They were only an hour and a half into their watch when a snapping twig coming from the direction of the fire gave them notice that someone was coming. Neither Mitchell or Boyett whirled at the noise, knowing that the area was secure and there was no way anything could be sneaking up on them from the campfire – which meant that it had to be one of their own party – but they did both turn to see who was up.

Rodney walked up, munching on a package of crackers.

"It's just me."

At least he knew enough not to try and come up on them silently.

As if he could, Talon said with only a trace of his usual mockery. The symbiote actually liked McKay – especially since Rodney had been so much help to them. Although he definitely didn't need the astrophysicist to know that.

"What's up?" Boyett asked.

"Nothing."

"It's kind of late for an evening stroll," Melony said.

McKay shrugged; affecting a nonchalance that she knew wasn't genuine. She could see his expression better than he probably thought, and she knew he was nervous. Not that she really blamed him. After all, something had managed to scare the villagers away from the forest, and they'd been coming in here as long as any of them could remember.

"Can't sleep," he said, shoving the last of the crackers in his mouth.

"Why don't you relieve the Lieutenant, then?"

No sense in three of them being on watch – and Rodney could have a chance to have a look around and see just how quiet it was. Which might help him get to sleep later. The last thing they needed was for him to be up all night and grumpy in the morning.

There was the briefest flash of a frown at the suggestion, but then McKay obviously decided that it wasn't such a bad idea after all.

"Why not?"

Melony looked at Boyett.

"Get some sleep, Lieutenant. I'll wake you when I need relieved."

"Yes, ma'am."

Which would probably not happen, since Melony didn't need as much sleep as the others thanks to Talon. She could catch up on it when she had Sheppard and the others back and had returned to Atlantis.

You just don't like sleeping in the dirt

And you do?

Not especially

She hid her smile as she watched Boyett head back to the fire, where he'd grab a bite to eat and then get some sleep.

"We're just walking the perimeter," she told McKay.

"Together, though, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Not that I'm nervous or anything," he added quickly. "It's just… safety in numbers and all that."

"I understand," Mitchell said, making sure to keep a straight face.

"Good."

Just as they turned to start walking, there was a high pitched cry – like a scream – from somewhere off in the distance.

OOOOOOOOO

"You have not heard from Colonel Mitchell since she led another team to the planet?"

Weir shook her head, although she knew that Teal'c wouldn't be able to see it since they were speaking on the radios through the activated Stargate.

"No. It's only been a few hours, tough, and she's not actually due to check in for another twelve. I just wanted to let you know what was going on."

"Are you requesting assistance, Doctor Weir?" Teal'c asked. She could hear the concern in the voice of Melony's First Prime – of course, he had stake in more than just Melony being missing just then – but she also knew that the Jaffa were in the middle of a very important project, and knew that Teal'c was needed where he was. Which was why he hadn't gone with Sheppard's team in the first place. If she asked him, he'd drop everything and come to her aid, however, and Weir knew it.

"No. Not yet. I was just letting you know what was happening."

She wasn't sure that anything had gone wrong yet, and didn't think Mitchell would appreciate her pulling Teal'c from the relocation project just to have him go check on her and her team.

"Thank you, Doctor. If Colonel Mitchell does not check in on time, please notify me."

"I will."

Which meant that if she thought she needed him, he'd come. It was a heady thought to know that you had the might of an entire race (well, most of them, anyways) of fierce warriors at your beck and call. And a responsibility as well.

"Teal'c out."

The transmission ended and the gate shut down, and Weir turned to the man standing beside her.

"I'm sure they're fine."

Carson Beckett didn't look all that sure, but he nodded.

"Aye. I'm sure they are."

Just the same, he couldn't help but wish that Teal'c had offered to come and go take a look for himself. With about a hundred Jaffa at his side.

"Come on, Carson," Weir said, knowing he'd just go someplace and brood. "Let's go get some coffee."

OOOOOOOOOO

Colonel Sheppard jerked himself upright – not easy to do considering how tightly tied he was – and looked around, automatically checking to make sure his team was there, and then looking off into the darkness.

"What the hell was that?"

"I do not know," Teyla said, looking startled in the light of the fire. "It did not sound quite human."

If Teyla looked startled, Ford looked downright pale – which was quite a feat for him.

"It didn't sound at all human."

"It is what is killing the villagers…"

The calm voice came from the darkness, and Ronon Dex appeared from out of nowhere.

"How do you know that?" Sheppard asked.

"It's not the only scream I've heard," he answered, his eyes plainly telling them that the other screams definitely were human.

"What is it?" asked Teyla.

"I don't know. I've only seen shadows."

"Then-"

"Just stay close to the fire," Dex interrupted. "It's never come close to the fire."

He vanished once more into the darkness, leaving Sheppard and his team staring off the direction he'd gone.