A/N: Another chapter!Here it goes, hope you like it. Ending is coming soon, which is sad because I really loved writing this story. To everyone who had taken time to review, thank you! Is really great to know that those things that you do for fun, others can enjoy it too. Just a couple of more chapters to go!
To Falcon, my beta thanks a lot for your time!
Enjoy!
Chapter XI: Close to home, but not yet.
The way back was quite uneventful, reminding them of their first walk down that same path. Once outside they quickly noticed that it had started raining really hard. Sheppard was trying his very best to stay conscious but he felt it was a loosing battle as he was fading faster than he would have liked to.
Ford ordered the team to head back to the jumper when out of nowhere two Wraith darts passed by the town and started shooting, obliterating the buildings of the city. The group separated just in time, evading a hit from the darts. Rubble from the explosion was falling over McKay's head as he heard someone call out for him. "McKay, Teyla, you guys ok?" Rodney lifted his head and quickly looked around to find John and Teyla okay while Amara was standing a bit ahead of them, looking spaced out but fine. "We're all fine, we'll meet you back at the jumper."
"Okay, meet you there!"
McKay started walking again but immediately noticed that Major Sheppard was getting heavier to carry and the man's movements were becoming increasingly weaker. They stopped and the scientist gave the Major a once over, "John, are you ok? Can you go on?" John's voice was barely above a whisper as he glanced up at his friend and answered his question, "Yes."
The darts made another pass, this time however they were further in town. Suddenly McKay heard Elek's voice behind them, shouting orders at his guards. Amara, who up until now had been quiet, suddenly turned around, "Tell your friend to pick us up at the gate."
"Why?"
"It will be easier for us to walk to the gate." McKay didn't second guess what Amara was saying and kept on walking, following the woman to the gate, letting Ford know where to pick them up. John was giving all his remaining energy to be able to leave this planet, but suddenly something was seriously off as he started to feel as if the ground beneath him was disappearing.
He fought the feeling. He knew he was slipping fast and he knew he couldn't hold on much longer. 'One more step', it was his personal mantra, which was all he could think off at that very moment, but unfortunately for him he knew no more as he felt his legs give away and turn into Jell-O.
Teyla was the first to notice and she immediately stopped, "Major Sheppard?" McKay did the same as the Major had all of a sudden become very heavy to carry. They were near the Stargate, but not near enough to go through. Rodney and Teyla placed John gently on the ground. McKay gave the wound on John's thigh another look. "He has lost too much blood." He was more talking to himself then at Teyla or anybody else for that matter. He looked at Amara and shouted at her over the rain, "Heal him!" All Amara did in response was frown, "What do you mean?"
"The Ancients had the ability to heal. I'm sure you have it!"
"I do not have such an ability!"
"What do you mean you don't have it? You're an Ancient!" McKay's frustration of being helpless was starting to come trough in his voice.
Amara closed in toward Rodney and brought herself to his level so she didn't have to shout at him. "In order to give me Wraith qualities, they had to drop a few abilities. Unlike what you may think, I am not perfect!"
"I can see that!" Rodney replied, anger now replacing the frustration. He was starting to get seriously tired of her games.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She looked back at him, eyes wide with surprise and a hint of anger.
"The Wraith are attacking the planet you were meant to protect, and here you are not doing anything!"
Amara turned away from McKay and started moving again without giving him a second glance, "We must leave!"
But before they could move properly the gate activated and five guards and one male Wraith stepped through the event-horizon, blocking their way out. "Great! That's just great!" McKay said, glancing at Amara, "You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?" All she did was giving him a pointed look. "You knew the Wraith were coming, and you didn't do anything to stop it… you must do it, whatever it is that you do."
"No! We can still leave. Come on!" Amara turned around and continued her way towards the now guarded Gate. McKay went after her, not to follow her but to stop her from running straight into the waiting Wraith, "If you don't do it, no one will leave. They are controlling the Stargate."
Amara started walking away, still towards the Stargate. McKay started to think she was being careless on purpose. 'What is she doing? Is she suicidal?' Before she could expose herself and the rest of them in the process he got up and pulled her down to the ground in attempt to hide themselves from the waiting party at the Gate. "What the hell are you doing?"
"We must leave!" She was looking straight at Rodney now, almost pleading to continue for the Gate.
It was right that moment that the two darts made another pass, in order to start beaming up people. McKay turned to Amara more urgently this time, as it wasn't only the lives of the people on the planet but also their lives who were at stake now. "You have to do it!"
"No, I do not!"
McKay turned as he heard Teyla scream and quickly grabbed Amara by the arm to return to where Teyla and the Major were hiding, only to find Elek and his guards standing at their sides. McKay could hear the darts fly by dangerously close now and he gave Amara, who had once again turned very quiet, another glare. He knew that if the Wraith activated the beam, they would have nowhere to run.
The darts were now visible while Elek, seemingly unaware of the danger closing in on them, closed in on Amara, "Amara, I will make sure you never get out of your stasis chamber ... ever again! And as for him," Elek pointed at Major Sheppard, "I will hang his rotten body next to your chamber, so you can see him until he becomes nothing more but dust! That way you will remember what you have done!"
It really unnerved Rodney that Amara hadn't said a word or that she was in any way fighting back against Elek. He was truly afraid the darts were coming right at them and there was no way they could escape without leaving someone behind.
The beam was upon them and as it was passing by Rodney shut his eyes, expecting that when he opened them he would be inside the Wraith ship. Instead he heard Amara whisper, "Good bye." The beam passed by and McKay opened his eyes only to discover that the only ones taken were Elek and his guards.
McKay glanced to his side where Amara was looking very pale, but other than that she wasn't showing any signs of weakness. "What just happened?" McKay heard Teyla ask, but Rodney already knew the answer.
Rodney's radio came to life, scaring the living daylights out of him. It was Lt. Ford, wondering about their whereabouts. "We're near the Gate, but that is currently out of bounds, six Wraith just came through."
"Are you at a safe distance?"
"Yes."
"Ok, stay put, we're going to try to clear it for you." McKay checked on Sheppard, he was still alive but unresponsive. Teyla adjusted the tourniquet on the Major's thigh while Rodney checked on the shoulder. It was ok, but probably needed another good pull. For now Carson would have to deal with it. McKay looked around, a nasty chill was surrounding them, the air had become cold and the rain only made it worse. McKay began to shiver, as he didn't have much protection, as he gave his jacket to John.
Suddenly he realized Amara was missing. He looked at Teyla and told her to stay with Sheppard. McKay got up and started walking towards the Stargate. He was being really careful, as he didn't want the patrolling Wraith to see him. He quite easily caught up with Amara, who was almost at the gate. But before Rodney could say anything the jumper passed by and started shooting at the Wraith. In a matter of seconds they were dead but because of the shooting Amara had to get out of her cover and was now completely exposed. The guards were gone, until McKay realized he only counted five bodies lying on the path next to the gate. 'Five?'
McKay realized too late, that the leader Wraith was missing. Then out of nowhere the missing Wraith appeared behind Amara. McKay was paralyzed. The only thing his brains allowed him to do that very moment was scream, which he did with all his might. "AMARA!"
A/N: Ok, everybody breathe! Sorry for the cliffie, but it was necesary at this point. I hope I won't leave it like this for long.
