"Keep moving!" John shouted as he tried to herd people forward. They were tripping on their own feet as they went, screaming and clamouring to get away as the darts continued to fly overhead. He watched another person get swept up in a wave of light and cursed loudly, "Come on, get to the gate!"
Simon had been shadowing him closely, his gun aimed at the ground, perspiration wetting his forehead.
As another dart flew over them John grabbed him by his arm and dragged him towards a line of trees, "We need to keep moving."
"There are still people here," Simon shouted over the whine above. He wasn't trained for situations of this magnitude and it was showing in his strained voice.
"I know," said John, "But we're not going to be able to help them." He didn't know how to explain it to Simon any better. They couldn't hang around either, there were wraith beginning to venture into the village, and two men alone couldn't stop the culling.
"We can't just leave them," Simon said as he followed John through the trees, avoiding fallen logs, as he moved.
"I don't like it anymore than you," John said trying to concentrate on staying upright and alert, "but we've got everyone scattered so there's a chance they might get out of this alive."
"What about the ones we left unconscious?"
John stopped and twisted to face Simon, pulling him towards him and raising a finger as he spoke, "Look, you have to keep moving. We can't help everybody." He paused and took in a deep breath, "I'm sorry, but….." he readjusted his grip on his P90 and felt a twinge in his shoulder, "The unconscious might get lucky. The wraith don't tend to waste their time on the weak and a lot of those people were half way to dead."
"This feels...wrong," Simon sighed.
There was movement behind them in the trees and a flash of grey.
"Simon, we can't help them. We need to get to the gate." He turned and started to run, Simon following close behind, throwing cautious glances over his shoulder as he went.
As John's legs pumped and his feet slapped down on the earth below his mind was racing. Everything had happened so quickly, his illness, the wraith turning up, people were running in all directions with little or no hope of escaping, and he was being backed up by a guy who had never been in a situation like this before. It all felt so hopeless and he was already pervaded by a sense of guilt that was so overwhelming it threatened to send him down to the ground. His heart was racing as he moved and he could feel the slickness at his shoulder increasing with ever swing of his arms.
He jumped a log and skidded to a stop when a wraith appeared in front of them. He managed to turn just in time to push Simon to the ground as a stunner blast passed over their heads.
"Is that a..?"
John ignored Simon, pushed himself up to his feet, and ran at the wraith at full pelt while simultaneously firing off shots with his P90. They hit the target and when he reached the wraith he threw his whole body into it to push it to the ground. Their collective bodies sank to the ground with a thud and John's finger was grasping for the trigger when the wraith dug his feet into his stomach and pushed him off. In a matter of moments, the wraith was grabbing him by the throat, lifting him up, and pressing him against a tree.
"Simon!" he shouted over the deafening thrum in his ears, "Shoot him!"
The wraith retracted his hand and just before he plunged Simon pressed the trigger. Bark sprayed out next to John's head and he felt the burn as some of it shredded his cheek. The wraith was stunned, ducking reflexively, and John manoeuvred his gun around to fire off two shots straight into its chest.
"Fire again!" shouted John.
Simon walked closer, fired the entire round into the wraith, without really looking and it sank to the ground in one last flailing move.
John was still leaning against the tree, breathing heavily, and looking down at the body with morbid fascination. If it was going to make another move, he was ready to take it down.
"Are you okay?" Simon asked taking the wraith by a wide berth to reach John.
John clipped his P90 back onto his vest, "I'm fine. Come on."
He took off, running as an excuse to mask any new injuries he may have acquired and to take the focus off his ravaged body. It was bad enough that the strange illness had taken away his energy and left him weak, but the bullet wound and his probable concussion was leaving him feeling shattered. He didn't know how long he could keep up his pace, but he didn't want to risk stopping and reducing the flow of his fuelling adrenaline.
----------------
As soon as Carson had got through the gate he was making orders, "I need anyone with the ATA gene to get out of here and I need to quarantine the gate room and get a triage area set up immediately!"
Elizabeth ran down the steps to the gate room to join him, "What's going on?"
"Wraith," he said panting, "Lots of them."
"And John?"
"We didn't reach him in time. He ordered us back," said Lorne as he approached her.
"What?"
"He's an idiot," Rodney offered unhelpfully.
Lorne shot him an irritated look. "The darts started flying over and he said to get as many people out as possible, some of my men have stayed back to get people through-" just as he spoke people started to emerge from the stargate.
"We're going to have an influx of patients," said Carson, "But Sheppard suspected it only affected people with the ATA gene so we need everyone with it out of here now."
Elizabeth turned back to members of her staff, "You heard him. Everyone with the gene get out of here. Was he close to the gate?"
"It'll take him a while to reach it, especially if he's ill."
"And we can only keep the gate open for thirty eight minutes at a time," said Rodney.
Carson had a team mobilised to receive the new patients.
"We have a room we can mobilise as the quarantine?" asked Lorne as he watched people surge through the gate with panicked looks on their faces.
"Back here," said Elizabeth glad to be of use.
----------------
They were on a hill, the gate was in sight, but they watched the gate shut down and then simultaneously get re-dialled. The area around the gate was empty so at least the remainder of his team had managed to get through. Hopefully alive.
"Dammit!" John muttered as he leant against a tree.
"What?" Simon asked as he nervously looked behind them.
John continued to lean, looking nonchalant even, "They dialled in to prevent anyone else escape," he said resignedly. Simon couldn't believe how John wasn't shaken by this. Their only means of escape was seemingly cut off and he looked calm. He'd obviously been in this situation before.
"But they were keeping it open for us," said Simon. He looked John up and down and could see that he was almost ready to drop. He realised however, that the stubborn man wasn't going to admit it.
"The gate can maintain a connection for a maximum of thirty eight minutes, trust me I know from experience, and when it shut down the wraith must have taken their chance to dial up and stop people from getting out."
"So we're stuck?" Simon could feel his panic building incrementally. Months ago the biggest worry he has was running out of coffee and toilet roll.
"It's not their fault. We've been on the move for three hours. It was inevitable," he sighed and looked up to relieve the tension in his neck.
"We're going to die," said Simon suddenly.
John was about to comment on the fact that he was beginning to sound like Rodney when he opened his eyes and looked up thoughtfully, "Climb."
Simon moved his eyes away from the gate and turned to John with a confused expression, "What?"
"This tree," said John, as if it made perfect sense, "Climb it."
"This is a joke..right?"
John reached up for one of the lower branches and started to pull himself up slowly. The pain was excruciating and his weakened arm wasn't helping any but he thankfully had a good foothold, "We need a good defensive position while we wait," he said as he looked down at Simon, "It has a thick cover of leaves above so the darts wont be able to see us, we can see the gate and we can see any approaching wraith. Trust me; this is a good strategic position." He continued to climb. "Are you coming?"
Simon sighed, realised John wasn't joking, and climbed up behind John, joining him high up on two thick branches that intersected and conveniently created a flat area to sit on.
They sat opposite one another, their backs resting on the branches.
"Now what?" Simon asked as he examined John's face. He could see that John's exterior was carefully cultivated so as not to give away his pain, but his ragged breathing couldn't hide the fact that he was injured. Professional concern was overriding his thoughts.
"We wait," said John checking his P90 over and counting the bullets left in the clip.
"Right," said Simon hugging his legs. "Uh, thanks by the way, for earlier."
John looked up at him with tired eyes.
"For saving my life."
John waved a hand up at him and set is head back to rest, "Don't mention it."
"I didn't realise it was as bad as this," said Simon glancing below them nervously.
"All in a days work," said John, "it's been getting worse though."
"How long are we going to have to stay here?"
"Not sure. We might have to wait till the wraith get bored, other than that Atlantis might be able to re-establish a wormhole and then we can-" he paused and took in a steadying breath.
"Are you injured?" asked Simon leaning forward, careful not to take an accidental spill off the side of the branch. He hoped it could stand their combined weight.
John opened his eyes, reasserted some composure and blew out a breath of air, "I'm fine, Simon."
"You're lying to me."
"Okay," said John, "I have some horrendous illness that's making me feel like crap and-" He paused and remained dead still.
"What?"
John held him finger up to still him and then pointed down.
Below them there was a wraith.
John edged his finger over his trigger and began to aim down.
The wraith stood still for a further few seconds and then went on its way, disappearing into the underbrush.
Simon let out the breath he didn't realise he had been holding and wiped his face wearily.
"You were saying?"
"I think its best if we keep quiet," said John deflecting anymore comments about his current state. It was true that he was feeling absolutely wrecked. If anything they were probably in the best position so he might be able to get a few snatches of sleep to recharge himself. He let his eyes close and it was Simon who prodded him awake.
"You're not going to sleep are you?"
"Just resting my eyes."
"But what if they come?"
"We're well hidden Simon. Look, I'm not sleeping. You can prod me every half hour if it makes you feel any better."
He heard Simon sigh again. It was a wonder he actually got any oxygen to his brain the way he breathed out like that all the time.
"We'll be fine Simon."
"But if you're injured," Simon whispered.
"Simon."
"Okay."
--------------------------------
Elizabeth was tired. She had a headache, induced by worrying so much and her gate room was pandemonium. Carson had set up an intricate triage section and quarantined the sick in separate rooms. They had managed to get out a lot of the people from the villages both sick and well, but their connection had been cut off hours ago and they couldn't re-establish another wormhole. She had told them to keep trying and to contact her when they had more news.
She swiped open the door and entered John's quarters. As the doors closed behind, she felt like she was intruding, but she wanted, no needed, to be close to John and this was the only way she could think to do it.
She scanned his room and stifled a laugh, tinged with such restrained emotion she could have cried. His bed was unmade, his clothes were still strewn around the room in a lazy fashion and there was a pile of paperwork on his desk that he hadn't done.
She walked over to the pile and looked at the sketch he had drawn on top of it of a smiley face and a note to himself saying, "Do these you lazy ass!"
She smiled and wandered over to his bed, retrieving his pillow, and inhaling his scent. She continued to hug it and lay down on the bed, pulling the covers around her to cocoon herself from the outside world.
----------------------
It had gotten dark fairly quickly and John had felt the cold brush of the breeze on his skin. It pulled him out of his sleep and struggling feverently he had managed to open heavily lidded eyes.
He felt something pinch at his skin and slapped at his arm to kill the offending bug that sat there.
Simon jolted awake, apparently succumbing to low energy levels, and stared at him wide eyed, "What was that?"
"Bug," said John, using what little energy he had to kill another bug as it landed on him, "Didn't notice there were so many of these things." He looked into the air and could see the tiny things swarming around him, looking for lunch.
"How are you feeling?" Simon asked.
John licked his lips, considered the question, and then lied, "I feel good."
Simon rolled his eyes, already accustomed to John's down playing of injuries. He knew there was something else wrong with him and he couldn't figure out what it was. He couldn't help but feel that if they had a closer relationship he might have disclosed what was wrong.
"The gates still active," said John.
"I can't hear anymore of those……darts."
"No," said John, "Neither can I."
"You think its Atlantis?"
"I don't know," said John. He reached his hand up to his radio and gave it a try, "Hey, anybody there?"
The line was filled with static and a dart whined overhead. He raised his eyebrows and switched off his radio.
"Well, I guess that answers that question," said Simon silently.
John leant forward all of a sudden and gripped his shoulder, biting down on his lip, and panting.
"Okay, what is it?" said Simon carefully moving forward and keeping his fingers dug into the branch.
"I told you-"
"And I'm telling you," said Simon raising his voice, "What is it?"
John continued to hold his shoulder.
"Colonel?"
"I got shot in the shoulder," he said not meeting his eyes.
"What?" Simon wrenched his hand away and started to examine the area in question, "Why didn't you mention this?" he fought with the tac vest and moved it to the side, "You've lost a lot of blood by the looks of it. Has it gone all the way through?"
"I don't know," John admitted sullenly, "Look, I didn't mention it because you don't have your medical bag and I figured it could wait."
"You're ridiculous," said Simon vehemently, "Any pain in your chest? Difficulty breathing?"
"I had that before with this damn-" he coughed into his fist on cue,"-illness. Its nothing I haven't had before. Its possible it went all the way through."
"Possible but not definite. You could have a bullet inside you now. One false move and it could move, nick a vital organ. Tear your aor-"
"Okay I get it." He dug into his tac vest and found some field bandages and passed them to Simon.
"We can wrap the wound, stem the bleeding," he said as he unravelled them.
"Kind of difficult in this tree," said John.
"Well, just take of the vest and your t-shirt and I'll see what I can do."
"Its freezing and there are hundreds of bugs making me lunch."
"So now you're afraid of bugs?"
John was going to mention the iratus bug but thought better of it and sluggishly started to remove his clothing. He tried to keep his balance, moving slowly and deliberately. He finally got his t-shirt off and Simon worked on the wound, securing the bandage around him securely, "You should have told me."
"I know," said John.
When Simon had finished he re-dressed; balance still an issue.
"Does it hurt?"
"On and off."
"We should try to keep your mind off it," said Simon as he sat back and readjusted his position.
"Let me guess where this is going?"
Simon pulled his legs up to his chest to conserve warmth.
"Let me guess…the subject matter will be Elizabeth and you're going to ask me if my intentions towards her are honourable?"
"No," said Simon, "But now you bring it up."
"You're not her father, you're not my keeper so lets leave it at that." John crossed his arms over his chest.
Simon looked off to somewhere in the distance.
"Look," said John. He reached into his tac vest and pulled out some painkillers and fought for his canisters freedom, "I know I haven't exactly been sensitive to the fact that…well-" he swallowed the tablets, "..you loved her."
"I just don't think you're good enough for her."
John nearly choked on his water.
"You're a soldier. You step through the gate all the time. She'll eventually have to deal with grief."
"Grief like when you broke up with her?" John snarked.
"I never meant to hurt her. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing."
"Atlantis is another world. These situations are day to day, but we're all used to it. We're not going to give up on being together because the odds are-"
"Overwhelming?"
"-against us."
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence that passed between them like it so often did.
John could feel the drugs starting to take effect. They seemed a lot stronger than usual. He could feel his tongue going fuzzy and his head light. He was beginning to think he had made a stupid decision by taking them. They were after all up a tree. A very tall tree.
"Elizabeth's father was military. She swore she would never date anyone affiliated with it."
"Well, I'm different," said John.
"You're essentially the same."
"People change."
"Or their manipulated."
John laughed at that comment, "Yes, I'm an evil genius. I convinced a woman who I most definitely don't deserve, and who is infinitely smarter than me, to go out with me."
Simon's mouth fell open, "You admitted it."
"Admitted what?"
"That you don't deserve her."
"Of course I don't," said John rubbing at his head.
Simon was silent.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Oh there's something."
Silence.
"These painkillers are making me feel weird," John admitted suddenly.
"You're illness might be interacting with them. Making them stronger."
"You couldn't have told me that before I took them?" He rubbed at his stomach as nausea began to rear its ugly head.
"And having them on an empty stomach was probably not a good idea."
John suddenly moved his head over to the side and threw up. He watched as his stomach contents sailed to the ground with a splat. He sat back against the tree and groaned, "I could have just given our position away in a very…unconventional manner." He was sweating, hot, his mouth dry, his throat sore.
"It certainly went the distance," said Simon peering over the edge and then handing him his canister.
"Look Simon," said John reaching out for it and then closing his eyes, "Can we drop the 'Lizbeth issue," he slurred.
"I'm not sure I can."
"Well I'm going to. I love her and that's all you need-" he stopped and snapped his eyes open at the realisation of what he had just said.
"Did you just say you loved her?"
"Uh…yeah…I did," said John. He looked down, eyebrows knitting together at his revelation.
"You love Elizabeth?"
"I didn't say that," said John, "It's the drugs."
"You love her?" Simon tested the words.
"I mean…" he closed his eyes and realised what he was missing.
They sat in complete stillness, staring at one another.
"Oh."
--------------------
The gate alarm was blaring and Elizabeth ran into the gate room. She had barely had time to think about her own health she realised as she skidded to a stop by the gate technician.
"What's going on?"
"Incoming wormhole has been established. Receiving IDC now…it's Colonel Sheppard," he said with a hint of surprise.
Elizabeth felt her face light up and tapped her earpiece, "John?"
"Oh it's good to hear your voice," he said. His voice didn't quite sound right.
"The shields down," she said racing down the steps to intercept him.
She waited, hands clasped together, bounding up and down on her heels and Carson joined her at her side. He was still in his Hazmat gear.
Two figures emerged from the event horizon. As soon as she looked at John she could tell that something wasn't right. The way he was holding himself and a look in his eyes that told her to worry instantly.
The gate closed with a swoosh and just as Carson approached him he collapsed to the ground.
Elizabeth knelt beside him, rolled him over with the help of Simon and Carson and looked at his still body.
"John!" she called out giving him a shake, "John!" Her voice was getting higher, her heart was racing, and she was scared to death.
"Why isn't he moving?" she asked looking up at Carson with teary eyes.
Outwardly she was falling apart and trying to keep herself in check. She was trying to make it appear that she wasn't desperately worried for her partner. She knew she had to look professional, remain detached, but her insides were screaming at her. Her boyfriend was lying unconscious on the floor, unmoving, and when Carson checked his pupils they were still and unresponsive.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"We need to get him to a bed now," said Carson.
"Simon what happened?"
"He got worse on the way back to the gate." He was pacing and running a hand through his hair, "The wraith left and he told us to run. He was flagging behind, getting sicker-" he reached out for her hand and she pulled away to kneel beside John. "John!" she called out again and suddenly she was crying. She couldn't hold it together anymore. The tears were flowing freely down her cheeks and all she could think was screw her professional exterior.
TBC