Suzotchka1 – Good to know you're enjoying the story and I hope you enjoy this chapter too.
Izzles – Thanks for the review, I'm glad you liked Teyla's rant and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Fyd818 – I'm glad you liked Teyla's rant, I figured all her frustration had to come out sooner or later and I couldn't resist Sumner's smirk, he's really a good guy on the inside lol. Good to know you liked Ronon's line and that you enjoyed the last chapter. I hope you like this one too and thanks for the review.
Angel-Hunteress – Good to know you like the RononTeyla scene and thanks fro the review, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Steph7085 – Glad you like that everyone is defending John and I hope you like this chapter, thanks fro the review.
Alexis – Thanks for the review, it's good to know you like Teyla's rant and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
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Chapter 6
Teyla stormed out of the police station and toward her car in the foulest mood she had could ever remember being in. She pulled her car keys from her pocket as she approached the vehicle and she stopped before she got in. She couldn't just leave she knew that and she turned around and leaned back against her car.
Everything was finally catching up with her and despite the fact that she knew Sumner and McKay were on her side she had never felt more alone. She sensed Agent Dex's presence as he approached her and he leant against the car beside her.
"Jason Lars has a personal vendetta against John, anything he says in that regard can't be taken seriously," she stated her voice calm despite the anger, frustration and despair she felt inside.
"Why does he have a personal vendetta?" he asked and Teyla knew he was only asking for the case but she didn't care, it was nothing that would make John look bad.
"John's the best Detective this department has ever known and Lars resents that, he's an average agent and he knows it," Teyla explained and there was no life or energy in her voice.
He nodded his head finding the explanations sufficient enough for now and turned to look at her. She was staring straight ahead with a sad, hopeless expression on her face that he was surprised to find actually affected him. He had seen plenty of people hurting because of cases, he had seen them break completely and it had never bothered him much.
When he had first met her she had been so confident and full of hope that she could help her partner. Looking at her now though he could see the case was taking its toll, she was breaking in front of him and the thought actually hurt. She seemed to mentally shake herself and the next thing he knew she was on her way back inside the police station and he hurried after her.
- - -
The ringing of Elizabeth's phone distracted her from the report she was reading and she reached into her pocket to grab it.
"Weir," she answered.
"Hello Agent Weir, this is Detective Sheppard."
"Well isn't this a bold move," she stated surprised that he would risk calling her.
"Don't bother trying to trace this you won't be able to," he told her confidently.
"What is it you want?"
"I want you to listen," he informed her.
"Believe me, you have my undivided attention."
"Good then here it is, I'm not guilty."
"You'll excuse me if I think you're lying."
"I don't expect you to believe me right away, the evidence is all there and it's pointing straight at me but I'm being set up and whilst you're all chasing me the real killer is still out there," he explained his voice sounding so honest Elizabeth almost fell for it.
"Then why don't you come in and we can work on this together."
"Not that easy" Sheppard stated before the line went dead and she closed her flip phone and walked out of the room to see about having the call traced.
- - -
John arrived back at the warehouse and sat down on his makeshift bed leaning his head back against the cold concrete wall. It had taken him the better part of the day, several phone calls and several personalities to get Agent Weir's number. He had then spent the rest of the day tracking down a low life criminal who made a living selling other criminals things that would help them commit their crimes.
John had never thought he'd see the day when he'd be one of those people buying stuff from him in an attempt to avoid being caught by the cops; in fact he usually was the cops. After a couple of not completely empty threats John had been able to obtain the signal scrambler that he now had attached to his phone. It meant he could talk for up to ten minutes at a time before they would be able to trace the signal. Then he would have to turn his phone off until he needed to use it again.
His first conversation with Agent Weir had gone well; he had got his point across and had been able to get a sense of her personality. She was smart and didn't like not being able to figure things out especially in her cases. She was convinced he was guilty and it was going to be difficult changing her mind. He was determined though and somehow, someway he was going to convince her and clear his name.
- - -
"He called you?" Ronon asked in concern.
"Yep," Elizabeth stated as the two of them walked through the corridors.
"Maybe I should start following you," he stated and Elizabeth rolled her eyes at him.
"No stay with Emmagan, he wouldn't have called me unless he was desperate, sooner or later he'll have no choice but to go to her for help," she said thoughtfully and Ronon watched her face take on the look it got when she was analysing information. It was a face she wore far too often; she was always thinking which was probably why they worked so well together. He preferred not to over think things though he was perfectly capable of doing it he relied more on his instincts. They balanced each other out and she was probably the only person he would trust with his life.
"How is the detective doing?" Elizabeth asked remembering the outburst she'd had earlier.
"This case is taking its toll on her, it might be the one that breaks her," he said and Elizabeth detected the barest hint of concern in his tone which surprised her. He was usually relatively unaffected by the emotions of the people involved in their cases and he was always able to disguise any he did feel. Why was this one any different?
"She seems like a tough person, it may take a therapist but I'm sure she'll be fine."
Ronon shrugged in indifference but Elizabeth could tell he was bothered by this than he was ever going to admit to. "She finishes in twenty minutes I'd better go find her."
Elizabeth watched him go and a small smile graced her lips, perhaps Detective Emmagan would be the one to finally break down some of the emotional barriers he had so carefully built up around himself.
TBC
