Part 6 of 10

Since the last part was sort of short and this one is too…I decided to go ahead and post another today.

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John followed Ronon's lead, working quickly and trying to quell the frantic need to just start pulling at things and tossing them aside. It'd surprised him at first, to see Ronon's initial restraint and calm, but he'd realized just as the Satedan had that one false move, one hasty decision and the precariously stacked pile of rubble would collapse on McKay.

Rodney had held on this long, and John wasn't about to let him down now.

Teyla held a light for them to work by and Sheppard could hear her from time to time explaining to Rodney exactly what they were doing, reminding him that they would have him out of there soon and reassuring him that he was not alone.

Carson had joined her, trying to monitor Rodney's vitals as well as he could from the odd angle and cramped spacing. What frightened John the most though, was that through it all—there'd been no response from McKay. Other than that first desperate grab for John's wrist there'd been nothing. No complains, no exaggerated moans, no demands for them to hurry up—nothing.

Carson asked questions but got no answers and, as of yet,couldn't get close enough to do more than brush his fingers over the top of McKay's head, which John noted, the doctor continued to do despite the awkward and painful looking angle it put him in.

"There." Ronon pointed to a large relatively flat piece of debris. "We move that and we should only have that beam left."

John nodded and moved to help, pitching forward with another wave of dizziness. Dex caught hold of his bicep and pulled him to standing before he could smash his face into the floor. "Take a break." He pushed John back a step towards where Rodney's guide rested silently.

"No." John jerked free. "I'm fine."

"Sheppard."

"No." John picked up the fragment of wall himself. It was surprisingly light, to his relief. He heard Ronon muttering something about being an idiot, but ignored him. They could finally reach McKay.

Carson had already scooted closer and was gently wiping Rodney's face with a clean bandage and checking the suddenly visible wound on McKay's temple. Even one handed, Carson's movements were confident and skilled.

"We need you to move so we can get that beam off of him," John reminded.

"Let me check him first."

Ronon wiped his brow and frowned. "Why? Faster we get that off him, faster we get can all get out of here."

"I realize that." Carson didn't look up. Instead he began to run his good hand over McKay's visible shoulder and down his side. "But if he has some other serious wound and this beam is the only thing keeping him from bleeding out..." He kept up his exam, never finishing his thought. Carefully he moved around Teyla and climbed over piles of debris they'd set aside.

John felt a new fear stab at his gut. Carson only had one working hand and no surgical or trauma supplies. He knew whatever Mara's people had would be too antiquated to be of any use. What had he been thinking? He should have sent Ronon and Teyla back to the gate to radio Atlantis for help, but...there'd been no time, not really. Even if he had, there was no room down here for the equipment they'd need to get Rodney out of here alive, not if he had the kind of injury that Carson was referring to, and then there were the damn tremors. Oh God...

"Thank heavens." Carson's words brought John's head up.

"What?" He could see where Carson had managed to get over the beam and on the other side of Rodney.

"It's definitely resting on him but it's not crushing. I've found no signs of any bleeding. I'm fairly certain we can move this monster without hurting him worse."

John's doubtful "Fairly?" was drowned out by Ronon's incredulous "We?"

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Despite his sarcasm, Ronon refused to let John help, instead, telling him to get McKay out of the way fast.

Carson, though relieved at not finding any other visible injuries, was still concerned about Rodney's back and possible internal damage, but he understood. There wasn't room to shift the beam anywhere else—they had to move Rodney.

They acted fast this time, Teyla helping to stabilize Rodney as much as they could while dragging him.

"Hurry!" Ronon grunted as he supported the long wide beam across his thigh, sweat rolling down the sides of his face. "Move."

When they had Rodney clear- instead of just dropping the beam, Ronon uncharacteristically set it back down with great care.

Carson hovered over Rodney directing John as they slowly rolled him over. To everyone's surprise and relief, McKay groaned.

"Rodney?" Teyla touched the side of his face, her other hand still caught in his tight grip. Bleary, watering eyes blinked open.

John felt an indescribable sense of relief as bloodshot blue eyes met his. "Hey."

Rodney grimaced. "About time you showed up." His voice was harsh and raw but John smiled even as Carson shushed them both and insisted they needed to get moving.