Carousel (part 9)

"I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him." Repeating the mantra over and over out loud as he ran full steam down to Substation 2, Major Sheppard mentally considered every possible way of torturing Dr. McKay without anyone being the wiser. Sure, the physicist was worried sick over his colleagues; they all were, but what the heck was he thinking. He's a scientist! Sci-en-tist.

Taking the stairs two at a time, he jumped the last three, grabbed the door frame, and swung out into the hallway. Rounding the last corner he stopped dead in his tracks.

Dr. Beckett sat on the floor with McKay, and Zelenka out cold with both men on either side of him. But it was the physician double-fisting the 9mm aimed square at his chest as he burst through the door that caused John's heart to stop momentarily. "Hey, you want to point that thing elsewhere?"

"Sorry, Major." Dropping the gun to the floor like a hot potato, Beckett wiped his hands on his pant legs to remove the sweat that had built up on his palms. "I saw the blip moving so fast, I thought you were him."

"That's understandable." Kneeling in front of the good doctor,Sheppard slid the gun towards himself and put it beside his boot. "What happened?"

"Rodney and I found Dr. Zelenka tied up on the floor in here. He's been badly beaten. I really need to get him back to the infirmary so I can check for serious internal injuries."

Only a great deal of self control helped John master the anger flooding him as he beheld the battered state of the second best scientist on Atlantis . Using sarcasm to mask his rage he glanced towards McKay, "What about him? This your way to get him to stop talking?"

Carson shook his head, "No, he collapsed about 15 minutes ago. Between what's happened to him less than 24 hours ago and now his not eating, not sleeping, and currently running all around, I believe he's done himself in. Exhaustion, pure and simple."

"So they both should be alright?"

"At least a day for Rodney, longer for Zelenka, to join Peter as my guests in the infirmary. But, yes, they should be fine. Of course, all three of them together for any amount of time, no matter how brief, may have me looking for a new assignment."

"I heard that," Rodney mumbled from his prone position on the floor.

"I'm sure you did, lad. How are you feelin'?"

"Like a noodle. My arms and legs feel funny and my head feels disconnected."

"That's from exhaustion. I knew you should have stayed in bed earlier."

Rodney cracked one eye open while doing his best to glare first at Carson and then Sheppard. "Help me up."

"No. You either stay put or I'll have the major sit on you."

"What part of your voodoo handbook does that little bit of medical know-how come from?"

"McKay," Sheppard cautioned.

"Is he gone?" Zelenka's hoarse whisper had the three quickly turn in his direction.

Beckett checked his patient. "Easy, Radek. Help should be here soon and then I'll have you resting comfortably upstairs."

The prone man nodded slightly, trying to see past Beckett. "Did you get him?" he asked again, in growing agitation.

"Shhh. Not yet, lad, but we found you and you're safe now."

"No, he's crazy. Wants to kill Dr. McKay," were the last whispered words out of Zelenka's mouth before he lost consciousness.

The Major and Beckett looked over to Rodney, propped up on his elbows, watching them.

"Don't worry, McKay, we'll get this kid before he hurts anyone else," Sheppard vowed.

Rodney merely nodded as he watched Carson fuss over his friend. Pulling himself up to a seated position, he reached over and grabbed the life sign indicator. Five blips showed on the screen. Turning to the doorway in time to see a figure rush by and toss an object in their direction, he barely had enough time to throw himself at Beckett and Sheppard before a loud 'bang' and blinding flash erupted. The force of the small weapon pitched all three men to the floor.

Time stood still as smoke from the grenade floated lazily towards the ceiling.

Not entirely certain what just happened, Sheppard cautiously opened one eye. He could see Rodney's limp form sprawled across Beckett in protection. Turning slightly towards the door, he became aware of a pair of boots standing near his side.

"Do not move, Major Sheppard, for I do no want to hurt you," a young male voice spoke.

Shifting to his side slowly to see who was talking, Sheppard glanced up to find the missing Athosian holding Beckett's gun, and once again, it was aimed directly at him. Oh, crap. "I need to help my friends."

"They are not worth helping, Major,"

"Why? Because they aren't friends of Dr. Kavanaugh? Well, they're friends of mine." Cautiously sitting up, Sheppard noticed that the gun never wavered or trembled in the young man's hand. Dr. Beckett stirred off to his side. "Carson, don't move," he warned.

"All I want is Dr. McKay. The rest of you may leave," Kolrin said in a flat tone of voice.

"Well, as you can see, he's had a pretty bad day and isn't up to travel at the moment."

The Athosian appeared to consider that briefly before he walked over to Rodney and using his boot, tipped the scientist's still form over, off of Dr. Beckett. Removing another homemade weapon from his lab coat, Kolrin continued to keep the handgun pointed at Sheppard. "I can kill all of you with this," he said before slipping it back in his pocket.

John watched Carson slowly sit up and reach out to check the pulse on Zelenka and Rodney while never taking his eyes off the gunman. The doctor gave a small nod that both physicists were still alive.

"You can't have him. Take me instead."

Kolrin shook his head slowly. "I do not want you, Major Sheppard. I want only Dr. McKay."

"Why are you doing this?" Trying to think up a way to stall the Athosian until Ford and his team arrived; he noticed that the young man was holding a life sign detector.

"Pick him up," Kolrin demanded, pointing his gun at Rodney.

"You won't get far with a wounded man and we both know help will be here any second. Give it up, Kolrin."

Empty eyes turned to meet his as Kolrin raised the gun and fired in his direction. "Pick him up or the next time I fire this weapon will be into Dr. McKay's brain."

Rising slowly to his feet, Sheppard made his way over to Rodney.

"Stop," the Athosian commanded. "First take off your gun, Major Sheppard, and slide it over towards me."

John undid his holster and let the handgun fall to the floor. Giving it a small kick, it went wide, away from the young man. The deadly eyes never left his face as he reached down and tugged Rodney up in a fireman's carry. The physicist didn't make a sound.

Kolrin motioned towards the door. "Dr. Beckett, I will not harm you if you remain still. To follow us will only cause grave injury to one of your friends." As if to prove his point, he removed the small object again from his pocket, holding it up for all to see. "I have had time to practice and refine my skills, and have improved Dr. Kavanagh's crude device to something much more powerful." Motioning to Sheppard once more, he followed the major and Rodney out the door.