Chapter 5

Rodney headed down to the gate room, he wondered where Carson was. He wanted him to look at his hand again before he went off world. Arriving at the gate room he saw Carson talking to Colonel Sheppard. Rodney walked over to them and saw Carson handling John an empty vial.

"Colonel make sure none of you touch the water when you get the sample. I don't want to have anyone else sick and please be careful," Carson told John.

"No problem Dr., it's a piece of cake. Don't worry nothing will go wrong."

"That's what you say every time and someone always ends up injured."

"Ah…not all the time."

Carson gave him a look of disbelief.

"McKay you're finally here," said John, trying to change the subject. "Okay, let's get going."

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us Dr. Beckett?" Aiden asked Carson smiling knowing what doctor's response was going to be.

"Ah…that's okay lad. I need to monitor Goodrich's condition."

"You're just not saying that because you don't want to go off-world with us are you?" asked Rodney.

"No."

"Come on let's go," John tried again. Aiden nodded and headed toward the gate.

"Rodney you're hand is fine, I just looked at it yesterday," Carson told Rodney.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," he said rubbing his eyes with his hand.

"Are you feeling okay Carson?" Rodney asked just noticing the doctor's tired face.

"Aye, just a bit tired. It's nothing to worry about."

"Come on McKay," yelled John, waiting at the gate.

"I'm coming," Rodney shouted back. He started to ask Carson if he was sure he was feeling okay when Carson interrupted him.

"Go on Rodney and try to be careful."

"No problem. Aren't I always?" He then hurried off toward his team members, missing Carson shaking his head and mumbling to himself. Soon Colonel, his team, and Sergeant Edwin, from SGA-2, walked into the open stargate.

Off-world

Stepping through the stargate they found themselves standing in a pretty barren meadow. John turned toward Edwin.

"Sergeant how far is the river from here?"

"Maybe a ten minute walk sir."

"Okay then let's head out. Lead the way Sergeant."

They walked through the meadow and made their way down the hill. Soon their downward descent leveled off a bit. "We're almost there," said Edwin.

After passing through a glove of trees they could see the river below, which was a long way down.

"We're suppose to get a sample of water from that river?" asked a worried Rodney.

"This is the river that Private Goodrich fell into," replied Edwin. It was silent as they looked down at the river.

"So who wants to volunteer to get the sample?" asked John. They all avoided eye contact with the Colonel. "Lt. Ford could you do the honors?"

"Ah...Yes sir. It would be a pleasure."

"Here you go," John said handling Aiden an empty vial, "and try not to touch the water."

Teyla took a step toward the ledge and peered down. "Um Colonel Sheppard it looks pretty steep. Are you sure it is safe for Lt. Ford to go down there?"

"Well," he said peering down. "McKay why don't you go help Lt. Ford."

"Me? Why can't you go?"

"Because I'm in charge and I say so. Besides maybe there's something down there that has some scientific value."

"But..."

"Excuse me Colonel but I believe Dr. Beckett wanted that sample as soon as possible," said Edwin.

"Just go McKay and be careful."

"Okay I'm going."

Aiden and Rodney slowly made their way down to the river. More than half way down Rodney slipped and fell landing in a pile just short of the water.

"McKay!" yelled John. He was beginning to regret sending him down.

Aiden hurried toward his team member who was slowly getting up. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Just peachy, I think I sprained my wrist." replied a very annoyed Rodney holding his injured hand to his chest.

"I thought I told you to be careful McKay," yelled John.

"Well you know I just couldn't help myself," Rodney said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Can I see your wrist?" asked Aiden stepping closer to Rodney.

"Are you medical doctor?"

"No…"

"Well then no. I rather have Dr. Beckett work his voodoo on it if you don't mind."

Aiden shrugged and walked over to the water. He uncapped the empty vial and filled it.

"Got it sir," Aiden shouted up to John.

"Good. McKay did you find anything interesting down there?" asked John.

"Oh of course Colonel, there are a lot of rocks down here. I'm sure Atlantis won't mind if we brought back a dozen of them to use as weapons against the Wraith," yelled Rodney.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't here that McKay. Climb up you guys so we can go and let's try not to have any more accidents."

After ten minutes Aiden and Rodney made it back up to the team.

"Here's the sample Colonel," said Aiden, who handed the sample to John.

"Thanks. McKay can I see your wrist?"

The only response John got was an annoyed stare.

"Okay then, let's head out."

Soon they were on their way back. Their journey back was pretty silent except for Rodney grumbling to himself. John turned around, having enough of Rodney's complaining. "McKay just let it go."

Rodney stopped only to give him a hard stare.

"Okay I know you're mad at me but what if you did find something interesting by the river? It's your own fault you slipped and fell. At least you didn't get seriously hurt."

"I could have broken my neck!"

"Ah…well."

They all stopped walking.

"I told you to be careful," continued John.

"I was being careful."

"Obliviously not careful enough."

Rodney seemed to turn a bright shade of red as he ranted, "I would have liked to have seen you try and climb down that hill. It was very steep and I was being CAREFUL!" He then mumbled some more under his breath.

Aiden trying very hard not to laugh he said, "I think we all learned something today about hills Colonel."

"What would that be Lt.?" asked John.

"Always take you're time going down a steep hill. Be careful and never send a scientist to retrieve anything."

John, Aiden, and Edwin were soon chuckling while Teyla rolled her eyes and Rodney stalked off toward the stargate, still mumbling to himself. After a few minutes they were able to control their laughter and hurried after Rodney, who was disappearing from their view.

Reaching the stargate they found Rodney waiting silently.

"McKay could you dial the gate?" asked John.

Rodney didn't answer but starting punching the symbols, with his good hand, to dial back to Atlantis. Soon the stargate blazed to life and Rodney turned toward them. "We need someone's access code."

John nodded to Aiden; Aiden then pulled out his radio and sent his code through. John soon after pulled out his own radio and called Atlanits' control room. "This is Colonel Sheppard requesting permission to come through the stargate."

In a few moments Atlantis replied, "Permission granted."

"Okay let's head on home," John said to his team. They then stepped through the gate with the much needed water sample, unaware of the turn of events that took place while they were gone.

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter.:) Please keep reading and reviewing.