Instinct

Chapter 10: Enemy

"Alright, where are they?" Sheppard said as they entered the still visibly deserted village.

"I did mention secret places, Colonel." Dimitri smiled, heading towards a group of small buildings.

"So where's the secret passage, then?"

"That way," he pointed at the middle building then continued, "You know, it's a shame about Elizabeth. She's a good girl; I think I actually had something with her."

"What?" Sheppard spat out, visibly tensing as he turned to face him.

How the hell did Dimitri know about Elizabeth's condition? No one had told him about Elizabeth's condition, under his orders. What made it worse was the way he talked about her, it made Sheppard sick.

Dimitri was more than willing to explain everything John wanted to know when someone's voice came through John's ear piece.

"Excuse me," John said agitated, stepping out of the group's hearing range. "This better be good because-"

"I'm afraid it's the opposite." Carson Beckett's soft yet sad voice continued, "I ran some more tests but they all returned with the same result. There's an unknown toxin in Dr. Weir's bloodstream. It appears to have been there for a few days."

"How did it get there?"

"I can't say for sure, but I believe it was deliberate. There's a very large amount."

"Can you give her anything else?" John said, running a hand through his hair, his resolve wavering between anger and depression.

"I'm sorry, John. She hasn't responded to anything. There's nothing more I can do for her."

The minute John heard the news he clenched his fists tightly, as he thought it would stop him from doing the unthinkable. But it didn't, and for the first time in this ordeal, John Sheppard had a tear running down his face.

His voice was shaky when he finally spoke again, "Are you she…?"

"Just hurry, Lad. I can't guarantee anything. I'm very sorry." Carson's sympathetic tone left John alone in his sorrow.

He wanted to dial the gate and run to her side this very minute, but he knew he couldn't when he remembered the group standing a few feet behind him. She needed him, but at this moment he needed her more. John needed her to wake up and be waiting for him when he returned. He'd walk up to her calmly, them wrap his arms around her and not let go, regardless of how many people were watching. Maybe they'd have a party later to celebrate, they still had some wine…wine, why was that important?

The instant John thought of the wine he snapped back to reality. He blamed himself for letting this happen to her. He was supposed to protect her, damn it. Turning to face the group, he had one thing on his mind.

Dimitri was caught off guard finding himself pinned on the ground as John's fist connected with his jaw.

"You son of a bitch, you bastard!" Sheppard screamed, thoroughly shocking Lorne and his men as they tried to pull him off Dimitri.

"Sheppard, what the hell are you doing!" Lorne yelled, with little luck in trying to restrain him.

John launched himself at Dimitri savagely, getting more than a few punches in before some men finally pinned him to the ground. Dimitri lay on the ground with a blank expression, pushing away the men trying to help him up.

"He…he did it!"

"Did what?" Lorne asked, lost.

"Tell them, Dimitri." John nodded his head and gritting his teeth while Lorne let him sit up, "Tell them how you poisoned her."

"Well, Mister Sheppard, since you seem to have all the answers, why don't you." He retorted calmly.

"You put it in her drink; I was sitting right next to her."

Dimitri slowly lifted himself off the ground, wiping blood away from the corner of his mouth. He began to laugh when he spoke, "Took you a while to figure it out."

Lorne released Sheppard as every man circled him, raising their guns. Dimitri didn't seem stunned at all; in fact he was quite the opposite.

John stood directly in front him, handgun aimed at his temple, "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you right now."

"Well, I suppose they wouldn't like it very much."

Less than a second after Dimitri spoke, Sheppard and the team found themselves surrounded and out numbered as they exchanged unknowing looks. The real surprise came when they realized who they were…members of the Genii.