I had intended to post this earlier but I've had a very ill cat I've been caring for. She passed away early Sunday morning.
The Christmas Trip
Chapter 2
Dragonlots aka Dana Bell
"Everyone, okay?" Rodney repeated.
"Good flying, Rodney," Sheppard joked.
"Ha. Very funny."
"Teyla?" John sounded worried.
"I am fine," she responded.
"Katie?" When silence answered, McKay raised his voice. "Katie?"
"Ow," she moaned.
He fumbled for the interior light switch. It flickered on but did little to illuminate the area. "Katie? Where are you hurt?"
"Let me see." Teyla awkwardly moved forward, pushing her heavy coat impatiently aside. She half stood, leaning over the front leather seat. Gently she touched the other woman's head. Katie winced as she touched the temple.
"Is she bleeding?" Rodney hated the thought he may have injured his girlfriend.
"It appears to be only a bruise. I can not tell in this light."
"Think I've got a flashlight in my bag," John offered. He crawled into the back. As he did so the car shifted and several creaks could be heard.
"Careful," Rodney needlessly warned him.
"Right." The sound of a zipper opening and a few mutters under Sheppard's breath before he resettled in the back seat. "Here." He passed the flashlight over.
Rodney turned it on full in Katie's face. She flinched and blinked. "Sorry," he muttered, moving the light to the side.
"You have a bum, possibly a concussion," Teyla confirmed. "We will need to keep you conscious."
"We need help." John stated the obvious. He flipped open his cell phone. Landry had passed out one to every person from Atlantis. 'Just in case', he'd told them. "Damn. No reception."
"I think there is a town nearby." Rodney handed the flashlight to Teyla and felt around the seat for the letter. Cautiously he bent down to retrieve them off the floor. "Turn off I70 on US 24. Go past Minturn, Gilman and Red Cliff. We passed Minturn already."
"Then Gilman it is. Any idea how far?"
He glanced at the mileage counter. "Shouldn't be more than a couple of miles."
The car suddenly shifted, tilting the front down. John reached up and grabbed Teyla before she toppled over. She gratefully smiled at him.
"First we need to get out of this car." Sheppard took the flashlight. "Let's see how bad." He pointed the light out the window. His face tightened and Rodney new they were in big trouble. "Teyla, check the other side." The light was passed and she checked.
She gave the light back with a grim look. "It is bad, John."
"How bad?" Rodney heard himself ask.
"We need to get out of this car or they'll won't find us until spring." Sheppard put the light in his coat pocket and pulled on his gloves. "I suggest everybody bundle up."
"Tell me you aren't thinking what I think you're thinking," McKay pleaded.
"Shut up, McKay and help Katie. And no sudden moves."
Slowly he leaned over and helped Katie zip her coat up. She managed to pull her scarf out of the pocket and tie it under her chin. "Gloves, too," he reminded her. She nodded and put them on. He got ready as well, deciding he didn't care if he looked silly with earmuffs.
"Everyone ready?" They all nodded. Moving like a snail, John crept over the seat and into the cargo area. "Hit the unlock." Rodney complied. The sharp click pierced the car interior. "Here goes." Reaching up, the colonel opened the tailgate door, easing it up. "So far so good."
"So now what?" McKay asked as a blast of cold wet air invaded. He shivered and wished he had a hat for his head.
John pulled the light out and checked around. "It won't be easy. We have to get back up the slope."
"And not send the car to the bottom of ravine with us in it."
"Yeah." He put the light away and reached his hand out. "Come on, Teyla."
She took a deep breath and copied Sheppard's slow movements. The car inched forward. She paused.
"Come on," John ordered. She took his hand and together the managed to climb outside. "Rodney, Katie, your turn."
"You go first," he told Katie.
"I can't."
"Sure you can."
Outside something cracked. McKay started. "Come on." He found the lever that lowered the seat back. "Do the same." She did. "Let's get out of here."
Katie crawled hesitantly over the lowered seat into the back. Sheppard bent down and extended his hand. "Just reach out," he urged. Inch by inch she finally reached him. He got her out. "Get a move on, McKay!"
"Here goes," he told himself. Pretending he was a toddler again, he made his way on hands on knees, trying not to panic as the suburban crept forward. Sheppard made a wild grab for his hand and he propelled out the tailgate, just as the vehicle lost it's precarious perch and plunged down the mountainside.
"That was too close," Sheppard breathed.
Breaking branches and a loud crash echoed up.
"We still have to reach the road," Rodney reminded him. Snow pelted down and he could feel it freezing into his hair.
The light was out again. "This way." John began to climb, testing each step, helping them back up the slippery incline. They stumbled out onto the road, which was fast disappearing under a layer of white.
"At least it wasn't far." Rodney bent over trying to catch his breath. He wasn't used to the higher altitude.
"We'd better get moving." Sheppard led the way. "Only a couple of miles you said."
"My best guess." He took Katie's arm and tucked it into his. "We can pretend we're on a late night stroll."
"Cold," she murmured.
"Yeah, I know."
They clustered together because they only had the one light. Carefully they walked along, the blowing snow making it difficult to see.
"We might by pass the town," Rodney said.
"Think positive, McKay." John glanced back at him. "For all our sakes."
"John," Teyla stopped them. "What is over there?"
Briefly there seemed to be bit of light, quickly obscured by the snow.
"Looks like it might be a town."
"Or a just a car far away." The thought of leaving the road terrified McKay.
"Somehow, I don't think so. Mountain folk are smart. They don't drive anywhere in a storm." Sheppard bit his lip. "Stay here. I'll check it out."
"No!" Rodney protested. "The worse thing you could do is get separated from the rest of us."
"So?"
Resigned, he stated. "We all go."
"Fair enough."
The path to the lights seemed to go down. Snow almost to their knees slowed their progress. John stopped after they'd left the road, using the flashlight to view on object. "Power pole."
"We found the town." Relief filled him.
"Hopefully." The colonel flashed the light in several directions. "Question is, where are the houses?"
Between the dark and the snow, it was difficult to tell.
"If we follow these?" Teyla tentatively asked.
"Might lead us to one."
McKay saw the heavy ice on the overhead wire. "They could loose power at any moment."
"And that would be bad."
Sheppard alternated the light between following the power line and the path in front of them. Skeleton trees barely sheltered them from the whipping wind. They reached the end of both and couldn't go any further.
"Now what?" McKay asked.
"There's got to be house around here somewhere." John turned and walked forward. Since they couldn't risk it, they went with him. Out of nowhere a large house loomed. "Almost makes me believe in God." They followed the building until they found the door. Sheppard pounded on it. "Hello!"
Several minutes passed and no one answered.
"Perhaps they are not at home," Teyla suggested.
"In that case," John kicked the door open. "Inside."
The stumbled in. He closed the door. "Nice to be out of the cold."
"Not much warmer in here." McKay searched for a chair even as he noted a stale odor. He could hear Katie's teeth chattering. "There's no furniture."
"Great. Find a house and no one lives here."
"We need to start a fire." Leave it to Teyla to be practical.
"There's a fireplace." John pointed to the stone arrangement in the corner. Quickly he brushed the snow off his coat and hair. Rodney did the same and he helped Katie. Teyla noticed what they did and followed suit.
"We need something to burn," she observed.
"I'll see what I can find." John vanished taking their only source of light with him.
Something banged overhead. In the dark Rodney gently gathered Katie into his arms. She burrowed against him. They stood there until Sheppard came back.
"House is definitely abandoned." He dumped his findings on the floor. "I don't have any matches."
"I do not need them." Teyla set about building a fire. Rodney was thankful for her native knowledge. It was saving their butts. "We will need more wood."
"See what I can do." He left them again.
Rodney moved Katie to the fireplace and sat her down on the floor before it. Sheppard reappeared with more they could burn and several minutes later, the cold began to seep away.
"I think there's another house close by." John extended his hands to warm them. "Didn't see any lights."
"It is late." Rodney was sure he didn't need to remind Sheppard.
"Yeah. If anyone is at home they'd be sleeping."
Katie leaned against Rodney. He put his arm around her.
"Tired," she mumbled.
"Katie, you can not sleep." Teyla gently shook the other woman's shoulder. "You must stay awake."
"Cold. Want to sleep." Katie closed her eyes.
"No!" Rodney shook her. "Katie, stay with us." He looked at the other two. "We need to keep her awake and warm."
"Found the kitchen while I was searching," John offered.
"Don't suppose it had any food."
"No."
Teyla tossed more wood on the fire. It crackled. "When I was a girl, we were sent out into the wilderness to survive. We were certain we would not, and yet we did."
"Whatever for?" John wanted to know.
"It is a rite of passage."
"How did you survive?" Katie asked, seeming to be a bit more awake.
"I had been instructed in the ways to hunt and dress the kill. How to find fresh water and build a shelter."
"Like me during survival training." John sat down on the chilly floor.
"We will get through this night."
"I could really use something to drink." McKay shut his mouth. That had been a stupid thing to say.
"Think I can do something about that." John got up and Rodney heard the front door open. Sheppard reappeared with what looked like a bowl filled with snow. "Found it in the kitchen. Cleaned it out the best I could. Here Teyla, put it close to the fire."
"I do not understand."
"It'll melt," Rodney explained.
"Ah, like the ice you use."
He nodded.
"Don't suppose you found blankets or something." Katie tried to smile.
"Sorry." John sat down and crossed his legs.
"Going to be a cold night." Rodney inched a bit closer to the fire.
"We'll mange," John promised. "I'll stay up with Katie first. Rodney, Teyla, try to get some rest."
"The snow has melted." Teyla handed the bowl to Rodney.
Closing his mind to all the germs that were probably present, he sipped some of the liquid. "Thanks."
Teyla put the bowl back. She scooted over next to Sheppard and laid her head on his shoulder. "I do not know if I can sleep."
Banging started overhead again.
"Must be something loose," John commented.
"Like we're going to be able to sleep with that going on," Rodney objected.
"Stay up then. I'm sure we can all find something to talk about."
The sound stopped. Rodney sighed in relief. Katie leaned against him and he moved so that her back was against his chest. Her head felt right on his shoulder, like that was where it was supposed to be. He closed his eyes enjoying the feeling and jolted awake.
"Easy, Rodney," Katie's soft voice reassured him.
"What? Where?" He shook his head.
"Shhhh. You'll wake John and Teyla."
Groggily he noticed the pair spooning on the floor, John cuddled around the Athosian woman, his arm draped over her waist. They looked so right together bathed in the faint firelight.
"It's light outside," Katie whispered. "And still snowing."
"You been up all night?" His back ached.
"Yes." She gave him a tired smile. "John stayed up with me for a while."
"All night?"
She shook her head. "He fell asleep hours ago. The storm kept me up."
"You must be exhausted."
"I am."
"Uh, I'll be right back." He got up and went in search of the bathroom. The toilet didn't work, but it didn't matter. There was also no running water in the sink. When he got back he saw Katie throw more wood on the fire. "Come here," he offered, sitting down and holding out his arms. She nestled against him and closed her eyes. "I'll keep you safe," he promised. Her breathing settled into a regular pattern and he knew she slept.
Outside the wind buffeted the side of the house and sometimes the banging began again. It never seemed to last long. The fire popped and the warmth from it chased away the chill. His stomach growled and he wished they'd thought to grab some of the snacks they'd had in the car. He just hoped his hypoglycemia didn't act up and cause him problems.
John stirred and noticed him. "Katie just fall asleep?"
"Yes."
Easing himself up, Teyla murmured as he moved. "I need to see if anyone is up next door."
"Water doesn't work."
"I know. Tried to turn it on in the kitchen." John stretched as he got to his feet. "Be right back."
McKay heard the front door open and waited for Sheppard to return. He didn't know how much time had gone by when the colonel reappeared. He carried a number of items.
"House next door and the one next to it are empty. I didn't go any further." He put the stuff down and impatiently brushed snow out of his hair and off his coat.
"You mean this is a ghost town."
"Looks like."
"Great."
"Hey, at least we're alive and warm."
"And hungry."
"I can hunt." Teyla sat up, giving John a shy glance.
"I saw some rabbit tracks going under the porch. Probably one living under there."
"Show me."
They went outside. Rodney wondered if he could eat a cute little bunny. When they came back in, Teyla carried a dead rabbit.
"Didn't know you had a knife," John was saying.
"I never go anywhere without one." Proudly she smiled. "We have food."
"Need to cook it," Rodney told her.
"Found something we can use." John produced a frying pan. "I'll go clean it in the snow."
"Good idea." Teyla proceeded to dress the rabbit and Rodney turned his eyes away. He couldn't bear to watch.
Much later after having some food, Rodney brightened up. Katie finished her meal and the four of them just stared at each other.
"How long do such storms usually last?" Teyla broke the silence.
"Depends." John tossed more wood on the fire. "Could be hours or days."
"How long before they start looking for us?" Rodney didn't like the idea of being stranded indefinitely.
"No idea. My dad knew I was coming and he might just assume I stayed in Denver to wait out the storm." He got out the cell phone. "Still no signal."
"So we're stuck here."
"For awhile."
"We will be fine." Teyla got up and looked out the window. "It is beautiful."
"Growing up," Katie said. "We used to build snowmen and make snow angels."
"Little hard to do right now." John smiled at her. Rodney felt a pang of jealousy.
"What are snowmen?" Teyla came back and sat on the floor.
"You roll up big balls of snow," Katie explained. "Three different sizes and put them on top of each other. Then you get rocks for buttons, eyes and a mouth and put a hat on the very top one."
"What is the purpose of this snowman?"
"It's one of the things children do."
"Then when you're done," John added. "You knock them down."
"Always hated that part," Rodney chimed in. "I wanted my parents to see mine."
"It's the best part."
"But why destroy what you worked so hard to build?" Teyla sounded puzzled.
John started to answer but stopped. "You know, it was just something we did. I don't think there was a reason."
"Very strange."
"No more than sending a kid out in the wilderness without an adult along."
"I explained that."
"Yeah, you did."
The banging started again, the noise jarring Rodney's ears. "That is really getting annoying."
"Tell me about it." John paced to the door. "Wish there was a way we could get to it."
There was a loud crack from the back of the house and the sound of splintering wood. The ceiling buckled and without thinking Rodney grabbed Katie protecting her body with his as heavy wet snow covered them.
