How To save A Life

by The Watch Stander

Thank you again to all who leave reviews and ideas for the plot! I used one person's comment to broaden the story. This really was supposed to be a short cut and dry tale, but it's becoming an adventure! Also, I love reading what you say and that people have added this to their favorite story and alerts lists.

I'm so glad that Carson is back, he and Rodney are so much fun together.

Chapter 6 - It's Raining, Cats and Dogs.

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With Carson's help, Rodney managed to keep a slow but steady pace behind the two men walking ahead of them. The leader and one man were in front while three others stayed behind Carson and Rodney to watch them and keep an eye out for the beasts that claimed the wooded area as theirs.

.McKay's head throbbed along with a knife like pain that stabbed at his side. He was trying his best to keep up, more for Carson's sake than his own, as he could tell that his friend was afraid of these men. Something had happened earlier while he slept and at the first opportunity he was going to ask Carson just what that was.

The woods seemed to stretch on forever as the two men staggered down the trail. Carson was beyond tired, both from the stress and the need to help support Rodney, who was barely staying on his own feet. Leaning more and more on Carson as time passed.

As they followed their captors, the doctor had time to think about their situation and the men's hostile behavior toward them. Their captors seemed cold-blooded in their treatment of strangers, making him think that something must have provoked this attitude, for they had also helped him and Rodney by giving them the salve. Granted it was in their best interest to keep him alive to help their village, but even so. Something wasn't right here and he really needed to know what that was so he could react accordingly.

Finally Carson was forced to come to a halt when he felt Rodney's legs give out as the scientist started to slide to the ground beside him.

"We need a rest! ..., " Carson yelled as he sat Rodney down with his back against a tree.

The leader turned around and glared at him, "What now?"

"We need some water and a rest if we're to keep up with you lads." Beckett hoped they wouldn't see Rodney's weakness and leave him behind after all.

The leader reluctantly nodded, "All right, twenty minutes, no more! We're only an hour's march to our village."

"Carson, what's with these guys?" Rodney whispered, barely awake as he stretched out his legs trying to get comfortable against the tree. His face was red as droplets of sweat slowly made their way down the sides of his face. Hypoglycemia was starting to rear its ugly head along with dehydration. He hadn't eaten today.

Beckett looked around and once he was sure he could say something without being overheard, decided truth wouldn't hurt. Opening his pack, he took out a power bar and a bottle of water that he handed off to the scientist, who tore open the bar, took a bite then washed it down with half the water.

"They threatened to kill you, Rodney, if I didn't promise to help their village. It seems they have need of a doctor there for an illness they mentioned."

Rodney finished eating the bar, then closed his eyes trying to rest, but he had listened to everything Carson said.

"Well, I guess we're safe as long as we're of use to them," he finally said. His face was still flushed, but he seemed to be feeling slightly better having eaten the power bar.

"Aye... Lets hope so."

"Don't suppose they'll let us go after we help them?" Rodney added as an after thought.

Carson smiled, "That my friend, is the big question that I haven't dared ask, but we'll wait till we're in their village and see what's facing us, then bargain with them for our freedom."

Somehow even Carson wasn't hopeful about that happening . . .

The twenty minutes went by quickly and the leader soon called out to them to get up.

Carson got Rodney on his feet and they trudged their way through the forest once more, trying to keep pace with the two men before them.

A light rain started with drops making their way through the trees canopy and wetting the men below. It was making everybody miserable as the trail became slippery with mud. McKay's feet kept slipping making him lean harder on Carson's shoulder. The strain was making Beckett's head ache something fierce. He didn't know how much more of this they could stand.

Rodney had looked terrible earlier and after feeding him a power bar Carson had given him something for the pain. The doctor didn't want to think about what this forced march was doing to his friend's insides, but he knew it wasn't good and that Rodney would pay later for this abuse

The leader came to an abrupt halt as both he and the man beside him drew their weapons, slowly looking around the wooded area in search of something.

Stopping as well, Carson once again had a sudden feeling of dread. He tried to look around and continue to support McKay. The three men behind him were also surveying the surrounding woods, guns drawn and ready for trouble.

"What's happening?" Carson asked in a hushed voice, not wanting to give away their position. Rodney beside him had his head hanging down, barely able to stand.

The man who had helped them earlier, came up beside Carson.

" It's the Skaars. They're hunting us. They are testing us now . . . they'll wait and attack once they have us surrounded. Run when I tell you, that way they can't herd us together."

Carson looked at him aghast, "You can't be serious! ... I have an injured man here . . . just how far do you think we can run?"

The man didn't look at him, "As far as it takes to save your lives, these animals are out for blood. They can smell it."

It was said bluntly as the man continued to look around the area for any sign of the animals that were tracking them. If he felt any empathy for their prisoners, he hid it well.

"I need my weapon, so I can at least defend us! ," Carson angrily demanded.

The leader hearing them talking, walked back to where they stood, "There's no need, we'll take care of you."

Carson snapped at him," You'll have to forgive me for not believing you, since you threatened to kill my friend,"

The leader smirked, "You'll just have to trust me."

He then spoke to the man next to Carson, "Keil, watch out for them."

"I will, Turi," Keil quickly answered and nodded at Carson trying to reassure him.

Beckett sighed, not wanting to be left so helpless, but having no other options, since they truly were at their captors' mercy. He would have to protect Rodney for he didn't trust these people. Somehow he knew that he and Rodney would be used as cannon fodder if it came to a life or death struggle.

He turned to McKay, who had been trying to follow what was being said, but was having difficulty just remaining on his feet.

"Rodney, we may have to run for it, our friendly beasts are back. Seems they want dessert and we're to be it. So be ready to run if I say so . . . I want no arguments."

McKay slowly lifted his head and looked at him, "This just keeps getting better and better! Remind me again why I volunteered to help you."

Carson smiled lightly at the snark, "Because we're friends and you enjoy my company?"

"Oh, please, that's just trite . . . , "Rodney practically snarled at him, angry they were in this situation.

"I try, but you're a tough bugger to deal with," Carson snapped back, outwardly nervous and not wanting to deal with McKay's anger right now.

Rodney's eyes widened in disbelief, "We're about to become dog chow and that's all you can say?"

Keil had heard enough, he pushed McKay to get them moving. "Let's go. We need to get ahead of them if we can."

The scientist shut up, trying to bite back the sharp pain he felt shoot through him. The painkillers were slowly wearing off and the shove had not helped. Now was not the time to ask Beckett for more and besides, he needed his wits about him if they were to survive this attack. Carson was no John Sheppard and their survival was once again beginning to look doubtful . . .

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The villagers on planet xm-32434 had never even heard of the ancients, never mind seeing a ship come through the 'sacred circle' as they called it.

Lorne was ready to pull his hair out after telling the tribal chief for the third time, that, 'No, Lorne and his team weren't Gods,' and 'Would he please get up off his knees and just answer the question.'

The Major wanted to leave and continue their search elsewhere instead of wasting time with these primitive people.

Just like Sheppard, he had this bad feeling about what might be happening to McKay and Beckett. Those two always seemed to get into trouble. Carson was likeable, McKay on the other hand was a piece of work, but underneath all that arrogance and bluster was a very smart man. Lorne had developed a genuine respect for the acerbic little scientist and actually began to like him as well.

Somewhere along the way, they had come to an understanding, managing to exchange good-natured barbs without any hard feelings after. Lorne could live with that and worked well with the scientist.

Lorne's commanding officer, Colonel Sheppard, had long ago seen through the arrogant McKay facade and the two were kinda friends most of the time. However, even Sheppard seemed to have a McKay quota and would avoid the scientist if necessary to get some piece and quiet. Everyman has a limit on what they can stand and McKay often pushed the envelope.

The first time Lorne had been with McKay on a mission, he'd lost the scientist to a drug crazed Ford. Sheppard never said anything about it, but Lorne knew if the Colonel had, it wouldn't have been good for his career. Fortunately that had been one of the times that Sheppard was tuning McKay out and the Colonel was too involved with capturing Ford to worry about what happened with the scientist.

Colonel Sheppard was a good officer and well liked as he watched out for his men and friends. Lt. Ford had been Sheppard's SIC, as well as team member and friend. When McKay went missing, getting Ford back appeared to take priority over finding the scientist. It seemed a little cold at the time, but Lorne suspected that Sheppard didn't think Ford would harm McKay and therefore wasn't worried.

After that, Lorne watched out for the scientist whenever he was on a mission with him, not wanting any harm to befall the acerbic man. Lorne didn't think the Colonel would be so forgiving a second time if something happened to McKay.

Finally, he'd lost his patience. Lorne put his hand up, palm facing the tribal leader, "Enough, we're leaving!"

He turned around and gathering his team, marched back toward the Stargate. The tribal chief along with his village were all still on their knees as they watched Lorne and his men enter the Stargate then disappear.

No one knew what to think . . .

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It was raining harder now, making the going tougher. Rodney was barely able to keep up with Carson as they hurried down the path behind their two captors. Slipping on the wet ground, he squelched the urge to cry out in pain after landing hard on his left foot, jarring his injured ribs.

"Carson, quit acting like Rambo! We need to slow down, I can't do this much longer . . . "

"Would you rather I leave you here to play with the doggies, Rodney?"

"Of course not! I just can't keep up. That's all!" he gasped. Rain continued to run down his face making it harder to see.

"It's not like we have a choice, 'March or Die' comes to mind . . . ," Carson was quick to reply, also having to blink away the water that was getting in his eyes.

Sudden noises and barking from both sides of the trail made the two men in the lead come to a halt.

"Scatter, it'll confuse them and we can get a better shot at them," Turi yelled out as he ran off to one side and the other man went to the other side of the path.

Carson ran to the right, dragging McKay with him. The ground was slippery and the two had trouble making their way through the undergrowth that tried to tangle their feet, but somehow they managed to stay upright.

To his credit Keil followed close behind them. When two skaars followed, Keil turned and shot one before the other leaped on him and took Keil down.

Beckett didn't wait around. He pulled McKay along with him through the woods heading away from the gun shots and the men's cries of pain. Keil was no longer behind them, but Carson wasn't about to put them back in harm's way by going back. He kept running and Rodney was right beside him, somehow keeping pace. Fear of dying could do wonders . . .

They hadn't gone far when Carson heard the sounds of gunfire cease. He stopped and for a moment considered going back. When he heard a noise from something coming through the woods fast, he turned to Rodney, whose eyes widened in alarm. Even he had recognized that sound . . .

"Run!" was all Carson got out as they started to run.

They covered ground quickly, but the area ahead of them looked open, no trees. When they arrived there, they found the embankment of a river that was at least ten feet below them. Carson turned and looked back at the direction the noises were coming from, the animals were getting closer. McKay, stood beside him trembling, his eyes fearful as they waited.

"We're so dead," was all he could say in a shaking voice.

Carson's eyes widened in terror when he saw the pair of skaars spring from the woods, coming directly at them, jaws open and ready to attack.

"Not yet, we're not!," he yelled as he grabbed Rodney's arm, pulling him with him as he leaped off the embankment and into the air over the river.

Rodney unprepared for the fall, screamed in fear as they fell toward the water below...

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TBC