Although Jonathan had been confident that their plan would have them home within a couple of hours, putting it into practice was proving a lot trickier than he had initially expected, which didn't particularly come as a surprise to Elizabeth. Not only was Meredith going to all efforts to ensure that Jonathan was an outcast in Atlantis, but the security that Meredith had arranged for the 'prisoners' meant that it was practically impossible for them to communicate with Jonathan's team.
The only benefit she could see in this not so totally unexpected delay was that the tension between her team and Rodney had eased ever so slightly. Undeniably, there were still some simmering resentments – especially with John and Radek – but after the way he had immediately volunteered himself to help save them, Elizabeth's anger had subsided for the most part. More than the others she was almost able to see why Rodney had held back in telling them that they could leave, and attributed some of the blame to herself, knowing that she had been much too wrapped up in the mess that she had made to check in with her team and be the leader that she knew she should have been.
At six o'clock, she had been 'escorted' to Meredith's office where she had, once again, given him the answer that they both knew he would receive, and most certainly didn't want, and after being belittled and sneered at, she was sent away with the promised new deal on the table, and a worrying prospective in front of her; she had no choice but to place her trust in Jonathan and hope that he could somehow get them out of here unscathed.
'You know, I don't understand why Meredith doesn't want me.' Rodney commented, when Elizabeth had returned and filled them in about her meeting.
'I do.' John muttered.
For this, Elizabeth gave John a pointed glare, and he managed to tear his own eyes away from Rodney to take the hint and resume his pacing around the cell. Elizabeth sighed as she watched him, knowing how much she wanted and needed to talk to him about what happened. It was never going to be possible in these circumstances, and she wasn't even sure what she wanted to achieve from that conversation. When she thought about, she realised that John did feel the same way; as much as his brash attitude when they had woken up together had immediately convinced her otherwise, she remembered the way he had reacted to the thought of her with Jonathan and she just knew. Not that that made this any easier for her; a full-blown relationship with her second-in-command – and a second in command with a rather dubious reputation at that – had potentially disastrous consequences, and they would undoubtedly have the IOA breathing down their backs at every turn. Still...she couldn't quite shake off the feeling in the pit of her stomach that was pushing her to take the risk.
As night-time in the cell approached them again, Elizabeth found herself drawn to John as she had done the previous night and eventually settled beside him, their arms gently touching. This time, John chose to break the silence between them.
'You okay?' John whispered gently.
'As well as can be given the circumstances.' Elizabeth admitted.
'Do you think Jonathan's gonna get us out of this mess?' John asked tentatively.
Elizabeth hesitated, before smiling at John, 'At the moment, I don't have a choice.'
John looked at her for a moment before nodding and turning to focus his eyes into nothingness again. She didn't take offence at this because she knew what that look had meant and she knew he already knew answer. Deciding to try and get some rest, she closed eyes and gradually let her head fall onto John's shoulder. It wasn't a conscious decision, but neither of them made a move to stop it happening.
The light sleep she had allowed herself to fall into was soon interrupted by the opening of a door, and she looked up to see Jonathan strutting in with his usual certainty.
'Go and get some rest.' He said to the marines who had been watching them for the last couple of hours.
The marines nodded to Jonathan and left without a look back at the prisoners. When the door had closed behind them, the team stood up and walked over to the bars, awaiting any news that Jonathan could give them.
'Is he sedated?' Elizabeth asked anxiously.
'Oh yes. And, let me tell you, it wasn't easy.'
'What happened?' Carson asked.
'He woke up, so we had to gag and restrain him first.' Jonathan cringed.
'Oh great.' Zelenka muttered.
'Don't worry. He should be out for a couple of hours, giving you plenty of time to get your asses out of here.'
'Just like that?' Elizabeth asked, doubtfully.
'Well, obviously, I need your very own Doctor McKay to change into something more Meredith and give the order to release you, but, yeah, pretty much.' Jonathan shrugged.
With that, he opened the door to the cell and beckoned a nervous-looking Rodney to join him. Elizabeth smiled at him in what she hoped was an encouraging manner, but the most he could manage in return was a grimace. Discreetly, she nudged John, who she suspected would be able to give Rodney some of the confidence that he so clearly needed.
'You'll be fine. I know you will.' John said, confidently.
'That's easy for you to say. I'll probably end up dead if Meredith wakes up.'
'He won't.' Jonathan insisted.
Rodney cleared his throat and turned to the team, 'Well, until we meet again.'
A/N: So sorry for how long it has taken to update this story. I've had a lot of stuff going on in my life recently, but I'm hoping to get this finished soon. Again, sorry.
