Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters to Stargate Atlantis, nor am I making any type of profit from this story. It is a work of fan fiction, for enjoyment only.
Puzzles
By KerrAvon
Chapter 7 - Rescue"Rodney, I've got to sit down for a few minutes."
McKay, who'd been essentially establishing their pace since John had vomited, came to a halt and worriedly examined his friend. John's eyes were focussed inwards; he'd stumbled so often during the last fifteen minutes that McKay was actually helping him stay upright with a surreptitious hand on the pilot's elbow. As far as he could figure, they'd been steadily climbing at about the same angle of attack that they had used descending into the cavern. While that had only taken half an hour or so, their progress was much slower now with their injuries, not to mention the uphill climb. Still, he calculated that they must be relatively near the surface. Of course, that assumed that this wasn't just a dead end.
Gently lowering Sheppard to the scrabble on the tunnel floor, he watched as the man leaned his head back against the cool stone wall and closed his eyes. His black mop of hair was plastered to his head with sweat, and his pallid face had a sheen as well, causing his dark eyelashes to stand out in stark contrast. His breathing was shallow and ragged, and his muscles seemed to tremble even at rest.
"That's it; I don't care what you say, I'm calling Beckett." When Sheppard didn't reply, little wings of alarm began to beat in Rodney's throat. 'Oh, this can't be good.'
"Carson, can you hear me? Come in." The scientist keyed the mike without ever looking away from the pilot whose head now lolled to the side. "Carson?" No answer.
"Damn. Must be too shielded in this tunnel." McKay chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip as he considered his options, staring at the once-again-unconscious soldier. 'Sheppard's right about one thing - we both need medical help, and need it now.'
Reaching a decision, he gently levered Sheppard supine. Next he shrugged out of his own jacket, folded it up, and gently slipped it beneath the Major's head. Propping one of the canteens next to him, and digging out a couple of power bars, he stood up and inspected his work. "Don't worry, Major, I'll be back soon with help." Turning on his heel, he continued on uphill.
About a hundred yards farther, the inky blackness of the tunnel seemed grayer somehow. At first, Rodney thought his eyes were playing tricks, but as he continued to trudge forward, doggedly putting one foot in front of the other, he became certain that the light was increasing. Flicking off the flashlight, he let out a whoop; it was sunlight!
Exhaustion, broken ribs, and pounding head suddenly forgotten, the scientist broke into a trot. One final corner, and a small opening appeared in the wall ahead, through which the late afternoon light came streaming in. It was possibly large enough wiggle through if he had to, but, given his rib fractures, he'd prefer that the Atlantis people widen it a bit. Staring out the defect, he tried to get his bearings. He could hear voices talking somewhere below him, but couldn't see where they were coming from.
Suddenly remembering his radio, he keyed the mike. "Beckett, can you hear me now?" He recalled a rather inane cellular phone commercial campaign, and suppressed a hysterical giggle.
"Rodney! Where've ye bin? We've been trying to call ye. Bates says it's too unstable; we're gonna have to find another way in."
"Yes, well, that's what I wanted to tell you. We've found a side tunnel. I'm at the entrance right now."
"Where?"
"I can hear you somewhere below me, but can't see you. The entrance itself is too small for me to get out."
"Give us a yell, then. We'll follow your voice."
Rodney turned off his mike so as not to deafen the physician, then began to shout at the top of his lungs. Within minutes he spied figures approaching in Atlantis uniforms, both military and medical. "Over here!" he cried, waving an arm out the hole.
Bates reached him first. "If you'll stand back, sir, we'll get you out of here."
Rodney's legs went rubber with relief, and he sagged against the far wall. 'We're finally going back to Atlantis.' His eyes flew open. "Major Sheppard!"
"What about the Major, Rodney?" asked Beckett from somewhere behind the soldiers wielding the pickaxes and shovels.
McKay pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "He passed out about a hundred yards back. I'll wait for you there."
"Passed out!" Beckett exclaimed. "Rodney, what do you mean…"
"It's no good, sir," interrupted the security chief. "He's already left."
By the time McKay got back to Sheppard, the pilot was beginning to stir and moan. Hastily opening a canteen, Rodney produced a handkerchief and soaked it with water, subsequently placing it on the Major's forehead. John's eyes fluttered open, still unfocussed.
"McKay?" he whispered. "Where…?"
"Don't worry, Major, help is on the way. Beckett and company will be here as soon as they can get the opening wide enough for a stretcher."
Sheppard nodded minutely and closed his eyes again, slipping back into unconsciousness. McKay sat silent vigil until he heard footsteps rapidly approaching. "Over here!" he called, even though he hadn't seen any branches to the tunnel.
The footsteps pounded up, and McKay found himself unceremoniously pushed to the side as Beckett and the orderlies knelt beside the downed soldier.
"Major, I need you to open your eyes," Beckett instructed. John did so, and Carson flashed a penlight into them, then away. Apparently satisfied with the results, he held up a finger. "Now I want you to follow my finger with your eyes only…"
The basic neuro exam continued while an IV was being established, vital signs taken, and a stretcher brought in. A second team led by Dr. Lawrence began repeating the exam with Rodney.
"All right, let's get them out of here," Dr. Beckett was firm. "The rest of this can wait until we're back on Atlantis."
"Wait a minute; our packs are back there," objected Major Sheppard.
"We will retrieve them for you," Teyla had appeared from seemingly nowhere, gesturing to herself and Ford. The pair was covered with dirt, grime, and rock fragments from their attempts to dig out the trapped men, marred by small rivulets of sweat that had tracked unnoticed down their faces and necks. Sheppard had never seen such a beautiful sight. He had been quietly fearful that the two had been trapped in the cave-in and the information had been withheld.
"Thanks." He shot them a grateful smile as the stretcher-bearers hauled him past, then closed his eyes again.
McKay, who had only momentarily considered declining the stretcher-ride, smiled weakly as well. "Be careful of the mess on the floor where the tunnel narrows," he warned, then closed his eyes as well. Teyla and Ford exchanged glances, shrugged, and headed in the other direction to retrieve the packs.
TBC…
AN: Ewwww….