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[chensuu]

View From An Occupation



Part 4

AaA

Rodney reads the tables with a practiced eye. When he meets up with Ford he'll know exactly into what sections of the city to drop their little Genii surprises. All in all, taking distances and transporters and sneaking around into account, it should take a little over two hours to complete the task. Since Rodney's always been a very big fan of Murphy's Law, he decides to play it by ear. When the Genii discover Atlantis is being invaded hopefully they'll run back home with their tails between their legs.

"Huh."

For some reason this final analogy reminds him of Sheppard and the worry he's been nursing then ignoring off and on for the past two hours rears its ugly head and takes up permanent residence like an unwanted houseguest. He wishes he had some sort of timeline to go by to let him track how far the plan on the mainland has progressed to at this point in time but who the hell actually knows with these things? He twists his mouth into a frown and considers. Zoology's not really an actual science, is it?

He thinks about Sheppard for a moment, flying the jumper, outmaneuvering Sora and taking control. The Major is amazing quite honestly, and smart too, which in Rodney's book is always a great big plus. Plus, hello, he's hot. Sheppard has exquisite bone structure and some oddly pointed ears. He shivers once, just a slight chill of unbridled attention and oh shit, what the hell is up with that?

"Don't you even dare think about getting interested!" he admonishes his cock. Rodney closes his eyes, thinks about Kavanagh and his enthusiasm wanes.

He takes note of the hysteria in his voice and allows a deep breath. God dammit where the hell is his mind? If only he had some way of knowing if Sheppard found Ford, Beckett and Teyla. The Major is an optimist. He's got one hell of a strong will to survive and expects the same from his teammates, but if by some unmentionable horror they are all dead, crushed under the jumper in some mutilated manner Rodney doesn't have a clue to what Sheppard will do. He tries to trace his steps, to imagine him landing and searching for his team. If they didn't survive...no, no, no, no, no...he really must be spending too much time around Sheppard because suddenly Rodney knows they're okay. They have to be, because the thought of Sheppard's face if he finds them all dead is nearly unbearable.

Yeah, not to mention you'd miss the hell out of them you moron.

He hears a sound and pauses until he's sure there's no one around. Rodney jumps at the sound of his own stomach growling, upset at his missing another important meal and curses out his frustration and paranoia between wicked bites of a stale power bar. He tosses the wrapper into his knapsack so he doesn't leave any trace for the Genii to find and when he tugs his hand away Rodney slams it hard into the metal railing.

"Fuck!"

Underneath the makeshift bandage his finger now throbs like a son of a bitch. The pain radiates across his hand shooting embers through his skin and nerves. He knows that people can die of shock and even saw a movie once where some sociopath wacko breaks the finger of a Jehovah's Witness at the airport, sending him into shock and killing him, and thereby silencing his beliefs for good. Rodney's pretty sure that the time for dying from his agony has passed, but on the other hand, Kolya certainly resembles a sociopath wacko.

Another noise, closer this time around and Rodney shudders in the darkness. He's hidden away in an airshaft, far from Genii prying eyes, but with a perfect view of the jumper bay so he's aware when Sheppard returns.

He scopes out the location when his plan starts to take shape and it really is a perfect spot. He's not visible from inside the bay and he's got a perfect outlet to stun the two Genii guards Kolya has stationed near the bay doors when and if things start to get nasty. With the sensors down, the Genii won't know when the jumper returns but just in case the guards give him trouble Rodney has configured the doors to the jumper bay to seal shut at his command so no more guards can join them and it will take Kavanagh or one of the Genii scientists, Ladon probably, at least a half hour to figure out how to get them open again.

It's fairly easy for him to secure a laptop and sneak into the system. No one on Atlantis is smart enough or informed enough on protocols to figure out a way to discover his subterfuge. This Rodney knows as gospel. Let Kavanagh bray all he wants but he'll never even come close to having a tenth of the genius Rodney possesses in only half of his brain cells.

When he sees Sheppard it's going to be hard to let him go. Rodney grinds his teeth and imagines he comes up with a different plan, one that doesn't involve the man he loves playing games with a nut-bag. In this new plan Rodney doesn't need Sheppard to run interference but instead requires him to help the team regroup and start making the Genii crazy.

Now all he needs is an idea...

Fuck. It's no use. Sheppard has to be apprehended and Kolya has to be unsure. That's the plan they agreed upon and Rodney is wary of changing things up now. They need the element of surprise on their side. Besides, if all goes according to plan, and he keeps his fingers crossed that it does, Sheppard will not spend a long time in Kolya's company before the Commander acknowledges that his poorly conceived takeover has crumbled and fallen apart.

He sighs wearily and leans his forehead against the wall. It's been way too long since he sucked down some caffeine.

AaA

"What are you planning?"

Sora's has asked him this same question, in various guises, three times already today and each time John answers her truthfully that they plan on taking the city back from the Genii and he's not really sure how the hell they're going to do it. This response makes her crazy and he knows she doesn't believe him worth a damn, because honestly, who the hell would believe that Atlantis' military commander doesn't have a clue?

John rubs his temples and smiles politely. He's hurting in so many ways it doesn't pay to count them. And Sora knows he's in pain. He can see it in her eyes when she looks at him, up and down, from top to bottom in the blink of an eye. He's bruised and wrinkled and pale and whatever.

"We're leaving in five minutes." He unhooks her wrists and leads her out of the jumper. Ford and company are going to pack it up when John returns, but not before, because, hey, they certainly can't have him taking a peek at anything on his way back in and blindfolding him is out of the question.

"You didn't answer me."

"Oh, I think I did." John sighs when she starts to struggle. "Please don't do that." He cuffs her wrists together and leads her outside. "I'm going to take you somewhere nice and shady."

Sora glares at him through the harsh sunlight. "You expect me to just sit here on this island while you go back to Atlantis and destroy my people?"

John wants to say 'yes' very badly but instead he bites his tongue. It's difficult, but he's a grown up Major and there's been way too much killing lately. "No one is going to destroy anyone else, okay?"

"Right, you expect me to believe that?" Her expression is wary but John catches a glimpse or more than anger in her gaze. She wants peace he realizes. She wants to go home.

"I'd give you my word but I'm not sure it would mean anything to you right now."

Sora says, "I agree," and John winces. She sure is one tough bitch.

"Major Sheppard?"

John turns briskly at the sound of Teyla's voice. "Hey Teyla, all set?" His tone sounds soft in his ears, and subdued. Not weak though, never weak, he can't afford to feel fragile right now. She's looking at him with compassion and John can't deal with her pain too.

"Very nearly...I'll take Sora if you wish." Teyla smiles gently and turns away. John knows this means a lot to her. She doesn't give up on friends easily.

But Sora lashes out, breaking away from John's tenuous hold and throwing herself at Teyla. She elbows the Athosian woman in the gut and Teyla strikes back, slapping Sora soundly across the face before grabbing her and pushing her hard against a nearby tree.

"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Sora shouts at the top of her lungs and turns to John. "She murdered my father! And she brags about it."

Teyla protests, Sora shouts some more, and John's head basically implodes.

"Will the both of you please just shut the hell up, okay?" He slides back against the jumper then down to his knees with his head falling forward onto the hot grass below.

"Major?" Teyla kneels next to him but John shrugs her away.

"I'm fine." The truth is he feels like crap and Beckett is probably right to want to strap him to a gurney. He keeps his head down and breathes. "Just give me a minute okay?"

Or ten, or an hour, or god, please, a nap?

"He is unwell." Sora offers. "I gave him a sandwich but he hasn't been fed much in days."

He doesn't see Teyla's responding look to this comment but it must have been a doozy because Sora stutters and defends herself by saying, "He's was a prisoner..."

"The Genii truly are not the people I imagined." There is anger in her voice and John loves her for that, but he likes his Teyla bright not bitter, and he touches her arm gently to let his friend know that he's okay.

"We did not mean..."

"Ladies, please, stop fighting over me." John struggles to his feet and puts on his best face. One look at Teyla and he knows he's not fooling anybody. "Just go with her Sora. You don't have to like it." He swallows hard but meets her eyes head on. "You're the prisoner now."

Her expression is sullen and she's less than happy with his declaration but thankfully Sora stops wailing and goes with Teyla quietly.

When they leave John collapses to the ground and sits there with his head cradled gently in his hands. Before they head back he'll ask Beckett for a couple more Tylenol and maybe two more for the road. A cool wind makes him shiver and he wonders how Rodney's making out in the city, and for some reason, if he's had enough to eat. His head starts to pound in two/four time and he clenches his fists to keep from screaming.

Seconds turn to minutes and then someone hands him a bottled-water which John accepts with a grateful nod.

"We're ready to pack up the jumper sir." Ford stares at him quietly.

"Great. The sooner we get this mission started the quicker we'll be able to sleep in our own beds tonight." John tries to grin but he fails miserably. "I'll board first and then you guys can pack up all your stuff in the back. I promise not to look at anything."

"You won't be able to see anything anyway sir. We've got four crates all filled up and covered with tarp. Dr. McKay's note says we should be okay with what we've got which is kind of the minimum he wanted though."

Ford doesn't seem very happy and John decides not to press.

"Minimum, huh, if Dr. McKay says it's enough..." John struggles to his feet and accepts Ford's outstretched hand with a grimace. "...then I guess we're just going to have to trust him on this one and make do with what we've got."

"It wouldn't be the first time. Sir?"

John swallows down half the bottle of water. "Yes Lieutenant?"

"You think McKay's all right in the city? He is kind of alone over there."

John swallows, wondering. "Rodney's fine. He knows how to take care of himself."

"Yes sir!"

He finishes off the water and waits a moment longer for the ground to stop spinning, and really this spur of the moment dizziness is getting more than just a little annoying. When this mess is over, John's taking a vacation, preferably somewhere with sand and surfing.

He hauls his ass over to the jumper and gets on board with little effort, flopping in the pilot's seat and silently thanking the Ancients for their brilliant use of genes and thought control to make life a little bit easier. He makes some corrections to the flight plan and listens offhandedly to the sounds of crates being loaded on the jumper, Ford issuing orders, and...squeaking?

"Do I need to know what that sound is?" John phrases his question carefully. He nods to Teyla and Beckett when they take their seats.

"No sir you don't."

"Okay..."

"We're all aboard sir." Ford sits next to John and smiles when he closes the cargo bay doors.

John's head is aching and he's exhausted but despite all the physical shortcomings, his mind suddenly clicks into overdrive. The squeaking, the crates, the secrecy and Rodney telling him not to forget the LSD can only mean one thing.

"The bastard..." John murmurs under his breath, but of course, everyone hears him.

"Major?" Teyla prompts. "Are you all right?"

Well, no, not really, but John doesn't say that much out loud. Instead he turns to her and smiles stiffly. "McKay's a bastard."

"What's he done this time?" Beckett's voice holds concern. "And is he in any danger on Atlantis because of it?"

John shakes his head and winces, because it hurts quite a bit, and exhales. "This plan of his..."

"Sir," Ford's interruption is annoying but John's been in his place before and he knows that sometimes commanding officers need a little reminding and sometimes they need a great big shove. "If you've figured things out sir maybe you shouldn't tell us. That way we can't confirm or deny it and you still won't know anything."

It's obvious to John that the Lieutenant has thought the entire situation through logically and, really, that's a very good idea. It's a good thing that at least one of them is thinking clearly about this bizarre hoopla they affectionately refer to as "the plan' because the way John feels right now he'll be lucky not to immediately pass out at Kolya's feet and miss his upcoming beating entirely.

"I happen to agree with you..." John watches him breathe out in relief. "...up to a point."

"What do you mean Major?" Teyla's voice is soft, curious.

"Well, if I can figure the plan out this quickly, and I'm not saying that I've figured anything out in fact because you're not going to tell me even if I guess it right so I can't really verify what I'm thinking anyway, then how do we know the Genii won't get the joke we're playing and just laugh their asses off at us and stay in the city?"

Ford's eye twitches.

John's not really sure what he just said either so he frowns in apology and whispers. "I'm sorry. I need to sleep very badly."

"Yes of course." Teyla's smile is kind.

"So, we'll just make for Atlantis then..." John adds.

It's impossible not to look jumpy but somehow Ford manages it with aplomb. He nods in John's direction and stares resolutely ahead. "Good idea sir."

"Okay people. Let's go take our city back."

If Rodney really plans to use mice or other little Athosian animals to confuse the hell out of the Genii sensors then John hopes to god it works because it's a sure bet they're not going to get another shot at kicking Kolya's ass out of the city.

AaA

The puddle jumper de-cloaking and landing gracefully in the bay is a beautiful sight and one that Rodney swears he will never again take for granted.

He counts to five, takes a deep breath and creeps out of his hiding place in the air ducts twelve feet above the floor. It takes him three minutes to find his way down to the gene selective door leading to the downward landing and in his haste he tears his sleeve on the inner vent latch and curses when it cuts into his arm.

"Fuck you..."

Rodney opens the door with a slight touch in just the right spot and walks inside clutching his bleeding forearm.

He watches Ford step out of the rear jumper hatch and observe his surroundings with a knowing glare. He sees Rodney and gives him a tentative smile and wouldn't you know it, Rodney can't help but smile back. He waves and waits as one by one Teyla and Beckett emerge from the vessel followed lastly by Sheppard looking worn but thankfully still standing upright.

"Hiya Rodney." Sheppard's wave is barely there. He leans casually against the jumper wall and smiles but Rodney knows him better than that. The Major is hurting.

He wants to keep staring at Sheppard forever but time constraints prevail and well, there is that little issue about taking back their city.

"Why did you come out?"

"Did you want me to camp out in there?"

Rodney sighs, exasperated. "No, but the plan calls for..."

"Don't worry about it Rodney. I didn't peek at your mice."

Christ, only Sheppard. "Fine, did you remember to bring back the life signs detector?"

Ford tosses it to him and Rodney catches left-handed. "Sure did Doc. But what's so special about this one?"

"You mean the Major didn't explain that part of the plan to you?" He asks the question lightly and Sheppard smirks in response, rolls his hips to the left and crosses his arms in front of his chest in what must be a patented move.

Fuck, Rodney loves him so much.

"Well," Sheppard drawls. "If you need me to speak for you Rodney, sure..."

"Dr. McKay, it is wonderful to see you well." As usual it's Teyla who reins them in. "But are we not in a hurry?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Rodney agrees and busies himself greeting Beckett. The doctor looks a bit confused but willing. "Okay. Here's the deal..."

He quickly explains to them that two Genii guards are posted outside near the jumper bay entrance and will come in and shoot them if they don't all shut up.

"Not if we shoot them first." Is Ford's reply and Sheppard of course, seconds the notion and nods.

Rodney gives the stunner to Ford and he and Teyla go to take care of the guards.

One zap, then two, in the blink of an eye, the shooting is over.

The door to the bay opens and with Becket's help, Ford and Teyla drag the unconscious men inside, tie them swiftly together then gag and toss them into a supply closet in the rear of the jumper bay.

"Okay now the hard part starts..."

He doesn't have time to say anything meaningful to Sheppard and it irks Rodney to no end that if their insane plan goes to hell they may never see each other again.

"Listen..." Rodney starts, moving closer but not too close.

"Yeah..." Sheppard replies and gives his shoulder a manly squeeze. As far as romance goes, it sucks, but still, it's physical contact and Rodney doesn't realize until now how very much he missed it.

"Be careful..." Rodney stares at him hard. "Just stay alive, okay?"

Sheppard smiles wearily. "You...guys do the same."

"We'll try." He doesn't miss the fact that Sheppard addresses his last words to the lot of them while his hazel eyes never once break contact with Rodney. He hates being so fucking careful around his teammates. Shoulder squeezes aside they haven't been obvious in weeks.

Rodney watches Sheppard leave and wonders where he'll go, and how he'll let Kolya find him. Thankfully Ford interrupts his thoughts.

"Do you want to split up?"

"Good idea." He removes a slip of paper from his pocket and hands it to Teyla. "You take Beckett and cover these areas. Ford and I will take the rest. When you're finished meet up at the lab where Jinto was lost. We'll have to be careful and quick."

"Aye, we'll do that." Becket offers and Rodney wants to hug him.

Beckett isn't a military man, far from it, he's a doctor and although Rodney will never admit it out loud, he's an excellent one at that. He possesses the ancient gene, like Sheppard, but in a less concentrated amount or so he's been told. Who the hell knows how to measure these things anyway?

"Good. We have four boxes here so we each get to take one." He sniffs the air and shudders. "They don't smell very good do they?"

"No they don't." Ford agrees and takes the handle of one box.

"So you want us to sneak the wee buggers into all the nooks and crannies?"

Becket is also Scottish. And that's something Rodney will never understand.

He fixes the doctor with one of his best glares. "Yes exactly. Sneak them all into all the nooks and crannies." He looks at his teammates and notices for the first time that unlike Sheppard they look ready and raring to go. He hands one of the two altered life signs detectors to Beckett and pockets the other for himself. "In just under two hours, when the city sensors shoot back on line, Atlantis and the Genii are going to go crazy." He'd sell his soul for an ice-cold Molson right about now. Or even a LaBatts. "They'll start reading mice as life signs and of course, humans as life signs and we, of course..." he shakes the LSD in their faces, "...will not. I mean, we'll still see humans as humans but we won't read the mice. In short, Kolya and crew will be seeing things a little differently than we will."

"What does that mean?" Beckett again, this time more than a little bit worried.

"Once the sensors start working these two devices will interface and be the only ones that still function properly." Three blank faces meet him head on. "The sensors in the city and all the handheld devices will pinpoint all the Athosian mice to the Genii as life signs."

"And this is the plan?" Teyla seems unconvinced.

"Yes..." As usual Rodney finds himself waiting for the lesser minds to catch up. "Come on now...an invading army filtering in to retake the city?" He waits. "Think about it...an army of soldiers who are not Genii?"

"So you fiddled with the city's sensors." Ford knits his brow in a show of thinking.

"Yes, fiddled, that's the technical term." Rodney pauses. "And don't say it like it's a bad thing. We'll be the only ones reading the sensors correctly thus giving us the advantage. The Genii will see an invading army of at least eighty."

"Doctor..." Ford interrupts.

"Hmmm..."

"More like fifty-seven men...plus the four of us so I guess sixty-one..."

"Fifty-seven...?"

"Well, you said at least fifty..."

"I'm so thrilled to see you went the extra mile." Rodney's not really pissed, not by a long shot. At least he didn't have to trap and cage the things.

"That's a brilliant plan Rodney." Beckett's more relaxed and oh, isn't that lovely.

"It is most ingenious." Teyla adds with a smile and suddenly Rodney's feeling a hell of a lot better.

"Well...yeah, but you guys did all the dirty work." How strange it sounds for him to stutter ...Rodney usually accepts praise with a grain of salt. "Anyway, good work."

"Yeah, but..." As usual Ford isn't satisfied. "How do you know the sensors will start working in two hours and not before two hours or even after that time?"

"I know because I am a genius." Rodney can't keep the exasperation out of his voice. He needs this nightmare to be over. He needs to hold Sheppard right now. He needs to stop being questioned by idiots.

"Yeah, but how do you know?" The Lieutenant sure is persistent.

"I'm very good at fiddling with things, okay? Now can we stop wasting time?"

AaA

"Finally..."

John hears the Genii up ahead in the corridor and makes a point of walking right into them. It's amazing really, he's been stalking the halls of Atlantis for nearly twenty minutes, making sure he's in all the frequent walking zones, certainly not hiding, and doing his very best to be noisy and still this is the first opportunity he's had to be captured since the jumper returned.

The shocked looks on the soldier's faces are kind of hysterical and John has to bite back saying, 'Take me to your leader' because he thinks the blonde kid standing point with the great big gun might faint from the pressure.

He tries, "Hey guys, remember me?" and is immediately rewarded with a rifle butt slammed hard into his shoulder.

The air leaves his lungs in a vacuum rush and John collapses to his knees as his body explodes into a haze of mind-boggling agony. He can't breathe, or speak, and the pain tears leaking from behind his tightly closed eyelids are quite the embarrassment after all the worse shit he's endured from Kolya and the Genii.

"Did you see anyone else?" He can tell the blonde kid is nervous. His eyes dart down the hallway and back to John four times in succession and he looks over his shoulder a few times for good measure. US Marines these guys are not.

"I'm alone..." John manages to spit out through clenched teeth and the bigger soldier slugs him again, this time with a fast punch to the side of the head.

"Hey, Kolya wants him alive!"

Both Genii finally show some common sense by picking John up off the floor and hauling his sorry ass down the corridor. His head is spinning and he doesn't remember passing out but when they finally toss him into the damp cell he last slept in only yesterday evening John wakes up with a gasp, terrified that he doesn't remember getting there.

"Oh fuck..." He crawls on all fours and huddles in the corner. The pain in his head is at an all time high, and it hurts so fucking much John nearly starts to sob. He can't see straight, his thoughts are foggy and when he flops, boneless to the floor and curls his arms tight across his chest the bigger guard starts to kick him in brutally in the back.

"Not so tough now are you?"

John wants only to pass out and sleep and fade away for a week but the soldiers have other ideas and when they drag him back roughly to his feet the blonde kid holds him steady while the bigger guy has a bit of fun slapping him back and forth across the face until his head spins out of control and he seriously thinks he's going to vomit.

One slap, then another, and John tastes blood in his mouth when a final slap splits his bottom lip wide open. He shudders and tries to pull away, but there's no place in the small cell he can hide where they won't find him.

"Just be careful Jarling..." The blonde guard sputters but he doesn't release his hold.

"You bastard...you murdering piece of shit bastard!" Jarling stops hitting John when he gets a better idea and it's amazingly hard not to cringe at the leering smile forced onto his stone cold features. "On your knees dog..."

"What are you going to do to him?" If the blonde soldier was nervous before he's practically shitting his pants with worry now but John still doubts the younger man will stop Jarling from raping him.

"What the hell does it look like?" Jarling starts to unzip his pants. "I hear he's a great cocksucker."

John smirks. Some things never, ever change. "If you put that filthy thing anywhere near my mouth I'll bite it in half." His steady eyes dare the Genii soldier to give him a try while his mind begs silently for the asshole to just go away and jerk off somewhere private and leave him the hell alone. He smirks again adding, "I'm not kidding. Ask Kolya if you don't believe me."

"Don't mention the Commander's name. You killed his son. You killed my cousin."

"And you want what, revenge or, a quickie in the prison cell? I'm having trouble figuring that part out."

Jarling snarls and thumps John with a punch to the gut hard enough to make him gag, fall forward and swallow down bile. The taste in his mouth is pretty disgusting and god, he's just so far beyond exhausted but all things considered John's proud of the way he's keeping it together thus far. He hasn't begged or puked once since returning to the city though of course, almost doesn't count and heck, Kolya's not even here yet. In that respect the day is still young.

"You'll suck me whore." Jarling takes John's face in his hands and squeezes until his eyes water. "And you'll like it." He gestures to his buddy and smiles. "And when I'm done with you, Klemperer will take a shot. Before we hand you over to the Commander, we'll pass you around the barracks. How would you like that?"

John thinks about making a comment about how hard up all the Genii must be to use him for a fuck toy but Jarling would probably just miss the reference and screw him anyway. Instead he stands his ground and returns the smile with a false confidence he hopes doesn't sink him and says, "Kolya wants me brought to him immediately and instead you decide to throw yourselves a party? The Genii aren't very good at following orders, huh? I guess that's why you're systematically being decimated by the Wraith."

"Bastard!" Jarling sounds hysterical now, a loose canon in any sense of phrasing, and that's certainly not very comforting of John right about now. "You brought this scourge upon us!"

Yeah, well, there is that.

"The Wraith would have woken up eventually." He keeps his voice steady, tries to ignore the putrid stench of his attackers breath.

"But by that time maybe we would have found a way to fight them." Jarling is winding himself up on John's words and it's probably not an understatement to say he's going to be flat on his back within the hour.

"Sure, probably one the Ancestors didn't think about."

"You mock us." Jarling clutches John's arm tight enough to bruise and shakes him mercilessly. "You killed my cousin and many others and still you mock us."

"I didn't invite your cousin or any other Genii to invade Atlantis."

"He's right." Klemperer finally chimes in and John swallows. "We shouldn't have come here and we should get out now while we still can...before the Wraith come. They'll be drawn to this city!"

"Listen to your buddy. Without a shield we're all just one big dinner buffet to the Wraith." John fights to pull away and flee through the open cell door but Jarling only tightens his hold hard enough to break bones. Dammit...he only needs to escape from these asses, find Kolya and then of course get apprehended and beaten again, to put things finally back on track.

"You'd say anything to stop me from enjoying you." Jarling brags and rubs himself lewdly. "So I don't choke you with my cock."

Yeah, you got that right, John thinks, but it's such a no-brainer he can't think of a response to say out loud. Instead he glares, and then groans when the soldier forces him down further until his forehead touches the cold, dirty floor Athosian style.

Jarling grabs a handful of John's hair, pulls him up and tugs his face forward against his tented crotch. John twists his head from side to side frantic to break the bastard's hold on him but it's no use. With his hands cuffed behind his back he's vulnerable.

"Hold him," Jarling addresses Klemperer now, and John notices the smaller man wince at the order.

"Don't," John tries one last time to reason, maybe even to beg the fuckers to leave his virtue intact but the compulsion to obey orders is too strong and Klemperer grabs his arms from behind and holds him steady while Jarling finishes unzipping. He closes his eyes, sighs, and waits.

"I think you'll enjoy me even more than sucking off the Commander."

A short gasp from behind tells John all he needs to know. Klemperer pushes him forward and then scampers away and when John opens his eyes mid-fall he sees Kolya standing there in full Genii regalia. And boy oh boy does he ever look pissed.

"Commander Kolya..." Jarling is sputtering like a dickhead and fuck if that's not a very good look on the bastard. "I wasn't going to...I mean he's fine..."

"I gave orders to bring Sheppard or McKay directly to me if you found them in the city." His eyes narrow and only an idiot wouldn't be terrified right about now. He turns to John and smiles. "We found the puddle jumper Major."

"I guess I forgot to cloak it."

"Indeed. Dr. Kavanagh told us you'd come back for McKay and I didn't believe him. Only a fool would make such a sacrifice."

"I've been called worse." John struggles to kneel. "Anyway, it sure took you long enough to find me."

"The city is a big place."

"Yeah...she sure is." John drawls and takes a few steady breaths. Kolya moves closer, then far away, then close again, leaving him at once confused then oddly comforted. It doesn't steady him at all to realize that the Genii Commander is a master at the game of torture, if anything it scares him to death. It's not enough for John to show a brave face to this monster, not when Kolya can crawl inside and tear him apart.

"Where is McKay?"

"Damned if I know."

Kolya backhands him and John goes down again tasting blood in his mouth. Kolya addresses his men. "If I didn't need the two of you I'd have you both shot for disobeying orders." He drags John back to his knees and compresses his throat gently. "And if you don't decide to come clean with some answers I may decide to use you as entertainment for my men after all." He releases his hold and caresses the blood from John's lip with his thumbnail.

John shudders through the intimacy. Christ, it's just too much to suffer at his enemy's hands. He thinks of Rodney and pushes the image away.

Not now...not now...not now...

"And Jarling will be the first to get a crack at you." Kolya returns to squeezing his throat, harder this time, and with a definite purpose in mind. "And when we find McKay, and make no mistake Major, we will find him, and he'll receive the very same punishment."

John wheezes when the Commander tightens his grip. He manages to utter, "Fuck you..." just before passing out in Kolya's arms.

AaA

Rodney moves through Atlantis with an accomplished ease careful to keep out of the Genii spotlight. He slips through one door, then another with Ford by his side weapon at the ready, emptying his charges into every spare corner of the city he can sneak into safely. Somewhere, in other areas of Atlantis that are still above water, Carson and Teyla are doing the same. The only one missing is John.

Rodney swallows hard and forces himself to concentrate. He opens the last of the small cages and watches a dozen mice scamper away. Worry makes his head spin and reminding himself that John chose to be the scapegoat in this big mess doesn't make him feel any better.

"All done Dr. McKay," Ford frowns at the cages. "Are you sure this plan will work?"

Ford is still young enough to get pimples so Rodney takes a deep breath before biting his head off. Their plan is half-assed at best, and his mood is no where even close to as brilliant as he'd like it to be so having his doubts magnified back at him ten-fold just pisses the hell out of Rodney. He needs to blow off some steam, so dammit here goes.

"I recognize you think I should know everything Lieutenant and while that is oh so true in most cases and I might add... in every galaxy...somehow I let the Genii invasion just slip right by me. If only I'd realized sooner that these witless idiots were military and scientific geniuses bent on world domination we wouldn't be in this mess." Rodney hates the bitter sound of his laughter, the cold unfamiliar tone of his voice. With some effort he stops his hands from flying around. "I guess their shit laced attempt to build leaky atomic bombs and nearly kill off a third of their population fucking fooled me from the get go!"

Ford is staring at him and why the hell not? He's tired and frightened and worried sick that the man he loves is lying dead somewhere with Kolya's knife in his back. He rubs his eyes wearily and checks the life signs detector. It's perfect. When his thoughts drift back to Sheppard he bites his lip hard enough to draw blood.

"I'm worried about the Major too." Ford pauses, darts a look around before continuing. "And I'm worried about you and Teyla and Beckett and everyone else who lives here." He grabs Rodney's arm and twists the fabric of his uniform. "But we have to stay calm, okay? We'll get him back. Major Sheppard trusts you...and so do I McKay"

So, not quite a baby then...

Rodney reevaluates his opinion of Ford. Pegasus forces them all to grow up in ways impossible to foresee or imagine and to experience amazing and terrifying events every day. Life sucking aliens, energy creatures, Genii and Athosians...screw the mundane! Rodney loves Atlantis nearly as much as he loves John and he wants the Genii out of his city right the damn fuck now.

"So, what do you think?"

"Yes." Rodney allows before walking back towards the transporter. He checks the LSD once more and when he turns to Ford this time his smile is genuine. "The plan is going to work just fine."

AaA

"Don't force me to hurt you any more than is necessary Major."

John wakes up choking on his own blood. He stares into Kolya's sleep deprived angry eyes and thinks... So this is what it all comes down to...

A Genii guard pokes his left side with the butt of his rifle for the third time in ten minutes and though it really pisses him off, John can't quite muster up the strength to glare. He's so damn exhausted, so bone tired and sick to his stomach, that he has to settle for looking bored instead but probably comes off as pathetic because the guard snickers and whacks him again, and presto, his entire head explodes.

Moving hurts just a shade more than breathing but at least it's not a necessity. John's pretty certain he's been sitting tied to the same chair for nearly two hours since he came back to Atlantis in the jumper. His back aches from the uncomfortable position and his feet are slightly numb.

John doesn't want to say anything damaging to the plan, and Christ, he really needs to see Rodney again, and he wants his city back the way she was before the Genii took over. He decides to do his best to fake Kolya out and make him think that John knows more than he actually does so he can remain alive and fighting as long as possible.

It's kind of difficult though...the beating is rougher than usual, with two cracked ribs in the first hour proof that Kolya is finished playing games. A wave of intense nausea clouds his vision and John's nerves start to crumble. If he pukes on Kolya's boots he'll probably have to clean them with his tongue. He winces at the thought and tries to clear his mind. God, it's not working. His body hurts too damn much.

The Genii soldier grabs his shoulders and John is tilted back with his feet dangling off the floor and he glares up into the light on the ceiling until his corneas burn. In the span of a heartbeat he's been in this room before, in Afghanistan, a lifetime ago. He swallows down the bile of memory and shouts "Fuck!" loudly at the top of his lungs to dispel the last of the images flashing through his mind. With all the hell he's going through with the Genii the last thing John needs right now is to confuse his torture sessions. He spits out, "fuck" again, quieter this time and paces his breathing. When his eyes meet Kolya's again he realizes that finally he's done something right. The Genii leader's face says he's looking at a madman, but then again...

"You're not fooling me Major..."

It's obvious from the start that his captors have no sense of humor. They don't like John's lame jokes or attempts at sarcasm any more than Rodney does but with at least with Rodney John doesn't have to worry about being tossed to the floor and kicked in the head.

John breathes, "Sure," as Kolya moves closer.

He leans into John's space and god its shameful how quickly his body tenses up, frozen, waiting for the next slap, rifle butt, kick or innuendo.

Despite all his preparation, the punch to his stomach is still unexpected and he rides out the pain until it's bearable, ignoring the terrifying prophetic feeling that his insides are being ripped apart. John is pretty damn sure that something inside his belly is twisted beyond all repair and, darn it, Carson's probably going to kill him if Kolya's thugs don't get the job done first.

"Sheppard..." Kolya's dark smirk promises a shit load of fun. "You really don't want to upset me."

>i>Damn straight.

If this monster is Kolya on a good day then John doesn't want to see him when he's irked. He bites his lip and checks out the room. Other than the guard who keeps hitting him there's one more with a gun at the door and of course the Genii Commander himself.

He manages to say, "Wouldn't want to do that..." before Kolya strikes his face so hard that John hears his cheekbone crack.

"Uhhhh..." He gasps and shudders pulling himself back from unconsciousness just in the knick of time. It hurts...it hurts so freaking much that John isn't sure he can stay awake for a great deal longer. More than anything he wants to close his eyes and succumb to the inviting blackness beckoning just behind his eyelids and sleep for just a little while.

Right, that's a good one John.

Getting knocked out cold isn't going to do anyone any good and Kolya would probably dump cold water on his head anyway. He swallows hard and continues to breathe slowly. It's rough but John knows he has to keep Kolya occupied, keep him thinking that John has the information the Commander needs to retake the broken city from Rodney. He wonders if Kolya even knows he's lost it yet.

"What is McKay doing?"

"I don't know..." John answers this question for the third time and once again, Kolya is irked by his response. "I can't tell you what I don't know."

And that's the truth, kinda.

"I remember the first time I met the good doctor." Kolya reaches behind his back and returns with a jagged knife. John knows exactly on whose arm he's seen those knife tracks before.

"Yeah, that was memorable for Rodney too."

Kolya gestures to one of his men. "You're a soldier Sheppard...maybe you've been tortured before...driven to your breaking point...or perhaps beyond it?" He squeezes John's face until his eyes start to water, rattling the broken bones of his cheek while John tries desperately not to scream. The cold smile is redirected at John. "Today we see what you're made of."

Since Kolya's being deliberately cruel McKay must really be pissing him off big time. John eyes knife with worry and takes moment to calm down, to stop his body from vibrating in fear.

But when Kolya slices into the thin fabric of his shirt all bets are off and with a bitching certainty John knows his day is about to get much worse.

AaA

Rodney can tell when the sensors go back online by a) looking at his watch and b) by hearing the muffled voices raised in confused alarm all across the city. It's a beautiful moment and he smiles for the first time in days when two Genii soldiers scuttle past his hiding place shouting out terrified cries of invasion.

He looks at his LSD and sees exactly what he should. Approximately sixty-five scattered Genii life signs plus five for the stowaway Atlanteans in the city and of course, Sheppard. Right now the Genii are looking at similar detectors and control room panels and seeing that amount nearly doubled and wondering how many people actually fit in one of those goddamned clown mobiles anyway.

Sheppard would smack him for insulting his beloved jumper but it's a perfectly viable analogy and he's not here so...fuck...his stomach twists in dismay at the thought of his friend. Rodney has a vague idea where Kolya's keeping him. The Genii are creatures of habit so the Major's probably back in the stinky old cell deep below the city.

Or just maybe...he snaps his fingers then winces at the echo. The Gateroom shows nine life signs and fuck, that's seven life signs too many. Rodney monitors the various areas of the city every day with his working LSD and he hasn't seen more than two blips representing the two soldiers Kolya posts twenty-four hours a day at the Stargate since the week after the takeover started.

Of course there's a distinct possibility that with the sensors showing a great big military surprise the Genii Commander increased the number to nine but then again he'd probably need to start sending those soldiers elsewhere in the city. He sighs and decides to give it a look see although he's not exactly sure what he hopes to find. If John is in there and being tortured by that bastard Kolya, Rodney knows he'll go ballistic and quite possibly do something very stupid but heartbreakingly brave all in the name of love.

He checks his watch again and frowns, considers, does some calculations in his head.

Oh you did not you fucking bastard...you did not...

Between one breath and the next he realizes that it's definitely too soon for the sensors to click on and therefore Kavanagh, the little crapper, fell into the backdoor trap and has most likely taken credit for the sensors working as soon as possible instead of just sitting back and stalling the Genii and doing absolutely nothing at all.

While Rodney never actually trusts Kavanagh to turn to the good side, it still pisses him off to be betrayed by the weasel yet again. And this time Kavanagh promised to be good! Well, maybe the piece of shit excuse for a scientist and colleague didn't actually promise but the intent was still there behind his owl rimmed frames and beady eyes.

Plus Rodney remembers telling Kavanagh that keeping the sensors offline as long as possible will help Sheppard sneak back into the city.

Damn, damn, damn, and double damn.

What angers him most is not Kavanagh's once again blatant disregard for all things good and righteous but the fact that the scientist doesn't give a hoot that his duplicity might very well hurt Sheppard. And in Rodney's book that's an unforgivable crime.

With one last check of the LSD he checks his weapon and plots his course to the Gateroom.

AaA

John's not angry with Ladon Radim for interrupting his beating although the intrusion makes Kolya about as livid as a rattler with a stepped on tail. The Commander scowls at the scientist and practically hisses out his response of, "What now?"

The look of startled horror in Ladon's expression is definitely worth the price of admission and informs John in no uncertain terms that Rodney's plan has finally kicked into overdrive.

The guards clasp their rifles in both hands and stare back and forth in every direction. Kolya moved John from the cell to the Gateroom nearly thirty minutes ago to allow all the Genii to participate in his punishment and maybe, just maybe, use the spectacle to draw out McKay.

"We're being invaded."

Kolya turns toward John but his words are addressed to Ladon. "That's impossible."

John schools his face to calm watches Kolya start to unravel, and waits.

"Nevertheless it's true." Ladon is perspiring and oh isn't that just beautiful.

"And you're telling me this now?" Kolya grinds his teeth and clenches his fists until his knuckles turn white.

The Genii Commander is imposing like this and John shudders despite himself. It's only a matter of time before all that restrained fury is turned in his direction and John's not sure if he can survive the onslaught this time.

"The control room sensors just came up! We're reading life signs all over the city."

"Perhaps it's a mistake..."

Ladon swallows hard but doesn't blink. "It's no mistake sir. Dr. Kavanagh brought the sensors up himself minutes ago."

Kolya spins on John and shoves him to the floor with one angry push. He's breathing hard and salivating just a little, and behind his eyes next to the burning hatred, John notices distress where there was no worry before. "You did this!"

"He didn't do anything!" Ladon is shouting now, bordering on hysterical and for a moment John's confused. Of course he did something...he and Rodney did one hell of a lot.

"Sheppard brought people back with him." Kolya's words are quiet, dangerous.

"No, well, maybe, but he returned with only one ship. He could never fit as many people as the sensors are indicating and we’re pretty sure that doesn’t even cover the lower regions. We're showing over sixty..." Ladon pauses for a second and when he starts speaking again, his voice is shaky. If John didn't know better he'd swear Ladon was flat out terrified. "Our people have seen things...shadows in the hallways, they've heard strange sounds...I don't think these are Atlanteans. Commander I think they're Wraith."

What the fuck? Wraith...sweet mother of god John sure as hell hopes not or they're all in a mess of trouble. He frowns for a moment, fights through the haze of pain and then presto; the final piece of Rodney's plan comes together.

"Shit..." John murmurs softly and he honestly means it. Because shit, Rodney is a genius and said genius belongs to John and his heart zings just a little at the thought. He wonders if Rodney is watching him somewhere in the shadows, waiting to see if Kolya takes the bait.

"Tell me what you know about this!"

Kolya's roar disrupts his thoughts. He crashes onto John and shoves his knee painfully into his stomach. "I swear to you Sheppard I will not release this city!"

Ladon interrupts again, "We don't have a choice ...they are everywhere and moving quickly. Sensors can’t keep up."

John gives the scientist points for expended effort but all his heartfelt words are falling on the deaf ears of Kolya's unrestrained zeal. Despite the danger, the motherfucker doesn't want to leave.

"And we're only realizing this now?"

John groans when Kolya's knee pushes harder, tunneling into him, battering him with such force that the agony is momentarily blinding. "God..." He whimpers, nearly begs, and fuck the pain of having his body squashed beneath Kolya's heavier bulk is more excruciating than John could have ever imagined.

"Don't...fuck..."

Since he doesn't expect Kolya to listen anyway John isn't disappointed when the Commander's heavy leg twists into his belly button then presses hard against his pelvis. John's helpless and alarmed and completely unable to do more than tremble and gag under the overpowering force.

Please, please, stop, god, please stop hurting me now...

The Commander snarls and pulls him forward until he can smell the scent of decay on his enemy's breath. For a second he thinks Kolya's going to kiss him and his stomach flip-flops a disgusted response but then he feels himself being lifted and flung clear across the room until he crumbles atop the steps leading away from the gate with a distinct thud.

His chin hits the corner of the middle platform and slams his teeth hard. John opens his eyes and tries to crawl downward so his body is even instead of lying scattered along the stairway levels.

"They could have been here for weeks. We've no way of knowing." Ladon shudders so hard his knees start to wobble. John wouldn't be surprised if he pissed himself.

"We have to get out of here now!"

Kolya practically runs to where John is lying on the dais and hauls him up by the rim of his t-shirt. "You think you've won here Major."

John clutches his arms tight to his chest and manages to spit out between gasps and gurgles. "If we have Wraith in the city then none of us have won."

AaA

Rodney treks to the Gateroom without any interference, which makes him mildly suspicious because his luck hasn't exactly been something to write home about lately. Still, he is the foremost expert on the city and he knows her schematics like the back of his hand. He thinks his decision to take a backwards loop toward his destination is probably a good one so maybe, just maybe the easy pathway without Genii intervention is a sign of good things to come.

"Okay, almost there," he mutters under his breath to have someone to talk to and because he's nervous as hell that he might have expended a lot of time trying to find Sheppard only to get to the Gateroom and realize he's somewhere else entirely out of reach.

He takes another peak at the life signs detector and frowns. There's someone nearby and they're closing in fast...

"McKay!"

Rodney spins around in a complete circle trying to find the source of the exclamation and in the process drops the LSD with an amazingly loud clatter. "Shit! Kavanagh...what the hell are you doing here?"

"I'm hiding from the Wraith just like you." The scientist is huddled in a corner near an empty science lab. "They're everywhere!"

Rodney's confused. On the one hand Kavanagh is a coward and he's definitely hiding from something. On the other hand...Wraith? "What are you talking about?"

"You have a life signs detector...look for yourself!" Kavanagh's eyes are bugging out of his head and his wild hair is in disarray, both sure signs that he's terrified.

Rodney gasps when Kavanagh reaches for the dropped monitor. "Wait!" Of course it's too late and the bastard picks up the monitor with a flourish. Fuck you Kavanagh he thinks, fuck, fuck, fuck, you. "Give me that."

Kavanagh stares at the LSD in shock, then confusion, and then finally when his brain starts working again, anger. "You're a bastard."

"Don't jump to conclusions." Rodney warns but the time for discussion is obviously long past.

Kavanagh's face is contorted, his brow knit, and he's sweating and huffing in and out in short uneven breaths. For the first time since he's met the man, Rodney thinks he just might be dangerous.

"You played me."

"Of course I did and you proved yourself to be an even worse human being than the first time around."

"You made an idiot of me."

"Now that part was actually quite easy." Rodney doesn't do cautious very well and although it's probably a huge mistake to push all of Kavanagh's aggression buttons he can't help himself. Not when the moron so completely deserves it.

"I'm going to tell Kolya what you did and when I do he'll kill you and Sheppard. And I wish he kills the Major first so you can watch your lover scream and die!"

He's shouting now and it's a little disconcerting when a trail of drool starts to slowly wind its way down Kavanagh's chin. Christ, Rodney thinks, he's rabid.

"And he'll die slow McKay..."

Rodney shudders hard and it's painfully obvious that Kavanagh intends to make good on his threat. The wacky thing is he knows that Kolya won't kill him, not while Atlantis is near to collapse. But the Commander will kill Sheppard or torture and rape and maim him enough that the Major will wish himself dead. And that definitely isn't part of the plan.

Kavanagh advances quickly, and Rodney doesn't think, just draws his gun and waits. "I can't let you do that."

"For Christ's sake..." Kavanagh waves the LSD in Rodney's face just out of reach. "What the hell are you going to do about it McKay?"

"I'll use this. To save Sheppard and this city I'll shoot you."

"I hope to god Sheppard's already dead!" Kavanagh screams but doesn't show any signs of handing over the small device tightly held in the palm of his hand. When Rodney finally retrieves the damn thing it'll probably be all damp and sweaty.

"Kavanagh, please...I'll do it."

And in the blink of an eye Rodney knows he's not lying. He's never killed another human being before and he certainly doesn't want to start now, but if Kavanagh gets to Kolya, gets to any of the Genii with the truth about the sensors then Sheppard is dead and the whole plan is bust and oh my god Wraith in the city, it's worked out even better than Rodney even dreamed.

"You wouldn't..." Kavanagh starts but something in Rodney's expression must warn the other scientist off because he stops grinning like a madman and instead stutters nervously.

"McKay..."

"Look, just let me knock you out and tie you up until this nonsense is over. I can't let you tell anyone the truth."

"How did you do it?" Kavanagh asks finally.

"What? I'm a genius...it was easy...one of many possible plans I could have used." Rodney's hands are shaking and he prays the other scientist doesn't notice. Its one thing drawing a weapon on a Wraith but although it's arguable at times, Kavanagh is not an alien.

"Fuck you McKay..."

"Think about it...Kolya won't believe you anyway...you turned the sensors on Kavanagh...you told the Genii there were invaders here. Kolya will shoot you just for interrupting his day. Please listen to what I'm saying." Rodney frowns. "He'll kill you I swear it. Me? As unbelievable as it sounds, I don't want to shoot you at all."

"I'll take my chances with the Commander."

Rodney sprints fast, but of course Kavanagh is faster. In a move straight out of Clown College the lanky scientist attempts to grab the gun and hold on to the LSD at the same time. It's a stupid act doomed to failure from the start. Rodney may not be a crack shot like Sheppard, but he's learned a lot from the Major on the firing range and in self defense classes and fuck, everyone is depending on him to see this thing through to the end. He can't mess up everything now.

Fine...no pressure...

"Don't..." Rodney grabs Kavanagh's wrist and twists it until the LSD clatters to the floor. He sticks the barrel of the gun in Kavanagh's face and says, "Walk away from the LSD slowly..."

Just when Rodney thinks he has things under control, two things happen in quick succession that surprise him and shatter his confidence. Kavanagh howls at him like a wolf and then suddenly plows into him headfirst knocking Rodney down onto his ass in the corridor.

"Shit!"

Kavanagh scoops up the monitor and takes off running. In desperation Rodney does the only thing he can think of...he grabs Kavanagh's ankle and hangs on tight while the scientist kicks him in the face with the other foot and tries to shake him off.

"Let go of me McKay."

"Not on your life!" Rodney's panting now, and he tastes blood in his mouth courtesy of three powerful kicks from Kavanagh's mandatory lab work boots.

He spins Rodney in a complete circle knocking him back and forth and it's irritating to imagine how stupid they must look, two grown men flopping around like a couple of seals. When Kavanagh kicks him in the face with the heel of his shoe Rodney screams and digs in tighter. Somehow he doesn't drop his gun.

"You are persistent. Give it up...your plan failed but you're too much of an arrogant bastard to realize it." Kavanagh sneers and breaks free with one final kick to his throat. "Congratulations McKay...you've just forfeited Sheppard's life. I'll try and make a case to keep you breathing, say you were blinded by love, but I'm not sure Kolya will be in a forgiving mood."

And isn't it just like the fucker to gloat when Rodney's the one holding the weapon? He reaches toward his belt and raises the weapon slowly. Kavanagh's shocked expression is its own form of justice. Rodney cringes at the scientist's advance. "Please don't make me..."

But of course Kavanagh is a dumbass.

He reaches for the gun and Rodney closes his eyes and fires twice in succession, somehow missing his target both times but managing instead to hit a dangling piece of scaffolding hanging low in the corridor. The bullet ricochets off the metal and zings around the room before finding purchase in Rodney's shoulder.

"No..."

Oh god, it hurts really fucking badly, fire, then ice, then flame. He watches the red splotch start to form on his chest and only has a second to wonder if he's dying before like magic, the dangling piece of metal dislodges from above and slams straight onto Kavanagh's retreating head.

TBC

CONCLUSION!

=end=