Chapter 37 (4 days)

Be thankful for small favors, Sheppard thought as he lowered himself down gently next to Teyla. He had just made the rounds checking on the state of everyone and the news wasn't good. He handed her some breakfast that he had picked up on the way.

"Your ribs still hurt?" She asked quietly.

"Yeah, but my head doesn't." He gave her his charming smile.

She had woke up the day after Ronon and Company had left for the Gate and the huge, hurting knot in his gut and loosened slightly. By the end of the day she was limping around apparently the leg was just deeply bruised for which he was extremely grateful. Teyla was family. The sister he never had and he was sick and tired of losing those he let get close.

Teyla glanced across the room to where Major Lorne was hovering beside Reanna. "How is she?"

The knot in his gut tightened again. "Not good. We're dividing our limited antibiotics between her, Riker, Coralis and Zelenka so none of them are getting as much as they should. They're holding the infection at a standstill, but none of them are getting better."

"Dr. Zelenka, he is no better?"

Sheppard shook his head. "Feverish, in and out of consciousness, incoherent ramblings….in Czech usually."

"Ronon and Rodney will not give up." Teyla said firmly. "Help will come."

"I know. The question is will it come in time. Coralis hasn't woke up."

Bleakness settled over both of them. The past three days had been hellish. Perkins was sullenly doing what he was told, but no more. Sgt Erickson and Sheppard were doing most of the guard duty with Sgt Marshal spelling them when she could.

"They have been gone three days. If everything is going good for them, they should be through the mountains. Today or tomorrow should have them at the Gate. Elizabeth will have a rescue on the way within an hour or so of that."

"So we need to get through today and tomorrow."

"Yep."

"If things have gone well with them."

"Yep."

They both knew how often things 'went well' for their team. In addition, they hadn't seen any wolves since the men had left for the Gate which meant the wolves were probably tracking them.

Calin and Cordova approached them cradling their arms against their bodies.

"Colonel, we're running low on water. We can take the canteens and fill them up, but thought you'd want someone to come with us."

"And we should think of getting some fresh fruits if nothing else." Cordova added.

"We have plenty of MREs." Sheppard stated not wanting to take more risks than necessary and going across the plain to the forest constituted a big risk at the moment.

"Yes, but they don't have the nutrients our bodies need to promote healing. Fresh food is best when dealing with injuries like this." Cordova explained.

Sheppard sighed and started to rise. Teyla laid a hand on his arm. "Rest, John. I can escort them to the river."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I just need help getting upright. From there I am fine."

Sheppard nodded acquiescence. "When you get back will see about fresh fruit."

Sheppard walked out with them and watched the rag-tag group move slowly through the ruins toward the river. His sharp gaze swept the area around them searching for any danger. Not seeing any, he swiped a hand through his hair and rubbed at the ache in his neck. Some days he wondered why he hadn't stayed at McMurdo doing milk runs.

Straightening, he turned and re-entered the building. His gaze automatically swept the interior. Seeing Lorne talking to Reanna who looked to be awake, he headed that way.

"Sir," Lt Riker's pain filled voice stopped him.

"Hey, Lieutenant. How you feeling?" Sheppard asked squatting next to the man.

"Fine." Riker groaned.

"Right."

"Heard anything yet?" He shifted to a slightly more comfortable position. Hard to get comfortable when a building had fallen on you, he thought grimly.

"No, but it's early yet. Probably two days to go."

"Coralis. She isn't going to make it two more days, is she?"

"She'll make it."

Riker stared at him; a hard, searching stare that demanded the truth. Sheppard glared back. She'd make it. Nobody else was dying on this planet! Riker finally nodded then let his gaze drift over in a silent question to Reanna.

"She'll make it, too." Sheppard growled fiercely as if he could save her with his willpower alone.

"Yes, Sir." Riker agreed quietly.

Sheppard continued on over to Lorne and Reanna. He knew what Riker was thinking. All of their wishes and willpower couldn't save these people if the infection setting in wasn't contained.

"Hey," he said softly when her feverish gaze tracked to him. "How are you feeling?" Man was he getting tired of asking that question!

She blinked slowly, but didn't answer him.

"She keeps forgetting where she is; who we are." Lorne told him quietly.

"I dooo not….fooor..get….you." Re slurred slowly. She was obviously having trouble putting together sentences.

"You forget my name." Evan retorted.

"But…not…you."

Evan smiled gently as he swiped her brow with a wet cloth. "You're right. Enough talking for now. You need to focus on getting better."

She sighed and let her eyes flutter shut. Her body burned with pain and heat. Memories swirled through her mind. She hated the tug of sleep knowing that the nightmares were waiting there; lurking just out of sight and ready to pounce like a lizard pack.

Sheppard put a hand on Lorne's shoulder. "She's tough; she'll pull through."

Lorne could tell by the fierceness in his leader's voice that Sheppard was just as worried he was. "Antibiotics will be gone tomorrow."

A day maybe two without antibiotics shoring up her system. Crap!

"Teyla took Calin and Cordova to get fresh water. They get back they want to get fresh fruit. Cordova says it helps the body heal. So we'll send out the able to gather fruit maybe that'll give her some strength."

"No! No! Stop" Reanna began thrashing around threatening to tear the stitches that Alison had put in.

"Re, Re," Evan stroked her face gently. "It's okay. You're safe. I'm here. They can't hurt you."

She whimpered. "Please don't. Please."

"They can't hurt you, baby. Its okay." Evan cast a frantic look at Sheppard.

Sheppard gazed back in commiseration. How many times would she have to relive the nightmare? Would she never be free from what they did to her?

"Evan?" She drew his name out like she had in the beginning.

"Yeah, love it's me. Be still or you'll tear the stitches."

She mumbled something intelligible and sank deeper into sleep.

He kept his attention on her as he said, "It's hard enough listening to her go through it. I can't imagine what its like for her. She's reliving it; thinks she's there."

"Just stay by her, Major. Believe me, she knows you're with her."

Sheppard glanced once more at Reanna and moved on to check up on Sgt Marshal.

"I'm fine, Sir." She said before he could ask. "All I need is a bubble bath when we get back to Atlantis."

He grinned at her. Of all the seriously injured, she was doing the best. Everyday she had insisted that they prop her up just inside the doorway where she could see anything coming at them.

"Carson might have something to say about that considering your leg is broke."

"You let me worry about the good doctor, Sir." She grinned impishly.

"I am not going there, Sgt." Sheppard gave her a semi-stern look that made her laugh. "Holler if you need anything. I'm going out to check on Teyla's water detail."

He moved back out into the sunlight. The sunny day; the light breeze almost seemed to be mocking them. People shouldn't be fighting to survive on such a beautiful spring day.

This was a day for laughter and good times with friends; a barbecue perhaps, he mused. He pictured his team gathered around a grill, cold drinks, loud music, teasing each other about irrelevant things. With a grin, he even pictured Ronon relaxed and laughing looking young and carefree. That was a rare image that he'd love to see more often.

Maybe he could requisition a grill. Elizabeth would be compliant when they first returned. Relief at their being alive would make her susceptible to his requests. Yep, he thought as he shaded his eyes and searched for the waterboys, a grill set up on one of the piers was just what they needed.

The sight of three slow moving figures brought him a bigger rush of relief than he'd ever admit too. He moved toward them to help out.

He grabbed several canteens from them when they reached him. "All quiet?"

"Yes." Teyla smiled at him as she limped beside him. "No sign of any predator."

"Good then we're going to press our luck and go for that fruit."

"We are?"

Everyone was surprised.

Sheppard nodded. "Antibiotics are getting real low. If fruit will boost their systems, then fruit it is."

"We will be careful." Teyla murmured.

"I know you will because I'm going with you." Sheppard replied.