WARNING: Spoilers for Instinct
Authors Note: I don't own the characters, sorry for any mistakes I don't have much time to go through and catch every single mistake!
By the way! ALL OF the transcripts(script to a episode) I use in my story I get from GateWorld!
REVIEWS:
Nerwen Aldarion: Thanks Gurl! I'm glad you find the story Funny:p
Alimoe: Thanks for another GREAT review! Yes, I can expect Weir/Shepp thing to be a shocker, but I figured they have known eachother way longer then Ronon and Teyla knew eachother. So they would be moving at a much fast rate!
Cathain: Gurl, I'm sorry for the withdrawls! Hehe..I'm so busy that I don't seem to have much time to write anymore! But the story must go on!
CHAP.9
It seemed like it would be a good day today, but Teyla still wasn't sure if Ronon was going with them on the mission. She put her vest on and let out a dreary sigh that no one could heard, "I hope he doesn't go". She trailed off after she said it because she new her heart prayed that he would come, just so she could be near him. She stood in her room alone and overwhelmed with her confusion. She felt so weak these days and it upset her greatly. She was a leader and leaders can't feel weak, but she still felt herself slowly losing her clear headed point of views.
"I am a horrible leader," she muttered to herself in a hush tone. She rubbed her hands as if they were burning with pain and lowered her head in shame. All she thought about was Ronon the last two days she never once let her people cross her mind. She felt the need to cry arise at the back of her throat, but she held it in.
FLASHBACK
"Now Teyla, you know better then to cry, leaders don't cry in public." Her father scowled the 7 year old, who was much more mature then she seemed. Teyla sniffled and wiped her tears off of her chubby cheeks. Her father smiled at her with such love and care that she felt like she never fell and scraped her knee in the first place. He rubbed dry the tear that got away on her left cheek and she smiled back at him.
"That is my wonderful girl," the dark haired man said as he rubbed her head.
"Daddy is it ever okay to cry?" Teyla asked her father, who took her by the hand.
"Of course, when we are alone; and if you are with a loved one" , he smiled down and his beautiful daughter. She flashed her white teeth at him and put a little spring in her step as they strolled on down the road.
END FLASHBACK
Teyla stood in the middle of her room, still lost in her thoughts of her magnificent father. She didn't realize that she was smiling and crying at the same time. He had been her guide and without him she felt lost at times. She always had an empty feeling in her soul that she believed would never be filled again. Sheppard radioed her to come to the gate room and so she left the thoughts of her father in the empty room.
The team stood before the gate ready to face the unknown world that lay before them. Teyla walked into the room where everyone was already gathered. She saw Ronon standing next to Sheppard having a conversation and her stomach fluttered with butterflies. She felt her heart pumping blood faster and she could have sworn that she had a sweet taste in her mouth. She new it was all from looking at him, but she couldn't stop. She took a deep breath and prepared herself to look collected and calm. She held her rifle by her side and put on the biggest fake smile she could make. She didn't take her eyes away from Ronon and Sheppard as she slowly waked down the stairs towards them. Every step she took towards them was more difficult; the closer she got the more she felt like she would faint.
"Teyla!" Elizabeth called after the nervous woman. Teyla abruptly turned around to face Elizabeth who was walking towards her. She smiled at the short haired woman and was relieved that Elizabeth stopped her before she made a fool of herself in front of Ronon.
"Yes Dr.Weir?" Teyla answered in her usual calm voice, "I mean Elizabeth," she corrected herself quickly. Elizabeth gave her a heartfelt smile as she stopped in front of the armed woman.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing," Elizabeth informed her as she saw Teyla's face lighten up with joy.
"I am fine," Teyla answered happily, "and you?" Elizabeth took a peek at John and slightly blushed, "Oh, I'm perfectly happy," she declared still grinning. They stood in an awkward silence which luckly was broken by Sheppard's jeering, "Lets go Rodney stop fixing yourself up. If you don't look good by now it's too late, everyone has seen your face already!" She said her good-bye to Dr.Weir and headed for the gate and made sure that she came nowhere close to Ronon.
The planet was made of pure fog or at least it seemed like it. Sheppard walked in front of Teyla as McKay and Ronon followed, breaking through the thick foggy night. Sheppard and Teyla had their firearms ready incase something popped out. They learned that danger could be around any corner and if your off your guard you could be caught.
"Great vacation getaway in the Pegasus Galaxy", Sheppard said sarcastically as he tried to see through the fog.
Teyla felt a chill go down her spine, "Where is everyone?" It seemed like they were the only ones who existed on the planet.
"There's smoke from the chimneys, they're inside." Ronon spoke finally after not saying a word since they left. Teyla knew it was because of her but she made no comment about or made it seem obvious that they weren't speaking to one another.
"Hmph. Can't say I blame them. Nothing I hate more than a damp cold", McKay said while examining his creepy surroundings. They arrived at a village square, which didn't look like anything on a night like this, and spread out in a semi-circle taking in their surroundings.
"Let's check this out", Sheppard said as he headed for a building with a ironclad door. They opened the door that lead to a candle and fire-lit village tavern and revealed a group of villagers. They all stopped and looked at the team, not smiling. They didn't seem too pleased to see stranglers in their town and they didn't seem to scared to show it.
"Howdy, folks", Sheppard said as he tried to lighten up the dull mood the villagers gave off. No one spoke they just stared until a young man by the name of Callup spoke up.
"Who are you?" Callup asked as he tried to study their faces.
"Sheppard,"he answered as he gestured the others to come in, "This is Teyla, Ronon, McKay..."
Ronon felt the awkward stares pierce through him and gave the crowd a ineffective wave.
The people would not budge their smile less faces and eyes away from the team.
"You from Ratira?" Callup said as he tossed a towel over his shoulder. Ronon noticed the way he looked at Teyla and it caused him to dislike the young man before even talking to him.
"No,",Sheppard said as he looked over his shoulder at McKay.
"Over the mountains, then?" Callup suggested one more time hoping to get the answer he wanted.
Sheppard spoke hesitantly, "A little further".
Callup looked at them with suspicion at first but then greeted them, "Huh. Then you've come a long way. You'll be in need of food and drink".
As soon as he heard the word food McKay was interested and eagerly made his way to the table with the rest of his team.
"Sit," Callup said as he glanced at Teyla once more. Ronon was the only one to notice the look and he was greatly irritated.
"I take it you don't get a lot of strangers around here?" McKay gestured at the staring crowed.
"No" ,Calluop said as he nearly collided with the huge Ronon while pulling out a bench for him to sit on, "Especially those who travel near dark." Ronon wanted knock him down but rethought it at the last minute, not wanting to cause trouble. He sat down at a chair close to Teyla, unintentionally of course.
"Why's that?" Sheppard asked the young man.
Callup looked up in surprise from wiping down their table, "You really don't know?"
"Callup!" a older, bearded man warned loudly while standing near the bar. He had his arms crossed and seemed very irritated, "What's your business here?"
"No business really, we're just travelers", Sheppard said to the man while turning up his charm.
"You'd best keep traveling, then", the man thereatened them, while they sat comfortably uneasy at their table. Sheppard could clearly see that his charm didn't work on the man because he didn't even blink.
Teyla looked around the room and noticed the failure in hospitality from the crowd. She looked at McKay whose charming smile faded to his usual skeptical look.
"Yeah," McKay said eyeballing the room and licking his lips lightly.
Goran still stood with his arms crossed and a face that meant business.
The team exchanged looks, but Teyla and Ronon dared not to look at each other.
"All right, then" , Sheppard said as everyone except Ronon made the notion to get up.
"Wait!" Callup said as he turned to Goran, "Goran, you can't send them out there".
Goran stood in silence while examining at the young bartender and then looked at Ronon, who was sitting at the table looking dangerously uninterested to leave.
"They look like they can take care of themselves," Goran said as he turned his gaze away from Ronon, "It may not even start tonight."
"It's been three months. How much longer do you think it'll wait?" Callup asked trying to persuade the grouchy old man.
McKay gave Callup a little wave and let his curiosity takeover his better judgment, ""Hi! What are you talking about?"
Goran let his arms fall to his sides and walked over to their table, "The Daimos". He leaned on wood as he gave them a hint that The Daimos wasn't a pleasant thing.
Teyla looked at Sheppard and they exchanged puzzled looks.
"Never heard of it," Sheppard said with the same lost look.
Goran looked at them, "It lives in the forest. It'll be feeding soon."
"And it is ... some kind of an animal, or…?" McKay asked, still trying to figure out the situation.
"It's a creature, that has the appearance of a man, but it can suck the very life from your bones. It leaves only a dead, withered husk behind," Goran said trying to scare them off.
"Sounds familiar," Sheppard said confidently while exchanging looks with Ronon, who looked ready to hunt.
Goran sat down with them at the table as Callup served them drinks. Goran motioned everyone to look away from them, and they obeyed. He had a sense of authority but still a hate and sadness covered him.
"Look, uh ... we know you're not used to dealing with strangers, but we may be able to help you with this little problem you're having. We're used to dealing with this kind of thing," Sheppard said. Ronon didn't even look inside his cup since he wasn't the one to stop and think before drinking or eating.
Teyla looked at the huge man as he gulped down his drink in a split second. She put on an irritated face and turned away from him.
"We call them the Wraith," Teyla said to Goran while feeling Ronon's leg brush up on hers. She was sitting right next to Ronon and his body heat seemed to be attracted to hers.
"They're the creatures from the old stories, from the time of the cullings," Goran said to the team.
Again Ronon brushed his leg against hers.
"What is going on through that brain of his, first he doesn't want me and now he's trying to touch me!" Teyla wondered to herself still annoyed by his actions. Ronon let his arm slide next to hers on the table and he felt heat pass through it.
"So you have heard of them?" McKay said as he noticed the Teyla's slightly angered face.
"Yes, but the histories of them are incomplete. They tell of the great ships that descended from the sky, but there's no description of the Wraith themselves, although there were a few among us who guessed the Daimos might be one of them," Goran said to the team of strangers.
"Why?" Teyla asked as she slid her arm farther from Ronons.
"Because it, too, came from the sky," Goran said replied with a slight horror in his blue eyes.
He told them the story of how the Wraith crashed on their planet just ten years ago. They listened letting his story seep into their minds.
"Wise decision", Ronon said as Goran said that they burned the Wraith bodies.
"Unfortunately, we didn't get them all," Goran said with pure sadness in his speech, "And although none of us saw it, evidently one of them survived."
McKay gave Goran a horrified look as his eyes shifted to the table in sadness.
"It took its first victim that very night. We tried to hunt it down, but we couldn't find it. It's been out there ever since," Goran began, "It feeds three, four times a year, takes two or three people each time."
McKay had a very hard time hearing Goran's story but Goran continued anyway, "Two years after the first attack, it took my own son."
The team whole team now had a hard time hearing the sad man's story, well everyone except Ronon who looked impressed. Goran looked down at the table and took a drink out of his cup.
"That's it? One Wraith in the forest?" Ronon asked as he reached for his gun and flicked the arming mechanism. He glanced at Teyla who looked pissed but tried to hid it.
"Yes," Goran said surprised by the huge man's reaction.
"I'm done by morning!" Ronon said while looking at Sheppard. Sheppard thought about it for a minute and jumped a little.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Sheppard said stopping Ronon, "We'll all go together...in the daylight!"
Lightning crashed outside and filled the room with a slight glimmer of light. It was enough to convince Ronon to wait till morning. He wanted to protest just for the hell of it, but bit his tounge. He sighed at Sheppard and followed his order.
"You're really going to help us?" Callup asked as he brought them another pitcher.
"Well, like the man said," Sheppard said gesturing at Ronon, "it's just one Wraith. It'd be downright unneighborly if we didn't."
"In that case? Drinks are on me," Callup said happily as the Sheppard drank from his cup once again.
Ronon eyed the youth and made sure he didn't make any eye contact with Teyla. He sat back down and was pleased that Callup didn't take a glance at the lovely Athosian warrior. He wasn't sure what he would have done if the youth did glance, "probably trip him," he smirked as he though to himself.
"Well, uh ... let's not forget the food!" McKay pleaded as he watched Callup run off.
Goran studied the table full of strangers and smiled.
"Thank you", he praised Sheppard, Ronon, Teyla and McKay who was rubbing his empty stomach.
After they ate Callup and Goran offered them free rooms for the night. They made their way up the stairs to where the bedrooms were. The walls were a beautiful mahogany and the floors were a cream color. It smelled like flowers and candle wax, which wasn't a bad mix. There was a long hall that held about 7 rooms.
"You can sleep here," Callup opened the first door for Teyla and she smiled warmly as she passed by him into her room. Callup was cheesing at the young woman and didn't notice the rage building up in Ronon face.
"Thank you ", Teyla said gesturing to Callup and then turning her gaze back to the rest of her team, "Good night." She closed the door behind her and exhaled with relief. Her room was small but cozy. Everything was made out of wood and the bed had clean white sheets on it. She took off her boots and vest and placed it on the ground next to the tiny closet. She admired the carved dresser, which had a beautiful patter or flowers on it. Someone knocked on her door and the first though that ran by her was that it was Ronon. She rushed to the door but stopped before she touched the handle and questioned about opening it. "What if is him..." she asked herself, but opened the door anyway. It was Callup standing in front of the door with a huge smile upon his face.
"Hello Miss Teyla," he greeted her nervously, " I just came by to give to this night gown." He handed her a white night gown from behind his back.
She took it and smiled at him, "Thank you." He nervously put his hands in and out of his pockets.
"It was my mothers," he said she unfolded the beautiful gown, " I didn't want you to sleep in your clothes."
He stopped himself and looked at her, "I mean..of course you can sleep in your clothes if you want.."
She grinned at him, "Thank you Callup, it is lovely," The boy blushed fiercely and rocked back and forth on his heals. Teyla didn't want to be rude to the youth, but she wanted to close the door and go about her business. She saw something move at the corner of her eye and quickly turned her head.
Callup followed her gaze, "What happened?"
She turned her attention back to Callup but kept a close eye to the right of her, "Nothing..I thought I saw something." She did see something, it was Ronon. She caught one of his dread locks flying behind the wall. She didn't see his body or face but she new it was him. She smiled at Callup and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, "Good night." She left the young man in shock and gently closed her bedroom door.
Down the hall, behind a small corner Ronon stood full or rage. He leaned on the wall and tried to press his body to it. He had the urge to beat the crap out of Callup. He asked himself how she could kiss that little brat. His mind was saying stay clam but his feet were saying get him. He probably would have strangled the young Romeo if McKay didn't open their bedroom door.
McKay looked at Ronon with a puzzled face and asked, "What's with you?"
Ronon quickly forgot about Callup, "You know curiosity killed the scientist", Ronon teased Rodney. Rodney looked at Ronon in horror and proceeded to slowly shut the door. Ronon sighed with relief that McKay left him alone, but the door opened again.
McKay looked at Ronon once more, " You think you can get some ice, while your out there?" Ronon squinted at Rodney who looked kind of scared, " Or.. I can get it." Rodney walked past the warrior with precaution and made his way downstairs. Ronon smiled to himself, he always enjoyed playing with Rodney's mind. He gently pushed himself off of the wall and drunkenly walked into the room. Sheppard lay on his bed with his hands behind his head. When Ronon entered the room he sat up quickly and took notice of Ronon's rotten mood.
"Mad because you have to share a room with McKay?" Sheppard tried to cheer up the tall gloomy man. Ronon looked at Sheppard but didn't change his mood a bit. Sheppard looked uncomfortably at him and again tried to put a smile on his face, "I hope he doesn't fart in his sleep." Ronon smiled at the Colonel and Sheppard smiled back, pleased with himself.
McKay burst into the room, "I'm warning you guys, I'm a very loud sleeper!" he said to the two men, who burst out in laughter.
"What?" McKay looked back and forth at the two of them with his usual lost look, "I don't get it!"
Sheppard looked at the poor confused scientist, "That's because you like the sound of your own voice better then listening to us!" McKay lowered his eyes to Sheppard's remark and made his way to his bed.
"Where is the ice?" Ronon's voice thundered through the room which made McKay jump. He turned around to look at Ronon with a stern face.
"I didn't get it!" McKay said in an annoyed voice that made Ronon and Sheppard laugh once more.
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McKay was the first to fall asleep that night, leaving Ronon and Sheppard fully awake. They lay in their beds in pure silence, both pondering in secret. Ronon stared at the white ceiling above him and his mind ran by him different ideas about what Teyla was doing. Sheppard lay on his side, smiling, at the thought of Elizabeth and all the times he made her laugh. Ronon got out of his bed and walked to the open balcony. The storm had passed an hour ago and left the sky full of stars. As night air surrounded him with the smell of fresh dew and a slight breeze hit his bear chest that gave him goose pumps. He looked to his right and saw a small window open. It was Teyla's room and knowing that made him wished that he could just go in there and lay with her. He didn't want to do anything with her, he just wanted to touch her warm fine skin. He rubbed his fingers together and looked at the small village below him. He though about his mother and how she would love Teyla if she met her. His poor mother, who died because of the horrible Wraith. The Wraith that he hated with every fiber in his being. Now, he was scared that he would lose Teyla just like he lost his beautiful mother. Sheppard placed a hand on Ronons shoulder and looked at him in pure curiosity. He leaned on the railing next to the Satedian warrior and they stood out in the cold in the absence of sound.
Sheppard broke their silence, "How you doing?"
Ronon didn't look at Sheppard, he just kept beaming at the bright sky.
"I'm fine," he said lifelessly, "just thinking".
Sheppard let a small snicker escape his lips as he looked down at the ground.
Ronon looked at him, "What's the snicker for?"
Sheppard looked l at Ronon with a wide smile on his face, "Thinking about a special Athosian leader are we?"
Ronon was taken back by his statement and quickly tried to change the subject, "Well, how's Dr.Weir?" Sheppard looked mortified and started to stutter, "Well, Liz..er..Elizabeth, is fine". Ronon lifted an eyebrow at him and smirked, "Guess you won't be meeting her in her bedroom tonight, huh?"
Sheppard now redder then a tomato stared at Ronon in disbelief, "What did you say?" Ronon looked back at the small village again ignoring Sheppard's question. Sheppard stood there trying to understand how Ronon new everything, "Well, how are you and Teyla?" He saw Ronons eyes twitch and then close as he answered, "I don't know what your talking about." Sheppard could sense something was wrong by the tone is his voice, "What do you mean?" he leaned over the railing to get a better view of his face. Ronon looked at him in annoyance, "There is nothing to talk about," and went back to his village view. Sheppard sighed and looked at the village also, "If you need to talk, I'm here", he tapped Ronon on the shoulder, "I mean I have noticed that you two aren't talking, but..." Ronon gave him a look as if to shut up, and Sheppard did. They stood there surrounded by darkness with only the light of the moon and stars above them.
"Thanks Sheppard," Ronon said quietly, "but there is nothing more between me and Teyla other then respect and friendship." Sheppard stayed quiet for a moment then spoke choosing his words carefully, "Doesn't seem that way to me." He left Ronon in silence on the balcony and went straight to bed. Ronon stood out in the cold until he felt his feet freeze and made his way back to his bed. He pulled the covers over his huge, hard, body and drifted off into sleep.
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Teyla's window was open, letting a slight wind keep her room fresh and cool. She lay on her back, deep in slumber with only the lower part of her body covered by the thin white sheets. Her arms gently resting upon the pillows and her hair spread across the pillow under her head. She was having the most seductive dream, similar to the a dream she had a few weeks ago. But this dream was different, she was the one making the moves.
She sat on her bed in the white night gown Callup gave her. Ronon stood at her door letting his arms rest at each side of the door frame. The moon left the curves of his chest outlined perfectly. He looked at her hungrily and it stirred her senses. He licked his lips at her and slowly walked over to the bed, but he had a hunter feel to his walk. She backed away on the bed as he stood before her. She crouched on her sheets as he put his knee on the edge. The bangs covered her eyes and before she knew what she was doing she lunged at Ronon and pinned him to her soft mattress. She sat on him taking him by surprised and kissed him forcefully letting her fingers roam over his chest and arms. He was solid yet silky at the same time. She moaned as she let his hands grip the sides of her thighs and rub them gently. He pressed her closer to his body and she felt him get harder by the minute. It seemed so real and she enjoyed every minute of it.
When she woke up just before dawn she remembered every detail of her erotic dream. In fact, that was all she could think about the whole morning while getting ready.
They all had breakfast and the whole time Callup couldn't take his eyes off of Teyla. Every thing he did for the team he made sure Teyla got it first. It annoyed Ronon that Teyla payed most of her attention to the young host. They left as soon as they finished eating and went outside to wait for Goran to arrive. McKay sat on a rock in the village square while the others looked on. They stood just a couple of feet away from him talking when they heard McKay's irritated voice, "What!" He was talking to a little boy who seemed very excited to see him.
"Is it true? You're going to hunt the Daimos?" the little boy's eye's shined with joy.
McKay looked at the short brown-haired boy, "It looks that way".
The boys mouth fell in wonder," I heard it has two heads, and can turn you to stone just by looking at you."
McKay jumped to his feet impatiently, " Well, you heard wrong".
"My uncle says it'll come and take me if I don't do my chores".
"He said that, huh? Well then, if we get rid of it, you've got nothing to worry about. You'll never have to do chores again," McKay sputtered as he tried to walk away from the child.
"Really!" the boy asked full of excitement.
"Yes,... go away!" McKay snapped at the lad, who did as he said with disappointment.
The team stared at the angry impatient scientist.
"What?" McKay asked surprised by their amused looks.
They turned to see Goran, " As far as we know, no one was taken last night, but it will strike ... and soon," Goran said.
"We'll kill it before that happens," Ronon said as he made a few sounds with his gun, which made Teyla roll her eyes.
"You must be great at parties," Sheppard teased Ronon as they headed out.
The woods they entered were not very thick and they concluded that it would help greatly in their mission. They were walking for about two hours; which started to make Teyla very impatient and Sheppard and McKay unalert. Ronon on the other hand was ready for danger at any moment as he walked with his hand close to his gun.
"We're talking about a hundred square miles of forest, here", McKay whispered to Sheppard in a unconfident manner.
"Be patient. Ronon's been going up against the Wraith, one-on-one, for the last seven years. If anyone can track this thing, it's him," Sheppard said in a low voice trying to convince McKay to not worry.
"And exactly how is he going to do that, huh?" McKay asked with an obvious attitude.
"It helps to have good hearing," Ronon said from a distance, which made Teyla smile.
"Right!" McKay said full of shock. Sheppard gave McKay a deadly look and smacked him on the back of the head and headed towards Ronon.
"Carry on!" McKay said trying to play of his embarrassment and turned to follow Sheppard.
Two more hours passed and now no one was very enthusiastic. The forest seemed like it never ended.
"How about you? Are you sensing anything?" Sheppard asked Teyla who was searching her surroundings for clues.
"I am not sure," she said with uneasiness in her voice.
"What do you mean?" Sheppard asked her as she looked around her.
"There is a presence here, but it is," she looked at the trees and shook her head in disagreement, "... different. I cannot quite explain it".
Ronon wandered around in the forest just a few feet away from the rest of his team, still looking for signs for Wraith. He looked through one of the trees and suddenly stopped. He caught Sheppard's eye as he raised his hand to stop anyone from talking. Sheppard quietly walked over to him as Ronon pulled his gun out from under his long tan coat.
"It's in there," Ronon stated quietly as he searched between a group of trees.
Ronon noticed a flash of movement between the two trees and darted after it. He ran as fast as he could dodging trees and anything else that came between him and the Wraith. His feet carried him and he didn't dare blink for the fear of losing sight of the Wraith. He was running against the wind that slowed him down but at last he came to a stop. He aimed his gun into the mouth of a cave and was really surprised that no one kept up with him. He crouched down looking into the small opening trying to see at least a glimmer or a movement. Sheppard was the first to run up to him and McKay and Teyla followed, all of them exhausted and panting hard.
"It's in there," Ronon motioned to the cave as he got up.
"It was the Wraith?" Sheppard asked still trying to catch his breath.
"Yeah," Ronon answered looking at his team.
"Did you see it?" McKay asked him in wonder.
"No," Ronon said while still looking into the dark cave.
"So, how do you know!" McKay asked skeptically.
Ronon turned his head towards McKay, ready to inform him of his stupidity but Teyla interrupted him.
"Ronon is correct. I can definitely sense it now", she stated, shocking Ronon that she actually used his name.
They attached their flashlights to their weapons and entered the cave full of caution. The cave was damp and full of corridors. McKay stayed behind them incase something happened. No matter how quietly they tried to step on the stone ground they still sent echos of footsteps through the cave. They made their way to a intersection and paused when they saw another flash of white around the corner.
"A female!" Teyla indicated as they took off after the Wraith. They followed the female through the ashen cave hall. The came to a corner that held a open door and Sheppard ran through it.
"Get out of the way!" Sheppard ordered a man who looked like he was protecting the Wraith.
"Please! Don't shoot! She's not what you think!" the old man tried to plead with Sheppard, who was ready to blow the Wraith to bits. The rest of his team was right behind him in the door way, confused by the situation.
Ronon tried to understand what exactly was happening and why this old man was protecting a Wraith.
The old man answered Ronon's private question, "She's my daughter," he informed them. They didn't move their guns away from the Wraith.
"She means you no harm!" the old man tried to advise them while still keeping the young Wraith-girl in his arms.
Ronon couldn't believe his ears, "She's a Wraith!" he warned the man, as if he didn't realize what he was protecting.
"Maybe so, but she's different! I swear to you!" insisted the gray haired man.
Sheppard stood with his gun pointed at them, "Let me guess? Wraith with a heart of gold?" he asked sarcastically.
"She doesn't feed. She's never taken a human life," the man explained again.
Teyla also couldn't believe what she was hearing, "How is that possible?"
"Please! Lower your weapons, and I'll explain it to you", the man pleaded with Sheppard.
They stood there in silence, Sheppard was lost at this point and didn't really know what to do next. He considered it and finally lowered his weapon, followed by McKay and then Teyla. Ronon on the other hand didn't lower his weapon and thought that they were crazy that they did. McKay gave him a skeptical look and a sort of hint that it was okay. He lowered his weapon for the time being but kept it tightly in his hand ready at any moment. They saw the man being compassionate to the young girl, "It's all right," he said trying to comfort her.
She looked at the team in horror, finally a Wraith who was more scared of them then they were of her, "Father!" she whispered.
"I won't let them hurt you," he once more comforted her with his words and a hug.
He looked at the team and addressed them, "I raised her as my own".
Teyla arched her eyebrow at the strange old man with a Wraith daughter.
"You live here? Together?" she asked in her skeptical manner. She found it rather sickening that he would consider a murderer as family.
"This was part of a mine, before the last culling. It's not much to look at, I know, but we don't have much choice. The people of the village would not understand," he said sadly.
Ronon looked at the horrible creature the man called his daughter. She saw his look of pure hatred and hid her face.
"Gee. I wonder why?" Sheppard added to a face of disgust.
"The villagers told us that there was a Wraith in the forest. It came here in a crashed ship ten years ago," Teyla indicated as McKay walked over to the table full of cylinders and test tubes.
"Ten years ago? Ellia was just a child! Do you really think she could be responsible for the deaths that happened immediately after that crash?" the old man insisted full of innocence.
"So you know about that, then?" McKay questioned looking at a cylinder full of strange liquid.
"I was there," he said, "I helped kill the survivors".
"But, when I found a young female lying unconscious some distance from the crash? I couldn't bring myself to hurt her. I brought her here to this cave to hide her from the others. To this day, the people of the village don't know ... and, and you must promise not to tell them!" he warned them.
"She's not responsible for what's been happening!" the man blurted out trying to convince them still.
"Well then, who is?" Ronon said impatiently still not believing the man.
"I believe another Wraith survived the crash," he said searching their faces for any sign of remorse.
"An adult. That's who you should be looking for!" the man exclaimed at the skeptical looking Sheppard,
"If she does not feed, how does she live?" Teyla argued at the idea of even believing the old man.
"First, I fed her as you would any child, and that seemed to suffice. But then, something began to change," the man went on, " The food no longer gave her any sustenance. There was a hunger growing in her that would not be satisfied. I ... heard the stories of the other creature, what it did to survive. And I was afraid that was what Ellia would become. And so I started to experiment. I have extensive knowledge of the various properties of the medicinal plants that grow in this forest".
"Are you ... interested in science?" the man asked McKay who looked very interested at a test tube full of twigs.
I'm not sure that's what I'd call this, but yes," McKay answered.
"Ellia's hunger was growing stronger every day and I wasn't sure I could do anything for her. But, eventually," he murmured as he picked up a bottle off of the work bench, " I came up with this".
They all stood there listening to the man talk and finding it too good to be true.
"Okay look, I'm going to go back and talk to Elizabeth about this whole thing, you guys stay here", Sheppard informed his team. Teyla nodded in agreement but McKay didn't look too comfortable with the situation.
"Oh, and I am Zaddick", the old man shook hands with Sheppard and then introduced his daughter, "this is Ellia". She smiled show sharp white teeth that sent a shiver down his spine but he smiled anyway. He stormed out of the room taking Ronon along with him. McKay exchanged looks with Teyla. They were standing in silence for at least an hour before McKay got the guts to say something.
"So, how exactly do you make this food or hers?" McKay asked Zaddik trying to break the tension in the room. Zaddik smiled warmly at him and proceeded to his table, "Well, let us show you".
Ellia started to pick different ingredients off of the table and put them in a bowl while her father looked on.
"Now, remember ... the leaves must be dried, and finely ground," he said looking into the bowl she was working on.
"Like ... this?" she asked joyfully.
"A little more," he said and walked over to the other side of the table, "Now, why is distillation an important step?"
"To ... remove the toxins from the ferassin root?" she murmured reluctantly.
"Precisely!" Zaddik praised her with glee. Ellia gave him a huge Wraith smile that only seemed to freak out McKay and Teyla.
"We wouldn't want the serum to send you into paralytic shock, now would we?" Zaddik teased his daughter while she grounded up some more leaves.
"Nooo, Father," Ellia rolled her eyes playfully at Zaddik as he smiled.
McKay looked on in shock and whispered to Teyla, "Seriously. Have you ever seen anything like this before?"
Teyla looked on in wonder, "No, I have not. She's unlike any Wraith I've ever encountered."
"What if it's all an act?" McKay's voice hinted in fear.
"If she were a killer, why would he protect her?" Teyla insisted as she gestured at Ellia.
"Maybe the act's for his benefit, too?" McKay quibbled as they looked on.
She shook her head in disagreement, "They live here together, Rodney. If she were like other Wraith, he would be her first victim". Just then Sheppard radioed her, "Teyla, this is Sheppard", he said trying to establish contact.
Teyla turned slightly away from Zaddik and turned her radio on, "Go ahead".
"Just got back with Beckett. Ronon's gonna take him up to the cave, I'm gonna check back in with the villagers," Sheppard informed her.
"What are you going to tell them?" she asked softly.
She heard Sheppard sigh, "I'm still working on that".
They waited for Ronon and Carson to arrive which didn't take too long. The two walked into the door carrying cases of equipment. Carson immediately introduced himself to Zaddik and began to open his case. He sat up his laptop first and Zaddik seemed extremely fascinated by it all.
"This equipment ... is remarkable! Where did you get it?" Zaddik looked on wide-eyed.
"Oh, here and there," Carson said coyly, " Let's start by analyzing that drug of yours, shall we?"
"Oh, yes. Of course," Zaddik beamed with excitement.
"Would you like some tea?" Ellia caught Carson and McKay unaware as she offered them a drink. They exchanged looks as Zaddik took some team, "Oh, thank you."
Ellia lifted a cup and offered McKay some who didn't hide his fear as he refused it, "No, no".
She gave him the cup anyway and then offered some to Carson who proved to be much nicer in his refusal, " Oh, no thank you."
Ronon knew she was approaching him but didn't look at her as he leaned against the cave wall.
"Would you like some..." she offered him but he quickly warned, "No."
"Are, are you sure? It's very good!" she didn't give up as she offered him some again.
"I said no," he said while giving her one final warning look. He glared at her as she quickly left.
She approached him again but this time with biscuits on her plate, "Then maybe some biscuits? I baked them myself".
Before she knew what happened he violently knocked the plate out of her hands and blurted out, " STAY AWAY FROM ME!"
Ellia let out an loud Wraith shriek, scaring everyone in the room except Ronon who was used to the sound. He pulled his gun to her chest and concentrating on her every movement.
"Ronon!" Teyla warned him loudly as she made her way over to them.
Ellia stopped shrieking horrified by his attitude and her atcions. Teyla put herself between Ronon and Ellia and placed a hand on Ronon;s chest. Her touch cleared his head enough to respond to re restraint. Ellia took one last look at Teyla and at the angered Ronon and stormed out of the room in tears. Teyla turned to looked at Ronon who loomed over her. She looked him dead in the eye looking very displease by his actions ,"Was that really necessary?"
Ronon looked down at shapely woman, "You can dress her up and teach her table manners, but that's not going to change who she is." Her expression softened a bit as he edged extremely close to her, intentionally touching her as he left. He left her feeling a little sad and she would have went after him if Sheppard didn't radio her.
"Teyla, this is Sheppard. Come in?" she heard his voice over the radio.
"Go ahead, Colonel", she bemoaned to Sheppard as she thought about Ronon.
"Is Ellia still in the cave?" she heard his voice full of concern.
She arched an eyebrow and looked at Carson and McKay, "Yes."
"She been there the whole time?" he asked her again.
"Yes, why?" she asked as his voice indicated trouble.
"I just found another victim," he said as Beckett and McKay exchanged looks of terror.
"Apparently he's only been missing a couple of hours, which means she couldn't have done it," he continued not knowing that his team was having a hard time listening to the situation, " So, Zaddik might have been telling the truth after all."
"Okay, well let us know if any more information comes up!" she said hesitantly, not really knowing what to say to him.
She looked at McKay and Carson who were still in shock, "I shall go tell Ronon". They nodded in agreement as she rushed past them out of the cave.
---------
She made her way down the dark corridors once more, taking on breath at a time expecting him at any corner. She reached the opening of the cave and the bright light hurt her eyes. With one hand on her gun and the other over her squinting eyes. She walked completely out and saw him sitting against the cave wall. She looked at his drunken expression but he didn't pay her no mind.
"Ronon..." she stood a good distance away from him, "Sheppard said that there is another Wraith out there." He didn't give her any hint that he actually heard her or was even listening. She took another deep breath and let it out before she made her way over to him. She stood right next to him now, but nothing, he didn't even speak at her. She stood next to him silently for a few moments and then began to get impatient. She shifted her body in front of him and her shadow fell on his sitting figure. She finally got his attention, he looked up at the lovely woman before him. She knew she should be furious about how he acted a few minutes ago but the perfect blend of light outside revealed his beautiful light green eyes; and it melted her soul. He looked her in the eyes and she saw about five different emotions at the same time. She narrowed her eyes in wonder, "What were you thinking about back there Ronon?"
She waited to see if he answered her before she went on, "What you did in there was completely unnecessary!" He looked up at her once more but made not notion that he would talk.
"You need to learn to control your temper Ronon!" she scolded him. He got up with a single swift motion and it made her jump back in surprise. He moved his body closer to hers and now was inches away from her face. He didn't have a pleasant look on his face intact it was the same rage she saw in him when he told her about Kell.
"You don't know me, so don't judge me," he scowled at her, "and don't talk to me like I'm a child!" He didn't move from his spot and she was very taken back that he would act that way towards her. She tried to hide the fact that she was hurt, "judge me..." his voice rang in her head. Her eyes were the only thing that gave away her pain. Her body made no sign of weakness as she walked away from him and entered the cave. His body fell back on the rocks of the cave and he gripped his hair in dismay.
"No, I didn't mean it..." he said quietly, "Fuck, what the fuck is wrong with me?" He covered his eyes with his arm and leaned his head back. He couldn't believe he hurt her again. Mostly he couldn't believe what he said to her, "judge me!", she was the only one who didn't judge him.
"Another weak apology to a woman who means more to me than my own life..." he blurted out. His eyes began to burn from hold back tears but he suddenly heard a sound that shocked his reflexes back. He pulled his gun out ready to shoot at the next movement but it was only Sheppard who came stumbling through the woods.
"God, no wonder Goldilocks got her ass lost in the woods," he said pushing through the thick woods and brushing the pieces of dirt off of him. He stumbled into the open to find Ronon standing very still and confused by his remark and presence.
"Come on Ronon, were going Wraith hunting!" Sheppards said as if he was a hillbilly.