Chapter Six

A low rumble from the hallway behind them caused Ronon to turn his head away from the shadowy entrace of the massive chamber Sheppard had just entered.

"What?" Rodney said catching sight of Ronon's furrowed brow.

"Shh-" Ronon commanded, his hands poised mid air as he listened with his eyes closed.

Teyla listened as well, though her opened eyes searched the rocky corridor for some indication of what the far off noise could be.

Ronon opened his eyes quickly and whispered to them harshly, "We need to move...NOW."

Rodney's eyes widened. "Why? What is it?"

Ronon turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow. "Footsteps..." He paused. "Alot of them."

He started to climb a short rock wall that was not too far behind him and held out a hand for Teyla as she followed suite, her eye catching the same ventilation shaft above as Ronon had.

Rodney turned back towards the entrance. "What about Sheppard? We can't just leave him..."

This time Teyla turned back as she hung from the edge of the wall, her hand reaching out to aid Rodney as he stood there adamant.

"We are of no use to Colonel Sheppard if we are caught Rodney. We will find him again. Now come. Give me your hand."

The comforting small smile on Teyla's face momentarily washed Rodney's fears away and he positioned his weapon to sling low across his back before taking her hand and starting to mount the wall face.

Once they were all along the narrow top, Ronon easily removed the small gate blocking the airshaft and laid it quietly along the dirt's edge. He crawled in first, his massive body just barely fitting in the squared-off tunnel and Rodney waited only a few moments before entering after him.

By the time there was room enough for Teyla to enter, the footsteps Ronon had heard earlier had arrived and the entrance to the chamber Sheppard was in was flooded with people and creatures of the likes Teyla had never seen. She ducked down low as she barely peered over the edge in an attempt to see what was happening and gasped slightly, sucking in a small flutter of sand as she did.

Four men were carrying Colonel Sheppard overhead, one of them she barely recognized as Major Lorne. Crusted blood and dirt covered Colonel Sheppard's unconscious face and Teyla quickly lowered her head and crawled as quick as she could to report to the others.

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