The Day of Reckoning – Chapter 15

Sheppard resisted the urge to gasp for air, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. He clenched his fists and swallowed hard against the fear and panic rising in his chest, tightening in to the point he could scarcely breathe. It took every ounce of resolve he could muster to stand firm and look Kolya in the eye.

Kolya continued to smile. "Colonel? I'm surprised to see you . . . alive. You must have very skilled doctors in Atlantis."

Sheppard concentrated on keeping his voice steady. "As a matter of fact, we do, Commander. Sorry to disappoint you."

"It is a problem easily solved," retorted Kolya, his hand moving slowly to his sidearm.

Sheppard made a similar movement before realizing that he had left his weapons in Atlantis. This was to be a peaceful mission and he had wanted to show at least some degree of trust.

"Commander Kolya!" barked Cowen. "The Colonel is here to make arrangements for a memorial in honor of our fallen soldiers. I gave him my word that he would be safe while he was here. I expect you to honor that promise."

Kolya frowned. "But sir, he killed many of our –"

"I know what he did. And he paid for his actions at your hands. That matter is over. You will let them pass."

Kolya sneered, drawing his face close to Sheppard's. "This is not over, Sheppard."

Sheppard returned Kolya's glare. "My sentiments exactly."

Kolya stepped out of the way and Sheppard moved past him. His stomach felt as though it had moved up into his throat and was choking him. He desperately hoped he could keep it together long enough to get away from Kolya. He had only gone a few steps when Kolya began to taunt him.

"How's the back, Sheppard? Do your women find all those scars attractive? Have you told them how you got them? I'd be interested to see if I can still read Tannus's name."

Sheppard grit his teeth and began to walk faster, trying to get away from the sound of Kolya's voice. Teyla and Ronon hurried to catch up. He was so intent on getting away from Kolya that he almost fell down a set of stone stairs leading to a doorway. When he glanced sideways to get a look at the building, he realized it was the prison where he had been kept.

He suddenly weaved sideways to put some distance between him and the site of his captivity. He bumped roughly into Ronon and stumbled, losing his balance. Ronon reached out and grabbed Sheppard by the upper arms and roughly pulled him back to his feet.

Sheppard twisted out of Ronon's grip, falling backwards with a thump. As soon as he hit the ground, he scrambled back several feet, stirring up a cloud of dust and leaving a shocked Ronon standing with his mouth open.

"Don't touch me!" he yelled, panic etching the pitch of his voice upward. He leaned forward and stared at his hand, rubbing some loose dirt between his finger and thumb. "Just leave me alone. Don't touch me."

Teyla slowly approached him and kneeled beside him. "Colonel, it's just us. We just want to help you. Let's go home, now . . . where we'll be safe."

Sheppard frowned, but his vision seemed to clear.He brought his gaze up to meet Teyla's and then shifted it to Ronon, as if trying to decide what to do.

"I'm sorry, Sheppard. I didn't mean to startle you," said Ronon. He didn't move closer, however, afraid he'd spook Sheppard further.

Sheppard nodded. "I know. Sorry." He slowly got to his feet. "Let's go."

"What's wrong, Sheppard? You want to show your friends your accommodations from last time? I'd be happy to give them the tour, for old time's sake." Kolya continued to taunt and laugh.

Sheppard began to walk faster toward the edge of town, his head bowed as he stared at the ground.

"Colonel!" Teyla called, attempting to warn him.

With his head down, he wasn't aware he was about to run into one of the poles. He looked up at the sound of her voice and barely missed crashing into the wooden beam. He dodged between the poles and under the shackles. Looking at the metal restraints, he threw his hands up and ducked, throwing his balance off and sending him crashing to the ground yet again. This time he hit the dirt on his side, jarring his right shoulder. He grunted in pain as he rolled over and got quickly back to his feet.

Teyla could hear Kolya laughing as she and Ronon tried to catch up with Sheppard, who was now running for the edge of the settlement.

"Run, Sheppard. Just keep running!" yelled Kolya.

Cowen turned and looked at Kolya. "Are you finished now?"

Kolya smiled. "He is weak. The next time I see him, I'll kill him."

"What you do off world is between you and him. But you will not harm Colonel Sheppard when he returns to build the memorial. I told you, I have given him my word and I have no reason to go back on it."

"What is this memorial nonsense, anyway? What kind of a soldier honors the very people he killed? That makes no sense."

Cowen shrugged. "I believe he feels compassion for the families that were left behind."

Kolya snorted. "Compassion. A soldier has no use for compassion. This is just another sign of his weakness."

Cowen looked across the square. "Are you so sure he is weak? Could you have returned to the place where you were treated as he was?"

Kolya grinned once again. "I could return to kill my tormentor. Maybe he is very clever and that is his real intention."

Cowen thought about the man he had spent the afternoon with, the man who had just run from the village in obvious torment. "Somehow, I don't think that's why he's here. I think he is simply very different than we are." He looked back to Kolya. "Perhaps there is a lesson for us in this." Cowen turned and went back into the building, leaving Kolya standing alone.

Kolya nodded. "The lesson is that I should never have let him return to Atlantis alive. I won't make that mistake again."

oOo

As soon as Sheppard was out of the village, he staggered into the tall grass beside the path and vomited until long past the time when his stomach was empty. By the time the heaving had stopped, Teyla was next to him, offering her support. She attempted to put her arm around him to steady him, but he pulled away.

"Don't touch me. Please. Just . . . don't touch me."

He stood in the tall grass, holding his right shoulder. His face was pale and he was shaking as he gasped for breath.

"Colonel, we need to get you back to Atlantis." She wanted to reach out to him, but knew from his previous reaction that he wouldn't allow her to. Her frustration rose, along with her anger at Kolya.

Sheppard concentrated on Teyla's voice as he tried to get the sounds of Kolya's laugh out of his head. "Back to Atlantis . . . We have to get back to Atlantis." Sheppard turned and began walking toward the gate.

Teyla looked at Ronon, noticing that he looked as worried as she felt. They fell in step behind Sheppard, watching his unsteady steps. After a few minutes, he began to walk faster. They picked up the pace in order to keep up with Sheppard, but found that he kept increasing his speed until finally, he was running. He reached the gate several seconds ahead of them and they could see him frantically dialing the gate as they reached the DHD. The gate did not engage.

When the gate didn't activate, Sheppard felt panic rise up and threaten to completely overwhelm him. 'It's not working. Why isn't it working? We have to get back to Atlantis now. What's wrong with it?"

Ronon looked down at the DHD. "It's okay, Sheppard. You just dialed wrong. I'll dial Atlantis and we can go home." Ronon began dialing Atlantis.

Sheppard's legs gave way and he dropped to his knees. He was shaking and panting, his arms wrapped around his midsection. He kept looking down the path to see if Kolya had followed them.

When the wormhole was activated, Teyla turned to Sheppard. "Colonel, we can go home now. Can you get up?"

Sheppard's gaze was vacant, but he finally looked at her and seemed to focus. "I'm okay." He got unsteadily to his feet and walked toward the gate, Ronon and Teyla behind him.

oOo

McKay spotted Elizabeth and Carson standing beside the rail of the balcony overlooking the gate almost as soon as he entered the control room. He tried to look nonchalant as he made his way over to them.

"Hello, Rodney," said Carson.

"Rodney, do you need something?" asked Elizabeth.

McKay looked down at the gateroom and then back at Elizabeth. "Oh, I was just passing by and thought I'd see how things are going."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

"Yeah, just saying hello." He nervously rubbed his hands together. "So, what are you two up to?"

Carson and Elizabeth looked at each other and smiled and then turned back to Rodney. "They aren't back yet, but we expect them soon," said Elizabeth.

Rodney's eyes widened. "Who? No. That's not why I'm here. I'm just . . . Okay, whatever."

They all turned at the sound of the gate being activated.

"It's Ronon's IDC," reported the tech.

Elizabeth nodded. "Okay, let them through."

They watched as Sheppard stumbled through the gate, swaying as he attempted to stay on his feet. Ronon and Teyla came through right behind him. Elizabeth inhaled sharply when she saw how pale he was. His uniform was covered with sweat and dirt, his eyes unfocused as he stood there looking confused. Beckett was already halfway down the stairs by the time Elizabeth realized he had left.

"I knew this was a bad idea," Rodney whispered.

As Carson reached Sheppard, he started to take his arm when Teyla stopped him.

"Dr. Beckett, Colonel Sheppard does not wish to be touched right now."

Beckett let his hand drop. "Colonel, I need you in the infirmary for a post mission check. Can you make it?"

Sheppard stood swaying and breathing hard, his eyes wandering around the gateroom, causing Beckett to wonder if the man had heard anything he said. Finally Sheppard shifted his eyes to meet Beckett's.

"I can make it." He turned and shuffled down the hall, his team and Beckett following closely behind.

Elizabeth watched as they left the room. Beckett turned long enough to make eye contact and nod, letting her know he would contact her. She returned the nod. Leaning forward, her hands against the railing, she bowed her head and sighed. All she could think of was why had she let him go.

oOo

Once in the infirmary, Beckett got Sheppard to sit on an exam table.

"Colonel, I need to take your pulse and blood pressure and do a general exam. To do that, I'm goin' to have to touch you, okay? I'm not goin' to hurt you."

Sheppard took a deep breath. "I know, Doc. It's okay. I just . . . while we were on the planet I was . . . It's okay, Doc. I trust you."

Beckett smiled. "I'll make it as quick as possible." He took Sheppard's wrist to take his pulse and was surprised to feel the man shaking.

"Colonel, are you cold?"

Sheppard looked at his feet. "No, I just . . . can't stop shaking."

Beckett looked at Sheppard sadly. "Don't worry, son. Let me look you over and then I can get you something." He looked over at Teyla and Ronon, standing nearby. "Anything I should know?"

"Yes," said Teyla. "He fell a few times. I believe he may have injured his right shoulder."

Beckett looked at Sheppard. "Colonel?"

"It's just bruised."

"Well, lad, why don't you let me be the judge of that. Let's get your shirt off and have a look." He helped Sheppard pull his T-shirt off, noting how he groaned at moving his arm. "Well," he said when he had finished his exam, "I think you're right. I think it's just badly bruised, but you need to limit it's use for a few days. It's barely healed from being dislocated and I don't want to chance further damage." He noticed Sheppard staring at him. "What?"

"I was just thinking about something Kolya said. We really do have good doctors on Atlantis. I don't often take the time to tell you."

Beckett's eyes widened. "Kolya was there?" He looked at Teyla and Ronon to find both nodding. No wonder Sheppard couldn't stop shaking.

oOo

Elizabeth and Rodney entered the infirmary together to find Beckett waiting for them just inside the door. He motioned for them to follow him to his office. As they went through Beckett's office door, they saw Sheppard. He was lying curled up on his side in one of the beds, Teyla at his side stroking his arm and speaking softly to him. Ronon stood behind her, almost as if he was standing guard.

Elizabeth felt the knot in her stomach tighten as she and Rodney took a seat in Beckett's office. "What happened?"

"According to Teyla, the meeting with Cowen went well. Kolya showed up as they were leavin', though, and exchanged words with the Colonel. They also saw where the Colonel was held captive and where he was tortured. The combination has . . . set him back a bit."

McKay's eyes widened. "They saw Kolya? That can't be good."

Beckett shook his head. "No, accordin' to what Teyla and Ronon said, it wasn't. Colonel Sheppard was quite agitated and he couldn't seem to stop shakin', so I gave him something to help him relax. Teyla said he was sick after they left the settlement and seemed a bit disoriented. I think he should stay here tonight so we can keep an eye on him."

"How much of a setback are we talking about?" asked Elizabeth.

Beckett shook his head. "I don't know. We'll have to watch him closely for a few days to see."

"Can we see him?" asked Rodney.

"No. Not right now. Teyla almost had him asleep and I don't want to take a chance of wakin' him. He needs to rest."

"Okay, we'll come back in the morning then." Elizabeth stood up to leave and then turned back. "Would you ask Teyla and Ronon to come see me when they leave? I need a report of what happened."

"Hey, how come they get to see him and we don't?" whined Rodney.

"Because they were with him on the mission and then here in the infirmary. I told you that the Colonel was quite agitated and Teyla seemed to be comforting him."

"Oh." Rodney looked up at Carson. "He'll be okay, won't he?"

Carson smiled. "Yes, we'll make sure that he is."

oOo

Nick sat down in the chair beside Kelly's desk and propped his feet up. Kelly looked up from the file she was working on and slapped his feet.

"Get your feet off the desk, Mister."

Nick shook his head. "I keep telling you, it's Doctor, not Mister. You never listen."

"Oh, I listen," she said playfully. "Don't you have something constructive to do?"

"I'm being constructive. I'm entertaining you."

Kelly snorted. "Oh, is that what you call it? I was thinking more along the lines of annoying."

"Fine. Since I'm not appreciated, I'll just go check on the Colonel."

Kelly looked up at him. "You just checked on him ten minutes ago."

Nick's expression sobered as he stood up. "I know, but he was getting restless. I do need to check on him again."

Nick heard Sheppard thrashing and mumbling before he reached his bed. As he walked closer, Sheppard sat straight up and yelled.

"Kelly," called Nick as he hurried over to Sheppard's side. "Colonel, it's okay. Just a nightmare, buddy. You're safe in Atlantis."

"Kolya's here," whispered Sheppard.

"No, he's not here. We're safe, I promise."

He started to reach out to Sheppard when the Colonel scrambled out of the other side of the bed. Sheppard quickly crawled to the wall and slid behind the head of the bed. Nick came around the bed and kneeled so he could see Sheppard.

"Colonel, please come out of there. I'm trying to help you."

"Go away. I just need to stay here for a while. I need to be by myself." Sheppard was curled up in the corner between the wall and the cabinet beside the bed.

"Nick?"

Nick turned to see Kelly looking at him, her eyes wide. "You better get Carson. Tell him we have a problem."

TBC