Mine Cave

CHAPTER THREE

SGA SGA SGA

To have any chance of surviving, Teyla had had to assume the role of one of the afflicted with a convincing enough performance to not only act like a male, but also one used to being a carrier of the terrible Shoana disease: therefore avoiding contact with others if at all possible. This she had managed to carry out for several days now since they had been kidnapped along with their new friends by the Ashirree, but it was getting harder to maintain and Teyla was weary and missing her companions.

Teyla looked over to where her friends were tending to Sheppard, and frustration gnawed at her as usual. She might have a wait on her hands until she found out if he had recovered from the bash to his head and subjection to several ancient artefacts at once. This was not the first time she had stood anxiously waiting on her team mates to appear outside, but it was not getting any easier with the passing days; going into weeks.

Teyla thought back to the day everything had changed…

They had realised they were losing a battle with their new friends against the Ashirree near the 'gate not long into the fight as they were severely outnumbered. Sheppard had ordered everyone back through to the Alpha site with as many of the displaced Shoanan's as they could. Major Lorne and his team had got most of them through and the 'gate remained open for Sheppard's team and some others that were getting closer by the minute. Teyla and Sheppard had been backtracking to help the older ones, hearing the horror stories of how horribly the Ashirree treated women, when they heard Ronon's cries that they would not make it back to the 'gate in time as it was now surrounded, and he was just holding them off and no more; also adding to the strife was that there was only a few minutes remaining until the 'gate closed down. She remembered Sheppard tapping his ear in frustration at Ronon's announcement over the radio, and watched him bite his lip, deciding on the next best course of action.

Teyla was holding onto the arm of Teabu, an elderly lady with a ready smile, when she turned to her with a worried look on her face, realising she wasn't going to make it off their planet before being caught. Teyla listened again to a terrible tale of the abuse the old woman had witnessed through the years, so Teyla grabbed onto Sheppard's arm and told him of her concern. The decision made between the three of them was to hide Teyla from harm, for if she was caught - well it was far too risky given their enemies reputation with women; Teabu would be ignored and expected to die fast in the mines unfortunately.

The threat was real, Teyla knew it and Sheppard knew it, his face had an expression she had never noticed on him before. Teabu had led them back to where her poor, young nephew had been killed earlier and Sheppard had no choice but to undress the body, vowing to Teabu he would retrieve the body for her later. He hid it in amongst some large boulders, marking the spot with some broken branches.

The fact was that Va'an had been of the afflicted: a carrier. Thereby, a hazard for Teyla, that she might fall ill herself pulling on his clothes; but they had no choice, and Teyla remembered hiding her own clothes in the rocks, and of Sheppard with eyes closed out of decency, wrapping a bandage tight around her breasts to flatten them as flat as he could. She remembered Teabu's next words that had Sheppard grimace and she herself, gasp. 'I should tell you that Va'an was mute; you must never speak if you are to convince the others!'

That was proving to be the hardest thing of all to deal with.

Teyla scratched at her face under the mask, it was still stifling against her skin but at least it, and the gloves, were armour against the prying eyes of the Ashirree, and she was relieved constantly that they seemed to be buying her disguise. She briefly wondered if her throat had closed up as she had not spoken for several days now and she touched it from the outside, massaging a redundant voice box that had nothing to share with no-one.

She'llyn was a concern now though as the female leader had immediately noticed Te'gan/Teyla's attachment to her team mates. Teyla sighed. Her daily actions and duties couldn't change drastically she knew, as that in itself would draw attention, but she had better refrain from joining them, or bringing them food and water as often as she used to or it could bring trouble.

Back in the now, Ronon had just stared at her for longer than normal, and Rodney was now standing to look over her way. She took a step back and retreated into her canvas tent. It could only mean one thing: either Sheppard had told them or they had figured it out.

Teyla breathed fast and sat down, hugging her knees tight. Out of immediate display, Teyla took a rare minute to take off her mask and quickly wiped the sweat off her face and ran her hands through her short hair that itched constantly; the tufts reminding her of the way Sheppard had held her shoulders when she had changed clothes and she had noticed the knife in his hands. Sheppard had looked upset and she had understood his previous expression. He had figured out before she did that her hair would have to go just in case the mask was ever taken off in public.

Teyla was a pressure cooker.

With no-one to help her with her load, she felt alone and, uncharacteristically, she was struggling to cope with her isolation. Thoughts always turned to Torren, of course, as well, and now without her team onside to distract her from dangerous situations, she was afraid her disguise would slip and the pressure was getting too much; she needed a release.

Teyla put her mask on and stood outside, relaxing as best she could into a lean against the wooden framework, like she watched other men around the camp do.

Supper time was over and the night was drawing in. It would not look out of place if she gathered some water for the prisoners, as this was what her designation was. Teyla made her way over to the huge wooden tank and picked up a jug to fill. She would give to others first, again to distract, but then she would fill one eventually for her team mates; she had to see for herself if Sheppard had woken up.

Sometimes Teyla was unsure if word had gotten around her new friends about her, but generally she was either ignored or just treated as one of their own; a fact she was pleased about for obvious reasons, but she also admired how they did not disown the afflicted, just kept their distance. For that matter so did the Ashirree's. But most importantly, no touching was obviously allowed, so she was left alone but bereft of human companionship.

There was a large number of slaves in the mine and the older ones, who had been held for a while, all sat with hollow eyes and sallow skin. Hope leaving them in wispy strands that vanished into the wind. They took the offered water and drank fast, almost as if they thought it would be taken off them if they didn't hurry and drink when they could. Teyla felt incredibly sad for them and hoped rescue would come soon before they died of ill health. Rescue for her and her team would also mean rescue for them.

Most had coughs and, with dismay, Teyla noticed Rodney coughing more and more of late. That could not be good. Their clothes were rags on some and the mattresses and one blanket each they were supplied with, did nothing to keep out the clinging damp wind that surged in at night when the light left the sky and plunged them into darkness; save the torches that were lit at intervals to keep away any night creatures that lived in the deep mud and gas filled landscape.

Occasionally there would be an eruption of the invisible vapour, turning all heads to take in the sight of earth, rain and foliage fly into the day or night sky with a surge of power and deafening roar. These small explosions were getting nearer to their mine and rumours were rife amongst the wiser that a closer one would be upon them soon enough. The slavers had them mine too deep and their current excavations were causing slight tremors already, enough to have M'atra and a few others taking note. This was good and bad. They might be moved onto another mine and out of harm's way, but they would also have to walk there and a few were too old for such upheaval. No remorse would be shown. Anyone who could not make the journey, would be left behind.

Teyla dipped her jug into the water once again and felt her stomach get butterflies; as she loved to hear John and Rodney call it. In a few minutes she would be with her friends and she could see for herself how John fared.

Realising she was breathing too fast; Teyla took her time looking round to see if she was being watched. Of She'llyn and Ri'shba, there was no sign of: Teyla did not want to think about that too much. M'atra was a constant but Teyla was aware that he had entered his tent, so apart from his usual tour in around an hour's time before he retired to bed, there was just a handful of guards milling about and not looking her way.

Being able to make facial expressions securely behind a mask was a bonus at least, and Teyla knew she was smiling broadly as she entered Sheppard's area and saw for herself that he was sitting up on his mattress; flanked by Ronon and Rodney. His gaze was off, his skin was too pale, and the wound on his head looked red and ugly, but he was awake and she would take that as a bonus.

Teyla eventually stood in front of them and Ronon held his cup up to be refilled. Teyla obliged and watched him as his arm shook. She had been avoiding their eyes for so long in case they recognised her through the slits in her mask, but now she raised her head and into the deep, dark ones of the Satedan, who was trying to act indifferent instead of the concerned and worried good friend he was.

He lowered is betraying arm, "Thank you." He said and looked away.

Rodney was next; he looked awkward and jumpy. "At last, some water. Sick man here; he needs more water you know." Rodney said as if rehearsed.

Teyla blanched. 'Are you sick John? Fever? Are you in pain? How do you feel? … I love you, do you know that? Do you love me back?'

All questions Teyla flung unspoken his way. The last one was spur of the moment and, bloody hell, how she thought about that now when she was vulnerable and needed him to know that and get a reply. Please…a reciprocal one!

But all she could do was remain in character and poured water into Rodney's cup, although most landed on his leg and he just wiped it away without a fuss. He understood now how nervous she was.

"There was a time when I thought you were just another slave here Te'gan…" And everybody held their breath as to what Rodney was going to say next… "…but I find you are the most attentive by far. Sheppard, here has a concussion and is feeling ill. He has a headache and there is something stuck in his neck that is causing him grief…not that you need to hear all this, just…you know, thanks for the water."

He had told her then everything she needed to know without a voice to ask. Teyla dipped her head in acknowledgment and sat down when Rodney pointed to a spot at the bottom of his mattress where he moved his feet to the side and made a space for her.

Sheppard never said a word, just looked past her and for a horrible moment she thought his concussion was worse than she thought, but he slightly turned and looked at her and smiled one of his smiles that melted her heart and turned it upside down. She gathered he was watching out for any busybodies and the coast had become clear.

She wanted to return his smile more than anything, face to face, grab onto his hand, but they could not touch each other. No contact in case of the supposed disease – marvellous! All she could do was sit down as she sometimes did so it looked normal for anyone who was looking over.

Knowing she needed to know more about Sheppard's condition, Ronon nudged Sheppard's arm.

"How are you feeling now?"

Sheppard could not take his gaze off the slits in Teyla's mask; drinking in her bright eyes. "I am fine… going to be fine." He amended.

Teyla turned to him and nodded in acknowledgment. A gloved hand she did have and she pointed it to his head and then neck.

"Concussion, but not bad. Dizziness is already going – headache a given. As for this disc on my neck…"

"We don't know what it is exactly, only what we saw it do to him." Rodney added as he could hear Sheppard's voice getting tired.

"But he did have other artefacts on him at the same time. It could have been cumulative."

"Ooh big word from the big man!" Rodney said, and Teyla loved this, missed this – the banter between them. She looked at Ronon, waiting on his reply and he did not disappoint.

"Watch your mouth, Rodney!"

Sandwiched between them, Sheppard just let the smart remarks go back and forward between him, at ease. His team was together again and he could relax. He stared at Teyla for as long as he dared and got that she understood Ronon and Rodney now knew about her. Their body language only giving it away to her for that minute she arrived and then they had gone back to their usual ways and paid her little attention, save normal conversation.

"She'llyn has been in her tent a long time now." Rodney remarked again.

"Do we care?" Ronon replied in a low monotone.

Sheppard was startled, he had just started to nod off without knowing it. Teyla was feeling sorry for him; he looked like he really needed to have a good sleep. Teyla smiled behind the mask again, it looked like he was happy she was still sitting there; but time was moving on and it wouldn't look good if she stayed with them much longer. Time to go back to her cold tent by herself.

Sighing inwardly, she got up to go, and Sheppard made a mistake in reaching for her arm as she moved. Ronon knocked it aside at the last minute and everyone glanced wildly around, but there were no guards about and the other slaves were all turning in for the night.

"Te'gan." Ronon said to cover from Sheppard who looked dumbstruck and disorientated all of a sudden. "We will tend to Sheppard ourselves. He will be okay with a good night's rest…and Rodney and I will take turns in waking him during the night." He said with reference to a scenario they were all too familiar with in past missions.

Curling her hand into fists: an action not unseen by the three friends, Teyla nodded sharply once and strode off across the middle ground and entered her tent without a backwards glance. Tears saturating the inside soft leather of her mask and once she shut the flap, she flung herself down onto her mattress and cried like she had not done in years; if ever.

Across the way, her exit had left Sheppard staring into the night, unable to see her reach her destination and it left him restless. Ronon patted his chest and pushed him down to lie flat.

"I'll take first shift, Rodney. I'll wake you in two hours. Get some sleep both of you."

"Who died and left you in command." Sheppard said half-heartedly.

"You, if you don't get some shut-eye!"

Sheppard and Rodney actually laughed at that until Sheppard stopped and held onto his head.

"Sorry, Sheppard." Rodney said softly, and he knew he meant more than just the loud laugh.

"It will all be fine." Sheppard went for reassurance and then stilled. He was asleep in no time after that.

Rodney lay down beside him, offering little body heat his way and closed his eyes also. Ronon lay down too; on Sheppard's opposite side, but kept his eyes and ears open; not just for the night creatures that dared to get past the torches, but for the breathing and possible delusions of his concussed friend. He hoped he would get through the night with little trouble from him, but concussions could be unstable things, so he was prepared to help him as soon as any signs of trouble arose.

Across the way, Teyla shifted into a restless slumber, occasionally waking from a nightmare that had Sheppard being eaten alive by a Wraith.

Sweat poured down her back and she reached for her bowl of water and started to wash herself like she should have done earlier when the water had been warmer. Still, the coldness distracted her from thinking about her position and self-pity and she felt better for it. That done, she stretched out again and adjusted the mask that she kept on at all times to its proper position, and donned her gloves again. She could do this but she fervently prayed it was only a matter of time until Lorne and his team would come and free them all from this miserable place. Soon though; please let it be soon.

SGA SGA SGA

'Hide little one, quick! So, they do not find you!'

The panicked cries of her parents' voices spurned on a young girl's youthful sprint and she ran through the caverns in a well-practiced exercise in escape and concealment. A path, long carved out and well-trodden would not reveal fresh prints, nor was it soaked like the ground outside, so once again the well-executed plan that would normally have included fresh foot prints, did not betray the hollowed-out mines prize; loose shingle, turned over from each passing step helped along the way.

In her head she was convinced her father was running just behind her, supporting her mother with baby brother as she ran in the lead towards their hidden shelter, and even when she reached it, heart hammering against her chest, face flushed with excitement and her long dark hair tainted with dust from the passing ore, she waited and waited until her breath had slowed and was regular – and waited some more as advised – and then even some more.

Eyes, used to the darkest section of the caves, sought out her parents desperately. But, alas, her worst fears were realised when eventually a flaming torch held high for the un-associated had arrived near her first hiding place, and she knew with horror, that her parents and brother were lost to her forever.

She swung around, hair flying behind her, and slipped through the narrow recess, to then slide with ease, a large sliver of stone on roughly carved out wheels that took her to the hollowed-out room her father had spent many months carving out. He had been wise and thought ahead and the small hidden room was filled with supplies. Once inside, she pushed again and the large but thin stone was back securely in its place, but it had also plunged her into darkness. Her father had taken time to teach her not to panic at this stage, and she deftly reached up until she found the shelf with the hard packed peat torch and crude lighting. Orange erupted and the cold stone room showed itself bereft of her family's company.

At a tender age of just eight, the small female child was alone.

She tried to hold her breath, thinking the enemy would hear her. Really, she knew that would not be the case, because her father had not only told her several times, but they had practised it with her prior to today for this very reason.

But reason went out the window when it was happening for real, and now, scared and alone, she only had herself to rely on and the scary reality of that sounded in the heart beats that had sped up again, and of her eyes, that felt so huge they would leap out of their casings. Finger nails pressed into skin and it was normal all of a sudden to pant like a dog, although she had stopped running minutes previous.

Then, hush; they were here, outside. She was alone.

Breathe.

Again.

Breathe.

Open your mouth and take in what you have forgotten to do. Breathe more - and at last the little girl remembered and life began again for her in that minute.

A life that would be forever changed. One of loneliness and sorrow. One that circumstance turned into hatred and anger. Her long dark hair and skin that day, turned white in fear and her eyes never recovered from the darkness of that black room.

SGA SGA SGA

Eventually she had been found. Months later.

It had been inevitable really, given her young age that she could not remain hidden forever.

One day some other miners came looking, and found her home empty of a claimant, the only evidence was of a dying fire and the bones and carcasses of dead animals laid strewn around the mine floor. They betrayed the evidence that someone was living there. What the people did not take into account though, was the tender age of the young girl who had been taught to hunt and survive alone and who now stared back at them with the look of one realising they had been hunted themselves.

Unfortunately for her, the people that found her that day were not the kindest of people and once they were over finding her and listening to her unique story, they liked to treat her as they would any servant girl and effectively ousted her out of her own mine by birth right. They took what possessions she had, save one, seeing them as worthless and only for scrap value, tossing them into the deep caves.

The girl, over the years, grew up in anger and her hatred deepened to evolve around those that had found her and wouldn't let her go. The Wraith that they hid from and had killed her parents and brother, became less important to obliterate than those she was forced to be with every day.

Then, one day, when she was in the mouth of the cave and everyone else was laughing around the fire outside, the Wraith came again.

The sound of the dart outside was a memory that startled her, it scooped up the band of miners of which they were now many and chased those that tried to go deeper inside to supposed safety.

The young girl ran to the same path that now was more exposed. She looked over her shoulder and breathed well, she was not being followed. She remembered where the stone wall was on wheels and took delight when it moved with ease and once again allowed her entrance and then she closed it with a satisfying blackout to the outside world.

The Wraith were outside but she was safe inside the shelter. This time she smiled as she hid. She hated the Wraith, but she hated the miners more and she would not share her sanctuary with any of them.

Allowing for a good amount of time to pass and perfect silence was resolute; the young girl, now tall, stretched along the cave walls until daylight greeted her and she was alone. Mercifully alone.

Dried out husks of her previous captors littered the cave floor, meaning nothing to her, and for the first time in years, a smile crept on her face. Man's enemies were, for that day only, her friends.

Swiftly, she ran towards her recess and gathered what little things she owned and retrieved what others things she could from the many dead that had been congregated around the bonfire earlier. They were all contained in two sacks and she licked her lips and dragged them over to and into one of the primitive vehicles she had been looking at with longing for weeks.

Loaded down and good to go, she took one last look before heading out into a world she had only heard tales of, with all she owned right there behind her on the other seat: save for the one object her father had given her years previous. That was always kept in her inside top breast pocket.

'One day, little one, you will find out the worth of this piece of jewellery I give to you now and what it means for you. It will tell you who you are, and where you came from. I trust that you will hold on to this and never lose it. I think perhaps you should know that you are very special…and, oh by the ancestors, I should have told you this from the beginning. Your mother and I, we should have told you…but she…she was right. Better you not know. Please ignore my ramblings."

The girl had prompted her father for more information for weeks after that afternoon of puzzlement, but she never got any further except to watch worried glances go between her parents' faces and she didn't want to worry them anymore so stopped pressing.

A few days before her world had changed forever, a gas explosion had taken out a storage area of her father's where he said more trinkets were stored and he had sunk to his knees in despair as everything contained in the area was now gone. It wasn't until later that she realised the resulting orange explosion must have alerted the Wraith when planet side.

She'llyn had escaped a premature death.

It had taken her years to gain enough reputation and riches to take back the mine she had grown up in, but now she stood watching the large-scale mining camp in the cool of the night air, revelling that she owned it and the slaves that 'worked' for her. She had no emotions left to give and did not care for their condition or treatment. Something was lost that day when she was eight and was never returned.

Today, at last, her father's hoard of trinkets was slowly being exhumed. Some remained as in death but some, and to her surprise, sometimes shone slightly for her in her hand. But they grew even greater in light and power in the Atlantean man's grip and She'llyn was getting closer to realising a childhood dream.

She patted her chest and briefly felt the gift her father had given her almost thirty years ago. Soon, she hoped to find out what it would open for her.

She had in her grasp Lt. Colonel John Sheppard from Atlantis and it was all getting real. He could hopefully help her find answers about her past and who she was. She had heard that he had the natural ancient gene. Today, she had just been toying with him; she was desperate to know what he could really achieve if pushed.

She'llyn whipped her long white hair behind her and stared over to where he now lay sleeping. He must be deep in sleep for the big Satedan guardian had relaxed against the cave wall at last. Perhaps she had went too fast, too soon with the man. She would allow him time to recover and then she would work on him. She'llyn smiled. He was quite handsome and surely; strong. He had protected one of the afflicted as well, so perhaps caring. All weaknesses she could use against him.

She'llyn turned back to her tent and then looked up into the sky at where her ship hovered above keeping one eye on the ground. The luxuries of her ship did not interest her at present. She was back in the place of her birth, suspecting life-long questions about her heritage and trinkets were about to get answered; she had waited a long time for this.

Tonight, she would sleep deep and well, knowing a great weight could be lifted the very next day.

SGA SGA SGA

TO BE CONTINUED…..