Stargate Atlantis: Path of the Storm

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Chapter Ten

Carson Beckett anxiously awaited the results of the toxin in Teyla's blood stream, whatever it was seemed to be effecting her far worse than McKay and Ford. He didn't know whether that was down to her immune system or something else. The Scottish doctor placed the end of the stethoscope on her chest and carefully moved it from one side to the other, listening intently. "Good respiration," he said quickly while standing back up and replacing the stethoscope around his neck.

McKay was sitting on the other bed with Ford, still holding where Beckett had taken some blood from his arm. "So Carson," he said casually looking from Teyla to him. "What's the prognosis?"

"I've sent the blood samples to be analysed," Beckett answered, he knew it would take some time before they could safely say what had been in the wine they had been drinking.

"Okay so just hazard a guess," McKay replied, his tone getting less casual and more tense.

"I can't do that Rodney," he said quickly, holding his hands out in front of him. "I'd only be guessing."

"Is Teyla gonna be okay?" Ford asked, deciding to intervene.

"In all honesty son," Beckett replied looking back to Teyla, the monitors she was attached to and then back. "I have no idea, I only have an indication of what happened to her. I know that she consumed something and even with the symptoms I can't treat it until I know for sure." He put his hands on his hips with an expression of anguish. "If I did start some treatment, it could only hasten the illness and she's in a very delicate condition as it is."

"Well that's just great," McKay muttered.

"I can only do my best Rodney."

"Then your best obviously isn't good enough." Beckett just stared at him with a sad expression. "I snapped again didn't I?" McKay looked from the doctor to Ford then back. "Sorry."

"I'll find a way Rodney," he said walking over and placing a hand on McKay's shoulder. "Trust me." Beckett gave it a small pat then moved back over to Teyla, studying the readings carefully while contemplating.

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Shortly after his interesting altercation with Kolya, Sheppard was picked up off the floor and thrown into the second cage along. "Oh great," he muttered looking back up at the guards at the door was locked and bolted with a satisfying clink. "Just where I want to be. In the middle of a Wraith sandwich." Sheppard grimaced as he looked to his left at one Wraith, then to his right at the other.

Kolya moved forward after Sheppard had been properly secured and peered through the bars. "I must apologise for the accommodation, Major."

"You're loving this," he retorted shifting back and resting his back against the wall. All the while making sure to stay out of reach of his immediate cellmates. The last thing Sheppard wanted right now was to get too close to them. "Admit it."

"I can't say I find it disappointing," Kolya answered cryptically.

"The minute I get out this cell," Sheppard said taking in deep breaths, still clutching his stomach. "I will kill you."

"Yes." Kolya didn't seem imitated at all, he was confident with his decision. "I suspect you will try."

"Believe me," he replied with an intense glare. "I won't be trying."

"Act tough all you like," Kolya said crouching down and holding onto the bars. "After all, we both know that's all it is. An act."

"Don't act like you know me," Sheppard answered shaking his head slowly as he shifted to a new seated position. He was trying to find one that he felt comfortable in but he didn't have any cushions or pillows. That would have been very nice right about now.

"Don't I?" he asked quietly. Sheppard didn't like the tone in his voice. "You may not be aware of it Major Sheppard but you and I are more alike than you may think." Kolya stood back up and turned his back on the cell while reaching into his pocket and pulling out the device he had taken from Sheppard. He turned it over in his hands then put it back in before facing him once more.

"I'm nothing like you Kolya," came the response. Kolya looked down at Sheppard. It was an amusing sight, the man who had foiled him down on his knees and in pain. "You took advantage of our situation and tried to claim Atlantis for yourselves."

"My people have as much right to it as yours," he said. "You think just because a small number of your people possess the same gene as the ancestors. That it makes you special?" He didn't wait for a response and didn't give Sheppard time to think. "You're not. You haven't accomplished anything. If anything you have made matters worse."

"We are trying to help," Sheppard retorted while slowly getting to his feet, feeling a lot stronger now. He paused when he saw the Wraith on his right staring at him like he was a happy meal on legs. "What are you looking at?" He paid attention back to Kolya. "If we didn't we would have gated back to our home and left."

"You couldn't do that even if you wished," Kolya said. "Not without a Zero Point Module."

"We are trying to help combat a common enemy," Sheppard answered gingerly moving forward and gripping the bars. "The Wraith."

"If it weren't for your people the Wraith would never had awakened this early," Kolya responded viciously. When he had the opportunity of remaining inside Atlantis he had decided to do some light reading, especially since he was facing John Sheppard as an opponent. "My people would have still had time to…"

"Come up with your weapon?" Sheppard asked.

Kolya's jaw tightened as he glanced to the two Wraith's on either side of Sheppard. Their interest had definitely been peaked and he looked at Sheppard. What did it matter if they knew? He would only kill them once he obtained information he wanted to know. "Yes," he answered folding his arms then decided to change the subject. "Tell me about Colonel Sumner, Major."

Immediately, John's whole demeanour altered and he swallowed gently. "What?" he asked.

"Colonel Sumner, the man you had to shoot." Kolya started pacing back and fourth while staying out of reach. "When you went to rescue your people and the Athosians. When you personally killed their caretaker."

Sheppard reflected back to that moment, with the red haired Wraith feeding from Sumner and interrogating him. The moment they learned about Earth and when all hell broke loose. "Yes Major Sheppard," Kolya said stepping up to the cage and reaching through to take him by the throat. In his current condition, Sheppard was in no shape to try and resist. "You were the cause of all this." As Kolya's grip tightened on his throat, Sheppard's tightened on the bars. Finally he released him and stepped back. Sheppard slowly reached for his neck and rubbed where the son of a bitch tried to crush his windpipe. He was rewarded with a glare as soon as he caught Kolya's eye. "You shall fix it."

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