PARADISE
By NotTasha
PART 10: ROOT
Teyla leapt to her feet at the sound of gunfire. McKay shot upright, blinking his eyes blearily at the morning light, clutching his P90 with one hand, and the blanket with the other. The two exchanged an apprehensive glance as the shots continued, and Teyla took to her feet, diving into the jungle.
McKay followed a moment later, clasping his weapon as he took off after the Athosian. He stumbled, following Teyla's back, trusting her to be able to follow the sound. After his meager sleep, his brain wasn't functioning. He never was the type who could awaken quickly. No, he preferred a nice slow awakening – hit the 'snooze' button a few times, followed by coffee and more coffee.
Clumsily, he tried to keep up, but Teyla was too fleet and he was too awkward. She gained constantly as another shot was fired in the distance, and another. Rodney panted, clutching the weapon to his chest, loosing sight of Teyla as the branches and leaves snapped her up.
Major Sheppard and Lt. Ford were in danger – those creatures – those awful yellow-toothed, freakishly laughing, pink dogs – had attacked them. And here he was, stumbling like a toddler, about as helpful as gnat. What if something happens to them? What if something happens to Teyla? She's alone!
God, what if those things get to them?
Rodney had catch up to Teyla, to find Ford and Sheppard, to offer whatever help he could. He might not manage to hit any, but maybe he could help scare them off.
He hurried onward, following the trail Teyla had blazed. He'd catch up to her. He'd help them. He wasn't going to be useless – as useless as he had been up until now! He'd do it.
His focus ahead of him, Rodney didn't see the exposed root that seemed to leap up and grab hold of his foot. One moment he was running all-out, getting slapped and scratched by every branch in the forest – the next moment he was flying.
He belly-flopped into the earth with an "oof", his hands driving through the earth as his P90 skittered from his grasp.
Everything stopped – and for a moment, it was downright peaceful.
The wind knocked out of him, Rodney gasped, staring at a spot before him – too shocked to consider what had happened immediately. What the hell? What the hell? He panted, trying to draw a clean breath, but his lungs didn't want to comply. He grasped at the dropped leaves that carpeted the ground – duff -- he reminded himself of the proper terminology.
Come on, McKay… come on, you imbecile. Get up! Ignoramus! You have to… get up.
He cursed himself, struggled to get to his hands and knees, to reach his P90, to follow Teyla and help the others.
It was then that he heard the strange laughing growl, and he had no time to turn.
--
A/N: He'll be fine... right? Maybe that wasn't one of those devil-dogs...