A/N: Standard disclaimer. See first chapter.
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A Run through a Mine Field
John and Rodney were approaching the jumper bay when John became aware of someone approaching them from the side.
"Rodney, don't panic. We're being followed."
McKay jumped and started to look around when John pushed him from the side.
"Don't look!" John murmured. "Just take some of my stuff as if it's too heavy for me. I need to free up my gun hand."
"Great, now you want me to carry it. I knew you saw me as nothing more than a glorified pack mule," groused McKay, taking John's pack, but looking a little white around the eyes.
John looked at Rodney in appreciation. He could be quick when he needed him to be. "Come on, it's not that far. After all, it's not like you're carrying all that much," he said, removing his handgun from his thigh holster.
"I'll have you know that I'm carrying valuable and delicate instruments used in scientific inquiry."
"Oh puleeze, McKay. Scientific inquiry? You have five power bars and a nail clipper in your vest."
"How'd you know that --?" started McKay, only to be interrupted as Sheppard pushed him to the ground and fired over his shoulder. A yelp from a side passage indicated he had hit his mark.
"Run, Rodney," said Sheppard, sprinting past him as fast as his shoulder would allow.
The guards that had been sent by Mara were slow to realize their prey had gotten away, and even slower to risk John's aim. The two got to the jumpers and were able to get into the closest one before another attempt was made to detain them.
"You need to watch it with the scorned women, Colonel," said McKay as they closed the hatch. He looked over at John who was leaning against the side of the jumper, his face pale with the effort to run with a broken collar bone. "Want me to pilot?"
John looked over at McKay who, for once, was serious. "Yeah," he said, with a hiss as the bone shifted again. "I can't be sure I'll stay conscious. Do you remember how to get out of here?"
"Yeah, and I even remember how we rigged their version of the skylight exit."
McKay sat down at the jumper controls while John slouched back in the co-pilot's seat, easing his left hand back into his pocket to take pressure off the bone. Soon, the jumper came to life and Rodney was easing it out the overhead door.
They headed back toward the gate to set the jumper down in the meadow when John suddenly jerked upright. With a grimace, he asked, "Did you see that? It looked like gunfire."
"Where?" said McKay, looking around for signs of gunfire. The jumper lurched with his inattention, and John hissed again as he caught himself to keep from falling out of the seat.
"Easy, Rodney. Just get us down. Everyone is on their way back to the gate, so we should be able to tell what's going on when we get there."
Quickly, now, McKay approached the gate and landed the jumper. John, who had feared another jolt to his shoulder, had to admit that the scientist's landings were getting better.
John popped the back hatch as McKay disconnected from the controls. "See, Colonel, some of us –"
"Quiet, McKay, and cloak the jumper. Something isn't right."
As if hearing his words, the woods to the right of the jumper once again erupted in automatic weapons fire. John grabbed his P-90 and was out of the jumper on his way to the scene as the two Marines guarding the gate ran up.
"Was that gunfire, sir?"
"Yes, and it is not a good sign. Fall in," said John, without breaking stride. His shoulder was throbbing again, but adrenaline masked the pain, enabling him to maintain a fairly quick pace.
The trail to the gate led through the thick woodland of the planet and through a small boulder field at the foot of a tall hill. As John rounded the first boulder, he could see his father and the Marines attempting to hold off three wraith. One soldier wraith was down while another was feeding on a Marine. The other Marines appeared unconscious. Edward Sheppard was in the grip of one of the wraith that appeared to be the leader. The colonel's face was white and he appeared in shock as the wraith reached for his shirt.
"NO," screamed John, running even faster. As he ran, though, he realized he didn't have a shot. Without his left arm, he couldn't aim carefully enough to avoid hitting his father. Finally, just as the wraith pulled back his hand, John rammed him with his right shoulder, breaking the wraith's hold and causing both to fall.
Though John rolled with the fall, preparing to regain his footing, the move hit his shoulder again. The stab of pain caused his vision to gray and disrupted his roll, giving the wraith time to recover, grab hold of him and throw him against one of the rocks littering the area. There was an explosion of pain as his shoulder hit the rock. He didn't feel his ribs take the brunt of the hit before his head was snapped back and he slipped into unconsciousness.
"Was that gunfire?" asked Beckett, as Ronon, Teyla, and the other Marines took off in the direction of the gate trail. They got to the clearing just in time to see Edward Sheppard walk up to the wraith headed toward John and shoot him in the head with his 9 mil. The wraith's head exploded, and the body dropped to the ground lifeless. Ronon quickly took aim at the other wraith soldier and killed him with one blast. It was too late, however, for the Marine on which he had been feeding.
By this time, Beckett had reached the clearing and was headed to the downed Marines, not seeing the unconscious colonel. Edward Sheppard looked down at the wraith carcass and tried to still his breathing. "I thought they were all gone," he said, looking up dazedly at Teyla.
"The wraith beam down soldiers to capture humans to make culling easier. These had probably already beamed down before the darts were destroyed," she said, walking over to place a hand on the shaken man's arm. "They would have activated homing beacons to have another hive ship come pick them up. By killing them, the planet does not have to worry about a return visit too soon."
Edward Sheppard nodded, then turned toward his son. "Oh my God," he murmured, running over to John where he lay at the foot of the rock. As he approached, he realized that there was a bright red patch on his shoulder, growing larger quite rapidly.
"He's hemorrhaging. Is Dr. Beckett –"
Beckett was assessing one of the Marines who had been thrown against a tree. Hearing the word hemorrhage, he rushed over. Edward Sheppard backed away to give him room.
"Oh bloody hell," he said, taking one look at the widening blood stain and reaching for the pressure point. "He's bleeding out from his subclavian artery."
The doctor immediately applied pressure to the accepted pressure point, but quickly realized that this was difficult with a broken collar bone.
"We have to get him back to Atlantis, now! I need two Marines to go back to the jumper for the stretchers and a body bag. Teyla, can you check the other Marines?"
Teyla, who had been increasing her skills as a field medic, nodded her agreement as she went to the first man and assessed his condition. Finding him unconscious but with normal breathing and no bleeding, she quickly moved to the second Marine who was beginning to regain consciousness.
"Oh, my head, . . ."
"Lie still, corporal, and let me check you over." The man met her eyes and nodded his assent, then responded as she asked questions about his status. Finding him sore but functional, she helped him to his feet and continued to the last of the men who had been with the older Colonel Sheppard. She stepped around the dried husk and moved to the man leaning against a tree, beginning to groan.
"I can't move my leg," he said, almost whimpering in panic.
"Relax, sergeant, and let me look at it." As she suspected, it was broken, and she looked up to call for some assistance when she found Sergeant Rogers at her shoulder.
"I have medic training, ma'am. I can splint that leg so you can get back to George over there."
Teyla nodded her thanks and moved back to the first Marine only to find John's father already there.
"I think he's coming around. I haven't found any wounds or broken bones, so he was probably knocked out." The man kept tending to the Marine, studiously avoiding looking at Beckett fighting for John's life.
Teyla looked at the colonel and realized he was barely holding it together.
"Colonel, should you not be helping Dr. Beckett with John?"
"I've been in plenty of combat situations, Teyla, and I've seen lots of men, some friends, die. But, it's never been, uh, so, uh, --"
"Personal?"
"Yeah," he finished, sweat now obvious on his forehead.
Teyla was beginning to worry the older man could be going into shock, but as she watched him she began to see something else.
"Teyla, I need some help here," said Beckett, motioning her over.
Teyla nodded and looked back at the colonel.
"Give me something to do," he pleaded.
"Dr. Beckett will want to leave as soon as John is on board. If everything else were on board and stowed, it would speed up our departure." She stood up, then, and moved quickly to where Beckett was trying to dig in his medical bag with one hand.
"I'm afraid he's lost too much blood so I want to start an IV. Can you put your hand here and apply pressure?"
Ronon stepped forward. "I'll do it. I know field medicine."
Beckett looked up at the Satedan, remembering his years on the run. "I'm sure you do. On the count of three, one, two, three."
Beckett removed his hand and Ronon slipped in quickly, pressing the artery against the bone to curb the bleeding. It seemed to work since little blood escaped.
"Now, Teyla, I need ya ta hold this bag of saline while I get an IV started."
Teyla took the bag while Beckett swabbed John's arm and prepared to insert the needle. "I hope your veins are still open," he whispered as he eased the needle in. Luck was with him as he hit a vein first time. Setting the apparatus, he opened up the valve and watched as the fluid began to drip regularly into John's arm.
With the IV taken care of, Beckett did a quick scan of John's other wounds. The bullet wound would be taken care of with the same surgery as the artery. He was also concerned with a large lump on the back of John's head and the fact that he hadn't regained consciousness.
As he completed his examination, the Marines sent back to the jumper arrived with the stretchers and the body bag along with a panicking Dr. McKay.
"Is everyone OK? G.I Joe took off and I wasn't sure where he went. Oh," finished McKay as he realized the blood covering Beckett was John's. "What happened? Can't Mara take a hint?"
The two Marines were helping Beckett ease John out flat prior to moving him to the stretcher while Teyla held the IV and Ronon kept a firm grip on the pressure point.
Edward Sheppard motioned to the other two Marines. "Let's pack this up. We need to get Smith on a stretcher with that leg. Two of us can carry that while two carry the body bag."
The men snapped to it, glad to have some direction. While one Marine gently loaded their comrade into the body bag, one more helped Rogers load Smith onto a stretcher.
"Careful of that leg," said Rogers, picking up the man's pack. The last Marine had regained consciousness, and the colonel carefully helped him to his feet. Everyone appeared to be good to go, so the group started off slowly toward the jumper, the two dazed Marines carrying the gear and leading the way.
After Beckett guided the last two Marines in moving John to the stretcher, he took over the pressure from Ronon without breaking the hold on the artery. As they prepared to pick him up, Ronon stepped over and took one end of the stretcher.
"OK, easy does it, gentlemen. Let's get him loaded."
Slowly, the sad little band made its way to the jumper. Rodneystragely quiet, led the way followed by one Marine at the head of the stretcher and Ronon at the foot. Teyla walked along side holding the IV bag, and Beckett moved awkwardly, trying to keep his hand in place. The last Marine kept a much closer eye on the woods as they went through.
Noticing the scientist's lack of chatter, Beckett commented, "Rodney, I hope you realize you are going to have to get us home."
"I'm well aware of that, Carson. In fact, my fondest wish has been to act as ambulance driver on a mission." The scientist was mentally running through the checklist John had taught him for preparation for taking off. Beckett smiled, knowing the caustic commentary was just his way of dealing with the stress.
The rest of the team was loaded by the time the party carrying John reached the jumper. They had stowed as much gear as possible, and a large space had been left on the floor for the two stretchers.
"Careful, then," said Beckett as he awkwardly entered the jumper, still keeping his hand in place.
The second stretcher was lifted in beside John, and the body bag was laid to one side. Many of the team stood, holding on to the rigging so Teyla and Beckett had more room to maneuver.
Rodney accomplished a smooth take off, and Ronon moved forward to enter his IDC for the gate.
"Atlantis, Ronon. Requesting medical assistance be available."
"Always to the point," thought Beckett.
The jumper materialized in the gate room and rose into the jumper bay, as a doctor, two orderlies, and a gurney were rushing forward, Elizabeth right behind them.
"This will be easier if the rest of ye get out first," said Beckett, motioning the rest of the team out. They left, but most still hovered in the bay to be there for their military commander.
Beckett then turned to his medical team.
"Easy, lads. We can't release the pressure until I get a chance to get some more blood in him. Take him straight to surgery," he finished.
He released the pressure point as soon as he was sure the doctor would take over quickly. Teyla handed over the IV, and the medical crew took off at a quick pace, radioing ahead for the facilities they would need.
Elizabeth watched in horror as the team hurried John away, then turned to Beckett. "What happened? It was supposed to be an easy mission."
"Wraith," said Ronon, succinctly.
After radioing for another gurney for the Marine with the broken leg, Beckett turned to Sheppard's team. Motioning Elizabeth over, he ran his hand over his face before beginning. "He was bleeding out of the subclavian artery, so he's going straight into surgery and won't be out for some time. So go get cleaned up and grab some food. We'll do your post-mission checks once you get to the infirmary."
"Carson, you should know he was shot in that shoulder," said Rodney.
Carson let his breath out with a whoosh. "And why am I only just learning about this now, Rodney?"
"Well, we didn't really have a chance to tell you. It's not like we were just taking a stroll in a park."
"Aye, that's the truth. More like a run in a bloody mine field." And with that, Carson Beckett jogged to the infirmary after his most difficult patient.
John's team, along with Edward Sheppard and Elizabeth Weir, just stood there for a moment. The second medical team came for the injured Marine, and took him to the infirmary. Finally, the Marines began to move, four of them taking the body bag containing their comrade to the morgue. Teyla looked over at John's father and recognized delayed shock setting in.
"Colonel Sheppard, you need to rest and eat. John will be fine. Dr. Beckett has always provided the best care for all of us, and I think he finds John something of a challenge," said Teyla, smiling wanly. "We usually wait in the infirmary for news, but Dr. Beckett has already said it will be some time." Taking his P-90, she finished, "Why don't you join us for some food in half an hour? Then we can all go and wait for John."
Edward Sheppard, his eyes glazed and his limbs trembling, just nodded and started toward the quarters John had found for him.
"Dr. Weir, if you join us, we will be able to give you some information on the mission."
Elizabeth nodded, still in shock that a simple mission had once again put John at death's door. Seeing Edward stumble slightly, she hurried after him to make sure he made it to his quarters.
TBC
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