JUSTICE

CHAPTER 10

Taluna was still in darkness when they went through the 'gate. Teyla knew it was too early for most of the residents to be up, but the Ancestral Ring was close to the arable land surrounding the town. She feared the farmers would hear the Ancestral Ring burst into life.

Major Lorne had engaged the cloak, but both the noise and the brilliant glow of the event horizon could raise suspicions, especially if no travellers arrived on the other side. She fervently hoped the families would either be gathered round the table enjoying their first meal of the day, or too busy feeding their livestock to notice. Either way they were committed to their task, regardless of the consequences.

In the privacy of the jumper no one could hear them, but it was a strangely quiet group that made their way towards the Cleamund homestead. Carson, rather than Rodney sat in the co-pilots chair. Unusually the scientist had made no objection. It was out of character. Normally Rodney would have made some acerbic comment. Some quip showing his displeasure at being sidelined, despite the fact Doctor Beckett was only sitting there to give Lorne directions. Teyla was worried about him. He had become withdrawn, remote. When he did speak he said little, and there was barely a trace of the infamous McKay sarcasm she had grown accustomed to.

She was also concerned about Ronon. The Satedan seemed to be on course of self-destruction. First he had taken his aggression out on the wall, nearly breaking his hand, then he had lost control in the training room. She knew Ronon had not meant to break Corporal Mitchell's arm, but as a result Lorne had banned him from training the new recruits. Teyla understood and even agreed with the Major, but it was still causing tension between them. She was also aware how guilty her friend felt about the accident.

It was regrettable but when Ronon got irate, he lost focus. For a powerful man like him, that presented a very real and dangerous problem. Since John's incarceration her friend was more than upset, he was angry. Angry with himself for not having paid more attention to a conversation that had taken place more than ten years ago. Angry, for not having accompanied John to the planet on that fateful day.

She had tried to reason with him. Tried to make him see it was not his fault they had been unable to locate the prison. Nothing that she or anyone else had said made a difference. Ronon was still blaming himself, and she could tell it was tearing him up inside.

Most of all she was worried about John. She tried to push the disturbing thoughts to the back of her mind, but the image of his bare back being torn to shreds by a whip, kept her awake at night.

Dawn was breaking. As the early morning sun rose in the sky, Teyla saw Carson point towards a building in the distance. It was a large farmhouse. She prayed this visit would achieve their goal. If not, and they were unable to secure John's release, things would never be the same again. More than that, the most important thing of all, after all she had heard about Flenda, she feared for John's life.

She loved her partner and adored her child, but even with Kaanan and Torren there, Atlantis felt strange without John's constant presence. If he did not return, Teyla did not know if she could remain in the city. Their team was already drifting apart. If she no longer had a role, without a purpose, there would be no reason to stay.

ooooOoooo

Lorne set down the jumper in a meadow about two hundred yards from the house. Carson prepared to leave, but when the flap lowered onto the grassy earth, the Major made to follow him.

Carson shook his head. "No, Major. I already appreciate the risk you took by bringing us. However, this is something I need to do myself." Carson allowed his gaze to fall on each of Sheppard's team. He hoped they'd also got the message. If he was successful, then he would be grateful for their help.

Lorne frowned. "I'm not happy about this, Doc. What happens if you run into trouble?"

"Lorne's right." Ronon grunted. His hand was already hovering over his blaster. "Look what they did to Sheppard."

"And if you think you're leaving me behind…think again." Rodney interrupted, indignant.

Carson finished checking the contents of his bag before he answered. "I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine. The Colonel was only arrested because they believed he'd committed a crime. I'm going as the physician who has treated all the family over the last year. But…if I go to visit them mob handed, we are definitely not going to get anywhere."

Teyla stepped forward and grabbed his bag. "I agree with you, Doctor Beckett, but the others are also right. You are not doing this alone. I will come with you."

He locked eyes with the pretty Athosian. They both had their hands on the metal handle. It was either start a tug of war with the bag – which he would probably lose. Or… "Aye...okay… you get to come, but I carry the bag!"

Carson inwardly counted to ten before he knocked on the door. He shared an anxious look with Teyla before it was eventually opened by a petite middle aged woman.

"Doctor Beckett…It's nice to see you, but there isn't anyone sick here. Why have you come?"

"Marjeea. I'm sorry to intrude on your grief. I was away when your father died, and I've only recently received the sad news. I wanted to offer my condolences."

The woman nervously looked behind her and closed the door, stepping outside into the cool morning air to join them. A stray dark hair had escaped from her top knot and she pushed it behind her ear. She then wiped her hands on her apron.

"You shouldn't have come, doctor. If my husband knows you're here…"

Teyla smiled reassuringly at the woman. "We will only stay a moment – I promise you. But Doctor Beckett has a couple of questions about what happened on the day your father died."

Carson hadn't planned to get to the point that quickly, but Teyla was probably right. It was starting to get light, and the farmhouse could be seen from the main road into town. If they remained there too long someone might alert the authorities.

"What do you mean? We already know what happened. It was your leader, Colonel John Sheppard who killed him."

Her tone was defensive, but Carson could see a tell-tale blush. She was hiding something.

He met her gaze and held it. "I know, lass, and I'm not trying to excuse what happened…but your father was a very sick man. The last time I examined him he was in a great deal of pain, not to mention extremely breathless. He was struggling to walk the short distance back to your cart. Tell me…why in his condition did he attempt the walk into town - especially during a Wraith attack?"

"Tell him, Marjeela. Ever since it happened, I've been wondering the same thing myself."

The woman's face froze at the sound of her husband's voice. She spun round to look at him. Her voice started to crack. "My father was a good man…a proud man. He…he didn't want to end his life confined to a bed, fading away in front of his family."

"Spit it out! Just what are you trying to say, wife?"

At her husband's angry expression she started to cry. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"

Teyla came over and put an arm gently around her shoulders. "Let me guess. Your father heard the Wraith arrive…" At Marjeela's nod, Teyla continued. "So he went into town hoping one of them would take his life…then he saw the Wraith attack Colonel Sheppard. Am I correct?"

The woman's sobs got louder as she pulled out a crumpled note from her pocket. Her husband grabbed it. He went silent for a moment, all the color leaving his face as he read the small missive. He just stared into space as he handed it over to Carson.

It was just as he'd expected. The old farmer had written a farewell note to his family asking for their forgiveness. Carson felt sorry for the woman, and even sorrier for the old man he hadn't been able to save. The poor bugger must have been desperate to do what he'd done. Nevertheless because of their actions, an innocent man had been sent to jail.

Marjeela had stopped sobbing, but tears still ran down her face. "When I heard the Wraith arrive I went to take him into hiding, but I was shocked to find him gone. You were right, doctor, he was weak. He hadn't made it past the rise so I ran after him. He was only yards away from my grasp when I saw Colonel Sheppard fighting that Wraith. My father smiled at me, then…he walked behind them just as the Colonel raised his gun. "I…know what I did was wrong, but I just didn't want his good name tarnished. The pain was wearing him down and he wasn't thinking clearly." Her voice started to crack. "I hid the note to protect him…to save our family from disgrace - I'm sorry!"

The farmer turned her to face him. His face was puce with anger."You let an innocent man go to prison just to protect your family name! I thought I knew you….Get in the house, woman – now!"

"Please, don't be too angry with her. She has just lost her father and this." Carson handed back the note, "must have been a terrible burden to carry. All I ask is you come with me to the judge and let him see this. Tell him what really happened. Colonel Sheppard is a good man and doesn't deserve to languish in prison. With your help we can get his sentence overturned and get him home."

The man raked a hand through his hair and stared into the distance. When Carson saw him crumple the note in his fist, he wondered if he'd done the right thing in handing it back. As the farmer walked back to the house, his heart sank. The farmer turned round just as he reached the door.

"I'll just get my jacket…"

ooooOoooo

When he heard the door open John didn't try to get up. What was the point? His previous display of defiance was fooling no one, least of all himself. The daily beatings had left him in agony. His bruises had bruises. Cracked ribs made it painful for him to breathe, and he had the daddy of all concussions. He hadn't given up. No one could accuse him of being a quitter, but he was worn out with all the abuse. If they wanted to beat him again, so be it. He didn't have the strength or the means to stop them, but he sure as hell wasn't going to make it easy. They would have to drag his sorry ass off the floor without his assistance.

There was someone in his line of vision, but he couldn't make out who it was. Ceeland had seen to that during the first beating. John had to give the guy kudos for consistency. The guard had strung him up from a hook in the ceiling like a piece of meat, and been just as brutal with his fists as he'd been with the whip. John couldn't remember how long he'd hung there, but it had seemed like hours. That was the day his right eye closed over and his ribs were cracked. He was pretty sure that without the Commander's warning, they would have been broken - him too.

The next time it had been Jalune's turn. The bastard had smiled as he'd shown him a long, thick leather strap four inches wide. It was attached to a wooden handle and there were small holes punched into the end. Man, it had hurt. The damn thing was more painful than a whip. Each blow had forced the air out his lungs. Every strike felt like two lashes combined. The sadist had goaded him as he'd systematically flogged his chest, his legs and even his mutilated back. His barely healed wounds had split open once again, the blood trickling down in rivulets onto the floor.

Despite the gut wrenching pain it caused, he reckoned the weapon was designed to wound but not maim. He was covered in raw angry welts but apart from a few cuts, no real blood had been drawn from the new wounds. Still, he hurt like crazy and he'd been in misery ever since. In agony, John guessed his body looked as bad as he felt. He couldn't see clearly but figured between his re-open wounds, the welts, and the livid bruises his torn battered body must be every colour of the freaking rainbow - but not in a good way. If Beckett saw him, the Scot would have a field day. He thought of the Atlantis infirmary with its warm beds, good drugs, and pretty nurses. John wished he was there now.

He didn't know how long he'd been there, but the abuse had been endless. Mutt and Jeff were like a tag team. One would finish, then just when he'd closed his eyes, the other would pick up where his buddy had left off. He wasn't giving up, and didn't want to die, but if this was the way the next fifteen years was going to be, he wanted them to finish the job. Yet John knew that wasn't about to happen.

The commander wanted to make him pay for the things he'd said. He had. The guy also wanted to break him. That was a different story. John knew he was in bad shape. Knew the commander had barely got started with his petty revenge. Regardless of what they did, or how many bones they broke he vowed the bastards would never break his spirit. John tensed up as the blurry figure approached him. He choked back his fear, stared straight ahead, and steeled himself for the next assault.

"Is it true?"

"Wha?" John croaked.

"Did you really say those things?"

Frightened he tried, but couldn't remember. The only person he'd spoken to recently was the commander. His comments about prison reform hadn't gone down well. What else had he said? Surely he hadn't mentioned Atlantis…John didn't think so, but during the worst of it he'd been so out of it with pain that sometimes he'd zoned out.

Panic seized him. He was deafened by the blood roaring through his ears. His heart was pounding so hard, he thought it was going to burst through his chest. He was choking, his aching chest getting tighter with every breath. Tears sprang to his eyes as the sharp pain from his ribs left him struggling to breathe.

"Sheppard…John…It's alright – it's me."

He felt a callused hand support his head, as a cup was placed to his lips. The water was warm, but it eased his parched mouth. He took it gratefully.

"Dulane…is that you?"

"Yes, John. They brought you back yesterday morning. For a while I…we…didn't think you were going to make it."

Like a cool breeze on a summer day John felt relief wash over him. He tried to scrub a hand through his hair, but it hurt too much to move. "How…how long was I gone?"

"Nearly a week. John…We have all heard the guards talking about you. Is it true?"

He could feel himself trembling, felt sick, as the panic started creeping back. If he'd said anything to betray Atlantis he would never forgive himself. John swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn't want to, but he needed to find out just how badly he'd screwed up.

"I can't remember, buddy. What am I supposed to have said?"

There was a short silence and John feel his mouth go dry.

Dulane's excited voice was almost a whisper. "We heard them say you stood up to the Commander. That you told him he was…cruel."

Of all the things he'd expected to hear, that wasn't one of them. It had been a private conversation Rualin probably wanted to keep private. John didn't give a shit about prison gossip. He was just relieved he hadn't given away any secrets.

He felt the tension ease, and let out a long sigh. "I don't think I put it quite that way…but yeah. He didn't like what I had to say. That's why I landed in the hole."

"See…I told you it was true!"

He heard Dulane talk to someone unseen in the background. Then a general conversation broke out. They were voices he'd never heard before but he hurt all over, and was too tired to bother with what they were saying.

It didn't dawn on him until he was drifting off that something was wrong with this scenario. Then he realized. It was the other prisoners talking. All of them risking punishment by breaking the cardinal rule…

ooooOoooo

TBC

Thanks so much for all the response you've given me for the story so far! I appreciate every review.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please let me know what you thought - thanks, Joanie.