Sacrifice

Chapter 13

John accelerated the jumper as it burst through the stargate, Lorne's ship right on his tail. Immediately he cloaked the ship, hoping to keep surprise on their side. He was a bit worried; the first time he had dialed P6D-358, he had gotten a galactic busy signal. That meant someone else was using the gate; that someone else might very well be the Wraith.

Major Lorne's voice crackled in his headset. "Colonel Sheppard, we're scanning for Dr. McKay, but we're still getting nothing but static."

Lisel spoke up from her seat in the rear of the ship. "I'm sure you're being jammed. The interrogators have that technology." John nodded at her words, banking the jumper to the left and hitting the accelerator again. If his suspicions were true, and the Wraith were here, they needed to find Rodney – fast.

Within minutes, they were hovering over the destroyed remnants of the interrogation building. A portion of the building remained standing; John noticed it was the area built into the mountain, the area where his cell had been. Small wisps of smoke still drifted here and there, but there was no sign of life. John looked at Lisel as she moved forward, her hands pointing towards a large stone structure in the distance.

"That is the hospital. You're friend may be there," she advised. John nodded once, his eyes analyzing the building as they grew nearer. Suddenly, Ronon let out a sharp yell.

"Wraith!" John followed Ronon's hand, and frowned at the three Wraith ships, currently grounded. Thinking quickly, he steered the invisible craft towards a small stand of trees about two hundred meters from the hospital. The grounds were unusually empty for a busy hospital, the arrival of the Wraith sending most of the personnel into hiding.

"Major Lorne, we're going in to search the building. Stay put until we come out. If the Wraith try to leave, destroy their ships before they get airborne. Understood?" Lorne keyed his radio, acknowledging Sheppard's orders. Hope-fully, Rodney wasn't already dematerialized and stored in one of the Wraith ships. Either way, they couldn't allow the Wraith to escape, especially if they had McKay. He may have withstood Worner's interrogation, but John wasn't certain if the scientist could bear being questioned by the Wraith.

John landed the jumper, then, with a quick "Stay here" to Lisel, he and his team ran down the ramp, taking cover behind the trees. With a few quick hand motions, he sent Teyla to the right, and Ronon to the left. John, moving a little more slowly due to his injuries, skirted the tree line and headed straight for the Wraith ships. He needed to see if McKay had already been captured and stored by the Wraith beam.

He dropped to his knees, hiding behind one of the darts as two guards exited the building, carrying someone between them. McKay! Enormous relief coursed through Sheppard, and he briefly closed his eyes against the emotion. There would be time to be thankful later; right now, he needed to get to Rodney, and as quietly as possible.

Any attempt at silence was ruined, however, as Worner came barreling through the doors, followed by the three Wraith. Biting back a curse, John searched the area, spotting Teyla and Ronon almost immediately. Both off-worlders had their weapons trained on the Wraith, waiting for John's order. He took aim himself, then with a sharp nod, squeezed the trigger.

Rodney McKay was barely conscious, but he was alert enough to know that someone was shooting at them. He let out a small, "Oooof," as the two guards abruptly dropped their human cargo and raced for cover. McKay, his face scraping along the dirt and pebbles, turned to see what was going on. Screams of anger and panic echoed around him, along with the pounding of footsteps as more guards emerged from the hospital.

"Must be my rescue," he thought distantly, then dark spots started to shimmer before his eyes. He collapsed into a heap, unaware that John was merely ten feet away.

Sheppard blasted his P-90 again, sweeping the area above Rodney, trying to prevent the last remaining Wraith from grabbing the unconscious scientist. He swore as he saw Worner barking orders at his guards, most of them armed with the stunner weapons John had encountered in the cell.

"Lorne! Take out the building! I'm going for McKay!" John yelled into his headset. A moment later, twin missiles blasted into the building, causing a massive explosion. John ran over to McKay, protecting the physicist with his body from the debris that rained down.

"Sheppard! Are you okay?" Suddenly, Ronon there, yanking at John's arm, and turning him over. Momentarily dazed, John only nodded. He felt strong hands grab at his arms, and then he was on his feet, Teyla steadying him. Ronon reached down and carefully lifted Rodney, his eyes taking in the scientist's battered condition.

"Get to the jumper!" John shoved at Ronon, who ran off, the physicist bouncing over his shoulder. Teyla followed, her gun laying down cover fire. John staggered behind them, his ears still ringing from the blast, his body starting to weaken. The smoke and the ash of the burning building made it difficult to see, and he slowed as he picked his way towards the jumper.

Bam! John fell to his knees, his back screaming in agony. He managed to raise his head, and his eyes widened as he recognized Worner. The interrogator had grabbed up a broken piece of wood, and had smashed it into John's back as the soldier ran by. Now, with a horrible grin, he raised the wood again, ready to smash it into John's head.

Sheppard summoned all his remaining strength, and rolled away from Worner, the wood barely missing his skull as it smashed down. As he rolled, he brought up his P-90 and tugged on the trigger. He watched as the bullets rammed into Worner, jerking his body like an out-of-control puppet. The interrogator fell to the ground, his cold eyes now lifeless. Panting heavily to regain his breath, John allowed himself a moment of satisfaction, then struggled back to his feet.

Twenty seconds later, he was back on the jumper, meeting the concerned eyes of Lisel as he strode towards the pilot's chair. The woman was leaning over McKay, her face ashen.

"Colonel, he needs immediate help." John only nodded as the ship soared into the air. He banked right, then launched a missile at the last remaining Wraith ship. It exploded in a brilliant ball of fire.

"Ronon, dial the gate. We're going home….all of us."

TBC