Sheppard was trying to remain upright as they walked through the undergrowth. His hands were still tied tightly behind his back so his balance felt slightly off.

He'd decided to just go along with whatever his team were doing for now, keeping his head down and ignoring any stray comments that came his way.

Sheppard wasn't used to being manhandled by his own team. Okay, so he was used to regularly having the crap beaten out of him by Ronon and Teyla in sparring, but this situation was entirely different. Usually, they weren't trying to hurt him for the fun of it.

His boot caught under a log and he found himself falling forwards. Unable to stop his decent, he expected Ronon to grip him by the back of his shirt and pull him upright. That was usually how these things went. But, instead, Sheppard tumbled down to the ground and fell face first into mud. It wasn't the most dignified of falls.

"Get up!"

Sheppard tried to move but without his hands tied he was stuck and no amount of wriggling was going to get him back onto his feet.

"I said get up,"

The kick to his side startled him and Sheppard instinctively curled inwards and tensed his muscles. What surprised him even more was that when he looked up, it was McKay who had done the kicking.

"This is getting a little out of hand don't ya think," Sheppard acknowledged as Ronon pulled him back up to his feet with little concern for any of his injuries.

"Just keep walking," Ronon gave Sheppard a prod.

Sheppard did as he was told.

He had been in situations where he had had to rely on his wits to get away, been captured and watched friends tortured That he could handle. But this? He didn't know what the best way to get out of this was. He didn't want to hurt any of them, even if they had no problem hurting him. He didn't mind that. As long as it wasn't the other way round. No, he'd have to wait for the right opportunity and take his chances, run back to the gate and call for back up.

Sheppard continued to walk, his feet still refusing to cooperate and find purchase on the slippy leaves and when he nearly went down a second time it was Teyla that was grabbing him by the elbow and helping him back up.

"Thanks."

"You're slowing us down," she said, her voice for the first time softening slightly.

She wiped a hand across her forehead and panted as she walked, her lithe body moving stiffly.

"You're sick Teyla."

She shot him an edgy look and blew her fringe out of her eyes, "I am fine."

"You have a fever."

Teyla gripped Sheppard's arm and guided him around a fallen log, "Colonel. John. I feel perfectly well. I fear it is you who is unwell."

Teyla for all of her insistence, was not in good health. Her uniform was soaked through with sweat and clinging to her body as she moved.

Sheppard licked his cut lip, "What did you see in that lab?"

Teyla fanned her t-shirt as she walked; rivulets of sweat ran down her neck and the side of her face, "We saw nothing."

"I know you saw something," Sheppard stumbled again and found his footing, "Why are we going back to that lab?"

"We should have left you tied up back there."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because you'd get away," she forced a smile.

"Damn right I would."

"Look……." Teyla wiped her face and stopped suddenly, her face turning pale as she stooped over and swallowed.

"What's wrong?" Sheppard cursed his bindings and wished he could offer her more support.

"Nothing," Teyla straightened up, "I am simply ………….tired."

"Ronon, McKay!" Sheppard called out as he watched Teyla pant dizzily.

"What is it?" Ronon asked as he walked, but didn't turn around.

"Teyla's not looking too good."

Teyla reached out to Sheppard's arm and gave it a hard squeeze, "Colonel."

"We need to get you help or…….at least take something from the med kit."

"I will be fine once we have done what needs to be done."

She walked on and left Sheppard standing alone.

"Come on," McKay called out and lifted his head from the scanner to see Sheppard unmoving.

"I've had enough of this guys," Sheppard stated and knelt down on the ground.

"Get up!" McKay stalked over to him and gave his leg a tentative kick.

They had been walking for hours and Sheppard's head felt like it was about to explode.

"We need to keep moving."

"No, you need to keep moving. I need to sit here."

"What's wrong?" McKay sounded mildly annoyed as he impatiently tapped his foot.

"Oh I don't know. Somebody knocked me out earlier and I have this little headache."

"A headache never stopped you before."

Sheppard just raised his eyebrows in response.

"I know you Sheppard. You're stalling."

"I don't feel well," Sheppard stated firmly. And McKay was right. He was stalling.

"You've been a lot worse off and managed to get back through the gate."

McKay sighed and dropped down beside him, "You need to get up."

Sheppard shook his head slowly, "Give me some water and I'll get up."

McKay glanced back to Ronon and Teyla. Ronon had his hand resting on Teyla's shoulder, steadying her and talking to her in a low voice.

For now, their attention was diverted.

McKay wrestled with his backpack and retrieved the water, "You'll drink this and then you'll get up?"

Sheppard nodded, "I promise."

McKay regarded him with narrowed eyes and then turned back to the others.

"They're going to take it away from me, I know it."

"Take what?" Sheppard asked as he twisted around and indicated to his bindings, "Can't drink if I'm tied up."

McKay was seemingly distracted, "It's powerful," he said as he began to untie Sheppard.

Sheppard didn't want to point out that he could have just fed him the water.

"Powerful?"

"Very…but they're stronger than me. I think they'll try and steal it from me and I'm the only one who knows what to do with it."

"'It' sounds great." Sheppard rubbed his wrists.

"It is," McKay beamed.

Sheppard reached for the canister, took a long swig and focused on Mckay's side arm. It was within reach and all he had to do was-

A strong hand gripped his wrist as he moved and wrenched it behind his back.

"I don't think so!" Ronon bellowed into his ear.

Sheppard dropped the canister and coiled over as something in his side flared up.

"McKay, what were you doing?"

McKay scrambled up onto his feet and placed his hands out, "I was just…..he said he wouldn't go on unless he had some water."

Sheppard struggled as he listened to their conversation.

"And you had to untie him?" Teyla asked.

"I………."

"You know what he is capable of and you willingly untie him?"

"I was just trying to help……it wouldn't have helped any of us if he had just sat here,"

"I would have made him move."

Sheppard had no doubt Ronon would have.

"Sheppard is an idiot but he's not stupid."

"No McKay, you're the idiot…now pick up the rope and get him tied back up."

Sheppard was seeing stars in his vision and his stomach was beginning to roll ominously. He felt as though he was going to be sick and fought to suppress his gag reflex.

"Ronon," Sheppard gritted through his teeth as the pain became unbearable, "Let me-"

"Let you go?"

It was time to act. They all needed help.

Without another thought, Sheppard twisted out of Ronon's grip and moved his leg around to sweep Ronon off balance.

Ronon let out a curse and folded down onto the ground, clutching his knee as Sheppard untangled himself from his clutch.

Sheppard moved forwards, grabbed McKay's 9mil and took a step backwards. Ronon was quick, jabbing at him and catching him in the jaw with his fist. Sheppard's vision started to grey as he took a step back towards the hilly incline behind him. He nearly toppled backwards. It was a long drop. It was going to hurt.

He cocked the weapon, not intending to use it, and watched as Ronon pulled his own weapon out of his holster.

"Stop right there Sheppard!" Ronon's voice was filled with fury.

Sheppard understood how the Satedan's enemies felt now right before they died at his hands.

"Ronon, you're not going to shoot me."

Ronon fired a shot over his shoulder and took a chunk out of tree.

Sheppard flinched, "Okay, so you are going to shoot me."

"Put the gun down!" McKay ordered in a voice that was near hysterical.

Sheppard looked at his 9.mil and then at Ronon's weapon. They were no match. If Ronon got one shot off at him at this range then he wouldn't stand a chance.

"You need help!"

Sheppard did the only thing he could and threw himself down the hill.

He seemed to fall forever, clunking over bits of tree and rocks, banging his head, scraping his arm, catching his t-shirt in the brush; time slowed and he could feel every cut and bruise his tortured body had received.

He could hear the hum of Ronon's weapon echoing in his head and the sound of his team shouting at him and willing him to come back. He knew it would only be a matter of time before Ronon caught up to him. He had to get back to the gate and call for help.

When he reached the bottom of the incline he came to a halt in a sprawling, tangled heap. Sheppard dragged himself up and tried to move forwards, but he was a disorientated mess. He reached out for a tree trunk to stop the world from spinning and finally lost the battle with his stomach. He heaved up his breakfast and retched until there was nothing left but bile. He wiped his mouth and waited for the world to still around him. He heard Ronon call out his name and felt the bark next to his head split on impact as he fired off another shot at him.

Sheppard ducked low, took a steadying breath and then started off in the direction of the gate hoping that he would make it before Ronon did.

TBC