Title: Of Allies or Enemies
Author: Flea
Date Fri Jan 26
Part: 12/?
Rating: M

Pairing: J/T
Characters: John, Ronan, Teyla
Genre: Romance / Suspense /Angst /Action its got some of everything
Word Count: 1588
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 12 – Take my advice

As the door slid shut behind John he watched as Teyla walked away from him, walking over to the balcony. She looked down towards the ocean her shoulders were slumped; eyes showing nothing but pain.

John hated seeing Teyla like this, worrying that he was the cause.

"What did you want to ask me John?" her voice was soft barely even a whisper but John heard her.

"I just wanted to ask if you were ok!" he spoke hoping his voice sound more confident than he felt.

It was a strange feeling to John, not knowing how to act around Teyla. They had always been close and John would admit that in the early days there would be the odd uncomfortable moment; they were from different planets after all. But as the months, the years went by things had changed. He'd learned about her people and she had learnt about his causing those moments to disappear completely.

"I am fine."

"Forgive me if I don't believe you!" John walked over towards her talking up his usually position by her side. If he had been expecting some kind of response to his replied he received none.

"It is not my problem if you do not believe me John, it is yours." her answer was cold and harsh, completely unlike Teyla.

"Teyla?" John asked placing his hands on her arms turning her to face him. John watched Teyla as he held her in front of him.

Placing his hand under Teyla's chin John gentle lifted her head till she was looking at him. Their eyes met and John could see the unshed tears shining back at him.

"Tell me" he pleaded.

"I am fine."

"You're lying!" John spoke softly their eyes still locked, lips only inches apart. It was Teyla that pulled away first breaking the spell which had been cast between them.

"And why would you think that John?" her voice was laced with anger and John didn't like where he saw this conversation heading. "Could it be because that has been your reply to me every time I have asked, every time I have tried to help."

"Teyla lets not ..."

"What do you want John?"

"I told you" he paused "I wanted to check you were alright!"

"And you have my answer ... you can now leave." She told him before turning back to the balcony looking out across the ocean.

John hesitated not wanting to leave but unsure if he should stay. Teyla was angry whether it was because of him or some thing else John didn't know; it was most likely him.

"You are not leaving!"

"No"

"Then there must be something else that you wanted." John knew it was useless trying to deny the fact; Teyla had always been able to read him like a book.

"You've been acting a little strange." before he'd even finished his statement John knew it was the wrong thing to say.

"I have been acting strange!" Teyla looked at him in disbelief.

"Just a little unlike yourself."

"Judging by your recent actions John I would stay you were the one acting unlike yourself, I mean ..."

"What did Kolya say to you yesterday?" John asked stopping her mid sentence, he watched as Teyla tensed; her eyes widening in shock at the sudden change in subject.

"He said nothing of importance."

"You're lying to me." he growled in frustration "Talk to me Teyla."

"But you will not talk to me."

"This isn't about me Teyla it's ..."

"No John it is" she shouted. John watched as she glanced around checking that no one had seen or heard her sudden outburst.

"What did he say Teyla?" John asked again this time controlling his voice trying to calm the situation. Teyla did not answer only continued to stare out into the ocean. "Teyla please." he spoke softly.

"It is of no importance." Before John could stop her she was gone, the doors sliding close behind her; leaving him alone.

Ronan stood in the shadows watching the scene before him. Outside on the balcony he could see Sheppard and Teyla talking, wondering what they could be discussing. He could sense the tension which hung around the two even from this distance; it was obvious in the way they stood. During their conversation a distance had grown between them, little by little they moved further away.

Even Ronan found him self interested in the sudden change of his friends relationship, but they were not what held his attention.

Ronan could see two of the Genii soldiers standing not far from the briefing room, and as John and Teyla spoke these two had started their own little journey; one which moved them closer and closer to the balcony doors.

For some reason which Ronan had yet to find out these two were watching Teyla and John.

Ronan heard the sound of a door opening looking past the Genii just in time to see Teyla leaving. She walked quickly noticing nothing and no one, content just to stare at the floor as she hurried away. Ronan glanced again to John, he leaned on the balcony's edge head in hands, looking tired; defeated.

Just as Ronan was about to leave his hiding place to join his friend, he noticed the Genii officers huddle together whispering quietly. The marines stood near by but no where near enough to hear what they were discussing.

Ronan watched as one of them; he believed to be Kolya 2nd in command nodding in the direction Teyla had just left in.

Before Ronan could move towards them to two men spilt up, moving away in different directions. Ronan gave a low growl knowing there was now way he could follow both.

They were up to some thing and Ronan would bet his life that Kolya was behind it. The two men had been spying on Sheppard, was Kolya going to try and kill him once and for all. He would talk to John; see if he had noticed anything strange.

Finally moving forward out of the shadows Ronan made his way towards his team leader. The wind was the first thing he felt as the door open, a coldness whipping him across the face.

"Sheppard!" Ronan greeted receiving no reply and not expecting one. "Kolya's up to something."

"Tell me something I don't know!" John answered raising his head to look out into the ocean.

"You noticed anything?"

"Like what?" John asked turning to face the Satedan, but Ronan didn't offer an answer. "He's lying!" John spoke again though Ronan was unsure what he meant.

"Kolya?"

"Yeah"

"When has he ever told the truth?" Ronan stated, he noticed that this caused John to smile though it was only slightly.

"Good point!" John paused "You believe any of that bullshit about apologising, giving us the ZPM for nothing?" Ronan didn't have to answer John could see what he was looking for in his face. "Didn't think so!" Ronan heard John let out a long sigh before he continued. "Smart though … got to hand the bastard that."

"Smart!" Ronan asked confused

"Giving us the ZPM, leaves Elizabeth no choice but to offer something in return … like reduced security."

"One thing doesn't add up."

"Just one?" John exclaimed looking somewhat amused

"No wraith would destroy a city and leaving behind a ZPM."

"Maybe it was hiden." John suggested though even he didn't believe it.

"The Wraith missed it but the Genii didn't!"

"You think they took it." John asked. Ronan notice that any hint of amusement which was there moments before was now gone.

"Only one way to find out."

"I'll talk to Elizabeth when she gets back." John told him once again his arms resting on the balcony looking out at the ocean.

A silence fell over the two men as they both stood watching the wave's crash against one of the distant piers.

"So what's going on between you and Teyla?"

John tried to hide the fact that he was surprised by Ronan question, but he didn't hide it well enough.

Ronan saw that his whole body seemed to tense at the mention of the Athosian.

"What makes you think there's anything going on?"

"I'm not blind Sheppard … though I think most of your people are!" Ronan took up John position next to him, arms resting on the balcony looking out beyond the horizon. "You've both been acting strange around each other for some time."

"This whole Kolya thing has many people acting strange."

"I'm not stupid either." Ronan heard John let out a small chuckle.

"I don't know Ronan … I really don't know." John paused taking a deep breath "I mean one minute we're arguing the next we're …"

"You're what?"

"Nothing" Ronan waiting wondering if John would continue. "He said something to her yesterday!"

"Who? Kolya?"

"Yeah"

"What was it?" Ronan felt the anger inside him, not sure if he wanted to hear what John was going to say.

"I don't know!" It was obvious by John's tone that he too was angry. "She wouldn't tell me"

Ronan glanced through the windows which looked into the city noticing that Doctor Weir had returned. Slapping John on the back he turned also noticed what the Satedan had.

"Take my advice Sheppard; talk to her, sort out what ever happened between you two." He began to leave the door opening at his command. "And tell her you love her" he shouted over his shoulder before the door closed shut behind him.