"Look at him," Rodney teased. "He's got it bad."
Out of the corner of John's eye, he saw Ronon snicker. John suppressed the temptation to tell McKay to shut up and instead turned to his other friend. "You don't think he's right, do you?" he asked, knowing the likelihood of them agreeing was minimal at best.
"No, I don't," Ronon answered simply, taking a large swig of water.
Instantly John felt reassured. Unfortunately, his relief was short-lived when Ronon spoke again. "I knew you were interested for her after we found Michael," he responded.
Eighteen months after Gatan was born, Atlantis received intel on the location of Michael's most recent compound from the Genii. John, Teyla, Ronon, Rodney, Woolsey and Ladon sat around the large table in the conference room while a couple of Ladon's guards stood next to their leader.
"…my people found evidence of this…creature's heinous crimes at the gate address I gave you," said Ladon.
Woolsey studied him for a few seconds. "And we are supposed to take you on your word alone?"
Ladon grinned. "It's always nice to see that your people's paranoia remains unchanged." He nodded to one of his guards who threw down a piece of an arm from one of Michael's creatures. "It killed six of my men before it was subdued. This must be stopped."
John watched Teyla's jaw clinch. He knew it was taking much of her self-control to remain in that room, knowing Michael was finally within reach. Though her demeanor often was one of a diplomat, inside was the heart of a warrior. Michael's crimes against her people would not go unpunished.
Woolsey looked at the evidence and nodded. "Convincing enough." He turned to John. "Colonel, have your team ready to go. Tell Lorne to assemble his team as well." He shifted his gaze to Ladon. "Should we be expecting any of your people to join them?"
The genii shook his head emphatically. "We have already lost too many of my men." Ladon stood up and looked at Sheppard. "Best of luck," he said sincerely.
Fifteen minutes later, John had nearly finished getting himself ready. He pulled the strap of his P-90 over his shoulder and began to walk out of the armory. Before he could reach the door, Teyla walked in. "Hey," he called as she passed him, seemingly oblivious to the fact he was there.
She turned to him with a forced smile on her face. "Colonel," she greeted formally.
"Did you get everything taking care of with Gatan?" he asked even though he knew the toddler was in Dr. Keller's care.
A curt nod was his answer as she loaded a magazine in her P-90.
"You doing ok?" he asked.
She turned to him with fire in her eyes. "No I am not. I will not be until Michael is dead."
John knew her anger was still raw, despite the time that had passed, but he never realized how much hatred she felt towards Michael. "Let's not do anything too crazy," he said. "You don't need to come home hurt with Gatan waiting for you."
For a moment, her eyes softened, thinking of her son. Her mask of determination soon replaced her gentleness. "I assure you, Colonel, there is no possibility of that happening."
John watched her load several spare clips in her flak jacket. Satisfied with her ammo, she walked to the door where John was. "It is time for my people to be avenged."
When he and Teyla walked into the gate room, both teams were waiting for them. John nodded to Woolsey, who was standing at the top of the stairs. He heard Chuck dial in the address and the wormhole opened. Together the teams stepped into the gate.
According to the Genii intel, the compound was a half mile to the east. Bogs were much of the terrain they had to trudge through, a detail Ladon had managed to leave out. The only ones who seemed unaffected were Teyla and Ronon.
Finally, forty minutes later, they found the large building. "All right, Lorne, you take your people and secure the exterior. I don't want there to be any chance that Michael will get away. My team, follow me."
Cautiously the four approached the front of the compound. John stopped in front of the door, considering his options.
"Maybe if we knock, his butler was answer," snipped Rodney.
Nearly a minute passed. "We are wasting time," said Teyla. "Are you detecting any life signs on the other side of this door?" she asked Rodney, who was wielding the life signs detector.
"Directly on the other side? No, but--" he stopped speaking as she opened the door.
"Teyla," John warned.
She frowned, taking a step back. "I apologize, Colonel."
He knew finding Michael was paramount to her, but his job was to protect her, even from herself. "Don't get yourself killed. We'll get Michael," he promised as he flicked on the flashlight on his gun.
As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he took in his surroundings. The walls were concrete; the ceiling was rather high, about fifteen feet. There were two hallways, one to the right and one directly in front of him.
"What are we up against?" he asked Rodney.
"So far I am picking up three life signs, but there's no way to tell if he has part of this building shielded like his other base," warned Rodney. "The first one is about forty meters to the east of us."
"All right, let's go. If we're lucky that will be Michael and we can get the hell out of here," John said. He led his team down the darkened hallways, the flashlights of their guns acting as the only light source.
Several minutes later, Rodney whispered, "It's right around the corner. So far it hasn't moved since we have arrived."
John exchanged a glance with Teyla and Ronon. Silently, they counted to three and rounded the corner. To their surprise, they saw a medal door locked from the outside.
"Careful, it could be a trap," Ronon observed.
"Or it could be holding one of the creatures that is unable to be controlled. Michael could have put it there for a reason. I say that we keep that thing locked up and move on to the next life sign," Rodney suggested.
John agreed with their concern, but knew they held the advantage. Whatever was in there was outnumbered. "I'll take my chances." He positioned himself so if the creature did come storming out, Ronon would be able to shoot it without him getting in the way. Quietly, he slid the bar from the lock. "Ready?"
His team nodded with Rodney hiding behind Ronon. Adrenaline pumping, John pushed the door wide open. What waited for them on the other side was something completely unexpected: Carson Beckett.
However, it was not the bigger than life Scot they all knew; he was a shell of who he was. His hair was long and unkempt, reaching his mid-shoulders; his beard, matted and gnarly, reached his chest. He had easily lost thirty pounds, making him look fragile.
"Carson?" John couldn't help but to notice to waver in Rodney's voice. He knew out of everyone on the base, Rodney took Carson's death to hardest.
Despite his haggard appearance, Carson's smile was still the same. "I told him you guys would save me."
Ronon looked at John. "How do we know this is really Carson?" Ronon asked, ruining the moment.
"Well, I think if he was a replicator he would have broken out by now. Or at the least, he would be trying to kill us," Rodney answered.
"But we can't be sure," shot back Ronon.
Knowing that they would continue to argue, an idea struck John. "Ronon, give me a knife." A horrified look crossed all their faces. "I'm not going to hurt him," he said, feeling offended.
After Ronon pulled a blade out of his dreads, John turned to Carson. "Give me your hand." Suddenly, the Scot understood what John was doing and stuck out his hand.
Carefully, John drew the blade across Carson's palm. Seconds later, blood came from the cut. "He's human enough for me."
The tension in the room dropped considerably. "Why aren't you…you know…" Rodney stammered.
Carson stood up next to his friend. "It's a long story, lad. Needless to say, I'm not as dead as you thought me to be," answered Carson. "Michael has made sure of that."
Hearing his name made Teyla's eyes narrow. "Do you know where he is?"
"Aye," he nodded. "I could take you there."
"No," John said firmly.
Though all of them were surprised, it was Teyla who spoke. "How can you say no? Do you not know what this means to me? To all the people who have been murdered by him?" she asked, feeling betrayed.
John did not want to argue with her in front of the others, but she left him little choice. "I do understand, but look at Carson. He is in no shape to fight Michael. We can't be distracted by keeping him protected. He needs to get back to Atlantis." John turned to the doctor. "Can you tell us which way to go?"
Carson nodded. "Aye." Quickly, he instructed them on which route to take. As Rodney suspected, Michael was in a shielded part of the building.
When Carson was finished, John nodded. "Ok, Ronon, you and Rodney get Carson back to the gate. Teyla and I are going to find Michael."
Ronon frowned. "I should go with you."
John knew that it was nearly as important for Ronon to see Michael dead as it was for Teyla; the Sedatan never trusted him. Still, he knew if Rodney were to get into trouble, he and Carson would stand no chance against Michael's creatures.
Strangely, Rodney agreed with Ronon. "He's right, Sheppard. You guys are going to need all the help you can get." He glanced at the life signs detector. "There hasn't been any movement with the other life signs. Carson and I should be able to make it to the entrance. One of Lorne's men can escort us to the gate."
John considered his team members' words. Finally, he tapped his earpiece. "Lorne, Rodney is coming out the front entrance with a hostage. Teyla, Ronon and I will stay here."
"A hostage?" the major questioned.
"You heard right," John responded.
"Um look, I hate to break up the chit chat, but sooner or later these things are going to start moving again and I'd rather be out of the building when they start doing it," spoke up Rodney.
"All right, let's go."
They walked together down the corridor until the first intersection. "Radio for help if you need to," instructed John. "Lorne will get to you as soon as possible."
Rodney nodded, his eyes not leaving the display. "We should be alright."
"Good luck," wished Carson. He looked at Teyla. "Be careful, Love."
John noticed she made mo promises as she turned the corner, leaving Ronon and he behind. He exchanged a glance with Ronon, who went after here. "Thanks…and Carson, it's good to see you again."
Despite the dire situation, Carson smiled. "Some here, Colonel."
John turned the corner, pulling out his own life-signs detector. He had to jog to catch up with Teyla and Ronon, who was standing in front of her. He stood to face her. "We're a team, remember?"
To his surprise, she got angry. "You shouldn't be here. It was not your people who were slain by him. It is not your son who will grow up not knowing his father or his people. It is not--"
"Teyla, stop," he said. "We are here because we want to be. Your people were important to us too."
She closed her eyes for a couple of seconds. When she opened then, she seemed calmer. "I apologize, John. I do not want him to get away."
"He won't," Ronon and John said at the same time.
Following the directions Carson gave them, they arrived to a dead end. Ronon pushed the wall to its side, revealing a path. As soon as they stepped through, the life signs detector went blank. "We're going blind. Stay alert."
They walked silently for another minute before reaching the end of the hall. To the left, there was a doorway without a door: Michael's hub, as Carson called it. Due to the poor lighting, John couldn't tell if he was alone or guarded.
Wordlessly, they listened inside. Footsteps sounded from the far end of the room, but that was the only sound they could hear. He glanced at the remainder of his team and nodded.
That was all Teyla needed. In a flash, she walked into the room, her P-90 hunting for the heinous Michael. John and Ronon swiftly followed.
"There," Ronon whispered, aiming to the left. Michael was leaned over, his back to them, working on a computer.
Without waiting for them, Teyla walked behind Michael. "Turn around," she snarled.
"Teyla," Michael greeted, his voice full of shock, as he followed her instruction. "What are you doing here?"
"I am making sure your crimes against my people do not go unpunished," she spat.
He frowned. "Oh yes, your people. It was a tragedy. Too bad it was your fault."
Her eyes narrowed, the grip on her gun tightened. John started to walk forward, but Ronon held him back. "Let her deal with him," he said softly.
"What do you mean it was my fault?"
He looked pleased at her anger. "They all died protecting you. All I wanted was the new gate address to Atlantis and they refused to comply. Each and every one of them. Their dedication to you was more important than their own lives. Amazing, really."
Teyla was shaken by what he said, John could tell. He could see her remorse from across the room. Come on, Teyla, John thought, don't let him get to you.
John watched her take a deep breath, then she said, "Then that makes it more important for them to be avenged." Before Michael could respond, Teyla fired her weapon at point blank range. There was no doubt in his mind that Michael was dead.
Nevertheless, Ronon ran up to the fallen wraith-man. "It's about time," he said.
John turned his attention to Teyla who had tears in her eyes. "It is over," she whispered.
He opened his arms as she walked into his embrace. "Yeah, it is."
TBC...