Shots echo and I feel something hit me.

I yelp, open my eyes in time to hear more shots, and see the Genii in front of me fall down with a look of shock on his face and several bullet holes in his chest.

Letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding, I scramble back from the body and push against the wall. Wall good. Wall safe.

Through my haze I hear footsteps running towards me and voices. My arm's killing me right now, like it got burned really badly. I close my eyes in pain and I hear voices, "Max, you alright?"

"You ok?"

Sounds like Evan and Logan, but it could just be my imagination.

"She's been hit."

"You think I didn't notice that? Max, I need you to lower you hand so I can see how bad the wound is."

I open my eyes to see Evan and Logan kneeling to my left. Relived that it's not more Genii, I lower my right hand so Evan can take a look.

Evan then rips my sleeve in order to get a better look at the area.

"Hey!" I protest. "This is my favorite shirt."

"Rip the other sleeve off so it matches." He replies distractedly.

I roll my eyes at the comment, only a guy would say something like that. After a few seconds of silence I ask, "How bad is it?"

"The bullet just grazed you. Lucky for you he was a half-ass shot."

"If we hadn't shown up when we did he would've tried again." Logan comments.

I give Logan a 'WTF!?' look and Evan glares at him.

"What?" Logan asks. "It's true."

"Subtlety's not your strong suit is it?" Evan snaps.

They descend into bickering like siblings while my eyes wander over to the dead Genii. Their voices fade out as I realize that Logan was right. He was going to kill me; by all rights I should be dead right now.

"Max."

I'm snapped back to the present and I see that they're staring at me. I then realize that one of them had asked me a question. "Yes?" I ask hesitantly.

"Where are the kids?" Evan asks.

The kids.

Koyla. He's going to kill them.

"H-h-headed t-t-towards the brig. Kolya…" I stammer out, not able to finish the sentence. But I have to. I take a deep breath and try again, "Kolya said…he said that everyone there needed to know what'd happen when they refused to listen."

"Shit." Evan curses, moving away from me and picking up the dead Genii's gun. Tossing it to me, he starts to run down the hallway.

I fumble for it and stand; following Evan while asking, "What's going on?"

"They caught us by surprise." Logan says from behind me. "Hardly anyone was able to get to the Jumper Bay. They cut out communications so as far as we know, we're the only ones not in the brigs."

We round a corner and I slightly skid across the smooth, metal floor. We jog up to a transporter and pause at the door. "What now?" I ask, slightly out of breath.

Evan looked at Logan and then said, "Cale and I head down to the brig and stop that son of a bitch from carrying out his promise. You stay here and wait for us to return."

"Like hell I am." I say, folding my arms together and raising an eyebrow. "You need someone to keep the kids out of the way, and besides, you're still hurt and Logan's only a civilian. No offence." I say, looking at Logan.

"None taken." Logan replies.

"You're hurt as well." Evan says, raising an eyebrow.

"It's not stopping you, so why should it stop me?"

Evan's silent for a moment, considering my words. Finally he replies, "Ok."

I smile, "I knew that you'd see it my way."

"Uh-huh." Evan says pressing the panel to open the transporter. We step inside and as Evan reaches to press our destination he says, "First stop the armory."

A flash of light and Logan asks, "Wouldn't they already have found it?"

Evan shakes his head and steps forward as the door slides open. "Not this one. It's an auxiliary one that only Colonel Sheppard, Doctor Weir, and myself know about." He says as we walk down the hallway. Evan suddenly stops and holds up a hand.

Logan and I stop as well and wonder what's going on when we hear footsteps. Evan slowly moves forwards, while motioning for us to go against the wall while doing the same himself.

I join Evan on the wall as does Logan as there we wait as the footsteps grow closer. Evan then motions for Logan and I to stay put. I nod my understanding and watch as he creeps closer to the corner.

He stops a few inches from the edge of the corner and raises his gun. Taking a deep breath he pushes off of the wall and faces the other side of the corner, gun pointed at whoever's there.

Evan sees who's on the other side, smiles and lowers his gun while saying, "Damn it, Lieutenant I almost shot you."

"Sorry sir. Thought that you were Genii." I hear a female voice reply.

"So did I. You the only one from your team?" Evan asks, stepping back so whoever it was could make her way to our side.

"Far as I can tell, sir." The Lieutenant says as she steps into view. "However I did run into Prendergast as well as twelve. What about your team, sir?"

"All captured. Found Cale then Max and we're headed for the brig. Koyla's got the kids and we aim to interrupt whatever he's got planned. We could use all the help we could get. You game?"

"A chance to shoot the Genii? Hell yes." She replies, breaking into a grin.

"Good, get everyone else and we'll head towards the brig."

The Lieutenant nods her head and heads the way she came.

We then head towards the auxiliary armory and soon we're inside it, gearing up. The tactical vest feels constricting when I put it on but I suppose that's better than getting shot. I get rid of the Genii gun and Evan hands me a nine millimeter with plenty of spare clips.

While we're still in there, the Lieutenant as well as five others show up. Evan hands out extra clips to everyone while saying, "They'll have guards by the transporter and in the hallways but we have the element of surprise. We hit hard, we hit fast, and use your silencers. Don't let them sound the alarm. If you have a clear shot of Koyla take it."

We all nod our understanding and as we walk down the hallway towards the stairs, Evan says, "Cale, Max; stay by me. Prendergast, O'Brian, Gray; take point. Everyone; keep an eye out. We have the element of surprise and I want to keep it."

We shift into our positions and start to head down the stairs I can't help but feel apprehensive; I never thought that I'd be doing this when I signed up. There are just some things that they didn't teach in my education courses.

But then again, it's not like they can prepare you for the job of teaching in another galaxy.

They take out the three guards at the base of the stairs and we manage to make it halfway down the hallway before we hear footsteps. Someone from twelve opens the ventilation shaft and we all crawl in. Logan replaces the grate just as the footsteps round the corner and come towards us.

I try not to think of being crammed in a small space with lots of people. So far it's not working. My heart's pounding and so is my arm. The walls feel like they're shrinking and I just want to climb over Logan and get out of the shaft, not caring that there are Genii right there. I scrunch my eyes shut and try to supress the panicked feeling that I'm starting to get.

I just want out.

I someone take me hand and I open my eyes to see that it's Evan. He smiles at me and gives my hand a light squeeze. I smile gratefully back at him and take a steadying breath. After what seems like forever the footsteps pass us and head down the hallway. Then we hear a shout; "Koyla!"

To me it sounds like Colonel Sheppard, but I could be wrong.

Before we can get out of the shaft and head towards the shout, we hear more footsteps; this time they're coming the opposite way. We all shift back, trying to get as far in as possible.

Then we hear voices, but they're too muted to understand what they're saying.

Shots ring out; I immediately tense up and glance at Evan, worried. I see the same worry reflected in his eyes. We'd climb out of the shaft right then and there, but there are still too many people in the hallway.

After what seems like forever, the hallway is finally empty and Logan removes the grate, exiting.

I exit and start running towards the brig, hoping. Evan soon passes me and I hear the others behind us. As we run down the hallway I can't help but pray that none of the kids were hurt.

My heart pounding, I enter a minute or so behind Evan…and am greeted with the sight of four Genii on the floor, dead, and Colonel Sheppard talking to Rodney.

"…fainted."

"Passed out."

Evan stands with Maria in his arms and says something but I don't catch it because I pass him and enter the brig itself, while tucking the nine millimeter into the back of my pants, hoping that everyone else it ok.

They are.

The kids spot me, get up and run towards me while exclaiming, "Max!"

I get down and hug them, relief washing over me. I'm just glad that they're alright.

When they finally let go of me, they head back to their parents. As I stand Evan walks over to me, Maria comfortably against him. "How'd they knock out the guards?" I ask when he's near.

"Rushed them when they came in for the kids. The shots we heard were from Colonel Sheppard. Listen, we're gonna go after Kolya and the rest of the Genii. We need you to stay here with the kids."

"In the brig?" I ask raising an eyebrow.

"It's the safest place right now. McKay's gonna rig the controls so only the command staff can turn off the shield. Ok?"

"Ok." I say, eyeing the brig. It's not the most welcoming place, but I guess it needs to be done. I turn my gaze back towards Evan, "Be careful, alright?"

A smile dances across Evan's face and he says, "I will."

"Good." He moves to hand Maria off to me, but she just wraps her arms around his neck.

"Maria, you have to go with Max now." Evan says in a soft tone.

"Don't wanna leave you." She says, sniffing and pressing up against him even more.

"I know you don't, but you need to go with Max. I have to make sure the bad guys won't try to hurt you again." He says as I move in. But Maria still refuses to come to me.

Evan brushes the hair out of Maria's face and says, "I'll be back soon."

"Promise?" Maria asks.

"Promise."

" 'K." Maria says in a soft voice and lets go of Evan as I grab hold of her.

I slightly wince at the weight of Maria but I shift her to my uninjured arm.

"Good." Evan says, smiling. After a quick kiss on Maria's cheek and a smile for me Evan heads off.

I ignore the looks that everyone gives me and walk into the brig. As I enter it, I hear the sound of the force field activating and set Maria down and then sit down myself; getting comfortable. Something tells me that there's gonna be a lot of waiting.

A/N: Makes you want to go 'aw' doesn't it? See, Logan and Evan can get along...sort of. Kudos go to Nenya for leaving a review that set the bunnies on me for this chapter. And no evil cliffy this time. All hail TPTB. Tell me what you think of the chapter, Review please.