Disclaimer: SGA is not mine :(

Notes: I started this fic a long time ago but got distracted by another, so its not finished. If people like it and want be to finish it I will, if not I'll move on to another :)

Primary Target

Chapter 1

"Wraith!" Major Lorne shouted out in warning when a dart flew over his head. He took one last look over his shoulder to make sure his team had noticed the danger before making a beeline for the gate.

"Everyone fall back to the gate and get a move on, that means you Davies." He ground out through his teeth.

Sergeant Davies rolled his eyes at his CO, you trip into one ancient device that could have blown up the whole planet and he never lets it go. Davies clipped his P90 back to his jacket and took off after his teammates.

Several more darts whizzed overhead, clipping the trees that lined the path to the Stargate. Out of the corner of his eye Davies noticed a small group of Wraith approaching their location. "We've got Wraith on our tail Sir, six of them 30m to the left of the gate."

"Received Sergeant, don't engage lets just get out of here." Lorne replied with his usual calmness that never seemed to get dented. He finally reached the gate and quickly swivelled, kneeling down to cover his team on their approach. He saw Wilson with Barker close behind, giving them a wink as they ran past him into the puddle. But Davies was nowhere in sight. Where are you Sergeant? Lorne reached up to his COM just as Davies came bursting out from behind the trees. Relief washed over Lorne as he followed the young marine through the gate.

………………

Dr Weir awaited Lorne on the other side of the event horizon, her hands clasped together behind her back and a tight smile on her face. "Major, Lieutenant Wilson says you ran into a bit of trouble."

Lorne continued towards the doctor with a cheeky grin encroaching on his lips as though this sort of thing happened everyday, which in the Pegasus Galaxy it usually did. "Not really maam, we were already on our way to the gate when the Wraith arrived, just had to speed up our withdrawal." Dr Weir raised her eyebrows, "Hmm." Not completely convinced by his casual report. "Beckett's waiting for you in the infirmary, I'll see you at 08:00 for a full debrief." Lorne started off in the direction of the infirmary as Weir turned to make her way back up the stairs. "Looking forward to it Maam."

He spotted Sergeant Davies further up the corridor and jogged to catch him. "What happened to you back there Sergeant?" Lorne asked taking Davies by surprise. His shoulders stiffened and the slight limp he'd been walking with a moment earlier was suddenly gone.

"Oh, nothing Sir," he stammered in answer to his team leader "I just took cover behind a tree when one of the Wraith came a bit too close." He lowered his eyes back to the fascinating floor in front of his feet. He felt a sudden slap on his back jerking him forward. "Huh, fair enough, you did good kid… on the whole mission." Lorne praised the new arrival to Atlantis.

Davies, his head now lifted and beaming with pride, was about to respond when Lorne held up his hand to prevent the kid, and shouted, "Colonel Sheppard." He picked up his pace to catch Atlantis' military commander before disappearing around the corner. Davies' gaze followed the two men until they were out of sight.

………………

John turned when he heard his 2IC shout but carried on in the same direction. "What can I help you with Major?" John drawled with a laid back ease. "Make it quick cos I'm on my way to spar with Ronon." John, thinking better on it continued "actually take as much time as you want, probably save me an ass whooping." Lorne smirked back at his CO knowing all to well what he meant.

"Won't take a second Sir," Lorne replied seeing Sheppard's head drop to the sticks he twirled in his hands. "It's just Davies, I think he might work out after all." Sheppard's head snapped back up, "Really" He responded a little sceptically. "Well its up to you major, do what you thinks best." Lorne smiled; he was lucky to have a CO that had that much trust in him.

"I'd better get back to the infirmary Sir, or I'll have to face the wrath of Beckett." John's eyes widened and eyebrows rose, all to knowingly. Lorne stopped to turn back the way they'd come.

"You sure that's all you wanted Major?" Sheppard said pleading with his eyes. "Yes Sir." Lorne replied heading back down the corridor. John continued on his way to the gym, confined to his fate.

………………

John had faith in the young major, hell if Weir hadn't have had faith in him as a major he wouldn't be where he was now, literally and figuratively. Lorne was a good soldier, he'd proved himself on numerous occasions and had the guts to stand up for himself which, for John at least, was a positive personality trait in any officer. Maybe that's why he'd always had problems with own CO's.

He never intentionally set out to go against any orders but there was just something inside him that wouldn't let it lye when he saw the situation a little differently, especially when it came to leaving someone behind.

That was one of the reasons he liked and respected his team so much, they knew the right moments, when to take his orders without question and when to use their own initiative.

John reached the sparring room to find Ronon already stick fighting with Teyla. "Well, I see you started without me."

Ronon swung his single stick two-handed in a loop towards the crown of Teyla's head; she blocked it swiftly with a stick of her own. Using her spare right hand and she swung her second stick low aiming for Ronon's midriff, missing by mere centimetres as Ronon jumped back out of the way.

"You were late." Ronon stated matter of factly.

"I am?!" John replied in mock surprise.

Teyla gracefully swivelled low with one foot outstretched, Ronon caught the movement at the last second jumping his knees towards his chest. In a flash Teyla was back upright swinging her sticks rapidly at Ronon, which he barely managed to block.

Teyla paused looking over at John. "No you continue, don't mind me, I'll just take a seat." John said as he relaxed into the window seat, he could actually do with a bit of a rest.

Teyla bowed her head towards Ronan at the conclusion of their fight. "I must get ready for dinner." She said. John clumsily stood up from his seat. "You have a date?" He asked trying to keep his voice to general curiosity. "No," She stated looking John in the eyes, "I have a binding ceremony to witness on the mainland."

"Oh" John said, failing miserably to keep the twinkle out of his eyes. "Well I hope you have a good time, sorry I won't be there myself." Teyla gathered her sticks and began walking towards the exit "Goodbye John" She turned to look at him one last time with one eyebrow raised.

John watched the doors slide shut behind the Athosian before turning to face his opponent.

"You ready?" Ronon enquired, already prowling around John.

"Sure" John replied calmly, commencing his own prowl to mirror his sparring partner.

Ronon lashed out with his stick that John easily blocked before the patient prowling began again.

"Where we going tomorrow?" Ronon asked while keeping his concentration firmly on John.

"Nowhere," John turned bringing one stick over straight after the other, but Ronon sidestepped the attack. "Beckett says we have to have a day off so that McKay's hand can recover."

"It was only a splinter." Ronon said huskily.

"You know that, I know that, even the Doc knows that. I think he's using it as an excuse to make us take time off."

"Huh." Ronon grunted.

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly." John said as he shielded another blow, or at least attempted too.

John, less graceful than Teyla but using a similar style barraged Ronon with rapid fire swinging of his sticks. One caught Ronon on the top of his shoulder bringing a rush of pride to the Colonel. Ronon used John's momentary pause of triumph to his advantage. Quickly forgetting about the pain in his shoulder he swung his stick low, colliding with John's waist, then brought his leg around taking Johns feet from beneath him.

"Ah…oww" John growled as his back impacted on the mat. Ronon reached out his hand to help Sheppard up. John was about to gratefully accept when he noticed the grin on his friends face. Point taken. He gave in and pushed himself up, off the floor.

"Colonel Sheppard" The voice of Dr Radek Zalenka came over John's comm. John reached up his hand to halt Ronon before tapping his earpiece.

"Yes Radek" he panted.

The scientist paused before replying. "Rodney requests your assistance in lab."

"Oh, he does he, and why couldn't he have asked me this himself." John enquired clearly showing his annoyance at McKay's behaviour, but why he was surprised he wasn't sure.

Quickly the high pitched voice of an irritated Dr Rodney McKay joined the conversation "Because Colonel I have better things to be doing with my owe so precious time than persuading you to get your skinny butt down here to play guinea pig."

"I never said I wasn't coming, Rodney." John responded, over pronouncing the last two syllables.

"Oh…just get here quickly. I don't want to stand around waiting for you." Rodney snapped.

"I'll be there as soon as I can." John drawled, quickly switching off his earpiece before McKay could elicit any sort of response.

John reached for his bag. "Sorry big guy, the genius is calling."

………………

John and Ronon were making their way down the corridor to the transporter and Ronon's quarters. Walking in a comfortable silence John was taken aback when Ronon's hand pressed against his chest. He knew Ronon had little concept of personal space but this was taking it a bit far.

A beam crashed to the floor directly where the Colonel's next step would have taken him. John flinched partly due to shock and partly in pain as he looked down to see his foot squashed beneath the edge of the fallen beam. Great, another trip to the infirmary, Carsen might as well set aside a bed personally for him, if he hadn't done already that is.

He grimaced at the pressure the beam was inserting on his foot, glad that he had his trainers on or it could've been a lot worse.

"Close one" Ronon stated with no emotion present in his voice.

"Slightly too close…oww…help me lift this thing off" he said while bending at the knees. With their combined strength they managed to raise the bean enough for John to ease his foot out.

But before John could enjoy the release of pain that washed over his foot he was interrupted. "Are you gonna make it here in my lifetime Colonel?" McKay's unwelcome voice came into John's ear.

"Well I would McKay, but you'd have to explain to Carsen why I didn't go straight to the infirmary after having a beam crush my foot." John replied through clenched teeth.

"What?!" McKay responded bewildered.

"A beam fell and landed on Sheppard's foot." Ronon answered seeing the annoyance grow on John's face.

"Well, thanks for clearing that up…" Rodney sniped back, "I'll see you in the infirmary."

"Why?" asked Sheppard still sat on the floor.

"So you can light up my new gizmo's." McKay said as though it should have been obvious.

"Oh, gee thanks Rodney, and here I was thinking you were concerned about my well being." John moaned out as Ronon helped him to his feet.

"Your fine aren't you?" Rodney asked, rhetorically if anything.

"See you McKay." Ronon quickly butted in sensing an argument growing.

TBC...