Author's Note: Thanks again to the Guest reviewers. I'm not sure that my writing deserves such praise but I'll take it anyway since it helps feed the muse. And yes the holiday was very relaxing and I came back with some new photographs to add to my portfolio which is even better.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Stargate Atlantis or the characters. The only things that are mine are any original thoughts or characters that you may find here. As always all mistakes are of my own making and will hopefully be forgiven.

Chapter 37

Major Henderson left Chuck and went in search of Teyla Emmagan and Peters. It had been quite the surprise to learn that this was their second rescue attempt and fourth mission to Daleria after realising that Doctor Weir was in trouble. He was hoping they could fill him in on the latest. With any luck they had succeeded in their mission and he could go back to his thoughts of getting out of his wet clothes.

By the time Chuck had finished his tale it was unlikely that the pair he sought would still be in the jumper bay so he decided his best option was to head for the infirmary. No doubt Beckett would have something to say about him leaving puddles all over the infirmary floor. He hoped he would anyway. Chuck hadn't been able to tell him who was injured or even how badly. A Beckett angry at him for making a mess would mean that no-one sported life-threatening injuries. He'd prefer that every time to the alternative but it wasn't too be he realised as soon as he stepped into the infirmary.

Beckett wasn't anywhere to be seen and neither was Keller. It was rare for both of them to be absent especially when one of the Colonel's team needed treatment as Ronon seemed to. Doctor Biro's presence meant either the other two were in surgery or were themselves patients. Neither scenario boded well.

He made his way over to where Teyla sat on the edge of Ronon's bed. Teyla slid off the bed and turned to face him.

"Major Henderson. I was not aware that you had returned."

"No matter. Chuck has filled me in. Did you bring them back?" asked Henderson.

"We did not. If Chuck has spoken with you then you know about the Ree-Tan?" asked Teyla.

"I do. You believed that Doctor Weir and the others were being held by these Ree-Tan. Go on."

"They were. Colonel Sheppard found Lt Jenkins dead and Major Lorne severely injured. Doctor Weir was not with them."

"Where is she now and where is Sheppard?" asked Henderson. If they were both in need of surgery it would certainly explain the absence of Beckett and Keller.

"On Daleria," replied Ronon.

Henderson glanced at the Satedan before returning his attention to Teyla.

"Perhaps it is best if we continue this elsewhere. Ronon is supposed to be resting." replied Teyla.

ooOoo

The news that his CO had led the latest rescue attempt didn't surprise Henderson. Especially not when it was Doctor Weir that needed rescuing. The man had a singular mind when it came to the expedition's leader. Henderson had his own thoughts as to what that meant. He didn't think the IOA would approve but he wasn't about to be the one to tell them. It was nobody's business but theirs.

Nor did it surprise him that Sheppard would be the one still on Daleria with Weir. Normally it was Sheppard's team that kept her safe off-world. This time Sheppard had let Major Lorne and his team take that role whilst he still recovered from his injuries. Knowing Sheppard he no doubt blamed himself for that decision and her capture even though no-one could have foreseen the result. Daleria was supposed to be a safe mission. A little assistance in translating some Ancient writings in exchange for food from the friendly locals. Not so friendly as it turned out. Henderson still couldn't get his head around the story that the Dalerians weren't the original inhabitants and they were hell bent on destroying the race that was. The Ree-Tan. Another not so friendly race given the way they treated Lorne and his men.

Now it seemed the Dalerians had launched their own rescue and snatched Doctor Weir back along with Sheppard. He doubted Sheppard was really in any condition to mount much of an escape but he'd known him long enough to know that he would try anyway. With the Dalerian stargate out of commission though there was nowhere for Sheppard to go other than to hide until help arrived. He had no idea what condition the two of them were in but he had to assume, based on Lorne's condition, that they would both be in need of medical treatment. Without that and food the pair would not last long before the Dalerians found them again. Of that he was sure. They needed to find a solution and find it quickly. Hopefully McKay already had.

Henderson entered the lab and found the man he was looking for bent over a laptop studying something on the screen.

"Any luck McKay?" asked Henderson.

"Seriously. Does Sheppard teach you all to do that?"

Henderson smiled at the scientist's reaction. "The marines beat him to it. Miss Emmagan tells me that you are working on a solution that will get us back to Daleria. Any idea how soon we'll have one?"

"Do you have any idea how big the Ancient's database is, Major?" asked Rodney barely pausing before he continued. "No. I didn't think so. There are thousands if not millions of gate addresses listed. Trying to find one near enough to Daleria to make a difference is like looking for a needle in a haystack when you're not even sure which haystack to look in or even if the needle exists."

It wasn't the first time he'd been on the receiving end of McKay's sharp tongue and he doubted it would be the last. He couldn't really blame the man given the enormous stress he was under at the moment. McKay wasn't any easy man to become friends with. He wasn't one to tolerate fools or anyone he deemed to have a lower IQ than his own which counted in most people on Atlantis, including himself. Somehow though Sheppard had broken past McKay's acerbity and found someone worthy of friendship. Unlikely as it seemed, the feeling was obviously mutual.

"We'll get them back, McKay."

McKay stared at him for a moment before he acknowledged Henderson's words with a nod.

"Call me when you find a gate we can use."

ooOoo

"As we all know the Dalerians have succeeded in making their gate-" started Rodney. The last time he'd seen Ronon he was being carted off to the infirmary. He hadn't expected to see him up on his feet after taking a blast from his own weapon and who knew what else. He'd been too busy to stop by the infirmary to see how his team mate was doing. Teyla had said he'd be fine and that was good enough for him. The proof was stood in the doorway of the conference room wondering why everyone's attention was on him.

"What?"

"Should you be here?" asked Teyla.

"The Doc cleared me," replied Ronon taking the vacant seat beside her. "What's the plan?"

"Doctor McKay was about to tell us," replied Major Henderson.

"Yes. As I was saying, before Conan interrupted me, the Dalerian gate is inoperable. I had Zelenka search for another gate nearby but the closest gate is not even in the same solar system and it would take more than a week to travel the intervening space. I then ran a-"

"McKay," growled Ronon.

"Right." Rodney tapped his datapad and brought up a star chart with a glowing dot. He pointed to it and continued," This is the current position of the Daedulus. It is still 48 hours out from Atlantis but at its current position it is only 8 hours from Daleria."

"So we just send them a message and leave them to go in and beam the Colonel and Doctor Weir out?" asked Franklin.

"Not quite. In the time it will take the Daedulus to reach them they will most likely have reached the ancient site. If the Dalerians are right and it is a weapon then the Ancients will have built it to withstand a Wraith attack. It won't be sitting somewhere easily reached. It'll probably be shielded or buried deep underground. Either way it's possible that the Asgard beaming technology won't work," replied Rodney.

"I thought we could beam stuff through the Ancient shield," stated Henderson.

"On Atlantis, yes. But we can't assume that it will work the same on Daleria. When we came under siege in our first year on Atlantis the Wraith managed to jam the beaming technology. There is no reason to think the Ancients couldn't do the same."

"So what do we do Rodney?" asked Teyla.

"Glad you asked," replied Rodney. He tapped his datapad again and another glowing dot appeared on the screen along with a corridor marked between the two dots. "To get to Daleria, the Daedulus has to travel along this corridor and past this gate. We send a jumper to this point and hitch a ride on the Daedulus."

"How does that help us if the site is shielded?" asked Franklin.

"McKay will get us in," replied Ronon. "Won't you McKay?"

"Hopefully it won't be shielded but if it is it will be easier to find a way around it from on the ground," replied Rodney.

"When do we leave?" asked Ronon.

"The Daedulus will reach the gate in 6 hours."

Teyla gave Rodney a smile. "You have done well Rodney."

"I'll inform the Colonel," added Henderson pushing his seat back and standing.

Rodney watched as the others left. He knew he should be glad they had a plan. He only wished he had the confidence that it would be enough. That they would get to his friends before it was too late.

ooOoo

Time was running out and there was nothing she could do about it. John had been right to be worried about her off-world trips. She had no right to be out here. She didn't have the skills to defend herself let alone have the skills to help them escape. John had been nagging her for ages about at least learning some self-defence moves. Hopefully she would get the chance to take him up on the offer but right now that wasn't looking very likely.

She wished she could see how John was faring. She knew he was somewhere behind her but seeing more than a few inches ahead was impossible in the complete darkness of the tunnel. It was amazing that the beasts they rode could see well enough to keep up their fast pace. She only wished that their eyesight wasn't so good. Nothing good waited for them at the Ancient site.

She thought back to what she had revealed to save John's life. John wouldn't be happy with her when he worked it out and he was bound to sooner or later. She could deal with that if it helped keep him alive for a little longer. She would do anything she could if it would make a difference. She would give up her own life if it meant that he was safe but could she sacrifice a whole race for him? He would never forgive her if she did. And he wouldn't be the only one. The IOA would have her head for even thinking about it. It would be the end of her career and more importantly it would be the end of any chance at a relationship with the man she had come to love.

Life truly was ironic. It had taken her nearly 35 years, a failed relationship and two galaxies to find the man of her dreams and now they'd be lucky if either lived long enough to see another sunset. She had no doubts that Brille would kill them both once he had what he wanted. There was still a slim chance that John's team would find them in time. It wouldn't be a stretch for them to work out where they'd been taken. John hadn't said anything about the jumpers but she had to assume that the team had brought at least one with them. With it they could easily catch up with a group of beasts. She just needed to make sure they had that chance. It was what John would do. It would earn them both a few more scrapes and bruises but she was willing to accept those if it gave her a chance at a much longer future. One with John in it.

TBC

A/N: See! I knew he could do it. I bet you did too. Rodney would never let his friends down. Now if they can just pull it off in time before the plot bunnies work out what they're up to and ruin everything as is their wont.