Author's Note: Hey, sorry about the whole not posting thing last night. I had my first exam yesterday, and basically came home and crashed. I know, poor effort after you guys went and left enough reviews to bring the grand total up to an awesome 100! So, thank you to everyone who has been reviewing!

Not sure how many chapters are left. I'm, um, still writing them, after deciding that the last one was a bad place to stop. Maybe another two or three. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter ready by tomorrow, but it is the middle of exams, and I really should be studying instead of writing fanfiction. My friend told me it was a bad idea to post now...

Chapter 14: Taking Charge

"Tell me exactly what you did."

Sheppard sighed and looked at McKay. "I already told you, I don't know what happened." He wondered if this whole guinea pig thing was just McKay taking advantage of the situation. Since their lives had come off the line, he had become somewhat withdrawn, and Sheppard couldn't help but feel like something was wrong. Then again, what did he know.

"I don't need to know what happened," McKay told him, giving him a slight shove in the direction of the DHD. It was just the two of them for the moment with Lorne, Ronon and Teyla going down to take care of the Wraith they had locked in the chair room. "I just need to know what you did."

Sheppard gave a shrug. "I guess I can… I don't know. I walked in, saw this thing. Only there was a crystal looking thing on top, triangular I guess, with the point touching the dome. I touched the top of the crystal, it started glowing, and then some kind of light shot down into this." He gestured at the DHD. "The Stargate started doing things, turned on, and then stopped. I guess it was on after that."

McKay rolled his eyes. "Again with the touching." But there was no malice in his voice and Sheppard knew he was joking around. McKay turned away to tap his radio. "Reynolds, come in."

Sheppard heard the conversation over the borrowed radio Lorne had given him. "Dr McKay, what can I do for you?" the soldier asked from where he was still positioned at the village.

"I need you to ask the priests if they moved the crystal from the top of the DHD."

There was silence for a moment while they guessed Reynolds went to find a priest. A minute later the radio crackled again.

"Leo says they moved it. It should be in one of the storage rooms. He says the one with the white planet."

McKay's eyes lit up. "Excellent," he said, not bothering to say anything further to Reynolds. "I can kill two birds with one stone." He moved to walk out the door.

"McKay."

Lorne's drawn out, slightly annoyed voice came over the radio, and made the two of them pause.

"Here, major," McKay responded with less then his usual enthusiasm. He glanced up at Sheppard as if he knew he was in trouble.

"McKay, I thought you locked the Wraith in this room."

The scientist frowned. "We did," he defended. "I made sure of it. Like I wanted four Wraith coming up behind me."

"Well they're not here anymore," Lorne told him, sighing in exasperation.

"That's hardly my fault!" McKay defended himself. "How was I supposed to know they could pick an Ancient lock?"

Lorne muttered something under his breath that neither of them caught. "Well, no doubt they're heading for the Stargate right now. McKay, do not let those Wraith through."

"Oh great," McKay snapped. "You know major, I'm not exactly the best at defence, and Sheppard isn't exactly his usual commando self…" He paused but there was no reply. "Lorne? Lorne?"

But the major seemed to be ignoring him, and Sheppard found himself wishing the younger man had listened. He frowned at McKay.

"What does he think I can do?" he demanded. McKay gave a sigh, and then shook his head.

"Exactly what you can do," he explained as they moved towards the door. "Just because your memory's gone, doesn't mean your skills have. I'm guessing they're in there somewhere."

"You're guessing?" Sheppard repeated, keeping his eyes peeled for any movement, though he didn't really know that he was doing it. "You know, strangely enough, that isn't very comforting."

"Hey, you want comfort, go speak to Teyla." McKay gave a snort. "I am the least comforting person around. Don't worry, you'll remember that in time."

Sheppard looked at him sideways and sighed. "I've been around people I supposedly know for nearly half an hour now, and I'm still drawing a huge blank on most details. I'm not sure I'll ever get my whole memory back."

McKay rolled his eyes. "Well, you won't if you keep up that attitude. Be positive. Once we get back to Atlantis-."

Movement caught his eyes, and Sheppard jumped, before turning the shock smoothly into action in the blink of an eye.

"McKay, look out!" he cried, interrupting the scientist and shoving him to the side. He took the barrelling Wraith in the chest, instead of McKay, and the two of them crashed to the ground, the Wraith pinning him down with sheer weight.

One hand was still trapped under the scaly body, and it was just his luck that it was the hand that had held the gun Lorne had given him. With the weapon trapped, pinned against his stomach, he couldn't bring the barrel around to shoot the thing as it grabbed his free hand. It was far stronger than him, and once again he could only watch as it's hand descended to feed on him.

The rapid fire of McKay's P-90 made the Wraith jerk as it was hit with several bullets. Dying quickly, or as quickly as was possible for a Wraith, it dropped forward, making Sheppard grunt as he took all the weight.

At least now he could shift out from underneath it. Taking a huge breath with his newfound ability to squeeze air into his lungs, he sat up and looked at McKay, who still had his weapon aimed at the dead Wraith.

"Nice timing again," Sheppard told him with a thankful nod. "But can you stop cutting it so close?"

The comment seemed to make it through McKay's haze, and he rolled his eyes again. "Sorry. Next time you shove me to the ground I'll try to stand up faster." He tapped his radio. "Major Lorne, you have one less Wraith to worry about."

The major replied quickly. "I was hoping that was a Wraith that died. We saw it on the life signs detector, and tried to warn you, but it was too late. Nearly gave me a heart attack, McKay."

"Aw, major you do care."

Again the reply came quickly. "Well, I'm betting Colonel Caldwell has already informed Atlantis of Colonel Sheppard's miraculous rise from the dead. I'd hate to disappoint them in that regard." There was a pause. "Have you taken any others out that I should know about?"

McKay didn't answer, but offered Sheppard a hand to stand, which the colonel gladly took. He was feeling bruised after the collision. "Thanks."

McKay nodded. "You're welcome. In return, could you not teach your officers so well. They get annoying when you die and give them command."

"How about I just try not to die," he responded, though he could tell McKay didn't mean it. He smiled brightly. "Maybe next time you could take the Wraith tackle for me."

They positioned themselves at the door again, both of them keeping eyes open this time. McKay still managed to scowl at him. "Well, maybe if you didn't try to stop me every time. You know that's how you got yourself into this mess in the first place."

Sheppard frowned, looking across at him. McKay didn't sound so joking anymore. "What are you talking about?"

"Back in that grounded Hive ship on 079. When you told us to leave." He sounded a little angry now. "You never think about yourself. You ordered us off that ship even knowing it would probably mean you got captured or killed."

"This is what's been bothering you, hasn't it?" McKay didn't say a word, just turned away slightly, refusing to meet his friend's eyes. The soldier sighed. "But it didn't," Sheppard pointed out. "That's what you told me. I got free, and you were the ones who got caught."

Rodney's scowl deepened, and he blushed, either in anger or embarrassment, Sheppard wasn't sure. "Only because I was arguing with Ronon that we had to go back to get you. Which meant we were both distracted, which meant we didn't see the ambush until it was too late."

"Wait a minute," Sheppard ordered, pulling on McKay's arm to turn him around. "Are you really trying to blame me for you getting captured?" Somehow that surprised the hell out of him, even when he had no conscious clue about anything when it came to McKay and his thought processes.

McKay sighed, losing his anger. "No, that's not what I mean. If we had stayed, we probably still would have been caught. And I should have been following orders, like Ronon was, and that way we probably would have seen those Wraith worshippers. But you're an idiot."

Sheppard's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?"

"You're an idiot," McKay repeated, shaking his head. "You and your selfless hero act. You take these stupid risks that are sure to get you killed. Like stealing a Dart, or flying a nuclear weapon into a Hive ship, or attaching a 302 to a ship so you can go into hyperspace with it. Or-."

Sheppard stopped him there. "Okay, I get the picture," he told him, frowning. Then he looked McKay right in the eye. "Did I really do all that?"

"Yes," the scientist told him, exasperated. "Yes, you really did all that, and more, and all because you don't seem to care if you die as long as everyone else lives."

The pilot paused, watching the man who was obviously his friend. Then he frowned. "Am I meant to be getting the point to this?" he asked.

McKay groaned and began walking back to the DHD. "I should have known better. Just forget I said anything."

Confused now, Sheppard ran to catch up with him, forcing him to stop again. "No. You can't just say that. What are you getting at McKay?"

He sighed. "Do you know how much it hurt everyone when we thought you were dead? You probably don't have a clue. But considering Sam was crying, and if you remembered more than her rank, you would get it. After we heard you were dead, I didn't see anyone even smile until a few days later. You have no idea what you mean to this expedition. Especially after everything you've done to save it in the past."

There was silence in the corridor for a moment. Sheppard struggled to understand while not remembering any of it. Then he looked up at McKay. "Come on," he said quietly. "We should be guarding the door."

McKay threw his hands up but began walking. "I knew there was no point in saying anything."

Sheppard shook his head. "If I really am this guy you think I am… and going on past actions that I can actually remember, I'm guessing there's at least a partial truth to it… I'm not going to stop doing these dangerous things just because you all think I might die."

McKay didn't answer for a moment. Then, "No. I guess you wouldn't," he answered quietly. There was another pause. "See, you really are an idiot."

The pilot gave a laugh. "I guess so. And I'm guessing that if I ever tell anyone you said all that…"

"I will make your life a living hell," McKay told him promptly, not even looking at him. "But someone had to try and talk some sense into you."

Sheppard shrugged. "If I've saved the day as much as you say I have, it sounds like sense is the last thing I need."

The radio crackled, preventing McKay from answering. Lorne's worried voice came over their earpieces. "Colonel Sheppard, McKay, you there?"

There was a pause, during which Sheppard belatedly realized McKay was expecting him to answer. With a half-shrug, McKay tapped his radio.

"Here Major. What's the problem?"

"Colonel Caldwell just got in touch. Apparently Atlantis is excited about Colonel Sheppard."

McKay shared a look with the source of the excitement, frowning. "That doesn't sound so bad, Major."

"He also said the Daedalus had destroyed the Wraith camp on the outskirts of the forest," Lorne added, and Sheppard had the distinct feeling he was working up to something. McKay seemed to come to the same conclusion.

"Okay… What's the bad news, Lorne? And don't lie, cause that's the same tone Sheppard gets when there's bad news." McKay ignored the colonel's glare.

"Um. There's two Wraith Hive ships on their way here. They must have been attracted by all the recent focus on this supposedly uninhabited planet."

McKay swore. "See, now I'm just depressed, major. Couldn't you have started with that and worked up to the good news?"

They could both hear Lorne's frustration as he replied. "Take a breath, McKay. That's why I called you. We need a plan."

"How about leaving," McKay muttered before he could help himself, earning a hard glare from Sheppard.

"Don't even think about it, major," Sheppard said into his radio, his voice just as hard as his stare. He didn't notice, but traces of the old Sheppard came through. "We're not leaving these people alone to face the Wraith."

"Wouldn't dream of it, sir," Lorne answered. "But the Daedalus can't take on two Hive ships by itself. We need you in the chair room right away."

Sheppard suddenly felt like something was wrong. Going still, causing Rodney to glance at him with worry, he shifted slightly where he stood. Biting his lip, sure about this, he clicked his radio. "I hear you, major. We'll be there in five."

He clicked the radio again, basically turning it off, and turned to McKay. "Is there any way to disable the gate?"

McKay frowned at him. "Of course there is. Do you know how many times… oh right, sorry." He looked around though, and didn't move. "Uh, care explaining why?"

Sheppard shook his head. "Something doesn't feel right. I think Lorne's in trouble." He looked down at his radio. "How do I contact Colonel Caldwell? Without letting anyone else hear it."

McKay leaned over and fiddled with his radio, still obviously out of the loop. "Why do you think Lorne's in trouble?" he asked as he leaned back, getting worried. Because usually Sheppard's spidey-sense was right about these kinds of things.

"Because he asked us to leave the gate. He didn't say anything about disabling it, or anything like that." He frowned, clutching at the wispy memories. "And I just have this feeling Lorne is better than that. Now, disable that gate."

He clicked his radio for a third time before McKay could say anything else, hoping this would work. Looking slightly annoyed at the dismissal, McKay bent down to work on the DHD. "Colonel Caldwell, are you there?"

A second later the man's relieved voice came over the radio. "Colonel Sheppard, once again we'd written you off. How are you feeling?"

"Been better," he admitted. "Colonel, have you spoken with Lorne in the last ten minutes?"

That relief turning into worry. "I spoke with him not five minutes ago. Why, isn't he answering?"

Sheppard shook his head even though Caldwell couldn't see them. "No, he's there. I just don't think he's alone. Did you tell him two Hive ships were on the way?"

There was a pause. "No, I did not. I only told him we had destroyed the camp."

McKay sat up straight, hitting his head on the DHD. "How did you do that if the planet's cloaked from sensors?" he demanded.

"Give us some credit, McKay. We could still find what was left of their Darts. We latched onto that energy and blew up everything close to it."

Sheppard frowned, thinking that seemed a bit excessive, but he didn't mention anything. "So I was right," he muttered, more to himself than anything. "Those Wraith mustn't have gone very far from the room."

"Is there anything I can do, Sheppard?"

Caldwell's voice made him jump – he had almost forgotten he was still talking to the man. "No thank you Colonel," he replied. "I think I can handle it."

As he switched off his radio McKay's head bumped up against the DHD again. Rubbing the sore spot, he turned to stare, mouth open, at Sheppard. "You think you can what?"

All rightey then. Now I'll go work on the next chapter! See, this is why I usually write it all beforehand...