Sorry it took so long guys. Three fics going at once is...interesting. But here we go...

Chapter Three

not mine, don't sue

Thank you to my lovely beta as always. :)

"A ship." John let out the breath he'd been holding. "Well….that doesn't sound so bad."

"Actually," Rodney huffed. "Whether it's good or bad depends on who's on board now doesn't it. Wouldn't want a Wraith sneaking up on us….sucking the life out of us." McKay rubbed his chin. "Don't want to be losing these boyish good looks anytime soon." He flashed John a teasing smile.

John couldn't help but smile back. Their banter was familiar and friendly. It was a much needed change from the tension moments before.

"I don't think you have to worry about that Rodney…..they're already gone." John cut off any smart ass comeback with, "Teyla more details. Do you recognize the vessel? Anyone we know?"

He heard McKay mumble something about "nasty life suckers." "Someone friendly we hope." John cocked his head and mouthed. "Happy now?"

"We'll see." Rodney crossed his arms over his chest.

"I am sorry Colonel. I do not recognize the ships configuration. Ronon however believes that only one person was on board." There was a short pause while Teyla conferred with Ronan before the radio crackled to life again. "The bad news is Ronan also feels this person is a threat."

"I knew it." Rodney threw his hands up in the air.

"Hush Rodney. You can whine later. Explain?" He barked into the radio.

Ronon Dex's deep voice came through the device. "I took the liberty of searching the inside of the ship."

"Oh did you." John's voice held a note of annoyance.

"Yes. I felt it was necessary. "

"Was it unlocked..or did you just kick down the door and…."

"Actually Doctor I just shot the locking mechanism off the door. There was no kicking involved."

"Oh well, then it's alright. I'm sure if you just explain to the nice alien that you shot it off….he'll walk away and be just fine with you trashing his ship!"

"Down boy," John whispered. "McKay's right." John felt a flicker of hurt at Rodney's surprised expression. Were they that bad off that McKay was shocked that he would agree with him? Trouble just had to pop up at the worst moments. Like when you were trying to mend a crumbling relationship with a good friend.

"We'll discuss this later….right now I need to know what you found out."

Ronon proceeded to tell them the delightful news that the ship was loaded with enough arsenal to start a war. If that wasn't enough….a large chunk was missing. Meaning the owner had them on him or her person. The tracks led away from the ship…in their general direction.

"You think our visitor is investigating the same readings as McKay and me?"

"I would say that is a likely assumption Colonel." Teyla sounded worried.

McKay sighed drawing John's attention. "I agree with Teyla. There's nothing else of value on this planet as far as Atlantis's sensors could tell. We came here because of the energy emitting from this area, I'd say so did our friend."

John nodded his agreement. "Naturally. Okay here's how were gonna handle this. I don't like being ambushed. Whether this man….or woman is alone or not…they have the advantage. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say they aren't showing up on our sensors."

"No. I'm only picking up four life signs in a…" Rodney squinted at the pad, "Five mile radius. So unless he's not coming to us….?"

"Great. " His feelings of being watched had increased ten fold now. "So what we need to do is regroup. We'll meet back at the Stargate in." John glanced at his watch. "Say thirty minutes."

"Agreed." Teyla replied.

"Stay sharp guys. Let's maintain radio silence unless it's an emergency."

"Understood Colonel. Teyla out."

"Well," John smiled grimly and checked to make sure his P-90 was fully loaded. " Guess we get to get off this planet now after all."

"Very funny. Just let me get my gear. "

"Hurry it up. I want to get out of the open. Were sitting ducks here Rodney."

"I know, I know." Rodney bent down to reach for his pack.

John eyes darted to the tree line again. They were in the perfect place to be caught off guard. Life had a way of being ironic.

No sooner had that thought entered his mind when he felt a stabbing pain collide with his right shoulder. "Shit." He grunted while he felt his knees slam into the ground. Pain radiated from the wound all the way to his toes. What the hell hit me?

Blackness swam into his vision…he tried to warn McKay but his voice seemed to have run away with his muscle strength.

So this is what being helpless feels like.

John had almost lost himself to the pain and darkness when a panicked, familiar voice started yelling in his right ear.

"John. You have to get up. We have to move…now." John focused on that voice and crawled back up to awareness. He forced his eyes to open and was relieved to see his friend staring back at him with worry filled blue eyes.

Rodney crawled to his left side, ducking the volley of white energy that was now flying over their heads. How had they gotten behind this rock? Jesus how out was I?

McKay must have dragged him over here, avoiding the weapons fire and keeping them both alive. John cleared his parched throat. "Good job Rodney."

A small nod. "Are you back with me now?"

" I think so. What the hell happened?"

"You tell me. One moment I was putting my supplies away the next you collapsed on the ground writhing in pain." He looked away for a second. "You scared the shit out of me."

"Yeah….I got hit…. I think."

"I guessed as much. I can't find any external wound though. No blood." He pointed towards John's shoulder. "You seemed to be protective of that spot., but when I looked, there was nothing."

"That's where I got hit." John probed the area…nothing. "That's strange."

The fire started up again. "But I guess we can solve that mystery later," John rolled his tense shoulders backward a few times. "It's better now….really." He added at Rodney's skeptical glare.

"You armed?" John decided it was time to go on the offensive.

"Of course." Rodney waved his 9mm in the air.

John nodded. He went to contact Ronon and Teyla and noticed one other big problem besides the weapon's fire over their heads. "My radio's missing."

Rodney searched himself and blanched. "I left mine on my pack. Yours must have fallen off when I was dragging you." Rodney leaned his head against the rock. "That's me….Mr. Screw-up."

John placed a hand on his friends hunched shoulders. "You did great Rodney. We'll just head for the Stargate like we planned. They'll be waiting for us there."

"Right." He sat up and held his gun at the ready.

"Okay we need to reach that tree line. It'll give us the cover we need. I'm going to toss this." He held up a grenade. "When it goes off we take off like a bat out of hell in that direction." John pointed.

"Got it."

"Okay on three. One….two…three." John pulled the pin and flung the grenade in the direction of the fire.

end chapter three

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