AN And thanks to June Odyssee and her quick work you'll be able to read the next chapter sooner than expected :-))

The POV is changing sometimes in this chapter. You'll find -0- whenever that the case so the flow won't have too much of a break but someone pointed out that it was a little confusing without any sign. I hope it'll help.

John's POV

The flight via the intergalactic bridge had been rather uneventful since, apart from some little power spikes which could be easily handled, everything went smoothly and John had happily arrived in the gate room at the SGC. Sadly his happiness had long since gone for he was stuck in a meeting with the IOA and General Landry. He tried to concentrate but was interrupted on this truly challenging task by the more urgent need to stifle a yawn before focusing on the discussion again.

"... so with the intergalactic-gate-bridge we took a big step forward to the Pegasus galaxy. I'd like to thank you all for your effort." Mr. Woolsey finished his speech.

'Finally!' John pushed back his chair, stood up and hurried out before anybody took it upon himself to entangle him in any kind of further conversation. Reaching the surface after a much too long elevator-ride, John eventually all but ran from the mountain and took a rental from the car pool.

Beforehand he didn't even have a spare minute to call his brothers - brothers, as in plural! That's why he stopped in the next town, pulling his rental along to buy a prepaid cell, a task that was easily finished once the shop assistant actually believed him when he said he had no use for a contractual-cell.

Back on Atlantis John had pondered what do but in the end it hadn't been a tough decision. First of all he would visit Dave to tell him everything and hopefully they would then visit their mom and everyone else together. Of course he wanted to see his mother now and would happily call in a favor from Col. Ellis asking him to beam him over but Dave deserved better. Sadly when dialing Dave's number it went straight to voicemail. 'Okay, that was… unfortunate.' Unwilling to let anything dampen his recovered good mood, he left a message telling Dave he was on leave and on his way, knowing his brother would check regularly for messages but frowning a little at his cell none the less. Staring at it, he then had to fight himself from calling Evan. What if his mother answered the call? Better not to go there before he betrayed Dave because John didn't trust what he'd do if his mom really answered his call. Determined, John hit the road again, fast – if only he could drive more than 200miles/h.

SGASGASGASGA

It was 1800 AST or 2200 local time and John was nearly home when he noticed some flickering lights slightly away from the road. What was that? Getting nearer, it became clear that the farm was on fire. Without hesitation he was driving at full speed across the land to the farm where he came to a skidding stop. Gripping for his cell he was already punching in the number of the fire department and quickly informed them of the address and situation; The barn was on fire and it had already reached the main house.

He then ran over to the house and reaching the door which was easy enough to open, he yelled, "Fire! Is anybody there?" again and again while making his way through the house. Smoke was creeping trough the floors. He headed to the stairs where he presumed to find the bedrooms and arriving on the first floor he heard the voice of a small kid whining, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!"

'No, no, no. A toddler. Certainly terribly frightened.' John winced, immediately rushing over to the room he had heard the voice coming from. When he opened the door he saw a small girl crying, looking at him frightfully with wide eyes, standing up in her child's bed in her pajamas, the bars making it difficult for her to get out on her own although she had already begun to climb out.

"He," John said in his best soothing voice. "You don't have to be afraid. My name's John and you are?"

"Shann'n" replied the little girl sniffing.

"Okay Shannon, I'll get you out of here somewhere safe. And then I will look for your Mommy, okay?"

"'kay."

John lifted the toddler in his arms and made his way back. Gladly the smoke was still more near the floor so little Shannon should be as safe as possible. Once he got out he ran away from the house to an area that looked secure to him. Crouching down he released her and quickly told her, "Shannon! Listen to me! I need you to stay here while I'll go back to get your Mommy! Okay, can you do that for me?"

Sobbing Shannon nodded clinging to the teddy bear in her arms that John failed to notice before.

"Good girl! I knew I could count on you!" John praised her before turning and running into the house again.

Upon entering, he noticed that the smoke had become much worse and tried to shield himself as best he could, knowing it was much more dangerous than the fire itself but he could only go so long without breathing and he had no equipment. Once more he chased upstairs bumping into a woman on the top who wearing jeans and a shirt as John noticed briefly. She looked at him spooked by his sudden appearance but more frantic for her family.

-0-0-

After a long and hard day Kelly had only wanted to sit down for a minute before she started on the last task of her day – ironing. But with her husband Bob gone on a short trip to his brother she had been really tired with the extra work. She must have dozed off. Then she had woken up to this nightmare. The house was on fire and she couldn't find her children. Now there was this stranger although he seemed trustworthy. Hopefully she was right. "Shannon?! Tommy?!" she choked out.

-0-0-

"Ma'am! Ma'am, Shannon's already out of the house," John assured her, glad he wasn't freaking her out. Since he didn't bother to change earlier John was still in his black BDU and combat boots which could easily have frightened her.

"Oh thank you! Thank you! We have to get Tommy!"

"No! I look for Tommy. Tell me where his room is. Shannon needs you!"

The woman looked at him desperately. It was clearly not easy to accept that she had to leave the fate of her other child to a total stranger. But only seconds later she nodded, "His room is on the left side at the end of the next floor!"

"Okay! I get him! You take care of Shannon!" John said in his best command voice, putting all his confidence in it, too, before setting off. The smoke was beginning to take its toll on him, he was feeling dizzy and it had become more and more difficult to breathe. The second floor was directly under the roof with only three rooms. Up here the heat was unbearable and sweat was dripping from his forehead. Getting into Tom's room he couldn't see anybody so he looked around. Flames were already licking at the furniture and taking a closer look at the bed covers he knew Tom hadn't been in his bed as he should. Drat! Not good! Now he had to check out every remaining room in this house! "Tommy!" 'Crap! Shouting hasn't been your best idea!' John scolded himself when he had to cough convulsively. 'Tommy isn't here so up to the next, John! You faced worse! You can do this!' Gathering his strength he turned to the next door. The heat was radiating from it and had John hesitate. That room must be consumed in flames! But what if Tom was stuck inside? Bracing himself for the worst, John opened the door.

"Aah!" John cried out in pain when he burned his arm due to the flames striking out as soon as the door was open. His cry earned him another coughing fit. John tumbled backwards and nearly felt down the stairs but he was able to catch himself. Hopelessly looking at the flames shouting up, he knew he had no chance to search this room. If anybody had been in here he was dead by now! He shoved that horrible thought aside and, clutching his arm while suppressing the searing pain as best he could, John prepared himself to check on the last room at this floor.

'No, no, no!' The door felt as hot as that last one. But he had to this! He promised! Even if he hadn't he would never think of bolting. 'You don't leave people behind!' This time John kicked the door open and felt the flames at once sprung right into his face. The room was exactly as much on fire as the last one. "Aah," 'Shit!' Briefly he smelled burned flesh and hair but didn't want to think about it when he tumbled down the stairs to the first floor. At least the temperature down here was a little more bearable John noticed on continuing his desperate search. Feeling worse every minute, he searched the house but Tommy was nowhere to be found. Despaired, he fought his way back to the front door his coughing getting worse and worse. When he was finally tumbling out of the door he gasped for air, swaying over to the woman and the little girl, Shannon.

"I'm sorry!" John rasped out full of dread, his burning lungs and the searing pain of his now increased burns consuming him.

"Mom, Mom!" They both heard the voice of a teenage boy.

Kelly, who had begun running toward John, turned to her boy. "Tommy!" his mother shouted in relief, pulling him into a hug and sobbing.

"I'm sorry Mom. I know I wasn't allowed to go out with Sammy…" Distrought, Tom began to explain his absence without letting go of his mother.

"Oh, Tommy, I don't care. I'm glad you're alive."

"Oh Mom, I'm so glad you and Shannon are alright. Mom, what happened?"

"I dunno Tommy, looks like the barn took fire. Thanks to…"

"John, John Sheppard," John filled in the blank, limping nearer and feeling the tension leaving him. With Tom very much alive eventually things were getting right. He tried to get more air into his still burning lungs but seems to fail. Hurting and feeling dizzy, he swayed once more at his feet.

"I'm Kelly, Kelly Miller."

"Thanks to Mr. Sheppard, Shannon and I are safe," Kelly told her son, only now taking in John's appearance. He looked horrible! In the flickering light of the burning house she was able to see that his face was fuliginous which made his eyes stand out. His hair stood up at all angles and some of it was seemingly singed. Worst he had some bad burn holes in his uniform and not only his clothes had burned. She could see nasty burns all over his body, for heaves sake! She felt bad. This man had risked everything for her family. He all but ordered her to go and for Shannon's sake she has allowed him to do so but Tommy hadn't been in the house. That man could have died in there! Kelly shuddered at that thought.

In the distant they could already here the sirens of the fire brigade.

"Oh God! Let's find you somewhere to sit on! You look awful! I'm so sorry! If I had known... I feel horrible. You risked everything and I… I…" Kelly rambled.

"'s 'kay," John slurred out. Only one minute ago he had thought he had to tell Mrs. Miller that her son had presumably died in that fire. Now, with nothing left to do, the adrenaline was leaving his body and he felt himself swaying more and more, getting less and less air. Those burns were hurting! He felt only pain, pain in his lungs, pain of the burnings. Then everything went black as John hit the floor.

He never noticed the horrified cries of the Miller family nor the arriving fire brigade springing into action and taking control of the situation.

SGASGASGASGA

Evan's POV

It had been a long day, everyone had so much to process and they had talked for hours deep into the night until Evan's family had finally decided to call it a night. Evan himself was so tired that he fell asleep as soon as his head made contact with his cushion.

He was startled awake by the striding ringing of the telephone cutting through the night-time peacefulness, which rudely awakened him to full alarm. Due to his military training, he was wide awake at once and on his way to the phone while everyone else was still fighting for consciousness.

'Something must have happened, something bad.' That much was obvious. Thank God everyone was here, so it couldn't be someone from his immediate family. Taking up the phone he said, "Lorne."

"Am I speaking with a Major Evan Lorne?"

"Yes that's me. I'm Evan Lorne," Evan confirmed alarmed.

"…You are the emergency contact of Colonel John Sheppard?"

'Emergency? John? Oh no, no, no, no!' Evan felt his head beginning to spin. He then registered of what had been said. 'Huh? John had listed him as emergency contact, when did that happen?'

"I'm calling on behalf of the Mercy hospital…"

AN Please let me know what you think... :-)

If you reading this chapter for the second time and wondering why 'Sarah Miller' suddenly became 'Kelly' – I changed it so you wouldn't get confused with Sarah Lorne