CHAPTER 7

John couldn't sleep. He was exhausted, there was no doubt about that, but he just couldn't fall asleep. He tried blaming it on the dull throbbing of his shoulder, but he knew that he was just lying to himself. His mind couldn't stop replaying what had happened earlier that evening.

John was getting his shoulder wrapped when Marcus walked in. The trainer just stood there watching as John's arm was bound to his chest.

"Congratulations Sheep Herder, you lived."

"Yeah, I think I noticed that." John winced; of all the planets to get stuck on, it had to be one where there was a herd animal called a sheep. People had been calling him "The Shepherd" all day. He actually missed McKay and his sheep jokes; usually reserved for Carson, John was sure McKay could have come up with something for the current situation. God…he hoped McKay was all right. That man had a penchant for trouble.

Marcus' next comment tore John away from his reverie. "You are a talented killer. However, tomorrow we will work on your timing. You bring things to an end much to quickly. You show promise."

The glare John sent the trainer in response could have melted through the SGC's iris it was so full of hatred.

The man merely chuckled, "Oh yes, definitely promising."

John sighed, closing his eyes. A talented killer, Marcus had said. Dark faces flitted in front of his eyes. Each one, representing a life he had ended.

The heavy clink of his cell door being opened stopped his dark litany. A slight figure carrying a tray stepped inside and closed the door. John sat up in surprise. It was a small, beautiful girl with a slave collar around her neck. The tray she was carrying had several jars and strips of cloth. She bobbed slightly, with her eyes down on the ground.

Coughing slightly to clear his throat John asked, "So, um, what's going on?"

Lifting her eyes, the girl looked at John, "As a reward for your great victory, I am here to service whatever needs you may have."

John's eyebrows shot into his hairline when he realized what she was implying. "Um, listen, I…how old are you?"

"I have seen nineteen floods." John couldn't help but grin slightly at the defensive look that briefly entered her eyes.

"Yeah, I don't really think I'll have any need of your 'services,'" He stated as diplomatically as he could. He felt a pang of sympathy when he saw the tension leave her shoulders.

"Please, at least let me tend to your wounds. I am a talented healer," she implored.

Better than a talented killer, he thought briefly. Then he smiled, his first real smile in this hellhole. Who would have thought that he'd actually run across a kind soul in a place like this?

"Sure thing. But first, what's your name?"

She quickly walked forward, placing her tray on the bed beside him. Kneeling, she gently reached for the bandage on his thigh. She looked up at him briefly and said, "Isis."

It didn't take John long to find out that she really was a skilled healer. Whatever was in those little jars, quickly took away whatever pain he'd previously felt. He passed the time making what appeared to be small talk about the city, but was really his way of finding out what he would be facing in escaping and trying to find McKay. What he found out was hardly encouraging. The city was huge; his chances of finding McKay, if he even managed to escape himself, were miniscule.

It was when Isis was finishing up re-bandaging his shoulder that she suddenly became very quiet. John noticed her hands started shaking slightly.

"Um, is something wrong?"

Her eyes darted towards the door and back before replying, "No, I simply have a message, of sorts, for you."

John's heart suddenly started to beat double time. "Yes?"

The girl's voice dropped to a whisper, "I was told to tell you that, 'McKay is the property of Senator Garai.'"

Finally, something had gone right. A million questions flooded his brain, as he tried to get more information from Isis.

"Did he ask you to tell me this? Where was he? Is he all right? Did he say anything else?"

Her eyes went nervously to the door again as she began to gather her things. "Yes, I met with him during the games. I service the Senators when they come. Your, I assume friend, is the slave of Garai and tutor to Caius, his son." She stood up quickly. "I must go."

"Wait." He had to get a message back to McKay. "Next time you see him tell him…" Tell him what? That they would find a way out of this? To stay put? It's not like either of them had a choice. "Tell him to keep out of trouble, and that I'm working on a plan." It wasn't a total lie; he was working on a plan, he simply didn't have one yet.

Isis looked at him warily, fingering her collar. John realized what he was asking her to do, but if they managed to get out of this, he'd be sure to bring her along. Isis gave one last long look into his eyes. Apparently seeing what she needed, she nodded and left.

John grinned as he lay back on the bed. Things were looking up. He had no trouble falling asleep now.


Alley in Amnis Levis

"I, uh, deal in gladiators and hard labor. I would certainly remember selling any scientists."

Teyla looked impassively at the small man, noticing the waver in his voice and the way his eyes darted nervously to Ronon. She nodded slightly to the Satedan, who took a few steps forward.

"Maybe you should think a little harder then." Ronon said, letting his hand rest his pistol.

Teyla frowned; her patience was growing thin. "We know that you are the trader who sold The Shepherd. He had a scientist with him, who was his buyer?"

The man gave a soft nervous chuckle; one that Teyla assumed was supposed to convey a sudden remembrance. "Oh, that one! Yes I recall the man now. I'm afraid I don't remember the buyer."

Teyla grimaced internally as she saw the greed in the other man's eyes. They had been looking for the Colonel and Doctor McKay for several weeks now. Atlantis had jumpers scan the entire surface of the planet. She and Ronon had searched two separate cities bordering the river, before coming here. Finally, they had heard word of a gladiator called "The Sheppard." Not believing in coincidence, they had tracked down the slaver who sold the man, hoping it would lead them to their missing teammates. She would not let this despicable man stand between them and finding the location of the final member of their team.

Apparently neither would Ronon. Moving faster than one might believe someone of his size would be capable of, Ronon had the man pressed against a wall, pistol at the throat.

At that point the man began blubbering incoherently. All Ronon did was cock one eyebrow, and it morphed into something intelligible.

"I…I sold him to the Senator. Senator Garai. I'm not sure what he wanted him for. That's not my job. I'm just a seller. I didn't know…I mean…please don't kill me!"

Teyla allowed a feral smile to flit across her face. "Thank you for your help. Ronon," she said nodding to her companion. Ronon whipped his pistol across the slaver's head, knocking the man unconscious. Seeing Teyla's look of disapproval he simply shrugged.

She sighed, and then smiled her first true smile since realizing John and Rodney were missing. Together she and Ronon left the alley to convey the good news to the rest of Atlantis.

"He's working on a plan! What kind of bull is that?" Rodney shouted to thin air, Caius was studiously ignoring the rampaging scientist; he'd been like that since they got back from the arena.

"I mean he's probably trapped inside a tiny little cell surrounded by obscenely huge guards. How exactly is he "working on a plan" when his every waking moment is probably being forcibly devoted to learning more gruesome ways to disembowel other human beings?"

At that Caius glanced from the telescope at his window to give his tutor an incredulous look. It didn't go unnoticed.

"Don't you give me that look!"

Still Rodney quieted down. It wasn't like his panic attack was helping him come up with a plan, though he had to admit he did feel a little better having blown off some steam.

"Right, so, back to my plan."

"Your plan, since when did you come up with a plan?" Caius asked laughingly, turning fully from the window.

"My prospective plan," Rodney said, glaring at the boy.

"Alright, let's hear it then."

Giving Caius one final derisive look he began to outline his ideas. "Well for starters we have to find a way to get him out of that damned complex."

"Obviously."

"Yes, obviously." Rodney was beginning to think he'd been hanging around Caius far to often, though it wasn't like he had a choice. It was either that or play whipping boy to the happy-go-lucky parents. "Is there any way that we could possibly see him? I mean your girlfriend Isis did a fine job passing on our little communiqués, but it'd be a lot easier to plan a breakout if I could talk to him in person." Rodney didn't mention what it would to for his peace-of-mind as well.

Caius nodded thoughtfully. "It's possible, as a senator's son I have access to several special privileges. I might be able to arrange something." Stopping suddenly, a grin broke out on the boy's face. "Actually…and I'm surprised I didn't think of this before, high-ranking officials, like my father, often have private performances by their favorite gladiator, like at parties and things. If I could just convince my father to have your Colonel perform at his next party…"

"Then he'd be ten times easier to snatch. And I wouldn't have to escape first; two escapes for the price of one." Rodney jumped at the idea. Snapping his fingers and slapping his fist in his hand he grinned. "This could work."

Caius smiled nervously at the older man. "I'm not exactly sure how to convince him to get your friend as his next performer. Not to mention, he's not that big on parties, unless there's some political reason."

Looking sharply at the boy Rodney commented, "Despite your parentage, you're not stupid. You'll think of something."

The huge grin that broke out across the boy's face at Rodney's psuedo-comment made the man squirm slightly. In spite of how close the two had gotten over the past few weeks, Rodney was still uncomfortable with showing any sort of affection. After all, he still didn't like kids.

However, he had made up his mind about one thing.

"Ahem, yes, well…just so you know. When Sheppard and I do manage to escape from this…you are coming with us. I mean, you don't have to come back to our planet…just out of this city."

"What?"

Rodney winced at the shocked question. "You don't really think your father is just going to sit back and ignore that fact that you've been helping us. I mean, he may be a mindless Neanderthal, but I'm fairly certain he'd incriminate you even if you weren't helping us."

Caius sat in shocked silence, his brow furrowed. Turing slowly back to look out the window he whispered, "I know. I don't want to know, but I do."

Rodney fidgeted uncomfortably. "Well, now that that's been settled, I'll just, um, head back to my room, huh?" Rodney didn't even wait for the slight nod he was given in response. He turned quickly towards the door, high-tailing it out of the uncomfortable situation.

Better he face it now, than wait till he gets hurt.

Rodney sighed; he couldn't wait to get back to Atlantis, back to his lab. Machines and numbers were so much easier to deal with than people.


Atlantis Gate Room

"We have determined both of their locations."

An audible exhale of relief swept across the gate room. Elizabeth could feel the tension easing slightly from her body. She had been beginning to wonder if they would ever find the two men.

"That's excellent news. Return home and we can begin talking about their extraction," she said, allowing some of her relief at the news to enter her voice.

The euphoria she had first felt didn't last for long. Once the situation was explained to her she rubbed her temples in frustration. This wasn't going to be as easy as she thought.

"The gladiator complex is heavily guarded and very large. It might be possible to enter the complex undetected, however it would be near impossible to locate and remove Colonel Sheppard without complication," Teyla summed up her report.

Elizabeth had already expended so many resources on this search already. She wasn't going to start throwing away the lives of others as well. "You said that Rodney was the property of a Senator Garai, correct?" she asked, glancing at her notes.

"That is correct." Teyla and Ronon shared a questioning look, not understanding the purpose of the question.

"Do you think there might be a way to buy him back," Elizabeth frowned at what she was suggesting, buying back a valued member of the team from an alien government.

Teyla looked thoughtful. "There may. However, I am unsure of how one would arrange such a transaction."

"What about Sheppard?" Ronon growled discontentedly.

"I'm not sure. However, at this point I think it might be beneficial to open up relations with this world." If she could gain a better understanding of how these people did business, then maybe she could do this without violence. Though when dealing with a culture which killed people for entertainment, she doubted it.

A skeptical look passed between Teyla and Ronon, they appeared to share the sentiment.


Amnis Levis Colosseum

John wanted to scream. If he hadn't already been surrounded by thousands of screaming voices he would have. It had been two days since he'd first heard from McKay. He hadn't heard from them sense. Now here he was looking at another dead body, bleeding at his feet. Turning roughly from the sight he limped out of the dusty arena to the waiting medics.

It hadn't been any easier this time around, but he was dreading that if he was here long enough he might. One could become callused toward killing. He already had no problem going up against the enemy in battle, but this was different. That man hadn't done anything to him. Well besides turn his leg into a shish kabob, but that wasn't the point. The point was that he could see it in those other men's eyes, they had no feelings of remorse; to them killing was just a way to survive, to live.

He watched impassively, only wincing slightly as they pulled the knife from his left thigh. It was then that he saw her coming toward him, the girl that was in contact with McKay. Isis, was that her name?

"I will take it from here, thank you," she said to the medics around him.

He looked around, gauging if there was anyone within listening distance. It didn't appear so, not with the raucous noise of the crowd outside. Still he kept his voice low. "Any news?"

"Doctor McKay is up in the stands. He told me to tell you he's come up with a…solution." She kept her head down, seeming to giver her focus entirely to cleaning out the hole in his leg.

"Really?" He followed with a sharp intake of breath as she began flushing out the sand from the wound. Their medicine was effective, but damn it hurt sometimes.

"Yes, Caius had me suggest to the Senator that you should be the private act for his next evening party. He has never turned down my suggestions in the past."

"Wait," John hissed, surprised. "You mean that I'll be in the same place as McKay for a whole evening?" John allowed himself a small smile. Way to go McKay.

"Yes, that is all I can tell you at the moment. I do not know when the event may take place" She finished cleaning up his leg and wrapping it in silence.

John was all too happy to be left to his own thoughts. It would be difficult to coordinate an escape without communication, but this was too good an opportunity not to take advantage of. No matter what happened this would be their moment.

He spent the next two days coming up with possible scenarios and plans, conveying them to Isis, who then passed them on to McKay. She also provided him with information on the layout of the Senator's complex. John wasn't sure how exactly he had managed to drag her into this, but he was sure that he'd make it up to her.

When Marcus informed him that he'd be giving a private performance to a certain senator, he'd shown the proper degree of surprise, but inside he was worried. They hadn't had enough time to come up with a detailed plan. Still this was it. Tomorrow night he and McKay would escape, there was no other option.


Atlantis

Elizabeth smiled internally as she walked through the gate. Even though she hadn't been able to find a way to buy back the missing members of the expedition, she now had the perfect opportunity to steal them back.

She turned to Teyla and Ronon, who were waiting for her to come back. "Good news, we've been invited to a party at Senator Garai's house. Where a certain gladiator will be providing the…entertainment."

Stopping briefly to share a look with the two, she then turned to Major Lorne. "Major I need a covert team made up to accompany me as my 'honor guard.' And I want a plan drawn up, a detailed plan that covers every possibly situation. We're getting our people back tomorrow night."


A/N: First off, a big thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far. I never thought this would get the response it has. Cookies and a day with the character of their choice for everyone!

Anywho, I hope this answers the question of what everyone else has been up to. But why do I get the idea that things aren't exactly going to go well for them. ;) Hope everyone liked this chapter. Reveiw and let me know your thoughts, it makes for a better story!