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COLLABORATIONS

CHAPTER 2

Sheppard felt weak and helpless. He was unfortunately all too used to enduring long painful spells of recovery, but those episodes were generally after injury in the line of duty, or occasionally as a result of being tortured by some nut job or other seeking information on Atlantis. However, confined to a wheelchair due to self- inflicted injuries, and feeling like crap because of a virus was really getting him down.

Worse still was being stuck in Atlantis, being treated like an invalid, while Lorne was on Kudran investigating Endas' untimely demise. Sheppard knew Nessan was behind it…he could feel it in his bones, and Meron's face when he got the news only confirmed it. However, no one was telling him anything, trying to protect him he supposed, but it was driving him crazy. John knew he was acting like an ungrateful asshole…he couldn't help it. Ever since the news came in he'd hardly slept. Memories of being encased in the oppressive mask were haunted him each time he closed his eyes, waking him up shaking like a leaf, lying drenched in a pool of sweat. Teyla changed his sheets each morning assuming it was the fever, but Beckett wasn't fooled for a second. The wily Scot even threatened to sedate him if he didn't get help soon. Deep in his gut John knew a visit to the shrink wouldn't cut it. The only cure…find Kolya, bring the son of a bitch to justice…because only then would he be able to find peace.

Buzz, buzz. It was too early for lunch so who the hell was it now? John knew his friends were only trying to be there for him, but he just wanted to be left alone. "Who's there?"

"Are you busy, Colonel? I didn't want to disturb you, but I thought you might like to hear the news from Kudran."

John smiled as Lorne entered the room. "Come in, Major…disturb away…downtime is seriously overrated."

"I know exactly what you mean, Sir. Anyway, I spoke to the new warden, a guy called Nalum, who allowed me to interview the prisoner responsible for killing Endas. It would appear on the face of it to be simple payback on the warden who locked him up, but something didn't feel right. The guy was nervous, constantly looking over his shoulder. I've met cold blooded killers before, Sir…so have you, and unless he was a really good actor, he just didn't seem like the type."

Sheppard felt beads of sweat role down his back as his heart started to race. "Was it a righteous conviction? Endas sent down a lot of people who'd done nothing wrong."

"Yes, Sir. Since you revealed the warden's activities, their justice dept carried out a review of every single case, and these days the prisoners left inside actually deserve to be there. Do you know the weirdest thing about this murder? This guy was sent down for embezzlement, a white collar crime…and only had six months left to serve on his sentence."

Sheppard continued. "So why would someone like that with no violent background, due to be released soon, become a killer?" John felt the room began to sway.

"Are you alright, Colonel…should I call the doc?"

"I'm good, Major. Just a little tired…this damn fever. Lorne, could you do something for me?" Evan nodded. "Do a background check on the prisoner's family situation. If I'm right, Kolya is behind this. I'd take an educated guess the bastard threatened him with their lives, to make the guy do his dirty work…just Nessan's style."

John watched as Evan left the room. He felt like a washed out rag, but knew it wasn't from the illness. Nessan was behind this…he just knew it. It would be just like him to exact revenge on his enemies…those who'd crossed him. Ladon must be warned…the Genii settlement too…but what about him? Did Kolya even know he was still alive, that he hadn't finished the job? Wheeling himself over to his bed, he struggled under the covers, grimacing as his tender ass protested the movement. After hearing this news all of his suspicions seemed to be confirmed; Nessan had resurfaced and it was only a matter of time before they met again. Sheppard closed his eyes, and hoped with Kolya out of hiding he might actually sleep this time and maybe, just maybe, the nightmares might stay away.

ooooOoooo

Rodney walked slowly along to Sheppard's quarters, dragging his feet as he went. Standing outside the door with his finger poised on the buzzer, he wondered what the hell he'd done wrong now. McKay knew John had never been the best patient, especially during the recovery process…but this time…the man was a royal pain in the butt. Nothing anyone did was right. Sheppard was moody, snapped at everyone…even Teyla. Just last week Ronon, his faithful watchdog, stayed away for a couple of days, terrified in case he retaliated with the sick man. But a friend in need was…a nuisance… a pest? No…of course not, Sheppard wasn't normally this bad, he'd just been through a lot. Finally ready to go in, McKay pinned a smile on his face and just hoped John was in a better mood.

"Hiya, buddy…come on in." John beamed. "Grab a beer…get me one too. There's chips on the desk and Shona is making a pepperoni pizza especially for us…cool huh?"

Rodney went over to the fridge and stole a look at his friend out the corner of his eye. "Where are Teyla and Ronon? Hold on…Wait just a minute...I thought you weren't allowed to drink alcohol with glandular fever?"

"You aren't a genius for nothing, Rodney. I wasn't allowed alcohol, but now I am. Keller did a final check of my blood, and it's official…I am finally back on light duty, hopefully active next week, once my fitness level improves. As to your first question, the guys are collecting the pizza plus a few other snacks on the way here." John heard the buzzer and smiled "Here they are now…I hope you haven't seen 'Iron Man II' yet…I hear it's good."

Later, after they'd eaten their fill, watched the movie and John finally saw his friends relax in his company for the first time in weeks, it finally dawned on him how badly he'd behaved this time. He went over to the fridge and handed each of them a beer. "I want to make a toast…to friends…where would we be without them?"

Ronon smiled and shook his head. "You really were an asshole this time, Sheppard…you know that?"

"Yeah…sorry, guys. But please…could you not mention ass."

Rodney smiled. "No problem, Sheppard. C'mon, Ronon. Cut the man some slack, don't you see he wants to put it all behind him."

"You're really not going to let me live this down…are you, McKay?" John saw the feigned innocence on his friend's face and got his answer.

Teyla gave him a mischievous smile. "By the way, John…you never did tell us, how exactly did you sustain so many injuries with one small glass?"

ooooOoooo

Ladon's office was the agreed place for the next meeting. It was stuffy, dimly lit and a far cry from the large airy conference room in Atlantis. Somewhere John would be glad to return to, once he finished his pitch to convince the reluctant Genii to sign up to the early warning system.

"Technically speaking, the basic principle of the system is simple. Dr McKay has believed for some time the organic element of Wraith ships could make them vulnerable. At first, we hoped to develop a weapon…still are, but so far it's still on the drawing board and not a viable option. However, during this process Rodney discovered the organic element of Wraith ships reacts with their power source to release a subtle, but specific energy signature. After it became clear the weapon wasn't going to be built anytime soon, he got the idea to develop a silent alarm which reacts on contact with the signature. The initial tests went well, but we were left with a problem as to how to build an effective delivery system, which would not only do the job, but also have a wide scope to cover a larger area. In the end, we decided to harness it into a test satellite and it worked like a charm. All of the tests we've carried out so far have been successful, so the plan is, if we place enough satellites in orbit, once the alarm has been triggered on just one, it will send out a warning to its nearest neighbour…and so on, etc."

Sheppard saw the look on Radim's face and knew the guarded expression well. He could tell the Genii leader was enthusiastic about the plan, but was also aware Ladon would not give his agreement easily or risk being seen as a 'push over' to his people.

"I understand, Ladon, you'll want to discuss these proposals with your scientists, I should also say if you agree, then of course Atlantis would provide the Genii with all the hardware necessary to operate the satellite." John saw Radim's façade slip as his eyes gleamed at the suggestion. "In that way, your team would be in control of their own monitoring system, and any suspicions regarding outside interference would no longer be a concern."

Ladon smiled. "So…lets see if I have this correct, Colonel Sheppard. Atlantis is prepared to provide the Genii with equipment, which we would have sole control over, in order to protect ourselves against the Wraith? Excuse me for my cynicism, but what exactly is in it for you?"

"I'll admit when you put it that way, Ladon, it does sound as though Atlantis is going a bit soft. But…it's a genuine offer. The way Dr McKay puts it, the more satellites we have in the galaxy, the more effective the system will be. If there's too large a gap between each one, it will take longer for the signal to reach everyone. This will delay evacuation procedures, leaving more people at risk from the Wraith, which I believe is something no one wants. So you see…it benefits not just you or Atlantis, but every ally who signs up to the plan."

Ladon smiled, extended his hand, and the two men shook. "I'll have to run it by the cabinet first, of course, Colonel, but I think we have an agreement…I'm only sorry you weren't here the first time. Dr McKay's manner is a little…condescending perhaps?"

Sheppard finally relaxed as with the Genii on board, the most suspicious of their allies, it looked as though their plan would work after all. "Rodney is a very clever man, a genius even…however I will admit sometimes he can be a little overly enthusiastic." Ladon laughed and shook his head. "Ladon…have you any more news on Kolya?"

Radim filled two glasses with wine and handed one to Sheppard. "No, I haven't. Since your call, my security detail has been increased…but so far there's been no sign of him. Do you really think he will target me next?"

John drained his glass and got up to leave. "Well…there's a good chance of it. Nessan had the ex warden on Kudran killed as you know, so it looks like he's out to settle old scores. Did you warn Teresa?"

"Yes I did, Colonel, and there's a security detail near the village for their protection. I just wish we could apprehend him once and for all."

"You and me both, Ladon."

ooooOoooo

Ronon was waiting outside and fell into step beside him, as they walked through the bunker to make their way outside.

"Where's Teyla, Ronon?"

"Said something about doing some trading. Told me to tell you she'll meet us at the jumper."

After over an hour stuck in the airless office, John took a deep breath of cool, clean air, thanking his lucky stars he worked in Atlantis, a haven of light and fresh sea breezes, so different from the oppressive bunker he'd just left. As he walked alongside the fields with their golden crops of wheat swaying in the soft summer breeze, Sheppard remembered the village where he'd been enslaved. It was a smaller settlement, less prosperous than here, but he realised it was harvest time there, too. However this year he'd played no part in preparing the fields to receive the seed, and a weird part of him kinda missed that…sort of.

Reaching the area where the jumper landed, John disengaged the cloak and prepared to wait.

"How long did she say she'd be, Ronon?"

Ronon shrugged. "I thought she be here by no…Aghh."

John heard the gunfire too late, saw the big Satedan fall to the ground and watched helpless, as blood oozed from a bullet wound in his friend's gut. Quickly removing a field dressing from his vest, he heard Ronon hiss with pain as he pressed down hard against the wound.

"Can you see who it is, Sheppard?" Ronon grunted.

John looked around and ducked as another round flew past his ear. "Nope, but we'd better get inside…do you think you can make it?"

Ronon just glared as John shouldered him up, dodging more bullets before finally reaching the relative safety of the jumper. Sheppard settled his friend on the bench before reaching for more ammo.

"Where the hell do you think you're going, Sheppard?" Ronon panted in pain.

"Oh, can I answer that? The colonel is coming with me." Both men turned to see Nessan Kolya, and by his side two men, one of whom was holding a knife to Teyla's throat. "You really are a hard man to kill aren't you, Sheppard?"

"So they tell me. Are you okay, Teyla? Did they hurt you?" He was angry to see Teyla's cheek was covered with a large vivid bruise.

"I'm fine, John…"

"Quiet! Enough of the social pleasantries. Let's go, Sheppard. If we leave now," pointing to Ronon "I might let this one live."

"Look, Kolya. We both know it's me you want. Let them go… then I'll come with you peacefully."

Kolya smiled, his teeth glinting white. "And exactly why should I do that?" Looking at the Satedan. "Him I have no use for…but this pretty lady is another matter altogether. You have no bargaining power here, Sheppard, so I can do exactly what I want."

A grain of an idea was forming in his mind…it sucked, but it was better than nothing. "Yah think so? What do you think of this craft, Kolya? Impressive isn't it? The Genii have nothing like it…no one does, and only I amongst the three of us have the ability to fly it. So, here's my deal…you let my people go, unharmed, and I'll take you where ever you want to go."

"No, John…you can't." Teyla strained against her captor, but was unable to move without cutting her throat.

"Well, Kolya? The clocks ticking."

"Get him out of herel; he's bleeding all over my ship. Sheppard…allow me to divest you of your weapons." John stood with his hands in the air as all his weapons, including his so-called hidden knife, were removed. "Now sit down and prove to me you can pilot this craft."

Sheppard began the pre flight checks, which, as he suspected by the gleam in Kolya's eyes, was enough to prove to the suspicious Genii he could fly the jumper.

Only then did Kolya turn to his men and say with reluctance. "Release her, she's free to go. Now, Sheppard, if you are quite satisfied, I want you to fly to these co-ordinates."

John was relieved his team were free to get help, and saw the disconsolate look on their faces as the hatch closed shut. He tried to smile to reassure them, let them know he'd be okay…but who was he kidding?

TBC

Well...he's back! You just can't keep a 'good' bad guy down! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and please review.