Ford stood in McKay's lab and tapped his radio. "Dr. Weir?"
"Yes, Lieutenant." She replied. "Did you find Dr. McKay?"
"No, ma'am." Ford sighed. "I've searched his room and the messhall and I'm standing in the lab. Looks like he's missing too." He knew what she would be thinking. What they both were thinking.
Weir was silent a moment then, "Find Major Sheppard." She clicked off.
Ford headed for the door.
John's throat felt raw as the scream was ripped from his chest. He clutched his head, feeling as if it might explode, and Rodney's voice was echoing too loudly and he thought he might go insane. And everything was white and too bright and John wanted darkness. Darkness would make everything silent. He drew air into his burning lungs and willed away the pain.
Elizabeth was pacing next to the console where Grodin was sitting. He was trying to get a lock on Major Sheppard. She tried not to worry about him or Rodney. Elizabeth had to believe that John would not hurt Rodney. But she knew that the major was ill and that his actions were no longer under his control. But to play it safe she had ordered the teams who were searching for him to take him down upon contact. However they were to use tranquilizer guns, not excessive force. Elizabeth knew just how deadly Sheppard could be. Deadly and focused. So she paced and she prayed until she was startled out of her reverie when the lights went out.
"What just happened?" Elizabeth demanded.
"I don't know." Grodin's fingers were punching buttons in the dark. "It's just like before, we have no power.
Elizabeth did not like the sound of that. "Dammit!" The last time this happened, Sheppard had gone mad. She feared what would happen this time, when the lights came back on.
Blessed darkness, John thought. He didn't remember collapsing onto his back, but he didn't bother to move. He felt bone deep weary and the silence that wrapped around him was soothing. Until it was shattered by the sound of harsh and guttural breathing and he felt his chest constrict as if it were his own lungs that were deflating. He knew what was happening. "No...no!" John rolled over onto his knees and crawled towards the sound in the darkness. His chest felt tight and he felt sheer terror that was not his own. "Rodney...god..." John made it to the table and pulled himself up to his feet. He found Rodney by sound and touch and the body beneath his hands was shuddering and jerking and John knew he was dying.
"Help him!" John couldn't see Tim in the darkness, but he knew the creature was still there. He could feel him, watching.
"Only you can save him, Major," Tim whispered softly. "You're the one who's killing him."
John started to shake his head even though he knew Tim couldn't see it. But then it hit him, what the creature meant. He was the one who had turned the power off. His will had plunged them into darkness. But even as he tried to focus on bringing back the light, John felt consciousness slipping away from him. He could feel Rodney's heartbeat slowing, even as the gasping breaths turned to choking sighs. Rodney was dying. "Don't you dare!" John hissed, and he forced the darkness back by sheer stubbornness and it was like a kick in the gut when the lights blazed back on, blinding him so that he had to close his eyes. But that didn't matter because he could feel Rodney breathing beneath his palm and John's knees buckled as relief washed over him.
Elizabeth jumped when the lights flared back on. She looked at Grodin who was punching buttons again. "Did you do that?"
He shook his head. "No."
"What the hell is going on here?"
"Wish I knew." Grodin jumped up and went to another console and pushed more buttons.
Elizabeth tapped her radio. "Lt. Ford...have you found the major and Dr. McKay?"
A moment of static then, "No, ma'am. Nothing yet."
"Keep looking," Elizabeth ordered then she signed off and rubbed at her forehead. If she had known what she was getting into before stepping through the gate to come here...she would have stayed home.
"Well done, major," Tim purred as he glided over to the table. "You are stronger than I first thought." He made as if to reach out and touch Sheppard, but drew back when the major turned to face him, gun in hand.
John tried to ignore the fact that his hand was shaking as he aimed at Tim. "What the hell is going on here?" He could feel that something was different, that he was different. But he could not define it.
Tim was still smiling at him, revealing jagged teeth in his slashed mouth. "You are awakening," he whispered.
"I'm what?" John wasn't sure he liked the sound of that then he realized that Tim was probably just messing with his head. He gripped the gun tighter, liking the way it felt heavy and familiar in his hand, and glared at the creature. "I want Rodney back...now!"
"I'm not ready to give him up." Tim replied. "But...I might consider a trade."
John knew he shouldn't ask, but it wasn't like he had a choice. "What kind of a trade?"
Tim moved closer. "You for McKay. Let me bond with you, Major."
"And you'll let Rodney go?" John didn't hesitate. He had to get Rodney out of here and he would do whatever it took.
"Yes." That was all Tim said.
John found himself nodding. "Okay. But you bring Rodney back first."
Tim slid past Sheppard, moving to Rodney's side. He laid one scaly hand on McKay's chest, the other on his forehead.
"Hurt him and I'll figure out how to kill you!" John snarled at the creature, but his eyes were locked on Rodney. He realized he was holding his breath as he waited for some kind of reaction. Anything would be good about now. Anything but the feel of McKay dying. And even as John watched he saw a light emanate from Tim. It was glowing but not overly bright and it settled over Rodney like a fine mist.
"Rodney?" John whispered.
In response, McKay gasped loudly, sucking in air, then he opened his eyes. He looked confused.
John felt a smile split his face as he reached for McKay's hand. "Hey, Rodney. It's about time you woke up." The teasing felt good and right in this moment.
"You heard me." Rodney's voice was hoarse but filled with wonderment as he let himself be pulled up so he was sitting on the table.
"I heard you." John felt almost dizzy with relief. "How do you feel? You okay?"
Rodney nodded, even as he patted his hands over himself as if to be sure. "I am now." Then he looked past John and gasped.
John turned to see what Rodney was looking at and he was stunned to see Tim, puddled on the floor. He was half the size he had been and it was as if he had shrunken into himself. John wondered if he would simply die, which would be fine with him.
"You...promised...major," Tim slurred out, as if reading Sheppard's mind.
"I know," John whispered, but he turned back to Rodney. "You sure you're okay? Can you make it out of here on your own?"
Rodney slid off the table and bounced, as if testing his legs. He nodded. "Yeah...I can make it but...you're coming with me. Right?" He stepped around Sheppard, getting as far away from the creature on the floor as he could.
John felt Rodney shudder. "I made a promise, McKay...and I'm a man of my word. Me for you."
"No!" Rodney looked horrified. "Just shoot the damn thing...it's half dead already."
"I can't." And John realized how true his statement was. Instinctively he knew he had to keep Tim alive. That it was important somehow. "Go find Weir and tell her what happened. Tell her I'm not crazy."
Rodney shook his head. "No! Forget it! I'm not letting you do this! That...that...THING...it sucked the life out of me. Worse than a Wraith, Major. I knew what was happening to me. I was aware of everything. Do you know what that's like? Being aware and being so damn helpless?"
John didn't know but he could imagine, only he didn't have time to deal with this right now. "Do what I say!" he ordered then he took a step towards Tim. He could tell the creature was dying.
"I won't let you do this, Major!" Rodney grabbed Sheppard by the arm to haul him back, but it was too late.
Tim had scuttled forward and he gripped Sheppard by the ankle, pulling himself up his body until his hand was over Sheppard's heart.
John felt the creature touch him and it was icy-cold, ripping his breath from his chest, and then he was melting into darkness. He didn't hear Rodney scream his name or grab his gun or fire bullet after bullet into Tim's body. All he felt was white-hot pain.