Begin Chapter 6.
As the wormhole snapped shut behind him Ronan took in the surrounding trees, he was always sent into a state of hyper-alertness as he exited the gate, no matter where he was arriving. Not because of the gate travel per-say but merely the target they presented stepping out of the gate, he hated being vulnerable to attack.
Out of the corner of his eye he caught a slight movement in the trees, he knew there was definitely something there as Teyla stiffened at the same time he did. Reacting to his team mates Sheppard was immediately on alert for something, anything. He had learned very quickly not to ignore these two, when they said something was there then something was there.
Whatever was out there it was stealthy, and it didn't want to be found.
"What's going on guys?" Sheppard muttered out of the corner of his mouth while simultaneously elbowing Rodney in the ribs in an attempt to get the scientist to be quiet for a few moments.
"There's something in the trees" Ronan didn't take his eyes off the surrounding greenery, trying to spot any other movement.
"Two something's" Teyla corrected him; her sharp eye's catching movement about 50 meters away from what had originally caught their attention.
The trees rustled again, it seemed that whatever it was had given up on being stealthy, from the shadows a lithe form detached itself and moved forward slightly peering intently at the group gathered at the gate. Three weapons were immediately raised and pointed at the woman; Ronan's however went back into its holster as the woman got closer.
"Starbuck?" his voice was filled with incredulity.
"Ronan?" her face broke into a grin as she ran the last few steps and they enveloped each other in a bone crushing hug.
Fifty meters down the tree line the bushes rustled again, this time an older woman stepped out and sauntered over to join the group, her face was impassive but joy shined through in her eyes as she took in the sight of the younger man.
"Hello Ronan, nice to know you're still alive." She let out a small squeak as he released Starbuck and lifted her off the ground in joy not caring that she wasn't usually as tactile as the younger woman. "Are you going to introduce us to your friends?" She looked at the other three expectantly.
"Starbuck and Pythia, this is my team Colonel John Sheppard, Teyla Emmagan and Dr Rodney McKay." He turned back to the two women "Everyone this is Starbuck and Pythia, they're Runners, are you two still tracked and how long have you been on this planet?"
"Yes and about three hours, we were just about to bunk down for some shut eye when you turned up." Starbuck answered for the two of them.
"Do you think Beckett would mind taking out another couple of trackers?" He asked Sheppard. The two women's jaws dropped in shock as they processed Ronan's question, having the trackers removed would be a dream come true for them, that and if they could find a way home unfortunately they didn't quite know where home was these days and the one address that could lead them to it wouldn't work on any gate they had tried.
"Teyla, dial home and inform command that we've found a couple of Runner's. Find out if Beckett wants to come here or if he wants them brought to the infirmary."
As Teyla turned to dial back to Atlantis John looked back at the Satedan.
"So how did you meet these two lovely ladies?"
"It was… Two years ago" Starbuck looked at Pythia for confirmation "Two and a half" Pythia corrected, she'd always been the better of the two at keeping track of time and events.
"Sounds about right" Ronan agreed "I gate to this planet thinking it'll be at least a day before the Wraith catch up to me. Unfortunately there are already Wraith crawling all over the place looking for these two, I took a stunner blast for Starbuck here, fell off a small cliff and broke my leg. She hauls me up and drags me back to the gate just as Pythia comes running out of the brush, they dial up and the three of us make it through just as the Wraith break the tree line."
"We set his leg," Pythia continued the story "and the three of us stuck together until Ronan's leg healed well enough to make it on his own again. We talked about sticking together but with three trackers we were too easy to find, so we split after about three months." This time the smile broke through and encompassed her entire face. They had despaired for his life when they had first parted ways, but she was too pragmatic to allow them to stay together for any longer than they already had. While there was an aspect of safety in numbers, in this particular case you were better of not putting anyone else in anymore danger than they were already in.
By this time Teyla had finished her conversation over the radio and turned back to the rest of the team. "Dr Beckett will be here in a Jumper momentarily, they do not want active tracking devises brought back to the city, he will remove them here on the planet and then we will head back to base. May I ask how long you have been on the run for?"
"Nearly four years." Pythia replied distractedly and flinched slightly as the wormhole shut down and almost immediately fired back up with an incoming wormhole, instinct dictated that she run for the tree line and she could see that Starbuck was ready to do the same but seeing Ronan standing there unfazed by the events calmed her a little. She gasped as a small ship came flying through the gate of similar size to a Raptor, but more elongated and streamlined she knew the first thought going through Starbucks head would be 'I have got to get me one of those', a quick glance at the younger woman confirmed that.
The ship settled about 10 meters from where they stood and the back dropped open revealing a man in his mid to late 30's looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
"Starbuck and Pythia, this Dr Carson Beckett, he took the tracker out of my back. He's the best Doc in the galaxy." The man blushed at Ronan's high praise.
"It's a pleasure to meet you ladies despite the circumstances; anyway straight to it who wants to go first?"
Starbuck immediately stepped forward, despite the time that had past and the circumstances her military training and decorum dictated that she go first to make sure that it wouldn't be harmful to her companion (President) in any way.
"Starbuck?" Pythia started.
"No" Starbuck didn't let her finish "He doesn't go near you until we know it's safe. I took an oath and that means I go first." She looked at Ronan "Anything happens to me, you get her to safety, and if your new friends can find a way to dial that address then you get her there no matter what. I'm just a pilot…" her voice cracked slightly "She's more…"
Before either Ronan or Pythia could say anything in response she marched up the ramp of the Jumper, took her shirt and bra off, all thoughts of modesty being beaten out of her by various events over the last 8 years, and lay face down on the make shift gurney.
"You can numb me up Doc, but don't even think about knocking me out!" Her command was muffled but the tone of voice got through loud and clear.
Carson took a nervous breath before running the scanner over her back to locate the tracker; he was not at all surprised that the request to remain conscious and had in fact been prepared for it this time.
Pythia watched the whole process closely, her weapon gripped tightly in her hand ready to be used at a moments notice. She hated the thing, hated what it stood for and what it meant that she had become so comfortable with it that it was now an extension of her arm, but like everything else her abhorrence to violence had been stripped away by the necessity of survival. The past three plus years on the run with Starbuck, trying to out think and out manoeuvre the Wraith had forced her to embrace some of the things she had fought so hard to put a stop to and held onto with everything she had while on the run from the Cylons and trapped on New Caprica but everything had been slowly stripped away. Laura had disappeared the moment the Doctor had confirmed the Breast cancer diagnosis back on Caprica, Secretary Roslin had died in the Holocaust; President Roslin was still lying on that Wraith ship waiting for the Admiral to rescue her as they were tortured, as life had been given and taken so many times in those weeks. Starbuck was wrong, she wasn't more, she used to hold the office of someone important but Laura had never been comfortable with the idea of being more, she took it on because there was no one else to, because someone had to. Not any longer, everything she had been in the past was gone. Now she was just a runner, known only as Pythia because that was all she had left.
Several hours passed and she didn't take her eyes off Starbuck, who as requested had not been knocked unconscious, they had locked eyes early on in the proceedings and neither had moved.
Finally Carson tied off the last stitch in Starbucks back and dressed the wound allowing Pythia to relax and watch as Ronan took the bloody tracker and ground it into the dirt with his heel until it cracked, splintered and fell to pieces in front of their eyes.
She nearly cried, but she didn't.
All too soon it was her turn and she took Starbuck's place on the gurney. Without having to be told Carson gave her an anaesthetic to numb the pain but one that wouldn't knock her out.
She didn't remember much of the operation, the pressure of the scalpel as it cut into her back, the pull as the device was removed and she was stitched up. Starbucks heavy gaze as she watched tense and ready to move if it looked like they were in danger.
And then finally Carson announced that it was done and she was free of the cursed thing.
A weight was lifted from her body and soul, her eyes grew heavy as the warmth of Ronan and Starbuck who sat on either side of her permeated her entire being, even not knowing who she supposedly was Ronan protected her. She didn't really notice when the rest of the team joined them in the Jumper, nor did she notice when they went through the gate.
Other than the sensation of being comfortable for the first time in recent memory the first thing she truly took notice of since laying down on the gurney was another painfully familiar voice uttering painfully familiar titles. It was a voice that spoke of happier times she had nearly forgotten.
"President Roslin? Captain Thrace?"
Pythia looked up at Elizabeth Weir, wondering if she had finally gone mad, or if everything was finally going to be ok.
She figured that she wasn't going mad due the relieved sob Starbuck let out.
"Do you know these people Elizabeth?" Rodney had looked up from his Laptop at Elizabeth's astonished exclamation but she didn't answer him instead focusing all her attention on the two Colonial women who had disappeared and were presumed dead not long after she took over Stargate command and had brokered a treaty between Earth and the Colonials.
"Frak me" was all Starbuck could manage to say, and Laura quite agreed with the sentiment but settled for grinning foolishly at their good fortune not only to run into Ronan but discover that among his allies were in fact those that could possibly return them to their family.
"Excuse me…" Carson interrupted before anything else could be said "but I want to get these two lovely ladies to the infirmary, introduction and or friendly chats can take place after I've got them checked out properly and settled."
Elizabeth nodded dumbly, still not quite sure what to say so settled for "I'll be down soon, I think there's some people back in the Milky Way that are going to be very happy to hear that you two are alive."
This time Laura did cry.
General Hank Landry was confused, in a job like his he should be used to the feeling by now and he was to a degree but just because he got used to it, it did not necessarily mean that he liked the feeling.
The cause of the confusion wasn't the usual one; generally Hank could count on Elizabeth Weir to be the calm in the storm of insanity that was Stargate Operations but not today.
30 minutes ago the earth gate had fired up long enough for Atlantis' GDO to be recognised and a short video message sent through. The contents of the message puzzled him so much so that as suggested by Dr Weir he resorted to calling Daniel Jackson to hopefully clear some things up for him.
The two of them sat in his office as he restarted the message for Daniel.
"General, I need you to get in touch with one of Earths allies, known as the Colonies of Kobol, specifically the head of their Military, Admiral William Adama or his son Commander Lee Adama. Tell them that we've found Pythia and Starbuck they are alive and we'll send them through to Earth as soon as Dr Beckett clears them medically. If they don't want to wait I would recommend you allow the Admiral to come to Atlantis, Dr Jackson can explain why this is so important. Weir Out"
"So Dr Jackson, can you please explain to me what is so important about 'Pythia' and 'Starbuck' and why Dr Weir would be willing to allow one of our admittedly more trustworthy allies, access to the Atlantis base?"
Daniel closed his eyes and thought back to the first day he had met Laura Roslin and Kara Thrace, a myriad of scenes passed through his mind the worst being the day they had disappeared. Daniel had seen many things in his life but the absolute devastation that overtook the Colonial Fleet when they lost their President and best Pilot had been one of the worst.
"You were told about the ex-President and Pilot that went missing just before the Cylons were defeated and the Colonials settled on New Kobol?" at Hanks nod Daniel continued "the Pilots call sign was Starbuck and Pythia was the name of a Prophet who foresaw the Holocaust and the events that followed, she said that there would be a leader dying of a wasting disease who would lead them to a new home, Laura Roslin had cancer when the Colonies were destroyed and many see her as the re-incarnation of Pythia. If they have been found then…" Daniel trailed off trying to find the words "I'm not sure about the population at large but for Admiral Adama, President Roslin was his best friend, they depended on each other for a lot and I would go as far as to say they loved each other deeply, whether it was simply platonic or more I don't know, and he loves Kara like a daughter, she was actually engaged to one of his sons before the attack. Finding these two will mean the world to him."
Elizabeth couldn't wait any longer, she had quickly recorded a message for General Landry and sent it through and then managed to waste another half an hour on mindless paperwork before heading down to the infirmary. Carson had told her that he would be in touch when their guests were settled but her curiosity was getting the better of her.
"Elizabeth" Carson grinned at her as she wandered through the main doors "I was just about to call you." He lead her into his office before continuing "They're about as healthy as Ronan was when he first joined us, in other words they're malnourished and have a slew of old injuries that have never quite healed properly due to constantly moving, but for two women in their mid-30's and mid-40's they're as healthy as can be expected."
"Did you say mid-40's" Elizabeth looked at him confused.
"Aye, I'd estimate Pythia to be in her mid-40's I think," he paused for a moment frowning slightly "her body chemistry is slightly different to both ours and Starbucks so I can't be sure, also there are indications she's been fed upon numerous times. Why?"
"Because when I met Laura Roslin she was in her 50's"
"Well we know the Wraith can give back life as well as take it." He was worried about the implications of the Wraith returning life to the woman.
"The question then becomes why would they do that for her?" They dropped into silence momentarily "Can I see them"
He nodded and led her back out into the main part of the infirmary.
"Hopefully they're sleeping, Ronan showed up just before you did" he pointed to a curtained off area of the infirmary "I figured they might like some privacy."
"Thanks Carson"
Sliding the curtain open just enough to let herself through Elizabeth expected to be met with the sight of two sleeping women, not two empty beds and Ronan sitting on the floor opposite her. She was just about to call Carson in a panic when a light snore caught her ears. Quietly making her way around the beds there in the corner the two of them were curled up asleep, shoulder to shoulder backs to the wall, protecting each other while trying to be as comfortable as possible. Ronan sitting a few feet away blocking anyone from reaching them, the look on his face told her he wasn't going to be moving anytime soon and if they trusted him enough to sleep in his presence then she wasn't going to even attempt to get him to move. She caught his eye and quirked an eyebrow at him hoping for an explanation.
"It took me nearly a month before I was comfortable in a bed." He rumbled quietly "You get used to sleeping anywhere that is quiet and relatively secure, they'll get used to a bed again eventually."
Elizabeth nodded and decided to leave things as they were for now. Over the last few years she had been reminded constantly about how lucky she was, she had never been in their position before; she would never know what it was like to truly fear for your life.
She suspected it would be a long time before Laura and Kara were comfortable being with anyone but each other and wasn't sure whether to look forward to their reunion with the Adama's or not.
"Dr Jackson, Colonel Carter." Bill held out his hand smiling at the two of them tiredly "We weren't expecting anyone from Earth for a few more weeks. What can I do for you?"
Daniel and Sam looked at each other trying to hold back the grins "Actually we have some news. A few hours ago Elizabeth Weir sent us a message from the Pegasus Galaxy," while the Colonials didn't know all the details of the expedition they knew it existed. "One of their teams helped out two of what are known as Runners. They're people with tracking devices surgically inserted into their bodies and hunted for sport. Their Doctor took the trackers out and brought them back to the city." Despite the impassiveness of his face Daniel could tell that the Admiral was getting impatient. "Starbuck and President Roslin are alive, Elizabeth recognised them the moment she saw them."
"Laura and Kara… are alive?" Bill whispered hoping he hadn't been hearing things.
"I spoke to Elizabeth not an hour ago. They're alive, and physically they're going to be fine. Carson wants to keep them in the infirmary for awhile, make sure everything is ok and give them a chance to rest. Elizabeth was wondering if you'd like to come and see for yourself and General Landry has said you are free to use Earths gate if you wish."
It had taken Bill just over an hour to get everything and everyone organised. Without telling them why he had dragged Lee and Tory from their duties and was taking them with him to Earth and then onto Atlantis.
"I'll explain later, pack a bag we'll be gone about a week" Was all he said. While the message he sent to President Zarek had little more information in it.
I've had to go to Earth, taken Lee and Tory Foster with me. Will explain all when we get back.
Leaving the President rather confused as to what would drag both the Adama men and Tory away.
Bill felt like he hadn't even blinked between the time Daniel told him they were alive and when he stepped through the gate and into Atlantis with two extremely confused companions.
Elizabeth was standing there waiting for him, after the habitual greetings Lee finally got sick of waiting to be given an explanation.
"With all due respect Admiral are you going to explain what we're doing here?"
"You didn't tell them?" Elizabeth asked.
"I don't know how." He admitted.
She nodded in understanding and turned to Teyla "Admiral William Adama this is Teyla Emmagan one of our Pegasus allies." They nodded to each other politely "Teyla could you please take the Admiral down to Ronan and our other guests while I explain the situation to Ms Foster and the Commander."
"Of course, Admiral this way please."
"Ms Foster, Commander Adama if you'll follow me I'll explain everything." Elizabeth led them up towards the conference room.
Bill followed Teyla silently through the halls of Atlantis, his mind spinning, after nearly four years they had all given up hope. Laura and Kara were gone, never to be found. The civilians and military alike had mourned for a long time, Tom Zarek had refused to accept the office of President for nearly a year, he had held out hope for so long and now, when and how they least expected it they had been found.
They came through the double doors of the infirmary and Teyla led him to a quiet curtained off corner, she gave him a small smile and stepped back allowing him to enter when he was ready.
Taking a deep breath he pushed the curtain aside and stepped through. The bed closest to him was empty but the second bed contained two bodies, lying back to back seemingly sound asleep, were the two most important women in his life. Stepping around the empty bed he didn't notice as his bag slipped out of his fingers and dropped to the floor with an audible thump, he watched fascinated as Kara's eyes flew open and darted around the room taking in her surroundings but the rest of her body did not move.
Finally her gaze settled on him, she squinted and then blinked repeatedly as though she didn't believe what she was seeing. She finally moved to reach behind her and poke her companion in the thigh repeatedly until the other woman whispered so quietly that Bill almost didn't even hear it.
"What?"
"Tell me I'm not seeing things!"
Laura rolled over in the bed without dislodging either of them (which some part of Bills brain thought was quite a feat as they were not large beds by any measure – the same part of his brain noticed that she looked nearly fifteen years younger than the last time he had seen her but the rest of him dismissed that for now) and looked over Kara's shoulder. None of them moved for a few moments until Laura murmured in Kara's ear.
"I don't think you're seeing things, unless we've started having joint hallucinations again."
Weeks later that comment will come back to him, he will ask about it and be told a part of their story they left out of the original telling. He will wish he'd never asked.
"No" Ronan piped up from his spot by the bed "He's there, I don't know who he is but he's there" Convincing the two of them to actually use the beds had been hard enough so he hadn't actually bothered to try and separate them.
Kara nodded slowly digesting Laura and Ronan's confirmation, before launching herself out of bed into Bill's arms, unfortunately dislodging Laura who was thrown off the other side of the bed with an undignified yelp. Pulling her self off the floor she found the two of them standing there, Bill had wrapped his arms around Kara who was sobbing into his shoulder. Bringing a hand up to her mouth she suppressed her own sob.
All of a sudden the curtain flew open and Lee Adama came running in without thinking about it he headed straight for Laura and pulled her into his arms holding her as tightly as he could, and while the pressure on where the tracker had been taken out of her back was painful she didn't care. Right behind him was Tory who didn't even wait for Lee to release her but simply wrapped her arms around Laura from behind.
"You're alive" Lee whispered "Thank the Gods your alive."
The following minutes were full of muted sobs and murmured prayers of gratefulness as Laura and Kara were passed between Bill, Lee and Tory.
Ronan watched the whole scene with a wistfulness that he would never admit to anyone. He missed his home and his people with a yearning that was a hole in his heart, while Atlantis was his home now and its people his family there was still something missing. The familiarity of shared history, of home, and of family, he would never get that back and though he would never admit it, he was jealous of Pythia and Starbuck. Jealous of the scene that was playing out before him, jealous of the way the Pythia wrapped her arms around the older man's neck while his came around her waist fitting them together. He used to fit that way with Melena but there would be no reunion like that for them, no feeling of rightness in the world when you were held by someone you loved.
He watched silently as Pythia pulled back just enough to study the man's face, a hand unwrapped itself from his neck and long fingers traced a pattern over his face, eyebrows, cheek bone, upper and lower lips up his jaw and to his ear. Small details forgotten now remembered. A tear slowly made its way down her cheek and he reached up to wipe it away.
"You've changed." his voice was rough. The lines around her eyes and mouth had smoothed out, skin had re-tightened but there was hardness behind her eyes that had never been there before. He could feel the muscles in her back coiled tightly, like she was ready to run and fight at a moments notice.
"It's been a long time Bill, and a lot has happened."
"Yes it has…" He pulled her back towards her and just held on.
End Chapter 6