Chapter Four

Stargate Atlantis not mine, don't sue

A/N Thanks as always to my wonderful beta. You are adored. :)

Hope you enjoy!

The explosion came a few seconds later sending chunks of dirt and other debris soaring into the air. John grabbed Rodney's arm and they took off towards the tree line, hidden by the dust and smoke they made it over halfway to the forest before their new found friend started firing at them again. Fortunately, their aim seemed to a little off. Blinded perhaps by few nice chunks of rock to the face.

John almost smiled at the thought, until a white blast cut through the tree to his right, as they dove behind a large patch of flowering bushes. His shoulder still ached from the last time that bastard had shot him. He was not looking for a repeat of that anytime soon.

They hid behind the plant life, hoping to catch a glimpse of their attacker. John could hear Rodney's ragged breaths as his friend tried to calibrate the Ancient scanning device to detect the shooter. The red flowers kept tickling John's nose as he leaned into the bush further, waiting for even the slightest movement in front of them. This was a shoot first ask questions later kinda situation. He felt the beginning's of a sneeze coming on, John pinched his nose shut and tried to ignore the exasperated look his team mate gave him.

"What?" John mouthed, barely glancing away from the area he felt hid their tormentor.

"Did I say anything?" Rodney whispered and then went back to his device.

"Got anything yet?"

"If I did, don't you think I'd tell you?"

"Right. Sorry." John did a mental inventory. No radios, but we've got weapons, water, and some energy bars. John patted his pockets and vest. Only one extra clip of ammo, gotta make every shot count.

"Rodney you have any extra clips?"

He watched McKay go through the same process of searching himself. Rodney produced one extra for his 9mm.

"That's better than nothing. Look I don't think he's going to show himself..."

"So we've decided this person is a "he" now?" McKay smirked as he pushed another combination of buttons.

"Let's just say, I 'm sick of thinking of him as an "it" or "person." So it's he for now, until proven otherwise."

"Got it. You know statistically speaking it's probably a man. Men are more likely..." Rodney trailed off at John's "Shut-up" face.

"Now as I was trying to say, I don't think he's going to show himself. Going to retrieve our things is a lost cause. He'll take us out before we take three steps out there."

"Back to the gate then." Rodney guessed.

"Yep. We'll meet up with Ronon and Teyla." McKay started to back out of the large bush. John grabbed his arm, "Listen, stay alert and keep your gun out. I don't want you two feet from me understand."

Rodney nodded and waited until John had stepped out of their shelter before following suit. John's adrenaline was working on overtime, holding position there may not have been the smartest move. Now the son-of-a bitch could be anywhere, he'd given their attacker time to stage another ambush. Real smart Colonel. John signaled for Rodney to follow as he started off in the direction of the gate. Thank god for compasses.

John couldn't help the surge of pride at Rodney's behavior. He was alert, keeping quiet, and ready to fire at a moments notice. He had been paying attention during those training sessions. My little geek has come a long way.

"I don't think there was a Zed pm anyway. The energy reading's weren't matching up. At first I thought it was that it was buried deep underground, but then I realized the numbers still wouldn't have matched up." McKay grumbled from behind him.

"I spoke to soon." Sheppard mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing." John heard a branch breaking, his weapon was aimed and his finger on the trigger in the time it took to blink. He saw Rodney take aim from the corner of his eye.

Two tense moments went by before a squirrel like animal darted out from behind a rock eliciting a small, relieved laugh from both men.

"Damn animals." John glanced at his friend.

"Yes, that one reminded me of my cat. She was always doing that...hiding in the strangest places and deciding to emerge at the most inopportune times you know?"

"I never had a cat. I was always more a dog person myself."

"I had a dog once." Rodney seemed to go somewhere else for a second. "I'm rambling, never mind."

John sized up his team mate. The increased rate of breathing, rapid blinking, and his fingers clenching and unclenching on the handle of his gun. All classic signs that Rodney was uncomfortable with where this conversation was going. He got like that a lot. Personal factoids were far and few between. Rodney would talk you to death about his latest idea or project, but anything about his private life was like pulling teeth.

John knew he should probably let it go. That didn't mean he would.

"What was your dog's name?" Sheppard asked while starting their slow, cautious approach forward again.

To his credit, McKay was less than two feet away within moments. There was a loud sigh. "Shouldn't we be doing less talking and more paying attention to what's around us. Like say...murderous aliens hell bent on killing us and searching our dead, rotting bodies for an item that never was even on this planet."

John smiled. It was usually him telling Rodney to keep quiet. "There's only one alien, and hey, that's a good theory."

"Oh thank you. I'm so glad you found me to useful for something other than-"

"I find you very useful Rodney." John spun around and almost collided with a seriously surprised scientist's face. John squeezed Rodney's shoulder and was delighted to see a lot of the tension melt off his friends face. Maybe we are making some headway despite ourselves. They had to start somewhere, now was as good a time as any. Too bad his attention had to be focused on keeping them from getting shot rather than using this time to talk.

He could do both.

Sorta.

"That makes sense though. He most likely searched the site we were examining, didn't find what he was looking for, and assumed we took it already. Brilliant McKay."

Rodney beamed. "Well of course it is, it was my idea after all?"

John raised and eyebrow and swatted Rodney on the arm. He gestured forward with his gun and quickened their pace. That was most likely why they hadn't been attacked again yet. The jerk had been ransacking their stuff they had been forced to leave behind. Nothing really useful strategically wise, but they couldn't replace some of those thingamajigs McKay had brought along. Good thing there were plenty more at Atlantis.

They walked in alert, but comfortable silence for the next few minutes.

"You never answered my question Rodney?" John broke the silence, but kept his voice low.

"What question?" Rodney had never been a good liar.

John half turned and met his friends seemingly innocent stare, John didn't blink until Rodney crumbled under his intense gaze. "Fine," McKay huffed, "His name was Frodo. Happy now?"

John couldn't stop the huge grin that erupted on his face. "Really?"

"What you think I'd make that up?"

"No. That's cool McKay. I didn't know you were a Lord of The Rings Fan."

He heard the rumple of fabric as Rodney shrugged. "Mystery solved then."

John nodded, "Me too. I even saw all three of the movies."

"Really?"

"Yep."

They traveled a few more feet, negotiating a few fallen trees, and fighting their way up a rocky, slope. Both were breathing a little more heavily after reaching the top.

John took a sip of his water and he noticed Rodney doing the same. Sheppard wiped his brow with the sleeve of his uniform. "Ready?"

McKay took one last sip before reattaching his canteen and starting forward.

"This damn sun." Rodney shot him a slight glare. "Sorry, these damn suns are a killer. I feel like we've walked a lot longer than ten minutes."

"You won't get any arguments from me Colonel."

"There's a first."

"Funny." Rodney was trying to hide a grin.

"So," John pressed on, "What happened to Frodo?"

A few seconds of silence again. "He got out."

John didn't need further explanation. Rodney's tone told the whole sad story on it's own. "I'm sorry. It's always hard, animals become like family."

His friend cleared his throat several times. "Well that was a long time ago. It doesn't matter anymore."

Sure it does. John forced his mouth to keep still. It was amazing he'd gotten Rodney to spill that much. He didn't want to push him too hard, especially after recent events.

Then McKay surprised him yet again. "My dad told me it was my fault. I left the door cracked. I loved that dog, he was my only friend. Then I paid him back my going and letting him down." Rodney's voice got quieter with each word, but John heard every one. He hadn't even realized they'd stopped walking.

They stood facing each other, hidden behind two large, orange tinged trees. The suns were partially blocked by the massive trunks so John could clearly see the redness that had crept up his friends cheeks.

"What am I talking about. I'm sorry, just ignore me. I think the heat's getting to me." He waved his hands dramatically and plastered on a fake smile.

"Rodney."

His friend stared at the collar of his shirt. It would have to do. "You're Dad was wrong. It wasn't your fault Frodo died. You didn't let him down." He touched Rodney's tense arm, "And he wasn't the only one who was wrong."

Rodney's sad, blue eyes were unusually bright when he met John's gaze. He swallowed, and tried to appear okay. "Umm, well, we should get to the gate."

"Yeah." John broke eye contact and released a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding. "We should get there in about ten minutes or so."

Rodney nodded but seemed to be having trouble looking at him. That was okay with the Colonel. He was a little embarrassed himself. Some things were worth the embarrassment. This had been one of them. Rodney sucked at sharing emotions, and John wasn't much better, but they managed.

After a few feet things felt normal again. Rodney had started griping about the uneven ground ruining his posture or something like that. John was just happy to listen.

Rodney fell silent again for a short time. When he spoke his tone was full of vulnerability. "John."

John had only heard his friend use that tone one other time. Right before he'd stepped on that fancy elevator and let the doors close, pretty much severing part of the deep bond they'd formed. Not to mention that he'd never called him John before.

John turned with a lump the size of a golf ball lodged in his throat and met his friends still moist eyes.

Rodney opened his mouth to speak but he never got to start the thought.

A burst of white light passed John's other shoulder by millimeters and collided with his team mates stomach. Rodney wrapped his arms around his injured stomach as his face contorted in pain and he dropped to his knees gasping, panting, and shaking.

John spun and fired at the bushes now in front of him, he was rewarded by a grunt of pain followed by cursing. Yep, definitely a man.

He didn't waste anytime, there were sitting ducks yet again. John grabbed Rodney under his arms and dragged him further into the woods again. John tried not to think but one thought kept running around in his mind, it just wouldn't go away.

This is all my fault. I wasn't paying attention.

John pushed that painful idea away and focused. He had to get them hidden and far away from Mr. Trigger Happy. Unfortunately, that meant keeping some distance from the Stargate. Which was most likely exactly what their attacker wanted.

After a few energy draining, helpless minutes he struck gold. John stumbled upon a small cave, literally. The entrance had been covered by an overgrowth of a large vine like plant that hung down from the top of the cave. It had formed a door of sorts which John had almost fallen through when he attempted to lean on it , while catching his breath.

"Looks like our luck is changing Rodney." He pulled back the vines and dragged Rodney inside and laid him gently on the ground, placing his jacket behind his friends neck.

The vines had fallen back into place, they should be safe for the moment. He would never have found this cavern if not for his mishap. The lighting was dim, but the plant allowed enough through for him to tend to his still trembling friend. "Damn, no wonder I scared you." John whispered as he touched Rodney's brow. "If you're trying to get back at me, consider it done. You're scaring the shit out of me now."

John made a silent oath to himself as he held his friends still shaking hand and told him it was okay, they were safe, that the pain would pass.

Never again, no matter what I will protect him with my life. Even if I have to make him resent me again to do it.

end chapter four

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