The chill breeze had blown in rain clouds and it had started to drizzle by the time the aforementioned shelter was reached. 'This was ridiculously hard to find,' Kavanagh bitched to himself, D'aray had needed to lean upon him from the start, but after the 15 minute search he had become a deadweight. The man wasn't certain but he thought the wraith was unconscious again and only walking on reflex, couldn't be blamed really. That QuAt'Icka crap was really hurting him, he could tell through their mind link. "Other side of the clearing my ass..."
The door was old fashioned in the fact it opened by a handle and luckily, it wasn't locked. Kavanagh managed to get himself and D'aray inside without incident, and the scientist was relieved to note that, while old and neglected, the small hut was clean, unoccupied and leak free. The scientist eased D'aray down against a wall and started poking around. He finally found an ancient but clean blanket in a supply type of closet and laid it over a rotten chair. Then the man dragged in a load of still dry dead leaves, piled them into a corner, draped the blanket over that and went to check on D'aray.
The wraith was half conscious but completely out of it, Kavanagh couldn't get him to stand so instead slipped one arm behind his back, and the other under the wraiths knees and lifted him up with a slight grunt. D'aray looked small and thin but he wasn't a lightweight and actually was not much smaller than the scientist himself. Kavanagh carried him over to the pile of leaves and gently settled him upon the blanket, the man made sure his mate was quiet and comfortable, then he left to retrieve the supplies and his jacket before the drizzle became a downpour.
The scientist was relieved to find another tattered but serviceable blanket in along with the rest of the stuff in the supply box and he laid it and the one that the wraith had draped over him over D'aray, who was laying on his side now, curled in on himself with a grimace of pain on his face. Every now and then Kavanagh heard a faint whimper of pain but he could do nothing to help save get things in order for when the wraith awoke and was coherent again. Arranging the items, the man found four packets of preserved food and set them on the old counter/table, then he neatly folded the two extra sets of clothes and put them on the rotten chair. It held the clothes fine, but Kavanagh wouldn't dare sit in it. Turning to the medical kit, he set about getting his own wound properly bandaged. It was awkward one handed, especially left handed and especially opening the box. But he managed and had some experience treating his own wounds, so soon had a fairly neat if slightly awkward bandage wrapped about his hand.
He was just putting all the stuff back in the box when he heard his name called, turning towards D'aray he saw the wraith was half sitting up and looking at him, "What do you need?" Kavanagh asked, going over and kneeling beside his mate, "Water." D'aray said softly, then added, "Please." blinking at the polite attitude the man looked over at the box of supplies and then at the food packets and realized something very important, he had not seen any water in any form in either place, there were two tin cups like from a mess kit, but no water. It was, however, pouring outside by now. Shoving his ire aside Kavanagh rustled about in the cabinets, not finding anything that looked like it was capable of collecting water, and he wasn't even sure the water was drinkable. For all he knew it was poisonous.
"Dar?" he said softly, the wraith looked like he'd fallen asleep again and Kavanagh was loath to wake him, but he needed to know if D'aray knew anything about the planet. The scientist attempted to scan his mates mind but D'aray had instinctively blocked him, 'Heck of a time for that to kick in,' Kavanagh thought to himself. Then he put his hand on the wraiths shoulder, "Dar, wake up," he gently shook his mate once and D'aray half opened his eyes, "Hey D'aray, do you know anything about this planet? Is the rain water safe to drink?" the wraith shrugged his shoulders, "Dunno, nev' been here 'fore." D'aray slurred, wincing and closing his eyes again.
Kavanagh grunted and stood, beginning a search through the whole shack, looking for anything that could help him, and to his surprise, he found something. It was an old water purity tester, and it didn't want to work at first, but Kavanagh wasn't a scientist for nothing and he soon had it working again. Collecting rainwater in the two tin cups he stuck the end of the device in both cups one at a time. And both came out clean. There were some impurities, but nothing that would be harmful to either of the stranded prisoners of this planet.
Walking back to the still figure on the pile of leaves, the scientist knelt and tried to get D'aray to wake up again. He woke easier this time, the smell of water drawing him back to consciousness. Kavanagh helped him sit up, then slipped behind and let his mate recline against his chest. D'aray's hands shook but he refused to let the scientist take the cup away from him. To be completely dependent on a human, even one recognized as a mate, went against his nature. He did consent to Kavanaghs hand over his own though after almost losing his grip and drained both cups of water thankfully.
After setting the second cup down the scientist began smoothing the wraiths hair back from his face, noting that he seemed to be running a fever. Touching his mates mind before the mind block went back up, Kavanagh decided this was to be expected and wrapped his arms about the wraith. D'aray relaxed back against him, his head tucked under the mans chin, too out of it to find such a vulnerable, relaxed state offensive. Kavanagh leaned back against the wall and settled in to wait the change out, his head ached and he had done all he could to secure them in their little hut.
About an hour after sunset, Kavanagh awoke to gentle candlelight and found himself alone on the bed of leaves. Looking about for the source of light, the man saw D'aray crouched before a type of kerosene lamp, combing his hair out awkwardly with his left hand. His right hand was once again tucked against his stomach and the wraith looked slightly damp. "Hey D'aray," Kavanagh said, getting up and joining his mate near the warm flame, "You feeling any better?" the wraith met the scientists eyes and shrugged his shoulders, "I am not certain. I am hungry though," Kavanagh nodded, ignoring the wraiths damp appearance and pulled one of the food packets over. He had already picked it out as their dinner, it seemed to have food in it that would be gentle on D'arays likely sensitive stomach.
"Hmm, looks like some kind of stew in this little bag," the scientist muttered, poking through the packet, D'aray leaned forward to look, then set his comb down and stood, fetching the two cups. "I washed these," he stated quietly, "There is a stream nearby with fresh clean water. And yes, that is stew. All the food left for us is something you likely would find back on Atlantis or earth. Nothing for you to be concerned about, all you need to do is add some water.." he looked away as he handed over the cups and Kavanagh raised an eyebrow.
"You're acting awfully strange Dar, almost subservient." the wraith looked at the man without moving his head and said, "I submitted to you. Otherwise we would fight." he first shrugged, then stiffened his shoulders and Kavanagh found himself momentarily lost. Then he remembered the neck biting incident and shook his head with a start, "Whoa wait a minute!" the scientist put the bag of stew down on the packet and put a hand on the wraiths shoulder, turning him, "That was what me biting your neck meant? I had no idea what was happening and I think we aught to get things straightened out before we start picking who's the man of the hut." Kavanagh began, D'aray raised an eyebrow as the man continued, "And another thing, much as I love the idea of having a wraith at my beck and call, I'm not about to treat you like that. Right now, you're my equal okay?" Looking first insulted, then relieved, D'aray nodded mutely. He didn't pull his shoulder from the scientists grip though, and rested his mind against his mates wearily.
Frowning Kavanagh said, "Sorry for the misunderstanding. All the weird shit is getting me mixed up too." this actually got a brief, hoarse sounding laugh from the wraith, "I'd done some studying on your culture since we found out about the new Atlantians. And we, the wraith, managed to get some of earths cultural books from a captured man." he said, seeing the nearly shocked look on Kavanaghs face, "I found one called 'Lingo Around the World.' It was quite entertaining, but hearing something from it come out of your mouth..." he didn't finish, but shrugged, apparently embarrassed and or annoyed about being so open. Deciding to let this pass with nothing more than a smile, Kavanagh began pouring the stew into both cups, realizing the rain was still coming down in torrents.
After eating the stew cold and without utensils, there were none to be found, D'aray and Kavanagh sat upon the leaf bed. A companionable atmosphere took over despite their habitual disgust and/or disdain for the others species. D'aray was actually sitting close enough to Kavanagh that they were touching, his way of saying he could try to accept this strange situation, "Calvin? Because of our mind link, I have been able to see your thoughts several times. I do not mean to trespass, have tried not to in fact, but some things I saw made me curious about their meaning." the wraith paused, looking up the inch and a half difference in their heights, as though seeking permission to continue. If this had been the subservient attitude popping back up again, Kavanagh might have become short. However, this was simply D'aray trying to observe his human mates code of ethics properly.
Receiving an encouraging nod, the wraith continued, "It seemed to me that you are not well liked among your kind, I could guess it is because you have a very wraithlike nature, but I would like to know your reason why." Under those intense but open green tinted eyes, Kavanagh felt himself opening up and baring his soul. He told his mate his entire life story without the normal bells and whistles, though he may have ragged on others stupidity as was his habit. The wraith seemed genuinely interested, not interrupting except for clarification on foreign terms. Finally the scientist came to the part where he and Rodney were left behind in the mating chamber, "And then you know the rest." the man finished, looking at his mate as though for approval. "You certainly have been as scarred as me," was all D'aray said, looking at Kavanagh with new eyes, "Tomorrow night I shall tell you all about my life in repayment Calvin. But now it is growing late and I would like to sleep."
Kavanagh nodded and said, "And tomorrow I think we should see if we can't locate the Stargate, I'm not one to sit around on my ass and wait for rescue." D'aray smirked and said, "I could tell," Suddenly the wraiths face became a mask again and he became more distant, Kavanagh stared at his mate so intently and for so long waiting for an explanation that the wraith became defensive, "What is wrong Calvin?" he inquired sharply, then his face softened somewhat, as though realizing how rude he was behaving. Kavanagh canted his head, "I was trying to understand what's happened, we seemed to be connecting. Of course I couldn't have imagined a wraith being so accepting about being mated to a species considered inferior, but you seem to have decided differently."
Apparently that was the wrong conversation starter. Looking as though he were irritated with the man for daring to state such a thing, D'aray sneered and said, "It's either that or die now, I don't know the first thing about finding my own food, and even if I could figure that out, I have no idea how to prepare it. Top that off with the fact I would be killed by the other wraith if I went back and you have your answer." Kavanagh raised an eyebrow, his natural snark coming forward and said, "So all I am is a meal ticket and protection?" he hadn't meant to push, but apparently a sick wraith can have mood swings to rival a woman on the rag, "Well you sure aren't good for much else on this planet are you!" the wraith snarled, suddenly quite irritated. He turned his back with a huff and lay down on the leaf bed, curling around himself defensively.
'If I didn't know better, I'd guess that all that warm fuzzy feeling shit was getting on his nerves,' Kavanagh thought to himself, suddenly intrigued and deciding to find out, carefully, what his wraith was like underneath the outer shell. He wasn't the type of person to leave well enough alone after all and all the hints were tantalizing. "Dar?" Kavanagh tried once more, the wraiths shoulders and back stiffened and the scientist frowned, deciding not to call him by that name for now, "D'aray?" still not receiving an answer the man stood and started making sure once again that their dwelling was secure for the night, then he lay down upon the leaf-bed, facing his mates rigid back.
"Goodnight D'aray," Kavanagh whispered, turning to turn off the lamp. When he turned back his mate had rolled over to face him, a more or less apologetic brush from the wraiths mind drifting across the mans senses before D'aray closed his eyes, "Goodnight Calvin," the wraith answered. Both men drifted off to the sound of their own thoughts, supplemented by the others soft breathing.