Hello there. After a brief (ha ha) pause, I'm back again with another chapter. In this one, we will see a bit more of Emily's darker side as she has to deal with some drama. I would also like to thank all of you who favourited/followed this story (or me) and especially big thanks to HiveQueen, KevlarKitten, Castiana Rain and you guest, whoever you may be for your reviews. Until today I had no idea how to respond to reviews but I figured it out! (Clever, clever me). So without any more of my blabbering (yeah right), on with the story!

Warning: Some language in this 'un.

"Take cover!" I jumped behind the closest rock I could see, breathing heavily. What was supposed to be your garden variety recon turned out to be a wraith-infested cabbage patch. So nothing unusual really. I saw Eriksen and Simmons leaning against nearby trees and Lorne on the ground behind a bush. He signaled us and I thanked my lucky stars that I was in SG-1, because otherwise I would have had no idea what the hell he was trying to tell me. Instead, I just nodded and took a deep breath. Five, four, three, two...One!

I jumped away from the rock as Eriksen, Simmons and Lorne covered me from behind, and sprinted in the direction of the gate. After a couple of paces, I frowned though, shooting a weary look behind me. Something was wrong. The gunfire didn't cease, but it was left far behind me. There were no signs of my team. I swore and turned arounddeciding to go back for them.

"Jackson, continue to the gate! Erikson got hit and..." I could hear a wraith stunner hitting something from his side. "SIMMONS GOT HIT TOO! Go back to Atlantis and send a rescue..." My breath caught when suddenly, Lorne's voice turned into static. I couldn't move. This was bad. I was the only one left. How the hell was I supposed to make it to the gate without them getting me too?

Pull yourself together. This isn't the first time you're in this situation.

I took a deep breath and started running for the gate again. My team got captured. The best thing I could do was to make sure I don't get captured too and that I make it back to Atlantis. They'll send a rescue mission which I shall take part in whatever whoever says and I'll get to kick their asses into next week. And I'm not talking about the wraith. The idiots shouldn't have let themselves get captured.

I was practically fuming. I could hear the wraith behind me and knew that only the fact that I was zigzagging between the trees was protecting me from being hit by the incessant shots whizzing past me. And it was only that part of me I discovered after I met my brother, the sensible part, that was stopping me from turning around and taking down as many of the fuckers as I could before they took me down. But I could almost hear what Daniel's reaction would be.

And what good would that do your team exactly? And how on Earth will Atlantis know what happened without you telling them?

I increased my pace, ignoring the cramping muscles. If I was going to make it, I would have to be pretty damn fast and get as much out of their range as possible by the time I reached the meadow the gate was on. It was on moments like this that I was eternally grateful to Jack and his agonizing exercises at five in the morning. I was still pretty out of shape though. Jack would kick my ass If he saw me.

I could see the meadow through the trees and kicked into next gear. I knew I had almost no chance of making it, what with having to dial up the gate but...

"Go faster Jackson! I'll cover you!" At this I almost tripped. What the fuck?! I chanced a look to my left and indeed saw the one and only major Evan Lorne running in the direction of the meadow a couple of meters from me.

"How the fuck did you get here? I thought they got you!" Or that's what I wanted to say. What came out was a series of pants and gasps. Lorne probably understood them because he shot me a sheepish look.

"Wrecked my radio." I swore quietly at the explanation. So they never got Lorne. He just fucking wrecked his radio. Apparently, he heard about the "kick their asses into next week" line and decided to turn up first.

We reached the meadow and Lorne jumped behind a large rock, his P-90 at the ready. I ran for the DHD and just as I reached it, I heard the well known rhythm of the gun. I could feel a couple of stunner blasts whizzing by, but from what I could tell without turning my back on the DHD, most wraith were aiming at Lorne and his rock. I wrecked my brain, trying to remember the address and fortunately, the seven years spent in SG-1 really paid off. The symbols popped into my mind one after another and finally, the seventh symbol locked and the gate activated, the event horizon creating its usual tidal wave before settling into a quite smooth puddle. I sent my code to the other side and turned to shout at Lorne to go ahead, but he beat me to the punch.

"Go ahead. I'll be right behind you." I growled and shot him a murderous glance. I knew that "right behind you". It was that "right behind you" that meant that the individual was going to be anywhere but right behind you. I opened my mouth to object but he shot me an annoyed looked and jumped from behind the rock.

I didn't wait to see him get hit. Instead, I ran for the gate and jumped through. Remember the "kick their asses into next week" line? Well Lorne just got the "Buy one, get one for free" deal.

From what I could tell, doctor Weir wasn't exactly happy. What am I saying? She was furious, although it wasn't as apparent. I did, however, know her for a bit longer than the others in the room so it didn't escape my notice. The only good thing about this situation was that she wasn't exactly mad at me. But if a wraith would walk in at this instant... I shuddered. Poor wraith. This was an Elizabeth Weir that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemies. Except maybe Patrice Errington from my second year at uni. That bitch. As if her constant hitting on Rodney wasn't enough, but actually stealing some of my work? The whore was lucky she was still alive. And no, I don't have a thing for Rodney. I just wouldn't let a slut like Patrice Errington anywhere near him. Talk about overprotective.

"Doctor Jackson, could you give us some details about the wraith that attacked you?"

"Hmm? Oh. Yes. Of course." As I proceeded with retelling the encounter with the wraith, I observed everyone around the room. Sheppard looked quite calm, but then again, he somehow managed to look calm in every situation. He was looking at me in a way that plainly suggested what he thought about scientists on teams, despite the fact he had Rodney on his. Ford was slightly leaning forward, probably impatient and wanting to go and kick some wraith ass. Teyla had an air of calm demeanor, probably used to such disappearances from her home planet. And Rodney... well.

"So you just left him there." Sheppard finally spoke up when I finished my speech. I smiled sweetly at him, my eyes shooting daggers. If he was a member of my former team, hell, even Lorne's team, he would know that at the sight of this smile, he should turn and run. Unfortunately for him, he was a member of neither.

"Okay then. Enlighten me. What would you have done?" I could see Rodney flinch at the sugar-coated sound of my voice, probably remembering all the various physical ailments that fell upon him after he heard it in the past. He cleared his throat and shot a desperate look at Sheppard. The major, however, still didn't get the hint.

"Well for one, I wouldn't have let my teammates get captured by the wraith." My smile widened and Rodney seemed to shrink in his chair.

"So you would have stayed and fought them."

"Damn right I would." The determination in his eyes was evident and the only thing stopping me from decking him right then and there was the knowledge that he was a rookie when it came to the gate.

"So let's hypothetically say I stayed and tried to take down the ten or so wraith. What would my chance at escaping be? Ten percent? Less? And what would Atlantis do then? We were scheduled to come back tomorrow. By then, who knows where my team and I would be! What would your plan be then, oh wise one?! You wouldn't even know we were missing!" My voice was rising in volume but I couldn't control it.

"Calm down doctor Jackson." I turned to Weir to tell her where exactly she could stick her orders when the doors to the briefing room suddenly opened.

"You asked to see me doctor Weir?" All the fight went out of me as a certain Scottish doctor entered and I sat down. Seriously. This infatuation has to end or it's going to completely destroy my image. Ya know. M' street cred.

"Yes. Doctor Beckett, how would you feel about an off world mission?" I opened my mouth in surprise and from the corner of my eye I could see him go white as snow. She couldn't possibly be suggesting... He was a medical doctor and from what I could tell, quite the pacifist. How the hell did she think he could go on a search and rescue was beyond me. Apparently, his thoughts were of a similar manner. As were those of most of the others in the room.

"Doctor Weir, with all due respect, are you seriously considering sending Beckett with us? No offence." Sheppard added in Carson's direction.

"None taken. Actually, I would agree with the major. I'm not cut out for this."

"Actually," she leaned forward in her chair. "I wasn't asking." I had to suppress a grin, remembering Jack and how a lot of similar questions of his ended up in the same manner. Someone has been taking notes.

This answer left the good doctor speechless and he stared at Weir, mouth wide agape. After a couple of moments, he seemed to gather enough wits to respond.

"But... I'm a doctor." How eloquent. But he did look quite adorable confused like... Oi! Where did that come from?

"And that's exactly why you'll be invaluable on this mission. There is a possibility, however small, that someone will get hurt. Also, I'm giving the authorization for the use of a jumper on this mission and it would be safer for both you and major Sheppard to go in case the major gets hurt and can't fly." Carson grew even paler, if that was even possible, probably not overly enjoying the prospect of anyone getting hurt. But doctor Weir didn't wait for his response. Instead she turned to Sheppard and the others.

"Get ready to leave in an hour." He nodded just as I cleared my throat.

"Not to be a pain in the ass, but what about me?" Sheppard sent me a reluctant look but Weir was already nodding.

"You too doctor Jackson." I smiled slightly and stood up with the others as she dismissed us.

"Jackson, could you wait a minute?" I turned around again to face him and raised my eyebrows. "Look, I'm sorry for being like that and you were right. You did make the right call." My eyebrow shot up even higher and I looked around warily, checking whether a clown was going to jump out of a hidden corner and point out none too politely that it was in fact the first of April. "It's just that I'm not exactly fond of..." He hesitated and I grinned.

"Nerds?" He grinned slightly.

"I had a different word in mind." My grin widened.

"Don't worry. You're not the first and you certainly won't be the last officer of the US military that feels that way. In fact, general O'Neill said exactly the same thing when I joined his team. You know, except for the apology..." This time it was him his raising his eyebrows.

"You were in the general's team?" I nodded, quite glad I made my point. And yes, I do like to boast. I turned to leave but he stopped me.

"There's one more thing." My expectant look met his determined one. "I'm the leader on this mission, which means..." I was already nodding my head.

"I know, I know. Obey my orders and stay out of my way." I sighed and quietly thanked my lucky stars that he didn't hear any of the stories told about me or my brother. Because if he had, I'm pretty sure he'd blackmail Weir to not let me step out of the city at all.

"Jackson, Beckett, you two stay in the jumper." I honestly didn't know what I was expecting. Okay, I expected Sheppard to let me come along, which was stupid when I take our previous conversation into consideration. But still, leaving me in the jumper when Rodney was allowed to come along... And leaving me here with Carson of all people. I know it wasn't on purpose, but still... I didn't object however, knowing that in case I accidentally happened to follow the team, I was much more likely to get away with it if I didn't cause a scene now. Instead I nodded shortly and turned to Carson. He looked much more relieved at being left in the jumper and I was tempted to point out to him that things never went exactly well when a group split up.

"If we're not back in two hours, dial Atlantis and call for backup." I shot him a sweet smile and nodded and then, much more discreetly shot another glance at an already suspicious Rodney, this one letting him know what exactly would happen if he explained the sweet smile to Sheppard. I gathered he understood perfectly from his terrified expression and I watched him smugly depart with his team, leaving me there alone with Carson.

Oh crap.

For a moment I was torn between running after them and hiding beneath the control panel. In the end I decided that neither was a good option, seeing as it would immediately alert the good doctor to a) the fact I felt extremely uncomfortable when left alone with him or b) my mental state which was often described as - how did Jack put it? - three fries short of a happy meal.

"So, ehm... How long do you know Rodney?" Okay. Maybe I wasn't the only one feeling uncomfortable here, because that had to be the worst conversation starter I have ever heard.

"We started dating in high school and got married three years ago." His expression was completely priceless and he stared at me for full thirty seconds until I couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. "Well what did you expect me to answer? I know for a fact that Rodney already told you how we met and I also know that you didn't exactly ask out of interest but just to start the conversation going." His expression turned into a sheepish one and I blushed slightly. Seriously, some people stutter, some people throw up but me? Noooooo! I had to be the person that, when confronted with an uncomfortable situation just cannot shut up. "Fuck. I didn't mean that..." Oh yeah, I also start swearing quite a bit. "I mean, I did. But I didn't. Not exactly, despite the fact I did, in fact mean it." And all in all create an impression of a complete and utter nutter. Hey, that rhymes!

"Let me try that again." I exhaled and smiled at him gratefully. "What is the most interesting story from your days in SGC?" My smile widened as I wrecked my brain.

"Well, there was that one time when Jack and I drank something that made us get more... ehm... comfortable with each other. And as fate would have it, just as things were getting interesting, Daniel comes in and sees me and the colonel - well, now general - in a quite compromising position. Fortunately we didn't get far, mainly because Daniel was seconds from taking a sledgehammer to Jack's head. Needless to say that Jack never again made a sister joke in front of Daniel again..." I stopped when I realized just what exactly was I telling Carson. Seriously. Fainting would be better than this.

"So you and General O'Neill..." I snorted.

"God no. Never. Not in a million years. He's, what? Twenty years older than me? Also, if that truly happened, I would be practically signing his death warranty. Having one brother after him would be bad enough, but Daniel and Rodney? Jack wouldn't stand a chance." Carson looked a bit confused.

"They're that overprotective?" I nodded.

"You have no idea. In fact, Rodney spent the better part of his high school education chasing guys away from me. And not always only the ones that were hitting on me. There was this one time when a classmate asked me to help him with his homework and Rodney told him to shove it. And then he didn't even feel guilty when the guy failed his math test..." Looking at Carson, I realized that this wasn't probably the best way to get him to make a move... Wait. I'm not saying I wanted him to make a move, I'm just saying that if I hypothetically wanted to get him to make a move, this wasn't the best way to go about it. "They're not that bad though. They even tried to set me up from time to time." I fortunately managed to stop myself adding that the candidates were chosen based on their faults to make sure I would pick none of them. Sighing quietly, I took a quick glance at my watch. Time was moving way too slowly.

Ten...

Nine...

Eight...

Seven...

Six...

Five...

Four...

Three...

Two...

One...

"Okay. They've been gone for two hours." Carson frowned worriedly.

"So we should call Atlantis, right?" I smirked slightly.

"Whatever are you talking about Carson? I can distinctly remember the major saying that if he doesn't come back in two hours, we should go and look for him."

"But..."

"No buts Carson. Orders are orders. Come on." I stood up and opened the jumper, walking out, not bothering to check if he was following me. I already knew he would.

"Ehm, Emms?" I winced at the nickname and turned around.

"Yes Car?" He probably didn't even notice me using the slight alteration of his name because he was too busy using his brain as he proved moments later.

"You do realize that the major took the life detector?" I swore quietly under my breath but then my expression brightened again. And during the two hours of idle conversation Carson apparently picked up on a couple of things because at this moment, he looked completely terrified.

"Never mind that. I've got a better idea." His expression turned into a one of pure horror.

"I'm not sure if I want to hear it." I snorted and headed back into the jumper.

"Of course you do. You'll be a hero after this."

"I'm not sure if you know the difference between a hero and a martyr." I ignored his remark as I grabbed him by his shoulders and pushed him in front of the control panel. At that moment my plan dawned on him and he immediately started shaking his head. "Not a chance. You remember what happened in Antarctica. I'm a doctor! Not a bloody pilot."

"Don't worry. I'll be here every step of the way."

"That's exactly what I'm worried about."

A/N:

So another one behind us. I do, however, have to warn you that it will take some time before Carson and Emms *flinching at the blow I would get for calling her that* get together. You people that have seen season two already know what I'm talking about (hint: What happens in Duet?). But this doesn't mean that she won't get together with anyone else. Any guesses? (Please let there be guesses. I'm really curious). Also, did anyone catch a reference to an SG-1 episode? Feel free to send a review (and don't feel free not to send one *wink*).

Yours eternally (or as long as I have nerves with this story),

NC

P.S.: All the characters I include are made up. Any similarities to a real person are purely coincidental. Isn't that right, Patrice?