A/N: Thanks to all of those that have read and reviewed. It makes my day to read those. Here's Chapter 4 - Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Stargate Atlantis or it's wonderful characters.
Spoilers: Through Season 5 up to Brainstorm.
4 – Needle in a Haystack
As Jennifer and Lorne's team walked through the field to the village on M33-985 she took the time to soak up the sun and silence. She was glad she'd postponed this mission to see Celise for an hour so she could talk with Rodney. It was freeing to know that was behind them.
It was wonderful to be offworld, leaving everything and everyone behind. She lived every moment on Atlantis wondering if, not when, she'd run into Ronon, be sent on a mission with him, or have to stitch the big guy up.
Marie tried to be a buffer for her, bless her heart. The Satedan had been in such a formidable mood lately most of her staff stayed clear. It's not that he wasn't polite, he was just detached and she couldn't blame him. She knew he was just protecting himself. She just wished time would move more quickly so they could get past this. Telling him she was interested in someone else was stupid. There had to have been a better way to keep their friendship were it had been, to keep him from revealing his intentions and changing their relationship. It was too late to take that back, but she was still hoping to somehow salvage their friendship. She desperately missed him.
Jenn watched Lorne fall back to walk with her. "So Doc, I'm starting to wonder if you have a thing for someone on my team," he smirked at her.
"Thinking or hoping, Major?" she teased.
"Only thinking, Doc," he chuckled. "Us military guys know, you don't date the one woman who treats you when you're sick, stitches you up, and decides the size of the needles."
"So that's why I can't get a date," she laughed. "Maybe I need to take up a new profession."
"Oh, I don't think that would give any of the Marines enough courage, Doc, so you might as well do what you do best."
"What is that suppose to mean?"
Lorne just laughed. "So, why the request for my team lately?"
"Just enjoy your company, Major, maybe I'm the one hoping," she teased.
"If that were only true, Doc." He laid a hand on her upper arm to hault her for a moment. "Your ok, right Doc? You'd tell me, or at least Sheppard or Ronon if you were having a problem… right?"
"I'm fine Evan," she started them walking again. They could see Celise's new home just ahead. "Your right, no one messes with the woman who owns the needles, scalpel and the good drugs."
"Ah, yes, let's not forget the good drugs," Lorne joined her in laughing.
Jennifer looked across the remaining distance to the village and her breath caught. Lorne heard her gasp and in one fluid motion stepped ahead of her and pushed her behind all while raising his P-90. His team followed suit.
Jennifer placed a hand on Lorne's shoulder, "Major, its ok, I was just surprised," she said while pointing ahead at a man standing in front of Celise's new home. A moment later a little girl was seen exiting the house as she came at a full out run straight at the men. The entire team relaxed their stance while awaiting the little girl's arrival.
Celise ran up and into Jennifer's arms and she twirled her around. "I've missed you so little girl." The two were giggling while Jennifer continued to hold her tight. It'd been a long time since Lorne had witnessed something as touching, especially in the Pegasus Galaxy. With all of the destruction, danger and loss they usually experienced, good moments seemed rare and confined to time on Atlantis. He was forced to look away and instead watched the man slowly approaching, while listening to the girls reunion.
"I see you have a surprise for me," Jennifer teased Celise.
"Oh, yes," Celise exclaimed trying to wiggle out of her grasp. "Kiryk has returned, come on," she said, while pulling on Jennifer's hand.
Jennifer laughingly allowed Celise to hurry her back towards the house and Kiryk who was still making his way towards them. The team moved with Jennifer while staying alert.
Jennifer let go of Celise's hand and walked up to Kiryk, "I'm glad to see you are alive." She went up on tip toe and gave him a hug. After a stunned moment Kiryk returned the hug, enveloping her in his arms in a very tight embrace before setting her down.
Kiryk took a deep breath before stepping back and turning slightly to face her team. "I see they send you out with a whole team now."
"Yes, they seem to fear I may run into difficulties that may require the assistance of a whole military team. Kidnappings being on the rise and all," she laughed while giving him the evil eye.
Kiryk smiled at her humor, but didn't relax completely while looking at the faces of the very serious team behind her.
Jennifer turned around and faced the team. "Major Lorne and team, this is Kiryk. Relax boys," she commanded while making eye contact with Lorne.
Lorne gave her a slight nod after a moment and scooped up Celise, "Well, squirt, show us your new digs."
Celise giggled while struggling to get down. She grabbed his hand, "Come see my room, Evan!"
As the group set off for the house Kiryk pulled Jennifer back so they were bringing up the rear. "So I see she captured a few hearts while she was on Atlantis."
"Yes," Jennifer laughed, "she was quite a hit, especially with the military men."
Kiryk stopped them just before the house. "Thank you, for saving Celise, for saving me."
"Kiryk, really, you don't have to thank me. It was an honor."
"I don't know if you completely understand what that little girl means to me or represents to me."
"I think I have an idea," she reassured him. Noticing Lorne watching she moved them into the house to see a very excited Celise's bedroom.
"…so I took the tracking device off of the Wraith hunter and dialed the next address I could think of. I continued to dial gates and move about for the next couple weeks just waiting for the Wraith to find me, but they never came." Kiryk looked at Jennifer as she re- entered the kitchen after checking on Celise and Lorne's team playing in the back yard. "I finally decided to believe Dr. Keller had actually disabled my tracking implant."
"I see the teleporting device is still stuck to your arm though," Jennifer observed as she sat back down at the table with the Major and Kiryk. Lunch had been finished for a while now and Erran's family had made themselves scarce.
"Yeah, it's still working well; your friend really did fix it."
"Do you want us to try to get it off somehow?" She asked.
"No," he said quickly, "I'm not ready. I still check the Wraith tracking device each day to see if the implant is still off," he grinned at Jenn, but she noticed it didn't reach his eyes. "Maybe I always will," he stated grimly.
"When you're ready, I'll see what we can do," she reassured him. "So, are you staying here?"
"Yes, Erran and her family have been very gracious. They've given me use of one of the out buildings so I can stay close to Celise and be there for her if she needs me. We decided it's best if she stays with Erran and has the chance to be with a family again."
"Well, Doc," Lorne interrupted, "I should probably go report in to Atlantis. Sheppard is going to want to know we found Kiryk."
Lorne touched his com link, "Lt. Jacobs, I need you and Sanchez here."
"Yes, sir," came the reply.
Jennifer looked at Kiryk, "We've been looking for you."
"Yes, Celise said Ronon promised to find me."
At that moment Sanchez and Jacobs walked into the kitchen.
Lorne spoke up in his commanding voice. "Sanchez, you're with me, Jacobs you will stay with the Doc."
"Major Lorne," Jennifer said sternly.
Lorne looked at Jennifer before turning his gaze back on Kiryk. "Last time you were alone with the Doc…"
Kiryk interrupted Lorne before he could get any further, "I will not harm her or take her anywhere. She knows that, I'm sure. I owe her my life as well as Celise's. If that wasn't enough of a deterrent, I've seen her runner and know my life would be worth nothing if harm comes to her."
Lorne raised an eyebrow at Jennifer and she knew she was blushing. "He is not my runner." She shifted her gaze back to Lorne, "I'll be fine, Major."
"Sure, Doc. Lorne stated before nodding at Jacobs who sat down at the table.
He gave Kiryk one last look, "If anything happens to her," he said nodding at Jennifer, "you'll have the whole wrath of the Atlantis Military standing in line behind 'her' runner."
Lorne turned and walked out the door with Jennifer following him. "He is not my runner!" she called after him.
"Whatever you say, Doc," she could hear floating back to her in the breeze. Exasperated she turned and went back into the kitchen and shut the door.
Rodney was the last to reach the room and take cover. "When you asked if I wanted to have a little fun on my day off, I thought you were talking video games."
"Shhh…" came the growl from Ronon who was covering the other entrance to the room they were holed up in. Due to flooding and lack of need, this outlying part of the city was unused.
"Stop your complaining, Rodney," came Sheppard's low whisper. "I thought you were going with Keller."
Rodney flicked a glance over at Ronon. The man didn't seem to be listening, but Rodney knew he had freakishly good hearing, at least when it suited him. "I decided she had plenty of help with Lorne's team."
Rodney watched Ronon and Sheppard switch places. He didn't know how they knew when to do that, but it was so completely synchronized that it was spooky. "Rodney, check the window," Sheppard ordered.
"How is this fun, doesn't it feel too much like our regular work day." Rodney hissed while crouching below the window.
"Well, first of all," Sheppard not so patiently explained while tapping his gun, "these are loaded with paintballs, so no imminent death.
"Paintballs can inflict a lot of pain," Rodney complained while stealing another glance out the window.
"Just be thankful its paintballs," Mckay could hear the humor in Sheppard's voice and it was annoying, "the sadist here wanted to use stunners." Sheppard threw his head at Ronon's position.
"What?" Rodney exclaimed out loud in his squeaky voice.
The Satedan glared at him, "Shhhh…"
The scientist tried to glare back, but couldn't hold the gaze and went back to sneaking peaks out the window.
"Let's search the room across the hall," Sheppard said absently.
"We're looking for something?" Rodney asked confused.
"Yeah, yeah, before we started I hid a package of coffee down here and Lt. Samson off the Daedalus, hid a case of beer. Our mission is to grab the beer without all of us getting tagged." Sheppard missed the look of horror on Rodney's face.
"Where did you get a package of coffee?" Rodney hissed out.
"Oh, yeah… um, we kind of raided your stash, they were putting up beer as the flag to find. We needed something just as hard to come by… and well…" Sheppard shrugged his shoulders.
"You're using my expensive, precious, can-only-get-if-there-is-room-when-the-Deadalus-comes-to-town-coffee," Rodney sputtered out.
"Calm down Rodney," Sheppard ground out. "Look, we find the beer, and then grab your coffee and everyone wins."
Sheppard glanced over at Ronon, "and we kick the Daedalus boys' butts."
Ronon grinned back at him.
"Colonel Sheppard this is the control room," came a voice over the coms.
"Go ahead control room."
"We have a radio call from Major Lorne, sir."
"I'll be right there, Chuck."
Sheppard turned to Rodney, "stay here and stay down. I'll be right back."
"Colonel Caldwell this is Colonel Sheppard."
"Sheppard."
"Colonel, I need to get to the control room immediately. Could you give me a lift?"
"Stand by for transport, Colonel."
Rodney and Ronon were in the third room they'd searched, sitting on the floor with their backs to the window. Rodney had locked the door with his gene, so they wouldn't be surprised by any of the Daedalus crew. They'd found the beer, but didn't exactly know what to do now.
"Maybe we should go try to find my coffee," Rodney suggested. Sitting with the big guy was hell on his nerves.
"We'll sit tight. Sheppard hid the coffee; he'll be back soon and can take us straight to it. No sense risking you getting shot."
Rodney tried to ignore the barb and tried a new tactic. "I thought you hated sitting still."
"I do," came the annoyed voice.
"So, why have you been in such a grumpy mood lately?"
Ronon just glared at him.
"Hey, it's not like I got the girl," Rodney said defensively.
"What?" Ronon had turned his full attention to Rodney now and he wasn't sure he liked the added attention.
"I mean, she didn't choose me, so why are you upset, especially at me?"
"I saw you two, McKay," Ronon said in disbelief.
"Has anyone ever told you that to assume is to make an ass out of you and me? Get it because…" Rodney stopped his rambling when he noticed the very irritated look he was receiving.
"What you saw," Rodney emphasized, was Keller telling me she is only interested in being my friend."
Ronon looked at him confused, "But I thought she was interested in you."
"Why would you think that?"
"'Cause she told me she was interested in someone else."
They both were quite for a moment lost in the questions swirling in their heads.
Rodney cleared his throat. "Did you know she overheard us in the gym the night we got back from M33-985?"
Ronon had a look of confusion on his face.
"The planet Kiryk kidnapped Jennifer on," Rodney kind of sing songed without even trying to sound patient.
"Oh."
"Yeah, Oh," Rodney repeated.
There was another lapse of silence and they both peaked a look out the window to see if there was anyone about out the window.
"So…" began Ronon. "Who do you think she is interested in?"
"Honestly?" the scientist squinted his eyes at Ronon, "I don't think there is a 'someone else'."
"Why?" came the bewildered question from Ronon.
Rodney shook his head, "Just didn't sound like there was anyone else."
The door suddenly opened and Sheppard strode through. "See you guys found the beer."
Sheppard walked over to the storage closet where they'd found the beer. Reaching up to a far corner on the top shelf he pulled down the package of coffee.
"What!" Rodney exclaimed. "You hid the coffee in the same spot as the beer?"
"Yeah," Sheppard shrugged. "I found the beer while I was trying to find a spot to hide the coffee, thought they'd never look there…" he turned around and peaked out the door.
"You knew where it was all along?" McKay demanded. "Then why…"
"I wanted to take out a few of the Daedalus boys, show them why we're Atlantis' "A" team." Sheppard looked at the two members of the team and got a little serious. "Major Lorne radioed in, they found Kiryk."
"He's on the planet with Lorne and his team?" Ronon asked.
"Yeah, so let's go tag a few of the boys on our way out. I have an ex-runner to meet." He looked over at his teammates, "you both want to come right?"
In answer they both took up positions by the door.
"Ok then, let's move out."
Lorne met Sheppard's team at the gate and escorted him towards the house. As they approached they could see everyone coming out of the house and Lorne again saw Celise running ahead and was not surprised to see Ronon catch her up in his arms.
"Look Ronon, I found him myself," she exclaimed.
"It looks like you did, you'll make a great tracker when you're grown," he replied with surprising gentleness in his voice.
"Hi, Rodney and John," she said waving at the men. They each greeted her in turn. By this time Lorne's team, Jennifer and Kiryk had reached the new guests.
Ronon reached out with his free hand and shook Kiryk's hand. A look passed between them, but no words exchanged.
Rodney awkwardly nodded his head, "Kiryk."
Sheppard stepped forward, while Lorne made the introductions. "This is Kiryk, Kiryk; this is our commanding officer, Colonel Sheppard."
Kiryk extended his hand, but Sheppard pulled his back and clocked the man in the jaw.
Kiryk slowly looked back at Sheppard while dabbing at his split lip. Lorne held Jennifer back while Ronon was whispering to Celise and comforting her.
"No one," Sheppard growled out, "hurts or kidnaps any of my people, and that goes double for non-military personnel. Do we understand each other?"
Kiryk nodded his head. Sheppard extended his hand and Kiryk shook it. "Now…" Sheppard proclaimed, "I'd really like to hear about where you got that teleporting thingy that has Dr. McKay's panties in a bunch."