"Ronon?" Sheppard called as he began to work his way down the cliff face towards his fallen friend whilst Teyla and McKay looked on in horror. Teyla's first reaction was to scramble down to aid Ronon. However, she knew that the fall was not bad enough to cause serious injuries and her efforts were better spent on getting Ronon out of the hole he was in. Trusting in Sheppard she looked to McKay and said.

"Help me find something to help Ronon back up."

"Like what?" McKay asked. "It is not like we were carrying climbing gear."

"Rodney!" Teyla said sternly.

"Ok fine, I could maybe use the vines, if they are strong enough." He conceded before looking at the surroundings in greater detail.

Down below Sheppard was desperately trying to wake Ronon up and assess his injuries. As he ran his hands behind Ronon's head he felt something warm and almost sticky. Pulling his hand away he saw the all too familiar crimson stain. Turning round Sheppard shouted up.

"Teyla, can you look in my bag? There should be a first aid kit in there."

A few moments later Teyla's head appeared. "I have it. I will drop it down." After Sheppard had collected it she waited patiently for Sheppard to finish his examination before asking.

"How is he?"

"He took a blow to the head, it is bleeding, but I've seen worse. No obvious signs of breaks." He called up. "Have you or McKay got us a way up if Ronon can't walk?"

"Rodney believes he can make a harness and a pulley system." Teyla replied as Ronon began to stir.

"Take it easy buddy." Sheppard said whilst trying to stop Ronon moving. "You fell and hit your head."

"Hurts." Ronon groaned, clearly dazed from the blow to his head.

"Your head? I'm not surprised. I can give you some-"

"No."

"If it hurts you should take something." Sheppard advised.

"Not head." Ronon said whilst grimacing.

"What else hurts?" Sheppard asked, wondering if he had missed something important.

"Side. Caused me to fall." Ronon gasped as Sheppard began to lift Ronon's shirt.

At first Sheppard felt relieved that Ronon had not caused any serious damage from the fall, but as the Satedan's words settled in his mind he became increasingly concerned about the cause of the pain. Carefully scanning the former runner's side Sheppard could see no obvious reason for the pain, but the anguished expression on Ronon's face was a clear indication that something was seriously wrong.

"Where exactly does it hurt?" Sheppard asked.

Ronon moved his hand to the lower right side of his abdomen, his eyes scrunched shut in pain.

"Ronon this is important, how ill were you feeling before you fell?"

"Not good." The Satedan gasped.

"Ok Ronon, I am going to give you something for the pain and then we are going back home. The drug is going to make you feel a bit odd, but if I'm right the pain will only get worse so you need to take the meds." Sheppard explained. To his surprise and worry Ronon did not argue. Standing the Colonel turned to look up at Rodney and Teyla.

"You ready guys?"

"Yeah. As soon as you think you can move him, the harness is good to go." McKay called back.

"Now." Sheppard replied causing McKay and Teyla to carefully lower the Jerry-rigged harness.

As the device reached Sheppard's hands he looked at it with extreme scepticism.

"It's ok, it will hold Ronon's weight no problem." McKay shouted down. Trying to hide his doubt Sheppard turned back to the former runner.

"The pain killers should kick in soon." Sheppard assured the still writhing Ronon. "Are there any other injuries I should know about?"

"This bad enough." Ronon replied grimacing.

"Hang in there." The colonel tried to console him. "I am going to strap you into here, then we are going to pull you up."

"No need I can make it."

"Somehow I doubt that." Sheppard said dryly. "But even if you could, have you not noticed how podgy McKay's looking? He could use the exercise that pulling you up will provide. So view this as a training exercise for him will you?"

Knowing deep down he was in no position to argue Ronon nodded and allowed Sheppard to attach the harness.

As Teyla and McKay pulled Ronon up, Sheppard climbed up along side the big Satedan carefully watching his team mate.

"Guys we need to get him medical treatment now." Sheppard began as soon as he was up. "One of us needs to run back to the gate and bring help, including better drugs and a stretcher. The other two will help Ronon back."

"What's wrong with him?" Rodney asked, clearly rattled by seeing Ronon in so much discomfort.

"I'm not a doctor." Sheppard pointed out.

"But you have an idea." McKay stated.

"His symptoms are consistent with Appendicitis, which is why we need to get him to a doctor ASAP."

"I will go to the gate." Teyla volunteered. "Is there anything else I need to ask for?"

"Just drugs, doctors and a stretcher." Sheppard said. "But Teyla keep your radio on and check in every mile." He added, not entirely comfortable with having to split the team up. The Athosian nodded before running off into the distance.

"Those drugs working yet?" Sheppard asked turning to Ronon.

"Think so. Pain not so bad." Ronon said, his face no longer contorted in pain.

"You up for heading back then?" Sheppard questioned.

"Yeah." Ronon replied before noticing Teyla was not around. Reading his thoughts Sheppard explained.

"She's gone on ahead. She'll bring help back."

"No need, I can make it." Ronon said, frustrated at being a burden, as he tried to haul himself to his feet. Unfortunately he was not as uninjured in the fall as he had assumed and as soon as he put weight on his ankle he collapsed. Sheppard's reflexes kicked in and managed to steady the Satedan.

"Your side?" The Colonel questioned.

"No. Ankle." Ronon grimaced as Sheppard helped lower him to the ground. "It's ok, just took me by surprise."

"Well I'll strap it to be on the safe side." Sheppard said before ordering McKay to find something suitable for use as a splint.

When Ronon was finally strapped up Sheppard looked to Rodney "Leave everything that's not necessary. We are going to have to take Ronon's weight and we need to get back to the gate quickly. There is no point in lugging round extra equipment."

McKay nodded and put down his rucksack. He then looked at the bag and opened it. Removing a small pack he then put the bag back on his back.

"McKay I said leave everything unnecessary." Sheppard said, with an air of disbelief in his voice.

"I have." The physicist argued. "Everything else is either vitally important or contains information that could be used against us."

"Such as?"

"Such as the location of Atlantis."

"Fine. But not one complaint, about anything." Sheppard warned. McKay gave a surly nod in response before he and Sheppard took up position either side of Ronon and helped him to his feet. Making sure they had an equal share of his weight they started their long trek back to the gate.

Two hours later Sheppard's radio burst into life.

"Colonel Sheppard do you read."

"Loud and clear Teyla."

"We are making our way to you now. How close are you?"

"We have only made it three miles." Sheppard informed Teyla's group before another voice came through on the radio.

"Colonel Sheppard this is Dr Thorpe, how is Ronon?"

"The painkillers are helping, but not completely." Sheppard said.

"Has the pain spread?" The doctor asked. There was a brief moment of silence until Sheppard replied.

"No. Still localised to that one area."

"Any fever?" Again another silence followed before the radio came back to life.

"He's a little warm."

"Any trouble breathing?"

"No."

"Ok we are heading to you. If the fever gets worse contact us immediately." The doctor replied as the two groups headed towards each other.