For those wondering I haven't forgotten Tethered. My muse is wrestling with it and I hope to be posting on that one soon. :)

However this plot bunny wouldn't leave me alone. Enjoy and this should be a short one about the length of Routine. :)

Title: Simple Things
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Sheppard/Keller. Keller/Lorne friendship
Summary: Married just under a month Jen's off world luck strikes again. Sometimes we forget the simple things don't mean the same to others.
Author's notes: For Nika

"Inside!"Major Evan Lorne ordered to Doctor Jennifer Sheppard and the rest of his team as he held open the door to a tavern. "Now!"

When they had arrived on MX2-756 the snow had been barely flurries. During the two mile hike to the village it had turned into a full fledged blizzard.

Once inside Jennifer shook snow out of her hair and off of her uniform. She rubbed her hands together trying to get warmth back to them. The wind howled viciously outside the small building. Jennifer watched as it took both Evan and Lieutenant Matthews to shut the door.

"Well that was fun."Evan commented dryly as he reached Jennifer. He turned to supervise his team stacking the medical supplies in a corner out of the way.

"Rodney never said he was a meteorologist."Jennifer replied quietly as she blew on her hands.

Evan shook his head as the group moved closer to the bar to get out of the way of the main walk way. "Still he or Radek should've seen something…..at the very least we could've had cold weather gear."

Jennifer took Evan's hands in hers to warm them.
She didn't see the dark looks the patrons sitting at the small tables were giving them.

"He did warn us that the planet was experiencing the beginnings of a climate shift."

Evan laughed as snow continued to pelt the windows. "If this is the beginning I don't want to be here when it gets worse."

After a moment Evan pulled back from Jennifer and flexed his fingers. "Thanks."

Evan looked out the window and then back at his team. "Looks like we may be here for awhile. Might as well have a seat."

Without thinking Evan placed a gentle hand on Jen's right arm as he escorted her to two tables in the back.

As they walked to the back of the small room Evan was very aware of the silence in the tavern. It also seemed like all eyes were on them even though the village knew they were coming.

"Thought they knew we were coming."Jennifer stated as they sat down.

Lorne nodded looking out at the eight men clustered around the other tables. "They did."

"So what did we do?"Jennifer asked nervously feeling the tension in the room.

Lorne shook his head. "Don't know…probably nothing. Maybe they don't like strangers."

"Maybe."Jennifer replied not settling back in her chair.

Evan smiled trying to relax the mood. "I'm going to see if they have some food."

"Okay."

Evan stood and walked over to the bar. He had just made his inquiry to the middle-aged male bartender when he felt a presence behind. Evan turned to see one of the villagers. The man had dark hair, tanned skin from years of working outdoors and was at least a foot taller than Evan.

"Hi."Evan stated forcing a smile.

"You broke the law."The man replied in a deep baritone.

Evan blinked. "Excuse me?"

The man stepped closer raising his right fist. "You broke the law."

"I got that part."Evan replied scooting down the bar and away from the man. Out of the corner of his eye Evan saw his team rise to their feet.

"We're explorers."Evan explained as he held out a restraining hand to his team. "This is Dr. Sheppard we're here to bring medical supplies, that's all. This was previously arranged. If we've done something wrong it was unintentional."

"You broke the law."The villager repeated not phased by Evan's explanation.

"This guy's a broken record."Matthews whispered to Jennifer as they watched warily.

Jennifer took a step forward intending to set the guy straight but Matthews placed a restraining hand on her right shoulder.

"We didn't…."Evan began but was abruptly cut off as the man's fist connected with Evan's jaw sending Evan sprawling.

Evan regained his balance but not before taking out three bar stools.

SGA-2 was immediately at their commander's side but Evan waved them off.

"Stand down!"Evan ordered as he saw Evenson and Conners raise their weapons as the other men in the tavern stood.

"Sir."Matthews protested as he raised his own weapon not liking this one bit

The other villagers closed rank with the first one that had thrown a punch.

"Lower your weapons."Evan ordered trying to ignore the sharp pain in his jaw.

Reluctantly SGA-2 lowered their P90's.

The building shuddered from the violent wind.

Jennifer moved to stand behind Evan's team.

One of the other villagers a red haired man turned to a younger blond. "Confine him to the cellar until the storm passes. Then we shall let the Elders decide punishment."

Jennifer broke through the tense stance of SGA-2 and approached the villagers.

"We have a right to know what he's done wrong."Jennifer demanded as she dodged Everson's outstretched hand. "We're here on your request to deliver medical supplies."

The giant went to secure Evan's arms and move him away from the bar.

Evan made the mistake of taking one last chance to settle this peacefully. If he could get out of the lug's grasp long enough they could talk through whatever he'd done.
Evan sidestepped the large man and ducked.

Unfortunately the man thought Evan was trying to escape and latched onto Evan's right arm wrenching it back.

"Evan!"Jennifer exclaimed as she saw the pain on her friend's face.

SGA-2 took a step forward which the other villagers took as a hostile action.

Evan ignored the pain as best he could and used the momentum to swing himself around. He hit the other man with a sharp right hook.

The punch didn't phase the giant.

"Oh hell."Evan whispered as the other man glowered in anger.

Jennifer stepped between Evan's team and the villagers. She held her arms out.

"We came in here for shelter from the storm…..that's all."Jennifer stated. "If we have intruded we apologize."

The blond man advanced on Jennifer his green eyes full of anger. "No woman speaks."

"What?"Jennifer asked the place hadn't looked medieval when they had first done negations for the supplies But then Woosley had handled those.

The anger turned to hatred and the blond man hit Jennifer with a sharp uppercut.

Jennifer cried out as she sailed straight into the wood bar.

"Jen!"Evan yelled as he saw her head connect hard with the bar and she slumped to the ground.

Evan struggled against the giant that held him. "Bastard! She did nothing!"

"Confine him!"The red haired man ordered once again.

Matthews strode forward his P90 raised. "You're not taking him anywhere."

The red haired man smirked. "He has broken the law. It is our right."

"Matthews!"Lorne called gaining the younger black haired man's attention as the giant dragged Lorne away. "Take care of Dr. Sheppard. Get her back to the gate, that's an order."

Reluctantly Matthews nodded and walked toward Jennifer's still form.

Matthews's path was blocked by the red haired man.

"Confine the woman as well."The man ordered sharply before turning to Matthews and the rest of Evan's team. "You three are dangerously close to joining them. Leave, now."

Matthews shook his head standing his ground. Conners and Everson closed behind him.

"Not without knowing their crimes."Matthews argued. He knew they could shoot their way out…..it'd be ugly but they could do it.

"Matthews! Go, that's an order!"Lorne commanded through clenched teeth as the giant pushed him around the bar and toward a dark doorway.

Evan could only watch in anger as the blond man roughly lifted Jennifer and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

For Lieutenant Scott Matthews leaving was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. But they needed backup.

As the remaining members of SGA-2 opened the door and walked out into the storm Matthews knew a furious John Sheppard would be damn good backup.