Chapter 54: You can't let her do this
"Did you see Teyla today?" John asked me the next evening. We had the entertainment room to ourselves and were ensconced together on the couch watching a movie.
"No," I looked at him in concern. "Everything all right?"
"As far as I know," John replied. "Rodney just mentioned she was distracted at lunch, that she'd had a dream about Kanaan begging for help, only she called it a vision."
"What do you think?" I asked curiously.
"That it's been six months since the Athosian's were taken and the closer it gets to her due date the greater her desperation to find them," John said reluctantly. "I don't want to tell her to give up on her people but the trail's been cold for too long – not that I think she'd listen anyway."
"Since Davos told her they were alive but shrouded in mystery she's believed she'll find them," I commented with a shake of my head. "Maybe she would have accepted this by now if not for that".
"Yeah well on top of the current epidemic I could do without the additional complication," John admitted.
"How bad is it?" I'd already heard that the planet Team Sheppard had visited that day had been affected by the same illness we'd recently found on other planets but I hadn't had a chance to catch up with Jennifer on the specifics.
"Keller estimates deaths to the order of 200,000 galaxy wide," John replied starkly.
"God, that many?" That familiar 'this is bad, should I panic now or later?' feeling swept over me.
"I know," John ran a hand down my arm as if he'd sensed that panicky wave and was trying to sooth it away. "Jennifer's working on a cure but it won't come soon enough for some of the planets we deal with."
"And we can't even warn them," I commented frustratedly, "because the next outbreak is impossible to predict."
"We just have to be patient and help out as best we can," John concluded.
Settling back against the couch together I made a mental note to myself to talk to both Jennifer and Teyla the next day.
oOo
Teyla made that easy for me by turning up at our door early enough the next morning that John and I were both still there.
"May I speak with you?" she asked John hopefully.
"Sure, come in," John stood aside and motioned her in. "Is something wrong?"
"I had another vision last night," Teyla said urgently. "Kanaan held out the pendant I gave him before they were taken and begged me to come and find him. I know you are sceptical John but this was not a dream."
"Why is the pendant significant?" I asked Teyla curiously.
"He held it out as a clue for their location," Teyla explained. "I purchased it from an artisan in the village of Croya. I believe he was asking me to go there, that somewhere in the village are the clues to finding him."
"Don't you think it's unlikely they'd have anything to do with the disappearance of your people?" John pointed out reasonably.
"Croya is a peaceful settlement," Teyla agreed. "Still I believe the clues are there."
"If this is a vision, if it's Kanaan really making contact, then why doesn't he just tell you where he is?" John asked practically. "Why the cryptic puzzle?"
"I do not know," Teyla said impatiently. "All I know is that I must go to Croya and speak to the artisan. I cannot rest unless I have pursued every angle, no matter how unlikely."
"I can understand that," John agreed with the sentiment. "Let me speak to Colonel Carter. All the off world teams are busy providing assistance because of this sickness so we'll have to be quick but I should be able to convince her."
"Thank you John," Teyla said in relief. "I will wait to hear Samantha's decision." Sending a smile my way, Teyla turned and took her leave, her gait slow and careful.
"Should she be going off world so late in her pregnancy?" I asked worriedly. "Seven and a half months is still a long way from full term but she's not exactly her usual mobile self."
"I'll check out the planet first, make sure it's safe," John promised. "I should do that now ... speak to Colonel Carter before she gets too busy with other stuff."
"Okay," I nodded, "but can you let me know what she says, whether you're going or not?"
John agreed readily, finishing the usual morning get ready activities quickly so he could get moving. Coming over to where I was still stretched out on the bed he kissed me goodbye.
"You staying in bed all day?" he queried semi seriously.
"I'm up," I held out a hand for him to help me, taking the opportunity to hug him before I released him. "Go talk to Sam – I'll catch up with you later."
"Later," John agreed, ruffling my hair before dancing out of reach. Throwing a wave to me at the door he disappeared down the corridor.
oOo
"Sabina," John's voice issued from my radio a few hours later. He'd already radioed me once that morning to tell me he was taking Teyla to Croya and I assumed this was the follow up call to tell me how they went.
"Any luck with Teyla's vision?" I asked hopefully.
"No and I'm not calling about that," John replied briskly. "Jennifer's located the source of the sickness. It's not natural – it's a variant of the Hoffan virus Beckett helped create. Someone is deliberately distributing it randomly throughout the galaxy, probably in the food and water supply. Colonel Carter wants us to go to Hoff, see if we can find out how they got a hold of it."
"Wasn't Hoff destroyed by the Wraith ages ago?" I couldn't see what Sam hoped to find in the wreckage.
"Yes and it's unlikely we'll find anything in what's left," John agreed. "But we have to make sure of that before we try a different angle."
"Of course," I nodded even though John couldn't see me. "Okay, well I guess I'll see you at dinner instead of lunch. Be careful."
"Always am," John returned with the smile evident in his voice.
oOo
"Sabina," it was Major Lorne's voice over the radio this time.
"I'm here," I replied, eyes still on the text I'd been reading. Ever since I'd discovered my true origins I'd been spending the odd hour here and there searching the database for any personal records on Cato and Levana (even in my head I couldn't bring myself to call them my parents).
"Gear up," Lorne ordered. "We're taking Teyla to M2S-181."
"Wasn't she there just this morning with John's team?" I frowned in surprise.
"Yeah but she needs to go back again," Evan explained. "Get your gear and meet us in the Gateroom asap."
"On my way," I was already shutting off my laptop as I spoke.
Ten minutes later I walked into the Gateroom where everyone else was already gathered, just as the wormhole stabilised.
"Sorry," I muttered even though I couldn't have gotten there any quicker.
"Head out," Lorne ordered, taking a position next to Teyla. I quickly hurried into position on her other side and kept pace as we all stepped through the Gate.
"Did you see anything different this time?" I asked Teyla about her vision as we walked slowly towards the village.
"It was much the same as the others," Teyla explained, "except I was definitely awake. I am sure that this is where I need to be, that Kanaan leads me here for a reason."
"I hope you're right," I said easily, genuinely wanting her to have some good news about her people after so long.
"As do I," Teyla returned, returning to her silent thoughts for the rest of the journey. Teyla wasn't sure what to look for specifically so once in the village we just meandered amongst the stalls, hoping something would jump out at us. Lorne and I walked with Teyla through the busy market with Brown and Parker following closely behind.
"Hmm! Kind of reminds me of the flea markets they used to have back home," he commented conversationally. "Every Sunday, stroll down to the Bay area, find pretty much anything you wanted." He looked at some of the wares on display ruefully. "And a lot of things you didn't."
Teyla had stopped listening though, all her attention on a stall nearby where the merchant was holding up a black pendant to a customer.
"What is it?" Lorne queried, looking from the stall back to Teyla.
Teyla didn't reply ... well not verbally anyway. Instead she reached for the small knife she carried at her belt and walked purposefully forward.
"Teyla?" Evan called again but she ignored him completely. Motioning for me to follow he trailed after her.
"Leave," Teyla almost growled at the customer, her tone stern and her expression glaring.
After a quick glance at the knife she was holding the man high tailed it out of there without a backward glance. Before I could blink Teyla had grabbed the merchant's hand and had her knife pressed to his throat.
"I will ask you once and you will answer me truthfully," she threatened grimly. "Where did you get this pendant?"
"From a trader," the merchant said nervously. "If you like it that much, it's yours with my blessings."
Teyla pulled the knife away from the man's throat, snatching the pendant from his hand and looking at it with a strange mix of anger and despair.
"Is that the pendant?" I asked.
"It is," Teyla agreed. "It belonged to Kanaan." Looking at the merchant again she continued with her questions. "What else did you acquire from this trader?"
The merchant reached back for a small wooden box, setting it on the table in front of Teyla wordlessly. She opened it and began riffling through the contents.
"You know, I don't wanna be difficult here," the merchant was obviously feeling more relaxed now Teyla didn't have a knife at his throat, "but I acquired that merchandise for a price and, while I really don't mind gifting you with an item, from a purely business standpoint, it really doesn't make sense for me to part with my ..."
"This necklace belonged to Balera," she held up the item, talking over the merchant as though he weren't even there. "It was a gift from her parents to mark her coming of age." Holding up a ring she continued. "And this ring belonged to Halling."
"The trader you say you got these things from: when's the last time you saw him?" Lorne asked the merchant, who could see which way this was going to go for him now it seemed his goods were at best stolen property.
"Several days ago, but he comes through here quite regularly," the merchant offered. "In fact, it's more than likely he may pay me a visit today. It would be my pleasure to make the proper introductions."
"Yes it will," Lorne agreed companionably. "My friends here are gonna wait down the walkway. I'll be over at that stall," he pointed to a spot close enough he could keep watch without being too visible. "When our man makes an appearance signal me without making it obvious. We'll do the rest."
"Of course," the merchant agreed. "I assume you'll be taking these items with you ... perhaps we can talk about compensation since I am helping you to apprehend the culprit."
"We can talk later, after we have what we need," Lorne countered, making it clear if we weren't successful the merchant would be getting nothing.
Nodding with an air of resigned disappointment the merchant went about his business. Lorne set Teyla and I up on opposing escape routes so that one of us would be able to stop the trader if he tried to run before Lorne could grab him.
I kept a low profile, close enough to the stall that I could see Evan as well at the merchant but not close enough to hear anything. I saw the trader arrive, saw the merchant signal Evan and watched as he approached casually.
"Get ready Teyla," I whispered into the radio.
"Acknowledged."
I could have hoped that the trader ran in my direction but instead when he bolted he headed straight for Teyla. Happily she'd armed herself with a really big stick and she used if very effectively to render him unconscious with just one hit.
Parker and Brown had been busy finding us a room we could use for interrogating our trader friend. Lorne tied the guy to a chair himself, secure enough there was no way he was getting out. We could have waited until he regained consciousness naturally but we didn't have that kind of time, plus I think Evan took a perverse delight in throwing a bucket of cold water on the guy.
He woke up spluttering and coughing, disorientated in the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Wake up!" Evan ordered. I handed him the wooden box so he could show it to the trader. "Look, we need to know where you got this merchandise."
"I do trade so much, it's often hard to keep track of it all," the trader prevaricated.
"Oh yeah?" Evan said in disbelief. "Well, according to the merchant you do business with here, the stuff you've been bringing in lately has been a hell of a lot nicer than your usual crap."
"He said that?" the guy was confident enough to appear insulted by that.
"Yeah. He said that." Lorne reiterated, not impressed with the act.
"Well, there's no accounting for taste," he shook his head sadly. "I can't give up my sources – they're trade secrets."
"I don't give a damn about your trade secrets," Lorne said impatiently. "We wanna know where you got this stuff."
"And if I don't tell you, what are you gonna do?" the trader asked scornfully. "I recognise those uniforms; I've heard the stories. People from Atlantis – do-gooders of the galaxy. You wouldn't hurt me."
"I wear no uniform," Teyla stepped out of the shadows, approaching the trader and smiling unpleasantly.
"A pregnant woman!" he laughed and I could almost hear him chanting 'ooh I'm so scared'. "Very intimidating."
Teyla lifted her trusty branch and put the end of it gently against his chest, pushing hard enough to topple him and the chair over backwards.
"I will inform the villagers that you are a Wraith-worshipper and let them mete out their own justice," she announced almost casually. Looking at us she motioned that we should get moving. "Let's go."
Playing along we all turned and made for the door.
"Wait. Wait!" the trader was suddenly much more interested in dealing. Teyla stopped and looked down at him expectantly. "I got it at an off world dumping ground," he admitted in a rush.
"Dumping ground?" Lorne queried. "For what?"
"Corpses, mostly," the guy said it like the idea of rifling dead bodies for valuables wasn't as disgusting as it sounded. "Loose ends that need to be disappeared."
Teyla got a horrified look on her face as the possible implications registered.
"Occasionally they may still have some valuables on 'em, and valuables they obviously have no use for," the trader continued when none of us reacted.
"This merchandise – you removed it from the dead?" Lorne tried to clarify we understood the guy correctly.
"No – not that merchandise," the trader explained. "The last time I was back at the planet, I spotted what I thought was a fresh grave – a potential new opportunity. But when I dug it up, instead of finding a body, I found a box containing those items. I suppose somebody was just trying to get rid of 'em. It was odd to me at first, but I wasn't just about to ..."
"You will take us to this world," Teyla interrupted to order sternly. "You will show us where you found them."
"Of course," the trader replied suddenly all too helpful. "Whatever you say."
"Get him up," Lorne directed Parker and Brown, who responded by taking an arm each. They untied the guy and, keeping a hand on him, followed Evan, Teyla and I out of the room towards the path leading to the Stargate.
Lorne took the lead and after putting a hand on Teyla's arm reassuringly I quickened my pace so I could walk beside him.
"You can't let her do this," I uttered in a near whisper. "It's too dangerous."
"Try telling her that," Evan whispered his reply, glancing back to Teyla quickly before looking forward again. "She's still got that stick you know!"
"And John will have your head if you let her go and something happens," I retorted harshly.
"I know," Evan looked pained as he realised he really was between a rock and a hard place.
"You don't want Teyla to get hurt," I reminded him of those feelings he'd always held for her, reminded him they should be just as much about protecting her as they were about giving her what she wanted.
"You're right," Lorne agreed reluctantly. "I'll speak to her."
Dropping the pace until we were walking with Teyla again Lorne began. "First thing we do when we get to the Gate is radio back to Atlantis," he told her, "let 'em know where we're going, OK?" He waited until she nodded before broaching the more difficult subject. "Listen, Teyla, I know you're looking for answers to what happened to your people, but I'm thinking maybe it's better if you let us check it out, okay?"
"Major ...," Teyla tried to protest.
"Look, just let us scout ahead, all right?" Evan interrupted before she could get going.
It never occurred to me that this might be the day a 'companion' was taken by the Wraith ... until we heard that familiar whining sound coming from the sky some distance away.
"What is that?" Evan looked up, his expression going hard when he worked it out. "Dart!" he yelled.
We ran down the path as the Dart came into view between us and the Gate. I saw the transporter beam activate and sweep the ground in front of us, saw the trader grab Teyla's arm and hold her in its path.
The choice was easy ... in fact there was no choice at all. Instinctively I threw myself sideways, grabbing Teyla's other arm just as the beam swept over us.
Authors Note:
Wow ... we're moving into the endgame already? That went fast! And hey, I bet you all guessed Sabina was going with Teyla, didn't you? LOL Still plenty of story left!
One other thing - it took almost a year for Sam to invite Teyla to call her Sam? Not in my little world ... all the civilians would call her Sam I think.
Next Up? The Other Side of the Story Chapter 11