Chapter six.
Ash and charcoal crunched under Sheppard's boots. Every step he took puffed up small cloud of gray, bitter dust. Carefully walking around still smoking and hot stump of dead tree Colonel finally caught the sight of Stargate in the distance, and sighed with relief. His plan A of dealing with invasion of space bunnies got busted as soon as Rodney reached Infirmary. First thing he noticed inside was proud Carson fawning over his newest 'friend' – young, tan rabbit named Moira. McKay almost gagged at the sight of beaming physician and reiterated to find Sheppard. After impromptu brainstorming session Colonel went to sweet talk Elizabeth into giving a go to reconnaissance mission to Athalia. was more than a bit distrustful at first and he had to amp up his boyish charm to the level that, according to impressed and a little disgusted Rodney, could make him ruler of the Universe – if he wasn't too lazy. Finally Elizabeth relented though, and first thing next morning he took his team to "check up on their trade partners, try to barter for some fresh products, and eventually offer help if Athallians needed it." And boy, they did a lot of helping. Sight that greeted team on the other side of wormhole was really disheartening. Ancient forest of enormous trees and dense undergrowth was turned into desert of ash, with remnants of dead trees still standing upright as silent monuments of glory turned to cinders. They rushed forward then, afraid of what was awaiting them in the village. Before firestorm only way there was a narrow, meandering path that would take half of a day to travel. Now, with all obstacles gone they reached village in less than two hours, and found pitifully small group of numb, shocked survivors. Sheppard sighed quietly remembering bitter taste of uselesness he felt then. Athallians were peaceful, kind hearted people. Forest protected them so well, they weren't culled in many generations. Now their protection was gone - as their homes, fields and families. And they didnt knew where to start rebuilding their lives. Atlantians helped with all they could – digging through ruins, gathering still useful items, scouting around for tracks of missing groups that tried to escape from inferno. After everything possible was done, they went back promising to send supplies and qualified personnel from Atlantis – including medical team and combat engineers with equipment necessary to begin rebuilding. Only now, in vicinity of Stargate John remembered why in the first place his team came here – and lauged bitterly at himself.
"Whats so funny?" Grumbled Rodney kicking tiredly at blackened branch blocking his way.
"Nothing." Replied Sheppard. "And thats the problem." Rodney stared at him with irritation mixed with worry.
"Oh, come on. Dont tell me you feel responsible for what happened here too? Because that would be more than your usual overburdening yourself – it would be masochism, plain and simple."
Sheppard quirked reassuring smile at his friend. "Dont worry, im not that far gone. Just...we came here for informations about rabbits, not because we really cared for Athallians. We are so used to think our responsibility lies only in fighting Wraiths, we usually forget that Pegasus is dangerous place by itself. Fire might me over, but locals are in even more danger. This forest was their only defence against Wraiths – now its gone. I think im gonna fly one of Jumpers here, and do some air recon for more protected place they could relocate to."
Rodney sighed heavily and stomped on another branch raising sizeable puff of ash. "Good thinking. You know, compared to what happened here our problems with bunnies are nothing." Sheppard nodded in agreement, and they slipped into silence again. And that was another thing bothering Colonel – quiet, subdued Rodney McKay. Back in the village they gave all their food and medical supplies to the survivors. John squirreled away couple of power bars for Rodney, but usually egotistic physicist surprised him immensely slipping them to old woman mourning loss of her entire family. Sheppard was proud and impressed, but at the same time even more worried. After day of hard work and many hours of marching even Ronon was moving slower, and with less energy than usually. As for him, he was literally dragging his feet – if Rodney collapsed from hypoglicaemia carrying him through rough terrain would be real problem. Fortunately scientist kept walking with determination, and they were at the end of the trek. After another five minutes they reached Gate location, and with long groan McKay collapsed against DHD. Teyla joined him with her own groan.
"Ancestors! I could lie down and sleep for a week here." Ronon grunted in agreement stretching his back. Sheppard bent down and rubbed his burning knees and thighs.
"I dont. I want to go home and spend full hour under my shower...and then sleep for a week."
"Sounds like a good plan." Rumbled ex-runner offering his hand to Teyla. She took it and he pulled her up with a grunt.
"I agree. And we need to send help to the village. Like John said, they are defenceless and very vulnerable." McKay didn't moved thought and was looking mournfully at his teammates.
"Shower and sleep, sure. But what about food? After all that walking and digging and dragging i could really use something better than MRE for dinner." Sheppard made a face. "I second that. Hopefully other teams had more luck than us."
"We can always eat a rabbit." As soon as these word left Ronon's mouth both Sheppard and McKay stopped dead in their tracks.
"Are you kidding us, Conan?" Rodney was clearly appaled, but at the same moment intriqued. "They are edible?" Ronon lifted his shoulders in a shrug.
"'Course they are. I ate one couple of years ago, on the run."
"How it tasted?" Blurted out Colonel. Ronon smacked his lips reflectively.
"Meat is kinda sweet. We'd need salt and spices."
"Mustard?" Asked Rodney just as Sheppard said "Salsa?"
"We can try both."
Colonel and physicist looked at each other uncertainly. Sheppard decided that idea of eating a space rabbit was definitely strange. On the other hand...image of steaming, juicy piece of meat covered in crunchy, smelling heavenly crust popped in his mind making his mouth water. Rodney's eyes glassed over too. "You know, in less than an hour i can make a grill out of leftover parts in my lab." He said with dreamy smile. Sheppard could feel broad grin forming on his own face.
"Gentlemen, there's the plan: Rodney, rig your grill together. Ronon, get meat ready. I'll bring bread, spices and drinks. Lets meet on West Pier in two hours."
"Hey, Sheppard!" Rodney looked at his team leader with wicked smile. "Are you no longer worried that Elizabeth will banish you to Earth for... hmm, lets say cutting down rabbits population growth rate?" John meet his friends smile with his own wolfish one.
"You know what they say: revenge is a dish best served cold. Well, i'll take mine hot and with salsa. And what Elizabeth doesn't know, that won't hurt her."
"Did i heard you right? You want to eat one of our bunnies?" All three men winced and turned as one. Teyla stood mere meters from them – hands on the hips, disbelief and anger clear on pretty face. Sheppard cleared his throat observing with irritation as Rodney backed away hastily and hid behind Ronon. Huge Satedan had shown no intention to speak, so he turned to face irated Athosian. There was no good way to talk around this particular matter, so he decided to go straight for it.
"Yes Teyla, actually we do. These animals destroyed our food, and after whole day of helping your friends we need a meal more substantial than MRE's or spam from the can. Im sure you understand this." Teyla's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"No John, i dont understand. We are not in danger of starving. There is enough food in Atlantis to last until Daedalus arrives from Earth. I know none of you is very fond of military rations, but its not a reason to murder and eat an innocent, harmless animal."
Sheppard crossed his arms and looked at Athosian calmly. "Harmless, indeed. These pests caused more troubles and destruction than Wraiths during the Siege. So no, im not going to lose any sleep after eating some fresh rabbit meat. Besides, there is sixty of them in Atlantis already. By the end of the month there will be more rabbits than humans in the city. I dont think anyone will miss one..."
"Two." Piped in Rodney.
"Four." Rumbled Ronon. Sheppard rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"OK, four rabbits. See Teyla? Do you really want to stand between Ronon and his food?" Teyla clearly was not amused at his attempts at humor. In fact, she looked determined to defend her point. Her next words proven him right.
"I dont care if you Colonel, or Ronon or anyone else is too picky and spoiled to get by on MRE's for couple of days. Rabbits are our friends, not food. And if you will try to harm them, i will take this matter straight to Elizabeth!" Sheppard stared at the Athosian incredulously for a moment, then his own hackles raised at the threat. In two long strides he closed distance between them and met her fiery glare with his own icy one.
"No. You will not go to Elizabeth. Or anyone else for that matter. Its a team's secret. Period. Am i clear?"
"Is that an order, Colonel?" Her burning eyes promised much pain during their next sparring session, but he was too angry, hungry and tired to care. "Yes, it is. Do you have a problem with it?"
Teyla's eyes narrowed to slits, but surprisingly, she only shook her head. "No, Colonel Sheppard. I do not. But dont expect any help from me with this atrocity." With this parting shot Teyla turned away with a huff and walked couple of steps towards the Gate. "Wouldn't dream about this." Sheppard muttered sarcastically and shot a look at his two remaining teammates. Wide eyed Rodney stared at him with jaw hanging almost at his belt level, while Ronon stood with unreadable expression on his face. Sheppard briefly wondered if huge Satedan was impressed by his defiance, or secretly laughed his ass off at his stupidity. 'Probably the latter'. He thought bitterly deciding that it was one of his worst days ever.
"Dial home Rodney." John said with weary sigh. McKay pulled his slack jaw up, nodded once and warily circled around Teyla to perform fastest dialing of Stargate in his life. As soon as wormhole stabilized and IDC was sent Teyla, still stiff and ignoring everyone, went through. Ronon clapped him on the back once and followed her. Rodney continued to stand next to DHD, nervously rubbing his hands and looking between event horizon and his team leader.
"What?"
"Uh, you know she's going to make our lives miserable for this? Maybe we should apologise, or play dumb and say it was just a joke."
John smiled sardonically at jittery scientist. "Too late Rodney. Go and get the grill ready, at least this way we'll eat decent last meal."
Rodney tiredly rubbed his face. "Its a nightmare Sheppard. Its like Lucius all over again. Everyone is behaving strange, nothing makes sense anymore. I want to wake up." John reassuringly squeezed his shoulder.
"I know McKay. Its not my day too. Anyway, lets go home before Gate turns off. Remember, we have a dinner to cook."
"Yeah, and with our luck we'll end with food poisoning, or worse." Rodney threw last disgusted glare at burned down forest and together they walked to the Stargate. Sheppard let McKay go through first, and stepped into Atlantis...and something soft and squishy, that made squelching sound under his foot.