Rating: T

Summary: The Genii are at the door, the children have been separated from their parents and it is up to them and a few others to see that the Genii get what they deserve.

Disclaimer: I own none of the Stargate Characters nor do I own Terry, Fran or Pudsey (He is the Children in Need mascot). Elizabeth Bartlett kindly let me borrow Max Wainwright, Jason, Jamie, Patrick, Kelly and Stuart. I do own Alex and Maria.

Authors Notes: Children in Need is an annual Telethon for the charity of the same name. Millions of pounds are raised each year to help underprivileged and sick children make their lives a little better, this story is to promote Children in Need so dig deep you Brits, it's not just about Terry Wogan on the telly you know, there is a point.

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Alex Ramsey the acid tongued head chef of Atlantis was sitting under her desk clutching a large carving knife. She was shaking like a leaf and keeping up an internal monologue to try to keep herself calm. Four hours ago, she'd heard the alarms going off; she'd thought it was a drill as they'd been having a lot of them lately. As she was alone in the kitchen doing the paperwork she'd put it all away, tidied up, straightened her desk and was preparing to lock the doors before she'd ventured out, she was never one to hurry as she knew it was a drill so there was no need to rush. Sitting under her desk Alex realised that that had probably kept her free, she was just leaving the kitchen when she'd heard gunfire, the drill must be more serious this time, she turned to head for the East Pier when a group of Marines came running around the corner,

"Get out of here, head for the jumper bay the Genii are invading the city" the leader yelled. They took cover behind the columns and opened fire on the advancing invaders,

"Where's Colonel Sheppard and Major Lorne?" Alex asked

"Don't know, I haven't heard from them for ages, I think Sheppard was trying to get a distress call out" he replied as two of his men caught bullets in the chest, on instinct Alex moved towards them but the leader grabbed her arm

"Get to the jumper bay, all personnel have been told to get there and get to the mainland," he said. Alex took off for the jumper bay, she was just about to head round a corner when she saw a reflection, Dr Kusanagi, Dr Zelenka, Dr Kavanaugh and three armed men that weren't from Earth were heading her way, Alex abruptly about turned and ran back they way she'd come. She skidded to a halt and clapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself screaming at the carnage in front of her, she heard footsteps behind her and headed for the only place left to go, the kitchen. Alex grabbed the biggest carving knife in the rack and headed for her office, crawled into the tiny space between her desk and the wall and waited for the inevitable. She had been sitting in that cramped space for five hours when her head hit the wall, she gasped and jerked her head back, hitting it on the desk in the process,

"Oww for fucks sake" she muttered as she realised she must have nodded off. Slowly she crawled out of her space trying to work the kinks out of her screaming muscles, gingerly opening her office door she realised that the kitchen was the same as when she'd left it, no-one had been in but she knew it wouldn't be long before the Genii came looking for food.

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Max Wainwright was sitting in a storage cupboard outside the gym with her assistant Fran and six terrified children gripping one of Teyla's fighting sticks. She'd been in the middle of telling a story when the alarm sounded, they'd assumed it was a drill so Max had told the children to line up quietly with Fran while she tidied up a little. They had left the Schoolroom and headed for their muster point, on the way she had a garbled message from Elizabeth telling her that the Genii were swarming through the Stargate and she had to get to the Jumper bay and take the children to the mainland. Max had told Fran as quietly as she could what was going on and Fran explained to the children that they were going to the mainland as a treat because they had been so good. They were heading towards the Jumper Bay when they bumped into Sgt Stackhouse and his team, they were bloodied and bruised and obviously retreating

"What are you doing here?" he demanded

"Dr Weir told me to get the kids to the jumper bay and then to the mainland" replied Max

"You can't go that way, the Genii are right behind us," said Stackhouse

"Is there another way?" Max asked

"Head for the gym there's a corridor that will take you straight there" he replied "I don't know how long the Jumper bays will be free". Footsteps could be heard coming towards them, Stackhouse signalled his men to get ready "you'd better get going", Max ushered the children down the opposite corridor

"Good luck" she called

"And you Ma'am" he replied. Max, Fran and the children ran along the corridor towards the jumper bay

"Jason stop" she hissed, Jason Sheppard stopped dead in his tracks, he was about to ask why when Max put her finger to her lips and beckoned him to come back to the group. What she could see but he couldn't was a group of soldiers, not from Earth, searching the gym, she searched frantically for a hiding place, Jason's sister Jamie tugged at Max's sleeve

"Mummy keeps her fighting sticks in that cupboard," she said pointing, Max grinned

"Well done Jamie, we'll hide in there," she said. She opened the door and ushered the children in closing the door quietly behind her,

"We have to be really quiet, not a sound because we don't want the bad men to find us do we" she said and six little voices murmured in agreement. Jason pushed his way to the back of the cupboard and started to open a box

"Jason, Jason what are you doing? come here at once" hissed Max in fear, Jason made his way back to her and handed her one of Teyla's fighting sticks, he handed one to Patrick, one to Stuart and kept one for himself

"No-one's going to hurt my sister," he whispered fiercely as he stood in front of Jamie

"Or mine" said Patrick, Stuart grabbed hold of Maria's hand

"I'll look after you," he said. Max was glad it was dark so none of the children could see the tears running down her face as the three little boys promised to protect the girls

"Good boys" she said in an unsteady voice, first of all the Genii would have to get past her to get to the children.

Max's head dropped and she gasped as she opened her eyes, now was not the time to be dropping off. Fran was telling the children the story of Daniel in the lions den,

"Max I'm hungry," said Kelly

"I want a drink, I'm thirsty" said Stuart. She'd know it wouldn't be long before hunger and thirst set in,

"I haven't heard anything for a long time," remarked Fran "we are going to have to leave here soon"

"I know, the kitchen shouldn't be too far away, it won't take too long to get there" Max replied "ok we're going to go to the kitchen to get something to eat but remember, be quiet and stay behind me and in front of Fran, understand?" the children whispered yes. Gingerly Max opened the door and peered down the corridor, Fran stood beside her

"What will we do if we meet the Genii soldiers?" she asked

"Surrender, they wouldn't really murder children in cold blood would they?" she replied, the silence spoke volumes "ok kids follow me and remember be quiet".

Alex's blood froze as she heard someone outside the door, she scrambled to her feet and made her way over to the door, she stood flat against the wall and gripped her knife as someone entered.

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AN: Fran is Fran Godfrey one of Terry Wogan's faithful newsreaders, I don't know if I'll add Boggy and Deadly yet, I'll have to see how it pans out.