Friendly Fire

By: Antares Star

Chapter Two: 11-14

PG-13: For character whumping, blood, and language

A/N: Sorry, this chapter is quite short but I wanted to get it up. Please leave any questions, suggestions or comments, I really do appreciate it!

Thanks for the kind reviews, means a lot!
Puddles1311, Emergency Fan, Amyordinary, Pike 2, Amy, Jaws, Ginger, szhismine, Jules47, MacCartney, Kiky, Emma, truthhurts6, Raven2004, rogue1503, Ninjahurt, highonscifi, Elisa, nebbyJ, espiritu!

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Sheppard gripped his slippery P-90. "What the…? Okay just keep going. I'm sure they're just fish." Urging Carson ahead, he keept wary eyes on the dark shapes. The stargate was still several hundred feet away, an eternity through knee high water and the shapes were getting closer. Hefting his gun higher, Sheppard was ready just in case those sea creatures got too friendly. It comforted him to know the scientists each sported small sidearms, though he was sure they couldn't to hit the broad side of a barn. Except Rodney, he'd gotten pretty good with his 9mm.

"Maybe they aren't dangerous. They could be you know, like dolphins," Rodney offered in a sad attempt at optimism. His gun was clenched in whitened fingers.

"Sharks will attack people in as little as knee-high water." Dr. Thompson informed them shakily.

Closing his eyes, Rodney pulled in a shallow breath. "Wonderful." There was no denying that the creatures were closing in. Their dark shapes were almost close enough to reach out and touch.

"Maybe we should stop, that may confuse --!" Lydia broke off in a scream, bending almost double and clutching her leg. She stumbled into the water, almost falling completely under. Sheppard lunged for the dark shape he barely could make out above her ankle. He yanked it off her with a grunt, only to drop it back into the water as it slashed the palm of his right hand deeply. It splashed into the water and swam a few feet away. Although, it'd just been a second, they'd all managed to get a clear view of it. Salmon they definitely were not. Sheppard thought they looked more like sharks with claws. Oh, and large mouths with lots of teeth. Damn.

Unfortunately, the lone shark's attack was like a signal to the rest. They creatures swarmed, darting wildly and making it impossible to shoot them. "Get to the gate!" Sheppard ordered. They tried to run but couldn't quit move their legs well enough. The wounded biologist was leaving a trail of blood behind her. The creatures seemed to go crazy at the taste of it. Closing in form every side, they attacked.

Ford felt one near his leg and fired into the water several times since it was impossible to get an accurate shot. The shape turned red and stopped moving. One down. At muffled curse behind him, he turned to find Teyla surrounded by two of the sharks. Dodging them both, she skillfully reached into the water and grabbed one in each hand, an old fishing trick. She smashed the ugly critters together as hard as she could with a satisfying crack and let them fall limply back into the muddy water.

Standing protectively by Lydia and Dr. Wallace, Sheppard repeatedly fired into the water. He wasn't sure if he was actually getting any of them, but he was sure keeping them at a distance. To his left, Rodney and Carson had their hands full. A huge sucker was circling them and repeatedly dived for Rodney. He danced in the water, kicking and bobbing so it couldn't focus on his legs. Seeming to give up, the creature zipped by Rodney nimbly. It latched onto Carson before he could dodge, right above his knee. "Argh! Get this bloody thing off me!" Rodney tore it off with both hands and a fierce tug. One gunshot later and it was toast.

The death of their friends seemed to discourage the remaining creatures. They backed off, circled for a moment, and then swam away, fading into the water's darkness. "Okay, we're getting the hell out of here, now!" Sheppard wanted his team out of here yesterday. Lydia was looking pretty bad and his hand burning.

Rodney shouted from behind him, "Major, watch out!" Sheppard turned quickly. A last remaining creature, larger than the rest, was heading right for him. The water seemed to part ways for it as its fin cut speedily through. Then, it actually leapt from the water like some deranged flying-fish. Sheppard would be damned if a butt-ugly fish would be the end of him. He raised his gun, squinted through the rain, and let off a perfect shot. It fell limp, its large splash lost in the pouring rain. Sheppard let out a relieved sigh and raised his head to flash McKay a self-satisfied grin.

But Rodney was not smiling back, nor was he sporting his trademark scowl. He was clutching his right arm to his side and Sheppard could make out blood. McKay raised his eyes up to meet Sheppard's gaze. "You shot me!" He looked down again, mouth agape.

"What?" Panicked, Sheppard lunged forward and took Rodney's arm. Sure enough, blood coated a small area of his shoulder. The bullet had gone straight through the shark and grazed an unlucky McKay; but thankfully it wasn't serious. "Wow, that was close." Sheppard let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

"Close! You shot me!" The scientist was aghast.

"It's not like it was on purpose." A beat passed in which Rodney was actually lost for words. "No really, I'm sorry Rodney, I couldn't see very well. Don't worry; it's just a flesh wound. Here." Sheppard fumbled with his field dressings only to have them snatched from his hands by Beckett.

"Thank you Major, I'll handle this." He didn't sound at all thankful. "Bush indeed. Load of rubbish." The Scot shook his head as he looked over his newest patient.

Sheppard craned to see, genuinely worried. "That'll leave a nice manly scar though."

"I liked my shoulder scar-less, thank you very much."

"You could use some manliness though." Sheppard shut up at the double glares he received.

Carson taped the bandage into place. "There, you're done, I cannae do anything else here." Rodney tested the shoulder, winced. He glared at Sheppard.

Wish the wimp would stop complaining for Christ's sake. Whoa! Sheppard started, where had that thought come from? An unpleasant prickling and he suddenly felt very on edge. He beat his injured hand against his thigh as it began to go numb. "Let's hurry the hell up and get home before those things come back," he snapped, starting forward. Rodney followed crossly.

Supported by Ford and barely standing, Dr. Thompson looked horrible. Sheppard saw a hurried bandage already covering her bitten calf. "How is she?" His skin itched uncomfortably as he waited impatiently for an answer. Taking a deep calming breath somewhat quelled his rising irritation.

"Not good, she's having trouble breathing and is barley aware." Beckett winced, shifting off his aching leg. "Moving her isn't a good idea if she's been poisoned."

"Well, what the hell do you think you can do for her here Beckett?" Sheppard wondered vaguely who the hell had turned up the sauna because he was boiling. The water had seemed freezing just a moment ago. "The faster we get to Atlantis the faster you can fucking help her!"

Silence, except for the sound of the rain. Dr. Wallace shook his head and murmured something angrily before pushing ahead to dial the gate.

Beckett cleared his throat. "Right then, that's true. Can't sort the lass in two feet o' water." Carson tried to decide where Sheppard had pulled that from. In his experience military types were often cold, he'd rather come to expect it, but Major Sheppard wasn't usually like that. He wasn't usually such an asshole.

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A/N: Hmm, don't think that's all the whumping there is. They aren't getting away that easily. Your reviews were wonderful, overwhelming in fact. I got this second chapter up so quickly because of you guys! The next chapters should be posted regularly every two to three days as I finish them.

Chapter Title Translation: 11-14 is police code for 'animal bite'