I don't own Stargate Atlantis or any of it's characters. I do however own this story. Hey there folks. Sorry it's been a bit since I have posted, but it's been quite hectic around here. I'm planning my vacation. Woohoo! And it's about time to. But I thought that since I'm leaving later this week I would post a chapter or two to keep you going. I have chapter five and six on the computer now so you won't have to wait long for the next chap. Have fun readers. I'll make more notes when I post chapter six.

Chapter Five

"Well isn't that just peachy keen." Rodney said with a huff. "We're supposed to bow to our new god are we? Huh."

"We must sever the connection between Colonel Sheppard and the Device now." Teyla said as she moved in beside Ronan to sit by John.

"Easier said than done Teyla." Rodney said with some anger in his voice.

"Then we must come up with a plan." Teyla said, also feeling angry.

John coughed and they all turned to look at him. He was still staring at the ceiling. Then suddenly, he began to cough more and his eyes blinked in rapid succession. He sucked in a breath and then looked around confused as to where he was. He tried to move his hands up to his face and began to freak out when he realized he could not move them from off of the bed.

"Sheppard?" Ronan asked as he reached his hand out and placed it on his friend's arm.

John flinched at the touch but knew who it was. "Ronan? Is that you?"

"Yes Sheppard. We're all still with you. Teyla is here beside me and McKay is behind us working on his data pad."

"Why can't I move my arms from off of the bed?"

"We had to restrain you Colonel Sheppard. You were acting irrationally and we did not want you to hurt yourself or anybody else." Teyla said as she too reached her hand out and placed it in John's hand. She closed it around his and squeezed gently.

"What?" John said with a scared look. "Restrain me? What?"

"It is okay Colonel. Do not worry." Teyla said. "We are going to help you."

He was beginning to hyperventilate. They could see the fear building up within him and the three of them stood around him to try and comfort him.

"Calm down Sheppard, calm down. C'mon buddy. We're not going anywhere." Rodney said.

"Rodney? Is that you?" John asked trying to keep his breathing under control.

"I'm here." He said moving around the bed so that John could see him. John nodded his head slightly and then unconsciously pulled on the restraints, hands closing into fists slowly. His wrists were raw from all of the pulling he had done previously.

"Le me out please. Please. It hurts. It really does." He asked, in a bit of a childlike whine. The others had not heard him talk this way before. It was a bit worrying to all of them. He began to pull a little harder on the restraints, unaware that he was hurting himself more.

"John. Your are pulling to hard on your restraints. You are hurting your wrists." Teyla said as she and Ronan tried to hold his arms down to the bed.

"No. No. Let go. I need to get free. I need to. Let me go!" John said as he pulled on the restraints harder and tried to buck their hands off. He was starting to act strange again.

"You're being controlled Sheppard." Ronan said matter of factly. "We can't let you go. You'll go back to the cave."

John suddenly sat up as much as the restraints would allow, a look of pure hatred and anger on his face and yelled at them. "Free me now! Free me or you will all die! I command you! Free me!"

The team jumped in shock and surprise and stood staring at him. Ronan was the least affected by the reaction that John had. He grabbed hold of John's shoulders and pushed him down on the bed forcefully. "We won't let you go Sheppard. Don't think that threats will work on us. You'll stay where you are."

Sheppard's head cocked slowly and his mouth twitched in anger. "Would you like this body to perish Ronan Dex?" John said slowly and directly. "I can do that. And I will if you do not let me go. I will kill Colonel Sheppard. And there will be nothing that you can do."

Teyla and Rodney's eyes widened at the statement. Ronan just stared at Colonel Sheppard. Stared directly into his eyes as he bent over him, holding his shoulders down to the bed. "I told you I don't take threats well." Ronan said. Seconds later John's eyes fluttered shut and he began to convulse.

"Ronan!" Teyla yelled out.

The three reached out to try and help him. The convulsions stopped and John's body fell limp. McKay reached a hand out and placed it on his neck. "His pulse was ragged before." he said. "But now it's non existent! Help him now!"

Ronan began to do compressions on John's chest and then breathed into his mouth. He finished three sets and then suddenly Sheppard began to breathe by taking a huge breath. His eyes opened and he was breathing normally. Ronan left his hands on Sheppard's chest and looked into his eyes. Rodney and Teyla just stood, breathing heavily, eyes wide.

"I told you I could kill him." John said quietly.

"Yes you did Sheppard. Or should I say Puren?" Ronan said with a bit of a growl to his voice. "You have been in control of Sheppard the whole time. We won't let you go. Kill him if you have to… but you need him to survive. You need his Ancient Gene. If you kill him you don't have your power source anymore. So I don't think you will. Not today. Am I right?"

A sly smile formed on the Colonel's lips and he looked from Ronan to Teyla to Rodney. "Good for you Ronan Dex. You are very perceptive. I do need Colonel Sheppard to keep me alive."

"Is the Colonel still alive Puren?" Rodney asked. "And I don't mean his body. Is he still in there somewhere?"

"Worried about your friend Rodney McKay?" Puren asked, looking at him.

"Yes I am worried. Extremely worried. I don't want him to die."

"What a friend you are Rodney McKay. You don't want to see your friend die." Rodney just stood and looked at John. He wondered how John could survive with that thing taking over his mind. They had to disconnect him soon or they were going to lose him forever. Body and mind. And that did not sit well with him at all. Sheppard had to live. He just had to.

"What? No snide comeback? I'm disappointed in you Rodney McKay. From what I can tell from Colonel Sheppard's mind, you are practically the sarcasm king. Between the two of you, you could both share the title."

"Just call me King Rodney." He said with a frown. He continued to stare at him. He

wasn't going to let Puren win. Not at Sheppard's expense. He moved away from the bed and went back to his data pad. He was bound and determined to help Sheppard any way he could. Even if that meant risking his own life. John had risked his life on more than one occasion for Rodney, so turnabout was fair play. It was his turn to work for John. But he wasn't going to let Puren see what he was thinking about. He wasn't going to let his plan be known. Not even Teyla and Ronan. It was going to be his plan. And it was going to be a good one.

TBC in Chapter Six…

A/N: Sorry this is a short chapter. It was a good ending. But don't fret, chapter six is a good sized one. And this chap isn't really a cliff hanger this time. Have fun. Ta.