Title: Shadow Play
Author: Cindy Ryan
Category: Xover SGA SG1, AU
Timeline: AU after AHBL pt.2, SG1/SGA--AU
Notes: Many thanks to Kari for the beta

John had almost emptied his shotgun of rock salt and, from the sounds behind him, he knew Rodney, Teyla and Elizabeth were pretty much in the same boat.

"Isn't this supposed to be working by now?" Rodney shouted as he fired another shot at something that was becoming a little too solid for his liking.

"Since when," John began through gritted teeth as he aimed at something just beyond and above Jackson's right shoulder, "do things go according to plan?"

Suddenly the monitors near Dean's bed sprang to life, causing Carson and Sokun to scurry forward.

"The lad's fighting back to us!" Carson shouted over the gunfire as he studied Dean's vitals. "His vitals are almost normal."

The ground shook again, nearly knocking Daniel off his feet. He scrambled for a hand-hold and kept himself upright. He could see his breath now and fought to keep his teeth from chattering.
One more verse of the spell left… Daniel shook his head to clear it… that was all he had left… one more section and the insanity around them might be over.

"Daniel!" John prompted, noting the archeologist had stopped speaking.

"I'm okay," Daniel replied as he ducked as something cold flew by the back of his neck. "Just give me cover fire."

"You got it," Sheppard promised as he fired another round and Jackson began to recite once more.

*******

"Yes, Sir. We'll see you when we get back," Mitchell stated as he ended the cell phone call to Landry.

Cameron glanced over at Sam who was sitting on one of the few benches as they waited for their flight. She was still a little too pale for his liking.

Cameron sat down next to Carter and handed her a bottle of water and two Tylenol he'd taken out of his pack.
She smiled at him briefly before taking the water and medicine.

"Thanks," Sam replied quietly. "Have more of a headache than I thought."

"Hitting the wall will do that."

Sam punched Cameron lightly on the arm. "Next time you pack the energy scanner."

"You're the one that said there couldn't be any power left."

Sam nodded ruefully. "There shouldn't have been… not with the amount it takes to galaxy hop a couple of human beings. We need to come back later with heavier digging equipment. These crystals have to have been attached to something."

"Could the power source have been on the Atlantis side?" Cameron asked thoughtfully. "You said this thing was a homing beacon… maybe they rigged it so it doesn't need a power source on this side."

Sam shook her head and winced. "Possible, but it'd still need power to activate the point of orgin."

Cameron placed an arm around her shoulders and Sam allowed herself to rest against him.

"Don't hurt your head," Mitchell said softly just as the sound of a plane touching down reached their ears. "You'll figure it out when we get back... You always do."

**********

Ronon backed up against Winchester's stasis pod, physically placing himself between the now defenseless youth and the invisible harm that was threatening them.

Ronon gripped the gun tighter, his green eyes scanning the shadows.

The lights flickered once and went out, plunging the room into complete darkness.

Ronon kept his finger on the trigger… he had three shots left… had to make each one count.

Darkness danced across darkness and Ronon fired.

*********

Elizabeth Weir hesitated… something she didn't normally do. However, this battle was far from normal.
Elizabeth gripped the gun… something so unfamiliar rested in her hands. John had always been after her to spend more time in the weapons range.
She'd never found time for it.
Now she wished she had.

The sight before Elizabeth was one she'd never forget. John was pinned against the wall, nearly at ceiling level from his original position a few seconds before.
Elizabeth knew she had to fire… knew it was the only way to save him.
The only way to save a man who'd become more a part of her life than she'd ever expected… partner didn't seem adequate enough to describe their friendship... Their relationship.
Elizabeth aimed the weapon, Daniel's words fading as she concentrated. How could she fire if she couldn't see the target? She saw John's hands claw as he fought for air. She saw his feet kick the empty space as he struggled to free himself.

A gunshot rang out and John slid down to the floor taking several pieces of medical equipment and furniture with him.
Elizabeth turned to see Teyla standing in front of her wheel chair, the gun still raised.
Elizabeth nodded her thanks before lowering her own weapon and moving toward John's still form.

*********

Daniel had never been happier in his life than to reach the last word. It had seemed to take forever but in reality it'd taken less than fifteen minutes, start to finish. As Daniel lifted his gaze from John Winchester's journal, he met Beckett's. The Scott nodded and Daniel's shoulders slumped in relief.

Daniel glanced around the room which was slowly returning to room temperature. The lights activated once again. Jackson looked at the others gathered, making sure they were okay. His gaze paused on Sheppard's still form and Sokun and Weir leaning over him.

"He okay?" Daniel asked as he moved around the bed joining the others.

"He'll be sore for awhile… few broken ribs. Otherwise good as new in a week or so," Sokun reported.

"Thank you, Doctor," Elizabeth acknowledged as she stood.

"Did we win?" Rodney asked as he moved to stand by Weir.

"Sam?" Dean's weak hoarse voice was all the answer McKay and the others needed.

Carson shook his head in amazement as he placed a gentle hand on Dean's right shoulder. "You're alright now, lad, just rest."

"Look," Daniel pointed to Dean's exposed skin as nurses moved in to help move Sheppard onto a bed. "The scars are gone."

"Incredible," Elizabeth whispered as she moved to stand behind Jackson. She keyed her earpiece. "Ronon, how's Sam?"

"Aye," Carson agreed as Sokun did one final check of Dean's vitals. "Once he gets his strength back, it'll be like it never happened."

"What did happen exactly?" Rodney asked quietly as he glanced over at Sheppard's unconscious form.

"Freed somebody from hell," Daniel replied, awe in his voice and a smile quirking at the corners of his mouth.

"Just another day, huh?" McKay replied with a grin.

"For you guys in Pegasus, maybe," Daniel retorted. "At SGC we tend to stick to the run of the mill..."

"Doc's going to have to move fast," Ronon replied to Weir's earlier question as he stepped into the infirmary, Sam's limp form in his arms.