Title: Of Allies or Enemies
Author: Flea
Date
Part: 11/?
Rating: M (just to be on the safe side)

Pairing: J/T
Characters: John, Ronan, Elizabeth, Kolya (and little bits from the others)
Genre: Romance / Suspense /Angst /Action its got some of everything
Word Count: 1912
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 11 – Nothing in Return

"The major should be here soon." Elizabeth said to John. He seemed a little calmer than yesterday something which Elizabeth was thankful for, maybe now they could get through a whole meeting. "About last night John."

"Elizabeth I lost my temper, I said I was sorry." John had been thinking about what had happened all night. He really had lost his temper; big time, but Kolya had asked for it.

"You punched him!"

"Yes I did." he watched Elizabeth carefully trying to make out her expression "But he deserved it!"

"That's not the point!" Elizabeth snapped. How could John have been so stupid?

Elizabeth had heard about what had happened when Carson called her to the infirmary. Upon entering he had seem two of Kolya's men sitting on the beds both nursing broken noses, one had a rather badly cut lip and the other a nasty looking gash across his forehead.

Carson had tried to play it down by saying there was little misunderstanding in the mess hall. It had taken her nearly an hour to get the whole truth out of him.

Anger didn't cover what she felt after hearing that John had punched Kolya which caused his solider to retaliate. Of course they had been no match for John and Ronan, ending the fight soon after it begun.

How could John have been so stupid to allow Kolya to push him like that? Elizabeth wasn't exactly sure what had been said only that Kolya had dropped some comment which John had taken badly; very badly.

"Look I promise it won't happen again."

"Can you promise me that John?" John could tell she was angry but the truth was punching Kolya had felt good.

"Sure!" he lied

"John!"

"Ok I can't promise that, but I promise to try!" he flashed her one of his smiles hoping it would calm her down. It had no effect.

"John ... if you can't keep your temper I'm going to have to ask you to sit out of the meeting."

"I'll be fine Elizabeth." he growled.

Elizabeth was about to comment when something caught her attention out side her office window, Major Lorne and the rest of the marines arrived with Kolya and his men.

John turned to see what Elizabeth was looking at, just in time to see the Genii plus marines enter the briefing room. John saw Ronan and Rodney not far behind, but Teyla was no where to be seen.

He had tried to talk to Teyla last night after the little mishap in the mess hall but had been unable to find her. He still wasn't sure what Kolya had said to her yesterday and after his comment last night John wanted to know more than ever.

In silence the two stood from their seats making their away out of Elizabeth's office and over to the briefing room.

Upon entering the room John noticed the Genii first, sitting across the other side, two of them looking a little worst for wear. His eyes travelled over to Kolya's the smile which had been plastered on his face since he had arrived was gone, a slight black tint surround one of his eyes.

"Rough night!" he spoke in their general direction a small smile appearing on his lips.

"Colonel." Elizabeth warned

Before John could continue the briefing room door opened revealing Carson and a very tired looking Teyla. John felt his heart drop at the slight of her; Teyla's eyes which usually shone full of life seemed empty and dull.

Kolya noticed John's reaction to the sight of Teyla and he wasn't the only one. Ronan also noticed the change Teyla's appearance had on the colonel.

"No absolutely not."

"John please let's just hear him out." Elizabeth begged. So far the meeting had been going on very well until now.

"I only ask for a little more privacy colonel."

"Not going to happen" He knew Kolya would try something like this, try and get Elizabeth to relax the security watching them.

Elizabeth could feel the tension as the two man stared at each other, both determined to win the discussion.

"Why don't we skip ahead to the ZPM!" she suggested. "What you want in exchange for it."

"I want nothing." Kolya told them happy to see the shocked faces all around him.

"You want nothing?" Elizabeth asked

"You expect us to believe that!" Rodney exclaimed

"Please" Kolya held up his hands gaining everyone's attention. "Please hear me out. I know that in the past my actions have been vicious and cruel." Kolya could see John's expression of disbelief from the corner of his eyes. "I understand that you have no reason to trust me in my request for this alliance. I would like to offer the ZPM as a token of my apologies and ask for your forgiveness."

"What a load of crap." John spoke up his voice laced with anger

"John please!"

"You don't honestly believe this?" Rodney asked Elizabeth in disbelief.

"Doctor McKay." Kolya spoke before Elizabeth had chance to answer Rodney's question, he nodded to the man sitting beside. The Genii scientist stood carry the box which housed the ZPM over to Rodney, placing it on the table in front of him. Taking a key from his pocket he handed it to the stunned scientist before returning to his seat.

"What's the catch?" Rodney asked as he looked at the key in his hand.

"No catch Doctor McKay, I only ask you consider my request for fewer guards."

"Well." Elizabeth spoke up rising from her seat. "I will consider your request and get back to you. Why don't we break for lunch" Elizabeth suggested looking at her watch, they had been in the briefing for hours "We can continue in a few hours."

John watched as everyone stood preparing to leave. He looked over towards Teyla she had been very quiet all meeting and he was beginning to get a little worried.

He watched as she quickly left her seat making for the door, by the look of it she was determined to get out of there as quick as possible.

Teyla heard Elizabeth dismiss everyone breathing a sigh of relief at the fact that she could now leave. She kept her head down during the meeting, happy to stay quiet and listen to the people around her. But after a few hours had gone by Teyla had begun to feel more and more unsettle.

Every now and then Teyla had felt John's eyes on her but she had refused to look up. Her mind was still in a muddle of what happen yesterday. Does she want her relationship with John to change, because if Major Lorne hadn't interrupted yesterday things between then would have progressed. Was that what she wanted?

And last night in the mess hall, John had moved straight to her side as if to protect her from Kolya.

John was one of her greatest friends; she trusted him completely and would give her life if it meant saving his. Was she willing to put that friendship on the line for something more that might not even be there?

Teyla quickly left the briefing room she needed some time alone to sort through her thoughts, to try and come to some conclusion on what these feelings for John Sheppard were.

Pushing pass a few marines Teyla hoped to reach the door and be gone before anyone really noticed. Her plan however was unsuccessful.

"Teyla!" John called just as she was to about to descend the stairs which would take her away from the control room.

Teyla turned watching as he pushed his way past the marines which stood guarding in the door way.

"John" her voice was hesitant. Teyla should have known that he would notice the quick exit even if no one else did. "How can I help you?"

"Just wanted to ask you something." His voice was soft barely more than a whisper.

"Sheppard" They both heard Rodney called. Teyla was sure a few curse words escape John's mouth before he turned to face the scientist.

This was her chance to escape while John had his back to her; she could apologist to him when her thoughts weren't in such a mess.

"What is it Rodney." Teyla heard John ask noticing the irritation which sounded in his voice. Taking a small step back as not to inform the colonel of her plan Teyla slowly turned readying herself to leave.

John must have realised what she was doing because before she even had a chance to move away his hand shot out grabbing hold her wrist keeping her in place.

His grip wasn't firm and Teyla knew if she really wanted to she could pull away; but she choose not to.

"You off to grab some lunch?" Rodney asked watching the two careful. He couldn't quite see but from this angle it looked like they were holding hands. Rodney's breath caught in his throat as the sudden realisation sunk in that once again he had interrupted something he shouldn't have.

"No Rodney" Teyla saw John smile at his team mate "Me and Teyla … well we have …"

John was a little lost for words, not wanting for what he said to sound too suspicious.

"We have a few things to disgust!" Teyla answered for him

"Oh sure … no problem!" Teyla noticed that Rodney seemed slightly flustered "I'll just be … be going."

John watched as one of his best friends turned bumping into Carson. Rodney obviously asked about lunch as both the doctors walked off down the corridor together heading in the direction of the mess hall.

"What is it would wish to discuss John."

John was a little taken back by her coldness but tried not to let it bother him.

Looking around him he noticed more people leaving the briefing room creating a small crowd outside the door. The last thing he wanted was to talk to Teyla in front of all these people; especially as he wasn't 100 sure his question was going to end in another argument.

"This way!" nodding towards the door which lead out on the balcony.

Kolya watched as John lead Teyla out on to the balcony. Doctor Weir would decrease security he knew this for sure, after he had given them the ZPM in a sign of trust, she would have no choice but to return the offer. All he had to do was wait.

"Quinlan" Kolya called to his second in command.

"Yes Sir?"

"You and O'Callaghan." Kolya started looking over his shoulder to see where the Marines were. He noticed that they were still standing by the door of the briefing room waiting for Major Lorne, who was inside talking to Doctor Weir. "I want to know everything." He ordered nodding in the direction John and Teyla had walked in.

Kolya did not need to explain more, Quinlan understood fully.

Ronan watched with curiosity as the Genii leader left with the scientist and only one of his solider. He'd seem the brief conversation between him and his 2nd in command, Ronan only wished he'd been close enough to hear it.

A small group of the marines left their positions following the three men down the corridor as the other stayed put.

Something was happening Ronan knew for sure, the question was what. Carefully disappearing in to shadows he decided to hang around and find out.