Chapter 7 – Dating the Devil Worshipper.

Elizabeth Weir flew into a fury. 'Why wasn't I notified of the situation immediately?' Her voice punched out of the radio with an anger making Sheppard wince.

'Well, it was only an hour ago; I didn't see that there was any immediate need. We're bringing them through soon and everything'll be fine.' He said calmly, watching the activated Star Gate shimmer with a menace. I wonder if she can send a missile through if we dialled from this end?

'Fine? The camp was viciously attacked by an alien creature that practically ripped apart two of our personnel, John, how is that fine?' She asked testily.

'Well, when you put it like that it's bound to sound a little-' He started.

'Bad? Terrible? Atrocious? Like a complete and utter disaster?' She yelled down the radio.

'No need to shout.' He muttered.

'Did you even think about what could have happened if it had attacked the tent where the device is stored? A possibility which is still a real threat.' She didn't give him a moment to respond. 'I'm sure I don't need to tell you Colonel that that device is extremely dangerous, you know how against it Rodney was-'

'He was only against it because it meant more work for him.' John stated incredulously. 'Not because the thing was dangerous…or at least amazingly dangerous.'

'John-' She started.

'Elizabeth.' He interrupted. 'No one was killed. It was an isolated incident. We were unprepared. I can step up security, but I do not want to relocate this thing because it would take too damn long.' He said firmly.

'And you're sure that you can handle this, Colonel? I don't want any more people hurt.' She stated, just as firmly.

'Elizabeth, this is Rodney – we can handle it.' The Scientist had sighed dramatically and hit his head set when he had finally run out of patience. 'It was just a one time thing, probably a curious animal coming to check out the new neighbours. The Captain must have startled it.'

Elizabeth paused as she heard a feint defiant voice in the background. 'I didn't have a chance to startle it before it leapt out at me and clamped its fangs around my ankle.'

Rodney and John glanced round at the Captain, both of them marginally irritated by the comment. John sighed. 'We'll be fine.'

A few moments silence passed before she responded. 'Anything, even remotely menacing, anything at all, and I pull the plug.' She stated.

John nodded glancing at Rodney who looked relieved. 'Understood. Chase, Carson and Captain Wallis are coming through now. I need you to send me two security teams and some heavier artillery.'

'This is you thinking you'll be fine?' She asked testily.

'This is me taking extra precautions, don't worry.' He nodded at Carson to go through. The Scot slipped an arm under the Captain whilst Chase was escorted through by Ronan. John gave her a warm smile as she grinned weakly at him. He watched her go through. As soon as their forms had dissipated into the puddle he spoke. 'Okay, next contact in twenty four hours-'

'Make it eight.' Elizabeth ordered. And from that tone, Sheppard knew there was no negotiating.

'-eight hours…Sheppard out.' The Gate shut down and Sheppard began walking back with Rodney by his side.

'That was close – for a minute there I thought we were gonna have to pack it all up and drag it all the way back…I mean, why did we put the camp so far away, it's inconvenient.' He complained.

'It's the closest clearing Rodney, it's easier to secure the perimeter.' John stated, watching the trees.

'Oh, I see. So I have to walk all this way just because you couldn't be bothered to secure a harder camp site.' He said matter-of-factly.

John glared at him before picking up the pace, Rodney partly jogging to keep up.

Elizabeth greeted the injured on the other side and escorted them to the infirmary. She watched Carson make them more comfortable whilst Ronan leant by the side, brooding.

Chase seemed agitated by all of the devices she was hooked up to. The x-rays and CAT scans, the drip and various amounts of blood being taken – she seemed to think the fuss was unnecessary.

'No really…I, I don't need…it's just a…I'm fine!' She insisted as Carson injected her with another drug.

'This is to clear the body of any infection – who knows what that beast has been doing.' Carson told her.

'You mean apart from slicing me open to look at my insides.' She said flippantly, and paused as Carson seemed to think of something else. He hurried away to get another needle. 'Joke! It was just a joke.' Carson took some of her blood, shaking his head.

'It could have had rabies, or any other alien disease.' He walked away and Chase rolled her eyes, sinking onto her pillow.

'Am I done being the human pin cushion? I'm fine.' She repeated.

'Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't exactly look fine.' Elizabeth informed her kindly, a slight grin on her face.

'Well, from what I saw, and also from the state of the food tent not to mention what I see in front of me –' He leant over her and checked her pulse. '- it was one hell of a battle. I think I should commend you – the Captain certainly does.'

He nodded at Wallis on the other side of the room, sleeping.

'You stayed to get the med kit instead of running. It took courage.' Ronan stated, fixing her with one of this dark stares. Chase shut her eyes.

'Courage wasn't a factor – just the will to survive.' She said harshly. 'I thought it was you.' She said quietly. 'Or Radik, or John.' She sat up with a wince. 'I mean, how stupid could I be? I knew it wasn't, and I still walked toward the sound. I was lucky my stupidity didn't get me killed.'

'Being a little hard on yourself aren't you? You risked your life to get that med kit – I didn't see stupidity of any kind, just bravery.' Carson complimented. Chase ground her teeth.

'You're extremely frustrating.' She stated with a sigh.

'For giving you compliments you deserve?' He asked with a smile.

'For applying bandages to areas that don't need them.' She felt his hands on her hip, gently taping a square pad to a small scratch. 'The compliments I can just about handle.'

Carson blushed and looked up at Elizabeth before hurrying over to the supply shelf to fetch another bandage. Elizabeth smiled and glanced at Ronan. He watched Chase with a wonder as well as a coldness. All these men and only one woman…it was bound to create friction. What happened to the simple working relationship? She paused as she saw him pad over to her bedside and sit in the chair; she smiled at him as he sat. Elizabeth could have sworn that he smiled in return. If only for a moment.

'Ronan.' Elizabeth said, the Satedan looking up at her. 'What's your assessment of the camp? Should I withdraw them?'

Ronan took only a moment to think on the question. 'No. Sheppard's careful, and the creature seemed to be alone. We keep to ourselves, we should be fine.'

Chase sat up. 'I'm not military, but I would recommend that everyone be armed and in pairs at all times. If just one of those things manages to sneak up on someone whilst they're unarmed and alone, then it's game over.'

Elizabeth nodded, considering their words. Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?

'Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?' Rodney moaned. Radik rolled his eyes.

'What are you talking about?' He said testily.

'Troy made the coffee, and I'm looking at it – but it doesn't look like anything I'd want to put in my mouth.' He stated.

Night had fallen on the camp and the extra security had come with all its extras of bigger guns and more grenades. The scientists were being escorted from place to place, but they rarely left the tent. The military teams took shifts to guard the scientists and then the perimeter. When the Scientists slept, the military could begin taking shifts to guard and sleep. And so, much resentment and nasty mutterings ensued when the scientists saw one 'o' clock with only the interest for more coffee.

John had just come off the guard shift and marched straight past the guard detail on the tent door and into the tent with a look of venom. He took a moment to adjust to the bright lights before locating Mckay and striding over.

'How much longer Rodney?' He asked waspishly.

'Oh god…every time one of you ask me that, the answer does not change. Days weeks, months – I don't know!' He exclaimed.

'How much longer until you go to bed?' He asked again, putting a little more threat into the question.

Rodney noted the tone and his hackles rose. 'I don't know. When we're ready.' As if on cue, Radik yawned. Rodney glared. 'We're making some progress.' He stated, turning back to the Ancient Pad in his hand.

'Can't you make progress tomorrow?' John asked firmly. 'It'll all be here and you'll all be well rested.'

'Actually, I could do with some-' Radik began.

'Later.' Rodney said defiantly.

'Now.' John said loudly. Rodney stared at him with menace. 'Do you know how boring it is to stand around waiting for a threat to appear for hours on end? It is tiring, and my guys can't even think about sleep until all of your guys are in bed. So – ' He snatched the Pad out of his hands and placed it on the desk. '- put all the toys away and get some sleep.'

'These aren't just toys-' Rodney began indignantly.

'Rodney.' John warned.

'Well, I'm not even-'

'Rodney.' John glared at him angrily and Rodney seemed to shrink under his gaze.

'Fine. Bed.' He slumped and left the tent, allowing the others to switch off the equipment for him before going.

The next two days were spent in much the same manner. The scientists were restless and the military were bored. They woke early, drank mass amounts of coffee and argued constantly, then went to bed late. There had been no sign of any "Bearwolves," as Lorne had affectionately named them, and one or two of the guard detail were even pining for some of them to attack the camp and shake things up.

John sipped the last of his morning coffee and glanced at his watch - 10:34 am – at least on this planet. He rose and smoothed the back of his neck, picking up his gun and vest before walking out into the daylight. The heat was almost unbearable. The sun beamed onto the camp without mercy, beating them with its hot rays. If it hadn't been for the slight wind, he was sure that they would have left the planet long ago – the device be damned. He headed over to the main tent with the intention of getting a status report from Rodney. His mind wandered onto the earlier conversation with Weir. Chase and Wallis were doing well, and apparently Chase had been so adamant in returning that she was being released today against Carson's medical opinion, which meant she and Ronan would be coming back that afternoon. Poor Doc probably didn't want to let her out of sight. And I can see why. Carson would remain on Atlantis to see to Wallis. John smiled slightly, even though he knew he shouldn't.

He glanced up at the sun before realising that Ronan had been alone with her for three days and was now coming back with her. A small knot tightened in his stomach and he scolded himself. I'm jealous? That is just…not useful. I can't believe I'm jealous.

He gladly ducked into the shade of the main tent and squinted to find Mckay looking surprisingly happy – disturbingly happy. Must be a good thing…I think. Rodney spotted him and hurried across, turning the Ancient Pad over in his hand and showing the screen to Sheppard, Radik close on his heels with the same beaming expression.

'We've managed to calibrate the sensors according to the device's data and I think the delta waves that it issues can be recorded efficiently by our new programme, so we know exactly how the device reacts to the correlating data that we input – ' He said quickly.

John put up a hand and nursed the newly formed migraine. Mckay nodded emphatically.

'Yes, yes, yes – what I'm saying is…' He glanced back at Radik with a large grin. 'We're ready.'

They both beamed at him. John stared. Drawing a blank. 'Good.'

Rodney sighed impatiently. 'We're ready to start the tests; all we've been doing up to now is making sure that we know how to work it and also how to make it…not…explode.' He paused. 'And we know – so we can start the tests.'

John nodded with an expressionless face. 'Good, well, start the tests then.'

The scientists wilted. 'That's it?' Rodney asked sulkily. 'No "Well done, you're a genius?"'

John gave him a half smile. 'No, that comes at the end when you've got the thing working.'

Rodney's eyes narrowed. 'We need more coffee.' He stated, and turned back to his laptop.

John nodded with a sour expression, forcing a smile. 'Right away, Doctor.' He walked forwards, hands in his pockets. 'By the way, Ronan and Chris are coming back this afternoon. You'll need to get them caught up.'

Rodney rolled his eyes. 'Oh really. I thought she was going to stay in Atlantis and not be here anymore…you know, because of the thing that happened.' He said dismissively.

John gave him a cold glare, noting the disapproving look Radik gave him. 'You mean when she got attacked by a man eating alien creature? Well, she got better and wants to come back and work and I think that when she gets here, you could be a little nicer.'

Rodney didn't look up. 'And why would I do that? It's not like she's a chirpy little angel to me.' He stood, placing a hand on his hip. 'It's like I'm the only one who hasn't been affected by her powers of seductive evilness.'

John folded his arms. 'Rodney.' He said coldly. 'Give it a rest and get back to work.'

John gave him a bracing look and left. Rodney frowned before turning to Zalenka.

'What's he so touchy for?'

Radik rolled his eyes and turned to his computer screen.

John spent the afternoon fuming in the heat of the day. Rodney was an idiot, that was common knowledge, but the man never seemed to take a break from being an idiot. And to make things worse, he felt hostile toward Ronan as well. This was all happening because of Chase, but it wasn't as though he could blame her. It wasn't her fault that she looked the way she did, it wasn't her fault that she had throngs of guys lining up just to get her attention. It was, however, her fault for indulging them in the belief that each of them had a chance. She's such a tease.

He scolded himself every time the topic crossed his mind. I mean, she works with you! What would it be like to be in a relationship with her while we were fighting off the Wraith from destroying…well – everything! You'd worry about her, you'd get distracted and then you'd die, and she'd die and people would be sad. That is what the future holds and it's not pretty. He paused, and then scolded himself again. Okay drama queen, it wouldn't be that bad, but it would be seriously weird.

John stared at the ground as an image flew into his head. Oncoming Wraith, his team fighting them off, his weapon raised punching the enemy with bullets. He runs out of ammo and Chase, standing at his side, hands him another magazine.

'There you go honey.' She smiles, her green eyes adoring his manly arms and spectacular aim.

'Thanks baby.' He grins, clipping the magazine into the gun and firing once more whilst she strokes his arm tenderly.

John shook his head. Yeah right. He continued walking. Night was approaching and Ronan and Chris were due. He was heading to the Gate to meet them and instead of concentrating on his surroundings; he was busy thinking of how to welcome her back – memorably.

'Colonel!'

'Colonel!'

John paused and turned, he had not yet left the camps perimeter and Rodney was walking swiftly toward him with Lorne and Radik close behind.

'Sir!' Lorne said firmly. 'You're leaving without an escort?'

John frowned. 'I think I can walk to the Gate without you holding my hand, Major.'

'That's not what I …sir, I didn't mean…we were ordered to go anywhere on the planet in pairs.' He said lamely.

John nodded. 'Well, when I get Chris and Ronan, there'll be three of us.' He said, too bitterly for Rodney's liking. The scientist narrowed his eyes.

'Oh, so that's where you're going.' He jeered.

'What do you want Rodney?' John said wearily, walking away.

They followed. 'I wanted to tell you that I've started the tests, they're going well, but just to warn you that we can't move the device until we're finished with it – okay? I tried to contact you over the radio, but for some unknown reason, you didn't respond-'

'Wait, we can't move it. Why?' John stopped and turned with a furrowed brow.

'Because we've turned it on.' He said simply. 'It's emitting radiation in a make shift container that can contain it, but the container can move so it won't contain the radiation it emits if we were to disassemble the container in the case of an emergency where we would evacuate the camp.' Rodney said quickly. John stared, and suddenly turned to Zalenka.

'Huh?'

Radik opened his mouth but Rodney continued. 'We can't simply shut the device down and turn off the radiation, even if there were no power the radiation levels would remain for weeks. If we were to evacuate, we couldn't leave it unguarded, so the Daedalus would have to beam it into space.' Rodney paused to breathe. 'Until we find the efficient way of using the power it emits and the way in which to control it, we can't move it – and we certainly can't leave it on it's own encase of an overload.'

John rubbed his eyes and sighed. Lorne stepped up. 'We can't leave it until they find how to work it, otherwise the experiments a bust and the device has to be destroyed.'

John clenched his teeth. 'Thank you, Major.' He continued walking. 'Get back to the camp.'

'Hold on.' Rodney called.

John didn't stop. 'I'm already late Rodney, it can wait.'

'Right, wouldn't want to be late for the girlfriend.' He said flippantly. John paused, and turned slowly.

Rodney froze for only a moment, the livid brown eyes beating him down causing him to feel slightly afraid. John could feel the colour drain from his face, and the heat rising under the collar of his jacket. 'Excuse me?'

Lorne and Radik smelled danger and watched with anxiety. Rodney folded his arms. 'Oh please, that woman has every man on this planet and in Atlantis wrapped around her little finger. I see it in you! The boyish swagger – like a male bird showing off its feathers to attract the female's attention.'

John walked forward. 'Be careful Rodney, I'd hate for something bad to happen.'

'Like what? You gonna shoot me…over her? God, it's like a disease – Radik's been daydreaming all day.' He said agitatedly.

It was Radik's turn to be livid. 'I have not been day dreaming all day-'

'Oh okay, so you were what, staring into space for the fun of it, and not thinking about what she would look like naked?' He asked waspishly.

Lorne's hackles rose. 'Mckay, watch it.'

'Watch what? You're exactly the same! Something needs to be said about this, and apparently, I'm the only man to do it!' He said self-importantly.

Lorne glared. 'Oh yeah, Doctor Mckay taking control, like she's gonna notice a little jerk like you.'

'Excuse me?' He said quietly. 'I am not a jerk and I am also in no way trying to attract that devil woman! Is she attractive? Yes. Would I date her? Hell no.'

John snarled at him. 'Like she's actually jump at the chance to date a ringworm like you, Mckay. Something tells me she likes a guy with a little charm and some manners.'

'Not to mention someone with people skills and who does not go looking for fights just to prove himself.' Radik added, his voice shaking with anger.

Rodney growled. 'I am an excellent candidate for a date. That woman probably doesn't enjoy dating geniuses as much as she does eating the heads of small children whilst polishing her shrine full of offerings for Satan worship!' He spat.

'That woman doesn't enjoy listening to her team mates fight over and insult her.'

The group turned to see Chase and Ronan paused in their entrance to the camp. Ronan looked intimidating and unimpressed while Chase looked positively scary. She marched forward, her green eyes burning holes in each of them. 'Especially when she wouldn't even consider dating any of them because they were so selfish and frustrating!' She said angrily, her eyes falling finally on John.

'Well, hallelujah! I'm saved.' Rodney sang nastily. 'Because I wouldn't even dream of dating you.'

'And I wouldn't go near you with a barge pole, Mckay, so I guess we're both lucky.' She said furiously. Rodney shut his mouth with a venomous expression.

Chase glared at them once more before shaking her head at John and walking swiftly to the camp. Ronan, without looking at any of them, joined her soundlessly.

'Oh like you're better you towering ape!' Rodney called. The Satedan stopped. 'He thinks he's better, just because he wasn't here for this discussion! Well, if he had been, she would have yelled at him too!' Rodney said loudly. Ronan turned with a savage look on his face, but what surprised them most was the small grin creeping onto his face.

John felt the hot guilt in the pit of his stomach rise into a fury. He stepped forward with an eyebrow raised. 'Ronan, quit being so smug, it's not like you've got anything to be truly happy about.'

Ronan cocked his head and looked over his shoulder to see Chase's figure in the distance. John narrowed his eyes. Out of ear shot. Ronan shrugged. 'It looks pretty good to me.' He grinned. 'Maybe next time you'll do this somewhere more private, you know, where Chris and I can walk in and have her mad at you and then confide in me.' He smiled and walked away, a definite swagger to his tall figure.

John scowled at his back and then looked to Rodney. 'You! Get back to the camp and stay in your tent!' He yelled angrily.

Rodney raised his hands. 'Happy to oblige. Who would want to be out here with you guys anyway.' Rodney stormed back with Zalenka a few steps behind. Lorne lingered.

John glared at him. 'Well? Get moving!' He barked.

Lorne paused a moment, looking rebellious, and then started the walk back. He paused and turned quickly. 'Sir, we have a problem.'

John almost took his head off, he had meant to when he opened his mouth, but instead he found the anger unsettling – especially since he was about to direct it at one of his own guys. Not his fault, not his fault. He put his hands on his hips, willing his fury to cool down. 'No kidding.' He looked up and saw the Major looking to the ground uncertainly. 'We'll sort it Major – we've handled Wraith for god sake, we can handle a woman.'

Lorne nodded and walked back leaving John to his private scolding as the night drew on.