Sorry for the bit of delay. Had sick family. This one was a bit longer. Hope you like it. :)

Chapter Nine-Welcome to Heathrow

"Copy that Tower. We're on the Marker. Altitude six five hundred feet. Beginning descent to Bingo. ETA 25 minutes," Sheppard said. They had cleared the storm fifteen minutes ago but it had slowed them down. "Fuel?" Sheppard said irritated. "I don't know if we have enough. Headwind is strong, so I'll guess we'll see."

McKay smiled. Sheppard was sometimes like an Olympic athlete. He focused when he really had to and could ignore pain that would make other normal people whimper in a puddle. But when he was in pain, he would not add stupid questions to his list of things that he would suffer. Rodney sighed. In 25 minutes it would be over one way or another.

"Colonel Sheppard, this is Major Beck. Good to see you again sir."

"What? You mean you didn't want to play who could keep dinner down the longest with us?" Sheppard's voice was weak, but he was glad to have the brief respite before the landing.

McKay heard Beck laugh. "No sir. You Yanks might beat us out on that one, but I'll take you to a Pub afterwards, and we'll see who can handle the Scotch."

"Deal. What are the call signs? Don't want to get mixed up with you, Henley, and us when the tower is giving instructions."

"Yes sir. I am Jolly One and Henley is Jolly Two."

"Nice. Ours?"

"Yankee Nine One."

"Funny. Fine. Okay, we have started descent. She still wants to pull down and left but…but we're good."

"Roger that Yankee Nine One. Continue descent. We will run another check on your exterior then make sure air space is clear. Tower says it is but we like to eyeball it."

"Copy that. Guess I should let the customers know we're delayed by about an hour."

"Yes sir," Beck said with a laugh, "Jolly One out."

Sheppard sighed. "Okay Rodney. The fun is really going to begin."

"Great."

oOoOoOoOo

Teyla was leaned back in the chair. It had calmed considerably. The sky was still dark but there was the glint of the sun rising. She placed the headset on and heard Sheppard communicating with the pilots that were flying outside in the smaller craft. She took the headset off. It was difficult to hear her friend in pain and she decided to meditate and pray. She felt Ronon's hand in hers. "He'll land it," the Satedan said simply.

She heard Sheppard over the intercom speaking to them and to the passengers. Those who did not know him would not notice the pain in this voice as he drawled his instructions. "Ladies and gentlemen…this Lt Col John Sheppard. We have begun our descent to Heathrow airport. I'm sorry for the bumpy ride, but well, we thought you would prefer that over oxygen deprivation. Please listen to your flight attendants as they prepare the cabin for a safe landing. I apologize for the delay as we are approximately an hour behind schedule, but flying at a lower altitude and against a strong headwind set us back. We should be on the ground in 30 minutes. Please remain seated and follow the instructions of the flight attendants particularly once we land. They are responsible for getting you off safely. I think you all probably met Ronon, the really tall guy with the scary hair and the police officers that have graciously offered to help. They will be assisting the flight attendants to make sure we deplane in an orderly fashion. I will see you all in London."

Teyla turned to Ronon. "See," he told her. "Piece of cake."

oOoOoOoOo

"Copy that Jolly 1. ETA 15 minutes."

"Good luck Yankee 9-1. Jolly 1 out."

"VOX is off. Heathrow Tower, Yankee 9-1."

"We have you Yankee 9-1 and will guide you in."

McKay watched Sheppard concentrating as he pushed buttons on the screen and struggled with the stick while he talked to the Tower. The plane swayed and yawed. McKay could see the lights of London but no airport. How the hell did Sheppard know where he was going? He decided it didn't matter. Sheppard had learned enough to fly this beast when he had his little tour after they first took off and he had no doubt the Colonel knew what he was doing. He was all business now despite his little performance for the passengers. This was Sheppard's military mode…the Olympic athlete who was about to kick everyone's ass because he had the psychological upper hand. He watched his friend and was transfixed watching the man's ability to function best under stress.

oOoOoOoOo

"John,"

"Yes sir."

"Just like before, remember over Del Rio?"

"You mean San Antonio?"

"Yeah but it was supposed to be Del Rio."

"Oh yeah. I forgot about that."

"You have a nasty crosswind, but we'll worry about that later. Let's run the checklist, John."

McKay heard Sheppard sigh then nodded. "Ready," the pilot said quietly then almost to himself, as if he had forgotten McKay was there, "Focus."

"Okay John, seat belt and no smoking signs."

"Are you kidding me?!"

"What? What's wrong!" McKay said looking around panicked. Sheppard turned and looked at him oddly.

"Oh sorry Rodney. I just need to run the checklist. Be ready to give me power when I need it." McKay nodded. That should be easy enough.

Sheppard focused again on the job at hand. "Signs are on."

"Speed,"

"2-4-5"

"Landing lights,"

"Where the hell…oh…there…on,"

"Auto Spoilers"

"On I guess."

"Autobrake,"

"Not sure, but probably set."

"Flaps should be 10 now, John.

"Yes sir, flaps 10."

"Landing gear."

"Down. No wait a minute. Shit. Front gear is not confirmed. Jolly 1 is landing gear down? We have indication front gear is not down."

"Standby Yankee one. Confirmed visual, but I cannot tell if it is locked."

"Check airspeed John. We can deal with the nose when we land. " Sheppard heard Ramos say.

"2-3-0."

"Slow it down. Flaps 20"

"Flaps 20…Airspeed 230,"

The airplane whined and shuddered as it descended. McKay looked out. The ground sure was coming up fast.

"Slow her more John…Flaps 30,"

"Trying." Sheppard growled, "Flaps 30."

"John, you are going in too fast. We don't know if the braking is unaffected."

"Okay, okay," Sheppard said quickly into his oxygen mask. McKay watched him talking to the tower, Ramos, and the Brits outside. "Tower Yankee 9-1, we need to loop around to see if we can't reduce airspeed, it will help with line up. No damn it, I can't cut the damn engine. I need full reverse thrust to stop this whale."

"Hey!"

"Sorry sir. I love whales."

"Okay John. Ease her around. Watch the flaps. Don't come in too steep. Takes a while to recover."

McKay watched Sheppard struggle to turn the plane around in a gentle loop. This was no way like a puddle jumper, but he wished it was because he could help instead of watching his friend shake with the effort of flying the behemoth solo. Sheppard's breathing was controlled but each exhale carried the faintest grunt.

"Okay," McKay heard Sheppard say. "Airspeed 1-9-5."

"Good John. That's it ease her around. You're making this look too easy."

"Well it's not. Damn she's fighting me!"

"It's fine. There you go. Bingo straight ahead. You need to compensate for the cross wind."

McKay watched Sheppard as he got them closer. He looked like he was in a fight with Ali. The sunrise was shining through the cockpit and McKay saw the sweat dripping down Sheppard's nose as his friend grimaced. He was talking to someone but he was not sure with whom because all he could hear was Sheppard and occasionally the Tower. Maybe Ramos, but he could not hear the Captain's voice.

"Pull the nose up John!"

"I'm trying damn it!"

"Okay, Okay. Just focus. Looks good. There. Still a little fast but she can take it…Almost finished John. Autopilot."

"What? Oh…off, why the hell do you think I'm doing all this!"

"Sorry…habit. Direct that pissiness forward and up John. Crosswinds now."

McKay watched Sheppard's hands flying across the panel. Suddenly the pilot turned to McKay. "Increase on the left."

That he could do. "Done!"

Then the cockpit voice came on, "Approaching minimum,"

"100 feet…80…"

"Pull the nose up John. Shift to the right!"

"Increasing power to left, shift right!" John repeated. McKay saw Sheppard's neck muscles tighten as he strained to control the plane. His friend let out a long, slow, frustrated, and pain-filled growl. McKay saw the plane's nose face to the right of the runway. That was not they way they were supposed to go was it? But that is where they were pointed. Sheppard knows what he is doing. Sheppard knows what he is doing, McKay thought.

"50…20"

"Turn it now John, NOW!"

Sheppard exhaled slowly as he maneuvered the controls so the aircraft would go where he asked it to. "Please, please!" McKay heard him say. He sat there watching as the plane then slowly turned toward the runway again. "10…"

McKay felt the amazingly gentlest of all landings.

"Reverse thrust, John."

"Engaged."

"Spoilers,"

"Extended. Speed is 140…120…"

"Keep the nose up as long as you can John, let the flaps help slow her down in case that gear doesn't hold."

"Yeah, yeah. Come on mistress. Slow down!" John rasped, "100…80…60…"

"Reverse thrust off. Manual break."

"Check,"

"There you go John. Couldn't have done it better myself. You know what to do from here."

McKay wondered why they hadn't touched down completely and they were still going fast although the brakes were engaged. Sheppard was still struggling to control the plane and the runway was getting shorter. McKay saw dozens of fire trucks and ambulances up ahead. Finally, after agonizing seconds that seemed like hours, the aircraft started to slow down. McKay listened to the creaking and straining and watched as Sheppard lowered the nose down. It was just a minute longer and they finally came to a complete stop. McKay smiled. "You did it John! Not that I doubted you or anything." He listened to the excited voices in the cabin and over the radio. "Welcome to Heathrow Yankee 9-1. Textbook landing. Rescue will come and get you."

"Copy that." Sheppard said quietly. "Rodney. Thanks, for your help buddy. You gave me what I needed."

McKay laughed and wanted to say something snarky, but was just amazed that they had landed safely. He didn't doubt Sheppard, not in matters like this anyway. He was really…well proud of him and wanted to tell him that he was the best pilot in any galaxy, but he figured that would go to his friend's head. "Anytime. You know me, best under pressure." McKay said as he turned and looked out the window and saw the passengers being quickly evacuated. They had followed Sheppard's instructions. He turned and unbuckled himself and stood to help his friend. The morning sun bathed the cockpit in an orange glow and it was then that McKay noticed specks and small pools of blood on the seats, the floor, almost everywhere. He fought the urge to gag and was saved by the distraction of a firm knock at the door. That was pretty quick.

"Colonel Sheppard? Please let us in. Dr. McKay? We are here to help."

McKay fumbled with the door. "I'm McKay and it's about time," he said for no particular reason at all.

"Sorry sir. We made our way up here as quickly as we could. May we get in there now to help colonel Sheppard? Samuel here will help you down the ramp to get a look over."

"I'm not going to leave him."

"No sir, of course not. You can go right before him but we need to get him out of there. You can wait by the egress."

McKay nodded tiredly. "Yes, yes. I'm sorry. I'm just tired and well…"

"No worries, Dr. McKay. We'll take good care of him."

McKay nodded and walked away with the fireman. Two others walked into the cockpit.

The lead knelt down next to Sheppard whose eyes were slightly open but transfixed on the sky. "Sir. I am Lieutenant Jacobs. RAF fire rescue. We are going to examine you quickly then help you out of here so you can get rested."

Sheppard nodded slightly, but he just could not move much more than that. His muscles were spent, his head had never stopped sending pain signals, and his shoulder was agonizing. He felt the oxygen mask removed gently and a gentle hand over him checking his eyes. They asked him a few questions quietly, and he answered them absently not caring if they were correct or not. He tried not to make a sound when they released the harness holding him to the seat, but he was unsuccessful and he moaned miserably.

"Sorry sir, sorry, it was on a bit tight.

"Okay sir. You can let go of the stick now." Sheppard wanted to comply, tried to comply, but couldn't. "It's alright, colonel." Jacobs said gently. "Let me help you with that." He felt a hand slowly and carefully peel his fingers that were locked onto that stick for dear life. Pain seared through his arm up to his shoulder and back down again and he bit his lip to muffle the cry trying to escape his lips.

"Sir we are going to assist you out of here. Can you use your legs to give leverage out of the seat?"

"Think so." Sheppard said. He turned to the left. "Where's Ramos and McKay?"

"Everyone's accounted for sir. Why don't we get you out?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"On three. One…two…three." Sheppard lifted him self up and used his legs as best he could. It was just enough for them to get under his arms. He cried out as they hauled him out and down. "I know sir. God I'm sorry to do that to you but we can't give you anything until the doc sees you." Sheppard felt an oxygen mask on his face, a needle connected to an IV in his left arm and a blanket and straps gently tightened around him. He was miserable but actually felt better than he had for the past hour. He did his best to control his breathing. Maybe whomever was driving a nail in his head would stop if he just lay quietly and played dead.

It was eerily quiet as they carried him through the plane. It was dark except for the emergency lighting but occasional rays of dawn sun broke through the windows. He closed his eyes and decided to just embrace the pain rather than fight it. He was alive after all.

"Colonel Sheppard, you still with us?"

"Still," he whispered.

"Bloody shame to give up now sir."

"I don't give…up…ever," the slightly irritated response came.

Jacobs smiled. He figured that but he wanted to see how lucid the pilot was.

They headed down the ramp with McKay just ahead, and toward an empty ambulance. "Get back please," he heard Jacobs shout. "Please let us through. I thought they bloody cleared the path!"

"They had, Ethan," the other fire man replied, "The line broke when they saw him coming down."

Sheppard heard various thanks and applause, thank you again and again, applause.

"My team? McKay?"

"I'm here, John. Everyone is okay."

"Anyone hurt?"

"None of the passengers were seriously hurt," Jacobs said as they got him loaded. "Now just relax. Let us take care of you now."

"Yeah, Sheppard, heroics are over. Now it's time for us to worry about you, so please don't take too long to recover. Maybe we can still have a vacation after this."

"Promise, Rodney."

Sheppard did not remember much after that because he just couldn't stay awake anymore and gave in to the bliss of unconsciousness.

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Sheppard is in the hospital next, a bit more hurt, whump, angst. I have not written too much of the following chapters but I do know where I need to go. Thanks for hanging in there and for all your great feedback! Hope you're having a great weekend.