A/N - Well here it is chapter 8, sorry about the delay. Thank you once again to all of you who took the time and trouble to review the last chapter. now personally I'm not so keen on this chapter but what do I know?

Chapter 8

Issues of Trust

Iestyn stood up and Sheppard could sense the tension in the man's body even from across the room. "So it is true then?"

"They tried to take the city…I had no choice."

"You were holding their people hostage." Anger had crept into Iestyn's voice.

"No." With considerable effort, he pushed himself into a sitting position and stared through the dim light, searching out the other man's face. "No. They tried to take the city by force, I had no choice." Each sentence seemed to leave him out of breath. "I was protecting my people. You'd have done the same." Iestyn had stopped pacing and was watching his face closely. He could only try and explain, trusting this man was a risk but one he had to take. "The ATA gene is…" He patted his chest lightly, the proper words not coming to him. He searched for a simple way to explain it. "The part…the part that comes from the Ancients. When they left Atlantis they returned to my planet…and…um…I guess they interbred with my people...their descendants carry the gene."

"I have seen the Genii activate the relics in the temple."

"Gene therapy. Transplanting the gene into someone born without it."

"That is possible?" Iestyn sounded incredulous.

"Yes. They…they took samples. Some of my men, they took them hostage." His head was still cloudy; confusion was fast becoming his natural state of mind. He growled in frustration. "I can't explain it properly… I'm telling you the truth. Only wish I could prove it."

Iestyn breathed out, clearly agitated, and abruptly he moved toward the door. "I will return shortly."

ooOoo

The puddle jumper sat waiting in front of the gate. Elizabeth settled herself inside beside Ronon while Teyla sat up front next to Frischmann who nervously tapped her foot on the floor as she went through her pre-flight checks. Although she had been spending every spare moment in practise flight around the planet, this would be the first time she had taken a jumper off-world. Elizabeth looked up at the control room through the still-open hatch and Caldwell frowned back at her. He wasn't happy about this and she couldn't blame him, she was more than a little nervous herself. The technician began the dialling sequence.

"Hey! Wait for me." Rodney hurried across to them, still adjusting his vest. Standing and hitting the button to stop the back of the jumper from closing, Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at Rodney in annoyance.

"Rodney, what are you doing here?" He looked up at her, his face determined.

"This is my team, I'm going."

"I don't think so. You're supposed to be taking it easy, remember? Besides this could be a trap."

"Well, duh! And if it is a trap you may just need a genius to get you out of it." She was familiar with the expression on his face and knew that he was determined and the fact that he actively wanted to come along was a positive sign that he was beginning to accept life without John. Not wanting to knock his confidence, something she had once thought impossible, she relented.

"Very well. But just…keep your mouth shut." He was about to protest but she interrupted him. "This is our chance to find out what the hell is going on, I don't want you sticking your foot in it. Face it Rodney, diplomacy is not your strong point." He seemed to consider this for a moment and then shrugged, conceding the point. As the wormhole whooshed out into the room and Rodney took a seat at the back of the jumper, Caldwell called down to them.

"Be careful, Doctor."

"Don't worry Colonel, I intend to be."

"Captain, the first sign of trouble and you get her the hell out of there."

"Yes, sir."

"Good luck." Elizabeth smiled and nodded at the Colonel as the jumper door closed; he frowned back disapprovingly. He was right, it was foolish of her to be going off world at a time when they were all in danger, and to be going with limited weapons and security was just plain stupid. Nevertheless, it had been her decision and if he was going to be the new military commander of Atlantis, he'd have to get used to her stubbornness.

They flew out the other side of the gate into twilight; the town sat maybe two miles away, reminiscent of a hundred other settlements they had come across since their arrival in the Pegasus Galaxy. Parking the jumper a few hundred yards from the village, they cloaked it, walking the rest of the way. Small stone houses were huddled together on narrow streets. As they walked past they saw that many of them stood abandoned, silent memorials to those taken by the Wraith. The streets were mainly empty, just a few farmers returning from their fields, in the houses lamps were being lit and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys as the evening turned cooler.

The large tavern was at the centre of the settlement, set back in a small courtyard. It was the focal point of the town and, as such, was crowded with locals unwinding after a hard day's work. The sound of laughter rang through the windows and the tantalising smell of cooking wafted out through the door. As they entered, faces turned to them and they were welcomed with warm smiles and raised glasses. They were used to visitors from other worlds here and the people were acquainted with the Atlanteans, having traded with them on a regular basis. It was why Elizabeth had agreed to meet here. She returned their greetings politely, scanning the packed room. Teyla leaned toward her.

"She is not here."

"Anyone else you recognise?"

"No."

"Then I guess we wait."

ooOoo

Iestyn came into the cell with an uncharacteristic nervousness.

"We must be quick." Sheppard found a small black cloth bag placed on the ground in front of him. "If it is found missing, I…" As he unfolded the bag, revealing it's contents, his words faded away. "You wanted a chance to prove to me you were telling the truth."

He held the item up; it was a small pyramid-shaped artefact of typical Ancient design and, taking John's good hand, he gently placed the device in his palm. As soon as it touched his skin, it began to emit a soft light, then a small star map appeared, projected above it. Through the hologram he saw the tiny stars and nebulas reflected in Iestyn's dark eyes and a childlike wonder lit up the commanders face.

"I knew it." Iestyn's voice as quiet as a breath.

They watched the tiny spinning galaxy and John found himself lost in the device, reaching deep inside it. His mind, seeing a chance to escape from this cell, pushed further until it felt like he was floating out among the stars. As he drifted, his thoughts turned to home and the hologram shifted and then it was as if he were flying through the stars, ever faster until they became just a blur. Eventually, he entered a solar system and everything slowed down as he was drawn in to a large planet; gliding down through the atmosphere and above a wide blue ocean, he arrived home. Cupped in the palm of his hand, he held a tiny version of his home, it's many spires recreated in miniature. Tears of longing escaped his eyes. For so long he'd been unable to conjure up the image of her in his mind; the harder he had tried, the more the idea of Atlantis had slipped away from him. The only place he could see his home was in his dreams and then it was a twisted, hostile version.

Iestyn gasped, his voice filled with reverence. "It is beautiful."

"Yes, it is." But the guard's voice had broken the spell and he realised with horror what he was doing; he shut the image down, his heart breaking as Atlantis faded away. If this artefact held an image of Atlantis, what other kind of information did it hold on the city? How could he have been so stupid? Gathering his strength, he hurled the object across the room, slamming it against the wall. It rebounded and landed near Iestyn's feet and he picked it up a look of shock on his face.

"What is wrong?"

"Get out." John hissed, his anger directed at himself as much as the man in front of him.

"You must understand. I have witnessed the Genii activating the relics, I have seen how they must concentrate and even then they struggle to control it. But you…" Iestyn exhaled heavily, dropping his head as understanding dawned. "…you do not trust me. I would not trust me either in your shoes."

"I don't have any shoes, you took them away." The vulnerability of being barefoot had never really occurred to him before, he'd always associated it with a feeling of freedom, the sand between his toes. But now it made him feel fragile.

Returning the artefact to the bag and folding the cloth around it, the commander stood up. "I wish I could stop this madness, for all our sakes."

"Then let me go. I can end this."

"You know I cannot do that."

"Then kill me and get it over with!"

"I cannot do that either." John turned away, unable to look at the pity in Iestyn's eyes. "I am truly sorry." Something soft was pressed in to his right hand; he lay there until the footsteps had echoed away and then awkwardly, using his teeth, he pulled the threadbare sweatband over his wrist.

ooOoo

Elizabeth had thought to bring a small amount of spices to trade and the landlord was happy to provide drinks in exchange. They found a table in a quiet corner with a good view of the rest of the room and easy access to the door. As they sat quietly, nursing their drinks, the locals carried on their rowdy conversations around them.

All of a sudden, angry voices rose above noise; accusations flew and shoves turned into a scuffle. A punch was thrown and the victim staggered backward, tumbling into their table, barrelling into Elizabeth and knocking her from her chair. Ronon grabbed the man by his collar and hauled him up, dragging him back across the room to his attackers and dropping the unfortunate man in front of them.

"Apologise to the lady." Ronon never raised his voice; he didn't have to.

Elizabeth called across as Teyla helped her to her feet and she brushed herself down. "Ronon, I'm fine, it was an accident." Ronon turned to look back at her and, as he did so, one of the men swung his arm out and Elizabeth felt her breath catch in her throat as she caught the gleam of a blade in the drunkard's hand. Ronon moved fast, the blow was stopped in mid-air as Ronon grabbed the assailant's wrist; swiftly he twisted, forcing the man to drop the knife, and with another sharp movement the man was on the floor. There was a moment's silence, like a deep breath before the plunge, and then all hell broke loose.

It seemed like the whole tavern had erupted into one massive brawl and at the centre of it was Ronon. Elizabeth looked at the scene in despair; she could negotiate peace treaties between rival nations and despotic leaders but didn't have the slightest clue of how to calm a drunken brawl. Teyla turned to Frischmann and McKay.

"Get Dr Weir back to the gate. I'll get Ronon." And, with that, she too disappeared into the throng.

"Damn it!" The captain set her jaw, her eyes burning with anger as they followed the Athosian. "Did they behave like this with Sheppard?"

Rodney shrugged. "Pretty much."

"Great!" Putting herself between the mob and her charges, she began inching them toward the door, her hand resting on her side arm. The room heaved with people, the shouting raised to the deafening level of a full-scale riot. Once outside, the three of them stepped up their pace, heading back through the almost deserted streets of the village, Frischmann eager to get them back to the safety of the jumper.

Rodney was soon panting with the exertion as Frischmann pushed them onward, her sidearm now drawn; as part of the deal the P90s had been left behind in Atlantis. They had reached the outskirts of the town when suddenly a movement in the shadows caught Elizabeth's eye; she barely had time to cry out as a stunner blast hit Frischmann, she could only watch as the captain fell to the ground mid-run. She knew turning back was a mistake, that it would only mean they would be captured, but she couldn't abandon the Captain. Skidding in the dusty street as she turned, she hurried back, Rodney at her side. Grabbing hold of an arm each, they tried to raise Frischmann to her feet. Elizabeth stopped dead when she felt the unmistakable pressure of a gun barrel against the base of her skull. Casting a sideways glance at Rodney, she could see his wide-eyed expression as he too froze.

"Leave her!" Lowering the Captain gently to the ground, they slowly turned, their arms roughly grabbed, and they were ushered out of the main street. They found themselves being quickly hustled down the streets of the village, past locked doors and shuttered windows. They were pushed harder, each of them with an arm in the grasp of one of their attackers. Although they were being kept off the main street, Elizabeth soon realised where they were heading - back to the jumper. Sure enough, as they left the outskirts of the town she could see a small group standing around the place where they had left the small space ship, invisible beneath its cloak. Their arrival had been observed.

As they neared the spot where they had left the jumper, legs aching and chests burning at the pace they'd been forced to maintain, one of the group stepped out to greet them. The woman they had come to meet - Sora of the Genii.