A BEE IN THE BONNET
by NotTasha
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PART 6: TRIPLE LUTZ

McKay let out a low breath as he slowly became aware of the world around him. He ached. His mouth was so dry it almost hurt to breathe through it. His limbs felt heavy and unusable – and his mind buzzed – like a bee, trapped.

Somewhere… something thumped.

He was laying on his back, laying on something terribly uncomfortable. He tried to adjust his position, to move off the metal lumps and budges, but he had no strength.

It took a moment before he could find the power to even open his eyes. Blackness – only blackness. He twisted his head and tried to turn over, finding that simple movement as difficult as a Double-Lutz to a figure skater, no… make that Triple-Lutz. He wouldn't go so far as to call it a 'Quad'. With perseverance, he prevailed. Okay, you're on your stomach – now what? Still only darkness – a blackness so vast it seemed to fill his head. With a weary sigh, he let his overly-heavy head rest again and he closed his eyes.

The pounding continued. He grimaced as his head throbbed along with the noise. He felt jittery – a strange feeling to be coupled with the weariness. He shook.

What the hell had happened? Where was he? How did he get here? If he could only get his mind to cooperate…he might be able to figure this out. He furrowed his brow, trying to force his addled brain to work, to access the archive.

Now, think, McKay… think… What? Where? How? Come on now, you can puzzle this out. You're certainly smart enough. Get that brain working! Where the hell are you? What happened? Instead of finding vast files of information in his cerebrum, he located only a wide-open space – like an abandoned warehouse – with papers blowing in the breeze – and a mouse or two scurrying around on the broken tiling, someone playing a harmonica in the distance. God, this must be what normal people feel like when they try to think.

He frowned, feeling sick… sick and tired and hopeless. Snap out of it! What was the last thing you remember? How was he supposed to think at all with that terrible buzzing in his brain?

The bee – aw yes – the bee. Wonderful device, really. And terribly significant. Just imagine all the benefits that such an instrument could provide them! Think of the possibilities! If he carried something like that, he'd never have to worry about being captured or held against his will. Yes, Mr. Wraith – Steve, II, you might think that you've cleverly captured me. But ha-ha! You are wrong! Sorry to disappoint you. Must pop off now – see you later. And in the blink of an eye, he'd be gone.

He'd leave the rescuing aspects of it to Major Sheppard, or Lt. Ford, someone far more valiant. Yes, they were better equipped to handle the heroic aspects of the device. 'Gee, McKay, those poor people have been taken hostage by Steverino and his buddies. What are you going to do about it? You have the device that will save them.' 'Well, I'm going to pass this Personal Portable Transporter System to Major Sheppard here and let him sort it all out.'

Still, it would be better to keep it in hand… just in case anything ever happened to him. Better to be safe than sorry. One must always look out for oneself. Let the rest of them worry about saving lives. 'Do you have that bee, McKay?' 'Bee? What bee? Hmm. Perhaps, I left it in my other jacket.'

I really wish we could get new jackets. I know you've never had any fashion sense, but even you can figure out that beige has never been my best color, and I feel so very… puffy… when I wear that thing. Must consider finding a Planet of Tailors…now where would we find them and what could we trade… maybe they'd like some cheese… everyone likes cheese…except for Father… said it tasted like mold…mold… like something moldy, unwanted and never quite good enough.

He drifted, listening the thudding and bumping that seemed to be fading… that seemed to be drifting as much as he was. Knock it off! He blinked in the blackness and grasped at the strange flooring beneath him. Come on, you dimwit, you moron… nerd… idiot… think! Think! What the hell happened? Where are you? How did you get here? Why are you alone? Where is everyone? Are they hurt? Are they in trouble? Do they need help? You have to fix this – it's what you do. How can I get to them? What can I do?

Nothing… not a damn thing. You're rather useless, you know?

No! Stop it! Think… the bee. That's right… the bee. You were experimenting with the device… along with Major Sheppard. Ah yes. Then what happened?

Rodney could feel the sweat running down his face as he contemplated. He felt so awful, so dizzy, sick and anxious. Maybe if he just rested a bit longer… he'd feel better. Both hands twitched incessantly.

Think… the bee… think. The major seemed impressed with it. And Rodney allowed himself a smile. It was an excellent discovery, really. A fine find! And they'd been experimenting with it – trying to figure out how to use its features. Oh! That was it… you were attempting to use it to move two people at once! Yes! Of course. How could you forget that?

But the power was running low. Must have short-circuited somehow – sent me somewhere – not so nice. Where did the Major end up?

Rodney tried to speak, to call out for the major, but his throat felt closed, his tongue seemed to be plastered to the roof of his mouth. "Major?" he croaked, and could hardly catch his breath afterward. Crap… aw crap. Was Major Sheppard here, too? "Major?" he gasped, the word coming out as nothing more than a hoarse whisper… horse whisperer… who'd want to whisper to a horse? He tried to cough, but instead made only a pathetic gasping sound.

He had to find Major Sheppard. If they were both in the same shape… God… you had to find the Major. This is all your fault after all! How do I find him? I can hardly move. Just do it. Look for him! He moved about one shaking arm in the blackness – then the other – then his legs -- trying to come in contact with anything. He found nothing. He was alone.

Squinting into the surrounding area, McKay realized that he wasn't in utter darkness –a sliver of light came in at him from above, about a meter in front of him – just a pinprick – a ghost of light – not enough to see anything – not enough for anything at all.

He lifted his head and gripped at the rippled surface beneath him. Now, if he could just crawl over to that little shaft of light, maybe he could. OW! Ow! Ow! OW!

As he lifted himself enough to attempt a crawl, his head cruelly slammed into the surface above him. He saw stars and closed his eyes -- brightness in the black. Crap, that hurt. Damn it… damn it… crap! It took a moment to get one hand up to gently probe the sore spot on his scalp. Ow.. yes…ow. That hurts… that hurts, too… ow.

When he lifted the hand further, he found a ceiling no more than 10 centimeters above him. The arm dropped beside him, as if weighted. Exhausted and discouraged, he let his head rest on his other arm. Where the hell was he? The space was less than a half-meter high. It was a good thing that he couldn't see, otherwise his claustrophobia would be kicking in. Oh God, I have to get out of here, have to find the Major. What if he's in trouble? How? Think… how did you get here?

We were messing with the bee. Come on, McKay, think about this. Puzzle this out if you want to get out of this mess. What happened? The Major was talking about….

…ah yes… Ford's letter. That damn letter. God, how embarrassing. I should have destroyed it when I discarded it – let it get no further. It was bad enough that Ford had to see the comments, but apparently, Sheppard was privy to it, too. When the major had mentioned the thing….

And Rodney smiled at his own incredible stupidity, pressing his teeth into his arm. Aw crap, I'm a dead man. He recalled the incident, remembered how he'd felt, what he'd thought. Because, when Sheppard had started talking about that damn letter, all Rodney wanted to do… was to get away… to be gone… to simply disappear into the floor.
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A/N: I know... I know... pretty crappy place to put him...