Less Than A Minute (Part 4)

Carson had kept his eyes glued straight forward on the exterior of Atlantis as he'd placed one hand in front of the other, concentrating on the handholds that Sheppard directed he grasp from his position behind him. The one time the Scot did turn his face to the Colonel was when he'd been asked a question. Without thinking, he glanced back only to catch a glimpse of glaring bright light shining in their direction. Momentarily blinded by the strong spotlights aimed towards them, he blinked and looked away only to see for the first time how terrifyingly high they were situated. Atlantis appeared below him like a sparkling diamond in the night. It was then that the realization of the thin coil of rope looped through his harness was the only thing maintaining his precarious position and his entire being froze in heart-stopping fear.

He was certain he would have slipped and plummeted to his untimely death if Sheppard hadn't reached out and grabbed him painfully by the arm. "Oh dear lord," he whispered when his heart returned to normal rhythm

"Eyes back on Atlantis, doc," the American snapped gruffly, his own dark gaze never wavering from the Scot's face until he was certain the medic was back with him. When Carson gave a curt nod and took one final shuddering breath, Sheppard released the other man's arm. "We're almost there. Just a little further," he encouraged. Watching Beckett return his focus to the task at hand, he blew out a silent deep breath of his own and licked his lips before following safely behind. That had been a little too close for his own comfort.

Breaching the top, both men were glad to find Lorne waiting for them with an outstretched hand. His infectious grin and look of admiration aimed in the physician's direction caused Carson to smile in return, before his shaking knees buckled beneath him. Sheppard and the major instantly caught the doctor below the armpits and helped him to sit down near Giles.

The engineer had removed the lid to the exterior junction box. With a screwdriver clenched between his teeth, he was studying the different colored translucent tiles tightly compacted together. "More light," he grunted without looking up at Teyla who was aiming a flashlight in his direction.

Sheppard leaned over Giles's shoulder to get a better look, "What's the problem?"

"Other than the fact that this is more Dr. McKay's specialty than mine, nothing," he answered flatly after handing the tool over to Beckett.

"You do know what you're doing, right?"

"Yeah, just give me a minute. I'm trying to remember the order of the relays."

Sheppard shot a concerned look over the back of the engineer's head to the Scot watching him, but it didn't go unnoticed. "Look, Colonel, McKay may think these things up and know instantly how they are supposed to run, but it's my job to build them or tear them apart. I just need a minute."

"Well, if you need a hand…"

Giles waved a dislodged tile in a shooing motion, his attention firmly fixed on the task before him.

"I'll take that as a 'no'," Sheppard quipped, turning in time to see Dex appear up over the edge. "Have a nice climb?" he asked the tall man who actually looked more refreshed now than he did before coming up.

"Felt good. I haven't done anything like that in long time."

"You've climbed tall buildings in the middle of the night before?"

Dex grinned and shrugged, leaving the question unanswered.

Sheppard merely shook his head, now quite sure what he was supposed to think. "We need to talk sometime." Walking cautiously towards the edge of the towering spire they were situated on, he glanced about at Atlantis.

"Beautiful view, isn't it, sir?" Lorne asked from beside him.

"Yeah, just glad it isn't raining." The second the words left his mouth, he smacked himself in the head with disbelief. "I'm sounding like McKay."

The major chuckled as handed over one of the ropes and they pulled together, bringing the small portable cutting torch and tank up to the roof.

"Colonel Sheppard," Giles called from behind them, "I think I've got it."

Helping Lorne carry the equipment, they returned to the edge of the bay doors. The rest of the team was already standing back, watching the engineer as he slipped several tiles in various positions before the surface beneath all of their feet began to rumble and vibrate. A second later the doors slid open.

The six individuals looked down inside the inky darkness lit only by the dim red emergency lights. Far below them they could barely make out the second set of interior doors.

"Okay folks, let's haul up the rest of the gear, because it looks like this is where the real fun begins," Sheppard ordered. When Teyla started back towards the edge to help, he stopped her and nodded towards her pack. "Why don't you and Beckett check on our scientists?"

"Yes, Colonel." She made her way over to where the physician was standing. He was tightly gripping his arms to his chest with his feet set apart, trying not to get knocked over by the stirring wind that was ruffling his hair and jacket. "Doctor Beckett, Colonel Sheppard has asked that we check on Dr. McKay and Dr. Zelenka."

Instantly the Scot forgot his worry of being blown off the roof and joined her as she removed the portable laptop. Booting up the screen, they watched together as the view inside the jumper bay cast an eerie glow on both of their faces.

SG: A

"Rodney. Rodney, you need to wake up."

"Dr. McKay, this is Elizabeth, I need you to wake up and answer me."

"Rodney, John has a team on the roof of the jumper bay. Just hold on a little longer."

He heard the voice that continually called to him through the thick fog, the familiar voice that beckoned him to move. If only his body would, or rather could, obey. Dragging his left hand across his chest towards his face, he felt himself shaking and his own touch to his face felt cold, although he was certain that he was burning up. "'lizbeth?" he whispered, his voice cracking painfully from dryness.

"Rodney, I'm here," her tinny voice continued to call over the radio.

He attempted to swallow, but there was nothing in his parched throat to relieve the dry ache and instead found himself painfully coughing, eventually gasping for breath. When the fit passed, he pressed his cheek against the cool floor, letting the temperature soothe his aching head. He was a mess and he knew it. Keeping his eyes closed, he slowly felt about for the radio and discovered it beside his chest. Fumbling with shaking hands, he pressed the call button.

"Help," he whispered.

"Rodney?" The relief in Weir's voice radiated over the exhausted scientist. "Rodney, John has a team coming down through the roof. You need to hang on a little longer, okay?"

He gave a slight nod. Lying still on the floor, he tried to collect his thoughts, knowing there was something important he needed to remember. Maybe if he only opened his eyes, he could see where he was, but to his dismay, discovered only darkness. Confused and hurting, he talked to the only person he knew existed at that moment. "'beth," he called out quietly over the radio.

"I'm here, Rodney," she soothed.

"Wha' hap'ned?"

"There was an explosion in the jumper bay."

He let that information sink in and it nudged a memory. "Rad'k?"

"Dr. Zelenka is in the bay with you," she replied gently.

A frown crossed his features, "Where?"

"He's on the other side of the room resting. Don't worry; Carson will be there soon to check on both of you."

"Carson?"

"He'll be there really soon, Rodney; you just need to hang on. Can you do that for me?"

He nodded slightly as he let the radio slide to the floor in front of his face.

SG: A

Beckett and Teyla stared at the image on the screen before them. They could barely make out the shapes of both men who appeared not to have moved since they last checked on the scientists. A burst of static erupted over their radios, causing everyone to jump.

"Carson, this is Elizabeth. Can you read me?"

He grabbed the radio from his vest, "Aye, what is it?"

"Carson, Rodney's awake."

The Scot's eyes shot back to the blurry screen. "Can you patch me through to him?"

"We're boosting the signal now. It's not set up for this distance so give us a minute." More static hissed over the radio as the other members of the team gathered around. "We're patching you through now," her garbled voice said and then there was silence.

Gripping his radio with white knuckles, Beckett hit the call switch with his thumb. "Rodney, can you hear me, son?" He was greeted with the hiss of more static. Reaching out with his left hand to touch the image of the scientist by the jumper, he pressed the radio again with his right. "Come on, Rodney, I know you can hear me. Say something into the radio."

Again static could be heard before it was interrupted by silence and then an almost unrecognizable voice. "Carson?"

Beckett closed his eyes in relief and nodded, "Aye, I'm here. How are you?

There was another long pause before the scientist's voice was heard again. "Not too well." They could hear him cough and draw a ragged breath. "Radek," he whispered slowly, his words beginning to slur.

"I can see him on the view screen. He's just sleeping right now," Carson said, praying he was right and that the Czech wasn't dead.

"Howmulngr?"

Carson scowled and looked to Sheppard for interpretation.

Reaching down and snatching the doc's radio, ignoring his own, Sheppard called back to his friend. "We're on our way, Rodney. You didn't start the party without us, did you?"

"Shep'rd?" Rodney's voice sounded slightly more alert.

"Who else do you think would come and rescue your lazy ass in the middle of the night?"

Silence, and then more static.

"Tired," the voice finally replied, clearly on the losing edge of consciousness.

Signaling to Giles and Dex, the colonel nodded when both men began to rappel down inside the entrance to the jumper bay. "I know you are, Rodney. We're coming."

This time there was no reply.

Shining his high-powered light down towards the two men below, he watched as they made their way over to the wall and removed another cover. A minute passed with little activity before Dex called over his radio.

"Giles says we need the torch to cut our way in."

"Roger that. We'll send it down now." Sheppard motioned to Lorne and they took up the ropes to lower it down. With Carson and Teyla maneuvering the heavy equipment towards the edge of the hole, the two officers anchored themselves for the impending weight before lowering it slowly. Feeling slack on the line, they knew when it finally reached bottom.

"Ready to go down?" Sheppard asked Carson.

The Scot nodded, actually hooking his own gear back onto the rope without assistance.

"Okay. Teyla, you go down with him and then Lorne and I will follow." Watching the two go over, he held Beckett's line, "Nice and slow, doc. It's easier going down than up so you've already done the hard part."

Beckett merely raised a brow before disappearing over the side.

When they'd reached bottom, the remaining two men hooked their harnesses to the lines. Standing on the edge of the hole, they stopped to look up when a splat of rain hit them each in the face.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Sheppard fussed in disgust towards the sky.

Another larger drop nailed him above the eye and he wiped it off. Turning to look up at the dark night, he witnessed a brief flash of light in the clouds above. "Perfect," he grumbled. "Let's get down before this thing busts totally loose."

Climbing over the edge, they'd just made it to the bottom when the sky opened up and it began to pour.

TBC