Chapter 6: Unnatural

The standard bandaids in his med kit had been replaced with images of a red-headed mermaid and a yellow fish. He resisted the urge to throw them away, instead shoving them back where he pulled them from with a growl. How they even had those bandaids in Atlantis in the first place he had no idea, and frankly he didn't want to know who originally owned them, because he would never be able to respect them again.

"Problem, McKay?" Sheppard asked, glancing over from checking his water bottle and Rodney shook his head negatively.

"Nothing that a little maturity and having an actual brain couldn't fix." He stood and swung his vest over his jacket, zipping it up and shifting until it was comfortably settled. "I'm good to go," he announced and then began tapping his foot impatiently as the rest of his team finished their own equipment checks.

"Great. McKay's ready so we can leave now," Sheppard announced to Ronon and Teyla, rolling his eyes.

"I was simply trying to point out that if you were a little more competent we would already be underway and home by now."

"When we went to P3X 2RE can you tell me why it took an extra three hours before we got our mission underway? Something about you and not having any clean pants?" Sheppard drawled in that irritating way and Rodney glared at him.

"I can't even remember my scientists' names and you expect me to remember some random planets address?"

"You remember all the planets addresses, McKay. If you could you'd name your scientists by code to keep them straight."

"That idea didn't go over very well with Elizabeth," he agreed, admitting defeat even as Sheppard gave the signal to dial the gate.

This would be their first mission since Rodney had been cleared for duty and he shifted from one foot to the other, impatient to be underway. It wasn't until he stepped out on the other side of the gate that he breathed a sigh of relief. He'd been waiting all morning for Sheppard, Elizabeth or Carson to change their minds about keeping him on the team and scrapping the mission. He hated to admit, even to himself, how relieved he was that hadn't been the case.

"Do you mind getting out of the way?" An irritated voice burst out over his shoulder and he stiffened, recognizing the voice immediately though not knowing the soldier by name.

"Oh, I'm sorry, is the empty five feet of space on either side of me not enough room for you to manoeuvre around?" He didn't move, feeling satisfied as the soldier stepped around him, ignoring how she raised her weapon a little higher in anger. He was too focused on his scanners readings to see the sharp look Sheppard tossed their way. "There's a village over there," he pointed behind the gate, into to odd looking forest.

"Oh! Those trees look like they belong to the Bambusoideae family!" Sarah, the tree hugger they were bringing along on this mission, practically jumped up and down beside him. He rolled his eyes, feeling better than he had in almost two weeks despite the heat of the planet.

"Yes yes, you can take all the samples you want when the guard dogs decide that it's safe to proceed," he started walking to the other side of the gate without waiting for them and held back a grin as Sheppard stepped up causally beside him.

"It wouldn't hurt to take your own advice once in a while would it?" He grumbled as he looked around for danger.

"Relax Colonel, this is the planet of the giant bamboo, what could go wrong?"

An hour later Sheppard would have bitten McKay's head off for saying those words if he wasn't tied to a post made of said bamboo.

"What could go wrong?" he growled at McKay, pulling at his wrists and feeling the rough rope scrape away small patches of his skin. They were strung up like sacrifices at the edge of the town, a river flowing in front of them and what looked like the entire populace gathered around, speaking in harsh tongues.

Two poles over Rodney squirmed, sweat trickling down the side of his face from the hot sun.

"Are we going to seriously talk about how words can come back to bite our asses right now? Shouldn't you be working on a way to get us out of this?"

Sheppard was trying, he really was, but his ropes weren't giving an inch and he was losing feeling in his hands. On his left Ronon growled fiercely, pulling viciously at his bindings until the five men guarding him shoved their spears at him, drawing a line of blood at his neck. For a moment Sheppard's vision clouded red as the runner was threatened, but they backed off once the man stopped moving so harshly.

This was absolutely ridiculous. Introductions had been going fine until a child had pointed at something hanging out of Dr. Ramirez's pack. The warrior's of the tribe had thrown little darts tipped with a paralyzing agent so fast that nobody had even known what was happening until they were toppling over like lopsided dominoes. It had only been a matter of stripping away all their weapons and vests and tying them up before they had regained all their functions. It had been enough to completely incapacitate them.

"Why do I never see this coming?" He wondered out loud.

"You're asking me?! I think we all know how bad I am with people, Colonel," Rodney snapped.

"No, I wasn't actually asking you McKay." Sheppard looked at the men with spears and then at Ronon's sagging body and angry eyes. It looked like the spears were tipped with the paralyzing agent as well. Great.

"Excuse me?" He called out loudly, trying to get the attention of the crowd. "If somebody could tell us what we did to offend you we could apologize and get this all sorted out." The entire tribe turned to look at him at once and he quickly tried on a sincere, innocent grin. It didn't seem to work as they went back to their discussion, but hey, now they were speaking English. Huh, that was…polite of them. It was just too bad he didn't much care for the topic of conversation.

"It is not acceptable on any level! They have murdered without permission!" A woman yelled, tossing a sample bag that held a small bamboo sapling, pulled from the ground only half an hour earlier by Dr. Ramirez.

"Are you serious? This is about a tree?"

"Shut up, McKay," he hissed.

"You venture here stealing from our forests, our family!" The woman yelled. She was clean, her hair pulled back in a series of neat braids and wearing a well fitted leather outfit. She had tattoos covering her arms and legs and carried what looked like a short sword. She looked angry, and she wasn't the only one.

"We didn't mean to steal anything from you," he began to placate her, only to be cut off.

"You don't mean to steal yet you rip things from the land willingly!" A man joined her, sharp eyes piercing his.

"We didn't mean any harm by it, we just wanted to learn more about it."

"Then you should have asked it, not killed it."

"Oh my god, they're crazy," Rodney moaned and Sheppard resisted the urge to try and kick him, even from this distance.

"Shut up, McKay! Before you get us all killed!" Singer suddenly snapped out and Sheppard whipped his head around to glare at her.

"That is enough, Sergeant!" He ordered and watched as she snapped her mouth shut and tried to stand taller. She didn't loose the glare though, and it was aimed at McKay. Great, he needed to worry about whatever was going on between McKay and her on top of trying to get them all out of this. If either of them said anything to make this situation worse-

"Retribution must be made," The leader stood from her place just in front of them, a wave of her hand cutting off the crowd's angry protests at his team's apparent atrocities. The beads on her arms rattled along with the beads on her staff and she turned sharp, appraising eyes on them, resting on Dr. Ramirez the longest. The young doctor squirmed under the attention, her eyes wide with fright.

"We didn't know, I swear. I love plants! They're my life!"

"If you truly loved them you would never hurt them so," she said severely and turned back to her people, who were waiting in silence for her judgement. "Retribution must be made," she announced again and Sheppard didn't like where this was going. "We shall punish she who performed the deed." Ramirez gasped in fear.

"You can't punish her! She had no idea she was breaking your idiotic cultural taboos! She's innocent."

"She is not innocent. Call the elder!" The woman yelled out and the crowd parted as an old man came shuffling from out of his sturdy hut.

"She is so innocent! Look at her! How can she be anything but innocent!" Rodney yelled, suddenly yanking at his bonds again.

"You can't do this," Sheppard ordered, sounding as confident, demanding and dangerous as he could as two guards began approaching her.

"You should have thought about that before letting her murder our forest, our life force."

"Your life force? They're trees!"

"We are connected to everything within our planet, it is the way of all things. You have all lost your paths, you have all become unnatural." The bead woman looked regretful about this, but determined.

"The only one unnatural here is him!" Singer growled, jerking her head across the line. There were three men in her glance, but they all instinctively knew that it was McKay she was speaking of. He paled instantly.

"That is enough, soldier. You will not say another word," Sheppard spit out coldly, feeling a wash of fury roll over him as he tried to cut her down with a look. She shut up instantly and this time seemed to shrink back, turning her eyes away. She had just stepped so far over the line it could never be considered okay, and his look had clearly said all that.

"She's right," McKay suddenly called out and John jerked back to look at him. Jesus, he was going to get whiplash.

"She is not right, Rodney," Teyla came as close to growling as Sheppard had ever heard her, her eyes fixed on McKay though he was only looking at the tribes leader.

"I was the one who ordered her to take the tree," he said with a shaky voice. "She was acting under my direct orders, and as such I am the one ultimately responsible."

"Very well, then you shall be punished in her turn." The guards instantly moved to McKay and cut his bindings, quickly grabbing an arm each between them as they dragged him to their leaders side. "Retribution shall be swift: a life for a life." The crowd seemed to think that was fair as they stood taller, silently nodding their heads.

"Life for a life? Aren't we going a little far here? My mass and intellect far outweigh a tree! My life is nowhere on par with that! I am so far above that I'm, I'm, I'm a human being damn it! Are you people all crazy?!"

"I am sorry, but it is the only way. Elder, cast your tokens, ask which spirit shall be appeased."

"Our people," Sheppard spoke carefully, reigning in his anger, his fear, "do not follow your ways and were ignorant to them. This punishment is not acceptable for the level of our crime. Do not do this." She looked at him and shrugged slightly before looking out at the crowd. She was going to kill McKay to fucking appease her people.

"We are a powerful people with skills far beyond your dreams," Teyla tried to get her attention to no avail and Sheppard tugged harshly at his bindings, not noticing the blood trickling down his arms and soaking into his shirts sleeves.

"I will come back and end you if you do this," he said, feeling cold fold over him like a blanket as he stared at her. Her back stiffened at the tone but she did not turn around. He looked at McKay, feeling utterly helpless, as the old man threw his 'tokens' in the air and watched them fall. God, McKay…Sheppard's chest was tightening in his panic. Rodney looked at him with fear, swallowing thickly before turning his back to them so they couldn't see his face anymore.

"The spirits of the water shall be appeased, for the water provides the essence of life, ultimately deciding who shall live and who shall wither." The old man croaked, pointing a shaking hand at Rodney

"Water?" Rodney jerked, twisting to look at the man, his eyes wide.

"Water?" Sheppard said, ceasing all his struggling. Beside him Ronon remained still, having been poked a few more times by the spears.

"The water spirits give and take away, so it shall be," the woman pointed her staff at the river and the two guards began pulling Rodney to it.

"They are going to drown him" Teyla said softly and Sheppard never thought he'd feel relieved that a friend of his was about to be drowned, but thank god! Rodney got halfway to the river before he remembered to put up a fight.

"You can't be serious! Don't do this! What is wrong with you people?!"

"I am sorry it has come to this. A life for a life, your ignorance will be cured, the death avenged."

"It's a TREE!" Another guard joined the two dragging him to the rivers edge, and he kicked out Rodney's legs as they stopped at the end. Sheppard was yanking at the rope again, having severe issues with what was happening, despite knowing it would be okay. God, he hoped this would turn out okay.

"Let go of me! You can't! You-" They shoved his entire upper body into the water and held him down. Rodney struggled, hard. He almost managed to overbalance one man as a fourth joined them, splashing everywhere. Two of the guards had stepped into the river now, the water flowing around their knees as Rodney thrashed, his legs trying to find purchase. It wasn't long before his struggling weakened and then he stopped moving altogether. His entire upper body bobbed in the shallow water, his feet limply dragging on the embankment, acting as his last tether to dry land.

When the men carried his body out and lay it down, they did so gently, turning his face to the sky before backing away. The entire village was quiet now, staring at the body and then at the people tied to the posts. Sheppard stared at Rodney, looking for any sign that he was okay, but he just lay there like a corpse, water gathering around him in a pool. What if Rodney wasn't really okay? He swallowed thickly, feeling suspended in a place of pain and relief and he didn't know which direction to take. Please let it be relief. He couldn't go through this twice.

"You have threatened my people," the leader suddenly spoke, turning hardened eyes back to him, forcing his attention back to her.

"You just killed one of mine, who do you think has the higher standing here?"

"We live in a land with much threat, in a time of much fear. I can not allow you to live knowing that you wish us harm." She walked over to stare down at Rodney a moment, before looking back. "The fire spirits shall claim you, and burn away your malice. I hope that you will find your peace-" she choked, her words cut off as a strong arm suddenly wrapped tightly around her throat, her own her sword being pressed to her neck. John had been so focused on glaring at her he hadn't noticed Rodney move.

"This is getting ridiculous even for us!" Rodney coughed as the entire tribe took a collective step back.

"He lives!" the elder gasped.

"No thanks to you!" Sheppard saw that Rodney's hand was shaking where he held the tribal leader, her eyes wide as she froze, not knowing what to do.

"He is kin to the water spirits," the old man was crowing and a keening began to flow from the crowd.

"Please forgive us! We did not know, we did not know! We were only doing as our laws abide." The woman in his arms suddenly seemed a lot older, a lot more fearful.

"Yes, well consider this a test, one that you failed. Now release my people and give back all of their belongings." Sheppard had never seen guards move that fast to comply with a prisoners orders, though he supposed having McKay come back from the dead might have a lot to do with it.

He threw on his tack vest and picked up his weapons quickly before moving to aim it at the leader. He stared at the woman who was pulled tightly into Rodney's chest. The scientists arm looked like it could choke the life out of her with ease and the fear in her eyes told John she believed it would.

"You can let go now Rodney, we're okay." He quietly ordered.

"Right, right," he tossed the sword a few feet away before he pulling away from her, stepping back as though touching her made him physically ill.

"I implore your forgiveness." She immediately twisted around to look at him, her eyes threatening tears.

"Well if I abided by your laws I would have to say that ignorance is not an excuse," Rodney moved quickly between Sheppard and Teyla, and glared at her. She was as white as a sheet and one step from falling to her knees. Some of her tribe had already done just that, and not one spear was raised at any of them any more. "Fortunately for you I actually have a brain and a better idea of the value of life. Now get out of our way, we wish to leave. If you follow us I will not be so forgiving."

She merely nodded and they marched out of camp, Ronon swearing under his breath the whole way as his limbs still weren't cooperating with him completely. Sheppard moved right up beside Rodney and put a hand on his elbow to steady him as he tripped.

"You okay?"

"What do you think?"

"I think I'm fucking glad you're a fish, otherwise I'd be committing genocide right about now."

"You mean you'd still be tied to a post right now."

"I'm serious McKay, you all right?"

"I'm fine," he insisted, but he wouldn't look at Sheppard and his forehead was wet from sweat now instead of water. Sheppard frowned. Just behind them Dr. Ramirez followed silently with Ronon and Singer taking the rear. Teyla was ahead of them, moving without a sound and looking decidedly deadly at the moment. Anyone who tried to stop them right now would be suicidal. Sheppard double checked McKay's scanner to be sure they were alone. By the time they reached the gate Rodney was looking a little flushed and his hands were still shaking as he dialled the address. The moment they were in Atlantis Sheppard turned and looked at him directly.

"What's wrong?"

"Does near death experience ring a bell?" the scientist snapped back and took a step away from him and Teyla, who was also watching with concern.

"What happened?" Elizabeth stepped up beside them, frowning at Rodney's wet and dishevelled appearance before focusing on Sheppard.

"The inhabitants don't like it when we pick their flowers. They tried to kill us."

"Is everyone okay?" She looked sharply at each member, lingering a moment on Sheppard's bloody wrists, before her eyes came to rest on McKay, who looked even more uncomfortable under their collective scrutiny.

"I'm fine!" he snapped, wringing his hands together. He was still sweating in the cooler air of Atlantis.

"How about you let the doctor determine that," Sheppard decided.

"Fine. But I'm getting a new change of clothes first," he gestured at his still wet attire. "I'm chafing in places that don't need mentioning." Rodney turned quickly then, wobbling a bit before regaining his balance, and stormed out. Sheppard instantly looked over at the rest of the team, his eyes zeroing in on Singer as she stood beside Ramirez. He walked right into her personal space, staring hard into her eyes and not able to find the words to even begin describing how furious he was with her. He was so far beyond furious at this point. She stood tall, but was having trouble keeping eye contact and instead chose focused at a spot over his shoulder. It was taking a lot of restraint not to hit her right now, not to pound on her until she was nothing more than ground beef. Nobody risked his team's life like that, especially not one of his soldiers.

"Sergeant Singer, you are removed from active duty. Go to your quarters and don't come out until you receive further orders," he bit out, barely moving his lips.

"Yes, sir." She nodded sharply and left quickly, the silence of the entire gateroom following her out.

"Colonel?" He turned to Elizabeth.

"I'll explain in the debriefing, but for now I need to make sure McKay actually goes to the infirmary."

"Will you all be okay?"

"We'll manage."

"Then get to the infirmary. I'll have them send a doctor to do the post mission on Singer in her quarters."

He nodded and left, hoping that McKay had gone to see Carson as he was told. The rest of his team followed silently, but he could feel the tension they all carried.

That had been too close.

TBC.