A/N: Thanks to dwparsnips and Betherdy Babe for their beta.

Jennifer had gotten her tears of frustration under control but continued to stare up and down the cliff, trying to force the bridge to appear where it obviously wasn't. How could I have gotten lost? She did run in a zigzagging pattern as she tried not to be a lucky shot for the bullets being fired at her, but it shouldn't have put her so far off course. The Bola Kai knew how to pull the trigger but aiming wasn't something they'd come close to mastering.

The thought of the four brutes she'd seen racing behind her put enough fear in her system to get her moving faster than she had planned. The stitch in her side was proof of that. In addition to running faster, she'd also obviously not paid any attention to the direction she ran in. Now that she was faced with a dead end, the terror that bubbled right behind her disbelief in the situation rose to the surface.

Deep breaths, deep breaths. As she repeated the mantra as she rested for a moment, hidden by a large fallen tree near the edge. Think, Keller. You've got a small knife. If you jump you'll probably die. The river was full of rocks bigger than she was so it wasn't really an option.

You just need to avoid capture for an hour or so. You've probably run for a half of an hour already. She moved her arm to shake the sleeve back on her coat and looked at her watch. Five minutes had passed since she last checked the time. It was impossible to keep a tear from sliding out of her left eye. Squeezing her eyes shut for a few seconds prevented others from following.

At least until she opened her eyes and turned into a large fist that connected with her upper right cheekbone. The impact sent her head snapping back and the rest of her body followed it, dropping her to the ground. Jennifer's first reaction was to shout, but the massive body that stepped in front of her fuzzy vision silenced her.

The Bola Kai stood taller than Ronon, with his shoulders appearing as wide as his body because of the massive animal pelt he wore. Half of his face was painted black and his hair hung longer than her own. Another massive man with a shaved head stepped into view behind the one who hit her. He appeared to wear armor and his eyes had black painted around them.

Jennifer's eyes refocused as she pushed herself up into a sitting position.

"Who are you?" a deep voice growled.

"I… I am Athosian," she stammered.

"She is not Athosian," the bald one said as he moved to the side of the first man.

"I am Adira," Jennifer lied. "We returned yesterday from a trading mission. What did you do with the others?"

"They were gone when we got here," the first man growled.

"Omal will want to question her," the bald man said as his eyes traveled over her body. "Perhaps we'll get to keep her if he doesn't want her."

Bile rose in Jennifer's throat and she had to swallow hard. "I mean my friends in the forest. What did you do with them?"

The two men seemed taken aback and glanced at the tree line. Jennifer took that opportunity to slide the knife and its sheath under her jacket as she moved onto all fours to stand. She knew it was a stupid idea to turn her back on them, but she felt stronger by having Teyla's knife. As if it can give you any of her fighting powers.

Jennifer got to her feet and looked up at the men before her. Both of them looked hungrily at her and she was glad Teyla made her keep her black leather coat on. She'd said she could run faster without it, but having only a thin cotton t-shirt would have left her feeling even more exposed than now.

"There's no one here. Only the one we killed at the gate," Baldy said.

"Teyla," she gasped as a sudden wave of nausea overwhelmed her. Jennifer knew in that instant that it was all over. Her body started to shake, but she had no time to give in to the terror because a third Bola Kai showed up.

"Bring her," he growled.

Rodney ran into a large clearing that surrounded the New Athos stargate. There were seven or eight bodies on the ground with various manner of leather, animal hides or armor on them. General O'Neill, Master Gunny Richards and Ronon were prowling around the edge of the clearing with guns raised and occasionally shooting into the forest.

Sheppard was kneeling next to a body and it appeared he was trying to hold that person down.

"Teyla!" Rodney shouted as he ran to his teammates.

Once he was close enough he saw her bloody face and shouted, "Oh God. Where's Jennifer?" His eyes darted around but no sign of the woman he loved could be seen. "Teyla…"

"McKay, where the hell is your gear?" John yelled as he looked at Rodney clad only in his black uniform jacket.

"Where's Jennifer?" His eyes tried to penetrate the early dawn darkness that still clung to the thick forest surrounding them.

"Out there." John nodded toward the woods. "Your scanner could help us narrow down where to look for her."

The wormhole had shut down once Rodney got through and it suddenly reactivated.

"Secure the gate," O'Neill shouted.

John jumped up and shoved Rodney down near Teyla, handing him a 9 mil. Raising his P90, the Colonel called in his radio, "Atlantis is that you?"

"Major Lorne, sir, I'm on my way."

"Stop inside the gate and pick up McKay." John turned to look down at the physicist who was still next to Teyla looking at the bodies lying in the clearing.

"Who are they?" he finally asked.

"Bola Kai," Ronon said as he paced nearby. "Primitive warriors."

"They've got our guns," Rodney noticed.

"Weapons cache," Teyla said softly from her position lying on the ground.

"Teyla." Rodney turned to his teammate ashamed that he'd forgotten about her as his fear for Jennifer consumed him.

"Jen-jennifer lead them away so I could get through gate," Teyla said as she labored to get the words out.

"What? Teyla, is she armed?" O'Neill asked as he stopped next to them.

"Kn-knife," the Athosion replied before she lost consciousness.

"Against them?" Rodney looked at the massive figures around the clearing. He was terrified of their appearance and he knew they were all dead. The bullet holes in their heads proved it. "And now they're chasing her?" A sick feeling caused his stomach to threaten to heave.

Jack O'Neill looked into Rodney's eyes and the physicist knew exactly what was going through the General's mind. Jennifer was alone and unarmed in the forest hunted by these things.

The jumper landed to the side of the clearing and Carson, several Marines and Lorne ran down the ramp.

"Bloody hell," Carson shouted. "What's happened?" He quickly made his way to Teyla.

"McKay, get a life signs detector. You're with me," O'Neill shouted.

Rodney ran to the jumper, encountering Sergeant Warrington on the ramp. The Marine handed the physicist a Tac vest and a gun. His brown eyes and the set on his face told Rodney no one was going to survive an encounter from the big Bermudan, who was protective of Jennifer since her first off world mission.

In the background Rodney heard O'Neill shout at Sheppard for quoting regulation and threatening to send him back to Antarctica if he didn't let the General look for his niece.

"Fine," John said. "Ronon, Richards, you're with McKay and the General. Warrington, Carter, Raven, you're with me. Mehra, Klein, stay with Carson and get him and Teyla through the gate. Lorne, see if you can find anything from the air. Stay cloaked in case they get lucky with some of our bigger guns. And dial Atlantis for more teams."

Rodney clutched the life signs detector Warrington handed him as he made his way to Ronon, Richards and Jennifer's Uncle.

"McKay," Jack said. "Let's find Jennifer."

Rodney looked into eyes that flashed with more anger than he'd ever seen from O'Neill only an hour ago. Now they were full of concern and a faith that Rodney would lead the way. He felt a sliver of pride that O'Neill at least respected his ability. One last glance at the monsters that had taken down the strongest woman he'd met before Jennifer and his jaw set. "Yes, sir."

TBC

A/N: This story has captured my muse lately since it's drawing toward its conclusion.