Author Note: Sorry for the delay in this chapter. First my modem went out and then my computer catastrophically crashed and I had to f-disk and reformat. I'm still reloading software, so please excuse any glaring errors in spelling and such. I still don't have Word reloaded.

Thank you all for your wonderful feed back!!!!

Smile!
Bastet

Chapter 20 - Stargate 101

Sheppard sat in the copilot seat watching Stackhouse power up the jumper. He chaffed a bit not being the pilot but that wasn't the logical thing with his bum arm. There were days it sucked being the guy in charge.

He glanced back over his shoulder at Zelenka. The Czech engineer looked out of place and distinctly uncomfortable sitting in the seat McKay normally occupied.

"Hey, Doc, You doing okay?" he called back to him.

Zelenka preoccupied look instantly disappeared. "I am fine," he replied automatically, hugging his laptop a little closer to his chest.

Sheppard gave him a skeptical look but didn't argue with him. He just looked back at Teyla and she gave him an understanding smile.

Sheppard sighed. He hated baby-sitting. He had nothing against Zelenka. He liked the Czech, but he wasn't McKay. They already had McKay housebroken. He knew when it was safe to run his mouth and argue all he wanted to and when to shut up, keep his head down, and do as he was told.

Sheppard sighed again and Stackhouse squirmed in his seat a bit.

The younger office cleared his throat. "We're ready to go, sir."

He nodded and tapped his radio. "Command, this is flight. Ready to go, Doctor Weir."

"Good luck, Major. Try to bring everyone back in one piece this time," she teased gently.

He grimaced. "Yes, ma'am."

Stackhouse taxied the Jumper though the bay and then down into the gate room. The event horizon of the Stargate glowed in front of them and Stackhouse brought them down level with it.

"I wonder why the gate works so different here than at the SGC," the Marine commented.

"Different how?" Sheppard asked him.

"The dialing thing," he said. "They do it one chevron at a time back home, but they get dialed all at once here."

"That's the dialing program at the SGC that causes that," Zelenka interrupted. "It was created by Colonel Carter. It interfaces our technology with the gate, but the interface is flawed," he said speaking rapidly. Sheppard smiled, if not for the accent, he sounded like McKay now. "But it's a bit like comparing an analog signal with a digital signal."

Stackhouse was looking more and more confused by the explanation.

"It kind of the difference between a rotary phone and touchtone," Sheppard told him.

"Oh, okay," the Marine said, understanding dawning on his face.

Zelenka pulled a face at that and Sheppard had to struggled to keep from chuckling. He could see why McKay and he were become fast friends.

The radio crackled. "Major, is there a problem?" Weir's concerned voice asked.

"No, ma'am," Sheppard drawled. "Doctor Zelenka was just giving Stackhouse here a quick lesson in Stargate 101."

Zelenka stared at him and muttered something in Russian that Sheppard thought was probably glad he didn't know. Stackhouse snorted, apparently, knowing a lot more Russian than he let on.

"Well, if you're lesson is over, I suggest you get going."

"Yes, ma'am," he told her. "Jumper two heading out now," he said, nodding to Stackhouse to get them moving.

The Jumper glided forward and through the event horizon. Sheppard heard Zelenka sharp intake of breath as they come through the other side. He was just about to comment when the Jumper skewed sideways.

"What the heck?" he snapped. "The defensive grid's supposed to still be off!" he said, turning his attention back to the Jumper controls.

"It's not the defensive grid, sir," Stackhouse said, taking the Jumper into evasive maneuvers. "It's the Wraith!"