SGA Adrift-

Summary: What if Rodney was even more injured than he let on?

Rodney felt pain when he regained his bearings. The scientist groaned and slowly sat up, his head was pounding and his side was on fire. He was about to demand who did what when his memories returned to him. His eyes snapped open and he quickly called for medical assistance.

-In the Jumper-

Rodney breath heavily as pain flared up higher and higher. He pulled up his shirt and gagged as the smell of infection entered his nose. He looked down and barely kept bile down.

His entire torso and right side were covered in bruising, a rib was sticking out of his skin and, from the looks of it, his side was slightly caved in.

McKay tapped his comm. unit before shaking his head and tapping it again, there were more important people who were much more wounded. He could wait until they landed the city safely, right?

:Everyone ready?:

Affirmatives sounded through the comms and they took off.

Rodney made sure to keep his mind on the asteroid belt and destroying it. As the Scientist flew after a large asteroid, he turned too sharply which sent searing pain through his side. He was barely able to suppress a pained scream. The large asteroid slammed into the outer edge of the city.

"Crap" McKay murmured, his brain slowly clearing from the pained dizziness.

He quickly pulled up and sighed in relief when he was cleared.

Soon Atlantis passed through the field and the Jumpers were called back.

-After Landing-

Rodney couldn't focus. His side screamed with pain and his head felt heavy. He tried to listen to what Carter and the others were talking about but it was hard and taking too much energy.

Dizziness made it hard for him to see and he tried his best to stay on his feet so he leaned against a consol. He was burning yet shivering. His stomach twisted and it was getting harder for him to keep awake.

"J-John" McKay whispered shakily, grabbing fabric, "I don't feel good"

Darkness surrounded him, the last thing he felt were hands catching him.

Rodney awoke groggily and looked around; he noticed that he was in the infirmary. His team surrounding him, worry in their eyes.

"Hey buddy" John greeted.

"Hey" Rodney responded, "what happened?"

"You decided to keep quiet about being injured" the pilot deadpanned.

The scientist blinked away the rest of the tiredness and hummed, "oh"

"'Oh'? 'OH'?! YOU COULD HAVE DIED!" John shouted, worry in his voice.

Rodney flinched, "sorry, I didn't want to worry anyone and there was so much work to do"

"No amount of work should have kept you from seeking help!"

"We would have died if I did!" Rodney shouted back, "I was planning on coming to the infirmary once we've landed but things kept getting in the way!"

"You Should Have Told Someone Sooner!" John yelled.

"I Told You I Had Work To Do!"

"WE ALMOST LOST YOU!"

Rodney stared at John in shocked silence.

"We almost lost you" John repeated quieter, "your heart stopped five times, Keller was barely able to get it working, she almost gave up on the fifth"

Rodney looked down, "I'm sorry"

"Prove it by never hiding an injury again"

Rodney nodded, "I promise"