A/N: Just a quick word of thanks to all of you who are reading and for your kind reviews. It is very appreciated….meli
Part 3
"Dr. Weir, this Major Lorne."
"Go ahead. Have you found anything?"
"We found Dr. McKay's laptop and satchel in the storage closet Peters told us about."
"I'll be right there. Weir out." Motioning for Zelenka to follow her, she hurried to the transporter. In route she contacted Carson so that he could meet them there.
"Do you think it's possible they found a hidden room?" she asked Zelenka.
"Anything is possible in Atlantis. I need to get into Rodney's laptop though to know what he was researching." He began muttering in Czech. Elizabeth concluded from the tone that she probably didn't want to know what he was saying.
Exiting the transporter they hurried down the hall to where a group of scientists and military personnel were already gathered.
"Any luck, Major?"
"Not yet. It's nothing but a closet."
"That's what they said in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe," Carson interjected, coming down the hall in time to hear Major Lorne.
"Huh?"
"It's a book, Major. I'll have to explain it to ye later when this is all said and done."
"This isn't a story, doctor, but I'll take your word for it and let you fill me in later."
"Aye."
oooOooo
Sheppard silently berated himself. He should have seen this before now but had apparently overlooked the indentions in the wall more than once. He glanced over his shoulder to check on Rodney, then started running a hand over the wall. Sure enough, a part of the wall unfolded revealing what did indeed look like a laptop. Now if they could just get into Atlantis' mainframe they might be able to send a message to Dr. Weir.
"Rodney, I hate to ask. But I need your help. Do you think you can break into this thing for me?"
McKay stumbled but caught himself as he approached the device. Sheppard was reluctant to ask how he was again. Hopefully Rodney could hold up until help arrived.
Already extremely familiar with Atlantean computers, Rodney normally could easily find the right commands to interface with their own computers. However, at present, his mind was growing increasingly confused. Finally, after several tries, he got the commands right. "If only the door was as easily fixed," he mumbled, giving control of the device back to Sheppard. He made his way over to the door once more. Fighting the dizziness that threatened to overcome him, he struggled to focus his eyes, determined to get out of here. He couldn't die. Not now.
Sheppard quickly typed in an instant message to the control room and hoped it would get through. He wasn't sure how much time they had and he didn't feel like pushing his luck today.
oooOooo
"Dr. Weir. We've just received a message from Sheppard."
"Go ahead."
"Rodney, Teyla, and I are trapped in room behind storage closet. Part of wall slides open. Find Peters. He knows where. Door shorted out. Attempting to fix. Requesting any assistance you can give. Rodney's blood sugar is dropping. Have Carson on standby'."
"Alright, people," she called out relaying the message Sheppard had sent. "We need to find a way to get the door open. Control, can you send a message back that we have received it and are working on the problem?"
"Already done, doctor."
"Thank you. Weir out."
oooOooo
"They got it," Sheppard told them, seeing the first ray of hope since their entrapment.
"Let us hope they have more success on the other side," Teyla said.
The sound of shuddering breathes suddenly interrupted their conversation. They were shocked to find Rodney sitting on the floor in front of the panel crying softly. Neither of them had seen him act this way before.
"Rodney?" Sliding up beside him, John wondered what he could do. "What's going on, buddy?"
"I'm not sure," Rodney admitted.
"Can you be a little more specific?"
"Everything is so confusing right now."
"Confusing how?"
"I don't know!" Rodney shouted. "It's like nothing makes sense right now. I should get it but I can't."
"Can you remember what needs to be done next?" Sheppard tried. "Maybe you could walk me through it."
"You don't understand. It's so fuzzy." How could he explain how to rewire the panel when he was having trouble just remaining conscious? His hands shook too much to put any wires together and his mind had simply quit focusing.
"Rodney, you've got to pull it together. We're almost there. Beckett's waiting on the other side of the door with sugar. Come on, buddy. I'll help you out."
"I'll try."
Sheppard and Teyla got on either side of him and helped him stand. However it was short lived. Rodney couldn't seem to focus and within moments he had succumbed to the hypoglycemic reaction, lying in a heap on the floor. Unsure of how else to help him, Teyla quickly removed her jacket, folded it and placed it under the head of her unconscious friend. Sheppard helped Teyla to make Rodney as comfortable as possible before rising to his feet. The situation had just gotten worse.
"We have to get out of here," she said urgently.
"We will. Teyla, send a message that Rodney is unconscious and we need help now." Sheppard instructed. He peered into the open panel, trying to see if he could figure out what Rodney had been doing.
"Can you fix it?" she asked after she had typed in the message.
"Maybe. I've had to hotwire a car before. Hopefully this won't be too different."
"Hotwire?"
"It means putting wires together to make it work when otherwise you would need a key," Sheppard explained automatically. "Have they responded yet?"
"Yes. They say they are on the other side of the wall and are doing all they can."
"Translated, that means they're stuck. They don't even have a sensor to take apart on their side. Basically it's up to us."
"Understood. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Just keep an eye on Rodney for right now. And watch for any messages."
"Colonel," she quickly relayed when another message appeared on the screen. "They want to try a small amount of C4 and see if they can blow the door open. They wish to know if we can get far enough away."
Sheppard closed his eyes and sighed. Ordinarily he would have waited to try that idea but they were desperate. He wasn't willing to risk Rodney's life further. "Tell him to give us two minutes and then do it."
"Understood."
She quickly typed in the message while Sheppard dragged Rodney to the corner furthest from the outer wall. He pulled the small cot in front of them to cover them all when the blast occurred. Hopefully this would shield them from the worst of the blast
oooOooo
On the other side of the wall Carson had called for additional gurneys and emergency supplies just in case. He had a glucose drip as well as an IV sugar bolus ready to go the moment they got through to Rodney.
"Alright, everyone back away and take cover," Major Lorne commanded. "When it blows I want Peters, Martin, Smith, and Chavez to go first and make sure it's safe. Then let the doctor and his team through. Everyone else, stay back. Understood?" When everyone had signaled their understanding, he gave the order. "Alright. Chavez, set the explosive."
oooOooo
When the explosives went off Sheppard was crouched over Teyla and Rodney, sheltering them as best he could. The blast hurled debris toward them. Even the cot came apart from the concussive force.
A piece of the door struck the colonel on the back of the head. He felt a momentary wave of pain, followed by darkness.
oooOooo
"Alright, every second counts. Let's get the way cleared!" Major Lorne ordered. The men quickly cleared a patch through the debris, allowing the medical team through.
Beckett checked Sheppard over quickly before calling for a backboard to get him to the gurney. Underneath, Teyla was unhurt. She was helped to her feel and lead out to the corridor. Finally they were at Rodney. Carson blew out a breath of relief when he found a pulse, but the relief was short lived. Time was of the essence. A hypoglycemic reaction was easily fixed; but it could easily turn fatal if the blood sugar level became too low.
"Get that IV started stat," Beckett called out. "I want an immediate finger stick. I need to know how low it is. As soon as you give him the sugar bolos I want blood drawn." He barked out orders until he was satisfied Rodney could be moved.
"How low was he, Carson?" Elizabeth asked from where she was hovering in the background.
"His blood sugar level is fifteen," Carson replied worriedly. He followed the gurney with Rodney as it headed toward the infirmary. Turning back to Teyla he called out, his tone brooking no argument. "I expect to see you in the infirmary immediately."
Nodding, she quietly followed the procession, wanting to make sure her teammates were going to be okay.
oooOooo
Sheppard could hear the voices in the room. That they were concerned was obvious. That he was missing some memories of what had happened was equally obvious. Carefully he opened his eyes, but quickly squelched them closed again as the bright lights of the infirmary seemed to pierce his skull.
"John." He chanced the blinding lights again, cracking his lids to see Elizabeth on one side of his bed and Teyla on the other. He managed a half smile at the thought of waking up surrounded by beautiful women staring at him with concern. But then Dr. Beckett stepped into view and Sheppard quickly changed his mind. There was never a good time to wake up in the infirmary.
"Colonel Sheppard?" Carson said, smiling gently, "It's about time you woke up."
"Why? Is there some place I have to be?"
"You'll have to ask Dr. Weir that. But as of right now it's nice just to see you here."
"How's Rodney?" he asked, his memory coming back in a rush.
"He'll be fine. He woke up a little while ago feeling nauseous, so I gave him something to calm his stomach. Needless to say, he's gone back to sleep," the doctor informed him.
"Is that what caused his blood sugar to drop the way it did?"
"Aye. The lad has a virus. It took awhile for it to show up on his cultures. I'm hoping it won't last too much longer. We don't even know if it's contagious or what the incubation period is. I dare say if it is contagious it's much too late to do anything about quarantining him at this point."
"Whatever happened to your twenty-four hour bugs?"
"It appears we left them on Earth. Although to the people in Pegasus it may well be just a twenty-four hour bug to them."
"And we just thought everything was bigger in Texas."
"I've never been to Texas but I would have to say Pegasus has it beat on all accounts. I don't think Texas ever had to worry about life sucking creatures like the Wraith that terrorize the galaxy."
"They just don't know what fun they're missing."
"Alright, enough of that." Dr. Beckett ordered. "Do you think you can sit up? I need to get another look at your head. And if you're nice I won't even include it on your injury tally."
"Grading on the curve now, Carson?"
"Guess I'm trying to let the others have a better chance."
"You're all heart, Carson."
"Aye, you say that now," the doctor told him, taking a moment to check Sheppard's vital signs and making some notes on the colonel's medical chart. "Wait till you want to leave before I think you should. Then let's see if you still feel the same way."
"I am fine, Carson," he stressed, not wanting to spend the night in the infirmary.
"Is that so? Or is it that you're just thoroughly medicated?"
"I'd have to be more medicated than this to not fuss about being here."
"That can be arranged," the doctor teased.
"Thanks, but I'm trying to quit," Sheppard responded, thankful when the nurse came in to get the doctor.
oooOooo
"So how are you feeling?" Sheppard asked Rodney the next afternoon. Teyla and he had come to check on their team member. Dr. Beckett had cleared Sheppard earlier that morning.
"Fine. At least I will be once the witchdoctor clears me."
"Witchdoctor, huh?"
Rodney grimaced and tilted his head toward the back wall where another dry-erase board hung. Sheppard grinned when he saw the drawing of a person bearing a remarkable likeness to Rodney. He hadn't known Dr. Beckett could draw.
"What is this supposed to represent?" Teyla asked.
"A voodoo doll," Rodney supplied.
At Teyla's confused expression Sheppard explained, "In our world it's said that a witchdoctor can poke needles in a doll that represents a person to supposedly cause them pain where the needle is inserted. Basically, I think Rodney was whining a little too much."
"Yes. Well. One can't expect someone not to complain when at every turn your doctor feels a compelling need to draw blood," Rodney complained.
"Well don't fell too bad." Sheppard said pulling up a couple of chairs for him and Teyla. "You should see what's on the board behind curtain number two."
"I suppose our medical staff has little to amuse themselves." Rodney blew out an irritated sigh. "Where is Carson anyway? There's really no reason to keep me here anymore."
Knowing boredom was starting to set in on the ever active scientist, Sheppard warned his friend, "Keep it up and he'll find a reason. Besides I have a favor to ask."
"Oh?"
Teyla pulled out the book they had found in the hidden room. "We were hoping you would not mind helping us translate some of this."
Rodney's eyes brightened with interest. Taking the proffered book he carefully turned the pages. He was surprised at the waxy feel of the pages and wondered about the material it was written on. Surprisingly, the book wasn't difficult to read even though it was written in Ancient.
Eyeing Rodney carefully, Sheppard watched the different expressions play over his face. "Find anything interesting?"
Slowly Rodney looked up from his reading. "Actually, yes. I'll need some time to read through all of it and type you out a translation, but from first glance it looks as if they were hiding children down there in that room." Rodney paused and turned the page, still reading as much as he could. "And the interesting thing about it was they weren't Atlantean children."
