Thanks for the great reviews. Warning of language in this chapter but I think it is appropriate under the circumstance.
Part 4 – This Isn't the Way It's Supposed to Happen
Fifteen minutes later, the small military contingent waited fully prepared in the gateroom as the SGA-1 team joined them.
"Okay folks, what's the status?" Sheppard requested as he adjusted his vest and P90.
"We've been in touch with Major Lorne again and the situation hasn't changed, sir. They're still holed up in the old ruins they found about akilometer from the gate and completely surrounded by about thirty or so angry natives armed with spears and knives." The comm. technical answered.
Rodney looked up towards Elizabeth as she stood on the balcony overlooking the gatewell. "Are you sure you wanted me to go? Those things sound kind of pointy to me?" he shouted up to her.
Before she could reply, Sheppard spoke up. "If you don't move your ass, McKay, you'll find out what's pointy when I stick my knife where…"
"Okay, okay," Rodney quickly replied, "I got the message, moving out." That certainly sounded a little more like the old Sheppard if only he hadn't looked like he meant it.
As the event horizon appeared, the rescue party went through each hoping that things wouldn't result in blood shed. Elizabeth watched them go with apprehension and became distressed when Sheppard failed to turn and wave as he usually did. She was going to have to have a serious talk with him when he got back.
-SGA-
Exiting the other side, the rescuers found themselves facing a pleasant looking planet complete with the usual grassy fields, leafy woods, and clear air. Moving out, they slowly made their way towards the trouble spot hoping that the natives wouldn't react badly at being approached from behind.
Eventually, they came upon the rear line of natives and Sheppard called a halt. At first, the highly tattooed, half-naked, dark skinned people didn't notice them until a youngster turned and gave a warning cry.
Teyla quickly reacted by laying down her weapon and producing a small blue cloth, which seemed to be a universal sign in the Pegasus galaxy for - I come in peace. The natives reacted by rattling their spears until the chieftain raised his hand and stepped forward.
Teyla was just about to join him but Sheppard pulled her back. "You trust that guy?" he asked.
Keeping her cool, Teyla replied. "As we agreed, I will talk to him, Colonel. Keep on the alert but do not raise your weapons unless things do not work out. However, I have a good feeling about this."
Sheppard let her go but kept a steely eye on the chieftain as Teyla walked carefully to meet him halfway. He watched in readiness as Teyla talked at great lengths with the wiry old man. At times, the chieftain gestured wildly with his hands pointing in the direction of the ruins until finally, he seemed to calm down.
Nodding her head, Teyla carefully stepped back to join Sheppard and the others. "Okay, he has agreed to let our people go as long as we never step foot on their planet again."
"Err…what was their problem anyway?" McKay asked.
"It seems that the ruins are holy and sacred to them. They did not take kindly to having people tramping all over them. At first, he wanted retribution in the form of a sacrifice. However, I've managed to talk him out of that by saying that you would not allow it without blood shed. I explained that our weapons could kill many."
"So much for your - don't touch anything without asking protocols - Sheppard." Rodney muttered.
"Lorne can answer to that one when we get them home." Sheppard growled at him. "Okay, let's go get them out of there."
Teyla stopped him with her hand. "I suggest that just you and I go, Colonel. Most of the team should stay here."
John looked down at her for a few seconds before setting his eyes on his men. "Okay, you heard her. Wait here until we get back and then we'll all calmly go back to the gate."
A chorus of - yes sirs - echoed as he moved off with Teyla in tow. As Sheppard passed the chieftain, he looked the man straight in the eye before continuing. He didn't see the look of distaste that crossed the old man's face.
Ten minutes later, Lorne and his team weary joined the others to start the long trek back to the gate. Teyla and Sheppard covered their six being careful as the chieftain and few of his people followed at a safe distance. Teyla assured Sheppard that everything was all right that they only wanted to make sure everyone went home.
Arriving at the gate, McKay dialed Atlantis and sent through his IDC, thankful that things had gone so well. Slowly the Atlanteans began to trickle into the event horizon until only Sheppard's team remained.
The gate was situated at the top of several stone steps and just as John was about to ascend the first step with Teyla, the chieftain approached them calling a soft goodbye to the Athosian. She turned to acknowledge him causing John to stop and turn around. In an instant, the old man pulled out a knife and stabbed Sheppard in the side.
The team looked on in shock, not believing their eyes as John clutched his middle and muttered, "The son of a bitch stabbed me," before staggering to lean heavily against the nearby DHD.
"Justice has been done." The chieftain called as he moved off to join his people.
Ronon raised his gun ready to take him down but McKay stayed his action. "That's not the answer. Come on, let's get Sheppard home."
"Yeah, but it's my answer," growled Ronon, his gun still firmly aimed at the chieftain's back. However, before taking any further action he looked towards Sheppard as if seeking approval from the Colonel, but the man was preoccupied with combating his pain and shock.
Teyla and Rodney went over to Sheppard and helped him walk towards the event horizon. John's feet faltered as he struggled to ascend the steps, so Teyla called angrily. "Ronon, the Colonel needs your help!"
Reluctantly, the Satedan lowered his gun and move to John's side to support the man home.
-SGA-
Elizabeth stood watching as the missing team and their rescuers came home. Her face lit up in a brilliant smile as she went down to greet Major Lorne and his men. Thankful to see that everyone was all right, she told them to go to the infirmary for the compulsory check up.
Expectantly, she waited for Sheppard and his team to come through, congratulations already on her lips but instead, she went white as a ghost when Rodney and Ronon emerged supporting a staggering John between them.
Teyla stepped around them and cried. "We need a medical team here! The Colonel was stabbed just as we were about to leave."
"Oh, my god! Get Carson down here now!" Elizabeth cried to the technicians above. Moving over, she helped the others settle John down onto the steps.
He looked deadly pale. His handsome face registered total shock as he continued to clutch his side in obvious pain. Blood poured freely through his fingers to soak his uniform and drip onto the floor.
Elizabeth desperately wanted to know what had gone wrong, but explanations would have to wait until John was safe and secure in the infirmary.
Everyone tried to reassure Sheppard and themselves as they waited for the emergency team to arrive. Time seemed to stand still, although it had probably only been a matter of minutes. Elizabeth exchanged a worried look with the others as she noticed the ever-growing pool of blood at John's feet. "Where the hell are they?" she shouted.
"They're on their way and will be here in a few minutes!" The technician called back.
Elizabeth returned her gaze to John and became alarmed; he seemed to be fading before her eyes. Kneeling down before him, she held his face between her hands and looked directly into his eyes. "Carson's nearly here and then he'll have you soon taken care of and all tucked up in the infirmary. Please John, just stay with us. You hear me?"
His face went even whiter, if that was possible. An audible cry of pain passed between his blue lips and Sheppard whispered. "Not good." His dull eyes lifted to meet Elizabeth's and she watched in horror as the life drained out of them as he slumped forward and stopped breathing.
"No! You're not doing this to me, Sheppard!" she screamed as she felt hands pull her away from John's lifeless body. Through her numbness, Elizabeth suddenly registered that Carson and his team had arrived on the scene.
Moving quickly, they had Sheppard stretched out below the steps. The team worked efficiently as they stripped John's upper clothing to expose his chest and blood soaked side. A nurse already had an oxygen mask in place and as was pumping air into his lifeless body. One of the staff was charging up the defibrillator and preparing the paddles for Carson. As soon as the machine started bleeping, Carson grabbed them and shouted. "Clear!" They all watched as John's body jerked off the ground and Carson listened intently with his stethoscope only to shout. "Again!"
Time seemed to go in slow motion as the team watched in disbelief as the doctors worked fanatically shocking Sheppard repeatedly until Beckett wearily stood up. Glancing at his watch, he quietly whispered for the record, "Time of death, 16.25," Before turning sorrowful eyes towards the others. "I'm…I'm so sorry, but there's nothing more we can do. He bled out and his heart failed before we could do anything."
Suddenly coming out of his shock, Rodney marched over to John. "Oh, no, no, no, you're not doing this to us, Sheppard. How the - shit - do you think we're going to cope without you!" he ranted, "And you've - fucking well - left us with Caldwell!"
Cringing, Elizabeth knew there was every good chance that Caldwell had just heard that remark because she'd seen the man standing near the top of the stairs but quite frankly, right now, she couldn't give a damn. Her whole world had just come crashing down, and the day she'd been dreading for almost two years now had finally happened.
Slowly, she moved towards Rodney, who was still ranting and raving, and calling John all the names under the sun through his pain at losing the man, he called his best friend. Gently taking his arm, Elizabeth pulled him away from the scene as the medical staff covered John's body and prepared to take him to the morgue.
Off to one side, she could see Teyla crying softly in Ronon's arms, unashamed at showing her sorrow and pain. Elizabeth envied her and wished for just once she didn't have to play the strong leader. Although right now, at this very time, she had to remain composed for Atlantis and its people. Even if she felt like screaming and crying, she had to lock her feelings in knowing that she couldn't break down in front of everyone. Not now, but later in the solitude of her own room, she knew she would be crying herself to sleep tonight.
As if in a dream, she led Rodney up the stairs towards her office and as they went by Caldwell, he moved to join them. Once in the solitude of her room, she made Rodney sit down and moved around her desk to sit and face the Colonel.
Caldwell's face was solemn, full of his own regret. "What the hell happened?" he asked. "Did Sheppard provoke them or something?"
"Absolutely not!" Rodney shot up out the chair to face the Colonel. "In fact, he did nothing other than required. Teyla negotiated our teams release and everything went well. I just don't understand why the chieftain did what he did?"
Elizabeth held up her hand. "It's too late for questions, and we'll probably never know why because, as of now, that planet is blacklisted and I'm not sending anyone else back there, ever again."
Both men agreed just as Carson came walking in. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything but I'd like to talk a little about what just happened." The doctor stated as he took a chair.
Elizabeth rubbed moisture from her eyes. "No, that's all right, Carson. We were just discussing what happened back on the planet."
"Aye, I've just spoken to Lorne about it and he said Sheppard acted perfectly normal and in no way aggressive towards them."
Caldwell still looked unsure. "I'll have a briefing with the rest of the men later and get their version."
Rodney stood up. "There's no other version to get! Sheppard did nothing to make that maniac stab him!"
Elizabeth saw that this was leading to trouble and she really didn't need that right now. "That's enough!" she pleaded, "John is lying in the morgue, and this is not the time to…" She wanted to say more but her voice broke.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to throw accusations, but after Sheppard's behavior earlier, I had to ask." Caldwell apologized.
Elizabeth nodded and turned to Carson. "What did you want to talk about?"
Carson was beginning to feel that this may not be the right time but he was here now and this had to be addressed. "Sheppard shouldn't have died from that injury. It was almost as if he lost every pint of blood in a matter of minutes. I don't think I have to tell ya that that's not at all normal, even if a major artery had been hit. However, from the position of the stab wound that's highly unlikely. We'll have to be doing an autopsy as part of the report." Everyone reluctantly nodded before Carson continued. "We'll also conduct various tests to see if he was suffering from some unknown problem…like blood cancer for instance. Although, his last checkup showed nothing but ya never know. I'll be seeing to that first thing tomorrow."
Carson looked at the Rodney and Elizabeth's ashen faces. "If anybody needs any help with getting to sleep tonight or a stiff Scottish whiskey, I've got some in my office, ya only need to ask." With that, Carson got up and left, leaving three very quiet and thoughtful people behind.