"Mc…Kay," Adair gritted through his teeth, channeling Sheppard's tone almost perfectly.

"One second," Rodney mumbled, keying in the final command.

The Texan's easy going manner began to slip, "Doctor, we don't have a second!"

Rodney responded by holding up one finger and then pointing to the Asgard. "Increase power to the thrusters…now!"

Hermiod nodded in understanding as he completed the task. Almost immediately the Daedalus jerked as if someone had hit the brakes too hard, sending half the crew to the floor again. "Outer hull shield strength returning to seventy-five percent."

"That should be enough to safely clear the atmosphere."

Captain Adair glanced back and forth between the pair, first to McKay and then Hermiod. "What did you do? What did he do?"

"Doctor McKay transferred all available power from secondary systems to the thrusters."

The smug look on the astrophysicist's face slipped as he watched the numbers begin to change rapidly on the readouts displayed before him. "But now we have to figure out how to get past my temporary bypass."

This didn't sound good. "What did you do to my ship?"

"He rerouted the power from navigational control."

"You did what? I thought you said secondary systems! How in the hell are we supposed to land this ship without navigational control?"

Rodney licked his lips nervously, "Manually."

"Doctor, in case you haven't noticed, this ain't exactly my daddy's crop duster we're in. Even on her good days she steers about as well as hard-mouthed mule."

"Not a lot of choices here," Rodney reminded him.

"Okay, okay," said the captain in a determinedly cheerful tone. "Just tell me what to do."

Hermiod muttered in annoyance. "The ship will require Doctor McKay to continue monitoring the thrusters and stabilizers while decreasing our speed during the landing. I will remove flight systems from the computer override. Captain Adair, you will need to assist your pilot and take manual control of the guidance system."

"Is that all?" Adair winked at the anxious Lt. McEnroe, putting the young pilot a bit more at ease. "Piece of cake, Marty," he assured him as he took the evacuated seat next to the pilot. He rubbed the side of his face before focusing intently on the display before them. "Though this would be a lot easier if we could just open a window and see what we were doing."

The young pilot watched the captain and shrugged. Not to be outdone by his commander's cavalier facade, he entwined his fingers and casually popped his knuckles before gripping the back up control unit. "We can do this just like a flight simulator, Sir."

"We have cleared orbit and have entered the general atmosphere of the planet," the Asgard announced, ignoring the Captain. "Atlantis's position is 60 kilometers. Begin decreasing forward thrust."

McKay's gaze was fixed tightly on his display, sweat beading across his forehead as he focused intently on maintaining the damaged thrusters. The ship did a drunken sway before he was able to access the stabilizers and smooth the descent.

"Thirty kilometers," Hermiod announced.

"Didn't we already go through this once?" Adair mumbled to himself. His hands on the control, he began steer the large ship towards the increasing speck on his display. "Come on, girl," he encouraged under his breath. "Nice and easy like."

The ship swayed at a further decrease to the forward thrusters.

"You're doin' good, Doc, just slow her down a little more."

The communications system on board the Daedalus remained deathly quiet as all the crew held their breath.

"Five kilometers."

Adair focused entirely on the ship's display. "That's it girl, a couple more miles and we're home free." Atlantis loomed large before them. Suddenly a shower of sparks erupted from Rodney's console and the ship began to shake even more violently as the thrusters stuttered.

"Oh no," exclaimed the scientist, rapidly flipping switches on his console. "No, no, no!"

oOo

Beckett shaded his eyes from the sun with his hand as he watched the rapidly descending ship from the end of the east pier. He shot a quick, anxious glance at Sheppard. "Aren't they coming in a little fast?" The Daedalus loomed ever larger in the sky and the roar of its massive thrusters could now be plainly heard

"A bit," said Sheppard squinting against the glare. "They're still okay, though." The words were no sooner out of his mouth when there was a stuttering sound from the engines followed by an ominous silence. "Oh crap." He exchanged a brief deer-in-the-headlights look with Beckett before yelling, "Move!" Shoving the doctor towards the relative safety of the city, he shouted at the rest of the Atlantis volunteers to take cover as well.

oOo

"Doctor McKay?" said Hermiod.

Adair thought he detected the tiniest amount of concern in the Asgard's otherwise unemotional demeanor.

"Working on it," replied Rodney in a singsong voice as he rapidly rerouted several power conduits. There was an ear-splitting screech of metal as the thrusters roared back to life, abruptly slowing their decent and knocking most of the crew to the floor yet again.

The pilot's long fingers eased the controls and the ship shuddered again as it struggled to dump its momentum just meters above Atlantis before landing with a final jarring impact. Most of the crew had had the common sense to stay down after the last turbulent episode and were now picking themselves up off the floor.

Adair spun around in his seat with an ear-splitting grin aimed at the pale scientist and grey alien, "WHOOO HOO! Whadda ride!" Tapping into the ship's communication system, he announced, "This is your captain speaking. Thank you for flying Daedalus Air. We hope you enjoyed your brief flight and take advantage of your temporary layover at the lovely city of Atlantis. All crew members are permitted five minutes to thank their makers before fixing my ship. Adair out." Scrubbing his face with his hands in relief, he exchanged a more sober glance with his white-faced pilot and said quietly, "Let's not do this again anytime soon, okay?"

"Fine with me, Sir," replied McEnroe, shakily.

"You did real good, Marty," said Adair. Looking around the room at his bedraggled crew, he clapped his hands together briskly. "We got work to do, folks."

oOo

Sheppard's group had only made it a few yards when there was a muffled boom as the engines reignited several hundred meters above the pier. Daedalus squealed in protest at the sudden changes in force, struggling to slow her decent. A few seconds later, she landed none too gently on the east pier, jarring everyone and causing several people to lose their balance completely; only Sheppard's quick grab at a medical tech's lab coat saved the man from a dunking as he was nearly knocked off the edge of the pier.

"Everyone okay?" asked Sheppard, quickly taking a mental inventory of everyone present.

Someone said something about needing a change of underwear and a wave of nervous laughter coursed though the group.

"Colonel?" came Weir's worried inquiry over the radio.

"Everyone and everything's in one piece," he assured her.

The Daedalus's main hatch was unsealed from the inside and a disheveled head poked out, nodded in Beckett's direction, and disappeared back into the ship. A flood of medical personnel filed past Sheppard and through the hatch. Once they had passed though the doorway, the captain, pilot, and Rodney all exited the ship.

"Nice landing," remarked Sheppard, wryly.

The captain looked a little pale, though his voice was steady when he replied, "What's that expression you pilots use? Any landing you walk away from…" He gave the young pilot, who was wiping sweat off his face with a shaky hand, an approving slap on the back. "Marty here's a damn fine back-up pilot."

Sheppard grinned at them and took in McKay's ashen appearance. "You okay, Rodney?" he asked, amused.

The scientist was looking back at the Daedalus with a dazed expression. "Yeah, I'm fine." But his voice was an octave above normal.

"You like flying, remember?" Sheppard said, encouragingly.

"Flying, yes. Crashing, not so much. Not at all, really." He blinked, refocusing on the here and now. "Though it certainly happens often enough when you're flying so you'd think I'd be used to it by now."

"Only twice," said Sheppard, giving the scientist's comment a dismissive shrug. "It's not like I blew up an entire solar system or anything." He turned his attention back to Adair who was eyeing the damage control team and evaluating the various people and equipment from Atlantis that had been assembled. "Captain?" he invited.

"We've got people trapped on deck C and we still haven't been able to get through to the bridge. Dr. McKay hasn't been able to convince the bulkheads to retract." He nodded towards the tanks and torches. "We're going to have to cut our way through so them extra torches'll come in handy."

"We're at your disposal," said Sheppard, making it clear to the captain that he had no plans to usurp Adair's authority despite his higher rank.

"Three men and torches for the bridge and the rest can head to deck C," Adair suggested immediately. "Chuck is heading things up over there and he'll know how best to use 'em. I swear he sleeps with the damned blueprints under his pillow."

Grinning, Sheppard split the men and equipment, choosing to follow the team the captain led towards the bridge.

oOo

Adair stood back with Sheppard, out of range of the plasma cutters, as two of their men worked to cut through the second door that would give them access to the bridge. Cutting through the first Trinium alloy bulkhead had taken almost an hour, even with Sheppard and the captain cutting simultaneously. The other teams had reported equally slow progress on deck C. The small area between the two bulkheads where Sheppard and Adair were standing was sweltering from the heat given off by the torches and all four of the men were now soaked with sweat and covered grime.

"The Commander's gonna be madder than a hornet when he sees what we've done to his ship," said the captain. He took a long swig from the bottle of water the medic had brought them and then tipped his head back and poured the remainder over his face.

"I'll take the blame if you want," offered Sheppard from beside him, emptying his own bottle in a similar attempt to sluice away the outermost layer of dirt and sweat.

The captain shook the water from his hair and eyes and gave Sheppard a small worried grin as he glanced at his watch and back at the slow progress they were making on the door. "Just this once, I don't think I'll mind."

"That's got it, Sir," said one of the engineers, turning off his torch as he and his partner stepped back away from the bulkhead door.

Sheppard pushed on it and when it didn't give immediately, he shot Adair an inviting look. Both men braced themselves on one foot and kicked with the flat of their boots against the door. It creaked and groaned. A few more well placed kicks and the center section gave way, landing on the floor with a loud clang. The men stepped back giving the medics room to pass, and handed through their equipment before entering the bridge themselves. The place looked like a war zone. A light fog of smoke hung in the air and various connections crackled intermittently and spit sparks. The emergency lighting glowed dimly, highlighting the debris that littered the floor.

Caldwell was lying to one side of Lieutenant Drake, his hand clamped on her leg. A pool of blood was on the deck under them and his hand was red and slick with it.

The lead medic quickly radioed for additional personnel and gurneys as he gripped Drake's bleeding leg above Caldwell's hand. "I've got her now, Sir."

Caldwell pulled his cramped hand away with some effort and rolled over onto his back, blinking at his surroundings, taking short, shallow breaths.

Adair knelt down beside his commander. "Colonel?"

Caldwell blinked at him. "Captain…"

"Sir?" Adair prompted when his commander paused to take a painful breath.

"That had to be the worst landing I've ever been through, and that includes the helicopter crash in Afghanistan when I broke both my legs."

"Young Marty will be heartbroken to hear that, Sir," replied Adair wryly. "He was pretty damn proud he managed to land the ship in one piece without wetting himself."

Caldwell's lips quirked ever so slightly in response. He searched his captain's eyes. "How many did we lose?"

Adair glanced worriedly at the still forms of Drake and the two other members of the bridge crew who had apparently been knocked unconscious during the ordeal. "None, so far."

"And where exactly are we?"

"Atlantis's east pier, and it looks like we're gonna be staying a spell. Life support systems are completely shot to hell." Adair rubbed his arm across his forehead in a vain attempt to wipe away the sweat that was dripping into his eyes.

"I'm sure Dr. Weir will be thrilled," said Caldwell, dryly. A clang in the hallway announced the arrival of additional medical personnel and their equipment. Caldwell glanced towards the noise, doing a slight double take as he noticed the bulkhead door. He looked back at Adair. "Did you cut a hole in my ship, Captain?"

"Truth be told, Sir, we cut a few more than one."

The urge to close his eyes winning out, the colonel let them slide briefly shut. "Remind me to dock your pay accordingly."

"Yes, Sir," replied Adair, smiling slightly.

There was a loud popping noise and one of the overhead pipes began venting coolant. Adair instantly jumped up and crossed the bridge, spinning a valve to reroute it.

"You've got a good one there," said Sheppard quietly, kneeling down to take Adair's place by Caldwell's side.

"He's not nearly as hick as he likes people to think he is," agreed Caldwell, grimacing in pain as he shifted slightly. "He does, however, have the disconcerting habit of treating the Daedalus like he treats his horses. But he knows this ship like the back of his hand. And he's damn good at his job." He turned to watch as Beckett wrapped a pressure bandage around Drake's leg while the medic started an I.V.

The orderlies gently lifted her onto a gurney and the medic followed them off the bridge. Two more gurneys trailed behind them with the remaining unconscious crewmembers.

Beckett turned his attention towards Caldwell and wrapped a blood pressure cuff around his arm. He took in the injured man's pale, sweaty appearance as well as the tight lines of pain around his mouth. "How are you feeling, Colonel?"

"Not too well," the senior officer admitted.

Beckett narrowed his eyes unhappily at the low blood pressure reading. "Where does it hurt?" he asked, his tone all business.

"Right side." He lifted his arm slightly to give the doctor better access.

Beckett unzipped Caldwell's jumpsuit and pulled his shirt up to reveal a purpling bruise just under the colonel's ribs. He checked the area for tenderness and rigidity before starting an I.V., handing the bag to Sheppard to hold.

"Adair," Caldwell painfully called from his position on the floor.

"Yes, Sir?" asked the captain as he made his way back through the debris.

"I expect to get my ship back in the same condition it was in before you took command," he said, waving vaguely towards the ruined bulkhead doors.

"Venting atmosphere and running on emergency power?" asked the captain, a hint of smile touched his weatherworn face.

The ship's commander grunted, acknowledging the captain's point. "Better condition then."

"Fair enough, Sir." He stood back to give the orderlies room as they hoisted Caldwell onto the remaining gurney and wheeled him toward the door.

Beckett stayed behind a minute to gather up the rest of his supplies. Slinging his pack over his shoulder, he answered the captain's unspoken question, "There are signs of internal bleeding. But, the good news is, it's a slow bleed or he'd already be dead." He watched as Adair's eyes were drawn towards the pool of blood that had formed where Drake had lain. "We'll treat them like they're our own, Captain," he said kindly and gave Adair's arm an encouraging clap before leaving.

Rodney paused briefly on the other side of the ragged bulkhead door, allowing Beckett to pass through before entering the bridge. He was carrying a data recorder and several other devices. "Weir wants to meet with you both as soon as possible, but I strongly suggest a shower and a change of clothes first." He gave their grungy appearance a disdainful look, then completely ignored them as he made his way over to a bridge console and began downloading data.

"I just want to check and see how the team is coming with the bulkheads on deck C first," Adair said to Sheppard.

The colonel nodded in agreement. "I'll come with," he said, knowing that neither of them would be able to relax until everyone had been freed.

oOo

The appetizing aroma of Athosian stew filled the air of the conference room. "I doubted either of you took the time to eat," Weir said as she doled out two bowlfuls and handed them to Adair and Sheppard. She took a third bowl for herself and gestured for the captain to take a seat, giving him a wry smile. "I do appreciate, though, that you and Colonel Sheppard took advantage of a shower before you decided to join me."

"Yes, we both do," said Rodney, sopping up the last of the juices from the bottom of his bowl with a piece of bread before popping it in his mouth. His hopeful glance towards the pot of stew changed to one of disappointment when Elizabeth didn't offer to refill his bowl. He sighed and got up to ladle himself a second helping.

Adair accepted the bowl gratefully from Weir and pulled out her chair for her before taking a seat for himself, ignoring the incredulous look McKay shot him at his antiquated manners. "Thank you kindly, Ma'am. My stomach was beginning to think my throat'd been cut." He stabbed at a chunk of vegetable, popping it in his mouth, and chewed it with gusto.

"I hear all of your people are now accounted for?" said Weir, taking a small spoonful of the savory stew and blowing on it gently.

"It took awhile but we finally got to the folks trapped on Deck C," he said, shoving another spoonful of stew into his mouth and sucking in air around it when he found it too hot to chew immediately.

Weir smiled at his enthusiastic attack on the food before taking on a more serious demeanor. "This is what we've discovered while you were both busy with rescue operations." Sliding over two copies of the report, she watched as both officers slid their dinners aside to make room.

Sheppard began reading but didn't get far before he glanced up at Weir, frowning. Her slight nod confirmed his interpretation of the results. Rodney looked grim as well.

After several minutes of silence the captain paused and put down his fork altogether and flipped back and forth, rereading several sections. "This ain't right. There's nothing in those two sections of the ship that could have been the source of an explosion, even a secondary one. There's really only one possibility." He looked up at them, meeting their eyes and realizing they knew it too.

"Rodney and I agree," said Weir. "We're ready to send a preliminary report to SGC via the Stargate as soon as possible."

Adair pondered her comments for a few moments as the implications sank in. "I'd sure like to discuss this with the Commander, though, and get his take on things before you do that."

"Last report was that Colonel Caldwell was in still in surgery and I don't think this can wait, do you?"

"No," agreed Adair, looking at the report results unhappily.

"Then we're agreed. We'll alert Stargate Command immediately."


AN: Equal opportunity whumping. It was time Caldwell joined the club. Don't worry, there's enough to go around. ;-)