Away from Atlantis

Disclaimer I don't own John Sheppard, Or Stargate Atlantis, or The ark episode. I did pull some of the script from the episode. SO HA! No lawyers coming after me.

This story starts up after The Game and ignores Irresponsible so Kolya is still alive. Song is Changes by Three Doors Down.

Chapter Two

John felt nervous, it was his first mission since his change. Elizabeth had been firm, aside from his nails there had been no sign of him becoming dangerous, so he was back on duty. So off through the gate they headed.

"Rodney this station is something out of the sixties, we're not going to find anything of value." John commented.

"Oh yeah, we hollowed out a lot of moons in the sixties."

"Fine. If we did it would look something like this." He sighed, "Look Ronon, Teyla do you guys care to find out more?"

"NO!" Ronon said, loudly in to the ear piece.

"Maybe some scientists would like to could back and find out why this place was built."

Teyla said a bit more diplomatically.

"Look I just have to see what's inside, I'm the same way about presents, and pinatas. Just one more compartment thats it." Rodney wasn't even listening, for an answer, he was already opening the door.

"Fine, this is the last one." John sighed, Rodney was such a kid sometimes.

Two Hours Later

I knew I should have turned around and left when I had a chance. If I had said no, then Rodney wouldn't have unleashed a suicidal guy on us, who damaged his own ship, lost the puddle jumper, and almost killed us. But it could be their all crazy, Jamus is holding Teyla hostage so we'll save his people.

Stupid man, killing us doesn't fix his problems.

"Colonel! Colonel!"

"You can stop Colonel, I'm opening the door." Jamus called through the door.

"Of course, now he lets us in, when I'm almost through the door."

Lorne laughed a little.

"I want the gun on the floor. Then you standing back hands raised." he called through the door hoping Jamus would listen.

John stood back, drawing his sidearm. Lorne already had his aimed at the door, John motioned that he would open the door, and that Lorne should be ready.

They came in just in time to see the calling beam finish, and shut off.

Damn! that stupid man. It made sense in a twisted way, the only way to convince him to fly the ship would be to put Teyla in it.

"Rodney are you able to get her out of there or not?"

" I didn't build this thing I have no idea how to determine who's who in there."

"Are you sure you don't know how?"

"No. Short of beaming people out at random."

"Rodney there's a thousand people in there."

"I am well aware of that."

"Can you rig a compatible power source to the jumper?"

"No, I'd need at least an hour or two."

Lorne came in "Sir we need to leave."

"I know Major, give us a minute."

"Sir there is no time for that. As soon as this rock hits the atmosphere, we'll be stuck and when it breaks up we'll die. WE have to go now."

"All right can you disconnect this thing?"

"Yeah but it won't matter because we don't have compatible power and I won't be able to rig something for the jumper."

"I wasn't talking about the jumper." He watched Rodney's dawning comprehension.

John hated this idea, because it was a very bad idea, but he was pretty sure at this point the only way to save Teyla would be to fly the shuttle.

All he had to think was, I can do this, and if not this is going to be a very short trip.

Rodney stared, "What?"

"I always wanted to fly a space shuttle. Nows my chance."

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no."

"Get this thing disconnected, and get it to the shuttle, while I go get suited up. "

"Look I know how much you love to think you can fly anything, but that thing is how old, it has no fuel. John if you try to do this your gonna die. There's ..."

John thought it was funny, Rodney saying all of this was just reconfirming his choice. Rodney was just his little voice of doubt.

"Rodney shut up! Go get it disconnected and move it to the shuttle, thats an Order!"

Fifteen Minutes Later

John ignored everyone questioning his sanity, he had to finish suiting up.

They'd almost got the stupid thing to the shuttle.

Carson was helping him suit up, but was insisting on making sure John knew, Carson thought he was crazy.

"There it should be easy enough once your on the ship to hook it to the power source."

John looked up, as Rodney briefed him what he'd need to do to hook it up.

He headed over, to push it on to the ship. "Can I say something else?" Rodney asked.

He waited.

"Don't do this it's impossible."

John thought for a moment, could he live with walking away?

No.

"Willing to bet a weeks wages on that?"

"How are you going to pay up if I win, huh?" Rodney asked negatively.

"Thanks for caring."

"Yeah."

"All right, radio Atlantis as soon as your clear. Stay a safe distance in the jumper I'll try to stay in radio contact."

He went to head for the ship, when Ronon stepped in his way.

"Hey, remember you still own me a fight to the death."

John couldn't quite help his wince, "Yeah, I look forward to that."

He sealed his helmet, and slapped Ronon's arm on the way passed. Ronon hissed, it was the arm that had recently been dislocated, it was petty but he felt a little better. He pushed the machine the rest of the way on to the shuttle.

He got the machine in place, and succeeded in locking the power conduits on it. Then he reported to the others .

"All right, I've got the device locked in place."

"Looks like internal power switched on automatically."

He headed over to close the rear hatch, "Closing rear hatch now."

"See you guys in the ground."

"Will do, sir." Lorne said, "And good luck."

John headed up the stairs, for the controls. He would need to have buttons to push, and controls to use if he was going to land it.

"We're clear sir." came from over the radio.

McKay's voice came in over the radio. "The moon's decelerating in the upper atmosphere, you've only got a minute to figure out the controls."

"Well, it seems pretty straightforward."

"We're gonna lose radio contact a you pass through the atmosphere."

"I know, Rodney."

"I'm saying if you have anything you'd like to say, say it now."

John was busy running a ship check, so he said what ever came to mind.

"No, nothing to say, 'cause I'm going to see you in five minutes."

The ship started to bounce,"Getting some chop."

"Now probably would be a good time to disengage." Mckay said.

John was getting a rough ride now, but he was pretty sure he was ready. He turned so he was looking at the right screen.

"Initiating separation maneuver in three, two, one, mark!"

Alarms started to beep, Shit! Nothing could ever just work, could they.

"Separation is negative. Switching to back up."

"Disengage. Come on!"

At this point he was ready to baby the shuttle, if it would just work! He wished he had better controls.

Alarms were still beeping, Stupid annoying things, telling him what he already knew.

"Damn IT!"

"The bolts will not work, I repeat the explosive bolts will not fire."

"Unable to separate ship. I don't know if you can hear me, but it looks like I might have to ride this one down."

Now if only the stupid alarm would stop telling him what he already knew. He was bouncing around, it was starting to hurt as he slammed in the harness.

He could see out the window, parts of the hollowed out moon collapsed under the strain.

Then something fell on the shuttle, triggering one of the bolts, which split the already falling apart moon, the shuttle slipped out. Then the moon, just behind him blew.

The momentum threw him forward, his helmet slammed him in to the console, he sat up the alarms were still blaring, and now he was flying the brick.

God! At this angle he was going to crash nose first. "Pull up. slow down! stupid thing!"

He hit the ground, and began a sliding bounce.

Well it had stopped moving, and he was still mostly in one piece.

"Ugh..." he sat up. His first two breaths hurt but that slowly began to fade. He'd never admit it but at a time like this his new regeneration would come in handy.

"That's one weeks pay you owe me Rodney."

"Technically I didn't take that bet."

"Sir we'll bring the ship right up next to you." Lorne said, relief clear in his voice.

"Don't rush Major I'm fine. I'm just fine."

John walked in to the infirmary, only to see Teyla in bed in scrubs. Carson and Elizabeth there talking to Teyla.

"So, I have the hard landing, but she gets the bed rest." He said with a small smirk.

Teyla frowned a little. "Well I tried to tell Carson I was perfectly fine, but he insisted."

"A number of people reintegrated from the storage device suffered from small amounts memory lost. He touched Teyla's hand, I just want to make sure you're all there."

John looked Teyla over, and added, "Well she does look a little thin."

She gave him a look, he smiled.

Carson added "Just until morning."

Teyla nodded graciously, "Thank you."

Elizabeth turned on John. "I assume you've come to the infirmary in order to have your head examined."

"Hey! I pulled it off, didn't I?"

"Yes you did," Teyla said touching his shoulder.

Elizabeth sensed it was time to leave, "I'm going to head back to Stargate operations." She was out the door before adding. "Major Lorne is about to drop off supplies to Jamus' people."

John wondered, so he turned around and asked. "Hey, what are you going to do with him anyway?"

"His injuries were such he didn't survive reintegration," Elizabeth said before leaving.

John turned back to Teyla, "Well it doesn't break my heart."

Teyla stared at the floor, "He only did what you or I would have done."

"Are you kidding, Teyla? He held you hostage, and almost got both of us killed."

"He tried to save his people, and he succeeded through you." Teyla said firmly.

John shifted a little uncomfortably, "Thats not why I did it."

She smiled at him, and said softly, "I know."

"Don't go feeling special now."

She laughed a little, dropping her head. Smile on her face.

"I'd have done it for any one of you."

"Of course."

John really didn't like that smile of hers, it was entirely too knowing.

"Except for maybe McKay," he said turning to leave. If she was going to laugh at him, he didn't have to stay here.

"Yes I think even for Rodney." she called after him.

"Maybe."

(Three Weeks Later)

They were going to explore a new planet, the MALP had told them, that it was a forested planet, and they would be coming out in ruins.

But that was about all they knew about it. It was one of those planets the ancients had fail to note anything on or about the planet, so Zelenka sent them to it.

Rodney as usual was wondering why they had to do it, why couldn't some other team do it, that he was a very busy man and had better things to.

John felt annoyed, and did something about it. "Rodney we go, we look around, see if we find people, and then we come home. Everyone goes off world at some point, so drop it."

John immediately felt bad, just because he had a bad feeling about this trip, didn't mean he had to take it out on them. He turned, and walked through the gate. He'd only put his foot in his mouth if he tried to say sorry now.

Behind Him

The other three stared, at John's back as he headed through the gate, then shared a look. "Maybe John has a headache?" Teyla suggested. Ronon shrugged.

They went through the gate.

The moment John had reached the other side, he'd been overwhelmed by the noise. He knew he'd stepped, or stumbled away from the gate, But he couldn't see, couldn't focus. He could hear people, but it wasn't like talking out loud, more like in his head.

He felt cold, and the noise, such awful thoughts. He could feel himself, but he could sort of see his self, it was a foggy image coming from behind the trees. He could block out some of the noise, but it was hard. His grip on his gun was starting to loosen from the death grip he had on it. When he fired a shot from behind the trees, and simultaneously saw it coming for him. He couldn't move fast enough, so he felt it hit and part of him shut down. He no longer felt his body, he could only watch.

He saw Ronon, Teyla, and Rodney come through the gate, in time to watch his body fall, he targeted Rodney and fired. Hitting him with the stunner, tasting the glee, his body felt at the sight, he was becoming more focused. Why was he happy? These were his people going down.

Ronon dodged the shot coming for him, and immediately took cover. Teyla did so as well, both began to shoot, killing the Wraith. John was proud, and felt his Wraith's anger. It was very strange being of two minds.

He looked over the battle field, it seemed very odd to see his body stretched out on the ground like that, and Rodney crumpled by the gate.

Teyla apparently had talked to Ronon over the radio, because she darted, for the DHD, and he laded down a cover fire. She began dialing, and it locked. He could hear her shouting over the radio: "Coming in hot! Sheppard's down, Rodney's out. We'll make a run for it."

Teyla threw herself out of cover, snagged Rodney's arm, and dragged him toward the gate.

John could feel his Wraith body snarl. He took careful aim, John tried to feel for something to interfere with, but he was groping in fog. It was too late anyway. He fired hitting Teyla. She fell through pulling Rodney with her, He snarled, and stepped from cover trying to get a better shot off at Ronon.

Ronon was pinned, trying to reach his body, that was nicely out in the open. John kept thinking Ronon should just run for it. His body was too exposed, there was no way Ronon could reach it with out getting shot, and even if he could take two hits, it was insane.

His Wraith body was approaching, Ronon was crazy, he could still make it through the gate. He gestured to the rest of the Wraith to circle Ronon. There was a lull in the shots. Ronon behind the rock, and the Wraith coming for him. Ronon started shooting and caught the Wraith off guard. He went down pain arcing through him.

John was cheering Ronon on till he saw Ronon wasn't heading for the gate, he was ducking down under the DHD. Heading for John's body, Turn around Ronon and get your ass through the gate! Damn, that stupid Satedan.

John's Wraith body was getting up, and he had a good shot at Ronon. He saw Ronon make the last dash for him, Ronon dodged all the shots coming for him, he got a hold of his body. And John could see he'd just screwed Ronon, his body was slowing him down.

'Leave me, Leave me! DAMN IT!' Ronon was half way back to the gate when a shot hit him he staggered almost dropping John's body. Ronon had just lost most of his momentum, he wasn't gonna make it. Ronon kept going, he was four steps from the gate, when a second shot hit him. John had seen, his own body take two more hits, and knew he wouldn't wake for quite some time. Against the odds, Ronon stepped up to the gate, before a third shot hit him. He fell through taking John's body with him. John felt the Wraith scream with frustration before the gate shut down, severing the connection, he was jerked into blackness.

Three and Half Hours Later

John woke with a spurge of adrenaline, he sat bolt up right. Only to have his head spin with dizziness. "Ooh!" he held his head.

Carson hurried over, "Slow down, you were stunned more then once, according to Ronon."

"Yeah I know," his head was clearing. "Ok, is he awake?"

"Yes, he's over by Dr. Weir."

John looked over, "Yeah. Well, Carson you were right. I can do more then heal fast, I now sense Wraith better than Teyla." He said keeping his voice low.

"What do you mean?"

"Well I went through first, so I was immediately aware of our company, but I was confused, you see, I had linked with the Wraith collective. As such I didn't move fast enough to dodge. But I got a first row seat to watch what happened after I went down."

"That is very interesting, but from the stories, and in our experiences linking with them is bad and can be hard, and with a long term link it can drive humans mad." said the scottish man concerned.

John shook his head "Carson, I was in complete control the whole time."

"Of the Wraith?"

"No of myself, I just saw through his eyes... well I suppose the first minute on the planet I was a little overwhelmed. But I think if I am around enough Wraith, in time it won't bother me."

Carson nodded. "Ok. I'll take your word on that."

Elizabeth and Ronon came over. "Good to see you awake John." Elizabeth said with a smile.

John looked at Ronon, as much as he wanted to be annoyed with Ronon, he knew he would have done the same, probably not as successfully but he would have tried, the silence was getting heavy.

The moment was ruined by Rodney waking up. "Whast gonn on?" He slurred. Then he remembered "Oh I was stunned... Well heres not where I expected to wake up."

He looked around, "Hmm... I don't mind." he smiled.

Carson laughed, "Aye I suppose it would be a nice surprise."

"I am glad to see we all made it through just fine." Teyla said said from the third bed over.

John smiled as Ronon teased them about being so slow to wake up even though they only got hit with one stunner blast.

He was glad it went so well, even if Ronon had risked himself to save him and at terrible odds too, but it had all worked out. So he wouldn't harass Ronon about it now, maybe later, but not now.