Author's Note: I know I deserve to be caned because it took me so long and all I can say is I'm drowning and I can't get back up! Seriously, it's a mess right now. I'm very very busy but I'm posting this chapter and I'm writing chapter 7 even while you are reading. I'm not going to make a promise I can't keep this time around (sorry about that) but I'll do my best to get 7 up before the coming weekend. Thanks for sticking with me and just think, after the first week of December I'm off for winter break and things will get easier! No more four hour homework marathons at night and instead of writing up my lab reports I can work on my stories. (smile)

Chapter 6

The Way Out

"Major Sheppard...John!"

He heard a voice calling him, insistent but quiet. He had been dreaming of a world that was boiling hot, and his team was slowly cooking to death around him. Heat wavered up from the surface of the DHD while Ford worked frantically to dial out. It never worked and each moment brought them closer to death.

The voice was pleading now, "You must wake up!"

He was awake...wasn't he? "Pinch me." He whispered through cracked lips, finding himself unable to tell the difference between dream and reality. He was standing on a planet...then he was feeling the solid support of a bed beneath his back. He felt disconnected...lost.

A cold rag touched his forehead, caressing away the confusion. He reached a shaky hand up, latching onto her wrist and discarding the dream, "Teyla."

He managed to force his eyelids open. Teyla was sitting beside him, a wet cloth in her hand and her face twisted with worry. "We must go."

Sheppard wanted to ask why but the base rocked with an explosion negating the need. "Wraith?"

"They are here." She confirmed, and stood warily, pulling her weapon. "Doctor Beckett is calling Atlantis. It is no longer safe."

John winced as a shiver coursed through his frame, "It never was."

"You didn't know."

He thought about arguing that statement. They should've known. Nothing was as it seemed. How many places had they found that were safe? He could think of one, maybe, the farming planet where they had traded for fresh produce in exchange for medical information and supplies. With the odds being what they were, they should've known. "The vaccine?" He asked instead.

Teyla shook her head, "Not yet."

Another explosion impacted somewhere above their heads, causing ice shavings to sprinkle down around them. He had a sudden sensation of déjà vu, the atmosphere oddly reminiscent of the scene from Empire Strikes Back, when the rebels abandoned their outpost on Hoth. He'd rather face a squad of storm troopers than the wraith. The thought made him smile.

"Major Sheppard?"

Teyla was looking at him oddly. "Sorry Teyla, remind me to tell you about Star Wars later."

"Star Wars?"

"Later."

Ford's arrival stalled further conversation, "Is he ready?" He asked, looking pointedly at Teyla for an answer.

"Yes, he is." Sheppard replied, pushing himself upward, his arms shaking noticeably.

"There's a team holding the gate but we've got to go." Ford said, this time acknowledging Sheppard. "Sorry Sir, I figured you were pretty out of it."

John waved a hand, "Where's Beckett and McKay?"

"Programming the bomb, and setting up the Ancient's transport device to work remotely."

Sheppard realized he hadn't considered that problem. He must be sicker than he thought. "How is McKay doing?"

"Better than you Major." Ford said, hauling the man to his feet when he failed to have the strength to make it the remaining way. "Doctor Beckett gave him the first shot."

"McKay volunteered to be the guinea pig?" Sheppard had a hard time believing McKay had willingly taken such a risk.

"He insisted." Ford said, shooting a glance down the corridor as they inched their way forward.

"I'm going to have to talk to him about this growing hero complex of his." Sheppard muttered. Truthfully, he was pleased at the change in McKay. The man had struck him as self-centered, obnoxious and out for only himself type of guy. He still could be obnoxious but Atlantis was changing him for the better...or maybe just letting his true nature shine through.

Another impact, this time rattling the outpost to the point of ice chunks breaking loose and threatening to clobber them into oblivion.

"Major!" Teyla yelled, as she yanked him backwards in time to avoid a large piece of the ceiling.

"They're getting closer." Ford muttered

"Speaking of which, how much farther?" Sheppard asked. He'd come to a stop, hunched over trying to breathe. Teyla was all that stood between him and the floor.

Ford looked back at the Major and Teyla, "Just a little more Major, hang in there."

"I'm hanging." He said with a grimace.

The trip became a blur from that point on, white walls and a pervasive cold and aching throughout his body. He was dimly aware of Teyla's presence steadily beside him and Ford leading them forward through the maze of the outpost.

"Lieutenant, today would be good!" Sheppard heard McKay shout, panic evident in his voice. He could see the outlines of Beckett, McKay, Stackhouse and some other medical technician from the base. Her name eluded him and despite the chaos around he was irritated with his lack of mental cognition.

They were almost there, almost to the end of the corridor and almost to the transport location. Ford surged ahead, reaching McKay and conferring about something that Sheppard couldn't quite understand. Beckett started towards him and Teyla when suddenly an explosion wracked the surface, echoing down throughout the layers of ice. Alarmed faces looked upwards as the ceiling seemed to convulse and contract. Sheppard thought time stopped as the ensuing devastation began, the cavern's ceiling shaking apart above.

John knew he couldn't make it. He caught Ford's eye and knew he knew. Teyla could, but she wouldn't leave him. He drew into himself and pulled out energy he hadn't known was there. He felt Teyla tense as she sensed the surge of adrenalin throughout his body.

"Major?"

Sheppard didn't waste energy in explaining, instead gave her a mighty shove forward towards the others, just as the ceiling gave way entirely, a wall of coldness separated Sheppard from his only way out.

"I told you Teyla." He whispered brokenly, "There are always choices." He felt himself sinking to the ground, the last bit of reserves having gone into his last action as a team leader. His damp hair clung to his forehead; the fever reclaimed his mind as he sank into a world bereft of hope.