It took a second for John to realize that the darts were actually there, that it wasn't some screwed up nightmare. Then all his military training kicked in. He jumped to his feet, grabbing his P90 in the process. His whole mind became alert.

He tapped his earpiece. "Elizabeth, this is Sheppard, what's going on?"

He could hear the gunfire in the background as she spoke. "The wraith dialed in on the gate, Sgt. Bates was overwhelmed, we're guessing he's dead."

"Head for the cave with the jumper." John yelled. "I'll fly cover."
John turned to race towards the jumper, then stopped, remembering Teyla. "Stay here and make sure everyone gets in here."

Teyla nodded. "John, good luck."

"Thanks." He gave her one last concerned look before racing to the jumper.

It responded perfectly to his presence, just as it always did. He shot out of the cave and into the sky. A display lit up in the cockpit, informing him of the darts' positions and attack patterns. He headed straight for the largest concentration, over the base.

He wasn't a fool, they were going to lose a lot of people today. He mentally prepared the jumper for combat. He released his first volley of drones just over the camp. Controlling each one with the power of his mind, he left his flying to his instincts. He felt as each drone hit home, blowing a wraith dart out of the sky.

Rockets were firing from all over as he finally cleared the combat zone. He could only guess that everyone was doing anything they could to help fight. He turned hard, feeling the g-forces even through the inertial compensator.

He launched another volley of drones, knocking more darts out of the sky. He glanced at the ship status display, he could only have six drones ready at a time and he'd used them all. Unfortunately, a dart started shooting at him.

Knowing that to cloak would let the dart return fire he launched the jumper into a spiral that made his stomach churn. Thankfully, the dart was thrown off, circling widely. He glanced at the status display, two drones had just been readied. He launched them both, concentrating so that they hit more of the drones above the camp.

Most of the weapons fire coming from the ground was now directed from the forest. He shot past the two darts still pursuing, hoping to draw their fire. He was successful, both darts raced after him. He silently cursed as they fired on him. This was not going his way.

The ship lurched as one of the darts managed to hull him good. He swore again and tried to dodge the follow up shots. The sluggish and damaged jumper failed to move quickly enough and suffered even more damage.

He watched as the jumper plowed into the ground. The impact sent him flying forward into the controls, he blacked out.

XXX

Teyla watched in horror as the jumper smashed into the forest. She immediately wanted to go after it, but she stopped herself. John had told her to make sure everyone made it. As painful as it was, she couldn't go to his side.

Elizabeth, Colonel Everett, and a handful of wounded marines were the last up the slope and into the cave.

Teyla quickly stopped Elizabeth. "Doctor, we must send a group to rescue John."

Elizabeth heaved an exasperated sigh. "Yes, do you know where he was shot down."

"Yes. Doctor, I must go."

Elizabeth glanced at Everett. "We don't have anyone who's capable of doing it, except maybe a handful of scientists."

"Then I will go myself."

"What do you hope to accomplish?" Everett asked, his voice weary from exhaustion and pain.

"I will bring John back alive." Teyla checked her ammo and supplies, then slid down the cave slope and into the forest.

XXX

The Daedalus dropped out of hyperspace on top of the two wraith Hive Ships. Steven Caldwell immediately order battle stations. With the ZPM still powering their shields and weapons the Daedalus would easily be able to go toe to toe with two wraith cruisers.

"Launch all fighters." He ordered. "Prepare a missile salvo."
"Ready sir." Max Fielding replied from the main weapons system to Steven's right.

"Then hit them with everything we've got."

Everyone single missile tube on the Daedalus launched a nuclear warhead at the same instant. A total of 32 missiles streaked forward. Rail guns all across it's front bow opened fire into the swarm of darts preparing to attack. Within seconds, space was littered with debris.

To his dismay, only two of his missiles hit, the rest were taken out by suicidal darts. He quickly brought up his datapad, staring at the tactical data from it as the ship shuddered from the impact of wraith weapons. There were just too many darts.

Then it occurred to him, they had to get closer. The shields could take a tremendous amount of punishment with a ZPM installed, so why not use it. He tapped the intercom to engineering.

"Novak, I need full power to the shields."

"Aye sir." Came the reply.

"Lieutenant Landren, bring us broadside with them, all batteries prepare to fire at will."

The Daedalus seemed to spin in space, not changing it's heading but moving so that it was now facing the Hive Ships from its side. The shields continued to absorb damage as the darts began suicide runs on it. When the ship was almost point blank from the Hive ships, it opened fire.

32 missiles streaked from it's missile launchers. This time, there was no time for them to be intercepted. Explosions ripped through both ships as each missile impacted. Steven allowed himself a moment of triumph. His first combat with wraith capitol ships and he'd come out on top.

He glanced down at Landren. "Any response from the surface?"

"Not yet." Christy replied.

"Let's clean up these darts then send F-302s to check out the ground situation."

XXX

Teyla ducked behind a tree. Despite the fact that the Hive ships had been destroyed, by what she didn't know, there were still wraith hunting through the forest, looking for victims. She held her breath as two wraith quickly ran past her position.

Using all her senses, as he father had taught her when she was young, she continued to crawl through the forest towards the crashed jumper. She could feel the wraith as she walked each step. It was both terrifying and incredibly lucky that she could sense them before they could sense her.

The jumper was totaled. She could see as much upon her first inspection. She could only pray that John was alright. Four wraith were guarding it. She gathered her thoughts inwards, focusing and memorizing their locations and checked her P90's safety.

She took one last breath before jumping over the log she was hiding behind and opening fire, strafing to the left as she did. Her aim was true. Her first burst took the lead wraith down, her second another. She ducked behind the smashed jumper as the two remaining wraith opened fire.

Not taking any chances, she put another couple bullets into the two wraith at her feet. Breathing deep, she rolled from behind cover, missing the stunner shots by only a few inches. She fired relentlessly, until both of the wraith were dead on the ground. She quickly reloaded, and palmed the access hatch to the jumper.

It opened to her hand and revealed the destroyed interior, and an unconscious John Sheppard. He was laying on his back, a small puddle of blood just behind his head. She closed the rear hatch and locked it, knowing that the wraith didn't have the firepower to get in.

She dropped her P90 and fell to her knees, cupping his head in her arms. He was barely breathing, his every breath labored. Her heart instantly shot into her throat, causing a tear to fall from her eyes. She stopped it then, he wasn't going to die with her around.

She stripped off her flak vest and jacket, putting the flak vest off to the side and using her jacket to help staunch the bleeding from his head. Fortunately for her, he wasn't bleeding much, but the head wound was still bad.

She carefully traced the outline of the wound. It was almost directly opposite of his eyes. She reached into her flak vest and pulled out the gauze bandage. Quickly and efficiently she wrapped it around his head, making sure that he wouldn't bleed anymore.

She heard a ship of some sort flash past overhead, but couldn't identify it. She had never heard the likes of it before. However, she knew she didn't have time to think about it. She pulled John into her arms, cradling his battered form like an infant.

An Athosian prayer found its way to her lips. She mouthed the words and sung them in a quiet voice. As if in response to her prayer, John's breathing seemed to slow down and become easier. She kissed his forehead. He would survive, she knew it.

"Teyla Emmagen, please report." A strange voice ordered from her radio.

She hesitated, but tapped the ear piece. "This is Teyla, I have Major Sheppard."

"What's his status?"

"Who am I speaking to?"

"Colonel Steven Caldwell, commander of the Daedalus."

Teyla allowed herself to relax, they were saved. "I apologize Colonel, we thought you would not find us."

"Standby, what is Major Sheppard's condition?"

"He is unconscious."
"Standby, we're being both of you directly to the infirmary."

A white light engulfed both of them.

XXX

The next thing Teyla knew, she was on the cold floor of a strange place. She shook her head, this must be the Daedalus, the ship that was supposed to come with a ZPM to save Atlantis.

Two medics took John from her and placed him on a nearby table. They immediately began to treat his wounds. Teyla stood and finally looked around, noticing that many of the people in the infirmary were members of the expedition. She spotted Elizabeth standing just outside the room.

She threaded her way through the mass of wounded people and doctors and stepped outside. Elizabeth gave her an exhausted smile. "Teyla." To Teyla's surprise Elizabeth engulfed her in a friendly embrace. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Is this the Daedalus?" Teyla asked, wanting to be sure.

Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, we're headed back to Earth as we speak. I'm not sure what'll happen from there."

Teyla nodded. "With Atlantis destroyed you are unsure that your people will want to stay."

Elizabeth nodded. "I'm not giving up without a fight, but the Daedalus is our home, for now."

Elizabeth was about to walk off when Teyla stopped her. "Did Doctor McKay and Lieutenant Ford make it?

"Yes Teyla." Elizabeth replied. "Rodney got hurt, but he's going to be fine. Aiden's on the bridge, you want to come with me."

Teyla nodded, following Elizabeth.

XXX

John wasn't sure how long he'd been out, only that his head hurt. The nurse had told him to stay put. He'd responded by telling her to go find Teyla, she'd want to know he was alright. The nurse had protested but John had pressed until she'd left to find the Athosian.

He was pretty much confined to his infirmary bed. He had a cast around his ribs and a very fluffy pillow behind his head to comfort the massive bruise back there. In a way he was sad that the Daedalus had found them, he'd have to go back and report, but the casualties alone would make his case. He was just worried about the rest of the expedition. Hundreds were either dead or wounded, himself among them.

Teyla entered at a measured pace, but he could see the struggle not to run towards him in her eyes. She took his hand in hers. "Major, it is good to see you are awake."
John held up a finger.

"John." Teyla quickly corrected.

"Well, in addition to some broken ribs, I've got a nasty bruise on my head."

"But your bruises were well earned, I saw you destroy many darts."

"There's that." John said differently. He glanced around the infirmary, making sure none of the nurses were close. "Thanks."

Teyla bowed her head slightly. "John, everything..."

"I said was true, but not now." He finished for her.

Teyla regarded him with a confused expression.

"Please Teyla, trust me."

Teyla nodded. She was confident that he loved her, but she understood why he wanted to keep it quiet. She would wait, she knew he'd show her later just how much he loved her.

A/N: So, want more... cause it's good were it is, if you do it'll be one more chapter dealing with SGC. If not, the reviews make this worth writing, thanks a lot.