Thanks for all the patience you guys have shown. I know MY BAD for abandoning this. I had become apathetic to SGA for a time. Mainly because of some of the fans and such. Long and boring story. A bit of Guilt made me write this part. Let's see how far it makes me go. Hopefully to the end. I lost track of this story, but I'll try and give it a good ending. :D
SLOW MOTION...part 17
Rodney felt almost sick with relief as they reached the Gate and contacted Atlantis. Actually, Teyla did what needed to be done, Rodney just hunched over, trying to breathe. He felt like the very air was suffocating him and he couldn't help but keep staring behind them, expecting the bad guys to show up and capture them again. He wasn't even sure why he felt so panicked this time, he'd been in dangerous situations more times than he cared to count, since becoming a member of Sheppard's team. But this time was truly freaking him out the most.
"Come on, Rodney!" Teyla was calling to him, then grabbing him by the sleeve and hauling him through the gate. Rodney stumbled through beside her, feeling another bout of almost nauseating relief, when they stepped onto Atlantis and Elizabeth was there to greet them.
"What happened?" she asked.
Rodney waved at Teyla, who explained with more detail than he was capable of at the moment. Although half way through he interrupted because he realized Lorne and a team of marines were suited up and milling around the gate. "You were sending a rescue team," Rodney stated.
Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. "Of course. Did you think I wouldn't?"
"No...of course you would, of course." Rodney nodded and flapped a hand at her. He was feeling less nauseous and his fear had receded but was being replaced with rising anger. "They wanted to make us slaves!" he snapped. "Can you believe that? ME! A slave!"
"But we're safe now," Teyla reminded him, her voice soft and calm, but her eyes glittered with anger and determination.
Rodney watched her grab a P90 and a tack vest from a nearby marine and he realized she was suiting up to go back through the gate. He was about to argue she should just let Lorne go, when he found himself reaching for a gun as well. Sheppard never left a man behind and Rodney knew he couldn't live with himself if he didn't try and return the favor. "Are we ready?" he asked, feeling a bit apprehensive, but determined.
Elizabeth touched his arm. "Maybe you should stay here and let Lorne and his team go," she suggested.
"No, I'm going," Rodney insisted. "They'll need my help to find Sheppard. Oh, speaking of which. I need an LSD." He snapped his fingers and a tech appeared with one. Rodney realized he didn't have a vest on and he waved a hand at a nearby marine. "I need your vest. Now!" he ordered, and it felt pretty good to be in control again. It felt even better when the marine handed over the vest without comment. Probably was a new recruit, but no matter. Rodney shrugged the vest on, tucked the LSD in one pocket, then loked at Teyla. "I'm ready if you are." He wasn't really, but he was still going to do this.
"I'm ready," Teyla announced, then she nodded to Lorne.
Elizabeth caught the signals and ordered the tech to dial the gate. "Good luck," she said, as they moved towards the puddle.
Rodney echoed her sentiment as he stepped back through the gate.
OoO
After John made the chair light up, the Queen ordered a celebration with, proclaiming John as the guest of honor. He tried to convince her he didn't want a party, but she insisted and with a clap of her hands tables appeared and were soon weighted down with platters of food and drink. Food tasted as rich as it looked and made John feel nauseous after a few bites. Musicians showed up and began playing music that sounded too loud and abrasive to John's ears. He rubbed his temples and caught sight of the bracelet still wrapped around his right wrist. He toyed with it, trying to remove it, but the bloody thing didn't have any visible clasp he could find.
"Only the Queen can remove the bracelet," Sir Chamaelion said from John's left.
"Great," John drawled, after he got his heart back under control. Chamaelion would have made a great hunter. He moved so silently John hadn't known the man was their till he spoke and startled the shit out of him.
Chamaelion smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "We have waited a long time for you to come to us," he said.
John shook his head, instantly regretting it when pain spiked through his temples. "I'm not who you think I am," he insisted. "I'm just a soldier with the magic gene. I'm not a member of the royal bloodline. I'm not a royal anything. Okay...maybe a royal pain in the ass at times, but that's it."
"Pain in the ass?" Chamaelion echoed, looking confused.
"Never mind." John sighed and rubbed his temples.
Chamaelion watched him, frowning. "You are feeling ill?"
John winced at having been caught out, but felt it best to lie anyway. "I'm just tired. When does the party end?"
"You may excuse yourself at anytime, especially if you are feeling unwell," Chamaelion replied. "I can make your excuses to the Queen and escort you back to your chambers. As for the party itself, it will continue until the morning hours."
"Bunch of party animals," John muttered. "Swell." He hoped his chambers were sound proofed. Realizing that Chamaelion was waiting for him to give a specific answer, John nodded. "Yeah, make my excuses. But I can make my own way back to the room."
Chamaelion bowed to him. "As you wish. I will check on you shortly." With that he drifted away in search of the Queen.
John watched him go then headed to his rooms. He thought about slipping out of the castle, but gave up that idea when he realized guards were stationed at every window and door. He wouldn't be able to leave without being seen and he knew he wouldn't just be allowed to walk out. So he went to his rooms and heaved a sigh of relief when he was greeted with the sweet sound of silence once the doors were closed behind him.
For some reason he felt exhausted and jittery and his head ached, so John didn't hesitate to crawl onto the bed. He curled up on his side, closed his eyes and let sleep claim him. And it was pure bliss until groping hands jolted him awake.
"What the..." John was stunned to find the Queen hovering over him, her clumsy hands tugging at his shirt. When she leaned in with puckered lips, he pushed her back and slid off the bed. "Uh...what are you doing?" he demanded, even though it was pretty obvious.
"I have waited for you for so long," The Queen replied, following him off the bed and more than a bit unsteady on her feet. John realized she was drunk. As in, very. She staggered towards him, tripping on the ends of her gown. He caught her and she smiled up at him. "I didn't know you would be so pretty," she drawled.
John grimaced and was about to make a polite come back when one of her hands found his groin and he yelped. "Hey! Watch it!" He pushed her back against the bed so it would offer her support, but when he tried to let go of her, she clung to him like super glue. He really didn't want to have to hurt her, but she was starting to get way too personal and John could hear the Captain Kirk comments Rodney would make if he ever found out about this.
Just then he realized he wasn't alone. Sir Chamaelion appeared at his side like magic.
"My lady," Chamaelion sing-songed, moving towards the Queen and taking her by the arm. "You must come with me now."
"No!" she protested, trying to pull free. "I want to be with my new King."
Chamaelion shook his head. "You know you must leave him pure until the ceremony."
John wondered what ceremony, but didn't ask. He just wanted the Queen out of here and Chamaelion was getting the job done.
"Pure..." the Queen echoed, sounding disappointed. But then she was nodding and allowing Chamaelion to pull her away.
"I'll be back momentarily," Chamaelion told John, as he guided the Queen out of the room.
John sighed and paced as he waited. He was too jittery to try sleeping again and his head ached to the point he was gritting his teeth.
Sir Chamaelion returned shortly, bearing a cup of tea. "Drink this, it will help," he told John.
"Thanks." John accepted it, knowing it was another dose of shuloc. He knew he needed it. "Look, can I walk in the gardens?" he asked. They were lit up almost bright enough to give the illusion of daylight. Plus he had asked Cilia about the gardens and he knew they were fenced in and guarded. So it wasn't like he was going to be able to make an escape attempt. Without weapons or knowledge of the area, John knew that to do so would be foolishness on his part anyway. He wouldn't even know where to begin looking for Ronon.
"You may walk in the gardens," Chamaelion conceded. "But do not be long. You need to rest. Come morning you will begin your new life here."
John grimaced at that thought, but didn't protest it. He figured actions spoke louder than words anyway, and he'd make sure everyone got the hint tomorrow that he wasn't going to be King. So all he did was smile at Chamaelion and thank him, before heading for the gardens. He heard Chamaelion say something about going off to attend to the Queen, but John tuned him out after that.
Sipping at his tea, John felt better with each passing minute. The gardens were massive and beautiful and he could almost feel content in this moment, if it wasn't for the fact he was a prisoner. As he strolled about he absently mused about the fact that he seemed to need more shuloc more often. And if he hadn't been feeling so crappy, that might have actually bothered him a bit. Maybe. Instead he let the thought slip away, even as he finished off the tea.
"More Shuloc?"
John jumped at the deep, familiar voice. Good thing his cup was empty or he would have been wearing the tea. Turning around, he was more than a little surprised to see Ronon standing before him. "How did you get here?" John countered, pitching his voice to a whisper. He ignored the fact that Ronon seemed to know about the stuff.
Ronon shrugged at the question. "Walked," he replied.
"How did you find me?" John was glancing around as he spoke, waiting for a guard to pop up.
"Knew where to look," Ronon was nothing if not succinct. Stepping closer, he grabbed the empty cup and stared into it. "You're addicted."
John was shocked and quickly becoming angry. "You don't know what you're talking about!"
Ronon almost laughed at that. "I talked to my trainer and he explained everything. You fit right in here, Sheppard. Bloodline and all. From what I was told the entire royal family is addicted."
"I'm not addicted!" John snapped, then he clapped a hand over his mouth. He didn't want to attract unwanted attention. "Didn't you run into any guards?" he asked.
"Ran into a few of them," Ronon allowed. "They're napping at the moment."
John felt himself relax a bit at that. "How much time do we have?" He knew Ronon would be missed at some point.
But the big guy just shrugged at him. "Time enough to get out of here. If you're feeling up to it."
"Why wouldn't I be?" John was truly surprised that Ronon would ask that.
"I saw how sick you were till you got your fix," Ronon reminded him.
John felt anger welling up again. "I'm not a god damn addict!" he snarled.
Ronon being Ronon, he wasn't the least bit impressed by John's fury. "Tell that to Beckett when we get back." He shifted suddenly, turning and letting his eyes pierce the darkness that outlined the boundaries of the garden. "We should move now. You ready?"
"More than ready," John replied. He gestured for Ronon to lead the way and he felt relief wash over him as they reached a break in the fence where two guards lay unconscious and bound. A little voice in John's head whispered that this was too easy, but he ignored the voice in favor of following Ronon into the welcome darkness that would cover them as they slipped away.
For a time they moved silently, John following Ronon's footsteps exactly in the heavy darkness. But once he felt they were far enough away from the castle, he had to ask, "Did you hear anything about Teyla and Rodney?"
Ronon stopped running, crouching down and gesturing for John to do the same. His eyes continued searching the darkness as he replied, "Nothing definite. My trainer figures they might have gotten sold as mine slaves."
"Rodney will love that," John commented, all the while hoping it wasn't true. He trusted Teyla to take care of Rodney though. Realistically the best thing for him and Ronon to do was return to Atlantis. With a bit of luck, Teyla and Rodney were already there, waiting on them.
"Shh!" Ronon suddenly hissed, pushing John behind him. They crouched lower and there was a shuffling sound that soon passed by them and faded away.
John tried to pierce the darkness with his gaze, but it was too thick so he counted on Ronon for identification. "Human or animal?"
Ronon was standing, drawing John up with him. "Animal."
"Hope it was friendly," John muttered.
"Come on," Ronon replied, tugging John along as he started to run again.
They didn't speak as they continued traveling until the night sky started to brighten. Ronon let them break for a few minutes and John wished he had thought to bring something to drink with him. He'd have given his right arm for a bottle of water.
Apparently Ronon could read minds because he pulled out what looked like a large flask and handed it to John. "Just a few sips," he said.
"Thanks," John replied, ignoring the way his hand shook as he took it. He was feeling jittery again and he wondered how much time had passed. He knew it had to be hours. His headache was back, his stomach was cramping and he felt sick. Bringing the flask to his mouth he took a sip and was surprised to realize it was tea. A glance at Ronon confirmed what he suspected. "You're giving me Shuloc?"
"I need you on your feet," Ronon replied. "You don't look so good right now and we're still a couple of hours from the gate."
John had to take Ronon's word for that because the ride to the palace was nothing but a blur of remembered pain. He said nothing though and just took a few more sips of the tea. He let Ronon take the flask back as he closed his eyes and waited for the pain to fade. A few minutes later and he stopped shaking. He opened his eyes to see Ronon watching him intently. John wondered if there was disappointment shimmering in the dark gaze as well, or just a reflection of the shadows. He decided not too look too closely. "We should get moving," he said in response to Ronon's unasked question.
Ronon nodded and rose to his feet with the grace of a cat, before heading out once more.
Ignoring the way his own muscles protested, John followed.
OoO
"We're never going to find them," Rodney complained, for what he knew was about the dozenth time. But he ignored Lorne's glare and he grimaced at the placating look on Teyla's face.
"We know that they were taken to the Palace," Teyla said firmly.
Rodney snorted. "Who's to say that old coot wasn't lying? He just wanted to stare at your b--" He broke off before putting both his feet in his mouth, nearly rolling his own eyes in an attempt not to look at Teyla's cleavage. Although it was hard not to look sometimes, given as how it was prominently on display. And Rodney wished he could scrub his brain to erase such thoughts. It wasn't like him, but he knew he was tired and hungry and feeling frustrated and worried. All things he hated feeling.
Lorne smirked at McKay before waving them over to a shady spot beneath some kind of overgrown tree. "We'll find them," he stated firmly. "Although I wouldn't bet against Sheppard and Dex finding their own way out."
"Smart man, Major," drawled a familiar laconic voice.
"Sheppard?" Rodney had been about to slump down against the tree but he straightened and whirled around, ignoring his protesting back muscles, to see Sheppard and Ronon approaching with grins on their faces.
John grinned at McKay. "It's me. Did you miss us?"
Teyla was smiling back at him. "It's good to see you both. You are well?"
"Well enough," John replied. He looked at Lorne. "Tell me you have the jumper parked somewhere close by."
"We walked," Lorne replied, looking regretful.
Rodney didn't give Sheppard a chance to respond to that. He opened his mouth to make some taunting remark about the Colonel's attire when the world suddenly titled to the left. With a rather undignified squeak, Rodney hit the ground hard. Then darkness claimed him.
THE END...of part 17