Title: The Exchange

Date: 6th July 2007
Author:
Kazavid
Chapter:
3/10
Rating:
M
Pairing:
John Sheppard / OFC – Tanisha Toryn (Nisha)
Archiving:
None
Warnings:
Not sure yet (Sexual Content /Violence /Possible Torture)
Spoilers:
Irresponsible
Feedback:
Yes
Disclaimer:
Stargate Atlantis and it's character do not belong to me.
Summary:
After being rescued from certain death, Sheppard must now escape, or persuade, his 'rescuers', not to hand him over, to face retribution, from someone who wants to see him dead.

The Exchange

CHAPTER 3

"Any information you can give us would be helpful. And I'm sure, that Doctor Weir, would be very generous to anyone who supplied us with any leads, that could help us in finding Colonel Sheppard." Lorne, said to the man, sitting across the table from him.

Lorne, noticed the change in the man, as soon as he mentioned Doctor Weir's generosity.

"Well, I did hear something about a deal..." the man said hesitantly. His kept looking towards the door making sure that no one was listening.

"What deal?" Lorne asked.

"Somebody wanted Colonel Sheppard delivered to them, and they were prepared to pay a lot of money for him." he told Lorne.

"Do you have a name for these people. Or where they are?" Lorne asked him, hoping that the man would be able to tell him.

"The name's Kolya, but I don't know where they are."

"Kolya, you're sure about that." Lorne asked, if Sheppard had been turned over to Kolya's relatives... Lorne sighed, they'd definitely kill Colonel Sheppard if they got their hands on him. He just hoped that he hadn't been handed over yet.

"Yes, the name was definitely Kolya."

"Do you know who actually took Colonel Sheppard. We know there were two people, I just wondered if you had any ideas as to who took the deal?" Lorne, asked him.

"I heard Toryn took the deal."

"Do you know where we can find this guy?" Lorne asked hopefully.

"Tanisha Toryn, it's a woman not a man. She and her cousin were around here a few days ago."

Lorne got as much information on Tanisha, and Lucas, Toryn as he could get.

"Thank you, I'll let Doctor Weir know how helpful you've been. We'll settle up with you later, when we've confirmed your information. Right now I need to get back and inform her of the facts." Lorne told him, he left the village and returned to Atlantis. He didn't think Weir was going to like what he had to tell her.

ooooo

In Weir's office Lorne gave her the details that he'd managed to get, concerning Colonel Sheppard.

"You're sure it was Kolya?" Weir asked Lorne.

"Yes, he was pretty certain on the name." Lorne told her, "So what do you want me to do?" he asked.

"I think you should pay a little visit to Ladon Radim, see what information we can get from him. I'm sure he'd know where Kolya's relatives are, or at least have an idea where we can find them." Weir told him.

"What about this Tanisha Toryn, what do you want me to do about her?" he asked.

"For the moment nothing, if they're taking Colonel Sheppard to Kolya's relatives, then we need to find out where that is. And try to intercept them before they hand him over."

"I'll get right on it then." Lorne said, and left the room.

Weir just hoped that they had time to intervene before Sheppard was actually handed over.

ooooo

They'd been walking for hours, on a narrow pathway, through the densely wooded area. Sheppard decided to stall, he needed more time to come up with a plan.

"Any chance we could have a rest?" Sheppard asked, turning his head around to look at her.

"Lucas, we need somewhere to take a break." she shouted up ahead.

They found somewhere to rest, and Sheppard parked himself down on the floor with his back against a fallen log.

"Any chance of some water." Sheppard asked. She threw over her water flask, and something that looked like bread, for him to eat.

"Is this what you do, kidnap people?" he asked her, he saw her tense at the question, he'd hit a nerve, and he smiled.

"No this is not what I do."

"Then what do you do?" he asked, wondering if she'd tell him. His eyes were drawn to her breasts, she taken her jacket off, and the top she wore, clung to every feminine curve on her body like a second skin.

"I locate and retrieve items that have been stolen from people." she told him, it didn't matter if he knew what she did.

"You mean you're a thief." he said, watching her take a drink, she arched her head back, exposing her throat, he found himself wanting to press his mouth against her neck. He knew if he didn't stop thinking like this, his body would react.

"No, I am not a thief, I don't steal things, I retrieve them. Then I return them to the people they belong to."

"That's still makes you a thief." he said, noticing that she didn't like being called a thief.

"How come they hired a thief to kidnap me." he asked, emphasising the word thief.

"They didn't hire me." she bit out. He smiled, he was learning how to push her buttons.

"If they didn't hire you, then why are you holding me prisoner?" He could see she was having trouble answering him.

"Everything Alright?" Lucas asked, as he came over and sat down.

"Yes." Nisha answered.

Lucas looked at Sheppard, he'd found himself wondering what kind of man he was. And he was curious as to what he'd done to inspire such hatred from the Kolya's. And why they'd offered so much for him.

"What did you do to the Kolya family, that would make them want you so bad." Lucas asked, wanting to know the reason he and Nisha were dragged in to this thing.

Sheppard didn't know if he should tell them or not, but, by the sound of it, they didn't know anything about Kolya, so he had nothing to lose by telling the truth.

"I killed a relative of theirs." he finally told him.

"Why did you kill him?" Lucas asked.

"Because he would have killed me if I hadn't." Sheppard told him, then decided to ask a question of his own.

"Why did you take this deal, if you didn't want to?" he asked Lucas.

"We'd better be moving." Lucas said, ignoring Sheppard's question, he got up and left.

There was something about this deal that didn't seem right, neither of them wanted it, so why had they taken it on.

ooooo

As usual Lucas was in front, so far ahead that Sheppard couldn't see him, the guy seemed real eager to get where they were going. Sheppard thought. Well he wasn't eager, so he took his time, besides, these things on him, prevented him from walking any faster. He glanced round and saw Nisha behind him, she looked at him warily, as if she were just waiting for him to try something, he smiled and turned back. He'd been trying to come up with a way of getting these things off him, but so far he'd had no luck.

He saw a small lizard like animal, about the size of a pet cat, it was sitting on a tree branch, positioned about chest height. He didn't take much notice of it, he often saw strange looking animals, so long as they stayed where they were, he left them alone.

As he passed this one though, he saw it open it's mouth, he turned to look at it, see what it was doing. It wasn't looking at him, it was looking at Nisha, who was coming up behind him. She didn't appear to notice it, but as she got closer he saw it hunching down as if it were getting ready to strike.

"Watch it!" he shouted as he grabbed her to pull her out of the way.

"What do you think you're doing?" Nisha asked startled, she was surprised by his sudden lunge at her.

But because he'd moved too quickly he caused the devices to activate, he had no choice as the magnetic pull on his wrists, and ankles, brought the devices together and locked them. Unfortunately for Nisha, the magnetic pull had drawn his hands around her, locking the devices, behind her back, and sending the both of them crashing to the floor.

"You were about to be bitten." he told her, nodding his head towards the creature, which was slowly walking towards them. Nisha, who was trying to get her arms free, turned her head to look.

"Oh, god, no..."

"What is it?" he asked, she looked very nervous as she watched the creature.

"You have to keep still, if it bites you, you're dead." was all she said.

Keep still, that's all he had to do, he gave a silent groan, he wasn't sure if he could keep still. His mind was starting to focus on the position he was now in. They were face to face, and he was half lying over her, his arms were wrapped around her back, where they had locked.

She was looking at the lacerta as it came closer, both of her arms were trapped against her body, but even if she could get them free, she didn't want to move in case she attracted it's attention. It was coming towards them, approaching from behind Sheppard's back. She turned her head slightly and saw him staring at her, his face only a few inches away from hers. She finally admitted to herself, that she found him attractive, and by the look in his eyes he found her attractive too.

She became, very aware, of every muscle in his body, she could feel his chest expanding with every breath he took. He kept shifting his body, as if trying to find a more comfortable position. He started to lower his face down, as if he were going to kiss her...

"Don't move." she whispered, almost pleaded, "Most people who are bitten by a lacerta, dies. So, please, keep still." she said, he stopped, his mouth, just an inch or two from hers.

The creature stopped right by them and stared, it's eyes looking for the slightest movement, it's head lifted as it scented the air around it. Sheppard, held his breath as the creature stood right in front of his face. Nisha fought the urge to move, knowing it was too dangerous. Then it turned its head away, it took a few steps away from them, and Nisha thought it had given up.

Sheppard watched it turn away and take a few steps, Nisha moved her head slightly, and the creature quickly turned and jumped towards them. He pulled her over and rolled back, away from where the creature was. He kept on rolling till he felt there was enough distance between them and the creature. He looked over at it, to see what it was doing, but it was just standing there, then it vanished in to the undergrowth.

"We must have been too close to its nest." Nisha said grimacing, as she saw the lacerta vanish in to the foliage. She turned to look at Sheppard and found him staring at her.

"Yes, too close." Sheppard whispered hoarsely, not even thinking about the creature. His only thoughts where on how close he was to her. He'd only managed to resist kissing her before because of that creature, now that it was gone, there was no reason for him to resist.

As soon as he saw her licking her lips, that was it, he lowered his head down and started kissing her, enticing her to open and let him in. He groaned, when she opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to enter and taste her, he took what she offered, hungrily.

With his hands trapped beneath her back, and his body lying over hers, pressed intimately against her from shoulder to ankle, he couldn't stop his body from reacting to the situation. It didn't help any, when she lifted her leg up and pressed her thigh against his hip. He naturally pressed his arousal against her, the moan, she gave, told him that she was just as aroused as he was.

She wasn't holding anything back, wasn't trying to stop him, he lifted his mouth from hers, to look at her, she raised her head up, and kissed him. The kissing would have lasted much longer, but for the fact that they needed to breathe. Then when he asked her to unlock his hands, she suddenly, became aware of where they were, and what they were doing.

She glared at him, and started trying to get her hands free, he lifted his body up, so she could do this. He shuddered, as her hand brushed closely against his groin.

She pulled her arm free and touched the controller, which was underneath her top. He felt the devices unlock, and pulled his hands from beneath her back, he rolled off her and stood up. He reached his hand down to help her up, but she just ignored his hand and glared at him.

"You stay away from me." she told him, standing up she moved away from him.

"Tell me how I'm supposed to stay away from you, while I'm wearing these things?" he asked, holding his wrists out towards her. He didn't know why she was upset, maybe it was some kind of delayed shock, at nearly being bit by that creature.

"Maybe if you took them off me." he asked hopefully.

"What the hell is keeping you?" Lucas shouted as he came striding towards them.

"We had a problem with a lacerta." she told him quickly.

"Did it bite you?" he asked, looking her over to see if he could see any bite marks.

"No, we're Alright."

"Can we get going then, and stop wasting time." Lucas barked, he just wanted to hand this guy over and go home.

Lucas didn't wait around for any explanations, he just went back to checking the area up ahead. When he was out of hearing distance, Sheppard glanced at her.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked, still curious as to why she was still glaring at him.

"Just keep your hands to yourself." she told him, brushing bits of grass and dirt off her.

"Sure, next time I'll let you get bitten." he told her angrily.

"You do that." she said. He knew she wasn't talking about the creature, she was upset over the kiss. He didn't know why, she'd been kissing him back just as eagerly.

"Is there a problem, I mean, you certainly weren't fighting me off back there. In fact you were..."

"Shut up."

"Sorry, I have no intention of shutting up, just to please you." he bit out.

"No you just please yourself."

"How would you know what I do, you don't even know me."

Nisha bit back a retort, he was getting to her, and she couldn't do anything about it. She was having doubts about her ability to hand him over when the time came, which was something she didn't have a choice in. She was getting angry at him and herself, because she was feeling so guilty.

ooooo

For the next few hours they hardly spoke, then when it was dark they made camp and settled down.

"So how long is it before we reach the Kolya's?" he asked.

"Two days." Nisha told him.

Two days, that's all he had to find a way out of these damn cuff things and escape. He'd have to increase his efforts on Nisha, he could tell he was getting to her. The guilt was in her eyes, every time he mentioned the fact that she was handing him over to be killed. And to make sure she didn't forget that little fact, he brought it up at every opportunity.

He settled down, and closed his eyes, a short while later he heard them talking, they must have thought he was asleep.

"Do you think Joshua is Alright?" Lucas asked Nisha.

"Of course, why wouldn't he be."

"I can't help wondering if..."

"Lucas, he'll be fine, stop worrying." she told him.

"What about you?" Lucas asked her.

"What about me?"

"Are you going to have a problem handing him over, knowing that they'll kill him?"

"Yes, I have a problem, I've never been responsible for someone's death before. But I also know I don't have a choice."

"This is all my fault, if I hadn't been indebted to Collins. The Kolya's wouldn't have been able to buy the debt off him." Lucas said, anguished.

"It's not your fault. If I'd taken the deal when they first offered it, they wouldn't have involved you." Nisha told him. "So stop thinking like that, and lets just get this finished with."

Sheppard was listening intently, from what he'd heard he concluded that Lucas had gotten in to debt. So when Nisha had turned the deal down, the Kolya's had taken Lucas' debt over, and forced her, and Lucas in to taking the deal anyway.

ooooo

It was about 2.00am in the morning when Sheppard woke up, he glanced around and saw Lucas asleep. Then he saw Nisha coming towards the fire, he smiled to himself, he'd come up with a devious little plan, which he hoped would work, but it relied on how guilty he could make Nisha feel. He decided now, was the perfect time to put his little plan in to action. He waited till she was sitting down, then he started to put his plan in to action.

"So when are you going to grant me my last request?" he asked.

"Grant you what?" Nisha asked.

"A last request." he said, she looked at him, with a puzzled expression on her face.

"A last request. What are you talking about?" she asked, warily. She didn't have a clue what he was going on about.

"When someone is going to die, or be killed, he's usually given a last wish." he told her, she still looked confused. "You know, you ask me what I'd like, I tell you, and then you grant it." he said, making it sound matter-of-factly.

"And what is your last request?" she asked, curious as to what he'd want.

"You."

"Me!" she said, not understanding him.

"Yes, I want you." he told her. It took a few seconds, before it dawned on her what he was talking about. Then he saw her face flushing, he wasn't sure if it was because she was embarrassed, or angry.

"You can't have me." she told him bluntly, her voice slightly raised. She quickly looked over to make sure Lucas was still sleeping.

"You're taking me to be killed and you won't grant me a last request." he continued, everything now depended on how guilty he could make her feel.

Nisha groaned inwardly, and wished he'd just shut up. Every sentence he uttered, seemed to contain a word, or phrase, with regards to him dying.

"So do I get my last request?" he asked, trying hard not to grin, broadly.

"Yes, but you can't have me."

"But that's the only thing I want."

"Pick something else. Something within reason, I mean were in the woods, there isn't a lot of choice."

"I don't want anything else. If I'm going to die, I at least want some pleasure before that happens." He could see her fighting with her conscience, she didn't want to give in, but her feelings of guilt were starting to overwhelming her. At least he hoped they were.

He sat back, and watched her, as she contemplated his request.

TBC...

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo