Chapter 1
It is not supposed to be him. This only happens to McKay or Sheppard, not him.
But Ronon could not stop his body from tumbling down in a heap at the foot of the ramp.
The encounter had gone well up until the moment Rodney had sneezed. All of a sudden the whole tribe was chasing them, wanting to sacrifice them to whatever deity they worshipped on this planet, in this village.
Ronon had pushed McKay on, not wanting the scientist to get hurt again. Sheppard made it to the jumper, opened the hatch and was already seated before the rest of his team made it to the ramp.
One more look behind him told Ronon the villagers were close. He spotted the spear too late. Or just in time, all depends on how you look at it. The weapon was thrown with full force, aiming directly at McKay. With a last effort, Ronon had pushed McKay inside the jumper just as the offending item planted itself firmly into his back.
The shock going through his body stopped him dead in his tracks. He had endured a lot of pain but nothing like this.
'Ronon!' he heard McKay shout just before the world disappeared.
McKay had turned around, fully intent on giving his team mate a serious scolding for pushing him so hard, only to notice his friend falling short of the jumper. He could already feel the jumper starting to lift, his warning cries to Sheppard falling on deaf ears. McKay went down on his knees, just able to grab Ronon's hand but in the process slowly starting to slip down the ramp.
'Sheppard!' He shouted again. This time Teyla looked back. The jumper had gained speed already, trying to reach the gate. John now looked back. His next thoughts made the jumper stop dead. The machine made an immediate nosedive which John only just managed to pull out of.
'I can't hold him!' McKay shouted desperately. And as Sheppard levelled the jumper, Rodney came crashing into the hold, eyes wide as he looked up at Teyla.
'I lost him!' he nearly whispered, unable to believe he had let go. Sheppard immediately turned the jumper, surveying where Ronon might have fallen. But the trees were too close together. He had to find a clearing to land, and fast!