Here's just a little something to get going again...Sorry for the long wait. I hope to update soon.
Teyla could make out the faint flickers of fire as she neared the location of her team. She was almost back thankfully as she could only imagine that Rodney must be in dire need of some stronger painkillers.
As she broke through the tree line she paused as she was greeted with tight faces followed by tense exhales.
"Teyla, are we glad to see you. Were you able to get a hold of Atlantis?"
"No, the interference is still strong and the jumper was thrown on to its side in the last tremor so there will be no easy way out."
"Damn, this just gets better and better."
"However, I did bring the medical supplies," Teyla said as she handed the pack to John.
John took it as she looked on to where Rodney lay near the fire, resting fitfully.
"How is Rodney?" Teyla walked over and knelt by his side.
They had removed Rodney from the makeshift backboard to try to make him more comfortable. Yet, it really didn't matter, as he seemed to be in so much pain to be able to get any good rest anyway. He'd toss and turn, which only aggravated his injuries.
Teyla reached out and touched the side of Rodney's face. His fitful rest quieted as he slowly opened pain filled eyes to look up into Teyla's smiling face.
"Tey..a," a strained voice tried to say her name. He then tried to smile but it didn't last long. He went back to clenching his jaw against the pain.
"Hey buddy, Teyla brought back the good stuff just for you."
Rodney looked over at John. The corner of his mouth curled up as he made a jerky nod of his head. John took that to be a sign for 'it's about friggin' time.'
"Ok, you'll feel some relief in just a little bit," John said as rummaged through the pack. He found one vial and injected it in Rodney's left hip.
Rodney made a whimpering sound as the needle went in and then curled his hands in the jacket that covered him as he tried to wring out the pain that he was feeling.
Teyla continued to stroke Rodney's face until the morphine finally kicked in. Rodney's slack face was somehow a momentary reprieve to his teammates, as they knew he needed some rest.
"Well, I hope Atlantis sends out a jumper soon because that was the only vial of morphine in the bag," John said in a forlorn voice.
"John, there should be one more vial in the bag," Teyla raised up her eyes to meet John's. But, she was met with his hand holding remnants of a vial that had been cracked, no doubt from the jumper shifting in the last tremor.
Teyla's eyes were filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry, it must have been damaged when the jumper shifted…I…"
"It's not your fault Teyla. You couldn't have done anything. Anyways, the morphine that I just gave Rodney will give him about 4 hours of pain-free sleep and by then it will be close to sun up. I say we each take an hour of sleep in shifts and then head out to the jumper in that last hour. By then, there should be enough light to move around while still giving an hour left of residual morphine to help Rodney with the trip."
Ronon told them he'd take the first watch. John and Teyla made sure Rodney's bandages were changed before heading to rest. With all things considered…most of the injuries looked to be doing ok, all except for the gash to Rodney's right thigh. It showed signs of infection, red, inflamed and slightly oozing pus…definitely not a pretty sight. Luckily there was some antiseptic in the bag, which they used after cleaning the wound. Satisfied with the fresh bandages and hindered by what they could actually do to help Rodney they both settled down close by.
John ended up taking the final shift. He watched the perimeter but mostly found himself gravitating towards Rodney to check on his condition. He noticed a sheen of sweat on Rodney and his hands were trembling slightly. John recalled Rodney's words as he was placed on the backboard, 'Oh please can't this be over with already,' he only wished those words would come true soon.
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TBC --