Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate Atlantis…(insert witty comment here).

Worst Case Scenario

"Run McKay, run!"

"I'm running as fast as I can!"

"Well, run faster!"

Lt. Colonel John Sheppard glanced over his shoulder, grimacing as he saw the black creatures hurtling after them. The size was deceptive with the pace at which the creatures were flying. Something about the fact that they were nearly the size of his finger – and at a distance – made him less than willing to slow down.

"Sheppard, water ahead." Ronon called back, his long legs carrying him faster than the others.

They followed Ronon's lead, diving into the water head first.

John surfaced, glancing around for the rest of his team, and watched as they too, surfaced. The dark cloud of flying insects was approaching at an alarming rate.

"I hope they don't like water," John had time to yell, before the cloud of bugs descended on them.

He took a deep breath, before submerging himself in the water. Not soon enough though, as a sharp pain shot through his neck. He resurfaced for air, hearing the shouts of his teammates as they too got stung.

"I thought you said they didn't like water!" He yelled, slapping at the large bugs.

"I didn't say that!" Rodney yelled back, letting out a yell as a bug found its target.

"Well, it's not helping!" John winced as he began to swim back to shore. He'd rather get stung and dial the gate, than get stung while stranded in water.

"Head for the Stargate," Teyla yelled, cutting off John in the process of yelling the same thing.

The foursome headed at breakneck pace for the Gate.

"First one there, dial it up!" He yelled. A free-for-all was never a good idea, but John wasn't going to stick around to get stung if he didn't have to. Besides, being taken out by wraith was honorable. Being taken out by a couple of Pegasus variety bees was…well not as honorable.

"Ouch…ouch…ouch…" The yelps of pain came from everyone, though Ronon appeared to be more amused by it then actually pained.

"Glad you're enjoying yourself Ronon," John ground out, as the wormhole finally engaged.

"Hold up…" he sent the IDC through, along with the message, "We're coming in hot."

The four of them stampeded through the Stargate, pausing only when they reappeared in Atlantis.

Suddenly John ripped a grenade from his vest, and pulling the pin, threw it through the event horizon. The shield went up as the grenade went off.

"Colonel Sheppard, what happened? Was it wraith?" Doctor Elizabeth Weir's voice was concerned. "And why are you wet?"

John turned to look up at her, a grimace on his face.

"Ask Rodney." He muttered, before wincing as he gingerly touched a welt.

Elizabeth never got the chance to ask Rodney as all four members of SA-1 fell to the floor, unconscious.

"Medical team to the gate room!" She all but yelled, hurrying down to crouch beside John.

"Elizabeth…" Carson was cut off as he saw all four members downed. "Do you know what happened?" He saw her shake her head, and then his team were transporting the members to the infirmary.

John awoke in the infirmary, glancing around to find that the privacy curtain was pulled. He realized he was in scrubs and winced as he shifted around. He ached and the IV port in his arm wasn't helping matters.

Carson arrived, as did Elizabeth Weir.

"Aye, Colonel Sheppard, you're awake."

"Yes…how are the others?" John managed to ask.

"Resting peacefully…what were those things?" Elizabeth was eyeing John with ill-contained impatience.

John shrugged, wincing as the welts on him rubbed against the scrubs.

"Near as we can figure," Carson began, "they're quite similar to bees. Their stings left large welts, which I'm sure you're feeling by now. Fortunately, you're all on anti-venom medication, and frankly it's a miracle that you managed to make it to Atlantis."

"Yeah, well, tell McKay if he wakes up, that his idea was fantastic." John glanced to his left, but the curtain pulled obscured his view.

"I heard that, Sheppard," came Rodney's indignant voice, from the right side.

"Aye, and now you're both going to get something to help you sleep." Carson brought out a needle from somewhere and injected the contents into John's port. "Sleep tight colonel."

Both Carson and Elizabeth smiled as they heard John mutter: "Don't let the bed bugs bite."

EPILOGUE:

A day later, Carson released the group from his infirmary. He was pleased that their welts had gone down and all but disappeared. It was fortunate that none of them had had a severe reaction to the bees' venom. A not-so-worst case scenario, Carson reviewed, as the four members happily escaped his clutches.