John woke several hours later to an odd hissing noise. He opened his eyes and noticed the strip of the wall near the ceiling no longer glowed but there was a little light in the room as early-morning sunlight filtered through the high windows. He rubbed his eyes, sat up, and looked around. Teyla, lying a few feet away, also sat up, pushing away the silver emergency blanket as she glanced at the door with a concerned look on her face.
He didn't miss the wince of pain as she carefully leant against the wall or the bruise along the side of her face. Once again his two civilians had come out the worse for wear because he hadn't been there to protect them. He shook his head and pushed the guilt aside as he followed her gaze and spotted Ford, Ortega, and Thompson in a whispered argument near the door.
"Ford, what's the problem?" John asked softly and turned to check Rodney, sleeping with his back against the wall. The emergency blanket was puddled around his legs and he slept curled on his side, facing John. John reached over and put a hand on Rodney's arm as he started to mutter in his sleep then pulled the blanket back up once he settled.
John was relieved Rodney's skin didn't feel as clammy as the night before. His color looked better and the tremors had stopped. The drink powder and the half of an MRE he'd managed to eat the night before had certainly helped the hypoglycaemic reaction, but all John wanted to do was get him back to Beckett as soon as possible.
Ford gave him a guilty look as he crouched down next to Sheppard. "We were trying to figure out what to do with the bodies, sir," he said, keeping his voice low. "The ground is too hard to dig a mass grave. Thompson thinks we should burn them. Ortega says he knows about a cave farther along the side of the mountain where we could put them and then bring down the overhanging rock."
John grimaced. He'd been so focused on finding Rodney and Teyla, then making sure they were both all right, he hadn't given the trail of bodies left in their wake much thought. He stood and jerked his head back toward the door so their conversation wouldn't wake up McKay.
"Burning will take too long," John said once they were out in the hall. "We need to get Rodney and Teyla back to Atlantis sooner rather than later."
Ford nodded but said nothing.
John glanced back in the room and smiled slightly when he saw Teyla sitting next to Rodney, a hand resting lightly on his arm. "Take Ortega and Thompson, find the cave. I want to leave after McKay is awake and everyone has had something to eat, so be as quick as you can."
"Yes, sir," Ford said and stepped back into the room just long enough to pull three sets of latex gloves out of the first aid kit and tell Teyla good morning.
He passed out the gloves to Thompson and Ortega and said, "Get the one next door and meet me outside," he ordered with a glance at the next door.
"Major?" Teyla asked in a whisper when John came back in the room.
"Nothing," he replied and sat against the wall next to Rodney's head. "Clean up duty," he added cryptically.
She nodded and let the subject drop as she moved and sat on John's other side.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as she settled beside him.
"I am sore," she admitted. "But otherwise fine."
"I'm sorry I wasn't -"
"You have nothing to apologise for, Major," Teyla told him. "We came here to help Sergeant Stackhouse's team catalogue artefacts from the ruins."
John snorted.
Teyla smiled. "Yes, well, you will need to talk to Rodney about his other reasons," she told him. "No one could have known about the marauders. You found us. That is the important thing to remember."
John heard a few grunts from Thompson and Ortega as they carried Rasha's body up the stairs, and glanced down at Rodney's right hand curled slightly against his chest. "I never did hear why McKay needed some sort of plan that involved his fingers getting broken," John said a few minutes later.
"These men are …" Teyla stopped and sighed, "they were ... raiders. Attacking settlements and stealing food, equipment, sometimes even kidnapping people." She gave John a crooked smile. "Kirin told me they initially planned to simply attack the team at the ruins and steal whatever they could that might be of value. According to Sergeant Stackhouse, Sergeant Stephens had thought they were being watched for several days, but he could not prove it.
"Then Sergeant Stackhouse called Doctor Weir to check-in. He reported finding several devices left by the Ancestors and he wanted one of the scientists to certify the objects were safe to bring back to Atlantis. When Kirin and the others heard the name of the city, they decided to change their plan and raid the city instead. There was only one problem -"
"They didn't have the 'gate address," John guessed.
"That is correct," Teyla said as she carefully probed the bruise on her face.
John frowned. "So where did the broken fingers come in? The shield would have protected the city if these raiders had tried to come through the 'gate."
"Didn't want to risk it," Rodney mumbled as he opened his eyes. "I didn't give them the address for Atlantis but they had to think I did. That was the plan." He slowly sat up and looked around.
"How are you feeling?" John asked and gave McKay a measured look.
Rodney shrugged then winced. "I spent yesterday slowly starving to death and then a night on a hard floor. How do you think I feel?" he asked sarcastically as he rubbed his right shoulder.
John didn't bite on the tone and stared at McKay, waiting for an answer. He needed to know if Rodney was going to be able to walk back to the 'gate or if he'd need to make a different plan.
"I'm fi -"
John pursed his lips and shook his head.
Rodney sighed. "Fine. My fingers hurt. My head hurts. My back and shoulder ache and I could probably sleep for a week. Happy?"
"What about the rest?" John asked not backing down.
Rodney held up his left hand and John saw only a slight tremor. "Not as dizzy, either," Rodney said as he dropped his hand back in his lap. "Mostly, I'm just tired."
John watched as Teyla went to the pile of packs and supplies in the corner and found the first aid kit. She came back with two bottles of water and a blister pack of ibuprofen. She popped a couple of pills out of the packaging and handed both the pills and one of the bottles to Rodney before taking a couple of the pills herself.
Rodney swallowed the pills without complaint and leant his back against the wall next to John.
"If you didn't give them the address for Atlantis, where did you send them?" John asked after a few moments of silence.
"P9X-565," Rodney replied with a slight smile.
John mouthed the designation, trying to remember what was so special about P9X-565 Rodney thought he could safely send pirates to it.
Rodney glanced at him and rolled his eyes. "The planet where we found those rock samples with the naquadah-like element," he explained, impatience coloring his tone.
John shook his head. "Nope, don't remember that one."
McKay gave him a disgusted look. "You do read the science reports, don't you?"
"Yes, Rodney," John said patiently. "But after a while, all those letters and numbers start to run together. Why P9X-565?"
"Low oxygen atmosphere," McKay replied with what John thought looked like a smug expression. "So even if they did manage to get back here, they wouldn't be in any condition to attack us. When Volkov went with his team, they were in the infirmary for a day recuperating afterwards."
"And the broken fingers?"
Rodney shrugged as he looked at his hand. "Rasha had to believe it was the real address," he mumbled. "I was just glad he didn't use the knife."
John wrapped his arm around Rodney's shoulders. "That was a pretty bold plan," he said softly. "You could have just given him the actual address. Elizabeth would have never lowered the shield."
Rodney shook his head. "I-I couldn't do something like that. The idea of stepping through the 'gate and never coming out?" He shuddered then winced and glanced at John. "I mean, I -"
"It's all right," John said, knowing Rodney was thinking of what he'd done to Kolya's Genii soldiers. He waited for Rodney to look at him. "I think I'm actually happier knowing you can't do something like that."
Rodney ducked his head then flinched as John heard footsteps coming down the hallway. Sheppard glanced at Teyla as he stood and unholstered the Beretta.
"Sergeant Thompson, sir," Thompson said, just out of range of the door.
John dropped his aim. "Come ahead," he replied, and put the weapon away.
"Lieutenant Ford sent me, sir," Thompson said with a quick glance at Rodney. "All done, sir. We can leave whenever you're ready."
John nodded and ignored McKay's puzzled look as he pulled Rodney to his feet. "Let's say we get out of this room, eat something, and head home."
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
John estimated they were halfway back to the ruins when he heard someone in the forest near their position. He held out an arm to stop Rodney who was walking next to him and gave a low whistle to signal Ford and Ortega, a few steps in the lead, to halt.
"What's wrong?" Rodney asked, looking around.
"Someone's out there," John whispered. "Could be those pirates you sent off to 565 recovered faster than you expected."
Rodney swallowed and John could see his eyes widen in fear. He remembered the wounds Stephens and Stackhouse received and knew the raiders had at least some sort of rudimentary projectile weapon and did a quick search of their immediate surroundings for somewhere Rodney and Teyla could hide. Unfortunately, there was very little cover other than the trees themselves. He signalled Ford to move out slowly and kept an eye out for anything they could use for protection.
They'd walked another quarter of a mile in tense silence when John spotted a rock outcrop and motioned Ford toward it. He pushed Rodney and Teyla into the scant shelter between two of the large boulders. "Keep your heads down," he ordered before he ducked down behind another boulder and watched trail ahead.
He didn't have to wait very long before he saw a figure darting from tree to tree trying to keep low and out of sight. He let the crouching figure get a little closer before he yelled, "That's far enough! We will shoot if you come any closer."
The figure held up a hand and ducked behind another tree. "Hello? Major Sheppard? Is that you?" a female voice shouted back.
John shifted his grip on the P-90 and tapped his radio. "Daley?" he said as he tapped his earpiece.
"Yes, sir," Daley replied over the radio. "When you didn't check in, Doctor Weir sent us to find you, sir."
John stood from behind his rock. Ford, Thompson, and Ortega followed suit, weapons held low but ready.
"Come on ahead, Corporal," John said and nodded for Teyla and Rodney to come out from their hiding place.
Daley and two others, John soon recognised as Corporals Sanchez and Jeffries, came up the trail and met John in front of the rock outcrop.
"Good to see you, sir," Daley said and gave the others a nod and a smile. "Sergeant Markham and a squad are back at the ruins with the prisoners, sir."
"Prisoners?" John asked as they started walking again.
"Yes, sir," Jeffries said from where he walked in the rear position with Thompson. "We had only been planetside for an hour or so before this group of men staggered through the 'gate like they were drunk or something. One of them, a big, bald guy, kept muttering about a 'rash' or something and when he saw us, he tried to pull a kind of gun. Sergeant Markham had all of them restrained and we herded them all to the ruins."
"Why go back to the ruins?" Ortega asked.
"It was the only place where we could secure the prisoners," Jeffries replied. "One of the smaller buildings was defensible so Sarge turned it into a stockade," he said to John. "We corralled them in there with a guard until Sarge could decide what to do with them."
"It wasn't until the bald guy said something about prisoners lying to someone named Rasha that the penny dropped and Sarge got suspicious," Sanchez added.
"Sergeant Markham questioned the bald guy, and after some … persuading … found out where Teyla and Doctor McKay were being held," Daley said. "By then, though, it was full night. We couldn't start a search until this morning."
"The man Sergeant Markham questioned could be Kirin," Teyla said from John's other side. "He appeared to be second in command of the marauders."
John noticed Rodney cradling his right hand, lost in thought, as Teyla spoke. "McKay? Something you want to add?" John asked.
Rodney glanced over at John. "Umm, Kirin, or whatever his name is, held me down while …" He held up his right hand.
John gripped his P-90 a little tighter. "Who was the other one? Rasha?"
Rodney shook his head. "He was there, asking the questions, giving the orders. The other two did the actual breaking."
"Who was the other one?" John asked again, his tone hard.
"There was a younger man," Teyla said carefully as she watched Rodney. "Tall and muscular with dirty blond hair worn loose to his shoulders. His name is Desh. He is also the man who attacked Doctor McKay the night of the raid."
John glanced at McKay for confirmation.
Rodney gave him a sideways look and nodded.
"I think I'd like to meet this Kirin and Desh," John growled and picked up the pace as the trees thinned and he could see the white of the expedition tents in the distance. He caught the startled look Rodney gave him from the corner of his eye but ignored it.
"Major Sheppard!" Markham greeted them as they walked into the campsite ten minutes later. "Good to see you, sir. You're just in time. I was about to head back to the 'gate with a status report for Doctor Weir."
"Sergeant," John replied and nodded his head in a follow-me gesture. Once they were away from the others, John continued, "Everything under control here?"
"Yes, sir," Markham replied. "I sent word to Atlantis this morning about the prisoners and the intel on where Doctor McKay and Teyla were being held." Markham glanced up as a group of three of the prisoners were led across the camp, guarded by five Marines.
John watched as the men glared first at their guard, then seemingly at Rodney and Teyla. His eyes hardened as one of the men, young with dirty blond hair, whispered something to a large bald man walking beside him. When the men kept walking, John relaxed slightly but kept half an eye on the group as they headed for the small building Markham was using as a makeshift stockade.
"I think we need to make a decision on what to do with these … men," Markham frowned in distaste, "before it gets dark, sir. The building we're using isn't the most secure and they seem to have recovered from whatever happened to them before they came through the
'gate last night."
John nodded. "Agreed. I have an idea of what to do with them, but it's not exactly up to Geneva Convention standards. I just hope Weir goes along with it."
Markham snorted. "They shot two of our people," he growled. "Kidnapped two others, and who knows what else they've been doing to terrorise this part of the galaxy." He gave Sheppard a sideways look. "Last I heard that supervolcano on M2R-937 hadn't gone off yet, we could send them there."
John smiled at the suggestion and glanced over at the group of prisoners as an argument broke out in front of the stockade. "I know she won't go for that, Sergeant."
Markham shrugged. "Just a thought, sir," he deadpanned.
"I'll keep it in mind as plan B," John replied, his attention focused on the fight near the building.
John had taken a couple of steps toward the stockade when one of the men broke through the cordon of Marines surrounding the prisoners and ran back across the compound. John wasn't surprised to note it was the large, bald man whom John assumed was the Kirin Teyla had mentioned
"You nearly killed us, you maggot!" Kirin yelled and lunged at Rodney standing a few feet away near more of the ruins. "I'll make you pay for that."
John skidded to a stop and raised the P-90, but Teyla and two other Marines were in his line of fire. Ford was closer to McKay, but John could tell he didn't have a shot either. He dropped the rifle and ran, even though he knew he wouldn't reach Rodney in time. Markham pounded along behind him.
John heard the other prisoners yelling, either cheering on Kirin, or screaming threats of their own at McKay, he wasn't sure. Rodney, for his part, tried to get out of the way of the man charging toward him but he was backed up against the ruined building and had nowhere to run.
Ford and Teyla were both closing in from opposite sides of Kirin. John saw a glint of light flash off the blade of Teyla's knife as she threw it. The blade hit Kirin in the upper arm but didn't slow him in his headlong charge to reach Rodney. John had his own knife out and ready to attack when Thompson planted himself between Kirin and Rodney, his arms up in a defensive position and his feet slightly apart. John wasn't sure Kirin noticed Thompson was now between him and Rodney as the raider didn't slow down.
John skidded to a stop just as Thompson threw a straight punch at Kirin's face, landing a solid blow to the man's cheekbone. The force of the punch pushed Kirin back and Thompson hooked his foot behind Kirin's leg.
Kirin hit the ground hard and snarled as he jumped back to his feet and lunged at Thompson.
Thompson hit him again, this time in the ribs, dropping Kirin to a knee.
Before he could launch another attack, the two Marines chasing after him caught up and grabbed Kirin in a restraining hold and pulled him back across the campsite, still snarling and spitting threats at both Thompson and Rodney.
"Sergeant," John said as he jogged over to Rodney's side and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Good work. Thanks."
"No problem, sir," Thompson replied. He gave Rodney a nod and walked off to help the two Marines with Kirin.
"You all right," John asked Rodney as Ford and Teyla joined them.
Rodney nodded, and John could see his hands shaking more than before. He gave the shoulder he gripped a quick squeeze and was rewarded with a slight smile and another nod.
"I take it that was Kirin?" John asked with a glance from Rodney to Teyla.
"It was," Teyla said as she stopped on Rodney's other side and gave him a concerned look.
Rodney stared at the small ruin as more shouting came from the building. He clenched his hands as best he could with the plastic splints and shrugged out of John's hold on his arm as he looked nervously around the camp.
He skirted around Ford and glanced back at John. "I'm going …" He waved a hand at the tents and headed for the partially collapsed tent farthest from the ruins.
"Sir?" Ford asked.
"I'll take care of it. You get Thompson and Ortega and get ready to leave for the 'gate. Weir is going to want a report on what's been happening the last two days."
"Yes, sir," Ford replied.
Thompson came back across the camp, wiping something with a piece of cloth. He stuffed the cloth in a trouser pocket as he approached John and Teyla and held out her little knife hilt first. "Thought you'd want this back, ma'am."
She smiled up at him as she took the knife and put it back in her boot. "Thank you, Sergeant."
John left them talking amongst themselves and wandered over to the tent. He shook his head when he found Rodney sifting through the clutter of supplies, Ancient artefacts, and assorted equipment scattered across the ground. He knew the burst of energy was the result of adrenaline; he also knew it wouldn't last very long before McKay crashed.
"Rodney, what are you doing?" John asked gently as he walked into the tent.
"We need to take all of this back with us," Rodney said as he sorted through piles one-handed.
John saw him smile slightly when he found his combo-computer and, after turning it one way then the other, tucked it carefully under his right arm.
"Yes, it's still here and still in one piece," Rodney muttered to himself a few seconds later when he uncovered the box-like device John remembered as the twin of the device in McKay's lab. He absently passed the computer to John, who grabbed it just before Rodney let go and bent down to pick up the box. He nearly dropped the Ancient device a moment later as he lost his balance and John grabbed his arm before he could fall.
"Whoa," Rodney muttered and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.
John quickly set the computer down on a nearby table, took the box from Rodney and put it next to the computer, then righted a stool and sat McKay down.
"Hey," he said softly and bent slightly to look Rodney in the eye. "I will make sure all of this gets back to Atlantis, okay? I think we need to get you and Teyla back there first, buddy."
Rodney studied John's face. "You promise?" he asked as he picked up the computer again. "There could be important information we need in one of these devices." He looked around at detritus scattered around the tent and frowned.
John nodded. "I promise. Why don't you give me the computer? I'll put it in my pack so it gets back safe."
Rodney hesitated for a moment, then handed over the computer as John handed him a power bar. "I don't feel so good," Rodney mumbled as he took the energy bar.
"Then let's get you back to Carson. He'll get you fixed up in no time," John replied as he stuffed the computer in his pack. He waited until Rodney finished the power bar then took his arm and steered him out of the tent.
~*~*~*~ SGA ~*~*~*~
"Doctor Kavanaugh swears someone is taking equipment from his lab," Bates said with a twisted smile as he sat in one of the chairs in from of Elizabeth's desk.
Elizabeth glanced up at him with a frown. "Is this actual theft or a prank?" she asked. She did not want to entertain the possibility one of the hand-picked members of the expedition was a thief.
Bates shook his head. "As far as we can tell, no one has stolen anything. Doctor Kavanagh can't give me any kind of list of what is actually missing. He claims things have been moved around in his lab and some of his equipment has 'probably' been stolen." Bates mimed the quote marks.
Elizabeth sighed. "All right, I'll talk to Doctor McKay. It sounds like someone, or several someones, in the science department is harassing him, though I can't imagine why. Was there anything else?"
"No, ma'am," Bates said as he stood. "I'll have the new duty rosters posted this afternoon."
Elizabeth looked up at him and nodded. "Thank you, Sergeant."
Once Bates was gone, Elizabeth sat back in her chair, twisting a pen in her fingers. She'd known when she took the job as expedition leader, a significant portion of her time would be dealing with fellow scientists and their equally large egos. With a little over one hundred people taking part in the expedition, she'd known personalities would clash. It was inevitable. But Doctor Kavanagh managed to take prickly to a new level.
She glanced at her watch and stood. Sergeant Markham was due to check-in and she really hoped he had some good news for her. While she was happy Markham may have found Doctor McKay and Teyla, or at least where they were being held prisoner, she was worried no one had heard from Sheppard's team since the day before. She wanted to believe John had been able to find Rodney and Teyla without the extra information, but worried she now had four more people lost on the planet.
She stepped out of her office just as the 'gate started to light up and walked over to Grodin's station at the main console.
"Just in time," Peter said with a smile as she stopped next to him. "I have Sergeant Markham's IDC," he added.
"Atlantis, this is Markham."
Grodin tapped another crystal and nodded over at her. "This is Weir. Tell me you have good news, Sergeant."
"I have better than that, ma'am. Major Sheppard and his team would like permission to come home. With Doctor McKay and Teyla."
Several scientists at the rear consoles started to applaud. Elizabeth and Peter shared a relieved smile. "Permission granted," she said. "Radio Carson," she added to Chuck on her other side.
"Yes, ma'am," Chuck replied with a smile of his own.
"Sergeant Markham, any news concerning our other problem?" Elizabeth asked as she heard Chuck telling someone he wasn't sure what injuries the returning team may have.
"Everything is secure for now, ma'am. Major Sheppard thinks he may have a solution. He'll fill you in."
Elizabeth frowned slightly, wondering what John had suggested that made Markham sound so satisfied. "Understood, Sergeant. We are standing by for Major Sheppard and his team."
Elizabeth took the stairs down from the control room and met Carson as he came running into the gateroom with a pair of medical technicians in his wake carrying supplies.
Before she could do much more than acknowledge Beckett with a nod, Lieutenant Ford came through the stargate with Teyla followed by Corporal Ortega. A few seconds later, John and Rodney came through. Elizabeth didn't miss the hand John had on Rodney's arm or the way Rodney stumbled to a stop once he was through the event horizon. Sergeant Thompson stepped through last.
She watched as Rodney sank down on the steps nearest the 'gate as the wormhole shut down and realised she must not have been the only one to see how tired he looked as Carson dropped to a knee beside him. She noted the emergency splints on his fingers with a frown and could tell Rodney was exhausted as he leant back against John's legs. No wonder John was hovering, she thought to herself as Beckett spoke to Rodney softly.
Elizabeth's frown deepened when she checked the rest of her people and caught a glimpse of the bandage on Ortega's arm and the dark purple bruise on Teyla's face. Ford stood beside her as one of the medical technicians asked her questions and gently guided her to sit on another of the steps.
"Major," Elizabeth said with a smile. "Good to see you all back safe and mostly sound."
John pursed his lips and glanced down at Rodney as Carson called for a wheelchair.
"I can walk," Rodney mumbled and tried to stand. "Managed to get all the way back here."
"Aye, so you did," Carson said with a glance up at John. "Which is why I think you've earned the right to a free ride."
Rodney gave him a baleful look but any argument he wanted to make was refuted as he sagged back against John's legs, forcing Sheppard to quickly readjust his balance.
Two more technicians came into the gateroom pushing a pair of wheelchairs. Teyla settled into one and Ford started to walk beside her as they left the gateroom.
"Ford," John called. "Don't go anywhere."
Ford turned with a frown. "Sir?"
"We need to make some decisions about our … guests," John said cryptically.
Rodney looked up as Carson settled him in the other chair. "Teyla and I should stay, too," he said and tried to stand up again. "Explain to Elizabeth what happened."
"No, you go with Carson," John said and bent down. "Let him take a look at your fingers. Keep an eye on Teyla for me. I'll come by to see you in a bit."
Elizabeth watched as he stood and held a silent conversation with Teyla. She nodded and smiled slightly as the medical technical pushed her out of the gateroom.
"Come on lad," Carson said to Ortega, "You need to be checked over as well. And I have a couple of your teammates in my infirmary who will be happy to see you."
Elizabeth saw the relieved smile on Ortega's face at the news Stackhouse and Stephens were both alive and watched as he followed Carson and Rodney out of the gateroom.
"We have a situation," John told her as soon as the others left.
"I know," she replied. "Sergeant Markham told me about the people he found near the stargate and that they had something to do with kidnapping Rodney and Teyla. Markham also told me you may have an idea on what to do with them. Get cleaned up and meet me in my office."
Thirty minutes later John, with Ford in tow, knocked at the edge of her door. She waved them in and offered the two chairs in front of her desk.
"All right, what do we know from Rodney and Teyla about these men?" she asked once they were settled.
It only took John, with some assistance from Ford, ten minutes to tell her about the marauders, how and why they'd attacked the camp, and their plan to attack Atlantis as well as the idea Rodney had to stop them.
"That explains his fingers," Elizabeth said when he was done.
John nodded. "His plan worked, too. Up to a point. The men he sent off on a wild goose chase to P9X-565 came back through the 'gate where Markham and his team captured them. Right now he has them stashed in one of the smaller ruins, but we need to do something with them before nightfall on the planet. Markham's team is too vulnerable to an escape attempt once it gets dark."
Elizabeth clasped her fingers together on the desk. "Sergeant Markham said you had a plan?"
John nodded. "I do, but I need some information from Grodin first."
She gave him a quizzical look then tapped her radio. "Peter? Can you come to my office, please?"
She saw Grodin glance over at the glassed-in office, say something to Chuck, and head across the walkway.
"Something you needed, Doctor Weir?" he asked as he stood in the doorway.
John stood from his chair and faced the doorway. "I need a habitable planet, deserted, with a space 'gate."
"Space 'gate?" Elizabeth asked and sat forward in her chair with her arms braced on the desk. "John, what is this plan of yours, exactly?"
John turned back to face her, his expression hard. "These men are basically pirates, Elizabeth. We can't bring them back here. We can't leave them on that planet with a way to escape and continue pillaging other worlds. Even if we could disable the 'gate, chances are they have a ship stashed somewhere, too. This way, they get to live, but can never leave." He twisted his lip into a wry smile. "Markham suggested we dump them on M2R-937. I thought you'd be more amenable to my idea, but his plan has a certain merit to it."
Elizabeth looked from John to Grodin, the question clear in her eyes.
"The planet with the super-volcano," Grodin supplied with a quick glance at Sheppard.
"I told him you'd probably say no to that idea," John added. "But I'm okay with it if you are."
Elizabeth could see the anger simmering just below the bland surface expression on John's face and shook her head. "Your first instinct was correct, John. I told you once before we aren't in the revenge business. The super-volcano is out. However," she said as John started to interrupt, "the idea about a planet with a space 'gate has merit. Peter?"
Grodin glanced from John to Elizabeth for a moment. "I can run a search of the Ancient database. See if I can find any planets that match Major Sheppard's requirements."
"Do that," she said.
"And fast," John added. "We need to get those men moved in the next few hours."
"I'll get Doctor Zelenka to help," Peter replied, and left the office.
"I'm heading down to the infirmary," John said once Grodin was gone.
"I'll come with you," Elizabeth agreed and stood from her desk.
She wasn't surprised to see Teyla and Rodney in two beds near the far wall when she entered the infirmary behind John and Ford.
"Elizabeth," Carson greeted as he came over to them. "Major, Lieutenant."
"How are they, Carson?" Elizabeth asked as John and Ford wandered over to their sleeping teammates.
"All things considered, they are both doing reasonably well," Beckett said with a smile as he stopped at the foot of Teyla's bed.
She was relieved to see neither Rodney nor Teyla were hooked up to any monitoring equipment and noticed John and Ford relax slightly.
"They're both exhausted," Carson explained in a low voice. "Teyla has some painful bruises along her back and arms, not to mention some nasty scrapes along her back and side. She also told me she was hit in the head fairly hard by someone named Rasha, but she doesn't have any lingering signs of a concussion."
Elizabeth noticed John's expression harden for a moment. Apparently, he hadn't known about the cause of the head injury, she concluded.
Carson glanced at the other bed. "On top of the two broken fingers, Rodney's blood sugar needs to come up a bit. His right shoulder is also a bit swollen and I did a scan when I X-rayed his fingers. It will ache for a few days, but I don't think he re-injured it. His fingers should heal in a few weeks. Teyla did a good job setting them as quickly as she did. I'm keeping them here overnight. They need the rest and Rodney will be on the glucose drip for another hour or so."
Beckett gave John a measured look. "Are you all right, Major? How bad is the headache?"
John shook his head. "I'm fine. Really," he added at Carson's skeptical look. "My head was pounding a bit yesterday before we found them, but I'm fine now. There's just the itch."
"Grodin to Weir," Elizabeth heard over the radio.
She stepped away from the beds and tapped her earpiece, "This is Weir."
"We think we might have a candidate for Major Sheppard," Grodin reported.
She turned to look at John. "Thank you, Peter. We'll be right there." She tapped her earpiece again and said, "Peter thinks he has a suitable planet for your pirates, Major."
John nodded and stepped over to Rodney's bed. He bent down, whispered something in Rodney's ear, then squeezed his shoulder and stepped back. "I'll be back later," John said to Carson.
Elizabeth could see Carson had questions about Sheppard's plan but merely nodded. "I'm sure they'll be happy to see you," he replied.
"Ford, come on. Let's go deal with our pirate problem once and for all." John said and Elizabeth watched as his expression hardened and he led the way out of the infirmary.