Jumper parking was at a premium in the heavily forested area, and John ended up having to put down almost a full click from the village.
As they moved quickly over the slippery ground towards the far side of the houses, he thanked whatever lucky charm someone had that the storm seemed to be falling off. The cloud cover abated slightly, giving them more light to work with. It was still gray and miserable, but at least now it was passable. Although the leaves on the trees were still incredibly thick and wet, and every time someone brushed past a branch they were painted with water. The entire team was now just as drenched as Ronon – without having taken a dip.
The life signs detector apparently didn't appreciate the water, and the atmospheric unrest was giving it issue. Either way they were still unable to get a clear reading other than to note that the population of the village was all, well, in the village. Normally it wouldn't have been a concern… but no one from Lorne's team was answering their radios.
Not usually a good sign.
They reached the village common area and found it empty, everyone having most likely taken refuge inside from the storm. As they moved through the small village, the sound of raucous laughter reached their ears and they followed it to a small building on the far side.
"When in doubt, find the tavern." He shrugged, pushing open the front door.
Lit with candles and torches set in sconces along the wall, and heated by a roaring far in the hearth at the back, the little tavern was filled to capacity. The inside was small, and each of the four tiny tables were jammed with fists holding mugs of some local brew. People leaned against the walls, stood talking in groups, milling about, and generally finding room where they could.
Laughter hiccuped and died as the patrons stopped their conversation, and turned to stare at the newcomers.
"Uh… hello." John nodded, watching the wary stares of the tavern goers.
Ronon brushed past and moved to the bar, leaning his elbow on the surface to turn to stare at the crowd. Everyone seemed to ignore him in favor of watching the three people in uniform, and the large guns they carried.
"Ah! Teyla Emmagen!" Came a shout from the far corner. "You look a little wet!"
Teyla smiled, angling her head to see who'd made the comment, but the room was too full. The comment sent a roar of laughter through the entire tavern and as suddenly as the conversation stopped, it started up again, and everyone went back to where they were.
"Well that was interesting." John glanced at Teyla, who shrugged. Moving towards Ronon, who was in conversation with the bartender, John was followed first by Teyla, then Rodney, then Sanchez.
"Says he saw our people this morning when they arrived." Ronon turned towards John.
"Did they come back through here?" John leaned forward, and addressed the portly man.
The bartender shook his head. "I did not see them return. Once the rains come… well… as you can see… I'm a little busy."
"Your friends…" A buxom brunette with a revealing top sashayed up between John and Rodney. "Were they… dressed like you?" She smiled directly at John.
Rodney rolled his eyes.
"Yes." John turned towards the woman and the very low-cut dress. Eyes up, Sheppard.
"I saw them." She tilted her head to the side.
"Leave them alone, Nina." The bartender scowled. "If you know where they're friends are, just tell them. It's a nasty day to be caught outside."
Nina scowled at the bartender and let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine. I saw your friends with Inta when the storm cruxed. But her house is empty."
"Inta?" John looked to the bartender for confirmation.
The bartender nodded. "Inta's husband, Turne, is on our village council. If someone needed assistance he'd provide it. He may have given your friends shelter from the weather."
Nina shook her head. "There was no one there when I went by to see if I… could be of any… assistance." She smiled suggestively at John. "I could… um… escort you, if you'd like?"
"Nina!" The bartender growled. "Get back to work."
Nina glared across the bar, then turned a bright smile on John before backing slowly away. "Well… You know where to find me…"
"Edge of town. Second house at the back." The bartender said quickly to John. "Has a maroon front door."
"Thanks." John rapped the bar twice with his knuckles, then turned towards the others. "Let's go."
"I'll just sleep here." Jen muttered from her position on the floor in the basement corridor.
"No go, Jen." Evan ducked his head under Jen's right arm and pulled her to her feet. Wrapping his left arm around her waist to keep her steady, he stood up slowly, taking her with him.
"Whoo." Jen exhaled as the room tilted crazily. Her left hand automatically clutched her stomach as it rolled over.
Evan's fingers tightened against her hip and she inhaled slowly.
"Okay?" Evan watched her carefully.
She nodded slowly.
With Williams and Edison on point, Evan helped Jen down the corridor.
He couldn't take the chance that Michael or his hybrids knew about the cellar. Jen wouldn't be on her feet long, but she couldn't stay here. They needed to find someplace safe to hide her. She was too sick to be running around in a damn hurricane.
Without communication, they had no way of knowing if Sanchez had even made it back to the gate to begin with. Anything could have happened – including Michael.
But communication wasn't an option when your radio spent fifteen minutes underwater. Jen brought the units with her, but the gallon of water that drained out when he picked his up pretty much told Evan that any contact with Atlantis was going to be in person only.
Until he knew differently, he was going on the deduction that they were on their own.
"That was a nice hook you threw." He offered, hoping to keep her talking. Keep her awake. Keep her moving.
Jen snorted, and fought to get her feet to cooperate.
"Laura said it would come in handy." She added.
"Laura?" Evan stopped before the turn, waiting until Williams waved the all clear. "Thought Ronon was giving you lessons."
"Not any more." Jen shook her head against his shoulder. "Ronon hates me."
She stumbled and he pulled her upright again, pausing to let her gain her bearings before they tackled the staircase.
Evan glanced at her face, concerned with her pale pallor. He guided her towards the stairs.
"Hates you, huh."
She nodded. "Said something stupid. Can't take it back. Won't talk to me now."
"He talks?" Evan smiled, reaching the bottom step.
Jen's fingers gripped the railing so tightly her knuckles were white. Not that they had much color at the moment anyway.
"Used to. To me. Been two weeks now." She sighed.
Evan pulled her up the first step.
"I'm sure he doesn't hate you."
"Does." She muttered, not caring how childish it sounded.
He paused on the top step until Williams and Edison checked the area above. On Edison's clear, they moved up the last step.
The top room was some kind of general store, with displays and stacks of items placed strategically about the building. Evan helped her sit down onto a stack of flour next to the display case.
Jen dropped her arms to her side and slid herself slowly to the floor. Resting her head on her arms, she closed her eyes and curled into a ball, tucking her legs up under the oversized wrap.
Williams and Edison took sentry positions beside the front door, angling a look out the front windows into the narrow alley.
Evan moved behind the counter, fingering the sheer drape to the side so he could see out along the side of the building. Rain still fell, but the volume was no where near as torrential as before, and judging from the lack of roaring, the wind had calmed as well.
Williams glanced at the Major. Evan moved towards the Lieutenant.
"We can't be moving her around." Williams shook his head.
"Can't leave her here." Edison replied from the far side of the window.
"That transmitter still flashing?" Evan angled his chin at Williams.
"Apparently. Shouldn't we destroy it?" The lieutenant asked, as he removed the small device from his pocket and handed it to Evan.
"Damage has already been done." Evan shook his head, and tucked the scanner into his vest. "Besides. McKay might be able to work his magic with it. Reverse engineer it or something."
"How much time you think we have?" Williams asked.
Evan shook his head. "If Marna was telling the truth? About half an hour."
"To get to the lab." Edison finished.
"The one we destroyed." Williams shrugged. "Maybe he'll think we're trapped inside and go home."
"Yeah, 'cept for the big hole in the roof we left." Edison frowned.
"He might not notice." Williams suggested.
"Doesn't matter either way." Evan shook his head. "We have no idea how many hybrids he's bringing with him. We might be able to take them out, or we might just piss him off. We can't pass up the opportunity to take him down, but we can't afford to walk into a trap. We can't leave the Doc, and we can't take her with us."
"Catch-22." Edison shook his head.
Evan ran his hand across his face and turned to look back at Jen, still curled tightly in a ball on the cold, wooden floor. His mind raced through scenarios, and he couldn't come up with a single thing that wasn't going to get one, or all of them killed.
"Okay." He nodded. "Michael will find the lab in lockdown. He'll do one of two things. Leave…"
"Good…" Edison said hopefully.
"Or come to town." Evan finished.
"Not so good." Edison shook his head.
"So we'll wait."
"Wait." Williams brow furrowed.
"He's not going to come blasting into town if he thinks we're dead in the lab." Evan angled his head towards the basement stairs. "He's going to come looking for his friends."
"And when he does?"
"We'll be waiting." Evan nodded, then turned to check on Jen.
"Why do I get the feeling this is not going to end well?" Edison muttered.
"Because you're a half-empty kind of guy." Williams turned back towards the window and parted the edge of the curtain, his eye scanning narrow alley. "I however, prefer to think of the glass as half full."
"Of booze, maybe." Edison snorted, taking up position against the opposite window.
"Now you're talking." Williams grinned, glancing hopefully around at the crates in the store.
"Is that all you think about?" Edison laughed.
"No." Williams looked offended. "Well. Maybe."
Leaving them on sentry duty, Evan ignored their half-assed conversation and moved further into the store, looking around for something he could use to get Jen off the cold floor. But aside from small sacks of feed grain and an assortment of cooking supplies, he couldn't find anything remotely useful.
He moved back to Jen and knelt beside her. When he placed hishand against her forehead she sighed, letting out a soft moan. The temperature of her skin quickly seared his palm.
"Damn, Jen." He whispered. Shit. She was really hot.
"Go away." She muttered, with a small shake to her head, flipping her hand weakly.
"Jen?" He pushed the hair away from her face. "It's Evan. Can you open your eyes for me?"
She smirked and made a soft sound.
He asked her a second time, and then a third before she finally complied. Rolling her head slightly, she blinked open her eyes then winced, shutting them again.
"Come on, Jen. Lemme see those eyes."
She squinted, and frowned up at him in confusion.
"Evan?" She blinked slowly.
"It's me." He frowned, not bothering to hide his concern. "How are you feeling?"
"Run over." She snorted, shaking her head.
Evan didn't like the glassy stare any more than he liked the heat radiating off her.
She gave him a barely-there smile and closed her eyes again. "God my head hurts."
"Yeah, I bet it does." He said softly.
He switched hands, placing his left on her forehead. She smiled and let out a soft grunt. "Better." She mumbled, her voice cracking.
Evan caught Williams and Edison's worried glance from the front of the store and he shook his head.
This wasn't good.