Chapter 5:
"Good Morning." John greeted as he walked into the Jumper Bay.
He scanned the group to make sure everyone was present and ready to go. He stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted someone who wasn't supposed to be going with them.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I'm coming with you." Elizabeth told him.
"Why?" John asked stunned.
"Well this is a mission to negotiate trade and we all know how you are at negotiating (her look said, Hence the Genii) so I thought my expertise might be needed." She explained. Her tone and expression saying Don't even bother arguing, I'm coming.
John sighed, "Fine. Let's go people!" He replied, letting everyone know it was time to leave. Point 1 to Elizabeth.
Major Lorne, Radek Zelenka, Carson Beckett, Lt. Josiah Morgan, Sgt. Harrison Lee, Sgt. Thomas Jackson, Teyla, Ronon and Dr. Weir all filed into the Puddlejumper behind him.
Radek was unprepared for Elizabeth to come up to him this morning at breakfast and ask him to go off world with her. Rodney always went on missions with Colonel Sheppard, not him. Elizabeth explained that last night Rodney decided he had more important things to do on Atlantis, so he stayed behind but that meant that the mission needed a scientist (in case one was needed) and Radek was the first person they thought of. He cautiously accepted knowing that Rodney was lying about having more important things to do. Was there an unknown danger that they weren't telling him about? Were Rodney and Sheppard arguing? He didn't know the answer to either question but he figured he'd find out the reason why Rodney didn't want to go while he was gone.
John ran through the preflight checks, alerted control that they were ready and then lifted the Jumper off the ground and into the control room and through the gate. The minute he was flying through the air, John felt the weight of the world fall off his shoulders. He had always loved flying, there was a sense of freedom one had when flying and, growing up, freedom was one thing that he wanted most.
"Did you miss flying?" Elizabeth asked him, catching the smile that had just crossed his face.
"Yeah, I did." He replied as he pulled up the HUD and began scanning for life signs. "Ok, I read about 100 life signs in the village and about 20 or so outside it." He told the group.
"Do you think the 20 life signs are the Genii?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, they are spread out VERY far around the mainland. I'm assuming they are wildlife and cattle." He replied.
"Ok, what's the plan?" She asked again.
"We're going to land the Jumper about 2 miles from the village. That way we're close enough so that we can make a break for it should we need to but we're far enough away that we don't scare the villagers." He informed her. "We'll leave the Jumper cloaked and out of the way so that a villager doesn't see it or happen to run into it."
"What's this "we"?" she asked him sarcastically.
"What do you mean, what's this "we"? I mean all of us." He replied.
"I believe you promised to stay on the Jumper, isn't that correct Dr. Beckett?" Elizabeth reminded him.
"Aye, Colonel, you did." Carson also reminded him.
"That was when I thought we would be coming back 3 weeks ago and I'd still have a cast on. Now that we've waited and I'm cast-free, I assumed that promise was moot." He told them both.
"Elizabeth, he has a point. The only reason I wanted him to stay on the Jumper was because of his casted ankle. Since he no longer has a cast and it would be good for him to walk more (to strengthen the ankle), there is no need for him to stay here." Carson conceded. He didn't look happy about admitting it but John didn't really care as long as he was allowed off the Jumper.
Elizabeth sighed heavily, "Fine." She said. John smiled Point 1 for Sheppard. It's tied 1-1 he thought as he began to lead the group northeast toward the village, making sure to keep the pace steady. He didn't want it to take them as long to get to the village as it did last time.
They made their way to the village quietly. The military men, Teyla and Ronon were surveying their surroundings while the civilians were concentrating on keeping up as 2 of them weren't used to doing much walking, except around Atlantis.
The village was spread out over a good distance in a circle, reminding John of a target. In the middle were mostly 2-story buildings with interconnecting porches. On the outside were the houses, built like elaborate stone cottages with magnificent porches. Behind the houses were acres of farmland, John would guess about 1 acre each. There were multi-height plants, cattle and chickens in the land behind the houses. Some had the cattle, some had the chicken and some just had plants. John guessed that they traded each other for food OR ate communally. The buildings in the center of the village had to be the town, though what the buildings were used for John had no idea. The vast mountains surrounded most of the village, leaving one exit and entrance on foot. Handy if you need to defend the village, dangerous if you need to make a quick escape.
John sighed before continuing down the hill toward the village. John had a few problems navigating the hill, catching his sore ankle in almost every whole his foot could find. He looked around at the others who seemed to not have a problem at all and were, in fact, going to beat him to the bottom. Dang! He thought and tried to pick up his pace. Much to his displeasure that didn't help at all as his right foot stepped on the side of a particularly large hole, making him lose his balance and bounce rather ungracefully down the rest of the hill where he then quickly sprung up hoping to make it look like he meant to do that.
It hadn't worked, of course. The marines and Major Lorne were looking at him, trying not to laugh. Teyla, Ronon, Carson and Elizabeth WERE actually laughing and Radek just stood there with his mouth open, unsure of what to do. His eyes, which were filled with laughter, were the ONLY thing that gave him away. Great! I hope no one from the village saw that. He thought while he began the walk to the village, blushing madly.
Unfortunately that's when his ankle let him know of it's displeasure at that plan and decided to throb painfully and buckle beneath his weight. You've got to be KIDDING me! He screamed in his head. Carson was by his side in a second, trying to examine John but he just pushed the doctor away and stood up again, carefully testing his ankle to see how strong it was. It held his weight, but not very well causing him to limp pretty heavily. He knew it was a sprain but he didn't think it was a bad one so he ignored it and kept walking, very aware of everyone's eyes on him looking like they were ready to spring into action should he fall again.
When they got close to the village, Elizabeth took over the lead explaining that it may look better for her to enter first rather than 5 armed military men. Grudgingly he let her go first while he kept an eye on the villagers themselves. Ladon had said that the Genii had contacts in the village and that made John uneasy knowing the Genii would likely stab you in the back while shaking your hand.
An older man, dressed in robes walked up to them, a smile on his face. "Good day!" he greeted. "Can we help you?"
"Yes. I'm Dr. Elizabeth Weir." Elizabeth told the man. "This is Colonel Sheppard, Major Lorne, Sgts Jackson and Lee, Lt Morgan, Dr. Radek Zelenka, Dr. Carson Beckett, Teyla Emmagen of Athos and Ronon Dex of Sateda." She replied as she pointed to each person when their names were said. "We were wondering if we would be able to speak to leader of your village or an elder."
The man took in their faces and names, letting each one place the other. He ran a quick eye over each of them, taking in their dress and noting how different they all were. He looked at Elizabeth, "I am Mikhail. May I ask what it is you would like to talk with the leader about?"
"Of course, I'm sorry. I would like to see if we could establish an alliance and possibly trade medical supplies for food." She told him apologetically.
"Ah, of course." Mikhail replied. "I shall take you to the meeting hall where you are welcome to refresh yourselves and rest a bit," he gave a look at John then, noticing he was favoring one leg quite badly (though he didn't doubt the man could kill you where you stood if he needed to), "while I go speak with the Village Elder."
Elizabeth nodded, replying, "Thank You." before she began to follow him to a grand stone building off to the Left.
Major Lorne, the Sgts and the Lt. followed Elizabeth with Teyla and Carson beside John and Ronon bringing up the rear. The latter part of the group walked slower than the former so that John wouldn't have to walk quite so fast. When they stepped into the building they saw a 12ft long, 4ft wide table with several chairs around it. The table itself was facing east and west length-wise. The inside of the building itself was rather cool, in spite of the heat outside and the sun beating down on it.
"Please, sit down. There is fresh water and cups on a table behind you all and some fruit if you are hungry." Mikhail told them while he pointed to the table holding a large bowl of fruit and 3 water pitchers with several cups beside them. "I am not sure how long I will be so please make yourselves comfortable." He informed them before slightly bowing and then turning on his heel, he left.
The group gathered around the east end of the table so that they could converse easily and not be so spread out. The end of the table was big enough for two people to sit at so Elizabeth took the south seat and John took the North. Carson brought up a spare chair and placed John's leg on it which John complained about and tried to get out of but Carson wasn't having it. He could see through John's boot that his ankle was badly swollen and he knew John had sprained it, but he didn't dare try to treat the man right now. He'd wait until they got to the Jumper, though HOW they were going to get the Colonel up that hill he had no idea.
The rest of the group gathered sporadically around the table with Ronon leaning against the wall, eyes surveying their surroundings, ready to pounce if needed. Radek, Teyla and Lt. Morgan went and grabbed 10 cups and a couple of pitchers and distributed the water to each member. Though they were hungry, they didn't eat as they didn't trust the food or the villagers that put it there.
When the Village Elder entered the room, everyone's mouths fell open and most of the group was VERY glad that they didn't eat the food. Lt. Aiden Ford stood before them all, in simple clothes and a bandana over his head.
Teyla walked over to Ronon and put a calming hand on his arm to stop him from lunging at the man. Neither one had forgotten that he drugged them against their wills and then used them while they were high on the enzyme and BOTH were furious with him for it. But while Ronon wanted to pound the man into oblivion, Teyla understood that he was now a leader of a village and that it would only cause more harm, so she helped to keep him from beating Aiden Ford to a pulp and possibly killing him.
Elizabeth, Carson and Major Lorne had mixed feelings about finding Lt. Ford. Neither of them trusted him but Elizabeth and Carson still wanted to help him, while Major Lorne didn't really care whether Aiden stayed or left. The Sgts, Lt. and Radek were quite indifferent to the whole thing. While Radek HAD worked with Lt. Ford, he wasn't a friend of Aiden's and therefore didn't really notice when he had left and the others had never worked with him.
John, it seemed, was the only one who wasn't as surprised as the others. Aiden knew that it was because the Colonel had seen him when he had first visited the planet and therefore expected to find him here. He suspected that the Colonel's current shock was due to finding out that Aiden was the leader of these people.
"Dr. Weir," he greeted, "Welcome to Adora." He said while he spread his arms wide, like he was presenting the city with them.
"Thank You…." She sighed, trying to think of how to phrase her thoughts. "I'm sorry I don't know how to address you. I doubt Lt. Ford would suffice." She finished with an inquiring eyebrow raise.
Aiden laughed, "No, I don't suppose it would. You can just call me Aiden or Ford, though I may be the leader of these people, I do not have an official title." He told them smiling.
"Very well, Aiden." Elizabeth responded still not sure as to what the heck was going on. "As I'm sure Mikhail has told you, we have come in hopes of becoming trading partners."
"Yes, I am aware of that." he told her. "And I am more than willing to become trading partners and allies with Atlantis. First I believe there are some tests that Dr. Beckett would like to run to make sure that I am no longer using the Wraith Enzyme." He finished, his voice lending an inquiring tone but the phrase sounding like a statement.
"First we have a couple of questions actually." Elizabeth responded before Carson could say anything. "The first being, Ladon Radim of the Genii has told us that they are allies with you and your village. Is that true?"
Aiden's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "No." he said, his voice holding a hint of scorn. "I would never become allies with the Genii. I know this will sound strange coming from me but, I do not trust them enough to become allies with them."
Elizabeth (and the rest of the group as well) let out a small chuckle. "Yes, that does sound a bit strange coming from you but we will accept your word for what it is for the moment."
John couldn't hold it in any longer, "How did you escape the Hive Ship?"
Aiden smiled at him, a true Aiden Ford smile, before answering. "The Wraith knew their ship would not last long so they began beaming each other up in to their darts so they could escape to a planet and gate to another world where they could begin to build a new one. I jumped in the culling beam at the last second, escaping with the dart rather than being blown up on the ship. When they beamed us out, I attacked the Wraith that were with me and killed them. I drained their enzyme pouches and used the Stargate to escape back to my cave. I grabbed the enzyme I stole from the dead Wraith and stored it with the rest while I began to calculate how much I'd need each day in order to slowly withdraw from the stuff."
Then everyone's mouths fell completely open, even Ronon's. "So, you mean, you weaned yourself off the drug?" Carson asked skeptically.
"Yes. While I was on that hive and going through withdrawal, I felt like the Lt. Ford that Colonel Sheppard and all of you knew. I remembered what it felt like to NOT be on a drug and it made me miss being human. It was enough of a reality check to wake me up and make me realize that I needed to get off the drug." He replied solemnly.
"But you took some Enzyme while on the Hive ship." John said suspiciously.
"Yes, I did." Aiden replied, nodding his head. "I took the enzyme so that I could get everyone off that ship alive and then to keep myself alive. If I had quit, cold turkey, it would have killed me. I couldn't just quit taking the Enzyme, I had to wean myself off it. I've seen enough guys with drug problems try quitting cold turkey and die because of it to know that I couldn't do that if I wanted to survive."
"He has a point." Carson said, the doctor in him wanting to help Aiden.
"Anyways, enough of story time. Let's eat and then we can discuss where to go from here." Aiden said. "Colonel, you can send some of your men out to observe the food process from beginning to end to ensure that I am not drugging any of you."
John looked at Elizabeth, waiting for her nod of approval before giving the order. Major Lorne, the two Sgts and the Lt. went out to make sure their food was clean while the rest stayed in the Meeting Hall.
An uncomfortable quiet filled the spacious hall before Aiden interrupted it. "Would you like the grand tour?" he offered, merely for the chance to do something and to spend more time with the people he once called friends.
Elizabeth, Radek and Teyla were interested in seeing the city and so readily agreed. John, Ronon and Carson stayed in the hall. Ronon didn't trust Aden Ford as far as he could throw him and wanted to make sure that Sheppard and the doctor had protection, not that he doubted his CO's ability to defend himself, it just made him feel better to stay there. Plus, he had spent as much time with Ford as he wished to the last time they met and had no desire to spend any more than necessary this trip. Carson did indeed want to see the city but he wanted to stay and try to examine John's swollen ankle, though he knew it would be a challenge getting the stubborn Colonel to agree to it.
When he noticed that John wasn't moving from his seat, Aiden grew a little concerned. He knew that Sheppard was naturally curious and therefore always felt the need to explore everything. "Are you ok sir?" He asked.
John blinked, not missing the "sir" in the question, "I'm fine. Sprained my ankle falling down a hill on the way down to the city." He replied, keeping his tone casual, acting like it wasn't a big deal (Carson visibly rolled his eyes at the simplicity of John's answer). The truth was his ankle hadn't stopped throbbing painfully since he sat down and he doubted he'd be able to put much weight on it when it came time to leave.
Aiden nodded, "Yeah that happened often to me the first few times I went down that hill." Aiden told him, knowing full well what hill the Colonel was referring to. "I finally figured it out my fourth time down." He laughed. "Do you need anything?"
"Nah, I'm fine. I'm sure Doc here will have his claws in me as soon as you leave." John replied, smiling mischievously.
Aiden spotted the doctor, who was already getting his supplies ready, and laughed. "I suspect you're right sir." He said before turning to "his" group. "Shall we?" he asked them and began to lead them out of the building.
Elizabeth, Radek and Teyla followed Aiden out into the sunshine, shielding their eyes away from it until they could put their sunglasses on. They then followed him as he gave them a tour of the city and the houses. Pointing out where certain things are done (like farming, butchering, meetings, eating) and where certain people lived (like friends, family and where he stayed).
As the tour dragged, they slowed their pace and Aiden came up beside Elizabeth. "I appreciate the opportunity to gain your trust back." He told her seriously.
For the first time since he showed himself, Elizabeth gave him a good look-over. She could see that he was no longer the young kid who first came to Atlantis. He had definitely aged and she didn't think it was due to the Enzyme. His movements and speech was slower, more thought out and deliberate. She supposed that being leader of a city did that to a person, she should know.
"You're welcome Aiden." She replied. "I would like to believe that our peoples can put the past behind them and move forward. I know it won't be easy, nor will it be widely accepted (mainly on our side, she thought) but I believe it is for the best."
"Thank You." He told her sincerely. "I only hope that I don't disappoint you, any of you." He added darkly.
"You are referring to Colonel Sheppard perhaps?" she asked, though she knew whom he didn't want to disappoint. John Sheppard had become a big brother to Aiden Ford, if not a mentor.
Aiden smiled sadly, "Yeah, I do." He paused, taking in a big breath and slowly letting it out "Though, I think it's already too late for that."
"Oh, I don't know about that." Elizabeth told him, a glint of hope and doubt in her voice. "It was because John saw you here and wanted to come back that we came back at all. Sure, we could lie to ourselves and say that it was to establish contact and trade, but it was because he was so sure that you were here." She paused to let this revelation sink in. They had been aimlessly walking around during their talk and she chose that moment to stop and face him fully to make sure she had his full attention. "He has wanted nothing but to help you return home and though he would never admit it, it hurt him when you refused to come back with us." She told him, her eyes dead serious, "Don't make me regret this." She finished before she turned and continued walking.
Aiden's heart sank a little at this new revelation and then he grew angry at himself for not waking up to reality sooner and realizing that these people only wanted to help him, despite what he thought. "I'm sorry." He told her, his tone sorrowful and his eyes downcast.
"Don't tell me that, I'm not the one you hurt. But like I said, don't make me regret this." She told him, dangerously serious. Then with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, she changed the conversation. "Tell us how you found this planet and these people." She requested.
"Ok Colonel, let's have a look at your ankle, shall we?" Carson prompted John cheerfully.
"Doc, can't this wait til we at least get back to the Jumper?" he all but whined. He really didn't know if he could get his boot back on if he took it off and he wasn't about to hobble out of here with one boot on.
"I wish it could lad, but I'm a little concerned about the amount of swelling in your ankle and as it looks like we will be here for awhile yet, I think we should just get it taken care of now." Carson told him in a non-negotiable voice.
"Quit being a baby Sheppard." Ronon said.
John glared at Ronon before he answered him, "I'm not being a baby Chewie, I merely don't want to risk the possibility of having to hobble out of here with only one shoe on."
"Just deal with it." He grunted in reply as Carson began to undo John's boot.
No matter how hard he tried, John couldn't help the hisses, grunts and growls of pain that escaped his lips while Carson tried his hardest to be gentle. When he first let out a hiss of pain he saw Carson wince and he felt bad. He knew Carson hated causing his patients pain and felt bad whenever he did, like it was his fault, so John did his best to keep his mouth shut.
When John looked down to see what was going on he was dismayed to discover that Carson had just finished untying his shoelace. Seriously? he grumbled to himself. He could see the indentation the shoelaces had made when they were forced into the leather boot by the swelling of his ankle. Crap, that can't be good!
Carson looked up at him apologetically, "Ok Colonel, I'm going to remove the boot now. I'm sorry but this will hurt."
John almost laughed at the ridiculousness of that last statement but didn't have time when Carson began to wiggle his swollen ankle out of the boot and he had to bite back a small cry of pain. Finally the boot came off and John noticed that the throbbing increased with the ability for his ankle to swell more. Figures! He looked down at his ankle while the doctor proceeded to take off his sock. John inwardly grimaced when he saw a deeply bruised softball (that was quickly turning into a small melon) where his ankle used to be. Yeah, definitely not good.
After taking off John's sock, Carson began his examination of John's ankle. He poked and prodded all around John's foot, ankle and leg determining how bad the injury was, frowning slightly with the results. He then began to gently manipulate his ankle, rotating it this way and that to determine the extent of damage done to the joint. As the nerves in his ankle ignited all John could think was OW.
Finally Carson gently laid he leg back on the chair, which had been padded with a blanket, and began grabbing things from his med bag. "Well Colonel, it doesn't look like it's broken thankfully but it is a very bad sprain." He informed John as he immediately grabbed a gel pack and placed in on John's ankle. Thank God! John thought. He knew he'd go crazy if he had to wait another 5 weeks to be able to do anything but desk duty.
"Only you could badly sprain your ankle while falling down a hill." Ronon interjected laughing.
John just glared at him wincing when Carson pressed the gel back a little too roughly onto his ankle.
"I don't think it would have been that bad had the ankle not already been weakened due to a previous injury." Carson came to the rescue though the glare he gave John said I knew I shouldn't have let you leave the Jumper. John just rolled his eyes at Carson's look and exhaled a small breath of relief when the cool worked it's way into his throbbing joint.
"Ok, while we're here we'll keep applying the gel pack to your ankle and keep it elevated. It should help with the swelling and pain. After another 15 minutes, I'll remove the pack and wrap your ankle which will also help with swelling." Carson began explained even though John already knew. Sometimes you just couldn't stop the doctor in Carson from coming out John thought laughing to himself. "Here, take some Tylenol. It will also help a little with the pain." Carson offered him, knowing that John wouldn't take anything stronger while off world.
"No thanks. I'm good for now." John replied wincing when he shifted to get comfortable on the 2 chairs. Truthfully, he wasn't good. Despite the gel pack, his ankle still throbbed but he didn't want anything for it, he could hold out until they got to the Jumper.
"I'm sure you are Colonel, but you will still be taking the Tylenol." Carson insisted then shoved a couple of Tylenol in his face and a cup of water. John took them grudgingly and swallowed them. "Good, now just stay like that until we're ready to leave. I don't want you getting up and trying to walk on your ankle. It may "just" be a bad sprain to you but you still need to stay off it." Carson scolded.
John ignored Carson's pointed comment and looked at Ronon, "So, what do you think about Ford?"
"I don't trust him." Ronon stated plainly, his voice bordering on angry.
"I don't think any of us do at the moment and he knows that." John replied half chuckling half sad. "That's why he authorized for Lorne and his men to watch our food being prepared so that we have assurance that it isn't being tampered with."
"Still, I don't trust him." Ronon all but repeated.
"I'm inclined to agree with Ronon, Colonel. But I am curious to test his blood and see what it says." Carson interjected then blushed when both men looked at him in surprise. "Sorry." He told them.
"It's ok doc. Feel free to join us, we want your opinion too." John told him sincerely. He felt bad for making the doctor think that his opinion wasn't wanted. He just didn't think Carson would have an opinion about it but then who better to ask then the doctor who was treating Ford?
"Is it possible that he is clear of the Enzyme or is he just stringing us along?" John asked the doctor.
Carson paused before answering, "It IS possible. He has been "gone" for 3 years. In that time, he could have slowly weaned himself off the Enzyme. I just find it hard to believe that he had the presence of mind to do it." He told them seriously, a hint of doubt lining his voice.
"Well, I guess when you do the blood test, we'll know." John replied, hissing when he inadvertently jerked his ankle.
"Aye Colonel, I guess we will." Carson responded somewhat in a daze. He snapped out of it quickly and grabbed an ACE bandage, "Let's get that ankle wrapped shall we?" he asked more cheerfully before moving back to the chair by John's ankle and began to, as gently as he could, wrap the injured joint.
John sat back and tried to let his mind wander while Carson manipulated his throbbing ankle. He let out a big mental sigh thinking, Ronon's right. Only I could badly sprain my ankle while falling down a hill. That means more time on crutches, figures! He paused for a moment before another thought came to him, Although, maybe this means I could spend more time with Teyla and Torren. Maybe this won't be SO bad. He concluded and let a huge smile cross his face.
"What are you so happy about?" Ronon asked, quickly picking up on the grin.
"Huh? Oh. Nothing." John replied coyly, giving Ronon a knowing smile.
AN: Aww, Poor Shep! I just can't give him a break, can I? Well, anyways. I hope you are all still enjoying the story. Please review and let me know what you think!