AN: You guys asked why I hate it, and honestly, it's been a monster to write. When I started posting, I had the story complete. I had a working shell that needed some filling and fleshing and polishing. Then I got to the middle of the story and needed to do more, change things, add things, and it's become a lot more work than I'd anticipated. It's also very very difficult to write. Trying to portray the team dynamic in this kind of situation, telling the story from John's POV the entire way with his blindness is a constant challenge. Anyway, enough of my whining, because it is nearing the end. Lilas, I know, I added in an element that I didn't have before and it added an extra three chapters. Bad bad bad of me. (grin). Again, massive thanks to gaffer, Linzi, Shelly and Kylen!
Chapter Nine
John leapt to his feet, ignoring the fact that he couldn't see, he just wanted to get his hands on Gadmere. Rodney and Teyla grabbed him on each side and forced him down.
"We would like to see him." She thrust a forceful hand on John's shoulder as he tried again to get to his feet. "To say our…goodbyes."
"Right, our goodbyes," agreed Rodney. "It's a funny thing on our world. Aside from the fact that we don't needlessly kill innocent -"
John forced his anger down and said, "What Rodney is trying to say, is that we want to see Ronon." Sheppard nudged his knee against Rodney's to stop McKay's mouth from making things worse. Ironically, John realized that strangling Gadmere probably wouldn't have gone over well, either. He didn't know what Teyla had in mind, but McKay had picked up on something because he'd chimed in with the same train of thought.
Sheppard didn't have the benefit of eye contact to convey anything, and he knew he needed to trust them. Obviously there was some plan brewing between them. Forcing down his confrontational urges, the ones still pleading with him to wrap his hands around Gadmere's throat, John grudgingly followed their lead. "You've got to let us do that much," he made his voice as strangled as possible, trying to convey grieving acceptance without going overboard. "He's our friend."
The relief in Gadmere was palpable when he thought the confrontation was over, and John couldn't help but wonder how naïve this administrator was. To think, they'd simply hand over their friend to these people so they could kill him. Clearly, the Nokomisians hadn't been around the universe much.
"It will be arranged -"
"Soon," interrupted John.
Gadmere hesitated. "Today, then," he acquiesced. "But first, there was another matter, Doctor Groton told me that you and Rodney must return for a check-up and new scans. I'll send a transport to take you there first, then the security detainment center."
The awkward silence grew, and Gadmere had no way of knowing the cause. John, and his team, however, were thinking about the coincidence, and wondering if the underground movement had anything to do with Ronon's arrest, while Gadmere probably thought it was just their unhappiness over the situation.
Gadmere walked the rest of the way to the door, and John listened as the crinkling of his uniform grew quieter as he left, but the administrator called a final warning before leaving for good. "I'm sorry about your friend, but please, let this be a lesson to the rest of you. You are here to stay, and that is final."
Once Gadmere had left, shutting the door behind him, John rounded on Rodney, "What the hell do you think you're doing, and you," he spun around to face the direction he'd last known Teyla to be in, thrusting a finger forward, "you know better - I could've convinced him to let me take Ronon's place." Despite his earlier thoughts of trusting his team, the anger over letting the opportunity to free Ronon and take his place boiled over. It shouldn't be Ronon sitting in a jail, sentenced to die, it should've been him. They were his responsibility, and he'd be damned if he was going to sit back and let anyone pay for his mistakes.
"Please, what's a six letter word for self-sacrifice?"
God damn stupid crossword puzzles, he thought even as he worked out the possibilities quickly in his head. Finding one that suited his purpose, John smiled painfully and replied, "Friend."
"Wrong," snapped Rodney. "Stupid. Very, very stupid. Well, the very is my own exaggeration."
"I disagree," Teyla spoke softly from his side. "It is admirable." Just when John was going to say that it was good to see someone got it, she added, "but misplaced, nonetheless."
"How is it misplaced?" he demanded of the air, because he was tired of turning back and forth, trying to face Teyla and McKay when he talked to them. "The person behind the bars will need to be rescued and it makes sense to put the least useful member in that position, leaving the able-bodied team members free to do the rescue. It was shifting resources, and damn it Rodney, you should've gotten that with your supposed genius brain." He left out the part where he'd accepted that if a rescue didn't work, it was a worthwhile trade of bodies, because being blind meant he would never be able to effectively fight against the Wraith again.
"Don't go insulting my intelligence just because you didn't get your way," Rodney huffed. "Between the three of us, we can come up with something."
"That's it." Astounded, Sheppard shook his head. "Your plan is that we can come up with a plan."
"A transport is arriving," Teyla announced. "We will go together."
John began to wonder when he'd lost control. One thing always led to another, and now Ronon's arrest suddenly precipitated a need for more scans with the doctor he knew was part of the movement. It wasn't coincidence, and maybe Teyla was right, that they should stick together. If anything happened at the hospital, at least they'd all know about it. "All right, but, no one does anything without my permission," he stressed. "Blind or not, I am the one in charge of this team," John reminded them with an edge of resolve in his words.
The trip to the hospital was done in silence. Between the knowledge that they knew they were probably under heavier surveillance, and couldn't count on it being just the underground members any longer, there was also the fact that each one of them was running through scenarios.
When they arrived, they were greeted by none other than Tamar. They'd sandwiched him in the transport again, and now Rodney slid out of the vehicle first, then helped John. While they waited for Teyla, McKay told him to sit in the wheelchair that Tamar had brought. Sheppard refused, because he could walk. He'd had enough coddling, and even though a part of him was tempted, because it was easier, the other part of him screamed out over his dead body. Teyla had joined them, and was standing behind, while Rodney flanked him. He started to step forward when Tamar said sharply that time was of essence and John's dragging behind wasn't going to help them take care of business. It was the business part that got through to him. Ronon. Swallowing his pride, he let Rodney help him into the chair, and tried not to look as disgruntled as he felt.
As he was pushed, he tried to keep track of what was going on. In the halls, he heard too many footsteps to distinguish how many people were around. All he could be sure of was that Rodney was on his right, and Teyla was on his left, with Tamar pushing the chair. The chair stopped, and John heard Tamar ask Teyla to get the door. With a blast of air, the chair began to move forward again. Once he was fully in the room, the sounds from the scanning machine overwhelmed and disoriented John. He fumbled a hand until he latched on to McKay's arm, and staring ahead, asked, "Tell me what's going on."
"Groton, Calicut and Tamar are talking in front of us, but I can't hear what they're saying. The machines are destroying my ear drums," Rodney replied, leaning down so John could hear him over the noise.
A few long moments passed before Groton spoke loudly, "I apologize, Colonel, but this is the only room in the hospital where we can speak freely. The imaging chamber disrupts listening devices."
John couldn't place the doctor's position because of the loud whirs and clicks that kept echoing around the room even as Groton talked, confusing his sense of perception. All he knew for certain was that the man was somewhere ahead of him. He leaned towards McKay, "Where is he?"
Rodney grabbed John's head, and with hands firmly on both sides, turned it a little to the right. "You could've just said where," John grumbled to McKay, but still wishing for the reassurance of touch so that he knew he hadn't been left. "Did you know about Ronon's arrest?" he asked Groton. "And Calicut, you must be the one running the show." He slid a hand back to where McKay's arm was, trying to be casual. The material was there, and he let his hand rest awkwardly on Rodney's forearm. There wasn't any way to be discreet about needing the focusing touch, and for now, he didn't care. If they could just turn down the damn machines -
A sudden touch on his knee made John visibly pull back, but he forced away the surprise. When Groton spoke, he listened closely. The man was so near, John could feel the doctor's breath on his face. "We have little time, so you must listen. When you visit Ronon, you'll be seated at a table. We've arranged for your weapons to be taped underneath. Take them, and take Gadmere and the security chief hostage. They'll insist on staying in the room while you visit. We know that Doctor McKay's remote is ready. We have the cutting tool and will meet you at the escape point. This must be done quickly, or we will fail, and all of us will be sentenced to death. They'll know you received help."
"How do I know you weren't behind Ronon's arrest?"
"You don't." Something was shoved into his hands, and despite himself, he twitched from the unexpected contact. His hands clenched around the object, and by touch he recognized the IDC device. "Trust is a two-way street," Groton whispered hurriedly. The air shifted, and John knew the man had pulled away. "Administrator, we were just finishing." The voice came from above him, loud and noticeably laced with false politeness. "Both men remain stable, though the blindness and weakness appears to be permanent."
John hadn't heard the administrator enter the room, and he couldn't vouch for Teyla being beside him, or where Tamar or Calicut were in the room. He was certain of one thing only, and that was that Rodney was next to him, because his free hand remained clenched on McKay's shirt and arm. Of course, because of Groton's statement, it was obvious that Gadmere had arrived.
"We want to see Ronon," John demanded. He kept his face forward.
"Certainly, this way," Gadmere spoke neutrally, and now John at least knew the administrator was behind him.
John went to rise from the chair, but Teyla pushed him down again. "Would you stop that," he hissed. "I'm blind, not crippled." He'd put up with it for the trip in to the scanning room, but there wasn't any reason to put up with it for the trip out to the transport. He hated the damn wheelchair.
"John, the IDC is in your lap," she whispered so close it tickled his face. "Hide it while Rodney pushes you to the transport."
Shit. He'd forgotten. No, that wasn't true, he hadn't forgotten, he was just so damn distracted by the constant barrage of noise from the machine. With hearing being his main source of information, he'd begun to rely on it heavily, and this room was the equivalent of being in a fun house with flashing lights hitting you from every angle. The chair spun around, and John surreptitiously palmed the IDC into his pocket. It hadn't taken but a second to do, but Teyla was right. If he'd stood from the chair when he'd meant to, Gadmere would've seen it. Assuming Gadmere had been watching him. That wasn't something he could tell, and he guessed it didn't matter anyway now.
When they arrived at the transport, John let Rodney guide him into a seat. This time he was squashed between the door and McKay, and staring at darkness while being this crowded was really pushing his limits. He had to keep focusing on the fact that no matter what he couldn't see, Teyla and McKay were with him, and if everything went according to plan, they'd soon be back on Atlantis.
When the vehicle stopped, John waited till the pressure against his body eased, signaling that McKay had slid out from the transport. He started to climb out when Teyla reached in to help him.
"Remember, John, do not do anything until we tell you," Teyla whispered as he stumbled to his feet.
Because he couldn't see, this was a place where he'd have to step back and let them take over. John trusted his team, but the sense of not having any control over what was about to happen was pretty hard to swallow. Not a position he was happy being in, but he nodded curtly, and keeping his voice low said, "Just make sure you do signal with something that I can catch." He had bad visions of Rodney using a completely screwed up hand signal that he couldn't see.
The first issue was to get him through the security check without the IDC being found. They hadn't had time to plan anything, but as they walked into the building McKay had muttered, "No one worries about blind people."
John tried to figure out what he'd meant, and as he was escorted into the building, the idea clicked. Teyla loudly announced their arrival at a security checkpoint, telling John to 'stay close and don't wander away'. He figured out that was his cue. John blustered forward, and inwardly prayed he wouldn't hit anything too hard. Of course, he did. The smack of a pole against his forehead sent him reeling back. Why did plans always have to hurt so much?
"John, we told you to wait for us!" scolded Rodney as he leaned over Sheppard, his voice shrill with nerves, which served their plan well. The acting was like a neon sign to Sheppard, but thankfully these people didn't know McKay as well as he did.
"Is he all right?" a security guard asked.
Rodney straightened, tugging John up with him. "Of course he isn't all right," Rodney snapped. "What kind of brain deficient person are you? He's blind, can't you see!" Rodney's hand smacked into John's chest. "Do you have any idea what it's like to be blind? He can't see poles, and people, and stupid security guards, and wouldn't you just like it if I brought a lawsuit down upon this entire security contingent, it'd be just what you deserve -"
"This way, please," another guard spoke up, an edge of desperation to have the scene over, and out of the lobby.
John purposefully rolled away from Rodney and staggered through the supposed security check. No one swept him for weapons, or other things, and thank God he avoided anymore poles. A few steps later, and McKay latched back on to his arm and guided him with a measure of safety. John was glad Rodney was there, because between the pole and the bloody nose, he was willing to concede life with a guide dog - or human - would be easier.
They were led through one long corridor before turning to the right and continuing to move down another. Finally, they stopped, and John was guided into a chair. Teyla whispered where she was and sat on his left while McKay sat on his right. Nervously, because if this was all an elaborate set-up, than this was the climax, John lifted his knees and felt the bulky P-90. The surge of relief was so strong he almost shook from it. Groton had been telling the truth, which meant they just had to successfully get Ronon and get out of here.
Teyla's fingers found his leg and pressed three on his knee. That meant there were three guards in the room. Rodney leaned against his shoulder and muttered that Ronon was being brought in.
John groaned pitifully, and let his head fall to the table. Quickly, he pulled the P-90 off and slid it across his knees to Teyla's lap.
"Is he okay?" John recognized the voice as the same guard that had bore the brunt of Rodney's wrath earlier.
"I'm fine," John said, trying to add the right amount of weakness into his tone. "Just a…headache," he explained, working on bringing his eyebrows together in what he hoped came across as the right level of wincing.
"Ronon," greeted Teyla. "It is nice to see you well." She tapped John's knee under the table again. Three times. Two times.
"I'm alive," the runner stated. "Though they tell me I won't be for long." The easy amusement said what Ronon thought of that.
She tapped one final time. It was the signal, and Rodney shoved him down. Knowing this was their thing, he ducked. The barrage of bullets kept him down. It didn't take long before it was over.
"Nobody move!" Teyla shouted. "Ronon!"
John heard her pull something from underneath the table, and guessed it was the runner's pistol. He started to stand, and was grabbed half-way up. For a second, he panicked, and pulled back to punch, when a startled, "It's me!" caused him to drop his fist.
"Rodney, I can't see. Don't just grab when we're in situations like this!" he grated.
"Oh, I'm sorry," McKay retorted. "It's not like we've ever been in a situation like this."
"Administrator, you will need to come with us," Teyla ordered, her voice firm. "And you, as well."
John guessed that would be the chief of security. He waited, nerves on edge, listening to the sounds of movements in the room. Just when he was about to ask someone what was going on, McKay was guiding him forward. He felt himself squeezed between Rodney and Ronon. "We'll be leaving now," Rodney warned. "If you try to follow, or stop us, these men die, and believe me," he chuckled a little hysterically, "You don't want to give big guy a reason here."
John could imagine the predatory smile that Ronon gifted them with.
They made it to the transport, and as they stuffed him in, it was uncomfortable finding that six in a transport was pushing it. The security chief threatened they'd all die unless they stopped this madness now.
"Madness?" John echoed. "You're the ones who are crazy. Capital punishment for everything you consider a crime."
Teyla was in the front of the transport, to the far right according to Ronon, and he was pretty sure she still had the gun trained on the two hostages. Gadmere was between him and Ronon, and even though he knew Ronon was in the back with him, John hated being stuck between the door of the transport and Gadmere. That left Rodney to drive this time. John leaned forward and added. "Believe me, you haven't seen mad yet. Rodney, the diversion?"
The remote had been built to resemble a watch, something McKay assured Sheppard that the Nokomisians did wear. He supposed telling time was more important in a world where the difference between day and night were negligible.
"Yes, yes, I'm only driving," McKay bitched. "One very big diversion on the way."
John listened as three soft beeps echoed in the transport, over the hum of the wheels on metal streets. Moments later, Gadmere shouted in alarm, wondering what was going on. One diversion delivered, then. "Your people will be kept a little busy now," smiled John.
"Busy is an understatement. They have less than five hours to restore power, or the air supply for the city is gone." McKay sounded almost insulted by the 'little'.
Five hours? John tried to hide his surprise. He'd never exactly asked for an explanation of what the diversion entailed, and he hadn't thought Rodney would do anything quite that drastic. "They can fix it, right?" he asked pointedly. The idea hadn't been to kill any innocents.
"Even an incompetent mouse could repair it," Rodney said, disgusted. "And anyway, if they don't, I left a recording to go off in four hours and thirty minutes explaining the procedure. It takes less than five minutes."
Now a whole new level of alarm raced through him, and Ronon beat him to the punch. "If it takes five minutes, we might not have time to get out of here."
"That's why I planted some…surprises," McKay explained confidently.
Gadmere jerked beside John. "If any of my people die -"
Ronon growled, "Shut up. You were going to execute me."
"You'll have to forgive him," said John, turning his head towards the administrator. "He gets grumpy when his life is threatened."
After that, Gadmere and the security chief both shut up. The city wasn't large, but it still took an hour to get to the edge. John had to trust the diversion was going to be enough to give them time to escape, and when they were out of here, he was going to remember to have Rodney explain some of the surprises. When the transport finally stopped, John breathed a sigh of relief; things were going according to plan. Even with the plan being hastily conceived and executed.
As the pressure on his side disappeared, he slid across the seat, getting his feet solidly on the ground and standing. John wondered what was going on, because instead of talking, or anyone moving to begin setting things in motion, all he heard was a shocked silence. Finally Gadmere stuttered, "Groton, what is this?"
When Gadmere's body reeled into Sheppard's, they fell to the ground in a tangle of limbs. It's hard to brace yourself, or duck, when you can't see something coming. John swore, shoving the man off of him. He wasn't sure what had happened, but when Groton's voice came from above, he had a pretty good idea.
"We've wallowed in the darkness for our entire lives because of your paranoia, Gadmere." The administrator had rolled off John, but had stayed down and was close to Sheppard's side. Groton's anger was palpable as he continued, "No longer, Administrator. Today, we will see the sun again, and the trees. Today, we'll be free from this miserable replica of our world."