When It Snows (part 15)
Ronon motioned Teyla to stay behind with the doctors before he stealthily followed his limping team leader back down the hallway. Something was on Sheppard's mind, and the runner had a pretty good idea what that was. Concealed from view, he rotated his own bandaged arm to stretch the sore muscles from the cravit attack, feeling the burn of protest from the movement run tight to his shoulder, before grimacing slightly. He could only imagine how the colonel's leg must feel, and knowing the man, even the leg wound wouldn't slow him down from finding a way to contact Atlantis.
When Sheppard, on his one man mission, stepped through the main lodge doorway, out into the clear but freezing cold morning sunshine, Dex slipped out behind him before the door could swing shut on its own.
"What are you going to do?" he finally spoke, his warm breath misting heavily in front of his face.
Sheppard's shoulders rose and fell from a deep sigh, but he didn't turn around, instead staring out over the vast whiteness spread forever in front of him. "We have to contact Atlantis. Beckett and McKay can't stay here."
"Gate's too far for them to travel."
"True, but I have a plan."
"I figured as much. What do you need me to do?"
Sheppard turned around while clumsily stomping snow off his feet, his features set in grim determination, "Go find Johan."
SG: A
Close to an hour later, several individuals were seated around one of the large tables in the great room that was covered with the team's laptops, radios, the small tool kit, and Rodney's signaling device. Sheppard gave one of the kit's screwdrivers a hard smack on the table surface to get everyone's attention. "Okay, this is what we need to do. First off, get a signal through the gate." Holding up his hand to stave off any comments, he realized the one individual to do that was still in the infirmary. "Atlantis is probably trying to contact us on the half hour, if I know Elizabeth, so that gives us a window to shoot for to get their attention."
He picked up the crude signal device Rodney had made out of the two radios and slid it over to Johan. "We need you to boost the output on this."
The young man hesitantly picked it up and turned it over in his hands. His nervousness disappeared once his brain began to process the problem. Within seconds, he had the device figured out and was reaching for the tool kit. "You'll need to attach this to a stronger power source to cross the distance," he stated, his gaze meeting the colonel's head on.
Sheppard slid Beckett's computer forward. "That's what I figured. How about one of the battery cells to a laptop?"
Johan studied the unfamiliar device as he brow crinkled in concentration. "I need some time."
His elbows on the table, the dark haired team leader leaned forward and checked his watch. "You've got 20 minutes until I figure the gate opens for the next check in. Two way communication is preferable, but I'll take a signal if that's all you can manage."
Already deep in thought, the young man ignored him as he dismantled the signaling device and then removed the battery pack from the laptop. His bottom lip clamped between his teeth, he blindly dumped the tool kit and snatched an item without even looking, his fingers rapidly putting together a new device.
When it became clear that their assistance wasn't needed, Sheppard turned to Ronon, "You need to find a spot close by and clear it for a jumper to land."
The runner only grunted and pulled himself up to his feet while slinging his long coat on over his shoulders. Mathis was soon at his side before they both disappeared back outside.
"Colonel, what should I do?" Teyla asked, wanting nothing more than to help her team get off this planet as soon as possible.
"You go meet with Chal. See how Beckett and McKay are doing and how soon they can be transported." When she stood up to leave, he waved her to stop. "Tell him I need to see him a moment."
"I will tell him." With a tilt of her head, she too was gone from the room.
Left with only Johan, Sheppard watched him snip a wire and then twist it together with another. It was like watching a younger version of what he imagined McKay to have been like. When the look of smug satisfaction creased the villagers face, Sheppard allowed himself to smile. "Tell me what you got."
SG: A
For the first time in as long as he could remember, Rodney felt cold. Lacking the strength to tug his blanket higher up over his chilled nose, he sniffled in hopes that someone was close enough to take the hint. When no one came to his aid, he resigned himself to the fact that it was probably late and there wasn't anyone available to help him. Garnering what little energy he had, he pushed it all into the simple effort of opening his eyes.
He blinked slowly, the unfamiliar ceiling blurring strangely in and out of focus. Closing his eyes, he gave himself a moment before trying again.
The second try was a little clearer. With the IV stand in his peripheral vision no longer looking like a fuzzy stalk of corn; his eyes traced the tubing down to his arm buried beneath a lightweight blanket that was covering him. He stared at the soft white material and longed for another. If only he could convince his hands to pull it up higher.
With little left for him to do, he let his eyes take in the rest of the room, skimming over equipment scattered around his bedside, some familiar, and some not. Shifting slightly, he was able to roll his head to the other side without much effort, and was able to get a view of the other side of the room.
More machines took up space around another bed and he wondered who the occupant was. Of course, having no idea where he was or what had happened, his heart began to pick up speed as his mind began to envision all sorts of scenarios as to how he got where he was, and who the mysterious other patient might be. What if it was Sheppard, or one of the others? Groaning, he tried to roll to his side for a better view, only to be trapped by the pull of devices attached to his chest.
The steady cadence of the heart monitor rapidly began to rise as panic and confusion clouded his mind. Taking a deep gasp, he couldn't stop the sudden deep tickle and round of painful coughing that soon left him breathless.
From out of nowhere, hands were upon him, pressing him back onto the mattress. Voices asking questions, demanding answers he couldn't give, beckoned through the haze, until one voice cut through the encompassing fog.
"Rodney, you must try to breathe," Teyla said firmly as she grasped his arm and held his hand tightly in her own.
Air pushed against his face through a mask placed over his nose and mouth. Dragging in the sweet oxygen, he allowed himself to relax minutely as he held onto Teyla's hand like a lifeline. His breathing slowly overcame the ragged harshness and he relished a full deep breath.
"Where am I?" he whispered in confusion, his eyes cracking minutely to meet her gaze.
She reached down with her free hand to soothingly stroke the side of his face. "You became ill and are in Dr. Nex's infirmary."
He frowned, his eyes shifting back and forth as he tried to remember before settling on her once more. "We left the village."
Teyla nodded, a brief smile touching her cheeks. "Yes, we were on our way back to the gate when the storm hit."
Rodney coughed and then swallowed. Taking another deep breath he held it a moment as his tried to process what she was saying. "Where's Carson?" he asked quietly, afraid of what she might answer.
Her gaze shifted over to the other bed and nodded. "He, also, is quite ill."
Rodney rolled his head to the side of his pillow but couldn't see past a figure blocking his view. Blinking rapidly he looked up to see who was in his way, before slowly recognizing the physician from the village checking his IV. "How?"
"It is a long story and you need to rest now," Teyla answered. "Soon Colonel Sheppard will have us back on Atlantis and then, once you are stronger, I will tell you everything."
At the mention of Sheppard's name, Rodney frowned again. "Why is Sheppard here?"
Teyla merely smiled sadly and continued to stroke the side of his face. Watching the scientist's eyes finally succumb to the comforting gesture and drift off to sleep, she met Chal's gaze. "Will he be alright?"
"He needs rest and proper care."
"And Dr. Beckett?"
"The same."
"But they will recover?"
Chal looked over both his patients and then to her, "All of you have had a difficult stay while trying to help the village, but, I believe that once you return to Atlantis, there will be little to worry about."
Teyla searched his face for truth and found it. "Soon," she whispered.
SG: A
Johan pressed the switch on the device he'd made, grinning when a burst of static erupted to break the silence. Handing it to Sheppard, he sat back and watched as the colonel grinned back at him.
"Good work, kid," the older man quipped. "And you've still got a minute left to spare." Watching the seconds tick away on his watch, Sheppard waited, and then pressed the 'send' button.
"Atlantis, this is Sheppard. Come in."
Nothing happened.
Pressing the button again, he paged a second time. "Atlantis, this is Sheppard. Can you read me?"
Silence.
Glancing over to Johan, it would have been hard to miss the scowl aimed at the piece of equipment before he glanced up to meet the colonel's questioning gaze.
"It should work," he said stubbornly.
Before Sheppard had the chance to comment, a loud burst of static broke out from in front of the two men.
"Colonel Sheppard, it is good to hear your voice."
TBC