Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis or its characters. Wish I thought them up, but I didn't.

The trip back to base camp went by much faster than their initial trip to the village. Not only did they have hope that they would see their friends again, they had hope that they would also find a ZPM if they were lucky.

Syd had said the address he had given them led to a planet populated by people who possessed ancient technology, such as: puddle jumpers, life sign detectors, and other such objects.

Once they had gotten back to base camp, practically everyone was sleeping except for a few scientists huddled in front of a fire pit. They knew it was far too late to take a trip to the planet tonight. On top of it being to dark to head back out toward the gate, entering a village that was possible armed didn't seem like a good idea. They would wait until morning to inform everyone what the day's events had uncovered.

Elizabeth wondered off toward her spot. She wished that she could show it to John. The moment she stumbled upon this place she knew that he would have loved it. All those nights they had stayed up late talking on the balcony, going over all the decisions they had made that day, reassuring each other that they had made the right choices.

It was nights like these that made it hard for her to push through. Nights where she was most reminded of his absence.

One thing was certain; when she found John again she wasn't going to just embrace him in a hug as if he had just returned from a suicide mission.

There had been far too many of those moments, too many instances where they had just walked away, not wanting anyone to expect something was going on. That's all that they needed - to give Caldwell an excuse to have John shipped out on the next trip back to Earth. After all these years he had still been after John's position.

All that hiding and worrying was going to stop. None of it seemed to matter anymore.

Tomorrow she would finally tell him everything. There was so much that she had left unsaid as they evacuated. All they got was a quick glance as John forced her through the stargate with the others. She had been a little angry at him for that. She had wanted so badly to stay with him – to make sure that he would get out safely. Instead, he gave her no choice.

He pushed her through the wormhole before she even realized what he was doing.

"You should get some rest," Teyla had snuck up on her. "Tomorrow we will be heading out early in order to catch up with the Colonel and the others.

Something had been on Elizabeth's mind all this time. Something about Teyla and Ronon.

"What will you tell him, Ronon? What will you do, when we see them?"

"I am not sure," To be honest Teyla thought she would have more time to figure that out. She had never expected to find the others so soon. Tomorrow would mark the first month that they had been separated. With Ronon and John in puddle jumpers and them on foot, along with an infinite amount of gate address separating them, Teyla had though it would take much longer to find each other. If it had not been for the Colonel leaving behind his jacket, she knew that they would have never known that the others had even been to this planet. "We both know of how each other feel, but with everything that has happened we never took the time to discuss it." Teyla tried to say that as dignified as possible with out letting on that she was actually afraid of what would happen. After all she and Ronon had both come from a proud people. "We have both lost so much already, what with Ronon losing his entire people, and the wraith's continuous attacks on mine. Things were … difficult. I was afraid." Teyla had not only just admitted her feelings for Ronon to Elizabeth, she admitted defeat. It was odd and yet satisfying to know that she was not alone in how she felt. "I guess you could say that I will be following in your footsteps Dr. Weir."

Elizabeth glanced up at her.

"What does that mean?"

"Dr. Weir, you cannot honestly tell me that when you see the Colonel, you will refrain from expressing how you have felt these past few weeks. I, along with, Ronon, Carson, and Rodney have known for sometime how you both feel for each other."

A little embarrassed Elizabeth turned to face the lake.

"Yes, well it is time that everyone knew. No more hiding, no more secrets – John means a lot to me. He's so much more than just my ranking military officer. There have been so many times when he was the only one that could make me realize that not every loss was my fault. He was my rock. After the evacuation I was afraid that I would never get to live that life – a life with John. That has been my biggest fear. Not that we will never return to Atlantis, but that I would have to live with the regret of never knowing. It's just too bad that something horrible had to happen in order for me to act on my feelings."

They headed out around 0500. Teyla hadn't been kidding when she said they were leaving early. Elizabeth had debriefed the other expedition members on the previous day's events. She told them that Teyla, Rodney, Cadman, and herself would be heading out to regroup with Colonel Sheppard and the rest of the expedition.

She informed them that not only did this mission mean they might be reunited with the rest of the expedition, but that they might have a chance at returning to their slumbering city, if they found a ZPM.

"How do we know that you won't just abandon us after you find your dear Colonel?"

There it was. The one voice that she had been dreading once she finished her little recap. How did she know that he would have something to say?

"As much as I'd love to leave you here, Kavanagh – emphasis on you – I wouldn't dream of leaving the rest of my expedition behind just so I could finally be rid of your annoying voice. It wouldn't be fair to make them suffer for your bad behavior. Now would it?"

That definitely was a question that Kavanagh was suppose to answer. Dr. Elizabeth Weir had just put him in his place.

At her last comment, he stormed off in the other direction, as laughter could be heard all throughout the base camp.

It had been awhile since any of them had heard their expedition leader stand up for herself and take charge.

"I must say, that was quite a display Elizabeth." Rodney was grinning from ear to ear. He always wanted to put Kavanagh in his place. Having Elizabeth be the one to beat him to it seemed so much more gratifying.

"It is good to have you back Dr. Weir."

And that was all the interruption that they encountered before leaving. If they moved fast enough they might make it to the gate by mid-day. Which meant they were that much closer toward finding their team.

This was it. They had left for the gate a little after noon, and here they were. He was a little upset that they had started out so late, but he knew he couldn't blame Carson for wanting to do one last check-up on all personal. After who could blame him after what happened last time.

Dr. Lindsay had just come back from the local town nearby with news of a spring that was close to where they were camped. He gathered together a group of men to carry back water in buckets for the expedition. He was sure that the Colonel would send praises up his ally for bringing back fresh water.

Too bad the consequences proved him wrong.

Upon their return Carson immediately went into 'doctor mode.' Everyone who had drunk the water was now dealing with more than just upset stomachs. Symptoms that they were having because the water they had drank was filled with bacteria. After that Carson made sure to check-up on anyone who felt ill before leaving.

Now here they were in the middle of a busy market place, bustling with activity. John decided to leave the jumper cloaked near the gate. If anything went wrong he didn't want the jumper to be found. Not that anything would go wrong. He just thought it better to be safe than sorry.

"Okay," John thought that so far this mission seemed promising. "After all, the worst thing that could happen is that they wouldn't find a ZPM. Other than that things looked good. As he scanned the area he saw that this place looked a lot like every other place or village that he had ever been to. Actually it looked like the least technological advanced place that he had ever been to. How could these people possible possess ancient technology?

"Do you think the guy with the apples was yanking our chain?"

"Colonel, we have barely arrived. Have patience lad."

John just rolled his eyes. They had come so far. He didn't want to go back to the others empty handed.

"Sheppard look." As Ronon pointed toward one if the huts, Carson and John both followed his motion. There hanging from the upper beams of the roof was a ZPM.

"No way. That can't be. It was too easy."

They walked up to the porch of the hut with a glint of humor in their eyes.

"Not everything has to be hard John."

"Carson trust me on this one. Missions that involve ZPMs are never easy."

"Do you think we should just take it?" No one else was making any suggestions, Ronon though the might start.

"Let's see if anyone is home first. I don't want to start off by stealing from them."

"Since when did you grow a conscience? Last time I checked you had no problem taking things that weren't your own."

"Hey I resent that. Besides that was one time, one time. And if I hadn't taken those drones, we wouldn't even have an Atlantis to go back to. Plus they shot at us."

Ronon laughed loudly. He knew that was a sore spot for John.

Carson knocked on the door. A little girl answered.

"Hey lassie, are your parents home?"

She disappeared inside, and a few seconds later a man appeared at the doorway.

"Yes?" He said wearingly. "What do you want?"

"Um yeah, I'm Colonel Sheppard. This hear is Ronon and Beckett. We're new to this part of the galaxy, and …"

Ronon cut in.

"We want your ZPM."

"Hey I thought we agreed I'd handle this."

"Your way takes too long. He doesn't need to know who we are. All he needs to know is we want that." Ronon said as he pointed to the hanging ZPM.

"I'm sorry why do you want our crystal? It is merely a decorative tool among our people. It has no importance."

"Right, well to you it may not, but we, um, we collect them." Wow did that really sound that dumb out loud. It sounded so much better in my head.

Ronon and Carson both glared at John.

"I'm sorry, but that crystal was given to me by a dear friend that past a few weeks back. I can not help you." He attempted to shut the door.

"No wait. Please we really need it. We will give you what ever you want." John was desperate. He needed that ZPM if he ever hoped to see Elizabeth again.

"I'm sorry. I can't help you, but the man up the road owns a cart. I believe he still has three crystals remaining that are up for sale. Good day."

And with that he shut the door in their faces.

"Did he just say three ZPMs?" Carson was just as dumbstruck as any of them

"Three working ZPMz. Do you know what that could do for the city? Atlantis could be run at full power. No more worries of the Wraith."

"Why are we still standing here? I believe he said this cart was just up the street."

"Right." Was all that John needed to say in reply to Ronon's statement. They were going home.

Review please. What do you think will happen next?