"Ready to go through the Stargate JJ?" Rodney asked as he walked his young nephew down to the gate room. The boy was bouncing off the walls. In two days he would turn eight years old and his father would actually be home to celebrate it with him.

"Yeah…does it hurt Uncle Rodney?" JJ asked looking up at his uncle.

"It's a little…cold, and feels kind of strange at first, but it's not too bad," Rodney said smiling. John was standing in the middle of the gate room, checking over the last of their bags when his son came bounding towards him.

"Dad!" The boy grinned as his father swooped him up in his arms and twirled him around.

"Hey big guy, you about ready to go home?"

"Yeah!" the boy said, his mind filled with excitement. His father had promised to take him to the amusement park too. They would be home for five days, then right back on the Daedalus for Atlantis. JJ didn't mind because it was time he got to spend with his dad.

"Oh, wait," Rodney, said, as he looked up at Elizabeth.

Grinning, Elizabeth, Teyla, Carson, Ronan and Zelenka descended the stairs. Elizabeth suddenly pulled out a present from behind her back and handed it to the little boy.

"What's this?" he asked looking at it.

John grinned as he knelt beside his son. "Why don't you open it and find out."

The wrapping paper went flying within seconds and the boy grinned. "Wow, thanks!" he cheered, as he saw the football.

"What does it say on it?" Teyla asked, grinning.

"Hey you guys all signed it! "'To our favorite quarterback, happy Birthday, love your Atlantis family'," JJ looked up and grinned at the people he had come to see as his extended family. "Thanks," he said grinning. He quickly handed the present to his father and dealt a hug to each of them.

"Happy Birthday JJ," Teyla said, returning the hug with a smile and enthusiasm.

"Thank you. Can I play with it?" he asked smiling.

"Well, I doubt your father would forgive you if you didn't," Rodney joked as he hugged his nephew.

"Thanks guys," he said again and turned back to his father. "Thanks dad."

"Don't look at me. It was Rodney's idea. I just signed it. Ready to go partner?"

"Yep, bye guys!" he called. With one final wave, John and JJ disappeared into the wormhole back to the SGC.

"That was a good idea Rodney," Carson said, smiling.

Rodney grinned as he looked back at his friends. "He's getting a hockey stick for Christmas."

"You're all heart Rod," Carson also grinned as he threw an arm around his best friend's shoulders.

Teyla, Ronan, and Rodney sat in Elizabeth's office nearly two weeks later. The Colonel was due back by the end of the week, and their team had been on stand down since John had left. However, Elizabeth was now proposing the three of them go on a recon mission and gather some simple information about some ancient writing one of the other teams had found earlier last week.

"Wouldn't it be best to wait until Colonel Sheppard returns, it will only be a few days?" Teyla questioned.

"Look guys, Major Higgs is supposed to be the best right out of the academy. He needs experience. As you said, this should be a very easy mission. All you need is to do is go, get some pictures and rubbings of the ruins, and come back. This shouldn't be hard guys - just make it quick. You won't even know the Major is around."

"When do we leave?" Rodney asked sighing.

"Tomorrow at 09:00. You'll be fine, as I said should be easy. I wouldn't normally send you guys on this mission, but you're the only team without a leader right now, and he needs this chance to be out there."

"Please humor me guys, I know you don't really want to go without the Colonel, but it'll be fine," she said again

"Yes well, doesn't that always seem to be the general opinion," muttered Rodney.

Major Michael Higgs was one of the new men sent from earth on the last trip the Daedalus had made. He was a recent graduate from the academy and had worked at the SGC for about two months before being transferred to Atlantis. Elizabeth had read his file, and although he had flaws, she chose to overlook them. After all, she had a whole handful of people with chips on their shoulders and bad reputations. She hadn't noticed any bad behavior while he was here, at least none worse than John Sheppard's periodic disregard for the rules.

She watched as the major, Rodney, Ronan and Teyla stepped through the wormhole. A part of her was unable to get rid of the feeling of fear welling in her stomach.

Rodney had estimated the mission would take no longer than three hours. It was twenty minutes to and from the gate to the ruins, and then a couple hours to get everything catalogued and prepared for translation. Teyla and Ronan were really there to back him up and make sure he had any help he needed, while the Major was supposed to watch out for any trouble.

Nothing could possibly go wrong, he thought. However, Rodney hadn't counted on the inhabitants of the planet objecting their presence.

All went well up until they were almost ready to leave. "Doctor aren't you ready to go yet?" growled Major Higgs.

"Relax Major, Dr. Weir isn't expecting us back for another hour."

"Yeah, well, just hurry it up," grunted the man.

Rodney looked over at Ronan who smiled slightly. "Would you like me to kill him?"

"You'd enjoy it way too much," stated Rodney.

"Rodney…I have a bad feeling," Teyla spoke softly.

"Care to elaborate on that feeling?"

"I sense we may be in danger. I spotted a few people from a tribe on this planet nearby. We must get back to the gate," she spoke calmly.

"All right, help me pack this stuff up," Rodney said quickly.

"Wait, wait, a minute ago you were telling me you weren't ready to go!" Major Higgs said in annoyance.

"We may be in danger and should leave," Teyla spoke.

"If we're in danger, we're not much better off going to the gate which is in the open. We should stay here…."

"I disagree, Major, we would be better to go home now…" Teyla began.

"No we should stay here…" began Higgs.

"Are you insane? They'll have us cornered if we stay here," Rodney replied.

"We're not staying here," growled Ronan. There was a suddenly crack through the air. Ronan instantly covered Teyla, and grabbed Rodney, bringing them both to the ground. "We're leaving!" he growled again.

"You're fools to want to go out there!" Higgs replied.

"Ronan…" whispered Teyla from his side.

Ronan and Rodney looked down to see Teyla holding her arm, when she pulled her hand away it was covered in blood. "We're going back now!" growled Ronan. Without a second thought, he grabbed her and ran towards the gate. Rodney grabbed his gear and followed close behind.

Higgs apparently decided that moving was a good idea after all when more cracks started to fill the air. They ran as fast as their legs could carry them, Rodney rushed, ducking the entire way. Arriving ahead of Ronan and Teyla, he quickly dialed the gate. "ELIZABETH IT'S MCKAY! WE'RE COMING IN HOT!" Without another word he dove into the wormhole. Ronan jumped in gracefully with Teyla still in his arms. Higgs was right behind them.

"What the hell happened?" Elizabeth hurried down the stairs where Rodney was now lying in a heap beside Teyla and Ronan.

"We were ambushed. We were getting ready to leave…" began Higgs, "and Rodney was stalling…"

"WHAT?" Rodney yelled.

"Easy gentlemen, Teyla are you all right?" Elizabeth knelt beside her and looked at her arm.

"I will be fine," she said, smiling softly at her.

"Good, Ronan will you please take her to Carson? We'll have a debriefing in an hour."

"Yes ma'am," muttered Rodney as he walked off to join Ronan in the infirmary.

"So how is our girl?" Rodney asked, grinning. He knew how annoyed Teyla got at that name.

She looked up at Rodney, scowling slightly. Whether from the sting of the antiseptic or the name, Rodney didn't know, but it made him grin.

"Our girl, is going to be just fine. It looks worse than it really was. She'll live to tell the tale," Carson replied as he stitched her up gently, then applied a bandage.

"What are you going to do about the major?" Ronan asked as he looked at Rodney.

"What can I do? I'll tell Elizabeth the truth…it's up to her how she wants to handle this…" whispered Rodney.

"He could have gotten you all killed," stated Carson.

"Not to mention the fact he blamed the entire thing on you when we stepped through the gate." Ronan added.

"Don't worry about it guys, we'll….just do whatever we can. Why don't we speak with her alone at some point? If Higgs is going to lie about us, then we'll just talk to her later just the three of us."

"Very well…but be careful Rodney, he seems to have something against you."

"Doesn't everyone? Just remember I'm a scientist," Rodney said, grinning as he squeezed her shoulder gently.

"All right, Teyla, take these if you have any more pain, and come see me tomorrow to get the dressing changed," Carson said grinning gently at her.

"Thank you Carson," she whispered.

"Any time, love," Carson replied.

Elizabeth watched as Rodney, Teyla and Ronan sat quietly through the entire debriefing, eyeing the major. She couldn't help but notice how angry and frustrated they all looked. However, Higgs was the only person talking, and from the looks on their faces, Elizabeth easily guessed what this man was spouting off was anything but the truth. "All right," she finally spoke up, sighing. "Do you three have anything else to add?"

"No," muttered Ronan as he eyed Rodney.

"Nope," replied Rodney.

"No, Dr. Weir," Teyla murmured.

"Very well. Dismissed. Ronan, if you could please stay," she said.

"Yes ma'am," whispered Ronan as he watched the others leave, including Higgs.

"Now, why don't you tell me what really happened?" Elizabeth grinned.

"You're not going to like it."

"I didn't think I would."

Rodney sighed as he headed towards his labs, "McKay!" came the yell. Rodney turned around and glared at Major Higgs coming towards him.

"What?" Rodney ground out.

"What are you up to?"

"Uh, I'm going to my lab, why?"

"Look, Dr. Weir likes you guys, so she won't get angry if I say it was your fault…"

"Oh I'm sorry, I must have forgotten about being your scapegoat. Look here Higgs, you screwed up, and now you have to deal with the consequences."

"McKay…"

"No Higgs, you could have gotten us killed, you don't deserve to be out there."

"Oh, like you do…"

"Excuse me? I've been here longer than you, I've been working here longer and harder than you. I have every right to be there…"

"Only because your brother is the head of the damn team…if it weren't for him you'd be nothing!" hissed Higgs.

"Is this some personal vendetta? Let me put it this way, Higgs. Weir is going to know everything that has happened here. I will personally get your ass thrown off this base…"

"Shut up…"

"Or what? Just try something. You're pathetic and your career is as good as ruined…"

The man's eyes began to flare. Rodney never saw the right cross coming until it was too late. The fist connected with Rodney's jaw and he hit the floor unconscious. Michael's eyes quickly searched around until he found what looked like a small closet. With an evil smile he quickly pressed his hand to the controls and the door hissed open. Seeing that it was indeed a closet, Higgs searched for a moment, finally spotting some duct tape. He rapidly taped Rodney's wrists and ankles together, then slapped a piece of tape over the man's mouth and shoved him into the closet. He shut the door just as quick as he opened it and then disabled the panel. "You should have stayed out of this McKay. I've killed people like you. I'm not afraid of anyone."

John grinned as he strolled into Elizabeth's office with a wide smile on his face. The smile quickly disappeared when she looked up at him, a small scowl on her face and the worry in her eyes, "What's wrong?"

"Well, some things went wrong while you were away. Teyla is injured and now your brother is missing."

"What?"

"Look I don't have time to explain this right now. Rodney's been missing for over two hours. I've got personnel searching high and low all over this damn base."

"What the hell happened?"

"I don't know John…"

"Dr. Weir," came Ronan's voice over the radio.

"Yes Ronan…"

"I just found Higgs…"

"Where the hell is Rodney!" yelled Ronan as he grabbed the major, shaking the man.

"Ronan." Elizabeth gently touched her friend's arm. The runner looked over at her, then shoved Higgs back into his chair, nearly sending it over backwards.

"I…he's in the storage closet by his labs," Higgs said suddenly, looking nervously at Ronan. While he didn't mind pissing people off, he hated the idea of dying.

"Consider yourself fired, but I will let Colonel Sheppard take care of you!" she said as she shoved past the man in anger. "Security come to the mess hall and pick up Major Higgs. Have him confined to his room until further notice. Ronan stay here until security gets here."

"What about…"

"Ronan, we can handle this, please," she said gently.

"All right."

As they ran towards the labs, Elizabeth's heart was pounding in her chest. She could hear John running behind her. Carson was nearly a foot in front of her and Teyla wasn't far behind them. Carson reached the room first and wrenched the door open to the storage closet. There on the floor sat Rodney, huddled, looking terrified and lonely, tear tracks were trialing down his cheeks. Elizabeth hurried into the closet, holding out her hand to calm the frightened scientist. "Shh, I'm here," she whispered as she gently reached out to him. Almost instantly Rodney fell, crying, into her arms. She sighed, moving closer to him and pulling him to her chest, rocking him gently.

"John, go get us a blanket. Let's keep this quiet and get him to the infirmary" Elizabeth gently remove the tape from his lips, wrists, and ankles. Carson reached into the closet and flashed a penlight in both Rodney's eyes. The scientist instantly jerked his head away. "Shh, I'm sorry, I know that hurt. Are you injured?"

Elizabeth gently removed the tape and Rodney let out a soft sob as he buried his face in Elizabeth's neck. She sighed, continuing to run her hand through his sweat soaked hair, rubbing circles on his back.

"Shh, we're here sweetheart, we're here." She pressed a kiss to the back of his head, continuing to rock back and forth with him gently.

"Liz," came John's soft voice.

She looked up and gratefully took the blanket, gently wrapping it around his shoulders. "Can you walk?"

He slowly nodded as he looked up at Carson and John. His face turned red again when he spotted Teyla. "Don't worry lad, ye've got nothing to be ashamed of. Come here lad." Carson and John gently pulled Rodney up to his feet. Elizabeth rewrapped the blanket around his shoulders and watched him pull it close, as though trying to grasp onto something and pull himself back to reality. She gently wrapped an arm around his shoulder and continued to rub his arms.

"Carson, take the flank. Teyla and I will take lead," John said, instantly forming a barrier around the frightened scientist.

It was an agonizing five minutes before finally they got Rodney into an empty isolation room in the infirmary. "Teyla, go get me some hot water. John, go take care of the stupid son of a bitch who did this. Elizabeth stay with him," Carson stated.

John looked over at Elizabeth as if asking for permission to hit the bastard who had hurt his brother. She sighed for a moment. "You can't kill him, but Iwill not be held responsible for any injuries you give him, after all you were with us the entire time," she said gently as she continued to rub Rodney's back.

John nodded and patted his brother's leg before he headed out of the room. Elizabeth turned back to her scientist and took his face into her hands. "Rodney, sweetheart, you're safe now, okay?"

He slowly nodded for a moment and then leaned into her arms again, sighing softly she gently moved him over on the bed and climbed next to him. "I'm sweaty," he mumbled quietly.

"It doesn't matter. You're in need of a friend, and some love, both of which I'm here to give to you," she said gently as she pulled him close again.

Rodney sighed and wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning into her shoulder. She sat there calmly, just caressing his face and forehead. Carson returned a few minutes later with a small sandwich, a chocolate bar, and some milk. Close behind him was Teyla with the hot water and the wash cloth.

"Wipe your face off, get something into your stomach. When you're feeling up to it, we'll help you into the shower," Carson said, gently smiling at his friend.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Any time lad. Call us if you need anything, but I think the less people right now the better," Carson said smiling gently as he squeezed his best friend's knee.

"Thank you," he murmured again.

"You stupid little son of a bitch!" John growled as he grabbed Higgs by his coat and slammed him into the nearest wall. You little bastard! You're so afraid of getting fired that you shoved my little brother into a closet!" John swung the man around, throwing him into another wall, making sure the man's head connected with a resounding thud. John grabbed him off the floor, lifting the major's feet above the ground, as he got within inches of the man's face. "If you ever…and I meanever touch a single hair on my brother's body, or even so much as look at him, I will personally disembowel you. Make sure you're still alive, then shove your sorry little ass into the nearest closet! I will also make sure you die a very slow death!" hissed John as he shoved the man once again, driving home his words. "Be glad I didn't let Ronan get you first. Elizabeth said I could have you and she'd turn a blind eye. Ronan wasn't above killing you! I have no problem throwing you over the nearest balcony to the fishes!" John growled.

"Colonel," came Carson's voice.

"Get him out of my face!" John hissed throwing the major at the two security guards by the door. Even they had a sneer on their faces as they scooped the man off the floor and carried him away. "How's Rodney?" John's voice turning to worry and fear.

"Physically he'll be fine. He suffered mild dehydration and mild hypoglycemia. Emotionally, he's a bit of a wreck right now. He's got a nice size bruise on his right cheek."

"He had a panic attack didn't he?"

"Aye, according to Elizabeth it's been…"

"Twenty some years, Rodney's last panic attack was when we were in the sixth grade, right after he built the nuke in our basement…a couple jocks got a hold of him and shoved him in a locker. He was there for nearly two hours. We had one hell of a mess to clean up even then," whispered John.

"Aye, it's been awhile, but he does need you…"

"No, what he needs is Elizabeth. He needs a woman's touch. When they finally got him out of the locker, he clung to my mother for the next two days, afraid that the world would think of him as pathetic."

"Aye, well he's certainly acting like that now."

"I'll give him a little while, then I'll go see him. But if he'd be better off without visitors for awhile yet, just let Liz stay with him."

"Aye, I will."

"Thanks Carson."

"It's what friends are here for, lad," Carson said smiling softly.

John stepped into the isolation room. Rodney was sound asleep, curled next to Elizabeth, who was still gently running her fingers through his now showered hair. She turned her head and smiled at John.

"Hey, how's he doing?" John asked as he took a step closer.

"He'll survive another day," she whispered as he looked at his sleeping features, suddenly remembering why and how she was so in love with this man.

"Listen, Liz…thanks for taking care of him…"

"He's my best friend, and I love him. It wouldn't be the same around here without him in our lives," she replied as she pressed a kiss to Rodney's forehead.

"Yeah, he's a pretty good guy. Listen, could I have a word alone with him?"

"Of course," she whispered, withdrawing herself from his grip. With a final glance back, she headed out of the room to get some food.

John sat down at the edge of his bed, reaching out to gently stroked his brother's cheek. "Hey slugger," John smiled as Rodney's eyes slowly slid open.

"Hey…" Rodney mumbled.

"Listen buddy, I'm sorry I wasn't here…"

"Not your fault….me and my big mouth," he whispered grinning.

"Maybe, but that little bastard never should have come here in the first place," John whispered.

"What's going to happen to him now?" Rodney asked.

"He'll be sent back to Earth. I'm pressing charges against him. He's probably going to be discharged dishonorably and the military will try him for assault charges and attempted murder. From there…it's up to the Air Force—either way his career is shot."

"Attempted murder?"

"Apparently you and Teyla aren't the only people he's placed into… very bad situations. I heard a Sergeant talking about him shortly before we left-apparently he had quite the rap sheet at the academy. I have no idea why he was even allowed here, but every once in awhile I suppose someone is going to slip through the fingers of people. Anyway, I did some checking while on Earth, I wasn't impressed. I would've had him removed as soon as I got back even without all this. Don't worry about him we'll make sure he gets taken care of. Meanwhile, Carson plans on releasing you tomorrow morning. You're going to have a lovely little shiner, but you'll be fine."

"What I don't get is how we allowed someone like that here in the first place," Elizabeth admitted in confusion, "I mean…we go through all these files personally, why didn't we catch anything?"

"My guess…he could have completely changed names…he could have faked death, or he could have just figured out a way to wipe his record clean…It's in their hands now."

"Thanks…" Rodney murmured.

"Hey, I didn't do anything…except give the guy a minor concussion. Oh I did get to play a little football with my kid," he said, changing the subject.

"He likes it?"

"Are you kidding? I thought he'd sleep with the damn thing for awhile," John said grinning.

"Glad he liked it! How was his birthday?"

"Great, saw some of his old friends. He's a good kid."

"I know," smiled Rodney.

"Listen get some more rest buddy, I'll be back tomorrow with breakfast."

"Thanks…send Liz back in here."

"Oh, I see your priorities," grinned John.

"Just jealous…" murmured Rodney as his eyes drifted closed.

"Maybe, but it's not of Lizzy. Sorry baby brother." Grinning softly, John left the room and watched as Elizabeth slipped back into her former position to watch over his little brother. He smiled, glad that his Rodney had finally found the perfect person.

"They are wonderful together," came the voice by his side.

John practically jumped out of his skin. "Teyla, we've got to talk about you and your sneaking up on people," he grinned.

"What were you thinking?"

"How glad I am that he has someone to support him…in a way I never could," John whispered.

Teyla smiled as she reached out and intertwined her fingers in his. "Perhaps he is not the only with someone who will help support him."

Grinning John let her hand go and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leaning his head against hers he smiled, "No, he's not."