Belana30 – Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter, sorry it took me so long to post it.

Steph7085 – I'm glad you're enjoying this story and I hope you enjoy this chapter as well, sorry it took me so long to post it and thanks for the review.

Alexandretta – Thanks for the review and I love writing John and Teyla friendship, their scene in the last chapter almost wrote itself. I'm glad you like the story and I hope you enjoy this story, sorry it took so long to post this chapter.

Fyd818 – Aww thank you so much for you review (hugs) I have to admit I was a little nervous venturing into the world of AU's but now that I have I'm completely hooked. I have a tonne of idea's all waiting to be written. I'm glad you like this story and I apologise for taking so long to get this chapter up.

Tinuviel Undomiel – I've read The Squad and I just wanted to say that I love it, in fact I love all your stuff, I really hope you finish it I got really hooked. Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

- - -

Chapter 3

Ronan walked through the busy corridors of the LAPD, his partner Elizabeth by his side as they discussed Detective Emmagan's possible involvement in Sheppard's escape.

"You really think she's helping him?" he asked her.

"From everything he's heard about the two of them it's definitely possible, it sounds as though they're very close and she trusts him completely" Elizabeth explained thoughtfully as Ronan knocked on the door of Captain Sumner's office. When his voice told them to enter he opened the door to reveal an office cluttered with paper work and reports and Ronan briefly entertained the notion that it was more untidy than his own desk.

"You must be the FBI Agents" The Captain greeted as he stood up and moved around his desk to greet them though his tone showed his obvious displeasure et having them there. "What can I do for you?"

"We need to ask you some questions about Detective Sheppard" Elizabeth stated unperturbed by the Captain's tone of voice.

"Ask away"

"He's called into this office on many occasions is that correct?"

"It is, he has a tendency to disobey orders and do things his own way" Sumner told her honestly though he regretted that he wasn't painting a good picture of the man.

"Do his actions ever put lives in danger?"

Sumner winced inwardly, she knew exactly which questions to ask and how to ask them "Sometimes but usually only his own and maybe his partner's"

"About his partner, Detective Emmagan" Elizabeth began "What is her relationship with Sheppard like?"

"The two of them are close and trust each other completely; it's part of what make them such a great team"

"Do you believe it's possible she's helping Sheppard?"

"Possible" Sumner conceded "But unlikely, Sheppard would never allow it, he wouldn't let her risk her career and maybe her life to help with this"

"But you have just said that he's put her life in danger on many occasions" Elizabeth stated.

"Not intentionally and never for his own needs"

"Why were the two of them called into your office yesterday?" Elizabeth asked Sumner once again cursed inwardly.

"They were working on a kidnapping case when they believed they had found the kidnapper's house. I ordered them to wait for back up, they didn't. Sheppard went in anyway and Emmagan followed him, though they saved the kid their actions could have put lives in danger including their own."

"He seems to have a disregard for human life" Elizabeth stated as she turned to leave the room "That's all for now Captain.

"No it's not" Sumner said surprising both FBI Agents and causing them both to stop and turn back to him "John Sheppard does respect life and he risks his own to save other's every day. He may be reckless and disobedient but he's a good, a good cop and he is not a murderer"

Ronan was somewhat taken aback by the Police Captain's speech and the conviction in his voice as he spoke and he could tell Elizabeth was too.

"You really don't believe he did it?" Ronan spoke for the first time since entering the room.

"I know he didn't do it"

Elizabeth and Ronan left the room silently and he could see the thoughtful expression on her face as she analysed the new information they had gained from questioning Captain Sumner.

- - -

John had spent the night in the abandoned warehouse which was providing him shelter and a suitable place to hide at least for now. He'd barely slept and had no idea how he was going to clear his name and find the real killer but he was determined to try. He couldn't keep going to Teyla it put her in too much danger even though he knew she would gladly help him if he asked her to. However she had already taken a huge risk just to meet up with him briefly yesterday.

He was currently sat on the floor with his back against the wall as his eyes scanned the empty warehouse. It was cold, a little dusty and the dirt on the windows meant it was pretty dark even during the day. He wondered for a brief moment how his life could have so completely turned upside down in less than twenty four hours.

He needed to find out everything he could about the five murders but he'd have to do it without Teyla's or the cop's help, he was in this on his own and he was going to have to do this the hard way.

Deciding his first destination he stood up and left the ware house, he put his cap on and kept his head low as he made his way through the streets toward the library.

- - -

"What have you got?" Elizabeth asked as she and Ronan stepped into the DNA lab to find forensic scientists Rodney McKay and Radek Zalenka.

"We tested the finger prints we found on the knife against Detective Sheppard's, they're a match" McKay told them handing over a small file with an almost solemn expression on his face.

"Then we can place the murder weapon in his hand" Elizabeth stated.

"Apparently so" Zalenka answered his voice and face clearly showing his conflict with the situation and Elizabeth guessed they both knew Sheppard.

"What can you tell me about Detective Sheppard?" she asked.

"He's a good man and not a murderer, he didn't do it" Rodney stated and Elizabeth eyed him curiously.

"You just handed me proof that he did"

"No we gave you proof that his finger prints were on the knife not that he used to kill someone"

Elizabeth acknowledged his words before she and Ronan left the room and conversed quietly in the corridor.

"So we have him at the murder seen and his finger prints all over the murder weapon, we also got confirmation that he was in both New York and Miami at the tome of the murders" Elizabeth stated and Rona could see the glint in her eyes she always got when she though she had solved a case. "We can probably make a solid case of that alone"

"All we have to do now is catch him" Ronan said with a small smile as Elizabeth's gave him a completely not serious glare.

"If everything we're hearing about Sheppard and Emmagan is true then she'll do whatever she can to help him and I don't care what the Captain says, fugitives on the run need things, they need help and he'll go to Emmagan for it. I think you should follow her and watch for any signs she's helping him or is in contact with him"

"You know I hate stake out's" Ronan groaned in dismay "All that sitting still"

Elizabeth smiled at her partner "Well you can always spend the day here doing research and asking people the same questions over and over again" she stated humorously with a slight smile of triumph.

"What time is she due to arrive?"

- - -

Teyla's head was pounding, she had barely slept at all last night and she knew tonight would be just as restless. She had no idea where John was or ho they were going to clear his name all she knew was that she had to find a way. Unfortunately John would only contact her again as a last resort and even then may not contact her. There was very little she was able to do except learn everything she could and investigate it herself.

She had spent the day writing and filing her report about the Kidnapping case she and John had been working on and doing any other paper work she had fallen behind on. She walked out of the police station at the end of her shift and turned to walk toward the nearby Diner to get a cup of coffee.

She stopped and turned back around "Agent Dex, if you insist on following me then perhaps you should just join me for coffee at the diner rather than sneaking around in the shadows"

She had to suppress a small smile as Agent Dex appeared from around the corner, his face showing his apparent anger and annoyance at having been caught. "Don't feel bad" she told him "You were very good, I almost didn't know you were there unfortunately I was expecting someone to start following me at some point"

The annoyed expression briefly turned to one of slight admiration as he approached her but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Now that she was no longer being questioned relentlessly by his partner she was able to notice for the first time just how attractive he was. He looked nothing like an FBI agent with his light brown dreadlocks which framed his face bringing out his dazzling green eyes.

"So where's this diner?" he asked her apparently have decided t give up his covert pursuit but with every intention of continuing to follow her. She smiled softly as she pulled herself out of her thoughts and back to reality, gesturing down the street.

TBC