A/N: I'm happy with how the story is progressing so far, and I hope you are too! And I'm not even close to being a doctor, so forgive any inaccuracies (I even had to Google what a human thigh bone is called! Embarrassing!). I'm thinking I'll try for one more chapter after this one to wrap things up. Also have a different story in the works as well. Anywho, on we go!
Chapter 3
Ronon checked the energy cartridge on his blaster for seemingly the thousandth time. It had already taken too long to form a rescue plan for Sheppard and McKay, and he wasn't happy. After he and Teyla barely made it back through the gate, bullets following them through the event horizon and injuring two security officers, Dr Weir had been hesitant about immediate rescue attempts. The planet where his team members were trapped was too far to reach by Puddle Jumper, even if they had one available. Dr Zelenka had been repairing and updating all of the jumpers one by one before this mission went belly up, and now he was rushing to complete repairs in time to save Colonel Sheppard and Dr McKay. Ronon growled in frustration. Teyla looked at him, understanding in her eyes. Suddenly their earpieces crackled to life. Dr Zelenka's hurried voice exclaimed, "Dr Weir, I have successfully completed repairs of Jumper 1. Send your teams to the Jumper Bay." Ronon stood so fast his chair flipped over. He clicked his radio once. "Doc, you're coming too. I know I saw Sheppard take a bullet." Dr Beckett's quick reply came through immediately. "Aye lad. I'll pack my kit."
Major Lorne radioed two teams of Marines to gear up and get to the Jumper Bay. He nodded to Elizabeth as he passed. "We'll find them," he said quietly. She smiled in return. "Be careful Major. Godspeed." He threw her a relaxed salute over his shoulder, and jogged toward the Bay doors.
It only took a few moments for Jumper 1 to open the Bay doors on autopilot, initiate the dialing sequence, and lower itself in front of the horizon. Elizabeth clicked her earpiece. "Major you have a go. Bring back our people." Major Lorne replied sharply, "Yes ma'am!"
He pushed the jumper through the horizon, and the gate shut down. Elizabeth sighed and turned to Chuck, the gate tech. "Call me when they are due back." He nodded with a small smile. "Yes ma'am."
She retreated to her office, telling herself she would catch up on paperwork while waiting, but knowing that she'd most likely end up playing Solitaire distractedly. She walked to the window and gazed out at the sunrise. She would never forgive herself if John and Rodney died on a mission she sanctioned. She quite honestly didn't know if their expedition would survive without two key members, and two of her closest friends. She rubbed her eyes and sat down at her desk to wait.
~~~SGA~~~
Rodney nervously sat beside the still unconscious Colonel Sheppard, fiddling with his tablet. It had been a few hours since John had collapsed, and the sun had risen quickly, which made hiding in the dark no longer an option. Sheppard mumbled a "Hey McKay," and blinked slowly, startling Rodney. He scooted closer and offered the injured Colonel a drink of water. "It's nice to see you awake, Sheppard." He lifted John's head to help him drink. The fact that he didn't resist Rodney's help made the scientist even more concerned than he already was, if that was even possible. He gently laid Sheppard's head back down, and asked, "How are you feeling? I mean, outside of the obvious." The Colonel swallowed slowly, and closed his eyes again. After a minute he seemed to gather enough strength to talk. "Like crap. Pretty sure my femur is busted, if not completely shattered. I can't feel my leg from the knee down." He paused to take a trembling breath, and continued. "You have to go on without me. Find the gate, then lead the rescue back to me." Rodney held up his hands in protest. "Forget that. I'm not leaving you behind. You are always spouting that 'leave no man behind' stuff, don't you dare ask me to do it. Because I won't." He tried to look defiant, but he didn't think Sheppard bought the act. The Colonel just blinked at the mini outburst, taking a minute to absorb what Rodney had said. He finally shook his head slightly, with a look of regret that McKay didn't quite understand on his face. "Oh don't you dare start blaming this crappy situation on yourself Colonel!" Rodney admonished. "It's. Not. Your. Fault." John huffed out a pained grunt. "I should've seen the signs. Those people were aggressive from the start. If I had just been paying more attention then we wouldn't still be here." Rodney placed his hand on John's fever heated arm. "Listen, there's no way any of us could've known they'd go psycho on us. Ronon is probably blaming himself as well and that's just stupid."
Sheppard just sighed and closed his eyes. "I can't be the reason you get killed Rodney," he whispered, sounding broken. McKay gulped, and he awkwardly patted John's shoulder. "Just hang in there okay? They will find us, and Carson will work some voodoo on you and fix you up good as new, and we'll erase this horrid planet from the database." He doubted Sheppard had heard any of it, because he was already unconscious.
~~~SGA~~~
Jumper 1 emerged from the gate and Lorne activated the cloak immediately. The natives still managed to get a few shots off, their bullets pinging against the ship's outer hull. Unfazed, Lorne asked Zelenka if he had located the Colonel and McKay via their Sub-Q signals. The small eccentric scientist mumbled to himself while messing with his laptop and equipment. "Well, Doc?" Lorne drawled. Zelenka tapped a few buttons and pointed to the HUD. "There! They are about 3 klicks south. It took me a moment because there is some sort of interference, and one signal is weak." He looked at Lorne, worried. The Major banked the Jumper to the left, and pushed the little ship as fast as it would go. Ronon sat in the seat behind Lorne, his air of frustration and stubborn resolve affecting the mood of the entire group. Even the Marines looked a little afraid of Ronon in his current emotional state. Dr Beckett tutted around with his medical supplies, sorting them again. Everyone was just slightly on edge, and the good doctor couldn't wait to access his patient and get back home, to Atlantis' amazing medical facilities. He hoped the Colonel was not on death's door, for more than one reason. The primary being that he wasn't a trauma surgeon, and didn't want his lack of expertise in that field to cost the expedition their fine commander, and his friend's life. Lorne's sharp command interrupted his thoughts. "Everybody hang tight, we are gonna land about ΒΌ of a mile from their position. Doc, you are to stay behind the Marines at all times. Sgt Matthews, you're on point with Ronon. Teyla and I will bring up the rear. The second we land I want everyone ready to move."
A series of "Yes Sir's!" echoed through the small ship, and each person shuffled around to get in their correct spot. Lorne landed the ship with a practiced ease, and Sgt Matthews raised his hand. "Everyone ready?" he barked. More "Yes sirs," sounded, and he slapped the rear door control. It opened too slowly for Ronon's liking, and he was out before the door was halfway to the ground. Six heavily armed, burly Marines surrounded Dr Beckett, which he was quite okay with. He'd never felt safer. They quickly cleared the immediate area, and the Sgt gave the signal to move. Lorne was the last out of the Jumper, and as he brought up the rear, he reactivated the ship's cloak. He clicked his radio. "Dr McKay this is Lorne, do you copy?"
He had barely finished speaking when a very relieved sounding scientist hurriedly answered. "Yes, yes I copy. Hurry up and get over here. I hope you brought Carson with you. Sheppard's really in bad shape."
The Major didn't like the sound of that, and they picked up the pace.
~~~SGA~~~
Rodney never thought he'd be as relieved to see Ronon as he was in that moment. The large dreadlocked man burst into their little hiding spot, and McKay nearly sobbed in relief. Carson was not far behind, and immediately began accessing his patient. Lorne ordered the Marines to form a protective perimeter, and keep a sharp eye out. Rodney nervously watched Carson work, waiting for the Scot to say anything about Sheppard's condition.
The capable doctor worked quickly and carefully, first checking the Colonel's temperature and sluggish pupil response. "He's got a temp of 102.9 degrees. Rodney, get some ice packs from our supplies. We've got to cool him down a bit." McKay scrambled to do as he asked. Dr Beckett turned to the nearest Marine. "Get the stretcher ready lad. We need to move out as quickly as possible." He turned back to his patient, and starting peeling off the sodden bandage. He was shocked at the nature of Colonel Sheppard's injury. "He said he thought the natives used splintering bullets," Rodney answered his unasked question. "He managed to push me out of the way, and even run on that leg." Carson looked up into Rodney's eyes in disbelief. "I don't see how he could stand upright a'tall, much less put any weight on it," he replied. He pulled out several clean field dressings, and began washing the wound out as best he could with a saline rinse. He then packed the wound with gauze, and taped it securely. Motioning to a nearby Marine, he asked, "Son, do you know how to start an IV?" The young soldier nodded sharply. "Two years as a combat medic sir." Carson smiled at the young man's eagerness. "Come on then, help me get a morphine drip started, then we'll start a saline IV to get his fluids up." Rodney backed up out of the way, and went over to stand by Teyla. She placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned her forehead to his. Rodney was incredibly grateful she was here. "He will be alright Rodney," she said quietly. "He is very strong." McKay sighed, hoping she was right.
Carson motioned for the other Marines to bring in the stretcher, and they carefully lifted the Colonel onto it. Lorne quickly ordered everyone into position, and gave the signal to move out.
~~~SGA~~~
Space in the Jumper was even more crowded now, with the stretcher taking up most of the room. But no one minded at all. Rodney stared at the sickly pale looking face of his best friend, partially obscured by an oxygen mask. He couldn't bear to think about the worth case scenario. "How is he doing Carson?" he asked quietly. Dr Beckett sighed, and looked up to meet Rodney's worried gaze. "I don't know for sure right now Rodney. His vitals aren't measuring well, and he's lost a lot of blood. Not to mention, the damage to his leg is extensive. Did he say anything at all about the pain level?" McKay swallowed hesitantly. "It was about two hours before you found us. He said he felt like crap. Said he couldn't feel his leg from the knee down, but the wound itself hurt a lot." Carson's face scrunched into a worried grimace. "I was afraid o' that. With a wound like he's got, I would pretty much have to assume there'll be some nerve damage." Rodney's face paled, and he felt sick. Beckett handed him a water bottle. "Easy lad. We don't know any of that for certain." Just then, Lorne announced that they were about to enter the event horizon. Almost home, Rodney thought. At last.