Away From Atlantis

Disclaimer, Don't own John. Don't own Teyla. Don't own Rodney or Ronon, just this planet. But I don't own anything else, especially not Tabula Rasa.

Chapter Thirteen song By Myself by Linkin Park

(Week Twenty One and Two Days)

John held back a sigh, these men already had guns, they had to know guns had minimal effects on Wraith, medicine would help them more then guns. He listened to Teyla say for the fourth time weapons were not what they were offering, medicine, new foods, and a few others things that had already been spat at.

If Elizabeth were still around he had a feeling she would have either convinced them or declared it futile. Teyla knew the botany department thought some of the plants here that were weeds might help with refining for certain cancers, but the people didn't care about medicine, they seemed content to wallow in the sheds, and the mud, with their guns.

He noted the way the men standing near the door shifted and he suddenly got the feeling they were about to be held for ransom or killed, he didn't like either option. He looked to Ronon and noted the tension in his shoulders, Ronon was in the know. He looked at Teyla, she was angry, and tense enough he was pretty sure she had picked up the vibes, but Rodney; god bless his nerd heart, had no clue.

He readied himself but had no chance, a gun pressed to his head and he froze. Teyla turned and Ronon growled, and he could see from the corner of his eye a gun was in Ronon's face. Rodney had the sense to keep his mouth shut.

He allowed himself to be roughly searched, and found himself at the end of it all shoved into a small cave Ronon, Teyla and Rodney shoved in after him. He listened to the guard leave, and started talking when he knew he was in the clear. "So who has what?"

Ronon answered first, "Three knives."

Teyla nodded, "One knife."

Rodney shot them all strange looks and then said, "Garage Door Opener."

John nodded, that was all they needed. He looked over the metal bars melded to the cave walls, Ronon got what he was think and taking his biggest knife started prying at the metal, scrapping away the crumbly rock. He drew his own knife and started on the other side, Teyla came to his side and started helping him. Ronon quickly realized he had found the weakest spot and started helping them.

After what seemed like hours but was probably only half an hour or so the metal on that side no longer touched the wall, together they pushed and it gave way with a lot of dust, coughing they walked out of the cave and skirted the village. Then they heard the shouting behind them, they kicked it up into a run, John knew with his hearing they weren't going to make it to the gate before their pursuers caught up to them.

Ronon seemed to know it too, he was dropping back, helping him cover Teyla and Rodney. Rodney said nothing but Teyla's sharp glare said she knew it too.

Five minutes later, Rodney seem to have understood to, he panted out. "If they're... gonna... catch up... we should... ambush them."

"Where?"

Rodney shrugged but another five minutes and they found themselves in a narrow bottle neck with one large over hang only five feet over head. They couldn't have asked for a more perfect place. They set the false trail and he and Ronon climbed the over hang. Two minutes after they were settled their pursers were under them and on his signal they leapt, John kicked the man under him, he hit the man's head and he fell bonelessly. He pushed himself over the edge and tackled another man, smashing him into the wall, stunning him, he punched him in the jaw and that was enough, grabbing one of the nine mils out of the man's hands. He turned and shot the second man Ronon was fighting, Ronon quickly finished the other grabbing his own gun from his hands.

A brief fierce grin crossed Ronon's face and then he heard the main group on their tails. Ronon grimaced, and started loping to catch up with Teyla and Rodney who had gone ahead to make sure they got help.

They caught up quickly enough and John had a sinking feeling they were gonna have a little show down at the gate, western style.

Jogging next to Rodney he couldn't help goad him on, "Come on Rodney getting winded, don't make me start taking you jogging with me and Ronon."

Rodney snorted. "Not... all of... us.. can be... jocks. Colonel."

He didn't really have anything to say to that, it was true, he just wished their lives depended less often on how fast they could run. A shot whizzed over their head and all of them ducked as more shots came, they broke up and he and Ronon started shooting back, Ronon right away caught one, he went down and the rest stopped charging forward. Having made them reconsider a little they continued running, John could see the start of the meadow that the gate was at the far end of. He heard the gate start dialing and ran all the harder, Ronon pushing himself right with him. Then bullets from one of the p-90s hit the dirt at their feet, he dove one way Ronon the other, he heard the double platt from Rodney and Teyla going through and he shot one, then two of the village men all the while backing towards the gate at a crouch, Then he saw Ronon make a break for it, charging up to the gate then through it.

Knowing his team was safe and he was out he dropped the nine mil and made a break for it, he was five steps away from the gate, bullets hitting the ground at his feet, and then one got him, throwing him to the ground his nose inches from the gate he saw the blue light disappear. And saw his own blood stain the ground.

He pushed himself up one handed gritting his teeth against the sharp burn in his upper chest, looking over and down he noted four inches above his heart was a bullet wound, gone clean through him. He raised his right hand and pressed down, hard. Wouldn't help his back but he was bleeding, a lot. Stopping some was all that mattered.

Feet stopped next to him and looking up he saw five of the dirty unkept lot all of whom had guns pointed at him. "Hi."

The leader, the dirtiest of the lot of course; smirked nastily. "Care to continue talking?"

John knew this was gonna hurt, not just because he was shot and it was a long ways back to the village but because he had humiliated the man. Kothen was looking for just a bit of pay back. He was right, the two standing next to the brute of man grabbed him, one roughly gripped his bad shoulder and pulled the other grabbing at the arm trying to keep pressure on the bullet hole.

He couldn't help it he hissed, and felt angry, they'd caught him and shot him, wasn't that enough? Closing his eyes, he let them tie his arms behind his back, he was noticing a rasp to his breathing, it felt like the bullet had nicked if not just gone straight though his lung. Shoving him with a great deal of enthusiasm they walked back. Finding himself a touch dizzy and in a little too much pain he found with every shove his temper growing. Opening his sure to be gold eyes. He noticed all of the guards in front of him had let their guard down, figuring he was tied, what could he do?

Testing the ropes a little he said to himself, snap them.

Grimacing he held his hurt arm as steady as possible and yanked down with his good arm, his chest screamed at him and he grunted, holding back more noise, but it was enough the men in front of him were turning. The ropes snapped and without thinking he whirled and with his good arm slammed his forearm across the man's jaw. John heard the sicking snap and the limp body went flying, he turned back to the shocked men in front of him, charging he flung the first back into a rock, and grabbed the gun of another yanking him forward where he then let go of the gun barrel and then he punched him, hearing the sound of a nine mil cocking behind him, he then charged into the woods, but not before a second shot burned it's way across his aching left arm.

He ran panting, realizing he couldn't hear anyone behind him he stopped to nurse his wound, pulling his shirt off he held it to the deeper wound, looking at it closer he realized it was closing and the bleeding had almost stopped. For that matter he couldn't feel that rasp in his lung any more.

"Hot damn."

He probably wouldn't be hurt at all by the time a jumper came for him. Of course the down side was a wraith could only take so much damage before it got hungry, would that be true of him? Or would he just stop being able to regenerate?

Looking at the graze he realized it was closing too, he flung the shirt away and headed deeper in, he needed to get to a clearing, the jumper would scan for his life signs and find him that way.

He set a light pace, he may be healing but he was light headed from blood loss.

Half an Hour Later

He was cursing himself, he almost hadn't heard them till it was too late, now he was on the run again, his wounds were closed, but the blood he'd lost didn't seem to have been replaced or regenerated. He panted, he still hadn't found a good clearing and with the brute squad on his tail he didn't want to find a good landing pad.

He snickered that was another movie Ronon needed to see, he'd like miracle Max. And being mostly dead.

John stopped himself, he was a little punch drunk if he said so, shaking his head he realized he'd stumbled on a shallow but wide river. He stopped and took a drink, nice icy cold, sobered him nicely. He washed the blood off and ignoring the now cold and wet pants he started slogging down stream. Two or so miles down steam he saw a good rocky bank and scrambled up it, heading back into the woods.

He ignored the little streams of water escaping his boots and running down his legs, his top half was mostly dry something about it was a nice sunny seventy-five degrees, but it was starting to get to be late afternoon, dark would came soon and he was starting to wonder if they'd catch up to him before dark. Be it the annoying villagers or his team.

He paused and realized he was hungry, like he'd eat three or four power bars if that was what he could get. Maybe he was okay and Carson was right, maybe he wouldn't even need to feed on anything other then the normal human diet.

He looked over both his hands, he looked good, no pink mark or even sudden feeding slit.

Shaking his head he realized he had spaced out a little longer then he'd realized, it was getting dark fast. Looking about he headed for something tall, not that he could see much for the trees but the slope was leading upwards to the left. He started off in a jog, he noted his legs were starting to feel a lot like jelly, add in blood loss and he was pretty sure he was back to being punch drunk. Then he heard noise behind him, he stopped and listened. He realized they weren't human sounds, they sound canine.

He realized why he hadn't heard the human hunting party was because they were getting their dogs... that or they knew something was in the woods. He started running knowing he wasn't just hearing one or two he was hearing a full pack, if worst came to worst he could climb a tree.

A mile or two into his sprint he wasn't sure, wasn't counting, his adrenaline rush started wearing off and he realized he was dead exhausted. Realizing he had slowed and the dogs or whatever were gaining on him, he looked for the best climbing tree, that was when he realized full night had fallen. He saw a promising tree, he grabbed the sides and worked his way up it, he had just reached the fifth branch about fifteen feet off the ground with he heard a savage growl at the base of his tree. Settling himself on his branch he looked down and found himself staring into the angry eyes of eight.. no nine dog things.

He used the term loosely, about the size of the average gray wolf, they were olive in fur tone but he could see bony plates mixed in the fur, not to mention their feet. Very lizard like, the front feet seemed to have toes, but were flat and not paw like at all. The back had just three toes and something like a thumb on the outside of the foot; And those snapping jaws, very crocodile like, the way the teeth lined up. Oh and that thick tail, that made him think of alligators and crocodiles. Not that he knew much about animals but he was guessing they were a way to balance them as they ran through the trees, or they were like ram horns, he just was guessing that: because the one with the biggest tail and the most scars was moving through the others like water. The violet-blue eyes looked up at him, and to his amazement they seemed to be without pupils.

It glared up at him, and he realized for all the well muscled legs, perfect for running non stop for miles, they weren't made for jumping. Meaning he was safe till they went away. Or lead someone to him, but he was leaning towards the wild animal theory, that animal was looking at him too meanly to be a pet.

He realized while he was still feeling a bit weak and he was very tired, his arm and chest weren't bothering him at all. He was good, probably only in the sense he was healed, he wasn't feeling too good trapped up a tree by some fauna. Getting the feeling he might be facing some cat jokes if he was found this way he made himself as comfortable as possible, which safe to say wasn't comfortable at all. He settled in to out wait the dog-crocs.

The next three or four hours went slowly, he realized while he felt uncomfortable cold, he wasn't fighting with hypothermia like he should be, he didn't have a fire, he didn't have food, he didn't even have a shirt, and it was thirty five degrees if that. He supposed if he was looking for the bright side he at least dry.

And he looked over the edge of his branch, at least his guard dogs had stopped growling and pacing and were just sitting at the bottom of the tree. He sat back and closed his eyes, few more hours to go, he was betting when his people realized they couldn't get to him with a jumper they'd wait for morning, night time would just make it more likely someone would get hurt.

Half an Hour Before Dawn

He heard noise below him and stirred from the light sleep he had been enjoying. Looking over the edge he realized the dog things were leaving the leader stopped and glared up at him but left probably heading for the den. So they were nocturnal, and... weren't on the other side of the river? So they don't like water.

Well it didn't matter he wasn't leaving the tree till it was full morning, so hopefully they wouldn't be waiting to ambush him.

Another hour went by and it was morning sun was shining and everything. Having heard nothing for the last hour he climbed down landing lightly. He figured going back towards the gate would be a safer bet, so he started off figuring at the very least he would get some water. An hour later he found himself surprised by the amount of ground he'd covered, he was moving pretty fast but he still hadn't reached the small river, ah he spoke too soon he could hear it now. Then he heard the distinct crack of a breaking stick and he immediately pressed himself to a tree, where had that come from?

Then he heard the hiss of a radio, just to make sure the bad guys hadn't figured out how to use theirs he peaked around the tree and listened harder, ignoring the sound of the river a ways away, he picked out four... no six footsteps, Lorne, Lorne's team, Teyla, Rodney and he probably couldn't hear Ronon. The moment he said that he realized he could hear a breathing only twelve feet or so away, Ronon was following his tracks from yesterday. He really hoped they hadn't found the bloody shirt.

He stepped out, Ronon whirled before relaxing. "Sheppard."

John nodded. "Glad you guys caught up."

Ronon snorted, "You're the one who didn't make it through the gate."

He shrugged. "I got caught, ran out of bullets. What can I say."

Lorne and his team with Teyla and Rodney came through the trees, Rodney stopped, looking relieved, before noticing he'd lost his shirt. "Kirk, you just had to lose the shirt."

Lorne mostly smothered a snort, and Teyla smiled. "John you're okay."

He bobbed his head. "Yep, didn't get shot just couldn't make through the gate in time."

They nodded and Lorne handed him a radio, "The jumper's waiting near the gate, Sir."

"Good, I could use a hot breakfast."

Lorne nodded, and they set off, Teyla, Ronon and Rodney circling around him, it had been quiet a few minutes when Rodney spoke up, "No really, what could make you just throw your shirt off?"

He shrugged, "I was wet from the river, it got cold, when I was forced up the tree I figured I might as well take it off rather them leave it on wet as it was."

Rodney waved his hands, "Wait hold on, forced up a tree?"

He nodded, "Some weird nocturnal dog crocodile things."

Now everyone was looking at him.

"What? That's what they looked like, they had fur but their jaws were like a crocodile's and they had similar bony plates on their backs and sides, and really thick tails. They ran off a little before dawn, oh and they didn't seem to be able to jump."

Lorne seemed amused but Teyla seemed to know what he was talking about, "You encountered Gantors?"

He shrugged. "If that's what their called yes, a whole pack, nine of them."

She looked at him. "You got very lucky, they like to eat humans, and are very fast."

He expected that, he hadn't got the feeling they wanted to play with him after all. "Yeah didn't know what was chasing me but I knew it wasn't the villagers, so I climbed a tree."

Ronon spoke up now. "Good move, a pack of nine you would have needed a gun to fight them off."

He held back a sigh, that much was obvious. He slogged back into the river. "So are we going to have to run from any annoying villagers today?"

Teyla smirked. "No they were most intimidated by the jumper."

(Week Twenty Four)

He sat back, Lt. Morrison had been delivering goods to a science team when he and his puddle jumper had been kidnapped by people called travelers, they had their own ships and were apparently had been after more ships, and the ATA gene. They had taken his blood and had a forceful conversation.

He had found out they had recently acquired an ancient ship.

With his help they had a way to now fly the ship, so they let him go, which is why he was now reading this report. This Larrin sounded like one beautiful bitch. But not one he'd really like to meet, she didn't sound particularly trust worthy, she had changed the 'deal' several times. But they now knew there were people out there with ships with hyperdrives, the Apollo and Daedalus would be told to keep their eyes peeled.

(Week Twenty Four and Five Days)

John sat back on his bed, the last three days had been trying, eight people had died from the mutated virus, he himself had to fake being sick, making it frustrating as he watched almost everyone else drift off becoming frightened panicked people, he hated not being able to help, but he couldn't pretend to be immune, not without Dr. Keller taking a closer look.

But in the end the day was saved, his secret kept, his friends survived. But he had noticed and worried about his increased appetite, between the time of his being shot and now he had noticed he was eating a little more every day, he hid it by taking snacks, eating at odd hours after shift changes so no one person commented on his appetite but he worried, his body had felt weak while most were falling ill and for the hours he was pretending not to remember he noticed his movements slowed, and his joints ached, fighting off the bug had strained even his system.

And he was left worrying if this was pushing him closer and closer to the need to feed, some times he found himself checking his hands at random times, but nothing so far, but he was just left waiting and waiting for that thing that would push him over the edge. He was pretty sure Ronon and Teyla had sensed something wrong with him, but they knew enough not to ask when it seemed personal. Not till he had gotten over it, or it effected his time with them.

But he had admitted to himself he was gorging himself on his friendship with them, savoring the funny moments, if only because he feared the time was coming where he was gonna have to come clean or have to run. He knew he'd rather run then have to look them in the eye and tell them he had lied and lied and lied.

He sat back and closed his eyes, today was not that day, but he couldn't keep lying to himself, that day would come.