Chapter 4
The ship landed smoothly in a clearing near the edge of a forest, slipping between the trees. John sighed and glanced over at Elizabeth.
"Alright Liz, we're about twenty minutes by skimmer from the coordinates, the trees should make it hard for anyone to locate us from orbit. Let's go."
"No." She stared at him. "You're staying here."
"Excuse me?" John asked in disbelief.
"You heard me John, you're staying." John stood, feeling the shock inside melting under a rising rage.
"Now wait a bloody minute here Elizabeth! I am one of the best fighters in this galaxy, god only knows what you're getting into-" He broke off as Elizabeth also stood, and grabbed his arm.
"Yes John, I know you're good, that's why you're staying!" He started to speak but she interrupted him in a calmer voice. "Look, I know you want to go out there, and I wish you could. But you can't. The Genii still want you dead, remember? Besides, if we get in trouble and need a pick up I'd rather have you at the controls than Mckay. You're the pilot, remember?" He smiled slightly.
"How could I forget?" He stopped, but she continued to stare at him until he looked away. "I'll stay with the ship, Captain." She winced at his formal voice, then nodded and left. John leaned against the wall and ran his fingers through his hair. "Damn." He left the cockpit and headed back to the cargo hold, passing Teyla and Ronon in the living area. He nodded to them, but left them preparing weapons. He entered the cargo hold and found Lorne preparing the skimmer.
"Hey Sheppard, you ready?" asked the cheerful younger man.
"Not exactly." Lorne looked around, confused. "I'm not going. The captain wants me to stay with the ship, be ready in case you need an evac." Lorne nodded slowly.
"And you're okay with that?" John shrugged.
"She's the captain, remember? I didn't exactly have a choice in the matter." Lorne nodded.
"Well, kinda wish you were tagging along, but we'll manage. Just be ready in case we do need help."
"I'll be waiting." John turned to leave.
"Sheppard." He turned back. Lorne looked uncomfortable, but continued. "I'll, I'll...keep an eye on her." John smiled.
"Thanks." He headed back into the living area. Teyla, Ronon and Elizabeth were heading back to the cargo area.
"Luck guys." They nodded. Elizabeth paused as if to speak, but he walked past. He sat down in the pilot's seat and activated the security feed from the cargo hold. Elizabeth, Ronon, Teyla and Lorne were all on the skimmer. Mckay stood to the side at the door controls. He watched as the doors opened and the skimmer left the bay, Elizabeth glancing back as if to see someone. Or was that just his imagination? He shook his head and started a standard diagnostic. He also leaned over and activated the remote tracking system on the railguns. Better safe than sorry. Mckay wandered into the cockpit.
"So, not going then?" He flopped into the co-pilot's seat.
"Nah, thought it'd be a good idea for me to hang back in case they need help."
"Sure, it was your decision. That's believable." Mckay commented sarcastically. John rolled his eyes. It was going to be a long wait.
SGA-SGA-SGA
John was still sitting in the pilot's seat two hours later. Lorne had contacted him half an hour earlier to say that they'd found the site and that the Genii were already there. Since then, nothing. The engines were primed, weapons ready. John was tapping his leg rapidly, waiting.
"Come on guys, what's happening?" He longed to use the radio, but knew it might compromise them. All he could do was wait. Suddenly, the motion sensors lit up. He looked over at the display.
"Lorne." He tapped the intercom. "Mckay, grab a gun and meet me at the cargo hold. Now." He stood and ran back to the hold, drawing his blaster as he went. Rodney emerged from the engine room looking confused.
"What's happening?"
"Just saw Lorne on the scanners."
"What about the others?"
"I thought we might ask him that!" John snapped back. They entered the hold and opened the door. Lorne ran up into the bay and collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath. John closed the door and ran over to him.
"Lorne, Lorne you alright?" He continued to gasp, then his breathing slowed so that he could speak.
"Genii...found us in the ruins. I got away, had to lose pursuit before I came back."
"What about the others! Lorne!" John grabbed his shoulder tightly. "What about the others!" Lorne sat up, and stared straight at him.
"They've been captured." John stood and started to move towards the door. "John!" He turned back as Lorne called after him. "John, don't. They've got ships in orbit waiting for you to break cover."
"We have to go back!" Rodney broke in angrily.
"I know, but we can't try blasting our way in, there's too many of them. You and me." Lorne said, looking at John. "We'll go in, sneak around, try and break them out. We go with the ship we'll be dead before we reach the ruins."
"Did you find what they were looking for?"
"Oh yeah, we found it... but that's not important. C'mon John, this is the only way." John nodded slowly.
"Alright, let's do this. Lorne, get yourself together, get some extra ammo. Mckay, we may still need the cavalry to get out. If I call, you come running, understood?"
"Wait wait wait, you expect me to fly this thing? I'm an engineer, not a pilot!"
"Look, I didn't teach you how to fly just for the hell of it! You can do this, alright?" Mckay nodded, looking slightly ill. "Good. Alright Lorne, I'll be ready soon." John turned to leave.
"John, one last thing... I saw the Genii leader... it's Kolya." John froze at the door, his hands clenching into fists as adrenalin shot through him.
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yeah, I'm sure. John, we can't have your desire for revenge get in the way of the rescue!"
"It won't, but if he gets in our way, he's mine." John left the hold.
AN:
Sorry to anyone who was waiting but real life kept getting in the
way. No idea when the next chapter will be done, but lots of lovely
reviews might encourage me! Seriously though, please review, it takes so little time but makes such a huge difference.
