Author's note: Once again, thanks for all the reviews on the last chapter. It's always great to hear what you think!

"She can't possibly expect me to tell General O'Neill that she loves him. That's madness."

Rodney trudged along the hallway with less stealth than was ideal. John felt like they had better things to do than worry about McKay's crush on Colonel Sam Carter, but he also didn't want it to turn into a problem.

"They served together a long time," John responded evenly. "That type of thing forms a connection between people. It's why I, in my more desperate moments, might even call you a friend, McKay."

McKay huffed.

"There can't be anything going on between them, right? She's way too smart for him. And too hot for him."

John Sheppard didn't really like to get in the middle of other people's personal business and most of the time he didn't care. He had no idea if there was something going on between Carter and O'Neill, but he liked them both. Whatever was or wasn't going on, he just didn't want McKay to spin out about it in the middle of a mission.

Still, he couldn't help needling the man a bit.

"Colonel Carter seems to think he's plenty smart."

John didn't think you could be an idiot and become the head of Homeworld Security, but McKay had never let the facts get in the way of his opinions of people.

"That's ridiculous," McKay replied.

They walked a few more steps before Sheppard realized he wasn't done pushing McKay's buttons.

"Must be in pretty good shape for someone who sits behind a desk too," he commented. "He was underwater a long time to get us out of there."

"I'm in better shape than him," McKay grumbled, ignoring the disbelieving look that Sheppard shot his way.

"Oh really?"

It would be pretty amusing to watch General O'Neill in an athletic competition with McKay. Every once in a while McKay needed people to bring him down a few notches.

"How about you do a few laps in the underwater control room when we get back by the jumper?"

McKay ignored his suggestion and kept talking.

"I doubt they're in a relationship. I bet it's like you said, just that connection from working together for so long. She probably loves him like a friend, or an older brother. That's all."

Rodney McKay was going through a lot of work to convince himself that Carter was single. He didn't want to point out that even if she wasn't with O'Neill, she'd shown no interest in ever dating McKay.

Sheppard looked at McKay and raised an eyebrow. "Feeling better now?"

McKay nodded as he fiddled with the device in his hand.

"Yes, of course. I don't know why I was ever worried. After all, she can't ignore the undeniable chemistry between us. She's just intimidated by me, you know?"

Since he'd called McKay a friend a few minutes ago, he didn't laugh in the man's face.

"Sure, Rodney. We're all intimidated by you."

The other man completely missed his sarcasm.

"It's okay," he said, still looking down at the device. "I don't mind."

Colonel Carter probably would have been much better company. It really was too bad she had to back out of this leg of the mission. He would've liked to see her in action. John had heard lots of stories about the legendary SG-1 since he joined the Stargate program. He didn't know the members of the flagship team that well, but he felt a sense of kinship to them. After all, he'd been doing a very similar thing out here in the Pegasus Galaxy as the leader of Atlantis' flagship team.

At least, he had been doing a similar thing right up until they got kicked out of the city. Leading SG-4 should have been almost a lateral move, but it sure felt like a demotion. He hadn't even been allowed to pick his own team. Babbis and Wallace wouldn't have made the cut if he'd had any say in the decision-making.

John was also fairly sure that General Landry didn't like him much. His maverick record might give him common ground with men like General O'Neill, but he'd gotten the impression that Landry ran a tighter ship that allowed for less flexibility.

He tried not to think too much about the fact that if they did make it home, he'd be dishonorably discharged.

Even knowing that, he'd still make the same decision if he had to do it all over again. This was his city and it deserved to be defended. He also wouldn't have been able to live with himself if he'd done nothing knowing that O'Neill and Woolsey had been left behind and could have been saved.

John hoped to god that this plan of McKay's worked a whole lot better than his last plan. Carter seemed to think it had potential and it comforted him to have a second opinion from someone who knew both science and military strategy.

He and McKay turned another corner. They still hadn't seen any Replicators, but he knew that there would be guards when they got to the brig. By John's estimate, they'd get there in about five more minutes.

He had, when he looked down a corridor they walked past, seen a few bodies laying on the floor about twenty yards away. He didn't bother pointing them out to McKay. Rodney McKay was anxious on his best days. John didn't want to give him something else to worry about.

"I want to ask you something," McKay asked from behind him. "I want your honest opinion."

John glanced back. McKay had stopped working on the handheld device and was looking serious.

"Sure, why not?"

John had assumed the question would be something important. Why else ask it when you're in the middle of a rescue mission against an enemy that was stronger and arguably smarter?

He was wrong.

"Where do you think Sam would like to go on a date?"

John stopped, looked around quickly to make sure their path was currently secure, and faced his teammate.

"McKay, we are in the middle of trying not to die right now. If you want to, after this mission, you can ask Colonel Carter where she likes to go on dates, but you probably won't be going on one with her. I have seen no indication that she wants to go out with you. Give it up."

"You don't see the sparks?"

Truthfully, he saw sparks of anger and frustration. Not sexual chemistry.

"The woman is just trying to do her damn job. Leave it alone."

McKay frowned.

"When I said I wanted you to be honest, I didn't mean I wanted you to be that honest."

John growled and turned around, continuing the walk towards the brig.

"She loves General O'Neill anyway," he teased. "Remember?"

"Hey!" McKay shouted from behind him. "You said that was just because they were friends or like family."

John didn't remember saying anything of the sort, but if McKay wanted to continue to believe that, he was free to.

"Here's a couple tips, Rodney. If you like a woman, don't come on too strong and don't be an asshole. Also, don't bother chasing after the ones who aren't interested. If a woman likes you, she'll let you know."

McKay stayed silent after John finished talking and that silence was glorious. He was starting to regret that offhand comment he made the other day about missing having Rodney McKay on his team. This was clearly some sort of be careful what you wish for type of situation.

John raised his weapon as they neared the final corner. He hoped the Replicators hadn't left many guards behind.

"What if she -"

"If you ask me one more question about Samantha Carter, I'm going to kill you before the Replicators have a chance."