AN: So this is the last chapter, enjoy and let me know what you think!

Chapter 3

Rodney guided the Jumper into the planet's atmosphere, his eyes on the Heads Up Display, or HUD as it was often called, even as his mind was miles away. Somewhere down there, he thought, Sheppard is possibly lying hurt, surrounded by Wraith. The remaining three members of AT-1 were now sure that it was the Wraith behind Sheppard's disappearance, as they'd seen a Dart speed away from the planet, heading into the expanse of space.

"Are you certain we are cloaked?" Teyla had asked, and Rodney had to bite his cheek to keep himself from shouting at her. Instead, he nodded curtly.

"I'm sure. We'll be ready to land in less than a minute."

Once they cleared the atmosphere and reached the meadow where the 'gate was situated, Rodney pointed to a blue dot on the HUD. "This one is Sheppard."

Teyla came forward and pressed her fingertip against a second dot, one that was nearly on top of the one Rodney had indicated. "Then who is this?"

"I'm sure I don't know. That life sign isn't as strong as Sheppard's."

Ronon stretched out his legs and sniffed. "Could be injured."

"Maybe." Rodney realized then how cramped he suddenly felt, and scowled at his teammates. "You mind not stealing all my air? Don't want me passing out during the landing, do you?"

Ronon shrugged. "I wouldn't care."

Teyla hid a smile even as she glared in disapproval at Ronon. She touched Rodney gently on the shoulder before moving toward the back of the Jumper. "Of course we would not. How many Wraith do you think are down there?"

Rodney concentrated for a moment, which brought up another map in front of him. "Less than twenty. Looks like they're just sweeping the area."

"What about the villagers?" Ronon asked. "Any survivors?"

Rodney shook his head. "No. Everyone's gone but Sheppard and whoever's with him." He thought again, and the map was replaced by the previous display on the HUD. "I think I found a good place to land. No Wraith there, and it's a short walk to Sheppard."

Ronon and Teyla shifted nervously in their seats as Rodney piloted the Jumper to a small clearing just ahead of the village, and set the cloaked ship neatly in the middle of it. As soon as the rear door touched the ground they leapt out, guns aimed at the trees around them. Ronon started walking toward the village, with Rodney and Teyla close behind him, when suddenly the air was filled with the sound of stunner blasts. Ronon took off at a run, his hand already pulling his own stunner from the holster strapped to his back.

"Ronon!" Teyla called, but he didn't turn around, so she ran after him. Rodney shouted after both of them, before running full charge down the path they were on.

Sheppard knelt on the ground in front of the house, his hands held behind his head and his eyes boring holes through the soldier standing before him. Aiden's sling dangled in the Wraith commander's grip, and inside it, the baby wailed in fear, causing Sheppard's heart to jolt painfully in his chest. His body warred with his mind as the Wraith stared at the infant – his body wanted to rip the Wraith's head right off, but his mind warned him about the stunner pointed at his head, telling him to be patient.

"Colonel Sheppard," the commander sneered, and Sheppard couldn't help but gasp as the sling rocked precariously in the creature's hand. "How…good to see you."

"Give the baby back," Sheppard warned, though he knew quite well he wasn't in any position to make demands. It didn't matter, however; in his eyes, Aiden needed him, and he'd be damned if he let some Wraith have him. It was killing him just to see the baby near the creature.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because," Sheppard growled, his anger twisting his face into a snarl, "if you don't, I'll kill you."

The Wraith laughed then, a horrible chuckling sound that only raised the colonel's ire. "And how would you perform this feat? Even now, you have a weapon pointed at your head."

Sheppard smiled his usual cocky grin then. "Give the baby to me, and you won't have to find out."

Again, the Wraith laughed, but Sheppard's grin remained. The commander paced before him, with a screaming Aiden still swinging back and forth in the sling. "What care do you have for this child, Sheppard? Is he your son?"

"No," Sheppard admitted, though he suddenly wished Aiden was his, while another part of him rejected the thought. If something did happen to the baby, it would make it so much harder to deal with if he'd been his own son. And yet, he'd cared for Aiden for two full days now, and so had bonded with him. "But I don't really want him hanging around such…bad company."

Now the Wraith grew angry, and the barrel of his stunner moved from Sheppard's head to press against the sling. Aiden's wails grew desperate again, and Sheppard lurched forward in an attempt to stop what was happening.

"Stop it!" He shouted at the Wraith, who turned to stare at him. "Just…stop!"

The commander paused for a moment, as if debating with himself, and then pointed the stunner once more at Sheppard. "Very well. But I warn you, Sheppard. If you anger me further, this child will not see another sunrise."

"Okay," he agreed, even as he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. "But let me warn you, you're going to die very soon."

The Wraith only had time to narrow his yellow, catlike eyes before a red glow enveloped him, and a black scorch mark appeared on his chest. As he began to fall to the ground, the sling slipped from his grasp, and its bottom was only inches from a pile of rocks. Though he'd barely had time to stand, Sheppard staggered forward and caught the baby in his arms, then turned and almost ran right into Ronon. The Satedan grinned widely at him.

"Hey, Sheppard."

"Took you long enough."

"Sorry." He winced as Aiden screamed at the top of his lungs. "Who's the kid?"

Sheppard shrugged. "I'll explain later. Let's get outta here."

Teyla and Rodney stood at the start of the path, waving animatedly at them. "Hurry, there are more coming!" Teyla shouted before she and Rodney ran back to the Jumper. As Sheppard started down the narrow road with Aiden pressed tightly against his chest, Ronon guarded them, his stunner pointing in any direction where he thought he heard something. They made it back to the Jumper just as a dozen Wraith soldiers burst through the trees, growling and aiming their stunners at the team, and Sheppard slammed his fist on the rear door's control, shutting it before any blasts could reach them.

"Get this thing cloaked and in the air, Rodney!" He shouted to the scientist, who was already in the pilot seat and powering the Jumper's engines.

"On it!" Rodney called back. "Hang on!"

Teyla sat beside Sheppard on the bench in the rear of the Jumper, her booted feet braced against the floor, and her eyes widened as she finally realized that he still carried Aiden in his arms.

"John?" She asked, and nodded toward the baby, who continued to cry, though it was no longer the piercing wail but more of a sniffling whimper. Sheppard looked down at him and then at Teyla.

"He got left behind during the culling. I couldn't just leave him there."

She nodded serenely. "Of course."

He was about to say more, when the Jumper suddenly shifted to the right, threatening to tip them onto the floor. Sheppard quickly threw out his hand and grabbed the edge of the bench just in time, and scowled darkly at Rodney's back.

"Hey!" He shouted, and Rodney waved his hand without turning around.

"Sorry! Atmosphere's a little rocky up here." He made a quick correction, and the Jumper righted itself. "Better?"

Sheppard would've made another sharp comment, but he was too tired at the moment to do anything but sigh and lean his head against the metal bulkhead of their vessel.

He just wanted to get home, preferably in one piece.

Ronon walked up to Sheppard's door and sounded the chime, and was quite curious when the colonel didn't answer. He tested the door and found it was unlocked, so he quietly entered the room, his dark eyes scanning it for anything amiss. Then, he smiled and quickly tapped his com.

"Teyla?"

Her voice, soft as velvet, came back to him. "Yes, Ronon."

"You anywhere near Sheppard's room?"

"Yes, actually. Why?" She asked.

"There's something you gotta see."

He heard her sigh quietly before she replied, "Very well. I will be right there."

As promised, Teyla arrived moments later, and stepped cautiously through the open door. She was about to ask Ronon what was going on, when he put a finger to his lips and pointed at the bed. There, curled onto his side with a thick blanket over his waist, was Sheppard, with Aiden snuggled inside his arm, also sleeping deeply. At the foot of the bed, his guitar leaned upright, and an empty bottle sat on the floor beside the instrument.

Teyla smiled gently at the sight, and when she glanced at Ronon, she was surprised to see that his expression mirrored hers.

"He's a natural," Ronon murmured, and she nodded.

"Despite what he says to the contrary, John is very good with children, especially babies."

Ronon's grinned cracked wider. "Maybe it's because he hasn't grown up yet himself."

"He can hear you, you know," Sheppard suddenly muttered from the bed, and Teyla's eyes quickly shifted down to the floor, embarrassed that she'd been caught in the colonel's room, and with him being shirtless. Sheppard sat up, slowly moving his arm from under the baby's head so as not to wake him, and stared levelly at his two friends. "What're you doing in here?"

Teyla still felt too ashamed to speak, but Ronon merely shrugged. "You were missing from breakfast, so I came to check on you."

Sheppard considered his explanation for a moment. Then, under his breath, he said, "Gotta remember to lock my door."

Finally, Teyla spoke up. "We are sorry, John. You and the baby just seemed so…peaceful..."

"Aiden," he interrupted, and she shook her head once, not understanding. He cleared his throat and clarified. "His name's Aiden."

"You named him after Ford?" Ronon asked then, his eyebrow raised, and Sheppard nodded, his gaze full with a silent challenge.

"Yeah. Why, something wrong with that?"

Ronon watched him for another full moment before shaking his head. "No. Just wondering."

"Yeah, well, his eyes are real dark, just like…Ford's were. And his hair is kinda curly, so…"

"It is a fine name, John," Teyla assured him, her hand light on his bare shoulder.

"Thanks, Teyla." He looked down and realized that he wasn't fully dressed, and added, "You guys mind?"

"Of course not," She replied, and started to turn away before she remembered something she wanted to say. "We are glad that you are all right."

Ronon nodded his agreement with her sentiment, and then clapped Sheppard on the shoulder. "See ya later."

Sheppard grinned and ran his hand through his unruly dark hair. "Thanks, guys."

When they had gone, he eased himself back down onto his bed, and stared at Aiden. He was due to take the baby to Keller for a physical soon, but at the moment he just wanted to be alone with the little boy for as long as possible. He watched as Aiden's long, black eyelashes fluttered softly against his plump cheeks, and smiled.

So far, everyone who'd seen the baby had instantly fallen in love with him.

As soon as they'd exited the Jumper Bay, Carter had been waiting in the hall for them, and her eyes grew wide when she saw the baby in Sheppard's arms.

"Colonel?" She'd asked curiously.

"Rescued him from the planet. His mom was culled along with the rest of the villagers," he'd replied, his voice soft with heartache for the child he held. Then, he added, "I thought maybe the Athosians could care for him until he's older."

Carter had agreed, and had granted his request to keep Aiden with him until they could get in touch with Teyla's people.

Even Rodney, who claimed to hate most children, had taken a turn holding Aiden while Sheppard got a few stitches in a cut above his eye, where the glass from the broken window had sliced him open. He'd cooed and fussed over the baby as much as anyone else, and had since begun to refer to himself as "Uncle Rodney", which got him quite a few snide remarks from Ronon, but so far, he'd ignored them.

Sheppard hadn't realized how deep in thought he'd been until he looked down again, and saw two dark eyes staring calmly back at him.

"Hey, Aiden," he murmured quietly, and picked the infant up off the bed. He took him over to the window in his room, which overlooked the East Pier, and held him so he could see outside. Beyond the seemingly-endless expanse of water around the city, the shoreline of the mainland meandered along the horizon, little more than a dark smudge above the ocean.

Sheppard smiled as he thought of the people there, who by now would be preparing their morning meal, and then lightly squeezed Aiden to himself and said, "Welcome to your new home."

THE END!