Author's Notes:- Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed this story. Here you are the final part. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Enjoy
Rodney hadn't stopped from the moment the Jumper had gone through the Stargate. His panic was all consuming and John was standing by for the moment Rodney went overboard.
"We need to work out where they went," Rodney rolled off, "The signal the cube was giving off had to have a destination."
"We know this Rodney," Zelenka reminded him softly.
"Then get out of my way so I can sort this," Rodney snapped finding his way barred by Zelenka.
"You are too close to this Rodney," the other scientist said sternly, "You need to let us do this for you."
"Of course I'm close," Rodney yelled, "It's my baby and the woman I love out there."
This was the first time any of them had heard Rodney admit his feelings for Cadman and it was John who stepped forward first. Zelenka slipped out of the room nodding at the military leader of Atlantis as he moved to comfort the head scientist.
"We're going to get them back," John told his friend, "But you have to let Radek and your team do this for you."
"I can't lose them John," Rodney breathed.
John rested his hand on his shoulder, "I won't let that happen."
x
Cadman sat in the Jumper her fear settling and changing. She was angry, this bastard had thrown her life into disarray and now he was trying to take both it and her child. She was not letting that happen.
They flew over a dense forest heading towards yet another palace.
"We shall be there soon my Queen," Ellis told her.
"Go to hell," Cadman snapped.
"Our child will be strong," he continued ignoring her.
Cadman glared at him, "This is my child."
Ellis laughed and ignored her again as he brought the Jumper into land. He kept the gun trained on her as he released her from the restraints.
"It is time for me to greet my loyal followers," he said filled with self-importance.
Cadman kept her mouth shot despite the dozen or so retorts that sprung to mind and walked as he motioned her forward, her hand automatically resting across her stomach protectively.
x
Cadman watched as small groups of people emerged from dilapidated houses, every one of them falling to their knees as Ellis walked past.
He stopped in the centre, he motioned for one of the men to keep a hold of Cadman who watched disgusted at the way these people were bowing and scraping.
"My people," Ellis started his hands stretching out, "Your forefathers told you of this day I have returned to you at last," he stopped as the people cheered, "With me I bring you a Queen who carries the child that I shall enter to become your King at full strength once more where I shall destroy our enemies bringing us to power as we were destined to be."
Cadman grimaced at the sound of applause, as she was forced further into the palace. Ellis motioned to several guards to come with them.
"Place your queen within her room," Ellis ordered one of the men, "Do not allow her to leave."
Cadman fixed an icy stared on the man.
"I shall see you soon my Queen," he smiled at her as she was pulled away.
John watched his friend who'd stopped pacing almost an hour before and was just sitting his eyes blank. The most frightening thing was how quiet he was being, Rodney was almost never quiet.
"Colonel," Zelenka said softly moving him out of the room, "I have a location."
"Good," John sighed.
"I am getting the Jumper ready to go," Zelenka continued, "However I have also been studying this Ellis. It is very possible there shall be many working for him. Also, I know he shall be getting ready to use the device to mature the child."
"What does that mean?" John demanded.
"It means that by the time you get there," Zelenka lowered his voice, "By the time you get there you may be fighting Rodney's son as Ellis."
John swallowed, "Let's go faster then."
x
Teyla took Rodney's arm as they headed to the Jumper Bay, Ronon and John were already there going over everything they needed.
"We will get her back," she told him, "Lieutenant Cadman is a very capable woman."
Rodney nodded, "I know."
"She also cares a great deal for you," Teyla reminded him, "And will fight to return."
"He scares her," Rodney whispered, "I promised he wouldn't get near her or the baby Teyla, I promised her."
"Rodney," Teyla squeezed his hand, "You cannot blame yourself for this. None of us could have known this would happen. Now you have to focus on helping her once we get to the planet."
He nodded.
"Let's go," she pulled him towards the Jumper Bay.
x
"Okay," John said as Teyla and Rodney took their seats, "Control this is Jumper One. We're heading out."
"Good luck Jumper One," Elizabeth's voice came over the radio, "Bring her back."
"Will do Elizabeth," John nodded to Teyla to dial the Gate glancing back at Rodney who was sitting his fists clenched.
The Jumper eased its way through the Gate and John instantly cloaked it. He started to scan the forest looking for where Ellis was hiding.
"Rodney, take your readings," he ordered knowing that keeping his friend's mind on mundane matters was the best way to keep Rodney losing it.
It was several minutes later when Rodney spoke up, "I have a structure," he pressed a few controls bringing it up on the main viewer, "This looks like it."
"Similar to the other place he had," John noted, "This guy hasn't got much imagination."
"John," Teyla's voice held a warning note.
"Find me a place to land where we can get in without being seen," John told Rodney giving Teyla a contrite look.
"Okay," Rodney said, "You're going to have to circle round the city but I've got a place."
"Then let's go," John changed direction and headed for the landing site.
Cadman looked around the room she'd been thrown in trying to find either an escape route or a weapon. Finding neither she chewed her lip thoughtfully before smiling, there was a man outside and she was a pregnant woman after all.
When she opened the door Cadman stopped as the guard pointed his gun at her.
"Please," she cried, "There's something wrong with the baby."
"I…" he stuttered starting to move.
"Don't leave," Cadman gasped trying to force some tears into her eyes pulling him so he would come into the room.
Awkwardly he patted her shoulder as he moved her into the room unable to fight back as Cadman grabbed his hand from her shoulder twisting under it so that his arm was stretching up his back before she slammed him into the wall. With a well-placed blow to his temple Cadman managed to knock him out. As he slid to the ground Cadman took his gun and listened for any noise outside the door. There was only silence so she slipped out into the corridor.
Cadman walked slowly through the corridors making sure the weapon was on a stun setting. She reached a corner and peeked round finding two men patrolling the corridor.
She pulled herself against the wall; she'd been training with Ronon before she'd become pregnant. One of the things she'd worked on was her speed so it was time to put those lessons into practice. Taking one more deep breath she spun round and fired twice hitting both guards before they could react.
As they fell she took their guns as well. One she tucked into the back of her pants before disabling the second and discarding it before she moved on.
x
Cadman gave a cry of surprise as she was suddenly grabbed from behind her gun being thrown to the side; she was yanked back against someone so she threw her head back hearing something crack. Spinning round Cadman saw the man who'd grabbed her holding onto his bleeding nose with one hand a knife in the other. She dodged his first attack slamming her foot against his leg only to be slashed across her arm by him as he flailed in pain. Cadman managed not to cry out, grabbed the second gun and fired.
She stood trying to catch her breath turning to find blood staining the sleeve of her t-shirt, "Carson's not going to be happy," she muttered to the unconscious form on the ground before starting to laugh not sure why she found it so funny.
She continued to laugh for several minutes before managing to calm down and ripped some cloth from the man's jacket. She tied it round her arm using her teeth to tighten the emergency bandage.
She was sure she was almost at Ellis so she could end this nightmare once and for all. It was very likely she wouldn't be able to use the Jumper to get out of here but she could hole up in the ship and wait for rescue. Although Carson had a theory concerning the fact the baby would have the ATA gene, she was sure though this wasn't how he envisioned testing it.
"Okay Cadman," she said softly, "You can do this, you can do this and go home. Back to Atlantis, back to Rodney."
With one more deep breath she started towards the door at the end of the hall, as she moved closer Cadman moved the gun from a stun setting to kill.
x
He was facing away from her when she entered the room. Surprise covered his face when he turned and saw her standing there the gun aimed at him.
"Well my Queen," Ellis started taking a step towards her, "You obviously did not like your accommodation."
"Stay where you are," Cadman ordered.
"If you fire I shall only move to another body," he reminded her.
Cadman let out a harsh laugh, "I studied the Ancient database on you."
"I'm flattered," Ellis smiled.
"Don't be," she spat at him, "It said that you can only move into someone with the ATA gene. I don't have it."
Ellis laughed sending a chill along her spine, "But the child does."
"The baby isn't far enough along for you to possess it," Cadman reminded him moving so that he was still in her line of fire as he tried to get closer to her.
His face fell, he tried to rush her and Cadman fired.
x
"Alright," John said as they landed, "Stay together. Rodney, lifesigns?"
Rodney licked his lips trying to focus on the mission, "That way, I'm only picking up one."
"Ronon," John nodded to the former Runner to take point Teyla and Rodney behind him as he guarded the rear.
He looked amazed as they came across several guards all unconscious as they moved closer to the room Rodney was guiding them towards. Finally they reached the door and they took up position.
"Ronon," John ordered readying himself to fight.
Ronon slammed his foot into the door; it burst open and hung off the hinges. One figure stood inside a body on the floor.
"Cadman," Rodney called running in to where she stood staring down at Ellis' body.
She turned to him as he reached her side, "You took your time," Cadman snapped before collapsing against him.
"I've got you," Rodney soothed as she started to cry.
John moved over to the couple and tapped Rodney's shoulder; "We should get her back to Atlantis."
Rodney nodded and pulled Cadman to her feet.
"The other Jumper," Cadman turned to John, "The people here may have the gene we can't leave them a Jumper."
"I'll fly it back," Rodney told John, "We'll follow you."
"Rodney," John frowned, "Are you…"
"I'm fine sir," Cadman pulled herself up; "We'll follow in the second Jumper."
x
Cadman sat in the co-pilots seat as Rodney closed the rear hatch she knew that until she was back in Atlantis she wouldn't feel completely safe. Rodney slipped into the seat beside her and started the ship before turning to her.
"Ready?" he asked his voice soft.
Cadman nodded taking his hand and squeezing it, "I just want to go home and go to bed."
He gently stroked her cheek, "That can be arranged," Rodney grinned nothing but gentleness in his eyes.
She gave a smile resting into his hand, "Can we go now?"
Rodney nodded and eased the ship into the air following John and the others back to the Stargate. He watched her throughout the whole journey worriedly but knew to let it lie for the moment.
Elizabeth and Carson greeted them when they opened the hatch.
"Cadman," Carson moved to her instantly, "Okay, let's get you to the infirmary. Rodney come on."
They left with the Doctor and Elizabeth turned to John.
"What about Ellis?" she asked.
"Cadman killed him," John reported, "I think she might be in shock."
Elizabeth nodded, "We can get her report much later."
"I think she might have to talk to Kate before we ever get it," John noted, "But you can have our report."
"I can't wait," Elizabeth smiled motioning them to join her.
x
Rodney sat on the bed at Cadman's side as Carson went through several tests despite her protests she hadn't been touched.
"Sorry," Carson shrugged, "But you know the rules."
"You just like drawing blood," Cadman frowned, "Vampire."
"I think you have influenced her a little too much Rodney," Carson rolled his eyes making the young woman smile; "I'll be back in a few minutes."
Once he'd left them alone Cadman sighed and leaned against Rodney's shoulder, he rested his arm around her shoulders smiling as she snuggled against him.
"Once Carson let's you out of here," he murmured in her ear, "I'll take you back to our room where you can get some rest."
Cadman raised an eyebrow, "Our room?" she asked amused.
"Ah…it was…I just…" Rodney stammered, "It just doesn't seem like it's my own any more…I mean you spend…"
Cadman kissed him cutting off his rambling, "Would you mind if I moved in completely?"
She was waiting for the flash of panic to enter his eyes at the commitment of what she was suggesting but Rodney grinned.
"Half your stuff is there anyway," Rodney reminded her hugging her tightly, "We'll sort this out once you've rested for a while."
Cadman smiled and just relaxed in his arms.
x
Carson finally let them out of the infirmary and Rodney slipped his arm around Cadman's waist as they walked. They arrived at their room and Cadman sat down on the bed as Rodney went to get her some water. He turned back finding her crying.
"Cadman?" he cried worriedly sitting beside her finding her crying in his arms suddenly, "What's wrong?" panic filled his voice, "Should I call Carson?"
"No," she whispered trying to catch her breath.
"What's wrong?" he asked again fear in his eyes.
Cadman looked up at him her eyes haunted, "I've never done anything like that before."
"Like what?"
"I…I shot Ellis," she whispered, "I just aimed at him and fired. He wasn't carrying a gun, he wasn't firing back at me."
Rodney made her look at him, "He was threatening you, he was threatening your…our baby. You didn't do anything wrong."
"I just…"
"Honey, you did the only thing you could," Rodney reminded her, "Get some sleep okay and tomorrow we can move everything from your room in here. Lie down and rest."
"Rodney," she caught his arm, "Stay with me."
It wasn't a request; it was an order which Rodney obeyed lying at her side and wrapping his arms around her as she snuggled against him. As she fell asleep Rodney just lay awake holding her relieved she was safe.
x
"Rodney will you hurry up and tell me where you want this stuff?" John cried from behind the box he was carrying.
"Just put it over in the corner Colonel," Cadman told him.
When Rodney had mentioned to Elizabeth that Cadman was moving in with him completely she'd had John find a place that was bigger for them. So they were moving all their things into a two roomed apartment and had managed to get Rodney's team, Carson and Elizabeth to help them.
It took a while but finally everything was in the room and their friends left them alone.
"Scared?" Cadman asked Rodney slipping her arm around his waist as he stood out on the balcony staring at the sea.
"Strangely no," he laughed, "We've been together for a while and I can honestly say this feels right."
Cadman laughed giving him a gentle kiss, "Well it's nice to know that because you realise once the baby is born you'll have to answer these same questions from my parents."
She dodged away from him laughing as she headed back inside leaving him standing panicked at the thought of meeting her parents.