Well here is Chapter 7. Thank you for all the private messages and all feedback as well as story alerts. I am amazed at your patience! You know all know who you are and I hope I replied back to you. If I haven't I certainly will try to get back to you to say Thanks! This chapter is un-betaed because my beta has had RL come up including computer troubles so more mistakes perhaps than usual. Again all disclaimers, I make no money, don't any of the SGA characters just the ones I made up and do this for fun. Warning of more foul language in this chapter.

Elizabeth

Tristan hissed through his teeth. "Come with me! There is trouble." Tristan inwardly cursed at himself. He had been too busy making the final arrangements for the rescue and had only left one Pegasi at the door. How could one of his own been overtaken? His heart was racing as he and Etienne walked calmly to avoid suspicion on their way to Sheppard's room. It wasn't far but it seemed like an eternity. The hall to the suite was empty which was odd since there should have been a Pegasi there. Etienne and Tristan entered the foyer and saw Seamus on the ground slowly stirring.

Etienne kneeled next to him while Tristan looked through Sheppard's suite. Tristan stood still for a moment and closed his eyes to see if he could reach him mentally but there was silence. When he went out of Sheppard's room he saw Seamus on his feet with Etienne supporting him.

"Seamus are you alright?" Tristan said looking over the knight. Seamus dropped to Tristan's feet immediately.

"My lord. I failed! I failed him!"

Tristan grabbed Seamus' shoulders and helped him up. "Seamus." Tristan said softly. "This was not your doing. We all let our guard down in our excitement to rescue Dr. Elizabeth Weir. What happened?"

Seamus looked down slightly. "A secret service agent approached. His mind appeared calm, and unthreatening but…"

"But what," Etienne prompted as they processed the images that Seamus shared.

"Briefly it seemed…a façade. Before I could explore my thought further, he had grabbed my wrist and that is all I remember."

Tristan patted Seamus on the back. "It is alright my boy. It seems the plot thickens. I know where they will take the king. We will continue with our plans to rescue Dr. Weir as I am sure that is where he is. When he is able, he will alert us. For now we must act as if nothing is wrong. Seamus if you are well I need you to guard this door as if the king continues to be in there…resting and unavailable."

"I am well my lord."

"Good man. Nothing has changed Seamus. We will continue to provide you information as the rescue progresses. Be ready for anything."

Seamus nodded then stood post at the door. It was no use to chastise himself. He had long learned that letting mistakes bother you served no purpose, but he learned and he would never make this mistake again.

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Sheppard opened his eyes then closed them again to let the nausea pass. His mind was foggy, but he knew he was not back in his suite. His hands were tied behind his back and onto a chair. He focused on the room around him…sensed the 15 or so guards close but a lot more nearby. His mind began to clear and when a small window of clarity appeared he opened his eyes and immediately reached out to Tristan and sent whatever images he saw. He did not know where he was or how he got here, but he knew Tristan would find him. He saw the room he had a vision about and there was Elizabeth looking at him. She smiled and her hand was on the glass.

We are here to get you out Elizabeth.

She smiled at him and nodded as she sat down, but he did not know if that was because she heard him or just knew that was what he would say. He could sense her fear and that she was trying to reach back to him, but he only got vague images.

He growled in anger as he pulled on the twists tying him to the chair but they only tightened and cut into his skin. He looked down at his arm and saw an IV stuck in his hand. He reached out to try to control the mind of the nearest guard but for some reason he could not, perhaps the effects of the drug they had given him. He wondered if his mental message and image had actually made its way to Tristan.

"Don't get any ideas Your Majesty," he heard a familiar voice sneer. He looked up and saw the face of LaPierre. "We had information you might have abilities, though not confirmed we were told that keeping you well medicated should keep you under control just in case."

Sheppard said nothing but watched as someone with a needle inserted more medicine in the IV. The fog descended more readily and even his attempts to reach out to Elizabeth failed.

"So do you have powers Your Majesty?" LaPierre asked again this time putting his face up to Sheppard as if to get a good look at the king. He should have been close enough to see the look in Sheppard's eyes, the subtle change from compliant to furious. If LaPierre had seen that he might have been able to get out of the way of the head butt Sheppard delivered with lightning speed and force. LaPierre stumbled back holding his nose and a broken pair of glasses.

"Yes, apparently I do still have the power to knock you on your ass," Sheppard said with a menacing smile. Sheppard watched LaPierre closely and noticed the ex IOA member make eye contact with a thug standing behind Sheppard. So the king knew what was coming and did his best to minimize the impact of Thug 1's blows to his head. He focused on one name, Teyla, to escape the present events and somewhere between thinking of her and hearing LaPierre shout to Thug 1 to stop, Sheppard lost consciousness.

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Tristan looked at O'Neill and waved him to the left while Etienne and his team took the right. The king had sent a clear image of the layout an hour ago but Sheppard had not connected since. Silently they moved to rescue their king and eliminated multiple threats along the way. Tristan prayed it was not too late. He comforted himself with the thought that he was sure that they he would know if something had happened to the king. When Sheppard had taken the stone in the cave he became inextricably linked to the Pegasi, but Tristan found it disconcerting he could not reach the king's mind right now. He was likely unconscious and hopefully only that, but he should still have at leased sensed his presence.

Tristan peered through a dirty window and saw the king tied to a chair and someone hitting him. He appeared to be connected to some tubing with a needle inserted into his arm. Perhaps he had been drugged and this made it difficult for him to connect to the Pegasi. Tristan sent the image to the others and laid out the plan. He looked back to McKay to make sure he had seen the image and understood the plan. McKay nodded in understanding and moved into position behind Etienne and Lorne.

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Sheppard spit out the blood from his mouth as he glared at Thug 2. Thug 1 must have gotten tired or bored as he left with LaPierre as soon as Sheppard had recovered consciousness. Thug 2 was more verbal as he tried to interrogate Sheppard to no avail. Sheppard couldn't help but smile. For all that he had been through in the past three years, this was child's play. He shook his head at the thought realizing that what he had been through was not normal for a vast majority of the world, or galaxies for that matter. "You may not think this so funny, Sheppard. It seems that you are not persuaded by your own torture," LaPierre said returning.

Sheppard coughed and spit out more blood to hide his laughter. Is this what this administrative warrior thought was torture? The Pirates of his homeworlds had done better. LaPierre continued. "In that room where Dr. Weir is being kept is a canister of a new gas we are creating. It is painless but quite lethal. That canister has a very small explosive that will discharge the gas into the container of that well sealed room. You see, we would not like for it to escape out here. But that gas is plan B. Well actually C. Plan A has not really worked since you are not giving up the information voluntarily. So I must resort to Plan B now. I did not want to do this because I do respect Dr. Weir."

Sheppard was about to tell LaPierre to shut up. Didn't he ever watch movies where if you talked too long when you were the bad guy you gave the good guy a chance to make a move? However a flash of white caught his eye and Sheppard felt his heart become icy with dread. He tried to hide it from his face but by the smug look on LaPierre's face he did not completely mask it.

"So we have a few partners to help us."

It was déjà vu. LaPierre droned on. "We know we cannot use the threat of the Wraith against you. You know what that feels like, however, Dr. Weir does not. You can spare her this of course if you just tell us what you need to know."

Sheppard started at the Wraith that was shackled and obviously eager to feed. He stood just outside Elizabeth's cell.

"Where did he come form," Sheppard growled.

LaPierre shrugged. "He is on loan to us."

"From whom?" Sheppard pulled on his restraints as he tried to reassure Elizabeth but the fog still surrounded him slightly. Maybe if he focused he could clear it but it was like driving in a snowstorm. Sheppard closed his eyes and withdrew into himself until he could begin to sense the minds around him. Slowly the cloudiness began to ebb but it was a struggle.

When he opened them again, he saw the Wraith being led into Weir's cell. Sheppard felt his anger rising. "Stop this now!" he ordered. He continued to pull on his restraints and they loosened slightly. Sheppard could feel his mind strengthening as he heard LaPierre's voice.

"It is you who can stop this Sheppard."

Sheppard had been fighting the effects of the medication and suddenly all at once , he felt the presence of his Pegasi, the Wraith mind, La Pierre and the others. He looked directly at LaPierre with cold eyes, and he could feel the darkness that he had tamed, swirl around inside him. LaPierre took a step back as he saw Sheppard's eyes, but the king turned his attention away from the politician and to the Wraith who was approaching Dr. Weir.

Sheppard reached out for the Wraith mind and immediately made contact. His men were moving in but not soon enough to save Elizabeth. Sheppard with barely a thought took the Wraith's life and froze the two Thugs that had been holding him. He turned to fix his attention on LaPierre but the man had disappeared as chaos had soon ensued. He felt someone behind him beginning to loosen his restraints while Etienne was shielding him with his own body as bullets were flying everywhere as reinforcements had been called in. The Pegasi were making quick work and the gunfire ceased at least momentarily.

Lorne quickly but carefully cut Sheppard's restraints form his bloody and bruised wrists. He handed Sheppard a weapon and they moved quickly to find cover.

"We need to find LaPierre."

As he said that he turned toward where Elizabeth was and saw LaPierre was in the cell with her. He was holding up the remote detonator in his hand and he was wearing a mask.

ooooooo

"You better stay back Sheppard. I am protected but she is not. "

Sheppard stood in the middle of the warehouse and stared helplessly. He never should have let her come back to Earth. He could have prevented it…forbade it.

'What will you do John. Hold me hostage…you can't do that.' She had told him with a smile just before he left. Bullets started flying again as more reinforcements had arrived, but Sheppard trusted his men would take care of it because nothing would prevent him from getting to Elizabeth. She was struggling with LaPierre now and he sprinted toward her.

oooooo

She knew that he would come for her, and that the real threat was not the gas inside but the explosive outside meant to kill him as he tried to rescue her. LaPierre was holding the detonator to it and had explained his whole plan to her because he was an arrogant bastard. She turned and hit LaPierre in the groin as the fool gloated, and he toppled to the ground. The detonator toppled beneath the bed and she scrambled for it, but he grabbed at her feet. She kicked him in the face and he yelped in frustration and pain. She easily blocked his feeble punch to her face though she had not expected that from him. She could sense Sheppard calling out to her now as she let her guard down. He had been trying to reach her, but she did not want him to feel her thoughts, or her fear. He would blame himself and he needed to think. He was 25 yards away and closing fast. LaPierre shouted something and the gunfire got even heavier, but somehow the bullets missed the king. She tried to tell Sheppard to stop, but his mind was raging hot as adrenaline fueled him faster toward her. She pushed LaPierre again way from the bed and the detonator with a kick to his knee. Elizabeth turned her gaze to the left and caught sight of Tristan on the scaffolding. In the seconds she heard LaPierre bark another order she desperately reached out her mind to the Pegasi and let her know of the danger. Tristan swiftly turned his head to her with his eyes wide. She smiled as she knew that he had heard her as he quickly made his way to the ground and was running to intercept Sheppard.

She managed to punch LaPierre again when she realized she did not feel well. She looked at the former IOA member and he looked genuinely sad. "I am sorry Dr. Weir. You left me no choice." He turned to reach for the detonator as she sat down realizing there was nothing she could do. She was already exposed and she was quickly losing control of her muscles. She looked out toward Sheppard in time to see Tristan tackle him. A split second later the explosive charges went off and the building shook but held. She felt sleepy. There was no pain and she was grateful. He would blame himself, but it was not his fault and she tried to tell him this. She saw Sheppard struggle against Tristan's weight and he made eye contact with her. She smiled as she closed her eyes.

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"Get off of me damn it! Get off," Sheppard roared just as the explosion went off. Tristan shielded him from rubble. Fortunately the trap had been set with the intention that one had to be nearly on top it to be killed. Tristan could feel the king pushing against his mind, to control him, force him off, and the Pegasi had to concentrate hard to not be overcome. "Get…off…of …me!" Sheppard roared again as he struggled underneath Tristan. The king was looking toward the cell, saw Elizabeth smile then close her eyes.

Tears were streaming down Sheppard's face now. "Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" he cried out over and over again.

Tristan turned. The bullets had ceased, and all threats neutralized. The Pegasi could sense the stillness of all his men as they turned and watched. Sheppard's voice carried in the empty building. "Get off…we have to save her!"

He had managed to sit up but Tristan held him tight from behind. "We have to help her now!" Sheppard said with almost a sob.

Tristan's heart broke. "We cannot my lord. The gas is still in there. If what La Pierre says is true, we could all be exposed."

Sheppard struggled some more but Tristan kept his hold tight. "God damn it let go of me!" Sheppard shouted. "Elizabeth!"

"Dr. McKay, see if you can clear the cell of the gas," Tristan ordered into his mike. He got an acknowledgement and knew that the scientist was at the control panels within seconds since the resistance had been neutralized. Sheppard had managed to break free momentarily but Tristan quickly had hold of him and by then Etienne had made his way to assist Tristan.

Sheppard reached out to Elizabeth, but he knew she was gone. He had sensed her leave in those last few moments when she opened her mind to him. He knew there was nothing he could do to bring her back. He cried out again and again in fury.

As he struggled to keep Sheppard under control, Tristan continued to bark orders, but this was a strain as Sheppard was railing in Tristan's mind to let him go. Within a minute, McKay indicated the room was clear of any gas or other threats.

Lorne caught sight of La Pierre trying to flee in the chaos and alerted O'Neill so he could intercept the rogue IOA member while he went to the room. Lorne confirmed if it was clear of remaining gas and when he received the acknowledgement from McKay, he entered. Lorne knelt and checked for a pulse but found none. He looked up to where Sheppard was. The king finally had pushed the Pegasi away and had gotten to his knees. He made eye contact with Lorne. The Major shook his head sadly and swallowed hard the lump in his throat.

For a minute, Sheppard's eyes looked blank. Then Lorne saw them change, dark then almost golden and Lorne felt a chill run down his spin.

Sheppard stood and every muscle looked tight and the muscles on his neck bulged with barely contained fury.

Tristan could sense the approaching darkness. He could see Sheppard's muscles shaking. The room was still but there was a sort of pressure that was becoming uncomfortable.

"My lord," Tristan started quietly.

Sheppard snapped his head around with eyes that burned like fire but sent cold chills to Tristan's heart. "Do not speak to me," he said in a low voice. "We could have saved her." Tristan knew this was no time to reason. Even if Sheppard had honed his ability to heal for which they had not yet practiced, the dead could not be brought back to life on Earth. He grimaced as the energy coming from Sheppard's fury touched his own mind.

Lorne had scooped Elizabeth up and carried her out of the cell. Sheppard had commanded him to bring her, but the Major feared what would happen. Sheppard did not look like Sheppard right now and alarm bells were ringing in Lorne's mind. He walked carefully over the rubble and made his way to the king. He stood there not knowing what to do. Sheppard closed his eyes for a moment and the tension in him seemed to go. He looked away for a moment and seemed to think then finally allowed him self to look down at Elizabeth. She only looked like she was sleeping and Sheppard really wanted to believe that she was, but her mind was not there. Her body was just a shell now. His eyes watered and he looked up as McKay came running up. "Take Titus and take her home to Atlantis. Take care of her Rodney. Keep her safe until I get there…please."

McKay looked at Sheppard with tear filled eyes and nodded slightly. "I will John." Sheppard fixed a loose hair on her head then nodded and Lorne handed her over gently to Titus who left with McKay. Tristan watched the abated anger return quickly and the Pegasi turned and looked at Etienne with a worried look. Etienne acknowledged his concern. This anger was powerful and frightening in its potential.

Sheppard directed his attention back to the cell and looked at the men that had been captured. Pawns no doubt and he ordered them removed from the area for transport to Atlantis. Tristan could feel the fear coming off of them as they watched the king staring at the cell. Suddenly there was a commotion, and they all turned toward a group of Pegasi lead by O'Neill.

The general had LaPierre in tow. O'Neill turned and looked into the empty cell and Tristan watched him search around looking for Elizabeth. O'Neill was going to ask where she was until he saw the look in Sheppard's eyes. For once O'Neill decided it was best to say nothing. He could feel LaPierre shaking slightly under his grip. Realization hit O'Neill. Elizabeth was gone. Even when it looked like the gas had been let loose, he thought McKay somehow had pulled off a miracle and Elizabeth was only injured. They had done it so many times before. How could this be different? He let go of LaPierre in disgust as Sheppard approached. O'Neill grimaced as the pressure in his head increased and his body felt heavy. Oh shit.

LaPierre felt it as well because he fell to his knees. Sheppard look down at him.

"Do you know what you have done?" the king finally said. His voice was tight, low, and unforgiving. LaPierre did not even look up and remained silent. Sheppard grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up to his face.

"I said do you even know what you have done!"

O'Neill might have felt pity for LaPierre, but the bastard had it coming. It was an unfair question and no matter what answer or non-answer he gave it would not satisfy Sheppard.

"I am…sorry," LaPierre managed to squeak.

"Sorry! You self-righteous pompous bastard. I should kill you now."

I could do it with simply a thought. LaPierre looked at him wide eyed as he heard Sheppard in his mind. The voice was cold and dark. She was worth a thousand of you!

LaPierre gripped his head.

"Who put you up to this? Who were the Wraith on loan from?"

"I…I don't know." LaPierre whispered.

"Don't tell me you don't know," Sheppard said pulling LaPierre closer, "Who the hell put you up to this!"

I can take it from your mind you filthy bastard, but there won't be anything left of it so you better tell me now.

LaPierre looked up at Sheppard in horror. Tristan and O'Neill exchanged glances. The king was walking a fine line; one they had only heard of but not witnessed when he was stabbed with the blade of Erebus.

"Tell me!"

"I…I…his name was Gareth."

"Gareth?" Sheppard searched his own memory, but found nothing. He let go of LaPierre who fell back to the ground. "Gareth. That is all?"

"He never used any other name…and I never saw him."

"You never saw him! You are a bigger fool than I even first thought. You son of a bitch! You have endangered this entire world and exposed it to the Wraith and you don't even know who you are working for?"

LaPierre cowered further.

"What other IOA members are working for you?"

"No one. That is why they threw me out after the incident on Atlantis."

"Then who else because you could not have done this alone."

"No one else. Just Gareth. He said…he said you…"

Sheppard kneeled down and was face to face with LaPierre. "He…said…what?"

"He said you were dangerous…would ruin this world…and"

Sheppard's jaw hurt from being so tight. "And what did he promise you?"

LaPierre seemed to shrink even further as he closed his eyes, but did not answer. He jumped when Sheppard shouted again, "What did he promise you!"

LaPierre opened his eyes and looked up at Sheppard. His fate was in this king's hands and nothing would change that. "He…he said I would be a leader in the new order."

Sheppard cried out in fury as he stood. He looked at the empty cell, remembered Elizabeth's smile and thought how there were Wraith on Earth now under someone's control. All because of this man's greed! He roared and could see the darkness in him swirl. The snake was ready to strike. He had contained it for so long but he let the power of his anger course through him and cried out until he was nearly hoarse. He looked down at LaPierre and withdrew his weapon and held it to the traitor's head.

"My Lord no!" Tristan said moving forward, but Sheppard glared back at him and held him in his place. He looked back down at LaPierre who was visibly shaking now and pleading for his life. The fucking coward had the nerve to plead for his life!

Sheppard could feel his hand shaking and tears were streaming down his face. Yes, yes take his life. He deserves to die. Take it! The voice long silent told him. Sheppard sobbed. "Elizabeth deserved better! Earth is in danger you bastard!" He knew it was wrong. He should not pull that trigger, but everything in him wanted to. Do it son of Evander!

"Son," a quiet voice intruded into his thoughts and he felt a presence next to him and a hand on his shoulder. "Son. This is not the way."

"He deserves to die!" Sheppard's voice shook with anger as he turned to look at O'Neill from the corner of his eye.

"I know. But you know what this will do to you. I can feel it in you. Don't let that side win out. You have come too far and too many people are counting on you." O'Neill knew exactly what Sheppard was feeling. He had lost men, wanted to kill who was responsible.

Sheppard kept the gun pointed at the nearly hysterical LaPierre but felt O'Neill's hand on his own. It stopped shaking under the strong grip of the general. He looked at O'Neill. The brown eyes were warm and had their own tears in them. "She would not want this," O'Neill said softly. "Not for you."

Sheppard let O'Neill take the gun from his hand and collapsed in the general's arms and let the tears run. Tristan grabbed LaPierre and handed him to Etienne who took him out of the warehouse. Tristan gave O'Neill and Sheppard space but waited.

"It was my fault! Oh God it was my fault!" Sheppard cried. O'Neill held him close and shed his own tears. "No son. It wasn't. It wasn't but it's going to feel like it." They sat together for some time until they could not cry any longer.

Sheppard was exhausted. The snake was back in its cage but the anger returned once the tears dried up. He looked at O'Neill thankfully and helped him up. He knew what he had to do.

"Tristan." The Pegasi approached and bowed deeply.

"Yes my lord?"

"Institute Orion."

Tristan nodded as Sheppard quickly shared his plan with O'Neill as well.

"We are shutting them off?" O'Neill asked.

"Somebody has made the wrong deal with the devil, and I won't let them get off this planet or endanger Pegasus. Elizabeth's death won't be in vain."

"John."

Sheppard turned around. "I won't abandon them, but I have waited long enough and Pegasus needs to be our focus. The Asgard will watch over them as we agreed. We can come back anytime, but they can't get to us or anywhere else."

O'Neill nodded. "I will talk to Thor." McKay had found a way to help the way to help the Asgard with technology on Arcadia. No one knew they had managed to save them except O'Neill, McKay, and Samantha Carter, certainly not anyone from Earth and by the look on Tristan's face this was a great surprise to him as well. O'Neill smiled. It was hard to keep that little secret so well.

Sheppard turned to Tristan. "We need to go back to the White House."

Tristan nodded then bowed and left to make the preparations for their return to the White House and institute Orion. His own mind was spinning hearing the Asgard were still alive.

Sheppard turned back to the cell. "I'm sorry Elizabeth." He allowed the tears to well up again but did not let them fall. He pushed it back and redirected his focus. The anger not quelled completely fueled his focus and it would drive him to do what he had been born to do.

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Thanks again for your patience. Chapter 8 is halfway done. I can't believe it has taken me so long to do this so thanks for hanging in there with me.