Thanks for the reviews. :) Short but I didn't want to leave you guys hanging for too long :)

Title: Simple Things
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Sheppard/Keller. Lorne/Keller friendship
Summary: See part one
Notes: For Nika

The man's smile widened as the other men raised their weapons. "It appears then that we have a stand off."

Something inside John snapped.
All he saw were Jen's bruises.
All he saw was the needless pain she had endured.

John strode forward and smashed the butt of his gun against the side of the leader's head. Before any of the eight men could move John slammed the younger man into the door forcing both of them to tumble out into the snow.

The eight men recovered and spread out flanking the doorway, four on each side. The SGA team scrambled for cover as bullets started to fly.

Ronon carefully laid Jennifer's unconscious form on the floor behind the bar as he and Teyla moved behind it.

Mathews, Rodney and Lorne flipped over two tables toward the left side of the tavern. Matthews handed Lorne his spare hand gun. Though still weak Lorne acknowledged the younger man with a grateful nod.

Matthews, Lorne, McKay and Teyla returned fire.

Two of the eight men cried out in pain and crumpled to the floor.

"At least the odds are getting better."Rodney commented just as one of Ronon's knives flew from the bar and impacted another man in the right shoulder.

"Think again."Lorne replied as Rodney followed his gaze out one of the windows.
Six more men were gaining rapidly on Sheppard's position.

Evan reached over and snatched Rodney's radio ear piece and placed it on his own ear. Evan knew John's mindset right now. He knew John was oblivious to everything.
Everything but revenge.

"Hey!"Rodney protested.

"Sheppard, if you can hear me you've got six coming at you."Lorne stated grimly. "Repeat, six hostiles."


John distantly heard Evan's radio call.

It didn't process.
It didn't matter.

His fists continued pummeling the man before him.

Blow after blow.
Bruise for a bruise.

The man finally orientated himself enough to move away from Sheppard. Blood ran from a gash above his left eye and from a split lip.

John almost snarled as he stepped forward. "The woman you captured is my wife."

The man spat blood onto the snow and laughed. "You need better control of your wife."

John slammed him up against the outer wall of the tavern his forearm cutting off the younger man's air supply.

"I don't care what crime you think they committed."John snapped as he vaguely heard the gunfire inside. "Nobody hurts her…..nobody."

"It'd be wise to let him go."A male voice from behind John stated calmly as John heard the hammers of guns being pulled back.

John whirled around placing the man in front of him his P90 leveled against his head.

"If you value his life you'll let my friends go."