How To Save A Life

By The Watch Stander

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all...I can't believe so many are reading this!

Be sure to watch the video of the same name by Obfreak. It's awesome...

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Chapter 5 - Out Of The Frying Pan...

The night seemed to drag on as Carson continued to fight the call of exhaustion and sleep. At one point he caught himself dozing when a loud shuffling noise nearby woke him. His gun was instantly in his hand as he waited to see if anything came at him.

His eyes swept the area around the fire that still burned brightly, he had put several large logs on it to last the night. Across the shelter, Rodney still slept, his soft snores reassuring Carson that he was all right.

Finally the noise seemed to drift away, but it had been enough to get Carson's heart racing and now he was wide awake. Standing up he stretched his legs trying to work out the stiffness in them and wondered what the morning would bring, help maybe? Or something worse, he really didn't know what to expect. All he knew was that one way or another they were going to make it to that gate, or so help him anything that got in his way would suffer the consequences.

He never woke Rodney to take second watch, for he knew McKay wouldn't be able to stay awake and the man needed rest desperately. Finally he sat down next to where McKay slept, finding comfort in knowing his friend was resting and they were safe for the time being. Sometime before dawn he succumbed to sleep. His chin resting on his chest as he dozed, the noises of the forest lulling him to sleep.

The birds were starting their morning calls when something brushed against his arm, causing him to awaken. When his vison became clearer he was jolted awake by what he saw before him...

There were five guns pointed at him, held by very large men, none of whom looked friendly.

Slowly, he raised his hands. "Hello?" he ventured, not sure what kind of response he would get, but not wanting to appear threatening either. Those were very big guns that were aimed at him.

The man standing directly in front of the others appeared to be younger, about twenty odd years, but there was a hardness about him. He looked Carson over with contemp, "You're not a soldier, who are you?"

Beckett wasn't sure what he should say, deciding finally on the truth, "I'm a doctor and my name's Carson the man next to me is Rodney. Our ship came through the gate after being chased by a wraith ship and it crashed nearby. We're just trying to get to the gate to go home and mean no one any harm."

The young man appeared to consider his words carefully, "A doctor you said?"

"Aye,...my friend is a scientist, we're not soldiers."

Carson knew he was helpless, his weapon was tucked into the belt of the man standing before him, obviously taken from him as he slept. There was no way he could reach Rodney's weapon if it was even still in the scientist's holster.

He could feel his headache making a reappearance and fear was making his heart race as well from not knowing what these men were going to do. He tried to sound friendly.

"I just need to know how far the stargate is from here and we'll be on our way."

The man before him smirked, "You'd never make it. You have wounds that I suspect, are from the skaars we found dead a ways back. You won't last another day, the illness from those will get you."

Carson's heart sank, they were in trouble, serious trouble.

"Aye, my friend and I were both bitten and I've tried some medicine, but it doesn't seem to help."

The man turned and said something to a man behind him, who stepped forward after handing his weapon to the leader. He pulled a pouch out from his tunic as he came forward and sat down next to Carson.

Beckett didn't know what they were planning, but this man carefully took his arm and unwrapped the bandage, exposing the raw wound that looked red and inflamed. Opening the pouch he took out a jar, opened it and liberally applied the jell like substance to the wound. It burned at first and Carson cringed, then it started to tingle. Finally it felt cool and there was no more pain. The man then re-wrapped the wound and went to get up.

Carson looked at him gratefully, "Thank you, I'd love to know what that is?"

The leader spoke up, "It's kya salve, we make it from the sap of the trees. It'll cure the infection that the wound is causing."

"Sounds like a bloody miracle drug. Could we trade with you for some of that?"

The leader smirked.

"Maybe not," Carson said softly and then looked away, knowing these men could just take what they wanted. They were totally at their mercy.

"Pack your things, you're going with us. There's sickness in our village and a doctor is needed desperately," The young man told him gruffly.

Carson brightened at hearing that, realizing they weren't going to be killed after all.

"Right, just give me a moment."

He immediately packed away his supplies and finally hefted the pack onto his shoulders.

Rodney had apparently slept through the whole incident, never so much as twitching. He was still lying on his side sound asleep.

Carson knelt down to awaken him, but was quickly pulled away by the leader who grabbed hold of his arm.

"No need... he's not going..." The man's voice was cold and something in his eyes made Carson afraid.

Fear went through Beckett like a knife, "What do mean? I'm not leaving him here, he's my friend! He needs help!"

"We have no need for scientists, they are a bane to our society and caused most of our problems," was the cold reply from the young man that held his arm.

He started to pull Carson away, as another man drew a long knife from a scabbard and began walking toward the sleeping scientist.

Carson seeing this jerked his arm out of the leader's grip and flung himself in front of where McKay lay, trying to protect him.

"Listen to me, he can help!...bloody hell he's my friend!" he pleaded as the man with the knife stood just above him trying to get to Rodney, but Carson was having none of that, holding both hands up to try and block the knife.

"What kind of people are you that you'd kill a helpless man?" He pleaded in anguish, knowing they were about to kill McKay.

The leader stood there staring at him, the others around him waited for orders including the man with the knife that was still standing over Beckett.

Carson became angry, his Scottish temper finally erupted and he directed it at the men before him.

They would have to kill him before anyone got to Rodney, he'd not allow it.

" I'll not help ye if you hurt him! So help me, your whole bloody village can die for all I care! ... If this is who ye are, there's nay a one of ye worth saving! You might as well kill us both!"

His Scottish brogue became thicker and his face reddened with anger at what they were trying to do to his friend.

The leader continued to watch him as if weighing his words, trying to decide what to do.

Carson was beyond angry, he couldn't believe they could be so unfeeling after just helping him a moment ago,"If you hurt him then you're no better than those animals that we killed!"

What kind of monsters were they?

Finally the leader nodded,"All right, we'll take you both, but you'd better help us or you both die."

Carson was too relieved to speak, so he nodded, and turned back to wake Rodney up. Shaking McKay's arm he got no response, so he shook it harder. Finally a pair of bleary blue eyes opened and tried to focus on him. Carson took a deep breath, the argument with the men had taken a lot out of him and his adrenalin was just now starting to dissipate.

"Rodney, I need you to get up. These men are taking us to their village."

McKay looked at him groggily, "That's good, tell the nice men to come back for me later...", then fell back on his pillow.

Annoyed and in no mood to deal with a drug-fogged Rodney, Carson took out a water bottle and poured some on his friend's face. It got an immediate response.

"Are you trying to drown me, Carson?" sputtered a now wet McKay as he started to sit up.

"Aye...I will drown you if you don't get up. These men will not wait for you..."

Carson hated doing this to the injured man, but now was not the time for this, their lives were at stake.

Behind them the leader said something to one of his men.

Carson was surprised when the same man that had helped him earlier suddenly reappeared by his side, handing him the jar of salve. The doctor realized it was for Rodney's wounds and looked at the man sincerely, "Thank you, son."

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After Carson used a salve on his wounds, Rodney felt himself being helped into his pack. McKay was still groggy from the morphine that had been given to him the night before, but Carson seemed very agitated and he couldn't figure out why or what might be causing it.

"If we're being rescued, why such a hurry, Carson?"

The doctor roughly took the scientist's right arm and thrust it through the shoulder loop on the backpack. He did however, show more care with Rodney's injured arm, but it still hurt.

"Ouch, be careful! And you didn't answer my question! Why the hurry?"

Rodney was not happy and apparently was now more awake.

Carson sighed, "Not here, Rodney! It'll have to wait! Just do what I say!"

He stood up and helped the man to his feet. It was becoming clear to even McKay that something wasn't right about this, so called rescue, but he decided to play along. He had enough trouble concentrating on staying upright as his body wanted to tilt to the left. It was all Carson could do to prevent the scientist from falling over.

Together they managed to stumble out of the shelter. Once outside, Rodney got his first good look at the five men that surrounded them. The guns aimed at them were also a wake up call that they were in trouble.

Oh crap, we are so screwed...

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