Chapter 6: Change and chances

When they disembarked from the plane in New York Mitchell went to rent a car while Sheppard and Ronon went to get changed. Ronon didn't need to change but Sheppard got the impression he wasn't willing to leave his team leader on his own in a strange place, regardless of how frequently he was assured it was perfectly safe.

Sheppard sighed in relief as he saw the individual cubicles he could get changed in, thankful that he wasn't going to have to get Ronon to barricade the toilets. He slipped into one of the cubicles and with the ease of practice slipped out of his uniform and into a pair of jeans and a turtleneck jumper, silently sending his thanks to whoever had had the foresight to give him a top with a neck that would cover the implant on the back of his neck.

He knew that he should probably have waited to find somewhere more secure to change but as well as being incredibly uncomfortable and drawing unwanted attention Sheppard knew that it could cause tensions with his brother, after all, his joining the air force had been a major bone of contention within the family for years.

Ronon was waiting for him just outside the door. Sheppard noticed with amusement that more than one person looked back at Ronon as they walked by, some with apprehension and more than one with admiration.

"Can we go now?" Ronon asked, a hint of irritation in his voice, Sheppard concluded that Ronon had noticed the same thing that he had.

"Yep, let's go and find the car rental area, that's where Cam said to meet him."

Walking through the airport Sheppard stumbled as someone with a broken leg encroached upon his consciousness but, remembering what he had been practicing on the plane; Sheppard gathered himself up and managed to catch himself before he actually fell. Seeing Ronon's questioning look and he just said; "I had a lapse in concentration, don't worry I'm fine."

Before the conversation could go any further Sheppard changed the subject saying "There's Cam, over there." Indicating where he meant. Cam was standing with his back to them talking to the girl behind the counter, but as they approached he turned and smiled holding up a set of keys. "You set?" he asked.

"About as much as we're going to be." Sheppard admitted heading towards the exit and the car park beyond.

"The clinic is not all that far from here but knowing New York traffic it should take about an hour to get there."

Sheppard nodded, relieved that he had a bit more time to compose himself and figure out what he was going to say to his dying brother.

Stepping out into the brisk autumn wind Sheppard and Ronon pulled on jackets, Sheppard thinking of the extra layer of protection the jacket offered not only against the elements but also against the implants in his back being detected. He hated how self conscious they had made him.

Ronon was obviously in a world of his own as he commented; "I still can't believe how many people you manage to cram into such a small area." Looking towards the distant sky scrapers as he did.

"I can understand the reasons why the wraith are so desperate to get here. If you were starving and you knew there was a cache of food out there that could feed you indefinitely wouldn't you do anything in your power to find it?"

"Let's not talk about the wraith and feeding huh?" Sheppard requested subconsciously rubbing the area of his chest where the scar from his own experience of being fed on by the wraith still lingered.

"Bad memories?" Mitchell asked, he hadn't missed the involuntary action and made a mental note to ask about it at some point.

"Let's just say first had experience on the topic."

"And general Landry complains about the frequency I land myself in trouble... your team would probably give him and early coronary."

"It does take a special kind of person to command Atlantis" Sheppard admitted smiling now.

By this time they had reached the car and Mitchell had unlocked it. "I'll sit in the back" Sheppard told Ronon "You need more room to stretch and besides, I could do with a nap." Sheppard wasn't really all that tired but he wanted the time to just relax and compose his thoughts. He wasn't even sure why his brother wanted to see him. They had begun to repair broken bridges after their father's funeral but they were far from close. Sheppard was willing to admit that was probably why his brother waited so long to let him know what was going on.

Slipping into the back seat Sheppard leaned back and shut his eyes. He drifted for the rest of the journey; sometimes deep in his own thoughts, other times listening as Mitchell attempted to explain the peculiarities of New York City to Ronon.

A/N: i felt bad about the lenght of times between uploads so heres another short chapter... things start to pick up from here