Title: Tea Break

Spoilers: None.

Setting: Late second / early third season.

Rating: T For content.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Summary: Colonel Sheppard searches for a team member.

Warnings: Dark fic – reference to torture – nothing very graphic.

A/N: As always, wonderfully beta'd by Kiky - Thanks again Kiky.

Tea Break

Sheppard shifted his body slightly, easing his handgun into a more comfortable position.

From where he lay, high up in the roof space, he could observe the entire room below him. It was a simple, square room, about twenty feet across with a single door in the centre of one of the white-tiled walls. It looked like every other room he'd seen in the complex so far. It wasn't the one he was searching for, but it might lead him to it.

A table and two mismatched wooden chairs were the only furnishings. There were two full mugs on the table, and a young man seated on one of the chairs. The youth lounged with his feet up on the table, a slice of rich fruitcake in his hand.

Sheppard stiffened as the door opened and a second, older man walked into the room. Instantly, the youth whipped his feet from the table, sitting straighter in his chair. There was no problem in identifying which was the boss.

"Well, that took longer than I expected." The older man's voice sounded hoarse and raspy, as though he was suffering from a heavy cold. "Always remember, Sutton, no matter how reliable your informants are, they are no substitute for hands-on work." He settled himself comfortably into the second chair with a heavy sigh and reached for the closer of the two mugs.

The young man set his uneaten slice of cake down on the table with a nervous grin.

Lifting the mug to his lips, the older man took a large mouthful of liquid and closed his eyes appreciatively. "You know, Sutton, I sometimes think that the sole reason I keep you on is because you're the only person here who knows how to make my tea exactly how I like it." He took another deep swallow, "Let's face it, you're still abysmal at extracting information from Clients."

Sheppard could see Sutton's ears reddening in humiliation, but felt no sympathy for the youth. He simply gripped his handgun more firmly and waited.

"According to my sources, this particular Client should have crumbled at the first touch of a blade." Sutton's boss finished his drink and placed the mug back on the table. "But, d'you know what, it took me three fingers just to get him to confirm that Atlantis hadn't been destroyed." He reached into a pocket, took out a large, white handkerchief, blew his nose noisily and sniffed.

"Then, if you don't mind me asking, Minister Jarrod, why do we spend so much time researching the Clients after they arrive?" The young man's voice was thin and reedy, sounding even younger than his appearance suggested.

"No, that's a good question, Sutton." Jarrod smiled graciously across the table, "There are two main reasons why we seek information on our Clients before we start our work." He held up a finger. "Firstly, if we know the Client's emotional weaknesses, our job can be half-way completed before we begin." He turned a piercing gaze on the young man. "Always remember, Sutton, there is more to our work than the physical extraction of information; a well-timed word can unlock deeper secrets than an hour with the blade."

Sutton gave a solemn nod, his face set in an expression of earnest attention.

"Secondly," The older man continued, after pausing for a moment to cough into his handkerchief, "It's useful to know of any medical infirmities before we start, as these can severely hinder certain lines of enquiry. Explaining to the Customer that the Client has not survived long enough to provide the required information is embarrassing, and something that it is always prudent to avoid." He gave a husky chuckle. "Luckily, this Client suffered from nothing more serious than a few allergies, and these merely offered me some fascinating new avenues to explore."

Sheppard's eyes hardened and his finger itched on the trigger, but still he waited.

"It's not often that I have the opportunity to try something different nowadays, and a couple of techniques seemed very effective. I must say that I was impressed by his fortitude." Jarrod fell silent. After a moment his eyes dropped meaningfully to Sutton's slice of fruitcake.

Picking up the slice from the table, Sutton broke it carefully into two equal pieces, respectfully offering one half to the older man. "But he couldn't hold out against you, Sir, could he?"

Jarrod accepted the cake with a polite smile, "Oh, no. There always comes a point at which they break. If you know what to look for, Sutton, you can see the exact moment in their eyes." He took a bite and nodded approvingly before a short fit of coughing sent crumbs across the table. Sutton hastily passed the older man the second mug of tea, watching him solicitously until the coughing subsided.

Once the fit had passed, Sutton turned his attention to his own slice of cake before asking diffidently, "Have you finished with the Client now, Sir?"

"Yes, yes," Jarrod drained the second mug of tea in a single gulp, then wiped his mouth with the handkerchief. "I've extracted all the information that the Customer requested, along with a few extra marketable items." From his pocket, he took a small bunch of keys, dropping them onto the table with a jangle. "I'm afraid that there isn't a great deal left for you to practice on, but what there is should provide you with a few interesting challenges." He cleared his throat and sniffed. "I'd like you to concentrate on your fine-work today; no incision longer than a finger-length."

The younger man nodded in acknowledgment and reached for the keys. "Will you be needing the Client again, Sir?"

Jarrod gave another sniff, "No, I don't think so. But here's a little test for you; I want you to try to keep him alive until the end of the day." He held up a finger and scowled at the youth, "Although that doesn't mean that you can let him off lightly, Sutton. I'll be down later to check."

Sutton nodded again at the other man's words. "I'll do my best, Minister." Picking up the keys, he stood and started to make his way to the door.

"Oh, and Sutton," Jarrod called after him, "Make sure that you put everything away properly, and hose down the entire room when you've finished. Last time you left it looking like a shambles."

His ears reddening once again, Sutton scuttled out through the door, closing it behind him.

There was a sound no louder than a cough and Jarrod slumped forward in his chair, his head striking the table where a pool of blood quickly formed around it.

Sheppard unscrewed the long silencer from the muzzle of his handgun and left his hiding place. Keeping to the roof space, he followed Sutton through the complex, making no more noise than a ghost.

TBC