Trapped In Atlantis

Part 2 of 4

"This so did not just happen," Rodney said, hands gesturing his frustration.

"Relax," Sheppard told him. "It's been ten thousand years since anyone was in here. Something was bound to break down sooner or later."

"Thank you, Colonel Confidence," Rodney bit back. "But somehow this wasn't how I envisioned spending my afternoon."

"But you can fix it, correct?" Teyla asked.

"Of course," he replied irritably. "How long it will take is another matter altogether."

Sheppard tapped on his radio. "Dr. Weir? Elizabeth? This is Sheppard. Please respond."

Nothing. Not even static.

"Great. Just great." Rodney said, "I find another interesting room in the city only to be trapped in that same interesting room, and discover it's shielded from radio contact."

"It's not anything we can't handle," Sheppard reassured them. "First things first. We need some light."

Teyla rubbed her arms. "I am surprised they do not come on automatically as in the rest of Atlantis."

"It's possible this was a much later addition. That being the case they may not have installed them the same," Sheppard suggested, groping along the wall. This was the last time they went on a discovery walk with Rodney unprepared, he thought.

On the other side of the room Rodney's fingers felt around for the plate cover over the door sensor. He became aware of a sensation of déjà vu. Rodney couldn't help but think back to the time he was trapped far below the Lantean sea, afraid that it would become his coffin. The only pleasant memory, outside of being rescued, was that of Colonel Samantha Carter. Under the effects of a head injury and nitrogen narcosis, his mind had conjured her up. At least he could see her, he thought. Down here it was pitch black. It was almost as if the darkness would swallow him up, if he let it.

"Rodney," Sheppard called out. Rodney was too quiet, and he couldn't help but be concerned about his claustrophobic friend. "You okay?"

"Is that the only question you know how to ask? Because right now I can think of several others."

"It just seemed the most important one at the moment," Sheppard replied easily.

"Well if you don't mind saving the questions for later I'm trying to concentrate. If you could find us some light I might have us out here before dinner or do I have to do everything myself?"

"Working on it, McKay," he replied tersely, trying not to react to Rodney's attitude.

"It would seem we are truly on our own," Teyla commented softly as she felt around on the walls on the other side of the room.

"It's all part of the adventure," Sheppard commented. So much for light duty, he mused to himself.

oooOooo

"Dr. Weir, have you seen Dr. McKay this afternoon?" Dr. Zelenka asked as he entered her office.

Elizabeth looked up from a report she was going over. "No. Should I have?"

"No. But it is just there are several calls for him in the science department and no one is able to raise him on his com." He explained. "That is not like him. Usually he can be found in one of the labs but today… nowhere."

Elizabeth knit her brows together. Tapping on her earpiece she attempted to call him. "Dr. McKay? This is Dr. Weir. Please respond." Again her brows knit together in confusion. Tapping the earpiece once more she called for one of the men in Control to activate the citywide communication system. "Dr. McKay. This is Dr. Weir. Please respond and report to Control immediately."

Several minutes later, Rodney had still not responded. A concerned Weir made another announcement on the citywide com. "Atlantis, this is Dr. Weir. Anyone having any information on the whereabouts of Dr. Rodney McKay, please contact me immediately."

oooOooo

Carson reacted with immediate concern upon hearing the citywide announcement. Remembering how often Rodney had needed his assistance recently or the many times Zelenka had reported having to help Rodney out of the beginnings of a hypoglycemic reaction, Carson dropped the charts on his desk and activated his com.

"Dr. Weir?"

"Carson?" Her voice sounded surprised and at the same time tinged with disappointment.

"I heard ye calling for Rodney," he began, the Scottish brogue thick. "Have ye gotten a response yet?"

"No."

Sighing, he added with urgency, "We need to locate him."

"Something I need to know, Carson?"

"Rodney's had several drops in blood sugar recently. I thought it might just be Rodney being Rodney and prescribed some medicine to help with some nausea he was complaining about. I have to admit this has me more than a little concerned."

"Acknowledged," she responded. "If Rodney doesn't contact us or show up inside of ten minutes I'll start a search."

"Thank you. Would you please contact me when you do find him?"

"Of course."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Carson remembered four days ago when Rodney had been brought in after a mild hypoglycemic reaction. Although it was his blood sugar dropping that precipitated the incident, it was the gash on his head that caused Carson the most worry.

"What did you do this time, Rodney?" Dr. Beckett had asked. "Sometimes I think I ought to move your office down here so that you wouldn't have so far to go."

"Oh yes, and then I could see you poking the needles into your voodoo dolls of Sheppard and me. No wonder we're down here so often. I would think you might find something better to do with your time."

Carson merely smiled and pulled out a syringe. "Now this will only hurt for a second," Carson reassured his less than agreeable patient.

Rodney yelped as the nurse pricked his finger to get a glucose count. Carson was not deterred though. "We might as well draw some vials of blood and do a blood workup and a few other tests while we have you here."

"Is all this really necessary, Carson?"

Suddenly serious, the doctor replied, "Rodney, this makes the third time in as many days that you've either been down here or someone has seen your blood sugar drop that I know of. This time you passed out and have a bad enough gash on your head that I'm going to have to stitch it. I need to see what's going on."

"I've just been nauseous," Rodney explained.

Dr. Beckett looked him in the eye. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have gladly given you something." It wasn't like the scientist wasn't down here often enough with one ailment or another.

Rodney shrugged, "To be perfectly honest, anything you give me will make me drowsy. With all the projects we have going right now, sleep doesn't happen to be high on the priority list."

"But it might improve your disposition," Carson mumbled. Louder he said, "I'm going to give you a shot of Phenigren after I stitch you up. Then I'm going to have Zelenka stay with you for the rest of the day."

"What? No!"

"You have a concussion, Rodney. It's that or you get to change into scrubs and stay here for the next twelve hours or so. Then see how much work you get done."

"Fine," Rodney conceded. "But can't you give it to me in pill form instead?"

"I think that can be arranged." Then deciding to tease Rodney a bit, he added, "I also have it in suppository form if you'd rather."

Rodney muttered something under his breath. Carson wisely decided not to ask him to repeat it. Instead he fished a small number of Phenigren tablets out of a larger bottle and packaged them for Rodney to take. "I want you back here in the morning. Sooner, if your symptoms get worse."

The scientist nodded, gingerly hopping down from the exam table, and accepted the small container from Carson before turning to go.

oooOooo

"Found it," Sheppard called out as his hand waved over a switch on the wall. It was in an odd place but they could research that later. Right now, the soft light that bathed the room was a relief.

"About time."

"You're welcome, Rodney," he responded but Rodney wasn't paying attention, having returned to working on the door panel. Sheppard was moving to check on the progress when his toe ran into something. Picking it up, he saw that it was a miniature puddle-jumper. Toys? Turning it over in his hand he found a latch where it opened in half long ways. Inside he was amused to find two Lantean pilots at the helm.

Teyla on the other side of the room noticed a doll sitting on a chair in the corner. It was obviously old and fragile. The fabric of the robes ripped when she picked it up. It was a small doll dressed in the white Lantean garments they had seen in the hologram. One couldn't help but wonder about the children that played down here, if indeed this was a playroom.

"Do you not think it strange that the children had a hidden playroom that was sheltered against radio contact?" Teyla asked Sheppard.

"It does seem odd. I mean, this is the lowest level of Atlantis. Who would want the children playing down here with the desalinization tanks and such?"

"Exactly. Even as arrogant as the Ancients were I doubt they would be so careless with their children." Running his hands along the wall Rodney noticed drawings near the floor which were obviously drawn by the small hand of a child. He guessed it didn't matter what galaxy you were in, children would draw on the walls.

Teyla handed Sheppard a small book. "Did you see this, Colonel? It appears to be written in Ancient." The book, handwritten, appeared to be a journal of sorts.

Sheppard flipped slowly through the pages. Not having the ability to read Ancient, he pocketed the book until there was time to get a translation. "Something just doesn't feel right about all of this."

"I believe you are correct. Perhaps the book will answer some of those questions for us."

Sheppard wasn't sure he wanted an answer. One of his grandmother's favorite books had been Flowers in the Attic. On several occasions she had sat around with one of her friends and discussed it in detail. Four children had been locked away in an attic at their grandmother's house in order to make them disappear. Not wanting to dwell on the possibilities, he turned to Rodney, who had fallen silent again. "What do you think, Rodney?"

"Not interested. Right now, the only thing I'm concentrating on is getting us out of here."

"Something I can do to help?" Sheppard offered.

"Not unless you've suddenly become a specialist in ancient conduits." When that was met with silence, Rodney asked nervously, "You don't by chance have any powerbars in your pocket, do you?"

"Rodney? Are you okay?"

"I will be if you have anything in your pocket."

"No, I don't," John admitted. Dreading the answer, Sheppard asked, "McKay, when was the last time you ate?"

"I had some toast this morning," Rodney answered, trying to rub away the same headache that had been dogging him for days.

"McKay!" John admonished. "Why don't you have something on you? It's like your epi. You always have something with you." When would the scientist ever learn to take care of himself? To stop and eat instead of depending on the benefits of powerbars and coffee when he was in the middle of research all the time?

"It's not like I planned on getting trapped and missing dinner.

"Rodney is right," Teyla cut in diplomatically. "I believe we should concentrate our efforts on getting out of here. Then we can discuss his eating habits."

"Or the lack thereof," Sheppard snapped, but nodded when Teyla gave him a stern look. They would finish this conversation later. "Teyla, help me go over this room. Maybe they had some sort of intercom system installed in here for the kids to communicate upstairs."

"Of course, Colonel." But she took a moment to observe her teammate. Even in less than optimal light the Athosian noticed the pallor and the sheen of sweat that was forming in beads along his hairline. She wished she knew if it was due to his condition or something else.

oooOooo

"Any luck, Major?" Dr. Weir asked Major Lorne, who was heading up the search.

"No, ma'am. Not yet, I'm afraid. We're still searching."

"Understood. Weir out."

Carson was coming across the bridge that led to her office. Worry shown in his features. Something was just not right. "Anything yet?"

"No. We're looking though. Interestingly enough we can't find Sheppard either. No one's been able to raise him on his comm either.

Blowing out a long breath, Carson shook his head. It was actually a bit of a relief knowing that in all probability Rodney wasn't alone. But when those two got together… Carson wasn't sure if he even wanted to complete that thought.

"Have all the puddle jumpers checked in?" She questioned another one of her men.

"Yes, ma'am. All but one of them are in the bay, and we've already contacted the one out just in case. Neither Colonel Sheppard or Dr. McKay are with them."

Suddenly her comm clicked and a voice she did not recognize spoke, "Dr. Weir?"

"This is Weir. Go ahead."

"I'm sorry I didn't respond earlier," Peters said. "I was down at the desalinization tanks and didn't hear the page. I understand you're looking for Dr. McKay."

"Yes," she responded. "Is he down there?"

"I'm not sure ma'am. But I did see him with Colonel Sheppard and Teyla this morning. They seemed extremely fascinated with a wall."

Her eyes opened wide in confusion. "I beg your pardon?"

"Teyla were just standing there staring at the wall. McKay was banging on it. Sheppard was feeling it. It was all very odd."

"Did you see them after that?"

"No, ma'am. I wish I could be of more help."

"Thank you. That at least gives us a place to start. Radio Major Lorne and let him know. I'm sure he'll want you to show him the exact location."

"Yes, ma'am," was his quick response.

"Contact me if you see them again. Weir out." Turning back to Carson she repeated what she had just learned. "I need you to be on standby, Carson. If they did get trapped somewhere they may need immediate medical attention."

"Aye. I'll have my team ready."

Tapping on her earpiece once more, she radioed Dr. Zelenka and ordered him to pull up the schematics of Atlantis and meet her in her office immediately.

oooOooo

"Rodney, how's it coming?" Sheppard asked for the fifth time. He wasn't intentionally trying to irritate the scientist, but unfortunately, it had the same effect.

"You know if could just stop pounding me with questions for, oh, I don't know… ten minutes! Then I might fix this or locate a failsafe and get us out here before, I don't know, I die!

Sheppard rolled his eyes. Rodney did have a flair for the dramatic. "Rodney, you're not going to die. Someone will come looking for us or we'll find a way out."

"Then you obviously haven't been paying close enough attention. This was a simple 'let me show you what I found' mission. We came basically unprepared. I don't know about you, but I don't see any food reserves down here. So unless I can find any glucose content in my shirt, I need out of here."

It was then Sheppard saw how badly Rodney's hands were shaking. Worry gripped him. They had to find a way out and quickly.

"Colonel?" Teyla called him from the back of the room. "I am in need of your assistance."

"What have you got?"

"I am unsure, but I am hoping your ATA gene might open it."

On the other side of the room, Rodney was trying feverishly to get the door working but unfortunately his vision was blurring the more he stared at it. This should have been an easy task, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to concentrate on it. A temporary surge of adrenaline hit him as his sense of self preservation kicked in. Running an anxious hand over his eyes, Rodney once again focused all his attention on the sensor, determined to get it fixed.

oooOooo

A/N: That's all for tonight. Hope you are enjoying it so far…meli