I have written this ending, scrapped it, written it, scrapped it and written it once more. So hopefully the final product will hold up to the rest of the fic. Many thanks to Nika Dixon for allowing me to bounce ideas off of her when I hit writers block. Have about four chapters to go, give or take. Also many thanks to those who have taken to this unusual pairing and encouraged me to continue.

Title: Perturbo (Latin for trouble)
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairing: Sheppard/Keller
Notes and summary: See part one

From the co-pilot seat of jumper five Lorne couldn't drag his gaze away from the mine as they passed over it.
The dark abyss seemed to go on forever.
/God, Jen./

Evan couldn't shake the image of her tiny body tumbling and falling before slamming into the rock below…..

"Major?"Lieutenant Davidson asked with concern. "Colonel Sheppard's trying to raise you."

With a start Evan jerked his attention away from the window. Now he could clearly hear Sheppard's voice over the com.

"Sorry, thank you Lieutenant."Lorne replied sheepishly as he adjusted his earpiece. "Sorry, Colonel, didn't catch that."

"We're landing north of the village…..they've taken shelter in a building there."

"Copy."

They landed the jumpers in a semi-circle. John had everyone but Rodney,Evan and Ronon stay back with the jumpers.
There was no need for everyone to descend at once on the villagers.

"How long do we got?"Ronon asked as the group started toward the stone structure.

Rodney squinted as first rays of sunlight began to break through. "Just under an hour."

"Nothin' like cutting it close."

"It's more than we would've had if we tried this two days ago."Rodney replied as he looked once again at his hand held scanner.

The dot was still there.
Separate from the others.

Rodney still couldn't wrap his mind around it. He'd run a through diagnostic just to be sure. But the diagnostic had come back negative. There was nothing wrong with the equipment.

Rodney knew he should say something to the others. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. If the scan was accurate and Jennifer was by some miracle still alive….she couldn't be in very good shape.

Rodney didn't want to get their hopes up only to have them shattered.

So Rodney remained silent…..hoping he was right, and praying he was wrong.

Lorne glanced at the rising sun and then back at Sheppard. "So, what, we wake everybody up and say hey your planet's imploding let's go?"

"Sounds good……….."Sheppard began but abruptly cut off as a rumble was felt beneath his feet.

John whirled to glare at McKay. "Rodney!"

"It's not an exact science."Rodney snapped as he fought to keep his footing at the ever increasing tremor.

"So our hour's?"Ronon asked even though he already knew the answer.

"Shot to hell."Sheppard replied grimly as he threw open the door without knocking.

Some villagers were huddled in the main room toward the back. Others were fleeing out the back. Sheppard wasn't sure if the fleeing was because of their arrival or the quake or a combination of the two.

"Lorne, Ronon."Sheppard ordered as they stepped into the room. "Gather everyone that you can. Use the scanners if you have to, make sure we have everybody."

"On it."Evan acknowledged quickly moving toward the back of the building.

"What if they don't want to go?"Dex asked as he walked past Sheppard.

"I think the quake will convince them otherwise."John replied as the floor rolled under his feet.