Fear started to ball in John's stomach as the tearing sound continued. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he let Kolya touch her! The only alternative was to give him the information he wanted but even then her safety wasn't guaranteed. Blinking back his frustration, he knew he still couldn't give up his friends.

"J...J... John," Elizabeth's voice stammered out.

Her helplessness was his undoing.

"I'll tell you," he shouted out in a panicked tone.

Kolya just turned and smirked.

"Tell me?"

"An exchange. Her life for the information. If you send her back to Atlantis, you can keep me and i will help you. You can do what you want but only if you send her back!" John told Kolya adamantly.

Kolya's head tilted to the side, contemplating the offer.

John opened his mouth to speak, but stopped when he heard a familiar noise. Elation rushed through him for just a moment but ended abruptly when he caught the cruel look glinting in Kolya's eye.

A guard walked up to Kolya and whispered something in his ear.

"It sounds as if your friends are attempting to rescue you…"

John felt despair fill him as he realized that the rescue team might not be in time. That Kolya might kill Elizabeth, leaving him to watch only minutes before his team arrived.

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Elizabeth knew that her people were coming but would they reach them fast enough? She admitted to herself that she was scared of what Kolya might do in these last moments before the rescue team arrived. John had offered himself in exchange for her life, her stomach knotted and she knew that given the chance she wouldn't have let him.

She knew that there was a possibility that he would kill John or even her to exact his revenge. That's what scared her the most because if John died she didn't know if she would cope.

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Shouts were heard from nearby and hope began to rise within John, it was nearly over!

Kolya turned and stalked over to him, "She won't be leaving here!" he whispered.

"You will remember this for the rest of your life, the woman you love died because of you!" he finished menacingly

John growled, "No!"

"Killing you, the pain lasts moments. Killing her, it will last an eternity!"

'No!' a voice inside his head screamed. Not now, not when they were so close to being free. His eyes darted around and connected with Elizabeth's, she could see it in his eyes.

She mouthed, 'I love you'.

This only served to break his heart even more, they had only just found each other and she was going to be taken from him. Pulling against the restraints he tried to free himself, knowing that in the end it would be futile but he had to try.

Looking up he watched in horror as Kolya raised the knife again.

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Ronon pounded down the corridors, he didn't try to be silent anymore as the Genii knew they were there. He knew that Kolya would kill them if he didn't reach them first. Lorne and the others were right behind him taking out Genii.

"Which way?" Ronon called out roughly.

"Straight ahead, they should be at the end of this corridor," Lorne panted.

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Kolya plunged the knife into Elizabeth's mid section and she screamed out in agony.

"When I get free, I will tear you to pieces!" John screamed out.

Kolya just smiled and pulled the knife back out.

John watched as Elizabeth's blood dripped onto the floor, her red shirt becoming stained. She looked down at it and then to John, a look of regret plastered to her face.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "…for pushing you away. I didn't want to. I…just wish we had more time…that…night was so…beautiful," she finished slowly.

John shook his head, where were they?

As if reading his mind the door to the room was smashed in.

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Ronon burst into the room and quickly took out the guards. Following closely; Teyla, Lorne and McKay ran in.

"Oh My God!" McKay breathed as he took in the scene before him.

Elizabeth was hanging limply from her chains while John was struggling fiercely against his. Kolya on the other hand was leaning against the wall smirking.

"Stay where you are!" Lorne directed at Kolya while his men secured him.

Ronon released John, while McKay and Teyla tried to bring Elizabeth down.

John jumped up and ran to Elizabeth's side. Kneeling next to her, he felt her pulse. It was there! Turning around, John grabbed McKay's pistol and stood in front of Kolya.

"She won't survive!" Kolya leered.

"She…" he started but didn't get a chance to finish as John pulled the trigger.

It hadn't felt as good as what he had wished but satisfying nonetheless. Handing the gun to Teyla he turned wuickly to where Elizabeth lay.

Scooped her up into his arms, he looked at his team.

"We need to go now!" He rasped out.

The trip back to the jumper was slower than he had hoped but hopefully fast enough. John just preyed the entire time back that they weren't going to be too late.
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