All right, I actually have a good reason for not updating, ok? The storm with the snow and stuff, my internet is screwed up, so I haven't been able to update. Excuses, excuses, excuses. I know it, but I'm sorry, ok?! No! It's not ok! Waaaaaaa! Anywho...so, I don't own Stargate Atlantis or any of the characters on the show, yada blada fada. So. Yeah.

Chapter 12

John jumped up from the ground frantically swinging out at anything around him, but touched nothing. "What the hell?" he said quietly. He looked at his stomach, finding the blood gone, everything normal. He looked around. It was dark, silent, but not serene. More ghostly than anything else. He was back on the planet, but he couldn't see anyone.

He recognized this place. It was where he'd found Senave. "Senave," he whispered.

He had been able to hear her cries, but that was before her soul had been condemned. Maybe he could contact her, though. Or maybe one of his teammates. It was worth a try.

"Teyla!" he shouted. He listened for a few moments, but heard nothing. "Rodney! Ronon! Senave?"

No answer. He looked ahead and began to walk when he heard something. He turned around to nothingness, pitch black. He whirled back in the other direction, same thing. What the hell?

"Sheppard?" John turned back, again, to find himself back in Hell, as he liked to call it. And there, he saw Ronon.

"What are you doing here?" John asked. "Are you-"

"I'm alive, for the moment. Well, here, but not at the planet. I heard you say my name. I don't think the others can hear you, though. I've spoken with Teyla." Ronon said. "She told me that Senave gave six hours before it's too late. That's the longest he can hold me before my soul has to pass on."

"Well, how come she can hear you, and not me?" John asked.

"We're on different planes of existence. I can see you, I can see Teyla, Rodney, and Senave. But I'm sure they can't see me," Ronon explained.

"So, it's like levels of a building. The planet's on top, this is the middle, and I'm...well, yeah, you get it, don't you? Of course you do, you were just explaining it to me. But that didn't answer my question," he said. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to make a dead with Jossen. He lets go of every soul he's ever taken, he gets his own soul," Ronon said.

"No. He doesn't deserve his own damned soul. He deserves to be down here with me, living like this. I'll stay here, Ronon. Don't give him what he wants," Sheppard said angrily. "All he wants is the city. You see my body? Why do you think he did that? For fun? Partly, but he wants our IDC's. If you make that deal with him, you kill him first thing, dammit."

"Ok," Ronon nodded. "I'll make the deal, and I'll take care of him. We're doing this to get you back, John."

"I know. I appreciate it, I really do," he said quietly. "But be careful. Watch your back."

A moment later, Ronon disappeared from sight, and John was back on the planet, again. It was foggy, now, as he began his walk toward the village. He thought it strange that he hadn't seen anyone else. Hundreds of years here, surely Jossen had taken in more souls. But John saw none. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in the back of his head, then he hit the ground. He was rolled onto his back, feeling dizzy, barely able to make out the figure leaning over him.

"Doesn't matter what plane of existence I'm on, I'm still gonna get attacked, ain't I?" John asked the man.

"This is my land. Leave it, now," he said. When John said nothing, the man continued. "You are new."

"I am. I guess," John said.

"I am Daniel, of Kellen," the man said.

"I'm John. Nice to meet you," he said, sitting up, rubbing the back of his head.

"I apologize. There have been people coming through here. I have to defend myself," Danny explained.

"I understand," John said.

"You may come sit with me, if you'd like. Or you may continue on your way," Daniel said.

John thought about staying, but knowing he might get too attached to anyone, he decided it was best to keep moving. He needed to get back to the village. He didn't know why. He just had to.

"I'd like to stay, but I can't. Thank you, though. Take it easy with the beatings, huh?" Sheppard asked, getting to his feet.

"Take care, friend," said Daniel, then John set off again.

John. reached the village within the hour, only to find it completely abandoned. He went to the teepee that had held Senave back on the real planet. He walked over to the edge and lied down on the blankets and closed his eyes, trying to find some sort of peace where he was.

Go to hell.

This is hell...I have your soul, Colonel Sheppard. And now I will have the soul of your teammates.

You can't do this!

I already have.

John awoke with a jolt, breathing heavily, cool sweat covering his skin. It was nearly light, now, but the fog still covered the planet. John knew he had to warn his team.

Hopefully, it wouldn't be too late.

Eyup, that's Chapter 12! I hope you all are doing ok in your blizzards and all! And I don't mean the ice cream, although that sounds great, right now. Anyways, please review, and thanks all of you who have reviewed previously, and Happy Purim! Bie:0D