A/N Neither the flu nor crashing computers can stop this story from continuing… so help me! (They say things happen in three's… I wonder what's next?) Thank you for your patience.

Chapter 5: This is the Great Adventure

Carson Beckett remained silent as McKay and Sheppard finished their tale of how they'd spent the evening so far. Why wasn't he surprised about the major taking a plunge off the side of Atlantis? If it were anyone else, he would have gone directly to Dr. Weir and had them finish their leave in their quarters. But not these two, for it amazed him how adventure seemed to rekindle their waning tolerance for their current situation and for each other.

Studying Sheppard closely, he didn't recognize any signs of hypothermia but he needed to check anyways. Placing the back of his hand on the major's brow before the man had the chance to protest, he left it there a moment. "You're not running a temperature. How long did ya say you were in the water?"

"Just a few seconds." Grinning, John turned to his copilot, "McKay pulled me out pretty quick."

Carson glanced back over to Rodney who was staring straight ahead out into the dark water, "Was it a few seconds, or longer?"

The physicist chewed his lower lip, ignoring the doctor.

Sensing hesitation, Carson leaned around the seat, blocking Rodney's view. "How long?"

Rodney cast Sheppard a quick look before meeting Carson's gaze and then shifting to see back out the window. "Minute tops."

The doctor took a deep breath, waiting for the desire to cuff the two men on the back of the head to pass. "Did ya think about possibly coming to see me and make sure you were alright?"

"Doc, it's not like this is the first time I ever fell off a boat. I was out on the platform earlier and the water wasn't that cold."

Carson merely raised a brow. "I happen to know the water temperature along Atlantis is considerably warmer than that away from the shield."

Intrigued, Rodney turned to Beckett, "How do you know that?"

"Let's just say, the Major isn't the first person to fall in."

"Really?" John grinned, "Who was it?"

"Doctor/patient confidentiality."

Sheppard studied the doctor a moment, trying to figure out who had fallen off, before he met McKay's mischievous smirk. He knew the scientist wouldn't let him down.

Carson apparently didn't miss the smirk either and pinched the back of Rodney's neck, "Don't ya even be thinkin' about it. My records are off limits to you."

"What? I didn't do a thing. " Before he had the chance to continue, the major pitched the small sub to the right. "What, what happened?"

John was intently staring straight out the window, "Did you see it?"

"See what?" Carson and Rodney replied at the same time.

"Something really big swam in front of us."

Rodney leaned closer to the window and tried to see through the inky darkness. Not spotting anything, he flipped on the outer light. "How big? I need more of a relative size of comparison, Major. Would you say goldfish, shark, or whale?"

Sheppard leaned forward in his seat, adjusting one of the view screen overlays to see if it might identify sea life. "I'm thinking at least a shark."

"Oh, that's nice. Our quick little recovery trip is turning into a Jacque Cousteau sightseeing excursion." Nervously scanning the water, he squinted trying to make out possible shapes. "I never really considered what may live in the waters around Atlantis. Has anyone studied the aquatic life to know just how big something may be down here?"

"Chill out, McKay. The shield will keep any unwanted attention from disturbing the ship."

That little statement didn't appease the agitated scientist in the least. "What if there's something big enough to swallow the ship down here?"

Sheppard frowned, then shrugged, "Well, hey, Jonah survived three days in the belly of whale."

"Leviathan," Carson corrected as he maintained a death grip on the back of the seats.

"Leviathan. Whale. What does it matter? Big enough to swallow the sub is what concerns me." Rodney pulled a power bar from his pocket and tore the wrapper off, shoving half of it in his mouth in one bite.

John continued flipping through screens, finally stopping at one with that had a small item located on the bottom. "There's the cart. All we got to do is go and get it and head back."

"While avoiding Shamu's super-sized cousin," McKay sputtered with his mouth full.

Carson had worked his way to standing between the two seats, watching intently for any more signs of sea life. When a mysterious form swam into view and blinked a large dark eye, the doctor tumbled backwards, landing on his butt in surprise. "What the bloody hell was that?"

Rodney glared at Sheppard,"Super-sized cousin."

The majorignored both men as he guided the craft down the slope of what appeared to be a small reef. The outer light illuminated the surrounding water and they were able to see several species of small fish dart back and forth through the coral type structure. An occasional larger fish would swim by to swallow one of the colorful smaller ones.

Bringing the sub to a halt, he turned the light to shine on the sunken go-cart, and all three men gasped. There draped over the small vehicle was a creature similar to an octopus, only with many more legs.

Rodney drummed his fingers nervously on his closed laptop, looking at the spooky creature. "Okay, Cousteau, how do you plan on getting that thing off?"

Sheppard looked over to Carson to see if he had any ideas, but from the blank look on the doctor's face, he knew he would have to come up with something on his own. "Could we rig a small charge to emanate off the shield and maybe give the thing a jolt?"

"That could work." Rodney flipped the screen up on his computer and began typing rapidly. "Of course we have no idea what a jolt might do to that thing or any of the other creatures around."

"Just do it, McKay!" Sheppard snapped.

Rodney eyed the major with a brief look of contempt. "Look, I wasn't the one who pulled a Bo Duke off of Atlantis, so there's no reason to yell at me."

"I'm not yelling. Can you do it or not?"

Rodney snorted, "Of course I can. How strong do you want it?"

"I don't know. Just enough to make it go away."

A few more taps on the keyboard and the scientist nodded. "Here goes nothing." Hitting one final key, the lights inside the sub dimmed briefly before returning to normal. What took place outside was an entirely different matter.

The creature draped over the cart turned out to be two creatures and they both swiftly disentangled themselves. With appendages sweeping through the water, they emitted a dark murky substance that blocked the view screen window.

"Uh-oh," Sheppard mumbled, bracing himself for whatever else may happen.

However, nothing did. The current of the water slowly cleared away the ink to reveal the cart sitting alone.

"Yes! You did it McKay."

"As if there was ever any doubt,"he replied, snapping the laptop shut.

Carson was leaning over their shoulders again, eyeing up the craft. "So, how do we get it on board?"

John grinned, "Easy. We pull up next to it, extend the shield, and pull it inside."

The Scottish doctor had his doubts, "You're gonna open the cargo door and pull the thing in?"

Rodney stood up andwalked back to the cargo area, making sure everything was put away before they started. "Well, it's not like we can hook up a chain and tow it back."

"Good one, McKay."

"Thank you. I've been known to have my moments."

Carson shook his head, "If you two are finished, I'm being serious here. Have you both thought this through?"

John joined Rodney in the back. "What do you think? The shield will hold the water back while I push the cart in. You keep a grip of the internal shield controls just in case something goes wrong."

"We shouldn't have any problems." Rodney stepped back to the front section of the sub, activating the internal shield separating the cargo bay from the control area. "I'm ready when you are."

"Okay then." Hitting the panel beside the back hatch, Sheppard stood back and watched as the door smoothly slid open revealing the deep ocean depths. Light spilling out from the McKay, as well as the outdoor spots, lit up the area beautifully. "Oh, this is so cool."

He steppedcautiously out onto the soft sandy bottom, subconsciously holding his breath as he reached the small cart and pushed it inside the ship. Shooting a glance up at the others on the other side of the shield, he grinned, "Piece of cake."

Rodney and Beckettretruned the infectious grin, happy to see their mission almost completed. And that's when everything went wrong.

The McKay suddenly lurched as the sandy ground beneath it shifted, tossing all three men to the floor. The shield momentarily flickered and then stabilized but not before a large amount of seawater flooded the closing cargo bay. The door snapped shut before the water was released, pinning Sheppard inside the frigid compartment.

"Hold on, Major," Rodney called as he began furiously punching in keys to drain the seawater out. He could see his friend fighting to keep his balance and maintain his head above the water.

Another lurching shift sent all three men to the floor again. This time Sheppard slipped below the surface and gasped as the cart moved sharply, pressing against his side pinning him to the floor. Coughing, he tried to continue holding his breath in the numbing cold water. He could see Rodney and Beckett trying desperately to reach him. He tried to give them an encouraging wave, but failed to get his arm free.

"Damnit, Rodney, hurry it up! He's drowning!" Carson cried in horror, watching their friend struggle.

"I almost got it. Just one more second." Suddenly the water was sucked out of the bay, leaving a limp John Sheppard lying pinned on the floor.

TBC

A/N Oh yeah, the evil cliffhanger is back! I'm feeling better already!