Sorry, this chapter is a bit short. Hope you enjoy and let me know your thoughts!

Chapter Six:

Bridge between

Ronon ignored the glare being sent his way by the sergeant he had carried. After bringing him across the river, against his better judgment, he had dumped him in a pile of shrubs next to the others now currently sitting around, resting. Sheppard looked a bit unamused with his actions, but at the moment, he hadn't cared much for anything the man thought. It wasn't that he couldn't see where Sheppard was coming from, but he just felt…a bad feeling, about the man. Sheppard would probably call it his "Spidey sense", the nickname that has long since stuck to Sheppard's own gut feelings.

"Take ten people," Sheppard had said. That had been nearly fifteen minutes ago. Franks had woken about eight minutes into the break and he guessed Sheppard had decided the man needed a few minutes to get his bearings, but if his angry look was anything to go by, Ronon figured he was just fine.

'What a shame', he thought to himself, but immediately regretted the thought. These men would learn, in time. Right now, they were the Pegasus equivalent of children, not yet understanding the dangerous they could soon face in a real Atlantian mission. They would though; everyone always does.

SGA

Drake watched Franks from the corner of his eye. The man had not stopped glaring at the native, even when the crew continued on, further through the forest at fast pace walk. Franks seemed intent on making his anger known and Drake had a bad feeling the man could do something stupid in order to get 'revenge'.

"We need to watch him," Stevens suddenly whispered from his side.

Drake nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I think your right."

The crew had been walking for some time, each enjoying the natural beauty around them. The forest made up of so many different plants and colors, the likes of which never had been seen before on Earth or anywhere in the Milky Way galaxy for that matter, Drake thought to himself. He was quite astounded by it all, not that he would say that, but it was what he was thinking the entire time he had been walking. Even the river, it had been a peculiar shade of crystal blue, almost like the cleanest swimming pool, white with foam decorating its surface like a freshly fallen snow. Everything about this world was amazing, yet Drake felt a shiver run down his spine. This world seemed almost too perfect for there not to be something severely wrong with it, considering it is uninhabited.

As if reading is mind and sometimes Drake was sure the man did, the colonel turned to the others.

"A world is always uninhabited for a reason. Keep your eyes open."

Drake didn't know if the Colonel had said that only to make them more keenly aware of their surroundings or if the man knew something they didn't. Either way, Drake took the words to heart and began to more deeply analyze the forest surrounding them.

SGA

Sheppard was walking alongside Ronon. The two hadn't said anything to each other since the river incident, but he didn't doubt for a moment that they were good. Ronon and he had that ability to communicate without words and while he knew Ronon hadn't agreed with him, the man would respect his decision and support him, whatever the consequences.

"You know thatthing is coming up soon."

Sheppard knew exactly what he was talking about and nodded.

"Yeah… I am a bit worried about that too."

"You think anyone will have any troubles?"

"Don't know. It's old. I am more worried about it holding firm than our own people conquering their fear of heights."

Ronon smirked.

"It will hold."

Sheppard raised an eyebrow.

"How can you be so sure?"

Ronon just grinned that predatory gleam of his.

"If it doesn't, I will be the first to say I was wrong."

Sheppard sighed. In other words, just trust it will hold, he thought to himself with a nod. Alright, Sheppard-positivity-initiated.

As the crew game to a clearing, Drake and the others could feel their mouths hang open. Before them was a bridge and not just any bridge, but a man made, worn down, wooden planked bridge with rope being the only thing holding it up. Ropes lined the side and bottom of the bridge and a strange netting encased the top and sides. It was a like a rope tunnel, just much more scary than your average one. Drake honestly wasn't sure this thing would hold them all without falling apart. Perhaps one at a time across?

"One person at a time," the Colonel stated, having agreed with his thought unaware, "Ronon will again go first."

They all held their breath as the native man stepped on the first board which seemed to groan just a bit with his weight. However the man paid it no heed as he began, almost casually, walking across the bridge without slowing. Once he reached the other side, he just grinned.

Sheppard shook his head. He had to hand it to Ronon, he made everything look far too easy.

"Alright, this is part of the survival training people and the last part of it we will do today. Get across this in one piece and we will find a spot to camp for the night."

As everyone whispered between themselves, Sheppard glanced up at the sky. His bad feeling remained deep within his gut and as he watched the clouds grow darker, he wondered if their instincts had been right all along? This storm rarely had storms, but when they did hit, they were recorded to be monstrous. If this world was truly about to have one, he wondered if they should take the chance of finding shelter on this world or lead everyone back towards the gate? For now, he would continue with the training and speak to Ronon once he had the opportunity.

"Anyone volunteer to go first?"

Everyone was silent before the Captain finally stepped up.

"I will go, Colonel."

"Good luck, Stevens."

The man gave a nod and just as Ronon, he placed one foot carefully on the first wooden plank. Again, the board groaned slightly, but held firm. He began moving at a leisurely pace, carefully setting his feet where he felt would the strongest on each board he came to before finding himself on the Cliffside across from his starting place. He was relieved it was over and turned to watch the others.

Slowly, one by one, they each began their trek. Johnson, then Beard, Price, O'Connor, Franks, and then all that remained was Wesley and Rook.

"Alright, who wants to go?"

Wesley swallowed.

"I-I will sir," the boy muttered.

Sheppard gave an encouraging nod while Rook looked on, a bit nervous himself about crossing the bridge, but thinking more about the boy than anything. Slowly, the young private began crossing the bridge, each step careful and almost gentle in its placement. Wesley smiled, suddenly feeling pretty good about himself as he took the next step, only to hear the distinct sound of something snapping. With a horrified look on his face, the private had no time at all to scream out 'help!' to his comrades, before he dropped through the planks, barely catching himself in time across the one ahead of it. That board groaned and he felt himself screaming, but couldn't seem to calm down enough to get clear words out to his comrades.

It didn't matter anyways. As soon as the board had snapped, Sheppard, Drake, Ronon, and surprisingly, Johnson, had raced across the bridge to help him. The other stayed back, unsure if them going to assist would put too much weight on the boards at one time.

"Wesley, grab my hand," Sheppard shouted, laying down on his stomach to reach under the boy. He got a firm hand on the young man's standard military off world uniform and began tugging him up as Drake, Johnson and Ronon began pulling at him. Wesley though was too terrified to comprehend what was going on. He felt hands grab him and he freaked, nearly taking Sheppard with him when he slid down further, the Colonel alongside him. Drake noticed and immediately grabbed the Colonel with one hand and the rope railing with the other. Ronon and Johnson heaved, dragging the two back up as Wesley fought them each step of the way.

"Wesley! Wesley! Tim! PRIVATE!" the Colonel shouted.

Finally the boy froze. "C-Colonel?"

"Easy kid, we got you. Hang on."

Wesley whimpered as Ronon and Johnson finally got his knees past the broken board and laying on the next few sets. Wesley shook with adrenaline and fear while the others breathed in relief. Johnson chuckled, nearly out right laughing. "Glad that's taken care of," he started, "wouldn't want to have lost…" his words were lost, for as suddenly as he was there, talking and smiling, the board beneath him gave way and he was gone.

Sheppard, Ronon, and all the others stared at the place the Corporal had just been standing in complete unhindered shock. The first one out of it, unsurprisingly, was Beard.

"SAM!" he shouted, moving to run across the bridge. O'Connor and Stevens grabbed him, holding him back. "SAM! NO! SAM!"

Sheppard could only sit there and stare. He knew he needed to get the rest of them off this bridge, but… the shock of having lost one of his new people before his eyes without a chance to help him, much less be aware he had even fallen, was almost unfathomable.

"S-Sir," Drake whispered, his voice hoarse, "The b-bridge."

Sheppard reliazed what the Lieutenant was saying. The bridge was dangerous and them sitting there where two boards had weakly given way, was a danger and outright stupid.

"Ronon," he said, not even concentrating on his words, but the Satedan needed nothing more.

The man grabbed the crying, screaming Private and hurried across the bridge; Sheppard and Rook behind him. The two were silent, their minds on that single moment.

God, how could they have not seen it coming…

SGA

Everyone was silent as they set up camp in a wide open area, just a mile or so from the bridge. Beard had said nothing, his head hung low, his cries finally silence after such heavy grief. He sat on the ground refusing to move, to say anything and Sheppard felt for the kid. Still, he wondered if losing Johnson now, in a twisted sort of way, would be better for the young man than having lost his friend another time in the heat of battle. At least now, the young man could grieve freely.

Sheppard sighed. He was tired and ready for this training to be over. He knew it would be hard and dangerous, but he had never thought… never expected…

"Sheppard," Ronon said quietly, his hand on his shoulder. Sheppard could feel the strength and comfort beneath that grip and he knew Ronon was telling him, in his own way, it hadn't been his fault. John found that difficult to believe though.

The runner sighed. He knew nothing he could say would make it better, but he needed his friend to know what he thought.

The two turned and watched the others. Stevens and Rook were building a fire. Price and O'Connor were silently chatting as they prepared their own sleeping bags. Franks was sitting off by himself, his eyes glancing to and fro throughout the forest surrounding them. Wesley sat with his bag to a tree, his eyes trained, unmoving on the fire as it began to glow.

"There is a storm coming," Ronon whispered, catching his CO off guard.

"Yeah. I think we should head back to the gate in the morning. With the storm and then, Johnson…"

"Yeah," Ronon agreed.

The two stood there in a comfortable silence.

"I will take first watch," Ronon said, sitting down on a nearby rock.

"Alright, wake me in two. I will take second watch."

Ronon nodded.

"Do you think they can make it back?" he asked his friend.

John knew what Ronon was really asking. Could they make it back to where they were... not just Atlantis, but as they once had been. Would Beard be able to move past his best friends death? Would Wesley be able to move past the guilt and self-shame?

"I honestly don't know."

All they could do was hope.