TITLE: What is Needed Most part 11

AUTHOR: sablecain

DISCLAIMER: see part 1

AN: forgot to warn you all earlier but I am not a dr. have no medical training. I get all my first aid and medical knowledge from ER….no just kidding, I look stuff up but still, from now on bear with me and remember I'm not very medically literate. Thank you!

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part 11

Sheppard glanced at Ford who was standing guard at the main entrance of the cavern. "What's our status?"

"We're stable for the moment,but don't know how long we have before they might try to regroup." Ford let his worried gaze settle on McKay. "Can he be moved?"

Carson nodded. "Bleeding has slowed now, almost stopped. I'll get him wrapped up tight. Won't be pretty or recommended under normal circumstances, but I can't see any other way to get him out quick." He sounded more confident than he looked.

"Okay." John patted Rodney's leg absently. "Ford and Teyla will lead us back to the entrance. We'll use the scanners to make sure no one's following. I'll carry McKay."

"Just give me a few minutes to get him ready," Carson said.

"Ford, tell Wilmington we're coming. We don't want to get shot by …" He stopped, hearing movement behind him and turned, pulling his gun from his hip holster and aiming it at the terrified young Genii soldier emerging from the same tunnel Kolya had escaped down. "Take another step and you're a dead men," Sheppard threatened harshly.

Nobody moved, even Carson and Teyla froze, watching the stranger warily.

The young man slowly raised his hands into the air, his bag slipping off his shoulder and jerking him off balance for a moment. "I- I just came back to help…him."

"Ford." John turned, sliding forward and taking a more defensive posture in front of Rodney, Carson and Teyla. "Search him."

Ford hurried toward the Genii, patting him down efficiently. "He's clean," he reported, moving to the bag. "It's all med supplies."

"I couldn't leave him like that," the soldier tried to explain as Ford escorted him closer.

"What's your name?" John asked.

"Kendrick," he answered. "I'm trained in medicine."

"Help me then," Beckett ordered. "And be quick about it."

Kendrick looked nervously at Sheppard as if checking for permission.

"You heard the doctor," John said, none too pleasantly.

Kendrick hurried forward, taking the bag that Ford offered and handing it to Beckett. "There's more bandages in there."

Sheppard watched the two doctors work together to wrap up Rodney's wound so he could be carried out of the cave. "What'd Kolya want with McKay?" he asked suddenly.

"The Commander was hoping that Dr. McKay would be able to fix the ancient device we found here. He thought it was a weapon or the means to defend against one." Kendrick talked as he worked.

John glanced at the glowing machine. "McKay fix it?"

"I'm not sure. He said he didn't, but Commander Kolya is angry that he was deceived."

"Is it a weapon?" John asked, his brow furrowing.

"No, McKay told us it was only a musical instrument."

"Music, huh?" John watched Rodney's unresponsive face as Beckett, Kendrick and Teyla worked on him. "Bet that pissed Kolya off." He paused, realizing that Rodney had borne the brunt of Kolya's rage. "Where is he now?"

Kendrick looked up sharply, meeting Sheppard's fierce stare. "He's gone."

"Where?" John pushed wanting to go after the Commander to seek his own personal vengeance when suddenly the radios crackled to life.

"Major!" Wilmington's voice was almost drowned out by gunfire. "We've got more Genii moving in on us."

Sheppard stood quickly, looming over Kendrick. "More of Kolya's men?"

"No," Kendrick answered. "We are small in number and we scattered when you arrived. It would take much longer to reorganize."

"Who the hell…" John exchanged a look with Lt. Ford. "Cowen." He turned to Kendrick again. "There's another way out of here?"

"Yes, through the tunnels." Kendrick nodded. "I can lead you."

"How nice of you to offer," John answered sarcastically. "Wilmington, retreat through the main tunnel." He grabbed the life signs detector he'd discarded earlier. "The way is clear and we just happen to have our own personal guide out of here." He squatted down next to Kendrick and leaned close, his voice dropping low and threatening. "If you lead us anywhere but out of here…to safety. I will kill you."

Kendrick gave an almost imperceptive nod as his eyes flicked up from Rodney to meet John's. "I assure you, I mean you no harm."

The gunfire was growing louder now and Sheppard could see the life signs of his men approaching followed by a growing group of pursuers. Man there were a lot Genii coming after them. "Wells?" Sheppard tapped his radio, trying to reach the jumpers.

"Yes, sir?" The young private's voice responded.

"We're on our way back to you."

"Yes, sir. We're ready for you."

"We'll be coming in hot. Get the med supplies ready on one jumper."

"Understood."

"Ford." He waved Aiden over to him. "Raise Stackhouse on the radio and make sure he's not having any trouble with Cowen at the settlement. Let him know what's happening and tell him to get his men ready to get the hell out of here as soon as he sees the jumpers."

John scowled. If he had his way, he'd like to have a heart to heart with Cowen, but unfortunately, like Kolya, the Genii leader was going to have to waitfor his attention. "You'll both pay," John muttered under his breath. He'd get Cowen for trying again to get the upper hand in a miserable situation, and then he'd hunt down Kolya and tear him apart for everything he'd done to Rodney.

"Major?" Ford's voice pulled him back from any thought of trying to stay and track down Kolya. "I think you ought to take Rodney and go with Kendrick here now. Carrying McKay is gonna slow you down a good bit The rest of us will follow."

"I'm not leaving anyone behind," John argued.

"Lt. Ford is right, Major." Teyla looked up at him. "You will be able to monitor our progress and direct us over the radios. You are not leaving us behind," she smiled reassuringly. "You will be leading the way."

Sheppard arched an eyebrow, liking the way Teyla thought. He still didn't like the idea of going ahead, but he knew McKay was not going to be easy to carry. "Beckett, I want you with us."

"Kendrick will be with you." Carson shook his head. "Someone needs to be capable of using the life signs detector to keep track of the Genii coming after us." He shrugged. "I'm the only other option."

Frowning, John cast a dubious look at Kendrick before relenting. "Is McKay ready?"

"As ready as he can be." Carson waved Sheppard closer.

Quickly, John donned his vest, ignoring the discomfort of the scratchy material against his bare skin. He shifted his P90 out of the way and allowed Beckett and Kendrick to help drape McKay over his shoulder. McKay, for his part, remained unresponsive and John found himself wishing worriedly to hearRodney's indignation at being hauled around so unceremoniously. Wrapping his left arm tightly around McKay's leg and holding the scanner in that hand, he took his revolver in his right and looked at Kendrick. "Let's go."