Disclaimer - I do not own SGA or its Characters. I do own Dr. Orla Grant.
Rated T for violence & threat.
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The storm was subsiding. The rain, although still falling had lost most of its force and the wind was dying down enough to no longer be a real danger to life. As Sheppard and Cadman were running back towards the small cave and to their team mates. They had to dodge the aftermath of the storm's peek. Dirt paths they'd needed to take were no longer the dusty paths of before but muddy trails almost as slippery as if they were made of ice. The scrubland was now scattered with fallen branches and the debris of young saplings and old rotted trees.
Sheppard and Cadman finally made it back to the cave. Soaked once more; they paused by the cave's entrance to shake off the rain and catch their breaths.
"You made it?" Stated McKay in disbelief.
"You thought we wouldn't?" Sheppard replied slightly breathless.
"No, no I mean, yay, you made it," Rodney corrected a little nervously.
"Cadman, start handing this all out," Sheppard ordered as he removed the bag Cadman had retrieved from his back. "Doc?" He tentatively called out as he moved alongside Dr. Biro.
"The same, Colonel. You have a plan?"
"Yeah, not sure it's a great plan but it's all I've got."
"Then you better do it soon," Biro replied solemnly.
Sheppard nodded and placed a hand on the doctor's shoulder smiling tightly as he did. He activated his radio, the familiar crackle of static echoing in his ear. He closed the radio channel and sighed. Getting to his feet he strode over to McKay who still sat beside the first small fire.
"Not much char cloth left," Rodney stated flatly.
Sheppard crouched before McKay, "save it, McKay. The others will need it for Orla and Risa."
Rodney looked at Sheppard, "why?"
"I told you, I'm taking Lorne no matter what Keller says, he doesn't have time on his side. I need you to come too McKay, in case electrical repairs and the like are needed on the Puddle Jumper."
"What about Jennifer, look at her, she needs me too!"
"That's very honourable, Rodney. But the doc is going to live. She'll be with Ronon who will fiercely protect all the others you know that. Besides, beyond the weather there's no danger to her now."
"Oh really, tell that to Lorne?" Rodney snapped.
"Ronon assured me that trap was old. Whoever built it is long gone."
"How do you know that?"
"Because Atlantis does full planetary scans on a weekly basis for that very reason. Whoever created that trap's no longer here. I need your help, McKay. I need you to help me carry the stretcher also," Sheppard quietly insisted.
"Fine, wait, what? What about Cadman?"
"What about her?"
"Gender equality and all that, she's a Marine after all," grouched the physicist.
"You're right, McKay. She is stronger and tougher than you..."
"Hey!" McKay snapped.
Sheppard raised his eyebrow in return and said nothing before he stood and moved across the cave.
Cadman moved to sit alongside Orla and Risa who were once again in Ronon's arms.
"Hey, look what I found. Actual blankets, you can use them to wrap around yourself and Risa that way Ronon can have his coat back," Cadman smiled as she teased.
"I'm fine, they need the extra warmth," Ronon ignored the teasing as he tore open the offered blankets.
"You need to keep warm too, Ronon," Orla tried to reason.
"It's not that cold, need to sit you both up for a minute so I can wrap these blankets around you. Cadman, can you hold the coat up give Orla some privacy?"
"Sure."
"You're back," Jennifer woke with a start beside Orla.
"Sorry, tried not to wake you," Cadman replied apologetically.
"It's fine, I need to check on everybody anyway. You're soaked again. You need to keep warm beside the fire and use one of these foil blankets. Where's Colonel Sheppard?" Jennifer asked all at once.
"I'm okay, better than you by the look of things," Cadman tried to reassure the young doctor. "He's with McKay.," she turned her attention back to new family. "Okay, give me the coat."
Jennifer quickly got to her feet, she needed to speak to the Colonel. "Colonel Sheppard?" she called out.
Sheppard sighed, he'd seen Dr. Keller asleep and part of him had hoped he could sneak Lorne out of the cave without her noticing. He really didn't want another fight.
"Colonel Sheppard?"
"Doc?"
Jennifer swayed slightly as the cave began to spin.
"Whoa there, Doc. You okay?" Sheppard asked, genuinely worried at the condition of the young woman before him. He clasped her shoulders, steading her on her feet.
"I'm okay, tired etc but yes, I'm fine. Look…,"
"Before you say anything…" Sheppard interrupted.
"No, Colonel, before you say anything," Jennifer raised her voice allowing everyone to hear her. "Major Lorne's injuries are becoming critical. It's vital he's taken back to Atlantis as soon as possible. You need to take him back now and Dr. Biro will be going with you. I need to stay with Orla in case of complications," she turned away from Sheppard to face Ronon before continuing. "Not that we expect any complications," she turned back to face Sheppard. "Colonel?"
Sheppard nodded understanding she was relenting on her previous stance. "We've got a stretcher from the jumper. As soon as we can get him on it, we can leave. I need Cadman and McKay."
"Sounds like a good plan, Colonel" Jennifer smiled.
"Take the coat, Ronon. Please! I have the foil and cloth blankets; my body is keeping Risa warm. We need you to stay as dry as you can," Orla urged.
"Fine," Ronon took the offered leather coat, stood. He slipped into the coat, checking the pockets as he did. "Give me a minute, need to speak to Sheppard."
Ronon had noticed the conversation taking place between Keller and Sheppard thankful to see a look of relief cross Sheppard face. The plan was on. He moved towards the couple and interrupting said, "Want me to carry Lorne with you Sheppard? Be quicker, then I can make it back to the cave?"
"You should be with Orla and Risa." Sheppard answered.
"The quicker you get back the quicker they get back, Sheppard. Besides, if Cadman stays, she can defend the cave until I'm back."
"He's got a point," Rodney added from behind Sheppard.
"Defend the cave from what exactly?" Jennifer pipped up.
Sheppard's eyes narrowed as he turned to look at McKay then back at Ronon. "You're okay leaving Orla and Risa so soon?"
"No, but there's no danger beyond the weather and they're okay. Lorne's the one who's in danger. Besides, I'd make it back to them quicker than any of you."
Sheppard nodded, "Alright, we'll carry Lorne back to the jumper. Dr. B can watch out for his health and McKay can fix stuff and Cadman can watch over the others."
Ronon nodded and turned to walk over to where his new family lay and crouched beside Orla. He pulled out a small but deadly knife and offered it to Orla. "In case." Ronon didn't wait for any objection to the knife, instead he tucked it close to Orla's side, kissed her and baby Risa. "I'll be back soon; Lorne needs to get back to Atlantis… he's running out of time. If I help Sheppard, they can get back quicker, then I'll come back for you both. Cadman and Keller will keep you safe. Stay safe, please?"
Orla nodded.
Ronon looked at Cadman, his face stoic, "keep them safe."
"You got it."
Ronon moved across the cave to join Sheppard at Lorne's side, they watched as Dr. Biro unfolded the stretcher and laid it next to Lorne.
"I need someone at Lorne's head, feet and torso. I'll stay the other side of his torso and when ready we'll roll him away from me so I can slide the stretcher under him. Got it?"
Biro watched as Sheppard instantly appeared at Lorne's head, Ronon stayed by his torso and McKay appeared at the Major's feet. She looked at all three men before she crossed Lorne's arms across his chest. "Roll."
All three men grabbed at Lorne and pulled him away from Dr. Biro. She slid the stretcher into place like a back board. "On three, roll him back," Biro ordered, "1,2,3." They rolled Lorne back onto the stretcher, Biro busied herself ensuring the tourniquets remained in place and he was as comfortable as he could be made. "Any one got any duct tape?"
"Duct tape?" McKay said confused.
"Helps to keep a patient in place on a stretcher if you have a hike a head of you," Biro replied.
"Damn it, should have bought the ratchet traps," Sheppard growled.
"Rope? Cadman had rope," McKay cried out.
Ronon finished tying the rope around Lorne as best as he could.
"Are you sure that'll hold?" McKay muttered from Ronon's shoulder.
Ronon turned to face McKay, his eyebrow raised questioning the man.
"Never mind, sure it'll be fine."
"Alright everyone knows their job, what to do and how to? Good," Sheppard didn't wait for anyone to actually respond. "I don't know how long we'll be but I promise we'll be back as soon as we can."
"I'll take point, Ronon. No offence but the others won't be able to keep your pace."
"Fine."
"Let's go!" Sheppard ordered as he and Ronon mirrored each other's actions so they picked up Lorne smoothly. As they headed out of the cave, they were followed eagerly by Dr. Biro and a little less eagerly by Dr. McKay.
As the team retraced Sheppard and Cadman's previous route, McKay kept the data pad switched on along with the life signs detector. Despite Sheppard's earlier conversation about the planet being deserted he hadn't been convinced which was completely irrational and he was aware of it, but this was the Pegasus galaxy.
"McKay" Sheppard shouted from ahead.
"What?"
"Are we going the right way?"
"Yes, yes, the walls should be to the left. Look see there!"
Ronon moved on nudging Sheppard into action once more.
Dr. Biro heaved at the bag on her shoulder, her medical kit, what was left of it. She trudged behind McKay; the pace wasn't a military pace she knew that but it was quicker than her last walking holiday in Yellowstone.
As the team headed towards what was once a dusty trail that led through the wooded area they now needed to contend with a muddy soup of a trail. In parts it was just that, muddy and slick but in others, areas that had softened deeper it would threaten to pull your feet into it and never release you.
Soaked and cold McKay was far from being in a happy place as he trod wearily across the track before him. The life signs detector still blinking in his palm, he didn't see the log poking out of the mud and as his ankle rolled; he cried out in surprise and pain. Rodney's' ankle gave way from under him and he fell still holding the devices in his hands. He landed with an "oomph" part out of the mud and partly on the muddy grass verge. The shock of falling and landing managed to stun McKay, momentarily. It wasn't long before he began to cry out in pain and try to lift himself off the ground.
"McKay," Ronon roared as he saw the physicist lose his balance.
Both Sheppard and Ronon stopped and looked at McKay. "We don't have time for this, McKay. Move it," bellowed a soaked Sheppard.
"Dr. McKay, here let me help," Biro offered as she bent down to try to help McKay to his feet.
"Don't touch me, please, god, no, it really hurts." McKay howled; his distress evident.
"Doctor, look at me, what hurts?" Biro asked.
"My ankle, my wrist, look I can't move it, I … ow...ow...ow,"
"Dr. McKay, please let me take a look," Biro took hold of Rodney's right hand and began to examine it. As she moved further up his hand Rodney released a sharp his of pain. As she pressed on his wrist, he screamed and fell back into the mud. "Your wrist is possibly broken, without an X -Ray I cannot be certain." She quickly moved to his right ankle and began to examine it. Rodney hissed and groaned. "I'd hazard you've sprained your ankle."
"You'll have to get up and move or sit there and wait for me to come back," Ronon gruffly announced.
"I can't walk, you can't leave me here!"
"Doc? Can you help McKay back to the jumper?" Sheppard asked, as he and Ronon shifted Lorne's dead weight between them.
"I can try,"
"That's all I ask."
Biro reached for the Life Signs Detector and tucked it into her TAC Vest. "You will need to hand me the data pad, doctor. You cannot hold my hand and the device."
Rodney reluctantly handed over the device to Biro who in turn placed it on Major Lorne's lower legs, she looked at Ronon adding, "It will save you needing to ask." Biro returned to the downed McKay and offered her hands to his one uninjured hand.
"I'm stuck, this mud…"
Biro grabbed a hold of his good hand and with all she had pulled the physicist to his feet.
"How did you manage that?" McKay asked incredulously as he slowly came to rest upon his uninjured foot.
"It's called being determined to get out of this storm and back to my Infirmary," Biro tried to help McKay turn so that he faced in the right direction. "Ready?"
McKay nodded as he leaned on the smaller woman beside him. He moved slowly; this kept the team moving slowly. He tried to keep the cries of pain to a minimum but it was agony moving.
"Wait," Ronon called out to Sheppard, halting everyone. He looked across at Dr. Biro struggling to keep McKay upright. "Doc, think you can carry Lorne with Sheppard?"
Biro looked at Ronon confused, "you want me to carrying Major Lorne and Dr. McKay?"
"No, put McKay down and come see if you can help Sheppard."
"Hey, wait a …"
"I'm sorry, Dr. McKay, you need sit back down for a minute," Biro gently pushed McKay off of herself and watched the horror spread across McKay's face.
Rodney fell back into the mud, he howled, his ankle flared at the movement and he held his injured arm out.
Biro came to stand beside Ronon, "take the stretcher, it's heavy but I'll help," Ronon encouraged.
"Ronon?" Sheppard yelled from the front of the stretcher.
"Give me a minute, Sheppard. You got it, Doc?" He waited for Biro's nod before he let go of the handles and waited for a sign that she would drop Lorne. When he saw nothing, he moved towards McKay.
"What are you doing?" McKay sputtered angrily.
Ronon grabbed at McKay's TAC and in one swift movement knelt down and placed a squirming McKay across his broad shoulder. "McKay, keep still or you walk!"
"I can't …" McKay complained.
Ronon once more shifted the weight that was McKay until he quieted. With a grunt he moved alongside Dr. Biro and took the nearest stretcher handle to himself.
Dr. Alice Biro looked at Ronon and understanding his intent released the handle and took the weight of one handle in both her hands.
"Don't fall, Doc," Ronon quietly ordered the woman beside him.
"Let's move," Sheppard instructed.
TBC ...