A/N: Posting Ch. 5 and Ch. 6 together because they are companions but just did not work in the same Chapter.

Chapter 6

Hey, Wait a Minute

Something clicked in Rodney's head. The Wraith influence was completely gone. Because if not, that obscenity to human kind; the one throwing Sheppard on the floor; would have a broken neck. He had not noticed until now; all feelings of anger and hate were his alone.

Now all that remained was his gifted, ultra-brilliant, inventive brain. Wait till they get a load of me, he thought to himself.

After Papa Jae introduced him to the generator, it had only taken a few minutes of time with the lab's database to figure out- no ZPM, no shield. All systems in the Labyrinth were equipped with a virus similar to the one that infected the Daedalus. Any Ancient technology that came in direct contact with any system would automatically be corrupted.

The virus was probably a defense mechanism because of the Ancient prisoners they kept here. It lessened any chance of escape. His own data pad was now a risk to bring back to Atlantis when they escaped. And escape they would. Since his primary task was a bust, it left him all sorts of time to ponder the possibilities.

All night he studied their database making a good show of working on the shield. His Wraith was still a fledgling, but he understood enough. He found the eyeballs' logs and system schematics. Dismayed was a good way to describe the knowledge that they had been gone over a week already. The eyeballs were space worthy and flew them here from the apple planet since the Stargate was engaged by Atlantis. Even if the Stargate was inactive, the little spies did not have a DHD. So it took a week for them to get here and deliver their human cargo.

He read their logs and lines of programming code. They went out and searched for Ancient artifacts. They had a specific purpose, if he or anyone from Atlantis were discovered- bring them home to Papa. Sheppard was a particularly interesting find. He carried that gene naturally so registered as an Ancestor to them and capturing Ancients had been their original function. Their only limit was that they could store only one unit of data at a time. One person. One piece of equipment. Whatever.

He definitely could not wait for Atlantis. They would not have any clue where to look. The Mau might have known something if PJ was a constant trading partner. They might know that the eyeballs, if they had been seen, were his. He was not going to hold his breath. The only other possibility would be if they left a trail. He did not know enough about them yet to make that leap. This was not Star Trek after all with their bread crumbs of ion trails. It was up to him.

His alarm clock was that damnable chair and it really took everything he had to look at it. He saw some Geiger counter device in Sheppard's hand as he convulsed. His anger returned as did his resolve. They would not be staying any longer than necessary.

Sheppard might have been in dire straights but he surveyed the room in between sessions. He was people watching. His eyes followed different individuals as they went about their business. He kept track of them until the red cube came out. McKay did not think Sheppard could get any whiter but he did. He bucked and refused to accept it. Understandable really. The obscenity made him take it.

That was when Rodney clicked. The only malevolence surging through him was his own and it did not scare him. No homicidal tendencies. Oh sure he would root for a can of whoop ass to be opened up by Ronon, Teyla, Lorne or Stackhouse. Anyone really. He could even see himself causing mischief but nothing homicidal. And that was a relief.

However, what had Sheppard noticed that he had not? So Rodney people watched as they fried his friend's brain. He came to the conclusion they needed someone like him to run the Labyrinth. Not him mind you, he already had a job. These people were allowed to lollygag. Too much aimless wandering…not doing any work.

Son of a bitch. That bastard.

Sham. No wonder he considered the techs working the chair morons. They were. They had no knowledge about any of this. He looked at a close by screen, it just ran random images. No notes. No one was taking notes. No information sharing. Just discussions on what to push next on the screen. He was such a single minded idiot sometimes. But Sheppard had noticed. Amazing.

McKay stared at Sheppard. A long time ago someone told him an injured teammate was a liability. A dead one was no longer a problem because they did not need you anymore. Sheppard knew this was a sham. He knew that he was a liability.

"Goddamn it, don't you dare…" Without a second thought, he channeled Michael Johnson and sprinted across the lab to help Sheppard.

He did not get a chance to say anything but he read the colonel's body language. The man's hackles were raised; he was going to start pressing buttons. Sheppard always knew the right one's to push too.

Bama and Orson were keeping them separated on purpose. Keeping them from communicating with each other. Even in the cell, Bama was there to eavesdrop. Orson was using misdirection almost as well as Sheppard.

As the obscenity hauled Sheppard out, he looked over his shoulder and gave a half-smile.

So long McKay.

At least that is what McKay heard in his head as Bama not so gently escorted him back to his work station. Rodney's mouth went dry as his hackles were raised.

NO WAY IN HELL.

A/N: That's right McKay, you get good and mad now.