Author's note: Ho! Ho! Ho! A Christmas pressie comes early. An additional chapter! This fic is going to end up with ten chapters instead of the estimated nine. Based on comments from reviewers, I felt I needed to come up with an explanation about why the dog tags were strong enough to withstand the bullet. I never knew they were made of aluminum, so should have done my homework first... hmmm. Anyway, let's hope the explanation works. Kinda cliche too maybe, but oh well. LOL. As your reviews were soooo awesome, I just had to thank everyone individually (takes a deep breath):

-Titan5 - Thanks for being the first to review and for answering my questions, loved reading your comments! Too many times to count huh? You must have had heaps & heaps & heaps of fun:-D
-Jules47 - Oh, sooo glad to hear that! Loved hearing that you loved the team's reactions! Does an extra chapter count as a maybe a little 'next fic?' LOL
-PyroDragon2006 - Delighted to hear that Ronon's POV worked. I didn't realise that dog tags were made only of thin metal so I'm learning something new every day.
-drufan - Oh it's very nice and snuggly up here, nest is doing very well, many thanks, soon there'll be little chirping sounds! LOL. I loved reading your feedback in letting me know which part you liked!
-dragonfairymaiden - Thrilled to bits to hear that the tension building worked:)
-lemons and wraith oh my - Oh, so happy to hear that you're enjoying this and that I got things right. Is this update early enough for you?
-sherryw - Loved reading your review and thanks so much! I've decided to heed your advice and coughed out an extra chapter for you!
-MacGateFan - Oh my! So glad to hear that you didn't get a heart attack, else we might have to call for Carson Beckett for you! Loved reading your reactions and all your lovely comments too.
-Mandy - You're right... guilty as charged! It's cliche but it was the only thing I could think of at the time! ;D Thanks too for letting me know the things that you liked.
-chokolaj - Thanks for the lovely feedback, loved them, I'll keep my fingers crossed that RL treats you better soon!
-jasminesmommy - Glad that you liked the twist! I love it when people don't expect it as that's when you know the story works!
-SuperMiss - It was a bit like a miracle wasn't it? Maybe a Christmas miracle? LOL. Happy to hear that you enjoyed the latter chapters and decided to review.
-auStraliS - Many others commented the same thing too, so I knew what you meant, no worries. :) Thanks so much for your comments, they were a delight to read. :D
-neptune60 - Oh my, really enjoyed your comments, esp what you liked and your reactions & explanations to them. This chapter should answer all your questions about what happens next.
-StarSkimmer - Glad that you liked the little girl and hair bit! I had fun writing it. Loved reading your reactions to Shep's 'death'!
-Harm Marie - Thanks for the review and for writing longer this time.
-Ditzyleo - No I didn't... um.. I mean Koden didn't put another hole in Lord Shep! LOL. Hopefully you are happy with the extra chapter!
-TheNaggingCube - Why thank you! Action always does speak louder than words, doesn't it? And John proved his worth by his actions. Hope you're happy with the extra chap!

Chap 9: Boys Just Wanna Have Fun!

It was dawn, the morning was still frosty and the sun had just peaked its rays over the mountain top. The Stargate kawooshed to life and twelve figures stepped out from the blue rippled horizon. As soon as Kolya stepped out from the gate, the sight that greeted him made him instantly go into an alert mode. He quickly scanned the nearby landscape and spotted several long range weapons poking out from the thick foliage that encircled the large clearing before them. They were surrounded by many armed Nonamers, perhaps thirty or so at a rough estimate. He knew that he and his men would not be able to win a battle against so many, and certainly not when the Nonamers had their weapons' sights already aimed at them.

Kolya frowned. It appeared that since his last communication with Koden, things had taken a dramatic turn for the worse; somehow Colonel Sheppard and his team must have escaped their burning at the stake and had gotten the Nonamers to turn the tables on Koden and his men. It seemed that since meeting the Atlantian colonel, these peasants had grown some considerable teeth. There could be no other explanation. The Nonamers were willing to fight the Genii; something that he would not have expected, especially not after meeting their leader Toga. He knew that when he first met the man, that Toga was all show and tell: the Nonamer made a good diplomat, he was well spoken and charming, but at the end of the day Toga had no guts - he was very different from Sheppard. He wondered what happened to the chubby red haired man, was he taken in by Sheppard's arguments or was he dethroned by his people? Kolya looked around again, the fact that he and his men were still alive, that they had not been shot down as soon as they stepped out from the gate, meant that these people only wanted them gone from their homeworld; they did not want a fight.

He signaled for his men to remain where they were as he strode towards the three bound Genii prisoners left at the centre of the clearing. He could see that they were injured by the bandages around their limbs. Placed beside them were the bodies of four dead Genii soldiers, all lain in a row in a respectable manner. A large piece of cloth covered them. He didn't even need to check their faces; he knew they were his men by the sight of Koden and his two soldiers tied together with their mouths taped shut. Around the neck of each men was a thick paper board tied to a piece of string with words written on them.

Kolya's frown deepened. He scrutinised the surviving Genii soldiers and wondered why they were all bald; each one of them had their heads shaven to the skin - as hairless and smooth as a baby's bottom. Gazing wordlessly at them, he finally approached Koden, lifted the paper board that hung around the man's neck and read the text on it. The hand written words said: "Genii, depart from here and never return. Your alliance with the Nonamers have ended. You and your men are surrounded; we are armed and ready to fight for what is ours."

Dark eyes darted towards Koden, the man before him looked at him for a moment, then Koden's gaze swiveled to the ground in shame. Kolya sighed, he did not bother to remove the tape from the Genii's mouth; they had failed, they were surrounded by armed Nonamers, what else was there to know? He moved to read the next message on the other bound Genii. This one said: "A package for Kolya. We return your surviving men, unharmed and their injuries treated. The bodies of your dead, we also return to you for burial. The only gesture of good faith we are willing to give, do not push our hospitality."

He finally approached the third man, and recognised him as Kalan; he recalled that this soldier used to have a thick ponytail and that he had a tendency to cut a bit off his victim's hair as a souvenir. He studied him, noticing the broken nose and bandaged arm. The bald look did not sit well on this one. At the back of Kalan's pale shinny head, Kolya lifted an eyebrow in amusement as he noticed that there was a picture drawn on it with a thick black ink marker. It was a cartoon representation of a man with dreadlocks; the name 'Ronon' was spelt directly on top of Kalan's head. In spite of himself, he barked out a laugh and saw the man before him go taunt with fury. It looked like Kalan had finally met his match with this Ronon fellow. Kolya always found Kalan's habit of cutting his opponent's hair distasteful. Perhaps the man would now learn his lesson. He saw Kalan's eyes burning with hatred for the Atlantians. Good, he could use that. He needed men who hated the Atlantians for he could use them for his own purpose in the future.

He dropped his gaze and read the last message left for them: "Your men's new look is courtesy of Ronon Dex. Never piss off a Satedan. The next time you want us, come and get us yourself. We'll be waiting. The next time we meet, you'll be dead, Kolya. No more second chance - Sheppard."

Kolya looked at the note and smiled. He had to respect the man, especially an enemy that was his equal. Yes, this one was very different from Toga. "An exceptional opponent indeed. I think shall enjoy our next encounter, Sheppard. And I shall be more prepared, I promise you. You wouldn't escape us so easily the next time," he whispered softly to himself.

He turned his head and his face hardened as he sighted the four covered bodies of his soldiers. Sheppard would pay for those deaths in a most painful and excoriating way, but not now, not today. He stood up, turned back to look at Koden and his men and ordered the others to free them. Casually, he took a last lingering gaze at their surroundings, his eyes paused once again at the hidden Nonamer weapons aimed at them. He knew that the Nonamers were watching them, waiting for them to depart. He would give them their wish. The alliance with the Nonamers was over; the Genii needed nothing more from these people. He turned back, ordered one of his men to dial up the gate again and for the remaining men to carry their dead. It was time to return home.

o-O-o

John's last wakening memory was trying to make his way back to the Nonamer infirmary under his own steam. One minute he was putting one foot in front of the other, and the next, it was as if someone had switch off all the lights and he knew nothing more. The next thing he remembered was waking up back in Atlantis, seeing all of his team gathered around him as he opened his eyes, while laying on an infirmary bed. Rodney was propped up comfortably on the bed next to his, busy typing on his laptop - his leg and foot heavily bandaged and slightly elevated. In fact, it was the sound of McKay's typing that had woken him up.

At his return to consciousness, his team informed him that he had collapsed while trying to make his way back to the Nonamer infirmary. Ronon had caught him before he hit the ground and had placed him on the stretcher. The Nonamers had also gotten a second stretcher for Rodney so that he didn't need to walk on his wounded foot. However, this had only occurred after the scientist started to complain about it in the first place. Rodney had complained that he wasn't impressed by that fact.

Dr Beckett had arrived in the puddlejumper a few hours later, taking them back to Atlantis. Teyla had gone to the gate to radio for help earlier. They also informed John that he had spent five hours in surgery while Carson removed two bullets from his body and fixed up the damage done by the path of the bullets.

Carson then arrived and informed him that he wouldn't be able to use his left arm for a while and that he would have to undergo a lot of physical therapy in order to regain his limb's strength.

"You also lost quite a lot of blood, Colonel," Beckett informed him, "You were getting seriously anemic, and I had to give you a blood transfusion. When you arrived back at Atlantis, you were a mess, literally: gunshot wounds, blood loss, infection, the whole shebang. You almost gave me heart attack especially when I saw the entire left front side of your jacket covered with blood. And when Rodney told us about the near miss of the bullet hitting your dogtags instead of your heart..." Carson, took a deep breath as if to calm himself down at the memory. Blue eyes flickered back at Sheppard again. "All, I can say is, you were bloody lucky, son. It's fortunate that a few months ago, Stargate Command decided to issue all Atlantis personnel with these new dogtags made of steel instead of light aluminum. If you were wearing the old tags, they wouldn't have been able to stop the bullet from penetrating your heart."

"Yeah, lucky..." John murmured, his right hand moved to rub at the still painful bruise on his chest. His thoughts went to the young Nonamer kid, Calwen, who hadn't been so lucky. "How many Nonamers didn't make it?"

His team shared a look with one another as if wondering how much to tell him. His frown deepened. "Rodney?" he finally asked.

Rodney cleared his throat, "Yes, well according to the reports we received, the Nonamers lost two people that night, the kid, Calwen, being one of them. But later the next day, another one died as a result of her injuries. There were five other villagers injured when the shooting began, but they should be well again, given time."

"Aye," Carson replied, "I had sent some medical personnel to help out with the injured. According to my people, when they finally left the Nonamers to return to Atlantis, all the remaining injured were doing fine and on the mend."

"When they finally returned to Atlantis? How long have I been out?" Sheppard asked, fearing that he wouldn't like the answer.

"Three days," Carson replied. "You've been unconscious for three days due to the severity of your injuries and the fact that your body needed time to recover from all the trauma that it received."

"Three days..." John repeated the words. It felt strange to wake three days later, to know that so much time had passed. The frown was still on his face. "And the Genii?"

At this question, his team beamed. Rodney informed him about the notes that they had written to the Genii based on Sheppard's instructions. "I wrote all the messages and even signed off one in your name, Sheppard," he commented, sounding pleased with himself. "Ronon actually came up with the idea of shaving their heads, I wished you could have seen the little piece of artwork that he did on that Genii, Kalan. You know, the one that sliced a piece of Ronon's dreadlock? It appears that our friendly Satedan is quite an artist. I didn't know you could do self-portraits, big guy."

Ronon grinned back a reply. "I used to draw when I was a kid."

John lifted an amused eyebrow, turned towards the Satedan with a lopsided smile. "Oh reeeally?" He was finding this tale much to his liking. "And where did you do your...uh... masterpiece, may I ask?"

Teyla now smiled, flashed Ronon an amused look and answered for the Satedan. "I believe it was at the back of Kalan's newly shaved head. Ronon made sure that Kalan was well aware of what he was doing the entire time, Colonel."

"Yes, I have never heard the big guy talk so much before," Rodney cut in. He swiveled his head to look at the Satedan sitting casually in the chair, his long legs stretched out in a relaxed, lazy manner. "I especially liked it when you said: 'I am now drawing my piece of dreadlock, the one that you cut off.' I also liked the bit where you said: '"Ronon" is now written on top of your bald head. It can be your hat'. Hah! That was classic! You should have seen the face of the Genii when he said that, Sheppard! A pure Kodak moment!"

"I wish I had..." John said, throughly awake now and totally enjoying the tale.

Ronon who had his armed folded across his chest, grinned at the memory. "Yeah," the Satedan responded, his grin widened as he drawled, "I also informed the Genii that it was all done in permanent marker."

"You mean he wouldn't be able to wash it off?" Sheppard coughed out a laugh. It was a good sound that all his team enjoyed hearing, and they laughed together with him.

The Satedan shrugged his shoulders, "So the Nonamers informed me when they provided me with it."

"I believed you not only informed the man, Ronon, but you did it with a great deal of pleasure," Teyla chided the tall Satedan lightly.

"I believe the word that you're looking for Telya, is 'gloated'," John added with a chuckle. "Wished I had been awake to have seen that."

"Well, the next time we go for a trade negotiation, remind me to bring my camera. Actually, I did bring along my digital camera, I just forgot to use it," Rodney uttered in annoyance.

"So, what happened to the Genii? Did it all worked out as planned?" John asked.

His team nodded.

"Yes. By the time the Genii arrived, we were already back in Atlantis. However, Adric's father radioed in later to tell us the news that everything went according to plan. Kolya came, read the messages, retrieved his men and left, just as you said they would," Rodney stated proudly.

Teyla now spoke up, looking at him with a glint in her eyes. "The Nonamers have requested your presence back to the village as soon as you're feeling up to it, Colonel."

"Yes," McKay added, "They mentioned something about wanting to speak to you personally, my Lord Sheppard."

"What did you just call me?" John asked Rodney, not liking the sound of it and suddenly suspicious when he saw all three members of his team exchanging unreadable grins.

"Oh?" Rodney lifted an eyebrow and blinked innocently. "Nothing, I called you Sheppard, that was all."

Something was up, his team knew something that he didn't. John's frown deepened, his suspicions heightening. "Do you know what's it about? Does he want to complete the trade negotiation? Is Adric's father the leader of the Nonamers now?"

Again odd looks were exchanged and they shook their heads.

"We do not know, Colonel. However, he did mention something about a burial ceremony for the three Nonamers killed. Afterwards, they will be celebrating an election of a new leader," Teyla finally spoke up. "This will be the first time and something new for the Nonamers, for previously they have always been ruled by Toga's family. With the passing of Toga, and as he had no children and was unmarried, they have to choose a new leader."

John looked at Teyla. She seemed a little sad. "Are you okay, Teyla? I know that he was your friend..."

The Athosian's gaze swung towards him and John was surprised to see hot fire in her eyes.

"I am well, John. Toga does not deserve my sorrow, he betrayed us to the Genii, he tried to kill you while you stood unarmed and wounded. And all for what? Jealousy? Pride? Power? I do not know, I think perhaps all three. I wonder whether he ever knew the meaning of friendship, of trust. I wonder how he could have been so different from his father..."

"Perhaps there was a mix-up at birth?" McKay muttered.

Teyla shook her head, there was sorrow in her voice. "No," she commented, looking down at her hands. "I think that somewhere along the way, he lost himself, he forgot about the teachings of his father. Soon, all he began to care about was himself, thinking only about his place among the people, he acted not for the people but for himself."

"But you still mourn for the man that you once knew." This statement came surprisingly from Ronon, who was eying the Athosian in the strange manner, as if he knew what she was feeling. Sheppard wondered who had betrayed the Satedan in the past.

Dark eyes lifted towards the former runner and Teyla's shoulders slumped further. "Yes," she sighed, "Toga had not always been this way. He was different once, but that was a long time ago."

"Hmmph, I wonder whether the Nonamers will have a burial ceremony for Toga?" Rodney murmured softly.

Teyla shook her head. "They only mentioned three burials, so perhaps not."

John pursed his lips, he was not good at this comfort thing. "Hey, you okay?" he asked the Athosian again, his voice gentle.

She looked up at him, smiled and nodded her head. "Yes, I am fine, John. I am just sorry that three Nonamers had to lose their lives, and that you and Rodney were injured, due to Toga's betrayal."

Sheppard nodded, recalling once again the young man in the Nonamer football team who had been killed. The kid had been so scared as he lay dying. John only hoped that his presence there had helped ease some of Calwen's fears; that he had been some source of help to the kid at the end.

"When's the funeral?" he finally asked. His smile was gone. He had to attend it, it was the least he could do for these people. It was the least he could do for young Calwen.

"Two days time," Rodney replied, his voice now solemn.

"Then tell the Nonamers that we'll be there in two days," Sheppard said.

"Now look here, Colonel," Carson interjected, "I don't know whether you'll be fit enough for this. You only just woke up, your body might not be up to it." However, the determined look that Sheppard shot at the Scottish doctor stopped further arguments.

John sighed. He really hated having to explain his feelings to others. "Please, doc, I have to do this. These people risked their lives and died for us, I... I need to do this, Carson."

"Yeah, but nobody would have died if Toga hadn't betrayed us to the Genii in the first place," Rodney cut in.

"That may be so, Rodney, but it still doesn't excuse the fact that a seventeen year old kid is dead, and so are two other Nonamers. They died helping us out, Rodney," Sheppard replied.

Carson sighed, "All right Colonel, I'll allow you to go, but only if I come along to keep an eye on you."

John smiled. "Deal, doc, and thanks."

TBC

Author's note: Next chapter will be the Epilogue I promised. Ronon likes having his fun, doesn't he? Please don't forget to review!