STARGATE ATLANTIS

Star Man – chapter 5

SGA SGA SGA

Ronon retook the wheel from Rodney when Rodney abruptly let go of it in a fit of anger.

"A rental. I took a bloody rental. It's got a tracker. Only explanation – how could I have been so stupid. Just stop the car, Ronon. We need to get out now and run."

"Rodney?" Teyla cried, wishing for further information.

"They've made us. Traced this car. We need to hide."

"I don't see any one!" Ronon shouted, but slammed on the brakes anyway and started to open his door, just as Teyla and Rodney ran to his side of the car. "I'm a step ahead with this." Rodney tapped his device; muffling the tracker. Ronon went to shoot the car, but Rodney stalled him. "Don't blow it up! At least we have a couple extra minutes to hide without a fireball being that obvious."

The trio then took off at a run. They were focused on the task ahead but full of sorrow that it was going to take them longer to trace John and Carson without the speed of a car.

It was almost surreal keeping up with the athletic power of both Ronon and Teyla, but Rodney had purpose, and he was fitter than he had ever been. He knew he would tire quicker, though, than his Pegasus friends, but for now he allowed the scream of pain in his thighs and calves empower him forward.

Gradually it became apparent that they had been discovered. The low trees afforded some cover, but the unnatural breeze certainly told them there was some sort of craft above their heads.

Rodney felt a soft buzz in his head. The type of feeling he got near ancient machinery. He skidded to a stop, and held up his fist. The others stopped running immediately, following Rodney's eyes looking upwards.

"What is it?" Teyla whispered.

"McKay?"

It was a split second of uncloaking, and cloaking again: a mere second, but it was enough to grab their attention. They all could not believe what they were looking at, but smiled and ran in unison ran to the nearest open field the 'jumper would be heading to pick them up.

"It could be the bad guys." Ronon shouted as they ran.

"Not possible. They would have just uncloaked totally, not risk a few seconds of being tracked by the IOA or whomever is responsible for the situation we have found ourselves in."

"This is good news." Teyla was delighted to think they may find John and Carson soon. Her feelings were all over the place at the thought of losing John. But there was still the worry of his poisoning.

"It must be Lorne." Ronon said.

Rodney was starting to tire, but the 'jumper was obviously landing in front of them as the tall grass was suddenly flattened into a rectangle right in front of their very eyes.

Ronon slapped Rodney on his back, and he and Teyla ran towards the familiar craft, smiles appearing with relief.

It was indeed Lorne, and after a quick uncloak and a leap onto the ramp, the three were safely flown away from the area that would soon be swarming with unwanted attention.

Lorne grinned and delighted in the embrace from Teyla and rather large thump on his back from Ronon. But he was swift to update them on the news.

"You know about Richard?"

Rodney nodded. "Sam told us, but I haven't been able to contact her of late."

"She's in hiding; her and a few others from SG Command. They need to figure out just how much in danger we are in; including Atlantis. I don't even know where they are; Sam said she would be in contact when she could. It got big just as you left. Just as well you got out when you did."

"Sam helped with that."

"Have you news of John, and Carson?" Teyla grabbed his sleeve.

Lorna scratched his head. "We are heading to the last known co-ordinates of the jet we now believe he flew away with Carson and Todd on board."

"Knew he could do it." Ronon was full of admiration for his friend. "But he must be very ill by now?"

Lorne dampened the mood. "He must be. Doc?"

At his call, Jennifer Keller appeared from the front carrying her tablet. She briefly grinned when she took in her friends' arrival. The 'jumper started to fly forwards. "I know what they killed Richard with; it's a nasty cocktail that's lethal over a period of three days of it being ingested. Somewhere along the line John has eaten the same thing as Mr. Woolsey."

"Deceased."

"Rodney."

"Sorry. But you know what I mean. So, how long has John got?" Now very worried.

Jennifer studied the rest of the Colonel's team and grimaced. "As far as I can calculate from the bloods I took from him after arrival back on Earth; not very long. Hours…really. I'm sorry."

"We have to find him!" Ronon was started to get impatient and wanted down on the ground.

"Do you have an antidote?" Teyla asked.

Jennifer moved to grab her hands. "That's the good news. I managed to do it quite easily as it was made here on Earth – no unknown Pegasus concoctions I know nothing about. I just need to give it to him by the end of this morning – at the latest!"

"They might be hurt from the supposed jet crash…"

"It's a possibility." Jennifer agreed.

"Todd might even have survived and be free here on Earth!" Ronon clenched his teeth.

"There's that." Lorne said and nodded his head back at the contingent of Marines standing behind him and loaded into the front of the 'jumper.

"I do not believe he would run; rather he would stay with John. They have a…connection that we do not understand."

"Sir!"

Lorna spun and strode into the front of the 'jumper followed by the rest of John's team and Keller.

"I've got the Colonel and Doc Carson's sub-q signal!"

"They couldn't keep them blocked from us for that long." Rodney felt like punching the air.

"How long till we get there?"

"Perhaps an hour. I gather you have been driving through the night, you must be hungry."

"Ah, yes, Rodney? Are you well?" Keller stepped up to him.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. We had food. We could do with more, though, before we get there."

At that Lorne showed them to some supplies and Rodney and Ronon took out what they wanted."

"And you, Teyla?" Jennifer spoke quietly.

"I am well, Jennifer…anxious, but, you know- worried!"

"I can imagine. I hope we find him in time, I really do." Jennifer sat down beside her. "I also have a powerful sedative to knock Todd out if need be if he proves to be …truculent!"

That got Ronon's attention. "I also have this!" He patted his gun.

"Leave it on stun when we land, though." Lorne warned him with a huff coming in reply.

Rodney took a swig of water to clear his throat. "How did you manage to get a 'jumper anyway." He looked around him at all the supplies.

Lorne laughed. "Seems we have more friends than we thought. As soon as I went to 'drop off' the last of the 'jumpers yesterday. I was brought up to speed by a simple card handed to me before I could check in. A rather young marine saluted me and then ran off with no more explanation. It had a gps setting on it – simple, effective. I was to go there, bring another two 'jumpers. Thankfully, I had enough with the gene to fly them. They are now cloaked; hopefully hidden."

Ronon and Rodney shared some of the fast food with Teyla and listened to Lorne continue on.

"So – we have four 'jumpers. Loaded with supplies including: food, water, arms…" he looked at Rodney, "…most of your lab work you wanted brought over. Comms, tablets…you get it. They want us to survive."

"And just who are 'they'?"

"We don't know." Lorna said shrugging, "…best we don't. We could get them killed if it all came out. So, we need the Colonel, and we need him now. I have an envelope here with instructions for his eyes only."

"If he didn't survive the crash or poisoning?"

"Then we need to make a decision or two. We'll cross that bridge if it comes to it. Me – I'd prefer it if we find the Colonel, alive and well."

SGA SGA SGA

"John?"

Carson ran his hands through his hair, absolutely terrified. He had managed to drag John's unmoving body to safety, cringing at the shallow troughs in the soil, John's heels made. Now, he had heard the helicopter tracing them slow down and the feet on the ground would be coming soon, unfortunately.

Carson, once again, looked solemnly at the tracks in the sandy soil leading back from the lake to where they were now. Torren could easily find them!

John moaned slightly and squirmed about on the grainy soil. His face glistened with sweat and he was obviously in pain. As his doctor and friend, this was very hard on Carson being the one solely responsible for him out in the field.

Carson put his good arm over his chest and grounded him there. "Ssh. Try and not move or make a sound."

John woke up and heard him loud and clear, but his leg was too painful and he had to move it. "John, please. You must be still."

John frowned, but allowed Carson to take control of the situation until he could engage his eyes into one of him standing there, and the pain and sickness raging through him gave him a reprieve …for a moment at least.

Footsteps approaching, turned their hearts to ice and they shared a worried look. John swallowed back his sickness and waited on the inevitable.

The boots when they came into view were worn; scuffed. Ragged hemmed, brown cotton trousers that never quite reached over the boot top, exposing skin and no socks, stood facing them. One, then three pairs.

"Times up … traitors! Out you come."

Two sets of hands reached down and quickly grabbed John's ankles and pulled him out hard. Carson scrambled after him, nursing his shoulder.

"Leave him alone. Watch his head, can't you see he is injured." Carson was horrified as the covering on his grated face came off and showed his sore face bloodied and puffy.

Another equally scuffed boot placed itself right into John's stomach in reply. "Does it look like we care? Eh, boys?"

"Sir!" Came their replies as John writhed on the ground.

John shook his head to try and regain his senses. It only worked partially. His stomach was in pain with sickness and now bruising. It was fast becoming obvious that he was not going to get himself and Carson out of this situation very easily.

"Guys…I…" He coughed horribly, his body shaking with the aftermath. When he finally could breathe again it was to see Carson being led towards the Black Hawk, now waiting on the ground, and he could do nothing about it.

"Shut up. We have no need for you. Don't you know that, Colonel John Sheppard! Wraith lover!"

"Traitor!" Another one added.

John put out a hand. "Stop." Cough. "You have been fed …lies…"

"We have proof, Colonel! We saw you rescue the beast with the doc. There's no way you can talk your way out of that one."

John gulped, he couldn't. They were right. Crap! How was he going to get out of this?

"He is…an ally. The doc was only following orders. Let him go!"

"You are not the one giving orders today, Colonel."

"Just who the hell is then?" John shouted, but even he knew his voice was weak. Losing strength.

"Leave him alone!" Carson, struggled in his two captors grip as he neared the door of the Black Hawk.

One of the men grinned sadistically and pulled John's head up by the hair before back handing him so hard his head whipped back and he was left in a heap, panting into the soil under him.

SGA SGA SGA

Cold. He was cold … but…not yet, not yet! It was not time to die.

SGA SGA SGA

John clutched his head. It was impossible to believe the sharp pain that was throbbing behind his eyes and coming from his brain could be so strong.

Cold. He was cold…wasn't he? No, he felt warm; hot. What was going on?

He then felt sorrow, and torment; worry and fear…and yet, it was not his own.

A force so strong it was impossible to comprehend invaded his thoughts, and somehow he knew he had to lend to it. John concentrated hard, squinting his eyes to look at Carson looking at him with renewed worry. He chewed his top lip and panted hard. He couldn't take much more of the demands on his body.

"I…" He said weakly and then an ice cold vice wrapped around his head and squeezed. He screamed for all he was worth not understanding how pain could be this cruel to him.

SGA SGA SGA

Cold.

Strength. That was all he needed. Just some more strength to be taken for the greater good. So he pulled it from him – he had to, there was no other option.

Then he had to run to catch up.

SGA SGA SGA

John made it to his knees as the pain finally left his head, and for a few minutes his body had the strength to raise itself. He smiled, cockily, at the two standing in front of him, because now he had understanding of something they did not.

John caught Carson's eye again and smirked at the disbelieving look in the doc's face at his suddenly ability to stand. He was only just believing it himself.

"John?" Carson mouthed.

He cocked his head to the side and quickly assessed where the rebels were, and then he felt the strength he needed. It wasn't given without cost and it couldn't last long – not with all his injuries, and the poison, but he took this moment gladly.

His eyes suddenly fixed on the immediate area behind the Black Hawk. Understanding making him grin and sigh in relief. He motioned with his hand quickly for Carson to get down. "Now!" he cried and Carson understood. He flung himself down onto his knees. Startled, the men holding him reached for their weapons waiting on an attack. It came from behind them.

John chose the moment of disbelief and fear to drive his own adrenalin up a notch, and kicked the back of the knees of one of the men in front of him. He went down hard, cheek embedded in stones, and John was on top of him grabbing his arm that had his gun in it. Twisting it up, he pressed on his fingers and aimed at the man's partner next to him. He went down, bullet fatally hitting him, and John then hit the man under him on the top of his head with the butt of his own weapon. He fell back down unconscious.

John looked up then; sweating and panting, to see Carson crab crawl from under the fighting happening at the helicopter.

Todd, the 'dead' wraith was feeding on one that had tried to shoot him, whilst choking the life out of another. He kicked a gun towards Carson who picked it up, but looked out of place holding it.

"To me, Carson! Throw it to me. Now!"

Carson obeyed and ran to the left where John was pointing, but he spun where he was, watching in disbelief at the return of Todd. Had he not died?

John worked quickly to despatch two others; strength coming from somewhere. But it was short lived.

There were two others running out of the Black Hawk, and noticing the wraith fighting another two; wanting to avoid him at all costs; they headed straight for the easier target in John, weapons raised.

John's right leg gave out and he fell down clutching his stomach. One of the men reached him and punched him once; twice, in the face and then raised his fist for a third. A large hand grabbed his closed fist and flung him backwards and away from John onto the hard ground. He lay gasping for breath.

The wraith snarled and ripped open his chest and slammed his hand over his heart, ignoring his screams and his promise to John to not feed on anybody on his planet.

Todd felt a jolt as bullet after bullet slammed into his back, but his regenerative powers had had a boost with the lives already taken, and taking a third restored his strength and that he had 'borrowed' from John minutes earlier.

"Todd!" John finally cried out when he could breathe again. Startled, amazed, but not surprised to see him in front of him alive and well.

Their connection was enough of a boost to help Todd survive until he had fed. He just needed to know that there had been a supply available.

John's strength had come to an end, though, and he fell back onto the hard ground. Hands patted him down and he tried to fight them, but somebody grabbed both of his wrists and stilled him.

"John. John? Are you ok?" It was Carson drawing him up into his embrace; disobeying his command to run. He had come back for him when he saw Todd had come back. Shocked by the turn of events, he held John's gaze: "It's Todd. How on earth is he alive? John?" He shook him slightly, watching his eyes struggle to stay awake. "Will he run now that he's fed? John, please, what do I do?"

John rolled his heavy head on Carson's supportive arm and watched in horror as more men ran from the Black Hawk, even as Todd stood tall blocking the sun from his eyes and casting a shadow never seen on earth before.

"No!" He weakly said, knowing that even Todd with his now returned strength could not survive against all that fire power.

He wanted to help. It was his duty to protect.

But as Carson helped him to struggle up, several beams of light hit the men surrounding them, and they fell down one by one, until standing there in front of him, with his beloved and a cocky smile, stood Ronon, tall and menacing.

"Ronon, lad." Carson cried. "Glad to see you, boy!"

Ronon nodded, but turned his weapon on Todd and took two steps forward towards him with purpose.

"Ron…" John's voice was too weak.

"Ronon, lad. Lower your weapon. He helped us. He's not here to kill us." Ronon's arm didn't move position however and Todd strode nearer him with a mocking expression. Two natives of the Pegasus galaxy were having a stand-off.

"He won't run. Will you, Todd?" Carson felt the need to protect him from Ronon's long awaited revenge for hurting John in the past.

Todd stared at Ronon, then over to John being held up by Carson, and them to Lorne now running towards them with Teyla and Rodney not far behind, then back to Ronon.

"Ronon!" Lorne warned.

Todd raised his hands; one of them very bloody, but took a step backwards.

Ronon noticed, but still smirked. "Today's not your day. Pity" He stepped back and turned instead directly towards John, leaving the marines to surround the wraith on Lorne's command.

"No, no, no!" Carson was crying out as John succumbed to unconsciousness.

Everything happened very fast after that.

Keller came panting and slid to a halt beside John, and landed on her knees. "Roll up his sleeve, Carson."

"My, god. You have an antidote." He breathed whilst obeying her hurriedly.

Keller swiftly injected the contents of the prepared ampoule, and sat back on her haunches.

"I hope it's not too late." She started taking his vitals. "Are you ok?"

"My shoulder. It's not bad. John first."

The rest of John's team surrounded them on the ground, watching John's chest slowly rise and fall. As Teyla took his hand, Keller pushed Carson gently back and assessed her patient on the ground.

"Carson. How is he?" Lorne asked.

"Not good. Thanks for turning up when you did." Lorne knew he meant the situation with Todd.

"I just wish we had been earlier. I suspect you have a story to tell us, but it will have to wait, I have a crime scene to try and hide. We can't let the world see the 'wounds' on these men. I'll get some of my men to fly this Hawk somewhere. The rest of us, once the Colonel is stable, can leave by the 'jumper. When can he be moved? The quicker the better."

"I suppose we could move him to the 'jumper now. Just gently does it." Carson said.

"I'll get him up." Todd said. He had remained quietly watching this new turn of events, not wanting to bring too much attention his way. He had no desire to fight these men; he wanted back to Pegasus – so need to goad them into any adverse reaction his way. Besides, he had tasted his death and it wasn't a pleasant experience. He needed home. To get there, he had to obey John's people. He could do that. He had to. Only Ronon stood in his way.

"Get your hands off him." Came his adversary's loud command.

Todd stood back and allowed the Satedan to bend down and lift his friend and then felt his hands being grabbed and zip tied in front of him.

"John would order this I'm sure." Lorne said, almost apologetically.

Todd nodded.

Together within minutes, the crime scene was tidied up, a Black Hawk full of 'bad guys' removed, and a full 'jumper load lifted to the skies with a very special cargo on board to meet up with the other three at a secret location.

Now they just had to wait until John woke up and read his letter. Then they would know what happens next.

SGA SGA SGA

To be continued…..

A/N: Thank you for reading, and for all those who leave reviews. It really does give you a boost!

One more chapter to go!