AN: Hi people, I finally updated again, although I think it's been more than a week, opps, sorry. I wrote this mostly during my Western Civilization class, which is always fun.

Thank you to all of my reviewers from the last chapter:

Livy1213
Tigerdrake
Out of Phase
Purple Yin
Shootingsilverstarlight
Cryogenie
Dee
Delles
Angw
Terri
And Lenka (thanks for the email!)

Ok, time for me to shut up and get to the story, but it's a lot to type!

Chapter 3 – New Day, New Crap

Rodney was slammed into the person next to him as the truck screeched to a stop. H e heard banging and clattering over to his right, and was then jerked when the guards started to throw the prisoners out of the truck while they were still chained together. Ah, and my wrists had just stopped hurting. There go these guy's tips. They were forced into a line and started walking. Rodney's feet were getting more and more cut up as he never got any shoes since he lost his who knows how long ago. The ground was hard with tiny rocks everywhere, including imbedded in Rodney's feet. After about two hours of walking, his feet just went numb. Escaping would be impossible almost because he couldn't see where he was going and try to make his way back because of the damn blindfold. Well, there go all the survival tactics I know, you can just kill me now. But they didn't, they just kept walking.

Major John Sheppard was sitting on a balcony on the Northern pier of Atlantis. Not that many people knew it existed, and even fewer used it, hell, he wouldn't be surprised if he was the only one who did, it was a big city and the scouting team may have forgotten about it. But he knew he was kidding himself, it was his team that found it. They had all seen the brief flicker in his eyes as he found a new hidin-um relaxing spot. Ford or Teyla would be up here at some point to make sure he ate and at least tried to get some sleep, they had only tried because Beckett was threatening to sedate them all. He put his head in his hands and thought back to that mission two weeks ago.

(Flashback)

"Mckay!" Sheppard bellowed into the radio. They were scouting another planet today, they were just waiting for the very late head scientist, who just happened to come sprinting and gasping for air into the gate room at that moment.

"Dr. Mckay, glad you could join us today, sorry for distracting you from your work to go on this mission, it must be such an inconvenience for you."

"As a matter of fact, it is at the moment. You see, someone has to keep this city running. We all can't just sit around with a big gun waiting for the enemy to show up so we can shoot them." Rodney came back in his harshly sarcastic tone.

"Well maybe if-"

"Gentlemen," Weir's voice came from above them. "Is there a problem down there?"

"No, ma'am"

"Course not, Elizabeth. Why would there be any problems?"

She just rolled her eyes at the two, then looked back and nodded at Peter to dial the gate.

"Lets go, that is of course if the good Dr.'s ready." He said with a smirk looking back at Mckay.

"I'm standing here, aren't I Major?" his confrontational tone not dropped for a second.

"Which is why I'm asking. You're standing there looking clueless as usual instead of walking toward the gate."

Mckay started mumbling phrases that Navy sailors would blush at and started stomping his usual stomp towards the gate where Ford and Teyla, used to the routine, were just about to step through with a smirking Major behind him.

Everything was normal when they came out the other side, or what passed for normal in this galaxy. They started walking in the direction Mckay was getting power readings from, all the while still grumbling and glaring at the Major whenever he actually looked up from his 'tricorder' as Ford had named it against the Major's will.

After ten minutes of walking they had all fallen into their regular positions with Teyla up front leading, Ford a few steps behind her, Mckay going at his own pace, not even looking anywhere but his device only he understood, and Major Sheppard bringing up the rear, making sure Rodney didn't trip over anything.

"Major!"

"Major Sheppard!"

"Teyla!" he leaped away from her and the hand on his shoulder as he was ripped out of his memories.

"I'm sorry Major Sheppard. I did not mean to startle you." She spoke calmly with a concerned look on her face. She watched as the mask appeared again over his face hiding the worry and guilt of losing a member of his team, especially the one least capable of taking care of himself, the one with no military training of any kind, the one the three of them were supposed to protect.

"It is not your fault that Dr. Mckay was taken, Major Sheppard. None of us even knew they were there. They wanted to capture one of us and nothing would stop them."

"They were following us Teyla. They were watching us the moment we stepped through the gate and we didn't even see it. They saw him as the easiest to take and they took him. He didn't even have time to draw his Beretta. I knew I should have pushed more to get him training in hand-to-hand combat more, but he's been so busy taking care of the city and I figured as long as we were there to protect him…" he dropped his head and stopped talking. He was leaning against the railing. "We messed up Teyla."

"Yes Major Sheppard, we did." Sheppard snapped his head up and looked at her, obviously not expecting that reply. "But Dr. Mckay is not as incapable as you are speaking of. He is a stubborn man and will not allow himself to die. If for no other reason than to prove to us he can. He knows we won't leave him behind.

"Now, true, we don't know where to look. So every planet we go to now becomes a possibility, a place to find new clues, a place where he could be hidden from us. We just keep looking. We do our part and find him, and he'll do his part and stay alive whenever he is, then complain about what took so long and ask for a power bar." She finally saw Sheppard smile at that.

"Yea. He's probably making sure everyone on the planet knows of his hypoglycemia. I'm surprised they haven't given him back yet." They both laughed at this as Lt. Ford came out onto the balcony.

"Teyla, Sir, what's so funny?" he asked as he came up beside them.

"Just imagining the torture of whatever Rodney's putting the people who are holding him through." Ford smiled.

"I was just talking to Sgt. Bates. All teams have been told to keep an eye out for the Doc or any possible clue as to where he might be."

"Good. That means we won't be the only ones still looking." Sheppard said. Ford smirked and kept his gaze on the Major.

"Apparently though, it was unnecessary. Just by being here or having some of them on their teams, the military see the scientist's s part of their own and the same for the scientists, although neither side will ever admit it to the other. Bates also said more scientists are volunteering for off world missions."

"What, did they get bored with all the toys in the city?" Sheppard sarcastically commented.

"That's what Bates thought, until those same scientists were asking the military personal and the few Athosians still on base for lessons on tracking. Apparently Grodin and Zelenka are leading the group." Ford finished with a small smile.

"They're trying to find him too." Sheppard's expression mirrored Ford's.

The three of them stayed on the balcony for a little longer, staring out at the ocean with a renewed sense of hope. Teyla and Ford both looked to Sheppard when he leaned back and stood.

"Let's get back to work." Sheppard's expression spoke volumes and the other two stood and they all walked back to the city together.

Dr. Rodney Mckay didn't know if it was a good or bad thing that he got the end of the bed to sleep on. They packed ten people to a bed that looked like it could barely fit five. His was also they top bunk. Well at least I'm not sandwiched between the other guys, that would be oh so pleasant. Although, that is a long way down.

It took a while, a long while, but he finally fell asleep, dreaming of Atlantis and hoping Zelenka was taking care of his city.

AN2: That's it for now everybody. Give me feedback and you will be a new friend! I'll post a chapter when I can, but reviews will make me more confidence to write faster. Peace.