Trust Once Broken | SGA John Sheppard

0.62.0

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It was the absence of sound that woke Kai, though she didn't realize it at first. She was warm and comfortable with the steady rhythm of John's heart beating loudly under her ear. She blinked awake quickly when she realized she was still curled against John's chest, though she didn't pull away. His deep steady breathing told her he was still sleeping and she didn't want to wake him. She doubted he had slept much since they had been taken by Ford and his men. He wasn't the type to rest when his team was in danger. Her cheeks heated when she realized he was actually holding her against him with his arms locked together. It wasn't the first time they had slept together, but the other times she had been injured. This felt different somehow.

There was a heavy metal whirling and John startled awake, his arms tightening around her for a second until he realized they weren't under attack. John slowly let his arms fall and scrubbed a hand over his face. He hadn't slept long, but the combat nap helped. He felt clearer than he had earlier. He looked down at Kai who was blushing furiously as she slid away from him. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing he could come up with was going to make the moment less awkward. He didn't like the awkwardness that was hanging between them, but he didn't know how to make it better and certainly not when they were prisoner aboard a Hive.

"What the hell was that sound?" John asked as the two of them climbed to their feet. "Did we blow a tire?" He joked half-heartedly.

Kai wouldn't look at him as she moved over to the wall. She lifted her small hand and rested it against the wall. The texture reminded her of clammy skin and she wrinkled her nose. "We've dropped out of hyperspace. I can't feel it anymore."

John stepped up to the bars, leaning against them so he could try and look down the hall, but there was no movement. "They must be getting ready for the culling."

"They're coming," Kai warned, her head snapping towards John.

"You sure?" he asked. He couldn't see or hear anyone. When he glanced over his shoulder towards her she shot him an incredulous look.

"Okay, okay," he said holding his hands up in surrender. He took a step back from the bars so he was standing closer to Kai. He knew she wouldn't appreciate him protecting her overtly, but it wasn't an instinct he could easily turn off.

Seconds later the heavy footfalls of the Wraith soldiers were audible even to him. Six Wraith guards appeared outside the bars. It seemed a little over kill to him, but when two hung back, leveling their stunners at him and Kai it was clear the Wraith were taking no chances with the two of them.

The door opened and the first two guards grabbed for Kai. She jerked back instinctually, but before she could attack the lead guard pulled a stunner and pressed it against her face. "I will use this if you don't come quietly."

John admired her fire, but there were too many Wraith for the two of them to fight, especially since they were unarmed. He stepped forward, putting himself between Kai and the guards so the stunner was pressed against his chest. "We'll come quietly," he agreed. Kai was close enough he brushed against her, bumping her lightly with his shoulder. There was an answering pulse in the middle of his chest and it reassured him to know they were on the same page.

The guards grabbed them by the arms and dragged them through the hive. John kept up easily, but Kai's legs were shorter and she stumbled over her feet. The guards picked her up and pulled her along, wrenching her arms painfully. She fought to keep quiet but the one on the left twisted her arm painfully and she whimpered.

John stiffened but he didn't look back. It felt like the guards were baiting them, trying to get them to react somehow and he couldn't let them see her as a weakness. If they knew hurting her would get a reaction from him there was nothing left to keep her safe. The wraith already had them at a disadvantage.