CFMWH #9
Title: Can't Find My Way Home
Rating: PG-13 for now
By: Jendavis
Spoilers: SGA: The Last Man, FF: Serenity
Pairing: Eventual Jayne Cobb/ Ronon Dex
Genre: Crossover
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue, don't take this too seriously.
Summary: Timelines diverge by converging.
Previous: 1. Man of Steel 2. Keys to the World 3. Lost 4. Gone Away 5. House is Not a Home 6. Still Standing 7. I Never Told You What I Do For A Living 8. Scary Eyes
9. Before The Worst
Todd hadn't been gone through the gate a minute when Jayne broke the silence.
"She your family or your woman?" At Ronon's glare, he backpedaled, raising his hands defensively. "What? Most men ain't lookin' to make deals with devils 'less…"
"A friend. Been searching for her a while now."
"It seems awful convenient, her bein' right where he needs you."
He wished Jayne would shut up, knowing he'd have to argue his case enough when he got back to the camp, and dialed the gate. "Like I said. I trust him to cross me. Just not sure how he's gonna do it, but…"
"You're gonna cross him first," Jayne finished, watching the wormhole splashing to life and mulling it over. "Don't like it. You're not careful, you'll wind up blowin' your exit."
Ronon watched him step through the gate, biting the inside of his cheek. He's right, and you know it.
"Don't worry about the ship." River stopped at the event horizon, trailing her fingers in and out of existence distractedly. "The wraith won't kill you until you're on the ground again," she said, and stepped through.
Ronon had to wait until the gate was behind him to ask, "You were able to read him?"
Jayne's eyes were on the guards, but it was River, and what she'd say, what she might do, that he worried about. River read his expression and nodded to Ronon.
Once they'd passed beyond earshot, she explained.
"It's hard. I only get the shadows, not the lines. But he does picture your death in vivid detail. Killing you will be a proud moment for him, and he will savor it. Once he's fed on you, he plans on throwing your corpse down, watching it break on the rocks as your strength flows through him, and- what?"
She scowled at Jayne, rubbing a hand over her arm where he'd swatted her. Her eyes, though, returning to Ronon, were a little more controlled. "Sometime you will have to tell us why the wraith tell stories about you."
Ronon smirked, but ignored her curiosity. "He probably figures I'm going to hold onto the information for safe passage. He's not wrong. Just need to plan for it."
"So we are going to do this," Jayne confirmed, and raised a hand, waving Lorne and McKay over before Ronon had the chance.
Only been here a day, and he's right at home. The thought was as comforting as it was surprising. Like he'd made the right call. But it didn't change anything.
"I am," he said, making an abortive grab at Jayne's arm, bringing him up short. "This isn't your fight."
Jayne leaned towards River to whisper, "Gorram noble streak's makin' me wonder if he's got it in him to lay out a respectable deception." His grin slashed jaggedly up at Ronon, knowing he'd been heard.
For an instant, Ronon worried that River was reading him. She looked too amused not to be when she spoke. "I would think he's smart enough to avail himself of our not-inconsiderable expertise in that particular arena."
McKay, when they met at the edge of the camp, began haltingly to speak. "Ronon, I. Didn't know that you were going off to meet with Todd. I would have. You know. Come along."
Ronon snorted. This, he understood. "No worries. Wasn't a science thing. Next part is, though, if you're still offering…"
---
Jayne listened silently as Ronon described the situation to the others. Whether or not they needed Lorne's permission was unclear, but askin' outright about it would've been a problem. Besides, no one was askin' his opinion, and if he was measurin' it right, Ronon wouldn't take too kindly to anyone complicatin' the issue.
River, likewise, was silent, but had that air to her that either meant she was peekin' inside their heads, or communicatin' with grass fairies or some such. Something was amusing her, but for now, she was keepin' it to herself.
Lorne and McKay did seem to hang a little more heavily on Ronon's words when he mentioned Teyla, and from there, it went smooth. Lorne gave the go-ahead, and McKay was all eager consent, like he was makin' up for something, before he dragged Lorne off towards the lab tent.
All that seemed a big to-do over nothing, and he was about to say so. But then he got a good look at Ronon. Saw the mostly-hidden surprise and relief on his face as he watched the others walk away.
He wasn't expectin' them to go along with it. Didn't think they'd back him up.
The irritation sat under his skin, set to itchin' a little, and Jayne held his tongue.
Ain't your place to be worryin' 'bout him and his. He can look after himself just fine.
---
"I hear you're lookin' to spar," Jayne said, walking up the path and looking at Ronon's half-completed fishing weir. He'd been working on it for an hour, but it hadn't quieted his mind as much as he'd hoped.
"River tell you that?" Ronon grimaced at unwelcome tone he heard in his voice. It's not like you can't use the distraction.
Jayne didn't notice, though, or if he did, he was ignoring it. "Yeah, right before she ran off to make friendly with the other geeks. Last I saw, they were arguin' about time travel and such. She seems to be havin' a grand ol' time."
"But you're bored."
"Always get this way, 'fore a job, when there ain't work to be done. So what d'you say? You up for it?"
Ronon regarded his pile of sticks and reeds with an appraising eye. It could wait.
"I should tell you," he said, brushing the dust and slivers from his clothes as he remembered what he'd heard in the mess. "Cadman, Lorne's second in command, already has a book going." He grinned. "It's favorin' me."
"Glad to see you ain't let your victory over River go to your head none." Jayne grinned, cocking his head to the side and giving him the once over, before following him towards the area cordoned off for training exercises. "Only means the take will be better for folk when I kick your ass."
His voice was close, when he said it, teasing. Assuming a familiarity that Ronon hadn't expected.
He's trying to psyche you out, Ronon decided, pulling his arm across his chest to stretch the muscle. Feeling it give, comfortably. That's all it is.
---
It started out slow, both of them easing into it as they took each other's measure, neither side wanting to overtax themselves too early.
Jayne was only trying to get to him, not get into his head. He was laughing at too many odd intervals for that. Even as they increased their pace, compared to sparring with River, it was relaxing.
It didn't hurt that Jayne was barely getting a punch in.
But when he did manage it, Ronon noticed. Jayne wasn't particularly quick, but he knew how to put power into a hit, and how to roll out from under one.
It wasn't until Ronon got a little too comfortable, a little too cocky, maybe, that he got a little too close.
Jayne was on him in an instant, and Ronon realized, face scraping across the dirt as he tried twisting out of Jayne's hold, that he should have seen it coming. A guy as big as Jayne wasn't likely to be the fast hitting sort.
Ronon really hated sparring grapplers. In a real fight, Jayne would be too close to see the knife sliding into his lower ribs. Easy win. But in a sparring match, all Ronon really could do was try to break out of a succession of holds, each one more annoying than the last, each one bringing him that much closer to forgetting himself.
Eventually, he was lying on his back, with Jayne using most of his weight to pin his wrists to the ground, and a shin pressed against his knees. His smirk was all Ronon could see of the world, too close to let the rest in.
Ronon snorted, but he gave.
Jayne eased up off of him, then hauled him to his feet, much to the cheers of…the entire science division. River's been talking, Ronon realized, belatedly, when he spotted her in the crowd, taking what looked to be her part of the cut.
Zelenka waylaid them on their way back to the tent, asking Jayne when he planned on challenging River, obviously eager at the prospect.
"Already know damn well she'll whip me," Jayne replied amiably. "There's only so abuse a man can take in front of an audience."
"Well, then." Zelenka shrugged, not seeming overly put out. "At least the three of you can keep one another in check." He glanced around Ronon's shoulder with a sudden smirk.
"Yeah, you all got a regular ass-kicking circle jerk going on," a soldier grumbled as he halted, shoving some crumpled bills into Zelenka's outstretched hand.
---
The camp's mood the next morning wasn't nearly as jovial as it had been during the sparring match, and it wasn't just the useless riches changin' hands that was different.
"So, what's the plan?" McKay was asking, for the tenth time, as he picked nervously at his breakfast.
Jayne rolled his eyes, caught Ronon doing likewise across the table. Figured it was his turn to answer.
"Ain't got one. Get over it." Jayne kept his voice down, though, when he said it. Truth be told, he didn't like the waitin' any more than McKay did.
There wasn't much else to say, after that, so when he finished eating, he escaped back to the tent as quickly as he could. Wanted to get some distance between himself and the tension that was settlin' down over the camp. Word had spread, and so had the worry.
River was already checking their packs like she knew what they'd need, and hell. She probably did. But whatever she knew, she weren't sharin'.
He was mighty relieved when it came time to head out to the gate. Didn't matter how it all played out. At least it would be done soon.
---
They stepped through the gate onto a dry world fightin' to keep green, but didn't have long to wait before Todd's dart came through. After the long morning, the dart's arrival was almost a relief.
Having landed, Todd made his way through the seared grass towards them with precise efficiency. He drew up short, not quite closing the circle they'd formed. There wasn't much by way of niceties to be exchanged, and he it as well as they did. He got right to it.
"During the attack, Michael's ship sustained heavy damage, caused by drones launched from Atlantis. In order to make the repairs without taxing the systems, it was necessary to maintain a low orbit above this world."
"Great," McKay rolled his eyes. "So we're going to have to let you cull us, first. This just gets better and better."
Ronon scanned their faces, and finally began to let them in on the details of his plan. "Once we're on the hive, McKay, you and River find the lab, grab the research." The two of them nodded, not at all surprised to be given the assignment. "Jayne, you plant the charges around the ship. Target the weak spots, especially the hyperdrive generator."
"Don't even know what that looks like," Jayne protested.
"Todd will help you out with that." Jayne snorted, but accepted the C4 gingerly, and Ronon turned to Todd, handing him the detonator. "You're in charge of setting it off once we're all back on the ground."
McKay managed to voice his dissent before Jayne did, but it was a close thing. "You're giving him the detonator?"
"He blows the ship before we're clear," Ronon sneered at Todd, "then he won't get what he wants."
Todd grinned, pocketing the small device, apparently more than happy with his part in the proceedings. His voice was imperious when he spoke. "And while we are carrying out these tasks, what will you be doing?"
"I'm going after Teyla."
Quan gao bu yi. If that ain't the most idiotic lack-of-a-plan I've heard today... "Goin' solo?"
Ronon fixed him with a stare that brooked no argument. "I can move faster on my own, and if she's in rough shape, I don't need anyone else slowing me down before she gets the chance." It wasn't until he stepped back that Jayne noticed how close he'd been standing. But Ronon was talking to everyone again, now. "We stay in contact, and meet up where we come in. Any questions?"
"One last thing," McKay said, handing his computer to Jayne. "Insurance. A password. I've entered a portion, and want each of you build on it." McKay glared at Todd as Jayne began to peck out his code. "You're going to need all of us alive if you want the information. Is that clear?"
"Yes," Todd replied, finally showing some irritation. It was short lived, though, and he recovered with a disturbing chuckle. "Now. You all wait here, and I will retrieve our transport."
Jayne handed the computer to River and watched him leave. Moments later, Ronon was passing the computer back to Rodney, and the dart was gliding towards them.
---
Ronon picked off two wraith before they made his position, but the third got a shot off before going down.
Before breaking cover, Ronon stilled, listening for the sound of heavy footsteps. Taking the moment to make sure his breathing was under control, he considered, not for the first time, the wisdom behind wasting resources developing better soldiers, but never training them to walk quietly.
It was one of those thoughts he tried not to linger on, if he could help it. He'd only mentioned it, once, to John Sheppard. Atlantis had been at their backs, beer had been in their hands, and no one had been around to overhear.
It wasn't superstition. He just didn't want to release something out into the universe that could return to hold a gun to his head.
---
Jayne followed Todd at a close distance, getting the next charge ready to go, and tryin' to figure how to get the detonator out of Todd's hands. Just in case he had the need to, or the chance.
Wasn't that he didn't understand the logic behind the plan. He just didn't like the plan.
Would have been a little easier if his traitorous head didn't keep showin' him pictures or River, surrounded by wraith in some dank room, all exits blocked. Lying limp in a hallway, heavy boots kicking her aside as they marched onward. Body dried up to nothin' but a frozen dead scream.
As much as he wanted to go after her, he knew he was bein' foolish.
Girl's faced reavers before and won. She's a government-trained killing machine, and a good dancer to boot.
So Jayne held his unease in check, and stuck to the plan.
The wraith weren't nothing like reavers. They were still monsters, and all that, but they weren't insane. They were organized and predictable- the two things that made the reavers so damned dangerous.
Hell, if he was bein' honest, Todd was nearer to human than some folks he knew back home.
Ain't like you never worked with someone who'd just as soon kill you.
Jayne planted another charge, at the base of the console where Todd had pointed, and tried to remember the last time his reassurances were at all reassuring.
Only seven more to go.
---
Five small tubes, already sealed in a solid looking case on the workbench, were all she'd been able to find. River packed them carefully away, before looking around again, wanting to make sure. The lab was sparse. Besides a few of the smaller instruments, which probably weren't all that important, there was nothing else worth taking.
"This is strange," McKay said to himself and not looking up when River moved to stand next to him.
"What is it?"
"I don't know. Huh." He resumed his typing for a moment, though, before letting out a satisfied sigh. He was grinning as he turned his radio on. "We're almost done here. Just a few more minutes. Where're you guys at?"
Jayne responded first. "Followin' an alien 'round, gettin' ready to blow the gorram ship that I happen to be standin' on." He sounded less than thrilled.
McKay rolled his eyes. "Yes. I Know. Strange lives we lead and all that. Ronon?"
There were three clicks on the radio, but Ronon didn't answer. River shook her head, confused, at the lack of worry on McKay's face. "Going off comms," he explained. "Three clicks. He's there, can't talk, and all's well. One, two, three." River nodded in understanding, but McKay didn't respond. His attention was once again on the data.
A frown slashed across his face. "I'm getting some strange readings… This is doesn't make any sense." Judging by the look on McKay's face, it wasn't good, but it wasn't immediately dangerous, either.
"Could the drones have caused it?" She tried to read over McKay's shoulder, but couldn't read the symbols on the screen. "Scrambled the systems?"
McKay shook his head and continued to read, so she hazarded another guess.
"Encryption?"
"Yes, but that's not the problem. Just." Wait. He dragged two fingers across the screen, bringing up another display. "Okay. I've got it all downloaded," he announced to the others, before beginning to talk his way through his thoughts as he began disconnecting the computer. He was talking to himself, but River listened anyway.
"There wouldn't be this much information if it was just the files we were expecting. It's too much data. Looks like it's been pulling telemetry from navigation, and feeding it back in." He leaned down behind the console again, the tension on the cable going briefly taut as he terminated the connection.
For an instant, River was unsure if he was making the noise she heard, or if it was coming from outside. Movement. They're coming.
"Oh, crap," McKay said, correctly translating her expression.
"I've got it," River assured him, before hefting Jayne's gun and stepping out into the corridor. She closed the door behind her.
She could still hear McKay's voice over the radio, agitated. "Shit. River-"
"Shh!" She rolled her eyes and crouched in the alcove, casting her mind out, trying to listen. She could hear the wraith nearby, listening back. Another four were coming behind them, further away. Gunshots would only bring them sooner.
But the first two were fast approaching. Another ten feet and they'd make her position, if they hadn't already.
Swallowing once, she took a breath and let it go. Choosing her first target, she shot.
---
The wraith returned fire, missing her by inches. Sparks rained down, prickling and hot, from the laboratory door's control panel as alarms began to sound. She tried to open the door, but it was stuck, sealed shut, with McKay on the other side.
Recognizing that her escape route was blown, she eased across the hallway and back, away from the oncoming footsteps. If she couldn't protect McKay, maybe she could lure the danger away.
"What's goin' on?" Ronon's voice was tense in her ear, but it was McKay that answered.
"I don't know. I'm stuck in the lab, and River's gone."
"River. You there?" Jayne's voice, finally, and River breathed a little easier, pressing the button on the radio as she surveyed the corridor.
"Can't talk. One, two three," she said, and considered tossing her radio to the side. She needed to listen for something useful, now. Couldn't afford the distraction of the wrong voices in her head.
A moment later, she heard it. The four wraith coming from up ahead were moving quickly now, spurred by the sound of gunfire. Down the hall behind her, past shrieking alarms, she could hear more, fast approaching.
She tried to listen to what wasn't there without letting it in too deeply. She could feel the sensory information, unfiltered as to meaning, but the intent was clear. All thoughts keyed in to smell blood in the water, to change course accordingly.
She was nothing more than prey, same as Jayne and the others. Simon and the rest.
She wanted to yell, to cry out, to not know fear. But she'd learned it, and she was alone on a strange ship, with sharks circling in the water.
She took a breath, focused on controlling what she could, and waited.
---
Over the gunfire, Ronon could hear the others arguing as he made his way past the pods and towards the holding cells.
He hoped his instinct was right, that Teyla and her unborn kid were more useful to him than a meal, but he wouldn't know until he saw her.
If you're wrong, there's an entire ship full of pods to search.
Excepting the alarms, there was silence in the corridor up ahead. He broke cover a little too fast, and the first blast came quicker than he'd expected.
Missed him, though. He didn't return the mistake. He kept to the wall as he crept forward, peering into empty cells and hoping he wouldn't find strange beseeching eyes looking back out at him. There just wasn't enough time.
He passed another cell, than one more. And then he saw her.
Teyla.
"Ronon!" She pushed herself up from the bed she was sitting on, and crossed the cell to stand at the entrance. She moved slower than Ronon would have liked, but as far as he could tell, it was due to the child she was carrying, rather than injury.
"Hey," he said, because he didn't know where else to begin and didn't trust himself to stop when he did. "Wanna get out of here?"
"I." For once, Teyla was lost for words, her eyes searching Ronon's face for them, but she composed herself. "Yes."
"Good." He turned towards the control panel and pulled out one of his knives, ready to disassemble the controls. He wasn't expecting Teyla's warning shout, but he spun around, ready to attack the wraith behind him.
It wasn't a wraith, though. It was a man, and he floundered in the familiarity. Kanaan.
He was opening his mouth to speak, but he hesitation cost him. Fumbling for his gun, he was unable to block the attack that came next.
---
The last of the wraith guarding the hyperdrive generator fell, and Jayne reached into his pack for the last of the C4. Todd was stationed at the door, and it seemed good a time as any to check in.
Dread sticking in his throat, Jayne tried to get River on the radio, but as before, she still wasn't responding. Instead, a strange woman's voice came on the line.
"This is Teyla, can you hear me?"
McKay responded, his voice a startled shout. "Teyla! Good to hear your voice."
"You as well. Ronon has been shot. I am in my cell, and am unable to determine if he was merely stunned, or…"
"Yes, well. Almost got myself out of here, I can't-"
"I'm on it," Jayne growled, handing over the C4 to Todd. "You got this?"
"Of course," Todd's grin was deceptively gracious. "We will reconvene in the attack bay where we arrived."
Jayne considered shooting him right there where he stood, but his feet were already carryin' him onwards.
Heading down one corridor and the next, he shot every wraith he came across and tried not to look too hard at the people in the pods lining several of the corridors. They weren't his concern.
Soon, he picked up on the trail of dead wraith that Ronon had left, and made it to the holding cells with no further incident.
Except.
Ronon was lying on the hallway floor, another inert body next to him. Drawing closer, he could see into the cell, found the woman staring at him suspiciously.
"Who are you?"
"Friend of Ronon's. Gonna get you out." He pulled Ronon across the floor a little, away from the looked at the gate. "How's this supposed to work?" Jayne asked, feeling woefully inadequate. He couldn't even tell where the gorram lock was, much less how to pick it.
"There is a control panel across the hall. If you were to number then from right to left, starting from the top, the combination is one-one-four-eight-five-seven."
Jayne pressed the digits, and looked over his shoulder to find the cell doors melting into the wall, opening.
Crouching next to Ronon, he looked up at her briefly. "You alright?"
"I am fine," she said, thankfully knowing her part in all of this. "What of Ronon?"
As if on cue, Ronon groaned, running a hand over his face. "Hate getting stunned."
"You okay?" Jayne ran a hand over his shoulder, unsure what he was supposed to be looking for.
"Fine. Where's my radio?" Ronon asked, puzzled, hand gesturing to his ear.
"Thank you for letting me borrow it," Teyla said, amusement pulling at the corners of her mouth as she removed Ronon's radio from her ear. "I was able to retrieve it when you fell."
Ronon turned his head at the sound of her voice, and Jayne turned away before he got stuck watchin' some joyful reunion scene. He still had River to think about.
"Jayne." River's voice came over the radio, then, like she'd heard him. "I'm fine."
Jayne buried his sigh of relief in an annoyed grumble. "Ruttin' hell, girl. What took you so long?"
"Fighting monsters. But I'm on my way to the rendezvous."
He heard the sound of gunfire and stunner blasts being exchanged somewhere on the ship's lower levels, too muffled to locate the exact location. When he tried to raise her on the radio again, she didn't respond.
Just have to take your chances in person. Jayne stood up, and found Ronon doing the same.
"We gotta get out of here," he was telling Teyla, trying to cover, but it was obvious that his side was bothering him. Maybe his arm, too. "Come on."
"Wait," Teyla said. "Kanaan. We must bring him with us."
"He-" Ronon began, only to be interrupted.
"He is not the enemy. He will be fine once we return to Atlantis."
Jayne turned away, when the pause hit, and scanned the area, watching for the next attack. This was a conversation he wanted no part of, and he really needed to find River, her silence makin' him right uneasy.
Ronon didn't to want to talk, either, and just grunted indistinctly. But he knelt down next to the stranger, wrestled the stunner from his hand, and began checking him quickly for other weapons.
Whatever he was doing, they didn't have the time for it, but then Jayne caught on. Ronon was trying to lift Kanaan, and his injuries were giving him trouble.
"You don't gotta do everything," Jayne decided, irritably, and helped him manhandle Kanaan into a kneeling position. From there, Jayne got him on his feet, and Ronon came up to grab his other arm.
"We gotta go," Ronon instructed Teyla, handing her his gun. "This way."
Thankfully, Kanaan was too confused to resist, and began to stagger after a few steps. With Teyla following close behind them, covering their six, they made their way out. There wasn't anything left to do but hope the others were doing likewise.
---
They reached the dart bay in time to see McKay run in from the other direction, pack slung over his shoulder, carrying his computer in his hands. He pulled up short with a terrified look on his face.
"Where's River?"
"I don't know! She was guarding the door while I was working, I turn around, and she was gone. Thought she was here- there's a trail of dead wraith leading all the way back to the-"
"Shit," Jayne cut him off, and lowered Kanaan to the floor in a motion so quick it was probably a drop. He surveyed the multiple entrances, trying to guess which of the several corridors would lead to River, but there were too many to know.
So guess. Random beats nothin'.
There was a hard pull on his shoulder, yanking him back, and he found Ronon's face close to his, all frustrated resolution and near-panic. "There's no time, it's gonna blow-" he growled. Todd's dart was heading their way, culling beam already engaged.
---
When he had eyes to see again, he was in the world again, and explosions were rocking the sky above.
River outlived her brother by far less than a week, and you can't get either of them home to rest.
"I'm sorry," McKay's voice was quiet, next to him. "Todd had a dummy detonator. I set the timer on the charges from here," he waved his tablet, "as soon as I made it to the dart bay. I counted four heads, and. I didn't-" he broke off. "I'm sorry."
Teyla was kneeling next to Kanaan, her attention unwavering, but Ronon was watching the dart approach, gun once again in his hand. Jayne hefted Vera, finding that the fight hadn't left his blood yet.
The dart, once it landed, was a silhouette against the low-hanging sun, and the engine settled into silence.
Don't matter how many times you cross the double cross, Jayne thought with bitter certainty, adjusting his grip, ready to take aim. Only thing that matters is gettin' the first shot in the end.
10. Resurrection
Rating: PG-13 for now
By: Jendavis
Spoilers: SGA: The Last Man, FF: Serenity
Pairing: Eventual Jayne Cobb/ Ronon Dex
Genre: Crossover
Warnings: None for this chapter.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue, don't take this too seriously.
Summary: Timelines diverge by converging.
Previous: 1. Man of Steel 2. Keys to the World 3. Lost 4. Gone Away 5. House is Not a Home 6. Still Standing 7. I Never Told You What I Do For A Living 8. Scary Eyes
9. Before The Worst
Todd hadn't been gone through the gate a minute when Jayne broke the silence.
"She your family or your woman?" At Ronon's glare, he backpedaled, raising his hands defensively. "What? Most men ain't lookin' to make deals with devils 'less…"
"A friend. Been searching for her a while now."
"It seems awful convenient, her bein' right where he needs you."
He wished Jayne would shut up, knowing he'd have to argue his case enough when he got back to the camp, and dialed the gate. "Like I said. I trust him to cross me. Just not sure how he's gonna do it, but…"
"You're gonna cross him first," Jayne finished, watching the wormhole splashing to life and mulling it over. "Don't like it. You're not careful, you'll wind up blowin' your exit."
Ronon watched him step through the gate, biting the inside of his cheek. He's right, and you know it.
"Don't worry about the ship." River stopped at the event horizon, trailing her fingers in and out of existence distractedly. "The wraith won't kill you until you're on the ground again," she said, and stepped through.
Ronon had to wait until the gate was behind him to ask, "You were able to read him?"
Jayne's eyes were on the guards, but it was River, and what she'd say, what she might do, that he worried about. River read his expression and nodded to Ronon.
Once they'd passed beyond earshot, she explained.
"It's hard. I only get the shadows, not the lines. But he does picture your death in vivid detail. Killing you will be a proud moment for him, and he will savor it. Once he's fed on you, he plans on throwing your corpse down, watching it break on the rocks as your strength flows through him, and- what?"
She scowled at Jayne, rubbing a hand over her arm where he'd swatted her. Her eyes, though, returning to Ronon, were a little more controlled. "Sometime you will have to tell us why the wraith tell stories about you."
Ronon smirked, but ignored her curiosity. "He probably figures I'm going to hold onto the information for safe passage. He's not wrong. Just need to plan for it."
"So we are going to do this," Jayne confirmed, and raised a hand, waving Lorne and McKay over before Ronon had the chance.
Only been here a day, and he's right at home. The thought was as comforting as it was surprising. Like he'd made the right call. But it didn't change anything.
"I am," he said, making an abortive grab at Jayne's arm, bringing him up short. "This isn't your fight."
Jayne leaned towards River to whisper, "Gorram noble streak's makin' me wonder if he's got it in him to lay out a respectable deception." His grin slashed jaggedly up at Ronon, knowing he'd been heard.
For an instant, Ronon worried that River was reading him. She looked too amused not to be when she spoke. "I would think he's smart enough to avail himself of our not-inconsiderable expertise in that particular arena."
McKay, when they met at the edge of the camp, began haltingly to speak. "Ronon, I. Didn't know that you were going off to meet with Todd. I would have. You know. Come along."
Ronon snorted. This, he understood. "No worries. Wasn't a science thing. Next part is, though, if you're still offering…"
---
Jayne listened silently as Ronon described the situation to the others. Whether or not they needed Lorne's permission was unclear, but askin' outright about it would've been a problem. Besides, no one was askin' his opinion, and if he was measurin' it right, Ronon wouldn't take too kindly to anyone complicatin' the issue.
River, likewise, was silent, but had that air to her that either meant she was peekin' inside their heads, or communicatin' with grass fairies or some such. Something was amusing her, but for now, she was keepin' it to herself.
Lorne and McKay did seem to hang a little more heavily on Ronon's words when he mentioned Teyla, and from there, it went smooth. Lorne gave the go-ahead, and McKay was all eager consent, like he was makin' up for something, before he dragged Lorne off towards the lab tent.
All that seemed a big to-do over nothing, and he was about to say so. But then he got a good look at Ronon. Saw the mostly-hidden surprise and relief on his face as he watched the others walk away.
He wasn't expectin' them to go along with it. Didn't think they'd back him up.
The irritation sat under his skin, set to itchin' a little, and Jayne held his tongue.
Ain't your place to be worryin' 'bout him and his. He can look after himself just fine.
---
"I hear you're lookin' to spar," Jayne said, walking up the path and looking at Ronon's half-completed fishing weir. He'd been working on it for an hour, but it hadn't quieted his mind as much as he'd hoped.
"River tell you that?" Ronon grimaced at unwelcome tone he heard in his voice. It's not like you can't use the distraction.
Jayne didn't notice, though, or if he did, he was ignoring it. "Yeah, right before she ran off to make friendly with the other geeks. Last I saw, they were arguin' about time travel and such. She seems to be havin' a grand ol' time."
"But you're bored."
"Always get this way, 'fore a job, when there ain't work to be done. So what d'you say? You up for it?"
Ronon regarded his pile of sticks and reeds with an appraising eye. It could wait.
"I should tell you," he said, brushing the dust and slivers from his clothes as he remembered what he'd heard in the mess. "Cadman, Lorne's second in command, already has a book going." He grinned. "It's favorin' me."
"Glad to see you ain't let your victory over River go to your head none." Jayne grinned, cocking his head to the side and giving him the once over, before following him towards the area cordoned off for training exercises. "Only means the take will be better for folk when I kick your ass."
His voice was close, when he said it, teasing. Assuming a familiarity that Ronon hadn't expected.
He's trying to psyche you out, Ronon decided, pulling his arm across his chest to stretch the muscle. Feeling it give, comfortably. That's all it is.
---
It started out slow, both of them easing into it as they took each other's measure, neither side wanting to overtax themselves too early.
Jayne was only trying to get to him, not get into his head. He was laughing at too many odd intervals for that. Even as they increased their pace, compared to sparring with River, it was relaxing.
It didn't hurt that Jayne was barely getting a punch in.
But when he did manage it, Ronon noticed. Jayne wasn't particularly quick, but he knew how to put power into a hit, and how to roll out from under one.
It wasn't until Ronon got a little too comfortable, a little too cocky, maybe, that he got a little too close.
Jayne was on him in an instant, and Ronon realized, face scraping across the dirt as he tried twisting out of Jayne's hold, that he should have seen it coming. A guy as big as Jayne wasn't likely to be the fast hitting sort.
Ronon really hated sparring grapplers. In a real fight, Jayne would be too close to see the knife sliding into his lower ribs. Easy win. But in a sparring match, all Ronon really could do was try to break out of a succession of holds, each one more annoying than the last, each one bringing him that much closer to forgetting himself.
Eventually, he was lying on his back, with Jayne using most of his weight to pin his wrists to the ground, and a shin pressed against his knees. His smirk was all Ronon could see of the world, too close to let the rest in.
Ronon snorted, but he gave.
Jayne eased up off of him, then hauled him to his feet, much to the cheers of…the entire science division. River's been talking, Ronon realized, belatedly, when he spotted her in the crowd, taking what looked to be her part of the cut.
Zelenka waylaid them on their way back to the tent, asking Jayne when he planned on challenging River, obviously eager at the prospect.
"Already know damn well she'll whip me," Jayne replied amiably. "There's only so abuse a man can take in front of an audience."
"Well, then." Zelenka shrugged, not seeming overly put out. "At least the three of you can keep one another in check." He glanced around Ronon's shoulder with a sudden smirk.
"Yeah, you all got a regular ass-kicking circle jerk going on," a soldier grumbled as he halted, shoving some crumpled bills into Zelenka's outstretched hand.
---
The camp's mood the next morning wasn't nearly as jovial as it had been during the sparring match, and it wasn't just the useless riches changin' hands that was different.
"So, what's the plan?" McKay was asking, for the tenth time, as he picked nervously at his breakfast.
Jayne rolled his eyes, caught Ronon doing likewise across the table. Figured it was his turn to answer.
"Ain't got one. Get over it." Jayne kept his voice down, though, when he said it. Truth be told, he didn't like the waitin' any more than McKay did.
There wasn't much else to say, after that, so when he finished eating, he escaped back to the tent as quickly as he could. Wanted to get some distance between himself and the tension that was settlin' down over the camp. Word had spread, and so had the worry.
River was already checking their packs like she knew what they'd need, and hell. She probably did. But whatever she knew, she weren't sharin'.
He was mighty relieved when it came time to head out to the gate. Didn't matter how it all played out. At least it would be done soon.
---
They stepped through the gate onto a dry world fightin' to keep green, but didn't have long to wait before Todd's dart came through. After the long morning, the dart's arrival was almost a relief.
Having landed, Todd made his way through the seared grass towards them with precise efficiency. He drew up short, not quite closing the circle they'd formed. There wasn't much by way of niceties to be exchanged, and he it as well as they did. He got right to it.
"During the attack, Michael's ship sustained heavy damage, caused by drones launched from Atlantis. In order to make the repairs without taxing the systems, it was necessary to maintain a low orbit above this world."
"Great," McKay rolled his eyes. "So we're going to have to let you cull us, first. This just gets better and better."
Ronon scanned their faces, and finally began to let them in on the details of his plan. "Once we're on the hive, McKay, you and River find the lab, grab the research." The two of them nodded, not at all surprised to be given the assignment. "Jayne, you plant the charges around the ship. Target the weak spots, especially the hyperdrive generator."
"Don't even know what that looks like," Jayne protested.
"Todd will help you out with that." Jayne snorted, but accepted the C4 gingerly, and Ronon turned to Todd, handing him the detonator. "You're in charge of setting it off once we're all back on the ground."
McKay managed to voice his dissent before Jayne did, but it was a close thing. "You're giving him the detonator?"
"He blows the ship before we're clear," Ronon sneered at Todd, "then he won't get what he wants."
Todd grinned, pocketing the small device, apparently more than happy with his part in the proceedings. His voice was imperious when he spoke. "And while we are carrying out these tasks, what will you be doing?"
"I'm going after Teyla."
Quan gao bu yi. If that ain't the most idiotic lack-of-a-plan I've heard today... "Goin' solo?"
Ronon fixed him with a stare that brooked no argument. "I can move faster on my own, and if she's in rough shape, I don't need anyone else slowing me down before she gets the chance." It wasn't until he stepped back that Jayne noticed how close he'd been standing. But Ronon was talking to everyone again, now. "We stay in contact, and meet up where we come in. Any questions?"
"One last thing," McKay said, handing his computer to Jayne. "Insurance. A password. I've entered a portion, and want each of you build on it." McKay glared at Todd as Jayne began to peck out his code. "You're going to need all of us alive if you want the information. Is that clear?"
"Yes," Todd replied, finally showing some irritation. It was short lived, though, and he recovered with a disturbing chuckle. "Now. You all wait here, and I will retrieve our transport."
Jayne handed the computer to River and watched him leave. Moments later, Ronon was passing the computer back to Rodney, and the dart was gliding towards them.
---
Ronon picked off two wraith before they made his position, but the third got a shot off before going down.
Before breaking cover, Ronon stilled, listening for the sound of heavy footsteps. Taking the moment to make sure his breathing was under control, he considered, not for the first time, the wisdom behind wasting resources developing better soldiers, but never training them to walk quietly.
It was one of those thoughts he tried not to linger on, if he could help it. He'd only mentioned it, once, to John Sheppard. Atlantis had been at their backs, beer had been in their hands, and no one had been around to overhear.
It wasn't superstition. He just didn't want to release something out into the universe that could return to hold a gun to his head.
---
Jayne followed Todd at a close distance, getting the next charge ready to go, and tryin' to figure how to get the detonator out of Todd's hands. Just in case he had the need to, or the chance.
Wasn't that he didn't understand the logic behind the plan. He just didn't like the plan.
Would have been a little easier if his traitorous head didn't keep showin' him pictures or River, surrounded by wraith in some dank room, all exits blocked. Lying limp in a hallway, heavy boots kicking her aside as they marched onward. Body dried up to nothin' but a frozen dead scream.
As much as he wanted to go after her, he knew he was bein' foolish.
Girl's faced reavers before and won. She's a government-trained killing machine, and a good dancer to boot.
So Jayne held his unease in check, and stuck to the plan.
The wraith weren't nothing like reavers. They were still monsters, and all that, but they weren't insane. They were organized and predictable- the two things that made the reavers so damned dangerous.
Hell, if he was bein' honest, Todd was nearer to human than some folks he knew back home.
Ain't like you never worked with someone who'd just as soon kill you.
Jayne planted another charge, at the base of the console where Todd had pointed, and tried to remember the last time his reassurances were at all reassuring.
Only seven more to go.
---
Five small tubes, already sealed in a solid looking case on the workbench, were all she'd been able to find. River packed them carefully away, before looking around again, wanting to make sure. The lab was sparse. Besides a few of the smaller instruments, which probably weren't all that important, there was nothing else worth taking.
"This is strange," McKay said to himself and not looking up when River moved to stand next to him.
"What is it?"
"I don't know. Huh." He resumed his typing for a moment, though, before letting out a satisfied sigh. He was grinning as he turned his radio on. "We're almost done here. Just a few more minutes. Where're you guys at?"
Jayne responded first. "Followin' an alien 'round, gettin' ready to blow the gorram ship that I happen to be standin' on." He sounded less than thrilled.
McKay rolled his eyes. "Yes. I Know. Strange lives we lead and all that. Ronon?"
There were three clicks on the radio, but Ronon didn't answer. River shook her head, confused, at the lack of worry on McKay's face. "Going off comms," he explained. "Three clicks. He's there, can't talk, and all's well. One, two, three." River nodded in understanding, but McKay didn't respond. His attention was once again on the data.
A frown slashed across his face. "I'm getting some strange readings… This is doesn't make any sense." Judging by the look on McKay's face, it wasn't good, but it wasn't immediately dangerous, either.
"Could the drones have caused it?" She tried to read over McKay's shoulder, but couldn't read the symbols on the screen. "Scrambled the systems?"
McKay shook his head and continued to read, so she hazarded another guess.
"Encryption?"
"Yes, but that's not the problem. Just." Wait. He dragged two fingers across the screen, bringing up another display. "Okay. I've got it all downloaded," he announced to the others, before beginning to talk his way through his thoughts as he began disconnecting the computer. He was talking to himself, but River listened anyway.
"There wouldn't be this much information if it was just the files we were expecting. It's too much data. Looks like it's been pulling telemetry from navigation, and feeding it back in." He leaned down behind the console again, the tension on the cable going briefly taut as he terminated the connection.
For an instant, River was unsure if he was making the noise she heard, or if it was coming from outside. Movement. They're coming.
"Oh, crap," McKay said, correctly translating her expression.
"I've got it," River assured him, before hefting Jayne's gun and stepping out into the corridor. She closed the door behind her.
She could still hear McKay's voice over the radio, agitated. "Shit. River-"
"Shh!" She rolled her eyes and crouched in the alcove, casting her mind out, trying to listen. She could hear the wraith nearby, listening back. Another four were coming behind them, further away. Gunshots would only bring them sooner.
But the first two were fast approaching. Another ten feet and they'd make her position, if they hadn't already.
Swallowing once, she took a breath and let it go. Choosing her first target, she shot.
---
The wraith returned fire, missing her by inches. Sparks rained down, prickling and hot, from the laboratory door's control panel as alarms began to sound. She tried to open the door, but it was stuck, sealed shut, with McKay on the other side.
Recognizing that her escape route was blown, she eased across the hallway and back, away from the oncoming footsteps. If she couldn't protect McKay, maybe she could lure the danger away.
"What's goin' on?" Ronon's voice was tense in her ear, but it was McKay that answered.
"I don't know. I'm stuck in the lab, and River's gone."
"River. You there?" Jayne's voice, finally, and River breathed a little easier, pressing the button on the radio as she surveyed the corridor.
"Can't talk. One, two three," she said, and considered tossing her radio to the side. She needed to listen for something useful, now. Couldn't afford the distraction of the wrong voices in her head.
A moment later, she heard it. The four wraith coming from up ahead were moving quickly now, spurred by the sound of gunfire. Down the hall behind her, past shrieking alarms, she could hear more, fast approaching.
She tried to listen to what wasn't there without letting it in too deeply. She could feel the sensory information, unfiltered as to meaning, but the intent was clear. All thoughts keyed in to smell blood in the water, to change course accordingly.
She was nothing more than prey, same as Jayne and the others. Simon and the rest.
She wanted to yell, to cry out, to not know fear. But she'd learned it, and she was alone on a strange ship, with sharks circling in the water.
She took a breath, focused on controlling what she could, and waited.
---
Over the gunfire, Ronon could hear the others arguing as he made his way past the pods and towards the holding cells.
He hoped his instinct was right, that Teyla and her unborn kid were more useful to him than a meal, but he wouldn't know until he saw her.
If you're wrong, there's an entire ship full of pods to search.
Excepting the alarms, there was silence in the corridor up ahead. He broke cover a little too fast, and the first blast came quicker than he'd expected.
Missed him, though. He didn't return the mistake. He kept to the wall as he crept forward, peering into empty cells and hoping he wouldn't find strange beseeching eyes looking back out at him. There just wasn't enough time.
He passed another cell, than one more. And then he saw her.
Teyla.
"Ronon!" She pushed herself up from the bed she was sitting on, and crossed the cell to stand at the entrance. She moved slower than Ronon would have liked, but as far as he could tell, it was due to the child she was carrying, rather than injury.
"Hey," he said, because he didn't know where else to begin and didn't trust himself to stop when he did. "Wanna get out of here?"
"I." For once, Teyla was lost for words, her eyes searching Ronon's face for them, but she composed herself. "Yes."
"Good." He turned towards the control panel and pulled out one of his knives, ready to disassemble the controls. He wasn't expecting Teyla's warning shout, but he spun around, ready to attack the wraith behind him.
It wasn't a wraith, though. It was a man, and he floundered in the familiarity. Kanaan.
He was opening his mouth to speak, but he hesitation cost him. Fumbling for his gun, he was unable to block the attack that came next.
---
The last of the wraith guarding the hyperdrive generator fell, and Jayne reached into his pack for the last of the C4. Todd was stationed at the door, and it seemed good a time as any to check in.
Dread sticking in his throat, Jayne tried to get River on the radio, but as before, she still wasn't responding. Instead, a strange woman's voice came on the line.
"This is Teyla, can you hear me?"
McKay responded, his voice a startled shout. "Teyla! Good to hear your voice."
"You as well. Ronon has been shot. I am in my cell, and am unable to determine if he was merely stunned, or…"
"Yes, well. Almost got myself out of here, I can't-"
"I'm on it," Jayne growled, handing over the C4 to Todd. "You got this?"
"Of course," Todd's grin was deceptively gracious. "We will reconvene in the attack bay where we arrived."
Jayne considered shooting him right there where he stood, but his feet were already carryin' him onwards.
Heading down one corridor and the next, he shot every wraith he came across and tried not to look too hard at the people in the pods lining several of the corridors. They weren't his concern.
Soon, he picked up on the trail of dead wraith that Ronon had left, and made it to the holding cells with no further incident.
Except.
Ronon was lying on the hallway floor, another inert body next to him. Drawing closer, he could see into the cell, found the woman staring at him suspiciously.
"Who are you?"
"Friend of Ronon's. Gonna get you out." He pulled Ronon across the floor a little, away from the looked at the gate. "How's this supposed to work?" Jayne asked, feeling woefully inadequate. He couldn't even tell where the gorram lock was, much less how to pick it.
"There is a control panel across the hall. If you were to number then from right to left, starting from the top, the combination is one-one-four-eight-five-seven."
Jayne pressed the digits, and looked over his shoulder to find the cell doors melting into the wall, opening.
Crouching next to Ronon, he looked up at her briefly. "You alright?"
"I am fine," she said, thankfully knowing her part in all of this. "What of Ronon?"
As if on cue, Ronon groaned, running a hand over his face. "Hate getting stunned."
"You okay?" Jayne ran a hand over his shoulder, unsure what he was supposed to be looking for.
"Fine. Where's my radio?" Ronon asked, puzzled, hand gesturing to his ear.
"Thank you for letting me borrow it," Teyla said, amusement pulling at the corners of her mouth as she removed Ronon's radio from her ear. "I was able to retrieve it when you fell."
Ronon turned his head at the sound of her voice, and Jayne turned away before he got stuck watchin' some joyful reunion scene. He still had River to think about.
"Jayne." River's voice came over the radio, then, like she'd heard him. "I'm fine."
Jayne buried his sigh of relief in an annoyed grumble. "Ruttin' hell, girl. What took you so long?"
"Fighting monsters. But I'm on my way to the rendezvous."
He heard the sound of gunfire and stunner blasts being exchanged somewhere on the ship's lower levels, too muffled to locate the exact location. When he tried to raise her on the radio again, she didn't respond.
Just have to take your chances in person. Jayne stood up, and found Ronon doing the same.
"We gotta get out of here," he was telling Teyla, trying to cover, but it was obvious that his side was bothering him. Maybe his arm, too. "Come on."
"Wait," Teyla said. "Kanaan. We must bring him with us."
"He-" Ronon began, only to be interrupted.
"He is not the enemy. He will be fine once we return to Atlantis."
Jayne turned away, when the pause hit, and scanned the area, watching for the next attack. This was a conversation he wanted no part of, and he really needed to find River, her silence makin' him right uneasy.
Ronon didn't to want to talk, either, and just grunted indistinctly. But he knelt down next to the stranger, wrestled the stunner from his hand, and began checking him quickly for other weapons.
Whatever he was doing, they didn't have the time for it, but then Jayne caught on. Ronon was trying to lift Kanaan, and his injuries were giving him trouble.
"You don't gotta do everything," Jayne decided, irritably, and helped him manhandle Kanaan into a kneeling position. From there, Jayne got him on his feet, and Ronon came up to grab his other arm.
"We gotta go," Ronon instructed Teyla, handing her his gun. "This way."
Thankfully, Kanaan was too confused to resist, and began to stagger after a few steps. With Teyla following close behind them, covering their six, they made their way out. There wasn't anything left to do but hope the others were doing likewise.
---
They reached the dart bay in time to see McKay run in from the other direction, pack slung over his shoulder, carrying his computer in his hands. He pulled up short with a terrified look on his face.
"Where's River?"
"I don't know! She was guarding the door while I was working, I turn around, and she was gone. Thought she was here- there's a trail of dead wraith leading all the way back to the-"
"Shit," Jayne cut him off, and lowered Kanaan to the floor in a motion so quick it was probably a drop. He surveyed the multiple entrances, trying to guess which of the several corridors would lead to River, but there were too many to know.
So guess. Random beats nothin'.
There was a hard pull on his shoulder, yanking him back, and he found Ronon's face close to his, all frustrated resolution and near-panic. "There's no time, it's gonna blow-" he growled. Todd's dart was heading their way, culling beam already engaged.
---
When he had eyes to see again, he was in the world again, and explosions were rocking the sky above.
River outlived her brother by far less than a week, and you can't get either of them home to rest.
"I'm sorry," McKay's voice was quiet, next to him. "Todd had a dummy detonator. I set the timer on the charges from here," he waved his tablet, "as soon as I made it to the dart bay. I counted four heads, and. I didn't-" he broke off. "I'm sorry."
Teyla was kneeling next to Kanaan, her attention unwavering, but Ronon was watching the dart approach, gun once again in his hand. Jayne hefted Vera, finding that the fight hadn't left his blood yet.
The dart, once it landed, was a silhouette against the low-hanging sun, and the engine settled into silence.
Don't matter how many times you cross the double cross, Jayne thought with bitter certainty, adjusting his grip, ready to take aim. Only thing that matters is gettin' the first shot in the end.
10. Resurrection