A/N: Many thanks to ladygris for all her help with this chapter. One particular scene was just for her…and me of course. Then there's the bits for dwparsnip. He knows which ones I mean. And we mustn't forget Shadows-of-Realm. One scene is there just for him.

Remember, if you have an OC or canon character you want to see again, let me know.

Thanks,

Sandy

Not a Hero

Chapter 32

In a Flash

Washington, DC

Hotel Mayfair

A Few Days Later

The team from Area 52 had been transported to the hotel with all the personal belongings they'd need to get by for the conference. Check in went smoothly as did the first three days. It was the last night and the formal dance to end the conference was about to start.

John, Toby, Evan and Woolsey stood together talking and watching the door waiting for their dates to arrive. Glasses in hand, crystal champagne flutes filled with the sparkling beverage, each man wore a classic black tux. John and Evan both wore traditional black cummerbunds and bowties, Woolsey in a vest and tie the same color as the champagne. Toby looked more than a little uncomfortable in his tux appointed with ivory due to the fact that this was his first formal event since he'd retired from the military.

The room was filled almost to capacity with men in every style of tuxedo and women in formal gowns in every color, and some that weren't possible in nature. Mixed in with the civilians were the military in their dress blues. Everyone was talking, laughing, dancing, eating and drinking.

What the men from Area 52 hadn't noticed was David Magee off to the side, seldom talking to anyone, and glaring holes in the back of their heads. He'd taken great pains to not be seen by them the last three days while plotting the revenge he would heap upon all of them, including the man who'd taken his place, Tobias Ritter.

Downing the last of his champagne, David exchanged it for another as a server passed by. Soon it would all be over.

~~O~~

Resisting checking the time, Woolsey sipped his champagne slowly, pausing to greet dignitaries, VIPs and celebrities as the crowd swirled and eddied around him and his colleagues. Unlike the peace conference he'd been unable to attend, this one was strictly for those in the know about the Stargate program.

A server offered him an assortment from her tray filled with tempting hors d'oeuvres but he declined with a smile. He'd wait for his fiancée before indulging.

Behind him, Sheppard, Lorne and Ritter were talking however, the subject escaped him. At the limits of his hearing, someone, he didn't know who, made a comment about being in evening attire while it was still daylight. He ignored the remark as he was more interested in the fact that Morticia had just come into the room with Sheila, Dr. Keller and Sergeant Cooper, all looking very much like themselves yet not.

"Gentlemen, I do believe our dates have arrived." The conversation came to a stunned halt though just for the men from Area 52. No one else noticed the ladies arrival and from the looks on their faces, that was just fine by them.

Morticia, no matter what she wore, would always stand out in a crowd. It was just how she was made. Her dress could have been crafted of burlap and he still would want to hold her in his arms.

The black dress, made of a slinky material, fit her curves as if it had been created just for her. A V-neckline barely touched the chain-like strand that wound its way down the front of the gown. The thigh-high side slit and train that barely touched the floor drew attention to her long legs. Her hair was loose around her shoulders with the sides swept back to show off her neck.

Woolsey handed his glass to the server and went to greet his fiancée.

~~O~~

A man of few words, the sight of Sheila made the already taciturn Toby speechless. He'd thought her attractive in her everyday clothes but now, well he'd never seen anything to compare with how she looked at this instant.

She wore a gown the color of emeralds that flowed from an empire waist. It swept the floor as she moved and the sparkling belt accentuated the plunging neckline. Her short hair had somehow been put into a sophisticated up-do and enormous hoops graced her ears.

Gathering a handful of the material in her left hand, she approached him with a smile of greeting. And at that moment, between one breath and the next, he fell just a little in love with her.

~~O~~

Evan had just plucked something on a cracker from the tray held by one of the servers, stopping with it halfway to his mouth at the sight of his Marine pal. He never noticed the cracker slip from his fingers. Another server came by with a tray of glasses, catching it before it could hit the floor without missing a beat.

The black material made her look tall and stately, the thigh slit merely hinting at what might be underneath. A cut-out angled across the chest, while the one-shoulder look led him to believe it had no back and if she moved in just the right way, it would end up on the floor. It made him think of Teyla and… He shook his head to dispel the image.

The quiver that preceded the eye-flash triggered a rush to employ his meditation techniques to keep it from happening. Everyone present would understand. He just didn't want Bobbie to get the wrong idea. He kept his eyes on hers though his male mind demanded he examine that slit in greater detail. She's your friend, idiot. Eyes on her face. A pep talk with himself was all well and good, but he was still a man. Finally, he felt his mind and body relax enough that he could step forward to take her hand…until John whispered in his ear.

"Now that dress means business." His partner slapped him on the back. "Good Luck."

His smirk made Evan want to punch him. Instead, he pointed with his chin, a smirk of his own coming over his face. "And what does Jennifer's dress say?"

~~O~~

Jennifer stepped in through the door and stopped. And so did John's heart. Just for a moment. Then just a suddenly, it sped up. He didn't even notice when Evan took the glass of champagne from him before it could fall. And it was a good thing he couldn't see the look on his partner's face or they'd have been fighting again.

The woman he called Angel looked more angelic than ever. Her hair was up with wispy little curls around her face not quite touching her bare shoulders. He knew if he placed his hand there, they would tickle the back and he wasn't sure he'd survive the sensation.

The dress she'd chosen to wear embraced her body the way he wanted to, the way a sports car hugged the PCH or the roads of Monaco. The jeweled neckline emphasized her breasts as did the high waist. The front wrapped around at the hips angling down from right to left and was held in place by a matching jewel at the bottom of her left hip.

She turned to greet someone who'd come up next her, giving him a glimpse of her back. The jewels that graced the front came up over her shoulders and crisscrossed her shoulder blades, leaving her back bare down to her waist. A modest train dragged behind her.

And the color, an ice blue he'd only seen during the three months he was stationed near the Tasman Glacier on New Zealand's South Island just before he shipped out to Afghanistan, made him feel hot and cold at the same time as he tugged at his suddenly too tight collar.

Her smile brightened upon seeing him and he knew he was smiling back though he'd stopped being able to feel anything above the waist since the moment she'd come in. As she neared him, he extended his hand and she put her smaller one in it. Some of the feeling returned as something grazed his skin, almost like a tiny electric shock, and when he looked down her bracelet was brushing the backs of his fingers. Inside his head he heard a voice, his voice, saying, "You're a dead man, John!"

~~O~~

Rodney came out of the bathroom just in time to see his wife buttoning the jacket to her dress blues. Sam stood in front of the mirror checking that everything was in the right place and arrow straight. He slipped his hands around her waist, kissing her on the neck.

Turning her head to the side, she stepped out of his embrace. "How do I look?"

"Fine. Why aren't you wearing something sexy and slinky, like that dress you wore on our honeymoon? What color was it?"

"Eggshell." Handing the keycard to Rodney, she checked her hair one last time. "I'm a General, Rodney. I have to appear in uniform at all formal functions." Her reflection gave him a wicked smile. "I do have something non-reg on under it."

Brightening, Rodney opened the door then followed her out. "The blue or the red?"

She wiggled her eyebrows. "Something new."

As they arrived at the elevator, he moaned. "And now you expect me to go out in public?"

"Just keep your jacket buttoned, stay seated or stand behind a table."

He took her hand and kissed the back of it. "As long as it's the buffet table."

~~O~~

Melissa got out of the cab, paid her fare plus a tip, and lifted the hem of her dress as she entered the front of the hotel. The uniformed attendant smiled and held the door, giving her a look of appreciation as she walked by. In the past, she might have ducked her head shyly and scurried from the area like a frightened rabbit. But these months with Paul had given her confidence. Not only in her appearance, but in her professional life as well. One translated to the other and Director Gordon had noticed, allowing her to take on more and more responsibility. Tonight, she would give her boss every reason to be proud of her new protégé.

Paul was in charge of security for the conference and hadn't been able to pick her up. Not that it bothered her to arrive alone. The important thing was they'd be together when it counted. Every time he introduced her to one of his friends or colleagues, she felt his affection, heard the pride in his voice. Though they hadn't made a formal commitment, they did have an understanding.

And tonight…

Tonight, if the right moment presented itself, she'd make sure he knew how she felt about him. Even if he didn't return the sentiment, at least he'd know how much these last few months with him had meant to her. She was almost certain that he shared her feelings though he hadn't said anything. Not out loud. But it was there in the way he looked at her, the way he held her in his arms, night or day, and in the way their hands just seem to…fit.

Gathering the folds of her dress, she lifted it as she descended the stairs to the lower level ballroom. The understated grace of her strapless column gown in teal brought out the color of her eyes, made them look vibrant and dazzling as if she were lit from within. Parted on the side and allowed to hang loose, her light brown hair shone.

And suddenly, there in front of her stood the man she'd fallen in love with on that momentous plane ride. Lieutenant Colonel Paul Davis. He looked as handsome in his dress blues tonight as he had the first time.

He extended his elbow and she tucked her hand into its crook. As they moved through the crowd of civilians and military, he leaned close to whisper, "You look stunning."

Doing her best not to blush as his assessment, she responded, "So do you."

~~O~~

Swaying to the slow music, Bobbie and Evan talked about her impending visit with her family. He told her about his sister, just now beginning to date again, and she expressed sympathy at the loss of his brother-in-law who'd been stationed in Iraq. And for the first time ever, he talked about the death of his father with someone other than Tish.

Not liking the somber mood they'd introduced, Bobbie quieted letting herself enjoy being in a man's arms for a while, even if he was just a friend. She loved the feel of his warm hand on her bare back, but there were no romantic sparks in the touch. No feeling that there might be more if they let it happen.

Though it had started out between her shoulder blades, bit by bit, his hand slid along her spine until it was resting on the upper curve of her hip. The song changed, another slow dance, and his palm slithered down to her backside. With a grin, she reached around and pulled it back up to her waist.

"Hands where I can see 'em, Lorne."

He returned her grin without remorse. "Sorry. It was an accident."

"Bull!" she scoffed. "If you didn't have that Pegasus babe waiting for you I'd think you were serious."

The grin widened, his blue eyes twinkling. "I'm a guy, Cooper. It's instinctive. Just don't hurt me if it happens again."

She heaved an exaggerated sigh of acceptance. "Fine. But that's as far as it goes. I won't be poaching in someone else's territory tonight or any other night." He didn't make one of his deadpan remarks and saw that he was no longer paying attention. Instead, he was looking over her shoulder but at what she couldn't tell. Whatever it was, he didn't like it. "What's up, Evan?"

"Nothing. Sorry. Mind if we cut this short? I need to hit the latrine."

"Course not. Just save the last dance for me."

Evan, though still distracted, gave her a one-sided grin. "Will do."

And with that, he was gone. She watched him weave through the crowd to Sheppard's side. They spoke urgently for a few seconds then Sheppard thanked his dancing partner, Dr. Adams, and the two men disappeared from sight. Bobbie was about to follow, her soldier's instincts rising when a man stepped into her path though not deliberately. She could tell he was just trying to get her attention.

"Excuse me. I see that you've been abandoned by your partner. May I have this dance?"

He was over six feet, of Indian descent, and not in the military, the last being a big plus due to the non-frat rules. His smile was warm and engaging.

Bobbie's mind was still puzzling out Evan's quick departure but the man in front of her was…hot, so she stayed. "Okay." He took her in his arms and knew the exact way to hold her to keep her from feeling anxious about being close to someone she just met. "Marine Sergeant Bobbie Cooper."

"Dr. Jhadav, PhD Computer Science." He turned them quickly making her head spin at the sudden movement. "Rohan. A pleasure to meet you, Bobbie."

"Likewise, Rohan."

~~O~~

"What the hell is he doing here?" Evan asked as they made their way cautiously through the crowd until they reached the side wall. But the person they were looking for was gone. He could have seen them and bolted though that was unlikely.

"Don't know. Don't care. But he better stay away from…Jennifer."

Evan snorted. "Stopped calling her Angel, have you?"

Glancing at his partner then away, John ignored his remark. "He's gotta be here. I'll take the right…"

"…and I'll take the left…"

"…and we'll meet at the…"

"…open bar."

~~O~~

Setting her small silver evening bag on the counter in front of the mirror, Melissa removed her silk chiffon wrap. Her reflection told her that her make-up and hair were still flawless after hours of dancing and mingling with the other conference attendees. Until she'd come into the ladies room, Paul hadn't left her side except for security checks. When she left him, he was talking with General Carter and her husband.

Dr. McKay had been going on and on about their newborns, as she'd expected him to, with General Carter smiling proudly as he told of the incredible intelligence already being displayed by the fraternal twins. An exaggeration, she knew, but perfectly understandable. Just as she'd excused herself, she heard Paul say, "So, Dr. McKay, did you bring a photo?"

She heard a familiar snort of derision. "You have no idea who you're talking to, do you?" And knowing the good doctor, he'd probably produced an iPad filled with photos and videos of the kids. She'd wanted to stay and see them but the glass of champagne she'd drunk had other ideas.

Melissa attended to business, washed her hands and moved to the small sitting area to make room in case someone else came in though she was alone at the moment. Taking her lipstick from her purse, she applied fresh color, pursed her lips then checked for stray smears. Snapping the closure on the purse, she reached for her wrap but the slippery material slid off the edge of counter to the floor. She was just reaching for it when a hand grabbed the material in a fist and held it out. Panic set in because the hand was male.

Her eyes tracked up the sleeve of the tuxedo jacket, dreading what she would see. And it was as bad as she thought. Worse. David Magee.

"Hello, Melissa."

~~O~~

"You're sure he was headed this way?" John and Evan were hurrying toward the nearest set of bathrooms.

Nodding, Evan went into the men's room, John just a step behind, but Magee wasn't in there and the current occupants weren't happy about being disturbed.

Back out in the open area between the bathrooms, they both stared at the ladies room door. Voices could be heard arguing. Two male and one female. Taking a deep breath, Evan closed his eyes and reached for the door only to nearly fall when John shoved it open. Inside, they found David Magee confronting Lieutenant Colonel Paul Davis, his arms around Melissa.

David's face was red with fury. "…and just who the hell are you?" This was directed at Paul.

Paul pulled Melissa tighter into his embrace smiling fondly at her. "I'm the future father of her children, if she'll have me."

"Of course I will, Paul." Her eyes narrowed dangerously at David. "Things have changed in the last few months, David. For me at least. I'm not the same person I was at Area 52 though you don't seem to have changed at all."

Before David could respond, John tapped him on the shoulder. "Hello, Magee. Long time, no see."

Evan stood beside him. "Not long enough. What're you doing here?"

"Trying to talk to Melissa, but this Neanderthal won't let me."

Melissa made a sound in her throat. "Paul has nothing to do with this. I don't want to talk to you, David. Please leave."

"You're being way too polite, Melissa," John told her. He stepped forward to take David's arm in order to show him the way out. "Let's go, Magee. Leave the lovebirds alone."

As soon as John touched him, David grabbed the lapels of his jacket, swinging him around and into Paul and Melissa. Evan moved to try to catch the three of them and in the confusion, David took off. There was a scream out in the hall, not of distress but of frustration and anger.

~~O~~

Looking nervously over his shoulder, David quickly exited out the front of the hotel and down to the street. An older woman was about to pull into the street from the hotel's driveway. He opened the door, pulled her from the car and roared off down the street with her calling him names and yelling for the police. Ignoring her, he kept driving, his mind whirling with the events of the last few months trying to figure out how it had all gone so wrong. His career. His life.

All he'd wanted to do was talk to Melissa, just for a few minutes, but then Super Soldier had come in and ruined it. Where the hell did she meet him anyway? Then he'd run into Jennifer. He hadn't even said anything and she'd tried to kick him.

He ran the light just as it turned red, the bright flash of the traffic enforcement camera telling him the owner of the vehicle he'd taken would soon be receiving a ticket in the mail.

~~O~~

Recognizing Angel's voice, the partners rushed out into the hall finding her on the floor scowling with indignation.

John helped her up and over to a bench, taking a seat next to and holding her hand. "Are you alright?"

"Fine. Argh! Some people just don't learn from their mistakes." She touched her wrist. "Where's my bracelet? It was my mother's."

Evan searched the floor locating it a few feet away. John took it from him and slipped it into his pocket. "If you're okay, we're gonna go after Magee."

"He went that way…hey! Wait for me!" Before she'd finished speaking John and Evan were bounding up the steps to the ground floor. She chased after them but was hampered by her footwear. "Damn! Never did learn to run in heels." Hopping on first one foot then the other, she pulled off her shoes and ran up the stairs to the front entrance, but they were nowhere in sight.

Several security personnel came running up behind her. "Is there a problem, ma'am?"

Jennifer smiled, holding onto the edge of the concierge desk while she put her shoes back on. "No. My friends are just taking out some trash. They'll be back in a few minutes." I hope.

~~O~~

John reached the main entrance a half step ahead of Evan, both seeing a car burn rubber down the street and blow through the light. The driveway was crowded with vehicles coming and going in carefully choreographed chaos.

Evan turned side to side looking for a way to follow and John slapped him on the arm pointing to a white Mitsubishi Eclipse GT just pulling up to the light. He nodded and the partners took off. Just as the light was changing, John rapped on the window. It was cracked about two inches but no more. "We're government agents and we need to borrow your car." Reaching into his breast pocket he realized he'd he must have dropped his ID in the ladies room so he resorted to using a threatening tone. "Outta the car, buddy!"

The guy snorted in disbelief. "Screw you, pal. I wouldn't let James friggin' Bond take my wheels. My wife would kill me."

Evan produced his badge and in a near-perfect imitation of the fictional secret agent, said, "Sorry, old chap, but we need transportation and yours will do the trick rather nicely. Do you mind?"

"No, he doesn't. Now get out!" The man, about thirty-five, gulped as John opened the door and dragged him out while Evan got into the passenger seat.

As they drove away, Evan waved to the man who was so stunned he just waved back. When the car could no longer be seen, he pulled out his phone and hit speed dial. "Honey, you'll never guess who just jacked the car…James Bond…What do you mean which James Bond? Yes, I know your favorite is Sean Connery, but this is the real James Bond…No, he's not as tall as he is in the movies…Oh, uh, five-nine, brown hair, tux, oh, and this one has a chauffeur…What does he look like? Um, six feet, messy hair, rude…No, let's see what happens before we call the insurance company…I'm in front of the Mayfair Hotel…I'm telling you this because I need you to come and get me…Because I was carjacked…The police? But…Okay, I'll call them." He hung up, using his thumb to dial 911. "Women! Why can't they get their priorities straight?"

~~O~~

Hearing the sound of a high-performance engine coming up behind him, David hit the gas even harder. The hotel was in an area about five miles from the center of DC and he'd chosen the quickest route out of town hoping they'd think he would try to get lost in the heavy downtown traffic but his luck didn't carry him that far.

Up ahead was a sharp curve. He let off the gas but that allowed his pursuers to get closer than he liked. Panicking, his foot hit the gas causing the car to fishtail on the asphalt and swerve into the oncoming lane. Almost too late he saw the other vehicle. Yanking hard on the wheel, he barely avoided hitting a small SUV. The wheels on the passenger side hit the curb spinning him around until the car came to a stop with the driver's door smashed against a tree.

The SUV wasn't as lucky. In trying to avoid a collision, the driver hit the guardrail, bounced off, skidded sideways across all lanes of traffic, jumped the curb and angled down into a small depression. It flipped onto its passenger side and continued its slide toward an enormous wooden playground, its front end digging furrows in the sand as it finally came to a stop.

~~O~~

The Eclipse had barely come to a stop when John and Evan jumped out shedding their tux jackets as they headed for the smoking SUV.

Evan peered in through the windshield tapping on the glass. A man and woman were slumped to the side, held in place by their seatbelts, the white cushions of the airbags already beginning to deflate. "Hey! You okay in there?" He breathed a sigh of relief when both moved their arms and heads. The man touched his head, his eyes blinking open. He coughed and turned to check on the woman.

John climbed up onto the vehicle and wrestled the back door open. Peering through the smoke, he could see three children strapped in, all conscious and crying. "Lorne!" Seconds later, Evan was below him. John carefully lowered himself into the passenger area first unbuckling the car seat and setting it on the open rear door, the little girl screaming but uninjured. Levering himself out again, he passed her down to Evan who quickly carried her a safe distance away setting her behind a pair of trees in a huge sandbox just in case.

By the time he returned, John was standing on top again, a boy and a girl beside him also crying. He passed first one then the other down, watching as Evan carried them over to the baby and told them to stay put. They both had a few bruises and cuts but were scared more than anything.

He trotted back again and found his partner just standing there looking into the air. Then he heard it too. Peering into the darkening sky, he saw the red and white lights of a traffic helicopter headed in their direction. Pulling himself up beside John, he gripped his arm. "Sheppard? Come on. We gotta get them out!"

"What?" John shook his head to clear it. Just for a moment, he'd been back in Afghanistan in the burning chopper that had taken fire just before it crashed into an American convoy at dusk. Just like now.

Together they pried the door open, Evan saying a prayer of thanks that it wasn't badly jammed. Balancing on the roof and lower doorjambs, they reached down and each took one of the man's hands while Evan used his pocket knife to cut the seatbelt. With a heave they brought him up beside them. He was able to let himself down and with a shambling gait, headed for the kids. Over the sounds of the chopper and the distant wailing of emergency vehicles, Evan heard the kids calling out to their dad and asking about mom. He calmed them with hugs and soothing words.

The woman had already unhooked her seatbelt and had her arms up. She was facing John, a trickle of blood from a head wound creating a trail down her right cheek. Repeating what they'd done with the man, they hoisted her up then Evan jumped to the ground while John took both of her hands and lowered her into his arms. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she took off.

Flames shot from the engine and dashboard filling the front compartment with a bright orange glow. The smoke became thicker, obscuring John's vision while the chopper just kept circling the area. Again, he heard the cries of children only this time they were mixed with the whimpers and moans of adults. Looking at his hands, he found them covered with blood that was not his own.

"Sheppard! Let's go!" John jumped to the ground, running beside Evan, both throwing themselves into the sand next to the family they'd rescued just as the SUV exploded with a rumble and earsplitting BOOM! The blast jostled everyone except the baby who was still safely strapped into the car seat.

John lifted his head as a ball of bright orange flames mixed with black smoke leapt into the sky. Debris rained down over the area and the rescuers huddled protectively over the family.

The head of a doll landed next to John and he stared at it, his eyes wide and unfocused. He got slowly to his knees, one hand reaching for it, drawing back without touching it. Standing, he took first one then another step in the direction of the still burning SUV.

"Sheppard?" Evan's partner didn't respond, just kept watching the smoke and flames swaying forward and back, his breathing shallow and very fast. He saw the intent in John's eyes a millisecond before he took off running. "Stop!"

"Caitlin!"

Evan chased John, catching up with him and stopping his forward motion by throwing both arms around him and digging in his heels. John twisted out of his arms and was off and running again. Returning to his days as a running back Evan tackled him. John fought him but he held on, throwing them both to the ground as another explosion sent a wave of heat and more debris their way.

When Evan lifted his head, his chest heaving from the massive amounts of adrenaline coursing through his body, he was relieved to see the first responders come screeching onto the scene.

"Let's get out of the way, Sheppard." John didn't respond and a sound that was almost like weeping came from him. "Sheppard?" John was muttering, his words incomprehensible, muffled as they were by his head buried in his arms. With a hand on his shoulder, Evan urged John onto his side and was startled to see tears creating wet tracks through the dirt, sand, soot and smears of blood on his face.

"I…I tried to save them." his words were anguished and nearly inaudible.

"Save who?" His heart clenching at the thoughts churning through his head, Evan laid a hand gently on his partner's shoulder, his voice just a whisper. "John, who did you try to save? John?"

"The children, their parents, Caitlin, Justice. Too many. Tried to save them all, b-but I killed them instead."

TBC