Trials of Faith

by Yogo

The team travel to a planet where the Wraith are supposedly culling Athosians. Teyla is wounded before the team embark upon a quest to end Wraith dominance in their galaxy by way of an unusual weapon. Meanwhile, Teyla and John face their true feelings.

11. An instrument to be controlled

Trials of Faith – Chapter 11

An instrument to be controlled.

'Cool.' Ronan raised his eyebrows as Astra set the pen back down on the table. He was impressed.

'Well, she obviously has some…talent, or another…still, I would like to run some tests, see if we can't shed a little more light onto what exactly it is that lets you…do that.' Rodney poked his chin out, expecting his orders to be carried out.

'As long as Astra doesn't mind.' Elizabeth smiled, her breathing a little fast from the excitement.

'She is the one! She will save us!' Jardus praised.

Astra looked extremely uncomfortable. Ronan seeing this stood.

'Do you need to ask her anything else?' He turned to Weir who shook her head.

'We should talk later on what we can do for you. At some point, I want to have this planet checked out, see if we can find out why the Wraith were so interested in an Ancient Facility and if they have taken anything of any great importance.' Weir glanced at Astra. 'Do you know the symbols of the planet?'

Astra nodded. 'I believe so, yes. I would ask, Doctor Weir, that I might be able to join those who venture there. I would very much like to know what is inside the facility.'

Weir smiled slightly. 'Of course, for now, we'll wait on Teyla's surgery. Maybe you and Rodney could look over the Ancient Database for any information on your people?'

Rodney glanced at her. 'Tests?'

'Only if she's comfortable.' Weir reminded.

'I am. I have never been to a world with such technology; I have little knowledge on who or what I am. Anything you could reveal, I would appreciate.' She nodded at Rodney who smiled and turned away to collect notes from his table. It appeared that he had warmed to her more now that she was clean and better dressed.

Astra glanced at Ronan who indicated for them to leave. She stood, the Councilmen doing the same and following them out. Rodney was close behind. Elizabeth watched John sitting in his chair.

'Well, that was bracing.' She said kindly.

John sounded his agreement, but did not look at her.

'It's not her fault that Teyla was hurt, John.' She watched him closely, knowing that he could blow any minute. He looked up at her.

'Yeah.' He said, standing. 'Maybe.' He knew she wasn't. 'But I still think there's something not all that right about her.'

Weir grinned glancing at the pen. 'No kidding.'

'What will you do now?' Astra asked, Yeda walking at her side.

The other Council members trailed behind with Ronan and Rodney, all of them sensing that she wanted a moment alone with the Athosian.

'The Tolasians have offered for me to stay and rebuild with them, but I feel the need to rejoin my people on the mainland. It is a time when we must all be together to fight the sorrow.' He said sadly, looking to the floor.

'Understandable. I would like to travel to the mainland if I may? Teyla said that there would be some people there who might help me to find something of myself.' Astra folded her arms.

'You are more than welcome. We will do what we can, but I doubt it will be much.' Yeda glanced at a group of people in the corner as they entered the lunch hall, all of them just learning who these strangers were through whisper and rumour.

'You have done so much already.' Astra said quietly. 'Would it make a difference? If I were to apologise to you?'

Yeda smiled weakly. 'Astra, you have nothing to apologise for. You did not kill any of those people. The Wraith did this, just as they have always done.'

She found little comfort in his words, but it was enough to silence her for now.

'The Councilmen and I will return to Tolas, I must collect my family, and they must begin to salvage what is left.' He turned to her, smiling kindly, he lowered his head down and she lowered hers so that their foreheads touched. It was the Athosians way of saying goodbye; she liked it ever so much. It was personal. He stood and squeezed her arms. 'The best of luck Astra, I will see you soon.'

She said her farewells to the other Councilmen, all wishing her the best in destroying the Wraith. She felt numb, cold, tired. So many people depended on her.

'Well, if we have some lunch and then I can take you down to the lab, or the infirmary, and we'll begin running a whole bunch of tests.' Mckay said chirpily, bounding over to the counter and searching for an evening meal. Ronan watched him mumble something under his breath about the standards of food at the counter.

'He can be handy in a situation, but other than that, he's just a pain.' Ronan smirked at Astra as she sat. 'Are you hungry?'

No. She wasn't. But she knew that she needed to eat, she hadn't eaten for over a day. There was an emptiness in her that told her eating was pointless. But the look in Ronan's eyes told her that she had to eat something. He would not take no for an answer. He had not asked whether or not she had wanted anything, he had asked what she had wanted.

'I'll have whatever you think is best.' She smiled. Ronan nodded and sauntered over to the counter.

The room was large with many tables and chairs, there was a small group in the corner eating and drinking. They wore blue T-shirts and seemed to be in deep conversation.

She felt tired and wondered how long the tests would take. She needed to sleep, badly. The events of the last two days had worn her down. The events of the last six months had worn her down if truth be told, but she couldn't afford to give up now. She smiled quickly as Rodney and Ronan sat opposite her. The strange little man tucked in to some sort of reddish dish with a delightful aroma. Ronan placed a dish of the same sort in front of her with another interesting smell; it had some sort of a yellowish sauce. He had gotten a large sandwich with all the trimmings.

'What is this meal?' She asked.

'Carbonara.' Rodney explained, taking another huge mouthful.

'And your dish?'

'Bolognaise.'

She smiled, unsure of what to do with it exactly. The utensil shaped at a pitch fork was clearly for winding the long strands around the prongs. She did so and took a small mouthful. Ronan paused, waiting.

'This is remarkable.' She said. He continued eating.

'You should be here on a Sunday. We get a large meat with all the trimmings. All this stuff is trivial in comparison, I mean that dish is beyond gross, it's like chewing plastic, believe me. But then you have no idea what that is and so for you, it probably would taste pretty good. And don't let me get started on the risotto, I mean the rice is all hard and-'

'Mckay.' Ronan interrupted. 'Let her eat.'

Rodney drooped. Astra grinned at him, his eyes mirroring the humour.

'Fine. She can eat.' Mckay took another mouthful. 'So how did you do that? With the pen?'

Ronan groaned and his head wilted. Astra laughed.

'I do not know Doctor. I think it and it happens. The problem being that I cannot levitate anything bigger than your…pen.' She did not know of the device.

'Mh, so, you think it and it happens.' He paused. 'Your people didn't undergo a sort of technological phase where you experimented with fusing your bodies with machines, did they?'

'I do not believe so. The runes on the planet said that they did not need technology to help them as their abilities served all of their purposes.' Astra enjoyed their company, it felt normal. She was not hiding in caves or hidden rooms. She was in the light. She was safe.

'Mh, well, the test should confirm that.' Mckay continued eating, asking more questions.

Astra and Ronan also continued eating, stealing glances of amusement at any chance they could get.

Teyla had emerged from surgery and an exhausted Carson had plopped in the chair beside her. She had been hooked to numerous machines.

John held her hand, sitting next to her and watching her face.

'She can breathe on her own, we were lucky that the rib hadn't made a huge mess, but enough to cause her to almost drown in her own blood.' He caught the look from Sheppard and moved swiftly on. 'I've set the bone as best I could, it won't break off and risk puncturing her lung again. She'll be tender for weeks to come, but she'll be back to full health in no time.' Carson said merrily, bags under his eyes.

'Thanks Doc.' John said. 'Why don't you get some rest? I'll keep an eye on her.'

'Aye, I've got a bed behind me desk over there. I'll sleep here for the next few nights until we're sure that she's in the clear.' Carson hesitated. 'She'll be out for the night Colonel; I've got two Nurses in tonight to make sure she'll be fine.'

John nodded. 'Thanks Carson, but I think that I'm gonna stay here.'

Beckett nodded, smiling slightly, and then wandered to the bed behind his desk and fell asleep immediately.

John leaned over her, stroking her hand. He swept a stray piece of hair from her face and lightly kissed her fore head. He stared at her for a few seconds, wanting to see her large soulful brown eyes.

He sat down and let go of her hand folding his arms across his chest.

'You really piss me off, you know that?' He said to her. 'First you run off into danger without telling me and you get hurt, then you blame me for it, then you run off again with intention of never coming back and you don't even say goodbye, and then you get yourself into a mess of trouble with the Wraith and I have to come save your ass!' He tried to keep his voice light, not to yell at her or to wake Carson. 'If you weren't so damn stubborn all the time, you'd see that we are here for you and that you're not alone.' He paused, leaning forward and taking her hand. 'You're not alone, Teyla. I'm here. With you. Talking at you while you're asleep and you have no idea what I am saying which means I'll have to repeat it when you wake up.' He smiled slightly.

She was here and she was alive. For the moment, he was okay. When she woke up however, he knew that he would be imparting some of the ol' Sheppard wisdom with her stubborn ass.

She had been poked, prodded, jabbed, pinched and probed and she had very little patience left. Morning was not far away, and she had much to do, but still the scientist insisted on running his tests. Taking readings and pictures, asking her to lie and stay still, taking her blood into a tube – even cutting off some of her hair and looking at it under a large machine he called 'microscope.' He had been 'mmhing' and 'aahing' and spouting a lot of technical nonsense far beyond her understanding, asking her endless questions. She had been very cooperative; she hoped that he could see that. But she was about ready to take this microscope and whack him over the head with it.

Ronan had stayed the whole time, offering her some distraction from the boredom and frustration. Throwing jokes and insults in unfinished sentences. He was also starting to get crabby. She hoped he would break before she did so that she didn't seem awful to Mckay.

'Right…I just want to run one more test. It's the last one I promise.' He hurried around the lab and Ronan gritted his teeth.

'You said that an hour ago.'

'Well, a few more things came up, I mean, she is originally from another galaxy – there's a lot of stuff I need to do. A little patience will benefit all.' He snapped, continuing with his typing on the laptop.

'It is approaching dawn, may we not continue this at another-' She began politely.

'I get it, you're tired, so am I. But your not the one who has to concentrate on all of this, you get to sit there and do nothing.' He snapped, Ronan casting him a warning look.

'Yes Doctor Mckay, as I have done for hours…and hours…and hours…and hours…'She said firmly, willing the Scientist to meet her half way.

'It'll just take a little while longer…' His attention was completely on the laptop. He was not listening. She hopped off the table. 'Where are you going?' He asked quickly.

'To sleep, I may be from another galaxy, but as any creature, I require rest.'

Ronan stood beside her, quite ready to leave as well.

'But I am almost-'

'Doctor Mckay. I can rest, or I can stay here and practice floating pens around the room at great velocities. I am afraid that I cannot control them very well when I am tired, they may get stuck places.' She added menacingly.

Rodney caught her drift and snapped the laptop shut. 'Yes, well, goodnight.'

Astra nodded, Ronan walked her to her room.

The days passed and the sun rose and fell over at Atlantis, like it had always done.

The buzz about Astra had not subsided, if anything it was the most popular topic of conversation, and John thought that it would be for a while. She was, apparently, their best hope of defeating the Wraith once and for all. I guess that meant he would have to make some sort of peace with her at some point. Damn. Ronan had been spending far too much time with her for his liking, he knew his friend could take care of himself, better than most, but John felt as though he were walking into something that would undoubtedly have a bad ending. Maybe it was just his special positive outlook on life here in the Pegasus Galaxy. Maybe it wasn't. He hadn't spoken to her since that day in the meeting room, which also meant he hadn't spoken to Ronan that much, only when he was getting a coffee for her or a sandwich. Times when he was alone. And even then it had been the bare minimum. John had been in the infirmary mostly, Mckay and Elizabeth wandering in every now and then. What really pissed him off is that he hadn't yet seen Ronan in there, or Astra, if she had the nerve to even see Teyla.

John knew he couldn't get angry over this, it hadn't been her fault. But it felt good to blame some one who was close. It wasn't like he could walk up to the Wraith on his lonesome and start tearing through them, as much as he would like to.

He watched Teyla, trying to think of what she was dreaming. She moved slightly, looking uncomfortable. Whatever she was dreaming, it wasn't chock full of rainbows and fluffy bunnies. John squeezed her hand, like he had done many times before. Her head started to move, her eyes fluttering open. John shot up.

'Carson!' He called, using both of his hands to massage hers.

Beckett jogged over and checked her stats.

'About time, I thought she'd be awake earlier than that.' He smiled.

Teyla opened her eyes slowly.

'Teyla?' John said softly. Teyla's eyes snapped to him and she shot up pushing him back.

Teyla stumbled out of bed, falling to her knees, her hand going instantly to her side, blood seeping through the material.

'Easy lass!' Carson yelled, coming to her side. Teyla looked up at him. 'You've just had surgery!'

'Atlantis?' She whispered.

'Aye, Teyla, you're safe.' He took her arm and guided her onto the bed, John moving in swiftly to help.

She paused, breathing through the pain. Then her eyes went wide and she attempted to get out of bed again, but John held her fast.

'Teyla stop!' He yelled. She didn't.

'No! I must return to the planet! There is a girl!' She struggled hard, grabbing at John's arms trying to force him off of her. John placed himself in front of her so that his legs pushed against her, they couldn't kick him.

'Teyla!' John growled. 'You've got to stop! You're bleeding-'

'No! You don't understand!'

'Yes we do!' John saw her stop struggling, frowning. Carson hurried over with a needle of some liquid and seeing that she had stopped, held it at his side. 'We know about the girl, she's here. Safe. She's fine.' Teyla looked to her legs being pinned by John's breathing slow. 'You on the other hand have to calm down, you're hurt.' John frowned at her.

Teyla took a moment before realising that she was still holding on to his arms, his rather bulky and manly arms. She swore that if she weren't so tired she would have blushed a brilliant red. She smiled sheepishly at John who smiled back, relieved to have her come to her senses.

'Sorry, I was a little disoriented.' She grinned at him. 'May I have my legs back?'

It was John's turn to blush. 'Oh.' He stepped back; she released her grip on his arms, almost sadly.

Teyla lay back carefully and Carson came forward, gently lifting her shirt, showing bronze skin covered in her own blood.

'You've pulled a few stitches, Colonel, would you hand me that stack of material over there?' Carson nodded and John retrieved the material. The Doctor began mopping it up, removing the pulled stitches. Carson injected her drip with a powerful drug to make her numb, he re-did the stitches. Teyla watched John looking slightly queasy. Carson also saw his expression.

'If this disturbs you Colonel, you'd better wait outside.'

'I'm good.' He turned and sat. Teyla smiled.

'Where is she?'

John looked up at her brown eyes, his heart singing when he thought how he may never have been able to see them again. 'She's with Ronan; they've been running tests with Mckay.'

'Has Rodney found anything?' She asked.

'No. He's run every test known to man and Ancient. All he knows is that she is in remarkable health and that she has a slightly different brain chemistry to usual humans. He's really miffed too. He expected to find some sort of machine in her brain which made stuff move.' He paused, seeing the puzzled expression on her face. 'Oh, she can move stuff by thinking it.'

'Then I was right to go and find her.' Teyla stated. John narrowed his eyes.

'It didn't do you any good.' He indicated to her wound.

'John.' Teyla raised an eyebrow. 'You have been a gentleman to her while I was unconscious, haven't you?' She asked firmly.

'Depends on your definition of gentlemen…'He mumbled.

'Well your definition is not speakin' to her at all if only to say that she's evil and cowardly, when in fact she's a right lovely person.' Carson explained, John glaring at him before grinning at the sour expression on Teyla's face.

'Okay, so I took a backseat when it came to polite interaction, Ronan is the one making with the useful convo, I thought you should know.' He sat up straight and avoided her eyes.

'Ronan?' Teyla asked, genuinely surprised.

'Yup, he's been a real Knight in shining armour. Talking to her, feeding her, spending ever second of the day glued to her ass-' He caught both Carson's and Teyla's expression of warning '-ets, her assets. I haven't had a decent conversation with him in days.' He paused. 'If anyone can actually have a conversation with Ronan.'

'Apparently Astra can.' Carson smiled flippantly.

'Where is she, I would very much like to speak with her.' Teyla asked, Carson finishing up the stitches.

'You're not going anywhere for a while, Teyla, you've got some serious healin' to do.' Carson warned firmly.

Teyla looked at John imploringly. He widened his eyes.

'Like I Carson said, I haven't been the perfect gentlemen, and plus I like this silent truce we've got goin' here…'Teyla's eyes stared at him. He wavered. 'Fine, but if she floats me out of a window, you'll be sorry you asked me.'

'You will be sorely missed, John.' She teased as he gave her a playful pinch on his way out.

'I just don't get it! There's nothing, no anomalies, no special differences – nada! How can you be from another galaxy?' Rodney snapped, the pad in front of him inches from his face.

'My people were brought to this galaxy many thousands of years ago, they married into humans. I am surprised that I can even float a pen.' She laughed.

Astra, Ronan and Rodney were in the training room. Rodney sat on the side sifting through various papers while Ronan trained Astra in hand to hand combat.

Ronan had seen an improvement in her skill in only two days; she was quick, strong and extremely observant. She was built to fight.

Astra struggled in his arms as he pinned her into his chest, she had made the wrong move and was struggling hard to break free. He was having difficulty holding her she was that strong. Since she was half his size, he should be able to pick her up and fling her over his shoulder, but he could barely even hold her.

'You're strong.' He stated.

'Years of farming, Ronan. It builds not only a hardy heart-' She elbowed him and then kicked his midsection, he stumbled back. '- but a strong muscle.'

'It's either that or it's your alien lineage.' Mckay interjected.

'Yes, it is farming or my terrible alien lineage.' She mocked, smiling at Ronan as he stepped forward, nodding his head that they should begin again.

'I never said that it was terrible. But apparently it's useless.' Rodney commented, Astra throwing him a tired look before blocking Ronan's attack.

He was holding back, she could feel it, could see it in the playfulness of his eyes. She hated that.

Astra came at him fast, punching quickly. Left, right, chin, backhand, jab. Surprised by this sudden surge of speed, Ronan faltered. She caught him on his chin and he stepped back, years of fighting experience telling his body to spin. He brought his fist out and backhanded her. Fast and strong as she was, he was still a big guy. She fell to the mat.

Mckay gaped. 'Oh nice going, Ronan, let's kill off the best chance we have of defeating the Wraith.'

She stood quickly, stumbling as she brought her hand to her mouth, advancing on the scientist sitting on the floor.

'Is that all I am to you Doctor? Another one of your instruments to be controlled? I'll not be an instrument unless I deem it necessary to become one to save people from the Wraith!'

'Well start deeming it necessary!' Mckay stood. 'Because the galaxy needs saving from the Wraith! And all this time you've been running? You should have figured it out by now, because I'm starting to think that it's nothing more than attractive lie to save your own ass.'

Astra backhanded him – hard. His head flew into the wall and he was momentarily stunned. Anger coursing through her, she advanced, only to have Ronan pull both her arms behind her and swing her round.

Mckay stood, infuriated, Ronan in the middle.

'Go on Mckay.' He ordered; tense, ready to stop either of them from fighting. He could hear Astra close behind him, breathing hard.

Mckay felt his lip, it came away bloody. 'You're such a joke.' He growled. 'And it's sad, because I wanted you to be something more. We all did.' He threw both of them filthy looks and turned to leave.

John stood in the doorway, glaring at all of them, his eyes resting on the young woman who had her own bleeding lip. Her blue eyes were fixed on him daring him to blame her.

Mckay gave him a look that meant he was done here, and left. John looked at Ronan who was, as usual, expressionless.

'Keep her in line, Ronan. We don't know what she's capable of.' John stared at her with menace and she scowled in return.

'Apparently, she throws a good punch.' He replied quietly.

John stared.

'Yeah, she threw a good punch at a defenceless man who happens to be one of your friends.' He walked into the room, approaching Ronan with an incredulous expression.

'Mckay was being an ass.' He explained.

'Mckay's always an ass, but I manage to stop the urge to hit him.' John snapped, a sudden anger within him rearing its ugly head. 'Talking of friends we don't hit, have you been to see Teyla yet?'

Ronan was silent.

'Didn't think so.' He snarled. 'She's just woken up wondering where all of her friends are, I couldn't bring myself to tell her that you were screwing around with the girl who put her in that bed in the first place-'

Ronan punched him square in the face without taking a step. John fell to the mat, his hand flying to his injured face. He roared in pain, glaring up at Ronan. 'What is it with you guys and punching me?!'