The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
This story is a challenge set by the girls on the whump thread over at GW. This is my first fic., so please be reasonably kind!
Thanks go to VK for her medical advice. Special thanks to my betas; Merlin7 and Kodiak Bear Country. They have both been an inspiration to me. They have held my hand through this fic., and given me so much constructive criticism. Thanks ladies; you're the best.
Unfortunately, I don't own Stargate Atlantis or it's characters, more's the pity.
Chapter 1
Tired, red-rimmed eyes stared down at the quietly moaning man on the floor.
"You really annoy me, you know that, right? Only you could find yourself in, yet again, a near death situation. Are you trying to make me suffer? Because, I have to tell you, it's working…"
Another quiet moan interrupted Rodney McKay's ramblings. The scientist picked up the cloth from the bowl of water next to him, and after wringing it out, gently placed it on the burning forehead of his friend. "Shhhh, it's ok, the Daedalus is on the way. You only need to hang on for several hours more. Carson's on board, and after a few magic shakes of his voodoo rattle and a couple of ceremonial dances, you'll be good as new."
How true he wished those words were. Well, some of them were true. The Daedalus was en route from Atlantis and Carson would be on board, but deep down McKay knew it would take a miracle to save his friend. The infection had spread from the wound in his leg, and McKay was pretty sure his patient was now in septic shock. McKay was no doctor, well not of the medical variety, but he knew how deadly serious the situation had now become.
How had everything gone to hell so quickly this time? When he thought about it, he actually felt like laughing. A simple mission had ended in disaster – again, and as usual, a certain Lt. Colonel had found himself in mortal danger. Angry natives, the Genii, Wraith, or God knew how many other foes would probably laugh themselves senseless if they ever learned how this disaster had occurred.
Another soft moan interrupted McKay's thoughts. Looking down at Sheppard, McKay suddenly had the urge to cry, not laugh. It wasn't funny, not when looking down at the prone form lying near death on the floor of a primitive home situated in a cave, in the middle of nowhere. They'd previously endured an electric storm outside, the ferocity of which, even a genius such as Dr. Rodney McKay couldn't quite comprehend. Even though said storm was now abating, the conditions outside were still horrendous.
"Rodney, you should rest, I will sit with Colonel Sheppard." The soft, comforting voice of Teyla beside him startled McKay.
"What? No, I'm fine, thanks Teyla, I'd rather stay here. With him. I couldn't sleep now. Not with him so…well, so…" Rodney searched for the right word. Sick didn't quite seem to cover it. Mortally wounded? A bit dramatic, perhaps, though possibly accurate.
Teyla gently placed her hand on McKay's forearm, and nodded in her usual serene manner.
"Very well. Let me bring you something to eat though. You have not eaten in many hours and you do not want your hypoglycaemia to …"
Rodney interrupted Teyla, "I can't eat. Not now."
Teyla regarded McKay sympathetically, "Rodney, you must. Colonel Sheppard would be upset if he realised you were neglecting yourself for his sake. Please eat. Marrin has made some broth. It is simple food, and it will stay down. I will bring you some of her berry-root tea as well."
Rodney capitulated, not finding the energy to argue further, "Fine. Whatever."
McKay's terse reply surprised Teyla, but she could see how worried the scientist was. If she was honest, she was fearful as well. Colonel Sheppard's health had deteriorated dramatically over the last six hours, and Teyla had nursed enough of her own people to recognise the infection had spread, and that her friend was critically ill. She stood and walked over to the small table where the elderly Marrin sat stirring the tea.
As Teyla approached, Marrin looked up and enquired, "How is the colonel?"
Teyla responded to the elderly woman's enquiry with a sad sigh, "He is extremely ill. I fear he will not survive the next few hours."
Marrin frowned at the slender woman in front of her. "Is there nothing more you can do for him?" she implored.
Teyla considered the woman's question, before responding, "I am afraid not. The infection has entered his blood stream and without more medicines and surgery there is little more we can do. We must pray to the Ancestors that he will survive until our people arrive." Teyla closed her eyes, as emotion threatened to overtake her. She quickly managed to compose herself and opened them again, sighing as she did so.
"May I take some of your broth and tea to Dr. McKay? He needs to eat regularly to stay well, and he has not eaten in many hours."
Marrin regarded the Athosian thoughtfully. "Of course, please do."
Teyla took the food and drink over to McKay, who was still sitting anxiously watching the Colonel's shallow breaths.
McKay was clearly upset. Sensing Teyla's approach, he suddenly looked up at the Athosian. His words spewed forth in a garbled rush. "It can't be much longer. You said ten hours and you came back after four, and it's been four hours since then, so that would make it about another two more hours. I don't think he's going to be alive when they arrive. His breathing is really shallow, he's already had two seizures, and I can't get his temperature to come down…."
"Rodney!" Teyla interrupted McKay, "calm down. We do not want to upset Colonel Sheppard…"
Rodney's face suddenly darkened, his words tumbling out at a ferocious pace, "He doesn't even know we're here, Teyla. He's dying, after falling from a ladder, for God's sake! While helping a little old lady - how ironic is that? I've always said a woman would be the death of him, though I have to admit I'm as surprised as anyone that said woman is old enough to be his grandmother. Oh God, I can't believe I just said that. He's finally driven me to insanity…." McKay put his head in his trembling hands, his whole body shaking with previously pent up emotion now finally escaping.
"Rodney… it is alright. You are just hungry. Here, eat what I have brought, and it will help." Teyla's soft, soothing words immediately calmed the overwrought scientist.
"Of course, hypoglycaemia, how stupid of me; irritability, emotional instability, shakiness…thank you, Teyla." McKay took the bowl of broth from her and slowly started sipping from the bowl.
McKay thought back to two days ago, before this whole disaster had happened. It was such a simple mission. Basic reconnaissance; the usual. Go to planet K7X-234, look around, make contact with the locals, see if there were any trading possibilities and return home. It appeared to be a beautiful planet, lush and green, with the ubiquitous forest that seemed to follow them everywhere. Why hadn't they they'd just turned around and gone straight back to Atlantis? Sheppard had been particularly jocular, that bright yet chilly morning, little realising the impending disaster around the corner…
Tbc…