A/N: Sorry It took me so long to update. Here's the next chapter.
Oh...and yes....I still don't own the characters...and I'm still working on my grammar issues. I'm slowly finding out that you can't edit your stories while working the radio. :)
John and Ronan took cover when they heard something coming towards them. When they looked again they saw it was Major Lorne and his party running towards them.
"Sir, we have got several Wraith coming our way. Captain Campbell was covering our rear so we could get this far. I lost contact with her two minutes ago. I need to go back and get her. This is Noreese sir. She and her grandson showed us the way here." Lorne said.
Noreese turned to Lorne and recognized the look on the young man's face. "Major, we can make it the rest of the way. Please go and get your friend. We will see you on Atlantis." Noreese gave Lorne's arms a squeeze and waived her people on towards the gate.
Just as the others were heading towards the gate John turned around and saw Teyla running towards him.
"I thought I told you to stay by the gate and help get the others through?" John said through gritted teeth.
"Did you? You ran with Ronon so fast I thought you said Teyla and Ronon your with me. Do not worry Colonel, Sgt Anders and the other marines have the gate well secured. Also Colonel, you will need all the fire power you can get against the Wraith that are approaching. There are many coming this way." Teyla said.
"We will discuss this when we get back to Atlantis. Right now we have to get Captain Campbell. Lorne, Ronon take point. Teyla you're with me. Move out." John said.
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Danielle was running as if her life depended on it towards the gate. The last thing she saw behind her were twenty Wraith all headed in her direction. Danielle was able to take two or three of them down with her last volley of shots but the rest just kept coming her way.
Danielle took cover behind a tree and shot again in direction of the Wraith soldiers she saw heading her way. One Wraith went down but not after finishing out her clip. Just as Danielle was changing her clip out a Wraith soldier was suddenly in front of her. Danielle quickly slapped in her clip and started firing at the Wraith. It went down but it took half clip a before it went down. Danielle looked up and she saw two more Wraith coming her way. One was a soldier Wraith. The other was wearing a black leather jacket. Shit, Danielle thought. The ones in leather are the hardest ones to go down.
Danielle took aim and fired at the Wraith in leather. It went down and the soldier Wraith kept coming her way. Danielle popped a fresh clip then realized it was her last one. Danielle again took aim and fired at the soldier Wraith. It went down quickly went but took another half of her clip with it. Once she was sure the soldier Wraith was down she headed towards the Wraith in leather. Daniele need to make sure the Wraith in leather was down and if it wasn't Danielle was going to put it down. Danielle held on tight to her P90 while going to the spot where she saw the Wraith fall. Danielle reached the area where she last saw the Wraith and to her surprise the body was not there.
"Oh Shit! Where did he go?" Danielle said looking around.
"Looking for me?" he said. The Wraith grabbed the gun out of Danielle's hand and then threw her several feet from where she was standing into a tree.
Danielle tried to get up but she was dizzy from hitting the tree so hard. Suddenly she felt the Wraith pick her up and slam her against a tree. Danielle felt blood trickling out of her noise and her mouth. The Wraith was holding Danielle with one hand against the tree by her neck. Danielle felt her feet dangling in the air. She tried to move to the Wraith's arm from her throat but the Wraith only squeezed her throat harder. The Wraith laughed at Danielle's attempt to remove his hand from around her neck. Which just pissed Danielle off. She was determined to not let this Wraith get the best of her. Danielle was not going down with out a fight.
The Wraith looked over Danielle and licked his lips. Danielle spat in his face and that made the Wraith laughed even harder at. With his free hand he punched her in the stomach and watch as Danielle withered from the pain. To Danielle's credit she never cried out from the pain. The Wraith hit Danielle again. This time it was in the face. Danielle felt the blood now flow freely from her nose and mouth. The Wraith leaned into her face and smiled.
"Do not worry. I will not damage you..." the Wraith said as he punched Danielle in the ribs. "too much." "Now where are the others?" the Wraith asked.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Danielle said.
The Wraith squeezed Danielle's neck harder and watched as she started to gasp for air. Danielle tried to move the Wraith's arm fron her throat but he was just to strong. The Wraith let go of her throat and Danielle felt the air rush back into her lungs causing her to cough.
"I will only ask one more time. I can make this quick or very, very long for you. Now, where are they?"the Wraith said leaning closer into Danielle's face.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!" Danielle yelled at the Wraith.
"So be it. I like the long way anyway." the Wraith said. The Wraith started to move his feeding hand towards Danielle's chest. Danielle reached underneath her shirt and pulled out a knife.
"Suck on this!" Danielle took the knife and stabbed it into the Wraith's feeding hand.
The Wraith dropped Danielle and cradled it's feeding hand in pain. Danielle took the opportunity and tried to get up and run but could only crawl away. Danielle's body was still racked with pain from the tree and the hits she took from the Wraith. The Wraith pulled the knife out of his hand and started walking towards Danielle. The Wraith took the knife and stabbed Danielle in the back of her leg with it. This time Danielle did scream out in pain.
The Wraith pulled the knife out of Danielle's leg and licked her blood off of the knife. The Wraith then turned Danielle over and was now straddling her. He was enjoying the pain he could see in Danielle's eyes. The Wraith leaned down and whispered into Danielle's ear.
"So you can scream. I would have enjoyed sucking the life right out of you. You are quite fiesty and I like some fight in my meals. I will instead have to settle for killing you slowly. That will provide me with some satisfaction and entertainment."
Danielle watched in horror as the Wraith held the knife over her ready to plunge it into her chest at any moment. Danielle closed her eyes and waited for death to take her but, then she heard something. It was the sound of boots heading her way. Danielle's eyes snapped open and she knew she had one last chance to try and save herself. Danielle could see that the Wraith had heard the same thing she did and was now distracted. She used that to her advantage and with everything she had she hit the Wraith with the butt of her hand in the jaw causing the Wraith to fall to the side off of her. Once the Wraith was off of Danielle started to crawl towards the sound of the boots. The Wraith recovered quickly from Danielle's hit and ran towards her still with the knife in his hand. The Wraith grabbed Danielle's wounded leg and was starting to drag her towards him when the Wraith was suddenly hit by Ronan's stun gun and bullets from what sound like several P90's. The Wraith went down in a hail of gunfire and this time he stayed down.
Danielle looked up and saw Evan's face looking down at her. She then saw Teyla and Ronon. Even Sheppard looked relieved to find that she was still alive.
"Dan...Captain? Can you walk? Are you hurt?" Evan said. Evan wanted to reach out to Danielle. To hug her and kiss her but he knew this was not the right time. Evan's only priority now was to get Danielle off this planet and get her some much needed medical attention.
"My leg...he stabbed my leg. I don't think I can walk on it." Danielle said.
Teyla bent down and started to tear at Danielle's pant leg Teyla used the strips of cloth from Danielle's pants and tied off the wound. It slowed some of the bleeding from Danielle's leg.
"That will have to do until we get back to Atlantis. We must leave now. There are more wraith coming this way." Teyla said sensing more Wraith were approaching.
Evan bent down and grabbed Danielle's arm and helped her up slowly.
"I need my gun." Danielle said.
"Are you serious? You look like your about to pass out. We have a shit load of wraith on our asses and your concerned about your damn gun?" Evan said.
"Yes. We are going to need all the fire power we can get. I still have half a clip left and that will slow at least one down. So Major, you can either go with me to get it or I will limp my ass over there and get it myself, sir!" Danielle said looking at Evan.
"Fine. Let's go." Evan helped Danielle limp over to the tree where the Wraith had pinned her. She picked up her gun which was only a feet away from the tree.
"Now we can go." Danielle said looking more pale and feeling dizzy.
"Get down." Teyla yelled as wraith aimed a stunner towards them. They all turned and fired in the direction of the Wraith.
"Let's move out!" John yelled as he fired at the Wraith.
Ronon comes up to Evan when he see that Danielle was starting to pass out in Evan's arms.
"Give her to me. I can run faster with her than you can." Ronon said to Lorne.
Evan saw Danielle was about to protest and cut her off "Shut up Danielle and go with Ronon. Now! That's an order!"
Danielle didn't argue after the look Evan gave her and let Ronon pick her up. Soon they were all running towards the gate with several Wraith heading their way.
John radioed Rodney.
"Rodney! We're coming in hot. Whole lot wraith on our asses. Campbell is hurt so have Beckett standing by. Is everyone through the gate?" John said.
"Yeah Sheppard. We're all through except for the two marines who Teyla had stay behind. As soon you come through I'll shut down the gate." Rodney said from the control room back in Atlantis.
"Good we'll be there 2 minutes. Sgt Anders, did you get all that?" John said while he was firing back at the Wraith.
"Yes sir,well be waiting for you." Sgt Anders said.
Ronon was running as fast he could with Danielle. While running he could feel the blood from Danielle's leg running down his arm. Ronon called Danielle's name but she didn't answer him. He looked down and saw that she had pasted out in his arms and was starting to look even more pale. Ronan could see the gate ahead of him and whispered to Danielle to hold on they were almost at the gate. Ronon was then caught by surprise when he heard Danielle call for Major Lorne.
"E..van..." she said softly.
Ronon made it to the gate and gave Danielle over to Sgt Anders.
"Captain! What happened to her?" Sgt. Anders said. Sgt Anders had never seen his commanding officer look so small and helpless.
"Get her to Beckett now! The rest of them are not far behind me." Ronon said handing Danielle over to Sgt. Anders.
"Yes sir. Don't worry Captain. I got you. " Sgt. Anders said as he takes Danielle's now limp body from Ronon and heads through the gate.
Ronon stood with his stun gun out waiting for John and the other's to come through the brush. Ronon saw Teyla come out first still firing her P90 towards the brush. Then John and Major Lorne came out both turning and firing at the Wraith that was coming towards them.
"Everyone through the gate now!" John yelled.
Teyla and the marine went through the gate first followed by John, Ronan and Lorne.
"Rodney shut down the gate and raise the shield!" John yelled.
In the control room Rodney shut down the gate and raised the shield.
"Well, that was fun." John said sarcastically.
"Colonel, welcome back." Colonel Carter said from the control room. "I'll see you and your team in an hour for a debriefing."
"We'll be there ma'am. Ok people, briefing room in one hour." Just as everyone was about to go there separate ways John grabbed Teyla's arm.
"Can we talk in private?" John said.
"Of course." Teyla said knowing exactly what this was about. They both started walking towards the east pier when John saw that Lorne was right behind him.
"Yes Major?" John said.
"Sorry sir, didn't mean to seem like I was stalking you. If you need me sir, I'm going to in the infirmary checking on Captain Campbell's condition." Lorne said.
"That's fine. Keep me posted." John said.
Teyla put her hand on Lorne's shoulder and noticed the look in his eyes. Teyla knew the look very well because she had had the same look many times when John was hurt badly. It was the look of someone who thought they were going to loose someone precious to them forever. Teyla gave Lorne's arm a gentle squeeze. "She will be fine Major. Do not worry." she said.
"Thanks Teyla. I'm sure she will be. I'll see you both at the debriefing." Lorne said with a sad smile then headed off towards the infirmary.
Teyla turned back to John who still had a stern expression on his face.
"Shall we?" John said.
Teyla rolled her eyes at John and they both continued towards the East pier.
Once they arrived at the East pier John kept giving Teyla what she called his "in command" face. Teyla stood there quietly and waited for John to speak first.
John looked at Teyla and thought about what happened on the planet. This would help keep him focused on his task because all he could think about was using this hour that they had for other activities but he need to get what he needed to say out first.
"Teyla, when I give an order I expect it be followed. I told you to get those people through the gate. Why did you then disobey my orders and follow Ronon and I?" John asked.
"Well Colonel..." Teyla said tilting her head and raising her eyebrow.
Oh crap, John thought. She's using my title. Not good. Scratch other activities.
"I didn't disobey your orders. I followed them just as you stated. I got the others through the gate and seeing that they were all safe I followed you and Ronon. So you see, I did not go against your wishes. In my defense. I was only doing what I have seen both you and Ronon do in the past. How many times have you not followed orders?" Teyla smiled.
"Oh, don't give me that monkey see defense." John said.
"A what?" Teyla asked.
"It's an Earth saying. Monkey see, monkey do. Monkey get in trouble too. It's like saying do as I say. Not as I do." John said with his hands in pockets rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.
"Oh I see." Teyla said walking up to John and putting her arms around his waist. "Well, I will next time do as you say and not as you do." Teyla said playfully.
"Thank you." John said taking this opportunity to sneak a kiss from her.
Teyla didn't stop John from getting a kiss from her. In fact, she welcomed it. The feel of John's lips on hers was a sensation that she found she would never grow tired of. She parted her lips letting John know that he could take the kiss deeper. It didn't take long before John got the hint and made the kiss deeper and longer. Teyla felt John pull her closer and his hands started to move through her hair then to neck. Just as things started to heat up Teyla pulled out of the kiss.
"Something wrong?" John asked wondering why they stopped kissing when it was just getting good.
"No. Not really but, I must know something. John, what is a monkey?" Teyla asked with a child like innocence that John just loved.
John laughed and kissed her forehead.
"I'll show you after the de-briefing. C'mon I want to shower before the meeting. Care to join me?" John said raising his eyebrows up and down.
"Is that an order?" Teyla said giggling.
"Yes it is." John said taking Teyla's hand in his.
"Well then I will do as you say." Teyla said.
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Everyone took their usually seats for the debriefing. Ronon next to Rodney, John next to Teyla, and Lorne sitting next to Carson's empty seat. Colonel Carter took her seat at the head of the table and had a large packet of paper sitting in front of her.
"Ok, let's get started with some good news before we go into what happened with the Brinii." Colonel Carter said as she picked up the large packet of paper and dropped back on the desk. "As you all can see I have a large packet of paper in front me. Many trees had to die for what will take me ten minutes to say. The IOA and the military have decided to make some changes on the dating policy. What does that means. It means that officers will be able to date officers of equal or lower rank but not enlisted personnel. The only downside to this whole process is that you have to inform me about who you are dating and frankly, I really don't want to know. This rule does not affect our civilian population here. Military personnel are free to date civilians if they so choose. Any questions on this topics?" she looked around the room and saw there were no questions. "No,thank god. Let's move on. Now tell me what happened with the Brinii. When they came through the gate I had to deal with their leader Nicca and a large angry man who was not very happy with Colonel Sheppard. He said that the Colonel helped someone who they found guilty of a crime and that you held a gun to his head?"
"What Sheppard piss someone off again? Say it ain't so." Rodney said sarcastically at John.
"Shut up Rodney. Listen Colonel, the whole mission from the time we went through the gate went wrong. The maps that Nicca gave us didn't give accurate directions and took it Ronon and I longer than it should have to reach the shelter not to mention the hell Lorne and Campbell had the go through to reach their shelter. Then when Ronon and I do get there we meet Mike Ditka..."
Carter held her hand and stopped John in mid-sentence. "Wait. How did Mike Ditka get into this?"
"Sorry, I meant the large angry guy Astin. He looks like Mike Ditka to me. Anyway, I ask him if there was anyone else left in the shelter and he tells me no. But my gut told me that he wasn't telling the truth when he hesitated after I asked him if there was anyone else. So, when we started to move out I had Ronon double back and check the shelter and that's where we found Mr. Unknown beaten to a pulp. When Mike, I mean Astin saw Ronon with Mr. Unknown, Astin got upset and said that they delivered this unknown judgment on the guy and that we had to leave him behind." John said.
"What was his crime? Did Astin say?" Carter asked.
"Yeah, Astin said the guy brought the Wraith there. When I tried to get more out of Astin he got even more upset and told me he didn't need to explain himself to me." John said.
"And the gun to his head John?" Carter said still waiting for that explanation.
John looked at Colonel Carter and started to rub his neck. "Well, he really didn't leave me any choice there. Astin and his men where approaching us in a hostile manor. They wanted us to leave Mr. Unknown on the planet to die and I wasn't going to do that. Not without knowing if what Astin said is true or not and I'm betting that it's not."
"You know, when I was in the shelter with the guy he said they kicked and punched him. Then he said something else." Ronon said.
"What did he say Ronon?" Colonel Carter asked.
"He said he needed to get the city. I couldn't ask him any more than that because he passed out." Ronon said.
"Maybe he meant he needed to get here. To the city of the ancients?" Teyla said.
"That's a huge leap don't you think?" Rodney said.
"Maybe not Rodney. I want to talk to him as soon as he wakes up. I''ll advise Doctor Beckett to inform me the moment he wakes up. In the mean time, I don't think it would be too smart for him to go back with the Brinii until we know what he was doing on the planet in the first place, and if he did bring the Wraith there I want to know how. Major Lorne, please station guards at the infirmary until our guests leave. I don't want anyone other than Atlantis personnel to question him. Also Colonel Sheppard, if you and Teyla could make sleeping arraignments for our guests. They advised they will be staying with us a short time. They want to get back to their homes as soon as possible." Carter said.
"Any word about Captain Campbell? When I stopped in the infirmary to find out how she was doing all they could tell me was that she was in surgery. I had to order her men to leave the infirmary. They were all ready to camp out there and wait for any word on her." Lorne asked hoping no one could see the worried look on his face.
"Not yet. Now how did she sustain her injuries?" Carter asked.
"She was fighting a Wraith when we found her. It looked like the Wraith attacked her and then stabbed her in the leg. I don't know how she stayed alive that long. " Lorne said.
"Well, I must say that I'm impressed that she was able to hold off a Wraith for so long." Colonel Carter said.
"I didn't think we would make back to her in time." Lorne said looking down at his hands.
Colonel Carter was about to reply to Lorne's comment when she heard Carson's voice in her ear.
"Go ahead Carson. OK. That's good. I'll tell the other's and I'll be down there later to check on both patients. Carter out. Well everyone as you heard that was Carson and he was letting me know that Captain Campbell is out of surgery and is going well and our other patient Mr Unknown as Colonel Sheppard calls him has not woken up yet but his vitals are good. So as soon as Mr Unknown is up to it Colonel, you and I will pay him a visit. Dismiss everyone." Carter said.
As everyone in the room was leaving John and Teyla approached Colonel Carter.
"Colonel, Teyla is there something you needed?" Carter asked with a smile.
"Um...yeah. I.. I mean we..Oh hell. I'm no good at this stuff." John took Teyla's hand in his and held it up for Colonel Carter to see.
Carter looked at Sheppard and sighed. "Is this your way of telling me that you two are together?"
"Yes, Colonel. I believe that is what John wanted to say. We are together." Teyla said.
"Ahh..I see. Ok. Well you two are probably the first of many once the dating policy comes out. Well first thing is congratulations. Second, my only concern is that you two are on the same team and sometimes relationship problems can cause team problems." Carter said.
"That won't be us. See?" John said holding up his hand again with Teyla who was now rolling her eyes at him. "We're good."
Colonel Carter shook her and sighed. "How about we play it by ear. We'll see how this works with you two on the same team as a trial basis. If I see anything that interferes with your team dynamic then I will have to separate you two. Understood?" Carter said.
"Yes ma'am." John said.
"Thank you Colonel and I can assure that there will not be a problem." Teyla said.
"Good. I'll leave you two start those preparations for our guests." Carter said
As Colonel Carter leaves John turns to Teyla still holding her hand. "See that wasn't so bad. Now will your people have a problem with us?"
"No John. They have come to know and respect you over the years so I do not think there will be a problem." Teyla said. Teyla looked at John's face. She could see John had another question but he looked he was afraid to ask it. Teyla knew what the question would so she decided to put John's fears at rest.
"John, I can see that something troubles you. If it a question about Kanaan, than you do not have to worry. He has selected another mate. When he came to pick up Torren we talked about my feelings for you and he was not upset. He sensed that there was something growing between us and wished you and I nothing but happiness. Kanaan also likes the fact that you are around Torren. He believes you are a good role model for Torren. So put your mind at ease." Teyla said.
"He said that. Wow." John said.
John was shocked that Kanaan had said such nice things about him since every time he and Kanaan where in the same room together there was always tension.
"Yes. He is a good man John. I hope one day you and he will become friends." Teyla said.
"Well the one thing I have learned while living in the Pegasus galaxy is that anything is possible. Now how about you and I go get started with those sleeping arraignments for our guest. I will handle the finding space part for them if you would deal with the Nicca and Astin part. I don't think that either of them will be happy to see me." John said.
"I think you are correct. I will take care of Nicca and Astin." Teyla said.
"See, our work is not affected by our relationship. Nothing to worry about." John said putting his arm around Teyla as they walked out of the room.
TBC.....