Um…yeah, it's been awhile. I hope you're all still interested. Any and all reviews are welcome!

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Chapter Four: Long Days

Dr. Carson Beckett was in the 'gate room in a matter of moments. The Scot led off as many people as he could, leaving only Mal and Zoë behind to attend the debriefing. Nine new people meant a lot of paper work in the infirmary, so while they were getting those seven checked out he'd let the leaders do what they do best: talk.

Ronan had disappeared before Carson had even left the 'gate room. They assumed that he'd chosen not to attend the meeting, and figured it was because he thought Sheppard's actions had been more than stupid, since that's what he was mumbling about as he stalked away.

The group that now consisted of Mal, Zoë, Elizabeth, John, McKay and Teyla headed to the conference room. The doors opened smoothly outward to reveal the odd shaped table that most Atlantians saw everyday. "Pretty nice place ya got here." Mal said taking a seat across from John, Zoë sat between Mal and Teyla. McKay and John were on the other side.

"Thank you." She said as she took her own seat at the head of the table. And thus the meeting commenced. Rodney went over everything that had happened in painstaking detail, especially when it came to John's behavior.

Mal filled them in on their side of the story, pre-crash of course. Told them he didn't know what that gorram ring was, but it had something to do with their current situation. Then McKay went into some ramble, the likes of which Mal figured to rival Simon's doctor speech. Now he didn't understand a whole lot'a what was being said, but he gathered that the ring, Stargate, was a portal and that somehow it'd found power not only to take them to another galaxy, but something else happened and they'd slipped backward in time. According to these folk, the year was only 2005, which is a good 500 years shy of where Mal and his crew ought'a be.

"That's a lot 'a yi yU." Mal said.

"But it does make a certain sense." Zoë said. He looked at her, must be they were hearin' two different conversations.

"You understood all that gos se?"

"Is that…Chinese, right? You're…what did that guy call me earlier?" McKay asked.

--

Elizabeth smiled, and made a mental note to find out what they had called McKay. "I know how this must sound, but I assure you; it's not crap. This actually wouldn't be the first time we've dealt with time travel."

"Time travel and such aside, you folk gonna help me get my boat up and runnin' and back to where we belong?"

For a second she was taken aback by the bluntness with which he asked for help; she looked around at the faces of her people. Rodney, impatient as ever, this was going to be a big challenge for him and if, when he figured it out he'd be more big-headed than ever. Teyla…well…nearly two years together and Elizabeth still had trouble trying to read the Athosian, and John? Well he was easy. She could see in his eyes he wanted them to stay, he wanted to help them and make as many friends for the expedition as possible. She supposed it had something to do with guilt of waking the Wraith, among other things. Her mind glazed over the memory of Colonel Sumner and she smiled at Mal, had to say she wouldn't mind seeing him around for a bit.

"Of course, we'll do what we can." Truth was she had no idea what they'd need or if they'd be able to produce it. Their ship had crashed and that meant parts would be needed, and they had no set up for any kind of parts production, not from scrap.

"You know there's nothing really we can give you. You're gadgets are more fancy than anything I've ever seen and our moneys of no use here." Mal said.

"I'm sure we'll think of something. In the mean time, Dr. McKay will work on how to get you all home, and your welcome to…certain areas of the city. You understand." Elizabeth asked.

--

"I surely do." Though he'd like to wonder the city a bit and see what was there, he figured it to be like any city on a Core world would be, big and shiny, but this one would devoid of feds.

"Well then, I suppose we should get you down to Carson, and then afterwards perhaps a tour before you get settled? If you need to return to your ship at all, let me know."

"Well, my mechanics here, so's my pilot, they'll know what's needed."

Elizabeth stood, followed by the rest of the Atlantis personnel and Mal, Zoë stayed seated. "I was wonderin' about these Wraiths we been hearin' about. What are they?"

Rodney rubbed his hands together, "Well, Ill let you handle this, I've got work to do." He smiled and left the room.

John recanted their first meeting of the Wraith. How he'd ran through the woods with Teyla on her home world, seeing the blue-white stream that stole people to their deaths; that stole his people. He told them of how he'd learn to fly the jumpers and how he and Lieutenant Ford had flown to the rescue. He talked briefly of Sumner, and seeing what the Wraith did to those they ate. Finally he got to the She-Wraith, the one who's death woke all the others, about their superior numbers and the fact they were hard as hell to kill, "So…now their out to find a way back to Earth, to feed on the people there and in the near by systems."

"Well that was an interesting tale. How's about we go get my crew now?" Maybe Atlantis wasn't somewhere they should be for long, he'd dealt with superior numbers as an Independent, and wasn't in a rush to relive those times. He already lost to many people to war he'd lost. 'Sides them damn things sounded worse than Reavers, 'specially since they was hard to kill. Reavers were crazy monsters, but they died like any man would.

John was the one that ended up taking them down to the infirmary, on the way he told them he'd have to send someone else by to take them on a tour; he had already had somewhere else to be and he wanted to keep the promise, for a number of reasons. But he did tell them, that if they wanted another, more complete tour later on, he'd be happy to take them.

They reached the infirmary, John escorted them in and assured them that Dr. Beckett was an excellent doctor and they need not worry. At this point Mal assured John that Dr. Tam was an amazing doctor and took excellent care of him and his crew, and that John and his people shouldn't need to have them "looked at". John stayed silent, he really had nothing to say to that, so he introduced them to Carson and took his leave.

River lay on bed, her head swiveling in different directions, and her fingers moving awkwardly, she almost looked like she might be counting. In a seat next to her was her brother with his arms crossed looking none to please to be in this particular place anymore. Wash was dozing on the bed next to River's with Inara and Kaylee sitting by his feet, whispering to each other; no doubt about the men they saw. Book sat talking quietly with a man lying on a bed with bandaged hands. Across from all of them was Jayne. He was sitting in the same fashion as Simon, only Mal was certain his look was for longing of Vera, his most favorite gun. They'd had to hand over their weapons to get here, but there was a few hidden spots where something might be stashed, just in case, can't never be too careful.

The man they called Carson had dark hair and was in need of a shave, he looked at Mal and Zoë and asked, "Who's first." At first Mal was a bit surprised, man sounded an awful lot like Badger, and it was a mite creepifing.

"'Spose that'd be me." Mal said.

Carson smiled some more and told Zoë she could take a seat and wait. He took Mal over behind a curtain and had him role up his sleeve.

"My crew's not looking to pleased Doctor."

"Aye, the boy, Simon, that one fought me all the way, sayin' he should be takin' the samples." Carson had tied a rubber tube around Mal's upper arm and was preparing to drawl blood, "The others told him it was ok. Even asked me what it was I was doing and what it was for, then I come to that girl…said I wasn't touching her." Mal smiled, he knew that Simon was as strong willed as the rest of 'em, but he wished he'd been there to see it. "And then she started screaming."

"Best to let him have his way when it comes to little River. Be a mite angry with the boy if he didn't fight ya on it." And that was the truth. Much as he wanted to drop them two off sometimes they'd become family and he'd as soon as die as let anything happen to them. They spoke for a while longer, and then Carson took Zoë back and by the time he'd finished collecting her blood, their tour guide had arrived.

"Hello Laura." Carson smiled at the blonde haired, blue eyed girl, "This is Lieutenant Cadman, she's gonna show you around."

"And you'll be doing what with our blood?" Simon asked.

"I told you," he sounded exasperated, "Checkin' for virus' and such, we don't want to kill each other."

To offset the growing tension, Mal introduced himself, quickly followed by the rest of his crew. Laura was just about to get them all to follow her when River slammed her hands down onto the bed and started shouting, "To many. They come and go and come, there's too many." Everyone looked at her, though only Carson and Lt. Cadman with any interest, this was nothing new for the Serenity crew.

"River…" Simon soothed her, getting her to sit up and then stand.

"We shouldn't be here. It's all wrong and they're angry, it's not right. They blame him." She said pointing. Simon slowly turned his head to see what she was pointing at.

"Jayne?"

"Can blame Jayne for a lot of things." Mal said. When Jayne got that look on his face that meant he was about ready to hit someone, he continued, "Relax Jayne, ain't no one blaming you for this."

"Sure looks like you and she is." He said gruffly.

"No." River said, her arms dropping limply to her sides. "He's bright."

"You callin' me stupid?" Jayne practically shouted. Mal could tell things were about to get bad. Jayne yells at River, Simon yells at Jayne, and then Mal has to yell at everyone.

"I'm hungry." The frail girl said.

"First sane thing I've heard since we landed." Wash said, hopping down of the bed.

"Crashed." Jayne corrected.

"Tomato, tomato." Wash countered as Zoë put her arm over his shoulder, "Either way its edible and I want some. Food, not tomatoes, well tomatoes are ok, but I'd like more than…so, who else?"

"Sure," Cadman said looking from River to Carson, her eyes asking if she was ok to be alone with these people. "We'll make it our first stop."

The cafeteria was on a different level than the infirmary, and since they were new to the city, but not new to stairs, she figured transporters would be the best and more fun way to get them there. When she'd opened the doors and stood back, Mal regarded it as a closet, asking if he was supposed to hang up his coat before dinner. She rolled her eyes, ushered him, Zoë, Wash and Jayne inside and told them to get out when the doors opened and wait for her. A small brown-red panel slid down on the wall behind them and she pressed her finger to it, it looked like a map. She stood back, the doors closed, and then opened again, but now she was gone. One by one they stepped out of the transporter, and into a very different looking hallway. The doors closed behind them and in moments let out Simon, River and Kaylee, who couldn't have been happier if she'd just been kissed by the aforementioned Dr.

Inara, Book, and the Lieutenant came after them. "This way." She said, getting back in position to lead them. The smell wafted through the corridors. It was actual, real food, not the protein bars and freeze dried le se they were sadly accustomed to, but food that had been grown, cleaned and cooked. They all took a moment to take in the smell and commit it to memory. Aside from getting help to fix Serenity, this was the next best thing to happen since they got here.

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John made his way toward the 'Gate room, and Elizabeth's office. He wanted to spend as little time as possible getting his head chewed off and get over to the gym where Teyla would be waiting. Also, where he could get his ass kicked and try to talk to her at the same time.

He sat down in the chair opposite Elizabeth. She folded her hands on top of the desk, and looked him in the eye; he figured it was something she'd learned to do negotiator school. "You know why you're here, right?"

He felt like he was in school, "I brought back strangers?" she wasn't at all amused, "Look, I know, okay? But you didn't see that kid come out of the back room talking about Earth! You would have rather I'd left them for the Wraith?"

"I would have rather you'd contacted us before just showing up with them!" her eyes were serious, "This is becoming a very disturbing trend with you Colonel. And your behavior on the mission…Ronan didn't even come to the debriefing."

John rolled his eyes. Ronan was just as impulsive as John was, more so. "Look Elizabeth, I know, I'm sorry, next time I'll call first. Anyway, I was wondering if I could take Captain Reynolds along on that mission tomorrow?"

She looked at him a moment, trying to determine if he was going insane, "I don't think-" she was cut off by knock on her door, and the young Canadian man, who had taken over for Grodin, stuck his head in.

"The Daedalus will be here in couple hours."

"Thank you." She turned her attention back to John, who was gone. He'd taken the interruption as an out. Elizabeth turned quickly enough to see him headed down the steps. She tapped on her radio. "Okay. He can go, but don't think we're done here."

"Of course. And thanks." Was all the reply she got.

--

John slipped into the gym where Teyla was waiting. He pulled his sticks out of his bag and tossed it to the window seat and took up his position in the middle of the room. Teyla bowed, and joined him in the center of the room.

"It's been a long day." He said

"It has." And with out another word Teyla made her move forward and their sticks clashed. He still couldn't figure out how she moved like she did. He could hardly keep up with her arm movements, swing, jab, slap, swing, for now he was successfully blocking most of her efforts.

"We still haven't really talked you know. Agh." One of her sticks made contact with his leg and he took a step back to circle around her. The seeming fury behind her next few strikes told him that talking wasn't really on her list of things to do, and for a moment he wished he could have the upper hand again so he could pin her again and make her understand; make her talk.

She'd told him before that speaking while trying to do this particular activity was a bad idea. So, he'd take full advantage of it. She wouldn't speak, so as not to lose her concentration, and he could say anything he wanted. He just hoped she wouldn't hit to hard.

"When I said I was sorry…" he bent at the waist to doge one of her swings, but couldn't move fast enough to save himself from the smack he felt on his shoulder, "I only meant for the way..." he jumped back. Was that aimed at my head? "Teyla, you know I care-" her blows started to come faster. Maybe he could get the upper hand, she was clearly letting whatever she was feeling get to her, all he had to do was wait for an opening.

He ducked down, hiding from her stick, and struck out at her legs. He made sure to do more than just hit them, he took her down. He stood over her, keeping her down at the end of a stick. It crossed his mind that this would help nothing, but she wasn't giving him a chance otherwise.

"I care about you." He almost spit the words at her, afraid he might not be able to say them at all. "And I'm sorry for the stupid stick in your face…" he said, shaking it for emphasis before he lowered it to his side. "I just wanted to tell you, and, this may be a little cheesy, but I wish you'd just tell me what you were thinking. You don't have to be a warrior all the time."

He offered her his hand, and pulled her to her feet. She regarded him with silence. "Right, well." He said dejectedly. He went over to the window, picked up his bag and walked towards the door. "You know where I sleep."

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Chinese in order of appearance:

Crazy talk

dog Crap

Garbage

Sorry for the horribly long wait, I have no excuse. I'm lazy. Classes start again tomorrow so my already random updates may be more so. I only have one class on Friday's so I'll try to do it then. It's been suggested I see 'Critical Mass' in consideration to "It Just Means", it airs Friday, so I'll take it in and hopefully pump out a chapter. I already know what I want to happen so we'll see what's up with 'Critical Mass'.

In regards to this story, I'll try to get more up as soon as possible. I promise it gets cooler.