We, the Sparky Army, decree 2008 to be the Year of the Spark. We pledge to post a new sparky story or chapter of a sparky story every day from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Though the Powers that Be have removed Elizabeth Weir from the regular cast of Stargate Atlantis, we feel that she remains an integral part of the show, and that the relationship between her and John Sheppard is too obvious to be ignored. We hope that you, and anyone might happen to read these works, agree.

And if that isn't official enough for you, we don't know what is. Seriously, guys, we're just trying to have some fun--and show TPTB that Sparky is the way to go. So sit back and enjoy the 366 stories coming your way!

Loop in Time

By Hannah554

Chapter 4

"He'll kill us you know?" Rodney said for the tenth time as John commanded the doors of the Satedan's room to open. As usual Atlantis obeyed his instruction, the city rarely failed to do as he asked it to.

"He can't kill us, we're in a time loop, in a few hours it will never have happened," John replied as he looked around the room, the Satedan was still asleep in his bed, snoring lightly.

"I just hope if he kills us the time loop still restarts and we get to come back to life," Rodney muttered.

"Quiet Rodney," John whispered, Ronon was alert even when sleeping any noise beyond the necessary was guaranteed to wake him up. A year ago John wouldn't have even attempted this but Ronon had gotten comfortable now, relaxed inside the walls of the city and he could sleep as deeply as anyone else. John walked quietly through the room, glaring at Rodney whose footsteps weren't anywhere near as light. He approached the bed with the slumbering Satedan in it cautiously and took the scissors out of his pocket.

"I'm so glad he won't remember this," Rodney said quietly and John glared at him again, he'd been very specific about what would happen if Ronon woke up while he and Rodney were still in the room. If they didn't do this according to play then it could very well end in their deaths.

He reached very slowly for the first dreadlock, it was laid loose on the pillow and John snipped it off a few inches from the top. He handed it back to Rodney, the scientist dropped it into the bag he'd been carrying with him. John got to work on the next one, Ronon moved slightly mumbling something incoherent and John pulled back, holding his breath until his team mate had settled down again. John could only imagine what they'd look like if Ronon woke up now, both of them holding their hands in the air, John with the scissors and Rodney with the see through bag containing his hair.

He continued with his task, taking a few minutes to cut off all of the man's dreadlocks, including the riskier ones at the back. The Satedan moved a few more times, there was one point where he seemed to open his eyes and Rodney almost had a heart attack. The scientist was half way to the door when John stopped him, their team mate having settled back into his sleep. With all of the dreadlocks now safely in the bag the two of them hurried out of the room, heading to John's quarters to start the second part of their plan.

John walked into the control room with Rodney a few steps behind him, Elizabeth was stood talking to Teyla and both women's eyes widened when they saw the two men approaching. John was only just able to keep a neutral expression, walking toward them as though nothing was out of the ordinary.

"What did you do?" Elizabeth asked as though she feared for their very lives.

"What?" John questioned faking obliviousness. "Oh you mean the hair, what do you think, I kind of like it."

"Ronon will kill you," Teyla stated, shock not yet gone as she stared at the two men.

They were wearing Ronon's dreadlocks, pinned onto their own hair. Rodney had been reluctant to do it but he really hadn't taken that much convincing, his only fear came from the knowledge that Ronon would indeed kill them if he got the chance. There was less than fifteen minutes left of the loop though and the Satedan would hopefully never get that chance.

"Sheppard, McKay!" an angry voice shouted and John turned to see Ronon storming into the room with his dreadlocks severed. He got a lot of odd looks as he walked through the room but mostly everyone was just waiting so see if they were about to become witnesses to a murder.

"Hey Ronon," John greeted "Nice hair cut, we decided to make a change too, what do you think?" he asked gesturing to the dreadlocks dangling from his head.

"I think we should leave now," Rodney whimpered from behind him and John could hear his footsteps backing up.

"Run," Ronon instructed "Run before I get my hands on you cos I'm gonna kill you."

"How very un-team like of you," John stated and Ronon seemed to get just that little bit angrier. John ducked out just as the Satedan lunged at him, grabbing Rodney and making a break for the stairs. Ronon was hot on their heals, with years of running experience he had an advantage on them but then Rodney and John had something he didn't, the time loop.

TBC