Elizabeth took a deep breath as she turned back from the 'gate. Her eyes fell on Peter, who was still wearing a mask of confusion on his face. She set her jaw, a quick debate taking place in her mind. "Peter," she said, and his eyes moved to her. "Radio Bates, tell him to get his team geared up and in the 'gate room ASAP." She nodded to the both of them before beginning to walk toward her office.

"Excuse me, Doctor Weir?" Radek's voice stopped her. She turned, raising her eyebrows inquisitively. Radek hesitated, knowing he could very well be treading on dangerous ground.

Elizabeth frowned, knowing that Radek was going to ask her why she was ordering Sergeant Bates' team to suit up when she'd told Rodney she would let him go alone. "I'm not letting him go without backup."

Rodney McKay took a long look around as he stepped away from the now idle Stargate. It was a far different feeling, going to an unknown planet alone, than going knowing that Teyla, Ford, and Sheppard were with him. Rodney swallowed tightly and moved forward. The 'gate was positioned on a hill, which gave him a wide aerial view of the area. There was a long stretch of flat, grassy land flanked on both sides by woods. Rodney took a breath and began walking down the hill.

"Major," he radioed, but didn't receive anything other than static. "Major, come in." Still nothing. Rodney reached the bottom of the hill and he stopped. Far into the distance, he could hear a horn sounding. He grasped the P90 in his hands tightly and quickly went to his right, disappearing into the trees.

"Yo, Doctor Weir," Elizabeth turned to see Aiden and Teyla standing behind her, already suited up. She'd been standing in the control room, watching the 'gate and waiting for Bates to arrive.

"Lieutenant," she blinked in surprise, "Teyla. What are you doing here?"

"We want to help," Aiden answered gruffly.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, but Sergeant Bates –"

"They're a part of our team, Doctor Weir," Teyla interrupted smoothly.

"Let us go," Aiden added pleadingly.

"Fine," Elizabeth conceded. "Bates and his team should be here any moment."

"We have to go through now," Aiden glanced at the 'gate quickly before looking to Elizabeth. "Look, God only knows what they've found out there. They need all the back-up they can get. Every second counts." Elizabeth pursed her lips as she considered his words. Aiden was right: the few minutes it took Bates and his team to get here could be the minutes that decided whether they lived or died.

"Grodin, dial the planet," she ordered.

"Will do," Peter replied.

Elizabeth glanced over at Aiden and Teyla and addressed them, ""Be safe." They both nodded in reply before jogging to the 'gate. Elizabeth sighed softly, watching them go through the wormhole. As soon as they'd disappeared, she turned around, switching on her radio. "Bates, where are you?"

"We're suited up and heading your way. What is our mission?" his reply crackled through the earpiece.

"You're on a rescue mission, Sergeant," Elizabeth informed him. "Major Sheppard has been gone for five hours on an unknown planet. McKay went after him about thirty minutes ago. Lieutenant Ford and Teyla just left."

"ETA two minutes," Bates said after a moment. Elizabeth nodded to herself and turned off her radio.

"Dial the address," she ordered again, and closed her eyes briefly. If something had happened to John or Rodney… This mess was all her fault. Elizabeth clenched her teeth and turned to face the 'gate once more, convincing herself that she was doing all she could do for them. They were resourceful. They would make it out okay.

She couldn't afford to think otherwise.

Rodney leaned against a tree, panting. He'd been running since he'd gotten into the forest, and he had a sheen of sweat covering his entire body to show for it. There had been no reply from Sheppard the times he'd attempted to radio. Rodney straightened as he heard the sound of twigs snapping. He strained his ears. Someone was coming. With a swiftness that would've made John proud, he ducked behind a nearby bush, aiming his gun at the trees ahead. Two men burst through into his line of vision. Rodney's eyes moved to the bow and arrows each of them carried. The men looked muscular and agile, more than capable of tracking down one man. Rodney looked around nervously. His eyes widened as the sound of gunfire cracked through the air. He instinctively ducked, and when he raised his head again, the two men were lying on the ground, blood spilling from their chests. Rodney looked around the area, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn't fired those shots.

He looked in the general direction he thought the shots had come from and crept there slowly. A large, mossy log was lying a few yards away from where the men had been. Rodney took a deep breath as he hopped over the log.

"Rodney! Jesus…" Rodney turned his head and nearly gave a cry of relief. There, sitting to his left, was John Sheppard. John lowered his gun, leaning his head against the log. Rodney's eyes swept over the other man quickly. His face was covered in dirt, as were his legs and arms. Rodney winced as he saw the arrow imbedded in the major's thigh. "What the hell are you doing here?" John questioned angrily.

"What were you thinking?" Rodney ignored his question. Just as John opened his mouth to respond, an arrow flew over their heads. John turned and peered over the log, swearing softly.

"Five of them," he informed Rodney grudgingly.

"Right," Rodney clutched the gun, now hearing their footsteps as they came closer.

"Why are you here?" John asked through gritted teeth. His skin gleamed with sweat; his hands shaking. Rodney knew that it was the pain and not the planet's warm temperature causing it.

"Saving you," Rodney replied simply. He didn't feel like he was saving anyone now, crouched behind a log and clutching his gun for dear life.

"Elizabeth sent you because she felt guilty, didn't she?" John said crossly, letting the back of his head rest against the log.

"I came by myself," Rodney replied. "Elizabeth wanted me to wait for Bates' team."

"I don't need rescuing."

"Oh, right, well I'll just get up and go back, then. Meet you there?" Rodney retorted, his voice full of sarcasm.

"You're just angry that I figured out the damn puzzle. You're just here to get some credit; to look brave for Elizabeth." John's face held his anger, but Rodney saw through it to the sliver of pain that crossed his friend's face when he said those words.

"Damn it John! I'm here because you're my friend and I don't want to see you come back in a body bag." Rodney felt his palms beginning to sweat as the screams of the natives came closer. "Look, even if I didn't love Elizabeth, would it have changed things?" Rodney turned to face John. Slowly, John looked over, an undecipherable look on his face.

"Love?" he questioned, voice soft.

Rodney frowned, his eyebrows creasing in curiosity. "I—" he was interrupted as another arrow flew over their heads, landing in the ground a few feet before them. The sound of footsteps neared.

"We have to get out of here," John spoke first, his voice betraying nothing.

"Yeah," Rodney agreed. They both knew they needed to get out of there – if they didn't leave soon, then they wouldn't be able to continue the argument, anyway.

"On the count of three," John elaborated, and gripped the gun harder. "One…two…three!" he shoved off from the log and turned to face his pursuers, his finger pulling back on the trigger. Rodney stumbled to his feet and fired. "C'mon!" John yelled, grabbing Rodney's collar and pulling him back. Three of the men had fallen, but the other two were running toward them screaming. In the near distance, they heard footsteps of more. Rodney and John turned and began running in the general direction of the 'gate. John was much slower than usual, limping as he ran, his face clenched in pain. He stumbled over his own feet, landing on the ground unceremoniously. Rodney stopped and knelt down next to him, worried eyes moving between his friend and the two men that were closing in on them.

"Major, can you keep running?"

John winced, rolling over to his back and looking at the arrow in his thigh. "I don't think so," he wheezed. "Go on. Take my bag and go." Rodney's eyes moved to the black bag attached to John's back and slowly shook his head. He took the bag and put it on his own shoulders before addressing John again.

"We're both getting out of here," Rodney said firmly. "Now, come on," he reached for John's arm, wrapping it around his neck and helping him stand. They began to make their way back to the 'gate slowly, far too slowly. The men behind them were closing in. Arrows flew by them, barely missing, and they did their best not to let it startle them.

"Just leave me, Rodney!"

"Just shut up, okay?" Rodney yelled in reply.

"They're going to catch up to us," John hissed. Rodney stepped behind what appeared to be a pine tree. His lungs were burning with the effort of half-carrying John and trying to go as fast as they possibly could. "Look, my mag is nearly empty and there's a whole hell of a lot of guys following these two. We can't beat them, McKay, not just the two of us." Rodney waited, clenching his teeth, hoping for another option. Either they were both going to die, or John was going to die. Neither of the options were acceptable.

Aiden Ford's voice crackled through the radio, "Doctor McKay, this is Lieutenant Ford. What is your status?" Rodney could've melted in relief. They had a third option.

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up! Anyway, I hope you guys liked it. I'll try to get an update in soon, but real life has been hectic recently. Thanks for the reviews!