WINTER WONDERLAND
By NotTasha
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CHAPTER 11: BEES

McKay's eyes darted about, as John shoveled more snow away from his head, using his one gloved hand. The other hand, he made into a fist. Already, his exposed fingers hurt. His head felt as if it was starting to freeze up.

"I'm cold," McKay said again, pathetically.

"Aren't we all?" Sheppard responded. He grabbed his free glove and worked it onto McKay's hand, then took off his other one and had to unclasp McKay's hand from his sleeve to get the glove situated. "That any better?" he asked.

McKay said nothing, flexing his hands inside the gloves. He looked up to Sheppard, trepidation filling his glance. "Where's your hood?"

"Gave it up."

"Oh… oh…" McKay said nothing, staring at his gloved hands, then, with a trouble look, he told Sheppard. "I tried to move my toes."

"I know. Tight boots. Cold toes."

"I tried…I couldn't. I can't. I can't move my legs at all. I can't feel them," McKay got out, talking in a rush. "Maybe they're just cold, huh? That would explain it. So numb I can't sense them."

"Probably just the cold. Ford will be back in a minute," Sheppard told him, keeping his voice even, as he rubbed his hands together, ducking his head into his collar.

McKay scowled and rocked his head forward, resting his face against the material of the hood. "I don't want to be here."

"Me neither."

"Get me out."

"You have to be patient," Sheppard told him, feeling his nerves on edge. He stood, staggering a minute, to get a better view of Ford. The kid was running, trying to make good time in the snow, but he was still a long way from the skid. He was disappearing into the white – his jacket indistinguishable from the snow. Above them, a threat of avalanche still seemed too possible. Damn it, Sheppard thought, hating all the snow adventure movies he'd seen. "Just stay awake for a while, okay? Awake and still. He'll be right back," Sheppard insisted, his eyes on Ford, willing him to hurry. "Behave yourself until he gets here."

"I know…" McKay started slowly. "I know I shouldn't have… I couldn't help it."

"Shouldn't have what?" Sheppard responded, watching Ford run.

"The dogs. I don't know why I reacted… They were coming at me and I …"

"Perfectly reasonable."

"Irrational. I was… hysterical. I tend to freak out about things."

"You, freak out?"

"I was swarmed by bees once."

"That's reason to freak out."

"Okay, it was only five bees or so, but I'm allergic. I ran, knocked over a kid while I was trying to get away."

Sheppard was quiet, his arms folded over his legs. "Figure you had reason," he finally commented.

"A kid, just knocked him down. I was scared to death."

"When did this happen."

"I was in school. I'd been stung a year before. Ended up in the hospital."

"How old were you?"

"When I freaked out and knocked over the kid? I don't know. Ten." McKay looked up at him beseechingly. "The kid was younger though -- six or so."

"Ended up in the hospital the first time? I'd freak out, too," Sheppard said convincingly. "Hell, as soon as I figured out that those were those damn devil dogs, I was pretty damn worked up about it, too."

He heaved a breath. "Stupid of me… stupid."

"Yeah, you and stupid. Can't really see those words going together."

McKay let out a shuddering breath, shivering in the snow.

"Ford will be right back," Sheppard assured. He couldn't see the lieutenant anymore. "Right back." He looked down. "McKay?" he let out a breath when Rodney failed to answer him. With a sigh, he carefully knelt down in the snow again, not hiding his groan of pain as he moved his knee. His companion's eyes were shut, and he was terribly still.

"Rodney," Sheppard called softly. "Rodney, I need you to wake up. Rodney, come on." Again, he gently slapped the chilled face. Getting no reaction, he frowned, grasping the face at both sides and squishing in the cheeks – making fish lips. "Come on!" he growled. "Wake up." And nothing. Damn.

White vapor still came from those lips – not dead – not yet.

"Rodney," Sheppard sighed, as he worked at the hood, getting it wrapped around his head. "Don't leave me here." He pulled it tight, getting the bottom of it tucked under McKay's scarf.

That done, he felt along Rodney's arms. The puffy down jacket seemed to be keeping his heat in. That was one good thing! He continued his work, looking for trouble along McKay's unmoving legs. He couldn't find a break. With an exhale of steam, he sat back in the snow and said, "Just don't leave me here, okay?"

And a soft snow started falling again.

TBC