A/N: The muses are grinning like feral cats. The reviews have pleased them.

Ch. 5

Desperate Measures

" Hey! Hey you!"

A sharp prod to the shin brought John's head up, along with the hand holding his 9-mil. He pointed the gun at his supposed attacker in a wavering aim that would go wild if he fired.

The middle aged woman stiffened and back peddled, raising both hands. " Easy young man," she admonished. Even with a gun pointed at her face, the iron resolve in her milky gray eyes didn't waver. " No confrontations." She wrapped her layers of brown jacket and shawls tighter around her, then began to slowly shuffle away. " Just want you gone. I won't have loitering. So move along!"

She ambled around the stairs and thumped up each creaking step. John lowered his gun and watched her ascend until she vanished through the door of the house. The slamming door made him flinch, and he blinked away the film over his eyes.

It was early morning with an overcast sky like a solid silver cloth. John's breath puffed from his mouth, and cold clung to him like a second skin. He was forced to move slow against stiffened muscles that hurt more than ached, and he clenched his jaw to keep from coughing out a groan. He moved his arms first, lifting them at the shoulders, then forced his legs to straightened. Next he arched his back until it popped.

Bracing his back against the wall, John used it to support himself as he inched upward to his feet. Once standing, he remained back against the wall as the world tilted and spun around him. He took several deep breaths of sharp, cold air until the world finally righted itself in his eyes. When his legs felt steady enough, he pushed away from the wall to go staggering out from under the stairs and around the building.

John stopped and stared incomprehensibly at the unoccupied street walled in by rickety two story structures of warping wood and cracked paint. The cobblestones were half-hidden by mud except for gray patches standing out like bleached bones. The only life that John saw was whatever happened to flit by the open second story windows. He saw a pale face – a young girl, maybe even a little boy – peer out for no more than a heartbeat then vanish. Farther down the street where it divided going left and right was what looked to be a mound of coats hurrying by.

John forced his stiff body to move down the street. He folded his arms tight in front of his chest and hunched against the nipping cold carried on gusting breezes. Recollection was moving as slowly as his blood. He remembered... running, then swimming. Pain, cold, panic, fear, desperation.

Ioth. He was on Ioth. Recalling that made his eyes round over. No way could this be Ioth. He should have been crushed in a mass of moving bodies by now, trampled under foot like so much debris. The buildings were the same, so where was the rest?

John shivered from more than the cold. The sense of wrongness he got from this planet became like a fist to his gut. He didn't think it possible for a place so messed up to become even more so, and yet here he was, lost in his own personal Twilight Zone. John moved on automatic through the streets with the single-minded intent of finding someone who could direct him to the Stargate... or the Ioth equivalent of a hospital.

When John came to the end of this street, he turned right onto the next. Laughter and voices resounded toward him from an indeterminable direction. He stopped, trying to locate the source of the sound, when something sharp and hard struck him in the shoulder blade. He cringed then turned, just in time to duck another projectile that whizzed a centimeter from his head. The second projectile, however, he was distracted from, and it pegged him in the shoulder.

A gaggle of ragged, coat layered kids, from small to teenagers, were snatching up rocks and other litter, chucking them at John. Something glanced off of John's other shoulder, and the kids whooped in triumph.

" Get gone off-worlder!" a boy sneered, and hurled another rock. This one got him in the arm, and it hurt, a lot. Looking down, John saw a tear in the fabric of his shirt and blood soaking around the edges. He tightened his grip on his 9-mil.

He wouldn't turn a weapon on a bunch of kids. They could have been holding automatic rifles in itchy trigger fingers and he still wouldn't have fired. He turned his back to them instead, and quickened his steps to get away. Something else sharp, and much larger, got him in the back, and pain ripped through him radiating out from a middle rib. He turned right again at the next juncture and the pelting stopped, though the laughter followed him ricocheting sharp off the walls. He just kept going in no particular direction until his body moved without his mind needing to be aware of it.

It was only when he heard the deeper, louder voices of men, and saw four of them turning a corner heading in his direction, that John snapped back into himself and his surroundings. Pain and aches consumed him, making his stomach roll and his heart thud with increasing unease. He glanced around for another direction to go. His only option was a dead-end, shadow veiled alley on his left. He hurried into it and crouched on the other side of a pile of wooden boxes. He peered around and watched poised in tense readiness as the men walked by. He didn't emerge until the sound of the men's voices vanished from hearing. Even then, it took a moment before John was able to urge his body to rise and move on.

Get to the gate, just get to the gate. He pressed one hand against the wall to steady himself, and took another moment to catch his breath and wait for the world to stop rocking. When he rediscovered control over his own body, he left the alley and went back into automatic, his body moving without him, and his mind wandering in a whole other direction.

SGA

Elizabeth stepped out of the event horizon with her hands in her jacket pockets and her shoulders hunched against the brush of cold air carried by the breezes. Her breath clouded from her mouth upward toward a slate gray sky. Lorne stepped out behind her, then Ronon, Teyla, and three more marines. They weren't taking chances on this world, even within the confines of the little 'gate-port' (as Rodney had come to call it). Even with Caul's assurances that the Ioth government had played no part in the kidnapping of Sheppard, Elizabeth carried absolutely no trust for this world. And she wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the Ioth government demanded a little recompense for whatever aid they provided in finding Col. Sheppard.

The guard standing by the DHD approached them with wary eyes flitting from armed 'Lantean to armed 'Lantean. Even Elizabeth wasn't without a little defensive technical support in the form of a zat Caldwell had given her since she flat out refused a gun. It was hidden, folded, in her jacket pocket, the knuckles of her right hand brushing against it and finding an extra boost of confidence in its presence.

" State your business in Ioth," the guard demanded.

Elizabeth turned to face him. " We'd like to speak to an official from your government concerning an urgent matter."

" And this matter would be?"

" For their ears only. I have someone particular in mind I would like to speak with."

The guard jerked his head in a curt nod, then led Elizabeth and company around the 'gate to the far side of the courtyard. They were taken into a large room with long tables dominating the center. The change from frigid to stifling actually took Elizabeth's breath away. She gave the name of the one she wanted to see to the guard, then made her way to the center most table and sat. Her armed entourage spread out, taking point by the windows and hovering near the door.

Time passed in utter silence. Elizabeth's hands were folded tightly on the table top, and her gaze was fixed to the arctic white window to her right. John was out there, in this weather, this cold, unless he'd managed to find shelter. Caul had said they'd taken his jacket, vest and weapons, although he'd managed to get his smaller 'projectile' back, so it wasn't as though he was completely helpless, just freezing to death after having taken a dip in a polluted river.

Normally Elizabeth would try to refrain from thinking the negative, but she was bitter. Even Caul's seemingly new found good intention was not enough to stifle her desire to wring the little man's neck. The Pegasus Galaxy was changing her, jading her toward open minded diplomacy, and scratching her up with a couple of mean streaks. ' Toughening her up,' that's what her father would have said. But it wasn't exactly that, at least to her way of thinking. She'd developed defensive shells long ago, facing off with representatives and officials from countries ready to drop bombs at the inappropriate drop of a pin. She'd 'toughened up' long before the Pegasus Galaxy. Everything else was just leaps and bounds to add layers to what she'd already earned.

What the Pegasus Galaxy was doing to her went heart deep. She knew how to handle herself, it was everyone else she was out to protect. Which meant John was rubbing off on her.

But, damn it, someone has to protect him. It used to hurt when something happened to her people. Now it both hurt and infuriated her. Saving them was becoming never enough. There were times, even after all was said and done, as she stood by the side of an infirmary bed watching the aftermath of suffering, that she found herself longing for retribution. It was the same sentiment no matter who was suffering. John, however, always topped the list since it was always something with him. They joked about the trouble he got himself into, which made it sound as though it were his fault. But then that was why it was a joke, because they all knew that it wasn't. They joked because if felt good to laugh again, to tease, to make John scowl and roll his eyes – the signs of the everyday going back to being the everyday. Normal, light hearted pleasantries to get themselves to wind down and pick up where they left off.

Until it all happened again.

Elizabeth joked with the rest, while deep inside lurked a beast that ranted, raved, and thrashed in want of blood for blood. That was what the Pegasus Galaxy was doing to her.

Hurt my people and I will kill you. Hurt John and I will kill you. It would never grow to become something she would act upon – she wouldn't let it – but she had become quite lenient towards Ronon's loss of temper toward John's abusers. 'Accidental discharge' of weapons as well.

Watching pain hurt just as much as feeling it.

Deep thought pushed time from a crawl to a run, and she jumped when the door creaked open. Weir smiled in partial relief at the familiar figure walking through the door, dressed in his smart but somewhat aged brown suit.

Seri beamed back, and reached out with both hands to take Elizabeth's one hand and clasp it in his own for a single shake.

" Seri, you have no idea how glad I am to see you," she said. They both took a seat with Seri across from her. An Ioth soldier dressed in dark blue fatigues remained standing by the door, stiff as a rod and unmoving as a statue.

" Dr. Weir, it is good to see you again as well," Seri said. " I was quite shocked when I was called in to speak with the representatives of the 'Lanteans. What brings you back to our world? Another trade attempt?" he chuckled softly, but stopped when Elizabeth's expression didn't reflect his humor.

Elizabeth let out a slow, steadying breath. " There's been an incident, and we need help. Several days ago, Colonel Sheppard was taken. The people who took him did so in order to use him as a bartering tool to acquire weapons from us. We attempted to trade weapons – faulty weapons – in order to get him back, but his kidnappers demanded more. When we tried to meet the demands, we made a startling discovery. One of the kidnappers confessed that they no longer had Colonel Sheppard, that he escaped. These people were from Ioth, which means that Col. Sheppard is lost somewhere on your world, and we need entrance and the aid of your government to find him."

Seri's face went a shade toward white, and his eyelids fluttered rapidly. Then his shoulders sagged. " Oh dear." He lifted his hand to begin rubbing his face and sighed. " Ohhh dear."

Elizabeth's heart stuttered and she stiffened. " What?"

Seri dropped his hand with another sigh. " I'm ashamed to say it's not an uncommon occurrence for citizens from our world to commit such acts. Kidnappings, murders, thievery, we've heard of it all. We've even indited employees of our own governmental house for selling information concerning representatives and diplomats from other worlds. But for the most part, the things being sought had always centered around... Treasures, riches, more advanced forms of science. Weapons..." Seri shrugged. " Most worlds have always sported weapons similar to our own. It did not cross my mind that word of the power of your projectile weaponry would get out. And even if it did, one would think your people too much of an intimidation to go up against."

Seri's eyes lowered to his hands lying flat on the dark, wood table top. His face scrunched as though he were having stomach troubles, but when he finally pulled his gaze back to Elizabeth, she realized that it was a look of sheepish apology. " I will be honest with you, Dr. Weir. When you left, the Magistrates were furious. In fact, they had been plotting an edict in which no one from Ioth was permitted to do any trading with any 'Lantean. Except such an edict would have been difficult to enforce, so they dropped it. I do not know if they would offer their aid in searching for Colonel Sheppard." Seri grimaced. " I do not even know if they will permit you beyond the gate. I will contact them here through the communications line, if you would be willing to wait. But I make no promises."

Elizabeth's throat clenched. " We'll never know if we don't try."

Seri nodded solemnly. " True." He then stood, and exited the room with the soldier following casually behind.

" Sure we can trust him?" Ronon asked seconds after the door was shut.

Lorne was the one who replied. " Not much choice in the matter. Better Seri than some stick up his ass office lackey who doesn't give a damn."

" Seri has an honest heart," Teyla said. " We can trust him."

Ronon grunted doubtfully. " I don't doubt that," was his reply. " But should the situation come down to where he's forced to choose sides, he'll have to go with his government or suffer for it. I've seen it before."

If Elizabeth didn't know any better, she would have sworn Ronon was expressing a little concern for Seri. Then again, maybe he was.

Seri was gone for thirty-five minutes. During that time, a young woman in a beige skirt and white blouse brought in a pitcher of water and cups. It was getting hard to breathe in the large room, and Elizabeth had had to take her jacket off. One would think this world was verging on summer rather than winter in that room.

When Seri returned, his expression was the same as when he had left – apologetic and solemn. Elizabeth's heart sank like a rock in a river.

" Oh no..."

Seri sat across from her and folded his hands atop the table. " They said they would search for your Colonel Sheppard themselves, but that you were not to enter the city under any circumstances. Should he be found – alive – then they will send him home. If ... dead, then they will contact you."

Elizabeth bolted up from her seat. " That's not good enough! We need to be able to search for him ourselves. We have a man, one of the kidnappers, who is willing to help us. No offense to your government but they will need our help..."

Seri raised both his hands. " Please, Dr. Weir. I've made entreaties on your behalf but they wouldn't listen. All I can assure you with is that I will head the search myself, make sure that the enforcers stay on top of it."

Elizabeth sank slowly, numbly, back into her chair. It wasn't good enough. Atlantis had to be the one searching. She had to be the one searching. And no way was she going to let this turn into one of those situations where she would have to take what she could get.

No way in hell.

Seri turned his head enough for a glance over his shoulder toward the guard hovering by the door. When he looked back to Elizabeth, he leaned forward and lowered his head.

" I would like to point out that it is only 'Lanteans banned from our world..."

Elizabeth knew right off where Seri was going.

Seri gestured vaguely. " If you know of others – allies, those friendly with you and your Colonel Sheppard, especially those who owe you a favor – it might prove prudent to seek them out and call that favor in."

Elizabeth pursed her lips. " Actually, we've considered that. We'd just hoped it wouldn't have to come to that."

" It is all I can think of to suggest. I will even help them if you send them my way. I like your Colonel Sheppard – a friendly man. It would pain me if something ill happened to him."

Elizabeth reached out to take Seri's hands in both of hers. " Thank you, Seri. Thank you so much."

Seri scrunched his brow. " Thank me when you find your Colonel Sheppard.

sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

On stepping into Atlantis, the first person Elizabeth saw hurrying toward her was McKay, followed by Col. Caldwell going at a more dignified walk.

" What happened? Are we going in? Will they let us in?" McKay said.

Elizabeth stopped and let out a sharp exhale. " Yes and no. I'll explain later. Right now we need to contact the Genii."

McKay blanched. " G-Genii? Why?"

Teyla turned her disbelieving gaze on Elizabeth. " Dr. Weir, I know their change of leadership has also changed their standing with us, but Colonel Sheppard still holds no trust for them. Are you sure it would be wise to ask for their help?"

Elizabeth's agitated nerves forced her to start moving, heading to the control room. " I'm not going to ask for their help. I'm going to ask for a few of their uniforms." Once in the control room, Elizabeth turned with folded arms to face her bewildered people. " Ronon, Teyla, Major Lorne and Dr. McKay, we're going to need to take your measurements."

SGA

A/N: What craziness is this, you ask? Patience, I say. And if you think you know where this story is heading, hold that thought. Things are about to take a complicated turn.