Chapter 38

"That is going to take hours!" Rodney huffed.

Ronon just glowered at the towering obstacle. The whack to his head when the wolf had attacked him had set off the whole headache, double vision stuff again. Rodney was teetering between exhaustion and hypoglycemic shock. He looked over at Slater. The man was acting weird. Uncomprehending. Shock - great.

"Come on." Ronon started forward determined to get this over with.

"It really needs to be downhill after this." Rodney muttered as he urged Slater forward.

"Just be careful." Ronon growled, taking his gaze off the slippery jumble of rock. "Pay attention and don't slip."

"Tell him that." Rodney grumbled poking a finger at Slater. "Snap out of it, Slater!"

Slater blinked at him slowly, cradling his arm close. It was obvious that he wasn't really registering anything at the moment. Apparently fetid prehistoric wolf breath numbed the mind.

"You can't climb that," Rodney pointed at the waterfall, "in this state."

"Oh, for….," Rodney set his chin and slapped Slater across the face. "Snap. Out of. It." He bit the words out as he slapped him again.

"What? Hey!" Slater blinked and glared at Rodney. "You hit me! Twice!"

Rodney just pointed at the rocky obstacle in front of them.

Slater followed his gaze. His head tilted back as his gaze traveled to the top where water gushed over the lip and began tumbling down. He swung his gaze back to Rodney. "We have to climb that?" Fear edged his voice where anger had been moments ago.

"Yeah." Ronon rumbled as Rodney frowned and nodded.

"But my arm!"

"You could stay here." Rodney replied callously.

A small whimper emerged from Slater, but the others ignored it.

"We'll go up the left side. Make sure of each step before you take it. Let's go. Rodney, you first then Slater. I'll bring up the rear."

"What? Me first?"

"You rather be behind us if we slip?" Ronon sent a quick glance in Slater's direction.

"Oh, ah, no."

Ronon gave him an impassive look. Rodney sighed and began picking his way up the rocky incline.

Resignedly, he clambered up the rocks moving slowly. In theory, he was moving slow in order that Slater could follow his steps – proven safe steps since he had not slipped. In reality, he was just too completely exhausted to move any faster.

He could hear Slater's slow progress behind him. He couldn't hear Ronon which was a good thing, he thought. He shouldn't hear Ronon move. He risked a glance back anyway just to be absolutely sure that Ronon was behind them. He did have a concussion after all.

The first few yards were relatively easy then nature decided to issue a challenge. "Stopping," Rodney barked as he came to a halt in order to study the next phase.

The expanse before them was not only wet it was fairly smooth. Cracks ran through the rock creating what a wild stretch of the imagination could call finger holds and there were some slight ripples that might become foot holds.

"Just take your time, McKay. I might not catch you if you slip."

Ronon's deep voice rolled over Rodney full of confidence in him. Ronon's teasing warming him a little inside; the knot of worry easing a tad. Rodney took a deep breath. It was up to him to find a path to the top; up to him to hurdle the latest obstacle between them and medical help.

"Why couldn't I have stayed at Area 51?" He muttered as he began to pick his way up the rock side.

They climbed in silence surrounded by the sounds of wildlife. Everyone once in awhile a grunt or hiss of pain broke the silence. A couple of times a foot slipped causing a heart to leap, a pulse to hammer.

Finally, sweating, soaked and shaking violently Rodney found a place for them to stop and rest. Cautiously, he lowered himself to the hard outcropping. "Stop," he said breathlessly.

Slater looked at him dazed and swaying slightly before shifting his gaze slowly to the ground and finding a place to sit himself.

Even Ronon sank gratefully down upon the rocks. He saw Rodney pulling power bars from his pack and reached into a pocket for one of his own.

Slater just sat, slumped against the rocks holding his arm tight against his side and rocking side to side. Rodney leaned forward and tossed a power bar in his lap. Without a word, Slater mechanically ripped open the package and began to eat.

They sat there too tired to move as the sun slowly inched the sky. Finally, Ronon rumbled, "We need to go."

"Right." Rodney got to his feet like an old man, groaning at every ache. "Great," he murmured checking out the most viable route. "Now I can add a head cold to my list."

"What?" Slater asked confused. "Why?"

"Because the next part has water splashing over it as if we weren't already wet enough." Rodney said as if the inconvenience was a personal affront. He pulled his damp shirt away from his skin, but it plastered right back when he let go.

Gritting his teeth, Rodney began climbing. The water when it hit him was ice cold. "Ahhgghh! It's freezing!" He began cursing as he climbed.

Slater gasped as the water hit him; Ronon silently followed him.

By the time they reached the top they were soaked through and cold to the bone. Their teeth were clacking together so loudly that they were undoubtedly alerting the wildlife to their presence.

"F…f….fire." Rodney gasped. "Need…..warm…..dry."

They all began gathering wood and building a fire pit. Ronon was very glad for the fire-starter from Teyla because his hands were shaking too much to use the Earth matches.

As soon as the flames leaped to life the three of them huddled as close as possible to the fire. It seemed to take hours before they quit shaking and the blue tinge left their lips.

As warmth seeped back into his bones, Ronon looked around taking in their surroundings. Looking in the direction they would be heading, he paused and squinted. He began walking.

"Ronon?"

"Stay there. Just checking on something."

As he moved away from the fire the slender ray of hope grew. He hurriedly scrambled over the strewn boulders beside the river. Yes! "Yes!" He turned back toward Rodney and Slater.

"Downhill." He grinned as he raced back to them.

"Downhill? Really?" Rodney almost refused to believe it.

"No more climbing?" Slater asked with a grin.

"Yes. No." Ronon answered them both. "If we keep going, we could be across this and part way down by nightfall."

"Can we stay here long enough to eat and dry out a bit more?" Slater asked wretchedly.

"Yeah," Ronon agreed to the delay even though he itched to move. Lives were slipping away as they sat here eating and getting warm, but he also worried about Rodney's health. He wasn't doing too well although he was trying to hide it.

From here he knew how long to the Gate. Part of the burden lifted from his shoulders. They could possibly be at Reanna's cave by tomorrow night. Half a day from there to the Gate. He'd force Rodney to eat a good, solid meal and take a hot shower while the rescue team was assembled because he had no doubt they both intended to return with the crew.

Settling wearily near the fire, they ripped open MRE's and power bars and ate. Their motions automatic.

"Two days max." Rodney muttered softly. "Medical help, showers, food, soft beds, clean sheets."