Torment of a Man
Chapter 9
A/N ... woops! I just made a mistake with B'ann's name...so sorry to the folk that read this before I noticed I typed the wrong characters name in the wrong place...eek, sorry!
SGA SGA SGA
'"John?"'
Sheppard bit his bottom lip as he worried about the best route to take.
"Yeah?" He asked lightly, too distracted by his worry.
"If I drop…I can't swim!"
Time stood still.
"Good job you are not going to fall in then."
Sheppard woke up and shuddered. He had been dreaming about a previous time when Bee had fallen down a cliff face and was almost killed. He caught his desperate breath and went to get out of bed and wondered why he could not move.
"John?" Bee cried, softly, coaxing him out of his delirium.
"Bee? Ah, my back, where …?" And then it all came flooding back to Sheppard. All the chaos of the crash, of bodies flying everywhere, and of voices screaming. He found, with some effort, he could move to a certain degree, but his wrists were still shackled behind his back and his hands were digging into his lower back at a painful angle. He had been tossed about like a rag doll and the accumulative effect of the bruises that that paid him meant he had a body full of pain.
Sheppard could see the window of the craft now as his eyes cleared and he was pretty sure that the tree that was sticking through the glass should not be there. He turned his head to see where everybody else was, and immediately, pain like an electric shock, sped through his neck and into his head – great, more whiplash. He groaned with the pain the movement caused.
"John?" Bee said softly, and Sheppard cursed himself; he had heard her cry out his name already.
"Bee. Where are you? Are you okay?
"It's my arm, John. It hurts so much."
Sheppard felt a lurch in his stomach at her words.
"Okay. Listen, Bee. At the very least you have strained it or bruised it, but if it's broken, I'll help you. For now, just hold onto it against your stomach and keep it still until I can make my way to you."
Sheppard squirmed about until he managed to get himself onto his side and lifted his head up to see the strange sight of two chairs fixed to the ceiling and of a console's flashing lights illuminating the small cockpit in swathes of red – not a good sign. He gulped and grimaced at the rough - previously ceiling's - grooves digging into his shoulder. He took a deep breath and just went for it, pushing up his body until he was on his knees and squeezing his eyes momentarily shut at the dizzying pain that brought again to his weary frame. He had not eaten and certainly not drunk much in too long a period of time; it was going to cost him. He would have to pull something out of the bag to get them out of this mess; his energy levels were certainly depleting fast. He tried getting up on one knee and found after a couple of attempts he was successful; if not panting with the effort. A final lurch and he was standing; the view out of the broken window confirming that they were swinging dangerously upside down on top of something - he hoped it was secure.
Bee was uppermost in his mind, so he limped over to where he could just see her behind the bodies of Sora and B'ann; who both seemed to be unconscious, but he took no risks and pushed them hard with his foot as he drew near. They did not move so he relaxed somewhat. That was when he saw the pilot, dead, with her neck at an awkward angle; broken, no doubt. Then he caught sight of the equally dead body of Lijjrn, broken on the ground. He felt mixed emotions but he had move on.
Sheppard watched Bee's frightened face looking at her also. "Turn your eyes, Bee. You don't need to see this. She would have died instantly."
"John. One of them, I think B'ann is lying on my leg. I can't get up."
Sheppard had now reached her. Smiling, he made her look him straight in the face. "I need you to do something for me, Bee. I can't do much with my hands behind my back like this. Could you see if you can reach into any of B'ann's pockets and see if the key to these bindings are there? Don't worry, he is unconscious." He added when he saw her nervous look.
Bee nodded and reached with her good arm over his body to where she could see his jacket had fallen open. She then jerked her hand back in surprise. "It's all wet!"
"Huh. Must be injured. Pity!" The last bit with a slight lift of his voice.
Bee quickly wiped her hand on his trousers, not wanting the blood on her for any length of time. She felt something in his trouser pocket as she wiped so reached in, inwardly recoiling and nervously biting her lip in case he woke up. Grinning up at Sheppard, she was rewarded with what looked like he needed. Being able to reach him was another matter though, but with Sheppard hopping around on his good leg and bending backwards to her over the bodies, Bee was in reaching distance. She hung onto his wrists for a moment while she straightened herself, but with a push and a pull, Sheppard's wrists sprung free and he could have whooped for joy. Massaging them swiftly, he brought his hands up to under his chin and curled his hands.
"Thanks, Bee. I needed out of those."
"Are you hurt, John." She asked, when she saw him wince.
"Nothing getting out of here won't cure. Now, you stay still and I'll move them out of your way." Sheppard again was mindful of both Sora and B'ann's conscious state. It was tempting to see if he could find a weapon and just shoot them dead and be done; but that was not his style.
As he pulled first B'ann and then Sora over to the other side of the craft, he felt a swing to the left suddenly he had to brace himself against the upturned console's leg.
"I'm shifting the balance here. Seems this is more perilous a position than I thought. We'd better get moving. Can you stand?"
The rocking motion that was building up with speed urged Bee on when she thought she had been frozen still in horror.
"Oh...oh!" She rang out and flailed her good arm out for Sheppard to grab, hugging her injured one to her chest.
Sheppard grabbed her hand and holding it tight he kept her still whilst he took a large step to meet her in the middle, then he hauled her in for a brief embrace. He let her go but insisted on rubbing her back briefly. "Let me see your arm?"
"It's fine. You can look at it when we get out of here."
"Hey, you are sounding more and more like me every day!"
Bee rolled her eyes. "Help me!"
Sheppard was glad to see she could still joke given their situation, but time was of the essence, so he swung around to figure out the best way to see about their escape from the downed space craft. Door…or window?
Holding firm to her hand still, Sheppard ducked to look under the console which was now blinking several lights at once like a cheap disco. He leaned his ear in closer to a small round speaker, and could make out the reduced sound of a strangled claxon; the crash muting its efforts to warn of imminent danger.
"Crap, we don't have long, if I'm guessing right by the warning lights and alarm, this ship is set to blow. We have no time to worry about these two, c'mon…"
Sheppard pulled Bee over and she clung to his jacket as first he kicked the door panel, but to no avail, and then he turned his attention to the already weakened window with a tree jutting in it. Ignoring various body aches, pains and disabilities, Sheppard let go of Bee's hand and scaled the wobbly heights of the upturned console area and grounded his shoulder into the part of the window he could reach. There was a slight give, but not nearly enough.
He stepped back off the controls and spun around, looking for anything to leverage the window open wider; and that's when he noticed Sora.
His eyes stopped on her open ones that were wide and rimmed with pain lines but taking in what he was doing. A slow, steady stream of blood was filling the valley of her eye; her eye lashes were soaked and blinking fast. It appeared to John that she was trying desperately to open her mouth to speak, but the poison that had been injected into her was still within. Sheppard quickly ran his eyes over her body, and could see no obvious injuries on her, except for the cut on her forehead; the poison would have to run its course if she was to regain any mobility.
Sheppard, ordinarily, would have taken time to check her over, and maybe even pull her and B'ann from the wreckage; but this was no ordinary situation. He had no idea how far from land – or even water – the ship was waiting to drop; so he ignored her plaintive look for now and concentrated on getting himself, and more importantly; Bee, out of the craft and into safety; besides, Sora was not in any way trapped, so it was just a matter of riding out the poison.
The screech of metal leaving metal caused him to spin in the direction of the co-pilots chair that had decided gravity was enough of an influence to separate it from its bolted position. He used momentum to drive the leg away from the chair as it fell and with a couple of kicks against the side of the bulkhead, he had the metal leg in his grasp and he wasted no time in walloping it into the window with desperate gusto. He was soon rewarded, and the window blossomed into glass confetti, that, with one more bash, splintered into several more dozen smaller pieces and out into the daylight world of Charon.
"Stay there." Sheppard asked of Bee as she started forward to look. She realised why he said that when the craft lurched again and she had to shift her feet urgently to remain upright.
Sheppard had too many aches for this and his ankle was throbbing enough to hold his attention for far too long, but he had to move fast. Precariously balanced, Sheppard held onto the surrounding rim of the window frame and stuck his head outside. The drop was long enough to the cool blue lake below he saw through various thicknesses of branches. He licked his dry lips. It would be unstable and risky, but he could at least see a way of getting down, and that was encouraging – unless when he was out of the craft, and upwards looked like a better idea.
A quick glance to check on Bee, saw her watching him with slight panic.
"Hey. Hey. C'mon we'll get out of here." Sheppard gave her a quick smile. "Now, you may not like this, but I'm going to step out of the craft, and when I do, you quickly slide on up here next and wait until I grab you, okay?"
Bee nodded and stepped closer, causing the craft to move again.
"Sorry! When you move, I'll move!"
Sheppard nodded and turned towards the next big step. After a last look towards Sora and B'ann with a worried and almost apologetic face, Sheppard, crouched under the glass and hoped there was that first secure footing within reach. It became clear very early on that they had landed upside down on a huge rock platform that jutted out from the cliff. Various shrubs and tree branches had been brought down with the ride as they had bashed their way into the cliff, and it was to one of them Sheppard set his sights. He stepped out slowly and then called over his shoulder for Bee to move up onto the console and follow his actions.
The craft did wobble, but held its position. His knuckles grazed the hard, cold stone rock face as he exited the craft, and he was jagged several times from a thorny bush, but he made it outside and held onto the craft to get his balance underfoot. He beckoned with his fingers for Bee to come to the window and held onto her hand and then her shoulder of her sore arm to help assist her outside to join him. He could see she was biting her lip to suppress a cry of pain, and he suddenly felt very proud of the young woman and how she constantly made his heart swell.
"You are doing well." He assured her. "One more step."
That was when he also noticed that her eyes were tightly screwed shut. He laughed. "Bee, you will have to open them at some point!"
"I can't, John. I can't look down."
"Look, have we not been in a situation like this before?"
"Yes…and did I not end up with a skinned backside and half drowned!"
Again, Sheppard remembered how he had felt when he could not halt her fall from the cliff-side and into the water below. "Look at it this way. It ended up with me teaching you how to swim."
"What are you trying to say? I'm going to take up mountaineering this time!" She snapped, opening her eyes at him in disgust and watching as an amused Sheppard raised his eyebrows at her.
"If the shoe fits!" He replied sarcastically.
"What?" Bee said, but then laughed. "I hate you!"
"No, you don't!"
"Yes…no, I don't." She admitted, but punched him in the arm none-the-less.
Sheppard feigned pain. He straightened up and looked above him.
"Nah. It will have to be down. With proper gear I could probably make my way around the overhang, but it's not doable with a sore ankle."
"And me in tow…down it is then." Bee said with a hint of fear.
"Down it is." He confirmed.
Sheppard then looked over the edge and saw a plan. "Let me see your arm?
Bee clung even more tightly to it in defence of any painful prodding. "I'll be as gentle as I can." He promised.
He lightly ran his hand up and down the arm and was relieved to find no evidence of a broken bone, but it was severely bruised and swollen and obviously causing her great pain.
"I don't think it's broken, but it's not going to be easy for you climbing down, Bee. I'm sorry for you."
"Don't be. How are you going to manage with your ankle…amongst other things?"
Sheppard shrugged. "Guess we are about to find out. Now trust me, okay. I'm going to kneel down here, and as you put your good hand in mine, I'm going to lower you down to the next level; I will not let go your hand until you tell me you feel something under your feet."
"John, no!"
"Crap, Bee. I said trust me. We have to go…and now!"
Bee took a deep inhale and nodded. Sheppard didn't waste any more time, and after another quick glance at where he was aiming for, he flung himself down on his knees, trying to ignore the flash of pain from his ankle. He reached for Bee's hand and she unquestioningly put her right hand in his. Sheppard wrapped his arm around the broad branch and instantly remembered he had a sore shoulder in amongst the collection. He bit his lip but held on tight and nodded at Bee to make her move to the edge. She stared at him for a long second and started to wiggle her way to the edge.
At just the right place he wanted her, Sheppard jerked his head and she let go, swinging literally out into the open air until she felt herself being lowered and then jerked slightly as her weight caused Sheppard to have to adjust quickly. She wiggled her toes, reaching for solid ground. Sweat from both of them made her grip become slick and she felt her hand leave that of Sheppard's; he had obviously noticed himself because the next thing she knew was that she was moving down further. She looked below and then up, and noticed that Sheppard now lay on his stomach. His face was red with the effort of holding her and a thin sheen of sweat was on his face.
When the important feeling of solid ground started to feel possible, Bee looked up quickly. "Let me go!" She cried.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." She had no sooner confirmed, when her hand left Sheppard's sweaty one. She felt bereft, and possibly scared at the close contact leaving her; but sure enough she now stood secure on another thick branch.
Within seconds, Sheppard's long legs came into view and she moved slightly to allow him some room to join her.
"See, nothing to it." He seemed to say through clenched teeth.
Bee decided not to ask him how he was. It was plainly obvious. She knew they probably didn't have time, but Bee flung her arms around his neck and hugged him. Sheppard kissed the side of her cheek. "Thank me when we make it down to the ground!"
With that in mind. Sheppard moved some of the thinner, sharper branches to the side to see the next level; ripping his face and hands as he did so. "Looks like this is the way it is going to be for a few feet. At least the tree looks repetitive in its design. Did your arm hold up okay?"
"Fine…well it hurts, of course it does…but it was, yeah…okay..." She stopped. "I'm sounding like McKay again, aren't I?"
Sheppard shook his head as he smiled. "Come on, let's go. Next one."
So it went for quite a few feet. Both of them yelped, cried and grimaced at the pain their various injuries cost them. Their face and arms were accumulating so many scratches they were starting to look whipped.
Everything was going to plan until, about to lower Bee once again, a splinter of wood sliced off the branch beside Sheppard's face, narrowly missing his eye. At first, he stared at the space, wondering what had just happened. When it happened again, he ducked and bellowed at Bee to let go his hand faster. Two more gun shots aimed his way, meant that Sora or B'ann; probably the latter, had now woken and was hell bent in taking their lives by shooting at them.
SGA SGA SGA
The engine of the 'jumper vibrated through Ronon's whole body as it touched down on the Gate room's floor. Weary, still soaked and most of all worried about Teyla, Sheppard and Bee, the balance of Sheppard's team quickly ran down the ramp; Ronon holding Teyla in his arms; not wanting to wait on any gurney as he ran to the infirmary, with Beckett shouting orders to his team as he followed.
"Yes, I know she shouldn't be jostled like that!" and "Let him do this!" resounded along the short corridor to his domain.
Lorne stayed behind with Jjern, who was looking about him in awe of the great city. Lorne winced when he caught Woolsey's expression at bringing a stranger to Atlantis but he gripped the former kidnapper's elbow and steered the big man towards his office to explain what was happening.
It had taken Carson a time to relax rules ingrained into him over his career, but these days he did not fight Sheppard or Ronon's absolute stubborn spirits quite so much. It wasted more time in arguing, so he allowed the big man to cradle his precious bundle, and soon they had arrived with Ronon depositing her on the bed and standing back; finally letting go control; but not after Teyla had weakly squeezed his arm and whispered her thanks.
Over the next few minutes Carson looked her over properly, but as soon as she was settled and the portable scanner was rolling over, Ronon looked at Rodney and they stepped up to Carson.
"Will she be, okay?" Rodney asked, petrified.
"I really think so, Rodney. Given time. She's out for the count at the moment, but that's a good thing."
"Good. Because we have to go back for Sheppard." Ronon said plainly.
They were united: Sheppard's team. Had been for a while, and would be until the end. It went without saying now. So, when Ronon said 'we', he really did mean it. Together they worked better. Each bringing their own expertise. Chomping at the bit, and catching Lorne's eye who had just appeared and nodded his way, Ronon looked into Carson's face with anticipation.
"You would go even if I wanted you to stay and get checked over. Teyla will be here when you get back. Dr. Ritchie is going to look after her. I'm going to get some bags ready and come with you."
"Doc. You should rest up yourself." Lorne said.
Carson shook his head. "The lad needs me. If he wasn't badly hurt before the crash..." He left the rest unsaid.
"Okay. Let's go."
"So, what's Woolsey got to say about B'ann?" Rodney asked of Lorne as they jogged to the armoury to stock up.
"He wouldn't let him even relieve himself or freshen up once he got a quick update."
"And B'ann?" Ronon asked.
"Standing there in the Gate room, watching back guiltily as several of Sheppard's and my men throw daggers in his direction; they are all just itching on him standing wrong and they will fire on him – and he knows it!"
"He's helped us out so far. Let's hope it continues." Rodney said.
"Yes, or I'll be the first to make my opinion known." Ronon.
Armed with weapons and stocked up with some food and water to drink, the three friends met up with Carson and B'ann at the 'jumper.
B'ann stood up straighter as they drew near. "My stuff?"
"Will remain in the ship. You won't be coming back here." Lorne swiftly said.
B'ann nodded. "Good. Thank you…um, sorry for my part."
"Whatever!" Rodney said and brushed past him before going up the ramp and into the co-pilots chair. Lorne could fly this mission.
The return journey was flown in silence and fear. Fear that they would not get their friend and team leader back in one piece. At least they knew Teyla should be okay now, and Ronon for one could not wait for that to be the first thing he said to Sheppard when he found him and Bee. The fear also included the return of Bee. Pauley waited on her return after all.
B'ann looked out the side of his eye at every single member of the quickly formed rescue team. Friends, medics and marines, all eager to rescue this Sheppard guy. He smiled to himself; it looked like he had made the right choice in helping these people. Just a few more hours and he could be free of his life of crime. They had promised to drop him off at his planet if he helped them after it was over. He promised that he would do all he could to help again and again. He had no love for B'ann, so turning against him would not be a problem.
SGA SGA SGA
Radio communication from the other 'jumper started the moment they arrived through Charon's gate. They were still hovering over the crash site, and the news was not good. It seemed it was an impossibility to land near where they had gone done, and with the view obscured by many trees, they had no idea if there had been any survivors. Pauley was beside himself with worry and wanted picked up by them before they made their way to the site; a request that Major Lorne, with lots of experience on the matter, refused. He did not want him to see Bee either dead or wounded until all was settled, so Pauley remained with some of Lorne's men at the Palace and paced with fury and upset, but eventually calmed down when he realised Lorne had been correct.
Soon, Lorne's 'jumper met up with 'jumper four and the evidence was plain for everyone to see. Sora's space craft was hidden from view, its condition unattainable at present. With no-where to land, Lorne hovered and communicated with the others that he would fly down to the water slowly, and to keep their eyes open.
Jjern, still in awe of the flying machine and what it could achieve, slowly walked up to the cockpit to look out with the rest. The tree that was concealing the craft's location, was tall, wide and dense green with its full summer load. It camouflaged the rock face and the hidden craft within from view.
The good news was that Sheppard's sub q had flashed on occasion as soon as they arrived; a fact confirmed by the other jumper hovering above them – they just hoped it wasn't that his life was fading along with the signal. Lorne got as near to where it last blinked, which turned out to be almost three quarters of the way down. Smaller pieces of tree seemed to dangle off the huge trunk, obviously newly broken off, and at the same spot; so it seemed reasonable to presume that the craft was not below this point, as everything seemed calmer from there on.
"There!" Ronon suddenly shouted.
All heads turned to where he pointed, just up slightly to the right from where Lorne carefully hovered. "I saw something flash against the sun."
"Metal?"
"I dunno, McKay. Watch out for it."
It seemed like an age, but when a cloud moved on; leaving the sun to shine again, a flash of reflective light against something obviously metal flickered several times.
"That has to be it." Lorne said. "Though I don't know what to do now, to be honest, from here." He looked at Ronon. "Climb up from the bottom? There's no where I can possibly land from above."
"There's no-where near the water from here either." Ronon observed. "Unless I jump in and climb up?"
"I'll jump into the water and climb with you." Jjern offered, watching as everyone turned to look at him.
"You think you could do that?" Rodney asked, scratching his head.
"I'm old, but not that old!" Jjern felt a little indignant.
No-one said anything for a minute, until Lorne looked to seek Ronon's view, and cocked his head to the side.
Ronon replied. "Can't see any other option…unless, we use ropes. Tie me to a rope and winch me down. I can swing myself over and grab onto a branch or two, and get a good look instead of this hovering about and not able to see a damn thing."
"Could work. Pete though, he's smaller and lighter than you; perhaps he should do it as he has had experience in that field back on Earth."
"Perhaps, but I'm stronger; and besides he is in the other 'jumper. We are here; we see where Sheppard and Bee possibly are. No. I am going…some-one help me with some rope." Ronon ran to the back of the 'jumper and Lorne swung around in his seat and nodded to the two marines that had been privy to the conversation. "Jack, Desson get him fitted out."
Jjern shifted on his feet and walked towards Ronon. "I will help hold you steady. If you want me to come down on another rope– just ask."
Ronon nodded once and set about getting himself rigged to a harness.
Rodney and Carson came beside him and watched in silent support. "Be careful, lad!"
Ronon smiled slightly. "You know me!"
Carson just shook his head in dismay. "That's what I mean! It's bad enough that I already know John was injured before; goodness knows what he is like now – so I don't need another patient thank you very much!"
"I'll take care – and I will get him and Bee home safe and sound in a few minutes."
"Then I'll be ready." Carson smiled, but his eyes betrayed the thought of the future injuries he knew he would be treating very soon, and it made him wince.
Lorne, keeping the ship steady, threw over his shoulder. "I see something!"
"Open the door then!"
"What are you seeing, Major?" Rodney ran back to the screen.
"Oh, no, John!"
Jjern had also moved to the front. "That's not good."
"Who is the man with the gun?" Rodney was frantic.
"His name is B'ann…he will kill Sheppard. Where is my stuff?"
SGA SGA SGA
Sheppard was tiring.
Several shots later just missed their mark. They bounced off the tree, but grazed his head and face many times, causing Sheppard to hasten Bee's descent down the tree lined staircase. He knew that B'ann was awake; mad as hell and out to kill him. Adrenalin was a marvellous thing, and it had played a huge part in helping him thus far, but given the space that was narrowing between the two, Sheppard knew that adrenalin was not solely his to own. B'ann was probably relying on it too, and was making headway – after all he did not have the added extra of Bee and having to negotiate a safe way down.
At a particularly difficult obstacle, Sheppard leaned against the rock for a second and closed his eyes; wiping across them with his hand.
"You are bleeding." Came a small voice, jolting Sheppard from his reverie.
"I know. It's only a scratch – one of many."
"He's catching up on us. What are we going to do?" Bee grabbed his sleeve.
"Carry on down the…quiet a minute. Did you hear that?" He smiled.
"I didn't hear a thing. John - why are you are smiling?"
Sheppard parted the thick covering and, although his face could not fully see the view, he knew immediately that help had arrived in the form of a puddle 'jumper. He could hear and now see the outline, dazzling wonderfully against the backdrop of the sun in the deep blue sky.
He pulled out and took Bee by her shoulders; his face serious.
"Lorne is here. I need you to climb through all this foliage; sorry it's going to cut you up somewhat. But it's thick; no-one this side will see you from there. Okay?"
Bee nodded. "Will you be right behind me?"
Sheppard put his head down and then raised it slowly before jerking his head up when he heard a noise and some loose stones slid down to land at his feet. B'ann was near.
Sheppard spun Bee around fast and practically pushed her onto the outreached branch.
He whispered. "I'm going back to finish this once and for all. If I guess right, Lorna has no option but to winch someone down to get us. There was nothing but forest as we flew here and water below; it's the only option. Go, Bee. Let them see you and listen to what they tell you to do. I won't be long."
Bee gave him a quick glance back and chewed her bottom lip. "John!"
Sheppard ruffled her hair and then disappeared.
Bee chocked back a cry but crawled forward; wincing and panting through the pain of the branch not letting go of skin and clothes. Soon, the brilliance of the sun dazzled her, but she had made it through to the other side. Her arm was a beating drum of hurt, but the sight of a hovering 'jumper lifted her mood considerably and she beamed; waving one handed at them.
Lorne could be seen to be smiling widely through the window and Bee then raised her eyebrows in surprise when he nodded towards her and then lifted the 'jumper up. Bee soon clapped her hands when Ronon appeared, harnessed securely to a rope. Her bottom lip quivered though when she realised what was required of her.
Ronon was moved closer, thankful there was hardly a breeze and grinned like a mad thing when he was within reach.
"Don't even call me 'dope on a rope', I've already had that from Rodney." He laughed, trying to put her at ease. "I don't even know what it means."
Bee wetted her dry lips. "Me, neither. Ronon, I don't think I can do this."
"Sure you can, I'll get you. First, how's Sheppard?"
Bee filled him in, and a worried Ronon relayed the information over his radio; all the time swinging himself back and forward until he had finally grabbed the stronger looking branch he had been aiming for.
The next was a blur for Bee, but Ronon had hooked his legs around the same branch he had grabbed onto, and, shouting at the handler back in the 'jumper to remain still – no mean feat – he released his strongest arm and put a hand out for Bee to grab.
She tentatively reached out and then withdrew. "My arm hurts. I can't use it!"
"You won't have to. I'll hold you tight."
"Sheppard said the same thing."
"See. We don't lie."
Taking an almighty sigh, Bee put her trust in Ronon this time and felt herself take Ronon's hand and then leave the safety of the tree, only to swing out into the open air when Ronon shouted. "I've got her, take us up!"
The blue of the sky and water swirled into one and she squeezed her eyes shut against the rolling in her stomach. Soon, other hands held her tight and she felt herself fall suddenly into the waiting arms of Carson. Seeing the smiling doctor look down at her with concern, and knowing she had made it in one piece, she ended up crying her eyes out.
Carson smoothed back her hair and rocked her slightly. "There, there. Take your time lassie. You are safe now. Pauley is waiting to see you. He's been a tad upset to say the least at your disappearance."
At the mention of his name, Bee cried even more, but smiled eventually; nodding. "He won't let me leave his sight again this time!"
Carson laughed. "I expect not." He helped her to a sitting position. "I have to ask again: John… he is wounded badly?"
Bee nodded. "Mainly his ankle…but just about everywhere actually hurts I suspect." She looked at her exposed flesh. "Cut up worse than me." She said softly, reviewing the past few minutes in her head.
Carson took her good arm. "Let me clean you up and look at that sore arm properly."
Just then the 'jumper swayed slightly.
"Lorne?" Rodney shouted from where he was helping Bee stand up with Carson's help.
"Ronon is on his way down again." Came the swift reply.
SGA SGA SGA
Sheppard considered his position. Staying where he was would give him the most probable chance to escape the rock. He had heard the 'jumper close by and voices carrying on the wind. He could not hear what they were saying, but it was obviously the bass of Ronon that was nearby and he smiled at the thought of the big man carrying Bee to her rescue up and into the 'jumper. If she could make it out that way; he could – if it weren't for the obvious distraction of B'ann trying to shoot him.
He was exposed where he stood, and he already knew by the way that the last shot had almost hit him, that he was unfortunately in B'ann's sight. His escape route would be known if he moved and the 'jumper was yet to appear back for him, so Sheppard rose himself up and waited on the confrontation.
He stepped towards the path down that B'ann must have taken, wanting the advantage of knowing where his first foot would land. He was wrong to think he had the edge.
A bullet came from through the greenery and entered his bicep at such a velocity he was thrown backwards against the cliff-side. It tore into him and he cried out at the injustice of it all. He should have remembered the gun B'ann had been firing, and secured himself an area first.
It was his own annoyance at himself, though, that caused Sheppard to find some extra strength and he pushed himself upright and back against the rock as another shot rang out. A large piece of stone was chipped off the rock this time, missing its intended mark.
Sheppard ducked and ignored the bloody and piercingly painful arm, and charged forward when the foot eventually arrived, pulling it down until B'ann landed with a thump at his feet. He lifted his gun to fire, but Sheppard was faster and knocked it out of his hand with a well-aimed kick with his leg – his badly sprained ankle's, leg.
The sheer torture of that reignited injury almost done him in there and then; and it did take a second to return his breath, but he had no more luxuries than that. B'ann punched up and into his stomach. Nasty and true, it caused him to fall back down and B'ann landed on top of him, with the aim of bashing his head against the ground. He did it once; twice, and although stunned, the rocky ground had been cushioned with the fallen trees greenery, so Sheppard remained alive and undamaged to a degree.
Sheppard got a punch in hard on his face twice as he came up for air, with B'ann repeating the punishment in return and with gusto. The two men parried for a couple of minutes. No one coming out the victor.
As they rolled and fought, B'ann's gun was now in reach. Sheppard watched, as, after a particularly hard punch to the kidneys, leaving him gasping. B'ann seized the opportunity to lunge for it; blindly leaving Sheppard for a second too long.
Sheppard lunged and bodily dragged him away, leaving finger drag marks in the dusty stone. The force at which their two bodies met had a bowling effect and through the branches they fell together, down onto the next level.
Sheppard grasped everything he could but he was no match for momentum and he arrived out on a limb literally – a long, thing off-shoot, perilously facing out like a pointing finger, with Sheppard slipping on its tip.
His head spun, nausea threatened and the pain was all encompassing. A flash of blue here and there, confirmed he was exposed and the sun and the sea competed for dominance on his horizon. Blinking rapidly and trying to slow his breathing, Sheppard felt the first crack as the limb could not contain the two men. He looked at B'ann through eyes of understanding as he realised B'ann, throughout all the tumble down to where they had landed; was in prize possession of the hand gun.
"Should have shot me when you had the chance, Sheppard." He taunted.
Sheppard never spoke; just twisted his head this way and that way to see if the 'jumper was returning anytime soon.
"Where's the girl? Did she fall to her death?"
"None of your business, B'ann."
B'ann managed to stand on two wobbly legs on the wood, and looked behind him. "So…" he said, turning back with an evil smile on his face. "…looks to me that if I just jump back here in time, I go free!"
Sheppard looked also and knew he was right.
B'ann lifted the weapon.
"What to do? Shoot you dead, here and now…or, let you fall to your death. We are still quite high up."
"Choices, choices." Sheppard grimaced at the thought of either.
The wood creaked again and B'ann had to quickly balance himself. "Guess it's now or never."
Throughout the trial of getting out of Sora's space craft and the dangerous descent of the rock face, Sheppard had forgotten about the imminent destruction of the craft as it made good on its countdown.
Until now.
He inwardly smiled. If the following explosion could take B'ann out for good, then it was worth waiting around to see that – so he small talked, also biding his time for Ronon to possibly make a reappearance and somehow get him off this rock, all hopefully before that happened.
Sheppard felt the branch creak again and clung like mad to the branch, but B'ann raised his weapon. "I already shot you once, Sheppard, perhaps once more would give me the greatest pleasure after all. Knowing that I brought down the 'mighty' John Sheppard that killed Mahonet …and that even the horror that was Sora admired – in her own sweet way - is quite the incentive! I would like laying claim to that."
"And what if you did?" Sheppard shouted. "Just how are you going to get off of this rock and tell anybody?"
B'ann laughed. "You do have a point there, but I'm sure I'll manage somehow."
Sheppard watched his expression change and he grimaced. "Good-bye Colonel Sheppard." B'ann aimed his weapon.
B'ann's body didn't exactly fold in on itself, but, following an almost silent thwack, he landed in a heap on the same spot he had just stood seconds later, with only the smallest of holes appearing on his forehead. His eyes remained open and wide and only a slight drizzle of blood slowly meandered its way down his face. He was dead.
Sheppard was struck dumb. What had just happened?
He moved slowly, frightened to break the bough holding him up for good, but wanting to understand what had just happened behind him.
Through B'ann's self-indulgent use of words, Sheppard had failed to see the 'jumpers return. There, hanging off the ramp; Lorne holding him tight, was Jjern bringing his rifle back up into a safe position. A grin lighting up his face.
Sheppard grinned back, glad to see his new friend once again, and even more pleased, when he realised he had just saved his life. The 'jumper lifted higher and Sheppard weakly waved up at Rodney who was beside himself with shouting orders to whomever was now flying the ship.
Next came the wild-haired, madly grinning face of Ronon, wafting his hand up and down to guide the latest pilot of where to stop.
Sheppard was sluggish again for a while, but then he shouted to Ronon. "The ships going to blow!"
"Huh? Where's Sora?"
"No time. The ship…it's going to blow!" He repeated.
"Then, just jump, Sheppard. Get up and jump, I'll catch you!"
Sheppard knew he should have been more alert on the irony of this jumping to your death thing to save your life; but he trusted the big man's abilities and decided he would prefer to at least try it, rather than remain still, so he raised himself up and gave an almighty leap out into the air.
He barrelled into Ronon and muffled his cry of pain into the other man's shoulder when he blasted into him. He felt the strong arms of the Satedan wrap around him tight, but he didn't even have the strength to look at him; his grabbing arm piercing into his wound as it was took his breath away.
"I've got you." Ronon repeated the same phrase he had just said to Bee.
"Better…bloody…have!" Sheppard eventually answered, his voice muffled against the leather of Ronon's coat. "What happened?"
"Jjern shot B'ann. Seems he was the marksman of the gang. He…"
The 'jumper rocked as Sora's ship blew apart into pieces and had to change positions drastically to stay safe although it caused Sheppard, and Ronon also, to moan with the nausea it cased.
"Are you two okay?" Rodney shouted down.
But it was now a blur for Sheppard and he wasn't able to listen to what was going on, and allowed Ronon to take over his life.
He very soon became aware of hands pulling him into the 'jumper and of Carson's concerned face appearing over him. No doubt he was asking important questions of him, but his ears became filled with the noise of rushing water and he knew he was blacking out. He fought the darkness and struggled with his eyelids to remain open. Renewed strength came for a wonderful moment when Bee was there, smoothing back his hair, reminiscent of what Teyla would often do if he was ill or injured. This saddened him but he managed a small smile towards her, before his hand fell off his leg and he slipped away.
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Jjern heard the collective sigh surround the 'jumper and almost gasped himself. Had he just died?
"Carson?" Rodney asked in panic and Jjern spun around to get the result, his rifle still held to his side.
"He's okay, Rodney. Just passed out, but we had better get home fast; this wound is bleeding out some."
Ronon growled but turned to the older man.
"What you did…you saved Sheppard's life; I thank you."
"Yeah." Rodney added. "You came through."
"I told you I would help. I hope he will be okay." He said as he joined Ronon and Rodney looking out at the explosion in front of them.
"Do you think Sora got out?" Rodney asked Ronon.
"Probably not." Ronon said with no emotion. "No-body could survive that."
Jjern turned to stow away his gun. "You are a good shot." Ronon remarked upon joining him at his possessions.
Jjern simply nodded and straightened up.
"We will take you to where you want to go after we take Sheppard home. You deserve your reward." Ronon said and held out his arm.
The older man clasped it and dug in his fingers in return. They then stood apart. "Tell Sheppard I would like to meet him again on day and give him my apologies."
Ronon nodded. "I'm sure he will want that too."
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To wake up was a surprise to John; but wake up he did. It was slow and it was measured. The lights were dimmed for him when grimacing was noticed and the light squeezing of his shoulder was to let him become aware of another's presence.
Eventually, with much coaxing, Sheppard prised his eye lids apart and stared into the thoughtful face of Ronon looking down on him.
"Hey." He croaked and watched as Ronon reached for the obligatory tumbler of ice chips. He smiled weakly up at him as Ronon gently popped a couple of the soothing ice into his mouth.
Sheppard didn't feel like speaking really. He didn't want to be reminded of Teyla's death just yet. So when Ronon stood back, appraising his mood, he turned his head and closed his eyes again; only opening them now and then to answer in a rough voice, any questions Carson asked him and he listened, without comment, to just how much a hammering his body had taken. Bee was not there, he was told; she had wanted to stay and recover from the ordeal with Pauley; but she would be back the next day. He nodded at that, grateful she was home with her husband at last.
They left him to sleep for a while after that, and occasionally he would wake to find either Rodney, Ronon or Carson sitting by his bed. Woolsey and Lorne appeared briefly too; but he remained silent and non-responsive. He was beat and he knew it. The wounds that throbbed and caused Carson to rush to help with, would go eventually. The pain in his heart would not for a long time; if ever. He just wanted people to be patient with him; to leave him alone until then.
But the next morning when he woke something was different.
He had woke to his name being softly called and his head turned on the pillow to follow the voice that sounded so familiar. He must be dreaming.
But dreams don't feel real on your skin; they don't touch your face and hold your hand in a familiar way. They don't rub your shoulder and whisper words of love and comfort that make you want to cry in case they are not true.
You eventually have to face facts and wake up and see if they were in fact dreams after all. Sheppard had to check, so he opened his eyes slowly and peered out into the infirmary.
His hand was squeezed again and it felt oh so familiar – it can't be!
"John." Teyla said; so softly and so sweetly, Sheppard opened his mouth into an 'O' shape and couldn't speak. A weak arm reached up to check and gently cupped Teyla's face, patting lightly before staying still, and Teyla reached up to hold his hand to her skin.
"Te…Teyla…?"
"It is me, John. The bullet went through and through. I did not die."
"I thought…"
"I know, I know. Shush, it will all be okay."
Sheppard took a breath in and let it go out slowly. "Don't do that to me again!" He smiled to soften his anguish.
"Likewise. Now sleep again. I will tell Carson you woke up in an hour. Let you get a head start."
Sheppard laughed and Teyla was glad of the desired result.
"Hey, you are in scrubs too."
"I know, I sneaked out of bed to see you when I watched your weak attempt to wake up."
Sheppard laughed again but then stopped, a serious look on his face. "I love you."
"Love you too, John Sheppard."
"Hey, will you marry me?"
"What do you think?"
SGA SGA SGA
The weather and scenery could not have been any better.
Jinny and Jerome, Bee's grand-parents, busied themselves with glee on their beach, making sure everyone was situated on the sand awaiting the marriage ceremony of John and Teyla to begin.
It was six weeks later that both John and Teyla felt strong enough to get married. During that time, Bee had acted as wedding planner, and they had happily left her to it. So when they arrived at the cove, they were bowled over with how pretty Bee and Jinny had made it for them. Fresh flowers adorned the long table they would all sit at for the meal and now everybody was just waiting on the bride to appear.
A casual affair, Sheppard, stood in dark blue jeans and a loose, white cotton shirt and shifted about nervously beside Rodney, who kept chiding him for not being able to stand still for one minute.
"I'm changing your title Rodney!" he snapped. "You are not 'best man', but 'annoying man"
"Oh, ha, ha. John…oh, here she comes!"
Rodney watched as his friend's face moved from pensive to positively beaming in a blink of an eye as he caught sight of Teyla in a long and fitting linen dress with fresh flowers pined on the bodice. She looked stunning.
On her arm was Ronon, who was walking her down the 'aisle' to give one best friend away to the other. He also beamed, although he looked distinctively awkward. Sheppard laughed and Ronon whacked him hard on his other shoulder – not the pained one he was thankful for.
Bee, in the role of bridesmaid, stood to the side where Carson, Lorne, Amelia and their other closest friends stood watching. When they reached Woosley's side they sat down and the ceremony began.
Sheppard and Teyla replied whenever Woolsey asked them to and nodded and smiled at the right times; but really they just had eyes for the other and never strayed away from that position until Woolsey declared they were 'husband' and 'wife'.
Sheppard took a step forward and held her face against his warm palm. He landed a soft kiss on her forehead and then moved his lips to hers and the kiss he gave her almost left her breathless.
"There's more of that to come later." He whispered and joined Teyla in her laugh. "You look beautiful."
"And you look so very handsome, my husband!"
Sheppard raised an eyebrow at that. "So I am! Come on then, wife! Let the party start!
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…..and they lived happily ever after!…..well, until the Wraith came; but that's a WHOLE other story….!
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THE END….
