Rating: M, contains yaoi (M/M), rating for future chapters.

Diclaimer: Doesn't belong to me blah blah. Go ahead and sue if you want but I have 3.50 at the moment which I'm about to go spend on lunch, so hurry up if you want the cash.

Note: This is just the intro para, Arguing with myself how to start this story, couldn't agree on anything so this is what you got. Don't stress, promise it gets a hell of a lot better.

Characters: Ronon/OC (Character partially outlined in The Problem. But doesn't contain that scene.)

Chapter 1.

"But why do we need him?" Sheppard rubbed a hand tiredly in his hair. McKay had been whineing similar sentiments for the last half hour. Hopefully Sheppard glanced around at the others. Teyla was determinedly staring out the big panels towards the ocean with her patented, I will be patient look. Ronon was checking his accumulated weapon supply (Sheppard never knew how he stored that many knives on his person) and was starting to look dangerously bored. And McKay was still staring at him belligerently.

"To make sure you don't get shot in the ass too often, Rodney." Sheppard said with only a small trace of frustration.

"But we're a mobile team! What possible use could we have for him?" The scientist protested feebly again.

"We're?" Ronon rumbled sarcastically.

Sheppard suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, the last thing he needed was Ronon to start needling the scientist's inferiority complex. "Deal with it. He's coming."

"Another caveman? Why can't we have a scientist? Do you know how many times I have saved your collective posteriors?" McKay whinged. "And he's late!"

"Rodney-" Sheppard tried to break into the spiel.

"I mean, what kind of expectation does that set? Can't be on time to a jumper bay. I bet he got lost. A sniper that got lost. That'd be the kind of person we'd get loaded with. How hard is it to find the jumper bay in Atlantis?"

"Rodney!" Sheppard tried again.

Wouldn't it have been more useful to get us a medic or something with the amount of times you lot are throwing us in harms way? If something happened to me, Weir would be stuck with Zelenka and then eep!" Rodney's cry was abruptly muffled.

"Shut up." An Irish voice suggested conversationally next to his ear (actually it sounded more like Shhooot oup). Frantically McKay tried to nod. The hand clamped over his mouth eased away. Jumping away with the grace of a scared rabbit, McKay noticed the openly grinning expression of Colonel Sheppard, Teyla's small smile that she was trying to hide and Ronon's mask of blankness that he usually reserved for strangers.

"Who do you think you are?" McKay went on the attack to salvage some pride.

"Specialist Liam Dougle reporting to Colonel Sheppard." The stranger said conversationally, ignoring McKay.

"Good to have a sharp shooter on board." Sheppard stepped forward and gave the taller man a firm hand shake. He indicated each member in turn. McKay gave the man an awkward but scathing glance when introduced. "Got everything you need, Dougle?"

"Aye, sir." The man replied.

"Then let's go." Sheppard said starting towards the puddlejumper.

"Another glorious training session." McKay groused as he trotted after the Colonel. "Another week sleeping in stinking sloppy mud."

"McKay?" Sheppard said flatly. "You get first watch."

"Why can't the newbie do it?" McKay started up another round of whinging.

"Jaysis." Came the quiet comment from Dougle.

Ronon glanced at the man who was watching McKay in compounded disbelief and amusement, mentally comparing the two accents of this stranger and the Doc. They were similar in thickness but different in the way the words rolled out of their mouths. Sitting on the bench in the puddlejumper, Ronon watched the man for signs of anxiety. And had the dissatisfaction of finding none. The newest member seemed to handle being in alien technology without any hesitation. Feeling a gaze upon him, Dougle looked square at Ronon. Ronon found himself looking into curiously blue eyes for such white skin. The man looked at him solemnly for a moment before a lock of hair slithered down into his eyes, breaking the contact between them. The moment passed and Teyla leaned forward with a friendly smile and gentle questions.