FIC: The Pack (Stargate: Atlantis AU) 1/10

[ashinae]

The Pack: A Stargate: Atlantis AU - Chapter 1
by ashinae and jay_linden
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10



This was not exactly John Sheppard's best day ever.

He'd become very good at minding his own damn business. He'd become very used to Antarctica. Frankly, he'd become very used to being very used to his life and not really wanting it to change. He didn't bother anyone, and no one bothered him.

But despite his hesitation, it had been difficult for him to outright refuse General O'Neill.

He figured General O'Neill probably wanted it that way, but John would certainly never--ever--call the old wolf on that. But, really, he thought as Bates' fist cracked across his jaw--not the best day he'd ever had.

***

Back a step.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Atlantis. Please remain seated till the Puddle Jumper has come to a full and complete stop."

He'd felt pretty good about himself. Along with Ford, Teyla, McKay, Bates, and Dr Beckett, John found himself in the room that Elizabeth had claimed for her office. Nice and central in the control tower. Good view of the gateroom. John liked it. Not much to really call it exactly personalised yet, except for the pouch and chest that sat on the desk. Spell ingredients. Nice touch--a gentle reminder not to poke the witch too much.

They filled in those left behind on what had happened. About waking the Wraith. Agreed to let the Athosians stay with them in Atlantis.

There was an elephant in the room. John had thought maybe they'd have been able to avoid talking about it until they'd all had a good night's sleep.

But the elephant made an awful lot of noise. It looked an awful lot like Colonel Marshall Sumner. Maybe even smelled like him. John doubted that Elizabeth or McKay would have known enough to bring it up. Beckett might have, but it wasn't his place. Ford wouldn't have stepped on anyone's toes since he was just a kid.

Bates, though? Bates just had to go and make sure everybody knew about the great big, gaping hole in the pack.

The injuries Bates had sustained during his captivity were already almost healed, and although he had to be grieving the loss of his Alpha, it wasn't showing. "Thank you, Major, for taking charge of things while we were gone, and leading the rescue. I'll take it from here," he said. He turned to Elizabeth. "Considering the situation here in Pegasus, I think that some drastic rearrangement of the command structure is going to be necessary."

Elizabeth was startled. She looked from Bates, to John, to Bates again. "I'm sorry, Sergeant," she said, "but I don't see why that would be at all necessary. Major Sheppard is ranking military officer, and that leaves him in charge."

The look that Bates gave Elizabeth was incredibly patronising. "I'm afraid it doesn't work that way, ma'am," he said, as though she was very young, and very stupid. "Major Sheppard may be ranking military officer, but I am... I was Colonel Sumner's second. That means the pack is mine." It didn't, not exactly, but Bates knew the rest of the pack, and there was no one currently capable of challenging him for the Alpha position.

"That doesn't change the fact that Major Sheppard is the one with the appropriate military rank," Elizabeth said, straightening her posture just a little. John was impressed with her composure. "And it's only appropriate, given the number of humans amongst the military personnel here, that we honour the chain of command."

Bates wasn't interested in having this discussion with Elizabeth. "Due respect, Dr Weir? You're not military. It's not your call," he said, turned his back on her, and dismissed her. "Lieutenant Ford, I'm going to want to address the military personnel as a group--say thirty minutes from now," he ordered.

John was ready to just tune him out, really, but he felt someone watching him. He looked at Dr Beckett.

He suddenly remembered something he'd heard in passing. One of the reasons Dr Beckett was chosen for the expedition was that they needed a human--and a doctor--who knew almost as much about the werewolves as the wolves knew about themselves. Apparently he could trace the line of witches in his family as far back as was possible to go. And just by keeping his gaze trained on John, he was as good as daring him to speak up. To step up.

"That won't be necessary, Lieutenant," John said, voice very quiet. "We'll take care of things tomorrow. I think everybody deserves to take the night and settle in. Get to know our new friends." He glanced at Teyla.

Ford looked between Sheppard and Bates, clearly uncomfortable, before he took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. "Actually, Sergeant... I don't think it's as automatic as you're thinking it is, in this case." His voice was steady, despite the fact that he already knew just how well (not at all) Bates was likely to take this. "The Wraith didn't kill Colonel Sumner. Major Sheppard did," Ford said, looking over at Sheppard again. "He didn't have a choice--Sumner as good as asked him to do it--but technically speaking, Major Sheppard killed the Alpha. That means he has a claim to the pack."

Of course he did. That's exactly what John had felt back on the Wraith ship. The claim; the right to take the pack was his. Well, damn. Now he had to do something about it.

He lifted his head and looked right at Bates.

Bates was already fuming, lip curling back at the very idea of Sheppard taking over the pack--Sumner's pack. His pack. He met Sheppard's eyes and didn't look away, staring right back at him.

"All right, gentlemen," Elizabeth said. She sounded mildly exasperated. John imagined she probably just thought they were about to get into some sort of pissing contest. "Maybe we can work out the details later."

John ignored her. He kept his gaze locked on Bates' and didn't blink. Not once. Stance relaxed; expression neutral.

He'd provoked older, more experienced wolves than Bates into thinking he was an easy mark just by seeming to not give a damn.

Bates took a step closer, starting to get into John's space. "You shouldn't even be here," Bates said, his voice low. "You're not pack. You have no right."

McKay moved away from Bates and Sheppard, very slowly. Whether he was moving closer to Elizabeth to keep her out of harm's way, or because he thought he'd be safer there, it was difficult to tell.

"But I am here," John said, quietly. "I'm here, and Dr Weir's right: I outrank you. Maybe you should get used to it." Out of the corner of his eye, John watched Dr Beckett step between the wolves, and Elizabeth and McKay.

Brave man.

"I don't think that's all that likely," Bates said, standing his ground. "Do you?"

John stared him down. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want the fight. "The pack's mine," he said, still not raising his voice.

Bates didn't break eye contact with John.

Not even when his fist cracked across John's jaw.

John let Bates hit him.

Let him land the second blow. Listened to the shouts of the humans in the room. Felt Bates's knee come up in his solar plexus.

But he didn't hit him back. Not even as they stumbled out the door.

Fight or die. He could fight; he could win. The pack would be his. Because otherwise, Bates would have to kill him to take the pack. It was, by all rights, John's pack now. If Bates wanted it, he had to kill John. The question was: did John want the pack?

He could have a home. A family. A pack. He didn't have to be a lone wolf anymore.

As Bates punched him again, he heard voices:

"We have to stop them," Elizabeth insisted. "This is insane, they could kill each other."

"We can't," Ford said, and there was a firmness, a surety, in his voice that was new. "This has to happen--they have to settle this, here and now, or the pack's going to fall apart."

"But we can't just stand here--"

"Yes, we can." That was Dr Beckett. His voice was gentle. John liked the man, despite that unfortunate incident with the drone and the helicopter. "Elizabeth, please. We just need to stay back and let them work this out. The pack needs an Alpha, and this is the only way it'll get one now that we've lost Colonel Sumner. I know this isn't easy--believe me, I know."

So: did John want the pack, or didn't he?

When he finally landed a blow of his own, it was enough to force Bates to stumble and fall down the stairs.

It seemed John wanted the pack.

The hit took Bates by surprise, and he hit the ground hard, his body sliding more than a couple of feet before he came to a stop. He forced himself back up onto his feet, snarling at John. He wasn't about to give up; not without a hell of a fight.

John took a few of the steps quickly, then launched himself at Bates, attacking furiously. By rights, the pack was his. By wolf law, the pack was his. He'd done exactly what Sumner had wanted, dammit; he'd done what he needed to do to keep the Wraith from understanding more about what Sumner was. About what they were. He was bound by duty and by forces far older than either of them to protect this pack.

It was about damn time he stopped running away from the things that called him.

When the fight started, there weren't that many people around, besides the ordinary crew staffing the gateroom. The longer it went on, the more people started showing up. Specifically, the more wolves started showing up.

(Most of the humans and witches at least had the sense to stare down from a reasonably safe distance, if not remove themselves entirely.)

Bates was bleeding now. A wide gash across his forehead dripped blood into his eyes. He wiped at it, trying to clear the blood away. Some part of him must have been realising that it wasn't healing as fast as it should be. At least, not as fast as it should be if he were truly the Alpha. Which just made him more angry and intensified his counterattack on John.

The wolves were called by their Alpha. John knew that. He knew it was him and dammit all to hell, Bates needed to stop. Whether any of them wanted it or not, John had been chosen and Bates needed to stop before John killed him. He couldn't lose anyone else today. Bates had been a good second for Sumner--John couldn't afford to lose him. He was older. More experienced.

They might not be fighting as wolves, but John could still kill Bates if he didn't back down.

Bates' wolf had all but taken over, and Bates' wolf was nothing if not stubborn. He made stupid mistakes, letting anger and embarrassment overrule his judgment.

And as the fight wore on, John became calmer. Every blow he landed was precise, meant to break Bates down one little step at a time. That didn't stop the occasional growl that rose up in his throat; it didn't stop the snarl that escaped when Bates managed to land a damn good punch. But John was gaining the upper hand. One step, one move at a time. Until he had Bates on the ground, John's arm across his throat. All it would take was a twist. John didn't want that.

For a moment or two, it looked like that was exactly what it was going to take. Bates was breathing hard, and in pain, teeth bared as he glared up at John. Time spun out, and the whole station held their breath.

And then Bates broke eye contact, looked down, and tilted his head back. Bared his throat.

John waited just a moment longer before he moved back. He got to his feet and glared down at Bates. "Are we done?" he demanded.

Bates didn't get up. Like every other wolf on the station, he could feel the power coming off of Sheppard. He didn't like it. But he had no choice but to obey. "Yes," he said through his teeth.

"Yes, what?" John snapped.

If Bates could lift his eyes from the floor right now, there'd be murder in his expression. "Yes, sir," he gritted out.

"Better," John said. "Now get out of my sight."

Bates pushed himself up to his feet, biting back a sound of pain as he got up and walked out of the gateroom, nothing but the shredded remains of his pride keeping him upright.

John watched him go, then let his gaze do a sweep of the pack. All the wolves among the expedition team had been called to the gateroom by the power of their new Alpha; not a one of them met John's eyes. Finally he lifted his head and looked up at Ford.

And the humans. The witches. They looked frightened; all of them but Dr Beckett.

And then John's eyes fell on Teyla.

Oh. Damn.

***

There was probably a better way to go about talking to Teyla about the wolf thing. Elizabeth would likely have some ideas. But, well, John had made the first overtures of friendship to Teyla. He was going to carry through, even though he had so clearly been the one to scare her.

"Hi," he said, shifting from one foot to the other when he found her. "Can we talk?"

"Major Sheppard," Teyla said, smiling, but even more formal than she'd been the first time they'd talked. "Of course."

"Thank you." He guided her to a bunch of crates and sat down, purposefully forcing himself to look up at her. Everyone else was headed out to the city balconies. The Athosians were rather blissfully unaware of what had taken place in the gateroom. But John needed to explain things to Teyla.

And now that they were here, he had absolutely no idea what to say. Teyla waited for him. Very politely. Very patiently.

"What you... saw... between Bates and me." John paused. Damn, this was hard. "It was necessary. And I'm sorry you had to see it. But it wouldn't be right of us to keep secrets like that from you. As soon as the full moon comes, you'd find out anyway."

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Teyla said. "Is this a tradition, among the warriors of your people, when a new leader must be selected?"

"Only for some of us. Not for the ordinary humans. But we're not all ordinary humans here." He looked down, frowned a little, then looked up at her again. "There's magic on Earth, Teyla. Some of us in the military--we're werewolves. Some of us get forced into it, for whatever reason, though most choose it. I did. A long time ago. It gives us long life, strength, heightened senses--we can change into... do you have wolves in the Pegasus Galaxy?"

She shook her head, very slowly. "I don't believe we do."

John rubbed at his face, and proceeded to try to explain wolves. Then the concept of the bigger, deadlier werewolf. The magic of the full moon, and what it meant to be a pack. And his own new role as Alpha. After a while, she sat with him on the crates, and he turned toward her, one leg drawn up on front of him, the other still foot on the floor. Relaxed. Comfortable. Going from awkward lecture-mode into animated explanation, smiling at her, eyes bright. He'd never before met someone who didn't know about werewolves, witches, and the other fae creatures of Earth.

"But we still have to adapt to the new lunar cycle here," he said. "Tempers'll be short. I'll really have to work to keep the other wolves in check until the first full moon. I'll sense it before everyone else. That night, we'll all change. We'll be more animal than human. But after that, we'll gain control again. We'll be able to change at will."

"You are a complicated people," Teyla said, smiling at John. "And an honourable one."

"Complicated? Yeah, I suppose. I never really thought of us that way, but I've never known a life where we weren't like this. I'm... older than I look."

"Much as we have never known a world untouched by the Wraith," Teyla said. "Are all your people long lived, or just your werewolves?"

"Largely just the wolves," John said. "There are a few other creatures out there that live as long, maybe even longer, but... there aren't as many of them anymore."

"And now, the wolves here on Atlantis follow you."

He nodded. "That they do, and I gotta admit, it's pretty weird."

"Sometimes, the right decision is chosen for us, rather than what we would choose," she said, looking as though she was speaking from some experience.

"Yeah, I suppose so." He regarded her for a moment, then gave her a smile. "So I'm sorry for... doing that in front of you. I hope I didn't... I hope you won't regret coming here with us."

Teyla smiled back. "My people do not waste time on regret," she said, standing up. "But no. I believe we made the right choice, in coming here."

"Good. Wanna go celebrate with everybody else?"

"Yes, I believe so," Teyla said.

He stood and offered her his arm. "Let's go."

***

"Major! Major Sheppard!" As was often the case, one heard Rodney McKay before one saw him.

And of course, it was that much easier having a wolf's keen hearing. John paused, turned, and waited a moment or two for McKay to catch up. "Yeah?"

"Okay, so, it worked--I mean, I'm pretty sure it worked. There were lights, and it stayed on, so I'm pretty sure that means it worked, but I'm not completely sure that it worked, so I need to find out for sure," he said.

John blinked at him. "I--what worked?"

McKay was all but bouncing on his toes. "I could tell you, but why don't I just show you." He braced himself, and looked at John. "Attack me."

Both of John's eyebrows went up. "Excuse me?"

"Seriously," McKay said, beaming at him. "Attack me."

John blinked a few times, then shrugged.

When he tried to punch McKay in the face, all he got was a sore hand for his trouble. "What the hell, McKay!" he exclaimed, his voice a rough and angry snarl.

McKay looked absolutely delighted. "It works! Oh my God, I thought it was going to, but it actually worked!" For the moment, he brushed past the part where John didn't have much of a problem trying to punch him in the face, because he was too impressed with the part where the punch didn't even come close to connecting. It just bounced off before it even got to him.

The pain of didn't last very long. After a moment, John tilted his head a bit and frowned at McKay. And then he said, "The gene therapy worked, didn't it?"

McKay beamed at him. "Like magic," he said, pushing aside his jacket to show a small, glowing green contraption on his chest.

John stared for a moment, then he met McKay's eyes and grinned broadly at him. "This is so cool."

"I'm pretty sure that the way this works, I'm invulnerable," McKay said, grinning right back at John.

"Well, we've gotta find out."

"What do you suggest?"

"We need to build up to the more risky things," John said, thoughtfully. He stepped closer to McKay to urge him to walk down the hallway with him.

He could smell someone on McKay. He brushed that thought aside; they were all in pretty close contact with everyone else right now. It didn't matter.

"Maybe I could try shooting you."

McKay's eyes got big, then bigger.

And then he grinned.

***

John didn't know all the members of the expedition well enough yet to be able to tell all of their distinct smells apart. He knew McKay, Teyla, Elizabeth, Ford, Bates, and Dr Beckett. But he occasionally still got some of the others' names wrong, so recognising smell wasn't exactly to be expected. Except that he did expect it of himself.

So it frustrated the hell out of him, just before he shoved McKay over a balcony, that he could smell someone else on McKay, but he didn't know who it was.

***

"So do you want to see?" John asked Teyla over breakfast. "The cycle here's different--I mean, the length of the day is different than on Earth and everything, but we figure, two more days. If you want to see."

Even he hadn't been able to change since they arrived. The full moon would help. Ford equated it to 'rebooting'. John kind of liked the analogy.

"It'll be all of us. The others would all be kept separate, but I'll be safe." John grinned at her, a little bit of shyness around the edges. It was weird, being with someone who just didn't know. You could explain it till you were blue in the face, but Teyla still didn't really know.

"You truly want me to be there to witness your change?" Teyla asked, watching him carefully.

"Yeah, I do," he said, nodding slowly. "You're part of my--" He carefully bit off the word 'pack'. He figured neither of them was exactly ready for that. "You're part of my team," he concluded. "You should know what it's like for Ford and me."

"Then I would be honoured," Teyla said, smiling back at John, and nodding once.

"Thank you. Besides, I could use the company for the night. If you don't mind. It'll help keep me... focused."

"I'm not sure I understand, but I'll be glad if I can help you in any way," Teyla said.

"The way I figure it, we're all going to be confined to quarters this first time. Not that I'm not used to being alone, but being Alpha, I'll be a pretty strong draw for the others if I start to act up. You're a calming presence, Teyla. I..." He trailed off, looking just past her left shoulder. She trusted him. He trusted her. He'd staked a claim on her. He didn't know how to say any of that. He looked at her face again, into her eyes.

She nodded, just once. "I trust you, Major Sheppard. I will be there."

***

John resisted the first change on Atlantis.

His skin itched. He was restless. He paced his quarters. He wasn't afraid of violence; if he had been, he wouldn't have asked for Teyla's help. He wouldn't cause any harm.

But he knew it would hurt. The pain hadn't been an issue for him for a very long time, but his behaviour today had reminded him starkly of the first few years after the initial change. Before he developed the fierce control he had over the wolf.

He turned his back to Teyla and took off his shirt. It was closer now. He rested his hands on his desk, lowered his head, and fell perfectly still for some time.

The low, keening whine built from somewhere deep inside him. It became a cry of agony before it was all through; he could hear that cry echoed from elsewhere. The others were beginning to change, too. When it was over, he sank down to the floor, panting, tongue lolling out of his mouth, and looked up at Teyla. He whined.

Teyla stayed very, very still. Being around large predators wasn't exactly unknown to her, and she knew that showing fear was never a good thing. And yet, she wasn't afraid. She looked back at John and stayed very calm and very composed. Very Teyla.

Another few moments passed, and then John got up to his feet. He was still tall, long, lanky, and his dark fur was absolutely wild. Not unlike his hair. He padded over to her, peered up, then nudged his head against her hip.

She smiled. "Hello there," she said softly. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

His great, bushy tail wagged back and forth. He liked her voice. She made him feel safe. He was more wolf, now, than Sheppard. As time progressed and he became used to the lunar cycles, he'd have control over the change; over himself; over the rest of the wolves. His new, very large pack. But for now, he was a wolf. Tamed enough.

He licked her hand. She was his.

***

"You look exhausted, Lieutenant." John put his tray down on the table across from Ford's. Unlike pretty much every other member of Atlantis' pack, John at least looked like he'd had some sleep last night. Which he had, with his head on Teyla's lap the whole time.

"I am, sir," Ford admitted. "It was rougher than I'd expected."

John nodded. "Yeah, on me too. It should get easier from here out. I never did ask you--just how long have you been a werewolf?"

"Not long, sir," Ford said. "High school. Actually..." he looked a bit sheepish, "prom night."

"You really are a pup," John said. "I thought so. And I'm about to make your life even more difficult."

Ford looked embarrassed, and then wary. "What did I do?" he asked cautiously.

"Bates was Colonel Sumner's second," John said. "But I didn't choose him for my offworld team. I chose you. I want you to be my second, Lieutenant."

His eyes went huge and wide as he stared at John, before he finally broke eye contact. He knew better than to stare down the Alpha. "I... me?"

"Yes. You. You have more experience through the SGC. I'm going to need you. Bates is still angry about Sumner. I don't need that in my second."

"He's not going to like it," Ford said, pointing out the obvious. Which ,if he'd been thinking about it, was kind of the role of a second.

"No, he's really not. Like I said, making your life difficult. You okay with that? I'll keep him in line, but things are gonna be rough for a while."

"I can handle it," Ford said, straightening his shoulders and looking stubborn.

John grinned. "I know you can. That's why I picked you. I'll make it official after breakfast. Dealing with pack business seems easier on a full stomach." He dipped his spoon into his oatmeal, then fell very still.

McKay had wandered in with Elizabeth. John's eyes were drawn immediately to McKay.

Ford looked over at what--who, it turned out--John was looking at, then looked at John again, curious.

John still hadn't exactly figured in how to slot McKay into his life. Elizabeth and Dr Beckett, he already knew, were powerful enough. Teyla was, well, Teyla. A leader. A warrior. A calming influence. Ford's position was all but cemented now. Then there was McKay. The decision for McKay to be on John's team had been a joint one, though John had resisted at first. Just enough to save face, but not enough that Elizabeth would turn him into a toad or something.

He watched them get their trays. McKay ate more than Elizabeth. They sat down with Dr Beckett. John finally blinked again and actually started to eat.

So Ford wasn't the only one whose life was suddenly more complicated.

***

The Wraith were a problem.

That was, of course, putting it mildly. But any creature that could toss a werewolf around? Problem.

Adding insult to injury was the fact that, right at that very moment, there was a bug roughly the size of a Jack Russell terrier attached to John's neck. And he couldn't move.

He was, in a word, stuck. With a bug attached to his neck. A Wraith had left him alone--just walked away from him as if he was already dead.

All he could do was wait and hope that one of his team found him.

***

There was a difference between an order, and an order. Enough that sometimes, you could make your own choice. John's direction to head to the jumper was loud, but it wasn't couched as an actual order. Which gave Ford all the leeway he needed to come back when he'd been gone for too long.

He came running back into the clearing with his weapon up, almost skidding to a halt when he saw him on the ground. "Major!" Ford dropped down beside him, stared at--"What the hell is that?"

"I don't know," said John from between clenched teeth, "but get it. the hell. off me."

"Okay--okay, just hold still," Ford said. He dropped back onto his knees and braced himself before he grabbed the creature with both hands and tried to pull it off.

John howled in pain. The thing was not coming off. "Do something!" he shouted, as if Ford wasn't valiantly attempting to help him.

Ford's eyes were huge, and getting bigger all the time. He wasn't Sheppard, but he was strong, and if he couldn't get this thing off... "Teyla--Dr McKay--I need you back here, the Major's hurt," he said into his radio, trying hard to shove down his fear as he reached for the knife on his belt.

"Get it. Off me," John snarled. He couldn't move. He couldn't do anything. He was a predator, dammit, and this thing--this wretched thing--had him down. He wasn't dead--but something told him it was only a matter of time.

He was pretty sure it was eating him, very slowly.

"I'm trying, sir, but it's not letting go," Ford said, centring himself and (carefully) trying to cut it off. Nothing except a lot more pain, and a lot more screaming from the Major. Burning was just as bad, and his ears were still ringing from the attempt to shoot it off--from the screams, not the gunshot. By the time Teyla and McKay arrived, Ford was in a complete, if silent, panic.

McKay stopped short, eyes wide in horror.

John closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at each member of his team. His team. His brand new team. And already they were in a whole hell of a lot of trouble. Finally, he met Ford's eyes. "Lieutenant."

Ford stared back for a moment or two, then lowered his eyes, shoving his panic down as much as he could. It wasn't much. "Yes, sir."

"I need you to calm down. Okay? The best way, right now, for you to help me is to calm down. I can smell how scared you are, and that's just making it worse." Then John looked at Teyla and McKay. "That also goes for the two of you. Okay? Markham's gonna need to not be completely freaked out when he's trying to fly us back to the gate, and trust me, he's gonna be able to smell how afraid you are."

Ford took another deep breath and swallowed hard. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir."

"We can't take that back with us," McKay said, coming closer, despite his complete horror at the thing attached to Sheppard's neck. "We have to get it off."

"I've tried--it's stuck," Ford said, voice sharp.

"It's stuck," John affirmed, "and I think we don't have much choice. There are still Wraith around here and the rest of you are not safe. So here are your choices: you leave me or we go together. Because whatever the hell this thing is?" He locked eyes with McKay again. "I'm also stuck human."

"We are not leaving you behind," Teyla said firmly.

"Of course not--that's ridiculous," McKay said immediately. "But we have to do something."

"We have to get him out of here," Ford said. "There's no way they haven't heard all the noise."

John was scared. He didn't remember the last time he was so scared. He looked up at them. "Get me out of here. Markham and Stackhouse are probably more than a little concerned about where we are."

Ford nodded once, and got to his feet. "Teyla--you take our six. Dr McKay, you've got point--keep your weapon drawn, and keep your eyes open," he ordered. He handed John's gun over to McKay, then lifted John easily and put him over one shoulder. It'd hurt, but Ford could move faster, and still handle his gun with one hand.

"You want me to go first? I can't go first, first is who gets shot at!" McKay protested.

"We're running back the way we just came. Did you see any Wraith?" Ford didn't wait for an answer. "So there probably aren't any now, at least not if you keep your mouth shut and run. Or would you rather cover us from behind?" he asked, gesturing toward the trees below... and the sound of cracking branches from many booted feet.

McKay didn't say another word. He just turned and started heading for the jumper. Fast.

***

When push came to shove, McKay pulled through. Twice now, even.

It would probably be unfair, maybe even a little mean, for John to admit he was surprised.

But, well--he was surprised.

***

Ford had a headache. Not uncommon when faced with Bates in full stubborn mode, but still very, very irritating.

"It's inappropriate for the major to have both an outsider and his second on his team," Bates insisted.

"You know... you've said this before," Ford said. "More than once. Maybe you should just let it go."

"I won't let it go. It's inappropriate. Having both of you on the same team is asking for trouble."

Sheppard and Ford had spent a lot of time and energy working out the best ways for Ford to deal with Bates. He was glad for the practice now. "I'm touched by your concern, Bates."

Bates stopped cold for a moment. "Touched... by my concern," he echoed.

"Well," Ford said, being ever so logical, "if you were really the threat that some people say you are, as far as your intentions to try and take over the pack, you wouldn't say anything, would you? You'd just keep your mouth shut, and hope that we'd all get ourselves killed. Then you'd be rid of all of us, and free to take over. So it's really gratifying to know that you're so concerned for the safety of your Alpha and his second."

Bates clearly did not know what to do with any of this.

"So that's really good to know," Ford said. "Are we done?"

"You're done," said another voice from behind Bates. John leaned in the doorway, watching them with as close to a neutral expression as he could muster.

"Sir," said Bates, turning to look at him, "it's my duty--"

"You've done your duty. You don't trust Teyla, you don't like me, you don't like Ford being my second. And you're done."

"I was just about to explain that to Sergeant Bates, sir," Ford said. He'd known John was there. He was pretty sure that Bates hadn't, though. Seriously--for someone who thought he had it in him to be Alpha, his situational awareness was for shit sometimes.

"Good," said John, before Bates could reply. "This is the way I'm doing things. If you don't like it, Sergeant, you're more than welcome to go home. Oh. Wait."

Bates scowled at him. "If you'll excuse me, sir."

John waited a brief moment before he nodded, then stepped aside to let Bates leave.

Ford managed--somehow--not to laugh at the look on Bates' face when John reminded him that he was stuck here. It wasn't easy, though. He stayed where he was until Bates had left and was out of earshot. "He's not giving up," Ford said. "It's almost like he's stubborn or something."

"Imagine that." John said threw himself down onto a chair.

"He's gonna challenge me, one of these days," Ford warned. "He's still smarting from you taking him down, but he is going to come after me."

"So you take him to the floor," John said.

"That easy, is it, sir?" Ford said dryly.

"Yeah." Suddenly John was on his feet again and he crowded himself against Ford, arm around his shoulders. "C'mon. Snack time. Pack business makes me hungry."

"So does paperwork," Ford said, letting John lead him along. "And weapons training. And running. And teasing McKay."

"Also breathing," John added with a little laugh.

"That too," Ford agreed, laughing too.

***

The first time John woke up curled around Ford, he promised himself it wouldn't happen again.

The second time it happened, he swore that there wasn't going to be a third time, and Ford was a very naughty pup indeed for seducing his Alpha.

After the third time, John resigned himself to his fate.

After all, Elizabeth didn't seem properly receptive to his (admittedly highly tentative) advances; Carson seemed to be (sadly) entirely heterosexual; Teyla could kick his ass and seemed to regard his (somewhat awkward) flirting as either harmless or cute, and McKay was most definitely sleeping with someone because he constantly had some other smell all over him.

| Chapter 2 |