Chapter 8 – Not So Silent Night.

Troy and Griffen had immediately sensed the tension plaguing the group when they had returned. It had spoiled their welcome back plans for Chase. They had saved her a tin of pineapple rings which they thought could be caramelised on a sauce pan, but she went straight to the tent to sleep, Ronan not far behind.

Rodney and Radik had marched into the tent in silence and sat down to their work. The only thing Mckay had said was in the form of an order for more coffee specifically not made by Troy. Radik had obliged, but returned twenty minutes later without the coffee and mumbled about forgetting it. Rodney had only glared, commented that he was 'useless' and continued on.

They hadn't seen Lorne and Sheppard until they came off the guard shift and were clambering into their camp beds as the next shift awoke and left to take over. Teyla, who had been helping the military types secure the perimeter, was not part of Sheppard's shift and so she rarely spoke to him, but she could sense that there was something deeply wrong.

The Athosian crossed to his bed before leaving the tent for the night shift and kneeled by him, watching him as he slept.

'What?'

Teyla was surprised for a moment, but should have known that he was not yet asleep. There was too much on his mind for sleep to come that easily. His brown eyes looked up at her uneasy face and he rolled onto his side with a sigh. 'Teyla, you've got the expression of a kicked puppy. What did I do?'

Teyla smiled weakly. 'Nothing.'

He noted her odd stance and the way she anxiously looked at him. 'Right.' He nodded. 'Look, we could do this now, but then we could do it in the morning too, so – '

'Yes, of course.' She whispered, and stood. 'But…what ever is going on, it must be resolved quickly.' She said firmly, looking over the tent of sleeping bodies before looking down at him. She left and John sighed.

He was annoyed. Nice guilt trip – how am I supposed to sleep now?

John heard movement and looked over to the other end of the tent. A curvy figure rose and slipped a jacket on, hesitating whilst looking down at the bed at their side and then sneaking out into the night. John rolled his eyes. I guess I'm not meant to sleep.

He rose quietly, and with the stealth learned from years with the military, he followed her. The orange planet was high in the sky and the breeze was gently blowing. He saw a light on in the food tent and headed for it.

Chase sat with her head on the table and a cup of coffee in her hands before her. She hadn't heard Sheppard enter, so he hovered, unsure of how to let her know he was there and was looking to talk. God I hate this part…

'Colonel Sheppard?'

John was startled to see Griffen and Troy at the other end of the tent, standing and looking at him with surprise. Griffen had deep blue eyes that expressed his uncomfortable feelings perfectly. He glanced at Troy who picked up on it and nodded his blonde head. 'Well, we were just heading out. Good night.' He picked his coffee up off the table, and John noted a tattoo around his wrist, a thin wreath of leaves. A thought flitted across his mind about how scientists weren't supposed to have tattoos. He then scolded himself for the stereotype and focussed on the real issue. He watched Troy smile weakly and leave with Griffen close on his heels.

John turned to Chase who had leant back in her chair; arms folded and giving him one of the nastiest looks she could muster at this time of the night. John couldn't help but feel drawn to her at that moment. He had no idea why. She looked as though she would like nothing more than to chop him into tiny pieces and feed him to the bearwolves – but he couldn't help but look at her pretty face…those high cheekbones drawn back with sourness, her blonde hair with a ringlet dangling on her cheek, and her green eyes smouldering…

'Hey.' He said lamely. She didn't answer, but continued to glare. 'So, what you saw today was…not good, and also entirely Rodney's fault.' He explained. Chase still didn't respond. Oh, you're killing me. He headed for the chair opposite and slipped into it, bringing his hands up to explain his words. 'Okay, so what we all said was a little tactless, but if you think about it, it was really very complimentary.'

She frowned at him as though he wore a dunce hat. 'How?'

'Well, we were all wondering about the type of guy that would make you happy because we cared.' He said with a smile.

'You were all wondering which one of you I would prefer to screw.' She said coldly. 'And I think I made my feelings on that matter quite clear.'

John nodded and looked to his hands for a moment. 'Yes, you did.'

They sat in silence for a moment, looking at the person opposite them or looking away. John raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Okay, awkward. At least there's no yelling…

He paused and watched her, the scratches on her arms and legs as well as the gashes on her face. Yet, she was sitting here, hating him, and she was fine. 'I'm glad that you're back on your feet.' He paused, not knowing where to go next. 'You look good.'

Chase growled and shook her head, standing and making for the exit. John stood and blocked her path, forcing her to step back.

'Hey!' She complained.

'Well, I try to be nice and you go all…teenager on me!' He exclaimed angrily. Can she not see me being all nice and caring?

'Teenager?' She echoed furiously.

'Yeah! I say that I'm happy to see you after you get injured, and you up and huff like a dramatic sixteen year old girl!' He shoved his hands on his hips and stared her down in the dimmed light of the electrical lantern. Her eyes searched his face as though there were insects crawling all over him.

'Well what am I supposed to say to "You look good"? Because you're either gawking at my body or trying to make nice with me after acting like such an ass today!' She yelled, an arm thrown in the air to outside the tent where the argument took place. John shifted his weight.

'Ya could just take it at face value as a statement of actual relief that you're in one piece, and by the way, I was defending you, okay? McKay was the one being an ass!' He explained heatedly.

'Defending me? Encase you didn't notice, I don't need a knight in shining flipping armour to come to my rescue. I can handle myself just fine!' Her hands pointed at her own body and the gashes that covered it, but as she did so, the unzipped jacket she wore hung open and revealed the silk pyjamas she had worn the other night. John forgot his anger for a moment as he watched her graceful body in the light material, the strappy top and shorts left little to his imagination – which was the way he liked it. Chase immediately looked down and gasped, clutching the coat shut and looking up at him with venom. John was momentarily taken back by her hostility and felt a wave of prickly anger sweep through him.

'Don't worry about it, it's a cold night, it could happen to any woman.' He said pointedly with an evil grin on his face.

Chase's eyes widened with disbelief, then they narrowed and she took a step closer. She stood on her tiptoes to get into his face and clenched her jaw.

'You are infuriating!' She seethed.

'I'm infuriating?'

'Mh-mh.' She nodded quickly.

'Oh really? Am I the one that leads on every guy she comes in contact with?'

'I do not-'

'Oh yes you do.' He pushed his face into hers. 'And you know it. Why else would you wear that…' He paused to picture her pyjamas again. '…in a tent full of men?'

Chase had to think for a second and Sheppard knew he had stumbled onto a point that he could beat her on. 'These are my pyjamas.'

'And it never occurred to you that sleeping in a tent with men all over would urge you to take pyjamas which actually cover your body?' He said triumphantly, his brown eyes playing over her face. Chase looked to the floor.

'Well, I thought that men on such a prestigious assignment as Atlantis would all be mature and professional enough to allow me to wear whatever I damn well please – and there are not men all over, don't be so dramatic!' She scolded. John grinned.

'Oh yeah, how many women are there on this planet? Mh? And how many men? How many?' Chase looked to the floor and John advanced. 'Come on genius, how many women?'

Chase fiddled with her hands frustratedly and John leapt at the chance. 'One. One woman, and that is Teyla. And I'm sure that she doesn't mind what you wear – but the fourteen men in that tent all know exactly what you wear and all of them wish you either dressed differently, or that you didn't wear such a damn big coat over the top if it – myself included.' He said heatedly. He paused to breathe and Chase looked up with her arms folded.

'What I wear is not an appropriate topic to discuss.' She said, her voice slightly higher than it was before.

'Well, what you wear isn't appropriate full stop.' He shot back.

Chase avoided his eyes and allowed hers to wander his torso. A thought occurred to her. 'Well how is what you wear appropriate?' She said shrilly. John did a double take.

'This is uniform. You can't criticise uniform.' He stated, looking down at himself.

'You can when it's several sizes to small for you.' She said confidently. 'The tight black shirt to make alien women swoon – can you spell pathetic? Because apparently you can wear it.'

John laughed in disbelief. 'This shirt is not too tight.' He paused. 'And why do you believe that wearing a tight shirt would make alien women swoon unless the body under that shirt were slightly more than "fairly manly"? Huh?' He folded his arms and Chase stuck out her chin defiantly. 'Unless that is, this shirt makes you swoon ?'

'Oh don't be ridiculous.' She snapped.

'No, no. A couple days ago you told me that my arms were "fairly manly," and now I have the power to make women feint – you're playing games.' He pointed at her with a wicked smile and she rubbed her eyes, sighing.

'You're such a child.'

'A child with a torso that makes you "swoon".' He repeated mercilessly.

'Oh please, your torso is…average.' She said lamely.

John unfolded his arms and gave her a spin. 'Does average make girls feint?' Chase shook her head with a tired smile. 'You just said it!' He grinned. Chase looked at him with a slight curve to her lips but said nothing. 'What, you don't think I have a nice torso?' He asked delicately. 'Alright, well, let me show you.' He said playfully, but to Chase's horror Sheppard's arms went to the hem of his shirt and started pulling with a purpose. '…because I know that showing you is the only way-'

'-no!' She leapt forward and put her hands on his forearms as they lifted the shirt toward his head. John's arms were holding the shirt under his chin, and he raised his eyebrows.

'No?'

Chase cocked her head and smiled. 'Put your shirt back on Sheppard.' She said lightly, her eyes falling to see his almost fully naked torso. Nummy… John grinned.

'Yes, ma'am.' He lowered the shirt and Chase almost stopped his hands from doing so. Instead she let them fall with her hands as he lowered the material. His dog tags hit his chest with a tinkle of metal and she smiled at him.

'And people say I'm a tease.' She said, her eyes studying his handsome face. He grinned. She looked over the attractive lines of his face, the feint stubble he barely kept away, the hair with its gravity-defying coolness – and finally the eyes, brown and soft at the same time as intense and charming. He pursed his lips. Chase knew all to well that John Sheppard was all man. It was kinda hard to miss.

'They do?' He asked with a fake surprise. 'How could they think such a thing? You're not a tease at all, no sir.' John watched her smile up at him and noticed her bright green eyes looking him over. Her bow lips curved seductively into a pout at his comment, and he suddenly became acutely aware of her hands on his arms – not to mention that the coat had fallen open again – only this time she didn't attempt to close it.

'Okay.' She sighed, glancing to the floor.

John frowned. 'Okay what?'

'I forgive you.' She stated. John eyed her.

'For what?'

'For saying what you did.' She said simply. John narrowed his eyes at her, hearing a playful tone. 'Plus the shirt has some magical powers which make me feel inclined to forgive…' She said jokingly, her hands stroking his forearm as they slid down to gently clasp his hands.

John smiled mischievously. 'So it is the torso that makes you swoon.' He stated, moving closer, his hands cupping her forearms, sliding up as her hands caressed his shoulders.

'No not the torso, the shirt, it's something about black cotton…' She said matter-of-factly and broke out into a huge smile.

John shook his head with a large grin and dropped his hand to the small of her back and pulled her in forcefully, slamming his mouth on hers. Her arms wound round his neck as they kissed hungrily, her fingers straying into his hair…

'Colonel! Colonel Sheppard!' A voice shrieked.

They broke apart suddenly, but he still held her. 'You gotta be kidding me.' He muttered, and looked for the source of the voice.

Griffen tore into the tent, shaking and sweating, covered in dirt. His eyes searched them wildly as his hand flew madly in a certain direction. 'Troy! It got Troy!'

'What?' He said incredulously, walking toward the man with an urgency. Chase went immediately to his side and put a hand on his arm. Griffen merely looked at her with eyes as large as the planet shining down on them.

'Thomas, what happened?' She asked firmly.

'The, the, the thing! The bear beast, wolf monster, uh – it took him! Into the forest!' He stammered.

John walked out of the tent and the two followed. 'Where?'

'Over there, by those trees! He said he heard something, saw a face, thought it was a native human or something….and then it leapt out and grabbed him! By the head! Just dragged him into the forest…I should have gone after-'

'You did the right thing, Griffen.' He ducked into the tent with the camp beds and almost banged into Ronan.

'What is it?' He asked. 'I heard something.'

John looked over and saw that the tent was stirring. Good. 'Griffen was taken by a bearwolf thing. I want full gear, teams of two searching the perimeter, stay in radio contact at all times.' He ordered, heading for his camp bed and picking up his vest.

'Hold on.' Chase stuttered. 'This thing isn't going to stay in the area; it'll go back to its home – away from us. And there's no sort of nest or cave in the perimeter that's been searched – you have to go further out.' She told him.

John frowned. 'How do you know what it'll do?'

'Because it's an animal, a big ass animal with food it won't want to share or be interrupted eating, it'll go far out to avoid us and its own kind.' Chase explained through the chaos of movement.

'I believe this is true.' Teyla nodded. 'We must explore further.'

'We need to move fast, it can cover ground quicker than us, even with the scientist.' Ronan told them. The group surged out into the dead of night. Nine soldiers and three scientists with Ronan and Teyla, all carrying weapons and ready to move out.

John turned to the group whilst checking the ammo in his berretta. 'Alright, Radik, Griffen, Chase, stay here and-'

The scientists started to complain when John held up a hand and they fell silent. 'Where's Rodney?'

The group paused, and then the not so distant sound of snoring answered the question. John shook his head and looked at Chase. 'Wake him up and get them in the tent. Turn the light off and maintain radio contact. You hear anything – you contact me, do you understand?'

Griffen and Radik nodded but Chase looked livid. 'Surely we'd be more help finding Troy-?'

'I need you guys to make sure that the device is secure. I don't want to explode whilst I'm looking for this guy, okay?' He explained gently. Lorne organised the groups and they sped off in different directions whilst Ronan and Teyla lingered, waiting for John.

'What if it comes back? Like it did before?' Radik asked with a frown.

Chase shook her head. 'It's already got its meal, we won't see it – or at least we won't see that particular beast back here.' John stepped forward and put his hand on her arm. Ronan saw the move and frowned, looking to the ground with malice.

'Comforting.' Radik replied. Griffen gulped.

'Exactly why I need you here.' John said gently, he looked at his watch quickly. 'Look, Weir's gonna dial the gate in half an hour, when she does - radio for help and the Daedalus, if we can't find him, maybe their life signs detector can.' He paused. 'Do not leave that tent, got it?' He started walking backwards.

Chase nodded. 'Yeah. Make sure you come back with all your limbs attached!' She called.

'Plan to!' He replied, and then sped of into the darkness with the Athosian by his side, Ronan lingered and nodded his head before following.

Chase lingered for a moment before taking the two by the arm and pushing them toward the main tent. 'I'll get Rodney.' She breathed.

They sped off in their directions. Chase tore into the tent and ran to the end toward the snoring lump; she dropped to her knees and pushed him hard. Rodney snorted and sat up half way, eyes closed. 'Wh? Who's tha? Whaz goin on?'

'Rodney get up! We have a situation.' She said harshly.

'Chase? Oh, go away, no time for jokes…' He lay back down and Chase glared at him before grabbing the cover of his sleeping bag and ripping it off of him. Rodney bolted up.

'Get up!' She shrieked.

'Why!' He yelled, his tousled hair and crazy eyes unappealing at this time of night.

'Griffen has been taken by one of those creatures and everyone has gone to find him!' She yelled in return.

Rodney stood shakily, half awake and worried. 'What? Just now?'

'Just now, Radik and Griffen are in the main tent, we've got to protect the device.' Rodney grabbed a jacket and slowly pushed one shoe onto his foot.

'Shouldn't we go to find him too?' He asked uncertainly.

'Move, McKay!' She roared.

'Okay! Yelling not helping!' He growled.

He pushed the other shoe on his foot and Chase pushed him outside.

Radik and Griffen had turned the lights off and were holding guns on them as soon as they ducked into the tent. Rodney held up his hands. 'Whoa! It's just us!'

Radik breathed and lowered the gun. Rodney glared at him. 'I'm sorry, we heard noises and-'

'And what, you thought shooting me would help?' Rodney squeaked.

'I've always thought that shooting you would help.' Radik said frustratedly.

'Guys.' Chase scolded and then turned to Griffen. 'Radio?'

Griffen fumbled with his gun and then fetched a small black radio from the table across from him, handing it to Chase. She plopped it onto the table in front of them. 'We can hear what's going on.' She told them. Slowly, they gathered around the table, Griffen and Radik sitting on chairs and staring at the radio. The silence filled them with fear.

'What was he doing!?' Chase exclaimed suddenly, making them jump.

'Don't…do that!' Rodney snapped. Chase scowled at him.

'Scare you did I?' She asked nastily.

'Yes!' He said equally as nasty. 'It is the middle of the night, one of my guys has been taken by an alien monster and there is no one here to protect us, and I forgot to put socks on, so now my feet are cold – all in all, not a good night for me.'

Chase shook her head and turned to Griffen. 'What did you say? He saw a face?'

Griffen nodded. 'But I didn't see anything. He got all excited, you know, first contact. He was talking about it all the way from Earth.' He said sadly.

'Griffen.' Chase said. 'They'll find him.'

The scientist nodded, but looked unconvinced. Funny, because I don't feel all that convinced either. She started pacing.

'Quit it, it's distracting.' Rodney demanded. 'How am I supposed to think with you doing that?'

'Think about what McKay? What you're gonna have for breakfast?' She asked loudly. Rodney's hackles rose.

'Excuse me?' He said venomously.

'You're excused – no, wait, I'm excused.' She headed for the exit.

Rodney leapt out of his seat. 'Where do you think you're going? We were told to stay here!'

'Yeah, well, what I'm told and what usually happens are two different things.' She stated.

'You can't go out there.' Radik exclaimed worriedly. 'If one of those things finds you-'

'Then I'll shoot it.' She turned on them. Radik and Griffen looked positively ill but Rodney had his arms folded defiantly. 'Look, when I get attacked by that thing, I got close – really close – and I could smell…I don't know, perfume? It must be a wild flower that grows here. I remember smelling the same scent on the way back from the Gate, maybe its lair is near there…'

'And you'll what? Be the big hero and save the day? Nu-uh.' Rodney stepped forward. 'I don't think so.'

'You're going to stop me?' She held her gun aloft.

Rodney stuck out his chin and looked slightly uncomfortable. 'I could.'

Chase scowled at him and turned.

'Fine! Then I'm coming with you!' He jogged to her side after grabbing Griffens side arm and another radio from his desk.

'What?' She said incredulously.

Rodney looked less than brave, but his stubborn nature always succeeded. 'No one goes out alone, right? Everyone in pairs. I'm your pair.' He stated nervously.

'I can go alone.' She stated seriously.

He shook his head. 'No, no, no, no, no, no, no! No more glory for you, Xena. Now let's go.' He said forcefully. 'And by the way, if I get ripped apart, I am so going to haunt you.' He said shakily. His brown eyes like that of a child. Chase looked back at Radik and Griffen.

'I look forward to it.' She said sarcastically. 'When Weir calls-'

'I now what to do.' Radik told her. 'I still think this is a bad idea.'

'Well, it's not a good idea.' Rodney argued.

'The more people out there looking for Troy, the better his chances are.' Chase told them.

'Right, and he is under my command, so…' Rodney stated. They stared, waiting for the rest. 'So I should be the one to find him.' He tried to sound brave, but the waver in his voice failed him. 'Let's go.' He said pitifully, side arm at the ready.

Rodney looked at her expectantly and Chase extended an arm. 'Oh, ladies first.'

Rodney's face soured. 'Cute.' He snuck out of the tent with Chase close behind. She gave them a brave smile before following, leaving Radik and Griffen in the darkness, the radio sat in front of them.

Griffen looked back at the device in its container, it glowed an eerie blue, the radiation it was emitting being held back by the Ancients glass. He turned to Radik.

'This is not good.'

Radik nodded. 'No.' He took the safety off his gun. 'It's not.'

John kept low and moved fast, the darkness made it difficult to stay quiet. He had no idea what he was stepping on, all he could do was avoid trees and hope he didn't fall into a ditch. Ronan was slightly ahead, doing the best he could also. Teyla was at his side.

'Ronan.' He said softly. 'Any luck?'

The Satedan glanced back coldly. 'Tracking at night? Close to impossible.'

'Close?' Teyla prodded. Ronan nodded and they kept moving.

'Ow!' Rodney complained loudly.

'Would you be quiet?' Chase scolded harshly.

'I got scratched by a tree! I have very delicate skin.' He stated.

'Let's see how delicate your skin is when one of those things digs its claws into you.' She whispered to him as they moved up the path. 'Which it will if you keep being so loud, the whole damn forest'll come looking for us.'

'Well I'm sorry if I have a low threshold for pain.' He said waspishly, keeping his voice to a loud whisper.

Chase had taken to moving low and quick, using the trees to propel herself forward. Rodney was huffing and puffing behind, standing tall and whining loudly.

'What are you wearing?' He asked incredulously, seeing her bare legs under the coat. 'And trainers?!'

'Rodney.' She scolded.

'Right, silence. Things that tear me apart.' He said quietly, breathing hard.

They continued their search for Troy in the midst of the silent night.