Disclaimer - I do not own SGA or its Characters. I do own Dr. Orla Grant.
Rated T for violence & threat.
Ronon secreted the machete back into the long leather coat he wore, turning he bellowed at McKay to throw the rope down to him. He moved towards the wall of the trap nearest to McKay and held his hands above him, easily catching the rope. He sloshed through the water to return to stand before Jennifer.
"We need to get you up there, Doc. You first."
"But, Lorne," Jennifer began to protest.
"Ronon's right, Doc. You need out of this trap too. Besides, we need you to see to Lorne when McKay's pulled him out," Sheppard ordered.
"Okay," Jennifer nodded, she lowered Lorne's feet which were immediately covered by water.
Ronon tied the rope into a bowline around Jennifer, checking it was secure he said, "Try to hold on, you'll swing from side to side. Let McKay take your weight there's nothing you can get a purchase on anyway." He steered the young doctor towards the wall nearest to McKay. He threw the rope up and over the side of the trap for McKay to reach. He bent down and whispered, "You can do this, Jennifer," Ronon stood back and yelled, "Pull her up, McKay."
They watched as McKay began to pull on the rope attached to Jennifer.
McKay grunted; the dead weight of an adult was a lot more than he'd expected. How could Jennifer be so skinny and weigh so much? The rope was wet and heavy his hands already stinging at the friction. "Stay still," he yelled as he felt the rope swinging from side to side.
Dr. Alice Biro ran out from under the tree canopies and with gritted determination began to help Rodney pull Jennifer up.
Slowly Jennifer's head appeared above the trap, then her shoulders, she moved herself so that she could begin to shuffle along the muddy ground. McKay dropped the rope and was instantly at Jennifer's side. He pulled her up and over until she was laying on her back in the mud. "Jennifer?" McKay uttered his voice unsteady.
"Rodney?" Jennifer answered as she began to cry in relief.
"Okay, so that's what, three and half minutes apart," Laura stated. "You're getting quicker, that's good."
"It doesn't feel good, I want Ronon," Orla moaned, this was not how she saw herself giving birth.
"Well, I can't do anything about Ronon so you'll have to make do with me. I can scowl and growl if it will make you feel better?" she joked.
Orla laughed, she tried to get comfortable, "Is there nothing else I can put under my back?"
"I'm sorry, prof, all you have is me. Though, not for long. I'm going to check on Jennifer and Lorne while you have time. I really need to see how they are," Laura rose to her feet. "Don't do anything I wouldn't okay?"
"What, like; have a baby?"
"Exactly!"
Laura ran out of the cave; she spotted the landmarks she chosen to keep her on route to the trap as the light was fading. It was dark now, not fully evening, but the storm had reduced visibility. She ran as fast as she could, coming to stop when to her amazement she saw Rodney, Jennifer and a person she didn't quite know. She quickly covered the space between her and McKay. "Rodney?"
"Cadman? Where did you come from?"
"The cave, never mind that, are you all here to rescue us? Orla's in labor," Laura explained hurriedly as she began to untie Jennifer.
Laura moved towards the edge of the trap and peered over easily spotting Sheppard and Ronon keeping Lorne above the water below. "You guys need a hand?"
"Cadman? Where's Orla?" Ronon growled.
"Taking shelter in a cave nearby. Who's up next? Lorne?" bellowed Cadman
"Aren't you going to tell him about Orla?" McKay hissed at Cadman's side.
"NO!" shouted Cadman and Keller in unison. "Not until everyone's out of that trap safely. We can't stop the labor but we can stop a panicking giant Satedan."
"Do you want to take me to Dr. Grant, I can stay with her?" Dr. Biro quickly suggested.
"That's actually not a bad idea. I can stay here, look after Lorne while we get everyone out of that trap. Laura, you can take Dr. Biro to Orla then come back for us so we can all go to the cave," Jennifer answered as she swayed on her feet.
"Actually I think you should come with me Jennifer, you need to rest more," Cadman insisted.
"I think, Laura, isn't it?" Biro looked at Cadman, seeing her nod continued, "Laura's right, you know more about obstetrics than I and you need out of this storm. I can handle Lorne until we reach the cave."
"Cadman, help me get Lorne up then take Jennifer to the cave," McKay demanded as he pointed to the rope still in her hands.
"Sorry," she yelled at the waiting men below and threw the rope down at Ronon.
Ronon caught the rope and trudged through the water towards Lorne. "Hold him up," Ronon instructed Sheppard. He looped the rope around his chest as Jennifer had done before. He secured it twice and then reached for the man's feet. Both men carried Lorne over to the wall nearest Rodney and Laura. They stood him upright, each man taking some of Lorne's weight on either side. Ronon tugged on the rope and waited for the slack to be taken back up above.
McKay began to pull, the slack gone, it was now down to him and Cadman to pull the injured Marine up clear of the trap.
Laura pulled at the wet rope, her hands slipping but between her and Rodney they were just making progress.
"My hands," McKay cried out, his hands stung from the small rope burns already.
"I know, I'm sorry," was all Cadman could offer as sympathy. She was almost completely drained herself.
Biro left Jennifer's side and came to stand beside Laura, she placed her hands upon the rope and tried to pull as hard as she could. Eventually they managed to get Lorne over the edge of the trap and onto the muddy ground. He was covered in mud and was soaked through.
The trio stopped pulling and ran to Lorne's side pulling him away from the edge of the trap and under the canopy of the nearest trees. Jennifer instantly checked his tourniquets to make sure they still held.
"Now Sheppard," Laura stated wearily. She trudged back to hole and looking down she threw the rope down to the Airman. "Sir, if you could help yourself get up that would be great."
Sheppard nodded and looked across to Ronon as he tied the rope around himself. "Try not to break our backs getting you out," Sheppard shouted good humouredly.
Ronon snorted in derision and stomped over to the trap wall. He laced his hands together to make a step for Sheppard.
Sheppard raise his leg and stepped onto the makeshift step made by Ronon. He looked up, squinting at the rain, "ready?" he yelled. As the slack was starting to disappear, Sheppard pushed off the ground with his other leg, causing Ronon to grunt with the effort of holding up Sheppard with just his hands. Sheppard held onto Ronon's shoulders unsure if it had been a good idea when he felt himself being pulled upwards. There was nothing for his hands to hold onto, the mud made holding the edges of the trap impossible. With a giant roar from below, Sheppard felt himself propelled upwards and over the edge of the trap. He landed with a soft "oomph" into the mud and groaned.
"How the hell did you manage to get up and over so quickly?" McKay asked surprised at the prone figure before him.
Sheppard wearily lifted his head, "Ronon just threw me, I think."
"I'll leave you with the Colonel, Rodney. I need to get Jennifer to Orla. I'll be back," Cadman turned and ran to the trees where Lorne was being tended to by both doctors. "Okay, Jen, Orla needs you now."
Jennifer nodded as she stood the unrelenting wind caught her off guard and she lost her footing. Cadman grabbed at her, righted her and manoeuvred her towards the path to the cave.
Orla, moaned loudly in pain. She tried to shift her weight so she could elevate the pain wracking her body. Fear had managed to replace all intelligent thought. What if Laura doesn't come back? Why wouldn't she? Because it's us? Orla felt the contraction begin to ease she'd stopped timing them. What was the point? She was having a baby not a stop-watch. Besides, her body would tell when to push, right? As she tried to get her breathing back under control something caught her attention at the corner of her eye. The sound that followed made the hairs on the back of her neck stick up. Hiss… She didn't move her head, just her eyes, it couldn't be, a snake? Of all the, it's probably seeking shelter … Hiss
"You've got to be kidding me!" Laura screamed as she took the knife Ronon had given her. "I'm tired, my hands are raw," Laura ranted while pointing the tip of the knife at herself, "and she's having a baby!" Laura finished, swinging the point of the knife toward the entrance of the cave. "I don't have time for your hissing ass." Laura threw the knife at the snake, pinning it to the ground. She moved swiftly grabbing at the knife and dragging the knife and effectively cutting the snake in half.
The snake hissed twisted on itself over and over until it died. When it stopped moving, Laura took the large knife and poked the snake.
"You just chopped it in half now you're scared?" Jennifer said incredulously.
"I don't like them,"
"Not many do, can we go in now?"
"Yeah," Laura looked up to see Orla looking equally stunned and exhausted. "Come on," she took hold of Jennifer by the elbow and they both entered the cave.
"Hey you, hear you couldn't wait for the baby?" Jennifer teased.
"Not my choice, Jen, please, can we go home?" Orla begged wearily.
"I'm sorry Orla, the storms bad but soon. Our rescue party is here. Sheppard and Ronon. Let's take a look at you."
"Ronon's here, where, please tell him where I am!"
"We will, just give me a minute to dial down the drama," Cadman wearily joked. "Jennifer, you good with Orla? I'll go get the big guy?"
"Okay, we're fine," Jennifer replied.
As Laura stood and dashed back out of the cave, Orla looked at Jennifer and said, "Are we? Fine I mean, the baby's too early."
"I know, I know," Jennifer tried to reassure Orla. "Look, at 36 weeks, you can deliver a healthy viable baby They might need a little UV light if they show jaundice but otherwise there's no reason why a little premature baby cannot survive a few weeks early. You're healthy and so is the baby. Now, let's take a look at what stage you're at, okay?
Orla nodded; her fears somewhat elevated but until she saw Ronon she couldn't help but worry.
"Orange slices," Jennifer smiled.
"What? What is it with you and Laura comparing my bits to food?" Orla grouched.
"It's just a standard descriptive sizing for dilation. You're about 8cm almost fully dilated. How's the pain?"
"Awful, like a human is trying to tear itself out of me."
"Yeah, I can't give you Morphine which is the only pain medication I have. I need to give that to Lorne. I have an epidural but you're a little beyond that and, to be fair, I might need that more for Lorne. If I run out of Morphine. I have some gas but you might want to wait to the last stage when you push."
Laura came to a halt at the trees beside the trap. She was breathless and quite frankly in need of a good meal and nap. She doubled over with her hands on her knees as she quieted her breathing. She could make out the team struggling to pull something out of the trap. "Gotta be, Ronon," Cadman muttered as she trotted over to the team pulling at the rope.
Grabbing at the wet rope she heaved and with a final pull, the unmistakeable dreadlocked mane of Ronon Dex appeared above the trap.
Ronon finally edged himself over the top of the trap, he threw out his arms and with a roar projected himself over and landed his upper torso into the muddy wet ground.
The team dropped the rope and instantly went to the Satedan's side. They grabbed at his upper arms and dragged him clear of the trap.
Ronon began to grumble in a Satedan under his breath as he took in the sight of the mud covering his coat and hands. As he began to try to wipe it off the grumbling grew louder.
"Just one more thing, big guy," Laura shouted nervously.
Laura's voice caught Ronon's' attention, he stopped and looked directly at her.
"Orla's in labor," was all she managed to say before she heard him growl.
"Orla's in labor and you didn't think to tell me?"
"Okay, hold on, labor is a long process. Jennifer didn't want to panic you until I came back from the cave. She didn't know where the cave was," Laura tried to explain. "You wanna get mad at someone get mad at Orla, she's the one having the baby early!" Cadman snapped, it sounded so much more reasonable in her head than when she said it.
"Take me to her, now!" Ronon bellowed.
"Ronon, we all need shelter, Lorne especially. Let's go find Orla, together buddy?" Sheppard reasoned.
TBC ...