"We crashed."
Carson stared at the Satedan as though he'd lost his mind. "Oh did we now? You've got astounding powers of observation, don't you? From these few wee clues," he shouted, gesturing at the wreckage all around them, "you were able to conclude that we crashed! Bloody brilliant!"
Ronan sat patiently through his tirade and waited a beat more before asking, "Feel better?"
"Aye, a bit." Carson ran his hand through his hair, embarrassed at his outburst. "Sorry, I'm feeling a bit out of sorts."
Ronan nodded. "I think we were shot down."
"Shot down? By the Kalerians? Oh, God." He scrubbed his face with the back of his hand. "I should have –"
"It's not your fault. Even if you agreed to give them what they wanted, Sheppard wouldn't have let you."
Carson fisted his hair with both hands, aware that he was becoming slightly hysterical. "This is never going to end," he said, his voice rising in pitch. "I'm going to pay, and everyone around me is going to pay, for the rest of my life!"
"I think you should know," Ronan said solemnly, "I'm considering slapping you."
That startled a laugh from the doctor, and he forced himself to take a deep, calming breath. "Let's leave that as a last resort, shall we? A slap from you would likely break my neck."
Ronan had been picking through the jumbled supplies and debris, finally emerging with his energy weapon. "I'm gonna do some recon, see if I can find a high point. We need to know how far we are from the gate. You know how to use a P90?"
"Aye, I've had training," was the dubious reply.
"Take Sheppard's. Keep an eye out for visitors." Ronan tested his radio, gesturing for Carson to do the same. By some miracle, they both worked. "I'll check in every fifteen minutes or so."
"Be careful," Carson urged, unclipping the colonel's weapon and holding it gingerly before him. Ronan grinned and shook his head, sending his dusty dreadlocks waving.
"You be careful too," he replied, gently nudging the barrel of the P90 towards the floor.
"Right." Carson watched Ronan force the jumper's bent door until he had an opening big enough to fit through. "Good luck," he said. The Satedan ducked through the gap and was gone. Carson chose a spot where he could see outside and still keep an eye on his patients and settled down to his solitary watch. He was calmer now, but his stomach still churned when he remembered the Kalerian minister's request.