How To Save a Life
by The Watch Stander
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On with the story of our unsung heroes...
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Chapter 8 - Something Wicked This way Comes
John wiped his face with his hand, the beard stubble made if feel gritty. Right now it was all he could do to keep his eyes open. He knew he needed sleep, but worry was eating away at him and he doubted he would get any rest. Visions of Carson and Rodney's broken bodies lying in a crashed jumper kept flashing through his mind. The next planet they arrived at was the same as the one they'd just left, nothing there, no sign of McKay or Beckett or their jumper, just empty space and land.
Ronon was sitting in the seat behind Sheppard and Teyla in the one next to Ronon. They were both quiet, their thoughts hidden, as they too observed the empty planet below them.
Major Lorne was in the copilot seat. At the briefing he had seen the weariness in Sheppard and managed to tag along, just incase they needed him to fly them back. The colonel wasn't fooling anyone. He was about to drop.
"Well, I guess they didn't come here, there's no sign of their transmitters and there are no people or villages here either." Lorne phrased it carefully, not wanting to upset the others.
The disappointment reflected on their faces, told him how very close they all were, even McKay was part of their little group. It was a closeness that was envied by many on Atlantis. Ronon and Sheppard were always training or running together and Teyla trained with both men as well. McKay, well, he was there when needed and could be found with them whenever they were at meals. Most of the time he was being teased and made fun of, but let someone outside their team say something nasty about McKay and they would have to deal with Sheppard, who would tear them a new one and Ronon would help. It was nice that they were such a close-knit unit. He envied them that.
He looked over at Sheppard and waited for his answer.
John continued to stare out the front screen of the jumper, well aware of the silence of his team and what the Major had just said. He knew what they were all thinking and the bitterness inside him became more acute.
He hated this, why couldn't they get a break and find them? What had he been thinking allowing the two men to fly back alone?
Biting his lip he held back emotions that were rising close to the surface and threatening to show themselves, he was so tired . . .
Ronon slowly reached forward and squeezed Shepard's shoulder in a show of support. It wasn't something the warrior normally did, but even he sensed the emotions that were present in the jumper. He knew that Shepard always blamed himself if someone went missing or was killed.
Beckett was important as a friend to them all and McKay, well, he was just McKay. Despite the fact that Ronon constantly yelled at the scientist, he was still very protective of the little man . . . they had developed a mutual respect for each other's abilities.
When John felt the hand rest on his shoulder, he steeled himself, not wanting to appear weak or reveal how he felt to the others. Deciding to call it quits, he started to turn the jumper around.
"Yeah, let's get back. There's another five addresses on our list to check before we take a break."
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Carson could hear noises. Even though his eyes were closed, he knew they were in trouble. Try as he might he didn't seem to be able to think clearly and force himself to get up. The noise kept getting louder and it made his headache even worse.
Finally he was able to open his eyes in time to see something brown appear in front of his face. It took a few moments to focus before he realized that it was a pair of leather boots. Looking up, he saw Turi staring down at him.
"You didn't die?" Turi said, seeming surprised. "When we saw you go over the embankment we thought for sure you were dead men."
"Aye, I think I am dead and this is hell or maybe it's all a nightmare," Carson weakly replied.
Turi smiled slightly, " It's not and we have to move before the skaar come back." He reached down and helped the doctor get to his feet.
"I have to check Rodney," Carson said as he made his way unsteadily over to where McKay lay unconscious, slumped up against the tree.
Keil was kneeling beside McKay checking his neck for a pulse. He started to stand up as Carson walked over.
"He won't wake up."
Beckett noticed that Keil's arm was bleeding and chose to ignore it, since he first needed to check Rodney.
The whole-left side of the scientist's face had dried blood on it. Holding Rodney's face with one hand, Carson used a med wipe to clean it and discovered that underneath all that blood, his skin was turning black and blue. The same condition applied to the left side of Rodney's torso. When he examined it, he found the area was bruised and turning dark shades of purple. He left the bandages alone as he didn't have enough to replace them. After examining the scientist for any further injuries, he sat back, not liking what he'd found. McKay was running a fever and there was no doubt he'd injured himself internally. The fresh blood on his friend's lips was a dead giveaway. He was also unconscious.
This was fast becoming Carson's worst nightmare, his friend dying and him unable to prevent it.
"You've done a number on yourself, Rodney. You just have no luck at all, Lad."
The scientist always seemed to get hurt. He and Colonel Sheppard seemed to be in the running for the one most injured. It was a contest that Carson hoped McKay wouldn't win. Of all the team, McKay was the most vulnerable; with health issues and lack of combat training, he was always at risk of being seriously injured. Carson knew it and so did Elizabeth, they both worried about the scientist every time he went through the Stargate. Colonel Sheppard did his best to watch out for the acerbic man, but he could only do so much. By rights Rodney shouldn't go off- world, but he insisted on going with his team no matter what. It was a dilemma, one that no one had the right answer for.
Finished with Rodney, Carson finally turned to Keil, who was now standing behind him, " Let me look at that arm."
Turi had been watching Carson clean and bandage the scientist's head wound. When the doctor had finished, he made Keil sit down and proceeded to clean his wounded arm and apply the salve the villager handed to him. The remainder of the bandages was used to wrap Keil's arm.
Turi wondered just what type of men their prisoners were. So far they had seemed relatively harmless. He knew they weren't soldiers, but then just where had they come from? His father, the village leader, would want to know and would relentlessly question them. Turi's conscience twinged at the thought of either of these men being tortured by his father's henchmen. He quickly pushed aside that thought, knowing he had to appear strong, for he was next inline as leader of his people. There was no room for weakness in a leader.
"There you go, Son. That should help." Carson said quietly to Keil.
Keil smiled at Carson, grateful for the aid and kindness from this stranger.
"Thanks," was all he said as he got up.
Looking around, Carson noticed the others had wounds that hadn't been treated.
They must have come straight here looking for him and Rodney, not taking time to even help themselves first.
It gave him hope and he thought that maybe they would come out of this all right.
"You lads want me to have a look at your wounds?" he asked. After all, he was a doctor and couldn't stand by if someone was injured.
Turi was impatient, "There' no time for that. We need to leave. The storm is getting worse and we still have a long march."
He nodded to two of his men, who quickly left for the woods as he went to stand near Carson.
"Get him ready to travel, we will have to take him on a carrier, as I doubt that he can walk."
Carson looked at Turi, then back at Rodney. "Aye, he'll not be walking anywhere soon. That's for sure." His voice sounded tired and he felt like hell.
Inside though he knew that when McKay awakened the man would be in a world of hurt. Reaching inside his bag for the vial that still had half a dose of morphine in it, he quickly pocketed it, then stood up to put his vest back on and shoulder pack. If McKay did show signs of awakening on the trip to the village, Carson would give him the shot.
A few minutes later the two men reappeared carrying what looked like a stretcher made of branches and vines. It consisted of two long branches and supports on both ends, tied with rope-like vines. The vines also made a webbing that crisscrossed the entire length. Carson was impressed with the men's handiwork
He helped them place McKay onto the carrier, trying not to injure him further. The scientist never stirred and this worried Carson. He was use to a talkative, irritating and sometimes arrogant Rodney. Right now he wished he could hear his friend being just that. It would be music to his ears. Rodney being unconscious also left Carson in a hostage situation by himself, something he wasn't use to. McKay would have been a help in telling him how to act.
Looks like I'm on my own . . .
Once more they started to walk, only this time Carson wasn't sure Rodney would make it. The jostling from being carried alone might kill him and there was nothing he could do. Despair washed over him and he looked down at his feet as he walked, not wanting these men to see his distress.
It started to rain heavily again. The tree canopy above appeared to be thinning out, exposing them to the falling rain. Miserable and wet, they slowly slugged their way through the mud toward the village. Carson thought they all looked like a bunch of drowned rats . . . he knew he felt like one.
Now, if only a miracle would happen and a rescue party came for us from Atlantis.
If only . . .
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The rain finally stopped, but it left behind wet soggy mud that made your feet slip out from under you when you least expected it. Carson was bone tired and the second time he slipped and fell, he almost stayed down; wishing for an end to the pain he was in and the awful throbbing that went on endlessly in his head. Just for a moment he felt like giving in to the blackness that was calling him. The ground was wet, but he no longer felt it, just wanted to lay there and never move again.
However, Keil it seemed, had taken pity on him and each time Carson had fallen, Keil had been the one to help him back to his feet.
Carson felt stupid, but thanked the man and once more started slugging his way through the mud.
Fortunately, the men carrying Rodney had better luck, as neither of them had lost their footing yet. It was a blessing, for if it was one thing the scientist didn't need right now was to be dumped into the mud or roughly jostled.
The air was damp and cold and Carson felt chilled through and through. Rodney was faring no better as his clothes were also wet. The cold was slowly leeching the strength and energy from them and there was no fighting it.
Beckett 's head was throbbing, making him dizzy and disoriented. He was about to collapse again, when Turi called for a break. The two men carrying Rodney needed a rest and Carson was beyond thankful for the respite. He sat down heavily beside the carrier that McKay lay on. The doctor allowed his aching head to fall forward as he held his hands clasped before his knees. Taking a deep breath, he remembered that he needed to check his friend to see how he was doing.
Rodney's face was pale and covered with sweat. The fact that his body was trembling as well, meant that he needed food or at least some glucose to get his blood sugar up. Carson rummaged through his own vest and came up with a packet of tablets. Pulling out a water bottle from his pack, he then tried to awaken the injured scientist. McKay moaned, but then slowly opened his eyes, trying to focus on whomever was shaking him.
"Carson . . . what . . . ," was all he could manage in very weak voice.
"Rodney, I need you to take some of these tablets. Your blood sugar is falling and you're in no condition to be fighting that as well."
"Apple d...In my vest . . . ," were the next stuttered words out of the scientist's mouth.
Carson thought he knew what McKay meant and went rummaging through the man's vest pockets for the mentioned item. His search was successful as he found two small containers of apple juice.
"Aye . . . that's what you'll be needing! Good job, laddie . . . ," Carson mumbled out loud.
He opened one and helped Rodney to slowly sip the liquid through the attached straw. The scientist finished one of the containers, but refused the second. His color was still off, but he seemed more aware.
"Save it Carson, might need it later," it was practically whispered.
McKay 's voice being this weak worried Carson, it was not a good sign. They needed to get to the village and soon. Rodney needed to be warm and dry not soaking wet in the cold damp air.
"We'll be in the village soon, Lad. Just keep that in mind and hold on. Are you in any pain?"
Rodney, eyes unfocused, had been staring up at the sky, but he managed to turn and face Carson. "Hurts, but I can manage," he said softly.
Carson smiled, Rodney putting off pain wasn't something he was use to. It was not a good sign. "There'll be none of that . . . You're not fooling me. I'll give you something for it."
Rodney nodded, then closed his eyes. He hurt everywhere, but didn't want to scare Carson.
I'm supposed to be protecting him, not the other way around. Everything is so screwed up.
How he wished his team was here, then he could just pass out and not worry.
Instead, I'm stuck on a planet with Carson, injured and helpless, weaponless, and some soldier wannabee has captured us. Just great! Where's Sheppard when you needed him?
Carson's quiet voice brought him back to reality.
"All right, Rodney. I'm giving you the other half of the morphine. Try to relax and sleep if you can. It shouldn't be much longer and we'll have you tucked into a nice warm bed." Carson tried to smile reassuringly, but even he was feeling the effects of his own injuries and was about ready to collapse as well. Pure Scottish stubbornness was keeping him on his feet. That and the need to keep an eye on his friend and insure that he was all right and not left behind by their captors.
Rodney looked at Carson. He could tell the man was exhausted, yet the doctor selflessly kept worrying about him. It was one of Carson's most endearing qualities, and Rodney envied him that. Everyone on Atlantis loved Carson, while they barely tolerated or just ignored McKay.
Looking at Beckett with sorrow and regret in his eyes, he told him, "I'm sorry about this, Carson. It should be me looking out for you."
Carson smiled and squeezed Rodney's arm, "Don't you worry, we'll get through this . . . Just rest."
Rodney nodded, "Yeah," he sighed and closed his eyes, wishing it was all a bad dream and he'd soon awaken back on Atlantis safe and sound.
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