Author's Note: Here's where the wraith come in...
And thank you again for all of your lovely reviews! They are keeping me (and this story) alive! ;)
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Tea and a Chat
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Teyla could not remember awakening so many times in such a short period in the infirmary, nor to so many different faces and stories each time. This time it was Doctor Beckett.
"How are you doing, love?" At least some questions never changed.
A tired frown creased her forehead.
"That last one was bad, wasn't it?" she asked, the exact details eluding her but the pain vividly etched in her memory.
"Aye, that it was," he said. He didn't tell her that she had been screaming the whole time, twisting and spasming like a wild thing. He didn't tell her that they had been unable to get near her to comfort her for fear that their presence would push her over the edge.
"I still feel it," she said softly, almost to herself. "The hunger. It is not as bad right now, but it is still there. Sooner or later I will need to feed or die." Carson sighed angrily.
"No matter what happens, unless we can fix this soon, someone is going to die." Teyla knew that he was right. But the last thing that she wanted was for the death to happen to someone here...
"I have to go," she said simply. Startled, the doctor took a moment to reply.
"No!" he said finally. "We're not giving up on you just yet."
"There is no other way," she said. "We have to find Todd, we need to know what he has done to me. Otherwise someone will die. And even if someone has to I would much prefer it to be him." She had a point.
"Do you think that you'll be able to keep control long enough to meet him?" he asked.
"I can do it," she said firmly. Then she gasped, and her eyes widened for a second.
"Easy, lass," Carson said slowly, worried. But after a few more gasping breaths, Teyla calmed down.
"It's alright," she said. "I am fine. But we need to hurry."
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Sheppard, Ronon, and McKay all sat suited up in the jumper, waiting for Teyla to arrive. It wasn't long before they heard her outside the jumper, talking to someone. It sounded like Kanaan, but they couldn't hear too well; and they all strained to listen while pretending not to.
"...no, you must stay."
"I want to help you."
"If something happens to me, Torren will need you."
"Nothing is going to happen..."
"Stay and take care of him." The rest of the conversation was spoken in voices too low to hear. A moment later, Teyla and Dr. Beckett entered the jumper. Teyla took her seat as usual, but had to shift awkwardly to accommodate her hands securely tied behind her, at her request. Her cast also made things difficult; but in unspoken agreement, no one commented. They knew why she was doing it; she would allow herself no chance to hurt them.
They never knew exactly how Woolsey had managed to scare up Todd on such short notice; but somehow he had. Their wraith ally--- they used that term very loosely--- had agreed to meet them on his ship, which they had agreed to only because that was where whatever had happened to Teyla had most likely happened; and could most likely be reversed.
"Are you sure that you want to do this?" John couldn't help but ask her. She turned weary, pained eyes to him; and that was reply enough. John kicked himself for his stupid question. Of course she didn't want to do it; she just knew that she had to.
"How are we going to get onto this hive undetected?" Carson asked after a few moments of very awkward silence. "I assume that his crew will not simply let us walk onto their ship for tea and a chat with him." John smiled grimly.
"I doubt it," he said. "He's going to meet us in the dart bay; supposedly he's ordered everyone out of the area where we'll be conducting our business."
"You don't think that he'll keep his word?"
"Would you?" The doctor closed his mouth.
The jumper surged through the gate, and cloaked immediately as they passed through on the other side, in the shadow of a hive.
"That's a bit close for comfort," McKay muttered. "But it looks like they didn't notice us."
"Good," John said, slowing their ship down and easing towards one of the dart bay doors. "This should be a piece of cake."
"Teyla," Ronon's voice made her turn. "I'm gonna untie you now; are you gonna be okay?" They had forced her to agree to be unbound on the hive; they had a feeling that it would be easier to deal with Todd if she appeared more in charge.
She stared at him for a long moment, then nodded once. Ronon needed no further urging, but took out a knife from somewhere and sliced through the restraints on her wrists as Sheppard landed.
"Okay," the Colonel said, rubbing his hands together nervously. "Lets go fix this." They all made their way to the back hatch of the jumper, and with weapons ready, they pushed the button that lowered it down. Todd was standing on the other side, smiling his creepy, toothy wraith smile. His grin widened when he caught the full view of them.
"Colonel Sheppard," he laughed amiably. "It is good to see you again."
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A/N: So there you go. A little angst, a little Todd, I hope you like. I'll try to update as soon possible :)