PARADISE
By NotTasha
PART 6: WRESTLING WITH THE GUTS
The DHD was still in pieces when Teyla and John returned – but at least it was in fewer pieces. Sheppard informed Ford about what they'd found, but McKay was too intent on his task to pay them any mind. They settled in with an uneasy watch – scanning the area for any sign of the weird dog-like creatures.
From time to time, they'd hear a shuffle, a snuffle, the rustle of leaves as something pressed through the undergrowth. The birds had gone silent – and the team waited impatiently as the scientist continued his tedious work, repairing their means of escape.
Once, the ground shook – just a little tremor as the volcano burped – just enough to put them all on edge again, but otherwise the mountain had gone quiet.
"McKay," Sheppard called at one point, watching as the physicist fit a piece into the structure and removed it again with a distressed expression.
"Almost done, Major," Rodney responded smartly. "We'll be home for supper."
"Yeah, I hope so," Sheppard responded, turning toward the blankets that Teyla had recovered. She'd hung them in the trees to air them, but it seemed unlikely that they'd need them – the day was hot enough and he was planning to be gone before night. He checked his watch. They were overdue. By now, Weir would be pacing, trying to decide whether they should activate the gate from Atlantis, and attempt to make contact with the team on PX9-778.
Had Atlantis tried yet? Sheppard could envision it – Weir giving the order to Grodin – and Grodin attempting to comply. He could imagine Peter's look of annoyance turn to worry as he continued to try to make a connection – and failing. He imagined the alarm that would travel through the personnel in the GateRoom.
Looking at the still illuminated chevrons, Sheppard knew McKay would solve this. Didn't he always come up with the correct answer in the end? Pull their bacon out of the fire?
When Rodney finally replaced the cover to the DHD and gave them a self-satisfied look, John knew that the half-dialed address would fade away, clearing them to walk back into Atlantis.
Rodney stated, "Okay, here we go!"
Still holding the P90 ready, he waited for Rodney to run the program that would finally defuse the problem, reset the DHD, make clear the path. He waited, watching as McKay pressed one series of buttons, and then another, and then his brow knitted.
"McKay, you about done playing around?" Sheppard asked, trying to keep his voice level.
"Just a minute," Rodney muttered. "This one should do it."
But the gate didn't change. Three chevrons remained illuminated and no more.
"Okay," McKay said, trying to keep his voice light. "This is fun."
"What has happened?" Teyla asked. "You have been unable to reset the device?"
Snorting with irritation, McKay stepped back from the DHD and snarled. "Yes, that's rather obvious, isn't it?" Looking frustrated as hell, McKay popped the cover off again and tossed it to the ground.
"Don't tell me you're going to take it apart again," Sheppard stated, watching in disbelief as McKay wrestled with the guts of the DHD.
"It's not working," McKay explained with forced patience. "I must find out what I missed, and the only way to do that without my equipment is to disassemble it….again."
Sheppard felt his confidence fall as McKay pulled out one piece… and then another. "Great," he murmured. Running a hand through his hair, he asked, "How much longer."
"If I knew that…" McKay started.
Cutting him off, Sheppard asked, "As long as last time?"
McKay met his eyes, looking troubled until he was able to school his expression to a familiar haughty glance. "It'll be done when it's done," he declared.
"Great," Sheppard said again, then turned to Ford. "If that's the case, we need to get a fire going. Sun'll be down by the time you're done."
Ford sighed, looking out across the beautiful ocean, seeing the sun dipping closer to the horizon. He nodded. "Me and Teyla?" he asked. When the major nodded, the lieutenant gestured to the Athosian and the two wandered off in search of something to burn.