When It Snows (part 6)

Rodney paused a moment, pieces of the dismantled radios held still in both of his hands as he contemplated how to answer Teyla's question. And then with a shrug and a cough, he met her enquiring gaze with a hint of a nervous smile. "Swear you won't tell Sheppard."

The sound of the scientist's gravelly voice made the young woman wince in sympathy, but when he cleared his throat and drank some water, she couldn't resist the slight sparkle of mischief staring back at her. "I swear."

Twisting a small screw into a connection and then clearing his throat again, he finally mumbled, "Boy Scouts."

Silence filled the small enclosure as Teyla sat and waited for more. When it didn't come, she shifted slightly and propped herself up on one elbow while tucking the blankets back in place around the sleeping physician. "Boy Scouts? I have never heard of Boy Scouts."

A slight flush colored Rodney's face and he could have easily blamed it on his illness, if she asked. He knew if Sheppard ever found out, he'd never hear the end of the teasing. "It's an activity for young boys to learn about their environment."

Teyla pondered the statement and then frowned, "Are not children taught such things at home?"

That earned her a snort that erupted into more coughing. When Rodney finally settled, he pulled his sweatshirt hood up over the back of his head, and wrapped his blanket more securely around his shoulders. "Not all parents," he scoffed and then paused, trying to figure out how to state what he wanted to say before continuing on, "not all parents have the patience to teach their children."

"Is there also Girl Scouts?"

Rodney nodded while securing another small screw in place. "In Canada, they're called Girl Guides. They sell cookies."

The dark brown eyes that were intently watching him blinked. "Boys are taught survival and girls sell cookies? Are not girls as important as boys?"

"No. I mean I don't know what the girls are taught." He snapped the makeshift beacon together and turned the 'on' button.

It grew quiet as she listened for any noise to come from McKay's device. "I do not hear anything."

"You won't. This is sending a short wave radio signal that can be pinpointed by an energy scanner."

"Did you learn to make that in Boy Scouts?"

Saving what little voice he had left, he shook his head 'no' as he tended to the fire. When an icy draft blew in through the entrance, stirring up smoke, he tried to hold his breath but the tickle in his throat gave way, leaving him coughing, gasping for fresh air.

Teyla slipped free of the encompassing blankets and worked her way over to Rodney's side, reaching out to feel his face. It was warm with fever, and sitting this close she could hear a wheeze with every breath he took. She leaned closer to place her ear next to his chest and listened longer before sitting back up. "You are very sick."

He didn't have the energy to deny it. "Have to get Carson help," he whispered.

"He is very weak and needs much rest." She glanced to the sleeping man and then to the ill figure sitting before her, "You must rest also."

Rodney shivered, tugging his blanket tighter. "He needs help soon. It's not warm enough in here to get his body temperature regulated."

Teyla was barely able to make out what the scientist was telling her, he was talking so quietly. But she did understand the gravity of the situation. With a gentle pull on his arm, she easily tipped him sideways to lie down next to Carson. "You are warm with fever and he is cool. I believe that right now you can help each other as you rest." She spread blankets, parkas, and spare clothing over both of the men to keep them warm.

"Ice fishing," Rodney mumbled into a yawn, his eyes sliding shut.

Teyla watched over them for several minutes before turning to the fire. Once the blaze and coals were stoked to a slow burn, she grabbed the remaining radio and Rodney's beacon before slipping back under the blankets next to Carson. The doctor mumbled incoherently in his sleep but didn't waken.

Tucking her injured hand to her chest, her other draped over Carson, she set her mental clock for half an hour and drifted off to sleep.

SG: A

Sheppard tumbled backwards from the gate to land in a large drift of snow, a mere microsecond before Dex unceremoniously tumbled on top of him. "Get off," he grunted while trying to stop freezing flakes from going down the back of his shirt.

Ronon instantly rolled to the side and jumped to his feet. Yanking the colonel up by the arm, he dusted the officer's back off before digging up a parka from the bags of gear, and handing it over. "Cold?" he grunted with a smirk.

"Oh, no. Back on Earth, I threw myself headfirst into piles of snow all the time." Shoving the large man out of his way, he leaned over to rummage through the bags in search of gloves. "Damn, it's cold here," he said, rubbing his covered hands together and then cupping them over his face to warm his cheeks.

The crackle and static of Sheppard's comm unit flared to life.

"Colonel Sheppard, Ronon, can you read me?" Elizabeth's irritated voice radiated over the system loud and clear.

Sheppard covered the microphone and rolled his eyes. "If she ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

"Colonel Sheppard, come in please. Are you alright?"

He cleared his throat and glared at Dex when the big man stood back and chuckled. "Elizabeth?"

"Colonel, return immediately."

He glanced around their position and frowned. "I'd love to, but we seem to have a couple of problems."

They could hear her release a pent up breath. "What problems?

"There's no sign of the DHD and I don't have a GDO on me." Ronon waved his GDO in the air from the backside of the MALP.

"What do you mean, no DHD?"

He kicked a nearby snowdrift and was rewarded with his boot hitting a large stone. "Remember all the snow we've been watching over the past six hours on the MALP? Well, let's just say it's a little more impressive up close and personal."

"Colonel, you don't have gear to stay on the planet. What are you doing for a coat?"

"Uh, actually," he quickly stripped off his gear and stood in front of the MALP camera, rubbing his arms and face, "I would appreciate it if you sent one through." Ronon raised a questioning brow at him, out of sight of Dr. Weir.

Moments later, a parka and a small bag of gear erupted through the open gate, landing in the same spot the colonel had fallen previously. Shaking off the snow, he stepped back in front of the camera and pulled it on to help stop his shivering. "Thanks."

"Can you see anything from your position?"

"Other than dark skies, a few stars, and lots of snow, there's not a whole lot to look at, at the moment."

"Where is Mr. Dex?"

Sheppard swallowed, looking past the camera to the area behind him, "He already took off to look for the team."

"He left you?" Elizabeth's voice was filled with disbelief.

"He knew you would take care of me." If she had any idea that the large man was standing right out of range beside the camera, they would both be dead men. "Now that you've sent me some gear, I want to go after him. He's probably going to need some help if there's a problem."

Silence filled the line and he could imagine her standing there, arms folded, scowling at him.

"Zelenka's informed me of another weather front moving into your area. If a second blizzard should start, I won't send a jumper in until it's over."

"I understand. Don't worry, I'll find them. And if I need any help, I'll give you a call."

"You do that, Colonel. Weir out."

Once the red light on the camera faded, he grinned at Dex, "Clockwork, my friend."

"Easy for you to say. You won't be the one she'll want to feed to the wraith when we return."

Sheppard stuffed the extra gear into the two packs and then clipped his to his shoulders. "Ready?" Dex nodded, his own pack tossed over his back.

"Okay then, let's get this show on the road before the next storm hits." With a quick glance up at the clear night sky, he nodded in satisfaction as his warm breath misted in front of his face. A flashlight in one hand and radio in the other, his sidearm securely attached to his thigh, and Dex lumbering behind him, he headed out in the direction of the small village. "You didn't happen to smuggle a couple of sets of snowshoes, did you?"

"You have a problem with walking?" On alert, the large man tracked every shadow. When Sheppard flipped on the radio, he frowned. "The village is fifteen kilometers away."

"They should have left before the storm hit." Sinking over knee deep with every step, he stopped and looked behind them, noticing one set of prints. "What do you say you lead?"

"You tired already?"

"No, but getting sacked through the gate," Sheppard twisted at the waist and scrunched his face, "I didn't think you were going to hit so hard."

Dex chuckled and shrugged. Taking point, he blazed a trail though the fresh snow. "Had to make it look good."

"Yeah, you did that." The colonel chose to ignore the big guy and adjusted his radio. "Atlantis team, this is Sheppard. Come in."

Receiving no answer, he tried again. "McKay, Beckett, Teyla, can any of you read me?"

A burst of static crackled before Teyla's quiet voice came back, "Colonel, it is good to hear your voice."

TBC