I'm hopeing you guys like it, if you could review that would be nice. It give me something to look forward to when I get home from a long day at work.

Maybe we're not supposed to be happy. Maybe gratitude has nothing to do with joy. Maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is. Appreciating small victories. Admiring the struggle it takes simply to be human. Maybe we're thankful for the familiar things we know. And maybe we're thankful for the things we'll never know. At the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate.
Dr. Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy

The next morning she arrived early to gateroom, and watched the people around her prepare for the coming day. It was fascinating to her. Watching the people go about, as if all in a coordinated ballet. Finally she saw Colonel Sheppard wearing his aviator shades walking in with Dr. McKay. Sheppard nodded over to her. "Good morning Captain. Good you see you here early."

"Good morning to you too Sir, Dr. McKay." She nodded cordially at the two men.

"Captain," McKay nodded coolly. "I believe you still owe me a new pair of pants." She rolled her eyes at him and caught a small crack Sheppard's lips.

"Well if you're ready, I'm going to take the jumper up and then we'll switch and I'll see your hand at the controls, if all goes well we can try taking it thought the gate and back."

"Yes sir," she replied calmly. "I'm quite ready"

"Well then let's do this."

"Um… Sir, Dr. McKay is coming?"

"Yeah, he came to me last night and asked if her could do some work calculating trajectories, and efficiency testing. This is a relatively simple mission I told him he could come along. Are you alright with this Captain?" She thought for a moment.

"Yes, of course Sir."

"Good." He nodded at her. "Well then let's get going." The three of them boarded the jumper and Sheppard took it up to orbit the planet effortlessly. "Now Flynn, there are some things I should tell you, the ship responds mostly to instinct. Just be steady with the stick." She took the controls. At first the jumper started shaking and losing altitude. "Flynn relax and straighten out," Sheppard barked out and grabbed the stick to guide the ship. She took a deep breath to calm down and finally the jumper started straightening out.

"For a second there I thought breakfast was going to make a second appearance," McKay added in.

"You weren't much better your first time taking the controls, I seem to remember flying side to side." McKay shut up and Wynnie started relaxing at the controls. The jumper was much different than flying her fighter on earth, but it wasn't hard. She was actually beginning to enjoy it. "You're doing great Flynn."

"Colonel I've got a question for you. What are the Wraith? I've been hearing people talk about them." Sheppard sighed and rubbed his hand on his eyes.

"What have you heard?"

"Mostly that the feed on humans. That they can sleep for centuries while the stocks get bigger then feed on the struggling populations. I heard they're pretty ruthless and very dangerous."

"Yeah, that's most of it. Basically, they're like bugs. We've been fighting with them since we arrived. Unfortunately it's almost guaranteed you'll meet up with one."

"Sir?" Her voice shook slightly with fear.

"You've got some good training under your belt, just rely on that. You'll get by. While you're in Atlantis you'll be safe." She glanced away from the controls back at McKay, who nodded to her gravely.

"But you've both survived." It was a statement more than a question.

"Yes, by luck and instinct. Captain, I know the Air Force and you wouldn't have gotten so far if you didn't have good instincts, trust your self and your weapon."

"Thank you Sir." Sheppard gave her a small reassuring nod.

"Captain," McKay spoke up, breaking a long silence that had settled in the jumper. Sheppard seemed content with it but McKay was fidgeting. "Why are you here?"

"Because I was assigned here." She replied looking slightly confused.

"Don't they give you guys a choice?"

"Yes, and I chose to come. They said they needed people with my… skill… so why not." She gave him a look of annoyance,

"Well you're leaving everything behind, you know friends, family, significant other. Atlantis can get lonely without familiar people."

"Dr. McKay do you ask everyone these questions?" She looked at him and then Sheppard. He shook his head, but McKay didn't respond. Wynnie looked at him and then forward, in an almost longing way. "I have no one behind. My only friend is Lt. Darius and I was allowed to choose one person from my team to come and she was my choice."

"So you choose her because she was your friend?" Wynnie shot him an offended look.

"Not because she was my friend, but because she's the smartest and best polite I had. I'd trust her with my life." She barked out annoyed. "Why are you pressing the matter?" McKay gave her a small smile.

"I'm just making conversation."

"Aren't you supposed to be doing some calculations or something?" She couldn't figure out why but his questions were making her uncomfortable. If it had been any other person talking to her she wouldn't have felt so embarrassed. But she knew McKay was trying to get in to her head and it bugged her. It was partially because she didn't want him to know about her previous life, before she had come to Atlantis.

"Yes, but I'm done."

"You're being obnoxious."

"I'm obnoxious? You're the one taking offence to my questions."

"I think I liked you better when you were annoying me about your stupid, ugly pants."

"Hey it's not my fault you plowed into me."

"Ok Children, please, fight nice." Sheppard finally cut in then his radio came on. It was Elizabeth asking how soon they could return back. "Flynn you're doing a good job, but I'm going to take us back in to Atlantis, the next mission you're going to take us through the gate, alright?"

"Yes, Thank you."

They returned to Atlantis and Wynnie was dismissed for the rest of the day. So she decided to go for a run. She went through the area she toured the day before, through the living quarters. Then she ran up into the lab area and stopped to catch her breath; she was running harder than normal and was pushed her self beyond her normal limits. On top of the running her body was still dealing with the stress of the move. After a couple steps she stumbled and slid down a wall panting. Someone was coming and she pulled herself up and stood there. It was Dr. Beckett, he was looking at some charts from something as he was leaving one of the labs. Wynnie inhaled sharply and steadied herself.

"Captain Flynn, I didn't expect to see you here," he said looking up from work.

"Yeah… I was taking a run." She breathed deep again.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, fine. I'm just tired I took about…" she looked at her distance meter "…seven miles. I'd be worried if I wasn't out of breath." He smiled at her.

"Care to walk back with me?" She looked at him crookedly and noticed his intentions were genuine and smiled back.

"I believe I can do that." She took a step forward and stumbled forward. Beckett caught and looked her over.

"Are you sure you're ok?" He took out his pen light and shown it in her eyes. "I believe you to be quite dehydrated. How fast did you run those seven miles?" She looked at her watch.

"About 45 minutes."

"And you didn't bring any water with you, no wonder you're looking so pale. Your body holds about forty liters of water. Losing just fifty percent of that water is fatal. Though I don't think you've lost twenty liters, my prediction is about three which can still make you woozy. Come on let's get you something to drink." He gently guided her to the infirmary and sat her down. He handed her a bottle of water which she took gratefully. "Take small sips for now."

"Dr. Beckett…"

"Carson, please." She smiled.

"Carson, have you always wanted to be a doctor?"

"Ever since I was a wee lad my dear. Why do you ask?"

"Because I wanted to be a doctor for the longest time, I never had the grades in college. I got rejection after rejection and finally I gave up. It was a joke anyway I couldn't pay for it." She sighed and laughed. "The more I look back the more I should have seen the signs I was never cut out for med school. Of course I wasn't cut out for my other dream of being a dolphin trainer either. I can't swim well so that was out right away," She forced out a laugh and looked down. A part of her was wondering why she was telling him this, but something about him told her it was okay to talk to him.

"Do you like what you're doing now?"

"Yes very much. I love flying."

"Well I think as long as you're content with what you're doing now you should accept that. Now drink that, or else I'll be forced to start you on an IV of fluids." She took a sip and smiled at him.

"I'm glad I met you."

"Aww thank you my dear. I've got to get back to work, but if you don't finish that I'll come and hunt you down and force it in to you." She laughed.

An annoying buzz woke her up the next morning. She rolled over and looked at the clock it was 4:45 am. It took a moment for her to realize the buzzing was her radio. She was wanted in the gateroom. In haste she got dressed and threw her hair into a messy pony tail. She ran down to the gateroom and saw Colonel Sheppard standing with Dr. Weir, McKay, and another solder she didn't know. "Whats going on," She asked looking around.

"We got a distress call from Teyla and Ronon," Sheppard replied adjusting his radio. "We're going in to find them with Major Lorne's team SGA-2."

"Teyla and Ronon?"

"They're rest of my team, SGA-1. You met them the other day in the gym. They're on a planet called Saphus, they were suppose to bring back a supply of olives and wheat. We got a transmission from them saying there has been some political unrest and fighting in the streets. Basically we want to go in and get them out." They all nodded at him.

"Sir, how will we find them?" The soldier asked.

"We've got life signs detectors and Teyla left us some coordinates to find them. They can't get back to the stargate by themselves but they've managed to find a place to hide." They nodded.

"Colonel, if you don't mind me asking, why do you want me?" Wynnie asked.

"Because we're taking two ships and incase someone is injured having another pilot will help us. Plus it will be good experience."

"Yes, Sir."

"All right if there are no other questions of complaints lets go in and get them out. If anyone gets separated head for the ship, and for God sake don't get your self killed." The two teams bored the ships and went through the gate. Wynnie had never been through and held her breath until she found herself on the other side. She looked up and saw McKay laughing at her.

"It's pretty intense your first time through, huh." She just glared at him. Sheppard set the jumper down and she and McKay got out and met Lorne's team. She noted that Sergeant Jameson was with them.

"Flynn, you're with me and McKay, Lorne's team, you're behind us giving cover. Pick two to watch the jumpers." Sheppard called to her. She nodded back and looked around. The village they touched down by looked similar to a medieval town in England. However, she could hear the intense gun fire in the distance telling her the weapons were more advanced. Though she had never been in combat before, she knew the gut feeling of uncertainty and fear was rising in her stomach. She held her gun at shoulder level and look at Sheppard. He looked so dignified and alert. But, when he looked back at her, he gave her a look, and she knew he was just as edgy as she was. She turned around and saw something falling towards them.

"Incoming," she screamed out and grabbed the closet person to her and shoved him to the ground. It happened to be McKay who gave her a half smile of thanks as canon fire landed where he had been standing previously.

"McKay, Flynn, you alright?"

"Yes, we're fine, both of us." Sheppard glanced over them quickly noting they were uninjured then gave her a small smile. She hadn't realized that her arm was still protectively around McKay. Sheppard motioned them forward and they ran off into the wooded area.

They walked for a good hour before climbing over some boulders. In the distance they could see a few cliffs about a mile away. "Is that where they are Sir?" Wynnie asked quietly.

"Yes, were going too…" He looked at McKay who held a life signs detector.

"It appears to be the one point south by southwest. Over… there." McKay answered, taking a sideways glance at Wynnie. They heard another canon fall somewhere close. Wynnie jumped up, something moved in the woods and she held her gun tighter.

"Sir, I believe we're being watched."

"I know he's been following us since we passed those rocks back there. He's not made a move yet so hold your fire. Remember we're not the target and we're hoping to still trade with these people."

"Yes of course." She replied. There was fire in Sheppard's tone because he greatly mistrusted these people.

They walked further towards the cliffs until their shadows fell upon the team. More shots were heard but the fighting seemed to be farther away.

"Couldn't we have landed the jumpers close the cliffs?" McKay complained.

"No, there isn't enough space to put both them; the forest goes right up to the cliffs." Sheppard answered. McKay sighed and continued to follow Sheppard and Wynnie. They team continued on until they got closer to the edge of the forest, then shots were fired at them. Sheppard took aim and fired back, Wynnie hesitated for a second before returning the fire. One of the men shooting looked at her shocked before he fell back. She gasped and looked guiltily back at Sheppard who was concentrating on the few remaining renegades. "Are you out," he called to her. She shook her head and took aim again. Finally the last remaining shooter fell and Sheppard looked at McKay and Wynnie. "Anyone hurt?" She patted her self down looking for any injury.

"No! I'm alright, McKay?" Wynnie answered quickly and then turned to McKay. He shook his head then they both looked at Sheppard.

"Sir, your arm." Wynnie pointed out the growing blotch of red on the colonel's triceps. He looked down at it and noticed he'd been grazed by a bullet.

"It's nothing. Not even bleeding that much" He shrugged off. "But can you give me a hand with a bandage anyway." It took a moment of hesitation before she could get the bandages out of her kit. McKay took them and wrapped Sheppard's arm before she could move.

"Are you all right Colonel?" She asked feeling awful because McKay helped him before she could even move.

"Yeah, really… it's nothing." She looked uncertain for a second and nodded as they carried on.

Finally they reached the cave opening and cautiously looked around before they went in. Major Lorne's team caught up and posted themselves at the entrance. "Teyla," Sheppard called into the cave and his radio. "Teyla, Ronon this is Sheppard, what is your position." They heard something move and Wynnie raised her weapon. Teyla's face appeared. Her skin was pale, and her normally poised look was flustered.

"Colonel Sheppard, I am here," she said quietly. Sheppard rushed over to her and looked her over, then put his hand on her arm.

"Teyla, it's good to see you alright."

"I fear that we are not all alright. One of the reason's we had to retreat here is Ronon has broken his leg and can no longer walk. I am sorry, but I could bring him to the gate. That is why I sent the distress signal." Teyla led them to a sullen and pained Ronon. His shin was heavily bandage and blood was seeping through. It was a compound fracture that was expertly splinted, but still in need of higher care.

"How are you there," Sheppard asked.

"I feel like dancing," Ronon answered sarcastically. "And before you ask, no I can't stand. Not that Teyla would let me anyway." Sheppard nodded.

"Well let's see, there are four of us in here."

"And two outside," McKay added.

"And two outside… so two of us can take turns carrying you back to the jumper."

"If it were up to me I'd walk back, but sorry I can't. I can still hold a gun though even if you carry me I can hold it and fight." Ronon said gruffly.

"Sir, the ships four miles back," Wynnie stated. "But… Sir, you can send me back and I can bring one of the ships and I can land it just outside. There's enough room for one, but the second one can hover over."

"Can we be sure that the jumpers would be safe landing? I know there's been fire outside," Teyla said.

"Yes but Lorne's team can give them some cover. Also once we land jumper 1, jumper 2 can also give it cover from air." Sheppard answered.

"Are you really going to trust her to bring the jumper back? She's only flown it once and never had to take off or land." McKay said as Wynnie shot him a dirty look.

"True, but the jumpers fly mostly on instinct. I think she'll be alright, if Beckett can fly one, than anyone can. All right, Flynn head back and grab the team out side to give you cover." He pressed his radio. "Major Lorne, I'm sending Captain Flynn out, she's going to meet you and you two are going to head back and fly the ships here. She'll land hers while you provide aerial cover."

"Yes Sir, I'm here waiting for her."

"Sheppard, don't you think you'd be better suited?" He turned back to McKay and glanced down at his sleeve with its continually growing red stain, and the compound fracture of Ronon's leg and sighed.

"Yes I could probably go, and yeah I'd probably be more qualified for the job, but I think this is Flynn's chance to show us what she can do. So Flynn move out, now, that's an order." She nodded her to him quickly.

"Yes Sir," she replied with a small smirk on her face directed towards McKay, who just gave her a slight, almost worried look back.

She walked out to the cave and met Major Lorne before setting off back through the woods. The sun was setting and the fighting seemed to have died down. They two solider were silent most of the trip as they trekked through the shadows. "Night falls quickly here." Wynnie observed. The older solider nodded in agreement so she continued on. "Does Dr. McKay always act like that?" He laughed.

"Like what, a know it all, obnoxious, complainer? Yeah pretty much. The first mission I ever went on with him, he insisted on wearing a hazard suite and complained about it the whole time. But he's not a bad guy, he always come through for Atlantis at almost any cost. Plus he's grown a lot now that he's been working with Sheppard."

"Yeah," she just spurted out and smiled to herself. Lorne gave her a funny look.

"Why do you wanna know?" Wynnie blushed slightly.

"No reason, I was just wondering what I have to look forward to the more I work with him." When they finally got to the jumpers they were shocked to find one of the soldiers was dead and the wiring all pulled up. To make matters worse neither one of them could see the second one.

"Something doesn't smell right about this," Lorne said looking around vigilant. Wynnie took a look at the shredded cables. Whoever pulled them out didn't have much knowledge about engineering. It was a hasty job and given an hour or so, even she, with her little training in the matter, could probably patch them together.

"Sheppard come in…" Lorne called into his radio. He waited a second for his superior officer to answer.

"Sheppard here, are you guys heading back?"

"No sir, we've ah… got a little problem here. Corporal Phelps has been killed and jumper two has been disabled." A long sigh was heard on the other end.

"Well, take Jumper one and come get us, then we can figure this out."

"That's the other problem sir, jumper one is gone…"

"Who was watching jumper one?"

"Sergeant Jameson." The radio went static and fuzz was heard on the other end. Wynnie looked up from the wires.

"Major, Jameson had the ancient gene," Wynnie affirmed.

"Do you think these people know about that, maybe he tired to get out of trouble?" Lorne asked looking at the wires and helped patch a couple together.

"Honestly, I don't know. Maybe they took the jumper with him… I'm thinking right we should patch this up so we can go get Colonel Sheppard and the others. If nothing else we can Ronon back and work out a plan to find Sergeant Jameson." The radio went off again.

"Rodney wants to know how badly the jumper is broken."

"They did a pretty poor job of trying to disable it. All of the wires can be patched together fairly easily. Flynn and I are working on it now in fact…" Line cut out as the muzzle of a gun was felt on the back of his head. Standing up slowly he looked at Wynnie who was in the same predicament, the muzzle of the gun against the back of her head. As much as she hated to show it she was scared, there were four men her, five on him. She tired to free herself and grabbed for her weapon, only to be knocked unconscious but the butt of the gun. "Colonel… We're under attack…" Was all Major Lorne was able to get out before he too was knocked unconscious?

Back in the cave Lt. Colonel Sheppard heard the radio cut out before the last message could go through. "Major Lorne? Captain Flynn, come in… What's going on?"

"Maybe the cave had blocked the signal." McKay said as he grabbed the radio from him and went to the edge of the cave. Teyla noticed Sheppard's apprehension.

"Do you think something happened?" Teyla asked concerned.

"I don't know," Sheppard answered frustrated. "I'm heading back. I've already got one solider dead, I won't have it four dead."

"Do you think you'll be able to make it? You're wounded and have been losing blood." She looked over his arm and reddened sleeve. Sheppard looked over his gash and saw the bleeding had slowed to a light trickle.

"I'll be alright." McKay walked back in and shook his head.

"I can't get the Major or Captain Flynn and it's not the radio." Sheppard sighed.

"Alright, Teyla you're coming with me, Rodney you stay with Ronon and keep him awake and alert."

"I'm coming with you." McKay said stubbornly. "I've got the life sighs detector."

"I'm perfectly capable of using the life sighs detector. Teyla and I can cover more ground quicker. You stay here."

"I'm going with you to find Captain Flynn… and Major Lorne."

"No, Teyla is going with me you stay here. Don't worry we'll find her." Sheppard gave McKay a look telling him he wasn't going to change his mind. McKay just rolled his eyes and sat down next to Ronon. Sheppard and Teyla set out towards where they landed the jumpers, hoping to find some sigh of what happened to the three missing solders.