The first flash of black feathers screeched so close to Laura's ear she let out a squeal when she jumped, her feet slipping down a rung. Fingers digging in she steadied herself with a rush of breath.

Several rungs below John looked up, his head snapping around at Ronon's shouted warning from below.

Massive claws clamped onto John's left shoulder, digging in with an excruciating, knifing burn. With an ear piercing cry the bird's wings beat furiously against the side of John's head while the talons tightened in his shoulder, skin tearing.

Laura dropped lower and sat on the rung just above John's head. Swatting away at a second feathered fury, she grabbing the bird off John's shoulders and flung it to the side. The bird's cry echoed as it swirled around the tower, screeching and cawing with a piercing scream. It suddenly exploded in a cloud of feathers as Ronon's blast hit it dead on.

The second creature swooped at Laura, its wings beating her arms as she swung at it. Claws scratched the bare skin of her right leg and she cried out in frustration, kicking out at the bird and nearly losing her balance. A shot from below echoed and the bird spiraled down and slammed into the ground.

Laura looked down at Evan, who was standing below her, his revolver pointed at the top of the platform.

"Down, down, down!" He shouted.

From the top of the platform, the cluster of sticks and branches erupted with a flurry of feathers as a dozen birds took to the skies, their screeching cries echoing across the field.

Gunfire erupted from below as the flock of birds circled and dove, wings beating and claws digging as the creatures attacked their targets.

John reached the ground first, his back under attack from two of the massive creatures. Too close to John to shoot them, Ronon settled for grabbing each bird by the neck and slamming it into the side of the ladder. He dropped the carcasses and grabbed for Sheppard, hauling him away from the bottom of the tower.

Laura was still several feet from the ground when one of the feathered creatures slammed into her side, spinning her around. She lost her grip and dropped hard onto the earth, rolling and turtling against the flurry of wings and claws.

Two quick shots and the screeching fell silent, the birds dead on the ground beside her.

"What the hell was that!" Rodney's shocked cry echoed across the once again quiet meadow. "I mean… come on! Is there no one who understands the need for research before sending people to unknown planets?"

Evan quickly dropped beside Laura. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She muttered, clutching her scraped and bleeding leg. "I'll live."

"Come on." Evan grabbed her good arm and looped it around his neck. She hobbled with him to the far side of the meadow where he helped her sit down next to John.

With the others standing sentry, eyes warily watching the skies, Jen worked on John's wounds. Pooling the few emergency supplies from the TAC vests, she did her best to patch his shoulder, using butterfly stitches to close two of the deeper wounds. The rest were cleaned with what little water they had left, and covered in gauze.

Turning to Laura, Jen repeated the procedure, cleaning her arms and leg, and closing a small gash just below her knee with the last of the butterfly stitches.

"Well that was fun." Laura shook her head in amazement. "Who wants to go next?"

"We need to get you two back." Jen rocked back on her heels and stood. "We have no idea what kind of diseases those things carry. I need you both on antibiotics and I need to have those lacerations properly cleaned and closed."

"Thank you! That's the smartest thing anyone's said all day." Rodney stepped up, angling his tablet towards Jen. "Our next location. Food, water and possibly medical supplies." Then he pointed to another spot on the screen. "The gate. We'd have to cross the river again, though."

Ronon pointed to the screen from over Rodney's shoulder. "River's narrowest here. Might be able to find away across."

Teyla stepped forward and eyed the tablet. "If we cut back this way it appears the land is much flatter."

Evan moved to stand next to Jen. "So we head straight back?"

"No." Jen shook her head. "I want the supplies from the next campsite first. Water and blankets specifically. I can make some temporary bandages to keep the dirt out. Help hold off any infection. I cleaned John's back and shoulder as best I could but without proper medical treatment, I can't guarantee there won't be an infection. They're fine to walk but I don't want John carrying his gear. I don't want anything rubbing against his shoulder."

"I can carry my own things." John exclaimed, moving to stand up.

"Sit." Jen put her hand on his good shoulder and pushed him back down. "Stay."

"Woof." Laura grinned.

"You, too." Jen pointed at Laura.

"Damn pushy Doctors." John muttered.

Jen dropped her hands to her hips and glared at John.

He blinked up at her. "You know, Doc. It's kind of hard to take you seriously dressed like that."

Laura swatted him.

Jen flushed and looked down the front of her body, still draped in one of Ronon's sleeveless shirts.

"Do you take me seriously?" Teyla looked down at John's navy t-shirt, which she still wore, then looked pointedly at Sheppard.

"Uh… yes?" John answered quickly. "You look pretty serious."

Ronon snorted.

"Good." Teyla nodded, the turned back to Jen. "I will make sure he does not carry anything."

"Okay so we hit the lunch supplies first." Lorne looked at the standing group, nods bobbing around the half circle.

"I wonder if there'll be any more of that potato salad…" Rodney wondered aloud, earning him a collection of groans. "What? What'd I say?"

"You okay?" Evan asked Laura, who was limping more noticeably.

"Yeah." She frowned, stopping to check out her injured leg. "I just hate stupid injuries. Looks bad on my file."

"Would you prefer I change bird to something more menacing?"

"Would you?" Laura asked hopefully. "How about bear? You could tell everyone that I saved you all from a giant swarm of bears."

"Now you sound like McKay." Evan shook his head.

"I heard that." Rodney called out. "And bears don't swarm. That's bees, genius. And I'd think you'd have enough to worry about with explaining why you're dressed in a bikini and wearing Lorne's t-shirt when we come through the gate."

Laura bent to pick up a small rock and chucked at Rodney's back, thwacking him between the shoulder blades.

"Oh that's mature, Cadman. Really mature." Rodney muttered, rubbing his back. "That's going to bruise."

"Don't worry, Rodney." Jen sighed. "I'll get you something for the pain when we get back."

"Speaking of…" Evan mused. "I wonder what Woolsey's going to say when we show up a day early?"

"I'll take care of Mr. Woolsey." Jen announced firmly.

"Guess Rodney gets his Doctor's note after all." John grinned.

"Actually, the note would be all yours, Mr. Brenner." Rodney looked at John.

"Brenner?" John frowned.

"Brenner." Rodney nodded. "Hitchcock? The Birds?" He shook his head sadly. "And you call yourself a pop-culture aficionado. No wonder you suck at Trivial Pursuit."

"I do not suck at Trivial Pursuit." John rebuked. "Just because you got one lucky roll…"

"I… won off my first turn." Rodney grinned at the others, his face falling when no one seemed to understand, or care.

"That phone booth scene always creeps me out." Jen shuddered. "Being trapped like that with all those crazy birds smashing into the glass…"

"Scene?" Teyla glanced at Jen. "Ah. A movie."

Jen laughed. "Of course. It's all they ever talk about. That… and comic books."

"And what's wrong with comic books?" John asked.

"Nothing." Jen grinned at Teyla. "If you're twelve."

"See, now that's where you're wrong." Rodney hurried to catch up to Jen and Teyla. "Comic Books are actually a modem of mythological and historical references from various societies, milestoning important historical occurrences. They dealt with current events and issues, and were actually, not only directed at children. Many of the more popular ones were directed at adults. They're really a very important piece of Earth culture."

"I see." Teyla nodded, smiling good-naturedly at Rodney.

"Perhaps when Torren is older… you know… I could… lend him some?" Rodney suggested eagerly. "Help teach him about Earth culture?"

"That would be…" Teyla hesitated, glancing at Jen.

"Just nod and agree." Jen whispered.

"Lovely. Thank you Rodney." Teyla smiled.

"Perfect." Rodney grinned. "I know just the ones…"

Leaving Rodney listing off several comic titles and the merits of each one to a less than enthused Teyla, Jen sped up, quickly catching up to Ronon.

"Are we there yet?" Ronon muttered.

"No." Jen shook her head.

"How 'bout now?"

"No."

"Now?"

"No."

"Soon?"

"God, I hope so."