Chapter 6: Unwelcome Dinner Guests

"Okay. No stopping for take-out on the way, even roast Wraith. Let's go!"

Without further prompting, Teal'c and Ronon set off at a run, herding SG-1's scientist with them. Teyla paused to give her commanding officer a quick jerk of her head to the right before vanishing into the trees in that direction, Daniel and Cam right behind her. Which left John and company to go straight down the middle, the shortest path to the gate. Why was he not surprised? He really needed to have a discussion with his team about this sudden protective streak they'd developed. Not that he could truly blame them after all the trouble he'd found lately. With a grimace, he set off through the ruins, noting that the departure of the other two groups had drawn off the Wraith in the immediate area, at least for now.

They had just begun to hit the thickest part of the surrounding forest several minutes later when the first Wraith stunner shot fizzled past John's head. He should have known their luck wouldn't last that long. All four ducked behind an outcropping of rock, a sturdier defensive screen than the many nearby trees. The arboreal blocks made it hard for the aliens to hit them, but it also drastically cut down on their line of sight, which had them all straining to hear any twigs snapping. The three military officers wordlessly picked up a rhythm to their firing, each taking their turn covering for the others as they began to grimly thin the ranks of the enemy. Not that the Wraith were hard to hit, since they often didn't bother trying to use any kind of cover. No, it just took quite a bit to knock one down and make them stay down. Taking a moment to change clips in their respective P-90s while Carter occupied the Wraith, O'Neill glanced over at the younger colonel.

"So what's the deal with these things, anyway? Someone insult their mother?"

John frowned, distracted by a clip that refused to click into place properly, answering with the first thing that came to mind.

"You ever see that sci fi miniseries with Marc Singer? The one with the aliens that turn out to be some weird lizards?"

Jack stared at him for a long moment, then his mind supplied the reference and he winced, taking a guess at what the other man meant.

"Uh oh. On the menu, are we?"

Clip finally cooperating, John nodded to the other colonel and they both popped up, firing, then went back down as several stunner blasts sizzled through where they'd just been.

"Problem is they're picky eaters, too. We're the only thing on the menu."

O'Neill grimaced. "Great. I always did aspire to be an entrée. Gives new meaning to the words 'food fight'."

"More like fighting food. Don't accept any dinner invitations from these guys and don't let them touch you. Their mouths are on their hands."

Sheppard and O'Neill fired one more long burst together, catching the last of the Wraith facing them in a cross-fire, then silence descended on their little section of the forest. Multiple P-90s and the whine of Ronon's pistol could be heard in the distance, satisfying John that the rest of his expanded team was still up and running. Not that he really expected anything else out of this odd little group.

"Let's go before more show up!"

John got up from his crouch... and fell back on his butt as another round of dizziness overtook him. Vision graying out at the edges, he fought hard to keep a hold on consciousness, firmly telling himself to get everyone safely to the gate, then he could pass out for a while. He wasn't surprised to feel hands steadying him, voices talking, but he couldn't focus through the droning buzz in his head. His teeth clenched as he felt himself lifted to a standing position, arms draped over the shoulders of two people, one on either side. The movement intensified the equilibrium problems, however, causing John to squeeze his eyes shut even harder, fighting a suddenly rebellious stomach. He could feel the forward momentum and worked to force his legs into aiding the effort, cursing himself mentally as he went. He was going to get someone killed, slowing them down like this, all because he fell into that stupid Ancient device. He should have put Teyla and Ronon on the inside of the ruins and kept himself on the outside. Stupid, John, really stupid!

Blinking rapidly against the bright sunlight filtering through the trees, he managed to focus on his surroundings. The first thing he noted was the gray-haired colonel leading the way, now sporting two P-90s, one in either hand. Good thing, too, since a Wraith dropped from a tree to land right in front of the man, immediately receiving a welcome of lead. Dropping to the ground behind the nearest tree, John shrugged free of his supporters and pulled his handgun, noting that Carter wasted no time in going to back up her team leader. Thankfully, Wraith didn't seem to use long range lethal hand weapons, which made fighting them a little easier than it might have been otherwise. Ignoring McKay's alarmed squawk, John rolled toward the tree immediately to their left. Coming up in a crouch when he reached roughly halfway, John emptied his clip at two Wraith approaching from the side toward the major. Both enemies seemed to react identically as he completed his maneuver, landing behind the other tree, head feeling as if he'd just done a string of high-G barrel rolls. There were even more Wraith joining the fray as the whine of energy weapons doubled, one bolt shaking the tree John lay behind. Head beginning to settle, he opened his eyes and forced a loudly protesting body back up to lean against the tree, using it as an anchor. At least this way he had a slim chance of defending himself should the aliens manage to flank them. The snap of a twig brought him around fast, nine millimeter up only to see two rolling, bobbing Jonas Quinns staring at him from a few feet away. With a heavy sigh, he relaxed, gun lowering toward the ground.

"That's a great way to get yourself killed!" John growled at the younger man.

Jonas flushed, embarrassed at being caught in such a basic mistake in spite of everything SG-1 had spent a year drilling into his head.

"Sorry. The big guy, Ronon, said I was supposed to cover you and Dr. McKay. He said we're near the gate, but there's still Wraith in between."

Ronon. Well, that at least explained the increase in weapons fire. There would be quite a few Wraith sporting very large holes in them soon enough. He would have been insulted at the mere suggestion of two scientists protecting him instead of the other way around- had he been able to see straight. This mission was fast working its way up on his personal FUBAR list, though it still had a ways to go to beat the last one he'd been on. That world had a thick forest as well, a thought best not to dwell on before he found himself shooting at insane Wraith girls that weren't really there.

"Fine. Keep your head down and don't shoot at anything unless you know its the enemy. Got that?"

"Right. Colonel...?"

"Sheppard!"
McKay appeared by their sides, startling John, who then cursed as his head increased its throbbing.

"What kind of idiotic self-sacrificing stunt was that! Why can't you be a proper invalid and just lay there?"

The astrophysicist was extremely pissed at him. Even John, though, had to admit he had a valid point. The roll he'd pulled had been risky, easily getting him killed, but he had his reasons.

"I thought letting a Wraith suck the life out of Carter might just be a bad thing for the time line, Rodney! Quit griping and keep an eye out for more!"

A double image of his friend scowled at him for a moment, then eyes narrowed into a penetrating stare. The one that said 'I know you're trying to be Mr. Strong, Stoic Leader hiding the pain and it isn't going to work.' With a soft groan, John closed his eyes, unable to handle one Rodney McKay at the moment, let alone two.

"How bad is it? And don't pull out the 'I'm fine' line or I'll tell Carson to pull out the gowns with the cute little bunnies on them."

John bit back a soft curse at the astrophysicist's words, thinking that it was a little vicious, even as a joke. Unfortunately, Rodney was just angry and worried enough to actually do it.

"Exhaustion and maybe a mild concussion, that's all. I'll be fine once we find someplace where we're not getting shot at."

A look of disbelief. "Oh, yeah? Then why are we guarding you while you can't even keep your eyes open!"

"All clear! Let's go, kids!"

Saved by the com transmitting O'Neill's distinctive voice. Hands grabbed him as he tried to stand up only to have a bolt of pure agony go straight through his head. Then he was once more sinking into the comforting depths of dark unconsciousness.

O'Neill saw the younger colonel go down and swore softly. This was just what they didn't need at the moment since it left Jack in command. Not normally a problem for the Special Forces colonel, who all too often operated by the seat of the pants anyway. Except this time, they were in a situation where one wrong move could literally change everything and he'd never know it until it was too late. He hated time travel!

Jack had no clue where they were or where they were trying to go, though it obviously wasn't the SGC by the way they'd been avoiding saying the name. He didn't trust McKay even as far as Jonas could throw him and having him fully brief Carter could result in the very thing they were trying to prevent. To top it all off, he was missing the Simpsons. As Homer would say, "Doh!" He really, really hated time travel! Wasn't there a Gou'ld with a big mouth, bigger ego, and lots of Jaffa around for him to take care of instead?

First thing was first, though. Get to the gate. Before Jack could say anything, the large man, Ronon, was carefully lifting his team leader over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. His expression dared Jack to argue, then seemed somewhat mollified when the SG-1 colonel just nodded. Carter immediately noted the exchange, and Jack saw her duck her head to hide the smile that would probably have been misunderstood. Casually, he sidled over to her, bending to mutter softly near her ear.

"Care to share the joke, Major?"

The blond's eyes sparkled as she met his gaze. "Ronon has the same expression I've seen on Teal'c's face when you're the one injured. The one that says, 'Don't mess with me or you'll be road kill.' As much as I wondered about Sheppard's sanity in putting McKay on his team, he must do something right to have that tight knit a team. Did you see McKay with a nine millimeter ready to defend Colonel Sheppard back there? He's changed... I just can't quite decide how."

Jack snorted. "Daniel changed, too, remember?" Then, glancing around for one last check of the expanded group, he raised his voice. "Move out, kids!"

A jerk of his head sent Carter into line near McKay and Jonas, with Ronon carrying his colonel behind them, then Teal'c pulling up the rear. For two people who'd only met an hour ago, the SG-1 leader noted that the two warriors seemed eerily comfortable with one another. Or maybe it wasn't comfort so much as mutual respect and a common goal, similar to the rapport that had built between Jack and Teal'c so long ago on Chulak. Then they were moving and Jack had no further time for speculation, watching for any more of the white-haired super strong aliens, P-90s held at the ready.

It took less than fifteen minutes more of cautious travel through the forest before the tree abruptly stopped just short of the Stargate. So suddenly did they end, in fact, that Jack heard a muffled 'umph' and turned to see Jonas doubled over the DHD, having just walked right into the thing. He rolled his eyes at the Kolownan, then felt his stomach knotting in tension as he examined the dialing device. There really wasn't much familiar about it, a disturbing thought at best.

"Definitely not in Kansas anymore."

His muttered comment was rewarded by a tight smile from Carter and a deeper then usual frown on Teal'c's dark features. Jonas, however, seemed fascinated to the point that McKay was forced to impatiently shove the man aside to dial.

"Hello! Crawling with life-sucking aliens who could trap us at any moment! MOVE!"

Polite didn't even appear to cross McKay's mind, not that Jack could blame him. The scientist slammed his hand down on symbol after symbol, sputtering under his breath the whole time. Jack, meanwhile, was struck by the utter alieness of the DHD and chevrons. Hell, even the gate acted differently as McKay activated the symbols, each one glowing like track lighting as they locked instead of the whole thing spinning. And blue instead of the dark orange he was used to! Just where were they that even this constant was gone? A familiar whoosh and he was oddly reassured to see that the wormhole, at least, looked the same! The colonel had been half afraid it would be purple or something! Energy crackling past his head told him their small breather was over.

"McKay, you and Jonas get Sheppard through! We'll hold this side and wait for the third group!"

For a second, Jack thought the Canadian was actually going to argue, then Ronon appeared by them, glaring.

"Get Sheppard to safety, McKay!"

The large man's growl seemed to reassure the astrophysicist and he bent to lift the young colonel, who lay behind the relative shelter of the DHD. Hoisting the unconscious man between them, Jonas and Rodney quickly disappeared through the event horizon, leaving Jack to breathe a sigh of relief. Everyone left now was either military or knew how to fight. He and his companion quickly knelt near the Ancient device, firing as more Wraith appeared from the trees. A staff blast from the right told him Teal'c had taken cover behind a tree and he could see Carter to his left from the corner of his eye, behind a large rock. Jack peppered the aliens with both P-90s, his and Sheppard's, then dropped down to change clips. His radio crackled to life once more.

"This is McKay, we're through and the Alpha Site is clear."

Good, 'cause these things were proving almost as hard to kill as one of Daniel's Unas. Then he saw one fall not far from him with a very large hole through it, smoking, and glanced at Ronon, who gave him a feral grin.

"Nice. Where can I get one of those?"

The man snorted, head bobbing in an approving nod.

"That's what Sheppard asked, too. Teyla and the others on your right, near your friend."

The SG-1 leader immediately turned toward Teal'c, but didn't see anyone besides the Jaffa. Before he could question it, however, three people emerged from the brush at a run, one limping. What now?

"Through the gate, NOW!"

None of them stopped to question him as they hurried past. Daniel, however, did give him a rueful 'Don't ask' as he whipped by doing a strange hop/jog, avoiding weight on his left ankle. Jack grinned as the last four fell back through the blue puddle, leaving their enemies behind. At least some things never changed!

TBC... You don't think all the fun's done yet, do you? LOL