Last Part of December: Chapter 6

A/N: Thanks to everyone for all their great comments and patience who have been waiting for this. I had some of this story sketched out before the mine collapse in West Virginia and I decided to rework a few things out of sensitivity. I'm visiting family in CA over the next few days, so I figure with all the travel time I can finish this up, along with a few other things.

Dr. Hudson surveyed the landscape as the sky began to gradually darken and shook his head, he'd have to get used to the variations in day length out here. Right now he felt slightly disoriented – it was mid morning in Atlantis, but here on MSX-173 evening was approaching – talk about your cosmic time zones and jet lag. "Dr. Beckett, do you think we can move Major Lorne? I think we'd be better off in one of those caves, rather than out in the open."

"If they're safe, I agree with you. I don't want to get trapped if there's another earthquake," added Lt. Cadman a little nervously

He studied the first cave carefully as Laura looked over his shoulder and surveyed the defense-worthiness of the position. "We should be safe in here. If we get a fire going, the rocks should retain some of the heat. I'm guessing that this planet will cool off pretty quickly."

Carson nodded, not wanting to add hypothermia to the list of injuries already racked up in the last few minutes, "We should be able to move the Major if we're careful. I don't like doing this, but it's probably worse to be out in the open. We've got to make the best of a bad situation. Major, bear with us, this may not be easy." Dr. Parrish and Dr. Hudson settled for carrying Lorne the relatively short distance to the cave, the major gritting his teeth at the pain from his broken leg, now partially immobilized with donated shirts. There were no branches in the immediate area to construct a litter. Dr. Brown supported Lt. Bond, who also wincing in pain. Carson knew the young lieutenant had a few broken ribs to go with his cuts and bruises and was afraid of internal bleeding. He himself wasn't in much better shape, leaning on Dr. Randall for support, knowing that his ankle was beginning to swell. He could hear her heart beating rapidly and she was muttering something in Latin.

"Thanks lass," he panted as the she helped him settle against a wall of the cave. "What were you just whispering?"

"The Prayer of Saint Barbara," she answered, heading back to the entrance of the cave with Katie. He quirked an eyebrow at her, which she ignored. They'd been going out for a few months, but this was the first time she mentioned anything of a religious nature.

Lt. Bond must have caught his quizzical look, because he answered, "patron saint of miners," after the women had left, then shrugged. "I went to parochial school for a few years. Some stuff stays with you." Carson could have wanted to smack himself, he'd forgotten momentarily Kyte was from a mining town: the fear of being buried alive very real and understandable. The earlier earthquake and rockslide had probably shaken her up in more ways than one.

Lt. Cadman stood outside the mouth of the cave and tried to take stock of the situation. This was supposed to be a nice boring expedition, a quick daytrip. Instead, they were cut off from Atlantis and she had managed to get both one of her fellow crewmen and her commanding officer hurt. To add insult to injury, the scientists she brought along had apparently decided to scatter to the four winds. Or maybe not. She heard them before she saw them, voices ringing out across the mesas as they tried to one-up each other with stories of collecting trips and extreme conditions. Apparently Dr. Parrish was winning- he'd actually done fieldwork at Palmer Research Station in Antarctica. All of them appeared to be carrying brush and small pieces of wood, except Katie; she held a couple very prickly-looking plants. Laura smiled. She might have to lecture them about running off without an escort, but they all appeared to know how to survive in a remote area. She wondered if certain members of the chemistry and physics departments would be quite so adept.

Major Lorne even nodded in approval once everyone was back inside the cave and the fire was quickly started. "These plants are succulents," explained Dr. Brown. "If you peel back the skin, they can be chewed for moisture. Not much nutritional value though," she shook her head.

"Aye, lass, but that's all right, I'd rather be back in the infirmary myself, but we'll manage a little longer," he reassured her, trying to hide his fear that certain injuries could worsen. Major Lorne and Lt. Bond certainly needed medical treatment, but they were stable for the moment.

Lt. Cadman added. We'll only be here a day at the most. We've got fire, we've got water. What else is there to worry about? I suggest we all relax the best we can and watch the sunset." Everyone tried to get comfortable against the hard stone, hoping she was right.

Back in the infirmary, Dr. Rodney McKay watched Ronon pace. The phrase 'caged tiger' sprung to mind. Except for Kavanaugh, the place had been quiet and Rodney was beginning to think that Carson had lied about a few things, like how busy he was. For all he knew the Scotsman was writing a novel in his spare time, or worse, playing Solitaire on his laptop.. Finally, probably fearing that Ronon would wear a groove in the floor, Carson's 2IC suggested since they were repeatedly getting injured in the field, or at least a particular Colonel was, they should learn a few first aid techniques. At first, Ronon appeared ready to refuse, then reconsidered. After all, he had attempted to cut a Wraith tracking device out of his back and there was something to be said for useful skills if he was ever on the run again. Rodney, however, simply laughed.

"Me, learn voodoo? Pity, I didn't bring my shrunken heads and eye of newt with me to this galaxy. You've got to be…" He stopped when he caught Ronon eyeing him with a particularly wolfish look.

"Can I practice with him?" he asked simply.

Rodney promptly fainted, or as he would put it, collapsed in a manly fashion. He awoke several minutes later, finding an arm and a leg securely splinted, "This is not funny," he bellowed, much to everyone's amusement. He'd pay them back, if he could just figure out how…

Suddenly various earpieces crackled. "We have a medical emergency in the gateroom," came Dr. Weir's voice. Ronon froze, then realized that meant him. He and various personnel headed out.

"Hey, you're holding me against my will. This is torture," sputtered Rodney to the retreating figures, trying to free himself.

TBC

A/N: Given Dr. Parrish's comments in 'Runner' I figured he might have spent time at Palmer studying the effects of the ozone hole on plant life like a couple of my classmates have. I should also add most of my biology classmates are pretty gung-ho outdoors types either by choice or from fieldwork.