Bombs, bullets and blood
The noise of the explosion within the confines of the tunnels was deafening. Sheppard felt McKay move past him, he reached out and grabbed McKay's arm. "What the hell were you thinking McKay," he yelled. "You could have brought the damn roof down on us." He emphasized his point with a bruising grip on McKay's arm.
McKay looked at Sheppard's hand wrapped around his upper arm and then up at Sheppard. "It was a shaped charged John," he replied. "It was enough to blow the door mechanism ..."
"Hey! Argue later. Let's go." Ronon interrupted, as he blasted a few more shots down the tunnel, allowing Lorne and his team to exit the room.
Sheppard let go of McKay's arm and moved from behind the pillar, watching as Baker and his team ushered Lorne's team and McKay's scientists out of the room and back down the tunnels.
"Anyone hurt?" he asked.
"Nothing serious sir," Lorne replied suddenly at Sheppard's side. "Thompson got hit, but it's just a flesh wound. "
"Here," Sheppard said, handing Lorne his handgun. "Baker take point. Ronon and I will cover our six. Let's move out."
The retreat down the tunnels was fast paced, but still not fast enough to put any distance between themselves and the hostiles.
"Not going to get everyone out the tunnel before they hit us," Ronon said, emphasizing "they" with several gun blasts down the tunnel.
"I know," Sheppard replied, sharing a quick look with Ronon that said more than words. They would hold back the hostiles at the tunnel entrance, giving time for the others to get down the tunnel and out of the exit to the jumper. It was unlikely that they would make it out themselves.
They reached the entrance, the others running into the tunnel as Rosta and this team gave covering fire.
"Rosta, fall back and cover their six," Sheppard ordered, moving to take up a defensive position.
"We got it covered sir," Rosta replied between bursts of automatic gun fire.
"Fall back Rosta, "Sheppard snapped back. "That's an order."
Sheppard felt a thump in his abdomen, he looked down, running a hand across his stomach, it came away wet with blood. "Shit," he cursed aloud as pain suddenly shot through him, his knees giving way.
"Colonel Sir," Rosta said, managing to catch Sheppard before he hit the floor, dragging him to safety.
Sheppard felt pressure on his stomach, his sight wavering as pain exploded. Ronon loomed into his eye line. "…… never make it down the tunnel," he heard Ronon say.
"I've got an idea," McKay replied. "Lorne, can you keep them busy for about five minutes?"
"Not a problem Doc," Lorne said.
"We need to move Sheppard," Ronon said.
"Baker, you and your team, make sure the way to the jumper is clear. Davis, Jones, go with them and take care of the Colonel. Get him to the jumper when you get the all clear from Baker," Lorne ordered.
There was a chorus of "yes sir". Sheppard reached up and gripped Ronon's arm. "Ronon," he gritted out. "Leave me, I can ….."
"Rest easy Sheppard," Ronon interrupted. "We'll meet you at the jumper."
Hands were suddenly pulling at him, lifting him up, pain flared and burned, his eyesight wavering. The sounds of gunfire faded as he was carried down the tunnel. It occurred to him just before he passed out that no one had asked what McKay's idea was. As he passed into unconsciousness all he felt was dread.