Time had passed again without Rodney's knowledge because when he opened his eyes this time it was to firelight. The red light flickered across the stone floor and disappeared into the shadows of the building. He could see Teyla and Ronon sitting on the other side of the fire. The ex-runner was seeing to the heating of some MRE's on the fire and the Athosian was frowning at the holes in her field jacket, her shoulders and neck properly bandaged. A warm hand was lightly clasping the back of Rodney's neck and his head was resting on something warm and giving. In front of his nose was a black clad knee and leg.
Rodney felt his face heat up as he realized that he was lying with his head in John's lap and that had to be John's hand on the back of his neck. He must have made a noise because the hand tightened briefly. "Rodney? You awake?"
Rodney nodded jerkily and then spoke, "Yeah. I'm awake." The hand disappeared and Rodney blinked in disappointment before pushing himself up. He turned his head to find himself close to John, hazel eyes looking warmly at him in the firelight. Rodney pushed himself back quickly to sit against the wall.
"How are you feeling?" asked John with concern.
Rodney blinked and reached up a hand to touch his hair. His skin was clean, the wound on the back of his head free of blood and dirt with a tiny white square of gauze in the center. They must have cleaned him and seen to the wound while he had been sleeping. "I think I'm okay. Everything aches though." He looked around in the dark outside of the camp fire. "What happened?"
"When you fainted…" Rodney glared at him and John smiled slightly. "When you passed out," John amended. "We decided to hunker down in here. We gathered wood and saw to everyone's wounds. Atlantis called in after we missed our return time. Elizabeth offered to send a Jumper after us but I told her to wait until morning. I didn't want them running into something bigger than they were in the dark." He frowned a little. "I think Lorne was laughing at me."
"Food?" interrupted Ronon. He picked a MRE packet out of the fire and dropped it on a piece of flat wood. The MRE's accessories were laid out on the ground and Ronon fished through them until he found some crackers and some cheese spread that he knew Rodney liked.
"Do you think you can keep something down, Rodney?" asked Teyla.
Not really, but Rodney knew he should eat. He nodded and Ronon handed him the packet of beef stew, fishing his own out of the flame. Rodney watched the darkness outside the doorway, sure that it was watching back, as he slowly spooned his meal into his mouth and munched through the crackers. Something called outside and was followed by a distant shriek. Rodney jumped and pressed himself back against John's arm. "What was that?" he asked wildly.
"We don't know. It doesn't seem to like the fire though. We should be fine as long as we keep the light going," said John calmly. Something roared out in the dark and Rodney jumped again. John put a hand on his shoulder and pulled him close. "Calm down. Just calm down. You're going to make yourself sick again."
"It's impossible to be calm with monsters running around," said Rodney tightly against John's shoulder.
"They are not monsters. Just animals. We'll be safe with the fire," replied John. He moved them so that they were pressed against each other. Warmth radiated along Rodney side. "Eat. You'll feel better with some food in you." John turned his attention to his own food.
Rodney twirled his fork nervously in the beef stew. He knew that John was probably pressed up against his side in an effort to comfort him but Rodney just found it unnerving. John rattled the water canteen at him and Rodney took a drink. He handed it back and their fingers brushed. Rodney looked down and pretended to be focusing on the MRE meal.
John confused him sometimes. He was confusing with his little touches and those out of the blue acts of sweetness. John seemed to think that giving a chocolate bar to Rodney after a bad day was no big deal but Rodney knew how precious candy was on Atlantis. More often than not it was John that ousted Rodney from his lab to eat meals with the team and generally look at something besides his computer screen. It was John that touched Rodney's elbow and the small of his back seemingly without thought. It was John that looked for Rodney first went entering a room and made stressed calls over the radio when they were separated off-world. Rodney had been floored the first time that John had radioed him on Atlantis and told him that he was 'just checking'.
Dinner was packed up and afterwards Rodney sat listening to the calls and grunts from outside the building. Ronon fed another log to the fire and Teyla laid back on one of the packs with a sigh. Rodney must have dozed because every time he opened his eyes things had changed. Now Ronon was lying down and Teyla was sitting up. The firelight shifted and Rodney found himself leaning his head on John's shoulder. Another blink and John was shaking him awake gently. Rodney vaguely remembered saying something before curling back up and falling asleep again. The next time they had both sifted around and were lying on the floor, Rodney tucked up against John's side. Rodney shifted, trying to move the arm pinned under him, and John responded by muttering and rolling onto his side. "It's okay. Go back to sleep." Rodney blinked as lips pressed against his temple and John threw an arm over his waist. He must have fallen back asleep as told because the next thing he knew sunlight was streaming into the building.
Rodney could hear Ronon and Teyla moving around, although his nose was pressed against John's chest and he couldn't see anything except black cloth. There was also a hand stroking his hair. He shifted slightly and the hand stopped. "John?" he asked cautiously.
The stroking started again. "Lorne will be here soon with a Jumper and then we can leave," John informed Rodney quietly. "We have a little while yet." He seemed less than eager to move from their position.
"John? You're...What is this?" muttered Rodney. The cuddling was nice but now he was really confused. Before this they had been stuck in a never ending dance of flirtation that neither of them had seemed inclined to change. They had always touched each other but not like this. "I don't understand."
John sighed, a gust of wind across Rodney's cheeks. "I think that maybe...I mean...When we couldn't find you after the attack and you weren't answering your radio...I thought..."
"I told you I lost my radio when I fell," said Rodney when John seemed to run out of steam.
"I didn't know that. I thought...We...I didn't know where you were or if you were safe or in danger and...I never...I couldn't...The thought of..." John broke off with a huff of frustration. "God, I'm bad at this."
"Bad at what?" demanded Rodney in irritation. He let out a noise of surprise when John suddenly titled his chin back and covered his mouth with his own. Rodney stared in shock at the hazel eyes so close to his own, his brain not quite following the press of lips against this own. There was a tentative touch of a tongue along his bottom lip and Rodney blinked, thought trickling in that it might be good if he responded somehow. He pressed his own lips tighter to John's before the other man could completely pull away. Rodney felt John smile and opened his mouth to the next caress of tongue. Rodney hummed happily into the kiss and John nipped lightly at his lip. They pulled apart and Rodney ran his tongue around his lips in wonder. "Oh. Really?" he asked.
John grinned and leaned in to place a few fast kisses. "Really," he muttered. He cupped the side of Rodney's neck and stroked his thumb across his cheek. Rodney smiled at him, pleased.
A noise drew their attention to the other side of the fire where Ronon was busy stamping on the ashes. "Our ride is here if you can pull yourselves away from each other," said the ex-runner with a smirk.
"Ronon!" exclaimed Rodney, blushing.
"Hey, don't get me wrong. I think it's great that you've finally gotten together. It took you long enough."
"Ronon, do not tease them so. I think it is wonderful that they have moved on to the next stage of their relationship," said Teyla. She smiled at them gently and Rodney groaned, hiding his face.
"Why do I get the feeling we were the topic of many conversations between you two?" asked John suspiciously. Ronon shrugged at him and hosted one of the packs, walking toward the entrance. John brushed his lips across Rodney's cheek and began to untangle them. "Come on. Let's get back to Atlantis. I'm looking forward to a hot meal and some TLC in the infirmary." He helped Rodney to his feet and grabbed another of the packs. "Eat with me later?" asked John as he dropped a hand to Rodney's back.
Rodney nodded and smiled at him. "Sure, if the Voodoo doctor let's me out. Carson will probably want to shake some rattles over me or something."
John chuckled as they left the building and stepped out into the ruins. The Jumper was parked nearby, Teyla and Ronon half way to it. Lorne was walking toward them, three Marines positioned around the opening of the Jumper. John grinned as he saw another person exit the flying machine. "Hey, Carson! Boy, are we pleased to see you!"
"Aye. I bet you are, Colonel. What have you done to yourselves now?" asked the Scottish doctor.
"Aw, don't be like that Carson. It's not our fault we were attacked by dinosaurs. I need you to check out Rodney. He took a little bump to the head," replied John with humor.
"A little bump to the head!" cried Rodney. "A tree practically fell on me! I don't call that a little bump to the head. Ow! Carson, that hurts!"
"Stop jumping around and it wouldn't hurt so much. Hold still and let me look at your head. You know how bad head injuries are, Rodney." Carson peeked under the pad and wiped at it with a sterile piece of gauze. "Only you could run into dinosaurs," he muttered.
"It's not like we try for this stuff. It just happens," complained John. There was a squawk nearby and they all turned to find one of the Marines pointing his gun at a small black bird like animal. Rodney paled and John laid a concerned hand on his shoulder. "Rodney? What's wrong?"
Rodney grabbed John and Carson's arms and shoved them in the direction of the Jumper. "This is bad! Everybody into the Jumper!" he cried.
"It's not that bad. It's sort of cute," said the Marine nearest to the little reptile. Three more of the little black scavengers that had chased Rodney up the wall yesterday appeared over some rocks. Nearby, a certain not-monkey began to scream. "Okay, maybe it is that bad." The Marine began to back up as several more small dinosaurs popped up out of the ruins. "Sirs?"
"Everybody into the Jumper!" yelled John. He pushed Rodney and Carson up the ramp ahead of him as a Marine let out a burst of gun fire. "Lorne, take us up!" John raised the ramp as the last Marine backed into the Jumper. They began to rise into the air as the ramp closed. The dinosaurs leapt up at them. There were several thuds and one black body had to be shoved out of the closing crack with a rifle butt. Finally they were all in the Jumper and hovering in the air.
"So, sir, dinosaurs?" began Lorne in a conversational tone.
"Shut up."
Rodney licked his lips from where he was wedged between Ronon and Carson. "I think I'm going to be sick," he muttered faintly. The medicinal doctor jumped up with a curse and snatched a plastic basin out of the supplies. It appeared in front of Rodney just in time to catch the return of the beef stew from last night.
Carson shooed Ronon and the other Marine off the bench and had Rodney lay down. "What happened? I thought you were doing better, Rodney?" asked John. He wedged himself against the door to stay out of Carson's way.
"I was until just now," answered Rodney softly. He was still pale and was now sweating a little, licking at dry lips.
"Head wounds are unpredictable, Colonel." Carson took out a pen light and flashed it across Rodney's eyes, much to his annoyance. He then ran his hands gently back around Rodney's skull and down his neck, feeling expertly for injury. "I don't think anything is seriously wrong. Rodney's head just didn't like all the movement and decided to retaliate. How was he last night?"
"Good. He threw up and then fell asleep but he woke up easily later. He ate with us and drank some water. We woke him up several times during the night and didn't have any problems. Rodney would wake up to curse at me and then fall back asleep," answered John. He looked like this was one of his fondest memories, which made Rodney roll his eyes.
"Major Lorne," Teyla suddenly said tightly from the back right passenger seat.
Lorne glanced at her and then directed his gaze forward to the window. "Whoa!" he yelped, bring the Jumper up sharply just as the large T-Rex like dinosaur in front of them swung its head around and hit them. The inertial dampeners whined and they jerked as the Jumper was spun like a top.
John grabbed Rodney as he flew off the bench and landed on the floor. Rodney groaned into John's shoulder as he grabbed at his shirt. "Major Lorne!" yelled John as he braced his feet and tried to keep the both of them from sliding around.
"Sorry. Sorry. Sorry," chanted Lorne as he fought the ship stable. The Jumper bucked and settled level. "Everybody alright?" he called. The three Marines picked themselves up from where they had been thrown into the corner and Ronon let go of the rigging and dropped back onto the bench.
Teyla lifted her head and released her death grip on the chair. "I believe none of us are harmed, Major Lorne," she replied.
"You okay?" muttered John to Rodney.
Carson looked back at them and let go of the door edge. "Did he get bumped around again?" he asked in concern.
"He would like to go home now and be given the good drugs," hissed Rodney. He clung to John and kept his face pressed against the other man's shoulder, swallowing harshly. John seemed perfectly willing to let Rodney do so.
"Major Lorne, please take the Jumper to the gate right now. Before something else attacks us," ordered John.
Lorne sighed from the pilot's seat. "I hate your team a little right now." Something dark swept across the window of the Jumper and the ship shook lightly.
"Ach, don't tell me…" said Carson.
"Hang on everyone!" called Lorne. The Jumper shot forward, something thumped along the back, and Lorne brought the ship down low to skim the trees. "Go away you bloody over grown vulture." The ship shook and dipped, they could hear the trees scraping the bottom of the Jumper.
"Lorne!" shouted John, bracing himself against the bench with Rodney in his arms.
"Miss Emmagan, would you be so kind as to dial the DHD for me?" asked Lorne tightly. Teyla stumbled over the chair and began to punch in the symbols for Atlantis on the dash board DHD. Ahead of them a blue flash signaled the gate engaging. "Atlantis, this is Jumper One incoming. Please be advised that we are being perused by a big nasty dinosaur."
"Jumper One, you are clear for landing," said Chuck over the radio. "Big nasty dinosaur…" he muttered.
"They did say they ran into dinosaurs on that planet," said one of the other technicians.
"Yeah, but I kind of thought they were kidding," replied Chuck.
"No, if they said there were dinosaurs then there were dinosaurs," said Elizabeth, coming up behind them. Both technicians sat up straighter. "When the Jumper comes through I want you to close the shield behind them. I don't want any large lizards in the gate room."
"Yes, ma'am."
On the planet the blue field of the active gate swallowed the Jumper. Lorne felt a slight forward movement as the city's systems stopped the Jumper before it could plow into the stairs in the gate room. The shield flickered into existence over the gate and a hollow thump sounded. The gate shut off and the Jumper began to rise through the roof. "Nobody is going to believe this," muttered Lorne as they twisted and the Jumper was set gently in an empty spot.
In John's arms, Rodney suddenly went limp. John looked down at him and shook Rodney lightly. "Rodney? Hey? You okay?" Rodney head rolled against John's elbow. "Carson!" The Scottish doctor was already on the radio, calling for a gurney and assistance. He wrapped his fingers around Rodney's wrist and gave John a smile of reassurance. Soon, medical people swarmed the Jumper and Rodney was lifted out of John's grasp onto a gurney. Carson raced after the bed, shouting over his shoulder that he wanted to see everyone in the infirmary for check ups, and then disappeared down the corridor.