As promised the next part of the story delivered as quickly as possible. Please excuse any medical mistakes. I am not a doctor.

The Price of Freedom – Part 11

Sirena stood frozen to the spot while her screams and cries echoed across the valley. The master was dead but so was John. It had all happened so quickly. One minute, John had seemed secure, but then the sadistic master had grabbed his chain in the last second … and … and, her thoughts stopped there. Unable to stand any longer, Sirena sank to her knees and began to sob uncontrollably.

Eventually choking back her tears, she gathered her courage and rose to make her way carefully to a more secure place to look over the edge of the ridge. Hesitantly, she lowered her eyes to see the master lying face up across a stony bed. From the odd angle of his neck, she knew that he was dead.

With difficulty, she let her eyes shift to John and the tears threatened to return when she saw him. He looked like a small broken bird, lying not far from the master, who still had the wretched chain clenched tightly in his hand. John's body had landed, face down, on a large sandy embankment mere centimetres from a small shallow stream.

Tearing her eyes away from the heartbreaking sight, she took a deep breath and carefully stepped back, away from the cliff. She had no idea what to do next. Looking around, she noted that the other slaves had all run off, maybe back to the fortress to get help, and Sirena vaguely wondered what had happened to Halden and the other guard because they were nowhere in sight.

However, her concern quickly turned back to John because Sirena knew the minute the guards arrived, they would recover the master's body but John would be left to rot where he lay or mutilated out of the need for retribution. Sirena knew that she couldn't let that happen. Although, she had no idea how to stop it but somehow, she had to try and move him.

Plucking up courage that she didn't feel, she started to search for a way down. However before she'd hardly had a chance to move, a strange humming sound filled the air and a weird flying vehicle appeared directly before her, almost frightening her to death.

-SGA-

"I'm telling you this is the place." Rodney announced as Major Lorne flew the jumper towards the ridge.

Teyla looked out of the viewscreen. "I do not see the Colonel anywhere. However, there is a very distressed looking woman standing down there."

Ronon came up beside her to look out. "Are you sure he wasn't among those other life signs we detected running towards the fortress or the woods?"

"Yes, positive," Rodney answered, not bothering to hide his exasperation. "His signal is still in this area.

"Anyway, it's too late now, folks," Lorne announced from the pilot seat, "I'm just about to land and de-cloak."

Rodney felt mildly agitated during the landing and his mood didn't improve even when he felt a gentle thump as the jumper settled. He hadn't had time to remove his disguise yet, but despite looking like an old man, he pushed his way to the back of the jumper the second the hatch was lowered.

"Okay, folks. Let's go find our man," he announced, before aiming straight for the petrified woman.

Teyla and Ronon exchanged a look. "He is just anxious." Teyla observed.

The others managed to catch-up with McKay just as he stopped before a terrified Sirena. Although, she bravely kept her ground and made no move to flee.

"Err … hi, I'm Dr. Rodney McKay, I wonder if you could help us? We're looking for a friend. He's about half a head taller than me, with dark messy hair and---"

"John Sheppard?" Sirena interrupted.

"Yes, yes, that's right."

Teyla went cold when she noticed the woman's eyes cloud with tears. "Do you know where he is?" she gently asked.

Sirena put a hand to her mouth and lowered her head before she nodded and let her gaze drift towards the edge of the cliff.

Ronon was the first to react as he quickly headed towards the drop off.

"Be careful, Ronon!" Lorne shouted. "The edge doesn't look too stable to me."

However, Ronon hadn't been a runner for nothing. He wasn't stupid enough to go bounding up to the edge without checking the ground first. By the time, he'd made sure that the ground was firm enough to support him, the others had joined him. What they saw made their hearts leap into their throats when they looked over the edge.

"Oh crap!" Rodney exclaimed before turning away.

Carson nodded after tearing his eyes away. "Aye, ya can say that again. We need to get down there as quick as possible. There's a small chance that he could still be alive."

"Are you kidding?" Rodney shouted in distress. "How can anyone survive that fall?"

"Aye, I know it's a long shot but I don't think the cliff is as high as it looks and he seems to have landed on soft ground, so we have to check and the longer we leave it, the less chance there's likely be."

Lorne spoke up for the first time. "I'm with you there, doc. Let's get the Jumper up and I'll try to land---," he stopped for a minute to survey the land, "over there," he finished, pointing to a small clearing on the other side of the stream.

Ronon, Teyla and the Marines were already heading for the jumper, the others had to hurry to catch up.

When they got to the hatchway, Teyla gently called to Sirena. "Do you want to come with us? We are going down to help the Colonel."

For a minute, Sirena looked confused until she realised that the young woman was talking about John. With a nod, she hurried over and bravely stepped into the strange vehicle. She tired not to show any real fear as Teyla showed her to a seat.

Seconds later, the Ancient vehicle lifted into the air with great haste and within a matter of minutes, it landed again with a slight lurch.

Sirena stayed well out of the way, as John's people rushed down the open hatchway towards him.

-SGA-

Ronon was first on the scene after his mad dash through the stream. His legs were soaking wet but he didn't care. He stood still and looked down at John's still form, suppressing the desire to turn him over and check for signs of life. However, commonsense told him to leave that to Beckett.

A minute or so later, Carson huffed up to his side. "After I check for a pulse, we need to proceed with the utmost caution as there's no telling what for injuries he many have incurred," he told the others. Everyone looked grim, as they all knew that checking for a pulse was the first big hurdle.

Dropping to his knees, Carson quickly moved to John's side. He gently brushed away the sand and dirt that partially covered his friend's neck and cursed in Gaelic before switching to English. "What the bugger is this?" he complained, pointing to the strong metal collar and chain.

Rodney swallowed hard. "Well, he was a slave, Carson."

Carson made a disgusted face. "Aye and this is certainly proof of that. God what have they done to ya, lad?" he muttered, before feeling for a pulse. At first, he couldn't find one, so he moved his hand slightly, then a faint flutter vibrated under his finger and he cursed the collar again. "Okay, I've found a pulse, it's not very strong. I'd like to get a neck support on him before I try to turn him over but this damn collar is in the way."

Everyone looked relieved that John was still alive but no one had an answer to the collar problem until Ronon growled. "Maybe that fat individual has the key?"

All heads turned towards the other body.

"I wonder who he was?" asked Lorne.

"The Master." Sirena murmured from where she stood staring down at John. "And he would have the key."

Before anyone could really react, Ronon hastily grabbed John's neck chain. With one swift tug, he yanked it out of the dead man's hand before moving over to the body to recover the key.

A few minutes later, Ronon announced, "He's definitely dead!" before quickly passing the key to Carson. No one seemed to care or react as he bent down to help the doctor carefully remove the collar.

After tossing the chain and slave collar aside with revulsion, Carson quickly fished inside his case and produced a cervical collar, which he carefully eased around John's neck before examining his back. Using the small Ancient scanner, Carson quickly ran it down John's spine. Thankfully, nothing appeared to be damaged. So grabbing his stethoscope, the doctor listened to John's heart and lungs. Although he didn't like what he heard, Carson knew that he had to risk turning John over to expose other more likely damage.

Looking up at the sea of worried faces standing over him, he said. "Okay, someone needs to go back to the Jumper and bring the portable backboard. Then we'll carefully roll him over onto it."

The backboard was produced in record time and with help, Carson gently eased Sheppard onto his back. Shocked gasps and cries filled the air as the true extent of John's injuries was revealed.

Teyla turned pale as tears formed in her eyes and Rodney looked like he might be sick. Major Lorne winced and turned away from his CO, unable to look anymore. Ronon, predicable as ever, gritted his teeth and growled at the sight of his friend's blood soaked clothing.

Carson was the only one who told himself to remain calm as he quickly unlocked and removed the wrist manacles and the connecting chain before starting his examination. He made a mental note of the severe abrasion on John's wrists and the state of his bare feet before carefully cutting the tunic top open. Pulling it back, Carson expected to see some horrendous injuries beneath, and although there were plenty, they certainly didn't account for all the blood on his clothing.

"All right," he called. "I need someone to assist me while I check over his injuries."

Rodney didn't budge neither did Ronon or Major Lorne. Teyla was just about to move over to Beckett when a slim hand landed on her arm. "I will help the doctor," Sirena told her. "I have cared for him before." Teyla nodded her thanks as seeing John so badly injured was proving very hard for her to take.

Carson acknowledged Sirena's help with a nod before introducing himself. "I'm Dr. Beckett. Now would ya kindly hold this scanner for me while I see what's broken?"

Sirena knelt by Carson's side and took the instrument from him. She looked at John with sad eyes before murmuring. "My name is Sirena Alva. I thought he was dead for sure."

Carson spared a moment to glance up at the cliff face. "Aye, Sirena, if he'd landed on the rocks, then he would be. But we're talking about John Sheppard and if anyone could survive, it would be him."

With his attention drawn back to his patient, Carson spoke aloud when he started to make note of John's injuries. "There's severe generalised bruising, lacerations and malnourishment. A nasty break in the collar bone by the looks of things and he appears to have been shot in the shoulder with some type of metal pellets."

Carson moved on to John's arms and quickly cut away the bloody sleeve for the left one. He winced at the ugly sight of a bone protruding through the skin of John's upper arm. The wound was still oozing blood, meaning it was an ideal site for infection. "He has a compound fracture of the humerus of the left arm. I'll need to deal with that once we get back to Atlantis."

Sirena turned to look directly at the Carson and shot him a shocked look at the mention of the Ancient city but she didn't say anything to distract the doctor as he continued.

"His other arm appears to have no breaks only severe bruising and abrasion." Moving down to John's legs, he was satisfied that they appeared to have also miraculously survived without a break. Then requesting the Ancient instrument from Sirena, Carson began to scan John's slender frame. "Oh, bloody hell!" he suddenly shouted, "There's extensive internal bleeding. We need to get him home, fast!"

Those words brought the team out of their shock and with great haste, they moved into action as Carson and Sirena quickly stood aside. Without having to say a word, Ronon and Lorne carefully lifted the backboard and headed for the jumper as Carson hastily packed up his equipment and followed them. Teyla watched him go before ushering Sirena towards the jumper, leaving Rodney to take up the rear.

McKay hurried behind them. He'd been unusually quiet since finding Sheppard and as he watched his battered friend being hastily taken into the jumper, his guilt overwhelmed him. He shouldn't have left John to the mercy of the sadistic overlord, but what could he have done to prevent it.

The sound of automatic gunfire suddenly jolted him out of his guilt trip and a hail of bullets peppered the ground just behind him. Without any urging, Rodney bolted for the jumper as the Marines opened fire on the unseen assailant.

"That sounded like a P90!" Rodney shouted as he rushed into the jumper.

Lorne was already powering up but he spared a moment to answer. "Yeah, there seems to be several men up on the ridge and one of them seems to have our weapon." Pausing for a minute, his hand hovered over the hatch control. "Okay! We're out of here. Everyone onboard!" he shouted.

As the last marine rushed into the rear compartment, Lorne turned the shield on and took them airborne.

Gunfire continued to hit the shield as they flew towards the top of the ridge. McKay moved up front and peered out of the viewscreen to study their assailants. "You see the one with our gun that's a no good slaver called Tarmas, I don't know who the others are."

"Probably the Master's guards," answered Sirena, when she moved around McKay to take a quick glance out of the viewscreen.

"All right, let's blast them then!"

"Rodney, we cannot do that." Teyla called from her seat.

"Oh, yes we can or those poor people over there are going to get nailed." Rodney said, pointing out of the view port even though Teyla couldn't see from where she sat.

Sirena glanced out again and put a hand over her mouth in shock. "Oh, my goodness, the slaves are rebelling."

Lorne turned to her. "Then I think we need to get rid of the P90 shooter at the very least."

From his place near Sheppard who had been placed on the rear right-hand bench, Carson called out. "I hate to remind ya, but we need to get going."

"Give us just a few seconds, doc!" Lorne shouted back. "I'm sure the Colonel would what that."

Resigned, Carson simply replied. "Aye."

True to his promise, the major quickly sent a drone towards the slaver. It was over in seconds. "I hope that gives the slaves a fighting chance." Lorne commented, before cloaking the jumper and heading for the Stargate. No one answered as they all sat in thoughtful silence.

In the rear compartment, Carson worked calmly to finish attaching several fluid and drug giving IV's to his patient's uninjured arm. When that was done, he checked John over once more. He wasn't very happy with what he found so calling to the others, he shouted. "We need to contact Atlantis as soon as we can! The Colonel is not fairing too well and I need them to prep the OR and have a full team on standby!"

Lorne called from his seat. "Okay, doc. As soon as we near the gate, I'll dial up and tell them."

"Don't do it too early, Major," warned Rodney.

"No, we're going to have to time this one just right."

The tension in the jumper grew as they sped towards the Stargate. Teyla threw a worried look in Ronon's direction. He looked unusually pale and tense but she knew what John meant to him. Sirena had come back to sit near her. She also looked drawn and ashen. Teyla tried to give her a reassuring smile but it didn't come out quite as she intended.

Deep in thought, she nearly jumped out of her skin when Carson suddenly announced. "Oh bugger it! I'm going to have to intubate and insert a chest drain! Teyla love, could ya please come here and assist me?"

With her early reservation gone, Teyla quickly moved to stand near John's head being careful not to disrupt the IV lines snaking from his body. She watched as Carson tilted the Colonel's head back and expertly inserted the laryngoscope and tube. A few minutes later, he had an Ambu bag fitted and requested. "Could ya keep squeezing it at regular intervals, love?"

Teyla nodded, she knew what to do as she'd seen it done before. Calmly pressing the bag to give her friend and leader life saving air, she observed as Carson prepared to insert a tube directly into John's chest. She wasn't normally squeamish but the sight of Carson cutting the hole for the tube and all the resulting blood made her stomach turn.

Finding some inner strength, she quickly swallowed back the feeling as Carson finished up. He checked John's stats once again and although he didn't say anything, his eyes said it all. The quicker they got home, the better.

Up in the pilot's seat, Lorne concentrated as the Stargate came into view at last. All looked peaceful down below with just the usual two sentries on duty. They were standing a little away from the DHD but Lorne knew that their biggest problem would be keeping them away from it and preventing them from shutting down the wormhole before they could get through.

Then an idea began to form in Lorne's head. "What do you say we give them a little distraction?"

In typical Rodney style, the scientist replied. "Yes, yes, I was just going to say that."

Lorne sighed and concentrated on shooting a drone into the nearby countryside. He prayed that the resulting explosion would distract both sentries away from the gate.

As the plume of fire and smoke rose into the air, those at the front of the jumper let out a sigh of relief when both guards broke off to investigate.

"Okay, let's dial up the gate and contact Atlantis." Lorne ordered.

Rodney wasted no time in punching in the address and sending through his IDC. "This is Jumper five! We're coming in with a medical emergency. Beckett wants the OR prepped and a full team on standby."

"Understood." Chuck answered him, efficiently.

In no time at all, they rushed towards the gate and within seconds, Lorne expertly flew the jumper into the event horizon.

tbc

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