A/N: Episode tag for Travelers. Spoilers for that ep (and a teensy one for Reunion).

The Whole is Greater than the Sum

Sam reached the control room as the stargate blossomed to life.

"Well?"

Chuck squinted at his display then looked at her, a huge smile splitting his face. "Col. Sheppard's IDC, ma'am."

"Oh, thank God." Carter raced up the stairs to the jumper bay as the nose of the first ship poked through the event horizon. The past couple of days had kept her on pins and needles. It had started with Rodney shouting….

"Sheppard!"

The hint of panic in his voice galvanized Sam into action. Bolting from her office, she met McKay in the middle of the bridge to the control room.

"What's wrong?"

"I lost contact with Sheppard. He was on final approach to the gate when someone shot at him."

"Gather what you need. I'll have Lorne meet you in the jumper bay in ten minutes."

They turned in opposite directions, both reaching for their radios. She heard him contact Ronon just before Evan's voice spoke in her ear.

XXX

The air of defeat was heavy as the team returned. Jaw clenched, Lorne stalked with unseeing eyes toward the armory. Teyla blinked rapidly as she reached the bottom of the stairs with Ronon at her shoulder.

"…find a way."

"I hope so, Ronon. I don't think I can…."

"He's tough, Teyla. Besides, McKay will come up with something."

Carter glanced at Rodney who was staring at his teammates' backs, his expression open and vulnerable. When he noticed her scrutiny, his chin lifted, and he gave her a quick nod of acknowledgement before hurrying to his lab."

XXX

Deep in thought, Sam startled at the knock on her door. Putting aside the analysis of Sheppard's last known position, she found Rodney, Ronon and Teyla in her entryway.

"Find something?"

"An SOS broadcast." McKay's look would have been smug if fear had not been lurking in his eyes.

"You have a location?"

"Yes."

"Be in the jumper bay in twenty minutes. I'll have a strike team meet you there."

The three dashed from the room, and Carter had to grip the arms of her chair to keep herself from following. She had expected to face many challenges in her new role but never expected the hardest would be staying back while others did the exploring and rescuing. She had gone on that rescue mission her first day because she felt the need to prove herself, but she would not be doing that again any time soon, especially after the ass-chewing O'Neill had given her when he read the report. She had developed an entirely new respect for the three generals she had served under at the SGC. To be responsible for so many people….

And now she waited for her people to return, needing to see them alive and in one piece. The first jumper rose into the bay and settled snugly into its berth. The second jumper followed closely behind and had barely touched the floor when the rear hatch began to open. Before it lowered completely, Ronon pushed his way out and strode quickly to the first jumper, Teyla and Rodney on his heels.

Sam hung back as Sheppard's dark head appeared. She caught a glimpse of a bruised cheek and a split lip before he touched his forehead to Teyla's. Ronon clasped the colonel's shoulder tightly, and John tossed him a small smile before meeting Rodney's eyes. The tension drained from McKay's frame as he accepted the pilot's unspoken thanks.

Wincing slightly, Sheppard straightened when he noticed her, and she stepped forward with a smile.

"Good to have you back, Colonel."

"It's good to be back," he replied with an answering grin. "Let's eat. I'm starved."

Carter's eyes narrowed as she took in his haggard appearance. His face was mottled with bruises, and he favored his left side, keeping his elbow tucked close to his ribs. "Why don't you swing by the infirmary first."

He held her gaze for a moment then dipped his head in resignation and walked away, not refusing the steadying hand of his Satedan teammate.

Relief flooded through her now that all of her people safely home, and she watched them leave before seeking out Lorne and the other jumper crews to congratulate them on a job well done.

OoOoOoOoO

Tray in hand, Sam paused as she caught sight of Sheppard and his team seated together in the middle of the mess hall, and an unfamiliar pang shot through her, robbing her of breath. To her complete surprise, she finally recognized the feeling as jealousy; she missed being part of a team more than she had ever thought possible. She squashed the impulse to sit with them and cast about the room for another option. Spotting Jennifer Keller, she bypassed the group, catching Ronon's smirk and Teyla's massive eye roll at something McKay said, and joined the doctor.

"How are you today?"

"Fine, Colonel. And you?"

"Better now. And please, call me Sam."

"Sam it is."

Shaking out her napkin, Carter took a sip of water and let her eyes drift back to John and his team. "How is Col. Sheppard?"

"He should be fine. Besides the obvious cuts and bruises, he has some tenderness in his ribs and a strange mark on his right side that apparently came from a stunner fired at point blank range. We are also running a few tests for radiation poisoning-"

"Radiation poisoning?"

Keller shrugged. "He says he wasn't exposed for long, but I didn't want to take any chances. I don't expect to find anything."

"Do any of the other off-world teams get into as much trouble as this one?"

"No, thank God," Jennifer laughed. Her eyes flickered over to the team, and she sobered. "To be honest, I'm amazed sometimes that they're still alive. I don't know how they do it."

Sam glanced over to see John's lids slowly sliding shut and the team move as one to help their leader to his quarters. She knew.