Chapter 12 – Rescue and Resolution

They were not eagles, but two tandem gliders, swooping down through the smoke and fumes to pluck John and Rodney from the rock where they were stranded. Rodney felt a hard jerk on the front of his tac vest and he was suddenly flying through the air, something gripping him under his arms. He struggled and coughed, until he heard Ronon's voice: "Stop moving, McKay, or I'll drop you!". Rodney allowed himself to dangle uncomfortably, hoping that he wouldn't have to hang like this for long. He felt his consciousness drifting but then his head jerked up.

"Where's Sheppard?" he said, alarm in his voice.

"Hadra's got him, they're in front of us," replied Ronon. "We're nearly upwind of the fire. I'll set you down soon."

The next thing Rodney knew he was lying on the hard ground, tough, dry grass scratching the back of his neck. He began to choke again and sat up, coughing convulsively. He felt something hard against his lips and someone was giving him water and helping him lie back down again. He turned his head to one side and saw John on the ground next to him, face pale beneath the black soot and reddening scorch marks. John's eyes briefly flickered open.

"Eagles..." he croaked.

"Lord of the Rings," Rodney rasped out.

John smiled and then his eyes closed again.

oOo

John became aware of something hard covering his mouth and nose. He reached up a hand to push it off, but felt someone push his hand back down and heard Jennifer Keller's voice.

"Leave it alone, Colonel," she said. "You're suffering from smoke inhalation. You need the oxygen."

John opened his eyes to see Jennifer leaning over him, and to his surprise, the roof of a Jumper above her head.

"What? How?" His voice came as a muffled croak through the plastic of the mask.

"They let us bring a Jumper through," smiled Jennifer. "I think the Council have realised they're going to need our help so they were okay about us using a Jumper to bring you home. We're nearly at the Gate."

"Rodney?" John asked.

Jennifer gestured to the other bench, where a scratched, scorched Rodney could be seen, face covered with a mask in the same way as John's.

"Who's flying?" asked John.

"Major Lorne," replied Jennifer.

Satisfied, John let exhaustion claim him and was aware of nothing more until he woke to the familiar environment of the Atlantis infirmary. His throat still felt sore, his chest tight and his leg, propped up on pillows, ached, but he felt clean and the oxygen mask was gone. He turned his head to see Rodney in the bed next to him, sitting up, tapping away at a laptop.

John tried to speak but just managed to utter a raspy croak. Rodney turned toward him nevertheless and said, "Finally! Colonel Sleepyhead's awake! Thought I was going to have to start flicking water at you!"

John hauled himself up and picked up the cup of water on the table next to him. He took a sip, cleared his throat and said, "Any time you want a water fight, just say the word, McKay!"

"Are you two bickering already?" said Jennifer, approaching their beds.

"Look at it as a good sign!" said John. "We're feeling better!"

"Good to see you awake, Colonel. I'll let Colonel Carter know. I think she's quite keen to debrief."

oOo

"So, you can use the crystals that were retrieved from N'Feni that night, to put the defenses back in place in the Central Halls column?" confirmed Sam.

Rodney, nodded and then spoke through a mouthful of sandwich. "Yes, I can get that up and running as soon as I get out of here." He waved his sandwich to indicate the infirmary in general. "And there might be a possibility that we could cobble something together to defend one of the other columns."

"That would still leave the J'Bari short, though," said John scraping the spoon round to get the last of his dessert. "They'd all have to crowd into just two columns permanently on the off-chance the Wraith come a-culling."

"It's still a better system than most worlds have," said Sam. "And there's always the possibility that they could track down more of their crystals."

"Teyla's on it," said Rodney, starting on his dessert. "With her trade contacts, you never know what she'll turn up. And," he added," waving his spoon, "she tells me N'Kishra's wife has handed over all the ill-gotten artworks so they've got something to trade, as well as giving Teyla the Athosian pieces to return to their rightful owners."

"Well, that's a start!" said John, yawning.

"I think I'll leave you to get some rest," said Sam, getting up. She turned away, but then turned back and looked at John and then Rodney. "I mean it - rest! No charging off on rescue missions, not even a casual stroll to a balcony until Dr Keller gives you permission!"

They looked at her innocently. Sam shook her head and walked away.

Rodney turned to John. "Balcony? Fresh air?"

"No, thanks, McKay, I think my leg's had enough stitches for now," said John.

oOo

Several days later a jumper shot through the J'Bari gate and was brought in for a gentle landing at the foot of Central Halls.

"Beast-quelling frequency?" said John.

"Emitting nicely, thank you!" replied Rodney.

John released the hatch and Rodney picked up his pack. As they entered the passageway leading into the base of the column, John noticed lights flicker on one by one and at the end of the passageway the doors had been reinstated and the door control fixed so that when he waved his hand over it, it opened smoothly.

"Looks like Zelenka and your Marine minions have got on with their jobs!" said Rodney.

"Yeah, this place is looking good!" agreed John. "Now you just need to get it working!"

"Give me half an hour!" said Rodney, setting his pack down on the floor and pulling off the front panel of the console.

John sat down, leaning back against the wall. His leg was much better, but still needed regular rest. He watched Rodney work, ate a power bar, throwing one to Rodney, who ate it without even seeming to notice, and he was just debating a second power bar when Rodney sat back looking satisfied.

"Done!" he said.

"Okay," said John. "Er... how do you know? How do you know it'll work?"

"Look," said Rodney, standing up. He pointed to various controls and displays on the console. "It detects any Wraith ships that enter the atmosphere or come through the gate and triggers automatically. First the cloak component and then after a short delay, the shielding comes online. That way the J'Bari have a few minutes to get under cover before the column seals."

"Cool," said John. "But nothing we haven't already got, right?"

"Well the system works a bit differently, but no, not really any different to the cloaks and shields we already have."

"What about the gliders? Is there anything we can use from those?"

Rodney looked thoughtful. "Well, they are a bit of a mystery," he said. "But we know the Ancients brought the Wraith into being in the first place, so this looks like a technology the Ancients were experimenting with which the Wraith eventually made their own."

"So, do you think we could use it?"

"Maybe, if the J'Bari will let us take one," said Rodney.

John looked thoughtful.

oOo

Another celebratory banquet was in progress and this time Ronon felt that he could almost be happy with his weapons actually out of reach. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming and even N'Feni and his troublemaking friends were sufficiently chastened and ashamed to provide no threat. Ronon noticed Teyla chatting animatedly to N'Sira and even the small, mousey Ch'ran was beginning to bloom away from her husband's influence, giggling behind her hand at a story Teyla was telling her.

Colonel Carter was also at the banquet and judging by her reaction to the food available was about to negotiate a trade agreement for the dates that flourished in the J'Bari gardens.

Al'Sabra and J'Kira were guests of honour, having piloted the tandem gliders that rescued John and Rodney. They were not so much interested in the feast, however, as keen to tear Ronon away so that he could show them some of his tackling techniques. As Ronon allowed himself to be pulled away, he glanced over at John and Rodney. John was looking very pleased about something, his quirky grin climbing mischievously up the side of his face. Rodney was looking decidedly uncomfortable. Ronon shrugged and left them to it.

oOo

"Ready?" asked John.

"No, not ready, I'll never be ready!" replied Rodney.

"C'mon, McKay, this'll be great!"

"No, it won't!"

"Well, I'm running, and you're coming with me!"

John ran, and Rodney, with no choice in the matter, ran with him, along the shallow balcony above the Jumper bay and out into the turbulent updraft that rose up the side of the control tower. John felt the glider surge and buck in the buffeting wind, heard Rodney's squeal of terror, but, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, by pure instinct, he banked, swooped and turned into a smooth, controlled descent toward the lower city.

"You can open your eyes now, Rodney!"

"Are you sure? No more ups and downs and sideways, because, seriously my lunch and your hair nearly got up close and personal just then!"

"Just open them, Rodney!"

So he did. And it was beautiful. They soared among the graceful towers and spires of the most wonderful city in two galaxies, soft blue sky above them, curious seabirds swooping around them and in the distance the deep blue of the ocean.

"I think maybe I'm starting to get it!" Rodney shouted, above the roar of the wind in his ears.

"Get what?" asked John.

"Why you love it so much. Flight."

John smiled, considered rewarding Rodney with a precipitous dive, but instead carried on, to take his friend smoothly all the way down to a gentle landing on the East pier where Teyla and Ronon were waiting.