John Sheppard smiled with content as he felt Teyla's arm drape across his waist. He moaned with pleasure as her tongue traced along the lobe of his ear. "Up early aren't we hon," John whispered as he turned to face her.
"I do not hear you complaining," she purred into his ear.
"Never," he said while he began to kiss her slender neck, she allowed him to guide her onto her back. He continued to caress her neck with his mouth, he continued traveling up until he found her moist, full lips. "Should I continue," he growled while giving her a sly smile.
"What do you think," she said her voice husky.
John kissed her passionately, and slid his tongue in her mouth eliciting a moan of pleasure from his lover. He felt her began to undulate underneath him as they continued to explore each other. He pulled away and studied her mocha face. Her lips were wet, and her face flushed , her eyes pleaded with him to keep going. He began to slide his hand up her silk top when she abruptly grabbed his hand stopping him.
"What's wrong ?"
Her face had changed somehow. She looks afraid, no worried maybe.
"John," she said her voice sounded strained, "You have to wake up."
"What are you talking about, I am awake. Or did you fail to notice," he forced a light tone to his voice.
Teyla's arms grabbed his shoulders and she began shaking him, "Please, I do not know what I would do If I lost you, wake up Colonel," she sounded frantic.
John took in his surroundings, What a minute wasn't I on top, how did I end up on my back.
John stared at Teyla and realized she wasn't wearing a silk nightgown but had changed into her uniform, minus the jacket. Her clean face now appeared dirty, and a large bruise marred her right cheek. He blinked and was suddenly aware of how hard the ground was beneath him.
"Teyla, what….," his words were lost as a wave of nausea assaulted him. He wrapped his arms around his waist and curled into a fetal position.
"It is okay, the nausea will pass. I too suffered the same when I woke."
Sheppard didn't want to open his eyes again. Memories were flooding back to him, being ambushed, sending Mckay and Ronan through the gate, losing Teyla. His eyes flew open, "Teyla, are you….," a gentle hand wiped the sweat from his brow.
"I am here Colonel, you gave me quite a scare. I thought….," she shook her head and plastered a smile on her weary face. "We are okay for the moment"
Reality's overrated. "Where are we," he asked still trying to clear his aching head.
"The Kitchak have locked us in some kind of prison. I believe we may be underground, there is no light except for torches, and the walls appear to be made of rock. They have not told me…." she paused and her brow furrowed. "Are you feeling well, Colonel?"
"Just a damn headache, and I'm having a little trouble focusing," he admitted.
She helped him to sit up and rest against the metal bars behind them. "It will pass, I believe it is a side effect of the weapon they used to disable us."
John shuddered at the thought, "Yeah, that was unpleasant."
"I have never seen such a weapon."
"Me neither, and I hope I never do again," he sighed and leaned his head back to rest on the bars. Closing his eyes he tried to clear his mind. Teyla remained silent for a few moments allowing him to rest. As the pain lessened he became aware of several things. One, the place stunk like shit. It smelled of burned flesh and death, a smell John was no stranger too. Bringing his hands to his temples he forced himself to open his eyes and take in his surroundings. And number two…Yep, were in a cell. No bigger than my college dorm room. Dark, stinks, people screaming in the background. Probably being tortured. Yep definitely like being back in college. "Somebody put me back in the dream," he laughed bitterly.
"I am sorry, Colonel. What are you referring to," Teyla asked.
John turned his head slightly and met her confused brown eyes. He smiled sadly, Wonder how'd she'd feel if she knew I was having sex dreams about her? Wonder if she feels the same? "Well, maybe if we get out of this alive I'll explain it to you, but for now anything else you can tell me that might be useful? Did the others make it to the gate?
She shook her head, " I do not know anymore than you do, I woke up here a few hours ago, no one has spoken to me, then thirty minutes ago they threw you in the with me. They have not made any demands or explained why they…"
She paused and nodded towards the front of the cell. A large, very muscular Kitchak was standing at the door, watching them. Where the hell did he come from? Then John noticed the dirt path running in front of their prison, it led around a corner which he was unable to see around. Bet that's where the screams were coming from, probably the way out too. Strange I can't see any other cages, guess were special.
John waved at the man, and put on his best fuck you smile. "Excuse me sir but could you tell me where the exit is, we really must be going. Important business you know how it is?"
Nothing the guy didn't even flinch, just kept staring at them. " You know it's rude to just stare at people. Hey I have a question, is it true what they say? Are three eyes really better than two?"
The guards middle eye widened and he flung the barred door open. He stomped over to John and grabbed him by his collar, using it to pull him a foot off the ground.
Great idea Sheppard, piss off the locals, he thought as he was slammed against the bars behind him. "Was it something I said," he choked out as Goliath tightened his grip.
Out of the corner of his eye, John saw Teyla's elbow flying at his captors ribs, the man's free arm shot out and caught her forearm. John cringed as his tormentor turned toward Teyla and growled before throwing her to the ground like a rag doll. Who the hell was this guy? His attention then refocused on the Colonel. He leaned in so close John could feel the heat of his rancid breath, "Don't you ever insult the mark of our God human," he spat out. " You are not worthy of the air you breath," to emphasis the point his grip tightened making it even harder to get oxygen.
"Kinen, let him go…..now," ordered a new male voice.
John got one last squeeze from three eyes before he was thrown to the ground, he immediately felt Teyla by his side. Her hand gently rubbed his back as he coughed and struggled to catch his breath. Sheppard allowed himself a moments comfort as her ministrations seemed to ease the tension coursing through his sore body.
"Are you okay John," she whispered in his ear.
"I'll live," he answered while rubbing his sore neck.
He allowed her to help him sit up, his eyes resting on the new arrival. Short black hair, tall, stood like he had a stick shoved up his ass. This man was the leader, the way he stood, and spoke were dead giveaways. He'd been trained in the very same techniques and mannerisms himself. He's the one I need to get talking.
"So, are you the one I need to talk to, to get some answers," he tried. He was grateful for Teyla's hand resting on his back in quiet support.
"My name is Gwein, but you can call me Master," he said with an evil grin.
Sheppard felt Teyla tense next to him, Yeah, you sense he's a real dick too.
Narrowing his eyes he ignored the bait and pressed on, "What's going on here ? Why have you taken us prisoner?"
Teyla chimed in, "What of our friends, are they here as well?"
"Silence," he said in a low, yet dangerous tone. "I will be the one asking questions, not either of you. Understand."
"I understand you Son of a…." he felt a hand resting on his shoulder.
"Perhaps we should hear what he has to say Colonel," she said her eyes pleading.
John nodded and took a relaxing breath. She's right, calm down, that will get us nowhere."
"Good, now we can get on with this. How things go will be up to the two of you. It can be very painless or," he paused for a breath, "very painful," he finished in a lower tone of voice. I am going to ask you both questions, you will tell me everything I want to know now… or you can refuse and suffer the consequences. "
John felt a knot forming in his stomach. "What do you want Gwein."
He smiled and took a step closer to them, "I want Atlantis.'
Fuck. "Well that's gonna be a problem Gweinee old pal. I'm afraid that's not possible."
Kenin stepped forward and backhanded John across the cheek. It hurt like hell, but he simply spit the blood from his mouth, and glared at the brute.
"I'll try this again, I want the gate address to your Ancient's city."
"Look, I told you….."
Teyla interrupted, "Technology, you steal technology."
A light bulb went on in John's head. He gave her a brief smile, "Of course, your primitive cities and architecture. It all makes since, you steal other people's inventions and claim them as your own. What, let me guess, you lure people here by promising a device that protects against the Wraith, and then bam," he yelled while slamming his fist on his thigh. "You stab them in the back and take whatever you want from them."
"I'm impressed, maybe your not as stupid as you look," Gwein hissed. "Then again you're the one in the cell aren't you?"
Bastard. "So what now, you keep us here until we decide to talk?"
"No, nothing that easy." He slinked over to Teyla and ran his fingers down her cheek. She slapped his hand away, "You care for this woman do you not?"
As he watched that asshole touch Teyla his heart began to pound in his ears, and he was filled with pure hatred. An image of himself ripping off Gwein's hand made him feel a little better. Before speaking he swallowed back any emotion and tried to remain cool. "She's on my team."
"Oh, I've been watching you two very closely. I think its more than that," he said his eyes never leaving John's.
"We will never tell you anything," Teyla said while fixing her gaze on Sheppard.
Message received. Don't let them use me against you. Not that easy Teyla. But he simply kept his face impassive and stared at Gwein.
"Many others have made the same claim. But as you have seen, their technology is now ours. As will your city and everything in it." He smiled showing off his yellow teeth, and then nodded at Kinen.
With inhuman speed Kinen reached out and grabbed Teyla by the hair. He began dragging her toward the door. John lunged, but was hit in the chest by an energy blast.
"Fool, did you think I was unarmed. Great little device this is, sends your muscles into spasms, immobilizes you for up to an hour. Very painful. Acquired it from a race two years ago."
Gwein's cruel voice sounded far away as John convulsed on the floor. He forced the pain to the back of his mind and began crawling towards Teyla. She was all that mattered. John felt a brief moment of satisfaction as she landed a punch square on Kinen's jaw, but he didn't even flinch. Teyla followed up with a bone crushing knee to the ribs, he smiled. Her gaze drifted to John, as Kinen pinned her to the ground. "Be strong," she mouthed.
Gwein stepped over John's shaking body and injected Teyla with a clear substance in her back. Her eyes remained locked with his until the drug took effect and her body went slack. Kinen hefted her over his shoulder, and began walking out of the cell.
"Teyla," he managed in between spasms. But John could do nothing but watch as she was carried away from him into god knows what hell.
Gwein bent down and turned John's face toward his. "Oh, believe me Colonel. You will talk."
John had lost most of his ability to move, but he used the last of his strength to spit a mouthful of blood and saliva on the bastards third eye. Direct hit. That's for you Teyla. "Consider that my tribute to your God."
Pain racked his body as a foot collided with his ribs.
"We will see how brave you are soon enough," he said and then John heard the door slam.
He closed his eyes and focused on breathing. I've been tortured before, but this is different. It' not just my life on the line, or a team mates. It's the woman I love. John smiled in spite of the situation. So that's all it takes for me to admit that to myself, being in mortal danger. His smile faded and he tried to summon the courage he knew he was going to need to survive this. Forgive me Teyla, I don't know if I'm strong enough to let you die.