Hey, you know what I was thinking? What would be a great idea!

REVIEWING! Huzzah. I see you adding my stories, don't think I don't expect a little something in return for my work -waggles finger-

Sorry it has taken so long for me to post again.. BUT sadly, I wasn't getting reviews, and Paul is harder to hold back than you'd think!

CHAPTER FOUR: The Situation

Mckay teetered for a moment, swaying back and forth. His fingers wrapped tightly through the small square holes of the net. He was bent at an odd angle and found it incredibly uncomfortable. His bright blue eyes watched as Keller slid out from under the bench, and as Mahogany and friend undid their belts, scurrying forward to see if she was okay. Ronan entered the ship and bent down next to the tangle of body parts that was the Colonel and Kryssa. Sheppard had expressed a little moan, and was waking up.

"What?" he mumbled, everyone turned to him. Everyone who could that is.

Sheppard rolled to the side, his head hurt. With a little help from Keller and Ronan, he was standing. It took a moment at first, he didn't have much feeling in his legs. They kept buckling under him when he tried to stand on his own. "What happened?" He remembered being unable to breath, he remembered a body beneath him, someone he was trying to save. And then Ronan?

"When Mckay entered without you, I went back to look, found you collapsing in the corridor with Kryssa." The large man pointed down at the blonde girl, who was still curled up where they left her. She'd look slightly peaceful, if her arm hadn't been twisted behind her back.

"Well I kinda figured that one out on my own! I mean... what happened?" Sheppard suddenly felt rather confident in his footsteps, and he walked forward, out of the Jumper and into the dense bush around them. "Where are we?"

"Oh," the scruffy little scientist raised his hand, "While I was trying to get us away from the Ancient ship, it opened fire on us, we barely made it out alive, I had to land somewhere." With a quick movement he indicated their current surroundings.

"Excuse me?" Mckay butted into the conversation, "I could just hang around here all day, or someone could help me down so I can once again get us out of a dire situation, saving all of our lives and getting nothing in return!" The man wiggled a bit, shifting the net, some of the things that were buried beneath him slipped out of their place and fell. Landing on top of Kryssa, who was still fast asleep.

Ronan and the taller of the two scientists moved forward to assist. While Keller bent down along with John, Grabbing Kryssa by the hip and dragging her unconscious body out from under the Physicist.

Keller checked her life signs again, they were still oddly erratic, but she appeared to be breathing normally now. It didn't take long for her to position the girl in a more comfortable position outside the jumper. Her kit nearby in case of any emergencies.

"Need some help doc?"

Keller looked up, smiling at Sheppard before flipping open her case, "No, There isn't much I can do for her, just wait..."

"No I mean with that," Sheppard indicated to her forehead, "Nasty bump!" He bent down, riffling through her supplies and finding a bandage and disinfectant.

Keller raised her hand, wincing when her finger met with the damaged flesh. "Ouch, right.." she blushed, taking the disinfectant and dipping it over a large cotton ball. "Thats alright John, I can handle this..." her eyes darted from the Jumper to the Colonel, "Go help the others!"

With a nod Sheppard stood, stepping out of the doctors way and heading toward the Puddle Jumper. Making it there in time to see Rodney falling as he ripped his boot from the net, having caught it on the way down. The Canadian toppled backward and landed on the floor. One of his minions assisted him in standing, and with a pat on the back and that usual Mckay smile he thanked him, "Thanks ...Mahogany."

The scientist looked at him his brow furrowing, "Mahogany? Its Rosewood sir... Lee Rosewood"

Rodney gave him an odd glance, staring a moment, his eyes loosing any trace of thought, "Are you sure... I definitely thought," he pointed at the taller scientist, "Your Mahogany?"

"No its James, Kevin James? I've worked with you for about a year now and-"

"Yeah, yeah..." Rodney waved his hand, "Same story everyone gives me, doesn't mean I'm going to remember your names!" With that he turned to face John, "Sheppard, Everyone alright?"

Sheppard suppressed a laugh, knowing he probably shouldn't egg the man on, "Everyone's... fine, Besides a doctor with a bump on the head and an Alien in a comma... It's all good."

"Oh," Mckay nodded, "Peachy!" Then with a clap of his hand he whirled around, looking at the ship, "I guess I should um..."

"That'd be nice,"

"Alright..." With a deep breath Rodney moved into the front compartment of the Jumper, and went to work on figuring out all the juicy details. Like whether or not the Jumper would fly again, how far away from the gate were they? If there even is a gate? Are there any life forms? Civilization? How far in the forest were they? In a matter of moments, Mckay would have all the answers...

BEEP BEEAAUUPppblbllblb PFFFT

Or not.

"Mckay... What was that?" Smoke began to float over their heads, making its way from the front compartment outside.

"Um..."

"Rodney... It sounded like-" There were random sparks as Mckay exited the front compartment, closing the door behind him.

"The Jumper just died completely? Yeah," The flustered voice of the head scientist was enough to tell the Colonel that they weren't going to get anything out of the ship.

"Is there any way you could fix it? Send a message out?"

"If I had the right tools, but we don't... so no, I can't even get a message out!"

"You can't get sensors up or anything?"

"What part of...'Completely Died' aren't you getting? I don't have the right tools, If I did... I could fix maybe... some of the systems, and it would have taken me hours, we don't have enough supplies to just sit around waiting either way." Then, Mckay snapped his fingers together, three times, pointing at the mess on the floor with a grin, "But we do have," He began riffling through the things on the floor, "Ah... A PDA," he raised the small device proudly. "This should be of use, now we can at least see what's around us!"

Sheppard nodded, "Right... So we have to move?" he turned to face Ronan, Rosewood, and James, "Search around and find as many weapons as you can, we'll head out and find the gate!"

Ronan, Rosewood and James all nodded simultaneously before following orders and searching the ship. Mckay, fiddled with the PDA a moment before shaking his head and moving around John to exit the Jumper. He wandered a few feet into the forest, not far from where Keller sat, trying to find readings.

"Find Anything?" Keller looked up at him.

"Hmmm." The Canadian mumbled, not taking his eyes off the tiny screen.

"What are you looking at?" She added calmly.

"What?," Mckay turned his head and saw the Doctor, "Oh.." Mckay hadn't noticed her there, "I found something strange," he turned, moving the PDA out in front of him as he walked around Kryssa and Keller. He did this a few times before nodding, "It's some kind of energy signature... A strong one, might be ancient!"

"Another energy signature?" Sheppard asked walking up to the two doctors, holding a P-90 they had found. There was also two Nine millimetre's, given to Rosewood and James, and Ronan had his own gun with him. Leaving Keller and Mckay weapon less. And Kryssa... if you counted her.

"What do you mean another?"

"Well there's always an energy signature... In fact," he pointed down to the unconscious blonde, "Thats how we found our little friend here."

"Yes... but the signatures are different, I made sure of it. This is an ancient device... its not moving, and its in what looks like some sort of abandoned settlement, or ruins." He nodded, "Its hard to tell without investigating!"

"Mckay, we want to find the Stargate, not Ancient ruins,"

"Well these ruins might explain why there was a ship in the area, or Maybe its indicating the position of the Stargate! We have no idea where it is... This is our best chance,"

"I agree with Mckay," Keller noted, as she stood up. Brushing her hands down her legs to remove random twigs and leaves that clung to the fabric of her pants.

Sheppard looked from Doctor to Doctor, his expression uneasy. It was the best they had, but something felt wrong about traveling into the woods, searching for an energy signature. The same routine had gotten them into trouble before.

"Its a place to start," Keller added, noting the look on Johns face. She turned to Ronan, Rosewood and James, looking for a little support. Rosewood shook his head rapidly up and down mumbling quick yes's every now and then. James stared at Keller for a moment with a dreamy look before giving a half smile and an awkward nod.

Ronan grunted, shrugging and spinning his gun in his hand. "I just don't want to stand around any longer than we have to!"

Sheppard's eyes sank to the ground, he bit his lower lip lightly before nodding himself, "Alright, okay... we'll go. But first sign of trouble and I want you all heading back to the Jumper. No ifs ands or buts!"

Keller, Rosewood, James, and Mckay nodded. All playing with the gear they gathered for a moment, getting ready to leave. Rosewood disappeared into the Jumper and came back out, a backpack swung over his shoulder, filled with as many bars of food, water containers, tools, and ammunition packs he could find. He handed another heavy bag to James, and set a third bag on the ground. For anyone to take.

Mckay ignored the bag on the ground, not wanting to take it himself and figuring if he looked busy he wouldn't be forced to.

Keller was packing her safety kit up again, not willing to leave it behind.

Sheppard and Ronan had also ignored the bag Rosewood dropped, and instead, were staring down at the unconscious Alien before them. Lying there peacefully. "How are we going to deal with her?" Ronan asked finally. Breaking the silence.

Mckay stopped fiddling with his toy and turned to see what the Satedan was talking about. His eyebrows furrowed when they caught the blonde. "Crap..." he walked forward, shoving the PDA into a pocket and looking down on Kryss as if she were a deer he had just hit with his car, one he didn't want to deal with.

"What if we just leave her here?"

"We can't leave her here Mckay, we don't know anything about this place!"

"Sure we can... just wrap her up and lay her down inside the Jumper, No one will see her... We can come back with help later."

Sheppard glared at his team-mate, "Mckay... Listen to yourself, we can't leave her here, There's no food or water, and what if she wakes up? And we aren't back yet."

Ronan spun his gun in his hand again, "And if there is a civilized town around here... they were bound to see the Jumper crash, she'd be unprotected and alone."

Rodney opened his mouth to give another reason, but sadly he couldn't think of anything. And was now getting dirty looks from Keller and Rosewood. James, was currently fumbling with his backpack, and hadn't been paying attention.

"Fine.." Mckay waved his hand passively, "But I'm not carrying her..." and with that he turned away. Beginning to walk through the forest. PDA out and stuck inches in front of his face.

Sheppard bit his tongue, trying to control himself, he didn't need to carry around an unconscious Mckay as well. He looked to Ronan, who rolled his eyes, almost as if he knew what John was going to ask next. And before a word escaped the Colonels mouth, The large man bent down, drawing Kryssa's body over his shoulder, and walking after the Canadian.

Keller shook her head, pursing her lips and following in suit. James close behind her.

Sheppard sighed, grabbing the bag Rosewood dropped and lifting it over his shoulder. And with that, him and the scientist brought up the rear.

--

"How much farther is it?" Ronan huffed, his legs kicking out sluggishly as he moved.

"Do you want some relief? We can trade?" Sheppard asked, raising the bag on his shoulder in an offer.

Ronan looked at him a moment, wanting to say no. He was a stubborn man, but did need a rest. "Sure..."

"Hey.." Sheppard called. Keller, James and Mckay all turned around. "We are going to take a break here, Five minutes!"

Keller, almost instantly, collapsed against the nearest tree, "Oh thank god."

James took a seat nearby, letting the bag support his back as he lay there, not moving. Every bone in his body was aching.

Ronan, slowly lowered himself, bending over and standing Kryss up, he pulled her small body off of his shoulder and laid her down with Rosewoods help.

Mckay turned in protest, "Oh come on... we're almost there!"

"How far away is it Mckay?" Sheppard asked, his eye's meeting the blue in Rodney's

"Well.." Mckay looked away. "I can't be sure."

"You have no idea do you?"

"Hey, all I know is Little Dot Good! PDA... not that accurate,"

Sheppard once again bit back the urge to smack the Physicist upside the head, and instead took off the bag he was carrying and set it under Kryssa's head. Taking a seat next to the unconscious form and glaring up at the scientist. "We are taking a break Rodney, relax."

Rodney grumbled in protest, but the look Ronan gave him was enough to shut the man up for a few hours.

--

"What if-"

"No..."

"But I could just-"

"No..."

"You don't even know what I was about to say and-"

"No,"

"It would only take-"

"NO Rodney! We are sticking together, I have a bad enough feeling about us heading to this..." he waved his hand dismissively, not sure what to call it, "place."

Mckay's lips tightened, his arms crossing, one over the other. He looked away childishly and stopped speaking, his chin jutting forward in that usual Meredith huff. "How long are we going to sit here anyway?"

"As long as it takes Mckay... People need some rest, and so do you!" Sheppard glanced at Ronan, who was smirking at the two of them. Rosewood was picking at grass, James had fallen asleep, and Keller was now next to John, checking Kryssa's vitals. For the third time since they'd stopped. "What are you looking for? I thought you said her vitals were erratic, and you couldn't understand them without the proper tools?"

"She should be awake by now. I don't understand it..." Keller pulled her hand away from the aliens neck. Her lips held tightly together as she stared down at the limp figure. "It was only half a minute without oxygen..."

"Well she had been slung over Ronan's shoulder for an hour or so..."

Keller's head shifted to the side, "You do have a point, maybe we should make a gurney of some kind instead?"

"Oh come on!" Rodney stood, his arms dropping, "We can just cover her in random leaves, and leave her hear... We'll come right back!"

"Mckay what's gotten into you? We never leave a man..." Sheppard paused to look down at Kryss, "Women... behind!"

Mckay huffed again, apparently the idea of an Ancient device or village was overpowering the want for his teams safety. For a second he stood there, not saying anything as he looked down at the ridiculing eyes of his friends and co-workers. "Your right.." It was a mumble, but it was still there to be heard.

Sheppard grinned, nodding to Keller. "We can start looking for strong enough branches."

"GHHHHHHAAAAAA," It was sudden, and unexpected. Kryssa's body lurched forward, her arms propping herself up behind her as she flailed through the air, her body searching for oxygen. She took a deep breath, then another. Her blue eyes looking frantically for something... anything.

--

Her vision was blurred, at first. She couldn't see anything, just blobs of light, shifting lower to meet her eye level. "Kryssa?"

A voice nearby caused a sudden reaction. Kryss leapt backward as much as she could. Hitting her head against the legs of another figure. She rubbed her eyes, harshly, trying to bring sight back into them. And slowly, but surely it worked. She could see four people, one standing not far off, and three kneeling down next to her. "Kryss are you alright?"

"Dr. Keller?" Kryssa squinted at the face nearest her. She could make out the longer, blonder hair and grinned.

"Your alright!" Kryssa's head turned, eyes widening, "I'm alright!" She patted her stomach, what little she could see of it. "What happened?"

"You passed out..." It was Sheppard's voice she recognised now. And once again, Kryss squinted through the blurred vision, and could almost make out the Colonels boyish smile, "I saved you..."

There was a cough, Ronan stepped forward, and the grin on Sheppard's face dropped, "Ronan helped!"

"Ronan dragged you from the ship after you passed out from Oxygen deprivation, and Rosewood helped John to the Jumper."

"And Mckay?" Kryssa's tone grew worrisome for a moment.

"Don't worry I'm fine,"

But the mans smug voice changed her tone rather quickly, and in a spiteful sort of way Kryss rolled her eyes, "I wasn't worried."

"Oh you definitely sounded worried to me!" Rodney added, not about to drop the subject.

"That wasn't worry in my voice is was hope!"

Kryss grinned, almost feeling the smile on Mckay's face fall, and in triumph, decided to stand. Her fingers digging into the tree behind her, Kryssa lifted herself. Her arms were rather weak and her legs wobbled beneath her. Someone was helping to hold her up, but she couldn't tell who.

"So... Um, I can't see..."

Keller looked at her oddly, "Well that's odd, sight shouldn't be affected by your ability to breath,"

"Well I couldn't see at one point!" Sheppard noted. Wincing slightly as he remembered the events.

"Yes but that was during the events, your body was stressed. Its been over an hour since it happened, and Kryssa has been both unconscious and can't see... Its really odd, I don't understand her physical make up. Perhaps its just her body... the mechanisms in her skull might have something to do with the-"

"Yeah, yeah we all know. She's part machine, she's odd... her vitals confuse you, yada yada... the only thing we can do is get her back to Atlantis, which means... we should start moving again!"

Sheppard bit his lip, not wanting to say it but he knew Mckay was right. "Alright... lets move out!"

--

TBC: Alright, Another chapter done, and the team is ready to head out. Paul is safely held in the back of my mind. Stored where no one can reach him! YES PAUL.. YOU ARE TRAPPED.

Now... on to my next mission, I must find a cantelope. A nice sturdy thick cantaloupe. It is the only thing that can suppress my need to kill... I mean, Pauls need to kill!

QUICK the more reviews I get, the more cantaloupe I will find... and the more cantaloupe I have, The less chance I will kill off one of your beloved characters!

And what is this Watermelon? It is interfering with my search! I mustn't have any distractions.