Thanks again for the reviews, and I'm delighted you're still enjoying the story.

BTW, RL got in the way when I was editing this, and because I didn't want to give you guys too much of a delay between posts, if there are any glaring mistakes could you PM me?

Now on with the story...

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE

CHAPTER 7

Danny liked the status quo and wasn't happy with Sheppard's team hanging around. He knew it was churlish, but this was his turf, and not only were they making the large office feel crowded; they were treating the place as if they owned it. One small mercy, at least Beckett wasn't there. Steve had told them to stop digging any deeper into the doc's past, but Danny couldn't forget what he'd already learned, and having a real life spook around, would have been well…spooky.

He understood something big was going down, and it wasn't just their show any longer, but it still made him feel uncomfortable. Conan, or whatever the hell he was called, was watching his every move, but strangely enough, it was the geek McKay who really pissed him off.

The guy just wouldn't shut up. Not only did he babble ten to the dozen in an irritating tone that was really getting on his nerves, but he was a freaking smart ass. Up till now Danny hadn't felt the need to know how their hi-tech computer system worked, but McKay soon told him. The annoying little nerd having the nerve to twist his face when Danny couldn't answer his questions.

He'd looked up and saw Ronon's lips start to twitch and Danny wanted to hit…something. Especially after McKay practically dismissed him and proceeded to speak to Kono. At least Teyla seemed nice, she was hot too, someone he would've liked to know better under different circumstances. Yet deep down he knew to get involved with a mystery woman with no past would be crazy, besides, he had the feeling she wouldn't be hanging around for long.

At the sound of McGarrett's door opening, he watched Steve lead colonel 'classified' towards the computer in the middle of the room. Neither man spoke as the two teams huddled around the screen, and Danny was surprised when Sheppard stood aside to allow McGarrett take centre stage. When they first met he'd found Sheppard arrogant, but now, instead of muscling in as he would have expected, the guy seemed content to hang back and listen with the rest of them.

Steve's expression was grave as he gave Kono a nod. The young Hawaiian wasting no time in bringing up a picture of a young red haired Caucasian woman on the desk top computer, before flicking it onto the main screen.

"Marianne Walker, age thirty-two, went missing along with her two year old daughter Katie from their Colorado home just over five months ago." Kono told them. "At the time her husband told everyone she'd gone to help her mother after her dad took a stroke, but now we know her parents haven't seen or heard from her since her disappearance."

Steve stood with one hand tucked in his pocket. "When did someone find out she was missing?"

Sheppard's voice drifted from where he was standing at the back of the group. "After his family left, Walker asked if he could take an extended weekend every fortnight so he could visit. As he wasn't working on anything classified, his boss agreed, and allowed him to take his research with him. When something came up, and they needed to contact him in a hurry, he wasn't where he was supposed to be."

The colonel unfolded his arms, and ambled forward to stand beside Steve. "When we discovered there was no record of her father having a stroke, and her parents had been visiting relatives overseas for months, alarm bells started ringing. That's when we found several pieces of equipment had gone missing. Anyway, it was decided to keep the theft under wraps until we knew what he was up to, so we tagged the remaining artefacts, sorry, equipment, and when he next left the facility I followed him here."

"One thing I don't understand, colonel. Just because Walker came here, why do you assume his family's also being held in Hawaii?" Chin asked.

"Because if I was him, I wouldn't do a damn thing unless I knew Gracie was safe." Danny said quietly, and there was an uneasy silence.

"I agree," Teyla smiled sadly at Danny, as she backed up his statement. "Now, all we have to do is find where they're being held."

McGarrett's face clouded over. "Okay…Chin - put a bolo out. Kono, I want you to target all the parks and beaches." When she looked puzzled, Steve explained. "Kid's cry if they're cooped up for too long, so take a picture of the two of them and show it around, see what shakes. Sheppard -" Danny saw Steve give his new partner a sideways look. "Where did you catch up with Walker?"

"I tailed him from the airport and he went straight to a mini mart to buy supplies." Sheppard told them. "When I confronted him, he begged me not to cause a scene, so I dragged him to a coffee shop. That's when he told me if I didn't let him go, his family would end up dead."

The colonel paused for a moment, and when he continued Sheppard looked tense, thoughtful. "He was edgy, real nervous, and told me he might be being watched, so we agreed to meet in the same place the next day. Said he would tell me everything then, chapter and verse. I promised to get the guy behind it, make sure nothing would happen to him or his family, but I guess he was either too scared, or just didn't trust me enough. Either way, I got jumped before I even got there."

"Do you think it was him who set you up?" McGarrett asked.

Sheppard sighed, and nodded slowly. "Yup, but I reckon he'd been watched every since he landed, and didn't have a choice in the matter."

"Okay…so what I don't understand is why didn't they just kill you?" Danny asked, puzzled. Only too aware Sheppard would normally have been considered a loose end.

"Because I had information they wanted - of course I refused to give it to them." Sheppard's expression hardened and Danny didn't need to ask why. When they'd found him lying on the beach, he'd thought Sheppard was a goner. The guy might be a smug SOB, but Danny gave him kudos for courage. He'd seen first hand how much Sheppard's resistance had cost him.

"What did they want?" Chin asked.

"Classified information. Security codes only I have knowledge of." Sheppard told them. "Let's just say the work we do is vital to national security," His face clouded over. "Not to mention a lot of our equipment is hi-tech, and would be damned dangerous if it got into the wrong hands."

McGarrett turned to stand in front of Sheppard, and their eyes locked. "Look, Sheppard. I get there's a lot you can't tell me, but I'm not about to send my people into a situation without knowing what we're up against. What project is Walker working on?"

Danny watched Rodney and Sheppard share a guarded look, before John eventually replied. "A weapon of mass destruction – like nothing you guys have ever seen before."

Steve looked at each of his team and they nodded. He then turned back to Sheppard. "Well what are we waiting for – let's do this."

ooooOoooo

Wo Fat shielded his eyes against the midday sun as he waited for the Senator to make his putt. The man was a terrible golfer with a handicap almost as large as his circumference, but the elderly statesman would be a very useful contact once his current project was finally completed. He forced a smile when the flushed, round face flashed an apologetic look, but it was hard not to look bored.

A glance at his watch told him his new employee would be arriving any time, and he hoped she wouldn't disappoint. The woman came highly recommended, but then so had the ninja he'd sent to the hospital to abduct Sheppard - it was increasingly difficult to find good help these days.

Wo Fat was confident Sheppard would once again become his prisoner, in the meantime he'd obtained someone who would be able to loosen his tongue when they next got hold of the man. The colonel was proving to be very illusive however, and Wo Fat would not make the mistake of underestimating him again. The problem now, Sheppard was surrounded by both his team, and Five O. Still, as his remaining operatives didn't want to share the same fate of their three colleagues, he was quietly confident Sheppard would be re-captured sooner, rather than later.

With McGarrett now involved, Wo Fat knew he would need to tread carefully. The commander was smart, a worthy adversary, but he didn't want him dead – not unless it was absolutely necessary. Since McGarrett's appointment as head of the task force, much of his competition had either been put out of business or sent underground, resulting in a clear field and increased profits. Unfortunately, if McGarrett did get between him and Sheppard, it would be necessary to revise his plans. Wo Fat just hoped it wouldn't come to that…

ooooOoooo

Rodney shivered, and rubbed his hands briskly up and down his arms in an attempt to keep warm. "It's freezing in here!"

"Really…a minute ago you were too hot, Doctor McKay - that's why I turned the air-conditioning up." Danny turned from the monitoring equipment wearing a bored expression, and using that pissed off but trying to be tolerant tone, Rodney was really beginning to hate.

He hadn't a clue what he'd done to upset the guy. The atmosphere in the back of the undercover van was tense enough with Ronon doing his mean, moody thing, so he tried to lighten the mood.

"Please, call me Rodney." Rodney flashed a smile, but was disappointed to see the detective look less than impressed.

"Well, Rodney, do you want the air-conditioning on, or off?" Danny asked. "Because I'm supposed to keep focused on what's happening outside, to see if Chin's hunch pays off. If his snitch is correct, there was a guy matching Walker's description hanging around this warehouse, belonging to Wo Fat, a few weeks ago."

Rodney let out a long sigh. "Please…don't worry about it. Besides, if I catch my death of cold, I'm sure Carson will find something in that voodoo bag of his to bring me back from the brink." Danny rolled his eyes, but Rodney smiled as the temperature grew warmer.

Danny bent over and whispered to Ronon. "Voodoo? Is Beckett a witch doctor or something?"

Ronon shook his head and mumbled. "Nah - just ignore him. For a smart guy McKay talks a lot of crap sometimes."

"He's sitting right behind you." Rodney glared at them both, and they turned in unison to shoot him a tolerant look, before a comfortable silence descended in the van. Rodney didn't know whether to feel offended or pleased. At least he'd finally got them talking.

"Look, you really don't need to be here, Rodney," Danny told him, "this could turn out to be a dead end, and I'm sure you have much better things to do than stake out a warehouse."

Ronon answered, just as Rodney had his mouth open to reply. "Sheppard doesn't want him left alone in case this Wo Fat guy gets him."

Indignant, Rodney jumped up so quickly he bumped his head on the top of the van. "Ow!" He gave Ronon an accusing stare, as he rubbed his head. "Seriously? Sheppard has me stuck in a confined space with two Neanderthals just to keep me safe – I am touched. He told me I was needed to check any equipment we found."

"That too." Ronon mumbled, and Rodney saw the trace of a smile on his team mate's face.

"Hey, could you two cool it? Someone's coming." Danny waved his left hand in a downwards motion, indicating them to be quiet, while he continued staring at the two men in the video feed. One was looking around, while the other was unlocking the warehouse door.

"Are you getting any readings, Doc?" Danny asked, and Rodney nodded as a faint blip appeared on his laptop.

"It's faint, which tells me some of the stolen equipment is being stored inside." He mumbled distractedly. "The signal wasn't there a minute ago, so it must have been masked by something dense…maybe lead." Rodney explained, and he watched the Satedan tense up. Ronon was wearing an expression he'd seen many times, and knew the big guy was getting ready to fight.

Danny turned round to address the two men. "Okay…here's the way we'll play it. Ronon and I will take point, and Rodney, you stick close behind, but get ready to run if the bullets start flying."

Rodney raised his eyebrows, and pursing his lips into a thin line. "I do know how to handle myself in a combat situation you know!"

The detective looked mildly surprised, and to Rodney's satisfaction his eyes grew wider when Ronon nodded. "Fair enough, but I'd still rather you took the rear – need a gun?" Danny asked.

Ronon twitched his hand over his blaster. "Nope, got my own."

"Yeah…I can see that." Danny said, eyeing up the impressive weapon. "What the hell is that thing?"

Impatient to get this over with, Rodney answered for his team mate. "Let's just say it's effective, and yes, I would like a firearm please."

Danny handed over a police issue 9mm, then after a last look at the screen, opened the back door. He waited for a minute before signalling Ronon to follow him.

If he was honest, despite his show of bravado earlier, Rodney was quite happy to take the six. He could use a gun if needed, but preferred to stick to what he knew best – science. So keeping the gun in his belt for easy access, Rodney chose to keep the life signs detector in his right hand, and the mobile tracker from his pc to locate the artefacts, in the other. He could see two blips heading towards an area at the back, and it was the same direction as the signal coming from the trackers on the ancient tech. The signal getting stronger the further they ventured inside.

Rodney whispered. "They're heading toward the right hand corner of the warehouse. I can't be sure until we get closer, but I think that's where the equipment's stored."

"I can't see those guys anywhere. How the hell do you know where they are?" Danny asked, then his face lit up when Rodney flashed the detector in front of him.

"Cool! Where would we get one of those?" But at Ronon's wry smile, Danny smirked. "Oh silly me." He drawled sarcastically. "That's classified – right?"

Danny shook his head, and continued winding his way deeper inside the warehouse until suddenly he raised his hand. "Stop. I can hear something."

Rodney searched the detector, but the screen was blank. Neither of the two dots was visible, and the signal from the artefacts had disappeared.

"You sure?" Ronon asked the detective. "I can't hear anything."

"I'm sure." Danny responded. "I think it was coming from up there." He nodded to the back of the warehouse.

Rodney shook his head, without taking his eyes off either screen. "I can't see anything, and I mean anything on either the detector, or the tracker. Maybe they're checking on the equipment. I'm pretty sure it's hidden behind a shield or something." Rodney volunteered.

"Shield…like in Star Trek or something?" Danny's face twisted, but when he didn't get an answer, instead of becoming pissed, the detective became excited. "Then this might be where they have Walker's family stashed – c'mon, let's check it out."

Ronon nodded, and as Rodney knew one of the stolen artefacts had cloaking technology which could be interfering with his equipment, he didn't have any reason to disagree.

At the very back of the warehouse, there were a number of large bolted units. The one where Danny was headed, and the same direction where the signal had initially been strongest, was slightly ajar. They stopped while Rodney checked his detector again, and for a moment he could see the two dots in the general area where they were heading. There was also a spike from the artefacts, just as both screens went blurred before cutting out altogether.

Rodney's head flew up. "I saw them! The two guys are around here somewhere, but I've lost the signal again." He told them, trying not to sound anxious. "I'm almost certain this is where the equipment is stored, as I can't think of anything else that would make the detector malfunction."

A smile grew on Danny's face. "Never mind, Rodney, this is where good old fashioned instincts beat fancy tech any day – right, Ronon?"

The Satedan merely grunted, but followed Danny into the darkened unit with Rodney trailing behind.

It was cold inside, and even with three torches breaking the gloom, it was still hard to see. There was no other sound apart from their footsteps, and Rodney was starting to have a very bad feeling. "I don't think the missing people are here, Detective Williams – I think we should leave."

"So it's detective Williams now, Rodney – what happened to Danny?" Danny kidded, and Ronon suppressed a smile, but Rodney was nervous, something wasn't right.

Danny stalled for a moment, then moved towards a pile at the back of the unit. He pulled away a tarpaulin to reveal a stack of assorted crates and looked up. "I think this could be your equipment, Doc."

Immediately distracted, Rodney pushed aside his previous concerns and opened the first box. It looked like a medical scanner, but in the gloomy interior he couldn't be sure. "I wish there was more light..." No sooner than he'd mumbled the statement, suddenly lights blinded him, just as he heard the door slam.

His heart sank, and he lowered his hand blinking, as his eyes adjusted to the glare. Rodney was also pretty sure it was getting colder. Furious, he turned on his heel and confronted Danny, who, for the first time since they'd met looked a little uneasy. "Please…tell me we haven't just got locked in, and what is this place?"

Without answering, the stocky detective rushed back to the door, but found it locked. He pushed his shoulder against it, but even with Ronon's added strength it wouldn't budge. After twenty minutes even Ronon's blaster hadn't made much of an impression on the thick lead door, and now frost was forming on every exposed surface.

Rodney zipped his jacket and rubbed his arms frantically, but couldn't get any warmth. He stamped his feet, wishing it was Danny's head. "You moron…you've only got us locked in a freezer – we're going to die in here!"

ooooOoooo

TBC

Oh, dear...The boy's are in trouble! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, and please review!