Authors Note: This hasn't been beta-read so I apologize if it has grammar/spelling errors in or if the characters sound a bit off.

Please let me know what you think of this, complaints, suggestions; any feedback would be helpful as long as it is constructive. It is all written already but going through stages of betareading, with this only checked over by myself.

Also please read "Window to the Soul" and "A Sour Taste in the Mouth" the prequels to this. "The Perfect Pair" is the sequel to this, as will be my Christmas fic if I can write it all in time.

Spoilers: For Season One episode "Hide and Seek" but none others I can think of.

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Stargate in any incarnations of course and I'm not making any money, this is just some harmless fanfic fun.

Chapter 5: A Long Shot in the Dark

The walk from the Stargate was long and silent. The military types he'd brought along for backup weren't much for talking and Rodney himself was unnaturally quiet. But Sheppard supposed that was to be expected, no one was sure whether what they were doing was right. He pitied Elizabeth for having to make such a decision and knew she'd be inconsolable if her choice led to anything untoward happening to the boy that they hoped would return as the man they knew and cared for. Not that the boy hadn't earned his share of friends in the day he'd spent with them all. His view of the world had been refreshing compared to the normal perspective of McKay and he'd noticed a not too subtle change in Beckett regarding 'the lad' as he called him.

Rodney had taken it all well, as well as if not perhaps better than his older self. There had been no winging, just a stoic farewell in the gate room. Rodney had only shown emotion when Elizabeth had arrived to say goodbye and good luck. The normally fearless leader had looked tearful and embraced Rodney in a heartfelt hug which the boy had returned emphatically, surprising Elizabeth who had rubbed his back soothingly until he let go.

Now the young man was as emotionless as before, nearly leading the way back to the lake. He supposed he wanted it over as quickly as possible, time could only make things worse in this case.

They all stopped at the edge of the water, Bates and his men staying behind to guard, with Sheppard, ford, Beckett, Rodney and a few other sergeants walking into the depths. One by one they disappeared, the wary Beckett barely complaining, until it was down to himself and Rodney. The boy eyes the water in front of him unhappily. It could be salvation or condemnation to step into the spot, but he didn't hesitate for long, there was a splash as the retrieval device pulled him over and Sheppard found himself alone with the other team. He gave one solemn nod to Bates before stepping forward and down into the rabbit hole

It was a bit of blur getting down into the ship and not an experience he'd liked to repeat, though thinking about not getting out of here wasn't comforting because that would mean he was either trapped on the spooky craft or...dead.

The scientist guy, the one who didn't like him, had predicted the odds of the plans success and hence his survival to be about 70. Not so brilliant but in the majority never the less.

But being here, doing the plan made his stomach churn in worry. He didn't want to die, he was so young, even if they got his older self back he was sure he'd not want to die though there was something odd about sort of seeing into the future. Aiden had shown him a few pictures of the team he'd been on, his mock sour expression had met him from the photo. From what he'd heard he'd become a little testing, less optimistic, less childlike whilst still being childish at times. It was odd to hear what he'd be like, what they wanted to restore him to. Odd that they wanted to restore him to that, that they cared for him still and not just for his brains as he'd first thought they meant.

However annoying and sarcastic he'd become he still wanted himself to live on, for them as much as for his own sense of preservation. It was quite amazing that he was an expert on all this cool technology they had and that he got to play around testing stuff, only that had been what had gotten him into this mess from what Johnny had said.

"I think its that way." said the doctor with the Scottish brogue, after studying the small white device he held. He'd been told his name was Dr. Beckett but the man had been insistent on him calling him Carson for some reason, he seemed to like him, even sparing a precious chocolate bar for him before they left. He'd wondered if it had been a farewell present but he thought now that the man had simply wanted to express his sympathy, he didn't seem to approve of this, though Rodney knew Elizabeth had made the right choice however hard it had been.

They moved off to the direction the doctor had pointed in, soon after entering a large room were two wraith held posts.

A deep scathing voice greeted them.
"We knew you would return."

The soldiers fanned out, making a protective ring around himself and Carson as they entered cautiously.
"Pleased to see us then?" japed Sheppard.
"What did you do to him?" asked the wraith who held a stunner. The other one looking a little worse for wear.
"Nothing we intended to, in fact we want to put it right."

Then Sheppard had gone into a diatribe about what had happened, leaving out a few details so to give Atlantis an advantage, they didn't want the wraith knowing too much.
"Why should we agree to this?" was the brusque question after all Sheppard had said. Still there was hope, they had after all listened to them rathr than going straight in for the kill.
"Does he like having McKay's memories buzzing round his mind? I'd say it must be a little cramped in there too. Might be enough to drive a man crazy, not a nice way to spend eternity." posed Sheppard who figured they had the upper hand.

The second wraith spoke for the first time, out of rank.
"I agree, rid me of these weak foolish thoughts."
Sheppard nodded, prodding Rodney forward into the no mans land between the sides.
"Just step right up and do what you usually do." said Sheppard with a sardonic smile.

The wraith grunted, moving towards Rodney and forcing him onto his knees roughly. Rodney licked his lips nervously, quickly unbuttoning the shirt he wore, exposing his chest readily. He'd come dressed for the occasion with little on.

It plunged its hand at him, opening the tentatively healed wounds. Rodney cried out in pain and the wraith's face contorted similarly, not letting out any sounds to start with but its resolve breaking down.
The two stood that way for a minute, the others on either side watching with guns targeted. The two figures were locked together, a crescendo of screams echoing in the chamber.