Hi! This is my first fan fic! I figured instead of reading everyone else's and waiting for updates I should do my own. So here it is!! Please review!!!!!!

Oh, and I own nothing. I don't own stargate atlantis, its characters or anything to do with it. So don't sue me. This is just for some non-profit fun.

Desert of Trees

Chapter One

Major Sheppard wiped the sweat off his forehead with the sleeve of his jacket.

This place is so dang hot.

He puts on his cocky smile to encourage his team, and stands up. It would be no use to keep resting under the barren trees as the sun rose directly over.

"It must be noon," Tayla says as she falls into step with the Major and the other weary troops.

When does she not say the obvious?

"I'm hungry."

And when does Mckay not complain?

Ford remained silent and John was thankful that at least he had one military man on his team. It was beyond him how he got two civilians stuck on his team. Two words for them. Boot Camp. Granted, Tayla was a good fighter and very useful- but keeping quite wasn't her forte. McKay was smart, and yes, as much as Sheppard hated to admit it, he had helped them out of many a bind...but still...Cramming a donut in his mouth to keep him quiet....

Sheppard shook himself; it would not do to let his mind wonder.

"McKay, any signs of life? Vegetation other than these five leaved trees?"

"What? You can't see for yourself? Am I answer-figure-it-out-man?"

"Just thought that if there were food, you'd be the one to find it."

At least that'll shut him up.

The team trekked on, back to the star gate. The trip had been a complete waste of time, there weren't any ZPMs on P02356. Heck, other than the four of them there wasn't even life. But Weir had wanted to check thoroughly every planet that they had an address for.

"Alright guys, two more miles and we'll be there."

"How can you tell?" McKay asked.

"Bread crumbs."

"My feet hurt."

"Ford, carry McKay."

"Yessir."

Pouting, McKay kicks at the sand and pushes Ford away.

A mile later, McKay collapses. Tayla falls down next to him, happy for a break. Ford quickly follows and Sheppard, frowning, looms over his collapsed team.

Oooh, if only I could fall down there with them...In the warm sand...Off my feet...

"One mile. Get up."

They look at him, shaking their heads, and gasping for air.

"Please, sir, do not make that a direct order," Ford gasped.

John wouldn't do that to them. His own feet were screaming for mercy, and his throat was as dry as the sand that was creeping into his boots. He looked past his team, into the horizon, and it appeared as if they were in an ocean of sand. But they were closer...that he knew...the closer to the star gate, the less barren trees. How trees ended up in the middle of this place, he didn't know...That was for McKay to think about later.

He smiled at the bullet holes he shot into the trees they had passed on their way in...breadcrumbs.

"Rest up then. I'll secure the perimeter."

He looked around, and then sat down right next to his team. Ford offered a weak smile.

"Any water left?"

"We finished it about a mile back, sir," Ford responded.

"Then we'd better get moving, or we'll keep getting weaker. On your feet."

"Ten-hut," McKay mumbled as he pulled himself up.

"What was that McKay?"

McKay just shook his head, and the Major let it pass. No sense in making morale dip even lower.

John walked ahead as the others kept pace with him...granted it was more like a shuffle than a stride to keep up with, but that was all he could handle.

Water.

Figures flanked the horizon, looking more like a cityscape, or a line of great pillars. Sheppard knew he was in no condition to fight with any enemy, but he also knew that to stay in place would be death as their bodies shriveled under the sun. Or rather-suns.