PARADISE
By NotTasha
PART 4: DEEP IN IT
The other three tried to find something to do as McKay worked, but the day was lazy and warm and there was nothing left to find in the immediate area. The earth didn't shake and no scary animals showed their faces. It was altogether a beautiful day.
Ford found a seat in sun. Teyla rested against a swaying tree. Sheppard paced.
The volcano appeared to have quieted. There'd been no further shake-ups. The day continued to be mild and lovely. The fragrant breeze continued to entice them. Curious birds flitted about in the trees, watching but keeping their distance. Time passed.
With nothing else to do, Sheppard watched Rodney work. The physicist would search through the crystals and other fine pieces, pick up one, examine it, mess about with it, perhaps try to fit it into the DHD, and then, either make a smug expression as it clicked into place, or grimace and remove the piece to set it back with the others. Hours passed without little progress.
"Any idea on how long this will take?" Sheppard asked peevishly.
"If I knew that, I'd have it done by now," Rodney returned.
"So, you're saying that you don't know what you're doing?" Sheppard responded.
"I know how to assemble the components of a DHD. That's child's play," Rodney shot back hotly, as he tried to get another piece into place in the DHD. "But I have several obstacles in my way, don't I? Broken parts, constant interruptions, no equipment to perform tests – it's all 'guess and by golly', isn't it? There's the threat of attack by some unknown yet violent killers." His movements were abrupt, echoing his sharp words. "It's hot, it's humid, I'm getting hungry and… uh-oh."
"Uh-oh?" Sheppard repeated, watching as Rodney retracted a crystal from the unit. "You broke another piece?" Sheppard exclaimed. Ford and Teyla were suddenly beside them again.
"Well… I…" McKay turned the fractured piece, frowning and stuttering as he proclaimed, "It… it was probably already damaged, weakened by the fracture that ran through here. It was just… bound to break. A matter of time!"
"Oh, for the love of…" Sheppard didn't know what to think. Another broken component? His gaze moved from the cracked piece to McKay's bleak expression. "Fix it," Sheppard grumbled.
The disturbed look disappeared from McKay's face, replaced with that arrogant sneer they were all used to, "Yes, of course, I need you to keep saying that, don't I? Fix it… yeah, thanks. I hadn't thought of that."
"McKay, do you have any idea how much shit we're in?" Sheppard asked.
"Deep in it," McKay responded. "And, as I stated earlier, it's nearly impossible to work with so many people crowding over my shoulder." McKay glared at the rest of the team that was again pressed in close. "Step back. Give me some breathing room. Just, you know, don't go too far – in case those animals are still around… somewhere."
Sheppard realized that this was getting them nowhere. McKay was still a long way from fixing the DHD, and their standing around was not helping anything. He glanced about, wondering about those animals. There'd been no sign of them – but if they were going to face some foe, it would be good to know a little more about them. He turned and nodded to Teyla. "You want to go back with me and continue searching the caverns? See if we can find any more signs of what killed those people?"
Teyla nodded and straightened her stance. "I believe it would be wise to do so," she responded. "It would be intelligent to know what we are up against."
"Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. Ford," the major instructed, "Stay put. Keep an eye on things. Keep out of the doctor's way." McKay made a satisfied sound at Sheppard's words. John continued, "Stick together. Oh, and make sure nothing eats him, okay? We need him in one piece to fix what he did to the DHD."
"I'm fixing it!" Rodney exclaimed.
"Yeah…. Just don't break anything else, okay?" And he turned, gestured to Teyla, and they headed back up the beach to the shelter in the caverns.
TBC --
A/N: Yeah, fix it Rodney!