Emma stood on the balcony looking out over the valley. The full moon shone on the fields in the distance casting a magical glow. Looking up at the night sky, her thoughts trailed back to tonight's dinner. She had not spent much time with Rodney this evening. He was kept very busy by his tour guides, as he referred to them. They had never left his side, never let his plate or goblet go empty. Rodney seemed to have enjoyed himself exceptionally well, except for the few times she had caught him staring at her with that irritated scowl of his.
She didn't know what she had done this time to get him so upset with her. There was nothing she could remember saying to him recently, well, at least since this afternoon that would make him angry at her. Yet again, it didn't take very much for Rodney to get angry with her. So she had decided to ignore him the best she could. Unfortunately that wasn't as easy as she thought. Every time she looked his way he had two beautiful blondes draped around him and he was quite obviously enjoying it very much. And to her surprise she didn't like the way it made her feel. Who knew that she could be so jealous of two women that Rodney would never see again.
Alexander on the other hand, had been a wonderful companion, making sure that she never wanted for anything. He had filled her in on the history of Istvan and its people, including the chosen ones. Emma's head was spinning from everything she had learned tonight, and the people she had met. Everyone had wanted to meet a real-life chosen one. At first she had felt uncomfortable from all of the attention, but she had done her best to make a good impression. The Istvanians were very eager to form an alliance and Emma wanted to make sure she didn't do anything to jeopardize it.
Towards the end of the evening Alexander had been approached by a council member and had excused himself with a concerned look on his face. He had escorted Emma back to her room and kissed her hand gallantly as he said good night. He had not tried anything more, much to Emma's relief. Watching Rodney this evening made her realize how much she cared for him, and how much she wanted to be with him. However she knew very well that she was not his type. Tall, blonde and athletic. That's how she had heard it through the grapevine. Rodney had a penchant for tall blondes with killer brains. And although she had tested in the gifted range, eligible for Mensa as a matter of fact, she was still not a genius, and certainly not blonde. She wondered if she could be happy just working side by side with him as a colleague, nothing more.
Emma tried to put thoughts of Rodney out of her mind. She concentrated instead on studying the stars, trying to figure out which direction Atlantis was in. Hearing someone entering her chambers, she turned and walked inside to see Rodney searching her room.
"Looking for someone?" Emma asked, watching as Rodney opened a closet door.
Rodney turned, startled at her presence. He stared at her for some time before finally breaking his gaze and turning back to his search. "Dr. Grayson," he said, addressing her in his usual gruff manner, "We're leaving. Get a wrap or whatever it is you'll need and let's go."
Emma stood there still not knowing why Rodney was so irritated with her. "Why? Where are we going?
"Out of here. There's something going on, and we need to leave now." Rodney grabbed what looked to him to be a shawl and brought it over to Emma.
Emma looked at it then casually walked past him holding a blanket, to grab her shawl. "Have you made contact with Colonel Sheppard?
"No. But we have to go now. Something's wrong here and I don't want to stay around to find out what it is."
"But Alexander said he would send scouts out tomorrow morning to find the Colonel and Teyla. Wouldn't it be better to wait for them here?"
"Alexander said. Alexander said. When will you get it through that head of yours that we don't know anything about him? We don't know if he can be trusted."
Emma grew defensive. "I think he can be trusted."
"I just bet you do. And while you two were out in the gardens this afternoon I'm sure he showed you how much he can be trusted." Rodney looked even more irritated than before.
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Rodney was back to his old self and Emma was ready for a fight. How dare he accuse her of doing whatever it was he was thinking she was doing with Alexander when he had been missing in action for as many hours with his blonde bookends.
"Look," he continued, "I'm sure the attention he gives you is quite flattering, but it must be obvious to you that he wants something from you. You are a chosen one."
"So you're saying that he wouldn't be interested in me otherwise?" Emma glared at Rodney who glared right back. His silence answered her question. "I assume your tour guides were only interested in you to keep you occupied while Alexander tried to seduce me?" she asked.
"Actually, no. My companions were very interested in me, thank you very much. But I'm not one to kiss and tell. However, while you and Mr. Romance were reliving your high-school prom, the three of us were actually going over some very useful information that will benefit Atlantis greatly."
"Well, I learned a lot this afternoon too." Emma dug in. She was not going to stand there and be insulted by Rodney.
Rodney looked her up and down with cool, intimidating eyes. "I'm sure you did. Now come on, we're leaving."
Emma crossed her arms over her chest and stood firmly. "No."
"What did you say?"
"I said no." Emma turned and walked back onto the balcony. She hoped there were no Ancient devices around she could accidentally activate. She wasn't having much luck controlling her temper.
Rodney followed her as far as the door. "You are definitely the most stubborn woman I have ever met. When we get back to Atlantis I'm going to talk to Elizabeth about grounding you for as long as possible."
Emma had stopped listening to his tirade as soon as she walked out onto the balcony. "Rodney."
"If you're about to apologize, I'll accept, but I'm still going to speak to Elizabeth about this."
"Rodney." Emma was looking down at the wooded area surrounding the gardens. Something was wrong. "I think you better see this." Rodney walked over to where Emma was standing and looked out over the landscape. "Do you see that? There's someone out there."
"Okay, enough is enough." Rodney's tone had changed from general irritation to serious concern. "We're getting out of here now."
Emma knew this was no time to argue with him. She quickly followed him back towards her room hoping they could find their way out of the castle without being caught. As they started toward the door, they could hear someone approaching on the other side. Rodney quickly grabbed her, pulling her back outside. He pushed her up against the wall away from the doorway where they wouldn't be seen. He pushed himself into her, holding her tightly against the wall.
Emma's heart was racing. She could feel the warmth of Rodney's body pressed up against her through her thin dress. His hands held hers tightly against the wall. His breath warmed the side of her face, his heart beat quickly against her chest. They waited as her room was searched, listening to the sound of doors being opened, and furniture being overturned. Finally they heard the door close, whoever it was leaving back the way they came. Rodney didn't move, continuing to press up firmly against Emma. Slowly he turned to look at her. Emma looked up to see his blue eyes staring intensely into her own. She could smell the sweet wine from dinner on his breath as his lips parted just inches from her own. She realized she could reach up and kiss him without any effort, and wondered what would happen if she did.
Rodney pulled back from her awkwardly. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. What were they looking for?"
"I don't know." Rodney stared at her with an intensity she had never seen before. He started moving in towards her again, but broke away quickly. Grabbing her hand he moved towards her room.
"Wait, this way." Emma pulled Rodney in the opposite direction. She knew that if these men were looking for her they wouldn't give up so easily. They would be back. She led Rodney towards the steps at the end of the balcony going down to the gardens. They could disappear into the night and hopefully find a way out of the city and away from here.
Emma turned to see Rodney nodding at her. She started down the steps quickly, with him right behind her. When they reached the bottom of the stairs they started down a narrow path into a secluded arbor. Emma was sure they were moving towards safety until she saw her path blocked by several large armed men dressed all in black. She turned back towards Rodney just in time to see several more men coming up behind him, one of the men hitting him squarely on the head knocking him out cold. Emma barely had time to let out a scream before things went dark for her as well.
-----
Rodney tried to work his way out of the deep sleep he found himself in. He had a splitting headache and needed some coffee. Events were jumbled in his head and he was having trouble remembering where he was. He felt something cool and soothing on his forehead. Letting out a sigh, he decided he could use another 15 minutes of sleep. Whatever the latest emergency was could wait until later.
"Rodney." He heard his name soft and gentle. He could almost imagine that it was Emma's voice. But what would Emma be doing in his quarters? He would definitely remember something like that. It must be another one of those dreams he'd been having.
"Rodney." There it was again. Maybe he would look just to make sure. He'd hate to have been alone with Emma in his bedroom and not have any memory of it. Slowly he opened his eyes. It was Emma, wearing that amazing dress. Yes, this had to be another dream. He closed his eyes again, enjoying the fantasy.
"Rodney, wake up. Talk to me."
Rodney opened his eyes and slowly focused. Emma was leaning over him, pressing a cool cloth to his forehead. Looking behind her he saw stone walls and what appeared to be iron bars. Realizing this was not a dream, he sat up quickly. His head immediately started swimming as the pain shot through him like a wraith dart.
"It's alright, just lie back until you get your bearings." Emma eased him back down onto the mattress.
Rodney looked up at her. "Where are we?"
"We're in some kind of dungeon. We were ambushed last night in the gardens." Rodney tried to sit up again. "Careful, you were hit pretty badly. You've been out most of the night."
"I'm okay." Rodney mumbled as he lay back down. He definitely wasn't okay. He looked up to see a bruise on Emma's check. She obviously hadn't gotten through the night without a few injuries of her own. He raised his hand to brush her cheek, but she gently grabbed his arm giving it a squeeze and put it down by his side. "I'm fine," she said, smiling at him. "Now, let's see what we can do about getting out of here."
Rodney watched as she pulled a bench over to a small barred window high up on the wall. Emma climbed up on the bench and started pulling at the bars.
"What are you doing?" he asked. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Trying to find a way to escape," Emma answered, still pulling on the bars.
"And where would you have learned how to escape a medieval dungeon," Rodney managed to ask as he leaned up on one arm, trying to sit up.
"Watching old Errol Flynn movies and Star Trek episodes. I believe Kirk and Spock escaped from a similar holding cell by removing iron bars just like these."
Rodney looked at Emma intrigued. "You watched Star Trek?"
"Uh huh." Emma grunted as she worked to loosen one of the bars.
"I suppose you had a thing for Captain Kirk." Rodney had to ask, he wanted to know more.
Emma stopped working for a moment to look at him. She smiled mischievously, "Actually, I had a crush on Dr. McCoy. Emma turned her attention back to freeing one of the iron bars blocking their escape route. I find intelligence and humor much sexier than good looks. Although a strong set of shoulders doesn't hurt."
Rodney watched her thoughtfully, a small smile forming on his lips. He was definitely intelligent, had what he considered a good sense of humor, if rather dry. And, well, his shoulders had definitely become more defined since coming to Atlantis.
He pulled himself off the bed and walked quietly up behind her, studying their situation and what she was attempting to do. If there was even the remotest chance of any kind of relationship with her, they had to get out of here first. Before he could volunteer to help her out, her hands slipped and she lost her balance. Tumbling backwards off the bench, it was all Rodney could do to put his arms out to catch her. His first thought was what a disaster this woman was here in his arms. His second thought was how beautiful she looked, her arms wrapped around his neck, her face looking up at him in surprise.
They stared at each other for a few moments, neither one of them daring to move, not wanting to break the spell between them. Then they heard a voice behind them. Again.
"Isn't this quaint."
Rodney turned, still holding Emma in his arms to see Alexander staring at him. Or to be more accurate glaring at him. He had changed clothes and looked much more sinister than Rodney had remembered from last night.
"Alexander!" Rodney quickly set Emma down and moved forward, talking a mile a minute. "Thank God you're here. Someone kidnapped us and brought us here. You've got to get us out of here."
"Rodney," Emma tried to get his attention.
"Emma's been hurt, and I think I may have a concussion. And well, uh, we need to get out of here now, there are people here who I think want to harm Emma."
"Rodney," Emma spoke more loudly, more firmly behind him.
"She's in danger and I'm not sure, but I think they're after her for being a chosen one."
"Rodney!" Emma now almost shouted his name.
"What!" Rodney finally snapped turning toward Emma. Couldn't she see he was in the middle of rescuing her? Well, technically it was Alexander who was rescuing the two of them, but he would definitely take charge once they were out of here. He looked at Emma who was staring at Alexander, a look of fear and confusion on her face.
"That's not Alexander." Emma said quietly.
Rodney turned back to see that this man indeed was not Alexander. And even worse, it didn't look like he was here to rescue them.
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