravelled and was hanging in her face while there were still remnants of flowers stuck in between the strands. She wore a loopy smile and was giggling madly, amused at their presence. She didn't seem to be aware or didn't seem to care about her current state of undress. Seeing a patient in need of attention, Dr. Garber's mind leapt back to attention, shoving the fear and panic into a distant corner.

„I'll check and make sure we stay alone in here." Jansen announced, obviously wanting to give the women some space. He stepped back out into the main room.

Dr. Garber stepped over to the bed. One look in Teyla's eyes confirmed what she had suspected, her pupils were dilated, she had obviously been drugged. Not seeing her clothes anywhere. She grabbed a decorative piece of cloth from the bed and tied it around Teyla's waist as a skirt. Teyla played along, seeming to be amused by what was happening suddenly. It took more effort to get her into the jacket. It was warm in the jungle, even at night, so, since there was nothing that made a good top, Dr. Garber dressed Teyla in her jacket. Teyla tugged weakly at the fabric, but made no motion to undress again. Dr, Garber cast a last look around the room. They didn't have much time, even with the Sergeant standing guard, the natives would notice their presence eventually. She was just about the leave when she spied the carafe and the cup in a corner of the room. She emptied her canteen on the floor and poured the contents of the carafe into her canteen. Dr. Beckett might need the substance Teyla was drugged with. She took one last look before grabbing the usually so confident Athosian by the arm and leading her out of the room. She had a pretty good idea what had happened in that room, but there was nothing she could do, not now at least.

For some it might just be another sunrise on another world, but Bates still marvelled as he watched the two suns of the planet rise within half an hour of each other. It was a sight he would never have thought he'd ever see.

Stackhouse and he had decided to stay the night in the cave. It had been a though choice. McKay wasn't doing well and there was nothing they could do for him in the field. He had been drifting in and out of consciousness for the rest of the day and night. Only sometimes, he had been coherent and they had given him another dose of morphine during the night. The sooner they got him back to Atlantis the better. But walking during the night was dangerous. There were animals to worry about and now that they had found Rodney and the burial ground as clear signs of human civilisation, they had to be weary of encountering their attackers again. At night, they'd be even more easily overpowered not knowing the terrain.

Bates went back inside the cave and woke his lieutenant. Then he went to check on Rodney. The scientist had curled up as tightly as possible on the hard rock. The bandage was soaked with blood, a sign that the cut was still not healing. He was no medic, but Bates knew that the injury should not be bleeding for so long. Something was wrong. When he moved to feel Rodney's forehead, the sleeping man stirred.

„John?" he mumbled, his eyes still closed. „am …sorry. I didn't…wanna leave.. alone. …Please…s'rry."

Bates frowned. It was not the first time that Rodney had been talking to an imaginary John. Bates knew how much time Rodney had spent with the major since his accident, as everyone called it, and how only Dr. Weir's orders had brought him on this mission. He would never admit it to anyone, but he felt sorry for Rodney. Dr. Weir should not have forced him to come along on the mission. He doubted she knew to what extent the scientist cared about the welfare of Major Sheppard.

TBC