AN: Laura-Trekkie, you betcha, Rodney being nice for the sake of being nice? His purpose was self-serving, and he can't resist a chance to needle John.

Thank you for the reviews! This is helping my writer's block, but the bestest cure for it is going to arrive tomorrow, and as Derry's wonderful video says it all, "I can't wait!"

Part Two

Sheppard and McKay found themselves shown to adjoining rooms. Moses grinned lustfully while showing both men the facilities, and John couldn't help grinning at McKay's obvious discomfort when she lingered beside the scientist while demonstrating the use of the bathing tub.

"Karna will be in later to -" She licked her lips, which was particularly disturbing to Sheppard, because the seductive licking gesture over age-wrinkled lips curled his toes. "See you've settled in."

After she left, Sheppard peered into McKay's quarters and found them an exact replica of his own; a luxuriously made up bed, toilet and bathing facilities in the corner behind a screen, and not much else.

Rubbing a hand against the frown lines creased into his forehead, Sheppard walked past McKay, and dropped on to the bed. "This sucks."

"I can think of worse," said Rodney stalwartly.

"I noticed," said Sheppard. " 'Not as pleasant as seeing you again', what the hell was that all about?"

"Have you ever heard of the expression 'you can catch more flies with honey'?"

"I don't want to catch flies, Rodney." Sheppard shuddered. "In fact, I'm pretty certain we're the flies, and Karna is some kind of Venus Fly Trap, and you know what that makes us."

McKay sat dejectedly next to Sheppard. He'd known pouring on the charm would irritate Sheppard, but he hadn't thought it through past the momentary pleasure of annoying the major, and getting those ropes off. But now, shoulder's slumped, he answered Sheppard's rhetorical question with a nervous swallow. "Dinner."

"And dessert," confirmed John.

"You go first."

"What?" Sheppard stared, horrified at the suggestion. "Why me?"

"Because I'm the brains, and you're the -"

"-brawn," supplied John, finishing a conversation they'd had before, in different circumstances. "That doesn't automatically qualify me as the better option here, Rodney."

"What, you aren't any good in bed?"

Spluttering, "I'm good in bed-" he retorted.

"Splendid!" crowed McKay, "Now that it's settled, we've got to figure out our escape -"

"I'm not sleeping with her."

"Don't be so stubborn," said McKay churlishly. He waggled his fingers at Sheppard. "Captain Kirk, remember?"

"Boys, boys – there's no need to argue. I assure you there will be plenty of girls to go around."

The sultry voice of Karna interrupted their conversation and startled both men, because they hadn't heard a single creak of a floorboard to let them know of her presence. Sheppard's mouth thinned into a straight line. How much she'd overhead was top on his list of things to find out. Casting an angry look at McKay, he imagined she'd heard the escape comment. Fanfuckingtastic –

"You have to excuse my friend," smiled McKay, standing smoothly. "He's a bit worn out from our trip."

Sheppard fought against an overwhelming urge to punch Rodney. Instead, plastering a sickly sweet smile, he went with McKay's train of thought. "In fact," he interjected, stretching out on the bed, "I'm so beat, I think I'm just going to get some sleep -"

Rodney's grin flickered for an instant, before he recovered. "I'm sure a nap - a short nap, will do wonders."

"No," replied Sheppard, closing his eyes purposefully. "I think I'm going to need at least twelve hours to fully recover. Good thing you've got the better stamina, McKay."

If his eyes had been open, he would've seen McKay's resolve slip, and pained consternation cross his face.

"As you said, Doctor McKay, a short nap," Karna said emphatically, leaving no doubt who was running the show. "Do either of you require an explanation of my expectations?" An edge of the old haughtiness returned, "Or did the price I pay for looks and intelligence actually deliver this time?"

The picture was growing clearer, and McKay almost feared to have his suspicions confirmed. "Ah," he started reluctantly. "How many women are we talking?"

A seductive smile eclipsed Karna's face. "As many as you two virile boys can handle."

As she left, McKay fell back on the bed, and let his eyes close. "Oh boy," he groaned. "I know that this ranks up there with the top ten sexual fantasies of the year, but when you're actually confronted -"

"You've fantasized about being a sex slave?"

McKay scowled. "You haven't?" he asked. "Please, Major. What guy hasn't?"

Sheppard folded his arms up behind his head, creating a pillow with the palms of his hands and grinned, refusing to answer.

OOo

"They've been what?" Weir exclaimed, staring at Bates.

"Sold, Ma'am," repeated Sergeant Bates, and was that a glimmer of amusement Elizabeth caught underneath the respectful tone?

"Have you located where they're being kept?"

She was fighting to maintain her composure. Was there a curse on Sheppard's team? Seemed like every trip they took through the gate landed them in something complicated, but being sold wasn't something she'd prepared for.

Bates was shaking his head negatively. "No, Ma'am, not yet. I've sent Lafferty and Miles in for some reconnaissance."

Lafferty and Miles were Kristine and Rebecca, respectively, two female airmen under Bates, and part of the team that had gated to the planet to find out why Sheppard's team had failed to report in as scheduled.

"I see," she pushed back from her desk. She'd been leaning across, her hands splayed over the surface. "Teyla?"

He didn't reply, just shook his head.

Knowing there wasn't anything more they could do, she sighed. "Keep me informed," she ordered. Bates nodded, and retreated from her office. She sat back in her chair, and stared at the screen on her computer. She'd been working on duty rosters, but now she lacked the concentration to mess with it. Damn it, she swore –

oOo

"What are we going to do?" snapped a pacing McKay.

"Wait for a rescue."

Rodney stopped pacing, and stared at him. "This is payback, right? You're getting me back for playing nice with you're alien bimbo."

For the love of –

"She's not my 'alien bimbo', and if you've got a better idea, I'm all ears."

"Did they drug the water? This isn't like you, Sheppard. Get up, plan a daring escape, get us out of here, before we're descended on by a pack of she-vultures out for my man flesh!"

Desperation colored Rodney's face, and John wished fervently for a camera. He got up, and walked to the edge of the room that he figured was the outside wall. "Death or sex, you pick," he said, poking at the wooden slats.

"You don't know its death," argued McKay.

Sheppard repeated drolly, " 'If you consider death graver' –"

Karna's words made Rodney huff. "She was exaggerating."

A finger drawn along his neck was Sheppard's reply.

"That's it," snapped McKay, shoving past Sheppard. He started fingering the wall, looking for any weakness. "I'm not going to become a two-bit part in The Best Little Whorehouse in the Pegasus Galaxy. If you won't help, get out of the way."

Sheppard extended his hands, "By all means, Rodney." He stepped a few feet to McKay's left. "When you're done with that, I'll be outside waiting –"

Rodney's groping fingers stilled on the wall, and he looked over, noticing Sheppard holding a board away from the wall, the slice of daylight beckoning them towards freedom.

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Purposefully lead me on-"

Sheppard grabbed McKay's shirt, and thrust him through the opening. "Because it's one of the few things that gives me pleasure," he answered, following him through.

oOo

Ford darted through the alley, casting furtive looks to make sure he wasn't being watched. When he'd woken from the effects of the dart, he'd been trussed up, and tossed onto a cart heading where he didn't know. He tried to keep mental track of the cart's progress, and from what he could tell, they'd come about ten klicks from the gate, give or take a few. He had still been recovering from the tranquilizer and hoped his estimate was fairly accurate.

Alarmed by the absence of the major, McKay and Teyla, he'd peppered the women that were riding up front. Gauging from the weapons and clothing, he figured they were the guards. His questions had met with stony silence, and finally after they'd obviously grown tired of his pestering, he'd been told if he wouldn't work in the fields, he'd be sold to the breeding brothels. The other male prisoners had paled at the threat, which led Ford to believe that wasn't a good place to wind up in.

He'd tried threats, explaining that their people would be looking for him. He'd tried bribery. He'd even tried pretending that the dart had made him sicker than it had. Nothing had worked. Finally, he figured if he behaved complacent, they'd begin to loosen the watch over him, and he'd been right.

After spending the day working, he and the other men had been herded into a large building filled with sleeping bunks. Soon, he became lost in the bustle of mealtime and games as everyone settled into their regular routines. Being the new guy, only a cursory interest was shown, before he was forgotten.

Using the distractions to his advantage, he slipped out through a side door, wondering at the ease of his escape. He'd expected to be caught at any moment, but as the distance from the fields increased, he began to relax somewhat. He hadn't been sure his sense of direction was aiming him true, but after traveling most of the night, he found himself in a town that he recalled Teyla saying was near the gate.

Teyla, the major, and McKay were out there somewhere, and all he knew was that none of them had been in the fields with him. His gear had been taken, and all he could hope to do was get to the gate, and wait for a rescue party to come through.

oOo

Teyla woke to gentle strokes of a damp cloth over her face. Reaching up with her hand, she grasped the thin wrist, and opened her eyes. It was a young girl, not quite beginning to turn into a woman, and she stared at Teyla with open curiosity.

Pulling her arm from Teyla's grasp, "Where did you come from?" she asked.

"Where am I?" asked Teyla instead of answering. She felt as if she'd been ill - tired, weak.

The girl looked anxiously over her shoulder, before leaning in and whispering, "In the waiting house. Usually, old women only stay to supervise, but Marsa said you came through with strangers and were going to become one of us."

Sitting up suddenly, Teyla asked, "The strangers, where are they?"

The girl pulled back and didn't answer. She gently straightened a blanket, appearing more mature than her body would show her to be.

A sharp pain in her abdomen made Teyla wince. She was ill. From what, though? And how long had she been here? "What is wrong with me?" she asked the now silent girl, as another painful cramp wound through.

It must have been a safer topic, because the girl visibly relaxed. "The keeper reacted badly in your body. It made you sick. Marsa gave you some medicine and said you'll be better soon."

"Keeper?"

Another taboo subject, because the girl stood, and gesturing to a pitcher of water said, "If you need more, call. Sleep more. The others who have reacted badly to the keeper found it helped."

Before Teyla could try more questions, the girl had left. She contemplated getting up, but as another pain snaked into her stomach. She closed her eyes, and wished to feel better sooner rather than later. She'd rest, but when she was better she'd plan an escape, she had no intention of staying.

oOo

Ford gasped as an angry hurt grabbed his guts, and held him. Unwillingly, he dropped to his knees in the dusty alley, biting back the moan of discomfort. It had started a short while ago, small at first, and building.

He knew he'd managed to find the edge of town, and all he had to do now was get to the gate. It wasn't that far, but now, as he knelt, hunched over with rolling waves of pain, it might as well have been the Sahara separating him from his destination. He knew he wasn't going to make it.

"Lieutenant!"

Ford released his body to fall on his back, and staring up in the darkening sky, was surprised to see Sergeant Lafferty. He swallowed. "You shouldn't be here."

A wide grin split her young face. "Neither should you." Growing serious, she knelt beside him. "You're sick?"

"Just started," he gritted. " 'bout an hour ago."

"Where's the rest of your team? We've been looking for you after you missed your scheduled report."

Shaking his head, he answered tightly, "I don't know." He panted through another wave of pain. "We got separated after we were darted."

Lafferty reached for his arm, pulling Ford to his feet. The Lieutenant struggled upward, and even though he was bent at his waist, he was up. She dusted off his pants. "Let's get you back. We'll find the others," she vowed. "You need to see Beckett."

oOo

"Major," gasped McKay. "Stop -" sucking in air, he wasn't able to finish his sentence.

Sheppard was in front. Hearing McKay's plea, he stilled his feet, and looked over his shoulder. Rodney was leaning over, hands on knees, and breathing hard. "We need to go," he stressed.

"I know," panted McKay. "Just – give me a – minute."

"If I give you a minute, you might get more than either of us can handle," warned Sheppard.

He hadn't spotted anyone following, but he knew it was only a matter of time. Karna didn't strike him as the type to let her money waltz out the door with a 'so long, good luck'. If they wanted to get back to Atlantis, they'd need to go as fast as possible. And he still had no idea where Ford or Teyla was.

"Don't you -" McKay continued to struggle "- feel tired?"

"Yes, McKay, but the fear of being more tired, if you know what I mean, is providing a good dose of adrenaline." Sheppard frowned at how pale the scientist looked. It wasn't like McKay to lag behind and get this breathless. Maybe in the beginning, but after a few months of missions, Rodney had come along nicely. "Maybe it's just your subconscious wanting to get caught."

"Very funny," said McKay flatly. He took a deep breath, and straightened, but only made it half way before a sharp pain stopped him. "Ow!" he exclaimed.

"What?" Sheppard didn't know whether to be annoyed or worried. "Cramp?" Maybe he'd been pushing them harder than he thought.

McKay's face relaxed as it passed. He straightened up, and inhaled deeply. "I'm not cut out for this," he muttered. "I'm probably doing permanent damage to my insides."

"The only damage being done is in your head, now if you're recovered -" drawled Sheppard, "we should get going before you need to start worrying about you're outsides."

They'd barely begun moving again, when an overwhelming wave of pain wrapped around Sheppard's middle. He dropped to a knee, and wrapped his right arm protectively against his stomach, trying unsuccessfully to ease the pain. He closed his eyes tight.

"Major?"

"Not now," bit out Sheppard. The cramp tightened viciously one final time, before he felt his guts relax. Feeling worn out from it, he straightened up.

"I know a snide comment is deserved," said McKay, staring at Sheppard. "But being the bigger person, are you okay?"

"I should be insulted, but oddly, I'm touched." Sheppard half grinned, half grimaced. "You had a really strong cramp in your stomach?" He was asking about McKay's episode moments before his.

"Gut wrenching," elaborated McKay.

Nodding, Sheppard eyed the horizon stretching out before them. He knew they weren't even close to the gate or the town. "Either we've got some stomach bug, or -"

"We've been poisoned."

The ramifications echoed through both their minds. If you consider death graver –

TBC