Thanks to those still reading. Getting close to wrapping this one up :)

Title: Family and Home
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Sheppard/Keller
Notes and summary: see part one

"I do not think it is necessary for me to come."Radek commented as he paused on the ramp into jumper one.

"Need both of you."Sheppard replied as he passed Radek and McKay and moved to the pilot's seat. "Strap in, you know the drill."

Radek sighed as he walked up the ramp. "Unfortunately yes."

Ronon grabbed the scientist's pack and computer kit as he walked by. He stowed the gear and got into his own seat.

"You need both of us for this mysterious plan of yours."Rodney muttered as he strapped into the co-pilot's seat.

"Since when do we need a plan?"Sheppard countered as he went through the familiar preflight and closed the entry ramp.

"I can think of a couple."McKay replied as the jumper lowered into the gateroom.

"Good luck, Colonel."Woosley stated over the com.

"I have a feeling we'll need it. Sheppard out."

The chevron's locked into place and the event horizon bloomed to life.

"When don't we."Rodney stated under his breath as the jumper slipped into the gate.

********

Evan brushed snow off as he helped Teyla to her feet. They'd dug an escape tunnel but it'd taken much longer than he expected. Nearly five hours.
The sun had long since set making the planet incredibly cold.

"Hit me next time I say I want to go skiing."Conners groused as he shook snow off his pack.

"I never liked the stuff."Matthews agreed.

"Thought you were from the Midwest?"Sanchez countered with a grin.

"Too much of a good thing concept."Matthews replied. "After the first fifty inches it gets old."

Teyla shivered. "Major, we can not go much farther tonight."

"I know."Lorne agreed wearily.

The moon illuminated the way allowing them not to risk showing their position with flashlights.

"If my memory's correct."Evan continued as he took a small hand held scanner out of his pack that had miraculously survived. "We should be able to make camp after the next ridge. It's big enough to have contained the avalanche to this valley."

"Do you think the Gate is undamaged?"Teyla inquired as they trudged along in thigh deep snow.

Evan nodded. "Good possibility the problem is getting back to it."

"Sir."Conners spoke up. "Why do you think the natives came after us? They're herders, farmers."

"Trust me, Lieutenant that will be one of the first questions I ask."Evan replied grimly."I want to know who the hell supplied them."

"Those weren't the type of guns you learn over night either."Conners stated.

"Does this tie back to Melanie's people?"Teyla asked.

"Too much of a coincidence that as soon we're back they're armed."Lorne commented. "Somebody's not liking us digging up the past but they're going to have to own up to it sometime."

They had reached the top of the ridge and Matthews pulled out a pair of night vision goggles. "Sir, looks like your theory held out. No snow…..and appears to be a decent sized clearing about a click east."

"Let's go."Lorne ordered as they began their decent. "At first light we start asking questions."

***********

As soon as they were through the spacegate Rodney began running scans.
There were three planets in proximity to the Gate.

John did his best to focus and not think of why they were here. Deeper into Pegasus then they'd ever been.
Unbidden a memory surfaced….one just a few weeks , Jen and Teyla had taken the kids swimming. There was a shallow bay on the south side of Atlantis nestled between two piers.
Weather had been perfect.

'She loves the water."Jennifer commented as they stood in shoulder deep water.

John smiled and nodded as he gently skimmed Melanie over the top of the water. He brought her up and around in an airplane fashion before bringing her back down into the water.

Melanie giggled and reached for John's forefinger. He held her against his chest just as he heard the familiar click and whir of a camera.

'Where were you keeping that?"John asked.

Jennifer smiled as she snapped a few more pictures of Melanie. 'There's an alcove just under the pier.'

John grinned as he leaned in to kiss his wife. 'You are resourceful.'

'Helps out when you live in Atlantis.'Jennifer replied as she looked over at Teyla and her family playing closer to the pier. 'This was a wonderful afternoon.'

'Need to do it more often. Especially as Melanie and Torren get older.'

Jennifer swam over to her husband and ran a gentle hand over Melanie's right shoulder. 'I knew you'd be a good father.'

John smiled tenderly down at the baby girl in his arms. 'She makes it easy.'

A beep from the jumper's control panel brought John back to the present. He shook his head slightly to clear his head. A lump had formed in his throat at the memory and he swallowed it.
He'd get Melanie back….no matter what it took.

John ran his hand over the panel and a holographic image of the farthest of the three planets appeared.

Rodney nodded in approval as his fingers flew. "That planet is the best of the three to support a population. Also picking up faint engine trails."

Ronon leaned forward. "Don't like this."

"Sometimes we get a break."John replied as he eased the jumper forward. "Rare, but it happens."

"No, Mr. Dex is right."Radek commented as he looked up from his own pad. "If this civilization is the same as the one that took Melanie they would have the technology to detect our….."

Instantly alarms sounded and Sheppard cursed as eight ships appeared. They were medium sized and a cross between a freighter and a starship.

"Rodney."John began with a glare.

"Obviously they have some sort of planetary shield hiding their presence."McKay snapped. "They match the readings we have on the ship that took Melanie."

Rage surged through Sheppard as he stared at the ships that had fallen into formation. These people had not only attacked his family but wiped out a whole village.
His right hand hovered over the weapons control.

"They're powering up weapons."Rodney reported.

"Colonel, do you have a plan?"Radek asked as he gripped the seat.

"Working on it."Sheppard replied his gaze never leaving the ships.

"Do you think she's on board?"Rodney wondered as he risked a glance at the ships.

"Could be."John acknowledged quietly.

Another alarm sounded and John had just enough time to get the Jumper out of the way as a green weapons blast soared by.

"Here we go."Sheppard commented as he banked the jumper into a hard left and brought it back to face the ships.