CHAPTER FOUR
"I was talking to that woman over there." Teyla motioned. "Rodney said he had something and when I turned around I could no longer see him. I have looked, Colonel, but I am not certain where he went. He is not responding on his coms."
"Split up. Teyla, you're over there. I'm going that way. Ronon, keep Toni with you, and check back towards the main house." John started away.
I do not need a babysitter, Toni thought, I can help. "But I can…"
John turned at her with a hard stare.
"Fine." She growled out through clenched teeth. Toni jogged the few steps to catch up with Ronon.
"Maybe McKay picked up on some sort of technology coming from the houses."
"Maybe." She looked up at the big Satedan. "But it sounded like Pallus was staying on Tay's family boat, not in one of the houses. All these belong to Cae's clan, remember? How do we know it wasn't something of Marta's Rodney detected?"
"We don't, but it really doesn't matter." Ronon looked around as they stepped up to the main house. "What matters is finding McKay."
They did a quick sweep of the rooms in the main house. None of the Noowak people were in the house. Neither was Rodney. They did find their packs. Ronon came up behind Toni where she stood in the doorway to John's room. The twinkling of the moonlight on the water could be seen out of the window. A large bed was draped with a silk canopy.
"I should have lied." She sighed.
Ronon chuckled.
0o0o0o0o0
Teyla climbed a steep stair case that left the beach, rising to the smaller homes on the cliffs. She stopped to survey the party below. She could not see Rodney anywhere.
She turned back to the small white-wash dwellings. "Rodney?" She called out quietly. Moving quickly and with stealth, she peeked into the small homes. Everyone in the village was down at the celebration, leaving the dwellings dark.
She stopped mid-way up the hill, surveying the area below her. The small white houses clinging to the hillside were all connected with stairs and ladders. The view, even by moonlight, was beautiful. The bon fires lit the beach. The boats rocked smoothly on the swells.
Some of the small boats rowed out to the family ships. People must be beginning to retire for the night. Teyla hoped he wasn't on one of those boats. It would make finding him much more difficult.
0o0o0o0o0
"McKay!"
Sheppard moved up the main path, looking down all the little walkways and into open doors. "Damn it, Rodney. Where the hell did you go?"
He continued further up the steps. There were no signs of anyone. This was not good.
"Sheppard, Teyla." Ronon's voice came across his com.
John tapped it on. "Go ahead."
"Got him! Behind the main house towards the water's edge. Better hurry." Sheppard sprinted down the steps before all the words were out of Ronon's mouth.
"John." Toni chimed in. "Run into the house and get Rodney's vest. He's in anaphylactic shock. Hurry!"
"Where?" He shouted as he ran toward the house.
"Second floor. Left at the top of the stairs. Second door on the right." Ronon guided him.
John took the stairs two and three at a time. Barging into the room, he scooped up the vest and dashed back out again. Jumping down the last half of the stairs, he left through a rear door they had seen on their last visit.
Down the beach he could see their flashlights. He struggled through the soft sand until getting closer to the water, where his feet no long sunk past the ankles with each step. By the time he reached them his lungs burned from the sprint.
He dropped to his knees beside them. Toni had Rodney's jacket off and had torn the front of his shirt open. Even in the dim light he could see the redness in McKay's skin. His mouth and cheeks were swollen.
Toni snatched up the vest and began digging through the pockets for the epinephrine-pen she knew he carried. "Come on, Rodney. Hold on. Breathe, come on, breathe."
The scientist made barely audible rasping noises, no where near deep enough for a real breath. Toni bit the top off the pen and stabbed it into McKay's arm. She rubbed the injection spot as if it would help.
"Ronon, bend his knees and keep his feet above his heart." John ordered.
A spasm jerked Rodney's body as the drug hit his system and his heart rate shot up. His labored, shallow breath increased. Still, he seemed to be getting a little more air. Toni readied his second epi-pen just in case the first wasn't enough.
Teyla came running down the beach, beside her another woman – Ana's daughter, Cia - carried a small bag. Behind them a ways, Ana tried to keep up.
"What happened?" Teyla asked as soon as she was within earshot.
"Don't know." Ronon shook his head. "This is how we found him."
"Teyla?" John looked to the woman beside her.
"Cia is a healer. Perhaps she can help." Teyla explained.
"The epi helped, but not enough. John, he's only got one more dose." Toni brushed the sweaty hair back from Rodney's forehead.
Cia knelt beside McKay, examining his skin. Toni shone her flashlight so they could see better. The Noowak healer opened Rodney's mouth, where white frothy spittle collected around his lips. She turned his head, examining the angry hives springing up on the skin of his neck.
"Spine Fin." Cia frowned. "What medicine did you give him?"
"Epinephrine. It, um," Toni tried to think of way to explain it. "It helps the body clear allergens from the blood. Makes the heart beat faster, too."
"Can you give him more?"
"Yes."
"Do so. Teyla, please help me. Fill this with sea water." She held out a tiny bowl.
Toni looked at John, who gave a slight nod. She administered the other dose of epi. Cia pulled a black powder out of a tiny sealed box. When Teyla returned, she measured out a tiny bit into the water. She mixed it carefully. Then adding another yellow powder, she stirred it until it was all dissolved.
"What it that?" Telya asked.
"Spine Fin and Black Anemone."
The team looked at each other confused. When Toni spoke they all turned to her. "Anti-venom? He was poisoned."
Cia tipped McKay head up and poured the liquid slowly into his mouth. The unconscious doctor began to struggle. They held him still, allowing the Noowak woman to pour all of the liquid into his mouth.
After a moment, Rodney's breath became easier, less labored. Cia smiled. "I think he may survive. Your medicine and mine may have worked well together. Spine Fin is fatal most of the time."
"Can he be moved?" Sheppard stood.
"Yes." Cia put all of things back into the small bag.
"In the house." Ana offered, although a deep frown creased her face. "The beds are ready. Take him through the back. Cia, child, not a word of this to anyone. Understand?"
"Yes, mother." She stood. "I will return to the celebration. If anyone asks, you are seeing to our guests."
"Very good."
"Ronon…" John began.
"I've got him." Ronon picked up McKay, carrying him to the house.
Sheppard nodded, grateful the big man knew exactly what to do. "Teyla, see if you can get Beckett."
"Already on my way." Teyla was following Ronon to the house. "We shall return soon."
"Ana." He placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her from following. "We need to talk."
"Yes, Colonel. We do." She patted his hand, much the way she'd done to Toni earlier. "But not out here. Follow me."