Chapter 31

It was blank expressions all round as Sheppard looked from one person to the other, in their haste they must have completely forgotten about McKay. God knows he definitely had, not that he was about to blatantly admit it. Ford tightened his grip on the weapon he was holding. "I thought he was with you sir," he said quickly.

Sheppard looked at him as if he were going to strangle him. "I thought he was with you and Teyla."

"This is no time to stand around arguing," Teyla said speaking up; her voice had that firm edge to it, which Sheppard recognised immediately. It was her tone that indicated that she wasn't about to be messed with. "We must go back in search of Doctor McKay."

"Teyla's right," Sheppard said with a small nod then glanced to Ford. "Lieutenant, you're with me." He then looked to Teyla and Beckett in turn. "You stay put." Beckett gave him a small nod; he weren't about to argue with the man. As if there was nothing else to discuss, Sheppard left Ford go ahead of him and turned on his heel when he felt Teyla's hand clasp his shoulder.

"I must assist you."

"Teyla this is not up for discussion," Sheppard answered, trying to keep his tone soft yet incredibly firm. "I need you to stay here incase McKay somehow finds his way."

"I will not let you venture out on your own when the Wraith are so close," she replied looking up at him, chin tilted high and full of authority. There wasn't time for this and Sheppard had to make her see that.

"I told you once before," he said raising his voice. "Stay put." Without another word, he followed Ford out of the entrance and to go in search of McKay.

Teyla took a deep breath in then released it after a few moments, how dare he tell her to stay put. She let go of her P90 and let it dangle down the front of her chest, staring out after Sheppard and Ford. A mixture of anxiety and fear coursed through her veins and she simply wished that she could be out there helping them instead of hiding like a coward. The Athosian was also angry with Sheppard. Did he not think she was capable of defending herself and holding her own ground?

--

"Hey major," Ford said as he walked ahead of Sheppard, shining his flashlight onto the ground to see clear a path. "Did you bring that cool life signs detector thingy?"

"I'm sure we didn't name it," Sheppard replied while he concentrated on his footing and avoided getting hit in the face with the branches that Ford passed by.

"Okay sir." A moment's pause. "Did you bring it?"

"Yes." Sheppard stopped walking held onto his P90 with his right hand while he searched his various pockets with the other hand. "Yes I did." He tried to the top two first, then the bottom two of his jacket and realised that sometimes having so many pockets weren't helpful. Sheppard tried in his trousers and pulled out the small rectangular box, which activated and lit up.

Ford turned round and shone the light on Sheppard's face as he examined the readings. "Got a life sign," he said quickly, taking up his weapon and moving forward. "25 metres in this direction."

"Could it be Wraith?" Ford asked while obediently following Sheppard, walking backwards to cover the rear and looking into the darkness.

"Doubtful," he replied not looking up from the screen, only sparing a glance to make sure his path was clear by in the surrounding darkness it didn't really make any difference to him. Another Wraith ship passed within close proximately, this time close enough so they could actually make out the outline of the ship. "We'd better get moving. Pretty soon they'll be closing in on our position and I don't intend to be Wraith chow."

Ford stared at the spot where the ship has passed by, of all the sounds he had heard in his life that had to be one of the most terrifying. "No sir," he said in agreement, managing to tear his eyes away from the sky in order to follow Sheppard.

"15 metres," Sheppard whispered, treading carefully by now. He stopped a moment to get his bearings, then looked back. Fortunately they could still see the top of the temple from here, if they did need to get out of here damn fast then they would be able to. "Stationary," Sheppard commented as he looked at the screen. Had McKay fallen when they were running? Only one way to find out. "10," he said quietly then they were almost on top of the dot on the screen as it decreased to five, Sheppard glanced to Ford. "Need some light on the situation Lieutenant."

Ford came to his side and shone it around, keeping the beam low to the ground when they spotted a hand. "Sir…"

Sheppard already seen it, he pocketed the device and rushed over to McKay who was lying face down on the forest floor. "McKay," he said quickly, turning him over onto this back and shaking him lightly. His assumptions were right, he had fallen. "Rodney." Another Wraith ship passed by, it's haunting sound filled the air which made Ford want to cover his ears, his gaze shooting immediately to the night sky. He looked to Sheppard who was trying valiantly to get McKay to wake up. "There's no head injury," he muttered checking him over and he couldn't have been stunned or they would have seen the Wraith. "So why isn't he coming to?"

"Didn't Doctor Beckett warn that he could just collapse at any time?" Ford asked glancing back to the path then to Sheppard.

"He did," Sheppard confirmed placing a hand on McKay's chest. The situation was going from bad to worse. "We have to take him with us, we can't leave him out here." Ford immediately walked over to him and got to his knees, helping Sheppard to pick McKay up and support him. He shifted slightly under the adjustment and took deep breaths.

"Major?" he asked opening his eyes.

"Rodney, you had us a moment there."

"What happened?" McKay asked, taking in his surroundings.

"Talk later," Sheppard replied hooking an arm under his shoulder while Ford did the same on his other side. "Run now!"