Right, here's the update for you all. Hope you all like.
Tinuviel Undomiel: Well, you're going to find out. May I join you beating Caldwell with a stick? I hate the guy.
Innogen: You have some very interesting points there. As for the ship, I really ain't gonna do it.
puddles1311: Caldwell is always trying to mess things up. I can't stand the guy. I think he may get a punch later, though I'm not sure who'll be doing said punching.
Chapter 5:Late night memories
John lay on his bed for a while staring at the ceiling. There would be no rescue. Elizabeth was captured and he couldn't save her. He tried to block out the images of her on the Genii homeworld. They would torture her. He knew that. She was more than a prisoner of war; she was the ultimate prize.
But to Koyla…what was she to Koyla?
He'd already had her snatched away from him once. And the Genii had released her before when she'd been their prisoner. Koyla would be angry, but now he had her. And she would be powerless to stop him from doing what he wanted. He could torture how he wanted.
John closed his eyes, and the images came back.
Elizabeth forced up against a wall by Koyla. She was screaming. She was pleading. And Koyla was…he was…
"Stop!"
John yelled out and sat bolt upright. He could feel the tears returning. Elizabeth was out there and she was helpless. He knew she could fight, he'd trained her himself. But what use when she was a prisoner.
He couldn't help but smile at the thought of their training lessons, especially the first one.
John was stood in on of the training rooms unpacking his kit bag. He pulled out two pairs of sticks and some boxing gloves. He wasn't really sure exactly what he was going to teach her, but it would be something.
He heard the door slide open, and turned to face Elizabeth. He was shocked to see her outfit. She was wearing a pair of shorts that cut off just above the knee and a cropped top.
"Never seen a woman before John?"
"I…what?"
She laughed and dropped a small bag on the floor.
"Typical man."
"Hey, I resemble that implication!"
She shook her head. Stepping onto the mats, she began to stretch. John was surprised to see how flexible she was, especially when she did the splits.
"I thought only Teyla could do that."
"I used to be a gymnast John, it comes with the territory."
"You? A gymnast? I always put you down for a non sporty kind of person."
"You mean you thought I was a geek."
John glared at her.
"So, what's up first? Sticks?"
"If you want."
"I don't mind, anyway, you're supposed to be the teacher. Shouldn't you have a lesson plan or something?"
"Do you want me to teach you? Or shall I get Ronon and watch him kill you with his finger?"
Elizabeth didn't respond.
"That's better."
John took one pair of sticks and threw them across to Elizabeth She caught them and began to twirl them in her fingers. They were fairly light, but she knew that if wielded correctly, they could cause a great deal of pain.
John watched her with interest before stepping onto the mats himself. He walked across to her and held his sticks up ready. Elizabeth did the same and watched his eyes.
"Lets try sparring for a while so I can assess your level."
"Fine by me."
John wasn't entirely sure about the look on her face, but he went along with it.
They began slowly and John was pleased to see that she could block everything he did. Then, he got faster using more complex shots. Elizabeth speeded up as well and continued to block his shots. John even started to use some moves he'd invented himself, and still she blocked. John hesitated for a second, unsure as to what to do next.
Elizabeth took her chance, and launched into an attack of her own. John was thrown completely off guard, and very soon found himself being completely beaten.
"Elizabeth…"
He watched the smile on her face slowly spread.
Suddenly, she lunged forward at him. John leaned back, and Elizabeth wrapped her leg around his.
"Oh crap."
Elizabeth shifted her leg and watched as John fell backwards heavily. He lay on the floor as Elizabeth stood smiling over him.
"Well, John, that's my level. It comes from watching people sparring for the past 3 years. Now, I'm very sorry, but I need my knee strap, I'll be back soon."
John lay on the floor and watched her leave. He had a feeling he had just been completely duped by her. But he had to admit it had been fun.
She was going to get it when she got back though.
John lay still, but his smile faded.
She hadn't come back though. The Wraith had launched an attack on the Alpha Site, where many non-essential personnel were. Most made it, but a number of scientists were killed.
The training sessions continued though, whatever was taking place. Some days she was fine and she and John would be equally matched. Other times she was upset and then she either lacked energy or she became angry and lashed out at him. John took it all equally though and helped her through it every time.
When the war had ended, she felt that there was no need to continue. She didn't restart when the Genii war began. There was too much to do, no time for anything but work. She hardly got any sleep either. John had worried about her.
Now he realised he had good cause for worrying, but for the first time, he couldn't tell her how he felt. He couldn't tell her he was worried. He couldn't tell her anything.
"I wish you were here," he whispered softly to the empty air.
The door swung open and Elizabeth was thrown to the floor. She struggled to breathe for a moment as the air was once again forced out of her lungs. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. The door slammed loudly and Elizabeth was alone again.
They'd beaten her badly, but she was sure it was not as bad as it could have been. She was still conscious for a start. She hoped it had something to do with the fact that she was a woman, and that they had a problem with beating women. She might survive longer if that was the case.
She rolled over onto her back to try and assess her injuries. She had plenty of bruises, but she was fairly sure there were no broken bones. One or two of her ribs were definitely on the verge of been broken. Her nose had finally stopped bleeding and there were a few cuts somewhere. She couldn't quite remember where.
She sat up slowly, wincing at the pain coursing through her body. They'd kicked her wearing boots almost as heavy as hers. Taking her boots was one of the first things they'd done. She had no idea where they were now, and her feet already felt cold. They'd taken her socks too; they'd caught in her boots, which they hadn't loosened properly. The floors were bare and metallic. There was nothing to provide heat. She couldn't even curl herself up into a ball to preserve heat. She knew that if she pressed on her ribs, there was no telling what damage she could do.
She needed something though, some sort of comfort in the harsh cell. Taking things slowly she reached into the pocket of her blouse. Inside, folded up small, was a picture. It was actually a copy of a picture; the original was framed on her desk back on Atlantis. It was of John's team taken at the party to celebrate the defeat the Wraith. They were all dressed smartly, standing in a line smiling at the camera. John had tried to liven up the photo by wrapping one arm around Rodney's neck and one around Teyla's waist. Ronon was stood at the end of the line. Elizabeth was sure he had no idea what was going on, which just seemed to make the photos even funnier. It always seemed to cheer her up. The photo reminded her of that night, it was one she wasn't going to forget.
"Come on guys, one photo. I have got no photos of you all together, and knowing my luck I'll never get you all together again."
"Trying to imply something Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth glared at John.
"Very funny. Get in the picture, now!"
John stood to attention and saluted.
"Yes sir!"
"You can mock me all you want John, I'm still your boss."
She held the camera up to eye and watched them.
John was physically dragging Rodney into the picture, while Teyla and Ronon stood to one side watching with interest. She wasn't sure they had entirely they had grasped the idea of photographs. At last, John had them all lined up and staring blankly at the camera.
"Could you all smile? Please."
Teyla was smiling softly, John had the flyboy grin, Ronon looked like Ronon and Rodney seemed to be glaring at the camera.
"Oh come one, look lively and happy please! We did just defeat the Wraith folks."
John reached out and wrapped one arm around Rodney's neck.
"Smile, or you're gonna get a nookie."
"A what?"
John smirked across at Elizabeth.
"John?"
"Elizabeth?"
Rodney looked between the pair of them for a second getting more and more agitated.
"What's going on?"
John smirked again. Tightening his grip around Rodney's neck he used his other hand to mess up his hair.
"That is a nookie."
"John. John stop it. Sheppard. Colonel! Elizabeth!"
Elizabeth sighed.
"John. Teyla, do you think you could do something?"
Teyla smiled and nodded her head. She grabbed his arm and pulled it around her waist. John glared at her. She smiled back sweetly.
"If you don't stop this Colonel, I will break your wrist."
Elizabeth smiled.
"That's better."
"Elizabeth, did you not hear her? She's going to break my wrist."
"I know. I'm resisting the urge to tell her to do it."
"Hey!"
Elizabeth had to try very hard not to laugh as she took the picture. As soon as she had taken it, she began to laugh uncontrollably. John glared and went for her. Elizabeth looked up just in time to see John coming towards her. She yelled and went to run, but John was too fast. He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up. She screamed loudly.
"Would someone help me? Please!"
Teyla and Ronon came over quickly and set about trying to pull the two apart. However, John was now tickling her mercilessly. Limbs were thrashing about everywhere. Rodney stood apart trying to look serious. Carson appeared next to Rodney trying to interpret the situation.
"Did I miss something?"
"No Carson, not really."
"Will…someone…get him…off me?"
Carson put his head on one side and smiled.
"Is that Elizabeth?"
"Yep. Gonna help?"
"I could get a tranquilliser?"
"That…could…be…good!"
Carson smiled at Elizabeth's attempt to speak out.
Suddenly there was a shout and the fighting group fell to the floor in a heap. The other two hurried over to offer their help, but soon found themselves pulled down into the fray. Everyone was laughing loudly, and completely unable to get up as every time, someone dragged them back down. It felt good to all be together. It felt good to know they were safe.
Elizabeth blinked back tears. She would never see them again, and she knew it. Koyla would never release her. She pressed the picture to her chest and lay back down. Her head was spinning. She just needed to rest.
Her thoughts strayed to back to the team. Did they know she was alive? She hoped they did. She knew that John would never give up on her. He'd be planning a rescue mission. She'd be free soon, and Koyla wouldn't be able to stop it.
"It won't be long," she whispered softly to the empty air.
As her head spun again, she felt the darkness creeping up over her. She folded the picture back up and pressed it to her lips. It went everywhere with her. It was a comfort to have it so near, like she had her friends so near to her. She placed it back into the pocket of her blouse carefully and zipped her jacket back up. The night, if it was night, was going to be cold. Her cell was dimly lit, but her vision was growing darker. With a final sigh, she let the darkness claim her.