~ 25 ~

John, Ronon and Teyla are ushered to one side of the cell by the man who held a gun to Teyla's head. With their backs to the wall, they watch as Kolya peruses their vests and weapons laid out on the wood table.

When they first arrived in the room, even in the dim light of a single gas lamp, John could see stains on the table. Blood stains. This must be where they kept Jax. Where they did things to her…before Kolya took his vile interest in her.

The past fifteen or twenty minutes are pretty much a blur. Following being pushed into the cell they were attacked. Or more accurately, John was attacked while Teyla fought back with only her legs available and Ronon was held at bay by having his own gun shoved in his face.

Three men took turns on John while only one thought he could handle Teyla. John didn't get many good hits in and spent most of the time on his face in the dirt, but he could tell by the whimpering and thump on the ground that Teyla made short order of the man attacking her. Following the third knee to the stomach that sent him face down, John simply closed his eyes and took it. If Jax could survive, so could he. Yeah, he felt the ribs crack after a couple kicks and probably made some noise about that, but he didn't care.

All the while, Kolya watched from his chair next to the table. Still, he called the men off shortly after it all began. Apparently killing them quickly was not in his game plan.

That's helpful…usually.

They were forced to kneel in their spots and wait for Kolya to say or do whatever. Most of the men left—one remained in front of the closed cell door, John's 9mil in his waistband. Kolya sat in his chair and crossed one foot over the opposite knee, his hand tapping the gun resting on the table; his Genii weapon, not one of theirs. Even Ronon's had been left on the table when the men vanished. John wonders why everything has been arranged so neatly before them, right within reach. Why on display and not divided up by now?

Kolya glares at him with open disgust. "I truly believed she was a soldier. I would not have done such things to her if she was of no importance." He flicks at something on his trousers. "Then again, I do find her increasingly entertaining." He locks eyes with John. "Very spirited… a fighter." John's stomach churns in tight knots. He swallows hard. There's no way Kolya's actually expecting them to have a conversation about how he tortured Jax, is he? "At least…she was," he adds with a truly evil grin.

The iciness that hit him before, that sharp cold pain that stabbed him in the heart as he stood in Elizabeth's office returns with a vengeance, only this time it's twisting within his chest like a corkscrew. Kolya's claims of breaking Jax, that John actually had a hand in it, feels like a Wraith hand is sucking his life away. Or what he figures that would feel like.

Kolya looks over the three of them. "I realize physical abuse will not work on you…" he stares hard at Teyla. "Well, maybe the female. My men and I have learned quite a bit about that recently."

Ronon growls and struggles against his bonds. "You are a dead man, Kolya. You and your men. Dead."

Kolya rises from his chair and stands in front of Ronon. He clasps his hands behind his back as he stares down at him. "She wept…begged for death."

John catches Teyla's gaze. He sees all the rage that both he and Ronon feel, but also a deep fear. A fear only a woman can relate to, he's sure.

Ronon's still struggling. "You're lying."

"Am I, Ronon?" This surprises all of them because neither John nor Teyla said Ronon's name out loud. Kolya must have learned it from Jax. And there's no way she would give up information, no matter how trivial, willingly. Judging from the triumphant look on the Commander's face, John figures he's gotten the reaction he wanted. "She never wept over you," he tells Ronon. "You must be very disappointed by that."

"She wouldn't over anyone," Ronon says firmly.

Kolya's brows shoot up with amusement. "Oh, but she did." Kolya steps in front of John and they lock gazes. "She spoke of love…for one man…decidedly unworthy as it turns out." John's heart slams into his bruised and broken chest. Kolya smirks. "And his name wasn't Ryan." Kolya glares at John then, a vicious, predatory look. "Pity he didn't feel the same…or so she believed. Made my work so much easier."

John's heart drops into his stomach. Kolya knows so much about her. He knows everything. He broke her…because of me.

Ronon struggles again with his bindings, but this time his deadly gaze falls on John. "I warned you Sheppard!"

"It's not true," John tells Ronon, trying to calm the man. "He's talking about Jax. You know he's lying his ass off."

Kolya laughs. "As pleasant as it would be for me to watch one of your own men tear you apart, Sheppard. I have something else in mind." He sits in his chair again. "I really must thank all of you for joining us today. Especially you, Sheppard."

John grimaces, trying to keep the cocky fly-boy attitude in place. "Glad to be of service." He cocks a brow even though it hurts to do so. "Why is that, anyway?"

Kolya taps the gun on the table again. "I have a project in progress. I am curious to see how your arrival will affect the outcome of this project." He grins, mostly to himself. "I happen to believe it will be very beneficial…to me."

"What project?" Ronon growls.

There's a knock on the cell door. "Enter," Kolya says.

Both Ronon's and John's jaws drop at the sight of Jax walking in on her own. She's still wearing the man's shirt with the one sleeve rolled up, her black jeans that could use a couple cycles in the laundry and now she's wearing her military issue boots, the only indication that she might belong on Atlantis in the first place.

Teyla looks equally shocked to see her up and about. Jax's smiling and her eyes are wild with energy. "Hi guys," she says with unbelievable spunk in a strange raspy, Kathleen Turner-like voice. "You know, I never expected any of you. But he told me you'd come."

"I did not lie," Kolya says offering his hand for her to take.

"No, you did not." She grasps his hand, gives it a squeeze then leans in and kisses his cheek.

John has to swallow again to keep his stomach from appearing before all of them. What has he done to her? John can feel the confusion wrinkling his face. He glances at Ronon, seeing a similar expression.

"How are you feeling?" Kolya asks and John can hear the genuine concern in the man's voice.

"Awake…but—" she holds up her left hand, it trembles. "Girsh says it will pass. Something to do with the compound."

He sighs inwardly. The large man who took her away when they were caught—who told John he could be trusted with her—must have given her a stimulant to wake her quickly. With all the crap her body's been through recently, he's amazed she's able to sit up let alone walk and talk. "What's going on?" John asks.

Kolya rises, draping an arm around Jax's shoulders. "I suppose an introduction is in order. This is my daughter…Mylea."

Ronon and John suffer from the same chuckles of disbelief. They look from Jax to each other then to Jax again. She's smiling softly as before, no amusement in her features, only…

God! She believes it? John stops laughing abruptly. It can't be.

"No," Teyla says firmly. "This is not true."

Jax slips away from Kolya and the man sits, amusement glistening in his eyes. Jax steps in front of Teyla. "Stand up, please." Teyla does so and the two women stare at each other for a long moment. Then Jax hugs Teyla rather suddenly.

John sees Kolya stiffen and doesn't bother hiding the grin.

"I owe you many thanks, Teyla Emmagan," Jax says, pulling from the hug, but keeping her hands on Teyla's shoulders. She turns to Kolya. "She's a consummate warrior. It is because of her that I was rescued." Then Jax drops to her knees and unzips the side of Teyla's pants so she can remove the dagger hidden within the ankle sheath. "And always full of surprises." Jax rises and meets Teyla's gaze again. "I've missed you."

"We have missed you as well, Jax," Teyla says though John can hear something in her voice… something close to disillusionment.

Jax laughs and turns to Kolya. "You will not hurt her as I have been…will you, Daddy?"

Kolya shakes his head. "No. I will leave her to you, darling."

John shudders at her calling Kolya that. This can't be happening! But he remembers how close to the edge she's been recently; all those nightmares about losing her parents…especially her father. She's been crying out for him forever it seems. The nightmares didn't stop simply because she and John got together. If anything, they got worse for a time…she ended up in the infirmary.

And what about the catatonia? For weeks they'd been unable to reach her. And then General O'Neill showed up—her surrogate father—and only he could bring her out of it. What if something similar happened here? If Kolya actually could break her down with torture and drugs…

No, she's stronger than that! She has to be.

Doesn't she?

Jax is smiling as she turns to face Teyla, but it's a dangerous smile and the dagger is still in her hand. "Kneel please," she says coolly. Teyla does as instructed. She glances at John and he can see in her eyes that she's afraid Kolya has done as he claims.

Tapping the blade against her left palm, Jax moves to stand in front of Ronon. She touches his hair then lifts his chin to capture his gaze. "Ronon," she says softly, staring deeply into his eyes. It seems as if time stops for the two of them. Her gaze is as intense as his and neither seems to be breathing all that much. Her fingers slip from his face and she turns to look at Kolya. "He's the one they used to trick me first."

Kolya folds his arms. "Not very nice of him."

Jax faces Ronon again. "Not really, no." She touches the tip of his nose with the flat side of the dagger. "He told me we were…friends."

"What would you have me do with him, Mylea?"

She shrugs her left shoulder, tilts her head and looks over Ronon again. "I would enjoy dealing with him as well."

Kolya's mouth twitches with a smile and what John's sure is pride clouds his eyes. "Very well. I would enjoy watching."

Jax tosses a smirk of her own over her left shoulder. "Of course, Daddy."

She taps the blade against her right thigh as she slowly makes her way to face John. He can't see anything in her eyes. She's more than a mystery. She's…blank. She's a stranger to him. Again the words scream in his mind: How can this be happening?

"And then there's…him." After a deep, ragged breath that sends a flash of pain over her features, she stares down at John with those empty eyes. She pushes her left hand through his hair, gripping it in a tight fist and yanking his head back hard. "The most dangerous man ever born." Her eyes bore into his. There's a moment when he sees something, a flicker of raw emotion possibly memory, but it's gone instantly, shut off before it has a chance to flower and grow. "I never thought I'd see you again," she growls. Then she's kissing him, hard, ruthlessly as if she's trying to punish him. But at the same time, her tongue hits his with tenderness, longing and she's moaning. As usual when it comes to this woman, John's easily distracted and instantly turned on, even in the most dire of circumstances.

There's a throat cleared a couple of times, but neither of them care. "Mylea!"

Jax breaks the kiss, leaving John panting and thinking about an ice bath. She turns to Kolya with an impish grin. "Sorry, Daddy. He's just so…" Her index finger grazes John's jaw and she makes a strange face at him then sighs deeply. "Pretty."

Kolya groans but waves a hand. "Don't do that again. It disturbs me."

Jax huffs a whine. "I can't play with him even a little?" She turns back to John, pressing the tip of the dagger against his throat. She smiles wickedly. "Bet I can make him beg."

John stares into her eyes, trying to force her mind to open to him, remember him. "Jax…"

She shakes her head and opens her eyes wide. "Ah uh." She motions to Kolya with a tilt of her head. "He told me you would try trick me again. But your lies won't work anymore. Daddy's made me better."

John darts his eyes toward Ronon, though he doesn't dare move his head with that dagger digging into his skin. She hasn't drawn blood…yet. Ronon's stoic, staring into space it seems, though his jaw is working overtime and there's a vein pulsing in his forehead John's never seen before. He looks ready to blow a blood vessel. Teyla's watching the whole scene with confusion.

"Her mind is much better now, less cluttered with your deceit," Kolya says easily. John's not surprised the man can lie with impunity. He's rather convincing at times.

"He told me what you all did," Jax says as she pulls the knife from John's throat and takes a step back, looking at all three of them. "That you saved me from a Wraith hive ship, but once you found out who my father was, you turned on me, kept me prisoner…hurt me…" Her eyes lock on John's with that one. "Beat me."

He cannot only see the rage in her face but John would swear he can feel it flowing through him as well. She's like a human atomic bomb, just waiting to be detonated and the explosion is going to be huge.

She licks her lips, still staring at John as if waiting for him to make the slightest move so she can pounce. "Then…what was it?" She looks to Kolya.

"Turned you against your family. Planted false information in your mind."

She smiles cruelly and nods. "Yes. False information." A single brow rises. "Not very nice at all."

"He's lying!" Ronon struggles against his restraints again, pulling her attention.

Jax looks over her shoulder at Kolya. "Daddy, would you lie to me?"

Kolya stands, towering in front of her. He places his hands on her shoulders…she doesn't even flinch. "Never, Mylea." He kisses her forehead and John's about to retch. Kolya glowers at him. "I should have you beaten and torn for laying a hand on my daughter."

"I'm going to kill you with my bare hands," Ronon roars at Kolya. Jax spins from Kolya and sends Teyla's dagger whipping through the air. It lodges into the wood post right next to Ronon's head. "You dare threaten him?" she asks coldly.

John catches Ronon's gaze as they both look at the close call.

"You missed," Kolya says, obviously unhappy.

Jax hangs her head as she turns to face him. "I'm sorry, Daddy. My shoulder hurts."

Kolya lifts her chin and looks into her eyes. John wants to rip the guy's hands off when he cups her face. "I understand."

John can't keep quiet any longer. "God, Jax! Trust me. He's one of the Genii. He's not your father!"

She moves so quickly, he doesn't even register it but suddenly she's in front of him with Kolya's gun aimed at his face. "You speak to me of trust! You…my seducer. My tormentor." She glowers at him, her hand shaking and eyes wide with fury. "Was it not enough for you to break me? You had to shoot me as well."

"No!" John shouts and he's echoed by Ronon and Teyla.

"It's time, Mylea," Kolya says firmly. "Fight back. Hurt him as he hurt you." Behind her, Kolya grins at John. This is what he had in mind. He wants her to kill them; it'll completely cut her off from her old life. She'd never recover from it. Never remember them or Atlantis as anything other than what Kolya told her. "Destroy those who sought to take you from me. And you will never have to leave me again."

She glances back over her shoulder at Kolya and John can hear the delight and desire to please in her deep voice. "Okay."

"Jax, listen," John starts.

She turns her attention back to him; there's a cold humorless grin on her face. But suddenly she lowers the gun, her eyes filling with doubt. "This isn't right."

"What?" Kolya says, alerted.

John can breathe again. Until…she moves closer to him and cups his chin. Her voice is cold and full of rage. "Get up." Then she glances at Teyla and Ronon. "You also. Rise." They do as instructed and get to their feet. She backs up tossing a glance to Kolya. "I want to see him fall at my feet."

"That's my daughter," Kolya's grin grows.

Then she stops again, looks at the gun. "Wait." She snaps her fingers at the guard blocking the door. "I want his gun." She points at John. "The one that shot me." She glances at Kolya and he nods to the guard who hands over the 9mil. She holds Kolya's gun in her left hand and lifts the 9mm with her right, aiming at John's face then switches off the safety.

"Jax…I swear," John sputters.

"Don't bother, Sheppard," Ronon says through clenched teeth. "That's not Jax anymore."

"You got that right," she mutters.

Damn, Rodney's right. She's hot when pissed.

In a flash, her arms swing around and her aim changes as she shoots the guard twice in the chest even as she's spinning and bringing her right leg up to slam into Kolya's head. He goes down into the dirt on all fours because even though she's injured, she's got some serious power left in her. But he's not out and she launches another kick, this one a hard thwump into his side, sending him sprawling onto his back. A moment later another guard bursts inside and she shoots him twice with the gun in her left hand. She stands statue-still, aiming John's gun at Koyla as he lies on the ground staring up at her with wide eyes. "Ronon, don't forget to give Teyla her knife back," she says.

"Of course, Angela."

Both Teyla and John are too stunned to move. What the hell just happened seems to be the expression on both their faces. And Kolya's as well.

Ronon smirks as his arms suddenly come from behind his back and he cuts Teyla's then John's bonds. John never even noticed him recover the dagger from the wood post. "How did you know?"

"I'm surprised you didn't," Ronon grins. Off of John's look, he adds: "I never told her we are friends." His brows crease, looking at John as if he's talking to an idiot. "We're family." Ronon returns Teyla's knife. "Besides, she never misses."

Oh. It's the only word that comes to mind. John's sure he's in some kind of shock, temporal displacement, or Twilight Zone episode. Something crazy like that. He stares at Jax…Angela… whoever the hell she is today. "It was all an act?"

She arches a brow at him, even as she keeps the gun aimed at Kolya. "You don't spend eight years playing different parts without learning a few things."

"Oh," John nods, his brows rising. "Right."

"You are not confused then?" Teyla asks.

"No, sweetie." Her attention turns back to Kolya. "I know exactly who I am."

Kolya wipes blood from his lip, not realizing there's a huge gash above his eye from the boot kick to the head. A part of John actually feels sorry for the man. A very small part…a quark maybe. The guy actually looks like he's lost his kid.

Ronon grabs his gun from the table, swivels it in his hand to change the setting and takes a step toward Kolya, but Jax instantly spins around, blocking them from her captor. "No." Kolya's eyes widen with surprise and…devotion?

"Get out of the way," Ronon growls.

John steps up, but she's training the Genii weapon between them, the 9mil still aimed at Kolya. "Back off," she says, her eyes even colder than before. "You are not killing this man."

"But—" John starts, stopped abruptly by the glare she gives him. He exchanges a glance with Ronon and the two men step back. Ronon joins Teyla—already back in gear—at the door. As he shrugs into his vest and zips it up, John watches Jax watching Kolya. John picks up his P-90 and moves to Jax's side in case the man makes a move against her. But something in Kolya's eyes, a softness, tells John that Jax is in no danger from the Commander.

"How could you choose them over me, Mylea?" he asks weakly. John even hears the hint of tears in the man's voice.

Her head tilts. "I told you…it'd be John Sheppard's command over yours any day. Oh, wait…you were too busy beating the crap out of me to listen, I suppose." She chuckles and it's like an ice bath in the room. "So, Commander…I ask: Who really broke whom in this little game of yours?" She glances at John, he sees a twinkle in her eyes, a vicious delight that sends a shiver down his spine. She's having fun…like a cat toying with an injured mouse. "Hmm. I wonder."

"You were mine," Kolya sputters, catching his breath and sitting up.

She tisks him. "There's only so much crazy one brain can handle. I maxed out years ago." She steps a little closer to the man. "And I've only ever belonged to one man."

John hears this and remembers…You're mine.

Yes.

"Girsh will die for this," Kolya grunts.

She huffs. "Don't go laying blame, Kolya. Girsh had no idea. The drugs were nice…fun even. But Scooby kept me lucid."

"Scooby?" John asks and realizes that's the tune she was humming when he picked her up from the bed. Before he can ask anything, his watch beeps. "Time's up! Brace yourselves." Ronon and Teyla hold up in the corner behind the door while John pulls Jax toward the mountain wall.

Kolya tries to get up and Jax breaks free of John's grip to slams her foot into the Commander's chest, knocking the wind out of him. "He said brace yourself." John pulls Jax back in and covers her just as an explosion rocks the mine, collapsing part of the ceiling and buckling some of the support beams.

John checks the damage. "That should get us some attention."

There's a lot of shouting as men rush through the passageway toward the entrance opening. More rumbles in the mine suggest secondary damage from the explosion.

Jax glances at him with a smirk. "C-4?" John nods. "Long delay."

He shrugs. "Didn't expect to find you so quickly."

"That's a big chance you took," she adds.

John touches her cheek. "Worth it." In the distance they can hear the familiar sound of gunfire. "Time to go."

"I believe Major Lorne has received our signal," Teyla says, checking the door for hostiles.

"You think?" John smirks as he joins them at the door. "Lorne?"

"Here, sir. They refuse to surrender. We are engaged."

"Understood." Expecting Jax to be by his side, John's stunned to see her standing over Kolya again. "Jax come on."

She doesn't move. He returns to her side and hears her talking quietly to the man. "Now, think hard…what promise did I make you…Pop?"

Kolya's eyes widen and John sees a flash of fear. He reaches for the 9mm aimed at Kolya's face but she brushes him off with the other hand. John leans in to talk to her. "I'll take care of him. You don't want to do this, Jax. Not this."

She turns her head, looking at John and for a brief second there's a genuine smile of gratitude. "You really don't know me at all, do you Sheppard?" While locking her gaze with John's, she pulls the trigger, blowing Kolya's head off with one shot between the eyes. A single brow arches at John. "I don't need saving."

She hands him his gun and heads for the door. He glances back at what's left of Kolya, her words ringing in his mind. "Apparently not." Gawd, I love that! John clicks the radio. "We're coming out."

"You're covered, Colonel," Lorne says.

There's gunfire ahead of them, echoing throughout the tunnels. Jax tells Ronon which way to go within the maze to get them out. They keep low, hoping to avoid getting hit by ricochets. Most of the lamps have gone out or fallen over leaving the passageway dark save for their flashlights and the spark of occasional bullets whipping by and hitting rock. John feels heat at his back and realizes there's a fire brewing behind them, probably from overturned lamps.

Ronon takes point followed by Teyla, Jax and John. Ronon and Teyla each take out guards in front of them—Teyla gets to whump some more Genii ass, after all. John covers their six, not worrying about making noise now, as the mine is still crumbling from the earlier explosion. Dust and smoke billow toward them, hindering their vision, but also that of Kolya's men.

Jax stumbles and John reaches for her, but Ronon's already by her side, lifting her easily under the arms. Teyla then takes point and Ronon helps Jax to her feet. She's off-balance and uses him for support more than John would expect. "They're wearing off," she says.

"What?" Ronon doesn't understand, but John does.

"I'm crashing."

"He must've given her a stimulant to wake her," John explains. "Countering whatever made her sleep." Jax head sways on her shoulders as she tries to glance back at John then her legs buckle. "Keep her walking," he tells Ronon.

More gunfire at the entrance proceeds Lorne's appearance into the mine, meeting them halfway toward the opening. Outside, his team continues battling Kolya's men. "We've got them pinned, Colonel. Should be a clear line to Jumper Two."

"Glad to see you could make it," John says.

Lorne grins. "Wouldn't miss it."

"Even after twelve hours of flight time?"

"Well, we're here, aren't we?" Lorne says raising his brows.

Yep, they're here. The crazy plan worked...so far. With Rodney's help, John and Lorne found another gate within flight distance to the planet. And though it was twelve hours away and made them wait forever to put the rescue into motion, it seemed the best way to go. How else could they convince Kolya that their rescue attempt had failed? John knew the man's tactics, knew getting in would be easy, getting Jax would be a bit more difficult—not to mention scary, considering what he hadn't expected—but that getting out would be nearly impossible without backup. Backup that had to be secreted away to the planet without aid of the Stargate.

Stackhouse didn't like the idea of being a diversion in Jumper Three, but understood the need. He's a good kid.

Besides, who knew their backup would actually come from inside the strong hold, in the form of their rescuee? John's still not sure he saw everything he saw. She's so badly beaten, in so much pain and yet able to fight as she did, shoot and take out Kolya simultaneously? There's something so different about this woman from any he's ever known…including Elizabeth.

She's kinda scary.

And I'm finding that strangely…hot.

Rodney should be pleased the whole thing worked, considering he found Kolya's second secret entrance to the mine by accident. That, at least, gave them a huge head's up on how they should get ambushed. John thinks he would have been disappointed had it not gone this way. But then again, he could have done without getting the crap beat out of him. Carson's gonna have a shit-fit about the newest set of cracked or broken ribs.

In the darkness, John sees someone crouching inside near the mine entrance. He points his P-90 at the guy, exposing him with the flashlight. "Girsh," Jax gasps. "I told you to get lost."

"You did?" John looks at her.

"I was unsure if you were truly you…I could not leave you with Kolya."

Jax nods. "I'm not sorry I fooled you."

The man takes her hand. "Neither am I. I am happy to see you go."

"Me too," she says with a grin. Her head wobbles toward Ronon. "He's got the best drugs in the galaxy." She stumbles again and suddenly Lt. Cadman is by her side. "Oh, hey there Laura… Hey everybody…it's Laura…oooh, I don't feel so good." And then her legs give out completely and she would have dropped if it wasn't for Ronon's quick moves.

Girsh catches John's arm. "She is not well."

John glares at him. "And who do I have to thank for that?"

There's genuine pain in the man's face. "The shoulder wound…I did not have the necessary…it is badly infected."

John feels the blood rush from his face. He grabs the man's arm. "You're coming with us."

The large man is filled with fear. "I have a family…please."

John gives him a push toward the mine entrance. "You're not a hostage. You have to talk with our doctor, tell him what you did for her…to her. We'll let you come back…you have my word." The big man offers no further protest.

"Lieutenant," Lorne calls to Cadman. "Take point." She nods. Teyla follows and Ronon carrying Jax is right behind with Girsh shuffling in their wake. John and Lorne cover them from the mine entrance.

As soon as the group is through the trees, John taps Lorne's shoulder. "Light it up."

Lorne grins and nods. A grenade appears in his hand; he pulls the pin and tosses the bomb inside the mine. John and Lorne race for the trees line, making it far enough away before the blast as to not be knocked off their feet.

The gun fire from atop the hillside ceases instantly.

Maddog gets up from bended knee, raising her P-90 and waves them over. She points to her right and yells something. Jumper Two uncloaks an instant later. Cadman stops by Maddog's side turning her weapon toward the trees as well, Teyla rushes into the jumper followed by Ronon carrying Jax. Girsh is wary but Cadman gives him a push inside. The last two soldiers emerge from the tree line and race for the ship. John and Lorne are last in before the rear hatch closes.

"We got a full house," Lorne says taking the pilot's seat. Moments later, they're in the air and heading for the gate.

Ronon's sitting on the bench, cradling Jax against his massive chest. In contrast to the multiple bruises, her face is deathly pale and glistening with sweat. "She's feverish," Ronan says.

Her eyes pop open and she huffs. "Uh oh, Mr. State's-The-Obvious rides again." She catches John's gaze. "I never thought you'd come for me," she sighs, a tiny smile lifting her mouth.

John slides onto the bench and takes her hand. "You really don't know me at all then, do you?"

He can feel her trying to squeeze his fingers, but she's drained of strength. Instead, she grins, it's a half-grin really, very weak, but it reaches her eyes and they twinkle for him. "I'll have to work on that." Her eyes start to close. John cups her face, willing her to look at him. "No…Jax, stay with me," he orders.

That grin grows slightly as her eyes get heavier. "Always," she says softly, losing the battle.

Cadman kneels down to take her friend's other hand. "C'mon, sweetie. We're home."

"That's nice." Then her head drops as she falls unconscious.