GAME OVER...part one

"Break time!" John called out, already slowing his speed. He came to a stop and hunched over, hands on his knees, waiting for Ronon to jog back to him.

"We haven't been running that long," Ronon complained, even as he pulled out his water bottle and took a long swig.

John nodded, reaching for his own bottle and downing a few swallows before explaining. Although he was a bit surprised that Ronon hadn't made some taunt about him being an old man, like he normally would. "Something feels different," he said.

Ronon eyed him a moment, then nodded. "Thought so," he said. "You've been off since we hit this section."

"What's that supposed to mean?" John wasn't sure if he should be offended or not.

"It means what it means," Ronon replied. "You were keeping up until twenty minutes ago when we hit this section. Then you lost stride."

John was impressed, because Ronon was right. He wasn't really surprised though. The Satedan very seldom missed any kind of detail. Which was part of what made him such an excellent tracker.

Ronon clapped John on the shoulder, an lazy cuff that almost knocked him off his feet. The big guy never seemed able to judge his own strength. Then again, he was probably just messing with John. "So what's wrong?" Ronon prompted.

"Wish I knew." John felt uneasy and jumpy, and he really couldn't explain why. But something was different in this section. It was an area that was still unexplored. A couple of months ago, John had talked Elizabeth into letting him and Ronon take their daily run into uncharted territory in Atlantis.

Mostly they found nothing, but at times they reported something unusual and Rodney and his team would come check it out. They had discovered a new lab, some equipment that turned out to be useful to Beckett, and what appeared to be a weapons room. That particular area had severe water damage though, so they had blocked it off. They had also discovered another living area, with bigger quarters, and Elizabeth had allowed senior staff to move there. John had taken advantage of it, and had finished moving yesterday, with Ronon and Teyla's help. His main reason for moving was a bigger bed. Twice as big as his last one and far more comfortable. Which he had taunted Rodney about this morning in the mess, when he'd stopped in for a quick glass of OJ before hooking up with Ronon.

Realizing that he was being watched, and that Ronon was starting to look a bit concerned, John shook himself out of his momentary reverie and grinned. "No worries, big guy." He clapped Ronon on the back, harder than was strictly neccessary, and was a bit peeved that the Satedan didn't budge even a fraction. Swallowing a sigh, John continued. "I'm just having one of those someone's walking over my grave moments."

"Huh." Ronon made a face, and it was pretty obvious he didn't get the reference, but then he shrugged. "We gonna keep going or are we done for the day?"

"Keep going." John capped his water bottle, tucked it back into the strap he'd made for it on his belt, and headed off again. A heartbeat later Ronon flew by him and John huffed a bit then picked up his own pace. He would never be able to out run the Satedan, without turning into a bug again, but he had gotten faster since he'd started running with him. Ronon was good at pushing him to his limits and beyond.

So they ran for another twenty minutes, until they hit an abrupt dead end.

Ronon had skidded to a halt in front of the wide expanse of dark gray wall. "Weird," he said, as he ran a hand over it.

"You can say that again," John drawled, pressing his own palm over the, surprisingly warm, metal surface. He could feel a tingling where his skin touched. He'd felt this a few times before, since coming to Atlantis. Not that he'd told anyone about it. Nor had he ever mentioned the hum that connected him to the city. The moment he had stepped through the gate and set foot on Atlantis, she had hummed for him. It had freaked John out a bit at first, but now the feeling, the sense of her, was comforting. This hum, however, seemed different.

"We'll have to turn back," Ronon stated.

John didn't respond. He closed his eyes and reached out, trying to make an viable connection. It was what he did in the chair. Why he connected better than the others with the gene. Rodney had asked him about it once, but John hadn't been able to find the words to explain it. He just did it, by instinct, like flying. And you couldn't explain someone who had never flown a chopper what that felt like either.

Ronon clomped his way over to John. "Sheppard," he said loudly. "You ready to go or are you taking a nap?"

"Shh!" John hissed. He was feeling something. There was a heat to the tingling now, and he slid his hand around the wall, seeking something out. Something he couldn't define but he knew it was there. Mentally he visualized unlocking a door and suddenly he pulled away as a panel slid aside, revealing an opening. "So, not a dead end," John muttered.

"How'd you do that?" Ronon asked, as he peered over John's shoulder.

John shrugged. "Just did it." He knew Ronon wouldn't press him for more. And he didn't. Instead the Satedan nudged John aside and stepped through the opening.

Glancing over his shoulder, Ronon asked, "You coming?" It sounded a bit like a challenge really.

"Uh, yeah," John replied, hesitantly. He had a bad feeling about this. A tie-your-stomach-in-a-knot kind of feeling. Part of him wanted to go in and explore, but something was holding him back.

"Come on, it's just a room." Ronon reached out, snagged John by the arm, and yanked him through.

The moment John was on the other side, the panel snapped back into place.

Panic set in and John pulled away from Ronon and ran to the panel, pressing both palms against the spot. Nothing happened. He had a really bad feeling about this and he said as much.

Ronon didn't look all that happy himself. He practically shoved John aside and pounded his fists on the panel.

John knew it wasn't going to help, but he let the Satedan bang for a moment. While Ronon was thus occupied, John tapped his ear piece. "Elizabeth, come in, it's Sheppard." He waited for a reply and got nothing. So he tried Rodney next. Still nothing.

By this time, Ronon had stopped banging and was watching him. "We're cut off." It was a statement, not a question.

"Seems like," John allowed. "Maybe they can hear us though and we just can't hear them?" And hoping he was right, John left a message for McKay. "I told you what section we were running in this morning so just scan us for a location. We're trapped in a room and if you can hear us, FYI, we can't hear you." With that he clicked off.

"We'll figure a way out," Ronon said simply, watching John. "You always figure something out.

John didn't have a reply for that, although he was much touched by Ronon's faith in him than he was ever likely to admit. Even to himself. He did give a nod, however, knowing that the Satedan wasn't big on words anyway. Which was nice at times like this. When he wanted to be able to think without distractions.

Moving to the far wall, John pressed a hand to the surface. The hum was different, yet again, here. He slid his hand along slowly, feeling the tingling sensation building until it was almost painful. Without warning a panel snapped open, the shock of it sending John stumbling back into a solid bulk.

Ronon was there, steadying John, a grin on his face. "Knew you'd find the way out."

"Might just be another empty room," John felt the need to point out.

"Could be," Ronon allowed, with a shrug. But he was also a quick learner and he didn't step through the opening, he merely leaned in. "Dark in there."

John leaned in on the other side. It was pitch black and he hated the fact that they didn't have weapons on them. John was disinclined to carry one while running. He hated the idea of needing to be armed in the city when he was doing something as benign as getting some exercise. He figured if he ran with a gun strapped to his leg, that meant he was paranoid. John preferred to be labeled as cautious. But right now he really wished he had a gun on him.

Apparently Ronon could read his mind, because a knife suddenly appeared and was held out to him.

"Thanks." John took it, hefting it in his fist while watching as Ronon pulled a matching knife out of his hair. He had a fondness for the Satedan's dreadlocks. He vaguely wondered if Rodney could make a miniaturized stunner that Ronon could hide in there.

"Ready?" Ronon asked, as he hefted his own blade.

John nodded and stepped through the opening. To his surprise, the room lit up as each step. But he also noticed that the moment Ronon had stepped through, the panel snapped closed and as he moved forward, the darkness fell in behind them. There was just enough light to guide them down a narrow corridor. Narrow to the point where they could only travel single file and John noticed Ronon's shoulders nearly brushed the sides. He was beginning to feel a bit claustraphobic.

They walked for what John judged to be about twenty minutes when the corridor opened up and the light brightened and expanded, revealing a small chamber.

Before they could study their surroundings, a holographic figure appeared. It was a man, dressed in blue robes. "Will you play the game?" he asked.

"What game?" John countered, his knife to the ready, even though he knew he couldn't use it on a hologram.

"Will you play the game?" the holograph repeated, looking through John rather than at him.

Before John could respond, Ronon stepped foward with a reply.

A resounding, "Yes!"

John didn't have time to yell, no time to warn Ronon. A flash of bright light nearly blinded him, but he still darted in front of the Satedan, just in time for the silver beam that burst forth from the hologram to hit him squarely in the chest. In seconds John was enveloped in what felt like pure fire. It surged through his veins, flickered over his skin and seeped into his brain. He was burning and melting and the pain was excruciating, but he didn't make a sound. He wasn't sure he could even breathe.

Just when he was certain he would explode from the pain, it stopped. In the space from one heartbeat to the next, it was gone and John felt a relief so intense it was almost painful in itself. He also felt himself falling, his muscles feeling suddenly liquified. He felt himself hit the floor hard.

Ronon leaped towards John, but he was too late to catch him. So he knelt beside him, feeling for a pulse. "Sheppard! Can you hear me?"

John wanted to respond but he wasn't sure he remembered how to speak. He wasn't sure that it wouldn't hurt to say the words. He was afraid that the pain would come back. So afraid that he felt himself tremble at the thought.

"Sheppard?" Ronon gathered John into his arms, supporting the limp body as best he could.

The contact made John whimper. His skin felt sensitive against the courseness of Ronon's flesh and his own clothes felt too rough. He tried to tell Ronon not to touch him but sucking in enough air to speak made him choke. John coughed until he felt like he was going to puke. He felt Ronon holding him, heard his clumsy attempt to soothe him. Then the coughing fit was over and John realized he could breathe again.

He shifted in Ronon's hold and it was a relief not to feel pain. The sensitivity had lessened. So he turned his head and stared into brown eyes that were nearly black with worry.

"I'm..okay," John whispered.

"Thought I'd lost you." Ronon was always one for being blunt.

John made a sound that was meant to be laughter. Guess he'd have to work up to that. "Almost...almost wish...you had." He felt Ronon flinch and realized he had just given away the fact that what had just happened to him had been pure agony. He'd have to remember to order Ronon not to repeat that to anyone, especially Beckett, when they got out of here.

Moving carefully, Ronon stood up, drawing John with him. "Sorry about what happened," he said, his voice deeper than usual.

"You didn't know," John replied, letting Ronon support him, even as he let him off the hook. Mostly. He took a moment to find his own balance, realized he could stand without help and shrugged Ronon off him. Turning carefully, John locked eyes with Ronon. "Just don't agree to anything else. Okay?"

"You shouldn't have jumped in front of me." Ronon made it sound almost like an accusation.

John resisted the urge to sigh. "Trust me, I won't do that again."

The hologram suddenly reappeared. "You may proceed to the next level," he stated.

Behind them, a panel opened.

John looked at Ronon. He wasn't sure he wanted to continue, but it wasn't really like they had a choice. It was continue on or stay trapped in the room. Hoping against hope, John tapped his ear piece. "Elizabeth?" He waited a few beats, but wasn't surprised that there was no response. Tapping off, he looked at Ronon, who nodded.

"I'll go first," Ronon said, stepping through the opening.

Pausing a moment to wish he could click his heels three times and will himself back to his room, John allowed himself a heartfelt sigh before stepping through himself. Into pitch black darkness.

With a snap the panel closed behind him.

OoO

Elizabeth was trying to enjoy her breakfast when Rodney stormed into her office, looking riled.

"Something's wrong!" he declared, somewhat dramatically, the effect spoiled just a tiny bit by the fact that he looked like he was about to drool over her toasted english muffin.

"What's wrong?" Elizabeth prompted, before taking a bite of the muffin and chewing slowly.

Rodney seemed to shake himself before replying, making a point to look away from the muffin. "Sheppard is missing."

Elizabeth wiped her mouth with a napkin then chuckled. "He's not missing. He's running with Ronon."

"They're always done by 8am," Rodney countered. "It's now almost nine."

"Maybe they ran longer today?" Elizabeth replied. And that seemed totally reasonable to her.

But Rodney was shaking his head. "I tried to reach him, and Ronon. They're not responding. And, no they didn't forget their radios. I know Sheppard had his because I saw him in the mess right before his run."

Elizabeth was surprised to hear that. "What were you doing up that early, Rodney?"

"I couldn't sleep. Bad back," Rodney replied, trying to look pitiful, but failing miserably.

"We'll talk about you moving to new quarters some other time," Elizabeth said firmly.

Rodney looked peeved, then shrugged it off in favor of shoving his laptop under her nose. "For the record, I tried to scan their location. Sheppard gave me the basic area this morning and there's nothing there. So I did a head count. Everyone is accounted for with the exception of two people. Guess who?"

Elizabeth winced. She was starting to get a knot in her stomach. Leave it to Sheppard to be the one to make her feel this way. He had a knack for finding trouble. "Get Teyla and Lorne and take Beckett with you just in case. Find them."

"We are already ready," Said a voice from the doorway.

Looking over Rodney's shoulder, Elizabeth saw Teyla, who had spoken, standing next to Major Lorne and Dr. Beckett. Elizabeth couldn't help smiling as she focused back on Rodney. "Looks like you have everything under control. Just keep me updated.

Rodney looked a bit smug, but it was overrided by the worry that glimmered in his eyes. "I'll find them," he promised.

Elizabeth nodded and watched them go. Then she pushed away her breakfast, closed her eyes, and prayed.

THE END...of part one