AN: This chapter is shorter, but I wanted to get something up tonight.

DISCLAIMER: The following story is a work of fanfiction, and as such is for fan enjoyment only. All recognizable characters/settings are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is made.

A Day to Forget

By kerravon

6. Rescue

The shouting became louder and more disjointed before Sheppard finally felt what he'd been dreading - the knife striking the skin of his exposed, painted chest. However, instead of the point piercing his heart with lethal force, he felt the side of the blade hit and bounce off, as if the instrument had been dropped. Cracking open one bleary eye, he stared upwards uncomprehendingly for a moment, then broke into a slow grin; not twenty meters above him floated a PuddleJumper in all its glory.

The villagers disappeared as if they'd never existed, allowing the ship to land unmolested in the center of the village next to a furious McKay. Teyla, Ronan, Lorne, and four Marines in full battle dress piled out of the back, weapons cocked and ready. The perimeter was rapidly secured as Teyla headed to Sheppard's side and Ronan began to untie the hopping-mad scientist.

"Wow, am I ever glad to see you," John chortled, giddy with relief. "That guy was going to read my entrails!"

Teyla made quick work of the wire with her knife as she spoke. "Then I am glad we made it in time. We have been searching for you all night. Ronan and I followed your trail from the village on foot while the Major searched from the air. The tracks led to the cave where you sought shelter, but the natives had already taken you away." Putting an arm behind her now-freed commander, she helped him sit up. "They must not have been worried about pursuit themselves; their path was clearly marked by signs such as broken branches and disturbed earth. I am surprised that they didn't take more care," she added.

Sheppard took a minute for the world to stop spinning before commenting. Swinging his legs over the side, he squinted up at her. "Actually," he grimaced, "That was me."

The Athosian raised an eyebrow but remained prudently silent as she proffered a hand to help him stand, which he readily grasped with his right. Levering to his feet, he continued defensively, "Hey, it worked on 'Bonanza'!"

Teyla's lips thinned. "I am unsure as to the nature of this 'Bonanza', but your track was easily followed. Perhaps a course in pursuit evasion might be prudent…"

"Yeah, yeah," he nodded tiredly as they headed for the Jumper. Teyla glanced nervously around, wary that the natives might object to their 'sacrifice' escaping. Sheppard was clearly unable to take care of himself as he slogged forward determinedly.

As they boarded the shuttle, Teyla settled him next to Rodney on a rear couch as the rest of the soldiers piled back in, securing the hatch behind the last man. Turning to the scientist, he mumbeld, "So, Rodney, how's it going?"

A bemused McKay tilted his head and stared at him through narrowed eyes. "I know you, don't I?" he commented.

"Here, sir, this might help," Lorne said, handing Rodney the notebook which he had recovered from the floor of the cave. McKay, seeing the words "Read Me" in what he thought was his own handwriting, immediately quieted and began thumbing through the notebook.

"Take us home, Sergeant," ordered Lorne before turning back to Sheppard. Jerking his head towards the befuddled scientist, he lowered his voice. "So, did he hit his head or what? He can't even remember his name."

Sheppard closed his eyes and leaned back wearily. "Not that I know of; he fell into the river and swallowed a bunch of water before I hauled him out, but I couldn't find any lumps when I checked."

Lorne tried to be reassuring. "We'll be in Atlantis in a few minutes. I've radioed ahead; Beckett's team will be waiting with open arms."

"Good, good," he mumbled, closing his eyes and letting himself really relax for the first time in almost a day. "Looking forward to it…"

He must have dozed off because the next thing he knew, Beckett was gently shaking his good arm. Prying open his eyes, he stared blearily up at the Scotsman. "Hey, doc, am I ever glad to see you." Glancing around the shuttle, he noticed that it was almost completely empty except for a gently-smiling physician and a very-worried Weir. He quickly squelched the panic that fluttered in his stomach. "Where's McKay?" he demanded, keeping his tone level.

Beckett grinned. "Already on his way to the infirmary, lad, and you'll be following him. Do you think you can walk to the wheelchair outside, or shall I have the orderly bring it in here?"

"I'll walk," he replied, slowly getting his feet under him. Carson slipped a hand under his right elbow for stability, then steered him towards the waiting transportation at the foot of the ramp.

After the pilot was safely settled in the wheelchair, Weir asked the million-dollar question. "John…what happened?"

Sheppard thought about all that had occurred over the prior twenty hours and opted for the Reader's Digest Condensed version. "The natives decided that our team had been sent by their gods for human sacrifice. We escaped and split up, but Rodney fell into the river and nearly drowned. When I pulled him out, we'd lost both our radios and Rodney's memory. We hid in a cave, got caught, and I was damn near shish-kabob before the rescue team arrived." Closing his eyes again, he decided to enjoy the ride.

"And what about this, laddie?" Beckett asked, gently touching the injured arm.

Sheppard inhaled with a hiss as he glanced at the wound. "Oh yeah, I got shot with an arrow. I have it here somewhere…" Patting the remnants of his uniform, he smiled crookedly as he produced it from a pocket. "Figured you might want to run some tests on it or something."

"Aye, thank you. Here we are." The group had entered the infirmary where McKay lay in a bed, complaining vociferously.

Sheppard was wheeled to the adjacent stretcher, and two orderlies appeared out of nowhere and helped him up onto it.

"Now, son, I'm going to give you some Fentanyl and Versed so I can examine that arm and get it cleaned out humanely. Before I do, though, could you fill me in on Rodney?" Beckett glanced to where Teyla was patiently re-explaining who she was and where they were. Sheppard smirked as he wondered what repetition she was on.

He decided that this time, the more detail, the better. "Well, we'd been running for a while when he slipped down a muddy embankment and landed in a river. I dove in after him and pulled him out. He didn't hit his head, though." An idea occurred, and he turned to Elizabeth. "You know, we live in a city surrounded by ocean; we need to make sure that the entire population can swim. With your permission, I'll have someone go through the personnel records and see if we have any qualified instructors."

She nodded, quirking her lip in a slight smile. "That's a good idea. I'll get someone on it while you recuperate."

Beckett had a question of his own. "Lad, how cold was this water?"

Sheppard snorted. "Icy. How'd you know?"

"And the memory problems started immediately afterwards?"

"Yes. He couldn't even remember his own name. I had to remind him every 15 to thirty minutes." Sheppard smiled as he heard Teyla repeating herself to the scientist in the background, and jerked his head in their direction. "Pretty much like that."

"All right then." He gestured to a nurse with a syringe. "That's all I need to know. Let's take care of you now."

As John let the drug take him, he mumbled, "Will he be OK?"

"I need to run a few tests, but I think he'll be fine." With those reassuring words echoing in his ears, Sheppard drifted off to sleep.

TBC…

AN: I couldn't leave our guys just hanging there! Cudos to 'Tiffany' who knew after Chapter 2 how I was going to have them found by the natives. You're right, Sheppard isn't much of a trailblazer if he thinks watching 'Bonanza' is experience!

What does Beckett think this is? Hmmm….exercise, cold water, amnesia…