Chapter 2: Ambush

"McKay, move your ass!"

At Sheppard's cry, McKay increased his pace, desperately trying to keep up with the Colonel. He was considerably fitter than when he'd first joined the team – after all, running for your life every other mission tended to help you lose weight, and being forced into a regular training routine meant that the softness had been replaced by muscle.

But Rodney simply didn't have the natural speed that the American possessed.

He weaved his unsteady way through the forest, clutching his P-90 close to his chest, desperately trying not to fall or trip. Unfortunately, he failed to register the overgrown root that snaked its way across the path in front of him and Rodney found himself crashing to the ground with a startled yelp. He landed awkwardly on his knees and was rewarded with a burst of pain through the left one. Staggering to his feet, he ignored the painful protests that were coming from his abused ligaments and limped towards Sheppard.

Turning at the sound of the scientist's yell, John had seen Rodney fall and cursed under his breath before running back to help his team-mate. Catching up with McKay, he wrapped an arm around the man's waist and practically dragged him along. Despite his efforts, their pace had slowed to almost a crawl – the Canadian could barely walk, let alone run.

"You should leave me," McKay whimpered. "I'm slowing you down."

"Shut up, Rodney."

"I mean it, Sheppard! What good will it be if those lunatics catch both of us?!" He sucked in a lungful of air, trying to focus on something other than the white hot pain running through his leg. "Look, if they capture me, a scenario which I can assure you is becoming more likely by the second, then it should buy you some more time. After all, we both know that you'll be able to mount some sort of rescue…"

"I said shut up!"

They continued to stagger onwards, hoping that Teyla and Ronon were having better luck than them. At times, John believed that his team was jinxed – it seemed like they were constantly avoiding explosions, running for their lives from the Wraith/hostile natives/monsters/killer robots, or generally being injured. He was amazed that Elizabeth still let them go off-world. The pilot often wondered if it was a simple matter of fate and/or bad luck, or if the Pegasus Galaxy really was out to get them. It certainly felt that way.

The ambush had been completely unexpected – the trade negotiations had been completed and they were heading back to the Gate, eager to tell Elizabeth the good news, when suddenly a group of men had appeared with guns...

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"Don't move," one of the men growled, his voice low and dangerous as he held a gun to the back of McKay's head. The physicist froze, his eyes wide as they darted between his team-mates.

"Not a problem," he squeaked.

"Hey, now, that's a bit forward, don't you think?" John asked, eyeing the gunman with something akin to rage. "He doesn't even know your name. The least you could do is buy him a drink first." As he spoke, he took a quick head count and made six. Three against six – not a brilliant set of odds, but one that was within the realms of possibility. He just had to distract them first.

He just prayed that there weren't any others hiding in the undergrowth.

"Shut up or he's dead." To illustrate his point, the man released the safety on his weapon and pushed it even harder against Rodney's head.

"Colonel," the scientist hissed.

"I said shut up." He wrapped an arm around Rodney's throat and squeezed slightly.

"Shutting up," McKay replied weakly.


"You and him coming with us," the man told John.

"That's a great invitation, but I kinda like it here," Sheppard quipped. "Nice scenery, pleasant weather…" As he spoke he managed to subtly gesture to Teyla and Ronon, using hand signals to indicate that they were to lay down cover fire on his command. He saw them agree and continued, "You should understand that we don't like it when people try to kidnap members of our team."

"You do not have a choice in the matter. You will come with us or the others will shoot your friends." He tightened his grip on Rodney's throat, causing the scientist to gag slightly.

"Now that won't do anything but piss me off," the Air Force man replied, his voice hardening at the threat. "We said no and we meant it. Tell you what though," he smiled humourlessly, "let my friend go or else."

The man laughed. "You are in no position to make demands."

"That's what you think." He gave the signal and the air erupted with the sound of gunfire. Startled, the man released his hold on Rodney, who fell to his knees coughing. John moved quickly and kneed the man hard in the groin. With a whimper, Rodney's attacker folded up.

"Run!" Sheppard yelled as he grabbed hold of McKay's arm and tugged.

"What about the others?"

"They'll catch up with us. C'mon, Rodney, move it!"

"What the hell is wrong with this galaxy?" the Canadian demanded as they pelted through the undergrowth.

"Less talking, more running," John hissed, pulling harder at his friend's arm. As the sounds of the fire fight grew fainter, he allowed them to slow down a little and eventually stop, pausing briefly to check his P-90. Rodney tugged out his Ancient scanner and fiddled with it for a moment. His eyes widened as he analysed what the display was showing.

"Oh my God…"

"McKay?" Sheppard turned back to him.

"There are too many of them," he hissed.

"What?" John took a peek at the doohickey and let out a curse.

"I don't understand it…" Rodney's already quiet voice trailed off for a moment as the realisation hit home hard – they were surrounded with nowhere to go. "We're so dead," he whispered.

His gut clenching tightly, Sheppard grabbed hold of his geek and dragged him off again.

Their team-mates soon caught up with them and as they took cover under some of the denser foliage, Ronon told them what he knew.

"We need to get out of here," he growled. "There are at least ten of them that I saw, but..." he trailed off, indicating that the number of bad guys could well be higher.

Sheppard quirked up an eyebrow at that – Ronon didn't normally worry about numbers. "Great!" he growled, scrubbing furiously at his unruly hair. "My day just keeps getting better."

"They must have been tipped off by someone back at the village," Rodney replied.

A cold chill crept up John's back as his mind suddenly decided to connect the proverbial dots. "You don't think…"

McKay turned to his team-mate, his eyes wide with fear as he also came to the unpleasant realisation. "The Chancellor did seem really keen for us to stay…"

"No!" Teyla cried. "I do not believe it! I have known these people for many years!"

"People change, Teyla," Ronon said softly. "Sometimes, not for the better."

The Athosian looked as if her world had been turned upside down. "But they are like family. I…"

"Look, whatever the reason, we've gotta get out of here as fast as possible," Sheppard interjected. "What did you manage to find out?"

"They appear to know this territory better than we do," Teyla explained, her voice strained. "And with the sheer number of them, it would be impossible to fight them and win. I believe that we should create some sort of distraction."

"Agreed," replied Sheppard. "You two see if you can thin their numbers a bit. And if you manage to get to the Gate before us, go ahead and grab Lorne and as many marines as Atlantis can spare." He grimaced. "I gotta feeling we might need them."

They nodded. "Meet you in the clearing," Ronon grunted.

"What about us?" McKay asked quietly.

"We'll head back to the Gate, see if we can't get some reinforcements."

As Teyla and Ronon ran off, firing shots, McKay and Sheppard fled towards the Gate…

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…That had been nearly twenty minutes ago, and they hadn't seen any sign of their team-mates. Even more worryingly, they hadn't heard anymore gunfire.

"Colonel…"

Sheppard looked at McKay anxiously. The man was pale and shaking, and his voice was little more than a ragged whisper. John could see the pain etched on his friend's face and hated himself for making the scientist run. "C'mon, Rodney," he encouraged. "It's just a bit further."

Rodney grimaced and gave a short, determined nod, breathing heavily.

The terrain was gradually becoming easier and the two men managed to increase their pace once they were free of the obstructions on the ground. Sheppard felt a sharp tug on his sleeve and looked across to see the physicist turn a worrying shade of green.

"Gotta stop," he mumbled. "Gonna be sick…"

John managed to ease him down just in time for Rodney to lose the small amount of food in his stomach. After several tense minutes, the retching stopped and McKay gingerly attempted to stand.

Seeing the man sway alarmingly, Sheppard once again took hold of his friend's waist. "Better?" he asked.

"Yeah…"

"Okay. C'mon. We've gotta keep moving."

They set off again.

"I meant… what I said… earlier," Rodney managed to croak out in between gasps.

"We don't leave people behind," Sheppard growled. "Or did you forget that?"

"You should… cut your losses…"

"I'll cut something alright, Rodney, but it'll be from your hide! I am not leaving you! Now shut up and move!"

"Look out!" McKay yelled suddenly as he caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye.

But the warning came too late.

Rodney felt himself wrenched out of his friend's grip as John was tackled to the ground. The Air Force man hit the floor hard, his head connecting solidly with a rock. He gave a grunt and went still, out for the count.

McKay dragged his uncooperative body over to his team-mate. "Sheppard? C'mon, Sheppard, wake up," he called, shaking the prostrate man's arm.

John didn't move.

The Canadian cursed under his breath as the man who had attacked them grabbed the back of his collar and heaved him up painfully. He winced as he caught a whiff of the man's breath and struggled vainly to free himself.

"Be still or I will snap you like a twig," the man growled before dragging Rodney away from John and into the woods.

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Oh noes! Get up, John! Go and save your geek!