Collateral
By AntaresStar
Chapter 6: SOS
Rated PG-13: For some character whumping, blood, ickiness, and language.
Summary: A trade mission to a planet turns into a kidnapping when rebels capture part of the SGA team as collateral for their cause.
A/N: Hope you all had a great Christmas. Sorry for the delay, you know how busy the Holidays are. Thank you so much for all the reviews! I wouldn't be able to keep going without…
M.N.Talbert - Sorry for the wait! Hope its good…
Katie - Thanks, I feel much better, you are so sweet!
nebbyJ - They will survive somehow, I promise in the end they'll all be alive…if not beat up!
Laura - Thank you…I didn't think anyone would notice! It bothers me also that aliens seem to know how to speak perfect English.
pike2 - Yeah, too bad about Mili, but I really don't blame her for being scared. Anyway, I wouldn't want her to turn into a MarySue, so I had to get rid of her.
Xtin2000 - Your review made me laugh! That's so nice…hope it was worth the wait!
TJ - Did I mention I love you, TJ? Lol! You write some of the most wonderful and inspiring reviews. Whenever I read them I want to hug you, then go and write another chapter!
Sorry if I forgot anyone.
Sheppard was rudely awakened as the first rays of light touched Talvik's surface. The rebels were waking everyone, readying them for the move to the town hall.
"Get up! We are going now! Those that resist will be left here and burned with the Holy House," Greni shouted, jabbing a sleeping prisoner with his boot.
Sheppard turned to Rodney and shook him gently. "McKay, rise and shine." The scientist opened bleary eyes and tried to focus on Sheppard. "Hey, you ok?" Sheppard inquired a hand on the man's shoulder. Rodney was looking decidedly rumpled. The Canadian nodded, pulling himself into a sitting position.
Sheppard turned and spoke quietly to Carson. He looked terrible, even worse than last night, and it worried the hell out of John. He was drenched in sweat and shaking, with sinister bruising showing darkly around the bandages covering his stomach. It didn't look like Beckett would last much longer under these conditions. "Shit." Sheppard muttered, feeling Carson's neck for a pulse. It was racing.
Beckett finally opened his eyes but could not sit up. His muscles seemed to have a mind of their own and felt very weak. "Just hold still," Sheppard told Beckett. He turned to Rodney. "Come on, we gotta get him up." Rodney nodded and stood, using the wall for balance. As soon as he let go of the support he stumbled sideways and fell towards the ground in a tangle of limbs.
Sheppard lunged forward and caught him before he could hit. He lowered McKay slowly, mindful of the scientist's lulling head. "What's wrong? Rodney, answer me!" McKay didn't seem to hear him. "Come on Rodney, get with me here. I know you're clumsy, but that was worse than usual." Sheppard was trying to get a reaction out of his friend.
Rodney seemed to snap out of his daze. "I'm ok, just give me a moment to wake up." Rodney blew out a breath and tried standing again. He managed to get his feet under him this time. "I really need some food," he admitted. "If I don't have something to eat soon…"
"Hey, I'm sure help is on the way as we speak. If I know Ford, he's already got a plan." Sheppard flashed an unconvincing smile while steadying Rodney with a hand on each shoulder.
"Listen Major. Although I find your undying optimism a great quality at times, I'm getting really sick of it, ok? You can just stop. If I don't have something to eat in the next few hours, I'm going to have a hypoglycemic reaction and there won't be anything you can do for me." Rodney snapped a little hysterically. After a second of tense silence he seemed to deflate and hung his head, leaning into the major's supporting arms. "Sorry. I-I'm just a little on edge, I didn't…" He sighed, not bothering to finish. He had meant every word he'd said, he just felt bad about saying it.
Sheppard squared the scientist up to him, taking a careful look at the man. Although he was arrogant and pig-headed at times, Sheppard had rarely seen Rodney have an outburst like this. He leaned in close and whispered, "Ok Rodney, I'll stop. But in case you haven't noticed, Beckett isn't doing so hot." He jerked his head towards the sick doctor. "And unless we keep his spirits up and convince him he has a chance, we're gonna lose him. So bear with me here, huh?"
Rodney looked from the Major to Beckett and nodded shakily. He shrugged Sheppard's hands off his shoulders and knelt down by Carson. With uncharacteristic gentleness he laid a hand on Beckett's arm. "Hey Carson. We gotta get you up and out of here. After all, you don't want to sleep the whole day away." Carson managed a weak smile.
"Rodney, hey…rather sleep." It was all he could manage. He wanted to say more, ask how Rodney was doing and if he'd managed to get something to eat, but it was taking all of his energy just to stay awake. Beckett put his head back with a defeated sigh, his lids closing on their own accord.
The Talvin rebels were ready to go and had most of the prisoners on their feet. "Ok, lets get him up," Sheppard said to McKay.
They each hooked an arm under Beckett's shoulders and hauled him off the ground. Beckett strangled his yelp of pain but couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath with gritted teeth. "Ok, you're good Carson. We got you." That was Rodney. Since when has he become so optimistic? They could act like everything was peachy, but Beckett was a doctor; he knew his symptoms and knew he was in trouble.
They dragged him from the Holy House and watched in silence as the rebels set fire to it. Then they followed the armed soldiers away from the burning building towards the town hall. "No trouble, or someone dies," proclaimed Greni. The rebel seemed a little worried. Half of his men were too ill to guard the prisoners and his leader would not awake. The handful of guards that were able held their weapons at the ready. He knew they would be in trouble unless they got their sick some medicine. It would not be long until all of them fell to this mysterious sickness.
With that in mind, Greni led the group by the Healing House, hoping to get a glimpse inside. Perhaps there were only a few foreigners inside and his guards had exaggerated earlier, maybe he could overtake them and acquire the much needed medicine. Before he could see however, a great commotion fired up behind him.
Sheppard was amazed when they passed right in front of the Healing House. Were the rebels really dumb enough to lead them right by it? Didn't they know that Ford was in there? With a quick glance around Major Sheppard felt a brash plan forming in his mind. He would not let his teammates die slowly like this; they needed to get out of here. With half the guards incapacitated and the rest of them more concerned with their sick companions than the prisoners, Sheppard felt hope rise in him. It was doable and he could pull it off if he just got the timing right.
Aware of a guard not five feet away, Sheppard knew he would have to be quick. As he passed in front of the Healing House door he changed directions suddenly and rammed his shoulder into it with jarring force. The door flew inward and he fell in with a shout, dragging a limp Beckett and surprised McKay with him. "Hold it!" cried the closest guard, brandishing his sword and racing towards them.
"Ford!" Yelled Sheppard, rolling on top of Beckett to shield the injured man. Sheppard looked up desperately and saw a guard slashing downward with his sword, two more rebels right behind him stringing their bows.
Ford heard a crash and leapt to his feet as the door banged open. He couldn't believe his eyes when Major Sheppard rolled in dragging the other missing men. A Talvin stood over them about to strike with a nasty looking blade, but the two SGA soldiers guarding the door were ready. They leveled their P-90s and each put a bullet in the guard. The Talvin fell back with a look of utter surprise. Two more rebels were right behind the first, firing their bows before anyone could blink. The arrows flew straight towards Sheppard and McKay. Ford couldn't tell if they'd been hit but saw the archers downed by SGA soldiers before they could shoot again.
"Major Sheppard!" Ford and Teyla dragged the three men away from the door. All hell had broken loose outside. The prisoners had seen what was happening and had scattered, all trying to escape. Greni let loose a shout and pulled his sword out.
"Stop them!" He swung wildly and slashed a young man wearing bright blue robes that fell, got back up and continued to flee. "Stop!" The few remaining rebels were trying to rally but were being taken down quickly by SGA soldiers. They fell one after the other until only Greni remained standing.
The shouting and gunshots had roused the entire town. Several doors opened and Talvins called out to the off-worlders. They fled into the safety of Talvin homes and out of reach of Greni's sword.
"No!" Greni cried as the SGA soldiers surrounded him. He was alone in the courtyard with his leader and few remaining men lying around him, either shot or too ill to stand. He was defeated.
The leaders of the village exited their homes and approached Greni, amazed relief in their expressions. "Tie him up," Cota ordered. The SGA officers looked to Ford for confirmation.
"Do it," called Ford. "Tie them all up and watch them." He turned away from the welcome site of the terrorists being captured to his teammates. "Oh shit!" Ford swore. A feathered arrow was sticking from Sheppard's lower leg.
"Its ok, whoa, stop!" Sheppard almost laughed in relief. The arrow was embedded in his pants but had missed his flesh. "Close shave, huh Ford?" Aiden smiled in relief pulling the offending object from the Major's pants with a rip. "Hey careful, this is my only pair right now."
Teyla smiled warmly at him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Major Sheppard, it is good to see you."
Sheppard smiled back with relief, but dulled immediately. "Teyla, could you help Rodney out." She nodded and strode forward to McKay. He was still lying were he had fallen and panting heavily.
"Dr. McKay, where is your injury?" She knelt by him and gingerly clasped his cold hands.
"I'm ok…I just…" He broke off with a shiver. "Give me a blanket and power bar." She regarded him, wondering if he was joking or perhaps had a head injury. "Quick! I'm serious, don't look at me like that." She nodded with confusion but began to pull several food bars from a nearby pack, spreading them out so he could see the different flavors. "I don't care." He grabbed one and ripped it open, putting a good half of it away in one large bite. She removed two blankets and draped one around his shaking shoulders and the other over his lap.
He had already finished the bar and reached for another. "Hey, is there a peanut butter one there?" She looked blankly at the pile of food. He realized she couldn't read the English labels. "That orange one, I think." He craned his neck and tried to read the label upside down. Teyla picked up the orange colored package and pressed it into his hands. "Great! Thanks," He mumbled through a full mouth, pulling the blankets tighter around his body.
Meanwhile, Sheppard had carefully lifted Carson from the floor and transported him to an empty bed. The patients and healers were all huddled in the back of the Healing House, watching Sheppard with fear. Sanly leapt forward when he saw Beckett.
"Dr. Beckett! You're ok! I was so worried." The boy called out but was held back by Valdoz.
"Give them some room, " the older man ordered.
Jennings had run forward at the sight of Beckett. "Oh God." She muttered taking inhis white face and heated skin. She peeled back the bandage and sucked in a sharp breath. "We need to get him back to Atlantis."
"Do what you can for him now Jennings," Sheppard said. Jennings bent over Beckett and proceeded to change his bandage, a soothing hand on his feverish forehead. "Ford, I want you and a man to go back to the gate and get a medical crew." Sheppard said quickly. "Make sure they bring something to carry Carson on."
"Wait…that would not be a good idea at the time." Valdoz stepped forward uncertainly, hands clasped tightly.
"What do you mean?" Demanded Sheppard impatiently.
Valdoz looked around at his people, who all nodded encouragingly at him. "You should not leave at this time. We have called upon our gods in our time of need. They should be here very soon to sort everything out. You should wait for them."
"What!" Shouted Sheppard. McKay looked up mid-bite, face frozen.
"What are you talking about?" Ford got up in Valdoz's face. "What do you mean 'They should be here soon'? Who did you call?"
Valdoz looked confused but held up a small, metallic object as if to clarify. "Many years ago when the gods last visited us, they left this behind. We believe they wished us to have a method of contacting them. We have called upon them. They are merciful and good. They will help us and make sure that this blasphemy shall never happen again."
Sheppard felt the ground fall out from beneath him in shock. McKay's mouth dropped open, his third power bar half eaten and forgotten.
Teyla was the first to regain her speech and broke the shocked silence. "Do you mean to tell us Healer Valdoz, that you have called the wraith to this planet?" He voice was strong but Sheppard knew her well and could hear the fear as she spoke.
Valdoz nodded, holding the object up again. It was a wraith communication device, and it was blinking.
A/N uh oh, they aren't out of trouble yet! Review please, they really inspire me to write faster, every single one. Love ya'll!