AthosionWarrior – Glad you like the story and I hope you enjoy this chapter too, thanks for the review.

Jasminesmommy – Thanks for the review and Teyla's fate is revealed in this chapter.

Suzotchka1 – It's good to know you're enjoying the story and thanks for the review, I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Esmilla – Thanks for the review, glad you like the story and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Alexis – Thank you for your review, glad to know the story is enjoyable. Sorry about the cliff hanger and I hope this is a fast enough update.

Fyd818 – Glad the fight scene worked out alright and that you were on the edge of your seat though please don't forget to breathe. You'll find out in this chapter whether your gut was right or not. Lorne's my favourite recurring character too, and it's good to know you like the way I write him. I'd love to see them do more with him on the show.

- - -

Chapter 9

The man's body fell to the ground bleeding from the wound the bullet had made as it entered his back. Teyla looked up from her position on the floor to see Ronon enter the room weapon still drawn and aimed at the body on the floor. He knelt down next to the body never lowering his weapon until he had checked fro a pulse and found none.

He holstered his weapon and moved over to Teyla. "Are you okay?" he asked taking in her appearance. There was a red mark on the side of her face which he was sure would turn into a bruise.

"I'm fine," she informed him calmly as he pulled the cell phone out of his pocket. He held the phone to his ear with his left hand and used his right hand to take hold of Teyla's chin and gently mover her head to the side so he could get a better look at the red mark.

Teyla was surprised by the contact but she didn't move away she didn't even flinch. He seemed satisfied that she was okay and let go of her face as he started talking into his cell. He called for backup before looking back at her; he helped her to stand up and looked her over for further injuries.

Ronon stared at the body on the floor, it looked around the same height and build as Sheppard but something was telling him it wasn't the detective. He knew he couldn't remove the mask for risk of contaminating the crime scene.

"It's not him," Teyla stated as if she'd heard his thoughts. "It's not John."

"You sure?" Ronon asked genuinely.

"Positive."

- - -

Elizabeth arrived at Teyla's apartment fifteen minutes after Ronon had called 911. By the time she got there the crime scene officers were already hard at work on the scene and the coroner was working on the body. The man's mask had been removed revealing a young blonde man who very clearly wasn't Sheppard. Rodney McKay was yelling at one of the younger cops about contaminating evidence and his colleague Zelenka was trying to calm him down.

She asked for Ronon and the officer pointed her toward the bedroom. She entered to find Detective Emmagan sitting on the bed talking to another detective and Ronon stood leaning on as set of draws watching her closely. Elizabeth walked over to him and he turned to look at her.

"So it wasn't Sheppard," she stated simply.

"Guess not."

"Doesn't mean anything, he could have hired that guy."

"I don't think so," Ronon said surprising Elizabeth. "I don't think Sheppard would have her killed," he explained gesturing to Emmagan with a small nod of his head.

"You think he's innocent?" she asked curiously.

"I'm not sure, I'm not a hundred percent sure he's guilty though."

"The young detective here changing your mind?" she asked with barely concealed humour.

"Things just don't add up," Ronon stated and Elizabeth had a feeling this was more than just doubt talking but she chose not to call him on it, at least not yet. The detective finished talking to Teyla and left the room and Ronon and Elizabeth walked over to her.

"I'm not going to have to go through all that again am I?" she asked sarcastically.

"No, we'll just get your statement form the detective though we may have additional questions for you later," Elizabeth explained and she was sure she saw relief flitter through the woman's eyes despite her sarcastic tone.

"Great."

"Do you recognise the man who attacked you?"

"No, I've never seen him before in my life and before you start on John, no it's not even possible that he hired that man to kill me."

"We'll see detective," Elizabeth said before walking out of the room and motioning for Ronon to follow. He did so and she stopped out in the corridor out of earshot of Teyla. "The chances are there will be another attempt on her life, keep an eye on her, we might be able to catch them in the act and hopefully they can lead us to Sheppard."

"I was watching her anyway," Ronon stated glancing into the bedroom.

"Stay close to her but try and be a little less obvious, they're less likely to make a move if they see you with her all the time," Elizabeth told him and she saw him visibly stiffen. "I don't like this anymore than you do, her safety comes first, like I said stay close to her, don't let he get hurt but if you have the chance to get one of them alive make sure you take it."

- - -

John dialled the number he had memorised and listened to the ringing tone for several moments before she answered.

"Weir."

"Hello Agent Weir, how are you today?" John asked casually,

"Better than your partner," Weir stated sarcastically concerning John.

"Why, what happened to her?"

"Don't pretend that you don't know."

"Agent Weir, what happened to my partner?" John asked firmly.

"The guy you sent to kill her broke into her apartment last night, I have to say I never expected you to sink so low as to have her killed, she's on your side after all."

John's entire body stiffened and he felt fear rush through him. "Is she alright?"

"What do you think?" Weir asked flatly.

"Is Teyla alright?" John shouted getting angry now.

"She's fine, put up a good fight before my partner shot him though it couldn't have been any closer," Weir explained.

A wave of relief hit John with such force that he had to lean back against the wall behind him. "Thank God," he whispered quietly. "Who was the man?"

"Now Sheppard do you really expect me to believe that you don't know the answer to this?"

"Humour me."

"Martin Smith, known mercenary, very good, you must have worked hard to find him. Now why don't we get back to the reason you called?" Weir suggested and John mentally shook himself.

"Just interested in how the case is going," he stated.

"It's going," Elizabeth said as John looked at his watch, he was running out of time in this phone call, he hadn't expected to hear that an attempt was made on Teyla's life.

"Agent Weir, I need you to believe that I would never hurt Teyla or allow anyone else to hurt her," John told her before hanging up the phone. He allowed his body to slide down the wall of the warehouse until he was sat on the floor. He had stayed away from Teyla to protect her and it seemed even that had not been enough. There was no doubt in his mind now that someone had set him up, that they weren't just out to set him up for murder, this was a personal attack and it seemed they were planning to take everything that was important to him away from him.

TBC