Chapter 8

As soon as Sheppard had Ronon safely in the jumper, Rodney lowered the gun. Without words or even any noise, he was surrounded and walked to a building at the edge of the village. He heard Sheppard say he'd be right back as the jumper lifted and headed for the Stargate.

Rodney felt numb. He didn't have anything to say, anything to do. In the building they locked him in one of the rooms and left.

For the longest while he just stood there, lost and alone.

He closed his eyes, but Ronon's body immediately popped in his mind. And he really didn't want to see all those terrible wounds again. Wounds he was responsible for.

He had simply sneezed, not even a big sneeze, just a little one. They should hear Daniel Jackson when he got started. For a moment Rodney could not remember if Daniel still suffered as much from his hay fever since he had ascended and come back. Suddenly shaking his head he realised he was just stalling.

What would Sheppard do, or Teyla or Ronon? What did he always do? Just wait. He had never been able to escape from anything or anyone all by himself. It had always taken one of his team mates to get them out. He knew all too well he always claimed to be the one who had to rescue them. But honestly, his bit was just a part of what they did. They were a team, the four of them, each with their strengths, each bringing that bit that makes a team a whole.

What would they do now? Ronon would get better. Sheppard would try to get him out but the likelihood of him actually succeeding in that was very slim, if not to say none existing. Would they take Zalenka with them on their away missions? Would a new head of science be appointed? He could already see one of his competitors from Earth trying to weasel his way into the team.

'Well, not on my watch!' Rodney grumbled.

He hadn't saved Ronon to just be replaced. Again Rodney came to a halt. Had he saved Ronon? He had never seen his friend as hurt as he was now. The spear and then his foot. No he was not doing good. Well, if he wanted to find out, he had to get out first. Full of determination, he finally looked around the room, trying to think of what Sheppard or Ronon would look for.

He took a few minutes to carefully examine all the walls and the door. There was only a small window high up which he couldn't reach. Soon he had to admit there was no getting out of this room, not without some serious help.

Defeated, Rodney slumped to the floor, head in hands. He felt completely lost and alone.

0000

The flight to the Stargate was very short. Sheppard punched in the keys and followed them by his GDO code.

'Atlantis! Get medical to the jumper bay. We are coming back with injuries!'

He accelerated through the wormhole and soon reintegrated in Atlantis. Another few moments to dock at the jumper bay and the doors opened.

Jennifer was already waiting for them.

'My God, what happened?' She startled as she saw Ronon immobile, wrapped in bloody bandages.

She looked through the jumper.

'Where's Rodney?' Sheppard could hear the fear in her voice. He couldn't look at her.

'Still on the planet. We had to get Ronon back first.'

Silently Jennifer nodded, understanding there was more going on than John was saying. But now she had a patient to take care off. Her assistants had moved Ronon to the gurney and they rushed to the medical centre.

For a moment, Sheppard and Teyla just stood there, seeing their friend wheeled away.

'John, we need to talk to Sam.'

John nodded and walked with her, his mind still distracted. He knew he had to focus, get Rodney back as he had promised. Yet he couldn't get Ronon out of his head either. Never in all the years they had been together, had his friend been so wounded.

TBC

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