Over 300 reviews! Man, you guys know how to make a girl blush. Thank you very much. My apologies for the long delay – mountain of papers to grade that just wouldn't wait any longer. Unfortunately I have this day job I actually have to work at (go figure). Writing fan fiction is TOTALLY fun, but the pay sucks!

The Day of Reckoning – Chapter 18

"Doc, doc, hey!" Sheppard jerked away from Beckett's probing fingers. "That hurts! Nick already stitched it up on the planet. What are you doing?"

"Hold still, Colonel or I'll get one of the nurses to hold you down." Beckett sighed loudly. Sometimes they acted just like children.

"This wasn't my fault, you know."

Beckett backed up. "I know. Nick told me what happened. He also told me how you handled those boys. I have to admit, I'm not sure I could have done that."

"They're just kids. I know they have to take responsibility for their actions, but they're young enough that they still assume their leaders are telling them the truth. It wasn't completely their fault."

"Aye, but still, it had to be hard."

Sheppard didn't answer, looking past Beckett toward the wall.

Carson took that as a signal to change the subject. "Have you had any nausea or dizziness since it happened?"

"No, just a bit of a headache."

Beckett chuckled. "I'll bet. Let's have a look at your chest." He pulled Sheppard's shirt up. "You got scraped a bit. Go ahead and take your shirt off and let's clean that up."

Sheppard slowly pulled his shirt up and over his head. "Doc, I'd really like to get a shower and crawl into bed. Is this going to take much longer? 'Cause I'm beat."

"Not long. Just lay back for a sec."

Sheppard scooted back on the bed and twisted around, yawning and closing his eyes as he lay back against the pillow. He winced when Beckett probed his bruised chest, then felt the coolness of disinfectant as Beckett cleaned the scrape left by one of the rocks. He thought he heard Beckett say he was getting something for his headache, but then the sounds around him faded away.

oOo

"Would it have killed you to wake me up so I could go sleep in my quarters? It's not like I don't practically live in the infirmary already. I like to sleep in my own bed when I get the chance." Sheppard adjusted the pack on his back as he and Nick walked down the path to the lake.

"You were exhausted. What difference does it make where you sleep? Besides, I didn't want to get slugged in the nose again."

"Oh, ha ha. Everyone's a comedian."

"We aim to please. Hey, would you like me to pitch in and help today? I've about exhausted all my 'talk to the natives' skills. I need something to keep me busy."

"I don't know, Doc. It involves getting very sweaty and dirty, in case you haven't noticed."

"What, you think I don't ever get dirty just because I'm a doctor? I helped my uncle build his house when I was in college. I can do construction."

"Well, this was supposed to be from me, but I've reached the point where it's going to be hard to do everything by myself. I probably could use a hand. I was going to get Ronon to do the really heavy lifting."

"Well, feel free to go with that thought. But I'd be happy to help with the less strenuous stuff. How's the head this morning?"

Sheppard laughed. "You just can't stop being a doctor, can you?"

"Do you ever stop being a soldier?"

"Touché, Doc."

They arrived at the site of the gazebo. Ronon, Teyla, and Lorne took the soldiers and spread out in their accustomed pattern after greeting and talking to the Genii soldiers. Nick and Sheppard heard them laughing as they split up and separated.

"At least the troops are getting along," commented Nick.

"Yeah, thank goodness for small favors. I thought they were going to shoot each other at first." Sheppard surveyed the partially finished gazebo. "You ready to rock, Doc? Pun intended."

Nick rolled his eyes. "I'm ready. What do you want me to do?"

oOo

It was mid-afternoon when Cowen approached the site of the gazebo construction. Several people were milling around talking and watching the work and he made sure to blend in with them. He noticed there were now two people working on the wooden beams that were beginning to form the top part of the structure. Squinting, he tried to tell which one was Sheppard. Both men were tall and lean with dark hair, shirtless and sweaty as they carried lumber. If he hadn't already been introduced, he might have thought they were brothers. When one of the men turned to walk away from him, he knew which one was the Colonel.

Cowen smiled to himself as he observed Kolya's handiwork. Although he had been mildly impressed at Sheppard's desire to build the memorial, he still harbored anger at him and all the people of Atlantis. Tyrus had been a close and loyal friend for many years and his loss had not been easy to accept. Although Cowen had long ago realized that the Lanteans had not meant for Tyrus to die, he still felt that their actions were directly responsible for the loss of his friend and the failure of the mission.

He would support the memorial efforts and protect Sheppard because he felt it was the best thing for his people. The wraith were a formidable enemy and he didn't feel they needed to make more. This action could be the foundation of a truce between their people, a fact he was sure Sheppard had considered when he made the offer. Satisfied that Sheppard was doing what he said he'd come there to do, Cowen turned and headed back to the settlement.

"Did you see him?" asked Ronon.

"I did," answered Teyla. "He was checking up on us."

"I wish Sheppard would hurry up with that thing. This place gives me the creeps."

Teyla turned from watching Cowen to glance at Ronon. "And how do you think it makes the Colonel feel?"

"Good point. I still wish he would hurry."

oOo

Elizabeth watched as the hot, weary group shuffled through the gate, literally dragging their packs on the ground. They stood there looking at one another as the gate shut down, signaling they were finally home. Sheppard looked up at Elizabeth and nodded.

"Carson wants you in the infirmary," she called down. She grinned when he rolled his eyes in response.

"Naturally. He thinks he's my mother. You'd think the lack of an accent would have clued him in by now."

"He just wants to make sure you haven't torn any stitches loose. I'm glad you're all back safe."

Sheppard waved and walked beside Nick as they headed for the infirmary. Teyla and Ronon climbed the stairs to Elizabeth.

"Teyla, Ronon, how are things going?"

Teyla smiled and nodded her head. "I have been surprised. Except for the rock-throwing incident yesterday, things are going well. The people we have talked to seem surprised but receptive to the idea of the memorial. Perhaps this will smooth things over between our two peoples."

"I hope so," said Elizabeth. "We have enough trouble trying to stay one step ahead of the wraith without having to worry about the Genii as well."

"This may bring peace for a while, but do not expect it to last. The Genii are a very selfish and they will eventually decide that they want more than what is theirs again."

Elizabeth chewed thoughtfully on the end of her lip. "You may be right. But at least this may give us some time. How is John doing?"

"I believe that he enjoys the work. He exhausts himself, but he seems relaxed while he is working. I think this is good for him."

"He is working hard for someone who's basically lazy," said Ronon.

Elizabeth frowned. "Did you just call John lazy?"

Ronon put his hands up in defense. "His words, not mine."

Elizabeth smiled and cocked one eyebrow. "Lazy, huh. I'll have to remember that."

oOo

"Ronon," barked Teyla, the tone immediately causing him to spin and face her. He followed her gaze as she nodded toward where Sheppard and Strauhan worked in the afternoon sun. The gazebo behind them had really taken shape and was nearing completion. But it was the uniformed figure striding purposefully toward Sheppard that caught Ronon's attention. Kolya.

"That's not good," he mumbled as he and Telya began walking toward the men.

"Major Lorne," called Teyla on the radio. "Commander Kolya is here."

Lorne had been on the other side of the field talking to some of the local people when Teyla's warning came in over his radio. "I'm on my way." His posture changed from relaxed to full alert as he tightened his grip on his weapon and headed back toward where Sheppard had been working.

"Nick, we're almost done with the . . ." Sheppard dropped the board he had been holding as Kolya stopped about eight feet in front of him. "Well, look what the cat dragged in."

Kolya frowned at him. "I do not see any cats here, Colonel. You speak strangely, as usual. Perhaps you've been in the sun too long."

"I appreciate your concern, Commander. You're not getting soft are you?"

Nick came to stand beside Sheppard. "Is this Kolya?"

"Oh yeah, this is Commander Acastus Kolya. Commander, this is Dr. Strauhan. He's a big admirer of your work."

Kolya sneered. "I made one mistake, Sheppard—I sent you back. I will correct that mistake soon. You are abomination to the Genii people and you have no right to be here."

"Well, that's a matter of opinion and it doesn't happen to be Cowen's. Last time I checked, he's the one making all the decisions. Guess he doesn't value your opinion much, does he? Wonder why that is?"

Kolya's grin had slowly dissolved into a grimace and his eyes flashed with anger. "Do not push me, Sheppard. I will not stand on my home soil and be insulted by the likes of you."

"Colonel?" Nick questioned as Sheppard pushed him to the side without ever taking his eyes off Kolya. The doctor was relieved to see the rest of the team moving up closer to where the confrontation was taking place. He began edging over toward Teyla and Ronon, still watching the two men facing off before him.

"You might want to take those words back, Kolya, because I think that was an insult. Cowen sent you off world for a reason. He didn't want you and your whining around while we worked and he probably thought you'd go all postal on us."

"There it is again, Sheppard. Throwing out those phrases in attempt to put me off guard."

"Not really such a hard task with you. I'd have thought you smarter than that. Tsk, tsk."

Kolya lunged at Sheppard so fast he barely had time to register the motion and react. Both men went flying to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust. As they scrabbled on the ground, Lanteans and Genii formed a rough semi-circle around them but didn't get too close; no one wanted to become an accidental part of the fight and walk away injured, and no one wanted to steal his leader's chance to finally settle this.

Kolya and Sheppard broke apart and each one got to his feet. Sheppard's lip was split and Kolya's nose was bleeding. Both were panting heavily, their clothes covered with dirt and grass.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Sheppard.

Kolya smiled. "Why, are you afraid?"

Sheppard snorted. "Hardly. I just hate to embarrass you in front of your people. No . . . never mind. Actually, I think I'll rather enjoy the opportunity to humiliate you. Turnabout's fair play, as they say. I think it's finally my turn to inflict a little pain in your life."

Kolya started to respond, but Sheppard didn't give him the chance, rushing him and driving his head into the man's unprotected chest and knocking them both to the ground again. With the breath knocked out of him, Kolya's attempts to block Sheppard's blows were feeble and the pilot got in several jabs to his enemy's face. Sheppard was so focused on pounding Kolya that he didn't see the man pick up a rock and swing it his direction. Kolya's aim was off because of his position and the beating he was taking, so he only landed a glancing blow off the side of Sheppard's head, but it was enough to dislodge the man from his seat across Kolya's midriff.

Sheppard lay dazed in the dirt, blood oozing down the side of his head, wishing his vision would clear so that he could see where Kolya was. As he pushed himself up to his hands and knees, he could see the Genii doing the same just a few feet away. Thank goodness Kolya looked about as dizzy as he felt.

Both men got unsteadily to their feet.

Teyla moved to stand by Major Lorne. "Major, I think one of your men should to go back to the gate and send for a puddle jumper. I do not believe the Colonel will be in any shape to walk home when this is over."

Lorne nodded. "I was just having the same thought myself. I may have them stash a couple of extra soldiers in the back in case we need backup when it comes time to go."

Sheppard and Kolya were engaged in a back and forth dance of stomach punches and jabs to the face. Both men were struggling to stay on their feet and it became obvious the fight couldn't go on much longer. Then Sheppard lunged to Kolya's right. As the Genii soldier reacted, Sheppard twisted and moved to Kolya's left in a burst of energy that surprised everyone there, bringing his elbow up to smash against the side of Kolya's head. As the man's head snapped to the side, Sheppard swept his feet out from under him with one leg, sending the man forcefully to the ground.

Sheppard stumbled but managed to remain on his feet as he stood over Kolya, prepared to attack the man again. But Kolya lay still. As the dust settled all around them, Sheppard turned and walked toward where Teyla, Nick, and Ronon stood.

He felt blood, sweat, and dirt smeared across his face and neck and plastering his hair to his head. As he walked, he saw Ronon and Teyla bring their guns up, almost in slow motion, and heard all three of them shout. He pivoted on one foot to face Kolya just in time to see the muzzle flash and feel the hot, heavy pressure impact his chest, the force knocking him to the ground and taking his breath away.

TBC