Of Allies or Enemies

by stephaflea

After years of planning, many disappointments and many failures … At last he has finally succeeded. Acastus Kolya is now the leader of the Genii people and is in full control. What does this mean for Atlantis and how does John take the news?

9. Chapter 9 You are not Alone

Title: Of Allies or Enemies
Author: Flea
Date Thu Jan 25
Part: 9/?
Rating: M (just to be on the safe side though at the moment it only for bad langue)
Pairing: J/T
Characters: John, Teyla, Kolya
Genre: Romance / Suspense /Angst /Action its got some of everything
Word Count: 2039
Archiving: only here and on fanfiction net
Warnings- angst, swearing
Spoilers: slight once through out all the season, many from the episode which Kolya appears in.

Disclaimers: No copyright infringement is intended. All characters belong to MGM I'm only borrowing them for my own personal enjoyment.

Summary: After years of planning, many disappointments and many failures … At last he has finally succeeded. Acastus Kolya is now the leader of the Genii people and is in full control. What does this mean for Atlantis and how does John take the news?

Chapter 9 - You are not Alone

"Colonel" John heard Teyla call from behind him but he didn't stop or slow down. Right now all John wanted was to be as far away from Kolya as possible.

John knew he should have kept his temper in the briefing, threatening Kolya like that would only make things harder. John turned the corner hoping that Teyla would loose sight of him but as usual the Athosian leader wouldn't be thrown off that easily.

"John" she called again.

John quicken this paces just a little hoping that Teyla would get the hint and just give up, even though he knew it was pointless to try.

John continued on, just a little further up John saw the turning he was looking for. The only thing around that corner were a set of stairs leading down to the lower levels of Atlantis, and as nearly everyone used the transports John could guarantee that it would be empty.

"John please "

"I don't want to talk about it Teyla" he shouted over his shoulder just he had rounded his destination.

Just as John had thought the place was deserted.

Stopping just round the corner he leaned his back against the wall catching his breath and calming him self before Teyla appeared.

It wasn't long before Teyla followed turning the corner at some speed almost missing John waiting there. His hand shot out grabbing her by the elbow, taking Teyla by surprise.

"I told you I didn't want to talk about it" he growled

Teyla didn't reply John noticed she looked slightly dazed, knowing he had caught her off guard.

"Why are you following me?"

"I just wanted to check to see if you were alright." She straightened up a little but John notice that her breathing was still a little fast.

"You left the briefing …"

"Teyla" he interrupted slightly frustrated. "I told you I don't want to talk about it. Otherwise we'll just end up arguing again and I don't want that."

Teyla could see the pain in his eyes; he looked tired like he hadn't slept in days.

"I don't want to argue with you Teyla" her heart broke. He looked so lost; so alone.

This was a side of John which she had never seen before, a side where he wasn't in control and that scared him.

"I just want to help!" her voice was soft, pleading with him to understand; to let her in.

"I don't need your help Teyla, I can sort this out on my own." And with that she watched as he turned to leave.

"Why do you have to do this" She shouted after him. Her voice filled more with hurt than with anger.

"Excuse me?"

John had stopped again and was facing her. Teyla knew that if she was going to get through to him it was now or never. She calmed herself, preparing for what was most likely going to be one of the hardest conversations in her life.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn?"

"Stubborn?"

"This is a hard time for you John I know that … everyone knows that. Why can't you just admit that you could do with some help?" She was angry, and for the 2nd time in the space of a few days Teyla found her self face to face arguing with John Sheppard.

"Because I don't!" he shouted back.

"Yes you do!" she had raised her voice to the colonel before but never like this. John stood back a little shocked at her sudden out burst.

"Look at you John." Tears were beginning to form in her eyes but she pushed them back refusing to let them fall. "You are pushing everyone away! Me, Ronan, Rodney even Elizabeth. You spend all your spare time alone, standing out on the balcony or sitting in your quarters." Teyla could tell John wanted to speak but she refused to let him have a say, not just yet anyway. "You are so full of anger people are scared to speak to you.

"I notice your not." He shot in

"Do you not see what you are doing?"

"Teyla just drop it"

"I will not" She grabbed his arm before he could walk away from her again. "Do you think you are alone in this John … do you?"

"Teyla"

"Because you are not the only one that he has hurt? We were there John! You say that we don't understand and maybe thats true. But we were the ones who had to stand there and watch as he …" Teyla faulted the emotion becoming too much, and a few tears escape down her cheeks. "We saw what you went through, the pain you were in and I could do nothing to help, so don't you dare tell me I don't understand."

John looked up at her in surprise, had Teyla just said 'I'. It was nobody's fault what happen to him, nobody's apart from Kolya. He knew that if anything could have been done, his team would have done it. How could she possible blame herself?

"We are here for you John …" she paused unsure whether to say what she truly wanted to. "I am here for you"

Teyla ..." he started unsure of what to say. John could see the tears which shone in her eyes, the tracks down here cheeks from the few which had escaped. "I'm not good at this." He confessed bring up his hands to wipe away the wetness.

"You are one of the strongest people I know John Sheppard. Just know that you don't have to go through this alone."

"It's what I've always done Teyla" he watched as she nodded in understanding. "I just need a little time."

"Time I'm afraid is not on your side."

"I know" and John did know. If he didn't sort things out soon Elizabeth would have no choice but to ask him to stay away from the briefings and have no further part in the alliance. That was something John couldn't allow to happen.

Teyla was surprised as John leaned forward resting his forehead to hers closing his eyes as if to draw in some comfort from her closeness. His hands had dropped from her cheeks sliding down her arms until they found hers holding them tightly.

John could feel the heat radiating from Teyla's body; he could feel her breath on his lips and fingers locked strongly with his. John could hear her heart beat racing and wondered if it was due to their argument or his sudden closeness.

"Colonel" a shy voice spook up from beside them. John didn't want to let go; to have this moment with Teyla end but at the sound of the Majors voice he felt Teyla pull away once more.

"Yes Major" he spoke his voice oddly calm. John opened his eyes turning to face major Lorne as Teyla backed up against the wall putting as much distance between them as it allowed. He had seen a slight tint colour her cheeks at the Majors appearance and for some reason this thought made John a little happier.

That happiness was short live once he'd turn and seem who the Major had behind him. Kolya and the rest of the Genii stood not more than a foot behind the Major, with 2 marines either side of them.

"I'm sorry Sir but we were unable to reach you using your radio and Dr Weir asked me to speak with you before showing our guests to their quarters."

John looked down at this radio wondering why the message never came through; maybe he'd turned it off without realising it.

He must have been so caught up with Teyla that he missed the Majors message because as far as he could see his radio was working fine.

"No problem Major." He nodded behind him indicating for him to follow.

Teyla watched as John and Lorne walked towards the other side of the corridor, she listened but was unable to hear what the two officers discussed.

Deciding this was a good opportunity to leave she pushed herself away from the wall only to come face to face with Kolya.

Kolya had been interested in the young Athosian's actions when she left the briefing room after Sheppard. Now he was even more curious, could Teyla really be John Sheppard's weak link; he couldn't help the smile that appeared on his lips.

When he'd arrived on Atlantis the two had been standing awfully close together, the body language screaming out that they were more than just team mates or friends. Kolya could still see the tint of crimson across her cheeks from there interruption just moments ago. An interruption of what looked like a very intermit moment.

"I do hope we didn't interrupt anything." He saw the flash of hatred flash through her eyes.

"What you interrupted is of none of your concern!" Teyla went to push past him but he lightly grabbed hold of arm causing her to stop but so nobody else could see. Kolya glanced up towards Sheppard, smiling when he noticed that the Colonel had seen him.

"It seemed to me like we intruded on a rather intermit moment." He whispered lightly in her ear, feeling her body tense at his statement.

"As I said it is none of your concern!" Teyla growled trying to pull her arm from his grip.

"You should know my dear what ever is going on with Sheppard is always going to be my concern!" He enjoyed the quick look of horror which flashed across Teyla's face before once again the anger took over.

"If you do anything to hurt him Kolya, I swear …"

"Yes Yes Yes …" giving her arm a tight squeeze causing Teyla to wince in pain. "How positively moving!"

John tried desperately to keep his focus on what the Major was telling him, but he could see Teyla from the corner of his eye and didn't like how close she was to Kolya.

He could see Kolya whispering something to her and the urge to walk over there and shot the man was increasing.

John could tell by Teyla's body language she was tense, her back was perfectly straight and her fingers were twitching down by her sides. Why wasn't she moving? All she had to do as carry on walking; why wasn't she doing it.

"Dr Weir has agreed to discuss the trade of the ZPM before starting on the alliance …" Major Lorne told him though John was paying very little attention. Teyla still wasn't walking away. "She has arranged a meeting tomorrow at 10.00, and asked if you'd go and see her if there were any problems."

"Yes Major." John answered automatically. Just then Teyla's body shifted slightly and John could see the reason why she wasn't moving. Kolya's hand was firming gripping her arm; John was surprised at the amount of anger which seemed to rush through him at this discovery.

"Colonel" Lorne asked "Is everything ok."

"Fine Major … is that all" but before waiting for a reply he walked back over to the group of people no more than 10ft away.

"Teyla?" John spoke from behind her. "Is everything ok?" he asked his eyes fixed firmly on Kolya.

"We were just discussing a mutual friend" Kolya replied

"Everything is fine Colonel" Teyla answered as she pushed her way passed Kolya and continued down the corridor.

John glared at Kolya not sure what he could have said to Teyla to make her so angry, though he planned on find out.

"What did you say to her?" that smug smile appeared again across his face.

"A little protective aren't we Colonel."

"You listen to me Kolya" John growled, "I'm sure its no surprise to you that I didn't want you here, and if I have anything to do with it you wont be here much longer. But while you are, let me make one thing perfectly clear …" he paused walking closer towards the Genii leader. "You stay away from Teyla, and you stay away from the rest of my team is that clear."

"Perfectly Colonel." Kolya replied the smile never once leaving his lips.

"