Sorry this is late, my son had an appointment.

Thanks for the support for chapter 1. I hope you like the second installment.

I would like to dedicate this chapter to Var Devonshire and BMick for their kind words.

SIDE NOTE: Sieges, by nature, are demoralizing. I hope you don't mind that this chapter is more drama than comedy.

Enjoy ...

Squirrels and berries for dinner again.

Same as lunch, breakfast, and almost every meal for the last three days. Rodney was really getting sick of them, but he was the last person to complain. He was the reason they were in this mess and - if he was honest - the reason all of them would probably be killed before the Daedalus arrived.

The first few days they tried to keep their spirits up, but as time wore on even the ever optimistic Sheppard had to know that they were screwed. The locals seemed to have run out of explosives, but they had plenty of arrows. Sometimes they would fire through the gaps hoping to hit someone, or they would stand on the cliff and shoot at anyone going to the well … or at least they did until Ronon loaned his blaster to Sheppard and he let them know that was a bad idea.

Ronon.

He may try to hide it, but his leg was causing him a lot of pain. He almost never moved from his spot by the crack next the door and all Rodney could think was that it was his fault. Looking again at the life signs detector confirmed it. They had taken out dozens of their attackers, but more came from the settlement everyday. How much ammo did they have left? The soldiers were pretty tight lipped about it, but Rodney knew they had to be running low. What was going to happen when they ran out? When the besieging army broke through the door? Could they really hold out another seven days?

"Rodney?" Teyla called softly. "You need to eat."

Grimacing at his meager meal, he quietly obeyed. His team and Lornes had sacrificed a lot for him to get this food - Coughlin even got an arrow through his hand during his last hunt. The least he could do was not let the food go to waste.

Waste.

This entire mission was a waste in every way. A waste of time, a waste of resources, and - if things kept progressing the way they were - a waste of lives. He knew Sheppard was too stubborn to let these guys win and would die before he gave into their demands. Rodney was grateful for that, he really was, but he was also a very practical man. The ten day window he gave was a minimum time. The Daedalus was almost halfway to Earth when they got attacked. Between communication issues, technical problems, and unforeseen enemy encounters … It could be weeks before anyone is able to reach them.

"Cheer up, McKay," Sheppard urged, taking another bite of roast squirrel. "We're almost halfway through this."

"Assuming there are no complications," he corrected. "It could take longer than 10 days."

"Or less," Nickols interjected quietly.

"Don't start that again," Lorne warned.

The Sergeant muttered an apology and focused on his berries. It was a moot point. Even if - by some miracle - someone had the same idea as Rodney, there was no one on the Daedalus smart enough to implement it. If Hermiod or even Zelenka was there, they might have a chance. As it was their best option was Kavanagh, and he would probably blow up the ship if he tried it. No, there were on their own and every day that past brought them closer to death. There was really only one thing to do. It was risky, but it was the only chance for his friends to live.

He had to wait until everyone but the night watch was asleep. He chose Nickols shift, since he was the least experienced and might be the easiest to slip by. Carefully getting to his feet, Rodney tiptoed past his teammates and Lorne. So far so good. Ronon was propped up against the wall by the door. This caused Rodney to pause, just long enough to be sure he was asleep, before checking the crack. Torches lined the perimeter, marking the edge of the enemy encampment. He had no doubt there were sentries posted, but they were invisible in the darkness. Taking a deep breath, he slowly started to open the door-

"MCKAY!"

Ronon's roar was almost as startling as the hand grabbing the back of his shirt and propelling him to the floor. The next thing he knew he was laying on the ground looking up at everybody. And no one looked happy.

"What the hell did you think you were doing?!" Sheppard demanded.

"What I had to," Rodney shot back, pulling himself to a sitting position and wincing as it aggravated past injuries. "It's the only way."

"Rodney, those people will kill you," Teyla reasoned.

"Try that stunt again and I'll do it for them," John growled.

"It's my choice, Sheppard," Rodney stated, matching the Colonel's glare as he got to his feet.

The man's reply was memorable in both its force and its vulgarity. It was also accompanied by a forced march to the back wall where Rodney has been sleeping. He felt like he was four-years-old again, being brought back to bed after his father caught him with one hand in the cookie jar. It was equally terrifying and humiliating. However, they didn't stop at his bed and were halfway down the corridor to the well before his friend stopped and turned to him. His eyes were burning with too many emotions to name, but fear and rage were the most prominent.

"How could a guy so smart do something so stupid?" Sheppard asked softly. "You do realize there is nothing holding them to their promise? As soon as they have you, what's to stop them from killing the rest of us?"

"I had to do something," Rodney argued. "Do you know how many people have given their lives for me since we got to Atlantis? Not for the city, for me. I can't … I can't let you do it too."

The Colonel sighed, placing his hands on Rodney's shoulders and giving them a comforting squeeze. At some level, the scientist knew that the risk of losing him was as terrifying a thought to John as the idea of him losing any member of the team. Still, he just couldn't watch them die ... especially to save him.

"We are going to get through this, Rodney. The Daedalus will be here in a week-"

"Maybe," he interrupted. "That estimation was the bare minimum. If anything happens to delay it-"

"It won't. You just have to trust me," John gave him half a smile. "After all, the guys at the Alamo held out for 13 days with less than we've got."

"Yeah," Rodney scoffed, "right before they were slaughtered by the Mexican army!"

"They didn't have the Daedalus. Give it more time, I'll get you home."

"How do you know?"

"The same way I knew we would find you in Jumper six," he replied, his smile now genuine. "Come on, let's get back to bed."

Rodney nodded as the Colonel flung an arm around his shoulders and steered him back, as if worried he might still make a break for it. While he wasn't sure how much undying optimism had played in saving him from the bottom of the ocean, he had to admit that the guy had a lot of luck in hopeless situations. Maybe they would get out of this after all …

What do you think? Will they last ten days? Will it take longer?

Comments are always welcome. The expect the conclusion tomorrow morning (CST).