As Jennifer became absorbed in her work she didn't even notice how dark it was getting out side. It was only when one of the locals offered her dinner she realised how long she had been working. Reaching for her radio she tried to contact Horne, concerned she'd not seen him for hours.
"Go ahead Doc." Horne said, the response allowing Jennifer to relax.
"Is everything okay?" She asked.
"Everything's fine. Based on how immersed you were we assumed we're here for the night. I've checked in with home and everyone's happy. When you're done there is a room at the tavern for you."
"Okay, thanks."
"Doc, one of us will be on watch at all times. Any problems, anything at all, call us."
"Understood." Jennifer replied before going back to her work.
When Jennifer finally emerged form the hospital hut she sighed at how dark it was. Wrapping her jacket round her to fight off the bracing wind she started to walk over to the tavern, expecting to meet Horne's team. But as she stepped into the darkness she remembered Sheppard's instruction to not tempt fate and returned to the hospital hut where she retrieved her tac vest. Putting it on she groaned at how heavy it was, but not wanting to test her luck she fastened it and turned to go back into the cold dark night. Only as she turned she found herself crashing into Childs' chest.
"Sorry. Didn't see you there." She apologised. "I'm just about done." Looking up into the eyes of the Lieutenant she was surprised to see an almost crazed look.
"You okay? Are you having a relapse?" She asked as Childs roughly grabbed her shoulders.
"You'll pay for what you've done." He growled.
"Steve? What's wrong?" Jennifer asked, feeling the panic set in.
"You killed them." He spat as he roughly shoved Jennifer into a wall, knocking her radio off in the process.
"Steve." Jennifer tried to reason only to be backhanded across the face. As the stinging spread round her face her shock turned to fear when she saw Childs reach for his knife. Knowing she had to act fast she remembered what Ronon had taught her and brought her knee up to his groin, before following through with a punch to his head.
As he crumpled Jennifer scrambled over him and ran for the door. Exiting the hut she sprinted as hard as she could heading for where she thought the tavern was. But in the dark she lost her bearings and ran away from the village. As she realised what had happened she turned only to see Childs bearing down on her. Choosing to just run she sprinted over the cold uneven ground, fully aware of the footsteps behind her that grew louder every second.
As she ran she started to hear running water and relief washed over her as she realised she could use the river to get her bearings. But the relief as short lived as she remembered that on one side of the village the river ran through a valley and the only way to get to it was down a very steep cliff. Stumbling to stop just in time she managed to see the drop through the darkness. Turning back she saw Childs had also stopped, but now he was holding his handgun, pointing it straight at her.
"Time for retribution." He said as he fired off two rounds, both of which Jennifer felt hit her before the momentum of the shots knocked her off balance and over the edge.
-00-
"What the hell happened?" John asked stepping through the gate.
"I have no idea Sir. I woke thirty minutes ago, thinking I'd heard gunshots. I went to find Childs, who was on duty, and found no sign of him and he's not picking up his radio. I looked for the doc and she is not in her room or in the medical hut. But there are signs of a struggle in the hut. I also found her radio."
"Rodney?" John asked.
"Okay two lifesigns. Both in different places." Rodney said. "Of course there is no guarantee they're our people, but if we assume all the villagers are tucked up in bed, it seems like a safe bet."
"This way." John ordered, taking the scanner from Rodney and heading off into the darkness beyond.
A few minutes later they saw a body lying, unmoving on the ground. As the group looked round for danger Horne approached the body.
"It's Childs. He's alive." Horne confirmed. "But his pulse is really fast. Looks like he's been in a fight." He added noticing some bruising round his jaw.
"Take him back to the Gate. We'll find the doc." John ordered marching off into the dark once more, happier now Ronon was also managing to track her.
When the reached the cliff edge and the dot on the screen lay beyond the edge his heart sank.
"No." McKay said stunned and he stood next to John before snatching the scanner from the Colonel and looking at the screen. "Wait!" He exclaimed. "According to this she is about five metres down and not moving."
"So?"
"So the cliff is at least thirty metres high. She must be on a ledge." McKay said giving John new hope. Dropping to the ground John looked over the cliff calling for Jennifer. Not hearing a response he looked at Ronon and Rodney and said.
"I'm going down. Find some rope and send it over when you've got it."
"Shouldn't you wait for the rope before you climb down?" Rodney asked, feeling dizzy from being so close to the edge.
"What's five metres in American? Sixteen feet?"
"Roughly." McKay agreed.
"So not far. Find the rope." He ordered as he flicked on the flashlight on his P90 and started to descend.
Five feet down and two lost footholds later he was beginning to wonder if McKay had been right. But as he struggled to locate a new foothold he saw the ledge and Jennifer.
"Doc?" He shouted as he moved down further. This time he was relieved to hear Jennifer call back.
"Colonel?"
"Almost with you. Hang tight." He shouted back, pleased she was awake and talking.
Finally reaching the small ledge he carefully dropped next to Jennifer, concerned she was wearing a badly constructed sling and asked.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"Childs." Jennifer started to say only for John to cut her off and say.
"We've found him. He's okay."
"You don't understand." Jennifer said. "He went crazy. He's a danger."
"What?"
"He attacked me." Jennifer clarified. Immediately causing John to reach for his radio, praying Horne hadn't reached the gate.
"Horne do you read? Horne this is Sheppard, come in."
"Horne here." Was the eventual reply. "Have you found Doctor Keller?"
"Yes. Childs attacked her. I want him secured. Call Atlantis and ask for a Hazmat team. Do not take him back through."
"Yes Sir." Horne replied. Content that Atlantis was in no immediate danger John turned his attention back to Jennifer and asked.
"Are you hurt?"
"Wrist, shoulder and ribs." Jennifer said.
"Can I do anything?"
"No. Done as much as I can." Jennifer said shivering.
"The others will be back with some rope soon. In the mean time tell me what happened?" John asked, moving closer to Jennifer, hoping his body heat would warm her.
"Childs came into the medical hut and attacked me. He said I had to pay."
"Pay for what?"
"No idea. I think he was hallucinating. I managed to escape, but went the wrong way. Ended up here where he shot me. I guess I fell as next thing I know I'm waking up here."
"He shot you? You're bleeding?"
"Didn't go through the vest." Jennifer assured him shivering. "Still hurts like hell though."
"I'll bet." John sympathised as Rodney radioed that they had returned and were about to lower the rope.
"Ready to get out of here?" John asked.
"Yes." Jennifer said shakily before adding. "Colonel? I hate heights."
"I know. But you'll be fine. I'll get you secured then Ronon and Rodney can pull you up. You'll be perfectly safe."
"What about you?"
"I'll climb up along side you, make sure you're okay." He said as he grabbed the rope that was being lowered. "I need to tie this securely round you, so I'm going to need you to stand."
"Stand?" Jennifer asked, panic in her eyes.
"I'll stand between you and the edge. You'll be fine." He smiled reassuringly.
Hesitantly Jennifer allowed John to help her to her feet trying to ignore the pain in her ribs and shoulder that was made worse by movement. Kneeling in front of her he explained.
"I'm going to secure this like a harness to take some of the strain off your ribs."
"Just as long as it holds." She replied trying to smile as John weaved the rope round her.
Eventually John stood and asked.
"Ready?"
"I guess."
"Good, turn round and face the cliff and I'll give Ronon the go ahead."
Obediently Jennifer turned round, finding herself much more appreciative of the cliff face view than the plunge view she had been seeing.
Content Jennifer was ready John radioed instructions to Ronon as she started to scale the cliff.
As Jennifer neared the top Ronon reached down and lifted her over apologising as he heard her gasp in pain. Once free from the edge he carried her over to a tree and sat her against it as John scrambled over the edge and joined them.
"Told you it'd be easy." John said, signalling for Ronon and Rodney to keep their distance. "How you doing?"
"Better now there's more solid ground under me." Jennifer smiled weakly.
"Until we know what caused Childs to go crazy we're quarantined here. A hazmat crew has set up two tents near the gate so not to scare the locals. Are you able to walk there or do you want a doctor to meet us here?"
"I can make it." Jennifer said shivering.
"You sure?"
"May have to go slow." Jennifer said. "And I might need some help getting up again."
"We'll take it as slow as you need." John assured her as he helped her to her feet and wrapped his jacket round her.
"Thank you." Jennifer replied grateful for his support.
As John noticed her unsteady first few steps he asked. "You sure you're okay? We can wait here."
"I'll be okay." Jennifer said resolutely. Trusting her judgement and not wanting to shake her confidence John accepted her decision. Although he walked along side her ready to leap into action if she fell.
By the time they reached the tents by the gate John was concerned by how hard Jennifer was having to concentrate just to walk. But still not wanting to undermine her he let her walk under her own steam, admiring her dedication to the cause.
As they entered the tent Jennifer practically collapsed onto the camp bed as Cole rushed over, giving John a glare en-route to treat her.
Having superficially checked Jennifer Cole turned to John and said. "I'll take it from here. You can wait outside."
Knowing better than to argue John joined Ronon and Rodney who were loitering outside.
"Well?" Rodney asked.
"I was thrown out."
"But is it contagious? Are we all going to go nuts? What are the symptoms?"
"I tell you what, if I get concerned you're loosing it I'll have Ronon stun you." John said walking off to see Horne.
Worriedly turning to Ronon, Rodney said. "He was joking." In response Ronon merely shrugged.
-00-
When John was finally allowed back into Jennifer's tent he saw her sitting propped up on a camp bed asleep.
"How is she?" He asked Cole.
"Sprained wrist, dislocated shoulder and bruised ribs. I've put the shoulder back and splinted the wrist, but she'll need more treatment when we get her back. The ribs will hurt like hell for a while, but compared to what might have been she's lucky."
"That her vest?" John asked nodding towards a tac vest in the corner.
"Yes." Cole confirmed causing John to walk up to it and pick it up, revealing the two rounds embedded in the vest. Shaking his head he put it down and asked.
"What about Childs?"
"Still out of it and his pulse is disturbingly fast. The first tests came back negative. Second ones are still being done. No one else has displayed strange behaviour." Cole explained just as Horne entered the tent.
"Sorry Sir, but we may have a lead."
"What type of a lead?" John asked, wondering if anyone else had been involved.
"Turns out Childs caught the eye of one of the locals. When she realised he had a cold she offered him a drink, which the locals use when they are unwell. I've got a sample." He said holding out a flask to Cole.
"I'll get it tested. In the mean time make yourselves comfortable." Cole said before looking at John and continuing. "Colonel, please can you ensure she's not left alone. Any strange behaviour contact me immediately."
-00-
"Colonel?" Jennifer asked as she started to wake.
"Morning. How are you feeling?"
"Like they have me on the good stuff."
"They do." John confirmed.
"What have I been saying?" She asked.
"A gentleman never tells. Most of it wasn't that bad." John assured her.
"Most of it?" Jennifer asked looking worried.
"Relax doc. Nothing you said will go outside this tent." The Colonel said, making Jennifer wonder what exactly she had been saying in her sleep. Knowing the Colonel would not give her any more information she looked round and asked.
"Where are we?"
"Still on the planet. Hopefully we'll get the all clear soon."
"So it wasn't a virus?"
"No. Apparently some local gave Childs a cold remedy. Only he was still taking all his Earth remedies. Turned out the mixture caused some pretty nasty hallucinations."
"Is he okay?" Jennifer asked, amazing the Colonel that she could be so concerned for a man who had shot her.
"He will be." John confirmed. "What about you?"
"Looking forward to being home." She said starting to drift off again. Just before she fell asleep she heard John say.
"You did good doc."
To be continued ...