Authors' Note: Hi there, just so you know, this story was co-authored with my friend Nimeria. This story is as much hers as mine.
Disclaimer: We don't own anyone or anything you recognize. Except for ourselves. And that last bit's only a "maybe" on a good day.
Why to Always Have an Escape Route
Chapter 20
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Sheppard: (kneeling beside the girls) Hey. (He helps Mary tie a tourniquet around her arm.) Jessie can you-(He trails off as he see Jessie pressing on the bandage like thing they'd tied around Taylor's middle over the wound.)
Jessie: Mary told me to do this.
Sheppard: It was very good advice. Slows the bleeding. Taylor, you okay there? I mean other than the pain?
Taylor: (attempts to focus her eyes on him) Sheppard?
Sheppard: Yeah.
Taylor: Why are there four of you?
Sheppard: It's the blood loss. Just hang in there. This'll be over soon and we'll get Carson to have a look at you. (to Mary) Both of you.
Jessie: Did Kolya get away?
Sheppard: Yeah. I think so.
Taylor: Sorry.
Sheppard: What?!
Taylor: I'm sorry. If I hadn't- (He cuts her off.)
Sheppard: Don't even go there. It wasn't your fault. (he looks at the three of them) It wasn't anyone's fault. (He looks back at Taylor as she groans painfully and her eyes start rolling up in her head) Just hang in there.
Taylor: (whimpering) Will do.
Sheppard: Hey, I'm going to go help end this. There's only a few left. I'll send someone right over.
Jessie: Okay.
Taylor: (muttering incoherently)
Mary: Taylor. Focus Taylor. Don't make me poke you. You know I will.
Jessie: Don't poke her. That's mean.
Mary: (aside) We're keeping her distracted. (to Taylor) Right. I have a bone to pick with you.
Taylor: What?
Mary: Your first trip to Atlantis and you bleed all over the place. That's just rude.
Jessie: She has a point Taylor.
Taylor: Wha? No. No, that wasn't my fault. And you're bleeding too.
Mary: No I'm not. Not on the floor, anyway.
(Sam comes over.)
Taylor: What are you talking about?
Mary: You bleed and stain the floor. I bleed and the blood evaporates before it hits anything.
Taylor: You Lie!
Jessie: Nope. Saw it with my own eyes.
Sam: Girls, let's take a look at you. Now, are you sure neither of you suffered any hits to the head?
Jessie: Nope. They just got shot.
Taylor: I think I may have.
Jess and Mary: What?! Why?! When?!
Taylor: When I hit the wall, and because I cant see straight and...
(trails off)
Sam: Stay with me Taylor. (She shakes her gently and Taylor snaps back to full consciousness with at groan.)
Taylor: It hurts. Jessie... (Jessie grabs her twins hand and squeezes, wincing slightly in a way that appears she may actually be feeling Taylor's pain.)
Sam: (glances up and notices that the fight is over) Alright then. Taylor you think you can walk?
Taylor: No.
Mary: What? Just no? Not even gonna try? You can try!
Jessie: Mary leave her be. She hurts.
Sam: It's alright. Come on. Let's get you up.
(They start to haul her to her feet to at least make it easier to drag her but Sheppard and Jack come over, hoist her into a sit carry between them and take her down to the infirmary. Sam and Jessie help Mary along.)
Jack: (whilst carrying Taylor) Mitchell, Ronon, go get the others out of the holding cell. Find Beckett and get him to the infirmary.
(Daniel and McKay check to make sure none of the dead soldiers are just pretending, and then follow the others. Everyone is quiet for a moment, then...)
Taylor: Mary?
Jack: Should you be talking?
Mary: What?
Sam: It won't do her any harm, Sir.
Taylor: You lied.
Mary: What? Oh, right. Did not.
Taylor: I saw blood on the floor.
Mary: That was yours.
Taylor: ...Aaaaand yours.
Mary: Stop talking if it hurts.
Taylor: Well you're talking and you were shot too.
Mary: And your point is? Hush before you make yourself worse.
Taylor: No! You just won't admit you were wrong!
Daniel: What are the two of you talking about, exactly?
Taylor: She scolded me!
Mary: True.
Taylor: And said-
Jack: Hold on girls, we've got some steps here.
(A brief silence as the party limps upward. At the top of the steps…)
Taylor: Where was I?
Mary: Ignoring me and still talking?
Jessie: (prompting) Mary said that...
Taylor: ...that I was the one bleeding all over the place! Hah! Like your blood really evaporates.
Mary: I stand by my opinion. Now stop talking.
McKay: She might be right. You could stand to quiet down. And stop acting...
Teal'c: Insane.
McKay: Yes. That. That's the word.
Taylor: I can't help it. She won't admit she's wrong.
Mary: Never. Avast. Fear my evil wrath. Huzzah. Farklestein. Yupoy. Purple is a flibberty gibbet. And so on.
Sam: You're sure you didn't hit your head?
Jessie: Well I understood every word.
Taylor: (attempting not to laugh) Owww. Mary stop it.
Mary: You should have listened to me. No one ever does.
Jack: And we're here, people.
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