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Just so you all know I have three chapters left for this story, yes I have actually finished it :D. Enjoy. :).
Chapter Seven
John pocketed the Genii radio, just in case it was needed again, and pulled his own out to contact the members of his team. "Everyone fall back to the puddle jumper. That's an order."
McKay's voice blared through the radio. "No can do, Sheppard. We're locked in."
"What do you mean locked in?" replied John as he looked at Sora and then Ford.
"All outer doors are sealed. The only way out is up."
"See if you can raise Bates on the radio and have him meet us on the roof with a puddle jumper. Sheppard out."
"Sir, the water's coming in too quick; we'll never make it to the top in time," pointed out Ford.
Seeing this, Sora walked past them and pushed the solid door shut. If she was ever going to show her trust to them, now was the time.
John rushed forward to pull her away. "Sora! Sora, what are you doing?"
Sora shrugged him off. "Buying you some time," she replied as she held the door shut. She knew it would be only a matter of time before the pressure on the other end would overcome her strength, but it would at least give them time to escape. "Don't waste it."
Her actions had slowed the rise of the water considerably. But it was already up to their knees and past the fourth step leading up.
Ford glanced back and forth between John and the way out and waded towards him. "Sir. We need to move."
"Go!" shouted Sora sternly. "If I don't keep this door closed the building will flood within minutes and we'll all drown."
"We don't leave people behind."
"You can't order me, Major. Go!"
Sheppard was torn on what to do. But he was being given a second chance to save Elizabeth and he wasn't going to waste it. "Thank you."
He was about to turn and leave when Sora called him back. "Do me a favour, Major."
"Anything."
"Save her. The only place Kolya could've gotten reinforcements like that is from our home world. "
John got the hint and nodded his thanks. Sora returned the gesture with a sorrowful look in her eyes.
Leaving Sora behind, both John and Ford re-grouped with the marines at the top of the staircase and together they made their way to the roof.
They met up with Rodney and Teyla's group near the top of the long flight of stairs situated in the middle of the building. Rodney was already working on the hatch leading onto the roof.
"We could not raise Bates on the radio," informed Teyla as John approached them. "Too much interference, but Dr. McKay thinks we should be able to reach him once we are outside."
John looked at McKay as he worked the security latch on the hatch; it was a similar design to the door he had shot at. "Stop wasting time, McKay, and just shoot the damn lock."
McKay took a glance at him before continuing his task. "Very bright, Sheppard. And if I shoot the lock and it doesn't open, what then?"
"Why didn't you try this on one of the outer doors?"
"I did. We even shot at one and it didn't work. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to save your ass here."
John rolled his eyes and looked back down at the ever-rising level of water. John did a double take and looked back the way they had come when there was a loud rumbling noise and the water sped up its rise. "McKay!"
There was a bleep which confirmed Rodney had succeeded opening the hatch, just as the water reached halfway up the steps. They all tumbled out onto the roof, and John didn't waste time contacting Bates on the radio. "Bates. If you can hear me, I need a puddle jumper up on the roof of the complex we're in, stat."
There was a few seconds' wait before Bates's reply came. "We'll be there before you know it, sir."
Everyone moved to the edge of the roof and John stood impatiently as they waited for their transport.
--
Bates roughly knew where John's puddle jumper had been parked. But it was a lot quicker to go back to Atlantis and retrieve another one, so they did.
The ship exited the event horizon and he and a member of his team sped towards the complex. As they got nearer, they soon found them standing near the edge of the roof. The water was just lapping over the open hatch. But the worst part of it was that there was nowhere for them to land, due to pipes and cables littering the place.
Bates turned to the pilot. "Pull the ship alongside the roof and open the hatch. They'll have to jump it."
The pilot eased the back of the puddle jumper towards John's team on the roof as far as he dared. The minute he was close enough he released the hatch.
Everyone tried to keep their face away from the blowing wind the ship created as it got closer to them. When the hatch opened there was a good ten – twenty foot gap between it and the building, and a very long drop to the bottom should any of them miss.
John tensed up a little as he let others go ahead of him to make sure they all got onboard safely. Teyla, being among the first, took a run and jump and landed safely on the other end; the marines followed, till there was only him and Rodney left. "McKay!"
Rodney looked nervous as he took a peek down at the gap and shouted above the noise of the ship. "I can't!"
"It's just a run and jump, McKay, you'll be fine."
"I'm not very good with heights."
John offered a hand to help his friend, seeing as he wasn't going to go on his own. "We'll jump together."
McKay took a deep breath. There was enough space for them to land on the ramp together. He took John's hand, and closing his eyes, took several steps back before he opened them again to see they had a good run up.
"Ready?"
Rodney looked at John and nodded, feeling a little foolish at being scared of a short jump. Together they ran at the ship and jumped the minute they reached the ledge of the building. But they didn't quite jump together and Rodney's foot slipped on the ramp.
TBC
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