Aw, the little bots notification thingies are not working. They must be broken or working too hard or something. Once again, thank you everyone who urged me to continue with your reviews and added this fic in your alerts and fav lists. I was very happy to receive them! Special thanks goes to:

Ditzyleo (I had fun writing them, and loved reading the parts that you enjoyed.)
Titan5 (You're absolutely right, the Genii are wolves! Hmm, I might have to use that. Am so happy you liked that hairline bit and so loved reading your comments about it.)
Merlin71 (Thank you so much and for your comments! It made me very happy.)
drufan (LOL! I was wondering if anyone would spot and laugh about it - ie, no name! You get the spot the 'funny name' prize! Yes, pony tailed Geniie should be scared, very scared indeed.)
MacGateFan (Thanks! I loved reading what you had to say, esp the scenes that you enjoyed.)
Terry (I'm writing as fast as I can!)
lightrain (Thank you! Toga should hopefully make an appearance later on and the team is wondering about that too.)
BingoGrl821 (I'm glad you think so! Am doing so.)
TangledPencils (LOL! What a cracker! I enjoyed the laugh, thank you.)
highonscifi (Thanks! It's nothing very fancy, but hopefully you still like.)
PyroDragon2006 (I shall try my best! Poor John, we do like to stick holes in him, don't we? LOL.)
reen212000 (Thanks, that's great to hear!)

Chap 3: Baa Baa Sheppard Sheep...

Nightfall had arrived. By now Rodney was panicking a little. "Oh gawd! We're going to be fried and barbecued, and burned like witches on a stake! By the time Elizabeth sends another team to look for us, all they'll find would be blackened and roasted corpses, nobody would even be able to recognise any of us! We might be moulded together like some lump of burnt meat or melted human bits! My sister won't have a decent body to bury except an unrecognisable piece of steak! Oh boy, I think I'm starting to hyperventilate! I think my blood sugar level is getting low, I think I'm feeling kinda light headed... Do you think they'll allow us a last meal before we get roasted?"

"Rodney, will you cut it out?! And how can you think of food at a time like this? Just remain calm, stay positive and pull yourself together!" John scolded the scientist.

"Hey hey hey! I need my blood sugar level to remain at safe levels, at least give the dying man a last bite to eat, it's the least they can do! After all, they shot me in the foot, which I think is still bleeding by the way! I need to replenish my sugar and blood level. Do you think they'll give us steak if we asked for it?" Rodney ranted, gulped and tried to stay calm. He tried to ease the rising panic that was threatening to overwhelm him. It wasn't an easy task to say the least. Then, they heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

From where they were positioned, Teyla was the first to see the five Genii approaching with their leader, Koden, walking with a lighted torch in his hand. Throughout the evening, the Genii got the rest of the villagers to place piles of wood around the Atlantian team in preparation for the burning at the stake. While they were doing it, Sheppard would stare hard at some of the young men there; he didn't say anything, but his eyes spoke volumes. A couple of young men glanced at him guiltily, but none would meet the gaze of his hazel eyes. The same applied to the rest of his team too, especially Teyla; no Nonamer dared look at her either. After all, many in the village knew the Athosian, she was considered a friend to many of them. However, through out the evening, there was no sight of Toga, the leader of the Nonamers.

When they had completed their task, the villagers had all gone back to cowering in their homes again. Sheppard found it difficult to believe that these people could be cowed so easily especially when they had weapons to fight back with. Their technology was about the same level as the Genii. With so many of them, it would have been easy to defeat the Genii. But somewhere along the way, these people had lost their warriors' heart, they were simple peasants and farmers, looking after livestock and their crops. He wondered whether it was the cullings of the wraith that had broken down their spirit to fight for what was theirs. After all, they were allowing the Genii to take over and order them around as if they nothing but brainless sheep. Rodney was right, these people had somehow lost their way. Yet, when John had played and spoken with the children and young men, he had seen the spark of independence in their eyes; they were capable of so much more. He sensed it deep within him, he hoped that he would be able to succeed in making them realise it for themselves. If he didn't then he would die with the rest of his team tonight.

The group of armed Genii approached the Atlantian team. It was time for the burning to begin and the Genii looked pleased with the handy work.

"Best to say goodbye, Sheppard," Koden said gleefully, "cos you and your team are about to personally experience a burning tonight."

"Oh please!" McKay shouted from his side of the pole, although he couldn't see Koden from where he was tied up. "Couldn't you think up of something more original? After all, it isn't as if we're in the Middle Ages here."

"No, burning by the stake will do just fine," John drawled, giving the Genii leader a pointed smile.

"What?! Have you gone nuts, Sheppard?!" this exclamation came from Rodney.

"Sheppard? Do you know what you're doing?" Ronon asked from the opposite side of the pole.

"John?" Teyla questioned hesitantly.

"Trust me, guys, let me handle this. You said that you wanted a shepherd to lead the flock, didn't you? Well, I'm doing that now," John said. However, despite his causal tone, there was a small frown between his brows as he focused on the man standing before him. He tried not to let Koden see how much his shoulder wound was hurting him. He really could use some of Carson's good drugs right about now.

"As long as you know what you're doing," Ronon growled a low warning.

"And suggesting that we be burned at the stake is not sounding like a very good plan right about now, Sheppard!" Rodney piped in.

Teyla said nothing. John hoped that it was because she had faith in him that he would find a way to get them out of this mess. He sighed, moving his thoughts away from his team's lack of trust back towards the man who stood before him. Koden had obviously heard his team's protests and was enjoying it so far. The Genii leader chuckled, looking at the rest of his men, who also broke into amused laughter. Perhaps, the fact that his team had protested could work out in his favour after all, Sheppard thought to himself.

"Koden, before our painful demise, I only ask for only one favour," Sheppard stared at the Genii leader.

Koden's curiosity was piqued, so he barked out. "You may ask Sheppard, but you may not necessary get it."

John nodded, he turned to look at all the villagers who had been rounded up to witness the burning. He saw the young men whom he had taught football with, the children whom he had played with and told ghost stories to, the older men whom he and Ronon had helped carry their load from the fields. The women whom Teyla knew and were friends with. It was amazing how familiar some these people had become in the relative short period that he and his team had been there. But now these same Nonamers who had laughed and shared meals with them were as silent as sheep. They were all gathered there to witness Sheppard and his team's execution. In a shadowy corner, John spied movement, and he saw Toga lurking about, as if afraid to show or bring attention to himself.

"I only ask that you get one of the Nonamers villagers to light the flame. After all, this is their village, and as they helped build the stake, it is only right that they should light it." Sheppard said. At his words, he heard gasps and murmuring of unease ripple through the villagers. From close beside him, he heard Rodney whisper frantically, "What kind of lame brain idea is that, Sheppard? Did that bullet strike you in the head instead?"

Koden however burst loud laughing, liking the idea as John knew that he would. But the colonel did not say anything else except to return the Genii's smirk with an unreadable smile of his own. He then turned his gaze towards the villagers gathered there and all that his gaze fell upon looked away in shame.

"Agreed!" Koden finally replied, still chuckling loudly, not realizing the uncomfortable silence that had settled upon the crowd. He turned back towards John, looking at him in amusement. "Whom do you chose?" he asked.

John looked back at the crowd of villagers facing him. He knew that he wouldn't choose Toga for the Nonamer leader had already proven himself to be no ally to the Atlantians but a traitor in sheep's clothing. No, it had to be someone with a potential to lead. A potential to give the Nonamers back their spirit, their courage, their heart. The pilot then spotted the youngster, he couldn't be no more than seventeen years of age; Sheppard had been teaching him and a couple of his friends how to play football during his spare time in the village. He would do. John thought to himself. It was now time for the boy to proof himself to be a man. He hoped that he judged correctly, after all, all their lives depended on it.

"Adric," John said, nodding toward the blond haired young man who was standing in the middle of the crowd, wearing long dark brown robes. Many of the Nonamers there wore long robes; it was part of their garment, it protected them against the cold breeze. At the mention of his name, Adric looked up with shock displaying on his comely features, he shook his head 'No'. Then his 'no' became audible. But despite his protests, the young man was pushed forward and dragged out by the rest of the Genii who were now laughing with glee.

"It's all right, Adric," Sheppard said, looking at the young man in the eye, "You can do this. Remember what I taught you about playing football? This is basically the same thing. If you have heart and courage, things will work out the way you expect it to."

He saw the fear in Adric's eyes leak away and determination and fortitude take its place. Sheppard knew that he made the right decision, and he gave the young man another nod, glanced at the armed Genii before them, but did not say anything else.

TBC

So, how am I doing? Please tell me what you think about it.