Title: In the Shadow of Ruin
Author: Mer, Hah and Em
Genre: Drama, Action/Adventure, AU
Warnings: Violence and a few naughty words
Season/Spoilers: none
Summary: Earth is enslaved by the Goa'uld when their first attack is not thwarted, but years later a small band of mercenaries led by Weir discovers the secret of Atlantis, which could prove to be their salvation. AU. Shep-centered. Weir, McKay, Lorne, Teyla and other familar faces are involved.
Disclaimer: We don't own any of the characters. If we did, Shep and Lorne would be our cabana boys and we wouldn't get much writing done.

AN: Thanks again for all the reviews – they keep the plot bunnies fed!

In the Shadow of Ruin
By Mer, Hah and Em

- Chapter 2 -

"Oh, now that's just lovely..."

Rodney watched, binoculars pressed to his face, as the target of their surveillance carefully peeled off his leather garments and stepped stark naked into the hot tub. Elizabeth and Lorne squinted at the distant scene as they laid flat on their stomachs along the crest of a hill overlooking Amounet's resort camp.

"So the naked guy in the hot tubis our "master pilot"! Wow, he's really into full service, isn't he?"

With a scoff and a glare in his general direction, Elizabeth snatched the binoculars from Rodney's face, earning her an eye roll from him in return. Peering through them, she managed to catch a look at Sheppard just as his naughty bits were submerging. Damn, she thought to herself, I just missed the show! She watched as he moved in behind the queen and began kneading her shoulders. On the other hand, she realized, maybe the show is just beginning. Her gaze remained fixed on his lean, muscular back and arms as they glistened with sweat and hot water in the amber sunlight. She licked her lips, remembering what those hands felt like on her skin that last time they had been together, the day when he had initiated her into the Mile High Club. It was a testament to those hands, arms, chest - and other parts of his body - that, of the men she'd been with before and since, her encounters with him were the most vivid in her mind.

From his position next to her, Lorne noticed how quiet Elizabeth had become. He strained to see what was happening without the assistance of the binoculars. The two seemingly bare forms appeared to be almost merged from this distance. Moving closer and turning his attention to Liz's face, he recognized the powerful lust barely contained there. The last time he saw that expression, he had ended up in a storage closet, handcuffed to a boiler, as Elizabeth rode him off into the sunset. He didn't like the idea of that look being focused on anyone else. Whoever this hotshot pilot is, he'd better watch his back. Lorne swiped the binoculars to get a better look at the competition. Instead his attention was swayed by the lines of the queen's bare arched back until the sound of his boss clearing her throat brought him back to the present. She took the binoculars back again as they quietly slid down from their viewpoint into the more secluded area beneath.

"So, how do we get anywhere near Mr. Flyboy No-pants over there, let alone get him to join our little band of merry men?"

"Just wait and see, Dr. McKay. Have a little faith," Elizabeth smirked mischievously. I think this may just call for some leather.

- - - - -

No one blinked an eye as they strode down the corridors, fearless and determined. After all, what outsider would dare risk certain death to enter Queen Amounet's inner circle? Flanked by two Jaffa guards, the hooded woman wore long, flowing robes in black and walked with her chin high. I belong here; do not question me, her confident stride radiated. They had all the right security codes to gain access to Amounet's compound and enter one of the guest quarters within. That was the easy part.

One of the Jaffa removed his helmet.

"Air…air! Are you trying to kill me? I can't breathe in that damn thing!--"

"Relax, Rodney." Elizabeth lowered her robe's hood and shot him a look. "Would you rather get caught?"

"Yeah," Lorne grinned after removing his helmet too, "I hear the snake queen's fond of stringing people up and whipping them for days and days…" He chuckled to himself as the scientist went pale as a ghost.

"That's enough, boys. Back to business. Rodney, I need you to go to the room across the hall and get into their computer to deliver our message. How long?"

"Oh, about twenty min--"

"You've got five. Get working."

"Well that's just ridiculous! What am I, some kind of miracle worker? I could explain to you the complexities involved in the job, but you wouldn't--"

"You can explain it to Amounet when we get caught because you didn't finish your work fast enough," Elizabeth threatened.

Lorne smirked at McKay and gestured a whip cracking.

- - - - -

21... 22... 23... Sweat dripped down John's chest as he rhythmically pulled his chin up to the bar, silencing all other thoughts in his mind. As a personal slave he was required to stay in peak physical condition, but beyond that, he enjoyed his workouts; it was the only preciously rare time he had to himself, free from his duties and the constant watchful eye of the queen. The sudden beeping of the communication device attached to his belt interrupted his reverie. So much for that. Damn it! John sighed as he received his orders; another of Queen Amounet's honored guests to attend to. Grabbing his towel, he quickly stripped off his shorts and headed for the shower.

Five minutes and a change of clothes later, John was on his way to the guest quarters. He reached the room and hesitated for a moment outside the door, wondering what awaited him inside; the orders had been very vague, and that always worried him. Opening the door with the touch of a button, he stepped inside.

In the dim light of the room, his eyes were drawn to a single female figure, sitting perched on the end of a luxurious bed. The guest wore a hooded robe, concealing her completely.

"I was told you'd be able to show me a good time," the cloaked woman spoke, soft and seductive, as she rose gracefully from the bed.

John was taken aback. Amounet wasn't in the habit of sharing her men, and who was this mystery woman anyway? She didn't speak like any Goa'uld he'd encountered. Before he could answer, she was standing in front of him, discarding the cloak behind her.

"…You!" Shock. Anger. Maybe even …joy? They all hit him at once, and that was all he could manage to say.

Elizabeth. It had been ten years since he'd last seen her, but one glimpse brought the memories flooding back; some good, some…not so much. But she looks…wow. His eyes glided up her long legs, accentuated by tightly fitted leather pants, to a revealing black bustier that accentuated every curve of her figure. She wore that on purpose.

"Nice to see you too, John."

Elizabeth eyed her target intently. John looked much like she remembered him; in fact, he seemed to have hardly aged a day. Wearing black leather pants and a skin-tight t-shirt that emphasised his slim, muscular form - he looked good. Damn good. Has he been working out? Say what you want about that Goa'uld queen, she has good taste in men. Letting her eyes drift upwards to his face, she remembered the feeling of his soft lips against hers, his intense hazel green gaze, and her hands running through his untameable dark hair. God, I've missed him.

"Not that it isn't good to see you again, Elizabeth, but what in the hell are you doing here? And how…?

"What does it look like? We're here to rescue you." She gestured to her right, and John looked over and saw her male accomplice, standing in the shadows.

He laughed. Was she serious? "Rescue me? I don't recall asking to be saved. I have it pretty good here, you know. Compared to the alternatives…"

"Yeah, I saw how good you have it," Elizabeth retorted with a smirk.

John's anger grew and he glared back at her. Why did this woman get to him so much? Must be a brunette thing… "What the hell do you want from me?"

"Come with us, John. Help us fight these bastards--"

"Y'know, I think we tried that, Liz. How did that turn out again? Oh yeah, we lost!"

"We're on the edge of something big here, really big; we could finally make a difference. But we need your help."

"Look, I'm sorry. I know you're fighting for a noble cause and all, but I'm not ready to just throw this life away to join your little circus." He turned away, not wanting to face her accusing eyes. "Better this than being dead, at least."

Lorne was beginning to grow restless, as he tapped impatiently on the staff weapon he held. He stepped out of the shadows threateningly and glanced over at Elizabeth. "You want me to--"

"No," she held up her hand, signalling him back to his corner.

"What are you going to do, kidnap me?" John shot her a darkly amused glance.

"The thought had crossed my mind."

"You'd have a dozen Jaffa on you before you even made it out this door," he replied, hand on his comm device. John watched the other man tense and raise his weapon, keeping it trained on him until Elizabeth motioned him to stand down.

"And betray your own people, John? Have you been a slave so long that you've forgotten what it's like to be a human? You're content to keep playing a good little whore to that snake queen, until she tires of you--"

"If you're trying to convince me to join you, you're doing a lousy job of it."

Her expression softened. "I'm offering you freedom, John. And a chance to fly again."

John's mood lifted; flying – that was freedom for him. In all these years he'd been enslaved here, that was what he had truly missed most, and he'd give just about anything to be in the skies again. "You have a ship?"

"We do. And a ticket off this godforsaken planet."

"Off the planet, huh? What happened to your little group of rebels saving the world?"

"All part of the plan; you'll see." She took a step closer to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "John, please trust me. This is worth it."

He returned her intense gaze, trying to gauge her intentions; she was a tough one to read. "And I suppose you can't tell me what 'this' is?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "Not here - it's too risky. We can't let this information fall into their hands."

"You mean so I can't turn the information over to the Goa'uld before you smuggle me out of here? What happened to trusting?"

"You know that's not what I meant. The Goa'uld have eyes and ears everywhere; we can't be too careful. Which also means we might not have much time…"

Without a word, John turned and took a few steps away, pausing to reflect on the situation. Could he trust her? Absolutely not, he warned himself. But if there was anyone who could get him out of here, it was Elizabeth. Out of here…to where? There was no hope left on this world. Being a scavenger and a fugitive, always on the run; that was no way to live. Then, neither was this. Maybe her talk of getting off this planet and being able to fly again wasn't a lie; why else would she risk everything to get to him? She certainly had his curiosity, if not his trust. He could always go his own way later.

Elizabeth turned to her second in command and ordered him to check on McKay's progress. Perhaps some privacy would help her work.

Growing impatient with John's hesitation, she silently glided up behind him. She moved in close, so close that he could feel her warm breath against his neck, teasing his skin.

"Please, John. This world needs you." Her words were soft but intense. She paused before breathing into his ear, barely a whisper, "I need you."

John turned around slowly to face her, their faces nearly touching. He searched her eyes for any sign of deceit but found only a deep desire that evoked memories of the passion they had once shared. "Ok, you've got my attention." And clearly I've got yours. "What's the plan?"

She responded with a satisfied smile and tapped on her radio. "Rodney, are we good to go?"

"As good as humanly possible; or better, considering who you're talking to--"

"Ok, ok, I get it," Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Suit up, boys, we're heading out."

McKay's voice came over the radio again. "You're not serious about--"

"Rodney! Not another word about the helmet, or we will leave you for the snake queen."

The radio fell silent.

"Follow me, John. Time to save the world," Elizabeth spoke with a grin, then walked towards the door. She glanced back once more, looking him up and down. "Nice outfit, by the way."

As she strode away she swung her hips deliberately, letting her skin-tight outfit do its work.

"You too," John called out as he followed behind her, eyes focused precisely where she wanted them to be.

- - - - -