Elizabeth walked alongside Andrik through the Ministry of Security in anxious haste, Rodney and Teyla jogging along close behind them. They'd gotten word that John had been captured and was being taken to the Stargate. While she would have eventually requested at much herself, she also would have liked to meet up with the group that caught him first. She was worried about John and about the kind of treatment he was receiving at the hands of forces unknown.
As they turned off the long and beautiful walkway that looked out over lush green gardens, she noticed a frown on Andrik's face. The distinguished guardsman looked troubled, which seemed out of character from her limited experience, but he caught her scrutiny and flashed a reassuring smile.
The last few turns through the ancient building were narrow and twisty and Elizabeth was glad that Andrik was along to guide them. When they reached the doors that opened into the Stargate's stone courtyard, he paused just inside and, with a quick glance around the space, gestured Elizabeth towards Minister Torvik and another man who had spotted them and were striding hastily in their direction. She took a few steps further before she noticed Andrik hadn't accompanied her. With a puzzled smile, she said, "You won't join us, Guardsman?"
Andrik bowed courteously then shook his head, "I'm not on duty in the courtyard, ma'am. I'm not allowed in further." At her further consternation, he added with a smile, "Your Colonel would appreciate the security protocols that dictate such restrictions."
Elizabeth smiled back, "Then I thank you Guardsman Andrik for your help. Please send our people's apologies and deep appreciation to your wife." Andrik grinned and nodded, then settled his back against the wall just to the side of the door in easy sentry.
" Elizabeth! Have ya seen the Colonel yet? Is he well? Do ya need me?"
Elizabeth turned and smiled, throwing her arms wide to give Carson Beckett a warm, welcoming hug. That was the second request she'd demanded of Minister Torvik -- that Beckett be contacted and allowed to the planet. Apparently he'd just arrived.
"No, I haven't seen John yet, Carson, but I'm really glad you're here. I'm worried about him."
"Aye, we all are, lass. Minister Torvik here tells me to expect him soon."
Torvik nodded and extended his hand in an Earth-style handshake, "Indeed. I was quite relieved when Hospital Director Niklas telephoned. He and the hospital security guards who apprehended the Colonel are on their way here."
Elizabeth nodded, then automatically scanned the court for Lorne, making a mental count of all her people, and planning to return to Atlantis as fast as they could dial out. She spotted him standing and laughing quite amiably with the guardsman they'd first spoken to. Apparently the two had hit it off during his time with them. He gave a jaunty wave and patted his P-90 mischievously. Teyla grinned too, and sauntered over to recover her sidearm and her own P-90 from him.
Torvik coughed politely to regain Elizabeth's attention. "You'll be eager to leave when the Colonel arrives, so allow me to say now that I do hope you won't hold this unfortunate incident against our colony and that you would consider opening trade relationships with our Ministry of Offworld Relations."
"We will send a delegation back soon, Minister," Elizabeth promised, forcing herself to nod politely as Torvik droned on about a trade relationship. She was getting more worried, the longer she waited. She kept shooting glances at the door into the courtyard and saw Teyla doing the same from her spot next to Lorne by the DHD. Catching their eye, she nodded them over. She wanted them to take custody the second he did arrive.
"Ah, here they are!" Torvik at last announced grandly. Elizabeth held her breath as the Courtyard's doors swung open wide to admit the man she recognized from their brief introduction earlier as Director Niklas. A black and tan garbed Guardsman followed him along with a cluster of burly hospital security-types and Elizabeth jostled shoulders with Teyla and Rodney for a first glimpse of John.
When she finally spotted him, well secured by 3 pairs of firm hands, she gasped and put her hand to her mouth. She heard Carson beside her voice a similar expression of dismay.
John looked…terrible.
His soggy black shirt was filthy and creased, his pants equally unkept and…was he walking in bare socks? He limped along with his escort and seemed to be favoring his left side, holding his elbow as close to his ribs as the men holding him would allow. But even the dark bruise on his neck and the streaks of dried blood on his arm were nowhere as disconcerting as John's face. He blinked nervously and his wild, wary eyes darted around the courtyard in restless agitation.
He looked manic, strung-out; like a drug addict who had once accosted Elizabeth back on Earth, demanding a handout and screaming at her when she'd refused. "Oh, my God…" she breathed, unprepared for the extent of John's deterioration into madness.
"John, are…are you alright?" Teyla called uncertainly, taking a step towards him.
At her voice, John's head snapped in their direction and he immediately began to buck and lean towards them. " Elizabeth. Don't do it!" He fought harder, even as the men around him rushed to tighten their grips, "Whatever they want, don't give it to them. Whatever they want you to do, don't do it!" His voice was a ragged shout, hoarse with terror and abuse.
While Elizabeth and the rest of the Atlantians stood stunned, Torvik walked to Niklas and shook his hand. "I assure you, Colonel Sheppard, we wish nothing from your people but a friendly relationship. Director Niklas, I thank you for your help in this matter."
Niklas's voice was equally polite, "You are welcome, Minister. I am more than happy to help make the most of this unfortunate situation."
"No!" Screamed John, " Elizabeth, don't listen to him. Niklas is a terrorist. I know what I saw. His traders were gathering intel, they passed it on at the Village, they picked up weapons, Niklas met them at the….Arrrrgh."
Elizabeth snapped out of her dismay and stepped forward angrily as one of John's escorts, a man with a broken nose, threw an elbow at the side John was favoring, cutting his ranting off with a howl of pain. "Minister! Tell your men to release Colonel Sheppard immediately into our custody!" She was furious at John's condition, and threw an angry look Andrik's way in grim understanding at his and his wife's concern for John's safety. All she saw was Andrik's back as he slipped quietly out of the courtyard. She was suddenly furious with him, too. He could have backed her up here, protocol or not.
Torvik's spluttered in alarm at the guard's harsh treatment. "Of course! Niklas, release the Colonel to his own people at once."
"I'm sorry, Minister, I can't do that."
There was sudden hush in the courtyard as Torvik turned to stare at Niklas.
" Elizabeth…It's a trap. Get out." John pleaded raggedly into the silence.
"What is the meaning of this, Director?" Torvik demanded.
A smile slid slowly across the Niklas's face. "Lower your weapons!" He bellowed. "You are now at the mercy of the resistance."
There was a sudden scuffle and Elizabeth looked around to see Niklas and all of the guards he'd come with, plus a handful of Portal Guardsmen from among the group on duty, aiming projectile weapons at the remaining guards and her own people. A look of annoyed fury crossed Lorne's face as the Terrorist nearest him jerked his gun to indicate that Lorne should drop his. Clenching his P-90 all the more tightly, Lorne flicked a look at his new friend who seemed equally stunned and angry and Elizabeth saw a second of resolve flash across the Major's face. She started to shout a warning.
"Stand down, Major!" Sheppard beat her to it, lunging against the hands that held him and Lorne checked the impulse, automatically responding to his superior's command. The Lygellan guardsman, however, brought his own weapon to bear and fired off a round at the insurgent nearest him who went down with a jerk, then pivoted to fire on another.
The terrorists responded before he got off a second shot, and the brave guard jerked with the impact of several bullets, crumpling to the ground. A terrorist wearing the uniform of the Portal Guard just behind Lorne put his handgun against the back of Lorne's head when the grief-stricken Major started towards his colleague. Lorne froze in surprise at the close proximity of the threat, then slowly laid down his weapons.
Sheppard's shout had saved his life, thought Elizabeth. Lorne hadn't seen the disguised man so close behind him. She glanced once over at Beckett who was kneeling over the fallen guardsman. She had never learned the guardsman's name, she realized. Beckett just shook his head sadly at her look.
"What do you want?" demanded Elizabeth firmly, fixing her fury on Niklas. Damn John for being right. Damn these people for letting this happen.
Niklas chuckled, a harsh humorless sound. "We want you people to stop interfering with our colonies. We want you off of Gellan."
"These people were on Gellan at the invitation of Minister Lucus. They're only there because of your damned resistance, in the first place. Talk sense, Niklas, or shut up." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at the stern authority in Torvik's voice and she suddenly understood why this man was Security Minister: he was as tough as he was diplomatic.
Niklas was unimpressed though, and he waved the group with Sheppard closer to the Stargate as the rest of his men began to force the loyal Guards and the Atlantians to lie on the ground, kicking weapons aside and forming a defensive perimeter around them all. Elizabeth kept her eyes on John, distracted by his stumbling steps and vaguely manic expression.
When only Torvik and Elizabeth herself remained standing, Niklas shifted his own weapon, and began to dial an address at the DHD. "Minister Lucus has already paid the price for his arrogance. He's a prisoner of war until such time as the governments of Gellan, Gemman, and Lygell agree to negotiations. Colonel Sheppard will serve as example for outsiders who interfere in our confederation."
A spike of fear suddenly sank into Elizabeth's gut, and she called out with hasty fear, "Sheppard's no good to you as a hostage! You must know that our government does not negotiate with terrorists, nor bargain with them. But if you let him go, if you leave this place and just go, I would be willing to work with all of you to start peace talks between your governments as a neutral party."
Niklas just laughed, "Neutral? You've already staked your alliance with Gellan."
Elizabeth shook her head firmly. "We offer training and experience only, and that we offer freely to any responsible government who asks it of us. We ask only friendship in return, and allies against the Wraith."
"So if we were to request this "training" of you as well, you would agree with welcoming arms?" Niklas tone was mocking and he waved his arms in a ridiculously broad embrace.
"If you ceased your terrorist agenda and entered peace talks with your homeworlds, then we would consider offering you our friendship." Elizabeth took a single, assertive step forward, then said, "You don't want to be our enemy."
Niklas ignored her and finished dialing, smiling grimly as the Stargate made its connection and splashed into a placid gurgle. Elizabeth caught Lorne squirming on the ground nearby, still smoldering with grief and fury. Rodney kept looking back and forth between her and the turncoat director.
"I will be sure to pass along your generous offer, Dr. Weir," Niklas said with syrupy insincerity. "In the meantime, we still have a message to deliver," he waved the guards holding Sheppard closer to the Stargate and moved around the DHD himself.
Elizabeth felt despair wash through her, and she balled her fists, choking back a scream of frustration. She looked at Teyla and saw the same terror and rage on the young woman's face. Then she looked at John who hung limply between his two escorts and dully watched his fate being determined in front of him. For a moment her eyes locked with his across the courtyard. She'd failed. She'd failed him.
John just quirked half a grin and jerked his head in a "well, you had to try" kind of shrug.
Elizabeth squared her shoulders and said the hardest thing she ever had to say, "We won't bargain for Sheppard. We don't negotiate with terrorists." Her voice trembled with the effort.
But Niklas just laughed airily. "I believe you Dr. Weir. Colonel Sheppard was quite helpful in explaining that particular…custom…of your people. Therefore, our message will be of quite a different nature."
With that, Niklas spun towards Sheppard who stood framed in front of the 'gate and raised his weapon with frightening speed to point squarely at John's chest. Elizabeth gasped with terrified understanding.
"Niklas!" she yelled, then squeezed her eyes shut against the blast of sound that exploded from Niklas's weapon.
Or…did the sound come from behind her?
More shots were fired, and there was yelling and chaos all around. Understanding nothing at the moment but her concern for John, she jerked her eyes back to the Stargate and finally spotted him through a melee of running and shouting soldiers. He lay on the ground, clutching at his side but scooting himself out of the way of terrorists leaping and stumbling into the flickering event horon.
"Dr. Weir, get down!"
Lorne was suddenly beside her, yanking on her arm to throw her to the ground next to McKay who was mumbling something about circling wagons and the cavalry. Lorne dropped to his knee beside her and squeezed off several more rounds and then…
It was over as soon as it had started.
Elizabeth raised her head carefully to look around. A line of stern-faced, tan and black clad Portal Guards were sweeping the courtyard with long sniper rifles. Lorne, Teyla and the other original loyal guards were walking among the prone figures on the ground, kicking away weapons from the hands of terrorists, dead and wounded alike.
Relieved but still puzzled, she scrambled to her feet and looked down the line of the "Cavalry" as Rodney had called them. A handsome, older, guardsman stepped out of the group and waved a command for the line to spread out through the courtyard, then lowered his own weapon to an at-ease position. Andrik then walked with long, crisp strides towards Torvik.
Elizabeth smiled, then shuddered with relief, even as she was turning to jog hastily over to the Stargate. Beckett had beaten her to John of course, and she dropped to one knee at his side. John sat against the solid circle of the 'gate itself with one leg and his hand flopped into the event horizon. The other hand he still had pressed into his side and Elizabeth exclaimed at the sight of thick blood oozing through his fingers. "John! You've been shot!"
"That's usually what happens when someone points a gun at you and shouts hasta la vista, baby." John panted the sarcastic quip, then grimaced, clutching his side more tightly. Elizabeth could feel the energy of the event horizon crackling at her shoulder, and tried to scoot John's leg out of the puddle while Carson pried the hand away and pressed a thick compress into the bullet wound. John resisted her tug, and shoved the leg in another inch or two.
"He won't let me move him away from the Stargate, either" Carson complained, his medical kit spread out beside him.
"Then get me Lorne," John demanded, his voice shallow but fierce.
"I'm here, sir!" Lorne exclaimed, surprised to be called upon. He'd just come over to check on his CO's condition. The Major dropped to his knee at Sheppard's feet to be able to see his face.
"Report, Major."
"Five of the terrorists escaped through the Stargate, the rest were killed or injured…"
"Niklas?"
"Dead, sir. Andrik, here, got him." There was no regret in the Major's voice as he reported and Elizabeth looked up to see Andrik standing nearby. She flashed him a grateful grin which he returned with a reserved nod.
John sighed and sank a little further against the ring. "Can this Andrik muster a strike force in 30 minutes?" he asked.
"No, Colonel. We're not geared for rapid offworld deployment." Andrik answered the question himself.
"How long?" John was fading, even as Elizabeth saw him fighting to finish his train of thought. He closed his eyes and rolled his head back against the Stargate too."
Andrik considered carefully. "Two hours."
John cursed, then sighed. "Lorne?"
"Still here, sir."
"You got the address?"
"For where your foot and half your leg is trying to go? Yes, sir." Elizabeth was surprised at the confidence with which Lorne had answered. Even if they still had the seven symbols, which they did, there were still many possible combinations to try. Then she suddenly remembered Lorne shifting on the ground while Niklas dialed.
"You were watching him dial!" She exclaimed, the pride and respect clear in her voice.
"Yes, ma'am," Lorne beamed.
"Day One at the John Sheppard school of chasing bad guys," John managed to wisecrack, but then he grew serious again. "Andrik, muster your strike force. Lorne…dial fast."
"Yes, sir," Lorne's voice was soft and he took a long, calculating look at his C/O before he heaved himself to his feet again. "Andrik, do you understand what needs to be done?"
Andrik nodded crisply, "Yes. I'll alert my superiors immediately. I'm certain they will agree to your suggestions. Major Lorne, would you do us the honor of lending assistance with our preparations?"
"Be happy to, Guardsman. Give me a second, then I'll explain what needs to be done with the DHD." Andrik nodded, then strode away.
"Now then, Colonel. Are you happy? Can we get your leg out of this bloody 'gate and get you to Atlantis where you belong?" Carson was all business and Elizabeth had been watching his frown deepen as he repeatedly checked John's pulse.
"Can't, doc." It was Lorne who answered. "We have to keep the 'gate open. Otherwise, the guys that went through will just…get away."
"Then let them get away, son! You cut off the serpent's head. You don't need to go killin' yourselves to chase the tail."
"You don't understand. If we close the 'gate, the terrorists will move their whole operation to another planet before we could send so much as a MALP through. This is our only chance to not only find their current, or at least a current base of operations, but to keep them there. We'll keep their 'gate busy with an inbound wormhole until we're ready to go. Assuming we can dial fast enough every 38 minutes…"
Carson started to argue, then saw the steely determination on both Lorne's and his patient's face. "Well, the Colonel doesn't have to be the one with his bloody foot in the door the whole time, now does he?"
"Nope." And Lorne stuck his own arm through, looking around for a Jr. officer to hand the duty off on.
"You satisfied Colonel? John?"
But Sheppard was lost deep in his own world of pain and confusion. He began to thrash his head and mutter as Carson and Elizabeth frantically pulled him free of the 'gate. "He needs a hospital, now!" Carson snapped, even as he was ransacking his med kit and yanking out more supplies.
"No! No more drugs. Don't do it. Elizabeth won't trade," John muttered on, and Elizabeth's heart broke at the plaintive moaning. She stroked his forehead, which was about the only spot on his body that wasn't battered or bloody, and lightly touched the mottled skin on his arms – evidence of the virus, she now knew.
She smiled with weary amusement at the dirty cloth around his arm, then sighed as she wondered how many times she would be called upon to sacrifice John to a political ideal. How many times she would have to refuse to deal with the devil for his life, when all she wanted to do, in her heart, was give them whatever they wanted and bring him home safely. She wanted all her people home safely.
John groaned again, a defiant sort of whimper, and Elizabeth knew that John would not share her sentiment. Even sick and deluded, he'd understood his place.
"There are medical personnel here," Teyla interrupted Elizabeth's thoughts as the she walked briskly up to them. "They wish to know if the Colonel will be treated here or at home?"
Elizabeth shared a long look with Carson. "Two hours," she said. The 'gate would be occupied for that long.
Carson sighed. "Right. Teyla, lass, tell these people that they have another patient." Teyla scurried off and John was soon surrounded by local paramedics, wearing scrubs in the light orange that seemed to be the designation for medical personnel on this world.
There was a moment's excitement when John roused during the painful process of loading him onto a gurney and panicked at the huddle of orange figures surrounding him. A wrestling match and a few choice Gaelic curse phrases later, and John was hustled out of the courtyard and back towards the hospital wing, blissfully unconscious, Beckett trotting along by his head holding an IV.
Elizabeth watched them go, shaking her head. She was quite certain that if Beckett hadn't been there to calm him out of his panicky fear, John would have jumped off the gurney and run out of the courtyard. She must make sure that one of them was with him when he regained consciousness after surgery. She remained staring at the doors until the group had disappeared completely, and found herself shooting looks that way even as she was quickly immersed in several conversations with Lorne, Torvik and the Commander of the Guard as the Lygellans hastily prepared for their strike through the Stargate.
It was another hour before there was a quiet moment again, and Elizabeth found herself standing away from the gathering group of soldiers next to Andrik. She watched the activity idly, but her thoughts were with John, somewhere in an alien hospital depending on resources, state unknown, to save his life. At least he had Beckett, she thought hopefully. Beckett could save his live with a teaspoon and some paper towels...and his medkit.
"Andrik," she said suddenly, "Will you tell me something?"
"If it is within my power to tell, I will be pleased to."
"Why did you leave the courtyard when you did? How did you know to bring reinforcements so quickly?"
Andrik nodded thoughtfully. "When the Colonel was brought in by Director Niklas, he told you that Niklas was a terrorist. That a group of our traders had been collaborating offworld. Mahala had said he told her exactly the same thing."
Elizabeth shrugged with embarrassment, "I was so upset by John's condition, I just thought he was raving nonsense."
Andrik just turned to Elizabeth, his face was sad and stern. "I believed him," he said.