Chapter 9: I Want to Go Home (updated from original post)

The abrupt jarring tilt of the 'McKay' tossed Sheppard and Beckett's bodies harshly out of their seats, landing the startled men in a heap of arms and legs entangled against the hull.

Carson was the first to sit up, rubbing his pounding head while gazing cautiously about. "What the bloody hell happened?" When the major didn't respond, the physician carefully placed his hand under John's neck and rolled him over onto his back. With a clear view of his friend's face,he spied a red welt rapidly forming above the major's right brow. "Come on, Major," he encouraged; peeling back closed eyelids and feeling relief when the pupils reacted to light.

With nothing more he could do to help Sheppard, hepulled himself up on his knees and surveyed the disarray inside the sub. Where was McKay? "Rodney?" he called out before grabbing his temples as a new wave of pounding surfaced. "Rodney, I need your help with the Major."

Not receiving any reply, the hung over physician dragged himself to his feet and made his way cautiously towards the back. The lights briefly flickered off before the emergency backups kicked on, casting an eerie yellow glow throughout the ship.

Shoving a loose tire from the cart out of his way, he stumbled into the vehicle and cursed loudly. "McKay, where in the bloody hell are you?" His outburst was rewarded with another wave of pain between his eyes and he clamped them shut, riding out his distress. "Why doesn't someone just shoot me and put me out of my misery?" he mumbled. Blindly taking another step, he stumbled and fell to the floor.

Rolling over onto his back, he reached out with his right hand and grasped about for something solid to get a grip on, only to be startled when he felt a leg. Hangover or not, he blinked his eyes open and sat up, discovering Rodney's pinned form beside him half beneath the grate. "Oh, dear Lord," he gasped.

Not sure how he was going to move the tipped cart on the tilted floor, Carson laid flat on his stomach and wormed his way next to the scientist, reaching as far as possible beneath the grate. He was able to touch Rodney's neck, finding a weak rapid pulse. Next he placed his hand as close as he could to the pinned man's chest, checking his respirations and finding them shallow and distressed.

Carson worked his way back out to study the position of the cart. It had to be moved. Gripping the steering wheel with his right hand, he placed his left shoulder under the front end and heaved with all his strength, tipping the cart back onto the rear wheels before propping it against the hull.

Headache completely forgotten, he was now able to push the heavy grate back open and used it as a wedge to stop the cart from shifting.

Rodney didn't move or make a sound while the doctor worked around him.

Dropping down to his knees, the physician pulled the scientist's shirt free and examined the large bruise covering his lower back. Gently probing the area and surrounding tissue, he was relieved to not find any rigidity. Thank God for small favors. Leaning back into the small space beside his still friend,Carson tried to get a closer look at any other injuries. "Rodney, lad, can you hear me?"

Surprisingly, the scientist gave a small moan.

"Good Rodney. I know you're hurtin' but I can't help you until you answer me." Not receiving a response, Carson continued. "Rodney, I need to know if you can move your feet even a little. Do you think you do that for me?"

Carson heard another small moan and then felt a tightening of Rodney's calf muscles as he slightly flexed his left foot and then his right. "You're doin' good, lad. I'll have you out of there in a wee bit, just hold on."

Quickly clearing the surrounding area of loose materials, the physician located one of Sheppard's blankets from earlier and spread it out on the floor. Next he straddled Rodney's back and reached down, grasping his friend beneath the armpits. "I'm not going to lie to you, Rodney, this is really going to hurt. I don't have a backboard or personnel to help, so please forgive me for what I'm about to do." Closing his eyes and saying a quick prayer thatthe physicist's spine wasn't damaged, Carson lifted him out of the small space and carefully placed the injured man on his back.

Now able to get his first good look at McKay, he took in the scientist's tightly clenched eyelids and white face. Small beads of perspiration dottedthe man's forehead and his hands were drawn in fists so tight that his knuckles hadn't any color.

Carson reached down to pry Rodney's fingers loose from theirbloodless grip and was shocked to find the scientist's hands cold and wet. Quickly peering back into the tight crawl space, he spied a small pool of water that appeared to be moving slowly.

Realizing the possibility that they had sprung a leak, he became instantly concerned because that would mean the outer shield was down. Leaning once again over his friend, he continued his examination in silence, not wanting to voice his alarm. When completed, he bundled Rodney in the blanket before making his way back over to the Major.

Sheppard hadn't moved from where Carson had left him. Gently patting the unconscious man on the face, the doctor tried to rouse his other friend. "Come on now, Major. I really need your help with Rodney. He's been hurt badly and I think we're taking on water."

The major appeared to latch on to Beckett's words and drag himself back from the murky depths, to return to consciousness. Hid eye lids fluttered open after a minute or so of trying before focusing on the doctor. "What happened?" he whispered softly.

"I'm not quite sure, lad. How are you feelin'?"

"Headache," Sheppard mumbled, his eyes slipping closed again.

Carson hated doing it but he patted Sheppard's face once more, not letting the man sleep. "You have to stay awake, Major. Open your eyes."

With a grunt, John squinted. "Help me sit up," he instructed. Finding himself vertical once more, he gasped as a wave of naseau hit; leaving him breathless until it passed. Finally acclimated to being upright, he cautiously looked about and spied McKay lying on the floor. "Is he alright?"

The physician shook his head 'no'. "He needs to be back in the infirmary. I know you're not feelin' very well Major, but I need your help to pilot the ship back. Do you think you can do that?"

Sheppard nodded slowly. "You're going to have to help me, Doc." Taking a deep breath, he allowed Carson to pull him up to his feet and then hold him steady a moment until he got his legs back under him. Weaving precariously sideways, he eventually made his way to the pilot's seat and sat down heavily. A tap on the shoulder made him realize that he'd closed his eyes once more.

"How many fingers am I holdn' up, Major?"

"Three?"

"Try, one," the Scottsman replied. "All you need to do is sit there and tell me what to do to get us back. Do you think you can do that?"

Sheppard nodded slowly a second time before opening one eye, trying to read the schematics displayed on the console. He dropped his hand on the board and concentrated, bringing up the outer image of the ship to make sure the creature was gone. Licking his lips, he sighed and tipped his head back. "We need to get the power back up."

Carson sat stiffly in the copilot seat, "Tell me what to do."

TBC

A/N I couldn't leave the guys that way. This only has a couple of chapters left.