(Peeking out from behind some heavy barriers), remember me? I always promised myself that I would finish this story. I just didn't realize how many years it would take me. I'm not sure anyone is still interested in this long discarded work, but for any of you still out there, here is the end of the story. I know there are some plot holes and they are part of the reason it has taken so long to finish this as I tried to plug them. Finally, I decided it would be better to give you a plot with some holes than no finished story at all. As it has been so long, below is a quick plot summary.

Summary: John and Lorne were training some of the new recruits on Atlantis in flying jumpers when John's jumper crashed. John knew it wasn't his fault, but Elizabeth thought it was at first. Then, right before she was going to tell him that she did believe him, there was a power spike on Atlantis. John and Rodney went to figure out what was happening in a lab and while they were in the lab there was an explosion.

John was hurt badly and had to have surgery. Afterwards, John and Rodney were talking together in the infirmary when suddenly John started having trouble breathing! Rodney freaks out and then everyone is trying to figure out what is going on as John's condition worsens and everyone thinks he might die. Rodney in an effort to get his mind off of things is searches through data on the explosion and comes to a startling and terrifying conclusion: It was NOT an accident!

He lets everyone know that someone is trying to kill John and they realize that John probably was poisoned. Still, they don't want to tip off whoever is trying to kill John that they are on to him and they want to lull him into a false sense of security so they make everyone think that John is under suspicion for the explosion. Carson finally figures out exactly what John was poisoned with and he slowly begins to recover. Elizabeth makes it clear to John that she trusts him. To draw out the attacker, though not completely healed, John talks Carson into letting him stay in his own room. This leads to the now…

Rodney almost threw his mug across the room in frustration; the mug was only saved by the fact that there was still some precious caffeinated liquid inside. He still hadn't discovered who was trying to kill John, and since John had moved to his room less than a day ago, everyone was on edge believing that his chances of being attacked had gone up. Though, the tension that had been between Elizabeth and John had finally ceased, for which, Rodney was extremely grateful.

Everyone else on Atlantis, of course, thought that Elizabeth was still mad at John and that the soldier standing outside John's door was to keep John in, and not keep a maniac-killer-who-wanted-to-kill-Rodney's-best-friend out. Debates were still running rampantly around Atlantis about whether John was at fault or not, and if he was at fault for what reason he was. Although, none of those conversations actually took place within Rodney's presence as one withering glare from him and suddenly they found better places to be.

Rodney would have enjoyed the current power he had over everyone due to his grim mood if it wasn't for the reasons behind it. His best friend was injured, someone was trying to kill said best friend, and everyone was arguing over whether that best friend did or did not go crazy.

Rodney wanted to just yell at everyone and tell them that John had been framed and was totally sane and innocent! Yet, he knew that through making it seem that Elizabeth didn't trust John, they might be able to draw out the one after John instead of having him go to ground and attack John when they were no longer on alert.

Rodney just wanted to find the wretch and abandon him to some deserted, filthy, planet. Maybe the one they found Ronon on originally, which had all the radiation…

Or….maybe they should just leave him in a room with Ronan for an hour…

Typing as fast as he could with only being able to use one hand as his other one was in a cast, Rodney started another algorithm to see if he could find any clue that would lead him to the bastard and finally end this.

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Lt. Kevin Carver stood at attention outside of Colonel Sheppard's room. He had been on duty for the past two hours and nothing of note had occurred yet, but he had no desire to fall into complacency due to a lack of excitement. It was too important to ensure that Colonel Sheppard was safe. Although, he admitted wryly to himself, that it was easy to become bored in the dim hallway.

Trying to keep alert, and not think about his fiancé, Teuila, which he knew would distract him, his thoughts drifted to one of his most memorable encounters with Colonel Sheppard, or Major Sheppard, as he had been at the time. It was during their first week on Atlantis and everyone was uneasy with the discovery of the wraith, the fact their CO was captured along with several others by the wraith, and that they were unsure if they would ever make it home to Earth.

Although Weir had been clear that she was reluctant to risk other lives, Sheppard had not given up on the captured men and women. He refused to back down. Kevin could remember the clear determination in his eyes. Kevin had not been chosen to help on the mission Major Sheppard led to save the prisoners, but Kevin would have been proud to follow a man that counted every life as important. The months that followed only proved to Kevin that Sheppard truly was a man he was glad to follow.

A sound came from down the hall and Kevin was instantly on high alert to see what had made the sound. He sighed as he saw one of the new marines stumble into a wall in an obviously drunken stupor. It was Lt. Derrick Canton. Kevin didn't know much about the man, but rumor had it that he had come to the Atlantis outpost after his wife of five years had died. The man apparently had no other family, and so took this posting figuring that he had nothing left for him on Earth. If that did not bring sympathy from the others on Atlantis, Kevin was not sure what would. Kevin could not imagine the idea of Teuila dying and he supposed if she had, he might also choose to get drunk enough that he was stumbling into walls.

Kevin's eyes watched the man carefully as he came closer to where he stood at attention by Sheppard's door. It seemed like the Lt. was trying to get his feet under him and walk straight, but from the potent alcohol aroma that even from this distance Kevin could smell, he suspected the man would not succeed.

He was right.

After he passed Kevin in the hall Lt. Derrick Canton stumbled into the wall and began to vomit what looked like mostly alcohol onto the floor. Some of the disgusting mixture splashed up and landed on Kevin's shoes and the bottom of his pants. Mentally sighing, Kevin reached down to pull the man up before he landed in his own puke, and in that minute everything changed.

With a speed that belied any drunkenness, Canton twisted up pressing a syringe into Kevin's upper arm. Kevin registered the sharp pain even as he went to restrain Canton. But whatever drug Canton dosed him with was fast acting, so even as he went to twist Canton's arms behind his back, he felt an overwhelming weakness and felt himself sliding to the floor.

He had a moment to think with disgust that he had fallen for a stupid trick and failed to protect Colonel Sheppard before everything went blank.

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John's head hurt…like really, really hurt. His side was throbbing in a way that told him his stiches were definitely torn. Beckett was going to kill him, John thought grimly. John also realized quickly that despite his still swollen wrist, which he had sprained, his wrists had been bound tightly behind his back. This was particularly uncomfortable as much of his weight rested on them as they were between him and the wall his body was slumped against. Although his sprained wrist had been healing well, it definitely wasn't ready for this kind of treatment. In fact, it felt worse than when he had first sprained it, which was just great he thought grimly.

Unfortunately, that wasn't all. He felt extremely weak. In fact, he even found himself even longing for his old bed in the infirmary under Carson's stern, but kindly watch.

Pushing the pain away, John tried to figure out what exactly had happened and where he currently was.

First, he knew that he had been resting in his room with a guard at the door. He had once again taken the pills Carson had given him (this time with Rodney staring him down to ensure that he did). These pills, although great for helping control pain, were probably responsible for why he didn't hear whoever come into his room. Okay…that and his injuries might have been responsible. But, that didn't explain why he hadn't woken up…had he been drugged further? Shaking his head as he realized until he talked to whoever had taken him and tried to get information from him, he would have no clearer idea of what had happened.

John took as deep of a breath as he could without making his side flare up in pain as he felt his heart race as he wondered what had happened to the guard by his door. John had spoken with Lorne about each one of the men that would be taking turns guarding him, and he completely trusted each and every one. Most of them had been on Atlantis from the beginning and had fought beside him in some dire situations. John thought carefully back past his headache and remembered that it was Lt. Carver who had been guarding him.

Knowing he couldn't do anything for Carver right now, he forced his mind to focus on his current location.

John knew he was still on Atlantis. The soft, comforting hum of the city assured him of that. However, besides being able to tell that he was inside propped up against a wall, he could not tell where he was without opening his eyes.

So, he had to make the decision: keep his eyes closed to have the element of surprise or open his eyes, so he could have a better idea of the situation. His natural inclination was to take advantage of the element of surprise. However, be that as it may, the fact his head felt like it was about to explode led him to think that his attempt to surprise whoever would probably lead to him going from his slumped position against the wall to a pathetic form on the floor.

Decision made, he opened his eyes slightly to get used to the light of the room and once his eyes adjusted without making him throw up, he scanned his surroundings. He was in a little used corridor and by the door typing on a computer connected to crystals connected to the control panel was a large man dressed in the fatigues common on Atlantis. He had a computer hooked up to the door near a damaged section on Atlantis that John knew from personal experience was extremely finicky when someone wanted to open it due to being underwater.

However, what made John feel like kicking himself was he realized that all of them had assumed incorrectly that it had to be a scientist who was after him due to the way he had been framed. John knew that being in the military didn't mean you were stupid. He himself was a member of MENSA and Samantha Carter from SG1 certainly gave Rodney a run for his money. So, that assumption they made looked pretty stupid in hindsight as before him stood one of the marines who had recently arrived on Atlantis.

Looking closer, John tried to determine who it was from the back of the marine. A task made difficult by the spinning of his head. Trying to focus his thoughts and go through recent marine transfers he finally made the connection. It was Lt. Canton. A new marine that though not for him, and certainly not shown the same aggression some of the others had against him. Still, he had more important issues to figure out than why Canton wanted him dead.

"What did you do to the soldier guarding my door?" He asked with a controlled voice hiding the pain and weakness that still flooded his system.

"I see you're awake," Canton replied slightly turning towards John. "The headache you have is from a drug I used to ensure your cooperation in getting away from the inhabited parts of Atlantis. It should pass in time."

Although glad to have the explanation, John was more focused on Lt. Carver who he knew had been guarding him. "What did you do to him?"

Silence.

His voice took an even harder edge as various scenarios—none of them good—flashed through his head. "I said, what did you do to him?"

Finally, Canton turned back towards him with a hard look. "Although it is commendable your care for the man under you, I wouldn't be too worried about him. He will have suffered memory loss from the drug I gave him, but he is going to be fine. I figured it would be more believable if you didn't kill one of your men, but drugged them with the drugs you smuggled out of the infirmary. Besides, although often casualties cannot be helped, I have no wish to eliminate anyone but you on this mission."

John felt some relief at the fact that Carver had not been killed, but he was worried about what kind of memory loss he had suffered.

However, despite how angry and worried he was over the treatment of a man under his command, he swallowed back his anger and worry to see if he could gain any more information about what had happened from Canton.

"So, getting rid of me is your 'mission?'" He queried.

"Let's just say that there are some important people who do not like having you in your current position on Atlantis."

Canton then resolutely turned away from John and began focusing on the computer once again. John could tell that he was going to get nothing more from Canton while he was focused on opening the door. So John's thoughts drifted away as he tried to control the pain and weariness that was plaguing him. He sought to focus on the information he had gathered.

A marine that recently had arrived on Atlantis was behind the attacks against him. Some group or some people were behind this marine and his 'mission' to get rid of John. The reason they wanted him gone was not personal, but because they didn't want him as the head of the military contingent at Atlantis. This meant that it was political in nature. Thinking of various groups that would want him gone and would be willing to kill him to do it, his best guess was the Trust.

He had felt things had been too quiet on that front. Of course, he reminded himself that he had already made one disastrous assumption recently in regards to it being a scientist that was after him, so he could be wrong that the Trust was behind it.

John's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door sliding open. Canton put the computer and cords in a bag he had. He then walked over to John and dragged him by his arm on his injured side. The pain made black dots dance before his eyes and he clenched his teeth together to prevent a cry of pain from escaping.

After securing the door with John and him on the other side, Canton proceeded to drag John through another long corridor. The grip that Canton kept on him, ensured that he was unable to escape or even make things difficult for Canton, which meant, currently, that his team was his only hope.

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Rodney hurried towards John's door. He had had a nightmare that John had been blown up by the bastard while in his room. Rodney knew he wouldn't be able to sleep until he reminded himself that his best friend was resting safely in his room.

Rodney was mentally preparing himself to bluster past the guard watching over John when he turned the corner and stopped in shock. Further down, where there should have been a guard standing by Sheppard's door, there was nothing.

Trying to tell himself that the guard could simply be inside the room with Sheppard, he rushed towards the door heedless of the fact that there could be danger inside.

The door was unlocked and he burst inside. He saw someone crumpled on the floor of the bed. He rushed forward fearing that his best friend might be dead. Turning the man over, he saw quickly that it was not John lying on the floor, but the one who had been meant to guard him. He also saw that the man was taking shallow breaths.

Rodney quickly radioed for help from the medical bay and then woke up all of the command team as he felt his stress level sky rocket. Where was John? He was supposed to be here.

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In the control room, Rodney was frantically typing on the computer as Ronon paced behind him. Teyla stood beside Elizabeth, calm as always carefully concealing the tension and worry, Elizabeth knew was held within. Lorne was standing at attention staring at the screens that Rodney and Zelenka where focused on.

Elizabeth, like Ronon, was pacing the room as she tried to contain the tension within her. Although she was used to high stress situations, there was nothing worse than having a friend in danger. She felt her stomach tighten as she considered the possibilities of how this could end. However, she pushed her emotions away as she sought to think rationally and logically as she knew she must in high crisis situations. Her thoughts were soon interrupted as she heard Rodney exclaim, "The bastard did something to the sensors in that section of the city. They are offline and whatever he did can only be fixed by finding the one he meddled with in the first place, which will be extremely difficult considering how many there are on Atlantics as this is a giant city and it's not like we have the time to check each one when Sheppard's life is on the line, but I need to figure something out as he is in a great deal of trouble and there is no way I am losing him to a crazy psycho.'...

"Rodney, calm down." Elizabeth interrupted as Rodney's voice rose in pitch and speed as his panic became more apparent.

"CALM DOWN! Don't you understand? My best friend is the hostage of someone who wants to kill him and I currently have no way of tracking him."

Elizabeth's own heart filled with pain as she was faced with her own panic at Rodney's words, but there was a reason she was in command on Atlantis. She took a deep breath and said, "Then we will figure something out. People have tracked down hostages for centuries without the help of city sensors, so take a deep breath and let's think. There has to be something we can do."

Rodney took a deep breath and Teyla laid her hand on his shoulder.

Teyla with a calm that never seemed to leave her said, "Elizabeth is right, Rodney. We will figure something out to save John."

At her clear determination, Rodney nodded at her and Elizabeth and returned to his computer: desperately working the systems to see if he could come up with something else to help his friend.

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Breathing hard, John knew he needed a break. The speed they had been moving at, though not exactly fast, was much too fast for John's body, especially considering the fact he had no pain killers.

"I need…a break" John gasped out at the man who had a death grip on his arm as he dragged him forwards.

Canton glanced at John before he shook his head, saying, "Not here. It's still close. You will just have to keep moving on your own or I'll simply drag you the rest of the way." His voice was clear and clinical with no hint of emotion.

This clearly was just a job to Canton. John nodded his head and called on his last reserves to continue forward as he knew that Canton would follow through on his threat and simply drag him, which would probably cause him to pass out due to the pain. It would take away time from John trying to figure out what he needed to do to save himself and stop Canton.

So, John took a breath and continued forward one step at a time and tried to organize the recent events in a logical way in his head. First, Canton had tried to kill John in a crash that would look like it was his fault. Then there had been the explosion from an energy spike. That one would have definitely successfully killed him, but McKay truly was an amazing scientist (not that John would ever tell him that) and had discovered the spike and was able to prove that it was not an accident, but a deliberate set up. For that matter, Rodney had figured out the sabotage on the jumper too. When none of those attempts worked, Canton had created complications after his surgery through using drugs. Luckily that was discovered to, before he died. Now, Canton had drugged one of his men to make it look like John had escaped and was dragging him to a damaged part of the city, so it would be hard for anyone to find him.

Clearly Canton was smart and calculating but he hadn't caught on to the fact Elizabeth and others knew someone was trying to kill him and therefore would not be fooled by his "drugging" of the man instead of killing him. Not that John wasn't grateful that he had drugged Carver and not killed him.

John was taken from his thoughts as Canton pushed him against the wall and then put pressure on his shoulder until he slumped on the ground against the wall again. John guessed it was break time as he grunted at the pain. Canton stepped over to a control panel and once again hooked up his computer to it.

Grateful for the forced rest, John took the time to catch his breath that had become frighteningly fast and shallow as he had forced himself to keep moving on even as his side had become increasingly damp with blood. John leaned his head back against the wall as he tried to move his fingers on his damaged hand. Although Canton had tied his hands tight enough to ensure they were completely constrained, he had not sought to cause permanent injury by cutting off circulation, but due to the continued swelling in his hand, John felt the restraints cutting into his wrists.

Not wanting to focus on the pain, John turned his mind back to what he knew of Canton. First, Canton had not been on Atlantis long, so he wouldn't know all the secrets of the city, but he clearly knew where he was going and doing, so he had to have been given careful briefings before he had come to Atlantis. Also, Canton was calculating and efficient, but so far had not been cruel for the sake of being cruel. He was working to accomplish his mission and would not let anything stand in his way. John knew his wife had died and doubted that it was fake and simply a cover story. Based on the files that John had read for all the new recruits, he knew that Canton's wife had actually died. In fact, that might have been the reason, whoever Canton was working for chose him. He had nothing to lose and they would be able to feed him only the information they wanted to until he was firmly on their side about the Atlantis expedition and John's place on it.

John bit his lip as he was suddenly jerked to his feet by an uncompromising grip on his arm that he was sure was already showing bruises from its previous encounters with Canton. Canton pulled John into the room he had just opened that John could tell was a research lab that overlooked the ocean and not another of the seemingly endless hallways he had been dragged down.

Canton made John cross to the far side of the room away from the consoles and then pushed him hard so he collapsed against a wall. John was unable to brace himself with his hands secured behind him and couldn't prevent a cry of pain from escaping as the world seemed to flash white around him and then everything faded away into darkness.

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John moaned as he felt his every nerve ending throb with pain. His headache had not abated at all and actually was beginning to feel worse. Both of his fists felt shredded and he could feel some blood dripping from them from where the restraints had cut them. But, his side was the worst. It felt like a hot poker was embedded in his side, and he knew that it meant he had seriously reinjured his side and probably his spleen. Not to mention the fact, with how he was feeling, he probably had an infection as well.

John knew that all the progress he had made in the previous days was fast going down the drain. He felt chilled and he knew that although he had not been gushing blood, he had been steadily bleeding since before he woke up and realized that Canton was behind everything. If he was going to have any chance of surviving this, John knew he needed to help his team find him. Although he was sure they were looking for him, with the way his body currently felt, he knew that he needed to speed things up.

Canton had hooked up the laptop he had been carrying to a console and was clearly working intently at it. Looking at the console, John realized that Canton himself had provided the solution for how John could get help by dragging him into a research lab with a control panel. When they were first on Atlantis Jinto, one of the Anthosians, and a friend had gotten lost in a room. They had then used a communications system on a console to get help. They discovered that almost every research lab had a similar communications system.

When Rodney and John had more free time later, Rodney decided that he wanted once again to use John as a human-ancient-gene-filled-guinea-pig. He wanted to see if the communication controls could be activated by someone with the gene without physically having to touch it. It took some work (with some minor but embarrassing mishaps) before they discovered that someone with the gene could activate it remotely. However, it didn't allow secure communications as much as it blasted the words out to the entire control room and picked up anything said within the room itself.

Thus, it was not a method that became standard or even infrequent practice, so very few knew about it and even fewer remembered it. Luckily, as the chief ancient gene guinea pig that Rodney had made use of, John did remember and knew he could make use of it now.

John leaned his head back and tried to focus his thoughts past the continual throbbing in his head to relax in the familiar comforting warmth of Atlantis. John threw his thoughts towards the control panel and nudged Atlantis to turn the control panel's communication systems on. He felt with a gentle caress Atlantis complying—at least at this end.

One thing they had discovered was that in some damaged sections of the city that had never been fully repaired the communication either didn't go through or it came out garbled. However, with luck, this section had not been too damaged thought John.

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Rodney was typing away furiously with one hand desperately wishing for the use of the other when they suddenly heard garbled words with static come over the city's intercom system.

"What's that?"

"I'm not sure, but give me a moment to clear up the static," Rodney answered Elizabeth even as he and Zelenka (used to switching from one project to another in a moment) began to make it so they could understand the words that continued to be heard throughout the control room.

The more Zelenka and Rodney worked the clearer it sounded until they were able to hear a weak voice say, "…the third thing was…was getting me sicker after the explosion, but…I don't get what you're…trying to do now."

"Besides ensuring your death and permanent disgrace," replied a cold even voice that betrayed no emotion at all.

"Yeah…besides that…I mean…Canton, you said you didn't kill…the guard…because you wanted them to…to think it was me…but I don't get why you…brought me to this…side of the city…where the damage…hasn't been repaired…"

Lorne who had been mostly silent in the control room the entire time gasped when he heard the name Canton, and quickly moved to one of the screens to pull up all the information they had on Canton to give them an edge in trying to help Sheppard.

Rodney on the other hand, snapped his fingers as he heard John start to refer to the damaged section of the city and then rapidly pulled up a city map and zoomed in on that section. He started looking to see if he could see an increase in power level of the area now that he knew where he was looking, but hoped that John could give more clues.

"As you may have noticed, I have no interest in collateral damage. I need to take you out and I will, but there currently is no need for additional deaths."

"So…" continued the breathless voice, "what death…do I have to look…forward to…that is best done in one…of the research…rooms on power…consumption…with…a great view of the…the ocean?"

Rodney nodded at the added information and glanced at Zelenka as they narrowed down their search even as Canton, a marine Lorne informed them, answered.

"I'm not a cruel man Sheppard. I have no interest in making you suffer more than I have to. You will die in an explosion caused by your trying to override the systems here on Atlantis from this terminal. It will be large enough that you will die quickly I assure you. It will of course also be large enough to destroy any evidence of my presence."

As this was said, Zelenka pointed to a room and Rodney nodded at him as they were able to pinpoint where John was most likely being held.

"That's…nice…I always…prefer a…a quicker death…Canton…" said the voice that was steadily growing weaker and more breathless.

"It won't be too long now before it either, so enjoy what little time you have left, while I finish what I need to."

For a moment, when the voices stopped, the room was completely silent before it erupted into controlled chaos as Lorne gave information on Canton, Zelenka and Rodney pointed out the location Sheppard was at, and everyone called out ideas for how to save Sheppard and capture Canton.

Elizabeth, with the ease of the diplomat she was, got everyone to function in an orderly way as they brainstormed the best way to save Sheppard.

Rodney, uncharacteristically, had become silent. His brow furrowed as he thought of the needed steps as well as the possible consequences of his plan (a step he often ignored). If he did this…but it was a risk he was willing to take for his best friend…

"I need to go in there," Rodney said interrupting Ronon's declaration that they should storm the room catching the "slimy wraith bait" by surprise.

"What!?" asked Elizabeth though the question was also on everyone else's faces.

Rodney, true to fashion, immediately burst into a fast pace explanation. "Based on that conversation Canton still hasn't realized that we know. So, I can go in there and create a distraction, while ensuring he doesn't take out Sheppard. I can set up a laptop to go off with an explosion that is more show than destruction. A laptop shouldn't be perceived as much of a weapon, so he won't expect it to explode. I can set the bomb to go off five minutes after I enter the room. That would give me time to make sure neither Sheppard or myself are near it when it goes off. Lorne and his men could bust through the door after the explosion and do their soldier thing like Ronon wants, but I'll be able to help keep Sheppard safe and out of the way, so that maniac can't kill him. John…" Rodney's voice broke at this point, he swallowed and then continued, "John doesn't sound like he's in a condition to take care of himself."

For a moment everyone was silent considering the offered plan.

Ronon then nodded at the plan seeing its merits as did Teyla. After all, this was the sort of crazy plan they saw Rodney and John put in motion out in the field all the time.

But, Elizabeth spoke up raising the most obvious concern of the plan. "That plan makes sense except for the major question of how do you know he won't just kill whoever shows up? Please note I didn't say you."

"Do you think I would be willing to go if I thought that was a likely scenario? He didn't kill Lt. Carver and so the probability of him simply shooting someone on sight when he wants to make it look like John accidently killed himself in an explosion is low."

"Okay and why a civilian scientist?" asked Lorne who knew Sheppard's firm stance on protecting civilians.

"Well, it can't be a soldier, and it can't even be a soldier disguised as a scientist, because considering how thorough he has been he probably can recognize all of them. Besides, I'm a scientist so it's reasonable for me to go into a lab, and a soldier would be seen as more of a threat."

Clearly unhappy about it, Elizabeth said, "Okay a scientist makes more sense." Rodney smiled grimly at that, but Elizabeth continued, "but why should you be the one to go. You're still injured with your arm in a cast."

"I'm the most trained of all the scientists as I'm on the premier gate team and Colonel-I'd-rather-risk-my-life-than-one-of-my-men has rubbed off on me. I don't want the other scientists anywhere near the maniac. As for being injured, my cast will probably make him think of me as less of a threat, so it is a positive not a detraction. Also, if it was anyone else carrying a laptop that might be suspicious, but with me it would be suspicious if I didn't have a laptop. Not to mention the fact, I don't think any of the other scientists could convince Canton, they are clueless to the situation, while I on the other hand could have been a professional actor. I received an acting award as a child after all."

Elizabeth was silent as she considered his words, so Rodney continued, "It looks like it's the best way to get John out of this safely, unless anyone can think of a better plan in the short time we have before John is blown up by a mad man…no, okay then." Rodney paused for a moment and then said, "Besides, Sheppard would do it for me."

Elizabeth sighed, knowing that she couldn't keep Rodney from this. He really was John's best chance at getting out of this alive.

Rodney felt the thrill of victory as he saw that he won, but with that thrill came a pang of fear as his self-preservation kicked in calling him and idiot for planning on willingly going into a room with someone who was capable of murder only with a laptop rigged to give off a small explosion. His mind considered all the possible ways he might die from the marine just shooting him on sight to not being far enough away from the bomb when it exploded. Yet, he firmly pushed these thoughts away. John always said to stay positive and this was the best way to save the irritating Colonel that had somehow become his friend.

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John had closed his eyes as the world seemed to spin when he had them open. His head seemed to be pounding so hard that his entire body shook with the throbs. He knew he was deteriorating quickly by now. His side felt like something was piercing him and he couldn't feel his hands. The room felt too hot one moment and then much too cold the next.

He hoped that the control room had heard the conversation and had been able to piece together where he was. There was no way he was going to be able to make another attempt. Currently, his plan was to simply stay conscious as long as possible.

He wasn't even sure how much time had passed since he had opened the connection. He had zoned out for a while as he had exhausted himself simply holding a conversation. But, John could hear Canton still doing something at the control console, so he knew there was still some time for his team to come in with a last minute rescue.

After all, his team and the men and women on Atlantis were extraordinary. They had pulled off more last minute saves than any group he had worked with previously. He also knew they had his back. Ever since he had had the stupid wraith bug attached to his neck, he had learned that these people would truly watch out for him and help him. It was comforting to remember, especially in light of recent events, that there were people who would be doing their best to rescue him.

At that thought, of course, he heard the door from the hallway slide open and Rodney grumbling about stupid techs messing with doors and locking down labs that had no reason to be locked down.

At the absurdity of it, John felt his eyes snap open and with his blurry vision saw Rodney enter the room.

"Rodney?" he whispered as he tried to comprehend what type of stupid rescue mission would have sent in the civilian scientist with a broken arm, bad aim, and horrific acting skills.

SGASGASGASGASGASGASGASGSASGASGASGASGASGASGASGASGASGASGASGASGASGASGASGA

Rodney only had a moment to see that John looked horrible as he sat leaning against the wall with his hands firmly kept behind his back before the scary marine that had kidnapped John had his full attention.

He froze as if surprised to see the marine there and hoped his acting skills were better than when Koyla had threatened him when trying to take over Atlantis.

"Wha…what's happening?" Rodney demanded trying his best to act shocked and surprised at the current situation and not let any of his actual knowledge of the situation slip through.

"I had hoped not to involve more than Colonel Sheppard here, but I'm afraid you have just made yourself collateral damage."

"What do you mean?" Rodney asked not needing to fake fear and panic at all even as he stayed rooted at the door. The fear and panic was all to present as Rodney berated himself for why on earth he was putting himself in a room with an armed madman.

"I mean, since you discovered the Colonel and myself, I will have to take you out of the picture. I can't have you telling everyone else about this little situation."

"Actually, I can be quiet, really quiet. I wouldn't say a thing about this!"

Rodney heard a small snort from the general direction of Sheppard and Rodney resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at him as the child Elizabeth often accused him and Sheppard of being.

Canton shook his head and gestured to the wall beside Sheppard.

"I was just coming in here to check on something, but I can go do that later…" Rodney said as he felt very real panic continue to climb up his body. This was a stupid plan, he just knew it. His great intellect definitely should not be possibly cut short due to this marine. But, then he caught sight of John and his weakened condition. Even more importantly, Rodney caught sight of his incredulous expression as if he couldn't believe that Rodney was here doing this and, oh, he thought it was stupid, too.

That look made Rodney steal himself and tighten his grip on his laptop/bomb, which was good, as he suddenly found Canton pointing a gun at him making him feel weak and ready to fall to the floor and drop the highly dangerous explosive device on his feet.

"Just step all the way into the room, Dr. McKay" the marine said and Rodney complied having no wish to set this man off. "Oh and put your computer down by the door. I know that you are an extremely capable scientist and I have no desire to see what you can manage with access to your computer."

Rodney carefully set the laptop down, grateful that it would be a distance from John and him. Although, in an ideal world, he would be nowhere near anything that explodes, small or not.

"I still don't get who you are and what's going on," demanded Rodney with a slight squeak at the end; that he would later insist was pure acting and had nothing to do with the fact he was terrified.

"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that I will have to kill you like the Colonel there."

"Kill? Really that won't be necessary" Rodney said as he was shoved roughly on to the ground by Sheppard.

"Now, don't move from there," Canton said with a cool voice. "I'd like your death to be quick in the explosion that Sheppard is going to set off, but I have no problem in shooting you and letting you bleed out slowly until the explosion goes off instead."

"I understand," Rodney said as he felt his heart increase in speed at the deadly calm in the marine's face before him.

Canton went back to the console, but he kept the gun pointed in their direction.

Rodney waited a moment to ensure that he was mainly focused on the console before turning slightly toward John.

"John," Rodney said quietly as he looked at the ashen face of his friend, "you don't look so good."

"You're one…to talk...and…your…timing...sucks…" John quipped weakly unable to let that one pass despite the pain he was clearly in.

Rodney gave a tight smile at that even as his eyes examined John's side where blood was slowly but steadily leaving his body.

"So…does this…mean…you no longer…believe…I'm responsible…for the…explosion," questioned Sheppard determined to do all he could to make sure Canton had no idea that the command team knew about him.

"Well, you know," Rodney said playing along, "I figure even you wouldn't go to these lengths just to prove your innocence, so yeah, I think you were set up."

"Nice…to know," grinned John feebly as he shifted slightly to relieve the pressure on his hands and then bit his lip to prevent a cry of pain from escaping.

"Hey, don't move" Rodney said gently.

"Yeah…good…idea," John muttered back as he panted trying to catch his breath.

Rodney wanted to alert John about the plan and coming explosion, but knew he wouldn't be able to with Canton's careful watch on them.

To distract himself and because it wouldn't be him if he didn't, Rodney began to ramble. "So do you know who this guy is? I mean besides being one of your marines, I mean who he really is or works for. Not that it really matters, I suppose, as he's planning on killing both of us, but I'd sort of like to know who's responsible for my death and even better, why. It's a personal thing. Though I suppose the why for me is obvious, I showed up in the wrong lab at the wrong time, but the reason he wants to kill you I'm not so sure. Of course, it's not surprising is it? People are always trying to kill you! So, let's see, he's not from the Pegasus galaxy and one of the millions of people you've upset here, so…"

Rodney was cut off by Canton saying with the first hint of emotion he had shown, "Stop talking. Don't you know how to be quiet?"

"I talk when I'm nervous," Rodney justified as he tried to calm his heart as he saw the gun pointed directly at his head and Sheppard nodded to himself at the fact that Rodney was even able to annoy Canton who had previously been completely emotionless.

"Don't talk."

When Canton was once again more focused on the console, but with the gun aimed towards them as he worked, John quietly pointed out to Rodney, "See…I'm not…the only…one…who…tells you…to stop…talking."

Rodney gave him a look of incredulity, but couldn't help but be relieved at the fact John was still able to make snarky comments despite the blood loss and pain he was clearly in.

Yet, that relief was muffled as he saw his watch blink alerting him to the fact that in 30 seconds the computer would explode and all hell would break loose. He wished he could let John in on the plan, but could only hope his presence gave John the assurance he needed that he had a plan. Glancing over his shoulder, Rodney saw that Canton, though engrossed in setting up an explosion in part of Rodney's city to kill both John and himself, still had his gun pointed firmly at them.

Rodney studied John's battered body, shallow breathing, and pain filled eyes and knew that his body couldn't take more abuse whether from debris from the small explosion or the pyscho's itchy trigger finger, so at a snail's pace Rodney crept closer to John, so he would be in a better position to cover John's head and upper body when the explosion went off.

John gave him a curious look as he saw Rodney getting closer, but remained still as he tried to ensure Canton stayed unaware of whatever Rodney was doing.

Rodney gave John as reassuring of a smile as he could and had his eyes go between his watch and John hoping he would get the hint and glance at it now that he was close enough he would be able to make out the numbers counting down.

John, always quick on the uptake, glanced down and saw the countdown and that 10 seconds remained. He then gave a slight nod showing his understanding that something would be happening then.

The last seconds seemed to inch by and then with one second on the clock, Rodney through his body over John.

The explosion went off in a powerful show of light and noise. The loud sound muted all others including a gunshot that Canton let off.

Unfortunately, although Rodney could not hear the gunshot, he certainly felt it as it ripped through him. His side felt as if someone had punched through him with their fist. He couldn't breathe with the pain overwhelming him, which was making the debris raining down on him seem of no consequence despite the bruises that he knew would later form because of them. Everything around him was swallowed up by the agonizing pain.

Smoke had filled the room helped along by additional smoke bombs let off by Lorne and the others as they stormed the room and quickly took down and restrained Canton, but Rodney noticed none of it. All of his attention was focused on the fact he was shot again and it really was a stupid plan to come in here. His last thought before the pain took him out, in a completely manly and un-fainting-like way, was Sheppard had better survive as he did not want to have been shot in vain.

A/N: I will be posting the next chapter right away.