Title: The Exchange

Date: 6th August 2007
Author: Kazavid
Chapter:
8/10
Rating: M
Pairing:
John Sheppard / OFC – Tanisha Toryn (Nisha)
Archiving:
None
Warnings:
(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 8

As soon as they arrived on Atlantis, Beckett had Nisha taken to the infirmary. The first thing they had to do was try to bring her temperature down. The wounds on her back and thigh were easily dealt with, but the bite on her arm, was another matter.

Beckett took swabs from the wound, and had them analysed, along with blood samples.

"Do you think she'll be Alright?" Sheppard asked him, when he got a chance to.

"If we can find,the problem, and isolate it, then she has a good chance."

"And if you can't?"

"I'm doing all I can Colonel, using every possible combination of antibiotics, even a few that are in reserve. So I'm sure one of them will work."

"But you can't be certain." Sheppard said, looking at Beckett.

"No, Colonel, I can't be certain. But I assure you I will do everything in my power." Beckett tried to assure him.

Sheppard watched as the nurses periodically checked Nisha's temperature, took her blood pressure, and checked the data from all the monitors that she was attached to.

"You're supposed to be taking things easy, Colonel. I suggest you go and have something to eat and get some rest. After all, you've only just been released from the infirmary yourself." Beckett told him.

"You'll tell me if anything happens?" he asked.

"Of course I will, now go and get some rest." Beckett told him, and watched as Sheppard finally left the infirmary.

"Doctor Beckett, her white blood cell count is still dropping, and her temperature isn't lowering, it's started to rise again." the nurse informed him.

"Have we had any test results back yet?"

"Not yet, do you want me to see if I can hurry them up?" the nurse asked.

"Yes, and tell them, I know they're doing their best, but I need those results ASAP. The quicker we can identify the infection, the better her chances are."

He'd tried a mixture of antibiotics, but they had to wait, to see if the combination worked. In the meantime, the nurses where sponging Nisha down to try and reduce her fever.

>>>>>ooooo>>>>>

Later that evening, Sheppard, found himself back in the infirmary, unable to stay away. He knew Beckett would do everything possible for Nisha, but he felt he had to be there.

"I thought I told you to get some rest." Beckett chided, when he saw him.

"I am resting, see." Sheppard told him, and climbed on to the bed, next to Nisha.

"I suppose that's the best I can hope for with you, isn't it." Beckett sighed.

"How is she?"

"She's stable, and we've managed to keep her temperature down for a few hours, but I'm afraid the antibiotics we've administered don't seem to be working. I've been trying to find out about any new combinations of drugs, which might help, but so far, nothing."

"What about any of our allies, can't any of them help?" Sheppard asked, Beckett didn't sound very optimistic, which wasn't at all like him.

"I've already sent messages to everyone who could possibly help."

"Do you think she'll pull through." Sheppard asked him, but wasn't really sure if he wanted to hear the truth.

"She's in the best place she could be, so I'd say yes. If you don't mind my saying, you sound very concerned for someone who kidnapped you, and handed you over to be tortured."

"As I've said before, she had a good reason for doing what she did."

one of the machines connected to Nisha started to blip and Beckett quickly ran over.

"What is it?" Sheppard asked, he got up off the bed, and stood next to Nisha's bed, she looked very pale, and very sick.

"Her temperature has started to rise again." Beckett said, as he began to connect a stronger antibiotic to the intravenous drip, in the hopes that this one would keep her temperature down.

She started moaning, and began moving, her movements pulled one of the IV needles out of her arm, so Sheppard grabbed hold of her arms and held her still.

"She's disorientated, and the high temperature is causing her to hallucinate." Beckett explained, as he replaced the IV needle. Sheppard continued to hold her and stop her from pulling out any of the other IV needles that where attached to her.

She started to fight against his hold, and he had to exert more pressure, to hold her down.

"If she keeps thrashing about like this, I'll have no option but to restrain her, otherwise she'll do more damage to herself." Beckett said, adjusting the dosage of the antibiotic, and the antipyretic drugs.

Sheppard lowered his mouth down to her ear and started to talk to her, in the hopes that he could calm her down. After about five minutes of constantly reassuring her that she was safe, and everything was okay, she stopped thrashing about.

"Seems she recognises your voice, Colonel." Beckett said, somewhat surprised.

"With the amount of talking I did, that's not surprising."

"Talked a lot did you?"

"You could say that."

"Her temperature has stop rising, maybe this antibiotic will do the trick." Beckett said, as he checked the statistics on the machines.

Sheppard, felt a little reluctant to let her go, he kissed her forehead, and stepped back, he moved back on to the bed beside her and Beckett frowned at him.

"Are you planning on staying there all night?" Beckett asked him.

"Yes, you're not using it are you."

"No, I'm not using it, but I'm not so sure, you'll use it either."

"Of course I will." he said, and leaned back as if to prove he would.

Beckett left him where he was, for now.

>>>>>ooooo>>>>>

In the early hours of the morning, Sheppard, who'd been sleeping, was awoken when Nisha began talking and shouting. He got hold of her, in case she pulled any of the drips out, but she kept struggling against his hold, and trying to get off the bed.

"No..." Nisha shouted, as she tried to push Sheppard's hands off, "Let me go..."

"Tanisha, it's John." he said loudly, she opened her eyes and stared at him, then she began looking around, and frowned.

"Where am I?" she asked, her voice sounded panicky.

"You're on Atlantis, remember, we found you on Andavar. The Kolya's..." he tried to say, but she cut him off mid sentence.

"You told them..." she was back to accusing him.

"I didn't actually tell them..." he tried to tell her.

"Yes you did." she was adamant.

"No, I...well I didn't personally, tell them, but, technically, I suppose you could say I did." he admitted, he might not have know anything about it, but he wasn't about to argue with her, not when she was so sick.

"Then why did you come to Andavar?"

"Would you believe me if I told you that I fell madly in love with you?" he said, a slight grin on his face.

"No." she answered quickly.

Well so much for telling the truth, he thought. But, why should she believe him, he'd only admitted it to himself a short while ago, and he was still having trouble believing it.

"Let's just say I couldn't let Sergio, or Valdis Kolya, get their hands on you."

"Even after you told them."

"Yes, even after I told them." he sighed, not wanting to argue the point.

For the whole week it was the same thing, they'd get her temperature down, and white blood cell count back to normal, then she'd relapse again. It wasn't until the second week that Beckett finally considered her to be out of danger. Throughout all this time Sheppard had been a constant visitor, even though Nisha seemed a little unsure of him. That was until Ronon had a little chat with her.

She'd been a little apprehensive when she'd seen Ronon walk in to the infirmary, his eyes had immediately focused on her.

"Ronon, is something wrong?" Doctor Beckett asked him, and Ronon looked away from her.

"Yes, I got a cut while we were on the planet, Sheppard insisted I saw you." Ronon said, his manner clearly showing that he thought it a waste of time.

"That is a nasty cut." Beckett remarked as he checked the cut on his hand. "Probably needs a stitch or two, I'll just get what I need, and have you fixed up in no time." Beckett told him and then left to get the things he needed.

Ronon looked at Nisha, he knew she still blamed Sheppard for telling the Kolya's where she was, Teyla had told him, that it was bothering Sheppard, that Nisha could think him capable of doing such a thing. Not being one to apologise, especially for something that he'd do again, if given the chance, he walked over to her.

"You all better now?" he asked her, she still looked very pale, he thought

"Yes, almost." she answered nervously.

"Look, about telling the Kolya's..." he started to explain.

"You don't have to explain anything." she quickly butt in.

"Yes I do, you think it was Sheppard who told."

"Yes, he..."

"Yeah I know, he let you believe it was him. That's because he feels some responsibility, for what happened to you, but he shouldn't. I got the information from him when he was still too ill to realise what I was asking him, or why, I was asking him."

"Why did you do it?"

"Why? You kidnapped him, and handed him over to be tortured and killed. I wasn't about to let you get away with it."

"Okay, thanks for telling me." Nisha said, not really knowing what to say to him.

"Don't think I'm apologising, I'm not. I just don't think Sheppard should take responsibility for something he didn't do, and had no control over."

"Okay, fine..." Nisha gulped, he really did make her feel nervous.

He seemed to be a little unsettled himself, then he just turned and walked across the room and waited for Beckett. Nisha wasn't sorry to see him leave the infirmary a short while later.

>>>>>ooooo>>>>>

"So I gather, this prolonged sickness, you're experiencing, is something you've witnessed yourself, with other people who have been bitten?" Beckett asked her.

"Yes, the two people I know of, who survived a lacerta bite, where sick for at least a couple of weeks afterwards." Nisha told Beckett.

"Well then, I don't see a problem with you leaving the infirmary, but I want you to come in every other day, so I can check on you myself."

"Okay." Nisha said, but she wondered what she was supposed to do, where was she supposed to go. She didn't know anything about where she was, or what they expected her to do. She heard a sound and turned to see John leaning against the doorway of the infirmary.

"So Beckett's letting you leave the infirmary." John said, smiling as he stood up and came over to stand by her.

"Yes, I..."

"Come on then, we already have a room set up for you." he told her, taking hold of her arm, he led her out of the infirmary.

He led her along several corridors, pointing out where some things where, along the way.

"That," he said pointing to a door, "Is my room, so if you ever need me, you know where to find me."

He carried on down the corridor and came to another door where he stopped and opened it, then he pushed her inside, she saw the clothes lying across the bed and looked at him.

"I had Teyla grab some clothes from one of the store rooms, but you've lost so much weight, they'll probably be too big for you."

"They'll be fine." she told him.

"Do you want to go get something to eat?"

"Don't mention food." she said, as her stomach protested at the thought of it.

"Still feeling queasy?"

"Only when you mention food."

"You have to eat, you can't afford to lose any more weight."

"Are you saying I'm skinny?"

"Not yet, but if you keep losing weight, you will be." he said, letting his eyes run over her body. Her face was a little thinner, as was the rest of her, but her breasts looked just the same, firm and full. He stepped closer and put his hands on her waist, as if to span it.

"Yes, definitely, getting there."

He didn't let her go, he pulled her closer and kissed her. He'd wanted to kiss her, since he'd seen her again on Andavar, but she'd been so sick. And since she'd been on Atlantis, she'd been in the infirmary, where the only kisses he'd managed to get where when he kissed her forehead or cheek.

"Since you don't want any food..." he said, lifting his mouth from hers, and pulling back to look at her. "How about we...stay here, and..." he lowered his mouth down and kissed her before he finished what he was saying, but his meaning was evident.

It felt like a long time since they'd last kissed, and Nisha hadn't realised how much she'd missed him. So much for not contacting him because she didn't consider him a friend, maybe that's because she wanted him to be so much more.

"So do you want to stay here...or do you want me to take you on a tour of Atlantis?" he asked.

"I'll take the tour." she said, and watched him trying not to show his disappointment.

"Are you sure, you're up to it."

"I don't know, but I've been lying down so much lately, I feel like walking."

"Come on then." he pulled her out of the room, and started to show her all the relevant places on Atlantis.

They were standing on a walkway, looking down on everyone in the Gate room, when Ronon came over and stood by John. He gave her a quick glance and then ignored her, Nisha really wasn't sure if he liked her, or hated her, he was very hard to judge. While they talked, Nisha listened, she was glad when Ronon left, not that she didn't like him, she just didn't know him, and she didn't hold a grudge against him for what he did, he just made her feel uneasy.

The next place they stopped at was McKay's lab, as usual he was drinking coffee and eating a sandwich. As soon as Nisha smelled the coffee, her stomach turned, and she felt sick, she quickly ran outside to get away from the smell.

"You Alright?" John asked her, as he came up behind her.

"Yes, it's just the smell."

"Have you actually eaten anything since you've been here."

"Some fruit, and some toast."

"And that's all."

"I can't keep anything down."

"Are you sure these symptoms are just the after affects of the bite." he asked, wondering if the symptoms could be from something else.

"What are you talking about, I told Beckett, the few people who I know of, who survived a lacerta bite, where sick for weeks afterwards."

"Okay, if you say so." he let it drop, and didn't mention it again.

"Do you want to go back, or continue on." he asked.

"Continue on, if you don't mine."

"Come on then, I'll try to keep away from any food smells." he laughed.

They ended up on one of the balconies, that looked out across the city and the surrounding water.

"Beautiful, isn't it." John said, as he leaned his elbows on the wall.

"Yes, it's very beautiful." Nisha agreed with him, it was a very beautiful city, she'd never seen anything like it before. She wondered what it would be like to live in such a place, and then that got her wondering.

"When are you going to take me home?" she asked him.

John tensed, he knew she'd eventually ask the question, he just didn't think that it would be so soon. He turned to look at her, and smiled teasingly.

"So eager to get away. What's the matter don't you like m...us" he wanted to say me, but changed it to us.

"Of course I like you, and everyone has been very friendly. It's just that...I wanted to know when you'd take me home."

"You're still sick, and Beckett needs to keep an eye on you." he answered, non-committally, and looked away.

"So probably next week then?" she queried further.

"I don't know, maybe." he said evasively, and wondered how on earth he could get her to stay.

It was early afternoon when he took her back to the room she was using.

"Get some rest, and I'll be back later." he said, kissing her forehead, before he left.

>>>>>ooooo>>>>>

Nisha had just finished drying her hair, after having a shower, when she heard someone at the door, she opened it to find John standing there.

"Are you going to invite me in?" he asked, looking at the robe she wore, and realising that she was probably naked beneath it.

"Of course, come in."

"Did you mange to get some rest?"

"Yes, I got some rest." she told him, she had her back to him, her long dark hair looked shiny and silky, she'd obviously just dried it.

He moved up behind her and tangled his fingers in the silken tresses, and rubbed his face against its softness.

"You smell gorgeous."

"I used the stuff I found in the bathroom."

"Yeah, it doesn't smell like this when I use it." he remarked, as he continued to breathe in the delicate fragrance. The scent of her hair, and body was arousing him, and he couldn't resist asking.

"Let me stay with you."

"John..."

"We don't have to do anything, if you don't want to, just let me stay." he asked, resting his hands on her shoulders, he kissed the top of her head.

She wasn't about to refuse.

"Yes, you can stay."

He stayed behind her, and let one of his hands slip down her front, where he slid it in to the front of the robe she was wearing. He pressed his hand against her skin and slid it further inside, moving down until he could cup her breast. Where he stroked his fingers across her nipple, causing her to arch her back as pleasure spiralled down her abdomen.

Nisha twisted around until she was facing him, then she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. John slid his hands around her back, and pulled her close, and placed small, nibbling, kisses, on her mouth.

"Beautiful." he whispered, as he kissed her neck, and drew in a deep breath, inhaling her scent. He felt her resting her head on his shoulder, and her body sagged, slightly, against him. He had to physically hold her up, so she wouldn't fall.

"Nisha! Are you okay?" he asked, pulling his head back to see.

"Tired..." she mumbled, lifting her head up to look at him, she yawned.

"You need to be in bed." he said, moving her toward the bed.

She took the robe off, and slid beneath the covers and fell asleep almost immediately.

John smiled, well he did say they didn't have to do anything, and he'd meant it. But his body didn't seem to know the difference, so he took a cold shower before he got in to bed with her. He snuggled up next to her, and pulled her in to his arms, careful of her back and thigh where Sergio Kolya had used the whip on her. It wasn't long before he fell asleep himself.

>>>>>ooooo>>>>>

John was lying on his stomach, his face pressed in to the pillow, and his arms underneath the pillow. Nisha was lying against him, her head resting on his back, and her arm lying across his back.

It was light enough to see, and Nisha looked at the criss cross, of newly formed, pink scars, that ran across John's back. She traced her fingers tips over them and felt him shiver and arch his back away. She pressed her mouth against his skin, and heard him draw his breath in sharply.

"Does it hurt when I touch your back?" she asked, him.

"No, it doesn't exactly hurt, it's just that it still feels pretty sensitive." he said, turning around so that he was facing her.

Nisha edged a little closer to him, and leaned her head over to kiss him. He pulled her even closer, and she wrapped her arms around his back, and heard him groan.

"Is that your sensitive back, or your sensitive front." she asked teasingly, as she felt his erection throbbing against her stomach.

"I'm not sure, but I'd concentrate on the front one if I were you." he told her, groaning as she moved one of her hands between their bodies, and stroked him.

"Not feeling tired any more?" he asked, jerking his hips, as she continued to caress him.

"No, I'm wide awake."

"That's good."

"Why?"

"Means I can do this." he said, rolling over so that he was resting above her. Nisha moved her legs so that he could rest between them, his hips cradled against hers.

Knowing that she still wasn't fully recovered, he took things slowly, he wanted to make love to her leisurely. Taking his time to make sure that she enjoyed it, because, unlike the last time they'd been together, this time he really was making love to her. And he hoped, on some level, that she would be able to tell the difference.

He gently slid his erection inside her, and groaned, as the delicious feeling, of being with her again, almost overwhelmed his senses.

"You're beautiful." he whispered, against her ear, he trailed his lips down her neck, until he finally reached her breasts. He drew the soft mound of flesh in to his mouth and suckled greedily, his tongue flicked across the hardened nipple, causing her to gasp with pleasure.

"If you want me to stop..."

"No, I don't want you to stop." she cried, as she clasped the back of his neck, and stroked her fingers through his hair. He left a trail of damp kisses across her breasts, and moved back up to her face.

He started to rock his hips gently against her, making her cry out each time he thrust inwards, filling and stretching her completely. Although he kept his thrust to a gentle pace, each thrust was long and deep, and he could feel her muscles, tightly stroking along the length of his shaft.

His body cried out for release, but he didn't just want to pound in to her, until he finally found released. He wanted to love her, give her pleasure, and he wanted her to tell him that she loved him.

"You feel so good, I..." he pressed his face in to the curve of her neck, as he felt her body tighten and clench on him. She closed her eyes, and arched her neck back, as the pleasure flooded through her body. He held on to her tightly, and felt her body slowly relaxing, as her climax ebbed away.

He was really craving for release now, assured that he had given her pleasure, he strove for his own. He thrust a little harder, and a little deeper, pressing his hips firmly against hers. It didn't take long before he came to a shuddering crescendo, feeling wave, after wave, of pleasure as it washed over him.

"I l..." he went to say 'I love you', but he stopped himself, he didn't think she was ready to hear him say that. But, he still wanted to say the words, so, he decided he'd tell her in a different way, he pressed his mouth close to her ear, and whispered...

"Je t'aime."

"What did you say?" Nisha murmured sleepily, not quite catching what he'd said.

"When you're ready to hear what it means, I'll tell you." he said, kissing her passionately.

TBC...

>>>>>>>>>>oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo>>>>>>>>>>