A/N: Glad everyone likes it. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

John ducked the second he stepped through the gate. The shockwave of the explosions singed his back. As soon as the gate shut down, he stood and pulled Elizabeth to her feet. Her normally controlled hair was a mass of uncontrolled mayhem, stuck full of grass and twigs.

John surveyed the few troops standing in a defensive position. They were all as tired and wounded as he was. He walked up to Sergeant Bates. Bates' left hand was bloody, but steady as he held his P90.

"Is everyone okay?" John asked.

"We've got all the seriously wounded to the medical tent. The people who were stunned are placed wherever we could find room."

"Alright, keep an eye on the gate."

Bates nodded. "Yes sir."

John waved his hand at Elizabeth, motioning for her to follow him. He began to walk down the path towards the camp. He could see the smoke from the camp fires. Fresh pain shot through his arm as the adrenaline finally began to wear off.

Elizabeth led him to the command tent. She straightened her hair before stepping inside. John was only a step behind. Inside the gate room technicians and everyone who had worked in the control room was sitting down around the center table. They all stood and nodded to her.

"What's the situation?" Elizabeth said, her voice commanding. She set her P90 down on the table.

"We lost most of the supplies in the evacuations." One of the scientists said.

"Do we have a plan?"

"Several Athosians have already set out to hunt for food." Another scientist added.

John stepped out, he wasn't needed there. He walked into the medical tent just next door. He only glanced, staying back as Carson frantically tried to save a marine without the proper tools, sedatives, or even antibiotics.

John shuddered at the thought. He was lucky he only had a minor arm wound. He walked slowly along the rows of wounded and stunned soldiers and scientists. He swore. If Everett hadn't forced them to fight, none of this would've happened.

He stopped next to Teyla. She was lying on her back on a stretcher. Her eyes were alert and acknowledged his arrival. He knelt down next to her. She tried to sit up, but her legs refused to move.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't move, you could make it worse."

Teyla nodded and relaxed her back. "How many made it?"

"I don't know." John acknowledged. "We saved as many as we could, but even more are going to die from their wounds."

Teyla noticed John's bloody bandage. "You are hurt."

"I'm fine. There are others who need it more than I do." He stood back up. "I'm going to find Aiden." He glanced back at her. "Do me a favor, get better."

Teyla nodded.

John walked down to the armory. He found Aiden and two marines sorting through a pile of gear, P90s, wraith stunners, flak vests, and the like. John grabbed two flak vests and placed them inside the tent.

Aiden slammed his fists against the table. "Damn it." He muttered.

"Don't be yourself up Lieutenant." John said, walking over next to him. "We couldn't save it."

Aiden straightened. "Sorry sir."

"I'm not Colonel Everett and you know that Aiden." John purposely used Aiden's name to remind the young marine he was talking to a friend.

Aiden relaxed slightly. "It's just that so many died."

"I know." John replied. "The important thing is to get the Alpha site ready. We need you."

"Yes sir." Aiden replied, forcing a smile.

John knew the smile was forced, but it was better than nothing. John allowed himself one smile, at least they'd managed to save as many as they did. He grabbed another pair of flak vests and continued working.

XXX

"There you are." Elizabeth said, walking into the tent where John was resting.

He shook his head to clear the fatigue. He was exhausted; he hadn't slept for over a day. He forced himself to sit up on the cot. "What's up?" He asked, squinting against the light pouring in from behind Elizabeth.

"I need you and your team to find us another Alpha site."

"In case we need to evacuate." John finished. He slid off the cot and onto his feet. "Is Teyla back on her feet?"

"She's organizing the Athosians into hunting parties."

"Alright." John tapped his radio earpiece. "Teyla, Ford, McKay, meet me in the armory tent." He turned to Elizabeth. "Got an address?"

"Rodney will have it."

"I take it he's doing better."

"Yeah, just a bump to the head, you took the brunt of the blast."

"Glad to be of help."

"And stop by the medical tent on the way. Have one of the medics clean that arm wound."

"Yes mam." John replied, stepping out of the tent. He walked over to the medical tent. Carson was still in surgery, but a young marine medic wasn't busy. John walked over to her. "Got anything for this?"

The marine looked at the wound for a few seconds. "Is there any shrapnel?"

"Was." John said sarcastically. "I pulled it out only seconds after it lodged itself in there."

The marine walked over to a cabinet and pulled out an alcohol swab and a fresh bandage. She motioned for him to take his bloody bandage off.

He complied, throwing it to the floor. He then placed his arm on the table. The marine quickly used the swab to clean the wound. John gritted his teeth as the wound stung with each swab. He knew the pain was good though.

The marine finished with the swab and taped the bandage to his arm. She gave it one last look. "You'll be fine."

"Thanks." John replied. He walked down to the armory. Most of the stunned soldiers and scientists had recovered and were going about their business. Only a handful of people were still lying on the stretchers.

He walked into the armory tent to find Teyla, Aiden, and Rodney all geared up. He quickly grabbed a P90 and clipped it to his flak vest that he hadn't bothered to take off. "Rodney, Elizabeth said you have the address."

"Yeah." He replied.

John couldn't help but notice that Rodney had a P90. "Sure you can handle that?" He asked.

"What?" Rodney said absently. He glanced down at the gun. "Oh yeah. I need to learn."

"Fair enough." John replied. He turned to Teyla. "You up to this?"
"Yes major."

"Alright, let's go." John led his team to the star gate. For now, it was business as usual.