A/N: Thank you everyone that is reading it and reviewing. This is the chapter that I most enjoyed writing.

WHIP NO MORE

By ErikaHK

Chapter 4

"Did you get to see the little scene that happened earlier?" The man on the left side of the DHD asked on an amused voice.

"Yeah! The man was insane with rage! I wish we got to see the lesson passed to him after that!" The other man said sounding excited about the subject.

"Yeah! Too bad he didn't scream like they usually do at the stake. The man was tough!" The first man laughed heartily at the statement followed by the other.

At his hiding position Rodney cringed at hearing the insane conversation going on between both men wondering if they were referring to the torture being passed to the rest of the team. Scream at the stake didn't sound like a good thing and it enraged him the fact that both guys were laughing about it.

"Did you see the face the man with the messy black hair made?" The second asked while still laughing.

Messy black hair? It has to be Sheppard! What have they done to him? Rodney's curiosity made him warily shift position to listen further the conversation.

The first man continued to laugh nodding and waving his hands in front of him. "Screw you! What that means?"

"I don't know, but I don't think it's polite!"

Rodney scowled and silently cursed heavy words at both men. How could they think this is funny? Something horrible was being done to his friends and all they did was laugh about it. The fact that all Rodney could do at his secured position was simply wait and listen to this madness made him even angrier. He couldn't even shout at them and that frustrated him.

"And how hard he tried to keep stoic! All that distorted face!" He made a grim trying to imitate the look on Sheppard's face and got another burst of laughter from his buddy.

From his location Rodney couldn't see the men and really, he didn't want to. Not only that would mean he would be exposed to their eyes, but also he didn't think he would be able to restrain himself from yelling madly at them.

"What's so important about the little secret anyway? Screaming or not they all end up revealing everything at the end. And the further away from the beginning the better." The man had now a pleased smile.

"Yeah! I love when they resist! It's so much more fun!" The man proceeded to make another imitation and a new round of delight started.

It was truly sick to even think that some people actually enjoyed seeing others in pain and agonizing. Real people with feelings, made of flesh and blood just like them. Rodney frowned with anger and self-control. They would better get out of here soon. Rodney measured the consequences of enduring this for longer. Just a few minutes. That's what the others had said before leaving.

"I hope this deal doesn't take too long. I want to be back in time to see the rest." The man on the right side of the DHD spoke after the laughter eased.

"No hurries. I have a feeling that they'll be here a while."

That's what Rodney hoped wasn't true. He was a hidden card. So far they didn't know he existed and he planned to continue this way. It wouldn't take too long now. In a few minutes he would be back in Atlantis planning the attack against the arm dealers. It would be a surprise attack.

A cloaked puddle jumper would make everything so much easier. He closed his eyes trying to remember the position of the planet and if there was any other 'gate in the vicinity to allow that alternative to happen. He mentally calculated the distance between the coordinates that popped into his mind. Twenty hours by jumper. It was too far, they didn't have that long.

A rustling sound was heard from above him. Startled, he immediately looked up looking for the source. There was movement on the tree tops and a long strident chirp made him flinch and cover his ears. The rustling became louder and jumped from one tree to another. Each time it changed position the piercing sound came for several seconds and then stopped. He paid attention on the silence that followed after the strident sound worried about the guards. He didn't hear any approaching steps and assumed he was still safe.

Beside the DHD, the two men raised their weapons in silence. They looked up and aimed at the tree tops slowly following the progress of the animal they were now hunting. They walked around the pedestal with trained feet that didn't raise one single sound on forest now completely silent except by the beast.

Rodney continued in his hiding position trying to have a look on what was making the noise, but all he saw were leaves and branches shaking. The now orange sky shed only a dim light through the trees making more difficult to spot anything.

Suddenly the creature became visible coming out from inside the cover of the trees. It was a large yellow bird with a brown colored long feather tail that flew beautifully and landed on top of the ring shaped device. Suddenly a loud bang was heard and the bird fell brutally on the ground right beside Rodney, dead.

"Don't move!"

Rodney abruptly turned his head only to see one big guard pointing his gun at him. Seconds after the first man appeared, the other showed himself coming from the opposite side, smaller, but still bigger than the Canadian. The now scared scientist raised his hands staring at the second man with wide opened eyes. That was it. He was screwed and so were the others.

Stupid bird!

"Get up!" The bigger man said.

"Slowly." The smaller one added.

He did as he was told with trembling hands raised beside his head. His back was slightly hunched, making him even smaller than the two giant figures. The bigger one had to be the same size as Ronon and got closer to him with an intimidating face to search him. Rodney's weapons, vest and earpiece were removed while his fear kept him frozen in place and silent.

"Well, what have we here?" The bulky man said casually. "Another one. How many more of you are there?"

"J… just me." Rodney's gaze continued on the threatening person that smiled in return.

"Good." The man said circling around him. He hit the back of the physicist's head with the butt of his weapon and Rodney fell limp on the ground.

…

Teyla was already up when the door opened indicating it was morning. The same guards that were designated to her came in and pulled her outside and all the way to a different interrogation room as before. This was small and had one little opening behind from which one could see the square. There was a chair facing the opening. They threw her in the chair and another man tied her quickly while the two guards watched her and griped their guns keeping distance. Freyr came inside just as the man finished with the ropes.

"You can finish this." He said coldly. "Just spill it out."

"You know that it will not happen." She returned the cold statement. "You can threaten me all you want." She put the brave posture reserved for hopeless situations.

"You make this decision freely then?"

"Yes."

"Very well, just so you know the consequences of this." He glanced to his guards that harshly gagged her. "One little sound out and one of your friends die." Then Freyr exited and she saw him through the opening heading for another cell. The door opened and the occupant was dragged out.

…

John woke up in a jolt lifting his head in a sudden move from the resting place above his bent knees. He lost track of time and wondered how much rest he had. It couldn't be much because he still felt tired. His back was hurting more than before, adding soreness to the burning sensation he had previously. He contorted his body hearing the snap of his back and feeling the shock that crossed the wounds. He hissed in pain and eased the stiff muscles of his body, trying to relax. His hand went for his face rubbing his eyes fighting the sleepiness that threatened to take over. He decided to get up and stretch his muscles.

The gap of the cell let the morning light invade the dark place in a thin sunbeam. He looked out. It took some time to see past the white brightness, but through the small space he saw the shadow of the guard standing outside and the stakes standing before the cabin. A light breeze hit his sweaty face. It was hot inside, but cool outside. He lingered at this position and closed his eyes waiting for this breeze to take away his pain and dry his body.

What will this day have in store for him? Not so much of a comfort and more of the torture. He knew that. And even waited for it. There was nothing more to do than get over it and get his plan in motion. He expected the same from the other members of his team. They wouldn't go down without a fight. When you work in a team you just know each other past words, you rely on one another with your lives and your attitudes said it all. That's how it always was with them. No need for words, just trust and understanding. It was a deep bound that united them; it was special and hard to explain. You just felt it.

That's why it was so hard. He led them and did it with his gut. It was natural for him. He had values. And these values said he was responsible for everything that happened to them. If they succeeded it was a team effort, if they failed, it was because he had failed. That's what happens when you give the orders: they obey and sometimes throw in a few ideas, but he had the final word. Their group effort could accomplish anything as long as he gives them the right orders. But sometimes his judgment failed and he would find himself in a tight spot. Like this one. Now he had to take back control of the situation and the team would come out of it stronger.

He snapped back into reality hearing the footsteps approach the cabin. He bolted upright and waited for the door to open. Freyr stood outside a few meters away from the doorframe and the same two guards grabbed John and took him before their master. They didn't let him get too near though. They learned that from the altercation with Ronon on the previous day.

Freyr smiled. "I have a present for you this morning." He stated and stepped aside to let his men take John to a chair before one of the stakes.

They shoved him into the chair as more guards surrounded the square. He eyed the place absorbing the location and memorizing their positions. He was being observed with equal attention and he realized that. Another guard got nearer and took out his shoes and socks. His wrists and ankles were bound to the chair with professional speed. He felt the cold metal of his own gun against his temple threatening him against any movement. He was tied tightly on the frame of the chair and could barely feel his hands and feet; the only thing he felt was the bruise being formed by the ropes.

After that, Freyr moved making a sign for his men. Two of them broke the formation around the stakes and went for one of the cells. The door opened and the occupant was dragged out rudely. John's heart sank. It was Rodney. He followed him being taken and tied to the stake right in front of him while Freyr just watched, pleased.

"Don't do this Freyr." John said in a warning voice.

"Why not?" Freyr sounded amused. "Ready to talk?"

John became frustrated. He couldn't talk, even with a friend being threatened. There were many more lives that depended on him. He closed his eyes defeated then raised his chin determined.

"You know that nothing will work. You go on right ahead." John spoke seriously even as his heart slowed delivering the line and he felt it crushed inside his chest. He saw Rodney's terrified expression and stopped breathing. He shut his eyes once more, his mind drifting with conflicting emotions. He had to protect Rodney, but he also had to protect Atlantis. He couldn't stand the decision that he just made, yet he had no other choice. It was his responsibility. He swallowed hard and lifted his head.

What followed was the most painful torture that he ever had to endure. It was more painful than Iratus bugs, worse than mutating into a giant bug, harder than having his life being sucked by a wraith. Hearing Rodney screaming with the pain of the whip was something that he would never forget. It got burned in his ears and made a permanent mark in his soul. He knew how the physicist couldn't stand any kind of pain, that his pain threshold was non existent. John felt every single strike and heard every single cry that Rodney made. At each flinch and scream from the physicist he felt his heart weep more.

He saw Rodney's body weakening, his legs threatening to fail. He could notice the trembling on the body as more and more pain flushed through it. John twisted his limbs beneath the hard ropes trying to break free. He jolted his body and summoned his strength trying harder and harder but all he accomplished was a bleeding wound on his wrists and ankles. He wanted to scream. The anger boiling inside him threatened to take over but he managed to keep it at bay. He didn't want to lose control, but that's what was happening to him.

He shut his eyes. Now, of all sensations, the hearing strengthen. The hack in the air, the strike on the body, the collapse of the man. Even with the eyes closed he could see the expression of agony on his friend's face. Tears threatened to run down his face, but he held them.

His body burned in hatred and he was sweating buckets. His heart throbbed faster at each second and he bit his lips harder than he ever had. He couldn't stand it. He knew that Freyr wanted that, to reach his breaking point. He knew it pleased him. He sobbed and forced himself to be strong. He opened his eyes and faced the man fiercely. He promised he wouldn't show weakness ever again. Not to that man. He couldn't encourage him.

The torture to both men continued for the longest of times. The adrenalin running with his blood made every second look like an eternity. The flesh on his wrists was visible beneath the ropes, still he was unaware of it. All he felt was his chest constricted with pain, the fast pulse of his heart and the heavy breathing demanded from his lungs. He was shaking. He didn't notice at first, overwhelmed by all other sensations, but he saw the flicker of his fingers and closed his hands in a tight grasp.

When it all stopped it seemed unreal and his mind held still. The place went silent and the men moved slower. Freyr spoke something in front of him, but he didn't hear it. All he saw was the moving lips and the twisted smile all over the bastard's face. In slow motion the guards untied him and forced him up. He could barely stand still. He trembled now more than he did before. The anger he suppressed close to the surface, obvious on his face. It overwhelmed him and his brain screamed to control it. One wrong movement and John would snap. The smile grew broader. His brain screamed more, his mind was almost blank with self-control and he held it together. He must have been carried away, because the next thing he knew he was back inside his cell.

…

TBC…