Author's Note: I would like to thank my beta reader, Nika Dixon, for her guidance and her quick review of this chapter despite having much of her own writing to do. Any mistakes here are purely my own.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Stargate Atlantis or the characters. The only thing that is mine are any original thoughts or characters that you may find here.

And thank you to everyone who has taken the time to leave a review. If you haven't left a review yet then, please do. It's easy. All comments are welcome and I will reply. Now on with the adventure.

Chapter 21

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Weir entered the jumper bay as the jumper's engines shut down. She folded her arms across her chest as she waited for the team to exit the craft. Moments later the hatch lowered and Zelenka appeared in the doorway. He noticed Weir and approached her.

"How did it go, Radek?"

"We have successfully removed all of the data crystals on PX3-M37." replied Zelenka.

"Were any of them damaged?" asked Weir as the two Corporals carried the first of the containers out of the jumper on their way to the map room.

"It does not appear so but I will only know for sure when they are patched into Atlantis. Have you received word from Colonel Sheppard?"

"No, not yet." replied Weir.

"Let me know as soon as you have more information on the device that McKay's investigating." continued Weir as she turned to leave the jumper bay.

Zelenka watched her go, thinking back to his suspicion that Sheppard cared for Weir more than he should. Maybe Weir felt the same way. It is none of my business. He shook his head to clear his thoughts.

Salesi walked down the ramp and joined him, "Major Williams is organizing some extra help to ferry these containers to the map room."

"Good" replied Zelenka, "Dr Weir wants answers quickly."

Moments later Soong exited the jumper walking beside Castello laughing at something he'd said. Zelenka noticed that Salesi was watching the pair as Castello leaned towards Soong and said something that Zelenka could not hear. Soong's eyes widened and she replied "I'd love too. What time?"

They continued to walk away together as Castello checked his watch and replied, "I'll pick you up at seven."

"She didn't waste any time." stated Salesi as he eyes followed Soong as she left the jumper bay.

Zelenka looked across at Salesi, his eyebrows raised, "Are you jealous?"

"No. Of course not." denied Salesi quickly.

"You are jealous." countered Zelenka, "Why do you not ask her out?"

Salesi drew his eyes away from the now empty doorway, "Because she prefers a man in uniform. They all do." he replied not hiding his bitterness anymore. "Just look at how many women fawn over Colonel Sheppard like he's the only available male on the base."

Is he still available? Zelenka asked himself, I am not so sure.

"I still think you should ask her. What do you have to lose?" asked Zelenka.

Salesi's shoulders sagged, "Our friendship. No, she has made her choice blatantly obvious."

Salesi headed out from the jumper bay with Zelenka following him, shaking his head and muttering in Czech under his breath, "Opravdu ji miluje."

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Lorne perched himself on the infirmary bed, still in his scrubs, waiting for Beckett to give him his final check-up. He was expecting to be released today and get back to the pile of paperwork waiting for his attention. He looked up from the floor when he heard footsteps approaching to see Beckett.

"Well. Can I go, doc?" asked Lorne.

"You're as bad as the Colonel." stated Beckett as he shone his penlight into Lorne's eyes watching the response of his pupils.

"Nothing personal, doc. It's just not good having the CO and the 2IC both absent at the same time."

Carson smiled, "Well, now it's only down one military leader. Light duties only mind or I'll have you back in that bed before you know it. Your ribs still need to heal."

Lorne spotted Weir approaching his bed and greeted her, "Dr. Weir."

Weir smiled, "Major, Carson. How is he?"

"Well enough to be released to light duties."

"Good. The Daedalus is due to arrive tomorrow with a new batch of marines." stated Weir.

"Taken care of. Any word from the Colonel, ma'am?" asked Lorne.

"No, not yet. Zelenka has just come back from PX3-M37 with the other data crystals. Hopefully we'll learn some more about the device they are investigating soon."

"Are you still concerned about them?" asked Beckett.

Lorne looked from Beckett to Weir noticing how tired she looked with shadows below her eyes.

"We know so little about that device and they are 3 hours from the nearest Stargate."

"I could send another team." offered Lorne.

Weir realised that the depth of her worry was becoming noticeable to those around her. The rumours that already abounded about Sheppard's relationships with the women of Atlantis would heat up dramatically if anyone suspected how she really felt about him. She sighed and shook her head, "No, not yet. We'll wait and see whether Zelenka finds something."

"If you change your mind, ma'am, just say the word and I can have a team ready within the hour."

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Ronon cleared the fallen rocks to one side as he moved deeper into the tunnel. His clothes were covered in the dust that continued to drift down from the roof. At least the rocks have stopped falling.

He could see the smooth surface of the airlock door standing open on the far side of the last remaining rubble pile, through a gap too small for him to climb through. Sweat gathered on his forehead and slid down his face leaning rivers of relatively clean skin amongst the grime that coated his skin and hair.

He grunted as his muscles strained to lift another boulder, dropping it onto the pile to his left. The gap was wider now but still too small for his large frame. "Sheppard? McKay?" called Ronon, waiting for an answer but none came. He increased his pace when he heard a noise from behind him.

He spun around with his blaster raised, ready to shoot. A light bounced up and down as its owner moved towards him. Gradually he could make out the shape of the owner and realised that it was Teyla and relaxed his stance, dropping his weapon to his side.

"Major Williams and his team are safe. They will be here in an hour. Have you been able to contact the Colonel?" Teyla asked.

"No." replied Ronon, "I've called out to them but I don't think they can hear me and the radios don't work in here."

Teyla could see that Ronon was concerned even though he would never admit it. She had seen the bond develop between Colonel Sheppard and Ronon over his time on Atlantis and knew he would take it hard if Sheppard was dead. She knew he would not be the only one.

"We will find them." asserted Teyla trying to convey a confidence that she did not feel.

Ronon nodded his head, turning back to his work with renewed vigour, pulling the rocks away as quickly as he could until he had a gap large enough for them both to climb through.

They found both airlock doors wide open and quickly passed through finding themselves in the room with the Ancient device.

"Where are they?" asked Teyla as she looked around the room for the first time.

Ronon spotted the other door and headed for it. "They must be through here."

Teyla followed him as he moved into the second room, only to find the room empty. She noticed the second airlock door. Ronon saw it as well, "Let's check it out."

Minutes later they were back in the equipment room. Teyla moved around the room looking for anything that would give them a clue as to what had happened. "They can not just disappear." stated Teyla.

She noticed the shattered glass scattered across the floor. "Was this broken before?"

Ronon looked across to where Teyla was pointing and saw the broken panel. "No. It wasn't."

Teyla noticed a dark stain on the wall above the broken glass. She stepped closer and tested the spot with her finger noticing that it was still damp. Her finger came away with a red smudge. "It is blood and it is still wet. I will take a sample and then we must contact Atlantis for help."

Teyla stood her torch on the floor next to the broken glass and used the supplies from the First Aid kit to collect a sample of the blood, placing it carefully in a plastic bag once she was done. She turned back towards Ronon, "Major Williams should be here soon. We should go to meet him."

Ronon nodded and followed Teyla back into the tunnel.

TBC

A/N: Oh no! What has happened to our favourite boys? Are they lost to Atlantis forever? How will Weir react when she hears the news? How could she be so cruel to write two chapters without our favourite characters? I told you I'm cruel. Besides we wouldn't want things to be too easy for them now would we? If you want more then you know what to do. Just push that little button at the bottom of the screen and leave a review. The challenge is still open but closing soon. Will anyone win the prize? Keep reading to find out. Oh and there will be whump! For the characters, silly, not the winner.