When It All Comes Undone {Shadow Team}

[Lt. Commander Katarina Foster]

Now that you're gone
I'm wasting away
The life has been siphoned right out of my veins
If I could go back in time
I'd say those three words
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you
And this can't be saved if you can't be found
You hung up and left me for dead on the ground
You didn't even say goodbye
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you

It was safe bet that New Orleans General Hospital had never had visitors like the ones that arrived on their copter pad that fateful night in June. The group that unloaded from the unique looking bird were hard edge soldiers with expressions that just dared anyone to fuck with them. The first one out was a long haired redhead who shouted orders and seemed to be in command. As she took charge and issued commands, a few more figures emerged and then they were lifting out a stretcher baring a bloody body on life support machines.

As still others leapt to the ground and surrounded the rolling med table, they were greeted by a staff of doctors and nurses who immediately began to take over the patients care. One doctor went so far as to order the squad away only to end up with one of Jordan's blades to his neck as the commander snarled viciously at him.

"I don't think the good doctor understands the situation, Kitten." the sandy haired soldier said pleasantly, an under lying menace to his tone as the redhead came forward.

"Where ever he goes, we go!" Kat hissed making her point by getting right in the mans face and letting her already glowing eyes blaze. "You just do your job and don't worry about my crew."

Nodding rapidly, the doctor backed away and wiped a suddenly sweaty brow. Curse smiled and flipped his dagger away but it wasn't in a reassuring manner.

"Fine... but your going to need to give us room to work and you can't go into surgery with him. "

Nodding regally, Lt. Commander Kat Foster waved her own doctor forward and nodded at the other man.

"Understood but our own doctor will be in charge. Julian, make sure they do whats needed." she growled.

As the hospital doctor opened his mouth to protest, Kat pulled out a folded sheet of paper from her cat suit and slapped him in the chest with it. The outside panel bore the emblem of the Pentagon and it immediately made its impact.

"If you have any clearance, feel free to call our director, General Douglas. Any paper work documented here needs to be sent to him because ... for all intents and purposes .. we were never here. "

Picking up his jaw, the doctor nodded and rushed off after the retreating stretcher with the rest of the team right on their heels. Kat made strict note of the path they took before they reached the OR rooms. Vaguely, she was aware of others around her but her heart seemed to be in her throat.

"Keep it together, Foster. Keep it together." she chanted to herself even as she felt her fangs pop forward and she had to shift her gaze to the ground as she paced outside the main operating room. She couldn't afford to lose it but she knew that if John died... It would be a race to see who took her down first.

God, what a fucked up night.

Running a hand through her long hair that had escaped its ponytail during the battle, Kat felt like a caged animal. The smell of blood was enough to put her senses on alert but the fact that one of her team was laying in there, fighting for his life... It had murder in her eyes.

Oh Fuck... Who the hell was she trying to fool? It wasn't just that it was any member of her crew... It was the fact that it was John in there. She knew the truth even though she'd fought against feeling anything more than a passing liking for him.

Yeah, sometimes it really sucked to be half human with all those damned emotions.

When she finally felt as if she had some control of herself, she looked up to find Derek watching her closely and ready to catch her if she exploded. With a grim nod, she showed her appreciation and then turned to the others. She might be hanging by a thread but she had a job to do.

With a voice tight with rigid control, she eyed her team and then snarled out.

"I want every exit in this place locked down and I want an eye on any living thing that comes in and out. If it so much as blinks in Johns way... Contain it and make sure its not a threat. If you find a threat... Neutralize it."

Then, spinning on her heel, the young woman moved to look through the glass window separating her from her fallen soldier. As the monitors beeped and the doctors frantically raced to save his fading life, clarity suddenly came to her. An answer to the whole situation flashed through her brain and had her inwardly hissing. Her fingers began to tap as his heartbeat slowed.... slowed... slowed... and then stopped. The doctors frantically screamed out orders as John flat lined and then Kat was whirling around to face the others. With grim determination on her face, she eyed them all and then spoke.

"He's gone.... but I'm going to try to turn him.... With approval from you all....If I do... I'm going to need to give him my own blood and then get him the hell out of here.... I'm not going to be in any shape to help so you guys need to decide now if your in or out...... "

As she waited for their response, Kat felt the breath in her lungs freeze.

[Mercedes Rowe]

Down the hall from the OR was Mercedes. She was having a heated discussion with the Director on staff about her insubordination. She had taken a woman from their facility that was under their care. It was frowned upon by the staff. Mercy had very good reasons for taking Ashling from the facility in order to help her, but they didn’t know and would never know the true reason that Mercy had taken her away. She didn’t want the woman to start to shift in the hospital with so many people innocent people. The first shift, she remembered how hard that had been. It would take the woman some time to get used to the change. She would be a starving beast, ready to kill whatever needed to sate that hunger.

“Fine. Take this as my official resignation then,” she told the Director who had made it clear that she could no longer work there. He pretty much offered her the opportunity to resign, so that it wouldn’t ruin her career completely.

She was torn though. She didn’t want to lose this job, but it looked like this was out of her hands. Her hazel eyes traveled down the hall to where a crowd of people were standing outside the OR. She bid the Director farewell and headed in their direction, oblivious to what was happening outside the operating room.

Walking towards the operating room, she peered through the window as the team worked frantically on the patient that had just flat lined. She was going to miss all this action. She gave a resigned sigh.

As she started to continue on, she pulled herself to a stop as a familiar scent hit her nostrils, someone that had become so very familiar to her in recent days. It brought her to a stop and she turned her head towards the group. Her hazel eyes pinned Lucien among the group. Not a single face entered her sight as she stared at him.

“Lucien?” She came towards the group and paused, a worried expression crossed her face as she looked at him. “What- What’s happening? Are you okay?” Her first priority was him.

Was that his friend in the operating room? Her heart ached if it was. It didn’t look like the staff was doing a very good job at saving him, but if this was Lucien’s friend she would flip the staff off and go in to try and help save the man on the operating table.

Unlike her usual scrubs and lab coat, she was wearing a pair of black slacks and a light blue v-neck top. He probably wouldn’t know she had just lost her job though. It could appear as she was at the end of her shift.

That was when she noticed all these other people hanging near him. They didn’t look like a very friendly bunch to be around, but it could be the tense air that was around them. There was something else about them though that had the hairs on Mercedes arms rising.

[Lt. Kalii Duran]

I close my eyes when I get too sad
I think thoughts that I know are bad
Close my eyes and I count to ten
Hope it's over when I open them

I want the things that I had before
Like a Star Wars poster on my bedroom door
I wish I could count to ten
Make everything be wonderful again

Kalii sat quietly in the helicopter on the ride over to the hospital. Her face was set, her mouth a tight line, staring straight ahead. She had been through this before, unfortunately. It was just the way it was in this line of work. People got hurt, people died, friends, comrades, even lovers on occasion. But, you never really got used to it. It always affected you, one way or another.

When they landed on the roof of the hospital they rolled John out first and the hospital staff approached as the rest of the Shadow Team started to pile out of the bird.

The mounting tension got ramped up even higher when one of the attending physicians tried to tell the team to leave. Kalii heard Kat growl and saw Curse move. Kalii moved with him, bringing herself to stand next to him as he threatened the now terrified doctor. A knife to the throat would do that to you.

Kalii gave a quick glance to Curse and touched his shoulder so he would know she was standing there. Then she turned back to the doctor, glaring and scowling at him as well. They were a team. Kalii may have been new here, but she was a part of this. Her actions were an affirmation of total support to Curse, Kat and the rest of the team.

Standing there defiantly staring at the hospital medical team she heard the conversation going back and forth between the Commander and the doctor. Kalii couldn't help but smirk when Kat whipped out some official looking paperwork that had the doctor reeling a bit.

As they started to move the gurney with Lt. Sheppard on it, Kalii moved with them. Striding purposefully she walked with the others to the observation area where they watched them take John into the adjoining room for surgery. She could feel the tension coming off Kat in waves. Everyone seemed to be on edge. Kalii kept herself alert, in case the Commander needed to be restrained. She knew the woman was volatile and Sheppard was not doing too good, it was obvious from the monitors he was going downhill fast.

Kalii sighed slightly as she watched. It was not good, not good at all. She hated it that she couldn't do anything. That helpless feeling washed over her. She clenched her jaw and ground her teeth. Then she pounded her fist on the thick glass before she caught herself and took a deep breath. Anger and vengeance started to take the place of that helplessness feeling.

When the Commander started to speak she turned to look at her and gave her full attention to the woman in charge. Nodding her head as Kat told them what she wanted them to do. Before she could move to carryout the orders her attention was shifted again.

Staring through the glass again she watched as the medical team suddenly was moving much faster. Kalii knew what was happening. She stood rooted to the spot, forcing herself to focus and keep her emotions under control. Once again it was Commander Foster's voice that pulled her attention back from her thoughts.

"He's gone.... but I'm going to try to turn him.... With approval from you all....If I do... I'm going to need to give him my own blood and then get him the hell out of here.... I'm not going to be in any shape to help so you guys need to decide now if your in or out...... "

Kalii already knew her answer, there was no doubt in her mind. No second thoughts. She glanced around at the rest of the team. Her eyes searching their faces. Curse was the last one and she let her gaze linger there for a moment. At the same time she nodded her head then turned back to Kat.

"I'm in... All the way. Whatever needs to be done, gets done."

Taking a deep breath she folded her arms across her chest. Determination set in. They had another mission now. She was glad of that, something to focus on besides the rage. Kalii knew what Kat was about to do was risky, but at least all hope wasn't lost anymore for John Sheppard, if it was her laying in there... She hoped that someone would do the same for her.

[Lt. Lucien Calugarul]

Ah, the smell of blood, antiseptic and despair. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought that he was right back in Romania, staring into the begging eyes of a soldier he’d been ordered to interrogate. The wraiths chased them as they hurried toward the chopper, screaming alongside the witches’ ever-present chanting- it would have been beautiful, if not for the undertone: kill the soldiers- and the sounds of gunfire made a wonderful duet with the hum of the heli’ blades.

From his seat at the door, one foot braced on the iron foot beneath, Lucien watched the distorted bodies below dance with their arms outstretched. It was almost as if they were begging for release, he thought wearily. Begging for mercy…instead of trying to rip his and his team members’ arms off, as they had been just moments before.

In no time, the chopper brought them to a familiar white building, and like the good little soldier that he was, he followed his orders and helped the Team medic carry the wounded Shepperd into the ER. He kept a good distance away from Jackman, given that his ‘other side’ was never the type to let his time awake go so easily, and loomed behind the Commander when that twig of a doctor decided to snowball their entrance into the hospital. As usual, that damned icy calm kept him from feeling anything- grief for his comrade, anger at the hospital, anxiety at how the next 24-hours were going to play out- but he put on a good show, just in case muscle was necessary to back up that piece of Pentagon-worth paper.

It was only afterwards, when everyone was standing in the middle of the busy hospital, watching though plate glass as doctors worked on their fellow soldier, did he feel anything.

Du, he was fucking tired.

Running a hand through his hair, he leaned back slightly so that he was facing the wall opposite the surgical window. This was why he rarely spoke to the others; this danger of getting too close and watching his friends die. Stiff as a statue, he crossed his arms over his chest, clenched his jaw and stared at a discolored spot on the wall opposite him.

And then a familiar voice sounded in the hallway, saving his teeth from exploding from tension. Whipping his head around, he met Mercy’s surprised stare with one of his own. Without hesitation, he was off the wall and practically steamrolling toward her. His mind abruptly turned itself off; buried the knowledge that he was covered in blood and gunpowder, probably looked more black and blue than his normal tan, and that, if that annoying, disrespectful…surprisingly good hearted soldier in the operating room died, he was likely to go after those damn witches himself. All he could see was the doctor and, practically yanking her into his body, that was all he could feel, as well.

He’d deal with the consequences later and blame the little show on adrenaline.

Forcing his arms to loosen, he leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. He had to consciously keep his words in English as he answered her question. “I am fine…better now,” He took a deep breath, grounding himself with her presence. Then, gritting his teeth as reality did a very unwelcome party-crash- yes, you FUCKING IDIOT, there is a man down in the other room! Go dry hump your girlfriend another time; he could practically hear Raven getting ready to kick his ass- he took a step back.

“A comrade of mine is in the room,” He said, nodding over his shoulder at the window behind him. “He is very badly wounded. Can you help him, Mercy? Our Dr. Jackman is inside, but he is…bad. Please. You are good doctor; will you go?”


As the little lovey dovey scene played out- gag, blech, EW…it was like seeing your brother get naked or something- Raven just shook her head and did an ‘omg, I’ma vomit’ wiggle before turning her back on the doctor and her friend. Man, talk about some bad timing on that one! John was in the other room, dammit! And…JESUS EFFING CHRIST, FLATLINE!

As if she were doing her best to punch a hole through the glass, Rae couldn’t help but start pounding on it. “Hey, fuckfaces, don’t you fucking let him die! Go do paddles or something! JESUS CHRIST, they’re not doing anything! IF HE DIES, I’M GONNA KILL ALL OF YOU SO SLOW, YOU’LL BEG ME TO SLIT YOUR THROAT!”

Yeah, everybody else in the room could do the whole ‘I’m strong, I suffer in silence’ thing, but that was her friend in there, dammit! See, THIS was why she didn’t do the close and personal shit around the Team. THIS was why she liked to keep things a quick fuck in the back hallway, and people too afraid to come within ten feet or risk getting killed. She should have never, NEVER stayed in that goddamn bar when the guy had shown up and realized he was okay. FUCK!

With a snarl, she only stopped her pounding after Jackman, his face screwed up in a show of irritation that really reminded her of his alter ego, threw a roll of gauze at the window. Pointing at her in a ‘stop that right now, young lady’ manner, he glared for a millisecond before going back to chest compressions.

If her friend fucking died, she was going after him, first. Jackman was a lunatic; why the hell had the Commander let him in there?! Agitation and adrenaline made her body hum as she whirled around, pacing like the psychotic cat she was. When Kat spoke, she whipped around again to face her…

And proceeded to jaw drop like Wiley. Holy shit…turn him? Kat? Mrs. ‘I am a martyr to my bloodline’ wanted to make John a VAMPIRE? Jesus, when had she left Earth for the Twilight Zone?

“Approval?” She sputtered, eyes widening. “Are you SERIOUS, lady? Don’t waste time on our approval! Go turn the fucker before those doctors kill him!”

Whirling around, she did her best to hide the panic she just knew was pouring out of her eyes. Fuck, she needed a hug. “I mean, before he gets his limey ass to Heaven and ends up screwing it up for all of us. Yeah. You got my answer. And Vlad's, 'cause I can read his mind.”

[Lt. Gabriel "Curse" Jordan]

So sacrifice yourself, and let me have what's left.
I know that I can find the fire in your eyes.
I'm going all the way, get away, please.
You take the breath right out of me.
You left a hole where my heart should be.
You got to fight just to make it through,
'cause I will be the death of you.


Ridged Control.

That was the only thing Curse could acknowledge as he battled to keep from beating the living crap out of the stupid SOB that rushed away from the team and took his place besides the rolling med table. With muscles rock hard from the tension it took not to rip through the civilians and order them to save his friend, the blond was barely aware of the woman at his shoulder as he moved after them. In fact, he wasn’t aware of anyone as they trooped down the corridors like the “good little soldiers” they were and ended up outside the OR operating room.

God.. What a fucking joke.

The inhabitants of the building had no idea the danger that had just taken up residence in their cozy little world. No idea that one stupid action would set off a chain reaction that there would be no one to stop. With John down and the commander barely holding on to the reins of her hybrid nature, the rest of them were hanging by a thread.

Fuck.. Talk about a domino effect.

Oh Yeah. They were dancing with the devil tonight.

Finally rolling his shoulders against the emotions hammering in his temple, the sandy haired soldier unlocked his jaw and looked around. The tension was so thick in the room, you literally could have cut it with a knife. One wrong move and the whole hospital was going to come down as they all detonated. Lt. Duran and DeVoux seemed to be the only ones thinking clearly and the shifter had his eyes on the commander. One look at her and Curse was cursing under his breath. Shit, Shit, Shit. This was only getting better by the moment. Thank fucking god someone was reacting with a lick of sense.

But then, DeVoux was just like that. His friend was a man of many strengths.

Before he could gather himself to toss out one of his normal smart ass remarks in order to try to keep with his “everythings cool” attitude, Rae was banging on the window and the good “doctor” inside was giving her a look. Curse wanted to bang on the glass himself but he figured Raven was so much more eloquent with her words.

From the corner of his eye, the former seal caught sight of yet another woman joining them. What the hell was this? A freak show for these people? Oh wait, they probably were. Check that. This one at least seemed to know Vlad so he dismissed her for the moment as Kitten was suddenly moving. The sound of alarms rang out from the OR room and Curse’s gut got real cold real fast.

Moving to block the red head, he was surprised when she opened her mouth. The words that flew out were some he’d never thought in a million years to hear her say. She wanted to what? Change John?

Well, luck be a lady.. He was down with that! About time someone started talking his language.

Reaching into his holster, Curse flipped out a revolver and checked the switch.

“Well then, boys and girls…. What do you say we get down to business and do this thing? I’d be more than happy to plug anyone who tries getting in the way. Only thing is…. We’re going to need an evac, you feel me? “

Looking around at the others, Curse suddenly recalled the romainian’s words to the new woman and looked at her.

“Doc, looks like your our new best friend….. It would be a right honor if you would do us the favor of helping our commander out. The rest of us can see to clearing a path out of here when things are stable.”

While he talked, Curse grinned but it wasn’t one of amusement. It was one of grim determination and it was reflected in those around him.

[Sgt.Willow Harding]

The Wraith mission did not go anywhere near the plan but then again what plans do.... One of there own was injured badly and was losing his life very quickly..

Therefore the team was rushing him to the Hospital in a helicopter. The small woman sat in whatever seat was available, messing with a bracelet she bought off an Afghani child. Willow was lost she did not know what to do. Something so strange for her to feel she usually always knew what to do.

Once the landed on the air pad they all pored out and followed Sheppard who was on a stretcher... Willow saw Curse put a knife to a Doctor's throat when he said they wouldn't take him and well not like you are going to saw no at knife point....

The Doctor led them to the OR and that's were they waited....to see if their beloved member was going to die.For the first time in her life Willow was pacing, showing obvious emotion other than her calm persona she usually put on.

She had grown to love the rag tag team she fought with and when someone Willow fought with is down for the count it felt like someone shot her in the chest. During deployments overseas she tried not to get attached to her fellow soldiers because it hurt a lot to see them get killed.

But why now with this feeling? Was this team where she belonged all along? She hoped so, Willow had gotten used to being here. It would drive her nuts to not be on the team. From across the hall of the operating room glass the tiny women stood watching the doctors try to save Sheppard.

Her hand was rubbing her forehead watching the bloody site. The doctors were struggling to keep there team mate alive and her team mates were getting anxious and really agitated. She didn't blame them the doctors weren't doing enough but what were they going to do?Willow was surprised when Lucien got close to this women he was even shyer then her....and that takes a lot to beat.

However after Lucien's girlfriend showed up the Commander had an idea, one that surprised her but Willow trusted her Commander and was behind her 100%. She nodded her head before answering,"I'm in Commander. What do you need me to do?"

[Lt. Commander Katarina Foster]

I'd take another chance, take a fall
Take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
But it's nothing new - yeah yeah
I loved you with the fire red
Now it's turning blue, and you say...
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I'm afraid...
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late

Well…. That was easy.

Kat couldn’t help but blink a bit as she looked around at her crew. She had expected SOMEONE to pipe up with a negative but evidently… They were all on board. It gave her pause to reevaluate her expectation but not for long. What had she been thinking? Honestly? That any of them would rather see John dead than a vampire?

Well, yeah.. evidently that was exactly what she’d thought.

They battled against throat sucks all the time… She hadn’t really figured they’d agree to her MAKING their comrade one. Hell, she’d never really thought she’d offer! This wasn’t exactly something she’d ever given any thought to but a spur of the moment decision based more out of instinct than any thought process.

Hell, if they were in.. It was time to get to work.

Giving her “family” a nod, the red head didn’t wait another second but turned and slammed into the OR room. The startled yelps of the doctors in the room had her pulling out her gun and pointing it at the lead doctor even as Julian seemed to figure out what was doing. Her eyes gleamed bright as she calmly order the nursing staff away from the now still figure and then approached the table.

“All right.. Everyone stay quiet and we won’t have any problems. You are going to forget everything you ever see here tonight as soon as you walk through those doors. Understood?”

Like mindless sheep, the staff nodded and then quietly stood in the corner. Keeping her gun trained on them just in case, Kat held out her free arm to Julian and gave him a crisp order.

“Cut me open, Doc. Time to get to work with that scalpel. Cut me diagonally and then prop his mouth open. Someone needs to do CPR on him to get the blood moving through his system. Once he gets some into his body, he’s going to react violently and go for my vein. Let him do it but then get us the hell out of here. I won’t be able to turn him completely here because my blood isn’t pure vampire blood. He will drain me dry if we aren’t careful so we gotta be quick…”

Glancing back over her shoulder, Kat nodded at the others.

“Some of you stay here to help restrain Sheppard and the rest of you start clearing a path. As soon as he reacts.. We need to move for the bird and get the hell in the air. Someone radio ahead to Hawk that we’re coming in hard and fast and in need of some of that vampire blood we’ve got in storage for testing.”

Turning back to the doctor as he went to work, the red head tossed her gun to Derek and then looked down at John for the first time since entering the room. His face was almost colorless with all the blood he'd lost and she wasn't even sure this was going to work. If it did though.. She wasn't at all sure he was going to thank her. Hell, for all she knew... They could be creating a bigger problem. Only time would tell and she didn't have time to play what ifs.

"Make sure the General has that containment area secure because the first 72 hours is going to be touch and go... We'll see then if John boys got what it takes to cage the beast. I'm not going to be in any shape to help so make sure everyone is on red alert."

[Mercedes Rowe]

The tension around the group was so thick, but as soon as Lucien barreled towards her she paid little attention to that feeling and smells that she was getting off of them. Her senses wrapped all around the one man that had gained her attention. He pulled her body so gruffly against his. It was so full of need, a need to disappear from all that he had and would endure from seeing his fallen comrade. Her face nearly broke down for him.

The apparent bruises had Mercedes lifting her hands to his face delicately as he leaned his forehead into hers. Her eyes searched his for an answer to what might have happened tonight, but found nothing. Her smooth hands slid over his gruff five o’clock shadow. He was well, that was all that mattered to her, though she did not care to see the bruises on him or the smell of blood and gunpowder.

When he stepped back she let her arms drop to her side. He asked her to help. Her hazel eyes turned to the rest of the people with them. There was talk about turning him. She knew the process would be painful to turn someone, but she still was not sure what they were turning him into. She bit her lip. “Lucien, I was let go today, but I’ll see what I can do,” she told him, but she already knew that she would help because he asked.

Another man in the group spoke as well, asking her to help with what she could. She nodded to Lucien and Curse. “I will do what I can,” she said quickly and darted away from them to enter the OR. Although, she knew that if the Director saw her helping them that would surely screw any chance of her returning back into the medical field. He had let her off easily by letting her resign, but he could take that back. She knew he had been watching her and the group as she stalked away from him. What was she thinking? She was already screwed by helping Ashling. There would be no returning, so she tossed that thought aside. She would need to focus on the man on the gurney.

Behind her came the red haired woman, barking orders to the staff. They backed away easily, too easily. She still was unsure what was happening, but by them backing off she could easily help out without any problems from them. She stepped to the side of the dead man that was near this person they called Julian, and glanced up at the woman. “I can do chest compressions and whatever else needed,” she stepped up to the gurney and didn't wait for a reply. Her hands came down onto the man's chest as she started to do CPR. There were a lot of things she could do. She was powerful enough to help hold the man down, if needed, but the only reason she was trying to help was because Lucien asked her. However, she did worry about one thing. That was the fact that Lucien knew nothing of the wolf in her.

Her hazel eyes cast a quick glance to her side to see the group obeying the woman’s orders. She did not know these people. Who were they? There were a lot of unanswered questions buzzing through her head.

She was going to ask what this woman was going to turn the dead man into, until the woman told Julian to slit her wrist and to let the man on the gurney feed from her blood. The only supernatural she knew of with that capability was a vampire, so she never asked the question. A vampire was something she had never worked on before. “Can he be sustained by drinking others blood?” She questioned the woman. If that was the case they could order a blood transfusion, even if it was to just let the man feed from the bags of blood until the group reached their destination.

[zeke]

Ezekiel Stone hadn’t been long with the Shadow Team, heck he didn’t ask to be there neither he wanted it – but it still beat prison and the electric chair. He’d been sent there expecting a bunch of stupid GI Joe’s and Jane’s, up to their throats in rules and regulations. Sure there were a lot of those types in the base but the team itself wasn’t quite like it and that was a relief, but he couldn’t say that in such little time he’d grow fond memories enough to bond with them.

Unless you count doing the crazy monkey dance with Rae in the chopper.

But he couldn’t say he was thrilled either that one of the team was about to die. He had seen that too many times to know the guy was going to croak. Shit happens, get over it. However the commander didn’t seem to be taking this alright, far from it.

One of the doctors eyed his ugly mug as soon as they jumped out of the chopper, asked him if he was hurt. By the time he’d explain to the guy the blood that was soaking his shirt and pants weren’t his, the good doctor moved away from him in haste.

“Sissy.”

But there was more making him uncomfortable than one of the team bleeding to death. He freaking hated hospitals.

They had taken him to one to mess up with his body when they took him out of prison. They played slice and dice with him and then sewed him back. Scalpels and needles stirred his memories and made him uneasy.

Still he kept his mouth shut like a good soldier, resisting the urge to break some necks of the guys in white just to feel better and got his ass back inside the chopper to wait. There was nothing he could help with in this situation.

Zeke never was the cuddly type of guy to stand along and comfort grieving people.

[John Sheppard]

Down, I am down
On the ground, sad and tired
I'm down, it's over now
Yes I'm down, should I like it
It's deep and dark
Deep down in my heart
It's deep and dark
Since we've been apart



Ah hell!
Someone tell him one of those pansy, finger waving freaks didn’t knock him down, because if one did Curse would never give it a rest.

What happened? His head hurt and it was hard to remember. Worse than a bad hangover, that was for sure…wonder if anyone had any booze, at least them it would be a worthy hangover. And why the hell people were screaming, couldn’t they all shut up and let him rest in peace? Geez!

With distant and faded voices he could hear someone talking with that Zeke guy, asking if he was hurt, only to hear someone gulping hard when he’d reply it wasn’t his blood. Heck, the guy was okay for a psychotic convict, wasn’t he? He’d better remember to never piss off the guy…and what the hell was that freaking blipping noise? Couldn’t someone just cut it out?

And whatever it was, it now went into overdrive into one straight line. Damn, just cut it out, let him have some freaking sleep.

“John?”

“I’m tired,” he groaned in protest.

“Wake up John.”

“Come on, just five more minutes,” he protested again.

“JOHN MATHIAS SHEPPARD! GET YOUR FREAKING LAZY BUTT OUT OF THE BED RIGHT NOW!”

“Ok ok, I’m up! Damn you sound just like…





…Livie! Hey baby, haven’t seen you since you died, is breakfast ready yet?”

And there she was, his late fiancé in all her sexy glory. She was a sight for sore eyes, and he didn’t need the psych bitch to tell him he missed her. Sure he should be freaking out that she was standing there like nothing had happened, but somehow it felt right. Nothing weird about that at all, why should it be? He had just been away on an assignment for a long time and now he was back home…as simple as that.

With a smile upon his lips, as he jumped out of bed, enlaced his arms around her silhouette and place a kiss on her lips before slowly getting aware of his surroundings. What were all those doctors doing there anyways?

“Someone is hurt?”

“Look back John.”

Rising a brow, he gazed back over his shoulder and saw who stood lying motionless in bed and the memory of the nights events returned to him. “Oh yeah, I died.”

Somehow it didn’t seem to be as important as it should be. So ok, he was dead, game over. John had done his share, kicked ass and took names and now it was time for some much needed R&R. It didn’t matter, he had done the hero thing, saved the commander and got the girl, it was a good ending in his book.

“So it wasn’t supposed to be some bright light or something? I know I’ve never been an angel, but still it is too much to expect a special effects production to welcome me? Ah never mind, you’re here with me baby, so it’s alright.”

“You can’t stay John.”

Frowning, he looked back at her incredulous.
“Why not? I’ve done my share and I missed you so much honey.”

She smiled that smile he’d kill to see again. God he missed those little things, her smile, her perfume, the way she kicked his lazy butt out of bed… - speaking of witch, he gave a little squeeze to her rear…yeah, dead or not she still got it.

Livie smiled and rolled her eyes at him.

“It’s not your time John, they need you. Kat needs you.”

“Nah, she is too stuck up. All that crap about killing me…HAH…what nonsense, huh? She ‘protected’ me just so I could die.”

“You need her too John, and you still got so much to do. NOW STOP BEING AN ASS AND GET BACK THERE SOLDIER!”

“Yes ma’am,” he replied with a smile and pressed his lips against hers one last time. Didn’t those lips taste weird?...Salty…

Suddenly his hands were moving up, latching at the arm hovering above his mouth and bringing it to his lips with a savage need. Forget about the burning feeling that cursed through his veins, forget about that strange voice in his head that said over and over: more…more…MORE. All that he cared for was that red thick liquid gushing down his throat. What was that? Blood…?

Nervously, John pushed Kat away with a newfound force, leaping off the bed and stumbling back. Brushing a finger against his lips, he saw the blood lingering there and a fearful expression crossed his eyes.

Kat didn’t…? Freaking hell, she did! And that didn’t quite give him a warm and fuzzy feeling to be alive.

Suddenly his knees grew weak, it was hard to stand. The blood wasn’t enough to sustain what form of life was now cursing through his veins. He was about to fall dead again, but that dark presence in his head ignored that part of him that said it was alright to die. For that presence all that mattered was…

“MORE!”

Jumping toward the others, John’s mind was lost amidst a savage and insane thirst that moved his body.

[Lt. Kalii Duran]

Better watch your back
And cover your tracks
Kick your foot through the door
Hit the deck know the score
They're taken by surprise
And here's mud in your eyes

Let's erase the name
That you should have forgave
Call of the wild
Hurry for naught
That thing gone wild

War Machine

Kalii took a few deep breaths and steadied herself. So much was going on and everyone was on the ragged edge it seemed. Barely hanging on. As seasoned as they all were, the loss of a team member was never something you got used to. Even as close to losing it as they might have been, they all knew they had jobs to do. The Commander needed them to keep their heads on straight and get through this.

Watching as Lucien's female friend spoke, she was a doctor it turned out. Well, that was a stroke of luck for them. Apparently she had just left her job at the hospital so she was more than willing to help them out. That was good, just in case anything happened with Julian.


Taking in what Kat had said, Kalii tapped the communication device that was in her ear to open their main operational frequency. She spoke into the mic with a clear yet serious tone.

"Shadow base, this is Slayer... Have a situation, need to speak with Hawk actual. Over."

She paused for a moment. Waiting for a response.

"Slayer, this is base. Stand by one for Hawk. Over."

Kalii sucked in another breath, waiting wasn't her strong suit. It didn't take long before the General got on the line."

"This is Hawk. Go ahead Slayer. Over"

"Sir, we have a bit of a situation here. We need the containment area secured and as much of the vampire blood in stock that they can bring in. Lieutenant Sheppard is going to need to be restrained and Commander Foster is probably going to need some medical attention herself. Needless to say, we'll be coming in hot. Over."

Kalii waited tensely for his reply. Though it was only a few seconds, probably just enough time for the general to bark some orders, it seemed to stretch out forever. Then his voice came back over the radio.

"Roger that Slayer. We'll be ready for you. Good luck. Hawk, out."

Another heavy breath she let out as the tension was still high. She tapped the headset again to open their main team frequency and made a call to Zeke who was at the chopper.

"Zeke, this is Slayer. You better be ready. Get the bird fired up. We'll be coming out hard and fast. You'll need to take us directly to the containment area on the base. Slayer, Out."

Once the radio calls were made, Kalii took a look around the room again. Lieutenant Jordan was gearing up to help cut a path through the hospital in order to get the team out. Kalii nodded and followed suit. Usually, she was more of a knife or edge weapon kind of girl but in this case they needed something that was a bit more intimidating. Being quiet was not the concern at the moment. If scaring the holy fucking shit out of people got them the hell out of their way and cleared a passage for their team to get to the chopper, then that's what they needed. Guns were good that way.

Kalii pulled out the matching pair of custom Colt 1911 .45 automatic pistols from the holsters strapped on her thighs. Holding the weapons up at shoulder height she moved to the doors that would take them out into the hall and waited. As soon as they started moving Sheppard and Foster, she was ready. If they needed a path cut for them, then that's what they'd get.

[Lt. Jasper Owens]

I was in the wrong place at the wrong time
For the wrong reason and the wrong rhyme
On the wrong day of the wrong week
I used the wrong method with the wrong technique
Wrong

Crap. Crap, crap, CRAP.

Jasper's mind just couldn't comprehend how wrong everything had gone, how everything was, put simply, turning to shit. Yes, they'd completed the mission. But as it seemed, they might have lost a team member in the process.

On the chopper ride to the hospital, it was pretty apparent that Sheppard might not make it. His wound was deep, and with the amount of blood loss, he was lucky to make it to the hospital with any left at all. Jasper had seen plenty of gruesome deaths before, but the sequence of events leading up to it all had him shaken. The only relief to it all was the worry and grief the team was feeling; negative emotions had a tendency to keep people's minds pretty shut, leaving Jasper alone within his own mind. His own worry also helped to sharpen his mind, and keep his mental shields strong.

As soon as they touched down in the hospital, everyone went scurrying in different directions, securing all the entrances and exits. He heard the Commander arguing with the staff, before showing them a paper that promptly shut them all up.

Things seemed to be going sound, at least as sound as possible given their current predicament. The doctors quickly began tending to Sheppard, leaving everyone else to simply wait and see for a result.

In the meanwhile, Jasper couldn't help but think to himself. What would they do if Sheppard died? If the doctors couldn't save him, that's all that would be left. One team member down, less than a dozen to go. It was a grim thought, but that mess of a mission has certainly exploited their weaknesses. And Sheppard had paid the price. Hopefully whatever semblance of a God would throw this one in their favor, and forgive their shortcomings. Sheppard would survive this, they'd learn from their mistakes, and next time they'd be better.

It seemed though that God had other plans.

The somewhat erratic beeping from the machines slowed, and suddenly stopped. At the same time, Jasper felt that lively hum in his mind, a sign of emotion, die off. Sheppard was gone. But then the biggest shock came from Foster, and her resultant plan.

She wanted to turn him. Into a vampire.

For a moment, Jasper couldn't help but stare at her, dumbfounded. What the hell was going through her mind?! He understood and accepted her own position, being half-vampire, since it wasn't something she'd chosen. But now she willingly wanted to turn Sheppard into a vampire...a full vampire at that. From the lore, Jasper knew most of what that entailed; sure there was the enhanced senses, the strength, and the immortality, but he was also giving up a lot. If she turned him, she'd be damning him to an eternal night, not to mention that bloodlust. Jasper had felt that through her own emotions, and he could only imagine how a full-vampire would suffer.

He wanted to say no. He wanted to convince her not to even try, not to even think of the notion. But amid of the choruses of agreement, Jasper couldn't do it. How could he say no, and refuse to help? He'd look like a traitor in the eyes of the others, despite the fact that the others already seemed like traitors to him. They were supposed to protect humanity, keep the monster away; they weren't supposed to become monsters themselves.

So amid everything, Jasper merely stood there, silent and defiant. Nobody batted at eye at him, or considered his opinion, though maybe they just took his silence as acceptance. But if anyone looked at him, his expression told it all. He didn't agree, not one bit. But he'd play a good little soldier, and follow orders.

Kat disappeared into the room, presumably to attempt the turning. Though a few moments later, Jasper didn't have to assume anything. He felt it first with his mind, some kind of building tension. It wasn't unlike a heart beat, slowly erupting with life again.

At first there was surprise and fear. He could feel it from behind his mental shield, coming from the other room. Unsheathing a utility knife from his belt, Jasper took a careful stance. "Get ready," he warned the others, knowing what was coming next. "It looks like we might have a newborn vamp in the house." As if on cue, that other feeling almost hit him like a wall, worse than anything he'd almost felt.

The hunger was mind-numbing, almost totally consuming everything else. The fear and surprise had quickly faded away, and been replaced by it, those weak human emotions unable to contend with the monstrous instincts. The emotion was so strong, Jasper could almost feel his own throat burning with that same thirst. It was enough to completely blind him to everything else, making him grip his head in agony.

That's, of course, when something tackled him head on.

[Julian Jackman]

There were just some days when a man really regretted his lot in life. Why couldn’t he have been a flower shop owner? A delivery man, or some kind of happy, healthy family man?

Ooh, a pretty vampire like the Kitty Lady? Daddy, Daddy, I wanna play with him!

Seriously, he’d always known that he would have been happier away from all the blood and gore that army medicine provided. He could have been a pharmacist, or a pediatrician. Working with kids would never have gotten him shot and put into a coma…and DEFINITELY would never have given him the training to help in some kind of vampire-transfusion.

With a martyred sigh, Julian only cast a droll look in Kat’s direction as she demanded an incision. Of course, his CO would demand that he kick the crap out of the oath he’d took when he’d graduated medical school AND the set of rules that he’d been given upon joining the Shadow Team instead of being committed to a prison for the criminally insane. Hadn’t the General specifically said that all such…alterations had to be done with government approval? And hadn’t the Hippocratic oath say not to harm his patient? As a vampire was technically dead, he wasn’t exactly making the dying man any better, just changing his molecules around.

Daddy, I wanna play with him NOW!

“Not now, Junior. Daddy’s busy.” He said the words aloud, tired to a point that he was beyond caring about who heard and who thought him crazy. One look in Kat’s eyes said that she was ready to donate, John wasn’t in any condition to say no, the Team were behind it…what could he do? Refuse and let a teammate die? He had enough to make his conscience cry everytime he tried to get some sleep.

Or was that Billy? He could never tell.

A woman’s voice penetrated the almost quiet room, and Julian glanced up, face shuttered. When she moved to do CPR, he swatted her hands away with his bloodied ones, ready to demand that she leave before she spoke again. Bagged blood…yes, that might work quite well, until they could move the patient to a secure facility. A newly turned vampire in a hospital wasn’t exactly a grand plan. With an absent nod, he carefully watched the exchange between vampire and turn-ee. “That would be good, Doctor. Give us ten bags, O pos if you have. Stat.”

Outside of the ER, Rae watched the scene with her nose practically smooshed up against the glass. She knew she was supposed to be guarding some exit, or some shit like that, but hell if she couldn’t pull herself away from the window.

Damn, vampire turnings were kind of hot. Look at all that touching; the flow of life down from one person to the next. Kinda like giving birth, she thought, if one wanted to get poetic like that.

She was half tempted to come inside and get a closer look, but something told her that being behind glass was a better idea. Kat wasn’t exactly the poster child for Make Vamps R Us, or anything…what if she did something wrong? What if John didn’t turn? Was there some kind of manual that she could go get for the lady before something happened?

Dammit, she really did hate this caring stuff! When John came back, she was gonna sock him in the face ‘til he passed out for doing this to her!

…Well, okay, maybe AFTER he wasn’t looking like Dracula and demanding more blood. With an uneasy sound in the back of her throat, she took a step away from the window, her hand moving instinctively down to the gun at her side.

With a sideways glance at Jasper, she raised a mocking brow. “Wow, you’re quick. What gave that away? John sucking on her wrist…AW HELL.”

As the poor schmo bent over clutching her head, Raven darted over and squatted down so she was eye level with him. She couldn’t touch the guy without killing his ass, so this would have to do. What was his deal? Couldn’t handle the blood? Wait, wait…this was one of the newbies; she’d read the files. Was he the one with the feelings shit? Great, as if they needed another Team member with health problems.

So, ever the Queen of Bedside Manner, she tilted her head and eyed him curiously. “You know, you’re kinda stealing the spotlight away from John, which isn’t cool. Suck it up, Shirley. Think of…beaches, or something. Whoosh, whoosh…hear that ocean…”

Lucien rolled his eyes as he heard the tail end of his friend’s advise to her fellow soldier. He was reluctant to let Mercy go, but grateful for her stepping in at the same time. Du, was he actually feeling possessive? He was, wasn’t he? He was actually glancing sideways at Curse, the known playboy, and wondering if he could poke out his eyes until the doctor was out of sight. AND, as if that wasn’t bad enough, he wanted to do the same to all the other men in the room!

His teammate was dying, and he was worrying about who was looking at his woman. HIS woman! God, this day was just getting better and better.

As John jumped off of the bed, his mouth covered in the Commander’s blood, Lucien ceased to think. Moving quickly, he came inside of the room and took up stance behind Kat, glancing sideways at Curse as he went. Would they have to restrain their brother in order to get him back to the base? Thank God that Duran was calling in notification.

[Lt. Derek DeVoux]

Looking at my own reflection
When suddenly it changes
Violently it changes
Oh no, There is no turning back now
You've woken up the demon ... in me
Get up, come on get down with the sickness

Talk about up a shit creek without a paddle.

Derek had sensed that this night wasn't going to go down exactly as planned but he'd had no idea it was going to go this far off course. As a soldier, each and every one of them knew that any mission could and would go sour if things didn't fall into line and there was always the chance that they could be the one that came home in the body bag.

Humans were naturally a frail lot and more prone to mortal wounds sustained in battle. He and Kat were the exceptions to the rule but even they had their weaknesses.

Kat was half human and could be killed as such even though they all pretty well figured that she'd go vampire once she'd lost that pesky pulse of hers. He, himself, could only be killed by decapitation, magic or something straight through the heart. As a shifter, an enemy would be hard pressed to do ANY of those things to him. As a trained soldier, it was damned near impossible.

All in all, though, each and every one of them knew that by signing on to this motley crew of rag tags, they were stamping paid on their own asses.

So when Kat suddenly announced that she was going to try to turn John, Derek naturally damned near dropped his weapon. It was only years of training that kept his jaw shut and the cool expression on his features. His dark eyes, however, shot to his commander and he read her thoughts like a book.

Shit. John was human but he was dead if they didnt' do something. With the ability to turn him, Kat could give him the option of life after death. How he chose to use it after wards would be up to the soldier. As it stood now, John was running out of time and options so they had to get a move on it.

So be it. Derek could live with options.

Giving the red head a nod, Derek stepped forward and helped corral the civilians with a mind wipe. Things started rolling rapidly from that point and there was no longer time for thinking. Julian went to work with the new woman's help and Kat pegged her attention soully on John.

From the corner of his eye, the wolf saw the new guy go down but Rae was on it. Derek would have laughed at her words but just then John was off the table and then flinging himself towards Kat.

Well, hell.... Looked like the party started early.

Thankfully, Curse seemed to be on it and the sandy haired soldier was already moving as Kat intercepted the rampaging new vampire. With a calculated motion, the weapons specialist brought down the butt of his pistol on the back of John's head just as the commander allowed him to go for her throat. Derek's eyes meet Kats just as John slumped into her and he read the truth there.

Son of a bitch.

Kat would have let him rip out her own throat if it had been needed. She had obviously already known the danger and been ready to make the sacrifice. Can anyone say "Head Fuck"? The woman seriously needed to figure out what the hell she wanted and quit making them all insane with her antics.

Seeming to read his thoughts, Kat's chin went up and her voice was harsh as she started calling out orders. Her eyes glinted with her hybrid nature but she never lost focus as she helped get John on a stretcher and then strapped down. Her wrist was never out of his mouth and even unconscious, the explosion expert nursed at it like a baby at a bottle.

"Lets move out!!!" the redhead shouted and then they were rolling. "As soon as we are in the chopper and in the air, we're going to need to keep him feed. I will feed him as long as I can but then he's going to have to have more until we touch base. As soon as we are there... He'll need a transusion of pure vampire blood or we will lose him yet...."

Nodding his head, Derek motioned for the others and Curse grabbed the head of the stretcher to start the rolling table of trouble moving towards the chopper.

[Mercedes Rowe]

Mercedes cast a quick glare at the man they called Julian as he swat at her hands. She looked at him as he told her that ten bags of O pos would be good. Her hands kept doing chest compressions as she turned and barked out to one of the other hospital staff members to call in the order. One of them followed her instructions and called it in.

Later she would have to question Lucien about this one. Lucien had said he was very bad. When she had entered she had heard the man speaking to himself. There was something going on there.

Shit started to go down then. The man that was dead, but coming back as a newborn vampire suddenly moved so quickly and with such a force it sent Mercedes right off the side of the gurney and down onto the floor. Her hands now covered in his blood hit the floor, smearing the red stuff all over. The wolf in her was up and ready to pounce. She reluctantly pushed it down and quickly got to her feet, willing the beast in her to calm down.

Luckily the hospital staff had left the room at this time. The red headed woman intercepted the vampire. There was a sound from behind her. She glanced over at Lucien and caught out of the corner of her eyes a man outside the room with the ten bags of O positive. It had finally arrived, but she didn’t know if this was perfect timing or not. They didn’t need the newborn vamp attacking this person. She moved very quickly to the door and grabbed the cart full of bagged blood, blocking the man’s view of the vampire behind them. “Thank you,” she practically shoved the man out.

She grabbed a bag and looked back behind her. “Bloods here,” she called out behind her. She glanced back with a surprised look. They all had already managed to get the vampire down on the stretcher. Who were these people? She wondered yet again.

They were moving the man out and Mercedes moved out the doors with the cart of blood. She headed for the chopper with them as to make sure they had no other problems. The man on the stretcher was so thirsty and going on about needing more. She quickly grabbed the bags of blood and put them inside the helicopter.

After they got the stretcher onto the helicopter, she hopped up inside and grabbed one of the bags of blood. She sliced the top off, bringing it down to the violently hungry man’s mouth. Her eyes looked down at him, feeling bad for what he was going to endure. It almost reminded her of those first days of being a shifter. She knew how hard the control would be for him, especially in the beginning.

She looked up then and realized she might not be needed any longer. Her eyes quickly looked up to look for Lucien.