Day One
Chapter Seven
"Major Sheppard, I'm through!" Called the solider cutting through the wall over his shoulder, handing the blowtorch away and motioning for the hand-held battering-ram. It had taken longer then John had expected to create a clear square in the metal wall, he hoped then, for McKay's sake that it wasn't too late. Out of all the times he had seen the physicist zapped, thrown, knocked, and shot at, this one scared him the most. Mostly because he wasn't in there with the doctors, he had no control of the situation that was going on in there, that place was all Rodney. That bothered him quite a bit, he even kind of wished then that Weir had asked him to go, even ordered him, when Beckett and McKay first set off. But he was chosen to go on the stupid diplomatic mission to that port town instead.
And those people didn't even appreciate the depth of a good joke. At least McKay would have given him a snicker for it, retorted with some rude half-ass comment. Now for all John knew, he could be dieing in there.
Gunfire brought the Major back to reality, that and the sudden pounding going on at the wall, where two men held the battering-ram, one on each side and were proceeding to swing it with all their weight into the cut square. The metal denting inward from the force.
The shooting was coming from his right and before he knew it, a black mass of movement had washed over the men taking point on the corridor. John turned as he heard the screams, his first instincts was to raise his rifle and make space critter chop-suey, when really all he wanted to do was locate Ford and watch his back. A brief thought passed through Sheppard's mind as he ran to the right, that he'd never really been a team player, granted he worked well with the men he served with, would set his life down for them, save them, but never had he cared, so inwardly about a group of people as he did now. Teyla, Ford, Weir, Beckett, even the king of obnoxiousness; McKay were all the friends he had right now.
Spotting Ford in the mass of confusion, his back against the right most wall, picking off any creature that he could that wasn't attached to someone and liable for him to miss by accident and hit a soldier. Sheppard slipped round, nearly tripping on the dirty beasts as they crowded round, covering the floor like a black river busting through a damn of armed soldiers. John slammed his shoulder into the wall, leaning up by Aiden as he shouted over the screams of the men being attacked, the rain of gunfire, and the pounding at the wall.
"We need to get everyone to the main corridor!" The Major watched as the creatures came more and more, black waves like howling living shadows, teeth and eyes flashing in the flurry of flash light beams as the soldiers fought off the onslaught, taking up position, then backing up, then taking positions again.
"Take up point by the entryway, make sure they know where to get out!"
Ford simply nodded, stopping his firing as he called for a retreat to the men nearest him. Three soldiers, ceased their firing, dragging their comrades with them as they followed Ford towards the main hall. Sheppard looked through the darkness, spotting Captain Marsden, hollering at his team near the left hall. John made his way over, catching a wave of creatures charging at him causing the Major to stop and personally take them out, emptying an entire clip before he realized the things just kept coming.
"Jesus." He whispered to himself as the little creatures gathered round, climbing over one another, trampling each other as they tried to get at the men. John kicked and charged his way through the mess as he met up with Marsden.
"Frank! Tell your men to clear the hall! This isn't gonna let up, they're almost through the wall so we're getting the hell out of here."
"Fall back!" Marsden called, waving a light towards the main corridor as he began to back up catching three or so creatures on his back from a nearby corner. They must have slipped passed the soldiers in all the confusion.
John leap towards him, grabbing the damn things in his hands by the waist and ripping them off as they tore into the Captain, clawing at his clothing and exposed skin. Sheppard tossed the first two against the nearby wall while the third squirmed and twisted round in his grasp. The thing shrieked at him whipping its head back like a striking snake and biting down hard into John's hand near his thumb. He had a moment to react, letting one hand loose on the creature and taking it up by the head, wrenching it off his hand as he threw the black wailing mass to the ground. He drew up his gun and took no remorse this time in wasting it in a few angry shots, kicking the lifeless body away before he glanced up to Marsden. The Captain would thank him over a drink later, now was the time for action as he got the rest of his men up and running to where Ford still waited.
John checked the section, creatures filing in from either direction as he rushed to the two men still working to break through the wall. Marsden ordered his men to stand and give the Major cover fire, which Sheppard greatly appreciated since the creatures decided to focus mainly on the three men still left within claw swipe.
They leapt about and hooted and hollered, making the Major's ears nearly go death as he came to the two soldiers near the wall who, with one final agonizing slam, broke through. The etched square groaning inward and bursting into the heavy darkness of the room. Sheppard took up his flashlight and shined it into the hole, catching the face of Dr. Beckett nearly two feet away from his light, making John jump a little. As if he didn't have enough shit popping out at him.
"Time to go doc!" Sheppard called over the screaming creatures, wondering where McKay was as he held a hand out to help Carson up and through. "McKay?!" John shouted unable to hide his concern. They had come so far and he wasn't about to lose anyone, not a single damn one of them, even if it killed him.
Beckett nodded to his side, seeming to drag something up that was next to him. Before John knew it, Rodney's head came into view, facing upward as Carson held him from sliding back down the embankment of fallen ceiling on the other side of the wall. John slipped hands under McKay's armpits and hauled him through the hole, straining slightly under the man's weight as the soldier who cut the hole reached up to catch the physicist's legs as they came free.
The jolt cause McKay to stir and Sheppard felt resistance as he slung one of Rodney's arms up and over his head to rest on his shoulders, the man's head rolling back near the Major's neck as he heard him moan aloud. McKay held his injured hand close to him, coming to.
"I'm hurt---not dead, you idiot!" McKay snarled, wincing, though John believed the physicist was too whacked out to know who was supporting him. At least for Rodney's future health he better have not known. Sheppard couldn't help but smirk. "Good to see you too Skippy." He grunted and hoisted McKay closer to him, kicking furiously at the creatures that were gathering round them, punting them across the room gave him a strange satisfaction.
The last two of Marsden's men helped Beckett out of the hole as Sheppard started to pull himself and Rodney back towards the main corridor, trying to keep them all out of the line of fire. In moments everyone was gathered near the entrance as John ordered them to move back, telling Ford to contact Weir on the radio and have her shut the sector down, sealing it off.
Dragging McKay along Beckett came out of nowhere; telling Sheppard that he would take Rodney from here as they all slipped passed the crossing point where the doors would close. Happy to give him up, John passed the half-conscious man to the doctor and made it so he was the last to leave.
Several soldiers took point and blasted any creature that crossed the shutoff line, every man turning his lights towards the sector for a better visual.
Sheppard made his way out when he heard the doors grinding behind him as he suddenly felt something pounce heavily on his back causing him to bend forward. He reached back over his shoulder as the feeling of sharp tiny teeth dug into his shoulder blade causing him to cry out. Struggling he grasped blindly at the creature latched to his back catching it by the arm and hurling it up over his head and into to the ground where it was shot through the skull by a nearby soldier.
Looking at the thing as he moved his arm about, finding the bite hurting more then a wound that small should he heard Beckett calling his name. He glanced up to see the doctor waiting, McKay hanging limply off him as the doctor pointed towards the dead beast near Sheppard's feet.
"Grab that for me?" Carson ordered more then he asked.
"Hell, I'm not touching that!" John exclaimed as the sector doors shut finally behind him, he could hear just a few feet away as the creatures beyond the doors slammed themselves into it, trying to break through, though they never would, the metal was too thick.
Beckett gave the Major a weary eye, saying this in all seriousness. "Major if you want to know what the bloody hell we're dealing with, you'll bring that with us." That was all he said, turning about and lugging Rodney who was now walking shakily with him along with the other soldiers.
Ford waited behind, he would only leave when John did, being almost an unspoken law around here these days.
Grumbling to himself the Major wiped his forehead and pulled off his coat, glancing back briefly as the howling behind the sealed sector doors grew increasingly louder. He hated these things enough, and now he had to carry one back with him. Carefully, more for being grossed out then not wanting to harm the stupid thing, he scooped the black and blood marred creature into his jacket, wrapping it up into a ball as he motioned for Aiden to follow him, both men thankfully heading out down the main corridor where the light was waiting for them.
However, by the time they finished the long hall that lead to towards the twisting path back to the base, it had become late dusk, early evening, casting the city in a red hazy light. Sheppard was more then happy to see the low riding sun, glad to feel its natural warmth on his sweat-clammy skin as compared to the unnatural heat created by the generator.
In a matter of thirty-five minutes, the gurney carrying lieutenant Bouds rolled into the gate room, passing the mighty ring and heading off towards the infirmary, followed shortly after by Captain Marsden and his men, then Carson walking with a now painfully conscious McKay, and finally Sheppard with Ford, the Major carrying his bundled coat under his arm like a football.
Weir saw every man return, taking count and feeling a relief that was beyond grateful. She caught John's attention as he sluggishly made his way through the gate room, passing in front of her.
"Major." She said, stopping him. She'd never seen him look so tired before, she wondered then what kind of trial they had gone through back there. "Peter has sealed off the sector, you---" Elizabeth paused then, unsure at first what to say to him. "You did well, John. Thank you."
Sheppard gave her one of is trademark smirks, patting the bundle under his arm. "Pay for my dry-cleaning bill and we're even."
Weir couldn't help but smile, feeling the weight of the day lifting just a little, she still had the sealed off sector to deal with, but having everyone back in one piece, well, she was thankful for any break they could get. It was the small things that really counted.
"Now, I'd love to stay and chat, you know, about the craptastic day we've all had, but---" He lifted the wrapped coat up towards her, Elizebeth backed away slightly, for there was a slight odor coming from the Major's jacket and small dark red splatters hitting the floor as whatever was within, bled out. "I have to get this, little sample to Beckett's lab before the good doctor has my head."
"Yeah, right after we saved his butt." Ford commented lightly, a bit disgusted at the mass of gore that lay hidden inside the Major's apparel.
"Can't satisfy the man I swear." Sheppard shrugged to both Dr. Weir and Aiden, walking off to the infirmary with the wrapped bundle held out in front of him, like it had the plague. On his way out, he warned a city technician to back away, that he was carrying hazardous materials. The techy gave the Major a revolted face as a reply, clutching the clipboard he was holding closer to his chest as John continued on.
Weir turned then to Ford, wanting to ask the lieutenant a flood of questions that simply had to wait till the debriefing as soon as this nightmare was over. "It's good to have you all back Aiden, we'll discuss everything when everyone is squared away and taken care of, you should head to the infirmary yourself." She looked worriedly at Ford's torn up hands from prying the creatures off Bouds when he was attacked. Once again, Aiden had forgotten he was hurt at all, too wrapped up in the drama of the day to really take notice on anything concerning himself.
He laughed lightly nodding. "Yeah, I'm going to have to take a number though, there's a pretty long line ahead of me."
They both laughed as Aiden rubbed the cut skin of his hands, wincing.
"Oh, Lieutenant, what was that, that the Major was carrying in his coat?" Elizabeth asked suddenly, catching Aiden as he was about to head where everyone else had gone, off to see the medical staff. He turned still walking away, now moving backward.
"You'll find out soon enough Dr. Weir, and trust me; it's better the less you know, the longer you know." He smiled tiredly, shaking his head as he waved a grimy hand at her, turned back, leaving Elizabeth behind in the gate room.
Weir agreed with the young lieutenant, she really didn't want to know what lurked in the very city they were forced to call home. Though the main trauma of the day was done, this latest attack on Atlantis was far, from over. With that unsettling thought in mind, Elizabeth took a long look at the Stargate, wondering if this nightmare would lead to the complete evacuation of the city. Though thankfully, as far as she knew, they were far from that conclusion, at least, for now. She climbed the stairs leading to the control room, glancing briefly to the doorway leading towards the northwest section of the city, half expecting to see something small and fiendish looking back at her from around the corner.
"Hold still!" Beckett scolded gently as he tried to wrap a second layer of white gauze bandage round McKay's flinching hand. "I swear, I know eight year olds less fussy then you."
"Ow----ow---OW! Damn it! Where did you get your medical training? The freaking middle-ages?" Rodney snapped, ready to pull his hand back and finish the binding himself, if it meant less pain to his already aching hand.
Carson clicked his tongue, glancing up at the physicist with a heavy sigh. "I would hardly call this crude medical care. Besides, it will get infected otherwise, then we'd have to cut it off. Then, we could really go dark-ages on you; rusty blades, no pain killers, filthy water." He mused, finding himself far too exhausted to tread lightly for the physicist anymore.
McKay gulped, jerking his hand away from the doctor's grasp when he was finally finished, rubbing his good hand over the bad one. "You think it'll scar. I mean, I'm not one to focus on looks, especially my own----"
"If you're asking me if the lasses will think it's 'cool'." Beckett began plainly, collecting his medical supplies into a tiny metal dish. "Just don't get you're hopes up."
Rodney frowned, laying back in the bed he had come to know far too well in the infirmary, it was now his very own special one. And that, to the physicist, was pathetically sad. It wasn't his fault trouble seemed to find him out before anyone else. He was accident prone, what could he say, but it wasn't his fault the city was now infested with what he cleverly named, space weasels. In addition, it wasn't his fault the door sensor had backfired on him. He saved Carson's life today, and not so much as a thank you from the doctor.
But before he could think another biting thought Carson had set a glass of water near the physicist's bedside cabinet and retired a picture of the stuff next to it. Beckett closed his eyes and let out a long and heavy sigh, rubbing the wound on his neck and chest that he had actually let another member in medial treat for him. Besides, doctors made terrible patients. It was now long into the evening, he'd seen to everyone, treating the seriously wounded first, taking care of Bouds and getting the young man into bed where he in a secure and quiet area not in the main infirmary, could get the rest he needed.
Carson was now finishing up his rounds, though tonight he knew he wouldn't get a wink of sleep, not with those things still in the city, even if they were all the way in another sector. He was glad that Rodney was a night owl, though the man would claim it was only a bout of insomnia.
"You look like chewed crap, no----no offence." McKay muttered, settling back as he urged his eyes to say open.
"Aye, and I feel like it too." Beckett added with a small laugh as he reached behind him and pulled up a chair, sitting himself down. It felt like this was the first time he had sat in ten thousand years, and his back thanked him.
" How does that hand feel?" He asked after a moment. McKay couldn't help but smile slightly, leave it to the doctor to act like one all the damn time.
"Like a hand, that I sent a few thousand volts through, other then that, just peachy." Rodney glowered, looking at his bandaged hand before he rested it on his stomach which growled in what Carson could only guess was hunger. He mused, leave it to the physicist to have the midnight muncies.
"My god Rodney, it's like you're housing a black hole in there. What do you want from the kitchens?" Beckett stood up with a groan, his body pleading for him to not move yet.
"Hey don't worry about it, someone else can get me something." McKay began, not wanting to bother Beckett anymore then he had that day.
"There isn't anyone else, I'm---" Carson paused, yawning deeply. "the last one left up. So what do you want?"
Without further pause Rodney began, "Ham, rye, no seeds if you can, they get stuck in my teeth and then I'm sucking at them for God knows how long, that it defeats the enjoyment I got from the sandwich in the first place." McKay rambled on quickly adding with a pointed finger. "Oh! And with mustard, the yellow kind, not the spicy kind, I don't need any more nightmares then I'm guarantied of having tonight."
Beckett simply smiled, he would have been surprised by the simple request turning into an all out menu layout for Rodney, but he was too tired, so, he simply asked after the man was done give the Gettysburg Address of orders. "Anything to drink?"
Rodney thought for a moment, Beckett could swear he saw the cogs turning inside the man's head behind his eyes. "Root---beer---no, yes, diet, no ice, makes it flat fast."
Carson rolled his eyes stepping away from the bed before McKay had chance to add anything else.
"And you stay in that bed till I tell you to Rodney, I don't want you breaking or burning anything else." Beckett warned with a raised hand as he left the room.
McKay was about to defend himself but the doctor left too quickly. Instead, he snuggled himself into the bed, adjusting the pillow behind him with his good hand and relaxing, letting himself look round the room.
It was quiet and dark, but he was thankfully, not alone in the room. There were a few other of the soldiers that had come to aid them today in the beds down from him to his right. Mainly, the ones that were attacked while trying to leave, or so McKay had heard. He only remembered fuzzy bits of it after he was shocked from the generator, wondering now if the thing would even still operate.
His eyes grew heavy as he sighed through his nose, trying to keep himself awake for when Beckett got back with his food. He went on to think about the possible reasons the generator might have been there, where it could have come from, and why was it sealed off according to Sheppard.
Rodney struggled against his drooping lids, finding it impossible to focus on anything that lay across from him in the infirmary. Finding his will weaker then he would ever admit, McKay gave in and let his eyes close tightly, his head slowly slipping to the side. Before he could think another thought on alien weasels or fried door sensors, he was fast asleep, snoring lightly.
Carson returned ten minutes later with a tray laden with food. He'd actually taken the time to meet Rondey's picky request, even down to the ruddy yellow mustard. Coming to the physicist's bed, Beckett laughed gently, setting the tray on the empty bed behind him as he tugged the sheet up passed McKay's knees and to his stomach, oh so gently, as to not disturb him, taking his wounded left hand and placing it on top of the sheet.
Beckett sat back down in the chair next to his bed, turning back as he snatched Rodney's sandwich from off the tray, unwrapping it and taking a bite. Not bad, might as not let the thing go to waist, the doctor thought as the chewed, watching McKay sleep. He leaned back, taking another bite, wondering what tomorrow would bring, he still had to take a look at the creature he made John bring back with them. A long day of dissecting and studying ahead, not only that but, continuing treatment on Bouds, for he had loss a lot of blood from the time he was attacked to the time they finally got him here.
"Work just never ends." Beckett mumbled, mouth half full with ham and rye, no seeds, of course. Swallowing hard he closed his eyes, setting a mental block on sleep, only resting his eyes for a bit while he digested. Couldn't have him falling asleep on the job now could he? He'd never hear then end of it from McKay if he did.
"Bloody git; have his head blown off next time with his luck." Beckett frowned, though he couldn't help but chuckle. Felt good to laugh after all he'd been through that day, that hell, it never seemed like it would end, and in truth, I still wasn't over, not by a long shot. The thought made the doctor open his eyes, clearing his dry throat as he reached back for the can of soda, pulling the tab with a dull fizz.
He drank it back, enjoying the gentle burn from the carbonation. Carson thought then that he shouldn't have gotten diet, he could have used the caffeine.
A/N: Ah a quiet moment before the second wave of action. I thought our team could use a little reprieve. But tomorrow is another day, and, another chapter. Thanks for all the reviews, I've never seen so many for a chapter that I wrote, hehe, makes me happy. Though I see now that you guys eat up painful trauma for our two most favorite doctors. Then again, I can't blame you, for I do too. ;) Till next chapter, keep those wonderful reviews ah'commin!