The Mirror Of Emotions 5

...into The Fire

by Cynical_Coat

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asc/ccoat/mirror05.php
Summary: Off-world, John breaks his word to Weir when he risks the lives of his team-mates to save Rodney

There was brief moment when Rodney woke where he thought the last few days had been a dream. Had to have been.

Then he stretched and became aware of the furnace curled into his side.

It had happened, crazy as that seemed.

All of it.

He sighed and rolled over, facing John and gathering him into his arms. The other man shifted into his embrace without waking, and Rodney smiled.

He knew, deep down, that this couldn't last, but he meant to make the most of it while it did.

He leaned in closer and kissed John into consciousness. It couldn't last... if the past had taught him anything, it had taught him that. But that didn't mean he'd give it up without a fight.

"Morning, Rodney..." He murmured, blinking owlishly. "D'you sleep well?"

Rodney kissed him again, pressing himself full length against John's body.

"Thanks to you."

John grinned and then pulled away to look at the clock.

"Glad to hear it... and I'd love to explore the theory more fully... but that'll have to wait 'til later. We're going to be late for our briefing." He placed his hands on Rodney's bare chest, staring into his eyes seriously. "That is, if you're feeling up to it?"

"I don't know... if it's as strenuous as our average briefing..."

John closed his eyes.

"Rodney."

"I know, John... I feel much better." He pulled John close again. "And I'm looking forward to proving to you how much I can give... how much of a taker I'm not."

John let his eyes drift open.

"And I was kind of hoping that you'd want to..." He made an odd gesture with his hands. "You know... take."

Rodney licked his lips.

"I've only ever..." He repeated John's gesture."...once. And I'm not exactly in any postion to remember details." He forced the words out, hating any admission of ignorance. John just grinned again, his eyes taking on a wicked gleam.

"Teaching's half the fun, Rodney."

~~~

Weir was normal enough during the briefing, but as she closed her folder and tented her fingers, Rodney knew they were in for it.

What ever it turned out to be.

"You leave at 09:30... I suggest you all get ready. We can't let a few days rest make us sloppy. Dismissed." She watched the others file out of the room before clearing her throat.

"Major, Dr. McKay... a word?"

John fell back into his chair.

Rodney hadn't even bothered to move.

"I..." She stopped, gathering herself. "I know you gave me your word, Major. But you have to understand... you'll be risking more than your own life if things go wrong and you choose with your heart."

John's eyes never left Rodney.

"No worries, Elizabeth... I'll choose the same as I always have."

Rodney wasn't much reassured by that.

John had nearly gotten them all killed with his superb decision making skills in the past.

He also subscribed to General Jack O'Neill's ridiculous 'never leave a man behind' philosophy... Not that Rodney minded when he was the rescuee... Rescuer was another story.

Weir sighed.

"I thought you'd say that..." She pursed her lips, but obviously realized that that was the best she could hope for. "Bring them home."

John grinned.

"As always."

~~~

This was bad.

More than bad... this was worse.

Worse than anything Rodney could imagine.

They had arrived on the planet three, maybe four hours ago. Nice place, warm... the natives seemed friendly enough.

Then again, so had the Genii, and look how that had turned out.

They had split the team up, taking Sheppard and Ford to see their barracks, Teyla to tour their farms, and Rodney... it had sounded like he was off to explore a warehouse full of ancient technology and ZPM's...

He was not exploring a warehouse full of ancient technology and ZPM's.

He was not exploring anything, with the bare exception of the back of a coarse blindfold strapped around his eyes, and the mental image of Elizabeth skinning both him and John alive.

Nor was Rodney playing an alien version of 'Blindman's Bluff' or some such...

Rodney was a prisoner.

Scratch that.

Rodney was bait.

Wraith bait, if understood his captor's plan correctly.

But, oddly, that wasn't what worried him. He knew that John would save him... The problem was--

John would come and save him.

No matter the danger to his own life, or the team...

And it was Rodney's fault for letting himself be captured.

Because of him, John would deliberately break his word to Elizabeth.

Only, he wouldn't really, because he'd actually be keeping his word by coming to the rescue.

Rodney doubted that Weir would see it that way.

"This is a stupid plan." He said aloud, half hoping that there was no one near enough to hear him. He didn't fear any kind of violent reminder that he was supposed to be quiet. His captors were scientists. Academics like himself. They had subdued him by wieght of numbers, not actual bodily force. He just hated to admit that they had captured him, despite the overwhelming evidnce in favor of the theory. "Offering up one... snack isn't going to make them go away. If they even come right now, that is. Letting one of them eat me is just going to make sure that they come back." He shook his head, testing his bonds again. "You should untie me... There's so much I could teach you that I won't be able to if you let a Wraith suck out my soul." He shuddered, wishing that he hadn't said it out loud.

"Actually..." A steady male voice said off to his left. "We have theorized that it's not really your soul that they take, though our spiritual counterparts would beg to differ."

Rodney was intrigued despite himself.

"Then what?"

"They drain people in much the same way that we drain batteries. They force the normal electrical impulses of the body to speed up and then draw out the charge."

Rodney rolled his eyes, knowing that the man couldn't see it.

"That's a very interesting theory... you wouldn't happen to have any proof, would you?"

"Of course we do!" Called an angry female voice from in front of him. He thought that her placement identified her as 'foot shifter', but it was hard to be certain. He cocked his head to the side and smiled in a way that he hoped was disarming.

"Would you mind showing me?"

A thick, tense silence followed that, and for a moment he thought they had left.

"We can't do that, Jorgen... what if he escapes? Or tha Wraith somehow gains his knowledge?"

"That is just one of your less credible theories, Shalla... We have no proof of that."

Rodney licked his lips.

"Let me have a look... I'm something of a genius where I come from. Let me help you."

The woman spoke again, closer this time.

"Why would you do that?"

He shrugged as much as his bonds would allow.

"Call it insurance. I help you come up with a better plan, you let me live. And go home." He added hastily. Flattering as it would be after he inevitably saved their asses, he really didn't feel like being their Fearless Leader.

There was another of those heavy pauses, like some massive beast pondering.

-to kill, or nor to kill...-

And then harsh artificial light blinded him, the blindfold falling away.

"Jorgen! We need him... You can not do this without consulting the counsel!"

"The counsel is here, and none have stopped me." The man, Jorgen, said lightly and cut his bonds. He wasn't one of the scientists who had taken part in the intitial Rodney-napping, but the way that he acted and the way that the others deferred to him with a wary kind of awe named him leader as easily as if he had simply stated it.

-easier-

Rodney focused on him, ignoring the shorter woman who was inevitably 'Shalla'. Jorgen smiled and gestured for him to sit.

"Please, Dr. McKay... forgive us for binding you. I hope you can do as you say. For your own sake." He looked at the others and they relaxed marginally. "If you cannot come up with a better plan for testing our theory, we will be forced to go through with the scheduled test. I may not agree with the method, but as of now, it is all we have."

"Right..." Rodney said.

-no pressure-

Much as he dreaded going back to Atlantis right now, he really hoped that John saved him soon.

He had that impending Wraith-food feeling... and he wasn't very fond of it.

"How much time do we have?"

"Anywhere from an hour to a day... The Wraith are not so much punctual as they are predictable."

Rodney nodded. He could understand that.

And the doom-sayer that lived in his head was predicting that they'd show in an hour, just in time for the McKay-buffett.

"Better get to work... now, your data?" He expected another outburst from Shalla, but she simply sulked. Jorgen never stopped smiling as he set up the lap top like device.

Rodney knew the type.

He would keep smiling right up until a Wraith came and sucked out his... charge.

-it's what makes you go, what makes us capable of conscious thought... if that's not a soul, I'd like to know what is...-

Pushing the thoughts away, he bent his considerable attention toward the problem at hand.

Namely, saving his own ass.

And maybe, just maybe, saving them both from Elizabeth's wrath, and the inevitable revocation of her blessing.

If he could keep that from happening, maybe he could keep it all from falling apart long enough for the lesson that John had promised.

If not... it really wouldn't matter, because he'd be dead.

Of course, that was nonsense. Not even worth wasting time on thinking about.

John would come save him.

Right?

~~~

This was bad.

Something was seriously wrong, and Sheppard thought he knew what it was.

"Do all your tour's usually end with you pointing guns at your guests?"

The military commander, Viggo, seemed just as displeased about the situation as Sheppard, but he didn't lower his gun.

"I am sorry, Major, but it is necessary that we detain you for the duration of the test."

"Fine. Detain us... but lose the boomsticks." He looked at Ford, hoping the kid would take the hint and lower his own piece. "We'll stay."

Viggo dropped his arm to his side, but he still looked upset.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple."

-is it ever?-

John's heart clenched. He knew what that meant..

"Where's Rodney?" He took a step forward and that gun was levelled at him again.

"It is imperative that the test be complete. We need Dr. McKay."

John gritted his teeth.

"No you don't. I do."

"I do not wish to shoot you, Major."

"Then don't."

Ford held him back when he tried to bull through the ring of guards.

"Sir!" He leaned his weight back, holding John in place. "You can't do anything for him if you get yourself shot."

He knew Ford was, knew that this was just what Elizabeth was afraid of... but somehow, it didn't seem to matter.

"Ford... I have to save him."

"We will, Major. Scout's honor." He could almost hear Aiden grin and felt himself return it as he relaxed in his 2IC's grip.

"Right. It's what we do." He brushed Ford's hands off and squared his shoulders.

-questions first...-

-shooting later.-

And there would be, if Rodney came to any harm.

"So... what test?"

He listened patiently enough while Viggo outlined the plan that Rodney was currently trying to improve himself out of. He nodded in all the right places, crossing his arms, even managing to ask a couple questions. But as he went on, John could feel Aiden tense behind him, ready to grab him again if necessary. He could feel it as plainly as he could see the mounting worry in Viggo's eyes.

But he didn't lunge.

His anger had cooled into something far more dangerous.

-the calm before the storm...- A distant, disjointed part of his mind supplied. He ignored it and posed the one question that was really bothering him.

"Why Rodney?"

Viggo ducked his head, obviously knowing the answer, but none too keen on sharing.

"Look. If you want to leave this room alive, you had better tell me what I want to know." John stated that calmly, simply laying out the facts. Despite their superior numbers and firepower, the guards shifted their feet uneasily. Viggo swallowed thickly and forced himself to meet John's eyes. John remembered the man bragging about his two sons what seemed a lifetime ago and felt a twinge of guilt. It faded under the terrible weight of his anger. Viggo nodded.

"We have devices that can sense and measure the strength of what you call the ATA gene. His, though slightly anomalous, is of sufficient strength to draw the Wraith once it enters the target area."

John nodded again.

"Why not me?" He knew he had the gene stronger than anyone else in their expedition. Viggo attempted a grin, but it fell short of anything but sickly.

"With respect, Major... We knew we had no chance of subduing you. Not without causing damage significant enough to make the Wraith pass you by. Dr.McKay on the other hand, came calmly enough once he understood that no harm would come to him..."

Stepping closer, John calmly took Viggo by the collar and pulled the shorter man up on tip toe.

"Until this test of yours kills him... It's not generally considered good policy to offer your new allies up as snacks to the enemy. I'll ask one more time... Where is Rodney?"

"Sir--"

"Shut up, Ford." John growled.

"Sir." The insistence in Aiden's voice brought his head around.

"What?" He snapped, just as his radio gave a burst of static.

~~~

"Rodney?" The radio sqwaked in his hand. "Are you alright?"

"Define 'alright', John... Locked up and forced to improve a stupid plan or die is not my idea of alright." He sensed the latent anger in John's voice and added. "But they haven't stabbed me or anything, so I'm doing better than I did in our last hostage situation." He took a deep breath. "Jorgen and the others'll be back soon, so we'll have to keep this short. You have to go tell Weir what's going on."

"Nice try, Rodney. I'm not going anywhere without you. I'll be right there."

"You don't even know where 'here' is." Rodney said, pretending at irritation even as a warm wave of relief washed over him. John was coming to save him.

"We'll track your radio signal. I'll be right there." And then the radio went silent. Rodney held it against his chest for a second, as though some part of John lingered within. Putting it down and chiding himself for entertaining such a childish concept, he went back to work. He was only half sure his plan would succeed, and it was nice to know that help was on the way... but part of him wanted to stick around and see if he was right. It was a small fraction of the whole, but it wanted to see, not so he could gloat about his genius, but because he wanted to help these people.

It was the John Sheppard part of him. And it made him continue his calculations even as his team rushed to his aid.

~~~

"Viggo... we're going to leave now. We're going to go get Teyla, and then we're going to go get McKay, and then we're going to leave. Forever. You can either let us go without a fight and go home to your wife and your sons, or we go anyway and we leave a pile of corpses behind us. It's your choice."

The silence stretched into an almost palpable weight, forcing their breath to stillness and muting heartbeats to a dull roar. There was a moment of panic deep inside the rational part of his brain as Viggo lifted the gun again. It brushed against his chest and then the other man was pulling it up over his head and setting it on the floor, the others following his lead.

"May my people survive to forgive me." He whispered and John clapped him on the shoulder, not quite smiling.

"They will... you're doing the right thing." It was the same old good soldier line of bull, but it was all he had to give. He motioned Ford to follow and hurried back toward the street. "Where is he, Ford?"

Aiden consulted some piece of equipment that John couldn't care less about until it told him where Rodney was.

"This way, sir..." He pointed down the street, back the way they had come.

"Good. You go find Teyla, and I'll go get Rodney... We'll meet you at the gate in thirty minutes. If we aren't there, you go through and tell Weir what happened."

"No, sir."

"You can come back for us after you tell her what's going on."

"Sir--"

"That's an order, Lieutenant."

There was a flash of tense defiance in Ford's eyes, and though John knew that it was born of a very real desire to help, it still filled him with anger. Ford knew him well enough to know that now was not the time to go all overgrown terrier. He threw a quick salute.

"Understood, sir. We'll be back with reinforcements before you know it."

"I'm counting on it." He doubted that all of their new 'friends' would be so understanding as Viggo had. He reminded himself to do something nice for the man if they got through this, and were ever allowed back.

-not likely...-

"Find Teyla and get back as soon as you can. And, Aiden--"

"Yes, sir?" Ford said, looking back over his shoulder, having already turned to go.

"Thank you... again."

"No problem, sir... Keep him safe."

Sheppard watched him go until he dissapeared around a bend in the road.

"If I can, Aiden... If I can."

~~~

"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" Rodney was waving his hands frantically, and it seemed he included Sheppard in his command. "Just lower your weapons... you too, John. Just... hold your fire."

John lowered his gun marginally and looked Rodney over. He seemed unharmed.

"You alright, Rodney?" He asked, cautiously crossing the makeshift lab.

"I'm fine... you? They said you were being... detained."

"We were. Our guide was smart enough to... undetain us without a struggle."

"You mean without a firefight."

"That too..." He looked around at the other scientists. "I take it they aren't going to just let us walk out of here?"

"No." Rodney took a deep breath. "You shouldn't have come, John. You should have gone home."

"And left you to be some kind of guinea pig for the Wraith feeders? No thanks."

"You don't understand." There was real pain and fear in Rodney's eyes... more than enough to make John really listen.

-because it's never that simple...-

"You have the gene stronger than I do." Rodney stated, abject misery etched into his features.

"Yeah." This wasn't Rodney's normal unhappiness about the topic... because this misery wasn't on his own behalf. It was for John.

-because it's never that simple.-

"They'll want to use you in their experiment if they don't like my plan... Their experiment demands the strongest available gene carrier in the test area as the subject. To insure that there are no... distractions."

"Oh..." John said, crossing his hands over his gun. "But you do have a plan, right?"

Rodney looked down at his feet, not answering.

Speechless McKay was unsettling at best...

"Rodney... tell me you have a plan?"

Rodney took a deep breath before whispering.

"I have a plan."

When it became apparent that that was all that was forthcoming, John took a step closer to him.

"And what's wrong with the plan, Rodney?" His voice was angrier-- tighter-- than he intended, and Rodney tensed, obviously taking it as anger against himself instead of the situation itself. Something seemed to snap in the scientist, reverting him to asshole mode with astonishing speed.

"There isn't time, Major. They could be here any minute, and all we have is a rough working model. By which I mean a computer simulation that doesn't even begin to take in the relative intelligence of an individual Wraith, or the inconclusive research concerning how they choose their prey. We're just assuming that they go after the person with the closest link to the Ancients. There simply isn't enough time to implement my plan, and you're going to die because I can't think of anything better. I'm supposed to be a genius, and I can't do better... that's what's wrong with the plan."

John stared at him, hating that defeated look around his eyes and the stark gash of his lips against pallid flesh. He let the outburst wash over him, trying to let his own anger fade, searching for some safe-harbor of calm to bolster Rodney with. Rodney was safe... now all they had to do was get home. He cocked his head, considered grinning, but settled on a real smile instead.

"What can I do?"

Rodney just blinked at him, some of his anger and self-loathing draining away.

"Didn't you just hear me? There's nothing we can do. There isn't ti-- "

"When will they be here?" John cut in smoothly, and Rodney boggled at him again.

"We aren't exactly sure... Jorgen," He indicated a quiet man standing with the other scientists by the larger simulation computer. "Thinks it could be as much as a day. Or as little as an hour." He glanced at his watch. "Less than."

"So there's time."

"No, I just sai--"

"If we don't know when they'll be here, then there's time. Now, what can I do?"

Rodney started to shake his head again, but John caught his shoulder with one hand.

"We aren't giving up, Rodney... that's not our MO. Now tell me what to do."

Rodney took a deep breath and nodded.

"Right... fight to the bitter end... the legacy of Earth. Jorgen," Rodney called, turning abruptly. The quiet scientist walked over to them, smiling in a way that put John's teeth on edge. "We need one of those test dummies you were talking about. With a working circulatory system, if possible."

"Of course, Dr. McKay..."

"And it'll have to be able to withstand a weak but constant electrical charge."

Jorgen's eyes lit up, and his smile widened into something a little more real.

"That just might work, Dr. McKay."

"I hope so..."

John furrowed his brow.

"What might just work?"

Rodney just started inputting data into the computer interface.

"Just put down your gun, roll up your sleeves... and remember to thank Carson for showing me the right way to draw blood."

"Draw blood? Rodney...?"

Rodney sighed and looked at him, love and annoyance mingling in his gaze.

"You wanted to help, and you have the ATA gene strongest of everyone here. We need to make sure that the decoy is appealing to the Wraith."

"So you're going to fill it's artificial circulatory system with my blood?"

"Yes..." Rodney actually looked happy that John had caught on so quickly, before the life or death factor reasserted itself.

"And that'll work?"

"If we knew that, we wouldn't have to do this test in the first place."

"I mean that it won't just home in on me instead of the dummy?"

Rodney chewed his bottom lip, not knowing the answer to that. One of Jorgen's assistants stepped into the breach

"We have a small dampening field that seems to block the Wraith from sensing those they might wish to feed upon. We'll have to keep you both within it during the first phase of the test so that it will not turn away from the decoy."

"The first phase?"

Rodney grimaced.

"If this plan fails, they'll move on to phase two... Pretty much they tie the subject to a pole, rigged up to their diagnostic machines, and wait for the Wraith to finish..."

"The subject being me?" John asked, though he knew the answer.

"Not if I can help it... but we really need to get to work." There was something unbelievably alluring in the though of being rescued by Rodney. It wouldn't be the first time, of course, but it was still a strange thrill.

"One last thing, Rodney."

"What?"

John put his gun down close at hand and leaned in to kiss Rodney, savoring it, though he wouldn't let himself think that it might be the last time he got the chance. He pulled away slowly and Rodney nodded.

"Right... We can do this." His eyes flashed from love to uncertainty to determination. "We have to."

John smiled and rolled up his sleeves, perching on the table next to the computer.

"Let's get to it, then."

~~~

Ford and Teyla were on their way back to the gate when she suddenly grapped his arm.

"Aiden! We must go back... I sense Wraith closing in on the city."

"We have to inform Weir and get reinforcements." He said, though all he wanted to do was run back and kick some Wraith ass... and if some of those scientists that nabbed McKay happened to get in the way... He shook off the thought. He had his orders.

"That is not necessary... The sense is faint. It is close, but there is only one."

Ford furrowed his brow.

"That seems unlikely, Teyla. They never move alone."

The look she gave him was as close to condescending as he had ever seen her.

"I have been fighting the Wraith all my life, Aiden. Do not tell me what they never do."

He nodded.

"Right, sorry... I still need to tell Weir."

"Go. I will return and see what I can do to free the Major and Dr. McKay. " She grinned. "I have no orders."

He nodded again, returning her grin.

"Be careful."

"And you." She said, reaching up to brush her fingers along his jaw before turning and sprinting back toward the city. He watched her until she was out of sight, and then returned to his own mission... Weir wasn't going to be very happy about this.

~~~

John felt like there wasn't any blood left in him, though Rodney had assured him that they had taken the absolute minimum that the test should require. Though the sight of blood had never bothered him (in his profession that was a luxury few could afford) seeing his own blood being pumped through the dummy they had procured was more than a little unsettling. He could see why Rodney was so unsure of this plan. The dummy was human in form and appearance, but anyone with the sense of anatomy that the Wraith needed to be able to feed would take one look at it and turn away. Rodney seemed to pick that thought right out of his mind.

"We're hoping that the allure of the gene is strong enough to overcome any hesitancy that the Wraith might have about feeding on something that... well... isn't human..." Despite his detemination, he obviously didn't like the plan at all. Even though he was the one who had come up with it.

"Will it even be able to feed on it?" He asked suddenly, dread creeping through him at the thought that they, in their infinite genius, might have overlooked something so simple.

"That's what it was designed for... but it's never been tested." His gaze flinched away from John's eyes. "Their last test was conducted before it was ready... with a live subject..."

Before he could formulate a response, his radio crackled to life and an out of breath Teyla called through it.

"Major? Can you hear me?"

"Teyla? You and Ford were supposed to go back to Atlantis. Put Ford on." He looked at Rodney and released the button. "I gave him a direct order." He said in explanation. Rodney simply nodded and hurried over to continue helping the other scientists.

"Lt. Ford has returned to the city as instructed. I remained to warn you. A Wraith is coming... it will be on the city before I can reach you."

John sighed.

"We know." There was a pause before Teyla responded, sounding confused.

"You know?... is Dr. McKay injured?"

"No."

"Are you, Major?"

"... No."

"Then why have you not fled to the Stargate?"

He watched Rodney making the last frantic adjustments to the dummy and sighed again.

"We've been detained by a group of scientists... We're helping them run some tests."

Another, longer pause.

"I do not understand, Major."

"Go back to the 'gate and wait for Ford. Stay out of sight and don't come near the city." He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on Rodney. "For whatever it's worth, Teyla... that's not an order."

"Major?"

"It's a request from a friend."

There was an even longer pause. He could almost see the struggle going on behind her eyes.

"I understand... John." That last was almost a whisper.

"Tell Ford... Tell Ford to come in gun's blazing as soon as he get's back... if this plan fails, things are going to go south. Fast."

"I will tell him, Major." He could hear her grin... it was the one she always wore when he said something that didn't make a whole lot of sense to her.

"Good... Sheppard out." He tor his gaze away from the tense line of Rodney's shoulders and was surprised to find the quiet scientist, Jorgen, standing next to him.

"I hope that you did not harm Viggo."

"No... we were both very... civilized."

"That is good to hear... He is my brother."

"Oh... good. Glad I didn't have to shoot him." John tried a grin, but it felt tight and he gave it up.

"I saw you and Dr. McKay..."

Meaning he had seen John kiss Rodney...

"Ah... that. We aren't brothers."

Jorgen smiled at him, that same placid, neutral smile. John decided that he really didn't trust this man.

"Is there anyway you would agree not to give me up to the Wraith?"

"The plan has yet to fail, Major."

Not exactly a no. But not a yes either.

"But if it does... I could take out the Wraith, save us both a lot of trouble."

"We need this research, Major... My people do."

"Why? I don't see how this will help you to defeat the Wraith."

Jorgen's smile slipped just a fraction.

"If we know how they draw their power, we can find a way to block the process."

John shook his head and picked up his gun again.

"I've seen how that end's up. Trust me, there has to be a better way... So spare me the tourist pamphlet bullshit."

Jorgen abandonded his smile completely, once he saw that it no longer served him.

"We will prove once and for all that our religious counter-parts are wrong. It is not the soul that they steal, or even the years of ones life." His eyes were steel, his face all hard planes and angles without that smile to soften it. Seeing the depth of the anger in that gaze, it was no longer difficult to see why the other scientists treated him with such reverence and respect. He was a leader, willing to do what ever he thought was necessary.

John matched him stare for stare.

"You're willing to commit murder to prove a point?"

"I am willing to commit murder to prove that those taken by the Wraith are still capable of reaching salvation. I will not-- cannot-- believe that their souls languish in a purgatory of unimaginable evil, or that they simply cease to exist in the eyes of heaven." He shook his head, lost in the horror and awe of his declaration. John narrowed his eyes.

"I won't die just to lighten your conscience."

Jorgen deflated, losing most of his righteous vigor.

"My wife and son were taken in the last culling... I could not save them. They were not allowed the funerary rites, because it is written that the souls of the taken are no longer able to commune with the gods... Until I can prove that otherwise, they will not have peace. Because I could not save them."

John's eyes softened, but his resolve was firm.

"And this is how you fight for their salvation? By killing other innocent people? By feeding the one's that took them?" Jorgen just stood there, determined but ill at ease and wracked with obvious guilt. "I just found him." John said, that dangerous calm creeping back into his voice. "I won't lose him without a fight... I know you understand that."

"I'm sorry, Major."

John stood, looming and threatening without needing to try.

"So am I. Rodney," He didn't raise his voice, but Rodney jumped regardless and looked at him. "We're leaving."

"What? But... We are?" His expression was hopeful and annoyed and confused and half dissappointed and terrified and determined all at once. God, John loved him... "Right now?"

"Yes. Now." John glared at Jorgen. "You can keep the blood free of charge... I hope your test goes well." He put a hand on Rodney's shoulder and steered him across the lab, mentally daring any of them to try and stop them. He almost wished that they would.

No one did.

As long as Jorgen didn't make a move, none of the others would either... John didn't think that he would.

At the door, John looked over his shoulder.

"If I was you, I'd spend less time thinking about revenge and more time finding a way to enlarge that dampening field. If you put that much effort into protecting your people instead of using them as test subjects for your personal vendetta, we might be willing to put this behind us and become allies anyway... But only if you make some major changes around here."

After a moment, Jorgen smiled... a weak, ghastly thing... but real.

"Thank you, Major Sheppard... perhaps in time..."

-that's a no...-

Without another word, they stepped outside.

Rodney opened his mouth several times, but before he could say anything, Ford's voice erupted from the radio on John's shoulder.

"Major, we're coming through!"

John shook his head.

"Go home, Leuitenant..."

"Sir--"

"We're on our way." As he said that, the Dart whizzed by over head. "On second thought, Aiden... You have a 'jumper?"

"No, sir... Teyla said it was just a single Wraith."

"Right... meet us half-way just in case."

"Yes, sir... and sir?"

"Yes, Ford?"

"Good work."

John smiled sadly at that.

"If you say so."

Next: Through A Glass Darkly