Chapter 13

Ronon carried Maddy on his back, her head lolling on his shoulder, asleep. Though weary and in pain from numerous burns, he was content to be in the present moment, where he was alive and she was alive, and somewhere there would be food and a bed.

He thought about the huge, silver-edged circle that he'd seen floating high above the burning trees and the deluge of water that had hurtled down from it to drown the flames. Rodney's plan had worked. Ronon didn't know what the ultimate effect of all the seawater would be; not good, he thought. But at least the fires were out, as far as he could tell.

He trudged on through the forest, through burnt areas where heat still lingered and those lucky, untouched green havens where, he sensed, many forest animals had found sanctuary. And at last, in the very early pre-dawn greyness, he met the main forest track and found it occupied with a long, winding trail of men and women, mounted one or two to slowly plodding helgs; dirty, exhausted and stunned by the night's events.

A man turned at his emergence from the forest and pulled up his mount.

"Ronon!" It was Tam, on the young helg, Tayko. "Ronon, lad! And, who's that? Maddy?" Tam shouted further down the column. "Fren! Your Maddy's here!"

A grey figure broke out of the column and kicked up his helg to trot swiftly toward them, then hurled himself off in a running dismount. Maddy, woken by Tam's shout, slid down from Ronon's back and leapt into her father's arms.

"Maddy! I thought you were safe at the Helg!" He held his daughter close and then released her as she let loose a torrent of words in explanation, most of which were so jumbled as to be unintelligible to Ronon. Fren seemed to get the gist, however. He looked at Ronon and held out his hand.

"Thank you," he said and their brief handshake said more than any forced words could encompass.

"Have you seen it, Dad? The thing!" Maddy waved her arms around to show the whirling mass of their rescuer.

Fren nodded slowly and pushed the brim of his hat up away from his eyes. "I think I have, Mads. Folk have been telling, all night, of strange things. Pate, there, he thought he was a gonner, a tree suddenly falling toward him, and then there was something holding it up, and off he runs. Then Melda and her friends got cut off when the wind changed and all-on-a-sudden there's a flat way through the flames and they walks out, safe-as-you-please!"

"That's it!" said Maddy, jumping up and down. "It's our friend."

"I reckon you're right, Mads," he said, flicking her short curls affectionately. "And I want to hear more, especially about that flying thing that doused the flames, because I'm guessing you know a thing or two about that." He looked at Ronon questioningly and Ronon gave an acknowledging nod. "But how's about we chat as we go, hey? Your Mam'll be frantic!"

Fren mounted the old helg, Snorter, and pulled Maddy up before him. Ronon said he could walk, but Tam insisted that Tayko was well able to take their combined weight.

"Might settle him down, too. He's been nothing but trouble since your Colonel led him into mischief!"

Ronon smiled briefly, but wondered how their rescuer would have reacted to Sheppard hurling explosives at it. He mounted Tayko, behind Tam, feeling as if he could sleep where he sat. He'd find out what had happened to his team leader soon enough.

oOo

Rodney had both succeeded and failed, John thought, as he foggily trailed Boudicca through the charred ruins, his legs seeming to move of their own accord, his eyes fixed on the priss's upraised tail, his anchor in a sea of pain and exhaustion. He had watched the stately progress of the magnificent circular array (to which the name 'Waffle' really didn't do justice, if he was honest); he had seen the water fall in streaming torrents to meet and quench the flames and he had even heard the hiss and sizzle and seen billowing clouds of steam rise from the hot earth. But he had also felt the residual heat and stamped futilely at glowing embers, as his boots, their soles melting, had crunched over the charcoal-dry ground. In places he had had to stagger and strain under Boudicca's weight where there was nowhere for her to tread that would not burn her paws. He stumbled and faltered and, though he knew that dawn was fast approaching and that soon the sun would rise and a new day begin, he did not feel a lift in his heart that the lightening sky would normally bring.

John realised, hazily, that Boudicca had led him into an untouched area of the forest and he was aware of twitches and stirrings all around, as if the green, growing areas held twice as much life as usual. He looked up and was vaguely surprised to see a pair of furrens, standing up on their hindlegs, noses twitching, their bright eyes regarding him inquisitively as he passed. They were like a couple waiting to cross a road, he thought, and wondered if the forest animals had declared some kind of temporary amnesty.

He laboured on, his lungs wheezing from inhaled dust and smoke, his eyes itchy, feeling the grime and grit, the blood and sweat, dry and crusted on his skin. His mind flew to the image of a blissful shower, the water gently falling, washing away the dirt and care and exhaustion. And slowly, wonderingly, he realised he could indeed hear the soft pattering of falling drops of water. He stopped and looked around and saw leaves bobbing up and down under the steady drips that had filtered through the canopy. John held out his arms. A drop fell and mixed with the soot on his skin and slid off to one side, creating a long track in the dirt and grime. Another fell and then another and John looked up to see a steady fall, a flurry of drops which landed all around him and on him, running down his upturned face, washing away his despair and replacing it with hope. Through the gaps in the canopy John saw the massed clouds and, squinting and blinking against the water in his eyes, far, far above, in tiny, fleeting snatched glimpses, he saw a circular shape. He smiled and felt the blessed moisture run into his mouth and he filled his wheezing lungs and let out a great shout.

"Go, McKay!"

oOo

It had been a night to remember, thought Lil, as she watched the covered wagons trail away down the road, back to their homes; a night of horror, a night of miracles. The forest had burned, but the fires had been put out; lives had been in danger, but had somehow been saved. The water that had fallen from the sky had been salt and they had rejoiced and despaired at once; and then the rain had come. The rain had come to cool and soak the land and perhaps leach away the salt before much could be absorbed.

The firefighters had returned in a long train of tired, confused but hopeful faces, their families that had gathered in front of the pub waking under the covers of their wagons to find rain running down the canvas and their loved-ones come back to them, safe. There was rejoicing and laughter and, although much had been lost, much had also been saved, and those that had lost land or homes would be helped; all would be well. Then there were the tales of miracles; a creature that no-one could adequately describe that had quelled flames and made paths and even lifted folk out of harm's way. And those last few to wearily wend their way to the Helg were telling of the creature ploughing itself through the newly-damp land, and where it had been it left, not blackened remains, but rich, brown earth, ripe for fresh growth. Lil wasn't sure if she believed that; wishful thinking, surely.

Tam had returned to her embrace and with him Ronon and little Maddy, whose lips had continued to move in an attempt to tell her tale after she had fallen asleep in her thankful mother's arms.

Ronon had been asleep on Tayko's back and, when he had refused to be dislodged, Tam had calmly led Tayko into his stall where the helg had lain down and shrugged Ronon off. He had merely mumbled his teammates' names, his eyelids had briefly flickered to take in his surroundings and he had let himself drift off again, seemingly content with his surroundings.

Lil, standing at the threshold of the Happy Helg, watching the last wagon splash away through the puddles, decided she'd better get cooking; there would be appetites aplenty soon. She began to turn away from the misty grey-green morning but then paused and peered out into the rain. There was a movement and a rustle in the trees opposite, and the priss, Boudicca, limped out into the churned-up mud, pressing her paws into the cool softness as if they hurt. Then behind her a tattered figure lurched out of the trees, took a couple of tottering steps and then crumpled to his knees, to plant his hands in the mud also, and drop his head to watch as the wetness oozed up between his fingers.

Lil lifted her shawl up over her head and ran out into the rain.

"John!"

He didn't seem to hear her or even register her presence. Lil crouched down and let go of her shawl and felt the rain wetting her hair and running down her face and her neck. She reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up.

"'S raining," he slurred.

"Yes, John, it is." She looked at his ravaged clothes and skin, bits of filthy dressings clinging to his arms, a bruise rapidly purpling around a gash in his forehead. "What have you been doing now?" she asked.

His familiar half-smile flickered across his face and then his eyes lost their focus and he slumped sideways. Lil caught him before he slid into the mud and, knowing she hadn't a chance of carrying John into the building herself, looked into the tired yellow eyes of the priss whose fur was now clumped in sopping tufts.

"There's a place by my kitchen fire and as much stew as you can eat, Madam Priss, but I need you to fetch Tirren for me first," she said.

Boudicca blinked, flicked her wet ears and disappeared down the path which led round to the kitchen garden.

"Well, then," she said to the sleeping John, "That's two of you accounted for. Where's the rest of your team?"

oOo

Teyla tried in vain to suppress another yawn. She lowered herself gratefully into the padded comfort of the Jumper's co-pilot's seat and then thought that she should stand up, or she would be sure to fall asleep, and Rodney needed her to keep him awake. Teyla heard the hatch close and then there was the soft whump of something heavy landing in the pilot's seat. She realised her eyes were closed, forced them open and turned her heavy head to the side.

Rodney looked dazed, his eyes dull, but he turned and gave her a tired smile. Then he frowned, his eyebrows crunching together slowly as if even that much movement took a monumental effort.

"What day is it, Teyla?"

"I do not know, Rodney." She made an effort to think. "I believe we set out from Atlantis three days ago."

"Oh. Three. Yes. Three."

"Is that significant?" Teyla gave up trying to suppress her yawns and felt her jaw stretch.

"Uh... Yes. Yes, we should check in. Sam said three days. Didn't she? I think."

Rodney stared apathetically at the on-board DHD.

"I will dial, Rodney," Teyla said, hoping it would keep her awake.

The euphoria of seeing the raindrops falling against the windshield of the Ancient craft and flying back and forth through the developing rainclouds had long since worn off. It was a job very well done, Teyla thought. But now it was time for rest. And food. She blinked, clearing the mist from before her eyes, and dialled the Gate. Soon she was aware of Colonel Carter's voice calling Rodney and then herself and her teammates' names. She looked at Rodney. He was asleep, his face resting on the controls. Teyla stood up and took a few deep breaths.

"Colonel Carter, this is Teyla."

"Teyla! What's happened? Rodney was telling me about a forest fire? Then something about being the Rain Man?"

"I am sorry, Colonel. We are very tired."

"Is Colonel Sheppard there? Do you need assistance?"

"The Colonel is not here. Or Ronon. We are docked with an Ancient craft."

"And the fire? Were there casualties? Do you need a med team?"

"The fire is out," said Teyla. "I believe the planet's inhabitants may be in need of medical assistance."

"And the Colonel and Ronon?"

"We have not heard from them." Teyla sagged against the back of Rodney's seat and felt herself drift.

"Teyla!"

She jumped and pinched herself hard on one arm.

"Yes, Colonel, I am here!"

"Teyla, I'm sending Dr Keller with a med team and I'll send a military team as well."

"Thank you, Colonel."

"Are you and Rodney okay? Is he safe to fly?"

"We are above the forest. It is just a short flight to the Helg." Teyla looked at Rodney, his mouth slack, drooling on the flight controls. "I will keep him awake," she said determinedly.

Sam's worried voice came once more. "I'll see you soon, Teyla. Atlantis out."

Teyla bent down and shook Rodney's shoulder, hard.

"Rodney! Rodney! You must wake up!"

"Go 'way."

"Rodney, the Waffle's autopilot is set! We need to find John and Ronon!"

"'Kay," he said, unmoving.

"Rodney!" Teyla pinched his arm.

"Ow! What? Teyla?" Rodney sat up and blinked crossly.

"Rodney!" she said, bringing out her command voice. "We need to go! Release the docking clamps and take us to the Helg! Now!"

"Oh. Yes."

Rodney's hands skittered over the controls and Teyla kept encouraging and ordering him and occasionally pinching him until they landed outside the Happy Helg. Then she lowered the hatch, pushing Rodney before her and they immediately learned three things: that John was asleep upstairs in his room, that Ronon was asleep in the barn and that Rodney had left his boots on the Waffle. He stood in the mud and the still drizzling rain and looked down at his socks in dismay, as they sank slowly into the mud.

"Never mind," Lil smiled. "Come inside," she continued. "There's hot food and warm beds and more than just your teammates waiting for you."

"Boudicca?" Rodney's eyes brightened.

"And the little ones."

Lil ushered them inside and Teyla was aware of very little else than hazily consuming something warm, the challenge of the steep flight of stairs and then the welcome quiet of her room and the softness of the bed.

oOo

The sky was lit orange, the fire spat and cracked, and burnt wood shifted and fell. Time to run; run over the blackened remains, through choking ash and plumes of smoke, the flames a jeering crowd to either side, scorching skin, burning hair, snapping at his heels. Run! Run or be devoured.

John sat up, coughing and choking, something over his mouth and nose, which he tried to push away. The obstruction was removed, there was a calm voice, and it was not the sky glowing nor leaping wildfire that lit it, but the white-washed walls of his room at the Helg reflecting the soft glow of the tame fire in the grate. The voice belonged to Jennifer Keller, an oxygen mask in one hand and a cup of water in the other, which she passed to John. He drank and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and passed the cup back to her.

"Okay?" she asked.

He nodded and croaked, "Yeah," and noticed that the other two beds were occupied; Rodney, curled protectively around his bandaged wrist and Ronon, lying on his front, various dressings patching his back and shoulders. John looked questioningly at Keller.

"Burns," she murmured. "Could have been a lot worse. Then she asked, "How do you feel?"

"F-," he began, automatically, then thought about it. "Thankful to be alive," he said eventually, which he knew wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"Hmm..." Keller sounded disapproving, as if she were determined to get to the bottom of that statement. "Seeing as you're awake, eyes open and everything, for a change," she said, stacking up his pillows so that he could sit back comfortably, "I want to get a proper look at them."

"Huh?"

"Your eyes. Teyla said you had dust and grit in them, and then there was all that smoke, all of which, incidentally also went in your lungs, hence the precautionary oxygen mask."

"Oh. Yeah. Is Teyla okay?"

"She's fine. Just a strained knee, which she needs to rest."

John tried not to squirm while Keller did her thing with eye drops and an uncomfortably bright light uncomfortably close to his eye.

"So," she murmured as she peered, ratcheting the little dial on her instrument, "I found your usual collection of damage picked up from treating your body like some kind of all terrain vehicle." John smirked and huffed a laugh, which made his head bob. "Keep still, Colonel. But my informant..."

"Teyla," he interrupted.

"Mmm... Ronon too." She swapped to the other eye. "They told me, be sure and check your ribs because you had one hell of a bruise."

"Oh," he said.

"Oh," she agreed. "What's the story?"

"Um, well, yeah." He avoided her gaze and fiddled with the blankets. "I think one of 'em was cracked and then I fell down a hill and then..." He paused again, then mumbled, "Pretty sure I was, um... dying. And then that thing fixed me."

"Fixed what?" she insisted.

"Oh, you know, punctured lung, blood everywhere, that kinda thing."

Jennifer sat down on the bed. "How did it fix you?" she asked, her voice carefully restrained.

He remained silent and rubbed the spot on his chest where the Guardian's substance had invaded his body; because, yes it had saved his life, but it had been an invasive act nonetheless.

"I see," she said realising he didn't want to tell her. "Did you lose much blood?"

He shrugged.

"Did it... replace any?"

"Maybe?"

She breathed out a long sigh. "I think you have a date with my scanner, Colonel. And I see what you meant by, 'thankful to be alive,' now. Anyway," she got up and sorted through her medical bag. "You have a couple of minor corneal abrasions, but some eye drops should sort that out."

John held himself rigid again while Keller put drops in his eyes; they stung and he wanted to rub them.

"It's tomorrow night, right?" he asked. "I mean, the fire was last night and I missed most of the day, but..."

"Yes, it is," she said. "And Colonel Carter came here and then gave up and went back to Atlantis because none of your team could stay awake long enough to give any kind of sensible report."

"Oh."

"And I took my team on a tour of the farms, courtesy of the very lovely landlord and his kind of bumpy cart." John shuffled down the bed and Keller helpfully rearranged his pillows. "Checked out the locals, treated some burns, some smoke inhalation. Nothing too serious," she said, at his worried look.

"And now you're playing night nurse, too?"

She shook her head. "Just for a couple of hours. My shift's nearly up. And you should go back to sleep."

"Hmm, yeah, he said, drowsily. "Hope there'll be plenty for breakfast."