Sacrifice
Chapter 3
John stared at the rough stone walls of the cell, his mind churning. Rodney lay sleeping next to him, pressed close to the Colonel for some much-needed warmth. The scientist twitched and murmured in his sleep, his face contorting into periodic grimaces of pain as he clenched at his rib-cage. John could feel an unnatural heat radiating off McKay, and knew that the physicist was rapidly becoming deathly ill. He tugged his jacket over the scientist, doing his best to make the man comfortable.
Between pained breaths, Rodney had managed to relate to John the few details he knew: that they had been captured three days ago as they exited the stargate. That they were questioning Rodney about the location of Earth, specifically what the eighth symbol on the stargate in Atlantis had been. And that Worner and his men were working for the Wraith.
This last bit sent John reeling. Although, he thought angrily, he shouldn't be surprised. They had run into other humans who had struck bargains with the Wraith before; bargains that John doubted the Wraith planned to honor.
Rodney turned again, shivering and groaning, and John rubbed absently at the man's back, trying to offer some comfort. Three days. John had been knocked unconscious when they had been attacked at the gate, slammed in the head by the butt of a gun. The others had been hit with some kind of stun weapon. When McKay had regained consciousness in the confines of the cave, he had spent a few hours trying to revive the Colonel, to no avail. Then, Worner had come, and John had been left alone.
They had questioned Rodney for those three days, only bringing the scientist back to the cell when he had finally lapsed into unconsciousness. They always left water and a loaf of bread, but nothing else. Rodney had managed to joke that it seemed to be true that you can live on bread and water, but his short bark of laughter had erupted into violent coughs. John's heart had nearly stopped when McKay's hacking ended with him spitting up blood.
"S'okay. I'm….okay," Rodney had managed before leaning back and wheezing, his blue eyes clenched shut. He had fallen asleep shortly thereafter, exhaustion finally taking it's toll. John felt his own pain and dizziness subside, replaced by rage. The next time they came to interrogate anyone, it would be John leaving the cave, not Rodney. The scientist had had enough.
"What time is it?" Rodney's question brought John out of his reverie, and he shifted, absently raising his left arm. He frowned as he realize his watch had been confiscated, along with everything else remotely useful.
"Don't know. It's been about six hours since Worner left, though," he answered. He saw McKay flinch at the man's name, then struggle to sit up.
"McKay! Hey…sit still. You're in no shape to be moving around," John admonished. Rodney ignored him, wiggling his body so that his back was braced against the cave wall, and he was shoulder to shoulder with Sheppard. When he finally was sitting up, he breathed a small sigh.
"He'll be here soon," Rodney said quietly. His voice was flat, but his hands continuously twitched in his lap. John reached over and grabbed one of the water jugs, offering it to the scientist.
"What makes you say that?" John asked. He watched as Rodney took a few small sips of water, swallowing with difficulty.
"He seems to know when I'm awake. Cameras, I think. Well hidden." John didn't miss the stress on the word 'I'm'. Rodney sighed again, his hands absently rubbing at his broken rib cage. He stared at the walls, deep in thought for a long moment, then turned back to John.
"Sheppard, if he…takes me again, I'm not sure…I don't think I can….." Rodney trailed off, the normally verbose scientist at a loss for words. John stared hard at his teammate, his own green eyes connecting with frightened blue ones.
"Easy Rodney. You're not going anywhere. Not if I have anything to say about it," John assured him. His gaze remained on McKay, taking in the bruising and beating the man had endured while John lay sleeping on the floor. Rage and hatred flowed through him, and he forced himself to envision the smiling face of Worner. His fists clenched and any remnant of illness or pain vanished.
A clank of the lock, and suddenly, the huge door swung open. The man called Worner strode into the cell, his face grim. John rose to his feet, one hand waving at Rodney, silently telling the scientist to remain seated.
"Dr. McKay. You will come with us," Worner commanded. Two guards marched into the cell, and John stood in front of the scientist.
"No. I'll be coming with you instead," John said. He braced himself, ready to protect himself and Rodney from the two guards. Worner frowned, then made a slicing motion with one arm. The guard nearest to John raised his weapon, and blasted it point blank at the Colonel.
John felt searing pain envelope him, and suddenly he was on the floor, convulsing. He could hear Rodney's cries of distress and anger, could vaguely see the scientist reaching out, trying to get to him. The guard holstered his weapon, then leaned over and yanked McKay to his feet. The physicist cried out again, this time in pain, and he staggered as the two men dragged him out the door.
Worner remained completely silent, his dark eyes riveted on the Colonel. Slowly, the convulsions stopped, but John remained unable to move. He lay on the floor, gasping and trembling, his green eyes glazing over. As his vision faded, Worner leaned over and spat on him.
"Next time you interfere, Colonel, I will cut out his heart as you watch. This I promise." Darkness overwhelmed John, and the last memory he had was of Worner's boots as he strode out the door.
TBC