A/N: Thanks for all of the awesome reviews! I'm thrilled that you like it!

Less Thank A Minute (Part 6)

Cold rain continued to pour in from overhead, keeping Dex and Sheppard soaked to the skin as they huddled over Rodney. The scientist under their care had yet to move, even when the bandage was applied to his gaping leg wound and his clothing was hurriedly cut off, leaving him momentarily exposed to the elements before being wrapped securely in an emergency blanket. It wasn't until Carson felt secure in leaving Radek that he returned to their side bringing one of the litters from the jumper, that they finally received a reprieve. Loading the Canadian carefully, they carried him back inside the small ship, before Beckett instantly headed back out with another litter to retrieve the Czech. Once he had both of his patients safely ensconced within the protective walls of the jumper, the Scot nodded a dismissive gesture to the rest of them, making it clear that they needed to leave the small space. Teyla and Dex complied, each grabbing an emergency towel in an attempt at drying off, before heading over to Giles and Lorne to offer whatever assistance they could, but Sheppard didn't budge.

Stripping off his field vest and soaked jacket, the colonel tossed the items to the floor before grabbing two more towels. Thank goodness they had been included on the ships after Rodney demanded that they become standard offworld supplies: one too many trips in the rain for the scientist made them mandatroy equipment to keep the remaineder of the team sane. Handing the spare to the Scott, he received a grunt of thanks only to be ignored once more.

"How are they?" he finally dared to ask when Beckett stopped bandaging and attaching IVs to the two still figures.

"The best I can give you for now is that they are both stable." Stripping off his own sodden vest and jacket, the doctor shivered briefly as he rubbed his arms, trying to get the purple goosebumps to recede. "There's little more I can do for Rodney, and Radek's finally breathing easier now that the swelling has gone down in his airway."

"What caused that?"

"Reaction, maybe to the fire retardant." Carson shook his head. "I need to get them to my infirmary soon, Colonel."

Sheppard blew out a frustrated breath. "I'll go check on Giles and see how much longer," he said, reluctantly slipping out the back of the jumper.

Reaching the remaining team members, he was surprised to see them not working and Lorne on the radio. "What's going on?"

Teyla gestured to the portable tank attached to the cutting tool, "It is empty. Major Lorne is speaking with the technician on the other side of the doorway to check on their progress."

"…finished with the perimeter," they heard a voice reply over the radio. "Which side were you working on before you ran out?"

"Right hand," Lorne replied, staring at the black scorch marks that marred that side of the entranceway.

"If you were certain of the debris field on your side, we could attempt to blow the weakened section open with C4. There shouldn't be much of a structural resistance left and with a tight controlled burst, the door should come free."

Three sets of questioning eyes turned towards Sheppard. In return he glanced at the wreckage strewn about them. "Alright, let's move as much as we can to the other side of the bay," he began, only to stop and stare at Dex in disbelief as the runner reached down and lifted a piece the size of Teyla with the ease of picking up a small child. "Careful," the colonel retorted, "we don't know if anything else in here is rigged to blow."

"Colonel Sheppard?" Weir called over the radio.

"Kinda busy right now, Elizabeth."

"Colonel, Dr. Biro would like to speak with Dr. Beckett."

"Oh. Just a second." Snagging Teyla by the arm as she passed by carrying a respectable size of debris, he swapped her for the radio. "Take this over to the doc for me."

She nodded and made her way over to the jumper.

Ronon stopped beside Sheppard, another bulky piece filling his strong arms. "How are the scientists?"

"Beckett has them stable." When the larger man just stared at him, he shrugged and made his way towards the far side of the bay with Dex at his side. Carefully setting his piece of debris down, he opened his hands up in a questioning manner. "I believe that's medical mumbo jumbo for he's done all he can and they are still hanging on."

The answer appeared to satisfy the runner and he walked away to gather more wreckage.

"Colonel Sheppard," Teyla's voice called from across the bay.

Glancing in her direction, he spotted the Athosian standing in the back of the lit jumper, waving him to come. He could make out Carson bent over Rodney, and fearing the worst, began to run.

He would have made his high school track coach proud as he hurtled over debris and pounded up the back of the small ship, only to come to a dead stop when Beckett looked up at him in annoyance before smiling.

"Someone here was asking for you," he said, his gentle brogue warm with emotion.

Glancing down to the figure bundled on the litter; he spotted a hint of blue peering out from heavy lidded eyes.

"Can he see?" Sheppard whispered to Beckett and the Scot shook his head 'no'. Careful of the IV lines running into the Canadian's arms, and avoiding his bandaged hand, the colonel gently gripped the scientist's remaining good hand. "Hey."

Rodney's head tipped slowly in his direction, his sightless eyes tracking to find the source of the voice. "Radek?" he whispered.

"Right beside you. Beckett has him wrapped up and decorated like a Christmas gift."

A hint of a smile passed over Rodney's face before fading into a grimace of pain. His grasp tightened minutely as a spasm clenched his lower leg.

"Doc?" Sheppard snapped in worry.

"I can't give him anything until we're out of here. I don't know enough about his head injury."

Sheppard peered out the back of the jumper and noticed that the entranceway looked remarkably clear of any clutter. "Radio, doc?" he asked, holding out his free hand. Carson instantly handed it over.

"This is Sheppard. What's the status on the door?"

"Ready when you are, Colonel," an Australian voice replied.

He watched Ronon and Giles carry a larger piece across the dim bay. "Teyla, go find out how much longer." She disappeared out the back of the ship without saying a word.

Feeling a tug on his hand, he looked back down to Rodney, "Almost ready."

"Can't see," Rodney whispered, his voice cracking with restrained emotion.

"Hey, you and I've seen enough of those tough guy movies to know what a knock in the head can do. Give Beckett a chance to work some of his magic and I bet you'll be as good as new before you know it."

"Chi'kn bones 'n tea leaves," was the last things the scientist said before his eyelids closed and he began to drift.

"Come on, McKay, no time for sleeping or you'll miss the grand finale," Sheppard cajoled. The grip on his hand tightened and he smiled, "Good. Stay with me, because this is almost over."

Teyla popped back in the rear of the jumper. "Major Lorne said to tell you 'the coast is clear'."

"Alright. Tell everyone to come back inside the jumper and then I'll let them know we're ready. God forbid, if anything else blows, we should be safe in here." Moments later, the rest of the team joined them and gathered inside the cockpit before they pulled the damaged jumper door closed as far as it would go. "We're ready," he paged over the radio.

"Ten seconds, Colonel, on my mark. Go," the voice calmly announced.

It all ended with little excitement. The strategically placed devices weakened the door to the point that a well placed shove from a marine's boot knocked the door free and it fell to the floor with a thud. The waiting military personnel, engineers and technicians, and medical staff poured into the bay, awed at the devastation surrounding them and the fact that the scientists had survived.

When the back to the jumper opened, two gurneys were rushed forward and the injured scientists were quickly transferred, before being whisked off to the infirmary.

"Colonel," Beckett called over his shoulder before disappearing out the doorway, "I'll let you know."

The rest of the team stood quietly around Sheppard, the adrenaline rush of the night quickly wearing off. Inundated with questions from the rest of Atlantis, the colonel held up his hand for silence and then gave final instructions to the newcomers before turning the situation over to Lorne and Giles. With Teyla and Ronon at his side, he wearily made his way to the infirmary.

SG: A

Sheppard wasn't surprised to find Dr. Weir waiting for them outside the closed doors of Beckett's lair. It was the two nurses with a supply cart loaded with scrubs, towels, robes, blankets, and food that actually made him smile. Teyla was handed hers first before being escorted back to the showers, while the men enjoyed a hot cup of coffee that soaked down into their chilled bones.

Elizabeth watched them both, her reserved expression filled with pride. "You all did well tonight."

"We'll see."

"John, they're alive. You got them both out."

He slammed his cup back on the cart, sloshing hot coffee across his hand. "Rodney's blind, his leg's a mess, and Radek never regained consciousness. Our two top brains are out of commission. I don't know if either of them is going to be okay!" Storming down the hallway he stopped and rubbed his hand over his mouth and then closed eyes. A small hand on his shoulder caused him to spin around, and he found Teyla dressed in scrubs and a blue robe, holding out a set for him as well as a towel.

"You will feel better after a warm shower and dry clothing, Colonel."

He took the proffered items and quietly nodded thanks. Following Ronon back to the showers, he stripped down in one of the cubicles and let the pounding spray dig into his weary body. Exhaustion and worry dragged at him and he leaned his head against the wall.

"Sheppard," Dex called from outside the cubicle. "Do you need me to get you some assistance?"

Jerking up straight, he almost slipped on the wet floor. He hadn't realized the water was beginning to cool. "No. I'm almost finished. Why don't you go out and wait with Teyla?" He heard a grunt from the other side of the curtain and figured the man had left.

Now alone, Sheppard turned the spray hotter and let it pound on his back a moment before shutting the water off. Quickly toweling dry, he pulled on the scrubs and robe before stepping out of the stall, only to find Ronon leaning against the wall waiting for him.

"Didn't want you to drown," the runner said quietly before making his way out the door.

Running his fingers through his unruly hair, Sheppard followed close behind.

SG: A

Chairs had appeared in the hallway while he'd been in the shower and Sheppard sank gratefully into one beside a dozing Teyla. Yawning, he tipped his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. "Any news?" he asked to no one in particular.

The weight of a blanket being draped over him caused him to open one eye and he spotted Elizabeth standing in front of him.

"No. Before you got here, Carson told me it could be awhile."

He let his eye close once more and then felt a weight press against his shoulder. Glancing to his side, he allowed himself a small smile when he discovered Teyla had slid sideways in her seat, wrapped in a blanket, sound asleep against his shoulder. He glanced up to Weir, and she raised one brow and smiled.

"She has the right idea, Colonel. You need to rest." Turning to face the silent giant standing behind her, she nodded to Dex, "You, too."

"I'm not tired," he replied.

"You've had a long night. Sit down and put your feet up." When he didn't move, she stood firmly in front of him, "Do I need to make it an order?"

Dex looked down at the small woman and raised a brow of his own.

"Don't get her dander up," Sheppard said quietly, not wanting to wake Teyla, "She'll win almost every time."

Weir shot him a dirty look and he gave her a quirky grin before lifting the extra blanket off the empty seat on his other side and winked at Dex. "Bring me a sandwich on your way over."

Ronon shook his head and plopped down in the seat, handing Sheppard half a sandwich while he ate the other. With the blanket spread on his lap and Dr. Weir looking satisfied at the three of them, he sank lower in his seat and waited.

Time seemed to stand still until the doors finally opened to reveal one tired but smiling Scottish physician.

TBC