Chapter Text
Chapter 1
(Rebirth)
“We have to get him to the gate,” Teyla shouted, helping Ronon and Rodney lift an unconscious John Sheppard into the Puddle Jumper.
“I know, I know, but why would Sheppard react like this to the same virus we all had? It doesn't make sense! I mean it could have mutated but this quickly and only in one person,” Rodney ranted in his panic while climbing into the pilot seat and starting up the Jumper.
“Hurry up McKay,” Teyla yells at him before taking a seat while Ronon lays Shepard down on the floor sitting down next to the shaking colonel. Quickly, but not very smoothly the Jumper bolts into the air and speeds towards the stargate causing it's passenger to have to hold on to keep themselves steady. “Stargate's open, send the signal,” yells the panicked scientist who almost looked back when Teyla sends the signal to Atlantis and John moans in pain in his half-conscious state while the Satedan holds him still.
The Jumper flies through the stargate into the jumper bay landing quickly, the team rushed out of the jumper, Rodney yelling for a medic before rushing to his now sizing friend.
Groaning in pain Sheppard shakes and thrashes around while his three friends hold him down so he can't harm himself. Only letting go of him when he has stopped and the medic team pushes them aside to strap him to a gurney and push him to the sick-bay, the team following a step behind.
“You said he contracted the same virus as you three,” asks Dr. Carson Beckett while he's checking over Sheppard and moves him to the containment room hooking him up and ordering nurses to get different equipment and drugs.
“Yeah I don't know why he is reacting like this do you think it could be his ATA gene. Well I guess it could be from when he became that bug thing or just a different diet,” McKay rambles to the doctor pacing around and waving his arms around in frustration.
“He started getting worse last night and wouldn't respond this morning,” Ronon mentions showing worry as he watches the tubes get hooked up to John.
“His body temperature was really high last night as well, but this morning he was much too cold,” added in Teyla.
“Thank you, but I need everyone out, I will call you if anything changes,” Carson tells them, waving them away, so they shuffle out and go to report to Dr. Weir.
“Mission report,” Weir tells them, trying to hide her own worry for the Lieutenant while she listens to them explain what happened on planet M3X-625. The more they explained about John’s condition the more worried she started to become and Beckett having not given his own report yet isn't helping.
Only 15 minutes into their report the phone rings making her have to stop them to answer. When she does she almost wishes she didn't when Elizabeth hears the Doctor’s worried voice telling them to get back down to the sick-bay.
“We need to get down to sick-bay, it's John something's happening,” She tells them trying to stay calm before she hangs up and walks out heading where Sheppard is being held, the other three following after her. Rodney mumbling under his breath trying to figure what could be happening and Ronon and Teyla following worried none of them expecting to see what they do when they step up to the glass wall showing John Sheppard in the room below thrashing around and being held still by leather restraints.
“What's happening to him,” Dr. Weir asks Carson, unable to look away from John who has started to scream out in pain bucking up in a similar way to when he was imprisoned and fed on by a wraith just over a year ago.
“I wish I knew, but as soon as we had him stable this happened. We already tried to sedate him but nothing happened except him increasing his struggle,” Beckett tells them with a frown on his face. “I don't want to risk injecting him with anything else in case he reacts badly to it,” He says worried when Sheppard’s screams start to sound more like that of a wounded animal than a human.
“I'm gonna go run a few more tests. I have nurses watching him, but if you want to stay for a few that's fine, just don't be here all night,” The Doctor reminds the group before heading back to the labs after they answer that they won't be long.
Dr. Weir left before the others, whom after a while had to be told to go get some sleep because they wouldn't be any help standing around.
After a few hours John did stop his screaming and thrashing only to pass out from the pain. He laid so still and deathly pale that if it wasn't for the still beeping heart monitor he could be mistaken for a corps.
By early morning, he wasn't just pale, but also had thick sharp nails that looked similar to that of a wraith’s just clearer. Whenever he took a pained breath two long sharp canines could be seen with two sharp teeth on each side of them. Then as he stirred and awoke his once hazel green eyes were now a deep blood red flaked with yellow around the slightly slitted pupils.
Pulling at the restraints his breathing picked up causing the heart monitor beeping to increase, catching the attention of the Doctor who runs inside the room and over to him to check his vitals. Not noticing Dr. Beckett right away John closes his eyes in pain from the sudden lights being turned on when he walked in.
“Sheppard, are you with me son,” he asked the panicked Lieutenant trying to get his attention and taking a sharp breath when those inhuman eyes fell on him showing no recognition at first until they cleared. Swallowing hard and squinting his eyes through the bright lighting John opens his mouth attempting to ask for water, but the only sound he manishes is a croaked groan.
“Don't try and talk your throat is raw from screaming. Here,” the Scottish doctor tells John, pouring him a cup and putting a straw in it he helps him drink without releasing him. Swallowing the liquid gratefully he closes his eyes too tired to even ask any of the questions floating around his head. Such as ‘what happened’, ‘why was he here’, ‘why is he strapped down’, ‘can someone turn the lights down’. Instead exhaustion won out and he soon drifts back to sleep not hearing anything he's being told.
Watching his friend drift back to sleep Beckett takes another few samples of his blood and checks his I.V. Before turning the lights back down and walking out. Heading back to the labs he continues his testing only this time comparing Sheppard’s DNA to that of the Wraith “Fred” they have in one of the cells below water level.
By 8:00 AM he calls up Dr. Weir to tell her he needs to talk to her and Sheppard’s team about what he found. Grabbing his report he heads up to meet them in the meeting room making it there only after Elizabeth.
“Take a seat Doc, we're just waiting for the rest then we can start,” Before she was finished talking Ronon followed by Teyla and out of breath Rodney filed in and took seats. Rodney soon as he catches his breath looks at Carson worried while Ronon waits patiently and Teyla with baited breath.
Elizabeth looks over at Carson and nods, giving him the go ahead to explain what he learned. Taking a deep breath he opens his folder, then looks up at Dr. Weir. “I gave Sheppard all the same test I did yesterday before, so he started to show signs of change.”
“Signs of change, what do you mean! Is that good or bad,” Rodney asks trying to think of all that could have happened to his best friend.
“Rodney let Dr. Beckett explain then we will know,” Teyla scolded the scientist.
“Cheers Teyla, as I was saying I tested his bones, blood, tissue, and brain waves. From what I learned all through the night his bone density increased about three times that of an average human,” Beckett tells them, making sure they understand then he continues. “His muscle mass increased by double, but didn't grow out instead growing tighter together.”
“Wait how is that possible. I mean I guess that explains the pain but how,” McKay asked the doctor who then tells them there is more.
“There is more,” Ask Teyla worried about what is happening to their leader.
“Aye,” He answers, sighing before flipping to another page. “His core temperature is now around 75 F°, still a good amount warmer than a wraith, but way below what it should be in a human, with humans this core body temperature would make them clinically dead. His blood pressure is below average and there was a lot more brain activity in his Medulla Oblongata where natural instincts come from.”
“Now normally humans instincts are much more dole than that of an animal's. The only real time that part of our brain shows close to this much activity is when our Fight or Flight kicks in,” The Doctor tells them before taking a deep breath for this next part, the more noticeable one. “Now that's all just underneath, but there are signs of these changes you will notice right away when you go see him later,” he looks from one person to the next frowning before he continues. “Firstly his skin lost some of its pagination, making him look a wee sickly even when from what I saw he no longer is. Secondly his nails are all longer, thicker, and sharper, making them look more claw-like. His canine teeth lengthened and sharpened. The teeth right before and after them also seemed to have become sharper,” He tells them, noticing their shock.
“Then there is his eyes, they are more sensitive to light, his pupils are a wee less round and the iris color is now a deep red that could almost look brown in most lighting. He also seemed to have yellow specks near the pupils. Lastly his other senses, smelling and hearing seem to have increased,” He finishes waiting for their input on what he told them so far.
“Is there any way to reverse what has happened,” Elizabeth asked after a few minutes of silence.
“Naw, I'm afraid there isn't, and we're gonna have to wait for him to wake up again to figure out more,” Carson tells them. “I have tested his DNA and compared it to a sample of wraith DNA.”
“What did you find?” Ronon asked, already not liking where this was going.
“From what I saw his DNA as you know is human and Ancient, but he also has DNA from the Iratus Bug and Wraith which he received during the Gift of Life. Now for some reason this Virus seemed to blend and then activate all the different parts of his DNA,” Carson explains.
“Basically John Shepherd is now a true hybrid of four species of the Pegasus Galaxy. For what this means for him other than the changes I mentioned I don't know,” He tells them frowning in thought before handing the folder to Dr. Weir.
“Thank you Doc,” She tells him before looking at John’s team whom all are too shocked to really ask or say anything.
“So does this mean he is still John,” Asked Rodney, who is worried he lost his friend.
“He should still be himself, just with more,” The Doctor tries to explain so they will be calmer when they see him.
Ronon, not knowing how to feel about any of this, stands up to leave so he can go think, but right when he pulls out his chair an alarm goes off and all light shuts off.
“What's going on?” Rodney yells getting out of his chair. “I'm gonna go check the city systems, maybe someone was messing with them again,” He tells them, grabbing a light and running out.
“I should go check my patient,” Beckett explains heading out and to the sick-bay.
“What could be going on?” Elizabeth asked rhetorically just before the radio turned on and she picked it up to hear a panicked soldier. “It got out, the shield just went down and the doors all unlocked,” Yelled the panicked man just before he screamed and the radio dropped.
“I will hunt down the Wraith,” Growled out the former Runner, who took out his gun and left calling for some soldiers to come with him.
Rodney’s voice came over the radio next letting them know he almost has everything back online. Then right after Dr. Beckett’s voice was heard. “Sheppard is missing, the straps are broken. He seemed to have broken out just before I got here, but there is no trace of him,” explains the confused man.
“This just seems like a bad week,” Teyla sighs before going to try and help.
As soon as the power went out and the buzzing of the city that was always present stopped, the silence awoke John who confused and disorientated groans and shakes his head. When he goes to sit up he panics just for a second when he can't move, until he realises it's just the leather straps and he remembers the short conversation he had with Doc earlier.
Taking a calming breath he breathes in the air smelling the strong chemicals that block any other scents and makes him sneeze. “Hel...hello…,” He croaks out before he starts coughing and suddenly the door opens and a smell that is so sweet, warm, and strong hits his nose. Stomach growling he clenches his eyes shut groaning when he is all of a sudden consumed by a burning bonfire of hunger.
Opening his eyes he looks up to see a person the smell is coming from causing his eyes to widen in shock, glowing bright red in the darkness of the room. Consumed by chilling fear John breaks out of the restraints. The burning hunger makes him want to tear into the flesh of the human in front of him to clench this pain. Shaking his head he does the only thing he can do, he runs around the nurse and bolts out way faster than any human.
Not knowing what else to do John decides he needs to get as far away from others as possible. So he runs, with all the speed of an apex predator he bolts through the city heading as far from the warm sweet smell as he can.
Having no idea what's wrong with him, all he can think of is protecting everyone in the city from himself. The darkness helped to hide him from everyone unless they saw his glowing eyes. Until he heard a pained dying scream making John stop quickly listing for what happened. After a few breaths he smells it before he hears it's breathing.
Instinctively John just knows that this is a predator, a Wraith that is in his territory. Walking towards the Wraith he growls threatening forgetting himself for the moment. His instincts are in control when he sees the Wraith drop the dried out husk that once was human.
Hearing the growling the Wraith looks over surprise showing in his eyes when he sees Sheppard growling at him. “Well What is this John Sheppard,” Growled the Wraith in its two tone voice. “You don't smell very human anymore.”
The sound of the words from the Wraith helped John get more control over himself, but just barely. “This is my territory Fred,” John growled out trying to hold himself still.
“Is it now? Why don't you share some of this food, there is plenty,``jokes Fred, with how Wraith like the Military leader of Atlantis is acting he couldn't help, but treat him as such.
Shaking his head to try and clear it John jumps at the Wraith who grabs John and slams him against the ground with his superior strength. “You can't fight me child,” Growls Fred who releases John and runs off wanting Sheppard to chase him for some unforeseeable reason.
Getting up John takes chase anyway, using his sense of smell to track the Wraith down, running after him. With his quicker speed he soon catches up only to get tackled against the wall by a waiting growling Wraith.
“I wonder, do you have hunger too,” Taunts the older being who grins when he sees John flinching, showing his shark-like teeth. “You do, don't you,” He states and laughs in delight only letting go when John digs his nails into the Wraith’s sensitive spine making it let out a growl of pain and let go.
“What game are you playing at Fred,” Sheppard growls, attacking the Wraith causing them both to hit the ground fighting, clawing, and biting until Fred slams John's head hard and bolts off again.
Groaning in pain John gets back up not knowing what this wraith is up to, but he knows where it's heading. Taking a breath his senses are overtaken by the delicious scent of fresh blood from their fight which makes him chase after Fred with much more energy, following him to the gate room.
When he gets there he is greeted to the sight of the Wraith holding one of his men hostage as a shield against the rest. Seeing John the Wraith looks at him and grins before dragging his claws down the terrified man's neck leaving a bloody trail behind.
“Glad you could join us Sheppard,” Fred all but purrs, making the men glance over at the Lieutenant standing there in a hospital gown covered with wounds and showing his sharp teeth startling some who point their guns at him. “Are you hungry,” Fred asked, tearing the shirt off the soldier's chest so he could drag his sharp claws down it making more blood well up and the man flinching in pain. “Why don't you eat,” The wraith says grinning at the frozen Colonel.
Gulping John tries to focus, but he can't move his hungry gaze away from the blood. The sweet hot red liquid dripped down making him flex his hands and breath in the scent hungirly, running his tongue over his lips.
“Come and take it, it's all yours to eat. I can see your hunger. It's all consuming, burning every cell in your body,” Taunts The Wraith watching John slowly losing his control to his hunger.
Walking past the other men Ronon sees the hunger in John’s eyes making him point his gun at his friend. “Sheppard,” Ronon shouts trying to get his attention, but just that one word was enough.
Shaking his head and standing up straight John growls angrily at the Wraith now that he snapped out of it. “Ronon, as soon as I get the soldier away from the Wraith stun us both,” John tells his friend before lunging with incredible speed grabbing the soldier from Fred and throwing him out of the way just a few seconds before Ronon shoots a stunner at both John and the Wraith knocking them out.
Groaning John wakes up, first noting his headache then the hard cold floor he's laying on and that he's back in normal clothes. He stays laying there a little out of it until memories start coming back causing him to open his eyes and sit up. Looking around he realised he's in one of the Wraith cells with Fred back in the other.
“You finally decided to get up. You should have eaten when you had the chance,” Taunts the Wraith.
“Shut Up,” John growls glaring at Fred before he stands up. “I’m not a monster like you.”
“You're right, you're not. You're a new kind of monster all to yourself Sheppard, but now you're stuck here like me. You should have joined me on getting out when you could now you're going to starve,” Fred tells him grinning at the irony of this situation.
Ignoring the Wraith John starts to pace hoping to figure out something. If not him then maybe one of his team. He just can't be stuck like this, as this bloodthirsty creature. He takes a few steps then turns, a few steps turn and repeat.
After a few hours of this he hears the door open and looking over he sees his team, Dr. Beckett and Dr. Weir walk in and up to his cell.
“Hey,” John greets them, taking a step back, trying to ignore the smell and the sound of blood pumping through their veins.
“Hello Sheppard, how are you doing ” Asked Elizabeth.
“I'm confused, what happened to me,” He asked looking at them then down at his clawed hands then back at Beckett when he starts talking.
“Remember that Virus you got on M3X-625,” Carson asked, only continuing when Sheppard nodded. “The virus acted differently for you than the others. Instead of just making you sick it mutated and blended all parts of your DNA causing them to become active,” he explains. “There is no way to reverse it without killing you.”
“So I'm stuck like this,” John frowned, not knowing what to do about no longer being human. “I don't think I can deal with this,” He mumbles, clenching his eyes shut trying to ignore the burning hunger. This bloodthirsty urge he's going to have to live with.
“John we will figure something out,” Teyla tells him. “Just don't give up.”
Nodding his head he opens his eyes and looks back at them. “I won't give up,” He says with more confidence then he feels.
After talking for a little while they leave with promises to return. They return every day for a few days, but he keeps getting weaker as time goes on. Soon they stop coming because he’s no longer responsive, instead sitting down as far from the bars and shield as possible.
The hunger just kept getting worse, burning and eating him alive. His mouth long ago became dry. Dry as the desert, he can't even pay any attention to the Wraith taunting him in the cell next to him. All he can think of is the hunger, the pain, so much worse than anything he ever felt. It made him feel guilty realising this is what they did to any Wraith they caught.
A week has passed since they got back from M3X-625, and they were desperate. So they contacted Todd the Wraith for help, only explaining to him a little bit of what's wrong. So came he did. Soon he was getting led down to the cells where John and “Fred” are being held.
Todd didn't know what he expected when he was called to Atlantis. Sheppard on the ground in a cell covered in scratches, in pain and half conscious with hunger was the last thing he thought he would see.
“John Sheppard,” The Wraith Commander says, taking a step towards the cage trying to get John’s attention. “You need to tell us what you need so we can help,” He continues walking to the door freezing when he feels a slight gently push against his mind. At first he thought it was the other Wraith here, until he realized this presence feels familiar. Looking back at John he is reminded of a similar feeling from a year ago. The most delicious tasting life force and the first and only time he gave the Gift of Life. So he allows the push into his mind and connects his own to it.
“ Sheppard,” Todd thinks gently, sending soothing feelings through the link like an adult Wraith would do for a young Wraith before it's first feeding. Sending comfort is much more important when a young one is starved before they have a chance to eat for the first time. “ I’m coming over to you, but I need to know what you need. What do you hunger for,” The Wraith asked him, noticing that Sheppard finally lifted up his head to look at him, surprising Todd with John’s now dark red eyes.
“ Blood,” John whispers in Todd’s head shaking with a tremor caused by his hunger. “Hurts,” He says out loud.
“ I know,” He answers soothingly before looking at the guards. “Let me in,” He demands in his multi toned voice watching as they quickly let him in after the go ahead from Dr. Weir who is standing back out of the way.
Walking in he ignores the door being closed behind him, and makes his way over to John. “ John Sheppard,” Todd thinks in John’s head before crouching down and watching as his breath quickens.
Weakly John lifts his head and looks at the tall Wraith Commander crouching there smelling of an earthy, musky, moss like scent and listening to the blood being pumped slowly through Todd’s veins. Slower than that of a human’s, and even his own slow heartbeat. “ Todd ,” He answers, digging his claws into the palms of his hands drawing dark red blood that matches the new color of his eyes.
“I know you hunger,” Todd tells him out loud. “You need to eat,” He informs the stubborns ex-human, ignoring the shake of John’s head. “Here,” The Wraith says dragging his sharp nail across his right wrist drawing black blood and pushing it in front of Sheppard’s face. “Drink,” He commands.
Unable to fight it John grabs Todd’s wrist on both sides of the cut before sinking his teeth in. The cold metallic taste is like heaven on his tongue as he swallows long thick gulps. His eyes closing at sheer bliss from finally clenching this thirst, this burning never ending hunger. All he can think of is the delicious life blood flowing through the thick veins down through his throat.
John was so engrossed in the feeding he didn't notice the hand running fingers through his hair or the soothing words and feeling being sent to his mind from the Wraith he's feeding on.
All too soon he felt he couldn't drink more with his stomach filled with all that blood finally filling it up. Releasing Todd’s arm he licks the cut that quickly heals over before licking his lips and leaning back against the bench stretching his legs out in front of him.
Moving his arm back to himself he watches the now tired Colonel while he moves his hand from John’s hair. “ Better, ” Todd asks John who nods. “You should sleep. The first time feeding causes exhaustion, ” The Wraith tells him standing up and heading to the door. “ Thank you ,” John tells Todd, closing his eyes and falling asleep before he can hear Todd’s reply or see his surprise.
“ Your welcome Brother ,” He replies, being let out by the guards and following Elizabeth out, keeping his mind connected to John even when he leaves the lower level of the city.
Later John woke up to the sound of the shield being dropped and the door opened. Looking up he sees his team standing there with Dr. Beckett.
“Ready to get out of here,” The doctor asked Sheppard, watching as he stands up and stretches.
“I'm aloud out here? Are you sure that's a good idea,” John asked slowly, walking to the door, able to ignore the smell and sound of blood better now that he's fed.
“Yeah, but I want to give you a check up,” He tells Sheppard.
“The Wraith will be staying here for a few days to teach you,” Teyla explains to him.
“Todd’s staying to help? What deal did you make with him for him to come here and help me? There is no way he came here just to help,” Sheppard asked them worried about what they could have promised him.
“You can ask him why he came here yourself,” Dr. Weir states walking over. “He's waiting in the sick-bay. Let's go,” She tells him before heading back out followed by his team.
Watching them walk out he slowly starts to follow, seeing Ronon’s hand on his gun and that he avoids turning his back to him. John can't blame him, he's a monster now, no better than a Wraith in their eyes. It doesn't make it hurt any less. As they walk Ronon moves to follow behind him and Teyla and Rodey on either side of him. No one knows what to say.
Finally they make it to the sick-bay. Grateful for escaping the awkward silence he strolled in stopping when he saw Todd standing there with two Marines guarding him looking all the worlds like he belonged, and the marines were just his escorts.
“Hello John Sheppard,” The Wraith greats him before gently pulling on the mind link. “ Are you feeling better,”
Startled from the pull and the voice in his head he nods. “Hello Todd. I'm better,” John answers before taking a seat on the bed and looking over at Carson who walks over to him and draws some blood which instantly gets his full attention. Even if it's his own blood and he just ate he couldn't help but watch it being filled into glass tubes. Swallowing hard he looks away then starts to feel gentle calming waves in his mind.
“ Don't look at it, Sheppard, talk to one of your teammates, it will help,” Todd thinks to him, sending a calming soothing feeling to John.
Taking a deep breath John nods very slightly so the others don't see then looks at Rodnay. “So what have I missed,” He asked his friend.
Smiling Rodney looks relieved at the normalcy before he starts talking about the other scientists and their stupidity. He then goes on about what happened with the power and a few missions he heard about and so on. Then Teyla joined in, but Ronon just stood there with his hand on his gun standing back and watching Todd and John equally.
Carson finishes up his test while they talk. The wraith watching the test being done until he hears John talk out loud to him.
“Why did you help me? What's in it for you? What deal did they make for you to come help me,” John asked Todd.
“You simply ‘owe me one’ as you would say,” He tells him grinning, though it looks kind of scary with all those sharp teeth.
“That's it, I just, 'owe you one',” He asked in disbelief.
“Yes,” Todd answers out loud before thinking to him. “ I told you, there is much about Wraith you don't know,” The Commander reminds him. “ I have lived for a long time, Sheppard. Yet you're the only one I ever gave the Gift of Life to in my more than 10,000 years of life.”
“What does that mean,” John asked, not knowing where this was going.
Todd answers with a hum like noise that is too quiet for the humans to hear. “ That I do not know yet,” He tells John. “I will teach you how to deal with your hunger in an hour,” The Wraith says before walking out followed by his guards.
Teyla watches Todd leave before looking over at John questionly. “John, were you two talking telepathically,” She questions him making him startled for a second until John remembers that she has Wraith blood even if it's not as active as his own.
“Yeah I was, but he still doesn't make any more sense then when he talks out loud,” Sheppard answers grinning until he notices the way Ronon is looking at him making him stop.
“Your tests are done now Sheppard, but we're going to have guards follow you around just to be safe. They won't go into your room just follow you through the city,” Dr. Beckett explains to John.
“Thank you Doc, I could use a shower and a change of clothes. I'm smelling a little ripe,” John says scrunching up his nose then standing up from the bed.
“I will send the men up to your room later, for now I'm sure your team won't mind following you there,” Dr. Weir informs him, smiling before heading out.
Stretching John smiles at his team. “I guess you guys get to be my bodyguards,” John says, trying to keep everything light before walking out followed by them.
He talks some more to McKay and Teyla and even tries to start a conversation with Ronon a few times only to get growled at or glared to. Though no one knows that when Ronon does that his instincts make him see those reactions as a challenge against his leadership. It takes all he has not to react so he's more than relieved to finally get to his room.
An hour later John had a nice long shower before getting dressed and then heading out of his room asking the guards to lead him to Todd’s quarters.
On his way there, John can't help but think of all that has happened to him in the last week and now he's gonna have a Wraith teach him self control. It's just so messed up and kind of ironic he couldn't help but laugh, earning him some odd looks from his guards.
“Here we are sir,” says one of his guards snapping him out of his thoughts. Looking up he sees the Marines that are Todd’s guards move from in front of a door so he can get inside. “Thank you,” Sheppard thanks them both before opening the door and walking in.
“Hello John Sheppard,” The Wraith greets almost in a purr standing by the bed watching him with cat-like eyes.
“Sup,” John answers, feeling a slight almost stroking feeling in his head where their minds are connected when he gets closer.
“ Let's start,” Todd tells John, taking a seat on the bed. “ Sit.”
“ What are we gonna do,” John asked slowly, taking a seat on the bed keeping a good distance from Todd and answering telepathically by instinct.
“It's a form of meditation. When your hunger gets too much and you can't get something to eat, then you need to learn how to stay focused. The hunger can be dangerous for you as well, not just your teammates,” The Wraith Commander explains. “Hunger can make you make mistakes and mistakes for a soldier, for a blade can be fatal.”
“Right so Meditation. I'm ready to try this,” John tells him.
“ Ok first get comfortable,” Todd tells him, pulling himself more onto the bed, then sits with his back against the wall but still looking pretty stiff to John.
Watching Todd, Sheppard scoots back onto the bed, pulls his knees up, leaning back against the wall and resting his hands on his knees.
“ Now close your eyes, I will do the same,” The Wraith tells Sheppard feeling his surprise, suspicion, and mistrust flow from the link.
“I'm not closing my eyes next to you,” Sheppard growls at him sitting up straight.
“If I wanted to harm you I wouldn't have fed you,” He tells John. “I'm also not stupid, I'm not going to harm you in here were they would kill me instantly. Relax I won't hurt you Brother ,” Todd gently thinks sending soothing vibes watching John relax almost against his will.
“Ok,” He agrees, swallowing hard then leaning back he takes a deep breath concentrating on the soothing feelings being sent to him and he closes his eyes.
“Good, ” Todd purrs to him, closing his own eyes. “ Try to calm your breathing, match it to my slower breathing ,” He tells John, feeling him follow his instructions. “ Just like that. Keep concentrating on copying my breathing.”
“ Ok ,” John agrees, matching his breathing to Todd’s to ignore the slow sound of blood pumping in Todd’s veins.
For a few hours they mediated. slowly Todd taught John to be able to mediate in less comfortable positions such as sitting on the floor or even standing. The last thing Todd tested John with is the flow of freshly shed blood being so close to him. As soon as John was able to mediate without being distracted by the blood and hunger, they were done.
“That is all for now. Practice when you can, and when the hunger gets too much before you can eat go somewhere to collect yourself,” The ancient Wraith reminds John.
Standing up and stretching out his back and shoulders Sheppard nods then looks at Todd. “Okay,” John agrees. “ See you tomorrow, ” He thinks to the Wraith, already getting used to communicating telepathically instead of verbally after a couple hours. Shaking out his sore limbs he opens the door and walks out greeting the guards walking off followed by his own two guards.