You'll all be happy! I did two chapters this time, and I made sure one of them was an update on John's side this time. :-)


Sergeant Lewis lowered the shield on the stargate and glanced down at the gateroom, just in time to see Colonel Sheppard storming toward the stairs. He immediately grabbed a data pad and retreated to the back of the room, where his commander hopefully wouldn't see him. The man had been entirely unpredictable ever since Dr.Weir had been kidnapped; Lewis had already had the misfortune of being caught in that firestorm once before, and he had no desire to do so again.

Teyla sighed as she watched the skittish base staff edge quickly away from the Colonel, pretending to find other matters which suddenly needed their full attention. She was beginning to worry about him. His frustration was starting to bleed through to interactions with his subordinates, and it wasn't helping the situation at all…except to make everyone even more determined to get Dr.Weir back.

As she climbed the stairs, Teyla heard John barking orders into his radio. "I don't give a damn!" he practically yelled into the transmitter. "Eliz….Dr.Weir is still out there and we're not going to find her any faster with all of you sitting on your asses waiting for the rain to stop! That's why we have raingear! Lieutenant, I want you and your team in the gateroom in no less than one hour, geared up and ready to go. Sheppard out!" With that, he bent over and began banging commands into an unsuspecting laptop.

Teyla quietly slipped over to Sergeant Lewis and asked in a hushed voice, "What was the Colonel so upset about?"

Lewis glanced around nervously before letting out sigh and answering. "Lt. Harrison's team was assigned to check out a planet that's currently experiencing a torrential rainstorm, and the only two jumpers we have in working order are both taken already. Apparently, the Colonel decided they could handle the flooding on foot."

Her eyes narrowed as she caught the hint of disapproval in the Sgt.'s voice. "You disagree?" she asked.

"Well, ma'am, I think the floods would be ok, but that team only just got back three hours ago from a two-day hike on another planet. They're dead tired, but he's not giving anyone downtime at all. As soon as they're medically cleared, each team heads back out again. It's starting to take its toll. I wouldn't complain, but I just watched all the guys on the last team fall asleep during their debriefing…and they're all marines."

Teyla's eyes widened slightly at this piece of news, and she decided that she would have to speak with the Colonel about his behavior. Steeling herself against his inevitable outburst, she called his name and approached.

"Colonel Sheppard, may I have a word? Perhaps in Dr.Weir's office?" She phrased it as a request, but her eyes told him that it was in his best interests not to refuse. Obviously swallowing an angry retort, he turned and stalked into the office in front of her.

He took a seat on the small couch in the office, crossed his arms, and tried to put on a neutral face, although it did little to hide his crystal clear frustration. Teyla took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Colonel, I know you are worried about Dr.Weir and are anxious to have her returned to us. Believe me, we all feel the same. I also understand your frustration over the amount of time it is taking to find her, but I'm afraid that you might be pushing everyone, including yourself, too hard."

She paused, and his eyes narrowed threateningly. She realized she was about to receive a healthy dose of his hostility, but she stood her ground and looked him determinedly in the eye.

"Teyla, it's been five days." He seemed calm and quiet, but his eyes showed his burning anger, though she suspected it was directed more at the situation than at her. "Five days, and we still haven't gone through even half the damn list! At this rate, she'll be dead by the time we find her! I'm sorry if they can't take the pace, but I don't ask any more of them than I ask of myself!" His voice was rising steadily with every sentence, and Teyla moved to cut him off with a gesture.

"Yes, but that is part of the problem. You haven't slept more than two hours at a time since we first began searching, and I don't think you have eaten in almost two days. You can't expect your people to function well under the same conditions. To tell the truth, I'm unsure how you have managed to stay upright for this long yourself. You need rest, John. We all need rest."

The fatigue hit him as soon as she commented on it, and he seemed to deflate before her eyes. Along with exhaustion, she caught a glimpse of something she couldn't quite decipher in his eyes.

John ran a hand over his face and sighed, "Teyla, I just want to find her. I need her to be here." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the sofa.

Teyla walked over and sat down beside him, placing a hand on his arm. She knew the Colonel and the Doctor were close, but she hadn't realized how much they depended on each other until now.

"We will find her. Of that I have no doubt." She paused and waited for him to agree, but she was startled when she received no response. "Just a quick break, John. Twenty-four hours. Give everyone a day to rest, and we'll start back tomorrow."

Eyes still closed, Sheppard nodded, although Teyla caught the barely detectable grimace that crossed his features before he agreed. He blames himself, feels like he's failing her, she thought sadly to herself. She squeezed his arm and said, "I'll let everyone know about the change in orders. Get some rest. Elizabeth will need you at your best when we find her."

She stood up, and he shifted so that he was lying down on the small couch. Teyla stopped in the doorway and looked back at him. His face was clouded with worry and frustration, even in sleep.

Teyla sighed and headed out to issue the new orders. I hope we find her soon, she thought, as much for the Colonel's sake as for hers.