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The morning drew to a dreary end as afternoon approached, the sun now high in the sky. A cool breeze cast away the heat of the summer blowing softly through the Athosian encampment, or what was left of it. A few small huts and wooden barns remained standing, although not completely unscathed. Silence had washed over Athos like a deadly plague, a silence filled with sadness and regret. The Athosians busily rebuilt their home, as others patrolled the streets, gathering the pieces of rubble that lined the streets. The sunlight sliced through the open tent flap as people steadily came in and out. The row of bodies filling the small space seemed to grow by the minute with each body covered by a thin white sheet. Rodney stared down at the unmoving form of Doctor Keller as a tear slowly trickled down his face. He made no attempt to brush it away. Sighing he took her hand in his and rested his chin on his chest.
"First Carson, now you. You didn't deserve this, did you?" he said sadly, almost expecting Jennifer to reply. Another tear made its way down his cheek, dropping onto their entwined hands. Rodney closed his eyes, sifting his position on the floor. A small tingling sensation shook his body and suddenly a bright red light erupted from his palm. Rodney watched in wonder and fear as the light grew brighter, filling the room with a magnificent lustre. The light suddenly faded, disappearing as quickly as it came, and all was quite. Rodney sat in silence when a small moan distracted him from his confusion. He looked around trying to find the cause of the noise, when the hand he'd been holding tightened round his own...
Xxxxx
"You think you healed her?" Ronon said gruffly, a look of annoyance and confusion on his face. "Look, McKay, I know you think you can do everything, but now you're just being stupid."
McKay scoffed at the other man's words and shook his head. "Ok, firstly, I don't 'think' I healed her. I know I did. Secondly, I am not being stupid. Something happened in there that was beyond the laws of science. She was laying there dead. Then next thing I know there was a bright light and then Jenny woke up without a scratch on her. It was...amazing," Rodney said with a fast paced string of words. He turned to glance at Sheppard, smiling.
"Maybe you're right, Sheppard. Maybe that cloud, what ever it is, did something to our DNA, gave us...super human abilities," he said. Sheppard nodded his head, but said nothing.
Well then, if that's true, how come Teyla and I haven't gotten any symptoms?" Ronon asked.
Rodney shook his head turning back to the man. "What am I - Answer Man? How could I know that? Maybe it affects people in different ways, or maybe, it affects only people with the ATA gene." The room was silent.
"If this is true," John suddenly said. These were some of the few words he had spoken since Jennifer's miraculous recovery. "Then we got an advantage against the Wraith." John smiled for what seemed like the first time in days. A tall man walked through the door, a strap of leather slung over his shoulder like a towel. His bald head was shiny with sweat and dirty with grime and soil. His stomach rounded out past his toes and his legs stuck out like large tree trunks.
"Carlos," Ronon greeted, the man bowed his head and smiled grimly.
"Ronon," Carlos rounded the bed John was sitting on and slammed the strap of leather hard on the table.
"How's the rebuilding going?" John asked.
Carlos shrugged. "As well as can be suspected, but we seem to rebuilding a lot lately," he said, his tone filled with a cold hatred.
"Hey, if you want us to help you we...."
"No, we have already said we do not need you help, we have been doing this for many years, Colonel," and with that he stomped out
"How do you think Teyla's handling all this?" Rodney suddenly said. "I mean a whole lot of her people just dies and they have to rebuild their home again."
John shrugged. "I think she's used to it by now."
"You never get used to death, Sheppard," Ronon growled. "Where is she anyway?"
Xxx
A dull sunlight sliced through the gaps of the barn as Teyla busily shoveled hay into an animal's stall. The beast itself stood beside her, resembling a horse. Its sheen white coat was freckled with sunlight and its long grey mane blew softly in the afternoon breeze. Stabbing at the hay again, Teyla threw it carelessly in to the cosy stall, letting it land in a messy pile on the floor. She was so concentrated on her task she did not even notice when Ronon had entered through the door. He was silent for a moment, watching as Teyla piled the hay into one corner, a steely expression on her face. She was still dirty, her face hidden under noticeable marks of filth.
"Teyla?" Ronon called softly.
"What?" she replied flatly, not looking up.
Ronon scratched his head. "It's been a long day. Why don't you get some rest?"
"No," she said quickly.
"Then at least let me help you," Ronon offered.
"I don't need you help!" Teyla spat. Turning to face him, she looked at him with a venomous expression and then turned her back to him.
"Dammit!" she shouted, throwing her pitch fold across the barn. The animal beside her stamped its feet and hissed loudly, wrestling against the leather tethers that held it.
"I failed them again... it wasn't supposed to be like this! I was supposed to be a good leader. I am supposed to protect them!" she screamed, Ronon stared at her, unmoving.
"You can't protect them all, Teyla. As a leader you should know that," he said, his tone harsh.
She looked up at him, her eyes watery. "Its not fair," she whispered.
Ronon moved towards her, embracing her. His arms were strong around her as she buried her face on his chest, sniffing. They stood there silently when suddenly Carlos came running in. Teyla pushed away from Ronon and hastily wiped the tears from her face.
"Teyla, the body count has been confirmed."
Teyla took a deep breath and swallowed hard before asking, "How many?"
For a moment Carlos was silent, then looking at the floor he replied, "92."
Xxx
The day had ended the same way it had began, an uncomfortable silence taking hold on the people of Athos. Birds flew carelessly in the black skies above them, making their presence known by the many squawks and flapping of their wings. The night had ended with a hardly filling dinner, what was left of the harvest now shared between the people in the village. As the time slowly drew closer to midnight, more and more people retired to bed, leaving the dinner tent empty and filled with silence.
Xxx
John had been perched on the end of his bed ever since dinner had ended. The thoughts of all those that were in the dinner tent still echoed through his head and had become too much to bear Pushing the heels of his palms into his eyes, he sighed deeply and hunched over, his elbows digging painfully into his thighs. The hum of voices inside his head had died down to a slight mummer, most of the people on Athos now soundly asleep. Somewhere in the distance John could hear the hoot of a night bird and a few people talking quietly as they walked past the hut. Glancing round the room, John saw Rodney wrapped up in the fur covers of the temporary living chambers and then glanced at Ronon. The big man's arms were crossed across his chest as he lay sleeping on his back. Glancing beside him, John sighed yet again. The bed beside his was still unoccupied. The fur covering lay untouched, and the few bits of clothing lay sprawled across the small bed's surface.
Hearing soft footsteps outside John turned his head towards the entrance. It opened shortly, revealing Teyla. Her face was crestfallen; her shoulders slumped, weighed down by the heavy burden of the many deaths that had happened the night before. John was instantly at her side.
"Hey," he said as she walked past him. Nodding her greeting she removed all the clothes from her bed, carelessly throwing them to the floor.
"Didn't see you at dinner tonight," he said, trying to start a conversation.
"That's because I didn't go," she replied hastily. She sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the door. "How are you?" she asked John.
He shrugged. "Better then you" he pointed out, gesturing towards the dark bruise that lined her jaw. They both fell silent.
"I am nothing like my father wanted me to be," she said quietly, her voice was almost a whisper.
John looked up. "What do you mean?"
"He would always tell me what a great leader I was to become, how I would protect my people and how I would help them towards our goal of a better life." She stopped, looking down at the floor. "He must be turning in his grave right now." She did not seem to notice John's befuddled expression. He said nothing as he knew it would not help. A soft knock on the door made him jump.
"Enter," Teyla ordered as a man peered through the door.
"Teyla," he greeted.
What is it, Carlson?"
He hesitated for a moment then steeped fully in to the room. "We may have a lead on why the Lumminti were here..."
Xxx
She looked so frail, laying there. The colour drained her face, the spry old woman who had been scorning the mischiefness of young children long hours ago now injured and dying. The entrance of the tent was suddenly alive with activity as Teyla and the team rushed through the door. Teyla stopped short of taking another step, causing Rodney to bump in to her. Staring across the room at Jennifer, Teyla's expression gave away her confused state.
"Did you not...die?" she asked, for lack of a better question.
Keller couldn't hide the smile that touched her lips. "I did, but Rodney somehow healed me." T
Teyla looked back at Rodney who merely grinned back. Turning again she started towards the old woman lying on the bed, kneeling at her side.
"Alexia," the Athosion called. For the first time Alexia opened her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Ahhh, Teyla," she groaned, lifting a wrinkled hand to cup the Athosion leader's face, "I am so glad you are well." Putting her hand by her side again, she rolled her head to face the doctor. "This lovely young lady has been taking care of me."
Teyla glanced at Jennifer and then back at Alexia. Swallowing hard she changed the subject. "You wanted to see me?"
The old woman nodded slowly, moaning loudly as if the very action caused her great pain.
"Yes, while we were running from the solders, I heard one say that they were after the 'Quatro.'" Teyla frowned.
"What's the...Quatro?" Rodney asked. Teyla looked at Alexis for permission to answer his question.
"The Quatro are a group of ordinary people, with extraordinary powers. These powers are used for good, almost like a....," she searched for the right Earth term. "A super hero, however, they can also be used to cause harm...," she stopped in midsentence, then turned to Alexis again.
"How is that possible? the Quatro are nothing but myth."
"Are they?" The room was silent. Jennifer clearing her throat caused that silence to break. She looked up from Alexis.
"Can I see you outside, Teyla?"
Teyla nodded and hesitantly got to her feet.
Xxx
The cold night air seemed to be getting chillier by the hour, but for Teyla the frozen wind on her face was a welcomed sensation.
"What is it?" she asked, ignoring the cloudy haze that escaped her lips. Keller looked at her with sad eyes.
"Teyla, Alexis sustained some severe injures to her back and stomach. There is nothing more I can do for her and she can't be moved."
Teyla tightened her jaw. "What are you saying?"
Jennifer's eyes looked up from studying the ground and glanced sadly at Teyla. "It would be best if you said your good byes now."
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thanks for waiting people and thanks to those who reviewd the last chapter, sorry this one took so long but i had a writers block and my beta was busy with other things
Anyway... HAPPY HALLOWEEN