Chapter 6.
Thanks again for the reviews, they really do keep me inspired to write!
Thanks again to my betas, Kodiak and Merlin. Your advice has been invaluable.
Teyla shivered as she followed Ronon through the perilous route they were taking to the Stargate. Though the storm had died down somewhat, the rain was still pounding her head and face, the winds pushing her back and the lightening making her flinch, as it crashed around them
They had been forcing their way through the impossible terrain for over four hours.
Progress had been slow; much of the ground was flooded, with mudslides and loose earth and rock almost everywhere they had stepped. On several occasions Teyla had lost her footing, but had managed to escape relatively unharmed thanks to Ronon's brute strength. "How much further do you think, Ronon?" the Athosian asked her bedraggled companion. The Satedan's hair was plastered to his face, his dreadlocks dripping with water.
"Not sure. Can't be that far now. I can't see very far ahead. Another hour, maybe."
Teyla sighed; surely they would find the Stargate before then? The Athosian was desperately concerned for Colonel Sheppard, and knew the longer it took to get help, the poorer his chances of recovery were. "We must hurry, Ronon. I fear the Colonel's health will have deteriorated by now." She increased the speed of her steps and took a deep breath, determinedly jutting her chin as she mustered all her strength for the arduous trek ahead.
It was an hour and a half later that the two exhausted natives of the Pegasus Galaxy finally saw the Stargate up ahead. Teyla smiled in relief, and followed Ronon at a furious pace to the DHD, where she fervently began to dial the symbols for the Atlantis 'gate.
-oOo-
Hot, he was so terribly hot. His head pounded, his body ached. Where was he? What had happened? Sheppard tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids refused to co-operate.
He was aware of something cool on his forehead, and of a distant voice telling him everything was going to be fine. Why couldn't he remember what had happened? The pilot's brain was foggy; he couldn't seem to think straight. He thought something bad had happened, somebody was hurt, but couldn't focus on anything. Suddenly Sheppard felt a surge of pain take hold of his body, his chest tightened and he gasped in panic. Every nerve was on fire; he felt his body jerk as he arched up off the floor. He desperately tried to suck air into his lungs, but failed miserably. Darkness overtook him and he surrendered to the approaching oblivion.
oOo
McKay looked down at his friend. He knew Sheppard was far too hot, but despite cutting away the pilot's shirt and covering him with a thin blanket, he'd made no progress in reducing the man's temperature. The scientist had been sponging Sheppard down with water for over an hour, watching sadly as the man had shrunk away from the cool rag. "You're going to be fine. Just try and rest," he soothed.
Suddenly he heard Sheppard gasping, and watched in horror as the pilot's body arched up, jerking violently. McKay was aware of Marrin rushing over and asking what was wrong. "He's having a seizure. Help me hold him still," he choked out. "Oh God, he's stopped breathing. No, Sheppard, don't do this. Breathe. Come on, it's easy. In and out, in and out…" Just as suddenly as the seizure had started, it stopped. McKay felt Sheppard's body slacken, and groaned a sigh of relief as he heard the pilot draw in a wheezy breath. "Don't do that again," he ground out, his face hidden behind shaking hands.
"What is wrong with him?" McKay heard Marrin's tentative question to the side of him.
McKay let out a shaky breath and turned to face the elderly woman. "His temperature is too high. His body is over-heating, resulting in him having a seizure. This is so not good. He's badly dehydrated, and I haven't been able to get him to drink anything in the last few hours. Even if I could, he keeps throwing everything back up. He needs a doctor - now!" McKay lowered his head into his hands and sighed; he had noticed the Colonel's clammy appearance, disorientation and racing pulse and realised how serious these symptoms were. He said aloud the words he was inwardly praying."I hope Teyla and Ronon are ok."
Marrin smiled reassuringly at him and just nodded, "I am sure they are fine." They'd better be, McKay thought to himself as he returned to caring for his delirious patient.
-oOo-
The Stargate in front of her burst to life, and Teyla quickly sent her IDC, knowing that Atlantis would be relieved to know it was the missing team. She'd realised Dr. Weir would have been worried when they had failed to check in at the appointed time, and wasn't surprised to see a very wet M.A.L.P to the side of the event horizon.
"Atlantis, this is Teyla. Please respond," she shouted into her radio.
"Go ahead Teyla. I can barely hear you. You are clear to come through the 'gate." Elizabeth Weir's voice crackled in Teyla's earpiece. She smiled at Ronon as they trudged wearily through the event horizon.
-oOo-
Teyla smiled sadly as she saw the slim figure of Dr Weir running anxiously down the stairs of the 'gate room to greet her and Ronon. The Athosian noticed the look of concern on the Doctor's face, as she realised not all of the team had returned. "Where are Colonel Sheppard and Dr McKay?" the leader of Atlantis asked, anxiety creeping into her voice.
"Dr. Weir it is good to be home. There has been an accident and the colonel has been badly injured. Dr. McKay remained behind with Colonel Sheppard. They are sheltering from a storm in the home of two kindly natives. We came for help as quickly as we could," Teyla calmly explained, as they walked up to the control room.
The Athosian saw the fear in Elizabeth Weir's eyes, and sighed as the doctor's shoulders slumped. "What happened? How badly is he injured?" she asked.
Teyla considered her words carefully. "The colonel has badly hurt his leg, and is too ill to travel. Is the Daedalus here?"
"No, it's still on it's way back from Earth and is still several hours away. We can send Dr. Beckett and a medical team back with you."
The Athosian interrupted Weir, "Dr. Weir, the colonel is too ill to be transported by litter and it would take too long. The terrain is also far too dangerous for a medical team to travel across."
Weir tapped her headset. "Dr. Zelenka?" She paused until she heard a reply. "How long would it take the Daedalus to reach K7X-234 from here?" She paused again as she waited for Zelanka's answer. "Ok, thank you. Sergeant?" Weir continued, as she turned and talked to the tech sergeant seated at a console behind her, "Contact Colonel Caldwell aboard the Daedalus and explain the situation. Inform him that we have a medical emergency and request he get here as quickly as possible."
Teyla watched the sergeant nod before replying, "Yes Ma'am."
Teyla searched the room for Dr.Beckett, but unable to see him, she stepped towards Weir. "Dr. Weir? I think it would be a good idea to speak to Dr.Beckett and explain the situation to him. He may want us to return to the planet with medical supplies for the colonel."
Teyla saw Weir considering her suggestion and was pleased when she nodded her head in agreement. "That's a good idea. Head to the infirmary, and get yourselves checked out while you're there."
The Athosian bowed her head, replying, "We will. Do not worry, I am sure Colonel Sheppard will be fine." Teyla smiled as she saw Weir muster a half-smile, and headed briskly towards the infirmary, with Ronon in tow.
-oOo-
Teyla and Ronon entered the infirmary and soon found an anxious Dr. Carson Beckett muttering to himself while typing into a data pad. On hearing them approach, he lifted his head and his eyes met Teyla's. "Teyla, Ronon. Are either of you injured?" the doctor eyed them both suspiciously, as if not trusting them to be honest.
"We are well Carson, thank you," the Athosian immediately replied.
Teyla smiled as she heard the doctor mutter under his breath, "As if either of you two would bloody well tell me the truth…" He then looked down at the data pad and finished typing. Beckett stood up and approached the couple and Teyla noticed the thin lines around the doctor's eyes, and the worried expression on his face.
"Dr. Weir has filled me in briefly on what has happened. Teyla, what exactly are the colonel's injuries?" he asked.
Teyla took a deep breath, answering matter-of –factly, "Colonel Sheppard fell from a ladder when it collapsed, falling about twelve feet. As far as I know he did not hit his head, though he did lose consciousness for a few moments. He has broken his left wrist, which I immobilised. His hands had large splinters of dirty wood in them, which I removed. I then cleaned his wounds." The Athosian paused to take a breath, and Beckett nodded, muttering to himself.
The doctor looked at Teyla and questioned her further. "Okay, lass. Very good. Anything else?"
The slender woman sighed and continued, "I am afraid so, Carson. When the colonel fell he impaled his leg on a large piece of wood. I did not try to remove it, as you have taught us."
Beckett absent-mindedly pushed his hand through his hair. "Christ. How does he manage to get himself into these situations?" Pausing, he smiled at Teyla. "Well, never mind that now. You did exactly the right things, lass"
The Athosian sighed. "Carson, the colonel developed a fever approximately twelve hours ago. He has vomited and has not been able to keep any fluids down. When we left over six hours ago, he was very hot and restless. Dr. McKay is caring for him."
Beckett tutted and grimaced. "Aye, I'm not surprised, lass. God knows how many types of alien bacteria were on the ladder and ground. I'll get together some supplies and see you both after you've been checked out. Come on, Shelly and Melissa are waiting over there. Who's going to be first, then?" He wearily smiled, hustling the two warriors towards a couple of beds, where the nurses were waiting.
oOo
After undergoing brief medical checks, changing into dry clothes, and gulping down a warm meal, Teyla and Ronon were back at the 'gate room, waiting for clearance to return to the planet. They both had rucksacks on their backs with various medical supplies and instructions for McKay on how to use them on the injured colonel. Owing to the dangerous terrain and conditions, it had been decided that the two would return to the planet alone and wait there for the Daedalus' arrival. Dr. Beckett had argued he should return with them, but when Teyla pointed out that it would probably take him longer to reach the colonel on foot, than to wait for the Daedalus, he had reluctantly capitulated.
Teyla watched as Dr. Weir approached, "Dr. Beckett will board the Daedalus when she arrives in about half an hour. It will then take another ten for it to reach K7X-234. We don't know if the Daedalus' sensors will be able to penetrate the caves, so make sure one of you is waiting outside, then Col. Caldwell will be able to contact you. He will beam Dr. Beckett down with a medical team, and it will be up to Carson to decide what happens next. I'll see you in about a day, all being well. You two take care." The Doctor smiled at the Athosian and Sadetan, and turned, calling up to the control room, "Dial the 'gate."
Teyla and Ronon briskly walked towards the event horizon, each silently dreading what that they would find when they returned to the caves on the planet.
Tbc.