Chapter 37
The closer they approached the others, the more violently the ground shook until all of a sudden it stopped. Teyla and Ford didn't know whether to take this sign as a good thing or a bad thing but they didn't have time to think about that right now. Kiki ran in, followed by Beckett and she walked over to McKay. "We must proceed with this quickly," she said with such urgency.
Teyla walked over to her, placing a hand on her arm with a smile. "I am pleased to see you are well." Kiki turned to her and smiled, everyone was turning out to look different from the way she imagined them. For some reason, she didn't think Teyla would be as pretty as she actually was and her hair was the colour of autumn leaves. "It is good to finally see you," she replied before looking down to McKay.
Teyla stood back and spoke to Beckett with such surprise. "She can see?"
"So it would seem," he answered not taking his eyes off her.
"How?" Ford asked.
"If I knew, I'd tell you."
Kiki knelt down next to Rodney McKay, she had recalled how terrible people had said he looked but seeing it for herself with her own eyes was completely different. She placed a hand on his chest and tilted his chin up, she could feel his life slowly ebbing away and she knew that she could do something to stop this from happening. Carefully, she pushed his head back against the wall so she had clear access to the man's chest. Leaving Teyla, Ford and Beckett to look on with pure fascination.
"What are you doing?" Beckett asked taking a step forward when she didn't move. "I thought you said you had something you could cure him with?" Kiki regarded him with a gentle look and a warm smile, her expression relaxed.
"I said I could cure him," she replied then rested both hands on his chest, a dim glow emanating from them and spreading to McKay, carefully tracing along his chest into his arms and legs until he was completely enveloped in the light. Kiki closed her eyes and took deep breaths while she carried out this process. Beckett stood back from her, then glanced to take in Teyla's reaction, then Ford's. They looked as shocked as him as they all stared in wonderment. Kiki opened her eyes as McKay's chest rose more visibly underneath her hands, it was only then that she dared remove them and slid away from him. The glow slowly disappeared as she lost contact with him.
Beckett glanced to Kiki to see she hadn't tore her gaze away from McKay, he looked back to Rodney as one hand moved, then the other before he finally stirred. His head moved to one side and he jumped awake as if from some sort of sleep. McKay turned it back to the other, opened one eye which was quickly followed by the other. He made out four figures, one on the floor near him and the other three standing.
"Easy Rodney," Beckett said finally moving towards him and resting a hand on his arm.
"Carson?" he asked looking at him, rubbing his eyes. "What the Hell happened? Wait a minute. I think it's coming back to me." McKay paused a second, staying deathly still as he quickly recapped the moments before he passed out, actually impressed that he could do that sort of thing. He looked round the room then to Beckett with a smile. "I'm not dead?"
"No," Beckett answered.
"This isn't some sort of messed up afterlife?" McKay asked.
"No."
"So just for clarification." McKay actually looked round the room then back to him. "I'm most completely not dead."
"Yes Rodney," Beckett answered.
"Heh," he said as the smile grew, he shifted slightly into a more comfortable position but a temple floor wasn't exactly a comfortable bed. "I'm invincible." He looked to Teyla and Ford and gave a nod. "I knew it. I. Am. Invincible."
'Actually you have Kiki to thank she," Beckett looked over to Kiki then to McKay. "Somehow managed to heal you?"
"How?" McKay asked the smile fading. "By trying to gut me like a fish again only with an antidote?"
"Well that's just ridiculous."
"Then how?" he asked again, his tone suddenly quiet.
"I don't know," Beckett said honestly, as he looked back to Kiki. He didn't even know if she had any idea how she did it but he was glad that she had. Teyla smiled to McKay. He gave her a weak smile. "Then I guess I should say thank you," McKay said swallowing his pride and staring at the creature that had attacked him when they had first met, she had inflicted this upon him and had now saved his life. How ironic! "Kiki, I thank you."
Suddenly, she got to her feet and ran over to the entrance of the temple.
--
The ground was starting to become even trickier as Sheppard jumped over a log and slipped as he narrowly avoided another. Maybe if it were daylight he would have more of a chance but there was one advantage, the sky was growing a light purple which indicated that the sun would be rising shortly and he knew that if he could hold out just that little bit longer. The Wraith dart sped up, the beam missing him by inches as he dived out the way. "Sorry fellas, snack size Sheppard is not on the menu today." He rolled over and started going back on himself as the Dart came about, advancing on him again to which he had to dive out the way of that beam. Now he was angry, he got to his knees and started firing at the ship before getting to his feet fully and running.
The raiders were on there way back, with four speeds that could steer him to wherever they wanted him to run. Sheppard only hoped he didn't tire before them.
--
Kiki took a deep breath and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.
--
The raiders that had pursued Sheppard at first all simultaneously exploded, he turned in the other direction and witnessed their destruction. It puzzled him but that meant that there was only the Wraith dart on his tail, he looked forward to see it circling the nearby woodland. They were still obviously confused about the sudden demise of three of their ships but what did he care. The further away from them he was, the better.
--
Letting out a gasp, she clutched onto the wall for support and both Teyla and Beckett ran over to her. Confused by what was happening and concerned about her sudden behaviour. Ford helped McKay to his feet, who complained that he was hungry so Ford shoved an energy bar in his direction. McKay unwrapped it and started feasting greedily as they all stared at the entrance and Kiki.
"Kiki," Beckett whispered gently supporting her.
"Please," she said not opening her eyes. "Remain silent Papa."
--
The whine drew ever closer once more, Sheppard made the mistake of looking back to see just how far and his foot caught a raised root in the ground. He fell over, hitting it hard and turned over onto his back just in time to see the ship and beam more clearly than he had ever seen before. Sheppard moved his foot and found it tangled in the infernal root, he sat up and tried to work it out while the light got nearer and brighter. Then the beam shut off, he stared at it as the Dart remained stationary then a louder whine as it exploded before his eyes, he knew that he was within the blast radius so he covered his eyes and lay back as it washed over him.
--
That was the last of the ships but it had taken considerable effort, which weakened Kiki extremely. She collapsed, fortunatelyBeckett had kept her by his side the entire time and knelt down lying her down on the ground but keeping her in his arms. "Kiki," he said softly again. Her breathing evened out some and she looked up to Beckett with a smile, looking at him with those brilliant eyes.
"Teyla, Ford. This is Sheppard."
As soon as the radio came to life, Ford grabbed it up and spoke into it. "It's good to hear your voice sir, what happened?"
"I have no idea," Sheppard replied. "The ships just sorta exploded but the gates shut down, we should head back to Atlantis as soon as possible. I'm on my way to your position."
"Do you require assistance?" Teyla asked.
"No I'm good." Teyla looked back to Beckett and Kiki.
"I wanted to thank you," she whispered taking deep breaths now closing her eyes. "For taking good care of me and for placing you trust in me."
"Kiki," he said with a smile shaking his head. "You don't need to thank m…" His voice trailed off once more as he realised what she was saying, Beckett shook his head with a sorrowful look. "No, Kiki. Stay with me."
She opened her eyes once more, memorising everything about him. From the kindness in his eyes to the soothing sound of his accent, so different to that of the rest of his people. At least, the ones she had encountered.
"We shall explore Atlantis together papa," she said softly and Beckett felt tears stinging his eyes and she lifted her hand to his cheek once more, brushing away the few tears that threatened to fall. With the last of her strength, Kiki lowered her arm back down and smiled at him. "Just not now."
Sheppard ran in, hair tussled and clothes dirty brightening at the sight of McKay. They didn't seem as pleased to see him. He looked down at Beckett and Kiki, he went to speak but somehow it didn't seem appropriate as everyone looked in a state of shock. Beckett held up his hands, gently smoothing them over her hair and pulling her closer, cradling her in his arms and rocking gently forward and backwards. Burying his face, trying to disguise his sobs.
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