"Colonel Sheppard. Welcome back." Woolsey greeted warmly as he jogged down the steps. "It is good to have you back."

"Believe me it's nice to be back. Visiting a Hive for an hour ain't exactly fun, staying on one for a couple of weeks is grim."

"I can imagine." Woolsey replied sympathetically. "At least you're home now and…Dr McKay why have you…" Woolsey started earning a glare from the physicist.

"If you wondering about why he seems to be sporting a ferret on his face it is because he didn't want to remind our hosts that on another day he'd make a good lunch." John cut in.

"I don't follow." Woolsey said staring at the facial fuzz.

"He was worried that if the Wraith saw him bleed they'd be more likely to eat him. So he stopped shaving so he couldn't cut himself."

"I see." Woolsey said, not sounding like he did. "Well it seemed to work. Are you all in good health?"

"Of course not." Rodney snapped. "We've been living on a Hive."

"Quite." Woolsey agreed not wanting to antagonise the physicist. "Well I suggest you go and get checked out in the infirmary. We'll meet in two hours."

"Good, enough time to get a turkey sandwich and shower." John commented.

"Enjoy. Oh before you go the new CMO has been appointed and is already on duty. I'd appreciate it if you did not terrorise this one into taking the return flight back to Earth." Woolsey said before turning and walking back up to his office.

"So they just got rid of her." Rodney commented as the team walked down the corridor.

"We don't know that." John argued. "She could have resigned."

"Why'd she do that?" Rodney asked incredulously.

"Perhaps because of what happened to her."

"Her work is here." Rodney continued. "Besides she's infatuated with that muscle bound popeye wannabe. She's hardly going to volunteer for the king of long distance relationships is she?"

"Probably not. I'm sure Woolsey will fill us in. In the mean time please don't do anything aggressive." John said, directing his last comment at Ronon as the team entered the infirmary.

"Colonel Sheppard, Dr McKay, Teyla, Ronon, welcome back." Marie greeted walking over. "Any serious injuries?"

"No. Although Ronon does have a gash on his arm." John replied.

"Okay, well if you wait over there I'll get Dr Lewis to come and see you."

"Dr Lewis?" John questioned.

"Our new-" Marie started only to have her attention move to something on the other side of the infirmary. "Sorry, have to go."

"What's he doing?" Rodney asked focusing the others on a lone, glaring, figure on the farside of the infirmary.

"I'm hoping he's sitting waiting for medical treatment." John said looking round for Lorne, surprised his second in command wasn't around to control his team mate.

"Hello." A middle aged man greeted, strolling over to the group. "I'm Dr Lewis. I understand you've been on a bit of an unusual mission and one of the team is injured. So why don't I start with the gash." He said reaching out to take Ronon's arm. In response Ronon snarled. "You must be Ronon. I've heard a lot about you." Lewis continued, trying to keep his smile in place. John however could see the doctor getting nervous.

"Let him patch you up." The Colonel ordered.

"I'm fine." Ronon said, louder than necessary and loud enough to bring a silence to the rest of the infirmary.

"That wound says differently." Lewis said, trying to sound controlled.

"I'm fine." Ronon said standing, causing Lewis to back into a trolley resulting in a clattering echoing round the infirmary.

"I really think I should look at that." Lewis continued, sounding increasingly nervous.

"Ronon sit down and stop snarling." A familiar voice said as its owner marched towards the group. Taking Ronon's arm in their hands they went on. "For once can you do what you're told and not cause a scene?"

"Jennifer?" Ronon asked.

"It's okay I'll take it from here." Jennifer said to the grateful Lewis who quickly backed away from the group.

"They let you come back?" Rodney blurted clearly surprised. Before Jennifer had time to answer Rodney asked. "Just so we're clear what capacity are you back as?"

"A marine." Jennifer deadpanned.

"Well I have heard they let anyone in these days." John shot back.

"I meant are you the new CMO?" Rodney asked impatiently.

"Yes Rodney."

"So who's Lewis?"

"A new member of the team who right up until his encounter with Ronon I had high hopes for." Jennifer explained shooting a look at Ronon who shrugged in response.

"If you're back why is he sitting over there looking menacing?" Rodney asked nodding at Kiryk.

"Lorne let slip how much fun it can be round here when the new recruits arrive. He's making sure they stay in line."

"By glaring?" McKay asked suspiciously.

"To be fair would you hit on the doc with him glaring at you?" John asked.

"Well no, but unlike your people I'm not in the lower decile of intelligence."

"Did you just call us stupid?" John asked.

"Well not you, obviously, Colonel Mensa, but the rest of them aren't here for their IQ."

"How have you survived this long?" John asked.

"Superior intellect and saving the whole city more times than I care to count."

"Maybe his arrogance acts like a shield?" Ronon suggested as Jennifer finished up working on his arm.

"Okay, you're all fixed up." Jennifer said before looking at John and saying.

"Woolsey and Lorne said you were with Todd."

"Yeah, we were hoping he'd give up some intel."

"And?"

"Claims to know nothing about what happened to you, but did have an idea on who the Commander who took you was. Currently we can't track him down, even with what little information Todd gave us. But I promise you, we are going to keep searching."

"Thank you." Jennifer smiled.

"No problem."

"So dinner?" Rodney interrupted. "Real food?"

"Smartest thing you've said all week." Ronon commented, walking out of the infirmary, earning a glare from the physicist.

"Care to join us?" John offered.

"I'll meet you down there." Jennifer assured him. "I have a couple of things to finish first."

"Okay. Doc it's good to see you. Welcome home." John smiled as he followed his team out of the infirmary.

"Hey." Jennifer said walking over to Kiryk.

"Hi." He replied, stiffly standing.

"As I said, it was boring and no one misbehaved. There was no reason for you to sit here."

"Everyone behaved because I was here." Kiryk pointed out.

"You've been spending too much time with Rodney." Jennifer suggested, earning a confused look from Kiryk before the former runner asked.

"Did they discover anything?"

"No, not really."

"We will." Kiryk assured her.

"I know. But right now I don't care." She said taking Kiryk's hand. "I'm home and we're together, that's all that matters."

The End