Angela! You are my suuuuuunshine, my only suuuuuunshine, you make me haaaaappy when the new chapter suuuuuucks! You'll never know deaaaaaar how much you make me laugh like a loon alone in my living room, so please don't taaaaaake my suuuuuuuunshine awaaaaaaaaaaaaay!(sorry, so sorry)

Notes: A bit of violence here and a little spoiler for Trinity. Bigger than the previous...5 seconds maybe? Ah well, better safe than sorry (yes, I am a goldmine of clichés). Enjoy! (oooh hopefully!)(oooh and hopefully you'll tell me if you do or don't, eh? nudge nudge)

Shed the light

It was time.

They'd managed to get a Jumper through the gate by some ridiculous diversionary tactics. Who knew Teyla had it in her! Those guards hadn't seen a thing! A little flirty smile, a hand on the arm and they would've followed her anywhere. Such a strange thing to see Teyla, usually so proper, guiding two men to a forest under some false pretence. Ronon couldn't help being amused as her heard her voice in his head. "Oooooh, yes, I am quite sure I have seen a massive beast. Come with me and we can perhaps find the tracks it left." Her easy acceptance of the plan revealed that she would do anything to find McKay, as would they all. It had been such a simple plan, so easily put in action. Contradictory to Sheppard's usual harebrained schemes. Pretend the search teams were dwindling down, going home. After everyone has gone through, just before the gate shuts down, get that cleverly cloaked jumper out here. No guards to see it, no problems created.

It was now hovering above the City, on the lookout for two lone life signs.

Major Lorne's team was stationed near the Complex, trying to hide in the shiny whiteness that surrounded them. Of all the nights on all the planets, they had to stage a rescue mission on the one that was in the last days of its lunar cycle. Three moons, three full moons. Difficult to hide from the light that generated. But hide they did given that there wasn't a soul outside to see them. Talk about a quiet people!

John had to agree with Ronon, there was no entertainment whatsoever here. He supposed when you had kept specimens in your house you didn't need entertainment. Really, none of them could fathom what The Lord wanted with Rodney. They had hazarded a few guesses but had abruptly stopped when Ronon pointed out that perhaps he simply wanted a toy to play with. No more theorising for them.

"Colonel Sheppard…Jumper 2 here. Three life signs moving your way." the voice of the pilot came through the radio.

"Three life signs! Are you sure?"

"Affirmative Colonel."

Assuming it was Rodney, the second life sign would be the woman and the third…

The answer came in the form of a loud theatrical voice.

"Limployd…" John whispered, eyes narrowing. He gestured for Ronon and Teyla to stay in position as he made his way towards the threesome, the jumper pilot guiding him.

"You're behind them now Colonel. 7 metres…"

He saw them. Rodney walked between the woman and The Lord who held him tightly to his side. John was close enough now. He could hear what the man was saying.

"You know what we will have to do, Rodney don't you? I've told you many, many times not to hurt yourself so…"

Rodney answered him but his voice did not carry the words to John. Quietly, he spoke in his radio.

"Lorne, move in, they're almost on top of you. Teyla, Ronon, cover me." This was too much. John hadn't expected to see Lord Limployd. His reaction to the man was not surprising but unwelcome. Rage made his blood boil and he struggled to regain control. After the mission, after Rodney was safe in Atlantis, he would allow it to come out. Not now, he couldn't. They were reaching the door to the Complex. Walking quickly, John was at their side in an instant.

"Don't. Move." the threat in his voice was unmistakable and the P-90 he had trained on Limployd did nothing to lessen it. The woman's eyes grew wide, as did Rodney's, but Lord Limployd just smiled and spread his arms wide in a welcoming gesture.

"Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard! What a pleasure to see you again! It has been too long. I was beginning to think you had given up!"

"You have something that belongs to me, Limployd. I want it back…"

The Lord laughed, throwing his head back. He grasped Rodney's shoulder. "Is this what you want, Colonel Sheppard? Is this what you say belongs to you."

Rodney let out a small whimper and mumbled.

"What? What did you say, Rodney? Speak up!"

Rodney moved closer to The Lord who put and arm around his shoulder, drawing him close. "No…"

"No what, Rodney? Express yourself with clarity please."

"No, I don't belong to him."

Limployd smiled a sick slow spreading smile and reached out to stroke Rodney's cheek. The man closed his eyes in apparent delight.

"No you don't. You belong to me don't you, my beautiful boy? You belong to me…"

Rodney nodded and moved closer still to The Lord.

"See, John Sheppard, out of the mouths of babes. Now, you will take your people and leave my world. You will never return again. Rodney is mine. I have chosen him and with me he shall remain."

Ronon stepped out of the shadows, a fierce look in his eyes, his weapon held straight on Limployd.

"I don't think so…" How could this man think they would ever leave McKay behind! His finger itched to pull the trigger. Send him flying backwards and see in his eyes the realization that this was death. Ronon itched to kill that man just as he had killed Kell, but perhaps he would enjoy drawing this out, make him feel pain. The sight of Rodney, patches of blood tainting his white uniform was a reminder to them all that they had failed him. Keeping a trained hateful eye on Limployd, Ronon turned his attention to a calm Sheppard. This meant trouble and he was glad to be in the middle of it.

John was shaking his head slightly, internal struggle apparent on his face. What had they done to him! Where the hell was the man that snapped his fingers at you like you were some trained dog! Where was the man that yelled at you if you looked at him funny! Where was the man that…where was his team-mate, his friend? He'd told Elizabeth it had been too long! Told her! What had they been thinking! Why had he let her put down the law like that! Yes, she was the expedition leader, but he was the military leader and this was a military situation.

Suddenly, it was not about getting Rodney back, it was about hurting Limployd. It was about drawing blood. He saw the dried blood staining Rodney's clothes. Now he wanted to see that silk draped bronzed skin split and let its precious liquid out in a great big wave of red and warmth and life.

First, he would play with Limployd a bit. He thought he knew John Sheppard but he had no idea! John raised his hands in mock surrender. Mock; after all, he was still holding his weapon.

"Fine. We'll leave your world. I'll take my people and go…" He turned, took a few steps away from the threesome that stood by the Complex's door. He felt the eyes of his team on him, boring into him. He heard them begin to move and that is when he turned back to face his adversary. The Lord seemed delighted, looking him over with a smugness that should have been on the terrified face of the man clinging to him. John saw nothing other than that smugness, that final insult. They took his smugness! Assuredly, this was not the most coherent thought of the night but it made sense to him. That bastard Limployd had Rodney's smug look! It was his! He had to give it back! Someone had to pay for this. John wanted reparation and held the certainty that Rodney would want it too!

He raised a finger, as if to make a point. "One last thing, Lord…"

Raising his gun, he shot Limployd who was thrown back against the building and slid to the ground, leaving a trail of blood on the white, shiny surface. John only saw that red rivulet running down the man's face and satisfaction flooded him.

"I'll take all my people…and go." He stepped over the body of the gasping, bleeding Lord and reached for Rodney. He had not expected him to resist. Rodney fought like the devil, fists hitting everything they could reach as tears streamed down his face.

"My Lord! My Lord! You killed My Lord! YOU KILLED HIM!"

The fists couldn't hurt John, despite the fact that Rodney had grown much stronger in the months he had been here. Blind, tearful desolation did not make for a good fight, especially against a trained military. John let him pound away his despair as he signalled for someone to grab the distraught man. Physical pain was inconsequential in comparison to what the words inflicted.

"You killed My Lord," Rodney repeated, "My Lord."

He was quickly restrained by Ronon and Lorne as John whispered "Damn it Rodney, what the hell have they done to you…" thus voicing what the surrounding members of the team thought.

The woman, his guardian, placed a hand upon Rodney's cheek and spoke in a calming voice. "Do not worry about The Lord, we will see to him. You must go with them, Rodney. They will care for you now…You will be safe."

Rodney's face was a mask of pain and he slumped further between Lorne and Ronon. They were the lucky ones; they held him, had a tangible bond. Physical contact was all that could be had with him now. Rodney was gone, taken from them, and no one could reach him. Touch…a simple touch was immensely comforting.

"The Lord…I can't leave him, he needs me…I need him. Please don't make me go. I will do better, I will work harder, I won't bleed anymore. You can put me in the box…in the containment chamber, I won't be hurt! Please don't make me go. Please. I can be better!" The words coming out of Rodney's mouth affected everyone witness to the scene to an unimaginable degree. This was not the man they knew. He was so far removed from Rodney McKay that it felt like listening to a stranger.

John didn't want this, couldn't handle this. He'd seen some horrifying things in his day but never…never this… never… this formatting…

He couldn't help shouting his dismay. "RODNEY! SNAP OUT OF IT!"

Rodney seemed to neither hear him nor notice the two men holding him up. His eyes clouded by an unending flow of tears were locked on Limployd's body.

The woman gave John a warning look, shaking her head. They had to be gentle. "Rodney. You must go. You must be strong and go with them."

She signalled for the team to take him away. They did, Rodney's anguished cries echoing through the night. Promises and pleas spilled from his lips. He would be better, would do whatever was asked of him. He promised to stay in his box for days and face the darkness if they would only keep him, if The Lord would only love him. Apologies and regrets followed. He was not good enough, he knew, but he would try harder it they would just keep him!

Every word he spoke cut through his team's heart. Doctor Rodney McKay didn't promise anything or plead with anyone. He didn't ask for chances, he had no need for them since he excelled at everything he did. He didn't apologise, well, unless he blew up five sixth of a solar system. John thought of the event following the dismal failure of the Arcturus project, reliving the memory of Rodney's sole apology. He would've found it unbearable had he known it was the only memory that still connected his friend to his prior life; the only memory that brought the finger-snapping doctor back.

"John Sheppard…"

John stopped and turned to look at the guardian who had spoken. Her teary eyes were locked on Rodney's back. He was being carried towards the centre of the City where the cloaked jumper had landed. Teyla followed closely, a hand stroking his back in a comforting motion. She did it to soothe Rodney but it soothed her just the same. He was there, at last, a warm bulk under her hand. They had him, or at least some form of him. They were bringing him home.

The guardian spoke, her voice softened by what she saw, relieved by the certainty she now held. He would be fine, it would be hard, but he would be well, he would be…cherished…

"You must take good care of him. A long road stretches ahead. Filled with heartache, it waits for him to take a step and begin the journey towards wholeness. He is not the man you knew but with care and patience I believe he can be found. You must go now, leave and never come back." She turned away from him to tend to The Lord.

John entered the Jumper and sat at the controls. Carson had already sedated Rodney and was examining him, noting the bruises, the wounds with growing dread. The search teams were sitting quietly, listening to thickly burred words of concern and regret. John directed the Jumper towards the gate. He knew they had done what they'd come to do, they had found their team-mate, but it wasn't Rodney they were bringing back. An all-oppressing guilt settled over him and once again he wished he had come sooner, he wished he hadn't screwed this up. He'd failed everyone on Atlantis and worst of all, he'd failed Rodney.

Looking back to the man strapped on a gurney, John's thought brought him to what he had done to The Lord. He didn't know if the man was dead. He had simply left and followed his team without another glance at the…appalling excuse for a human being responsible for Rodney's current condition.

He thought of all the times they had come here, searching. No one had said a thing! They had allowed this to happen! Why did it have to be Rodney! Why did they have to come here at all!

Wanting for something to distract him from the feelings finding Rodney in such a state aroused, John clung to his usual. Resentment directed to the powers that be. Elizabeth.

Rodney would have been in Atlantis a long time ago if it wasn't for her belief in the power of diplomacy! He had known, and said, it was not the way to deal with this situation, with these people. She would see now, wouldn't she! She would see what all that waiting had cost Rodney! She would see what diplomacy did to him, what good trying to keep the Taulousiens as allies had brought! This was the Genii, times a million!

In the months to come he often would wish he had made sure Limployd was dead, wish he had killed him with his bare hands when he'd had the chance. He would not be the only one. The Atlantis expedition would collectively wish they had choked him to death for to see him die in front of each and every one of them would bring the sweet taste of revenge to counteract the bitterness.