Thanks to those who have left reviews and for all of you who continue to follow the story. Thanks again, to my fab beta, shepsgirl72 - as always, all mistakes are mine.

COLLABORATIONS

CHAPTER 9

Dusk was fast approaching on the makeshift settlement, as the last rays of the sun streamed down on the myriad of tents scattered below, bathing them in a golden hue. The large man picked his way carefully along the narrow passageways in-between the canvas homes, mindful of the campfires burning brightly around every bend. Some held large cast iron caldrons wafting tantalising smells of tonight's supper, reminding Ronon his last meal had been many hours ago. But food would have to wait, as the tiny fingers grasped tightly around his neck, pulling his hair, were a constant reminder he must find this child's kin, before nightfall came, bringing its inky blackness to hinder his task.

Miles of tents, housing thousands of people, stretched out as far as the eye could see. Evidence the satellites had done their job, saving these lucky survivors from certain death, but success however...came at a price. Atlantis was struggling to cope, with both food and water growing short, and people, who only days before were happy to be alive, were now becoming resentful at the enforced rationing. Ronon felt intolerant of their ingratitude, their frustration, as he knew they were the lucky ones. Many had been left behind, and were probably dead by now, victims of the Wraith whom Atlantis had been unable to save.

"Shuma…is that you?" A young dark haired woman, her anxious face streaked with tears, lunged at Ronon ripping the child, her mother's image…from his arms.

Happy to see his charge safe, crying in her mother's arms, he started the long walk back to the 'gate, where home, a hot shower, and supper would be waiting. Ronon wondered when he first started thinking of Atlantis as home, and remembered back to the time he arrived in the Ancient city nearly five years ago. Then, he had been content to rest and recover from all the years of running, but looking back, if he was honest, he'd never intended to stay. Then Sheppard, had made him an offer, one he couldn't refuse…stay in Atlantis, help them fight the Wraith, and before he knew it he a purpose, friends, a home, and now Ronon couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

Sateda was gone, his loved ones dead along with the planet where he grew up, and he would never forget them…ever. But in Atlantis, he was part of something important, the galaxy's last best hope against the Wraith. A place where he had people, his family, who watched his back just as he did theirs. Even McKay, who was pretending not to wait for him, as he leant against the DHD.

"I take it you got the kid home?"

"Yup…"

"After what you did to rescue her, I hope they at least said 'thanks'."

Ronon regarded his teammate hunched against the DHD. McKay could be a pain in the ass at times, but he'd worked as hard as any of them, and the guy looked as tired as he felt.

"I didn't stay...seeing her back with her mother was good enough."

"Ronon…you nearly lost your life going back for that kid. If it hadn't been me flying the jumper, I don't know if any of those other part-time pilots would have waited!"

"Well, McKay…you shouldn't have. The Wraith had arrived, and we only got out by the skin of our teeth. If Sheppard had been there…" Ronon saw Rodney's face crumple. "Look, McKay, it doesn't matter, we saved her, along with the others, and we made it. Now dial the gate…we're both beat and I for one just want to go home."

Ronon thought Rodney was going to say something else, but he turned instead to the DHD, dialled in the symbols, and in an instant the bright blue of the event horizon sprang into life, leading them home.

In Atlantis 'gate room was the next shift heading for the Alpha site, laden with more supplies, mainly food and water, to supplement the scant provisions survivors had managed to bring themselves. Ronon saw Beckett standing there, on his way to relieve Dr Cole, as healing the injured was just as important as feeding the hungry. Many of the wounded suffered minor injuries in their flight to free the Wraith. Others though hadn't been as lucky, with broken bones common, a result of last minute panic as desperate people scared they would be left behind, didn't care who they ran over to get to safety. Fortunately those were the most serious injuries, but even the usual ailments, coughs and colds, were all dealt with, the doctors also using the opportunity to vaccinate as many children as possible, while they had the chance.

As he walked with McKay along the quiet corridors, he felt proud of the place he now called home. Since the alarm had gone off over Sutran, the next satellite went on alert then the next, leaving three planets, with nearly 40,000 people, to be evacuated. The other allies had taken as many of the refugees as they could, but Atlantis took the majority, and everyone on base was needed to help. Roles were forgotten as scientists worked alongside raw recruits and cleaners…even Woolsey took his turn in the soup kitchen, each person just wanting to help the frightened people survive, until it was safe to return to their homes.

Ronon felt a tap on his arm. "Ronon. Would you mind if I checked on the lab?"

Dex saw McKay go over to his workbench, blow the dust of his laptop and turn it on. He knew what his friend was doing, checking the last thing he had been working on before all hell broke loose…finding Sheppard.

"We'll find him, McKay…but as much as I hate to admit it, Woolsey was right, we have to save as many people as we can…it's what Sheppard would want."

Eyes bright with unshed tears caught his. "Yeah, I know it. But I don't have to like it. What if we don't get to him in time, Ronon…what if we're already too late?"

"The man's was born with nine lives, McKay…reckon he still has a few left." He put his hand on Rodney's shoulder. "What do you say I sweet talk Mable into making us some of her hot chocolate?"

ooooOoooo

"Nnnnghnn…Gah!"

"Easy, Sheppard…Try not to move, you have a nasty infection in your back." Nessan saw the strained lines on the pale, gaunt face, slicked with sweat, and poured some water into a glass.

John knew he wasn't in Atlantis; there was no soft beep of monitors or any invasive tubes. Nor was there any IV delivering pain relief, and as he groaned, in agony, he missed the kindly Scottish doctor who wouldn't have allowed him to be in this much pain. But who belonged to that voice? It was familiar, someone he knew, but it sounded different somehow. Opening his dry, gritty eyes he grew alarmed as he stared right into the dark brown orbs of Nessan Kolya.

"Right, Sheppard. Just a few sips, I don't think either of us wants you bringing it back up again."

John thought he must still be dreaming…no, make that a nightmare, as Kolya raised his head and held the glass to his lips. His head was pounding, every part of him ached, and he felt so bad that if crap married shit, he would have been their lovechild. Even to his foggy brain, he knew that made no sense, but neither did the fact Kolya was standing over him looking concerned. Creeped out as he was by the whole situation, Sheppard realised he was completely at Nessan's mercy, too beat up and too sick to argue. But he had to admit the guy was surprisingly gentle, and the cool water did feel wonderful against his parched throat.

"That's enough for now" Kolya put down the glass, took a damp cloth from the metal basin set on a low wooden table by the bed, and began mopping John's face and torso. "There…does that feel better?"

Sheppard nodded, too shocked to speak.

Nessan smiled. "Good. You've been very ill for quite some time, but your fever broke last night, so I think you're finally on the mend." Kolya pulled up a chair and began to talk.

"I used to take care of my mother when she got sick. I was only a child…six years old…but there was no one else. The local healer would come in once a day, but only stayed long enough to leave more medicine. The rest of the time it was just the two of us. When she was feeling better, mother would sing to me as I cooked and cleaned, sometimes telling me the most wonderful stories of her childhood. The village where she grew up, her wonderful parents and twin sister. It sounded so perfect, and probably was…before the Wraith culled her village along with her family. She knew the townspeople despised her for loving my father, bringing me, his bastard, into the world. But despite what they thought, my mother wasn't a prostitute, and wasn't interested in money. Mother loved my father with a passion, but felt guilty about being the other woman, and was never comfortable about his insistence on providing for us, taking money away from his own family. Looking back, even though she was sick, those were the happiest days of my life, because it was just the two of us alone, against the world. After she died, for a very long time I felt responsible for her death, blamed myself for not providing the care she needed…which I know now is nonsense, because I was only a child, however, her death did haunt me for many years."

"Fath…r?" John croaked.

"As soon as mother became ill he didn't want to know. Oh, he left money for provisions and paid the healer for her services, but we never saw him again until after her death, when the elder in the village made him come and take me away to live with him."

"S…ry"

"Don't be, Sheppard. None of it was your fault." Dumping the cloth in the basin, he turned and looked John in the eye. "I know you don't trust me, I really haven't given you a reason to, have I? But it's been me who has cared for you these past days, and will continue to do so, until you are quite well again. So rest easy…I am not going to harm you."

John couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kolya, the man who had tried to kill him, and wouldn't stop until he was dead, had been caring for him. Why? He stared back at his nemesis in disbelief, wondering when the Genii would return to form and kill him…just as he'd promised.

Nessan saw John's suspicious look. "Remember what the monk said? 'If he dies so do you.' So, as you can imagine, Sheppard, it's in my best interests to keep you alive." Kolya saw Sheppard's flushed face start to relax. "Now, Brother Frama left some medicine to help ease the pain."

He poured some yellow liquid from a small, green smoke glass bottle, and again raised John's head to help him sip the contents from a spoon. "Good. Now I will leave you to rest, and come back later with some of the broth Frama is making especially for you. I think you've made a friend there, Sheppard."

John watched Nessan as he tucked the covers around his neck, before closing the curtains against the bright sunlight streaming into the room. As the Genii went to leave, he saw him turn and look at him once more. Relief was clearly visible on his features, no doubt because in his recovery, Nessan's life would also be spared. As Kolya left, closing the old wooden door softly behind him, John felt himself finally starting to relax. The pain was gradually starting to ease down a notch, leaving him achy, but nothing he couldn't handle. He still felt crap, washed out and sore, but with Nessan away, he reckoned he could sleep.

As his eyes closed, John ran over in his mind everything Kolya told him. Most of what Nessan spoke of he already knew...his mother dying young, leaving her child to be cared for by his father, a man who didn't want him. But it wasn't just what he said, or the thought of the sad little boy caring for his mother…it was the way in which he had said it. For the first time ever, Nessan had spoken without aggression or malice hidden within those dark eyes. It actually appeared the sadistic Genii seemed to have another side…one he guessed not many, if any, had ever seen.

Sheppard started to laugh when he thought of the old joke…'Who was that man, and what has he done with Nessan Kolya?' but groaned instead, and not just because it was a very bad joke. Opening his eyes he searched the room, but found it empty, with only the pale yellow curtains fluttering in the breeze from the open window. Was any of it real? Did any of the conversation with Nessan actually happen? Or could it be he was actually still unconscious, and the last few crazy minutes were the result of a weird, fever induced hallucination? One thing was for sure, right now John felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. The yellow brick road was stretching ahead of him without the help of the lion, the tin man or the scarecrow…and boy, did he want back to go back home to Atlantis.

TBC