The soldier disappeared in the same manner as it had revealed itself, along with the Colonel…..

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," Rodney thought as he watched a young couple argue a short distance away from him. A small smile tugged at his lips as he caught a glimpse of the young man's expression the red tint in his cheeks visible from where he sat. Chuckling to himself he shook his head, turning his gaze towards his laptop. His fingers tapped busily at its keyboard with the words appearing on the screen at an almost inhuman speed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a young boy hop towards him. He wore a dirty white shirt with an unbuttoned brown vest; his trousers were also brown, held up with a tight belt, and his arms hung limply by his side. Rodney McKay continued working, his patience slowly draining.

"Is there something you want?" Rodney said angrily.

The boy giggled. "What you doing?" he asked, his voice holding a squeaky tone to it.

"I am working. What do you think I am doing?" Rodney replied looking down at his laptop again. There was a moment's silence, and then the boy looked at Rodney with wide blue eyes.

"Teyla says you're overcompensating for something, but I just think you like working better then you like people."

Rodney's eyes darted up from his keyboard, a look of surprise on his face. He shook his head in disbelief, scoffing at the young boys words.

"What do you know? You're just an annoying little…" he stopped in midsentence, to the boy. "She really said that?"

The boy giggled, turned and then ran towards the small group of friends that had gathered a short distance away.

Xxx

His arms were tied securely behind his back. The ropes were like wires, eating at the skin of his wrists. His biceps ached with an anything throb. Opening his eyes he glanced round the room, the only light being the one which flickered above his head. He swallowed hard, trying to register where he was, who had brought him here? What had happened? A million questions flew through his head. Suddenly he heard loud footsteps approach, as a man stepped into the light. The only thing showing was his face, the rest of his body having been covered by a large metallic suit. His face was not a handsome one, covered with many scars from many battles, clothed with defacing burns. He looked down at John through emotionless eyes one of them holding no pupil, no sign of life. John looked up at the man through bloodshot eyes.

"Who are you, what do you want?" his voice barely a whisper. There was an awkward silence as the man continued to stare. John swallowed.

"What do you want with me?" he tried again. The man still was silent.

"He won't speak," came another voice from the shadows and soon another man stepped into view. "Or to be more precise, he 'can't' speak."

The colonel's gaze shifted from the man in front of him to the new occupant of the room. His face was handsome and somewhat pale, his eyes a dark blue against his skin, his hair a perfect set of blond curls atop his head. He smiled widely, showing off a perfect row of white teeth. Everything about him was distinguished, from his flawless skin, to his muscular build.

"Who are you? What do you want?" John asked again, the questions getting too repetitive for his liking. The man chuckled, his laugh seeming patronizing.

"My name is Marcus and this here," he pointed to the large man beside him. "His name is Boris, and we want you to join us," he said quickly. John rolled his eyes.

"Yeah right, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that line," John answered the man who just smiled.

"I knew you were going to say something like that, which is why I came up with another solution, to…convince you to work for me." The man hopped on his heels like an exited child as Boris took a small step forward. He held a small circular device in his hand, lifting it to Johns head. The colonel moved his head away from the large man's grasp, the movement causing his head to protest with a sharp pain. Boris's large paw grabbed the colonel's hair and pulled his head back with a sharp tug. Placing the small device on the side of his neck, John was jolted in his chair as two needle-like projections embedded themselves into his skin. The device beeped, flashing a bright red and for a second John convulsed in his chair, his entire body burning. Suddenly he stopped, his body falling limp.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was dark when Teyla had finally walked through the entrance of her tent, the young Athosian leader's eyes lined with dark circles. Jenifer watched as she dragged herself across the room, wrestling her long leather coat from her shoulders. Rodney lay curled up on his bed, the sheet draped over his body, Jennifer sat on the edge of her own bed as Ronan lay on his back on his, his eyes open and staring at the ceiling.

"Teyla," Jenifer said, getting to her feet. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you all day," she said. Teyla simply glanced at her with tired eyes. "Are you ok? You don't look very well," the doctor asked, starting towards the Athosian. Keller's hand drifted to Teyla's forehead. "Teyla, you're burning up!"

Teyla pushed her hand away with a long sigh.

"I am fine."

Jennifer frowned, but said nothing. Teyla sat on the edge of her bed, throwing her coat to the side with a careless toss. Sighing she let her head fall into her cupped hands, rubbing her fingers across her eyes.

"Long day?" Jennifer asked, perching herself next to the tired Athosian. Teyla laughed ironically, nodding.

"You could say that...yes," Teyla answered, reaching for the glass of water that sat on her bedside table. Putting the glass to her lips, she downed the entire contents of the glass. Jennifer watched in confusion and astonishment as the Athosian drank a whole liter of water without so much as a breath. Teyla wiped some sweat from her brow and sighed.

"Well I am tired, if you do not mind I going to get some sleep."

Keller nodded and hopped over to her own bed. Teyla swung her feet round and rested her head on the pillow, closing her eyes.

Xxx

A burning heat consumed her like a fiery rage, a painful stinging from the flames that licked at her skin. Blurred images passed through her head accompanied by muffled voices and disturbing whispers. A bright light flashed before her eyes and suddenly she found herself in the middle of a battle field as screams of terror and cries of pain sounded from every corner of her consciousness. For an unknown reason the world around her was engulfed in a fiery blaze. A hot wind blew strong and wild, forcing the flames on their rampage. Swords clashed together; the crash of metal against metal was accompanied with loud battle cries. Feeling a presence behind her she turned, coming face to face with herself. Frowning, she lifted her hand, her mirror image copying the action. Extending her hand their fingertips touched and suddenly her other half was engulfed in flames, screaming as the hot tongues of the fire burned skin from bone. She stared wide-eyed as she burned, her own screams ringing in her ears.

The nightmare jolted Teyla into consciousness as she shot up with a loud cry, the sweat soaked sheets falling away from her body. Trying to control her laboured breathing, she shook her head casting away the images that still lay fresh in her mind. Looking round the candlelit room, she noticed John's bed had not been slept in. Frowning she swung her legs over edge of the bed, planting her feet on the floor. Swiping at her forehead she fanned her face with her hand. Walking towards the entrance of her tent, she let the wind cool her face. She walked further outside breathing in the fresh air. A small fire still burned outside. The three large logs that were placed around it glowing slightly in the firelight. Suddenly someone grabbed her from behind, placing a cloth over her mouth. Struggling against her captor, she fought in a desperate attempt to get free, trying frantically to pry her captors hand away from her mouth. Slowly she could feel herself growing weaker, darkness surrounding her vision. Suddenly she stopped falling limp against her captor.

Xxx

She awoke with a pounding head, her hands and feet bound tightly together with a rope that ripped through her skin like wire. She lifted her head, squinting through the darkness that greeted her. Her body ached with every movement, her chest burning like fire. Her hair was plastered to her sweat coated forehead. She could feel someone watching her from the shadows. She stayed quiet, slowly surveying the room. A few moments passed and suddenly a man stepped into view. He wore armor from his neck down, not unlike the soldiers that Teyla had seen tear her home apart, but in a way was also different. She looked closely at the man that now stood in front of her as her eyes widened in confusion and terror.

"John?"