Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with nor do I own any part of Stargate, Stargate SG1 or its' movies, Stargate Atlantis, or any of the characters. My stories are for purely entertainment purposes, with no monetary gain. No copyright infringement is intended. This story is based on the episode "Michael" with references to "Rising", "Duet", "Instinct", and "The Long Goodbye"; plus some foreshadowing for "Irresistible" and "Sateda" while continuing from my 'The Long Goodbye Epilogue'.

This story explores: how Michael was captured, why Ronon is only seen in the flashback of the 1st day then is nowhere near Michael until he happens upon Teyla and Michael in the gym, after which Ronon is being babysat by John for the hall meeting, then when things start going wrong he is once again with the group for all discussions, and why Ronon is so sure he is finally going to be able to kill Michael that he engages Michael in an actual conversation prior to the escape. With a slight touch on Teyla and how Michael remembered he could mind tap.

-OO-

Pre-episode

Dr. Elizabeth Weir sighed, Carson believed he had hit the metaphorical wall in his retro-virus research, he needed clinical trials. A benign way of saying they needed to bring a live Wraith to Atlantis. The very idea of putting her people in danger by both having to capture a Wraith and then having a Wraith in the city should have been enough to make Elizabeth's stomach swirl, but her pride in her people made her stomach strong. No, it wasn't the Wraith that was making her wary, it was the IOA's staunch support of Dr. Beckett's project that was causing the swirl. The IOA, hitherto staunch supporters of nothing except increased regulations, paperwork, decreased budget, and complaints - couched in suggestion; suddenly approved increased medical supplies for humanitarian efforts and green-lighted the capture and captivity of as many Wraith as Dr. Beckett required.

John was staring at her, awaiting her decision, yet she didn't have any say... not really. Around the bile rising in her throat Elizabeth gave the order, "Do what you need to do, take as many teams as you need for both the capture and then to maintain security on Atlantis."

Lt. Colonel John Sheppard stood and started to leave her office, Elizabeth's call halting him briefly in her office door, "And, John, this might not be a onetime thing."

-OO-

Ronon, sword on his back, was grinning and spinning his gun waiting for the remainder of his team to embark on this mission to kill Wraith. Finally, Atlantis was going on the offensive!

Dex heard McKay as Rodney chattered about the safety of the mission with Sheppard while the two approached the jumper. "The trap's set? I mean we're just going to gate to the planet, take-up position with a huge Marine contingent already there, right? Turn on Teyla's necklace, grab a Wraith, turn the necklace off, gate home..."

Ronon growled, "We'll gate home after all the Wraith are dead."

"What? Oh... ah..." Rodney looked nervously to John.

"Not all dead Big Guy, we want one alive."

"No we don't, you do."

John stopped right in front of Ronon, "One alive, or you don't come."

Rodney oblivious to the Satedan's internal struggle gasped, "If Ronon's not going then I can stay back too!"

Sheppard still glaring at Ronon stated in his command voice, "Ronon's coming, as are you. We need you to make sure the repairs on the necklace worked and then to make sure we can turn it off again. Now, load up, Lorne and Teyla are waiting."

Ronon hadn't moved other than to holster his gun and fold his arms across his chest, John noted he didn't look happy. "You can kill all but one, that's gotta be good for something?" John got an eyebrow raise. "and 1st dibs if the retrovirus doesn't work. Just think if we do this more than once, all those dead Wraith..." John was wheedling now.

A slow smile was emerging on Dex's face. "Ok."

"Ok. Can we please get going?"

"Sheppard"

"What?!"

"You take the one you want alive, anything I see is dead."

John just nodded and sat in the pilot's chair, he had a feeling this could be a never ending conversation and they did have a timetable after all. Closing the hatch on the remainder of his team and a few more Marines he glanced back at Ronon who was standing with his arms braced between the jumper's two sections. "No killing the one I've got just so we have to do it all again." Ronon growled. "I mean it Ronon, I'm ordering you to keep alive the one I take down."

Rodney was glancing back and forth between John and Ronon, his eyes wide. Ronon seemed to nod, maybe, but whatever happened John must have taken it as an agreement because they were taking off.