Hi guys! I'm so sorry for the time it's taken me to get this up. But that's me on a break from uni so there will be more updates, I promise! I got the first Atlantis DVD this week and it's all I've watched! LOL. So…where were we? Oh yeah, John and Everett face off part 2 (chorus of ooooohs and aaaaaaahs). Lets go!

Chapter 5

John got such a fright he almost fell down but managed to regain his composure in front of his CO. Everett narrowed his eyes,

"Colonel. What are you doing here? Your quarters aren't on this level, are they?" he asked walking out of the transporter forcing John to step back.

"Em, just fancied a walked, Sir. That's all." He replied innocently.

Everett looked the pilot up and down and continued to stare at John suspiciously. John couldn't bare the piercing look and looked past the marine hoping this very awkward moment would pass.

"Is everything okay in the gate room Colonel?" he asked.

"Everything is fine, just Bates' team arriving back. They took some fire but nothing too serious." Everett said breezily.

John frowned at the man's disregard for the team's safety. Whether or not the team were injured did not mean they could just brush it under the carpet. He cleared his throat.

"Well, if you wouldn't mind Colonel I'll just check on them." John said as he side stepped Everett and went into the transporter.

"Oh, I had lunch with Dr Weir today." Everett called out just as the door was about to close.

John slammed his hand in the doorway and the sliding door retreated. What the hell is he up to? He wondered feeling, once again, a streak of jealousy.

"Really? How'd that go?" John asked through gritted teeth. He put on a fake smile when Everett shrugged,

"Oh, it went great. You know I think we might just get along." He gave John a smug smile. "But who knows maybe we'll become more than just friends."

John clenched his fists and mentally counted to ten. Giving him another false smile it took him all his strength not to punch the man.

"Really? Dr Weir and you?" Sheppard responded disbelievingly.

"Well, you know women like her, they always like to have a strong man around." Everett face lit up with a creepy smile. "She's got one hell of a body too!"

Something in John snapped and he lunged forward to grab Everett's collar and shoved him up against the wall. Expecting the man to be shocked, John was surprised to see Everett begin to laugh.

"I'd be careful Colonel. You just assaulted a superior officer. What will Elizabeth say about that?"

John wanted to wipe the smirk off of Everett's face but knew he was right. Elizabeth would be furious at how he had handled this. She was a netoiator after all, she believed words were better than fists. Glowering at the marine John reluctantly released his jacket collar and stepped back.

"You're right. She'd say you're not worth it." John spat and turned to walk away.

Satisfied at how he had ended the situation Sheppard was unprepared for the blow that came to the back his head. The impact forced John to the floor and he fell onto his side clutching his head. Opening his eyes John's vision was blurry and he bit his tongue in order to stop himself from crying out in pain. Son of a bitch! After he closed and then opened his eyes again, his vision became more focussed and John saw his CO walk slowly round him. It reminded him of a lion circling its prey. Pursing his lips, the pilot used his hands to push himself up off the ground and he tried to stand. At first he wobbled but then steadied himself and John raised his pounding head so he could stare at his so-called superior officer. Everett scowled back and without warning smashed his fist into the side of John's face. Stumbling backwards John regained his stance quickly and retaliated with as much strength as he could muster. He watched Everett fall against the wall and smirked at him.

"Oh I think you have no chance with Elizabeth, Sir " John sneered sarcastically and ducked as Everett dived forward fist first. As he stepped out of the way Sheppard pushed the Colonel's back and sent him flying into the wall. He smiled as the man fell to the floor and then tried to get back up.

"You're in for it now Sheppard!" Everett growled and used the wall to help him stand.

The two men walked around in a circle facing each other. John, although happy to have finally cause Everett physical pain, was beginning to wish he hadn't reacted to his jibes. Well, first anyway. He could get into serious trouble for this and knew the man would pin it all on him. Just as both men were contemplating their next move a voice rumbled over the radio.

"Colonel Everett to the control room!"

It was Elizabeth and both men lowered their balled up fists. As their breathing returned to normal Everett licked his lips and pointed at Sheppard.

"Watch yourself Colonel. Don't get in my way." He warned and then stormed off to the transporter.

John blinked taking in the warning. The guy came looking for a fight! He realised and knew that things were going to heat up with Elizabeth involved. Thinking back to their conversation in her room John felt a sense of relief as he knew where it had been going. Everett had no chance, he was sure of it. Not wanting to let him have all the fun, John made his way to the staircase. He felt something running down his chin and realised his lip was bleeding. Now that his rage was subsiding John winced at the pain his body was in. Passing the set of stairs he went the communal bathroom first. Checking no one was in he stood in front of the mirror. Well, I've looked better he admitted to himself. His cheek was red and there were already signs of a bruise forming. How am I going to explain this? He though miserably and began wiping his cut lip whilst thinking of how to explain his face to Elizabeth. Could pin it on Teyla, but then suffer the embarrassment of being beat by a girl. Again!

Having cleaned himself up John resumed his course to the control room beginning to get annoyed that he hadn't been called like Everett. Grabbing the banister he pulled himself up the stairs despite his head's protests. Maybe I should get Beckett to check this out John thought. No, first he would go to see Elizabeth, then Carson. Besides, no offence to the medic, but she was much more prettier to look at. When he was almost at the control room floor he noticed a lump in the corner. Scratch that, it was a body! John rushed to it and saw it was Sergeant Bates.

"Damn it!" John muttered and reached to the man's neck to feel for a pulse. Satisfied he had found it he reached for his own radio when a voice startled him from behind.

"Sir! Step away!" it ordered and he turned to see Lt. Holden pointing his firearm at him.

"Lt. What's going on?" John asked cautiously.

"Sir, please move away from Sergeant Bates!" the young man commanded again never moving the weapon.

John sighed and slowly stood up straight, stepped away from the body and raised his hands.

"Look, Holden. I just came up the stairs and found him lying there. You really don't think I did this, do you?"

The soldier looked uncertain but still didn't lower his gun. All of a sudden several more personnel appeared including Elizabeth and Everett. John looked at Weir as she saw Bates and gasped in shock.

"He's alive!" John announced just in case anyone wondered but continued watching Elizabeth. She asked if Beckett had been called and she got her answer when a Scottish voice called out ordering people to move.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" he cried and knelt next to Bates when he made it through the crowd. As he checked him over John caught Elizabeth's eye and she looked at him worriedly. It's not like I did it! He thought frustrated. "Aye, he'll be alright, at least for now. But he's got a nasty stab wound so we need to get him to the infirmary now."

At that diagnosis Dr Beckett and his two colleagues lifted the unconscious man onto a stretcher, provided by two marines, and carried him off. The place was silent as they watched the men rush away and then everyone turned back to look at John. He sighed impatiently.

"I didn't do it!" he cried, more to Elizabeth than anyone else. "I found him here!"

Looking at her with desperation Sheppard didn't notice Everett approach him. Realising he was standing next to him John tilted his head to stare at him. He could see a trace of a smile on the marine's face and opened his mouth to speak but the Colonel beat him to it.

"Empty your pockets Colonel Sheppard!" he ordered and John could see the delight in the man's eyes as he did it. Rolling his eyes he reached into both his pockets and was surprised to feel a cool, metal object in his pocket. Pretty sure I was carrying nothing he thought puzzled. Frowning he pulled it out and stared in horror at it. It was small, standard army knife with blood on the handle.

John glanced around confused as he heard gasps come from the spectators. His eyes settled on Elizabeth who gaped at him in shock. His heart sank as he saw the look in her eyes, it was one of disbelief and disgust. She pressed her lips together and he could see her fighting back the tears.

"I didn't do it! I swear Elizabeth! You know me!" he told her in a raised voice.

As if stuck in a trance it took Dr Weir a few seconds to compose herself and she cleared her throat.

"Lt Holden…" she began but was cut off by Everett who snatched the knife out of his hands and opened it out fully. The whole blade was covered in sticky blood.

"Lt Holden escort Colonel Sheppard to the brig and send a security team to search the officer's quarters." He ordered as John's eyes stayed on Elizabeth.

The Lt. looked at Weir for a moment with hesitation and then pulled John's arms behind his back and placed a thick plastic black cord around his wrists. Elizabeth marched up to Everett.

"Is the brig really necessary Colonel?" she asked glancing at John.

"I think the evidence speaks for itself Dr Weir. Take him away." He said whilst giving Elizabeth a grave face.

John looked at Elizabeth pleadingly.

"I didn't do it! You gotta believe me!" he shouted as he was walked down the stairs being taken further away from her.

Elizabeth watched the man she cared for be hauled away and felt sick. I want to John, I really do she thought sadly.

John paced in the Ancient cell glancing every now and then at the door or the two marines guarding him.

"This is ridiculous." He muttered to himself and stopped to stare at the door as if willing it to open.

He had been there for almost two hours with no visitors to explain what was happening. It had to be Everett, it had to be he thought. Realising that no one was coming anytime soon he sighed in defeat and sat against the cold marble wall. It was not until half an hour later that he saw the door open and his heart soared when he saw it was Elizabeth. As she walked up to the shield around the cell John stood up and walked up so he could see her properly. He gave her a smile but she did not return it.

"John" she greeted in a serious tone.

"Elizabeth." He replied matching her tone. "What's going on?"

She looked away and then straight back into his eyes.

"Whatever happened, you can tell me." She said as if talking to a child who had done something wrong.

"Nothing happened!" he yelled angrily and banged his hands against the shield.

Elizabeth jumped, startled by his angry reaction, and stepped back. Seeing how he had frightened her, John sighed and gave her an apologetic look.

"I…I'm sorry." He apologised, took a deep breath and gave her intense look. "I never hurt him Elizabeth. Sure we've never seen eye to eye but I would never intentionally hurt one of my own officers."

Elizabeth gazed at him with a passive face so John couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"Did you have an argument with Sergeant Bates earlier today?"

John was surprised by her question. He certainly wouldn't have called it an argument.

"No. I simply told him to respect his superiors. " When Elizabeth raised her eye brow John quickly elaborated. "Bates was gossiping about you and Colonel Everett and I told him he should have more respect for you…both." He added the last part as if it was an afterthought.

Elizabeth smiled, touched at his concern for her. This was why she found this whole incident hard to believe. John Sheppard wasn't like that. But then she remembered why exactly she came here. She had bad news. John's stomach dropped as her smile disappeared and the sombre face appeared again.

"Elizabeth…" he began but Elizabeth cut in.

"John they found it." She informed him as if he knew what she was talking about.

John gave her a puzzled look. "Found what?" I didn't do it so how could they find something? He wondered.

Elizabeth bit her lip nervously and then took a deep breath which only agitated John more.

"You're t-shirt, John." When she still received no answer and only a puzzled expression, Elizabeth clasped her hands in front of her. She silently cursed him for being uncooperative and making this harder for her.

"The one with Sergeant Bates' blood on it."

Author's note: I hope I've not lost it. I was writing well but now I'm not too sure. Did you like the whumping? I actually kinda like Bates (well most of the time) but I just thought him getting hurt made sense after his and Sheppard's run in. An okay chapter? Yay or Nay?