Chapter 5
McKay had been ecstatic that his plan had worked; he had changed the cloak into a shield, and then managed to some how nudge the ship to the nearest moon where they could land relatively safe, and then had opened the other ships rear hatch from the outside, he was a little proud of himself, the pride was quickly replaced with fear for his friend. They panicked at the time it had taken, it had taken near enough twenty minutes, they had little hope that Sheppard would still be alive but they had to check, if only to bring his body back. McKay had tried to calculate how much air would be left inside of a jumper not running on life support, considering the space within and a person's normal breathing rate, he couldn't see Sheppard actually getting out of this one. He had tried to follow Sheppard's advice to lighten up and stop being such a pessimist, but he honestly couldn't see it ending any other way. His mind flashed back to what they had found in the ship…
x-X-x
They all shared one last somewhat hopeful glance before they left the confines of their own ship. Had they had the time to comment, Teyla would have called the sight outside beautiful. The light atmosphere of the moon they had landed on and the slight breeze created a hazy effect, the effect you got on a lazy, hot day. The sun shone lightly through the thin clouds almost making the ground glow. The air was thin but it was liveable, a stream ran long the side of where they had landed, the ships causing a slight indent in the dusty ground, the ground was sparsely littered with trees, meaning lots of open space to land. It was luck y they had found a moon close by. Sheppard's ship had drifted off course further out of the system he had been in. the stars could just be seen twinkling as the dusk set in.
Their attention focused on the seemingly undamaged ship before them, they moved hastily towards it. They would be protected for now, but anything could happen, they needed to hurry. They needn't have spoken a word; they all knew what was required of them in this situation. McKay mumbling techno babble under his breath, reached to open the hatch to the ship, it took a few minutes.
The hatch hissed as it released, the first thing they noticed was the overpowering metallic smell of blood, they could just about see it smeared within the ship from the dim light penetrating the front part of the jumper. The next thing they noticed was the mess of black hair peeking just above the pilot's seat; this forced them into action. They all walked to the front of the ship as quick as possible, hoping for any movement from their friend, nothing. The lack of movement caused alarm within them, Sheppard even asleep would be aware of their presence. Only Teyla moved closer, as they couldn't all fit.
Looking upon Sheppard she gasped in fear, Sheppard looked dead, his chest seemed still. She reached out with a shaking hand, hoping to find a pulse. Ronon and McKay could only watch with baited breath as she tried to find the life in their friend. He hadn't made a noise, the silence lingering within the ship like the smell death. She pleaded in her head to the ancestors that he would live, at first she couldn't find a pulse, she pressed harder into his icy skin, that was when she felt it, his pulse. But, it was very weak, he needed medical attention now. He wouldn't last much longer and they still had hours to travel.
x-X-x
McKay, Teyla and Ronon had been waiting in the infirmary waiting area for the better part of three hours, they couldn't settle. Ronon was leaning against a wall, tension emitting from him, McKay pacing, Teyla sat serenely, for the first two hours, now she was fidgeting in her seat. They were all worried that this time Sheppard's luck may have run out, not that he had the greatest of luck anyway.
At first, Dr Beckett had tried to get them to leave, make them rest, but knowing them like he did he stopped asking and knew they would wait out here, no matter how long it took. They had unspoken rules when either of them was in the infirmary; they would stand vigil and watching over the team mate until that member was safe, and not before they knew. Unfortunately, it was this group in particular that stood waiting the most, Sheppard always found away to land himself in the infirmary, both Ronon and McKay had commented on the fact. Dr Weir had been called away but wanted to be kept informed, though she hadn't wanted to leave. She needed to know he would live.
Suddenly, the doors opened and out stepped a tired looking Dr Beckett. His overalls covered in crimson blood. They all struggled to remain composed until they knew the answer, questions racing in their minds. Had they gotten him back in time? Would he live? It seemed as if he didn't know what to tell them for a moment, sensing this McKay panicked and stuttered.
"I-i-is…he…" Beckett, seeing the worried looks around him, interrupted McKay and apprised them of Sheppard's condition.
"No lad, he aint dead, but he came damn close, so he's going ta be pretty weak for a while." They all sighed in relief, but wouldn't be moved until they saw him themselves.
"May we see him?" asked Teyla calmly, her composer now regained.
Beckett smiled and replied. "Of course ye can lass, just try not ta be disturbing him." Teyla nodded, and moved towards where Sheppard was being settled into the main infirmary. Ronon and McKay followed.
Surrounded by medical equipment, Sheppard seemed small and fragile; they however knew that this wasn't true. It weighed heavily on them just how close they had come this time.
Green eyes flickered open, they seemed confused for a moment, but after looking around they settled and their owner spoke, albeit a little strained.
"Hey guys" he paused for a moment; he became aware of a dull pain in his side. He knew he was in the infirmary, but didn't know how he got there; last thing he knew was stars. "What happened?"
"What else Sheppard, you broke another jumper." McKay baited. Sheppard smiled a little at the usual answer from McKay, it seemed that is was of course him that always broke them. Teyla shook her head lightly and turned to John.
"I am glad that you are looking better, John" Sheppard smiled in appreciation at her. She always had a very calming effect on everyone.
Before McKay could pipe up again Beckett shooed them away, with the exception of Ronon. Beckett knew that the team would have already thought up a roster on watching over Sheppard. Beckett smiled and walked away knowing that Sheppard would be looked after by his team.
Ronon settled himself on the chair close to Sheppard's bed, putting his feet up so they rested just on the edge of the bed. Sheppard closed his eyes, drifting away slightly in to the land of sleep he opened them again, fighting the sleep. If he slept then they would be gone again he thought fearfully. Ronon sensed this fear and knew what to say.
"Go to sleep Sheppard" the tone used was ordering but friendly.
Sheppard was used to this sort of response from Ronon, knowing that it was his way of saying that he would be there when Sheppard woke up. Sheppard smiled and allowed himself to sleep. He was safe and no longer alone in the vastness of space.
The end
Sadly that is the end of this little fic, I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please read and review, let me know what you thought. Until next time then…