A/N – Massive thanks to debbie418uk2 for very kindly doing a medical beta read of this and for the info! Also, to RodneyIsGodney for this little plot bunny…
Thunderclap
"This is incredible!" Rodney remarked with an incredulous smile.
"What is it, McKay?" John asked from a short distance away on the roof of a large domed building on planet M8R-102.
"The Ancients found a way to harness the electrical energy from lightning to power this entire facility." Rodney waved his hand at the tall pillars around the control panel he was working on, "The energy is drawn to the conductors and channelled into storage tanks below us."
Teyla was looking up at the dark clouds gathering overhead and stated, "This planet is known for its ferocious storms."
Rodney glanced up at the ominous weather with wide eyes and grimaced, "We really don't want to be here anymore. I've got all the data I need for analysis later. The survey team said the storm rolling in will last for several weeks. Plenty of time for us to check over the data before we come back."
Ronon shrugged, "Okay then, let's go."
The team staggered down the sloping roof of the dome and Rodney landed his feet more heavily than was necessary as he leant right back to keep his balance.
He was studying some readings on his tablet and not really paying any attention to his surroundings when they reached the edge of the roof. John had to grab the distracted scientist's shoulders to keep him from wandering over the drop.
John waved a hand at the tablet and looked into Rodney's pale and fearful face. "What's up?"
"The storm's coming in much faster than we predicted."
Ronon gazed indifferently over the edge of the roof and said, "The Jumper can take it, right?"
Rodney frowned and wrapped his free arm over his chest, "In as much as someone can survive being jolted by ten thousand volts? Oh, yes, sure."
"McKay…" John warned, "You said it would be fine, even if we were a bit slow leaving."
"Well, things have changed. The storm's not only gathering speed, but it's grown in intensity since our wonderfully observant survey team were here. I think the shields should hold long enough for us to reach the gate."
John frowned in anger, "You think ?"
Rodney rolled his eyes and gave him a sour look as he tucked the computer into the back of his tac vest. He turned around and very deliberately placed his feet on the top rungs of the ladder as he slowly followed Ronon and Teyla back down to the Jumper on the ground far below. John glanced up at the sky for a moment and went over the edge, being careful not to step on Rodney's fingers or kick him as the scientist took a little too long to climb down.
Suddenly a massive burst of light exploded above the planet and a few seconds later there was a rumble of thunder so loud Rodney flinched and closed his eyes. None of them could take their hands from the ladder without falling, so had to endure the noise without protection.
Halfway down ,it started to rain. Gently at first, but it soon intensified to a point where it was like a waterfall coming down from the clouds.
Rodney sighed and puffed water out of his mouth indignantly, "Oh, this just gets better and better!"
A twisted fork of white and blue, accentuated by the darkness, briefly flashed across the black clouds. Almost instantly an ear-splitting clap of crackling electricity rolled over the surface of the planet and vibrations ran through the ladder from the loudness of the sound.
The rungs of the ladder were slippery and treacherous. Rodney slowed down even more as he blinked through the water clouding his vision and stinging his eyes.
They were fairly close to the ground when Rodney's foot slipped right off the rung where he had just planted it. He yelped as his hands tightened on the bar and he held onto for dear life as his arms were wrenched. He swung against the ladder and hung there momentarily until his dangling foot found purchase and supported him once more. He stayed like that for a while and closed his eyes as he panted through his fright. Water ran in torrents over him and he shivered as it drenched him to the skin.
John was getting impatient above him and called out above the noise of the pounding rain. "Hurry it up, McKay! We need to get out of here!"
His last words were drowned out by the brightest and loudest bolt of lightning so far. Rodney winced as he slowly and gingerly continued to climb down to the ground where Teyla and Ronon were already waiting for them.
Ronon caught Rodney as he slipped right off the third rung up and fell. Ronon lost his breath for a few seconds when a tumbling and soaked scientist ploughed into his chest before McKay collapsed, gasping in panic, onto his knees.
Ronon shook his head and grabbed Rodney under one of his arms and tugged him upright. McKay said indignantly, "Hey, dislocated shoulders here!"
They started to walk across the tarmac over towards the Jumper parked a short distance away.
John smirked and said sarcastically, "You know, McKay, you were so slow getting down the ladder, I'm now asleep. Would've been quicker for us to toss you off right from the top and have Ronon catch you."
"Oh, ha ha, Colonel. Just because I can't climb like a cat…"
Ronon chuckled, "Maybe we should've left him up there and picked him up on the way out."
Rodney folded his arms over his chest and lifted his dripping chin, "You would've found nothing but a char grill up there," he shuddered. "The lightning's already started to be drawn to the conductors, so, uh, thanks for the concern, as usual." He looked down at his feet sadly at the end and rubbed his hands across the rivers of water tracking down his face and running under his clothes.
John patted his back and smiled, "We're just kidding around, Rodney."
They walked into the Jumper as Sheppard opened the hatch for them with his remote.
Rodney sat down heavily in the co-pilot's chair while the others took their seats around him. Water was being wrung out of his trousers from the pressure as he sat on them and it dripped down onto the deck underneath.
He sighed as he pulled off his waterlogged boots and drained them out onto the floor. His socks squelched wetly as he wriggled his toes and muttered, "Trench foot. Ugh, we should've worn wet suits."
"Where's the fun in that?" Ronon said with a brief grin. His dreadlocks had absorbed an uncanny amount of water and he was smiling as he ignored them despite their heaviness and the stream of water cascading from the ends of each one.
John powered up the systems and raised the shields up to maximum. He glanced across at Rodney who had started to work at his socks as they stubbornly clung to his ankles and feet.
He furrowed his brow in exasperation and sniffed loudly, "Can anyone else smell anything?"
Rodney ceased in the process of having one sock half peeled off and waited for a reply.
John wrinkled his nose and did not look at Rodney as he continued, "It's a bit cheesy in here."
Rodney huffed out an angry sigh and placed his foot down on the deck with both socks still on. He pressed the controls in front of him and grimaced, "The storm system is massive. It'll take weeks before it's passed over where we are. We need to leave now."
"What about the shields?" Teyla asked, "Will they protect us?"
"I don't know. I'll need to monitor them and reroute power as and when necessary."
John nodded as Rodney got up and squished and dripped on his way into the rear compartment. He reached up with a heavy arm as his drenched sleeve dragged it down and made it hard to move. A shiver rolled through his body again as he plugged his tablet into the crystal tray.
He swapped a few around and then called out, "We're good to go. Keep the shields up to maximum."
John tilted his head to the side and said, "Right, because flying without shields in a storm's a really good idea."
Rodney ignored his comment and said, "The shields will only be able to absorb a few impacts, so fly as quickly as possible."
John piloted the Jumper off the ground and up towards the dull clouds as rain hammered against the shields.
The first strike happened very soon after. The interior of the craft was bathed in a blinding white light while simultaneously a massive bang reverberated all around the craft and set the occupants on edge.
The inertial dampeners faltered for a moment and Rodney leant over and grabbed the edge of the bench to keep himself upright.
Barely two seconds later, another impact crashed against the shields and the lights in the craft dimmed for a few seconds as Rodney frantically rerouted crystals and diverted power. He called out, "I said a few hits, Colonel. Not one every five seconds!"
To illustrate his point, the storm threw another bolt of energy at the tiny Puddle Jumper and Rodney was forced into the wall in the rear compartment with a pained hiss. His body twisted as he regained his balance and he patted one hand against his damp clothes with a wet slapping sound as he checked for bruises. He grimaced and reached up to carry on looking for more power to cannibalise into the shield circuits.
He sighed and moved a few more crystals around.
John said back to him, "We're nearly clear. Just a few more seconds."
Before he uttered 'seconds' the largest bolt of lightning so far impacted the Jumper and tore through the failing shields. It passed through the rear compartment and electrified the crystal tray as Rodney still had his damp hands buried deeply into the guts of the ship.
He cried out briefly as the energy which had not been dissipated by the shields passed into his hands and right through his body. It went out of his feet to continue its journey to earth as it left the Jumper.
McKay's shocked and pained cry was abruptly cut short in a yelp when the lightning found his heart. He was thrown backwards into the wall in the rear compartment and crumpled down bonelessly onto the deck as his clothes smouldered and the rainwater steamed off into the air.
John turned around, looked at him briefly and muttered, "Oh, crap! Rodney!"
He flew the Jumper up and above the clouds and pushed it to go faster towards the gate in orbit while he spoke, "Ronon, Teyla. You remember that first aid course you did?"
They both nodded and understood. They quickly went into the rear compartment and carefully rolled Rodney onto his back from where he had landed curled up on the floor against the bench.
Teyla knelt down and carefully tilted Rodney's head back. She checked his mouth before she glanced down his chest. She said calmly, "He's not breathing."
Ronon hastily unzipped Rodney's tac vest and clasped his hands as he laid them over McKay's heart and started compressions.
Ronon frowned after he had finished counting and he turned to Teyla and said, "You can do it."
Teyla pursed her lips and nodded.
She steeled herself and hesitated only briefly before she clamped her lips over Rodney's and held his nose as she blew air into his inactive lungs.
Teyla had just finished her second breath and was watching Rodney's chest falling when John called back to them, "ETA one minute, hang on Rodney!"
He dialled up the gate while Ronon did more compressions on McKay's chest. The Satedan shook his hair out of the way as it dripped down onto Rodney's pale skin.
John dialled the gate and said into the radio, "We've got a medical emergency. Rodney's been electrocuted and I think his heart's stopped. Teyla and Ronon are doing CPR, but he's not responding."
Teyla nodded and leant forwards to force two more breaths into Rodney.
Dr Weir answered in a clipped and worried voice, "Acknowledged. The medical team are on their way to the Jumper Bay."
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The medical team, led by Carson, swarmed into the Jumper the moment it touched down and John opened the rear hatch.
"Oh my," Carson exclaimed when he saw the scene before him, "Rodney got himself a nasty jolt?"
Teyla nodded as the medical team took over from her and Ronon and placed a mask over Rodney's mouth and nose. One of them squeezed a bag rhythmically to push air into his lungs, while Carson tried to find a pulse on Rodney's neck.
John, Teyla and Ronon could only look on from the cockpit as Carson's face remained intense with concentration and concern.
Carson narrowed his eyes and suddenly he smiled, "Aye, that's it laddie! Let's get him to the infirmary."
The medical team transferred Rodney onto the waiting gurney and bound his bleeding and burnt hands, arms and feet as they wheeled him away.
John released a long built up breath in a sigh of relief at Carson's announcement as he followed the medical team out of the Jumper with Teyla and Ronon.
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"Um, my chest hurts," Rodney muttered indignantly as he bumped his thickly bandaged hands against himself.
Ronon, Teyla and John were gathered around him while Carson monitored the scientist in the infirmary after his recent ordeal.
Ronon looked away guiltily and Teyla set her lips in a thin line as she said, "A broken rib and cracked breastbone are better than not being with us at all, Rodney."
McKay's eyes widened in fear and he looked down at his wrapped hands and arms as he stopped moving them, "Oh! I really was dead wasn't I?"
John nodded, "We should know a little thing like death could never stop someone as stubborn an ass as you are, McKay."
Rodney furrowed his brow and his breath hitched as he drew in a shaky and painful breath, "Why am I not dead?"
John gave him a lopsided grin, "Teyla and Ronon here kept you going while we made our way back."
McKay rested his burnt hands over his chest protectively and sighed sadly, "I don't ever want to know which one of you did the breathing thing. But, uh, thanks."
Ronon patted his shoulder and smiled at him, "It's alright, McKay. Just don't do it again."
Teyla smiled across at Rodney in gladness.
John grinned at McKay, glanced up at his hair and waved a hand at him, "I have to admit, it was an interesting change of hairstyle and your ears were smoking!"
Rodney scowled at him and winced when he unsuccessfully tried to move his damaged hands up to check his hair.
After a while of sitting in silence, Rodney asked in a small voice, "Um, don't suppose I could have my laptop?"
John raised his eyebrows and gave a pointed look at Rodney's useless hands, "And do what?"
"Oh," McKay uttered and furrowed his brow as he glanced at the bandages. "What about eating and, uh, uh, the other thing…"
John smirked, "You'll just have to make sure you don't upset Carson too much, McKay…"
Rodney grimaced and lowered his hands down by his sides as he closed his eyes.
The team stayed with him for while longer until Carson came over and made them leave his patient alone to rest.
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A/N – I also know RodneyIsGodney is a huge fan of wet!McKay (and who isn't?!) so that was for her too…