Title: Deus Ex Machina (8/10)

Date: 12/22/2006

Author: carpenyx

Rating: NC-17

Warnings: Sexual Content, Character Death

Characters: Ronon Dex centric w/the rest of the SGA main characters

Spoilers: Up through "Sateda" and "Progeny", alternate universe – set later in the third season.

Disclaimer: I do not own. Just playing in the Pegasus Galaxy. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: He remembered her; the smell of her perfume, the sweet honey taste of her lips, and the warmth of her body against his. It was almost as if she were still there.

Deus Ex Machina

Chapter 8

Atlantis

The Following Day

It had been a long night with nothing that even resembled sleep. John tiredly made his way down the corridor, heading to a meeting with Elizabeth. In his mind he replayed the discussion he'd had with her earlier – they had both argued their points into the ground with no finite resolution in sight.

It was decided that she wouldn't make her decision regarding his insubordinate behavior yet, given their current dilemma with Melena and the Asurans. However, she would most certainly revisit it once this ordeal was behind them. John remained disheartened.

When he looked up, he caught sight of the Athosian beauty walking briskly ahead of him. He called after her. "Teyla!"

She offered a small smile and waited for him to catch up. "Colonel Sheppard."

"You're looking good," he commented, trying to act as though everything would be okay. The familiar banter was not lost on Teyla, she grinned slightly in response but left her sarcastic retort for another day. Neither one felt much like themselves in light of Ronon's departure. "I didn't think Beckett would release you so soon," he said as he looked at her with a hint of worry on his face.

"He was very difficult to persuade, but I was able to make a compromise with him," she explained. "I am still not cleared for off world duty."

"Sounds about right," he replied with a nod.

"Have you heard any news of Ronon?" Teyla ventured as she looked at John expectantly.

"None," he said, discouraged.

Conference Room – Atlantis

The meeting had commenced on schedule once everyone had gathered.

The virus in their computer systems was the most pressing matter, and therefore was discussed first. McKay explained the computers would be back to normal within a couple of hours. Both he and Doctor Zelenka had been able to eradicate the virus, preventing it from damaging any more of their computers, and they'd already begun fixing the damage it had caused.

Elizabeth displayed her concern regarding the Asurans, and Rodney was quick to point out that Melena's failure to complete her mission would put a damper in what they had planned. He explained she had been attempting to rewrite their systems in order to shut down Atlantis and take control of the city, but in the wake of her failure that was no longer possible.

It relieved Elizabeth to hear this, though she was far from feeling confident that this was all behind them. Another concern, one that had not yet been addressed, was in regards to the simulations Doctor McKay and Doctor Zelenka were working on.

"I understand that you and Zelenka have made some headway with the simulations?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Yes," Rodney confirmed. "The tests we've run so far haven't succeeded, but I'm very confident that we've figured out what the problem is. Zelenka's working on fixing it right now."

"That's good to hear," she said, relief evident in her voice. "Thank you, Rodney."

"We need to address the situation with Ronon," Elizabeth said looking over at John and Teyla.

"We go get him," John said simply.

"We don't know where he is, John," she explained, a hint of anger in her voice. "I've sent several teams, used a great deal of resources that we really don't have, just to search for them. We've tried several possible plants, including Bethdsha. We aren't coming up with anything and I'm not sure what else we could-"

"I'm not giving up," John interrupted, looking directly at Elizabeth. He wasn't about to let this one go, not now and not after everything him and his team had been through – Ronon was a member of his family, he wouldn't abandon him.

"I'm not saying that, John." Elizabeth inclined her head slightly and looked at John. "I'm just saying that I'm not sure what else we can do."

"The computer, didn't it log the address?" he questioned.

"Yeah, about that," Rodney said. He looked at John. "She screwed up the computers, it was offline."

"You said that she was acting strangely during her time in the holding cell, correct?" Teyla interrupted the group as she looked over at Elizabeth.

"Doctor Heightmeyer and I looked over the video feeds," Beckett responded.

"And what did you discover?" Teyla questioned.

"We both feel that she was suffering from something very similar to a disorder of multiple personalities."

"I do not understand," Teyla said, tilting her head as she looked at Beckett.

"It's kind of like two people inhabiting one body, love," he explained. "As the replicators began taking over her body, she fought against them – both her and the programming were trying to coexist in the same space."

"Which might explain why she was unable to carry out her mission," Rodney suggested. "And why she ran…"

"So, during this time in the holding cell and when she escaped, she would have been going back and forth between the two?"

"Perhaps," Beckett commented.

Both John and Elizabeth looked at Teyla. John wondered where she was going with this.

"If that is true, then we might know where she went."

"How?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah, how?" John chimed in.

"If you were scared, confused and did not know what was happening – would you not wish to be somewhere familiar and safe?".

"I'm so not following," he admitted with a shrug.

Rodney grinned knowingly.

"Home," Teyla stated boldly.

Sateda

It was almost dark and the minimal light was emanating from several carefully placed candles. Ronon opened his eyes slowly, his vision adjusting to the dim setting. "Melena?" he called out, his voice cracking. His throat was dry and the air tasted stale. Taking in his surrounding a bit more, he realized he was lying in a bed. "Mel?" he called out again, looking around the room.

The dark haired beauty glanced over her shoulder, letting her hand fall from the curtain she was holding open. "Ronon," she said with a soft smile.

"Where…" he muttered. He tried to sit up, but he couldn't. He felt incredibly weak, his own body fighting against him. Fear was not far behind as panic settled in. Ronon attempted to move, his breathing becoming labored.

"Shh," she whispered as she walked over to the bedside. Melena knelt down beside him, her hand resting on his arm. "You've been through a lot," she explained when she noticed him struggling to move. "You'll be all right," she assured him.

Ronon tilted his head, looking at her. The sight of her face calmed him slightly as he reached out, resting the palm of his hand against her cheek.

Melena smiled, placing her hand over his.

Ronon pulled his hand away - hers felt eerily cold. None of this seemed right, he felt the strangest sense of familiarity from this place, and yet he couldn't place it.

"Where are we?" he asked finally.

"Don't you know?" she tilting her head slightly. Melena cocked an eyebrow.

"I… I don't know?" he questioned. Ronon looked around, taking in everything – the layout, the furniture, the… smell – it started to come back to him.

"We're home," she told him.

He snapped his head around to look at her. Home.

"Ronon?"

She was right. It was… is their home. Ronon shook his head, trying to clear the fogginess he felt as he scanned his surroundings again. It felt strange, different even. It was familiar, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was out of place.

"Ronon?" she questioned again.

"Sorry," he muttered.

She smiled as she leaned forward, placing a soft kiss against his cheek. "I love you, Ronon."

He offered her a small smile. "I love you too," he said quietly.

Doctor Weir's Office – Atlantis

"I am only giving you so long to get in, find Ronon, and get out," Elizabeth explained to John. "I want you to take Major Lorne and his team with you."

"What about Teyla?"

"Carson hasn't cleared her for duty yet. I think it's best that she stays here."

"I could really use her," he pushed.

"I understand, but it's not my call, John."

John shook his head, folding his arms. He understood what Teyla had been through while he and Ronon were off in Bethdsha, he partly blamed himself for not being there to stop it, but he still wanted her with him on this mission.

"Elizabeth!" McKay shouted as he stormed into her office, unannounced. He was followed closely by Zelenka.

John cocked a brow when Rodney came in.

In unison, both scientists declared, "We've got it!"

Rodney shot Zelenka a glare.

"We think we've got it," Zelenka continued. "We can't be certain without more time, but in all the simulations we ran – it looks promising."

"Great," she said. It was evident by the expression on her face that she was relieved to know that there was even the smallest chance of this whole mess turning in their favor. "What do you need to make this work?"

"We need to be in close proximity to her in order to transmit the virus," Rodney explained.

"Not a problem. You get to come along for the ride, McKay." John grinned.

"Oh, well, I… uh..."

"Sounds about right," Elizabeth agreed.

"Perfect," Rodney muttered sarcastically under his breath.

"This might be a stupid question," John said, looking at Elizabeth. "But wasn't the Gate blocked in Sateda?"

"Funny you should mention that." Rodney grinned. "It seems that when Melena was fiddling around here, she managed to enable the Satedan Gate again."

"Oh," John said.

"Just one more thing," Zelenka said. "We're going to need Teyla's help."

"That's what I was saying," John said.

"She hasn't been cleared for duty," Elizabeth informed him.

"I realize that, but she may be our only way of getting close to Melena," Rodney explained.

"You want to use Teyla as bait?" he looked at Rodney. It was never good when McKay wanted to use one as bait and the plan made John reluctant to let her come along.

"I wouldn't exactly say 'bait'," he pointed out. "But yeah, pretty much."

Sheppard narrowed his eyes, glaring at Rodney.

Sateda

When Ronon woke again, he was unaware of how much time had passed. He looked to his right; the love of his life was lying on the bed, curled up against his side.

"Mel?" he whispered softly into her ear.

Melena stirred from her slumber, her eyes fluttering open as she looked at him. A smile crossed her features. "Yes, Ronon?" she said quietly.

The peculiar feeling in the pit of his stomach churned. "Never mind," he said with a shake of his head.

"What is it?" she questioned as she snuggled closer to him.

"Doesn't this seem strange," he admitted. Ronon looked at Melena questioningly.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, meeting his eyes.

"This doesn't feel right."

Melena narrowed her eyes and pushed herself up into a sitting position. She looked down at Ronon. "What are you talking about?"

"This," he said gruffly. "This place… us."

"Us?" she hissed.

Ronon sat up and looked at Melena. "I didn't mean…" He shook his head, unsure of what he meant.

"We're together, what more do you want? I thought you wanted this."

"I do, but it doesn't feel… real-"

The sound of his screams broke the silence of the abandoned ruins of what used to be their home. Melena fought to keep control, her hand probing his mind. It was a fight she was beginning to lose – he had started questioning the world she'd created for him.

Ronon let out another chilling scream as Melena's hand was ripped from his forehead – he collapsed on the ground in a heap and she stumbled backwards.

"You had to fight it," she hissed angrily as she regained her composure. She moved back over to him, taking handful of his hair. She yanked his head up forcefully, looking down at him. "Pathetic," she spat.

Ronon closed his eyes, his teeth grating. A stray tear rolled down his cheek as he tried to calm the emotional pain surging through him. "Mel…" he choked out. He couldn't wrap his mind around what was happening – what happened to her?

"She's dead." Melena growled as she slammed his head against the ground, repeatedly before finally releasing her grip.

Gate Room - Atlantis

"Lorne." John walked up to the Major who was standing at the bottom of the staircase in the Gate Room.

"Colonel."

"You were briefed?" John asked.

"Just a few minutes ago," he confirmed.

"If there's a chance to take her out, don't hesitate," John explained to the other man. John wasn't about to let her back into Atlantis if she could still be a threat, regardless of what Ronon said, or if McKay's plan worked.

"I was under the impression McKay would be dealing with her, sir?"

"I don't want to take any chances if his plan doesn't work," John responded.

Lorne nodded slowly. "Understood."

"John?" Teyla walked up to him. He was agitated; his continuous pacing gave it away.

"Hey," he said with a slight smile.

Teyla tilted her head slightly and looked at John. "John…" she said, placing her hand gently on his shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"We will find him," she reassured.

John took a deep breath as he looked at Teyla. She always knew what to say, even if it was in the simplest of words – it was how she said it, with such confidence and determination. "Thanks."

Teyla smiled warmly.

"You all set?" Elizabeth asked, walking down the steps alongside Rodney.

"Ready as I'll ever be," John answered with a shrug.

"I'm not," Rodney muttered to himself.

"Be careful," Elizabeth advised them.

"Always." John smirked.