Bullets whizzed through the trees and sank into the ground around them as the team ran for the gate. John cursed as he and Teyla were forced to dive behind (yet another) large tree. He motioned for her to cover him while he scanned the woods for McKay and Ronon.
There. A quick series of hand signals informed Teyla of the plan. She nodded, and they exploded into motion towards where Ronon was defending a small cave. They were almost there when Teyla fell with a sharp cry of pain.
John instantly turned back, sighing in relief as a quick scan showed that she had been shot in the leg as opposed to a more lethal area. He hauled her to her feet, and supported most of her weight as they staggered to the cave. Once inside, he leaned her gently against the wall.
"You okay?" Ronon asked without turning.
Teyla took a deep breath to steady her voice before responding. "I will be fine, but I doubt I will be able to walk." John cursed under his breath as he tore away the cloth on the wound to find copious amounts of blood.
"Dammit, the bullet grazed an artery. McKay! How far to the fate?" His voice was harsh, betraying the concern he felt.
Rodney shook his head. "I'd sat, about, oh, ten kilometers." Ronon growled something unintelligible and motioned at John impatiently.
"Right. We need a distraction then, she needs medical help as soon as possible, she is losing blood fast. Ronon, can you carry her and shoot?"
Ronon shook his head. "No. But we need to move now. "
John sighed. "I was afraid of that. Rodney, you are with me. We will lead them south and then double back for the gate. If you get there before us, don't wait."
Ronon nodded. Rodney sighed in defeat. "Why do I always have to be the bait? I don't even have a gun!"
John grinned slightly. "Because, you run really really fast when people shoot at you."
From the ground beside him, Teyla handed up her P-90. "Take this. You will be able to use it more effectively than I."
Rodney looked amazed and then smiled worriedly down at her. "Thanks." Behind him, Ronon and John switched so that John was shooting cover for the cave. Ronon stepped inside and lifted Teyla effortlessly. His brow furrowed in concern.
"It will hurt pretty badly when I run." He warned.
Teyla nodded and smiled reassuringly. "The sooner we get to the gate, the less pain I will have in the long run. Do not slow on my account." Ronon nodded in approval, pulling his gun from its holster and hading it carefully to her.
"Here. If you get a clear shot, take it."
Dr. Elizabeth Wier looked up in surprise as the alarm on the gate went off. The only team off world was Col. Sheppard's, and they weren't due back for at least another six hours.
"Its Ronon's IDC." Warned Chuck, and she nodded quickly.
"Let him in."
Seconds after the shield dropped, Ronon ran through with a bloody and half unconscious Teyla in his arms.
"I need Carson and a med team to the gate room, right away! Its Teyla." She ordered, but Ronon shook his head.
"No time." He growled, taking off at a run again for the infirmary. Elizabeth's eyes widened and she tapped her ear piece swiftly.
"Never mind, Carson. Ronon is bring her to you." What had happened? She had rarely seen Ronon so close to the edge of his control. She turned anxiously to the now deactivated gate. "Come on, John, where are you?" She muttered anxiously.
She breathed a sigh of relief as the gate reactivated. "Let us through, we are coming in hot!" Yelled John. She nodded, and they ran through the gate with only a few shots making it after them before the shield shot up again.
She ran down the steps. "What happened?"
John shook his head. "Another planet that Ronon had visited, only this time, they had guns. Teyla?"
"Ronon took her straight to the infirmary, but she looked bad." Without another word, John took off for the infirmary, Rodney and Elizabeth only a few steps behind.
Ronon had reached the infirmary in record time, and set her gently on the bed Carson had already prepared. Her eyes fluttered open at the motion and she groaned quietly in pain, but her arm shot out to grip his shirt.
"Ronon." She whispered hoarsely.
He nodded. "I'm right here,Teyla. You have to let go so Carson can stop the bleeding."
She shook her head. "Ronon, look at me." She waited until he met her eyes. "This...is not your fault." She gasped, clearly pushing herself beyond even her limits of pain.
He met her gaze and nodded reluctantly, and she smiled slightly before her eyes rolled up and she fainted onto the bed.
"Doc!" He yelled, backing hastily away. Carson took his place by her bedside and immediately began to work.
When she woke, it was to the sound of Carson and Ronon arguing over whether or not Ronon had to leave the infirmary.
"You need your sleep, lad! Teyla will be fine. I'm the chief medical officer around here, I can stay with her." Carson's accent was thicker than usual, hinting towards his own exhaustion.
Ronon's low laugh conveyed absolutely no amusement. "I'm not going anywhere until she wakes up."
Teyla fought the urge to smile at their familiar argument, then frowned slightly. If Ronon was lurking around, it meant that he was still blaming himself for her injury. Sighing internally, she decided to put an end to their bickering.
She attempted to sit up, but a sudden stab of pain from her leg caused her to let out an involuntary cry.
Instantly, both Ronon and Carson were hovering over her, their faces anxious. "Hold on a moment, don't move." Ordered Carson, reaching to fiddle with button controlling the amount of pain medicine was flowing to the IV. "There, is that better?"
Teyla tried to sit up, more cautiously this time. "Much" She responded, "But I still feel...strangely weak."
Carson nodded. "I know, love. You lost quite a bit of blood, and had us all quite scared for awhile. It will take a few days before you feel normal again."
Teyla's brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand. I was only shot in the leg, it should not have been a serious wound."
"The shot hit an artery, and it took us a rather long time to get it sealed off again. If Ronon had gotten you here any later, it could have been fatal."
Behind him, Ronon's face became guarded and he took several quick steps backwards. Teyla noticed his reaction and shook her head.
"No. I told you, this was not your fault. You heard Dr. Beckett, if you hadn't have been there I probably would have died."
Ronon scowled. "If I hadn't have been there, you wouldn't have been shot in the first place."
Teyla scowled right back, not in the mood for dealing with an issue she had hoped he had resolved after the whole Sateda incident. What ever Carson had given her for the pain was making her very tired. "Maybe not this time, but what about the time on MQR-449? Or when Rodney was bitten by that poisonous snake and John and I were unable to carry him? Were they your fault too?"
Ronon glared at her impassively. "Those were different."
"How? You are a part of this team, and you will not blame yourself for anything that happens to us. Is it my fault that those slavers tried to ambush us and take me captive?" Ronon was silent, unable to argue that point. She smiled triumphantly. "I owe you my thanks for getting me home quickly and that is all. Do not feel as though you have to stay here because my injury was your fault."
Ronon sighed, visibly relaxing. Carson smiled at how skillfully Teyla handled the situation that he had John had been working on all afternoon. "Right, now. You heard the lass, off to bed with you." He ordered, rubbing his head where a slight tension headache seemed to have taken up permanent residence.
Ronon calmly slid into the seat next to Teyla's bed and folded his arms stubbornly. "I'm not going anywhere. Get some sleep doc. You can fuss over me tomorrow." Carson stared at him for a moment before throwing up his arms in surrender.
"Fine! Thank you very much, I owe you one sometime. Good night, Teyla. You know how to get in touch with me if you need anything."
She smiled sleepily at the caring doctor. "I will be fine. Thank you for taking such good care of me."
As soon as he left, she turned towards Ronon. "It was very considerate of you for letting him get some well deserved rest, but you really do not have to stay with me. I am fine."
He laughed softly. "Go to sleep, Teyla. You need to concentrate on getting better, okay?" She nodded and allowed her eyes to finally drift shut. Just before she lost consciousness for the night, she could have sworn she heard him whisper something, but her fuzzy mind was unable to grasp the meaning.
"It wasn't guilt that kept me here all night. I really don't know what I would do without you here."
Just outside the infirmary door, Carson was having no such hearing problems. He heard the soft confession loud and clear, and smiled softly as his headache vanished. Perhaps he would have to let the poor boy stay with her more often.