CHAPTER 21 – WHO'S PLAYING WHO?

Jo didn't say much. Nerves had kept her quiet and she felt John's sharp gaze on her as she moved quickly behind him and pulling out a knife, cut through the bindings that secured his hands, moving on quickly to do the same to Ronon, Rodney and Teyla.

"Lorne? While I'm grateful for the rescue, just what the hell is Jo doing here, considering the fact that when I left she was under strict instructions... no, make that, orders – to stay in bed."

Jo dropped her eyes, then with resolution, raised them again to meet his defiantly.

"Just be damned grateful that I did come. Did you find him, John? Is he here?" Her eyes were darting around the room with something close to panic, and he pushed down his anger. A little.

"He's not here, Jo. We'd know by now if he was. How the hell did you guys find us?"

Lorne's answer was dry and he shot an exasperated glance at his disobedient second in command. As he had come to think of her.

"Magic hands here fixed the DHD and managed to track the gate address that was last dialled. Oh, and the fact that we had incoming as soon as we got to the planet. Heads up while we're at the lay the cards on the table stage... we've got dart company on the surface as well. Heard them just as we started down the tunnel."

"Looks like we'd better get the hell out of dodge." John had pushed himself to his feet, and waited a few moments until the others had begun to leave the room.

"Jo? He's not here..."

"Damn it John – you think I don't know that? But his damn ship is... he was in that ship, when he just disappeared. I sat in it, just for a moment, and I felt him. God... I felt him, his presence. Our connection was strong and felt the message he was trying to send me. He's alive, I think. He's been through a lot, but I think he's alive."

And suddenly the tension of the past few hours came crashing down on her and she turned a miserable face up to John, and it was an entirely natural action to loop a hand around the back of her neck, pull her closer and drop his face into her hair. To simply breathe in her scent.

"If he's alive, Jo? We'll find him. You have my word on that. We'll get him back."

She sighed and pushed herself away from him, intent on following the others down the tunnel. Ronon was waiting.

"There's wraith out there. What the hell is going on Sheppard?"

Jo glanced sharply between the two men. "Weren't you brought here by wraith?"

A hand at her waist, a small caress, and she was able to take that needed breath, waiting for his reply.

"Not so much, Jo. Our captors? Were most definitely human. And therein lies the conundrum. 'Cause not only were they human? They were from earth."

"Oh?"

"Yeah...oh."

He moved her in front of him and noted that Lorne and the others were almost at the end of the tunnel. Teyla had waited also.

"Colonel Sheppard. We need to make a break when we get to the surface. Major Lorne has informed us that there are two darts and they are making regular passes back and forward . He has cloaked the jumpers, but they must have followed him from the planet that we were captured on."

"Humans working with wraith, Teyla?"

Lorne had dropped back from the entrance and had caught Teyla's comment.

"It would appear so, Major. We were able to pick up a little information after they captured us and we need to get back to Atlantis so that Colonel Carter can have all the facts and do some investigating."

"Ok people, let's get the hell out of here. I'm taking one of the F302's back with us – Lorne? Do we have another pilot who can take the other back? Or are we short on the gene."

Lorne answered, knowing that they needed two with the gene to fly both jumpers back, and with Sheppard taking one of the F302's, then they needed both Evans and himself the fly the jumpers. None of John's team had the gene other than himself and Lorne pointed a finger now at a young marine who stood near the entrance.

"Sully? Ever flown an F302?"

"Uh... no, sir."

"Today, Sully? You'll have to take a crash course. We're short on pilots. You good with that?"

"Yes, sir!" Excitement lit up the young airman's eyes and John stepped up and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Just stick close to me, Sully and no heroics. We want to get these ships back to Atlantis in one piece."

They managed to get back to the jumpers and the F302's without attracting dart attention and once they were airborne, Sheppard turned the F302 to home. Atlantis. They would not use the gate. With the wraith performing flyover maneovers near the gate, it was deemed too risky to use the gate. They would go home under their own power.

"So, Sheppard. Enjoy showing off out there... hmmm?"

She had an irreverent smile on her face as she waited in the jumper bay for the two F302's to come in. She had tracked his progress through the area of space they travelled, showing off just a little, either for the benefit of the young airman who flew the second F302, or her. She wasn't sure which.

The others filed past them, and John held her in place with a hand at her waist. He flicked a glance to Lorne.

"Sam's office in a half hour. Copy that?"

Lorne's darkened gaze took in the hand he had placed somewhat proprietorily on Jo's waist and he nodded once, pushing down a smile. Yeah, the Colonel looked as though he was going to make a move on the lady who was causing more than her share of trouble here in Atlantis.

"Copy that, Colonel. Oh, and sir?"

"Yes Lorne?" John's face was on Jo's and she returned his stare, those clear silver eyes locked onto his hazel ones.

"Good luck."

"Excuse me?" John had raised a quizzical brow, but still kept his gaze locked onto Jo's.

"With the taming of the shrew. Sir."

John's laughter followed Lorne out as he exited the jumper bay, and John tugged slightly to pull her closer. Still looking into his face, he watched as she hitched a breath and tears filled her eyes.

"Hey, sweetheart. We'll find him. I told you that."

"It's you, damn it! You, I was afraid for. You! I don't want to have to worry about someone else, but when Sam said you guys had lost radio contact. God, John. I was terrified. I wanted to come after you guns blazing..."

"And you did..."

"Yeah... I did..."

He dropped his head then and kissed her hard, softening it only slightly when she moaned, and raised her hands to fist in his hair.

Cupping her face in his hands he looked down in those beautiful eyes that were now filled with something he had come to recognise. Longing.

"We need to meet with Sam. After that? You're mine. No arguments. No protests."

"Uh uh...no protests."

He pulled her close again and surrendered to another long and hard kiss that had her gasping a little and she felt his arousal press against her. Hot and needy yes. But ready for something more.