Enola

by Thoseeyesoh

On Etios, John Sheppard saves the life of a young girl. But there is more to it than that as he will find out as his team tries to save him from death by her hands later. COMPLETE

1. Enola

Enola

"Sheppard!"

"John!"

Rodney and Teylas desperate voices could hardly be heard over the roar of the water as it bashed against the sides of the old bridge that spanned the seemingly abandoned village and cascaded down into the swollen river below. It stirred menacingly before continuing its journey down into the valley until it petered out taking with it en-route a collection of debris and broken branches, with only the occasional large boulder stopping the dregs from ending their journey downstream.

"Can you see him yet?" Rodney shouted over to Ronon, his voice wavering with unconcealed panic.

"No. I would let you know." Ronon shouted back from the opposite side of the bridge and was trying hard not to get annoyed at his repetitive question.

But Ronon, thankfully, understood just why Rodney was feeling super anxious, he was getting more and more frantic himself to find Sheppard and his eyes could not keep up with the rise and fall of the different pieces of plants and trees that would pop up into view, hoping that this time it was him. His sudden vanishing act into the river had been something he had been unable to prevent as he hadn't been on the bridge near him at the time and it was shaking him to his core. This couldn't be the way he would lose his friend, not after all they had been through together. He started to pace back and forward watching and waiting.

"He must have been swept further down river." Teyla said out loud, standing beside Rodney and looking at the water with worry. "He definitely hit his head on the bridge here when he tried to grab the girl from being swept away." and then pointing, "Look! There's the girls shawl just surfaced further down the river. Can you reach it Ronon?"

Ronon turned on his heel and ran further down the slippery countryside after spotting the shawl Teyla had noticed and then scrambled down his side of the bank to retrieve it. He noticed a long branch and grabbed it as he neared the water. Scanning the immediate area he didn't see any sign of Sheppard or the girl he had tried to save from drowning before falling into the flooded water himself.

A thrust forward with the stick and Ronon retrieved the shawl from the foamy water and unhooked it from the stick and threw it back against the grass. As he turned back, to once again search for any signs of the missing two, he caught sight of something white and floating under the water and then a swirl of arms and legs became visible.

"Down here!" he shouted towards Rodney and Teyla who came at a run over the bridge to join him.

Not waiting on them, Ronon waded out into the water. The freezing temperature of it took his breath away but he didn't stall, just ploughed ahead into the churning, black water.

A head surfaced and then an arm, clad in black, thrashed about in the water and got purchase on a huge branch that was floating alongside. With great effort, Sheppard pulled the body of a young girl over and onto the log. Ronon caught sight of his friend and team leader and his adrenaline kicked in. With a monumental stride out into the water, he reached out and grabbed onto the branch, steading it in mid flow, allowing the weakening Sheppard time to catch a breath for a moment until he could pull more of the girl's weight onto the log and out of the river.

"Sheppard, are you ok?…is she alive?"

But Sheppard couldn't breathe right yet; never mind speak, so he settled for a clumsy nod of his head and looked to shore.

"C…cold. R'non help me… pull her in."

Ronon wasted no time and curved a strong arm around the log and pulled hard, fighting the current and uneven footing all the time with Sheppard pushing from the other end with his shoulder whilst holding onto the logs burden with cold, shivering hands.

Ronon stepped on solid ground just as Teyla and then Rodney arrived, their faces flushed from running.

"Sheppard, are you ok?" Rodney replicated Ronons question as he stepped into the water to help him whilst Ronon grabbed hold of the lifeless body of the young girl and carried her to the safety of land.

"F…fine Rodney. Just help Ronon..See …if the girl is alive?"

Rodney knew Sheppard well enough by now to know that he always put everyone first so as he could obviously walk still, albeit shakily, he let him continue his lumbering way onto the bank and took off his jacket and laid it on the ground for Ronon to place the girl onto. Teyla fell to her knees beside the motionless girl and checked to see if she was alive. It took a bit of digging into her neck with her slim fingers to find the carotid artery, but eventually she felt it beating against her cold and wet skin.

"She's alive" she pronounced to a visibly relieved Sheppard who was watching her, eager for good news. He stood, unmoving, whilst water ran off him, his black hair was plastered to his skull and he was shivering wildly. Although winter was a few weeks away on Etios, a cold wind had accompanied the fierce storms and the rain had taken them by surprise as it fell in torrents quickly over a matter of a few hours, swelling the river dramatically.

Ronon quickly nodded at the news but his concern was for Sheppard and he looked up at him to see how he was faring. He caught his eye and frowned, he didn't look good, but was relieved to see Sheppard's slight smile looking at the girl, but he then closed his eyes. Ronon noticed the pained look around them and as he got up to go to him, he grunted to see blood oozed from a head wound, joining the water as it ran down the side of his face. In a couple of large steps he was by his side and took off his leather coat to wrap around his shoulders shaking him to get his attention as he did so.

"You did good Sheppard, now let's get the two of you somewhere warm. Can you walk?"

Sheppard slowly opened his eyes and nodded.

Ronon gave him a knowing smile. He could walk – just.

The rain did not let up and the rush of water was still prevalent in the background and it was making it hard for them all to understand each other. What was important was to get moving and warm the pair up along with Ronon now, who was soaked up to his waist. Ronon scanned the area up above and down river for a suitable place to seek shelter.

"There was a house just up from here if I remember right, perhaps they would take us in until we can get back to the jumper?" Teyla said, as if reading his mind.

Ronon nodded and turned away from Sheppard, patting his shoulder in support as he went to scoop up the still lifeless girl. She hardly weighed anything Ronon noticed.

"Right, let's go."

Teyla took off her warm jacket and draped it over the girl as Ronon walked, wondering where everyone else was in the village. It looked recently abandoned but, strangely, it didn't have the look or feel of a culling. Teyla found it very odd. And why was their mysterious girl only in light clothing on such a cold day? The dress was soaked and dirty but Teyla could see it would have been the lightest shade of cream, of a fine texture and ornate with all its trimmings. It almost looked like a fine night dress. All these questions Teyla hoped would be answered once they got her warm again and she woke up. At the moment the girls face was lying on Ronons chest as he strode purposely onwards and she looked so pale, almost the same colour as her dress. One arm dangled down and Teyla picked it up and tucked it under her jacket once more.

"Should we not just aim for the jumper and get back to Atlantis and more importantly, Carson?" Rodney suggested to Ronon, as he shook out the water and mud the girl had soaked his jacket with, wrinkling up his nose.

"It would take too long Rodney, they need warmed up immediately." And then quieter,"…Sheppard needs warmed up. Help him, he looks ready to collapse."

Rodney looked back at his friend struggling on the slick incline, his arms wrapped around his body trying to get it warm.

Rodney understood and, "Come on Colonel, let's get you dry and you can tell us why you decided yet again to be a hero without noticing you were leaning over too far on that old bridge. Surely you knew the weight of her in the water would pull you under?"

"Shut up Rodney."

"I know, I know, you had no choice. Don't suppose you did, now come on...whoa, Teyla help me here, I can't hold him up." Rodney shouted as he felt Sheppard start to lean to one side.

Teyla left Ronons side and her fussing of the girl and put her arm around Sheppard's waist, supporting his weight with Rodney at the other side.

"John?"

"M'Kay...just … Teyla, feeling dizzy…"

Teyla looked at him and noticed for the first time his head wound and how white his skin looked against the red of the blood as it continued to seep from a deep cut on the side of his forehead.

"Can you make it John? It's not far and then we can get you warmed up and I'll take a look at your head? Do you hurt anywhere else?"

When her questions fell on deaf ears she stopped and patted his face gently, "John, can you hear me?" Teyla was now worried he was suffering from a bad concussion as well as the obvious chill from the water. He seemed confused and disorientated.

Hanging on them as he was, Sheppard pointed up to the others and instigated that they start moving again by moving off stiffly. "Catch up." was all he managed to get out before he let his head fall forward and concentrated on every step until he could get to somewhere warm and lie down and stop the damn shivering that made his headache worse.

Teyla had remembered the scenery well. Soon, an old wooden house stood invitingly on top of the hill, not far down the road from the bridge, and pretty soon they made it to the front door. Rodney hesitated just for a second and then knocked. As nobody answered, Ronon, too concerned for Sheppard's weakened state and the burden in his arms, kicked out his foot; the door swung open and they all stepped into the simply furnished property.

Teyla spied the bed first and pulled back the top covers and then called Ronon over to it and pointed to where he wanted the girl placed He gently placed the girl on the bed and left Teyla to tend to her and then set about making a fire.

"Rodney, get Sheppard's wet clothes off him and pull that large leather chair over to the fire for him to sit in. I'll look at him in a minute once I get her wet things off, nobody turn round for a moment." She requested.

Teyla pulled one of the top covers over the girl to keep her modest and reached under to take off her wet clothes and quickly dried her with a towel she had found and then rolled her over to the side of the bed where she had pulled down the covers and once her legs had been tucked in, placed several covers over her, tucking in the sides to keep the cold out until the fire warmed the cold room. That was all she could do for her until she woke up and she could tell them if she had any hurts. Satisfied the girl was just sleeping and not unconscious, she went over to Rodney to see how he was faring with Sheppard to find that Ronon had joined in the undressing and was now pulling down over John's head a long linen shirt he had found lying on the back of a chair. It looked like they had also fitted him with some worn trousers two sizes too big as Rodney was tying a bit of rope around his waist to hold them up. She knew Sheppard hated to be this helpless and cringed, but he seemed to co-operate with them. Both of Sheppard's hands were holding onto Rodney's shoulder for support when they finished dressing him and that frightened her more than his lack of words.

Ronon finally wrapped a large blanket around his shoulders and guided him back to sit in the chair. Teyla bent down in front of him and grabbed hold of his chin and stared into his eyes. His pupils seemed normal, she was glad to see, he must have just been dazed by the blow and the subsequent adventure in the river. Next, she pulled out a bandage from her vest and reaching up to him, she pressed it against the wound which had stopped bleeding at last and wiped away some of the blood around the wound. Fearing infection from the dirty water, Teyla pulled away the bandage and opened a pack of antiseptic cream and poured some on a clean bandage which she then proceeded to place over the wound. Ronon held it in place as she taped it down and then leaned back again to look at him once more. Twin bleary hazel eyes looked at her and Teyla could see how done in he was as the familiar lines around his eyes betrayed his pain levels that the headache he must have was causing.

"Well you don't need stitches. Headache?"

A nod.

You should really lie down properly, not just in this chair." She smiled at him, he just needed some rest and hopefully a deep sleep to recover. "Ronon, the bed is large enough for two, can you help him over there?"

Ronon nodded his agreement and stooped down towards Sheppard.

"Come on Sheppard."

"Wha… what's happn…"

"You are going to bed, that's what happening." He had to smile at the confused look on John's face and not waiting on the shivering man to try walking across the room, he picked him up and deposited him on the top covers on the bed, without even one moan. Once prone, he was fast asleep.

Teyla covered him up with some more blankets and then she looked at Ronon and smiled at the sight of the two of them out to the world. Ronon just hoped Sheppard woke up first and remembered what had happened and why he was sharing a bed beside a strange young girl. He chewed his bottom lip thinking how annoyed he might be at this when he woke up.

Rodney moved to join them, "Is this not typical Sheppard." Rodney piped up. "What is it with him and being a hero?" Although he did smirk out one side of his mouth. "This one though is a bit young for him I would think though."

Ronon noticed for the first time that Rodney was right, she appeared to be a very young age. She was petite in stature, very pale and had long blond hair. It was hard to age her but he reckoned she was early twenties. He briefly wondered what her story would be when she woke up.

"Leave the sleeping beauties and get over here Ronon." Rodney called. "Can't have you freezing too." And Rodney handed him another pair of the trousers he had found.

Ronon grunted but took off his wet boots and trousers and tossed them onto the floor before donning warm and clean ones, although the length of them just touched at his ankles. Teyla gathered together everyone's wet clothes and arranged them all on the back of more chairs to dry in front of the fire which had really picked up now and was blazing away nicely.

"What do you think happened here? I do not think it was a culling but something is not quite right." Teyla sat down in a chair, occasionally looking over at the bed to see if anyone was waking up.

"I'm not sure but it all looks too organised in this house, so I don't think it was a sudden decision to leave." Ronon had noticed that everything was neat and tidy and shut up for a period of time, and to be returned to at some point.

Ronon also looked over at the bed.

"Let's just stay here until Sheppard wakes up and hopefully our clothes will be dry by then and Rodney can eat something before he passes out, it must be time for you to eat something McKay."

"Very funny!" Rodney was used to this by now but was touched that Ronon was very aware of his need for food; probably because they had a mutual love of the stuff.. Ronon added another log to the fire and whacked him up the back of his head.

"Ow!"

"You two, quiet!" Teyla scolded.

She then noticed movement on Sheppards side of the bed and moved over to be with him. She placed the back of her hand on his forehead and down the side of his cheek. "He is very cold still, but I'm glad to see there is no sign of fever." She watched him stir a little and then settle down so presumed he was dreaming, perhaps reliving recent events.

Sheppard was re-experiencing the memory of the water raging as it flowed under the bridge and he lived through it again in his sleep –There had been a scream and it tore through his very soul.

He spun around and witnessed the horrific sight of a young girl swirling in the water, a scream escaped her lips as her long hair wrapped itself around her face and her dress was pulling her under. He knew the water was fast and she would reach the bridge he was on in a few seconds so without thinking of his own safety he reached over the bridge, sliding up on his stomach as he went, until his feet left the ground. She was coming towards him now and Sheppard lowered his body and arm as quickly as he could, hoping to grab her outreached one. Everything appeared to freeze in time for a moment – she pawed the hair from her eyes and they met his.

On his bed, Sheppard started to thrash about, reliving the scene. The feel of it all too real in his mind's eye.

John gasped at her beauty, it was intoxicating and for a second he was motionless until the pull of her predicament made him reach further for her. The water seemed to swathe her body in a cloak of black glass and he became very aware of her face looking intently at his. She mouthed the words, "Is it you?" and Sheppard couldn't understand how she could speak to him at such an urgent time, and better yet, how he could hear her over the roaring? Momentarily stunned into a trance, John realised she was going under the bridge. He ran to the other side and was aware of the others shouting on him but he could only think of the girl appearing at the other side. This time he was faster and ready and with one almighty surge of strength he lowered his body and the girl caught hold of his hand. The chill from that contact went straight through him and caught his breath. Then the pull of her body tugged at him and he realised he was falling over the bridge and joining her in the water. He frantically tried to twist his body and grip the side as he went over, but there was no time adjust his descent and on the way his head collided with the side of the bridge and dazed him into a stupor and he fell into the cold water, not letting go of her hand.

Teyla placed her hand on his chest to try and soothe him but he continued to toss about on the bed. After checking his wound was not bleeding, she then checked on their mystery girl and found her to be fast asleep, and smiling. Teyla puzzled at that and then felt her forehead and found her to be like Sheppard; fever free. Good. Better to let them sleep, so she went back to join the others at the fire.

Sheppard fell into the depths holding tight to the cold hand, a swathe of bubbles coiled around him and he felt the girl wrap herself around his body, entwining her legs around his with her dress flowing behind her and then she reached up to his face, caressing it slowly and gently. She touched the wound on his face and looked at the blood diluting in the water and reached for it. Her hand blending with it. Sheppard, drew her hand towards him and then brought it up and into his chest and held her tight, not breaking contact from her eyes. Her eyes looked so grey, like silver, Sheppard felt drawn into them. The noise left him then and it became calm and peaceful, just the girl and him slowly sinking in the water, it was all in slow motion and John felt a peacefulness come over him like he hadn't felt in a long time. "Stay with me."She whispered.

Sheppard knew he should be panicked but somehow he knew they would be alright. He caught held her tight; not wanting to let her go and floated down the water away from the turbulent start at the bridge. Breathing did not seem to be a problem. Slowly, entwined together as they were, he just kept staring at her until they reached shallower water and Sheppard started to feel and hear the water again instead of the quiet he had found when shielded earlier and felt his body rebel against the lack of oxygen.

He woke up, eyes wide open and caught hold of his throat, he couldn't breathe. He opened his eyes and for a second panicked, but Teyla was there whispering to him that he was ok, he was safe. At first he was blind to prompts but then he heard the rustle of movement and quiet whispers and the feeling of strong arms pulling him up. It took him a few moments but with Ronon holding him up and Teyla supporting the back of his head, he managed to regain his faculties enough to nod at them and push away on Ronon's forearm.

"I'm ok, I'm good... just dreaming."

Teyla and Ronon let him gather his senses and stood to the side of the bed just waiting and watching for him to recover.

Sheppard breathed deep and wiped his eyes and then put a hand up to the bandage on his head.

"My head?"

"You hit it when you went in the water, do you not remember?" Rodney asked, when he joined them at the bedside. Please remember.

"Yeah, yeah" He was slow though, he knew, and a puzzled look came over his face.

"I… I was under the water and… a girl! There was a girl drowning, she…"

Teyla pointed to the sleeping girl and Sheppard almost fell out the bed until Ronon put an arm out to stop him.

"What am I doing lying here? That's not right guys."

"There was nowhere else for you to lie you down John." Teyla was worried, had she missed signs of a concussion?

"Yeah, yes, sorry. Um..."

A cold awareness crept through him and he shivered.

"The water…it was so cold." The three friends let him gather his memories. "She kept hold of me. She was wrapped round me, I've never known anything like it." He paused in thought for a moment and then looked over to the other side of the bed.

"She's ok Teyla?"

"She seems to be well enough John, just cold to the bone."

Sheppard nodded and then shook of his bed covers carefully so as not to disturb the other occupant.

"And just where do you think you are going!?" Rodney scolded.

"I need to pee McKay, if you must know"

"Oh, well ok, glad you said..em, Ronon, help him out will you." And quickly returned to the fire, always unsure how to help people out in that way.

"I can walk myself, now where do I go?"

"It's outside Sheppard."

"Figures."

Ronon chuckled and didn't take Sheppard's dismissal of him to heart when he went to take hold of his elbow to guide him towards the door.

Teyla walked after them and threw one of the blankets over Sheppard's shoulders. He scowled at her but muttered his thanks.

Teyla looked at Rodney and they shrugged. Typical John Sheppard.

When they got back, Sheppard looked a little stronger as he walked unaided towards the fire, where he stood in front of it, warming himself.

"So, how long was I out? Has she told you who she is yet?"

"Only two hours or so. You were soaked and disorientated. No, she has not woke up yet, she seems to be dreaming a lot like you did. How do you feel now that you are awake?" Teyla put her hand up to his brow.

"Getting better. Fever?"

Teyla took her hand back down. "No, no fever. But that water wasn't the cleanest I have seen so we had better keep your wound clean. Sit down and I'll put a new bandage on it."

Sheppard sat on a chair and let Teyla busy herself with first aid on his head.

He became lost in thought again only to find Rodney poking his shoulder and all three friends looking at him strangely.

"Are you in? I'm asking you if you want anything."

"I'd like just one day without you pestering me McKay" Sheppard's reply was short and curt.

"John, Rodney had asked you a couple of times and you were not responding. Are you well?"

Sheppard looked up and studied his team. Damn, he wasn't quite with it, he could see it in their eyes.

He managed to squeeze out a smile.

"Right. Sorry Rodney…yes, water please."

Rodney handed him a cup and he took a quick drink.

"Slowly!" he said, looking pointedly at Teyla before she could say the same thing.

Teyla laughed. "He's fine."

Sheppard took another quick drink and set the cup down, looking out of the window.

"If it's stopped raining hard, McKay go with Ronon to the jumper and alert Atlantis that we are staying here to investigate what has happened to this village and why our guest here is the only one we have come across so far."

"So you ARE back with us then, good. What was it like under all that water? I'm impressed how long you managed to stay under without surfacing for a breath." Rodney did not give out direct compliments very often so John wished he could answer him truthfully but he doubted that anyone would believe him or understand what he had really felt. He didn't even understand it himself.

"It all happened so fast Rodney." He changed the subject. "Should you try to wake her Teyla?" looking over at the bed.

"No, I thought I should just leave her to sleep, she looks so peaceful."

Ronon walked over to John, after opening the door and looking out at the land, "It's raining, but much calmer. We'll go to the jumper and report in. You going to be ok? Sure you don't want to just head back home?"

"Nah, I think we had better stay here and see what has happened to the residents. And besides, we can't just leave her here."

Sheppard got up from the chair and walked over to the bed and looked down on the sleeping girl.

She lay on her back with one arm still under the blankets but her left was upturned and her hand, palm out, lay on the pillow. She looked very peaceful.

Sheppard continued to stare at her until he felt a hand on his back.

"John, please come back to the fire and sit down, you are still dazed from that head wound."

He turned to see Teyla standing beside him and he pursed his lips; again he had not been aware of what was going on around him. What was wrong with him?

"I'm ok Teyla, just a bit of a headache, the usual."

"And half drowned don't forget." Rodney admonished.

"Are you still here?"

"We are going Sheppard." Ronon looked pointedly at Teyla and nodded and she understood his concerns.

"Sit, John."

Sheppard threw up his hands in resignation and proceeded to sit back down in the chair.

"Satisfied?"

"Yes John. You seem a bit jumpy, we are just concerned for your health."

"I'm down, I'm sitting. Rodney, Ronon, radios on and report if you meet any other villagers."

Ronon donned his long coat, the trousers he was wearing would do with a long pair of socks he put on and pulled up over them. When he had been a runner, he didn't care what he looked like, only that it was practical, and today, he went with the same standards.

With a final nod at Sheppard, both men went out and started the trek back to the jumper.

With both Ronon and Rodney away, the house stilled to quietness and Teyla felt herself falling asleep sitting in one of the chairs, the fires heat making her sleepy. Sheppard did the same. The pair dozed for a while and then Teyla woke with a start when she had the feeling there was someone watching her. Her eyes took in the scene of Sheppard sleeping in his chair and the girl reaching out to him, her finger just grazing the side of his face.

"You are awake!"

The girl spun around so fast she back pedalled a few steps until the backs of her legs connected with the bed and she sat down hard on it. Her face a mix of surprise and something else that Teyla could not understand, disappointment almost.

She smiled at her and held out a hand. "I am sorry, I did not mean to frighten you. We have been very worried about you. My name is Teyla. My friend here is Colonel John Sheppard, he rescued you from the river earlier." Teyla looked over at John as she mentioned him and noticed he was awake but just staring at the girl and she in turn looked at him and then back to Teyla.

"My name is Enola."

Teyla waited for Sheppard to speak but he remained silent so she beckoned her to a chair.

"It is good to speak to you Enola, now that you are awake. Come, don't get cold again, sit here and let the heat of the fire warm you up, you look very pale."

Enola wrapped the bed covers tighter. "My dress?"

"You were soaked through and unconscious, your dress is hanging over that chair drying. I am sorry you just have a blanket just now but I don't think it will be long until it is dry. Surely you should not have been outside in so thin a material in this weather Enola, what happened here? Where is everybody?"

Teyla felt a bit uneasy when Enola did not immediately come forth with any answers but she was patient and would give her time. She was maybe in shock.

Sheppard still had not spoken and Teyla touched his knee and shook it. A movement that was not un-noticed by Enola and once again Teyla felt uneasy at the look she gave her.

Sheppard moved his leg away from Teyla and stood up.

"Would you like some water?"

Enola nodded.

"I'll get you some."

But as Sheppard went to get it, he felt light headed and the room spun and he felt blackness come over him, he looked up at Enola and her face tunnelled to the end of his vision and then everything went blank and he landed on the floor with Teyla trying to grab him, totally unconscious.

"John!"

Enola leapt up and threw herself on him, cradling his head and whispering words Teyla could not make out. Teyla knocked the chairs out of the way to get to him but as she went to put her fingers to his neck to check his pulse he moaned softly and rolled himself until he was lying on his back.

Enola leapt over his body and put her arm on his shoulder whilst holding up her cover with the other and also blocking Teyla's path, to help him up.

Teyla scowled, not understanding Enola's motives for blocking her, but moved to the further side of John and helped him as he raised himself up onto his knees.

He had felt fine, the girl was walking towards him but then he felt ice cold and he could see that she was speaking to Teyla but he heard nothing but the imagined hollow noise of being under water again. Their mouths seemed to move as if in slow motion and Sheppard had a hard time catching up and now he found himself getting manoeuvred back into his recently vacated chair again. He sat down and put his head in his hands.

Enola sat on the chair next to him, studying him. Teyla felt unsettled, even though she could not explain why and moved over to the window and tapped her radio. She looked back to see Sheppard and Enola staring at each other.

"Rodney, Ronon, where are you?"

The rain had started coming down hard again and she hoped that they were in the jumper, sheltering, at least they hadn't left it cloaked too far away.

A crackle of static and Rodney could be heard. "Hey Teyla, everything ok?"

"I'm…I'm not sure."

"You sound strained. We are not far away, sheltering under a tree."

"What's wrong?" Ronon, straight to the point as usual.

"It's nothing probably, I just have a bad feeling about this place Ronon. John fell unconscious again and Enola seems to be centring all her attention on him to the point she won't let him go"

"What! Is he ok? Who is Enola?"

"The girl, she woke up and John went to get her a drink and then he collapsed."

"Is he awake now? Where are you?"

Teyla twisted the material of the curtains in her hand as she quietly talked to them. "I am here, in the house, by the window and whispering so she does not hear me. John is awake but seems dazed again. Did you meet anybody else?"

When she got no answer, she tapped her ear piece again.

"No. We are coming soon."

Teyla tapped it again and then walked back to the fire. Ignoring Enola's glare, Teyla knelt in front of Sheppard to find him looking confused.

"Did I fall down again?" He looked dismayed.

Teyla smiled up at him and nodded. "You did. How do you feel?"

"Like a fool." Sheppard then appeared to see Enola for the first time. "Hello. I'm glad to see you are awake, are you hurt?"

"No. Thanks to you."

Anybody would do the same." Sheppard downplayed his heroics. "How did you happen to be in the water?"

When Enola did not immediately answer, but stood up and went to check on her dress, John and Teyla shared a look of surprise at her silence.

Teyla raised a hand to stop Sheppard moving and approached Enola.

"Please, we only wish to help you. On a cold and wet day like today, in such a thin dress and with the rest of the village empty, we wonder what has befallen the village and yourself. Was it the Wraith?"

But Enola did not answer her and on finding her dress dry and with only a cursory look over her shoulder, she let her cover fall to the floor and put on her dry dress with both Sheppard and Teyla averting their eyes as fast as they could when they saw what she was doing.

Teyla opened her mouth again to comment when the door was abruptly thrown open and it bashed against the wall in such a force it knocked all the items that had been on the shelf and table beside it to the floor.

"Child. How could you show your face here again? You must go."

Sheppard at this stage had got his wits about him and purposely strode towards the open door, holding his arm out to the side in protection of the girl and felt Teyla join him at his side.

"I am Colonel John Sheppard, this is Teyla Emmagen, is this your house?" Sheppard decided to be as calm as he could and not appear to be threatening. The old woman in front of him looked frail but judging by the strength she must have had to swing the heavy door in, Sheppard eyed her frail state dubiously.

"My name is Melanie and yes, this is my house, but …" she narrowed her eyes as she looked at Enola.

"…Whose house it is, is no concern of yours. You are strangers here. I am asking you to leave."

"We have to leave! Enola here has been asked to leave! What is going on here? Why is the village empty?"

For a short time Melanie did not answer, just keeping her gaze on Enola.

Finally, "What brought you back child? We thought you gone."

"So I see. A whole village abandoned on this day and yet here I am." Teyla did not miss the scorn in her voice and was surprised when she rushed straight up to the old woman with a threatening manner. For such a petite and calm looking young girl a few minutes ago, she now looked angry and red faced.

Sheppard was fast and grabbed her forearm as she moved forward and all but held her back behind him, never letting her go from his grip. "Hold on now, calm down both of you."

Melanie looked from Enola to Sheppard and then back again to Enola, a sad look now appearing on her face.

"Oh dear Enola, no. Please leave the man alone." She started walking towards them. "Stranger, I beseech you, move away from her and do not touch her anymore before it is too late for you."

Sheppard furrowed his brow at that but held up his hand towards Melanie in a calming manner.

"Ma'am, I don't know what has happened here but I can assure you that Enola here has not harmed me in anyway. In fact, I saved her from the river just a few hours ago, half drowned, I…"

Melanie's hand flew to her open mouth, "No, no, young man, you do not know the danger you are in." Melanie looked horrified now and went to yank Enola away from Sheppard's side.

Enola whimpered and Sheppard pulled her into his arms whilst Teyla stood dumfounded. How could this older woman be so enraged to find the girl by Sheppard's side. She shifted her feet uncomfortably, not knowing what to believe and which direction to go in. John she trusted, so if he was attempting to keep the older woman away from Enola then she would step forward and try to halt her process also but as she stepped forward, Enola pushed John back further into the room and away from her, and in turn, Melanie.

"Stay right there old woman. I will do as I wish."

"You will do no such thing and do not think to take more from him than you have already." Melanie took in Sheppard's weary state and stopped moving towards the pair so as not to provoke her further.

"Child, please I beg of you, for the sake of this man. Do not follow the road of past mistakes. He does not know of you…of our village, of what happened here. Turn around now and take my hand, I will follow you out. I would do that for you." She pleaded.

"Oh like you have been there for me before!" Enola whipped out.

Teyla looked over to see Sheppard as if frozen to the spot and, was he swaying?

"What do you mean when you said she had taken from him, taken what?" Teyla shouted out.

Melanie turned to look at Teyla as if seeing her for the first time and then back over to Sheppard.

"He is in danger, your friend. Go, take him away. He will not understand what is happening to him."

"Then tell me!" Teyla implored. "What is going on?"

The old woman stepped towards Teyla and looked at her with her head to the side and worry making her brow frown. "My dear, you do not want to know what goes on here. Just heed my words and although you do not know me, just trust me when I say to take your friend and leave. It is not safe to stay here. I can see he is already weakened but he can recover still if you leave now."

Sheppard put his hand to his head and swayed. "Wha..hppn…Teyla…?"

Teyla looked at Sheppard in surprise, what was happening to him now? He looked so drawn and pale; like his life force was pouring out of him. He momentarily swayed and as Teyla reached for him, she looked on in dismay as he slowly fell to the floor once more, unconscious.

Enola stepped back with her hands up as Melanie reached her and grabbed both wrists in a vice like grip. Teya dropped onto her knees beside Sheppard and after establishing that he was breathing ok she looked up at the two woman.

"What have you done to him?"

No answer came as at that point Ronon and Rodney came running through the door, rain water pouring off them.

"We heard you all shouting down the road. Now, we are soaked again. Wait…is Sheppard ok?" Rodney, babbling as ever, had failed to notice that Sheppard was unconscious again.

"What is going on here?" Ronon bellowed and moved to join Teyla on the floor, kneeling down on one knee and shook Sheppard's shoulder briefly.

"Is he out again?"

"Yes, Ronon, we have to leave. There is something not right here, I think we had better trust this old woman, can you carry John?"

At Ronon's quizzical look, Teyla filled her two team mates in as best she could, with the limited knowledge she had managed to gain.

"You had better tell us now, old woman, what this girl here has done to my friend before I move him? … and while we are at it, where is everyone else?"

Outside the storm reached a peak that provoked thunder and lightning, the crash that followed made them all look out the window as the countryside was lit up. With the distraction it caused the others in the room, Enola broke from Melanie's grasp and ran out the door into the wild weather.

"Enola!" The old woman fell onto the bed at an awkward angle so as Rodney went to help her up, Ronon put his hand on Sheppard's shoulder once again and gently coaxed him awake.

"He will be disorientated. He doesn't know what is happening to him. Give him time." Melanie, although shaken, felt the need to explain.

As Sheppard struggled to be more aware, the others looked baffled as to what had just transpired and finally Teyla stood up and touched the old woman on the knee, sitting beside her on the bed and grasped her hand in a friendly manner.

"Enola, who is she?"
The old woman sat staring at Sheppard as Ronon held his elbow, steadying him as they made their way to the fire. Ronon threw more wood on it and pretty soon the heat built up.

Rodney closed the door.

"Wraith?" He looked enquiringly at Melanie, not a little freaked out.

"No, not Wraith. They have not been here in many years but… well Enola she may well have acted like one with your friend."
There was nothing else for Melanie to do but explain Enola's story to them.

"Years ago," and she laughed, "Ancestors…many years ago, Enola was an innocent child. So loving and giving of her time for others, she was well liked in the village but her easy going nature was to be her downfall."

She stopped as Ronon approached to listen after making sure Sheppard was settled by the fire.

"Is he ok, your friend?"

"He is fine, tell us the rest."

"Yes," said Rodney, "how could that have been? She looks like a child!"

"It is true, I knew her then as I know her now." Melanie squeezed her eyes shut but opened them when she felt the warm touch of Teyla's hand once more encasing her own. She patted her hand and continued.

"One day, she fell in love." Melanie reminisced." It would be her downfall."

Sheppard coughed and everybody looked at him but then he grew silent once more so they turned to look at back at the old woman.

"I am taking too long, I have to find her."

"Sheppard" Ronon said annoyed.

"Yes, yes I am sorry, I shall continue. He was a stranger who came to the village to trade and she was smitten and within hours of meeting him she ran here…do not be shocked, this was her home too…to change into her favourite dress as it was the summer time and she wanted to look her best when she went to meet him." At this Melanie sighed. "But when she didn't arrive home for supper hours later, a search party was organised to find her but we never did. At least, not as she had been. She died…drowned…fighting off the man she thought so nice and she had fallen in love with; witnesses tried to cross the river to help her but they were too far away. He tortured her and attacked her, she fought back and, well, we do not know what exactly happened to this day but we never found her body, although people noticed she never surfaced when the man threw her in the deep water. That piece of the river had always been dark and we never got too close, but people say the man got into trouble in the water himself and was never seen again. Enola, on the other hand has been seen on several occasions…"

Melanie drank from a cup offered to her by Teyla, who had heard her voice crack with emotion.

"Every time my village knows there is a huge storm coming like we see today, they take off to the hills to hide, for somehow Enola … well some part of Enola …surfaces and claims the life of some poor unfortunate man she takes a shine to…this time your Colonel John Sheppard. Unfortunately this has been the way for many years now and we can offer no explanation to this, other than she seeks revenge against her murder with men being her victims."

"But she is nowhere near him now, even if we believe what you say to be true, we would not let her harm him." Teyla spoke out softly.

"You do not understand me, it is already too late. Her eyes, it was in her eyes. She has fallen for him, like many I have witnessed and tried to stop before. She comes in the swell of water and lures them to their death, demanding justice, in her eyes, for what happened to her in the past. She takes their strength until they die by her hand. She has taken some of Sheppard's strength already I can see, that is why he is so disorientated and weak. Somehow she saps their energy but she makes them feel loved so they do not struggle against her mind. This time is different though. This time she came back here with him. Your friend, he must be strong for her not to have taken him when they first touched."

"He is. You have no idea." Rodney said, hating this situation. "Who are you by the way?"

Melanie looked sad. "I am her mother. Her father died many seasons ago, too early he gave up. He could not cope with the shame our daughter brought upon us. We were taunted and almost thrown out until a meeting was held and we were told we could stay but on one condition. We had to find a way to kill her forever when next she appeared. I have stopped many deaths and tried to kill her but I don't know how. I fail her constantly. She needs to be at peace. We all need that… and you, you need to leave before it is too late for your friend also." The old woman put her hand out, "On no, where is he?"

All heads turned sharply to see no sign on their leader and the front door left slightly open.

"Sheppard!" Ronon bellowed and ran to the door and out into the rain searching for a sign of him.

"I don't see him, where could he have gone?"

"She will have lured him to the deep part of the river that comes from the lake north of here. It is where she died and… you had better hurry."

"But what will we do when we get there, how do we kill someone already dead?" Rodney said in almost a squeak."
"Kill her again." Ronon said and Teyla threw him a look.

"No, my dear he is right. I cannot do it, perhaps, finally I have someone to do it for me."

"But is it possible."

Melanie hung her head. "I do not know."

SGA SGA SGA

Sheppard walked into the storm with no thought as to where he was going, he heard Enola calling him to join her and he quickened his pace. He briefly wondered where his team was and why he was out here in the wild night that was descending upon him but the pull of Enola's voice was overpowering and he strived to get by her side as quick as his faltering steps could take him. His first glimpse of her cream dress was stark against the blackness of the trees that surrounded the water she stood beside. She beckoned him to come closer and Sheppard reached out his hand to take her offered one.

Enola reached up on her toes and pressed her cold lips to Sheppards. The shock of the cold on him was the first thing he noticed and he momentarily took a step back.

Sheppard held onto her arm and cupped his hand on the side of her face. "You asked me a question when we were in the water earlier, how was that possible?" He was starting to shiver.

Enola wrapped herself around him and starting crying.

Sheppard pulled her off him and looked into her eyes becoming aware of his surroundings all of a sudden.

"What am I doing here Enola? Will you answer me?"

His head became heavy and he felt it fall forward to land on her shoulder and she held him tight.

"I asked if it was you John. Will you be the one to save me? I have grown so tired."

Sheppard held her tight for a long time but he felt no warmth emanate from her and he felt his body give up a fight he didn't even know he was fighting. He slowly fell to the leaf covered ground and his limbs became so heavy that when Enola snuggled into him, he didn't fight this arm being pulled over her.

"Tell me?" he managed to ask softly.

"I feel in you something extra John. When you grabbed my arm earlier on the bridge I knew that you would be the one to save me from the horrors that I bring upon people. Can you do that for me John; help me?"

"You weren't in any danger were you?"

"No, I tried to lure you into the water, as I had done to many men before you but when you grabbed me and survived the water with me, I gave up what power I had for you. As soon as you touched me I knew you were special John."

"But I'm lying here and I don't know how I got here Enola. Who are you?"

Enola reached up and stroked his forehead and kissed him slowly once again. Sheppard could not pull back but he didn't seem to want to either. Enola then pressed hard on his forehead and Sheppard balked at the images that swirled in his mind. Her images. Somehow he saw what had happened to her years ago and the other men she had lured to their deaths in revenge.

Sheppard looked down at her and then pulled himself to his knees and pulled her up with him to stand. He hugged her voluntarily and then picked her up and carried her towards the water.

"You carry me in there and you could be with me forever John or will you destroy me?"

"I… don't know Enola…I..." Sheppard could feel himself getting pulled to the water's edge now and words were getting harder to speak against the tiredness he felt. If he could just lie down or… or experience the calm he had felt in the water with Enola earlier. Think, he needed to think, but the pull was too strong, so he walked into the water, carrying her in his grasp and didn't contest the pull of the waters beckoning powers. Enola slipped from his grasp and spun in the water with giddy delight, swirling around and around.

"Do you like my dress John?" She asked smiling.

Sheppard was now in the water up to his shoulder blades.

"You look beautiful in that dress Enola."

The startled look on her face was surprising.

"I am truly lovely to look at?" She swam towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck, spinning him round in the water freely.

Sheppard nodded and smiled a sad smile.

"Truly" For she was.

Together, they disappeared under the surface with Enola's slim arms wrapped tightly around Sheppard's neck smiling for all her worth.

Down they swirled in tandem like before. Sheppard heard nothing but for a moment and then reality fought his senses and he struggled in the wake of the pressure of water attacking him. He did not want this and tried to suck in a breath but he started suffocating. Wide eyed, he saw Enola seek his help but he was unsure of his next move. He kicked off against her and then felt the slamming force of someone else knock into them hard, separating them. It was Ronon. Wild, feral Ronon that he didn't always hope to see and didn't see so much of now. It meant he was mad, meant business. But his eyes were not looking at him, they were on Enola and Sheppard in that moment knew that he was here to save him. He had been stupid, blind to the power of Enola, so he grabbed Ronon's shirt and tugged. Ronon, in turn, grabbed his and pulled him to the surface.

Sheppard broke the surface with Ronon peering into his eyes, imploring him to be ok in his own thoughts and not blinded by the girl.

"I'm ok Chewie. I know what's going on."

"Get out this water, she wants you dead."
"No, that's not true. She wants to die!"

Ronon wasn't having it though and shook him as they started to walk out of the lake. He turned him around to face him.

"Can't take you anywhere can we?" He attempted a smile.

"Seems not." He looked forlorn.

"I can't just leave it like this Ronon. I think she wants me to end it for her."
"It's a trick, she has tried this before!"

Sheppard turned to see Teyla, Rodney and Melanie had joined them. He took in their appearance and was saddened to see them all soaked through as they were.

"You knew about her?"
"John, this is Melanie; Enola's mother John. She has tried to help her in the past." Teyla quickly explained.

Sheppard put his head down, thinking for a moment and then jerked his head up and looked out onto the lake where Enola had surfaced and was watching, not moving.

"No, you are wrong. I can end this. Ronon, run back to the banking… a shawl, she had a shawl. Please bring it…aarghh" Sheppard clutched his head.

"She is taking energy from you, she weakens." Melanie said.

"Go. Run Ronon." Teyla requested and he didn't wait a beat. Rodney, with his mouth opened wide, clamped onto Sheppard's arm to steady him and not let him near the water.

Soaked to the skin once again, Sheppard felt the pull but was grounded by Rodney and now Teyla's arms.

Time past a few minutes and then Ronon came running, his soaked dread locks bashing his face but the determined look on his face brought forth the shawl Sheppard had requested.

Sheppard took it from his grasp and looked up.

"Let me go big man."

Reluctantly he did and they all watched as Sheppard made his way back into water for the third time that day.

Sheppard hesitated just once but then he was under the water once again, taking the shawl with him.

At the water's edge, his team stood anxiously waiting on him to surface.

SGA SGA SGA

Sheppard knew he would be able to breathe under the water somehow, and sure enough, the same dreamy state he had experience before came over him. After letting his eyes adjust to the murky landscape in front of him, Enola floated into view and she looked breath-taking. A surge of sadness went through him at the thought of the young girl's life so cruelly taken at a young age before she could experience the delights of love. She emerged beside him in a blink of his eye and yet again her hair and dress folded him into her embrace. He allowed her to kiss him softly and then he drew back and she smiled. Thankyou John for the kiss. She thought this to him and he smiled. It had been the slightest of touches but he felt a tingle left behind and knew how easy all previous men had been drawn in to their death so easily.

A tilt of his head, a questioning look as to what next and Enola regrettably pulled away from Sheppard and pulled his arm, treading water over to a small cave, unseen by anybody probably in years. She gestured to look in and Sheppard would have cried if he was capable of it, as there, in the cave, was a long stretch of bones intertwined amongst shredded material. The water and fish reducing it all to fragmented pieces of bone and silk.

"Oh Enola!" Sheppard thought to her. She shook her head, it was ok. She was finally letting someone see where she had vanished to all these years ago and she was now relinquishing her hold on the place that held her.

She swam around him once and pointed to the shawl he had been absentmindedly holding on to and Sheppard understood her intent.

He moved to the pile of bones and gently placed them and the dress in the shawl to keep them all together. He grasped it tight and looked at her and nodded.

"Live well John, and thank you."

Sheppard nodded and then felt his lungs protest, her hold on him was over. He bucked and knew his time was limited so with a brush of her cheek he kicked off and up to the surface. Enola did not follow and vanished into the darkness.

The first face he saw when he surfaced was that of Enola's mother and Sheppard walked towards her, his clothes once more dripping wet. Melanie looked at the parcel in his hand and knew immediately what he was holding and it was over. Closure at last. She could say goodbye to her daughter. She fell to the ground, her knees slipping in the mud but Sheppard was there to hold her body as she cried until she could cry no more. Teyla, Ronon and Rodney caught Sheppard's face as he looked up at them and their relief was there for him to see. He was back, he was alive; slightly scarred as usual but back with his team mates once again.

SGA SGA SGA

The next morning saw a sun as golden as they had ever seen one. Melanie had not wanted to be alone until the other villagers had returned, so they had stayed the night with her and slowly Sheppard got some heat back into his frozen body and half way through the evening he had fallen asleep in his chair by the fire.

The others listened to the stories of Enola's early life and were saddened for the old woman's loss. The rain stopped at some point during the night and they all slept soundly. Soon, the villagers returned the next day and once they knew the story of what had happened, they comforted her and even planned a funeral, saying their thanks to the Atlanteans and offered them a place at the funeral but Sheppard declined and secretly the others were pleased.

They said goodbye and all took turns to hug Melanie but were so happy to see her being looked after so well by her friends.

Teyla explained that they had originally visited them to see if there was anything they could trade with and said they would come back at a later date to which they would be open to. Teyla bowed her head and they took off back to the jumper.

Sheppard hung back a bit from all the questions directed at him and they all thought he was very quiet and individually they worried for him. It had been an emotional and draining experience for him they were sure.

"Are you well, John?" Teyla finally asked him.

Sheppard drew in a breath and looked to her. "I will be." He reassured her and then scratched his head and pursed his lips.

"Damn, if I can't go somewhere without coming back with a bandage on my head. No-body tell Carson!" he joked.

"What's it worth?" Rodney asked excitedly.

"RODNEY!" Ronon and Teyla shouted.

And Sheppard laughed.

THE END

A/N I would like to thank Antipodes for the nudge to try a different style of writing.. .thank you.