Title: Routine
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairing: Sheppard/Keller pre-ship
Category: Angst, adventure, little romance
Timeline: set between Travelers and Tabula Rising
Summary: Offworld and separated from the rest of the team John and Jennifer get to know each other better.
Notes: For those that wanted a J/J preship story, here you go. :) This one will be short as my fics go probably about ten chapters at the most. Many thanks to Nika for betaing.

'There's nothing routine about going to the moon.' From the Earth to the Moon, tv series

"I'm never going offworld again."Doctor Jennifer Keller muttered as she waded her way through waist high water of a swamp.

She was trying desperately not to think of what could be lurking underneath the surface.

Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard grinned back at her. "Can't…..part of the job."

Jennifer just shook her head at his grin as her right hand connected with something that resembled Earth's seaweed

Jennifer froze staring at her hand covered in muddy dark water and thin strands of blueish green.

"That is a plant, isn't it?"Jennifer asked catching John's attention.

"Appears to be."John confirmed as he used the butt of his rifle to remove it from her hand."I think you'll live."

Jennifer glared at him slightly. "Thank you, Doctor."

John grinned. "Don't be mad, Doc. This is hardly my fault."

Jennifer moved past him. "Right, not your fault that we're stuck in a swamp separated from Ronon and Rodney and not due for check-in for another twelve hours?"

John placed a gentle hand on her right shoulder as he caught up with her. "Planet was supposed to be uninhabited. Nobody thought we'd run into that group of smugglers as soon as we stepped out of the gate."

Jennifer frowned at the memory. Two hours earlier they'd gated to MSV-171. It had showed promise in a survey of having a new energy source. A natural energy source. Jennifer had been intrigued by the plant life and had asked Sam if she could accompany the team thinking that something here that might be useful later in vaccines.

Sam had agreed and now Jennifer was wishing she hadn't.

Once they'd arrived there'd been an immediate firefight.
They'd split up to flank the smugglers.

Unfortunately she and John hadn't been paying attention to what was behind them as they circled and backed away.

Suddenly Jennifer's foot had come down on nothing but air and she'd tumbled head over heels down a mossy, muddy slope. She hadn't had time to shout a warning to John and he'd instantly followed her and they'd both ungracefully landed in the swamp they were in now.

Their radios were busted in the fall and their packs lost. They had no idea what had happened to Ronon and Rodney.

Jennifer could only suspect that it hadn't been good since there hadn't been any sign of rescue.

They'd been walking through the swamp trying to find an easier way back up. The swamp itself was in the basin a large canyon. The slope they'd tumbled down on had turned into a mudslide half of it following them down into the swamp.
The other walls of the canyon appeared to be stone covered with mossy vegetation making it impossible to climb.

"Do you think Ronon and Rodney were taken?"Jennifer asked quietly her voice barely audible over the splashes their legs made in the water.

John shook his head. "No, those guys weren't caliber enough to take Ronon. Rodney, yes, but Ronon no. You're wondering why nobody's come?"

Jennifer nodded keeping her gaze on the water ahead. "Yeah."

"Don't worry, I'll get us out of here."John promised. "There's always some way out."

Ronon figured he had three options:

1) Go after Sheppard and Jennifer
2)Go back to the gate and get help
3) Go after Rodney

After only a moment's deliberation Ronon decided on option three. He figured Sheppard could keep an eye on Jennifer until help came, but leaving Rodney alone was never good.
And throw in the smugglers….McKay's luck wouldn't hold out long enough for Ronon to get back to the gate.

Ronon keyed his radio as he walked into the woods. "Sheppard, if you can hear me, I'm going after McKay. I'll be back soon."

Another hour had passed and Jennifer was proud of herself that she hadn't tripped or fallen over any hidden rocks or tree limbs.
However the water they were in was getting deeper…..it was now up to their chests. Something Jennifer didn't find very comforting.

"Think an alien alligator has two heads?"Jennifer asked trying to calm down her nerves and break the companionable silence they'd fallen into.

John shot her a grin over his shoulder. "Don't go there, Doc."

Jennifer returned his smile. "You think it's purple?"

"A two headed purple alligator?"

"Could happen."

"Does it breathe fire also?"

Jennifer laughed as she splashed him. "I said alligator not dragon."

John splashed her. "What? An alien alligator can't breathe fire?"

"So what do the alien fish do? Shape shif……."

Jennifer trailed off with a startled scream as something latched itself to her right ankle.

"What?"John demanded worriedly as he waded back toward her.

Before Jennifer could reply her feet were yanked out from underneath her and she was pulled under the dark water.

Ronon stood behind a tall tree the large yet thin spiderweb like branches were perfect cover. He looked out at a small clearing. It'd taken him a short amount of time to track the smugglers.
They weren't very bright and dragging McKay along with them made tracking simple.

There were only six smugglers now, he and Sheppard having taking out one earlier.
The odds were something he could easily handle.
The wildcard was that he and Sheppard had taken out one of their own.
On the other hand smugglers didn't usually have any loyalty to one another.

McKay's panicked strained voice filtered back to him.

"You have no idea who I am."Rodney stated as he tried to ease himself into a sitting position that wouldn't aggravate his bruised ribs. "I'm a highly regarded…."

"Shut up!"A smuggler ordered as hit Rodney hard across the jaw.

Ronon knew what he was about to do was risky but it was the quickest way. They needed to get back to Sheppard and Jennifer…..not knowing if they were hurt or not was eating at Ronon.

Plus if it was one thing Ronon could rely on it was McKay's ability to hide.

Ronon raised his gun, taking careful aim, and fired.