Part 10 – Back To Sanjava

Lorne quickly ordered three marines to go back and retrieve the medical equipment as Beckett started to assess John's wounds. With Rodney's help, he carefully slit the tunic top from the waist upwards to reveal the entry point of first bullet. Seeing the comparatively clean wound, Carson let out a small sigh of relief as the bullet had mercifully missed the spinal column completely. Ironically, the position was nearly identical to the stab wound on John's duplicate back in Atlantis only reversed, back instead of front. Gently, he turned John onto his side to look for an exit point but there wasn't one, which meant that the bullet was still lodged in there somewhere. Unable to do more for now, Carson quickly applied a sterile pressure pad to slow the bleeding, and instructed Rodney to hold it while he taped it firmly into place. Thankfully, Rodney was acting very calm and collected, only his face showed concern and stress by being much paler than normal.

Retrieving his knife, Carson began cutting through John's dirty tunic pants and once again, he was relieved to find that the second bullet appeared to have grazed John's upper thigh, it was bleeding but only required a dressing for the time being. Pealing back the rest of John's tunic top, Carson noted that bullet number three had gone straight through his left shoulder leaving a bleeding hole, so once again Beckett applied pads and finished by bandaging it up.

Fishing around in his field bag, Carson took out several syringes and quickly used one to inject a powerful painkiller and the other an antibiotic. "God only knows what germs could be laying around these ruins," he muttered to himself before letting out a loud sigh and then speaking a little louder for Rodney's benefit. "Well, it's certainly not as bad as it could have been and if we can get him to a better place for treatment, he should make it." However, just after he'd uttered those words, a commotion erupted as hordes of people started pouring from Sanjava dome and running for all their might.

Ronon, Teyla and the others moved up to join the Major's group and they all watched in horror as the people flocked passed them. Ronon lifted his gun ready to fire as did the marines but it soon became obvious that most were unarmed and frightened for their lives.

As the last group rushed out the dome, gunfire sounded from the entryway as a number of uniformed men came out behind the fleeing people and started cold bloodedly shooting down them down. "I don't like those odds," Major Lorne murmured, "Okay, let's protect those unarmed folks," he ordered as he opened fire. Seconds later, Ronon, Teyla, and the marines started bringing down the assailants.

As Rodney and Carson crouched over John as if protecting him from any more bullets, Rodney whispered fearfully. "Is he really our John Sheppard?"

Carson flashed him a serious look, as he knew what Rodney meant especially after the fiasco with the other one, so he quickly assessed Sheppard's back. "Aye, it appears so, I don't know why there's so much horrific bruising but every scar I can remember is there, plus the odd little birth mark lower down."

Rodney looked baffled. "Odd little birth mark?"

"Aye, did ya not know that the Colonel has a tiny mark on his bu…" Carson laughed softly trying to lighten the mood, "Oh, silly me, how could ya now? And I'm betting it's probably one of the things missing from that duplicate."

For a brilliant scientist Rodney was sometimes as dense as they come and it took him a good minute to cotton on. "Oh."

"Oh indeed," Carson muttered as he continued to monitor Sheppard's vitals which were currently stable, but for how long? "I wish to God this shooting would stop and the rest of my equipment was here."

As if answering Beckett's prayer, the shooting suddenly died down to the odd exchange, although it didn't stop completely. McKay eased himself up to try to assess the situation but Carson roughly pulled him back down. "Keep ya head down, Rodney, I bloody well don't need another shot up patient. I've probably got more than enough out there already."

Thankfully, a few minutes later, the shooting stopped completely as the last of the aggressors fell under the Atlantean's firepower. Without further hesitation Lorne, Ronon, and Teyla ran over the join the doctors and Sheppard. "How is he?" asked the Major before the others could, as he crouched down beside Beckett. Teyla stood behind him, composed but genuine concern etched her beautiful face, and as usual, Ronon's look was unreadable but anyone who knew him better would see his fear for Sheppard as he waited for the answer.

Beckett stood up to stretch his legs as he answered, "He's as well as can be expected under the circumstances. My main concern is shock and he has lost a fair amount of blood. Now if they come along with my equipment soon and we can find a better place, I'll have him patched up in no time. Who the hell are all those people anyway?"

The Major stood up to face the doctor. "Well, most of them seem to have run off into the ruins. I can only guess that there's been some sort of disturbance within the dome."

"Uprising," Sheppard said in a choked whisper, surprising everyone.

"John! Colonel! Sheppard!" They all called at once, as they anxiously looked towards their wounded friend or commander. Beckett crouched down again and eased him up slightly as Rodney pulled off his jacket and rolled it up under John's head. Easing him back down, Carson reassured. "Take it easy, lad. We'll have ya taken care of in no time."

John looked relieved, a warm feeling spread through him at the sight of his friends and he realized that for the first time in days he felt no real pain, which was strange because he clearly remembered being shot more than once. Must be on the good stuff, he thought as he felt himself graying out again but before he went under, he needed to warn them about one thing. Grabbing Carson's arm to get his attention, John whispered so softly that the doctor and Rodney had to bend over him to hear. "Be careful…of a man called…Aldrich…very…very… dangerous…madman,"

"Aye, lad, we got that. There's a dangerous madman around here called Aldrich but how do we know who he his?"

"Ask Dr. Ri…" But the words died on his lips a black void came up to greet him.

Beckett looked at Rodney and then up the worried faces around him. "Well, at least we know there's someone dangerous to look out for and we've got to look for a Dr. Ri somebody. Now where's my bloody equipment?" The doctor protested as he turned back to check on his patient.

Major Lorne looked at the others in frustration as McKay stood up and said. "Look, why don't I go with a few marines and see what's keeping the others?"

Ronon moved over to McKay. "Leave the marines to guard our people here, I'll go with you, doc."

"Well, if you're sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Come on we're wasting time Sheppard doesn't have." Ronon pointed out. "So show me the way!"

Lorne nodded to McKay and with one last look at the friend he thought he'd lost forever, Rodney moved off to follow the big man.

It didn't take Rodney long to find his way back towards the building where Beckett's equipment had been stored. However, before they got there, the three marines looking a little worse for wear but carrying the doctor's equipment cases met them.

"We…err…ran into a little trouble." A marine called Wilkinson said. "It seems nothing is safe from these folks and we were just in time to prevent this precious gear from falling into the wrong hands."

Ronon grinned. "I hope you kicked their asses?"

"Yep, we sure did!" Wilkinson said proudly.

"Oh, come on Wilkie, there were only five of them and two were kids." Another marine put in.

McKay glared at the soldiers. "Never mind that now, Beckett needs this equipment!" he shouted pointing to the cases, "So let's go!" Sobering up and worried about their CO, the marines quickly followed Ronon and McKay.

-SGA-

After the noise and gunfire, the area around Sanjava seemed eerily quiet. Major Lorne ordered his men to hold strategic positions nearby and keep an eye on things while he stood guard with Teyla close to Beckett and the Colonel. At first, he didn't notice a small group of people approached from the building directly behind them but when he did, he went on immediate alert. Teyla quickly joined him, her P90 held steady and ready for any eventuality.

However, as the people drew nearer they could see that, although they were armed, they weren't aiming their weapons in an aggressive way. "That's far enough!" Lorne shouted. "What do you want?"

"My name is Officer Tamar. I wish to speak to you."

Lorne and Teyla exchanged a look before the Major replied. "Okay, we'll speak to you but alone. The others can stay were they are for now."

"Fair enough," Tamar answered as he walked away from his companions.

As he neared their position, Tamar looked over towards Beckett and grasped. "That is not Colonel Sheppard over there is it?"

"Yes, I'm afraid it is." Lorne answered him. "He was shot from behind by a group of men from the dome."

Tamar looked worried. "What happened to those men?" he inquired.

"We…err…shot them all." Lorne answered him not knowing if that was a good thing or not.

"Could I see their bodies?"

The Major looked at him with surprise. "Yeah, sure, I don't see why not but how about telling me what's going on here?"

"I am not a hundred percent sure myself yet, Mr...?"

"Major Lorne. Colonel Sheppard is my commanding officer."

"Really, so you must also come from this galaxy far, far, away? Tamar asked as the Major and a couple of marines started to take him over to where the fallen men lay.

The marines and Lorne exchanged a puzzled look before the Major asked. "The Colonel told you that?

Tamar nodded, yes, so the Major answered. "Yep, the same place."

It was Tamar's turn to look a little perplexed but he shrugged it off and looked at the bodies before turning his attention to Sanjava dome. "These thugs worked for a man called Aldrich therefore I presume he is still alive." His gaze went towards a couple of uniformed bodies lying not far off. "How did they die?"

"We did it." Lorne answered him. "They were shooting innocent, unarmed people."

Tamar looked towards the hapless bodies lying sprawled across the grand plaza near the entryway and nodded, muttering. "This was not the way things were supposed to work out. Let me try to see if I can get back into Sanjava. I still have my security pass and if that works then we are still in business."

"So there really has been a revolt?"

"Yes, there has." Tamar replied as he began to walk towards the entry.

"Wait a minute!" Lorne called. "At least let us cover you?"

"Thank you, that is maybe for the best." The Capellan agreed as he continued onwards.

-SGA-

Rodney, Ronon and the marines finally made it back to Beckett who let out a loud sigh of relief. "Well, at least I've got my equipment. Now all I need is a clean place to operate."

"Yeah, doc, but that's going to be a bit of a problem around here." Ronon observed as he looked at the crumbled disused buildings.

McKay looked distracted as he glazed towards the dome. "Who's that idiot trying to get back into the dome?"

Teyla answered him. "He came with those people," she said pointing to the small group that Rodney had failed to see before because they were standing well concealed near a building. "He said his name is Officer Tamar and he wished to see the bodies of the fallen. I have no idea why he is walking towards the dome but it appears that Major Lorne and several marines are covering him."

As they stood and watched, the alone man went right up to the entry and seemed to use a control pad of some kind, a few seconds later the entry opened.

Having joined Teyla to help guard his CO after the Major had left, Sgt. Macklin jumped slightly when his radio suddenly came alive. "Sergeant, select five men and come with us into the dome." The Major ordered.

"Yes, sir." Macklin acknowledged as he chose his team. Moving off, they quickly joined the others and cautiously approached the entryway.

Beckett looked up from his patient. "Now what?" he questioned. "You know, I don't want to bloody rush things here but I don't know how much longer the Colonel will hold out if I don't get that bullet out of him."

Rodney looked at him with concern and sighed. "I know how you feel, Carson, but if this works out and they get back in the dome, then at least you'll have somewhere clean to operate. If nothing else can be said about the place, it was clean."

"Aye, then, I sure hope you're right 'cause if not, I'm going to have to operate right here."

Rodney paled at the thought.

tbc