Author's Note: All right, all right already! By the end of this chapter you should know what 'the button' does, but our protagonists won't…

Disclaimer: Stargate Atlantis is not mine, and no profit is made from this story. It's for fan reading pleasure only. Enjoy!

THE CRASH

By KerrAvon

5. A Break in the Storm

"Hey, I think it's getting lighter in here," commented Dex after they had traveled a bit further.

Teyla halted, then flicked off her flashlight and looked around. As her eyes adjusted to the dimness, she could distinctly see increased illumination in the corridor ahead. "You are correct. Perhaps we are approaching the surface."

The runner glanced back at the hall behind them and did some mental calculations. "We should be. We've ascended almost as much as we originally went down."

Teyla tilted her head and listened closely. "I do not hear the storm."

"Perhaps there is a barrier at the far end," suggested Ronon.

"Or perhaps the storm has abated."

Ronon shrugged. "Perhaps. Let's go see."

The pair hiked another fifty yards or so before turning a corner and having to shield their eyes from the daylight that poured into the tunnel. Blinking, Ronon was the first to acclimatize and head for the opening. Taking a quick glance outside, he called back, "We are only perhaps half a mile from the Jumper."

Teyla came up to join him, then stared about in disbelief. "The rain has…stopped?"

Ronon, scanning the surrounding area, suddenly pointed upwards. "Look! There's our rescue party, just like you predicted."

A tiny blip was visible on the horizon, but it was rapidly enlarging and clearly headed for the crash site. Teyla was unable to ascertain that it was a Jumper, but she had to agree that the probability was high.

As the pair scrambled out of the tunnel to meet the backup team from Atlantis, she turned to make certain that they could positively locate the entrance so that they could bring aid to the LTC. Amazed, she grabbed Dex's arm and swung him around as well.

"Did we not just leave that spot?" she asked pointing at what now appeared to be sheer cliff wall.

Ronon approached the rocks suspiciously. "Absolutely. The entrance should be right…here!" His words rose, startled, as the hand he was running along the rock suddenly disappeared.

Teyla recognized the technology. "A hologram," she pronounced. "We have encountered these before." Picking up a softer white stone, she made a large "X" on the wall just to the right of the opening.

"There. Now we shall be able to find our way back." They turned again and headed towards their ship. The approaching craft could now be clearly identified as a Jumper, and Ronon shot her a triumphant grin.

As if a switch had been thrown, the clouds suddenly clapped together and let loose with a vengeance. Both Teyla and Ronon were drenched in a matter of seconds, instinctively returning to the tunnel they had just left. From its relative shelter they watched, aghast, as the incoming ship slued hard to port, righted itself, and tried to adjust trajectory.

"They're going to crash as well!" exclaimed Ronon. He prepared to run out into the storm the minute they did to try to help any survivors. To his astonishment, however, the ship's pilot managed to maintain control, setting the vehicle down just yards away from the crash site.

Dex gave a low whistle. "Now that's what I call a pilot!" He was oblivious to the dirty look Teyla shot at him as he again readied to face the rain. "Come on, help is here!"

The pair waited for a comparative lull in the weather, then sprinted for the new Jumper.

Just as they arrived the back hatch swung open to reveal Major Lorne, Sgt. Dunne, and two burley Marines. The Major gestured them all inside, then closed the hatch again.

"Where's Colonel Sheppard and Dr. McKay?" Lorne got right to the point.

Teyla, gratefully taking a proffered towel from one of the Marines, replied, "Still inside the city. The Colonel has a broken leg, and when the blast shielding came down he was unable to exit through the escape tunnel."

Lorne, raising an eyebrow, replied, "Maybe you should begin at the beginning."

Fifteen minutes later the entire group had a clearer understanding of the situation. Next, Major Lorne tried to reach LTC Sheppard on the headset, without success. "Must be the electricity of the storm," he concluded, listening to the wind howl outside. Pondering a moment, he rapidly came to a decision. "We'll try going back up the escape tunnel first. You and you," he indicated the two Marines, "will be litter-bearers. Grab a litter and let's get going."

--------------------------------------

"Rodney, are you making any headway at all?" Sheppard hated inactivity, and, while Rodney would no doubt be enthralled for hours by the experimental machines left behind by the Ancients, he found it difficult to become interested. Of course, the incessantly worsening throbbing in his leg wasn't helping his concentration any, nor was his complete inability to raise anyone on the headset radios. He tried from various areas of the building without success, eventually concluding that it was either the steel in the shutters or the electrical interference of the storm itself. Finally giving it up as a lost cause, he returned to where McKay was still working. Nagging him beat worrying hands down.

Rodney fixed him with a frustrated glare. "Yes, of course. I had the shield controls located an hour ago, but just decided to play around with this thing's innards instead." His sarcasm was lethal by this point. "I know ten thousand things it's not, but no, I'm not 'making any headway'!"

Sheppard was in no mood. His leg hurt abominably, he alternated between being too hot and too cold, he was hungry, thirsty, and wanted irrationally to just go home. "Well, did you at least figure out what my button does?" he snapped.

"Your button?" Rodney was hungry and irritable as well, and was beginning to notice the fine tremor he usually got whenever he went hypoglycemic. At that point he'd be no help to anybody, and he really didn't trust Teyla and her pet Neanderthal to be able to get them out of this mess, so time was of the essence, and Sheppard wasn't helping! "Which button precisely have you claimed as yours?"

"That one," the colonel jabbed a finger toward the hidden switch he'd located earlier. "What does it do?"

"I'm sorry," Rodney replied, making it clear that he was not sorry in the least, "It wasn't very high on my priority list."

Sheppard closed his eyes and took a deep breath; 'This fighting is NOT going to get us out of here!' Opening them again to Rodney's glare, he spoke more rationally. "Sorry, Rodney, I'm…just tired is all. Nevermind about the stupid button."

Rodney sat for a moment as he visibly got control of himself and a thoughtful look enetered his eyes. He suddenly stood, waving his index finger in the air. "No, you may have something there. It was hidden, after all….it must have some special purpose. Maybe if I put back all the crystals…" He knelt back down to do so, but found himself grabbing the console edge as the world grayed around him. 'Oh, this is not good…'

Once his vision had cleared, he rapidly completed his task and stood up once more. The episode wasn't lost on Sheppard, who had to grasp his upper arm to get his attention.

"Are you all right?" he asked with concern.

"Yeah, sure. I'm fine." McKay replied hurriedly. He found he couldn't actually lie to Sheppard and look him in the eye, so he concentrated on the panel controls. While he did manage to suppress the slight tremble in his hands, the fluttering in his stomach and the cold sweat on his brow told him that this was far from over.

The colonel was not fooled, but let it slide; there was no help for it right now, anyway. "Shall we try it again?"

Rodney shrugged. "Why not?" and slapped the switch.

----------------------------

Trudging back up the slope was more time consuming than running down it had been, but was somewhat drier given the spare raingear Lorne had made them wear. Teyla was scanning the cliff face for her mark when suddenly the downpour abruptly stopped. Blinking in surprise, she looked up as the clouds actually began to disperse before her eyes.

"I have never before seen a storm behave in this…peculiar manner. Does weather on your world do so?"

The Major, staring upwards as well, shook his head. "No place I've ever been, Ma'am." He decided to try to reach LTC Sheppard during the lull in the storm, and keyed his mike.

"Colonel Sheppard, this is Major Lorne. Do you read me?"

-----------------------------

McKay and Sheppard, both intent on seeing any changes in their environment wrought by 'The Button', jumped awkwardly when John's comm sprang to life. Fumbling for the speaker, the pilot quickly answered.

"Major! It's good to hear your voice! We're in a bit of a jam here and could really use some help…"

"We heard all about it; Teyla and Ronon are with us now. We're going to try to reach you via the tunnel they escaped through."

"Glad to see you got the radios working." Sheppard had been worried about his loss of contact with the two Pegasus natives.

"We had a sudden freakish lull in the storm; otherwise it screws with communications."

Sheppard grinned. "Let's be grateful for small favors, shall we? What's your ETA?"

Lorne glanced at Teyla. "Probably several hours. We'll need to do some rock-clearing on the way."

"Looking forward to seeing you. Sheppard out." The LTC flipped off his radio and shot Rodney a relieved smile, which was reflected right back at him.

After a moment of grinning like two idiots, Rodney clapped his hands, rubbed them together, and turned back to the console. "Let's get some work done then, shall we?" he said, pushing the button once again while carefully watching the panel below. Sheppard limped over to see if he could help.

------------------------------

Major Lorne clicked off his mike and turned to the expectant group. "You heard the man; let's get going." So saying, he resumed their hike towards the cliff. The group had only traveled a few yards when the clouds suddenly reappeared and let loose again with a vengeance. Glancing upwards, the Major muttered, "Good thing I called when I did…"

TBC…..

AN: Figured it out? I could have made it more obvious, but I'm not really sure how…Let's see if Rodney gets it!