Title: Salvation

Author: atlantis child (Command Dynamics), innocent choir girl John and Elizabeth are separated from the team during a diplomatic mission off-world when they are ambushed by Genii. Hope is far and survival is the only thing on John's mind. They must struggle against Kolya in order to keep information from him and to break out of the Genii prison. Spoilers for seasons one through three.

Genres: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort

Warnings: Abuse, Character Death, Drugs, Torture, Violence

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 6 "It's okay…"

Author's Notes: none

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When Elizabeth was returned John cradled her and whispered to her that he was there. That Kolya wasn't there… His voice broke as tears cascaded down his cheeks. He could tell she was in pain by how she was breathing…how she wasn't even moving the slightest bit and then there was the fact that she was still unconscious. John was thinking that maybe Kolya would really kill Elizabeth. If he took her again, John didn't think she'd be alive if she was even returned to him. He wanted to tell her to tell Kolya whatever he wanted to know. John just knew he couldn't lose her, he already knew what that felt like.

Whimpering was what broke John from his thoughts. Turning his face down, his eyes locked with hers unable to take in the new array of bruises for fear that he'd break down. He knew he needed to protect her. "I'm here," he whispered hoping in some small way it was a comfort.

Her mouth didn't open to speak. Instead, she just whimpered and tears cascaded down her cheeks. John could only reason that she was in excruciating pain… Elizabeth had never been trained for this, had never had to deal with interrogations like he had been trained to withstand. Elizabeth Weir by far, John knew, was not a fragile woman. She was a woman of strength, caring, and courage. He had promised to protect her and Kolya kept making him a liar.

Looking around, John spotted his pack, which still contained the med kit in it. Some painkillers seemed like the only possible way he could be of any help. Looking back down at her, John gently cupped her bruised cheek, "Elizabeth, I need to move you." His voice was quiet and gentle as he talked to her, "I'm going to get you some pain medication. Okay?" He wanted to make sure she knew what was going on and knew exactly why he would be causing her pain in the process of moving her. As gently as he could, he carefully laid her on the floor before scrambling over for the pack.

Opening the pack after moving it back, so it was next to Elizabeth, John looked through the medical kit and stopped when he found the injectable pain killers and sedatives. There were also pill forms, but John thought that the injection would go into effect quicker. Deciding to go with the shot form, John removed the cap and let a little squirt out like he had seen done on TV and in movies. He knew it had something to do with making sure there was no air in the syringe. Carefully, he injected it into her arm and hoped that he was doing it the right way and not hurting her.

He watched her carefully, waiting for any sign of pain relief wash over her. And soon he saw her relax, her face loosen. "A bit better?" he asked cupping her face gently.

"A bit," she responded and held her arm to her chest. It was no longer bound, but the splint was still in place.

John wasn't sure what more he could do. He knew she was in pain and if Kolya took her again he wasn't sure if she'd come back. But with her in such a weakened state, he wasn't sure if he could enact an escape and get them both out and to the Stargate. He didn't even think she could walk… Pulling her close, he sat there staring straight ahead wondering how he was going to get her to safety. Was it just impossible? Was he kidding himself and getting Elizabeth's hopes up?

Watching him, she tried to read him. Tried to figure out what he was thinking. They had been working together for long enough now that she could almost read his thoughts. "John?" she spoke softly. "It's okay…"

Looking down at Elizabeth, he wondered if she knew just what he was thinking… She already seemed to be pretty good at knowing him, but he wasn't sure why she was saying what she was saying… "What do you mean its okay?" he asked thinking of multiple meanings to that statement. The calmness and confidence in her voice shocked him. What if she was already too far gone? What if she was just barely holding on?

"It's okay…to let go," she told him. A smile spread across her face trying to let him know it was okay. "To leave me…behind," she added. Elizabeth knew John probably didn't want to do either, but she still felt the need to let him know.

"It's not okay!" he argued, and a second later he regretted it when he realized he was shaking her a bit, his hands gripping her too tightly and his voice much too loud. John didn't want to scare her. But he wasn't going to just abandon and leave her either.