AN: Merry Christmas from your evil evil writers!

Part nine…

Just as Teyla shouted, "Wait!" the energy blast from Ronon's weapon ricocheted off the metallic surface, slamming into the Satedan and sending him flying backwards at least five feet.

"Ronon!"

She rushed to the fallen man, rolling him gently to his front. His pulse was good, and Teyla couldn't help but think it was a miracle he wasn't dead. The building had to have absorbed some of the lethal energy, because instead of having a hole in his chest, all Ronon had was some scorching and melted leather tunic clinging to his chest. It'd be a nasty burn, and she wondered if she should try to clean it here or wait for Doctor Beckett's care.

"Teyla!" Rodney's voice called, still full of the panicked edge from earlier.

Carefully, she edged her hand out from under Ronon's body, and tapped the ear piece. "Rodney, Ronon's attempt at creating an entrance into the building failed. He's been hurt."

"How bad? Because, I'm not sure how much more I can take, here -"

She surveyed the wound some more, and checked Ronon's breathing. "He needs Doctor Beckett, but he'll be okay. Is there anything in the building that would activate a way in?" she asked.

Teyla heard McKay muttering to himself, before he exclaimed, "Of course, I'm an idiot -"

"Rodney?"

His voice was back louder, "When Sheppard was taken by that thing, we'd walked into a console room, god – I'm so stupid, I can't believe I forgot, it's just…creepy in here, and I was so worried about John and -"

"Rodney," Teyla interrupted, "I've got to go for help. Can you try and see if something will open a doorway so that I may leave Ronon with you while I go back to the gate and get Doctor Beckett and…others." Because she knew if there was something on the loose, something that had snatched Sheppard like a toy for the taking, they'd need more than a doctor, a scientist, and an injured Ronon with her the only one capable of presenting a defense against whatever it was.

"…n my wa…ow," the voice crackled and came out in pieces.

"Doctor McKay?" she called, but there was no answer.

Knowing that he was probably going back to the room with the control consoles, Teyla opened her med kit to see what she could do for Ronon, hoping something worse wasn't keeping the man unconscious.

OoO

Lorne's mind was constantly shifting back, to the events leading up to the meeting with Sheppard, and then soon after – the infirmary confrontation, the bedside talk with Vasquez, and the nurse that had interrupted him.

He couldn't find anything in all those events that was a common denominator, and he was getting frustrated. The cell walls were closing in on him, and he wasn't even claustrophobic. Bitterly, he couldn't help but wonder where the cock-sure soldier he'd been had gone too, because he sure as heck wasn't around lately. It seemed all he did now was doubt his past decisions and actions.

Brought out of his reverie by the arrival of Weir, he watched her movement towards him with an intensity that comes of being caged and suspected for too long. He'd always been an achiever, lauded where he went, and looked up to. It's how he netted the assignment to Atlantis.

Being considered a traitor, and a murderer, was taking its toll, and it'd only been a short time.

"Good news, Major," smiled Weir. She gestured for the guard to release the force field, and open the cell. "Recent events appear to be pointing towards your innocence, as I figured it would."

He straightened, and waited for the door to open, and when it did, he walked out warily. "What happened?" he asked her, ignoring the guard who didn't look like he believed he'd done the right thing by releasing Lorne.

"The nurse you said that was with Sergeant Vasquez…"

Lorne's brow pinched together, because there was something in Weir's tone. "You found her?"

She shook her head. "No, that's just it, we haven't. She's disappeared. Funny thing to do if you're innocent, don't you think?"

"So, she's missing?"

"Yes," Elizabeth confirmed. "She didn't show up for her next shift. Points a very guilty finger her way. I've ordered teams to keep searching till we find something -"

"No offense, Ma'am, but she's good, if she's the culprit, because I didn't see her do anything suspicious."

In fact, Lorne couldn't recall anyone doing anything suspicious when he was there. "Has Doctor Beckett finished the autopsy?"

Weir addressed the guards behind him. "Sergeants, you're dismissed," she ordered crisply.

They hesitated, but at her steely look, nodded, and ducked out of the room.

She waited till she was certain they were alone before explaining, "He did. Vasquez was murdered. Her potassium levels were incredibly high, and if the situation hadn't been suspicious, it wouldn't have been caught for anything more than a critical patient dying. But because you'd been with her shortly before her death -"

He chuckled, but it was a bitter mockery of humor. "Some good comes of being considered public enemy number one."

Weir's eyes darkened, "Major, no one is above suspicion right now."

"Right," he answered, his voice dull. "Anyway, she was poisoned, so now what?"

"The only ones who have access to the potassium are medical personnel and the chemists. That narrows suspects considerably. Fortunately, for you," she arched an eyebrow his way and he knew he'd made her mad with his comments.

"Have you heard from Colonel Sheppard's team?" he asked, switching subjects.

"No, that's another reason why I'm here."

Lorne stared at her, not sure what was bubbling under the skin. She seemed to trust him, and he wasn't sure why, but Sheppard's trust had been shaken and if she meant to send him out after the colonel –

"You want me to take a team out looking?" he asked.

Elizabeth Weir had a very good poker face, and until she confirmed it, he'd never have known what she was thinking, but she did nod and say, "Yes. Take Beckett, because we don't know why we've lost contact, but going from past experience, it isn't anything good."

Given a chance to prove himself, Lorne wasn't going to walk away, even if he'd had that option. "Yes, Ma'am," he snapped out in military order. He didn't wait for anything else, but left the brig, needing to get his gear, his team, and Beckett, and leave as quickly as possible.

If Sheppard or any of his team were in trouble, minutes were wasting…

OoO

"I'm so stupid stupid stupid!" Rodney berated himself, as he moved back to the room where they'd discovered the consoles.

In his worry over Sheppard, he'd completely forgotten what it represented. A way to open the door to where Sheppard was taken, and hopefully, get Teyla and Ronon in here, with them – of course, it probably would've helped if he'd remember it before Ronon blasted himself trying to get through the building's wall.

The whole way back, he kept glancing at every scratch on the floor, and every pebble he accidentally kicked forward, as he jogged towards the goal that he hoped would help find a way out of this mess.

He skidded to a stop, almost passing the room, but catching himself in time to duck in the doorway. It was all the same, nothing had powered on when he was gone.

Rushing, he grabbed the edge of the nearest console and swung his body around, so he could examine it. Dark and dead, and nothing responded at all to his touch or insistent jabbing.

John John John, why do you do this to me, John, he ranted internally. And now Ronon was out there unconscious and Teyla waiting on him to find a way to get them inside and Jesus, was life ever going to stop being so fucking complicated?

He jumped to the next console and started jabbing, yes! Lights powered up with a painfully low hum. He looked up, and around. Definitely Ancient, and definitely a control room…and definitely almost on empty. But, it was a start.

The panel was jibberish, and he didn't know if it was because he was panicking, or if it was some variation of Ancient he hadn't run into yet. Either way, he started hitting buttons and praying. Well, he did have a little bit of science behind it. Some buttons looked more promising than others.

He keyed the radio, "Teyla, did that work?"

"Rodney?"

"Yes, Teyla, is there a door now?" he said, his voice strained as he waited to hear either way.

It was silent, and he was getting even more agitated than he already was, when the radio crackled to life, "Yes, there's a way in! Can you come back and help with Ronon, he's still unconscious, and I'm afraid he is more seriously hurt than what I thought."

McKay's hands stilled on the panel, and he closed his eyes, trying not to completely come undone. This was just great, and when he said great, it was being used in the antonym fashion, because it so wasn't actually great at all. First mission out the gate and Sheppard was snatched by some poor imitation of a B-movie monster, complete with stealth abilities, and Ronon was hurt bad enough to keep him down for the count, which meant by all rights, anyone else would be dead, and he just couldn't take one more screwed up thing…

"Rodney, it will be okay."

Teyla's voice had softened, and the compassion she felt for all of them came through even over the radio waves. And did you know radio waves were light waves?

"But, I need you to come back and help me with Ronon so that I may go and get help."

She'd continued talking, and her voice had shifted to cajoling, as if he were a scared child, and Rodney thought it was oddly appropriate, because he completely felt like his inner scared child was rearing its ugly head.

He opened his eyes, and tapped the radio set. "I'm coming," he answered abruptly. Knowing that the situation demanded it, McKay aggressively kicked his inner child to oblivion – at least, for a while.

It took less time to get back to her, and when he did, he saw she was trying to lever the big man into the building, but struggling with Ronon's bulk.

Rodney dropped the pistol he'd been carrying, and the flashlight, neither one probably offered any protection against whatever that thing was that'd snatched John. He rushed over just in time to catch Ronon from falling back and hitting his head, because Teyla had lost her hold on his shoulders.

She was breathing hard, and blew a strand of hair out of her face, fixing Rodney with a thankful look.

"Go," Rodney snapped, waving at the entrance that remained open. "Get lots of backup, with big big guns, because whatever that thing was, it was strong and fast!" He tried not to think of having to remain in the building where it might come after them before she got back…

Teyla hesitated, but then turned and took off back the way they'd come.

Rodney looked down at Ronon's still body and muttered, "Now what do I do?"

Ronon was too busy being unconscious to answer…

Minutes felt like hours, and McKay wondered just how long it was going to take Teyla to get back to the gate. The hike here had been a long hard one, but they'd had to cut a path, and the rain, which had finally mercifully stopped, hadn't made their trek any easier. So, maybe it'd be faster than he hoped – but looking again at Ronon and worrying about John, he realized it couldn't happen fast enough.

"Mmmpph – aaay."

Rodney swung back from staring at the darkening sky, to Ronon, seeing the runner blinking oddly at the ceiling. "Ronon?"

"Wha-," Ronon slurred.

Narrowing his eyes at the big guy, McKay leaned closer. "Your bright idea came back and hit you, hard." He didn't add that it'd been a stupid idea in the first place, for two reasons, one, Ronon was clearly not the only one making stupid mistakes today, and two, he was learning it was mean to a kick a…runner…when he was already clearly down. And god, Ronon was not looking good.

"Are you okay? Cause, you really don't look okay."

"M'okay," Ronon answered, but he was blinking at the ceiling still, and it'd been like five minutes.

"Does it hurt?" Rodney stared at the charred leather. It had to hurt.

Ronon frowned, and he still wasn't focusing on Rodney, but he did seem to finally clue in on reality, because he lifted his head enough to look down at his chest, and he lifted a hand to finger the burnt edges. "What happened?"

At least his voice was stronger now, but McKay was getting seriously worried, because Ronon was not jiving mentally. "You got hit," he repeated, with a worried edge.

"I got hit?"

"Yes." Exasperated, McKay sent out a mental plea for Teyla to be faster. This was just wonderful… the situation was bad enough as it was, but now Ronon was reduced mentally to mumbo jumbo. "Seriously, you're not firing on all cylinders, maybe you should just lay back down."

Because Ronon was struggling to his feet, and looking extremely unsteady in the process.

"I'm fine," Ronon repeated, looking around the room. "Sheppard?"

"Nothing new," sighed McKay. "Teyla went for reinforcements, and Carson."

"Beckett?" Ronon stared owlishly at McKay, and for him to pull off 'owlish', he really was messed up, but he did. "Sheppard's hurt?"

"No, I mean…maybe, but you are for sure." Rodney stumbled over the explanation and god would this just fucking end? He debated making Dex sit down, but figured he wouldn't be successful unless the man wanted to sit, and judging from how he was standing, he didn't think Ronon wanted to sit.

"What are we waiting for?" Ronon eyed him with belligerence. "Let's go rescue Sheppard."

"We're not rescuing Sheppard!" snarled Rodney, because he absolutely wanted to, but he knew they were no match for what had John, and what the hell good would it do to run in there and get them all killed?

Ronon started off down the corridor, completely disregarding what McKay had said. "You can stay here if you want, but I'm going."

"What?" Rodney stumbled to his feet, his legs prickly from being down for too long. "Ronon – wait, hey!"

But Dex was already moving away into the murky darkness further into the building.

McKay stared forlornly at the opening, the one that you could now barely make out in the gloaming light, before swearing about impulsive heroes, and taking off after Ronon, snatched the pistol and his flashlight off the floor.

OoO

Teyla didn't even make it to the gate.

From the time she'd left Rodney and Ronon, she'd maintained a fast run, so much so that the vines and growth they'd hacked a path through, had mercilessly cut her skin as she dodged as much as possible in the dimming light.

It was only from years of living in the forests and traveling to other worlds, that she was able to move with such surety at all. But all that experience couldn't stop the blood from running freely down her bare arms, and face.

Something did make her stop, finally, and it was the sound of someone approaching. Quickly, she stopped, and melted into the vegetation to the side of the cut path, waiting and watching to see who was coming.

The relief that washed over her was only tempered by the small seed of suspicion, but as others were with the officer, she squashed it and stepped out. "Major Lorne, I am relieved to see you."

"Teyla!" Aside from the surprise, he seemed genuinely happy to see her. "Where are Colonel Sheppard and the others?"

"There were…complications," she said, looking back to see who all was with the officer, and with even greater relief she said, "Carson, Ronon's been injured, and Colonel Sheppard we think has been, as well."

Beckett didn't even look surprised, he just nodded and said, "I figured as much, at least one of you would be."

Lorne indicated for Teyla to lead the way. "Tell us what happened on the way, we're wasting time sitting her talking."

And in Teyla's mind, the suspicion eased just that little bit more…

OoO

Ronon peered into the room. "The thing dragged him in there?" he asked, looking over his shoulder at Rodney.

McKay had hoped that what he'd done to open the outside door would also active the inside, and he'd been right. But now standing before it, as much as he wanted to get to John, he was also fighting a huge amount of fear, because whatever it was, it was not something he wanted to meet in a dark alley.

It had stalked them in the halls, and then barreled into Sheppard, before dragging him away, and all that wrapped up in one scary package. Just about every horror movie he'd seen, aside from the face-breeding aliens, and thank god they hadn't found any of those so far – though he did imagine the Iratus bugs came close for John.

Realizing that Ronon was waiting, he jerked his head anxiously. "Yeah, in there." His mouth was drier than a jar full of desiccant1. He was afraid of what they'd find in there, because if it was anything other than a live John Sheppard, he wasn't sure he'd make it back out.

Fearfully, he followed Ronon in, and tried to ignore the slight drag to Ronon's feet, and the list to the side.

Because the big guy had to have it together, or McKay was going to be John's sole hope…if he was even alive, but Rodney squashed that thought so fast he almost passed out. He was not going to go there, period. McKay practically heard Sheppard smirking and saying 'stay positive'. I'm trying, John, Rodney thought, I'm seriously trying here.

The events that happened, Rodney wouldn't ever be sure exactly what they were, but one minute he was following Ronon, and the next Ronon was flying back into him, and a loud howl followed by John shouting pierced his consciousness.

Everything faded to black…

OoO

John regained consciousness only to hear Goethe growling. He fought against the lethargy dragging him back down, and lifted his head, only to see Goethe howl, and pounce on a man –

The big guy went back hard, and didn't get back up, and that's when John noticed another man that had been knocked back by the first one, and also remained down.

Confused, John felt something… "Goethe, stop!" he shouted, and had to put a hand against his head because of the pain it caused.

Why couldn't he remember?

"Protect you," Goethe insisted, hovering over the first man, and the homemade knife in his hand promised death if John didn't get him to stop.

"I'm fine," John reasoned. "Look, they didn't hurt me. Don't hurt them."

Maybe they'd have answers, maybe they'd come looking for him? The only thing he knew for certain was that he didn't want Goethe to kill them.

The half wraith, half human paused, and for a moment John thought he was going to act anyway, but the knife fell to Goethe's side, and he stalked back towards where Sheppard was propped up in a bed.

"Head hurt?" he asked John gruffly, ignoring the two bodies now.

"Yeah," John swallowed, relief blooming. "A little."

He watched as Goethe moved to prepare more of the bitter medicine. A noise, and Sheppard's eyes darted back to the bodies. The smaller one in the back was stirring, and began to move.

"Hey," he called. "You okay?"

The man sat up, and rubbed his head, wincing as he did so. "God, I think I've got a concussion…" then the face twisted, and he stared right at John. "Damn it! Do you know how scared you made me?" he demanded angrily.

Not even waiting for an answer, he climbed to his feet, and paused next to the other guy, glancing at him and frowning, "Shit, Ronon -" he turned back to Sheppard, "We've got to get him back to …"

The man stopped, and John watched as he locked on to the other figure, who'd also stopped what he was doing. Goethe fingered the knife he'd tucked back into his waistband, and didn't take his attention off of the man.

"John? Who…what…is this?"

The man's voice was squeaky from shock and it was easy for Sheppard to detect the thready panic moving in.

But Sheppard couldn't remember a thing about this guy who definitely knew him.

John could tell the man expected him to answer, to reassure him…to be the strong one, and why he knew that, he didn't know, but he did. It didn't matter though, because he couldn't even remember this guy's name. "Who are you?" he ground out, harsher than he meant, but the whole damn situation was frustrating.

"What?" snapped the man, incredulous. He forgot about Goethe, and his attention turned completely to John. "You don't know me?"

Sheppard could see it had stunned the guy, but he couldn't help it. He shook his head, and pointed at Goethe. "I woke up with him taking care of me. I think he's half-wraith, half-human, but I don't know what that means, I just know it…but your name, I don't…I'm John. John Sheppard," he asserted, as if to prove he wasn't completely identity-less. He had something.

The man moved towards him, and Goethe acted, moving to intercept. The man froze.

"Goethe, leave him be," ordered John.

Surprisingly, Goethe did.

The man moved closer, again, and hissed, "That thing attacked you. It's the reason why you got knocked on your head so hard that apparently you can't remember me, or Ronon," and here he pointed a finger at the still body on the floor. "We've got to get him back to Atlantis. He's hurt, you're hurt…" a harsh laugh that sounded almost maniacal, "God, I'm hurt now."

Then unexpectedly, the man dropped to the bed, and exhaled. "What a complete fuck-up. A half-wraith human captures you to keep as some kind of pet, Ronon is probably dying as we talk, and you can't remember me."

John felt the devastation in the man's tone, but couldn't understand where it was coming from, so he sat there, feeling helpless.

And that's when more people arrived to the party, and Goethe went nuts…again.

OoO

Elizabeth bounced Lily, trying to console the almost four-month-old baby. "Shhhhh, sweetie, we're finding your daddy, I promise," she whispered into the soft hair.

It'd been almost twenty-four hours since John's team had left, eight since the expected contact had failed to materialize. Lily, on a good day, didn't like being away from John, let alone Rodney, and know she'd been bereft of not only John and Rodney, but also Teyla, Lily's third favorite option.

Alicia was on duty, and Elizabeth had volunteered to watch the baby. She decided it was time to take Lily inside the surprise she'd planned for John.

Months had gone into this, and there'd been a set-back when the explosions had taken out the previous nursery, but she'd kept Ronon and Teyla on it, and now it was finished.

She had planned to unveil the room when John's team gated home, and had changed and cleared medical. Now…

Sighing, she let her eyes rove over the wooden hand-carved rocking horse. An Athosian artist had created it for her. Then the crib that converted to a toddler bed…she'd drawn up the plans and handed them to Teyla, asking her to find someone who could make a close replica…and Teyla had.

They had products shipped on the Daedalus, but it wasn't the same. Lily was of this galaxy, and Elizabeth wanted her to be surrounded by things created in the world from which she came. Because Lily represented a miraculous change, at least she hoped it would be one – they were here now, fighting the wraith, and hopefully some day they'd succeed where the Ancients had failed. They'd free the people of this galaxy from the constant threat and death.

She tucked Lily in close so the baby wouldn't slip, and grabbed a blanket off the quilt frame that she'd also had made for the nursery suite. "Let's get you to play a bit on the floor, hmm?"

After she had Lily propped with pillows so the baby could sit without falling, she moved farther into the room where a large bed was set up. It was carved to match the other furniture, and it was for John, and Rodney when he was here, to use. This whole room was set up with Lily's parents in mind.

Teyla had a small armoire for her things when she stayed…

Closing her eyes against the worry, she turned back to Lily, and had to wipe the small tear that threatened to spill over. So much kept happening, and she always had to hold herself apart from the ones she cared so much for.

When she opened them, she was startled to find Lily on her hands and knees, sloppily rocking back and forth on the quilt.

"Oh, my…Lily!" Elizabeth exclaimed. She rushed forward, prepared to catch the little girl before her tiny arms gave out and she fell. But when Elizabeth scooped her up, she laughed for the first time since John left.

"Figures," mused Elizabeth. "Just like your daddy, like the thrills, do you." She chuckled and swung Lily forward again, like a little baby airplane, and the baby giggled harder.

Maybe Lily knew something that Elizabeth didn't. Maybe there was some lingering bond that was telling her John was okay. She figured if Lily could smile right now, so could she, and bouncing Lily back up, she snuggled the sweet smelling child, mumbling, "Daddy will be home soon, right…soon."

TBC…