A/N: Serket – name curtsy of wikipedia. I chose the name after I wrote this chapter. You might want to read up about this goddess, pretty interesting how the description of her fits this woman.

Brief Beta'er: ikliee34babe

... .LV. ...

Going Commando

Being Human – Part 8

By Lady Valmar

5:00 am

Rushing down the hallway Ronon at Lorne's side, they passed several windows with view of the ocean. This part of the city was under water. There was still so much about Atlantis they had yet to figure out, this was just one of them. Labs underwater? There had to be a reason for it.

At the moment though Lorne didn't honestly care, his sole thought was finding this woman and stopping her.

Racing down another passageway, Ronon stopped, making Lorne skid to a halt. "What is it?"

"Look," pointed Ronon.

There sat the woman, hunched over, rocking back and forth. Her hands were around her legs, while her head rested on top of her knees. On the floor in front of her feet was a symbiot. Slowly, veins and blood vessels popped on it's skin as it squirmed on the floor. Then rapidly it began to turn brown and stop moving, it's squealing ceasing.

Ronon kept his gun trained on the woman as she stood up. "It worked…"

Lorne was about to step forward to help her but something caught Ronon's eye, a syringe and a strange device lying near her.

"I never thought it would work but that woman is gone now finally…"

"Excuse me?" said Lorne.

"The human, she was holding me hostage…instead of me being in control she controlled me…finally at last…I am me…well sort of…It's strange to be fully human…I never thought it was possible…after all this time. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Serket and I was once the captive of this woman," she said pointing to the symbiot on the floor, "who is now dead as my consciousness has finally taken over. Or you could say I traded places with her. "

Ronon kept is gun leveled with her. "I don't believe you

"Is that even possible?" asked Lorne, keeping his P-90 at ready, just in case.

Ronon shrugged his shoulders slightly, a grim look on his face. "Good question."

6:30 am

Ronon, Teyla, Rodney and Dr. Reeds sat in Elizabeth's office. It had been tense. Once Sheppard had been brought to the infirmary, finally, Carson and his team had worked hard to remove the knife and stave off the numerous bleeding wounds on him.

That wasn't the worst though, this woman had been looked over briefly by one of the nurses before being taken to a cell and the results produced more questions than answers. Considering what she'd done they couldn't risk another rouse.

"Ma'am?" asked Lorne walking into her office and looking over the small crowd seated around her desk.

Various reports, notes and information pertaining to Gou'ld and host information was piled on her desk and each person had a folder or two. She set aside the notes in hand and nodded for him to continue.

"I have two guards posted outside the cell and two at the entrance. So far she continues to persist with the story."

Elizabeth crossed her arms. "Thank you Major."

Watching Lorne leave, Rodney scratched his chin. "How can we be sure this isn't another ploy or something?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "We can't but until Carson can confirm her story or disprove it, I'm not taking any chances. The Gou'ld found was hers. So far I've looked through all the reports that comes to mind and nothing suggests that this is even remotely possible…"

"But none of them disprove it's possible either," pointed out Ronon.

"That's true," said Dr. Reeds, a frown on her face.

Rodney stared at her. "Which reminds me where were you when the search was going on?"

Dr. Reeds scratched her neck. "I was sorting through files on the Gou'ld for your information. I would have joined in but I have a knee injury from a recent fall that prevents me walking too much. Dr. Beckett said it would heal but I would have to stay off it as much as possible. I'm cleared for duty but not for a heavy load."

"Is that so?" said Rodney, his eyes narrowing.

"Its all right Rodney," said Elizabeth, looking at the three of them. "She's right."

Rodney went back to the folder in his hand but wouldn't look at Dr. Reeds, eliciting a frown from her.

8:00 am

"This is Beckett to Dr. Weir.'

Four heads popped up from various notes and folders. Realizing, she hadn't responded. Elizabeth tapped her com.

"Yes Carson?"

"He's awake. He's not quite out of the woods yet but I can allow a brief visit from some friends. I also have something to discuss with you and his team members. He's asked that I do so."

Trading looks of relief but some puzzlement with the rest of Sheppard's team, she got up. Seeing that they had already gotten up, together they left her office.

Upon entering the infirmary and seeing him hooked up to various tubes and a heart monitor, the team slowed down. He didn't look good. His face was pale, and his eyes downcast.

"You can visit for a bit but then my patient needs to rest," said Carson, turning to the new arrival behind them. "Ah yes Dr. Heightmeyer, as soon as he's released I send him over."

Nodding she left, giving a brief nod to Elizabeth and all present.

Approaching his bed one at a time they spoke softly to him but it was apparent he, while focused on them, he was hurt. His eyes were cold and he refused to look them straight in the face.

8:20 am (added this)

"Carson?"

Carson finished up the rest of his tending to Sheppard and brought the team and Elizabeth into his office. "It was the first thing he asked. I also think it might be a good idea to inform you of whats happened."

Elizabeth frowned, she didn't like the look on his face. Neither did the others. "Alright what is it?"

"Oh god he's not dying is he?" asked Rodney, worry creasing his face.

Carson crossed his arms and looked down. "No, he's not but he's in intensive care for the next few days. I won't be sure of anything for awhile. That's not why I brought all of you in. Colonel Sheppard, as you know was found…undressed."

Ronon blinked. "And…"

"He...was raped."

Elizabeth felt her mouth flop open a little as most of the others did.

"Raped?" asked Ronon, "How?"

"I'm not exactly sure as to what drugs she administered but it appears to be the classic date-rape drug with a few other additives I'm not familiar with."

Rodney swallowed. "Is he…"

"We won't know more about how his mental state is until later. Right now my job is to keep his body well. Dr. Heightmeyer will keep both me and Dr. Weir informed of what she finds. I suspect, she might want to have a chat with all you about rape victims reactions and how to deal with it."

Elizabeth nodded and asked. "Is there anything else?"

"Only that he may have to be suspended from off-world activities even after his wounds have healed but that will be up to Dr. Heightmeyer and yourself to decide."

"Wounds of the mind," said Ronon, lowering his eyes. He understood. On Sateda it was a rarity but it happened. Most men didn't discuss it. The word would be taboo.

Elizabeth turned to look out the office window toward where Sheppard lay sleeping. She couldn't believe it. Just the very word made her shift uncomfortably where she stood. She could see the others were just as unsure about this. Sheppard had been raped?

9:00 am

"Wa…tt…er…" strained Sheppard's voice, his throat dry and sore. He could feel the pressure on his face from the breathing mask but he was so thirsty. It had been scratchy for awhile but when the team had approached him just a matter of minutes after he had been patched up he hadn't been composed enough to ask.

Rushing to his side, Carson brought ice chips and helped to remove his breathing mask. Slowly, he eased Sheppard into a slight upright position. "Take it easy, I don't want you to aggravate your wounds."

"Did they…get her…" He breathed huskily, as his eyes adjusted to where he was. Seeing rows of beds in front of him and Carson made him relieved. This was the infirmary.

"Take it easy. Try to relax," said Carson, holding Sheppard gently on his uninjured shoulder.

"You've been through a lot and yes they found her. Though she's spinning an interesting story. Don't you worry about it. We'll get down to the bottom of this. In the meantime your going to have to recover here for awhile as your injuries are extensive."

When he didn't respond, Carson helped lay him back down. As he was about to leave, Carson heard a weak voice.

Turning back he removed the breathing mask once more and listened. "Did…tell?"

"Yes I did and Elizabeth and I agreed that when you are feeling better you will need to see Dr. Heightmeyer."

John rolled his eyes. "F…f…ine." Then blinked his eyes slowly and added, "Okay."

Carson put the breathing mask back on before returning to his office.

So she was caught? Thought John, Why is my head so fuzzy? Pushing his brain to think through the fog didn't produce any more answers and just gave him a slight headache instead.

Rolling his eyes down, it was all of the sudden so clear. He'd been… tortured…and… He just couldn't believe it. It wasn't possible…she'd….she'd…

She'd raped him.

It wasn't plain and simple. It was complicated.

It had a certain feeling associated with it whenever he thought about it. A feeling of distaste but he wasn't scared or jumping around frantically. Not that he could in his injured state. He'd heard of rape victims jumping at barely some one touching them. He didn't feel that way.

He'd had a mirage of emotions at one point but after the knife wound he'd let it go. He'd had to if he was going to survive long enough for the team and for the Doc.

In fact…

What was he suppose to feel? Sad? Scared? It had been beyond miserable being whipped and sliced with her knife but when it had come down to the final act he just felt indifferent about it. What was he to make of it anyways?

Now when he thought about being fed upon by a Wraith…that had been terrorizing. No, it had been beyond, extremely frightening. He never wanted to go through that nightmare again but this…?

Not that he ever wanted to experience what this woman had put him through again it was just…

He figured the knife in his chest had been more than a little scary. He'd be lying to himself if he didn't admit that but her raping him…

Why was that any reason to be traumatized from?

But the truth of the matter was he was in denial he knew that and he didn't need to see that shrink, Dr. Heightmeyer, to know it either. Considering everything he'd been through the last, practically 24 hours, he felt justified with his denial. After all it wasn't everyday you could say you'd been sexually harassed by one woman and beaten and raped by another now was it?

Resisting the urge to call Beckett back, he tried to reach down to touch a section just above his stomach. Thankfully the knife wound had been pretty superficial considering… at least that was what Carson had told him when he had come to, the first time.

Stretching his fingers as far as they would go, he felt the edge of his abdomen. He knew a little about rape cases, having been given a class in it when he joined the Air Force but what made him curious was how did doctors determine if a man was raped? He knew with women they used a stick test or something and if there was scarring in one area then it was consensual but if there was scarring in another area it was rape because of the force.

He didn't figure there'd be scarring on his… But he also figured they didn't need to do any tests to figure out he'd been…

No matter how tired or injured he was, he just couldn't stop thinking about it. In fact, maybe the worst part about it was he had enjoyed it just a little. He'd even reached peak.

In some sick, dark part of his mind he had enjoyed it a little. He hated himself for that. He was just disgusted and then he remembered what anger felt like.

Maybe there really is something wrong with me, he thought, before his eyes began to droop.

10:00 am

Carson had just returned from the tests he'd run on the woman called Serket and was just as perplexed as his nurse had been. There wasn't evidence suggesting that such a thing was possible but yet the brain wave patterns were a bit different than a normal human's was.

When he thought about it though, this woman could have either been so mixed up because something between her body and the Gou'ld wasn't working, that when she got free of it, she thought she was the Gou'ld or it could be that this woman already had a personality and psychological disorder in the first place. Not much research had been done on the Gou'ld's healing power and its helpfulness on the psychologically sick.

But then, Carson thought, Why would a Gou'ld chose a sick host when it could get a healthy one?

Still with all these thoughts running through his head, it remained that the readings said her story at least could check out or couldn't be completely dismissed. Shaking his head, he returned to the lab to finish up his analysis of the dead Gou'ld, which appeared to be so well gone that he wasn't sure he'd get anything useful from it.

Finding his com he stretched and tapped it. "Dr. Weir?"

"Yes, Carson. Go ahead."

"I found some interesting brain wave patterns and just a few minor things but nothing to suggest that her story can be dismissed completely."

"Alright keep me posted on anything else you find? Weir out."

Nodding his head, Carson went to Sheppard's bed and checked on his vitals. Everything was stable and he was finally sleeping. Of course it had taken awhile. Carson wasn't about to introduce more drugs into his system after what the women had put in him. He would just hope that John would stay asleep until her drugs completely wore off, which they were already and then he would give him some sleep inducing medicine. Just the concept of being raped by a woman rattled Carson's mind.

What Sheppard must be feeling…? Thought Carson, before returning to his office to do some more research on his findings.

11:45 am

"Ma'am we have a problem," blared Elizabeth's com.

Teyla and Ronon looked up immediately while Rodney slid off his hand, half awake.

"Yes, what kind of problem?"

"She's missing."

That was it, Ronon was up so was Teyla and Rodney not far behind. "Wait," said Elizabeth rushing out the door after them. "Lt. Maines, alert security teams and notify Beckett that he might be having company."

"Ma'am?"

"I don't want to take a chance that she will return to do more damage to Colonel Sheppard. Now go!"

"Yes Ma'am. Maines out."

Racing down to the transporter, she felt her heart thundering in her chest. How had this happened? This woman was not only manipulative and cunning but it seemed she possessed the modern version of magical powers practically.

11:50 am

"Hello Sheppard," said a voice near his ear. At first he thought he was still dreaming because it always ended the same since his constant waking every 5 minutes. In the dream she was seated beside him, threatening to cut off his shorts or dismember his well…member… or something like that.

Slowly, his eyes peeled open to see a face, he had been hoping was just one of those bad dreams. It was her, staring right back at him.

Before he could jerk away, she moved his mask and patted his forehead. "I'm sorry that she did this to you. I know you won't believe me but the human I had taken was crazy. I managed to use my knowledge of DNA manipulation and a wonderful machine before your friends arrived to switch my consciousness with hers. I am now human no longer Gou'ld."

Sheppard wheezed before responding. "I don't…be believe you."

"I am truly sorry for what she did to you. A lot of what she said was her own confused mind trying to latch onto my thoughts. It was too much for one being. Had I known she had the sickness of the mind, I would never have taken her. I think I understand now why you humans hate us Gou'ld so much and why you hate the Wraith as well."

Slowly, she reached to touch his lips with her fingers. "Were you ever able to forgive me for something I could not control, I would lay my life down for you. When I read your mind with the Ancient machine…I have never seen such a tortured, sad soul in my life. Humans truly are the fascinating. You may not live as long nor possess the abilities such that we are blessed with but you understand and feel things that we could never have."

She looked up toward the back of the infirmary. "I must leave now before Dr. Beckett returns but I promise you the next time we meet, I will have answers for questions I know you wish to ask me."

Leaning down she wiped the sweat forming on his brow before slowly running her hand over his injured shoulder. Then just as quickly when he had closed his eyes, she was gone. For a while he lay there taking in what she had said. Could he believe her after all that she had done to him?

He felt so confused and so tired of this. All he wanted was to forget this whole ordeal and be back to normal, whatever normal was. Feeling someone return to his bedside, it was Carson, a worried look on his face.

"Car…son?"

"She was here wasn't she?"

"How…kn…ow?"

Carefully he looked over to where Carson was staring and there sat the kit. All the stolen data and vials. "I just got a call from Elizabeth saying she'd escaped," said Carson, disbelief in his voice as he sat in another chair nearby.

"Did she…"

Before Carson could continue, he cut him off, "No…thing. She did...no..thing."

Carson nodded returning his breathing mask correctly on his face, before radioing Elizabeth with the news. Once the news had traveled back to him that they had sweeped Atlantis, the jumper bay, the ocean and the Daedulus and still found no trace of her, he moved to Sheppard's side to tell him.

"They didn't find her."

Coughing, Sheppard smiled slightly and muttered under the mask. "Figures…"

Sheppard closed his eyes and felt sleep just within his reach. So it wasn't over was it? She was still out there somewhere and he would never be certain whether she had pulled another rouse or if she had been telling the truth…

Watching Carson get up, he turned away. He didn't want to talk anymore. He just wanted some time to think things through.

"Well I should get this kit back to the lab," said Carson picking up the material.

John just nodded in return and waited until he heard the doors to Carson's office close before opening his eyes.

Again the question returned to him. What the hell was he supposed to feel? And at last he knew what it was…

Anger…and the feeling of violation and fear…and… and… He felt so ashamed that this had happened. He was suppose to be a leader. Be the one who set an example for people under his command. What would they think of him now? What would any of them…Teyla, Ronon, Rodney, Elizabeth…even Carson, think?

Closing his eyes he found sleep a bit easier though every few seconds he found his eyes opening to see if she was there.

Now he knew what they meant by being 'jumpy'. He felt extremely jumpy. When the nurse came in after his fifth look out. He felt himself flinch at her touch. What the hell did that make him?

Internally he criticized himself for letting this get to him. He would be fine. He just needed to get some sleep. But sleep evaded him until around 2:00 pm he felt Carson moving to his side to give him something to sleep.

Thanking Carson silently, he closed his eyes hoping the dreams wouldn't return.

A/N: Okay okay…so final chapter is next. I couldn't leave Shep like this…I just couldn't…It was too cruel.