Look folks, another update. Read, review, complain. I have to go revise.

Chapter 26: Team effort

John cut the headset connection. He'd just contacted all off duty soldiers and given them the situation. Those guarding the corridors were told to report any sightings. Any that had come in had been the same. That they'd gone into the transporter. Scans of the city had located the pair and John was gearing up, ready to go.

"Sir."

Turning, John looked at Ford. He was similarly geared up holding a P90 in his hands. John had asked Aiden to accompany him. Aiden saw it as a way to help after he had messed up earlier. He was supposed to have been watching for Meecha's exit, but had been distracted. Someone had asked him to help with a dispute that was taking hold. Just a few minutes. That was all he'd been away, but when he got back, the door was wide open and there was no sign of them. Since then, Aiden had thrown himself into helping in any way to make up for his mistake.

John was willing to forgive Aiden, after all wasn't he that one that said stuff happens?

"Come on then Ford, we're going down into the city."

They were walking down one of the corridors towards the transporters when they heard a voice.

"Major!"

Turning, John found Teyla coming towards them. She'd just had the cast off her arm so she was now getting used to crutches. Anything to get rid of the wheelchair really.

"Major wait!"

John and Aiden both stopped and watched her hobble towards them.

"What is going on?"

"Well, Elizabeth's being held hostage in the city by the ambassador to the Vogols. I've had a dream where she gets shot by said ambassador so I'm going to prevent it from happening. And Ford's with me."

Teyla stood, eyes wide. She couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.

"Let me help."

"Teyla, you are in no state to help."

"Major do not patronise me. I want to help Doctor Weir."

"Well, can you go to the infirmary and tell Beckett what's going on. Also, warn him we might have some casualties in with gunshot wounds."

Teyla nodded and hurried towards the infirmary. John felt sort of sad. He knew she just wanted to help, but with the crutches, there was no way that she could.

Sheppard turned back to Ford and the pair headed on their way again.

Deeper down in the city, Elizabeth found herself sat on the floor having her hands tied up. Meecha was making sure the knots were very tight. Elizabeth winced slightly as he pulled the ropes tighter. Meecha grinned at this. She had put up a fairly decent fight most of the way down. Now he wanted to make sure she suffered.

"Well, before I gag you, we best contact your idiot friends."

Reaching across, he took the headset off her and put it to his own ear.

"How does it work?"

Elizabeth remained silent. Her gaze held his, but she did not falter.

"Don't make me ask again."

Elizabeth said nothing.

Meecha had had enough of it. Grabbing the gun from his belt he pointed it at her head. Elizabeth found herself staring down the barrel of the gun. She was still calm though.

"Tell me."

Meecha spoke through clenched teeth. Anger made him want to hurt her, but he wouldn't get very far if he did.

Reaching up, Elizabeth turned on the headset. It was safer not to annoy him anymore.

"Good."

Major Sheppard stopped dead just before the transporter. There had been a voice in his headset, he was sure.

"Hello?"

"Why hello there Major Sheppard."

"Meecha."

Ford could see Sheppard was angry. His whole body had tensed up.

"Meecha, let me talk to her."

"Now Major, don't you want to hear what I have to say?"

"Not until you let me talk to her."

"Fine."

Meecha sighed and took off the headset. He pushed it onto Elizabeth ear.

"Elizabeth?"

"John. I'm still here."

"Thank God. Look, we're gonna help. We're gonna get you out."

"Thank you John. But don't listen to his demands. I don't want you endangering Atlantis for my sake. Don't give him…"

John heard a loud noise and a gasp.

"Sorry about that Major."

"Meecha, what was that?"

John didn't like what he'd heard, or that Meecha was back on the radio.

"That was my hand connecting with Doctor Weir's face. Perhaps she should learn not to be so insolent."

John's hand shook with rage.

"I'm going to kill you!"

"That's all well and good, but first things first. You want Weir back alive and I am willing to give her up. In an exchange. I want a Puddle Jumper, with pilot, and weapons and any other gadgets you've got laying around that could be useful. My men will be able to assist you."

As he said this, he pressed a button on a little handset in his pocket.

"There could be a problem with that Meecha. We have your men guarded and we have their weapons. They aren't going anywhere."

"You are a fool Major Sheppard. I think these negotiations will have to take place later."

With that, Meecha reached up and turned off the headset. He looked at Elizabeth.

She was sat with her hands to her face where he'd hit her. She looked at him with contempt.

"Oh please."

"You're not going to get away with this. Your men can't help you. Your stuck in a city you don't know. The net's closing in Meecha. They will hunt you down."

Meecha resisted the urge to hit her again. Instead he ripped part of his robe off.

"I knew I forgot something."

Quickly, though not without a struggle, he gagged Elizabeth.

"Now we've got that sorted, let's move out of here."

Roughly pulling her to her feet he began dragging her down the corridors.

John was also on the move. He and Ford had just stepped out of the transporter. They were deep down in the city. Pulling out the life sign detector, John watched the two dots moving away.

"Ford, I want you to stay here and guard the transporter. If I need any help I'll radio you."

"Sir, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to save Elizabeth."

"Alone?"

"Yes Ford. Alone."

"If you shoot at Meecha, you know he'll shoot Doctor Weir."

"That may be so, but he's not going to shoot Doctor Weir as long as I have anything to do with it."

"And how are you going to stop him if he's already fired."

Ford saw the look on his CO's face.

"You're going to take the bullet, aren't you?"

"Only if I have to."

"But Major, we need you!"

"No! Atlantis needs a strong leader. You only need me for my gene, and there are plenty of others with that. Atlantis needs Elizabeth, not me."

"But sir…"

"No buts Lieutenant. Her life is worth more than mine at this point in time. I am not going to let this dream come true. And I don't care at what cost. If I get shot, I get shot, at least I'll have saved Elizabeth."

John took one last look at Aiden before setting off deeper into the city.