Chapter 14
John flinched as a roll of thunder echoed through the control room, glancing at McKay as he rushed up the stairs. The scientist was frantically tapping on his console and he didn't bother masking his frustration at the overflowing buckets scattered throughout the control room. "I thought you said this wasn't going to be a problem!"
"I said it wasn't a super storm." Rodney stopped, lowering the tablet to grasp the stitch in his side. There wasn't enough lightning to manually active the shield and he'd been run off his feet trying to minimize the damages, hesitant to waste their ZPM because of a few leaky sectors. "It's not going to get any worse, we just need to sit tight for the next hour or so."
John breathed out sharply trying to ignore the tension building behind his temples. He had a group of scientists stranded in the lower west-wing, reports of flooding from all over the city and interference was making communication damn near impossible. It might not be a super storm but it was still creating a massive headache.
"Sir, I think I may have located Doctor Weir." Banks interrupted them turning her screen so they could see it, "there's a life sign down by one of the grounding stations, hasn't moved for a while now." She pointed to the dot suspecting it was the missing doctor. Everyone else was either active and accounted for or holed up in one of designated areas making it highly likely the pulsing circle was Weir.
John frowned briefly diverting his attention from the other contending problems to address the technician. Doctor Robinson had called nearly an hour ago asking if he'd seen Elizabeth and the question had left a knot of concern in his stomach. Even though the psychiatrist had expressed there was no reason to be worried she hadn't exactly been convincing and now he knew why. "Try to see if you can get her on the coms again."
Rodney stepped up to the screen and glanced at Sheppard his expression shifting between surprise and confusion. It was the same grounding station that Kolya had ordered them too, something he'd been actively trying not to think about given their current situation and an involuntary shiver ran down his spine in response. "Look, I know I said it's not a super storm but that's the last place anyone should be right now."
John glanced at Banks who shook her head in response. He didn't know if it was interference or if Elizabeth had deliberately turned off her radio but he wasn't going to take any chances and directed his attention back to the scientist. "Zelenka needs you in the West Pier, you can bypass the grounding station on the way there."
"Wait, what?" Rodney flustered at the suggestion, "they're not even remotely close to each other. Do you know how long it's going to take just to get to the-"
"McKay!" John drew in a sharp sigh leaving no room for argument. If he'd had a choice he would have gone himself but the control room had the strongest signal and he was stuck trying to coordinate efforts across the city.
Rodney rolled his eyes, gaze darting to the sheets of rain battering the windows outside. He'd been hoping to avoid the tremulous weather conditions this time around and breathed out a huff as he fumbled with the zip on his jacket. If it had been anyone else he would have exercised his right to protest but the fact it was Elizabeth made him reluctantly agree to the plan. "Tell Zelenka I'll get there as soon as I can."
John nodded watching McKay's retreating form as he switched from his coms to the radio handset he'd given out to all senior staff. It was slightly more effective and he tried raising the Czech scientist, doing his best to ignore the unease clawing at his throat. Everything was going to be fine he just had to keep it together long enough to get everyone through the worst of it.
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"Elizabeth!" Rodney called out through the teaming rain, drawing his arms together as he huddled under the flimsy cover trying to get her attention. She was standing out on the platform, her hands gripping the rail and he flinched as lightening struck illuminating the choppy sea around her. The storm would be over them in minutes and shouting was getting him nowhere, the sound barely audible over the load roar of wind.
With a deep breath he ignored common sense, trying not to slip as he clambered down to the lower level and out into the freezing conditions. It wasn't until he landed directly beside her that he tried yelling again. "You know we're in the middle of a storm right!"
Elizabeth snapped her head round, her eyes shifting from shock to confusion as she stared at him. She could barely remember leaving her session with Eva, let alone how she'd gotten outside and flinched at the concern etched in his features. She'd been so consumed by her memories, lost in the terrifying images, that the storm hadn't registered and the gravity of the situation suddenly found a slamming foothold. "We should go inside!"
"Funny, I was just going to say the same thing!" He stepped back letting her take the lead, placing his hand against the small of her back as they navigated across the landing. When they made it safely inside he jogged on the spot, locking his jaw to try and control the shivers wracking his body.
"Rodney, I'm so sorry-" heat flushed her face as she hugged herself tightly, fighting a rush of embarrassment as her teeth chattered, "I didn't realize... I don't know... what I was thinking."
A sarcastic retort jumped to his mouth but Sheppard's voice burst through his handheld cutting him off.
["McKay, did you find Elizabeth?"]
He rolled his eyes struggling to get his freezing hands to work the radio and when he found the button he didn't bother trying to mask his frustration, "she's here, give us a second would you." He lowered the device muttering as he shook his head, "guy's like a dog with a bone."
She didn't respond to the comment and his annoyance shifted to concern, his eyes searching hers for any indication she was okay. Clearly she wasn't. She was beyond pale, visibly shaking but somehow still managed to fix him with a stubborn nod that offered a slight reassurance. At least enough to relay back to Sheppard. "She says she's fine. How's Zelenka doing?"
["They've got flooding in the lower corridors so you'll have to find another way up there. I'll let them know you're thirty out."]
The transmission cut off and he threw his hand up in defeat, "what does he expect me to do, fly?"
The quip fell heavily between them and he swallowed roughly not sure how to handle their current standoff. He could just leave that much was obvious but he didn't know what to say and took an instinctive step closer to her. "I can take you down to the infirmary or back up to the control room? Sheppard's there, he can-"
"Rodney I'm fine, go." She forced a tight smile as another image rammed her memory, this time of him standing between herself and Koyla's gun. It was all coming back, cashing in waves but it was something she had to deal with herself. She'd already caused the team enough worry and she steeled herself motioning for him to follow the order.
He reluctantly nodded and guilt wormed its way through her chest as he picked up the radio, trying to get a hold of Zelenka. She had her memories back but at what cost, more reasons to lie awake fearful? Pushing herself had been a lapse in judgment and she shivered swallowing the tight lump in her throat.
She needed to get warm; she just hoped it was going to be easier the second time around.
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