Hello All! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a while. Unfortunately this my busy season for my job, but here is an update! I hope you enjoy it!

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The Lost Boys Cont.
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Kai was groggy when she woke up. The last thing she remembered was stepping through the Stargate onto the planet where Sheppard and his team had disappeared. The pins and needles running through her sluggish limbs told her she had been stunned but there was something else, something she couldn't place. She frowned before she had even opened her eyes and she felt a subtle gentle nudge that told her Sheppard was near by.

Kai's eyes fluttered opened and she grimaced when the dim light of a lantern hit her. Pain shot through the backs of her eyes and she pinched them closed. She felt someone shift beside her, and didn't need to open her eyes to know Sheppard was beside her.

"Kai?" He asked in a low tone. "Shit, here," he said and the light against the backs of her eyes dimmed. "Should be better."

Kai slowly blinked her eyes open. She was laying on a cot in what appeared to be a cave. Sheppard was crouched beside the cot, a frown pinching his face. She breathed a sigh of relief to see him.

Since the retrovirus they had kept a professional distance between them, but something had changed. Kai hadn't been able to keep the connection between closed as tightly as she used to and every now and then something leaked through like now. She could feel a small warmth that told her he was nearby and if she focused she could feel almost a buzz of irritation.

"How are you feeling?" John asked, his voice gruff with concern.

Kai frowned as she considered his question. "A little fuzzy," she said honestly. She shoved herself up onto her elbows and grimaced. Her head felt thick and her thoughts sluggish, not something she normally associated with being stunned.

She climbed to her feet and froze. Her thoughts may have been sluggish but her body felt fluid and efficient. Powerful.

"Are you okay?" John asked in concern.

Kai looked around them in confusion. She spotted the other three members of the team sleeping on cots around them. She turned confused eyes back to John.

"What in the hell is going on Sheppard?" She demanded.

John exhaled a relieved sigh. Kai didn't look any worse for wear, and if she was feeling well enough to look so annoyed it was a good sign.

"It's a long story," he said a little wryly.

Kai frowned and sniffed, her head snapping towards the cave opening. "Was Ford the one who captured your team?"

John snorted. "Okay, maybe not that long of a story."

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The next morning Kai, Sheppard and the rest of the team were all brought out into the main area for breakfast. Kai was still feeling the effects of the enzyme they had given her. She felt incredibly powerful as she strode in behind Sheppard. She hasn't been able to sleep any more the night before. Once the last of the sedative had worn off, every one of her nerves started buzzing. It was almost scary how aggressive it made her feel.

Ford greeted them. "So, did you debrief Kai? Is she ready to get to work?"

"She's standing right here," Kai snarled taking a step out from behind Sheppard. Her eyes locked on Ford. "And she doesn't appreciate being talked over."

Ford looked even more wild than the last time she had seen him. His mismatched eyes locked on her and he cracked his neck a slow, predatory smirk crossing his face as he stared down at her.

Even the small amount of enzyme in Kai's system made it nearly impossible to ignore the urge to attack the threat to her and her people.

Without thinking John reached down and grabbed Kai's wrist. "Kai," he said in a warning voice. Only instead of backing down her muscles coiled tighter beneath his hand. He glanced down at her sharply. Her eyes were narrowed and locked on Ford like she was ready to attack. He had never seen her like this and it reminded him a little too much of the aggressive gleam he recognized in Ford's eyes. 

Ford looked down at where John had grabbed her wrist and smiled lazily. John let go of her, but the damage had been done as Ford looked back at Kai with a knowing smile.

"You know Kai," He drawled casually as though they were friends. "You were the first to really notice the change in me. I always took it as sort of a compliment when you put that knife to my throat in Weir's office. Now, I was pretty sure then, but I gotta know. You would have killed me in that office wouldn't you?" he goaded her.

Kai didn't bother lying. "Without hesitation," she promised him, flashing a smile that had too much teeth. She was pushing the edge, she could feel it but she couldn't seem to stop herself. Her skin felt tight and she was flushed. It was too hot in the cave and it made it difficult to think clearly.

Ford snorted and something dark moved in his eyes as he leaned towards Kai. "I thought so."

John looked back and forth between them as he tried to quickly think of a way to diffuse the rising tension between them. Ford was deliberately baiting Kai and she didn't seem to be thinking like herself. Neither Teyla nor Ronon had reacted so quickly to the enzyme. Which meant not only could her body not handle it physically, but it was also effecting her mentally as well.

Ford was watching them intently but instead of continuing to push Kai he decided on a different tactic. He stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest casually. "So what do you think of my plan?" Ford asked Kai. "I mean I feel like I can trust you of all people to be totally honest with me."

Kai could feel the warmth of Sheppard standing just behind her, but she couldn't tear her focus away from the threat. Despite his casual tone, she could see straight through him to what lay simmering beneath the surface. His volatile mood swings were dangerous. He was dangerous. She had fought him twice, and both times he had beaten her. A shudder ran through her body and she closed her hands into fists. She felt like fire was running through her veins. She could beat him now. She was sure of it.

Behind her, Sheppard shifted and he bumped her shoulder with his. Kai flinched but the contact helped and suddenly she could think again. She didn't look away from Ford however, she couldn't. "I think it's impossible," she snapped.

John's eyes widened and he quickly took a step forward. "Well it was impossible. But," John hastily interrupted. "With you here now it is possible," John said through clenched teeth.

Kai swung around to face him. "You aren't honestly considering this?" she said, her eyes flaring with challenge.

John turned so he was fully facing Kai. He stared intently into her eyes, willing her to understand that they needed to play this cool. Ford's people were on edge and Kai seemed to be making them especially twitchy. If he could get into that cockpit the chances of their escape would go up astronomically. "Well, it is on it's way to a culling Zian." He said her last name through clenched teeth. Kai was barely hanging on, but he wasn't worried about her attacking him.

Kai scowled at The Colonel, wondering if they had been lying about him being on the drug. "This plan is insane," she snarled her face just inches from his. Behind them Ford's men shifted restlessly.

"Maybe not," John disagreed calmly as Kai yelled in his face from inches away. Her stormy eyes were fever bright and she was panting. "We just need you to get the dart in the air," he continued, working to keep his voice soothing.

"Absolutely out of the question," Kai growled. "I thought you were supposed to be the one here not taking the enzyme," she said stabbing her finger into Sheppard's firm chest.

Sheppard didn't respond to her anger, his jaw was tight, but his hazel eyes never left hers. Her heart was racing in her ears and her chest rose and fell as she panted. Ford and everyone around them were forgotten as her eyes dropped to his lips. She sucked in a breath and tipped her chin up to face him.

"Kai-" Sheppard said in warning. She had started trembling and didn't seem to notice.

Kai stopped just short of touching him. "I'm not doing this," she said almost to herself. She shook her head as she turned and stomped away from the group towards the mouth of the cave.

"If she isn't going to help than she's a liability," Kanayo said drawing his gun and leveling it at Kai's retreating back. Either Kai didn't hear it or she chose not to react because her stride didn't falter when his gun cocked.

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute," John yelled putting himself between Kai and the gun. Kanayo hesitated begrudgingly. "Just let me talk to her," John implored, turning to face Ford. "I just need to convince her. She'll listen to me," he promised and he hoped he was right.

Ford stared at him for a long moment before he nodded grimly. "For her sake, I hope so," Ford growled and jerked his chin towards Kai's retreating back. Despite Ford's agreement, the dangerous glint in his eye made it clear to John that he needed to keep Ford as far away from Kai as possible.

John turned and jogged to catch up. For having such short legs Kai could move surprisingly fast. "Kai wait up!" he called. She was already out of the cave and striding across the large field towards the useless Stargate.

Kai didn't bother looking over her shoulder. She was starting to feel shaky and hollow, but she was overwhelmed with the need to keep moving. "I'm not going to change my mind Sheppard. This plan is a suicide mission."

"Look, a million things could go wrong I know that," John said catching her arm in his grip and pulling her to a stop. "But just-" he exhaled in frustration. "Stop already," he finally ordered sharply.

Kai did as instructed, but she lifted her chin defiantly and John hated that he used that tone with her.

"Just listen to me already," he begged. "If you and McKay can fix that dart we might all be able to get out of here. I know it's risky but Ford and his men aren't thinking straight. So I'll insist you're all on the away team, I'll scoop you up and instead of flying up to the Hive, I'll take us through the gate to Atlantis."

Kai hesitated for a moment as her thoughts raced to catch up. She still felt like she couldn't think straight, but John's plan seemed sound. She frowned up at him. It took her a minute to realize her heart was racing in her ears. She looked down at her hands and was surprised to notice they were shaking. She closed them into fists and they felt like they belonged to someone else.

"Just trust me, okay?" John implored, taking another step towards her. Even knowing he shouldn't, he laid his hand over one of her fists. She flinched in surprise but didn't pull away from him. "We gotta get this shit outta your system so you can start thinking straight." He added with a reassuring smile and he gently tightened his hand around hers.

Kai closed her eyes and nodded. She breathed in a deep breath and exhaled. "It doesn't feel like you're the one making sense," she told him sincerely. "I think its-" she swallowed thickly. "I think it's wearing off." Then she opened her eyes and found him staring intently down at her. Her whole body was trembling now, her skin felt too tight and he was so close she could feel the heat coming off of him like a furnace. She pinched her eyes shut and swayed as her head swam.

John grabbed Kai's arm to steady her as he silently curse Ford for being too stupid to realize injecting her with the enzyme might have bad side effects. She let herself droop forward and rested her forehead against his chest.

John stiffened for a moment and then awkwardly rested his hands on her shoulders to steady her. "I think on this one you're gonna just have to trust me."

Kai tried to nod but it suddenly felt like too much work. "Okay," her voice came out breathy and even though she knew she should pull away her body was starting to feel so heavy. She just wanted to lean into him and go to sleep. She had to swallow twice before she could get out her next words. "I trust you," she promised him.

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"So, how'd that go?" Ford asked as John walked into his rooms later that afternoon. It had taken Sheppard longer than Ford would have liked for him to convince Kai. Ford didn't like the idea of having Zian around and the fact that she was Mortii made his men nervous. She was a wild card.

John exhaled a heavy sigh and dropped to sit beside Ford. McKay seemed to think the enzyme was working its way out of Kai's system. John ended up having to help her back to the cave, but it had still taken a lot of convincing to get her to lay down. Once she had finally drifted off John left Ronon watching over her while she rested while he went to chat with Ford.

"She'll do it," John said wearily.

Ford smirked up at him. "I knew you could convince her."

"But," John added sharply. "We need some conditions."

Ford frowned. He didn't like the idea of being given orders from his previous commander. He had watched The Colonel negotiate enough times to know that giving him anything he wanted usually ended up disastrous for the other side. "What?"  Ford asked suspiciously.

"No more enzyme for Kai," John said resolutely. He couldn't watch her go through that again, and he certainly wouldn't stand by and let Ford try.

Ford shook his head. "Jace-" he started to say.

"Has been working all day in his lab," John interrupted. "I know and I don't care. All of us are going to be a hell of a lot less agreeable if you try and poison her again."

Ford looked like he wanted to argue but John pressed on. "I don't give a shit how brilliant you think your scientist is. He isn't Beckett and she isn't human Ford."

Ford nodded slowly. He didn't like it, but controlling Kai physically would be easier if she wasn't on the enzyme. As profitable as it would be synthesizing the enzyme for Mortii use, there would always be time enough for that in the future. This mission was what mattered. "What else?"

John exhaled, with his primary concern taken care of he just hoped he was able to convince him of the second. "Dial back McKay's enzyme dose."

"What? No," Ford snapped without hesitation.

John hadn't thought it likely, but the more of them thinking clearly the better. "Look, we're under some time constraints here, I'm not saying the enzyme wouldn't help him in the long run but we need him standing still and thinking while he's helping Kai, not running laps because he feels good."

Ford drew in a deep breath, he didn't like it, but losing The Colonel's cooperation wasn't an option. "Ronon and Teyla?" he asked suspiciously.

"Stick to the plan," John allowed. He hated the idea of continuing to endanger his people with the enzyme, but he couldn't work out another way around it.

"Okay," Ford nodded, he leaned forward as he fell back into the old rhythm of planning missions with the Colonel. "What else?"

"Teyla, Ronon, McKay and Kai are all on the strike team."

Ford shook his head again. "It's not a good mission for McKay. It could get rough in there."

John leaned back in his chair. This was going to be the hard sell, and if he didn't play it just right there would be no saving it. "And if we suddenly need a door open? Or to access a computer? McKay should be there to do it, that's why he's on my team in the first place."

Ford suddenly seemed agitated as he shoved himself to his feet. "Is that it?" Ford asked.

John nodded and Ford offered John his hand. "Let's do this," Ford said with a wild glint in his eye.

John stood and grimly shook hands. "Okay."

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By the next morning Kai was feeling like herself again. She and McKay went out to get to work on the dart, but Ford kept the rest of them inside the cave. Teyla and Ronon were forced to continue to take the enzyme and train with Ford's men. Kai worked as quickly as possible, but she hadn't done much work fixing darts as she had dismantling them and she felt the pressure of trying to finish as quickly as possible for Teyla and Ronon's sake.

Kai was in the cave taking a short break and watching as Teyla and Ronon sparred with Ford's men. They were getting stronger and faster by the hour. Both were still badly beaten. It was impressive considering Teyla and Ronon were two of the best fighters she had faced. As the two of them moved to get up off the mats Ford's men grabbed them, pulling out syringes full of enzyme.

Kai charged in. "Stop!" she called.

Kanayo whirled around and grabbed Kai's neck.

Ronon renewed his fight against Ford's men and Teyla shouted loud enough John and Ford charged into the room. John attacked the men moving at his team. He took two hits before he reached for one of the training staffs.

Ford didn't get caught up in the fight however. He went straight to Kanayo. He jerked Kai out of Kanayo's grip as he pulled his gun. Ford jerked her roughly against his chest and pushed his gun against her temple. Kai fought to pull away, but Ford clamped down on her arm even harder. She grunted in pain but refused to show it.

"Hey, hey!" Sheppard exclaimed taking a step towards Ford. "Just hold on!" he said holding his hands up.

Ford snorted and shook his head. "Predictable," he growled with a disappointed shake of his head. "Throw it aside," he said jerking his chin towards the training staff in John's hand.

John's jaw tightened but he did as he was told.

"You too," Ford ordered, his eyes landing on Ronon and Teyla. The two of them stilled. "This is what we agreed to wasn't it?" Ford asked looking back and forth from Sheppard to Ronon and Teyla. "Wasn't it?" Ford snarled at the Colonel. When he didn't respond Ford pressed the gun tighter against Kai's temple. Kai squirmed, but couldn't get away. Ford was too strong.

"Yes," John responded tightly.

"What was that?" Ford shouted, sounding like a drill sergeant.

John lifted his chin defiantly. "I said yes," he yelled back.

Ford threw Kai away from him like she was a doll. She tried to catch herself, but the force was too great and she hit the ground at John's feet. Ford snorted and shook his head. "Get back to work," he ordered and he stomped away.

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Kai and McKay worked late on the dart. Ford had ordered Kanayo to keep watch and Kai hated the feeling of being watched by the brutish soldier who kept leering at them. Kanayo was making McKay progressively more nervous until the normally snarky scientist was practically vibrating in place in distress.

The dart had extensive damage but they were getting it put back together a little at a time. She was feeling like herself again, but she felt hollowed out and weak from the last of the enzyme, like she had been out the night before drinking. McKay was just starting to show signs of withdrawal and she knew she was only going to get so much more work done before he needed to eat and rest.

Ford kept John with him while the others worked and trained. John was sitting at the banquet table reading over the plans. Ford was watching him expectantly. John stared at the papers longer than he needed to as he worked out how to answer without calling Ford crazy to his face.

"It's a good plan," he allowed.

Ford exhaled a sigh of relief and the smile on his face reminded Sheppard of the kid who had come to Atlantis in the beginning. "Couldn't have done it without you sir," he grinned.

John grunted as he worked to keep his face neutral. "Glad you trust me enough to bring me here..." he hesitated when he saw a shadow of grief flicker in Ford's eyes; the first real chink in his armor. "What's wrong Aidan?" John asked as Aidan scrubbed at his eyes.

Aidan lifted his head and he looked like a frightened kid. "I want to go home," he said, his voice breaking with emotion.

John leaned forward, seizing on the chance to get through to him. "So let's go," John said motion towards the cave entrance. "Give McKay the DHD crystals and I can have you back on earth within the hour."

Hope flickered in Aidan's eyes for only a moment before his face hardened into that thing again. "No," he said shaking his head. "I have to do this first. I have to prove to them that I can do this."

John watched as Ford's face became an angry mask. He spoke quickly, trying to backtrack. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone, you-"

Ford shoved himself to his feet, knocking his chair backwards. "If anyone is going to ever take me seriously again we have to do this."

"Listen, Aiden-" John pushed.

Ford bent down and picked up his chair. "I don't want to talk about this anymore. I'm having your team brought in for the night." He turned and snapped his fingers at one of his men who had been standing outside the door. "Bring the Colonels people in here, and...and get them dinner," he ordered, but it was clear he was shaken as he staggered a step and disappeared into the cave.

Teyla and Ronon came in and immediately set upon the food like they hadn't eaten in weeks.

"Hey guys, how are you?" John asked wryly, but neither of them responded. He scowled at them and opened his mouth to say something more when McKay scuttled into the room ahead of Kanayo. Kanayo followed dragging Kai behind him. His hand was locked around Kai's bicep. Kai wasn't fighting but it didn't seem to discourage Kanayo from his rough treatment.

Kanayo shoved Kai into the room. The force was too much and Kai stumbled over her feet. She caught herself on the edge of the table and shoved herself back around to face him, but the door slammed shut behind him.

Kai grunted and turned back to the table. Ronon and Teyla had already finished their food and turned to the other plates.

"Oh that's just perfect," McKay grumbled in disgust as he watched them eat his food. "I'm going to bed," he mumbled tiredly and he stumbled out of the room towards the cots.

Kai dropped down into the chair beside John. She was too exhausted to even think about eating.

"How's the dart coming?" John asked, glancing towards Kai.

"Another day or so," she said, yawning beside her hand.

Teyla and Ronon were staring each other down over the table.

"I think sooner rather than later would be good," John said lightly, though his eyes were serious as he watched his friends. Neither one of them were acting like themselves. Kai picked up on it immediately and was watching them carefully as well.

"How was your day with Ford?" she asked.

"Enlightening," John said tiredly. "You know, part of me thinks he brought us here because he knew we'd bring him back home. I think part of him knows what our plan is and he's fine with it..." John drew off as he watched Ronon and Teyla warily.

The tension between them was rising by the second. Ronon reached over and snatched the last of the food off of Teyla's plate. Teyla shot to her feet, slamming her hands flat against the table. "Give it back!" she snarled, her voice low and guttural, sounding nothing like herself.

"Or what?" Ronon asked with a predatory smile. He shoved her food into his mouth his eyes glinting with challenge. Teyla pulled back and punched him across the face. His head snapped back and when he looked at her there was a dangerous gleam in his eye.

"Ronon," Kai said warily as she climbed wearily to her feet.

"Hey," John called, but they were both beyond hearing him. He shoved himself up as well. Neither he, nor Kai were really equipped to make them stop.

Ronon swiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand before he glowered at Teyla. She preened at him as though it were the funniest thing she had ever seen. Ronon struck, quicker than a cat. He grabbed Teyla's arm and jerked her over and across the table. He flung her away from him across the floor.

She came up fighting and the two of them started sparing.

"Knock it off guys." Sheppard ordered coming around behind them. John moved to stop Ronon while Kai moved towards Teyla. Kai grabbed Teyla's arm. The other woman was much stronger, but Kai twisted her arm behind her back. Teyla tried pulling away but the way Kai was holding her made it so the harder she fought the more she hurt herself.

John moved to stop Ronon before he could charge the girls. Ronon didn't see him coming however, he pulled his hand back to strike Teyla. Ronon backhanded John by accident and he hit the ground, hard. He groaned as lights flashed behind his eyes. Teyla jolted in shock when John hit the ground. Kai let go of Teyla and moved to check on him.

John let Kai help pull him to his feet. He shifted his jaw, testing to make sure nothing was broken. He shoved himself to his feet angrily. "What in the hell has gotten into you two!" he snarled, then he hesitated. "Oh right."

Ronon stalked back and forth across the back of the room. "Are we going to talk about this?" his voice rumbled, low and gravely.

"About what?" John asked, groaning as Kai helped him into one of the chairs.

Ronon snorted and shook his head. "The enzyme works. No one's saying it but we are all thinking it."

"What?" John asked in disbelief as he looked back and forth between the two of them. Ronon was pacing aggressively and Teyla was practically vibrating with energy.

"I have noticed an increased amount of strength and speed," Teyla agreed, hopping up and down in place.

"Ford's right," Ronon said grimly. "Maybe it's worth looking into it and seeing what this stuff can really do."

Teyla was nodding too many times and she ran her hands up and down her arms. "They delivered our enzyme an hour late yesterday and I felt awful. It frightens me how reliant my body has become on the enzyme always being in my system, I mean what would happen if we suddenly could not receive it?" she asked, her eyes widening as though she suddenly realized it was a very real possibility.

"The only negative is that you gotta keep taking it," Ronon agreed with a nod. "I'd wanna stay on it," he admitted.

Behind him, John felt Kai stiffen. John was doing a good job of not noticing how crazy the two of them were acting. "How about you?" he asked turning back to Teyla.

"The fact that I'm even considering it makes me feel..." Teyla drew off and shook her head.

Kai's lips flattened into a grim line. "I ah- I need to check on something with the dart," she said vaguely, excusing herself.

John stared after her for a beat, then he turned back to Teyla and Ronon. "I think you two should get some sleep," he told them. It wasn't exactly an order, but the set of The Colonel's jaw made it clear there was no room for discussion.

The two moved back towards the cots. Once they were out of sight John set off through the cave after Kai.

He found her laying on her back half under the dart. She didn't acknowledge him, but he knew she would have heard him. He leaned against the side of the dart and looked up at the alien stars overhead.

"You know, even you need to sleep at some point," John called casually.

Kai squirmed out from under the dart and glared up at the Colonel, a wrench still gripped in one of her hands. "I'm fine," she told him.

John crossed his arms over his chest and smirked down at her. "Come on Kai."

She was scowling up at him with that defiant gleam in her eye that drove him nuts. He pushed himself off the dart and stepped up so he was standing over her. He reached down offering her his hand. She blew out an agitated breath and let him pull her to her feet.

John held onto Kai's hand a moment longer than was necessary. "You can't finish this by yourself, in the dark," John told her reluctantly letting her go.

"I just-" she started to say and stopped. "I was hoping to," she admitted honestly. "The longer I take, the longer they are on the enzyme," she said looking down at the wench in her hand.

John sighed. "This isn't your responsibility, it's mine," He told her. "You shouldn't have gotten stuck here," he said scrubbing a hand over his burning eyes.

Kai looked up sharply and for a fleeting moment she could see the weight of The Colonel's responsibilities in John's eyes. He hid it well, but he put so much pressure on himself.

"McKay has already apologized at
least a hundred times," Kai told him.

John snorted. "It was sort of his fault...Let's head into bed, you and McKay can get back to work first thing once you get some sleep."

Kai wanted to argue, to push the point, but she could see how exhausted John was and knew there was no chance of him going in without her. She tossed her wrench back with the other tools.

"Okay, John," she agreed and the two of them walked together back towards the cave.

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Hope you enjoyed the update!