A/N: Yeah, I know. It's been four months. I feel really bad about it. I swear I will get to at least Conversion before I go to college in the fall. These all have taken much longer to write then I thought they would. But hey, Runner is finished and Duet will be up soon! Coup will probably be the most difficult to write since I will have to do a lot of speculation about what happened to Lorne but it will be fun and I love whumping.

Runner, Part 4

A short time later, Lorne could clearly hear someone coming down the path. Not being too eager to get shot again, he pulled his 9 mil out of his holster, and dragged himself behind some cover, readying his aim. For some reason the ammo clip to his P-90 was missing.

The sound was getting closer. His finger hugged the trigger; he questioned if he wasn't being overly paranoid but in a new galaxy you could never be too careful. Finally, what was making all the noise cleared the trees and Lorne recognized Sergeant Reed struggling to get through the thick undergrowth. He allowed himself a little chuckle. Lowering his weapon, Lorne wondered if they ever covered stealth in Reed's marine training.

Reed soon spotted him behind the tree and made even more noise in his haste to get to the Major. Lorne tried to stand to meet him but he was still struggling to get feeling back in his legs.

"Sir," greeted Reed obviously relieved to see Lorne. "We've been looking for you and Dr. McKay for over a half hour." Then he noticed Lorne was still sitting on the ground. "Are you all right, sir?"

"I'm fine," said Lorne feeling a bit like jello again. "I just took a hit from one of those wraith guns."

"Heard those things are a really bitch." Reed said almost cheerfully. "Total paralysis, you can't move an inch. They've said it's so the Wraith can feed on people without resistance… Pretty interesting stuff really." While expressing this pleasant thought, Reed offered Lorne a hand that Marcus gratefully took. As he got up his head started to swim but he stood his ground. The thick air of this planet was really starting to get to him. "I'm glad to see you're okay, sir, if not a little groggy maybe."

"Yeah," said Lorne while he steadying himself with the tree. Marcus hated to show weakness especially in front of one of his subordinates. "I'll shake it off eventually. Right now I need you to fill me in on how we're doin' with finding Teyla and Colonel Sheppard."

"Nothing yet, sir. It's a big planet. They could easily be anywhere, Ford—"

"We don't know for sure if it's Lieutenant Ford, Sergeant." Interrupted Lorne steadying himself with his trusty tree, "We could be dealing with someone completely different so we shouldn't jump to conclusions."

Reed responded with his usual "Yes, sir." But Lorne was sure the marine still thought Ford was the only one other then the Atlantis crew on the planet. Lorne himself wasn't quite sure but there had been too many strange occurrences today that were indicating they were dealing with more then one hostile.

"We'll update the other teams on the situation and let 'em continue searching. No point in calling them all back. Nothing much has changed only that McKay is now missing."

"Sir," said Reed tentatively.

"Yes, Sergeant?"

"Well, sir, you can hardly walk." Reed had always been direct even with his commanding officers. Sometimes it was liberating, other times it was down right annoying. "I think it probably would be better if you get yourself checked out. Just as a precaution."

Lorne knew he was right. He wasn't going to be much good to anyone until he'd regained all his feeling and was at least able to walk properly. The Major just nodded and started to limp towards the direction of the jumper. Reed rushed over and allowed Lorne lean on him for support. Together, with Lorne feeling completely useless, they headed back to the gate.

Though he was still a bit groggy, Lorne felt much better and more confident by the time they got to the jumper. He could almost walk properly. Kaufman was waiting and came out to meet them.

"It's good to see that you're alright, Major. We were a little worried when we lost radio contact after McKay's mayday. What exactly happened?"

Reed made his way to the front of the jumper to keep watch from the window. Lorne sat in one of the back seats and Kaufman started to check him out using one of those damn penlights.

"Well, I can't really remember much…" Lorne didn't get much farther then that when Reed abruptly got up from his position in the front.

With a swift "Major" to call for Lorne's attention, Reed walked out the back to meet someone.

"Where's Lorne?" Came Colonel Sheppard's unmistakable drawl.

Marcus blinked. Sheppard here? Had one of the teams found him? Well, it didn't matter. They just might have finally caught a break today.

"He's inside, sir," was the lieutenant's neutral response like COs who were suppose to be missing for over three hours just appeared out of thin air everyday.

As Lorne was uneasily getting up to meet the Colonel, Sheppard ran in.

"What happened to you?" he asked glancing at Lorne and passing him to get to the pilot's seat. For some reason, the colonel seemed to be in quite a hurry.

Rubbing his eyes, Lorne responded, "I got hit by a Wraith blaster looking for you. Now McKay's missing." But don't worry I'll be fine.

"Great!" came his fed up frustrated reply.

Where has he been for the last few hours?

"What about Teyla?" Asked a puzzled Lorne wondering why the two weren't together.

"Long story. You can listen to it while I tell Doctor Weir," responded Sheppard who was already half way through dialing the gate to Lorne's bewilderment.

This should be interesting.

Back on Atlantis in Weir's office Sheppard, with Lorne present, brought Weir up to speed on the current situation.

"So you're telling me," said Weir rubbing her temple with the fingers of her right hand like she had a headache, "That in all this time you've been missing both you and Teyla were being held hostage by this man named Ronan Dex? And that he is currently using Teyla as leverage against us to help him remove this tracking device that the Wraith have implanted in he back in order for them to hunt him for sport."

"That about sums it up, yeah," said Sheppard sounding like stuff like this happened everyday. "Oh, and the Wrath could arrive on the planet at any minute since they've been tracking him for seven years. We're going to need to act fast and soon."

Lorne was sure he heard a slight groan from Weir. "Fine, you have an okay." She said leaning on her desk and resolutely lifting her head to look at both soldiers. "But I want you, Sheppard, on high ground out of sight able to take him down if he shows any inclinations to hurt either Beckett or Teyla, got it?"

Sheppard and Lorne both nodded in silent agreement. Weir may be a civilian but she wasn't one to be crossed.

"In the mean time, I want the other teams to continue searching for Rodney and Aiden. They are still out there and considering how unstable Ford's condition was the last time we saw him, McKay might be in some real danger." Straightening up she turned to Marcus. "I want you, Major, to lead those guarding the gate. If you see any gate activity at all cloak the jumper and stay out of sight; it will most likely be the Wraith coming through. Now, only Carson needs to be informed." Tapping her earpiece she called for Beckett.

While Weir headed off to the infirmary talking to Beckett at the same time, Sheppard turned to Lorne dismissing him.

Starting back to the jumper bay Lorne thought over everything and wasn't quite sure what to make of the whole situation with this guy Dex. Though Lorne admired the fact that he had been able to thwart the Wraith for seven years while being tracked and pitied him for having to live a life like that; the man was probably extremely dangerous and smart. Marcus just hoped Atlantis wasn't goingtounderestimate him.

Back on the planet after Sheppard and a sulky Dr. Beckett left to meet up with Dex; Lorne, Kaufman, and Reed were left to watch the gate. It was boring work but considering all the excitement of the past 12 hours Lorne was happy to take a brake. He and Kaufman kept watch outside while Reed stayed in the jumper.

After a couple hours with no activity, an all too familiar sound broke the quiet air follow soon after by a single gunshot.

"What was that?" whispered Kaufman concerned.

"Oh-no." Frantically, Lorne activated his radio, "Davis? Mells? Report. Are you guys alright?"

No reply. Damnit, Ford must have gotten to them. Lorne was already almost out of the clearing, heading off to find Davis and Mells when he heard Kaufman's shout.

"Sir! We got Gate activity over here!"

Perfect timing thought Lorne bitterly as he headed back to Kaufman.

"Cloak the Jumper, now!" he yelled at Reed. As the jumper disappeared into thin air, Lorne joined the Sergeant behind a large bush and aimed his P-90 at the still spinning gate. Into his radio he reported, "Colonel Sheppard, we've got gate activity."

Suddenly the gate exploded into life with the shimmering pool taking form. Three Wraith darts soon came through only just missed colliding with the surrounding trees.

"Three Wraith darts just came through. They're headed your way, Colonel."

Lorne could just make out the muffled "Great" from the Colonel before the static over took the signal.

Soon there after, the Wraith must have thought they got what they were looking for because they dialed and left through the gate. After the danger had pasted Lorne sent Kaufman and Reed to go look for Davis and Mells who were probably-- hopefully-- laying unconscious somewhere. Dr. Beckett and Teyla soon arrived looking unhurt but a little shaken. Lorne had already contacted the other search teams plus Sheppard to make sure none of them had been taken by the Wraith. Sheppard seemed very subdued when Lorne contacted him.

"Sir, are you alight?"

"I found McKay, and Ronan has agreed to come back with us now that the tracking device has been destroyed."

"Is that a good idea, sir? The guy held you and Teyla hostage just hours ago plus considering our certain… situation at base wouldn't there be a danger of him compromising us."

"Major," Sheppard sounded very tired and worn out. "He hates the Wraith more then we do. Knowing his background how can you even think he'd work with them. We'll keep a two guard escort on him at all times but I think he can be very useful with all his… experiences."

The Colonel did have a point. "Understood, sir. Did you locate Lt. Ford?"

There was silence over the radio for a beat then the Colonel responded, "No, I didn't. He sort of… escaped. He's no longer on the planet."

"But the only way he could have gotten off, pasted us, was…" Oh-no.

"We'll talk about it at the debriefing. Meet you at the jumper in ten. Sheppard out." The radio went dead.

So Ford had been taken by the Wraith. They must've thought he was Dex. Usually, being beamed into one of those darts meant certain torture and death. Ford was now in enemy hands. This was not good at all. This mission started out being about Ford now they've ended up with one wild man and two unconscious marines and they had no Ford to show for it. Colonel Caldwell was defiantly not going to be happy.

A/N: So there you go. Runner is now completely! Please read and review. Can't wait for season 3. It looks as if Lorne with be in at least two episodes. I hope I get far enough to finish season 2 and can go on to write stories for season 3.