If I Die
Chapter Twenty - Panic
It took all the restraint Sheppard possessed to stop himself from simply throwing himself through the bushes, running through the undergrowth whilst ignoring the siren call he'd thrown up to tell the Silani exactly where he was.
The Hallan had been impressed with the C-4, watching closely as he'd packed a quantity into the earth, rigged the wires and the detonator. He'd been half afraid that the men would make some move to take the explosive from him, but they seemed content to let him be, even returning his gun and pack.
Now his final shadow had gone, leaving him with instructions to head for the tallest tree, the skinny trunk with a smattering of large, wide leaves at its top. He followed their directions, cutting through the undergrowth and wishing that he had Teyla's stealth. The smoke from the burning bushes behind him filled his nose and mouth, and all he could hear was the crackle of flames and the sound of branches whipping past him as he ran.
Then alarmed shouts, confusion. He thought he could hear gunfire, but wasn't sure.
He was so busy concentrating on the noise from the gate he almost stumbled over his team. Teyla, sat gripping McKay's hand and Aiden, P90 trained on him, the younger man panting slightly.
"Lieutenant."
The gun dropped. "Way to make a distraction, sir."
"Major." Teyla was looking up from McKay, her face pale. "He has stopped breathing."
For a slight second it was as though everything had frozen, condensed into that one tiny spot beneath a large, leafy bush and the tall tree, ash drifting through the breeze, Teyla's wide eyes staring up at his and McKay's own closed, head lolling slightly to one side.
"There's no time." And without thinking twice he was manhandling McKay into his arms, the man's weight awkward and heavy. He rose, Teyla reaching out to steady him. "Lieutenant, I need covering fire."
Ford nodded, rising, weapon drawn and firing to the left of the gate.
Stumbling, Sheppard followed, Teyla close beside him, her own weapon drawn. Staggering up the mountainside, ignoring the rocks that snagged at his boots or the thorns and twigs that caught and ripped his shirt. Words over and over in his head, don't do this don't do this don't you dare… Heart hammering against his chest, he pressed forward, was aware of his own voice shouting: "Teyla!"
And she was ahead of him, at the DHD. Two Silani were down on the ground, one shot in the leg, the other clutching his arm. Four others were struggling to untangle themselves from the undergrowth they had run into after the explosion, pulling out their guns. Sheppard could hear weapons fire, tried to duck and weave as best he could whilst struggling to hold McKay.
Then the whoosh of the Stargate as the wormhole burst forth with brilliant light, filling up the small clearing. Sheppard shouting for Ford and Teyla, then aware of a sharp pain bursting against the back of his knee and falling forward, through the event horizon…
