Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Atlantis characters and am not writing for profit

Summary: Set sometime in series 5 this is a Ronon/Jennifer story, which starts as a pre-ship. It involves all of Team Sheppard, Lorne and a few others along the way.

Woolsey stood behind Chuck looking from the gate to his watch and back again. When his watch finally hit the hour mark he sighed and said. "Please try to establish a connection with the Colonel's team and you had better get Dr Keller up here as well."

The gate technician nodded and began to dial the gate, Woolsey still lingering behind him. When the connection had been established Chuck turned round to face Woolsey and said.

"Ready Sir."

Nodding Woolsey said. "Colonel Sheppard please respond." After a few moments Colonel Sheppard's voice, although somewhat distorted, sounded round the gateroom.

"Sheppard here."

"You missed your check in Colonel." Woolsey stated.

"Yeah we ran into a few problems and are cut off from the gate." Sheppard explained.

"Problems?" Woolsey questioned, dreading the reply.

"McKay had an accident and can't walk, plus the weather has turned and we can't fly the Jumper."

"How bad is Dr McKay?" Woolsey questioned, glad he had sent for the CMO.

"According to him dying." Sheppard shot back.

"Can you be more specific?"

"I can put him on." Sheppard suggested causing most of the gateroom to pull a face.

"Very well." Woolsey replied.

"Hold on. I need to move over to him." Sheppard said as the radio silenced. A few moments later the gateroom heard Sheppard's voice once more."McKay it's for you."

"You've made contact. Oh thank god. What took them so long? When is help coming?" McKay's voice sounded.

"Dr McKay." Woolsey said as Jennifer entered the control room. "Dr Keller is here, perhaps you could describe your inflictions to her?" He suggested.

"Jennifer, thank god. I'm dying." He exclaimed.

"I assume it is not a lung problem then Rodney." Jennifer said to the amusement of Chuck.

"No much worse. I burnt my hand really badly and it is infected and I broke my ankle." He said.

"Rodney do you have a temperature?" Jennifer asked calmly.

"Yes and my hand really hurts and itches and it looks terrible." McKay replied.

"Colonel Sheppard?" Jennifer questioned.

"Here doc."

"Have you examined his ankle?"

"As much as he would let me. There is some swelling, but no protruding bone."

"Is his skin warm and clammy to touch?"

"Yes, but he is wearing fifty layers." Sheppard replied.

Looking over to Woolsey Jennifer said. "We should send a team out."

"There is a slight problem with that." Woolsey explained. "The weather is too bad to fly a jumper."

"But you can walk." McKay exclaimed over the radio.

"Dr McKay it is nearly five miles to your position and the conditions are almost blizzard like." Woolsey said wearily.

"Almost being the key word there." McKay shot back. "Do you really want to risk loosing your number one guy out of laziness?" Before anyone in the gateroom could respond they heard Sheppard busily rebuking the physicist.

"Colonel, as it is too bad to fly a Jumper what are the chances of a team successfully reaching you?" Woolsey asked trying to inject some common sense.

"To be honest this storm is kinda weird, unlike anything I've seen before." Sheppard started. "It starts getting really bad about ten foot from the surface, but below that it is actually kinda calm. Unfortunately there isn't enough of the calmness to fly a jumper through, but as strange as it might sound you could probably walk without many problems. Currently it is showing no signs of letting up so we are not going anywhere until it clears or Rodney can walk. Of course I have no idea what it is like near the gate."

There was a long silence whilst Woolsey considered his options. Finally he said. "I'll send Major Lorne's team through the gate, if they think it is doable we will send out a rescue party which includes a doctor."

"Doable?" McKay asked incredulously. "Of course it is doable. I could die if they don't come-" McKay started. His rant in the gateroom was cut off when Woolsey signalled Chuck to terminate the worm hole. After taking a second to enjoy the silence Woolsey ordered Chuck to summon Lorne before turning his focus to Jennifer.

"Your assessment doctor?"

"Without seeing him I can't make a definitive judgement. However, if he has a fever that is a sign of infection and needs to be treated, either with antibiotics or possibly surgery. If it is possible to get to him we should go." She said.

"Very well. Who did you have in mind?"

"That would be me."

"Dr Keller you do realise that one of the few perks of being in charge is that you get to delegate the bad jobs?" Woolsey pointed out.

"As much as I would like to there are only three doctors on base at the moment: Stevens who is off sick and Cole who damaged his knee ligaments. So currently I am the only doctor capable of walking." Jennifer explained.

"Oh." Was all Woolsey could say in response. "Well I will let you prepare. As soon as I have the go or no go from Major Lorne I will let you know."

"Thanks." Jennifer said leaving the control room, praying it wasn't going to be one of those missions.

Thirty minutes later Jennifer had the green light and was just doing a final check of her supplies, wishing she had left it till later to put on her thermals, when Woolsey entered the infirmary. Surprised at seeing the bureaucrat Jennifer asked.

"Has Lorne changed his mind?"

"Not as far as I know." Woolsey said, standing rather awkwardly. "Could I speak to you? In private." He asked causing Jennifer to feel very nervous.

"Um sure." Jennifer said hesitantly as she headed for her office. Woolsey followed her and shut the door behind him.