TITLE: What is Needed Most part 13

AUTHOR: sablecain

DISCLAIMER: see part 1

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Part 13

Sheppard guided the jumper easily up and over the trees, quickly going back into stealth mode. "What's the status on Stackhouse?" he questioned Lt. Ford as he called up the display and searched out life signs. The Genii were concentrated back at the caves, but scattered signs showed the hillside was now crawling with people. John wondered which one of the dots on screen belonged to Kolya. He pushed the thought from his mind, fearing he'd accidentally trigger the jumper's weapons with his thoughts.

"Stackhouse is reporting a sharp increase in activity in the area where Cowen is under watch. Lots of men coming and going with no apparent reason," Ford filled in.

"Troops," John frowned.

"We have more fire power," Ford reminded.

"Yeah, with the Jumpers, but we're too far away to help if Cowen starts something now." John gnawed his lip. "Tell Stackhouse to get out of there. Get back to Atlantis and let Weir know what's going on. We'll be coming in fast and need emergency medical staff ready in the jumper bay." He paused, checking to make sure communication was open between the two jumpers. "You get all that, Carson?"

"Aye. What about us? How're we getting past Cowen's troops at the gate?" the doctor asked. "We can't afford any more delays. Rodney can't."

"How is he?" John asked, his worry growing.

"Not good, Major. He's still unconscious and still losing blood. We can't wait any longer to get him real help," Carson insisted.

"By the time we activate the gate and come out of stealth, it'll be too late for Cowen to do anything but watch us fly by, and if he actually tries…I'll obliterate him."

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Cowen couldn't suppress his grin of delight any longer as he watched the soldier Sheppard had left in charge give the signal to fall back. Every thing was going just as he planned. He hadn't even started the full scale fighting on this front and already Sheppard's 'show of force' was beaten and on the run. Commander Ballard had reported less than two quarters of an hour ago that his men had Sheppard and Kolya trapped in the caves. Cowen was certain he would be hearing any minute now that Sheppard and McKay were his.

His smile widened. He already had the perfect world in mind for his new prisoners. Yes, it was a desolate land with a very short daylight cycle, horrific weather patterns and sustained very little life, but with enough workers—he could have a lab and barracks up and running in no time. He would dispose of Kolya immediately, he thought as he watched the last group from Atlantis move through the gate. Major Sheppard and Dr. McKay would be stubborn at first, but he was certain that he could convince both to cooperate just by using them against each other.

Cowen's radio crackled, bringing him out of his little future fantasy. "They. Escaped. Ships. Lost." The words were broken and drowned by static, yelling and gunfire.

"Say again," Cowen ordered, his smile slipping.

"Escaped!" was the only clear word in the next transmission.

"No!" Cowen shouted in outrage and began waving to the troops nearby. "Guard the gate!" he screamed the order even as he began to run towards the inactive gate.

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Sheppard could see the settlement already and the troops scrambling to try to get to the gate and set up guards. "Beckett, you're going through the gate first," he warned the doctor.

"Pardon?" Carson sounded terrified.

"Just dial Atlantis, send your IDC and go. Don't stop for any thing or any one. Your priority is to get Rodney back to Atlantis."

"What about you?"

"I'll create a little diversion. You just concentrate on your flying. When you get through the gate, you hurry up and get the hell out of my way because I will be right behind you."

"Aye. Bloody ships." Carson's voice faded as he continued to curse about having the damned ATA gene and being forced to fly ships he wasn't qualified to look at.

John grinned in spite of the situation. "Ready?" he asked Ford.

"Let's do it." Aiden nodded, his eyes lit up with the excitement of battle.

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Cowen was nearly to the gate when he saw the first ship appear suddenly at the outskirts of the small settlement. The second appeared right behind it. The first ship swerved sharply off course, flying low over the fields and sending his men to the ground with fear. Sharp bursts of fire chased any remaining troops in search of fast cover. He heard the gate activate. "NO!" There was nothing he could do but watch as the second ship slipped easily through the gate.

The first ship continued to fire as it buzzed the harvest fields three more times and circled the entire settlement. Cowen watched bitterly as it flew past, taunting him. He had no weapons strong enough to bring it down and there was nothing he could do but watch as it suddenly streamlined and disappeared into the gate after the other one.

They were gone. Cowen looked around at the burning fields, the destroyed buildings and the men picking themselves up off the ground, and let out a primal scream of rage. One day, he swore, one day he would make that cocky bastard Sheppard pay for all the wrongs he'd perpetrated against the Genii. Until the day he died, that would be his mission: Major John Sheppard would pay.

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Rodney could hear voices and none of them were familiar to him. Fear coursed through him. Kolya had come back. He was going to hurt him again. Pain speared his side and he knew, he knew he had to fight. He couldn't just lay there and let Kolya abuse him, not again. John, John would come. He had, hadn't he? Had Sheppard really been there in the grave with him? Had he dreamed it all, like his sister and father? Where was he now? Sheppard wouldn't want him to just give up. He had to fight. He had to get away from Kolya and all of Kolya's men. Just until Sheppard came, he had to.

"Dr. Beckett!" Daniels hollered for help as his unconscious patient suddenly came to life, fighting and clawing to get away from him. McKay's strength was amazing, as Daniel's struggled to keep the wounded scientist still. "He's trying to get up."

"Keep him still," Carson ordered trying to keep the jumper steady as they entered the jumper bay.

"I can't."

Allen moved to help Daniels, but the more they tried to still him, the more McKay struggled, his breathing growing harsher and harsher.

Once the jumper was securely in place, Carson was out of his seat. "Get off him!" he ordered sharply. "Get the medical team in here, now." He knelt beside McKay and grabbed a flailing wrist. "You're okay, Rodney," he murmured over and over, his concern growing as he checked McKay's vitals. "Where's my med team?" he shouted over his shoulder. Rodney struggled under his hands, trying to twist free. "Easy, Rodney," Carson leaned closer, placing one hand in the center of McKay's chest and whispering in his ear. "Yer safe now, lad, I promise. Yer safe."