A/N Chapter Nine. And wow, is muse on a roll! I wrote this on an hour and a half of sleep, followed by two exams. So, if it is crap, let me know, and I will pullit down and fix it.
Oh yea. If all the characters seem a bit… off, that's not because I'm tired. It's because the events of this story have taken them in a different direction then canon has, so they have changed in different ways. Do you really think Rodney will stillbe a snaky jerk if he has a kid on the way? I think not.
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"Five more minutes, Grams." Adien Ford rolled over on his back and was greeted by an unpleasant surprise. Absolute blackness stared back at him, its inky depths suffocating him. He could make out three voices chattering quietly nearby. One was Teyla's; one was John's, and the grunting sound seemed to be a very McKay-ish thing to do.
"I do hope your Grams is a bit better looking than me, Adien." John turned back to McKay, who was struggling with the remnants of his shirt. Both Teyla and John had gotten new clothes, and Ford's had stayed largely intact, but poor Rodney had to wear the same tattered remains that he had been brought in, blood stains and all. One sleeve was missing, along with a pant leg, and the rest was merely ribbons held together by a few threads. He scowled down at himself before sliding off the bed, holding the side of it for a moment to get his bearings.
"Umm, S-John, I, well, I can't get down." John looked over at Adien and realized the problem.
"I'll help you out, just give me a moment to find a way out of here." Both Teyla and McKay stared at John, not sure why Ford couldn't get off the bed himself. He returned the glances with a false smile, but it did nothing to quell their fears.
"Adien, can I tell them? I think they are going to find out the first time you plant your face in the dirt anyway." He didn't answer for a moment, then nodded his head. John turned back to the people he considered family, well, at least one of them really was, and prepared to break the news.
"He's blind." Teyla's face remained impassive, save for her eyes, but Rodney was a whole different ball game.
"The skull fracture." He was uncharacteristically quiet, then simply reached out and grabbed the four circular devices. "Maybe these will come in useful." He walked right over to Adien and touched him without a word. John was surprised that Ford hadn't gotten nervous like before, and when he asked McKay laughed.
"Just do this. It helps him, well, almost see with his ears. Like a bat does." He made a series of chirping noises, just barely audible unless his head was facing you. Adien turned instinctively towards the noise, his eyes almost focusing.
"Ok, at the risk of a lecture, how in the world does that work?" (A/N Yea, I'm no doctor, so this is a complete use of my artistic license. I don't know if it works, I don't know any blind people.)
"Its just one sound. Adien can narrow down one small sound as opposed to a voice, which is a bunch of different sounds mixed together. Well, that's the condensed version anyway." He turned back to Ford and helped him off the bed. Rodney stepped away, still making the chirping noise. Adien turned to face him a moment before taking a tentative step forward.
"Good job Ford."
"Don't talk. He'll end up getting lost and tripping over his own feet." McKay took another step, and this time Adien moved right along with him. John gave the signal for them to move out, and both he and Teyla moved to the door.
The plan was simple. Teyla and John would move ahead and clear the way for Rodney to lead Adien through. Once they had caught up, Teyla and John would move again, and so on. There was no resistance getting out, as no one expected them to be awake. Once out side the building, John did a quick scan of the surroundings. On a hill almost five miles away stood the Stargate, calling them like a beacon in the night. John moved back to the group and crouched down.
"The Stargate is about 5 miles from here, give or take. Now, the only thing is, is that there is that damn forest in the way. Ford, I don't think you can go through. I think our best bet is to run to the 'gate, no pauses."
"I understand, Sir." Adien hung his head on his chest. Once again, he was the burden, the problem for everyone.
"You won't be alone. Rodney, I know you are injured, but-" His words were cut off by McKay's sharp reply.
"Go. The sooner you get there, the sooner you can get back. Just make sure you bring a puddle jumper, bring Beckett, and tell him to bring a clot-busting agent with him. I don't know what they are called, but bring the strongest one."
John nodded his head and turned to Teyla. "Can you run that far? Or should I leave you here and come back?" He knew in his heart what she would say, but the question needed asking.
"I am coming with you."
"I figured as much. Adien, Rodney, find a place to hide. Liz is going to be pissed enough that you didn't come back with us, don't get caught again." Rodney nodded and whispered to Ford, who in turn let go of his arm.
"Get going." John nodded and stood. Teyla joined him in scanning the path before going.
"If we go this way, there are less trees. Stay close to me, ok?" She shook her head and they both started off, a definite limp noticeable in Teyla's run, but otherwise ok.
"Adien, I'm only going to be a few minutes. Yell if you need anything." Rodney was being uncharacteristically nice, seeing as his own neck was on the line here as well, but Adien had become a friend to him. Even after all his snaky comments, the man still put up with him, and in his book, that was a friend.
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"AT-3, prepare for debarkation." Peter Grodin's voice rang out over the Ancient's version of a loudspeaker, and seven volunteer military and civilian personnel gathered around the stone ring. All of them had volunteered for this mission, not knowing what fate had befallen AT-1, and all of them just wanted to get going so they could get home again.
Peter had already dialed the first two chevrons, and was shocked when the rest lit up on their own. He turned the iris on, but his computer started to beep. Looking at it, he realized it was Major Sheppard's IDC. He wasted no time in calling Dr. Beckett to the 'gate room, but the physician was already on his way. He was supposed to be with AT-3, but was running a bit late.
"Major! Teyla! You had us all scared out of our wits, lad." He took in the bandages they wore, and the fact that Teyla was favoring one leg, and started yelling at the medics that were running in. The gate whooshed closed behind them, and Carson was startled to find that it was only the two of them.
"Where are Rodney and Adien?" John was bent over, his hands on his knees, but at the sound of Ford's name he looked up.
"Jumper. Clot buster. Go back." John managed to get out the main points between gulps of air, but Carson tuned out everything he had heard the moment he heard 'back'.
"Oh no, Major, you are going to the bed that has your name on it, and you lass, are joining him."
"You do not understand, Doctor. We must go back. We are healthy enough for the trip. The natives' left us slightly injured but healed the life-threatening problems. Lieutenant Ford and Dr. McKay cannot make it to the Stargate without our help." Carson looked incredulously at the ragged pair in front of him, not quite sure what to do with them. He opted for the easiest question first.
"And why can't they make it back alone?"
"Adien's been blinded, doc. McKay does this click-y thing with him, but there are these trees. That's why we need a jumper. I told them we would be back. Now, come one! I'll explain on the way!" John began to make his way to the jumper bay, and Carson, against his better judgment, followed him.
"You both know I am going to keep you in the infirmary for a while, right?" Carson had followed silently to the jumper, only speaking while they were boarding it.
"Dr. Beckett, Dr. McKay requested that we bring a strong 'clot-busting agent'. Do you have such a thing on your person?" Carson looked at Teyla blankly for a second, then shook his head.
"I would have to go to the med lab for that. Do we have time, lad?" Carson was already standing, not wanting to waste a moment.
"I'll do preflight while you're gone. But hurry up, those people weren't all that kind to us while we were there, and neither were the trees." Carson nodded and disappeared out the back hatch.
? Space?
"Rodney? Rodney, where are you?"
"About 10 feet in front of you. Don't worry, I found a place to hide, and its close. Lets get moving though. I really don't feel like being an experiment." Rodney helped Adien to his feet and liked arms once again. Taking the steps slowly, he continued to click so that he could find the way. After about ten minutes they reached the hiding spot Rodney had found. It was nothing more than a bowl-shaped depression in the ground, but it put them both below ground level and still visible from a jumper.
They sat in silence for a while, with Ford picking at the grass by his feet and Rodney keeping a look out for gate activity.
"What are you thinking about?" Ford looked towards McKay's voice, his eyes still eerily unfocused.
"Mandy. I wish I could see her again." Rodney just stared at him for a moment, and then shook his head.
"That's why I told them to bring one of those clot-buster thingy majiggers, whatever you call them. I have a theory."
"Want to let me in on this 'theory', seeing as I'm the subject of it?"
"No. If I do, and it doesn't work, I'll have gotten your hopes up for nothing, and that's not fair to you." Rodney stuck his head above the rim of the bowl, and smiled. "The jumper's here!"
? Space?
"I got it. I also have a few passengers." Beckett climbed back aboard the jumper, followed by Jana and a very angry Elisabeth. Before John could turn in his seat, a hand connected with the back of his head.
"I think I deserved that," he grumbled as he rubbed his now-sore head. John closed the back hatch and powered up the jumper's engines.
"Jumper One, this is Atlantis Base. The gate is dialed and you are cleared for launch."
"Roger that, Atlantis Base. Jumper One is a go." John maneuvered the puddle jumper in front of the gate and gunned the engines. "Hold on tight, kids. We're moving out." The small craft flew effortlessly into the event horizon and materialized on the other side. The small town they had been in was clearly visible from the air, and John had no trouble locating the clearing they had left Adien and Rodney at. Both of them were waiting for the jumper, Rodney following its motions as it landed.
The hatch lowered to the ground, but John ordered everyone to stay put and be quiet. Carson watched in awe the way Rodney was able to handle getting Adien in the jumper and seated before everyone began talking. Liz pulled him close and kissed him, but reluctantly let him go so he could help Carson.
"John, get out of here. And don't fly into any trees!" Rodney turned his attention back to Adien, who was leaning heavily on his shoulder. Carson pulled out the requested supplies and handed them to Rodney.
"It's your show, lad. And they are called anti-coagulants, not clot-busters." Rodney nodded, not really paying attention.
"How much should I give him?" He had scanned the clear bottle, but there was nothing on it to indicate any kind of dosage.
"What are you doing with it?"
"I want to thin his blood by…" Rodney seemed to think for a moment, and then answered. "Ten percent, give or take. That should be enough."
"I thinkI see where you are going. Ford, you're going to feel a sharp prick in the back of your head, ok laddie? Don't worry about it, I'll tell you when it's coming." Carson drew out the needed dosage and handed the bottle to Jana, who was standing nearby.
"Ok Adien, here goes nothing." Carson stabbed the needle in swiftly, not giving it any time to hurt. He injected the clear liquid into Ford's skin and handed the needle to Jana. She deftly placed the cap on it and tossed it in the bin.
"Um, guys, I feel a bit dizzy now. Can I lie down?" Adien was beginning to sway a bit, and Rodney knew he was about to slip.
"Here you go, lie right here." Rodney pulled his torn jacket off the bench to make room for his head and laid him down slowly.
"Are we done playing super-doctor back there? Because that event horizon is looking pretty inviting."
"We're ready. Lets go home." Everyone nodded his or her agreement, and John effortlessly flew the jumper through the event horizon, towards home.
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And there is Chapter 9. I'm about to tie this thread up, but many more surprises lie ahead for our favorite group of Atlantian Adventurers! Its looking 30-40 chapters, ballpark you guys. So much more awaits us just around the little purple arrow!
And the purple Reveiw button is nice... I love getting those! Hint, Hint
