How To Save A Life
Sorry for the long wait, had to decide just how badly whumped our guys were going to get! Sheppard being beaten up by the travelers on the show was really bad.
Again just to let everyone know I love your comments and reviews! It makes my day!
Here's hoping for a sixth season of Atlantis! Yes!
88888888888888888
Chapter Nine - Other People's Mistakes
Since it would take them another hour or so to reach the village, Carson tried to make conversation with Turi. Beckett wanted to know more about what he might be facing with the sick villagers and what the chances of actually helping might be.
"Are there a lot of people ill in your village?" he asked.
The young man was leading the party down the trail and glanced at Carson walking along side of him, "Yes, a third of our people have come down with a disease that we can find no cure for."
"When did this all come about?"
Turi wasn't sure how much he should say about what was happening in his village. His father would want to do that and would not be pleased if too much information was given out.
"My father, our leader, will fill you in about what has happened once we arrive. It is not my place to talk to you about it."
Carson not happy with this brush off , frowned at the man, he needed information so that he could formulate some kind of plan to get him and Rodney back to Atlantis. Basically he wanted to trade his services in helping the villagers for their freedom. This conversation however, was not getting him anywhere.
"Son, I'd like to know what I'm up against, so I can plan on how I may help your people."
Turi shook his head, "You will find out when you get there," he quickened his pace and left Carson behind not wanting to continue their conversation.
Sighing, Carson dropped back to walk alongside Rodney's litter, that was being carried by two of their captors. The scientist's face was pale, the only color it had was from the bruises.
McKay had dropped off to sleep almost immediately after being given the shot of morphine. Carson was actually glad of this as the exhausted man needed rest. Hopefully when they got to the village he would be able to help his friend more. Clean bandages and a warm bed would help a lot.
Carson drew his hand across his own forehead wiping away the wetness there. He was beyond exhausted, but somehow knowing they were almost to their destination helped keep him on his feet, along with the four painkiller tablets he'd swallowed earlier. They hadn't completely masked the pain, but did help alleviate the knifelike-vise that was squeezing his head. He was pretty sure that with a decent meal, water and sleep he'd be a new man despite his injuries.
Looking down at Rodney's still form, he smiled affectionately. The scientist was such an enigma to most people. But to Carson and a bunch of others, he was just Rodney, a man who would always help his friends even while insulting them. He smirked at that thought, if they ever got home, he intended to rub it in that they were saved by the voodoo doctor and not the genius.
It was something to look forward to...
88888888888888888888888
Turi led the worn out and bedraggled group into his village just shy of two hours later. The outskirts of the village were surrounded by what might be fields of wheat, but they were certainly crops as Carson could see people working in them. These same people came out to greet Turi and his men looking relieved. They just stared at Carson and Rodney. The doctor didn't get a good feeling about what they might be thinking after he tried to say hello, but no one spoke to him. This went on until they came through the village to a small building that appeared to be located in the center.
It reminded Carson of his mothers's storage shed and didn't appear to be any larger than a two car garage. There were no windows, only slits and a very heavy wooden door with a bar across it. This appeared to be the lock and it didn't give him a warm feeling.
As he stood there a flash of color suddenly went flying by him, straight into the arms of Turi. The small brown haired girl was squealing Turi's name even as he lifted her high and swung her around.
"Turiii! You're home!' she yelled out happily as he lifted her up high.
"Ailee, of course I'm home, did you think I wouldn't come back?" he asked smiling as he set her down safely on her feet once more.
Spotting Carson standing by the carrier, she quickly asked Turi,"Who have you brought back with you?"
Beckett smiled at her, it was hard not to. The girl's happy mood and smile were infectious and contrasted sharply with that of Turi's. She seemed overjoyed, no doubt by Turi's safe arrival. Before Carson could introduce himself, Turi cut him off.
"These are off-worlders," he pointed at Carson first, then McKay. "This one is a healer and the one on the litter is a scientist."
For some reason Turi was keeping his distance, by not using their names. It was a way of detaching yourself, so that you wouldn't get to know someone or start to like them. Beckett found it very odd since they expected him to work with these people to help save the villagers who were ill.
Ailee's face lit up, "A healer, a real doctor?" She asked Turi, then turned back to stare again at Carson. This time Beckett answered her, refusing to be treated as something subhuman.
"Aye, lass, that I am." Carson smiled.
Turi said nothing.
"You've finally come back to save us! Our father will be so glad!" she looked ecstatic.
Carson took a deep breath, not knowing what to say to that.
"Keil, take these men into the holding house and show them where everything is. I need to talk with father and then I'll join you." Turi finally ordered.
Keil nodded and headed toward the building. "This way."
Ailee looked happily up at Carson and immediately stepped forward and took his hand.
" I'll help you make the beds up." She tugged on his hand and Carson found himself being pulled toward the small building. The two men with the litter followed close behind.
Once inside, Ailee proved to be just as helpful as she was energetic. Carson discovered she was Turi's sister and that she wanted to be a healer. It made him smile as she obviously wasn't the least bit afraid of Carson or Rodney. In fact she was fussing over McKay now, trying to change his bandages, clearly upset that he was badly injured.
Even though Carson was watching her, she was very efficient and did a good job in attending to Rodney's injuries. She'd obviously had a lot of practice. The doctor wondered what the scientist would say when he awoke and found out a 12 year old was taking care of him.
"So, what is this disease your village has that you need me to help with?" Carson asked, hoping to get needed answers from her.
She looked up at the man before her and decided to tell him about the disease that had befallen them.
8888888888888888888888888
Turi's father. Jerin, was sitting by the window in his home, looking out over the vast fields of grain that were being harvested by his people. Women worked the fields now since most of the men of the village were ill or dead. He sighed as he once again dreaded the day that he had allowed the strangers to come to his village and bring the disease to his people. All of his days were now spent in this room, knowing what he'd done and regretting it. His oldest son and almost a third of his village were sick or dying. As a people they would not last another season.
Turi walked into the room and immediately noticed how disheveled his father looked. A bottle of drink was on the table and it was almost empty. If his father had drank most of that bottle today he would be in a fowl mood.
After his wife had died, Jerin seemed to withdraw from his family and now with his oldest son sick the man had become even more reclusive. Turi doubted that bringing the new strangers here would stave off that mood. His father could be a cruel man and often blamed others for mistakes made and the fate that had befallen him and the village.
Hopefully the one called Carson could help Turi's brother, Cerwin and the other villagers. Steeling himself for what was to come, he walked further into the room.
"Father, I am back and have brought two men from the ship we saw."
Jerin never turned around to look at him. Turi was use to this treatment, his brother was after all, the chosen one and not Turi. Cerwin was strong and forceful like his father. Turi was softer like his mother had been.
"Who are these strangers and why did you bring them here?"' Jerin was angry, it was the drink talking. Still, he never turned, but continued to stare out the window, waiting for Turi to explain.
Turi shook his head, he hated when his father drank, it would be hard to reason with him. Only his mother had a way of dealing with his father in a drunken state, but she was dead three seasons now. That same season the village crops had failed and many people had died of sickness, including his mother.
Just after that the strangers had arrived and brought what seemed like salvation for the village. Turi's father was considered a hero in that he had saved them all from starvation, for the strangers brought seeds to trade. They also showed the villagers how to cultivate many crops to sustain them through the harsh winters. They had magical weapons for trade as well and Turi was pleased by the one he still carried.
All of this seemed wonderful at the time until later when the disease showed itself and started to fell even the strongest of men. The strangers themselves weren't immune either as they had sickened as well.
Turi chose his words carefully, hoping to be the savior of his people and maybe earn his fathers respect in doing so.
"One of them is a doctor and the other is a scientist. Maybe they can help us."
Jerin turned slowly, "A doctor, did you say a healer?... He could be lying."
"I did, father, and he seems to know what to do with wounds, so he's not lying."
His father looked at him, "Very good, Turi. Take him to your brother first and give him whatever he needs. Make sure Ailee goes with him to observe, so she will learn what to do."
Turi smiled,"Yes, father." He started to turn but was stopped by the older man's voice.
"Did you say the other was a scientist?" His father asked, looking at him puzzled.
"Yes, I did. He was injured, but we also brought him, for the doctor refused to leave him behind."
The sly look that crossed his father's face wasn't lost on Turi. He had no idea what his father planned to do, but it wouldn't abide well for the strangers if they didn't do what they had promised. His father turned back to the window.
Turi left to do his father's bidding.
888888888888888888888
Carson helped Ailee finish washing and changing Rodney's bandages with new ones made from worn material that was clean at least. The village was obviously poor as there wasn't any clean clothes supplied for them to change into, so Carson pulled out a spare undershirt he had been saving for bandages if needed.
Ailee helped him change the Scientist into the clean shirt, by pulling it over McKay's head and carefully putting his arms through the sleeves while Carson supported him sitting upright.
Rodney was starting to show signs of awakening so Carson was very glad they were almost done. He gently lay his friend back on the bed. Rodney was now warm and dry and his wounds had been cleaned as well. Beckett would hold off on the morphine till he knew more about how the scientist was feeling.
Then he turned to Ailee,"You'll make a fine healer one day, Lass." His smile was genuine and covered his face.
Ailee loved the praise from this seemingly kind man and she was also fascinated by his blue eyes and dimples. No one in her village had that color eyes. She blushed then smiled back at him.
"Thank you, I hope to be one someday."
Turi suddenly entered the hut. Carson looked up and immediately noticed the troubled look on the young man's face as he walked over.
"What is it?"
"You're to come with me and Ailee to tend to my brother. After that you will look at the other villagers. My father said for you to be given whatever supplies you'll need to help us."
Carson was exhausted, but he knew they needed to get this done fast so that he could get them back to Atlantis. Rodney was still very pale and needed help that he couldn't provide here.
"All right, off we got then." He tried to smile, "Ailee is a big help, so she can be my new assistant."
Her face brightened at this and she took his hand.
Carson made a move to pick up his medical pack, but Turi took it instead.
They quickly departed , leaving McKay behind with two guards that remained at the door.
88888888888888888888888
Turi's father, Jerin, was not a patient man. He stayed at the window long after Turi left, trying to decide what he would do with the strangers. Finally he called out to one of his men who had been walking past the house.
"Get Danon to help you and be sure that the stranger is alone. Bring him here to me."
The man nodded and left to do as he had been instructed.
Jerin felt a new purpose rise inside him.
It was time to take action and not just sit here feeling sorry for myself.
He picked up the bottle and finished off the contents.
Yes, he would get answers from these men. He would learn the truth before the day was through.
88888888888888888888888
Rodney McKay was comfortably sleeping one minute and the next thing he knew he was being dragged out of bed and not gently.
"What...who are you? Where are you taking me?," he asked, still groggy from the morphine induced sleep.
The men didn't answer, but dragged him out the door between them. He was forced to let them being far too groggy to stand or walk on his own.
Minutes later he was brought into another house and thrown into a chair. It took all his will power not to fall off the seat, but one of the men held onto his shoulder from behind. Preventing him from pitching forward. Every bruise on his body was making it's own protest at the harsh treatment he'd just received.
"What is this? Why am I here? Where's Carson?" Rodney managed to get out before the hand holding his shoulder, jerked him against the back of the chair.
"Shut up! You'll speak when told !" a voice said from behind him.
There was a man standing in front of the window, he turned and looked at Rodney with an insincere smile on his face. "Don't worry, you will have lots of time to talk later."
Rodney really didn't like the sound of that or the man's demeanor. He'd been in enough fights to recognize a bully when he saw one, only this time he wasn't going to be able to defend himself. He was far too badly injured to hold his own against this man and his goon squad. It would probably be better to try and talk first, fight later.
He waited as the man walked over to him.
"Why are you here? Did you think to come and take what isn't yours? Or were you looking to see if my village was still here, hoping we'd all died?" the man asked him.
Rodney looked up at him in confusion, "What are you talking about? We've never been to this world before!"
The man looked at him coldly, "So it's to be lies... so be it then"
He nodded to the man standing behind Rodney , who suddenly felt himself lifted from the chair. The man struck him across the face making his nose bleed and his ears ring. Then he was dropped back into the chair.
Swaying slightly, Rodney covered his face with his hands hoping for a moment to stop his head from spinning.
This is not good...
Once more Jerin's voice asked him, "Why are you here? You will answer or we will continue to hit you until you do!"
To Rodney, it sounded like a death sentence. He hated pain and right now he was dealing with about all that he could stand. Being beaten was not going to help. He let his hands fall away from his face, trying to gather his thoughts, but it was difficult as his head was now throbbing.
"Look, the thing is, we came through the stargate. Our ship was damaged by a Wraith dart and we dialed a random address and here we are." His voice was high pitched from fear and exhaustion, but he hoped to make the point that he wasn't lying. " Believe me, if we'd ever been here before I would know, as I assign all the addresses to the teams."
Jerin looked at him carefully, "That's a lie! You or others like you came here before to trade, bringing seeds and things in exchange for what you needed. You also brought this disease with you and then you left! You said you would return and help us, but you didn't. It has been two seasons and many have died with no word or help from you!"
He bent down and looked directly into Rodney's face," So I ask again, why have you returned?"
Rodney sighed and let his head drop back down into his trembling hands.
I 'm so screwed...
888888888888888888888888
TBC