CHAPTER 18 – THE TABLES WERE TURNED
"John... wake up John. Please..." She finally surfaced from the cave, a small part of her subconscious had grasped the fact that he had been gone too long. Her own spidey senses had kicked in, and that same part of her had known that if he had been gone that long, then something had happened to him. So she had not run from the cave, simply crept quietly as he had, ears open for foreign sounds, voices that shouldn't be there. She had heard nothing, and this had alarmed her even more. She had know that John would simply not just leave her there, and this had made her break into a run and when she had pushed out into the sunlight, squinting against it's harshness, she had almost tripped over the body that lay near the entrance of the cave.
"John.. please." She had dropped down onto her knees beside him. Quickly scanning the area around her, she had seen no signs of another person, and there was no sound either. But not so far away, a jumper had risen into the sky, near where they had left their own jumper and her heart dropped. Either they had been left out here without any way to get back, or someone had followed them in a second jumper. That same someone who had obviously done some damage to the Colonel.
He groaned, but did not stir. She got her one good arm under his shoulder and attempted to get him into a sitting position, but he was just too heavy and her sprained wrist began to throb with the additional activity. She jumped up, and scanned the area again and knew that there was no way she was going to get him back to the jumper on her own. Dropping back down to her knees beside him, she carefully felt around behind his head and it came away wet. Blood. Someone had hit him, and hit him hard. And she was stuck out here in the proverbial creek, and most assuredly without a paddle.
"Damn!" She swore to herself, and dragged a hand through her hair, looking down at his face. "Radio... of course." She reached down to the radio that all personnel kept on their ears and pushed it once as she had seen him do. It crackled to life and she leaned down and spoke into it, but it went dead before she could finish her sentence. Tapping it again in frustration, she saw that it had been damaged in his fall against the rocks.
"Ah crap... John? You need to wake up, please... I can't get you out of here on my own, and your radio is not working..." He stirred slightly, and his eyes opened and she registered immediately the pain that sprung into them and the hand that snaked immediately around to the back of his head to reach for the wound there.
"Nic? Someone here... where's my weapon?" His arm fumbled down to the weapon that still rested at his side and she placed her hand over his own.
"Stay still for a moment John. I'm going to help you to get up... I can't get the radio to work, I think it was damaged in your fall. If I can get you up, then you can lean on me and we'll get back to the jumper. You up for that?"
He responded to the quiet authority in her voice and took a deep breath. She hadn't gone to pieces on him and he could allow her to take some control for a few moments while he got his equilibrium. He had been hit by someone, he knew that. A pair of startled eyes flashed against the back of his mind, his last image as he felt the blow to the back of his head. Those eyes, familiar? He struggled with memory and Nicole watched as the concentration creased his face and she reached a hand down to settle softly on his brow.
"Leave it for now John. Clarity will come later. Just rest a moment, you'll need your strength to help me get you out of here. Remember? I'm... tiny..."
Throwing his words back in his face brought a small smile to his face and it was this that she was looking for.
"Ok John, we'll do this. Together. Slowly, ok? I'll help you to sit up, get your equilibrium before we try and get you to your feet. The jumper's not so far. We can do it."
He eased himself to a sitting position, groaning as the change in position brought a wave of dizziness and more pain than he was prepared to acknowledge right now. He took deep, calming breaths and when he was sure that he could attempt it, he gave her a signal and waited until she was positioned beside him, her good side supporting him as best as she could, and helped him get to his feet. He staggered hard, leaning against her and unprepared for his sudden weight,they went down together. He landed heavily on top of her, unable to support his fall and he felt, rather than heard, the sharp woosh of air as he put more weight on her than she could handle.
She pushed at his shoulder, rolling him slightly sideways and eased her body out from under his while he struggled to right himself. Groaning herself now, her shoulder was throbbing and the wrist hurt like a bitch, but she needed to suck it in and help get him upright or they would not be getting out of there in a hurry.
"Damn it Nic – leave me here and go back to the jumper. Radio from there. It's only a fifteen minute walk from here. I'll be ok. There's no way I can make that walk right now, I'm just too damn dizzy and if it was just me? I'm damn well stagger there on my own. But I know you'll insist on helping... and you can't hold me up. So you need to go get some help. Ok?"
His hazel eyes had glazed a little and she suspected that consciousness was only borderline right now and knew that the head injury he had was more severe than she had first thought. He should not be moving around, and even with her help, leaving him here while she went back to the jumper was the better alternative.
He pushed at her, hand splayed out on her rump to help her back to a standing position. "Go, Nicole. Now. Please. I'll be fine. You'll be safe. They've gone."
"It's not my damn safety I'm worried about John. It's yours. Leaving you here? What else is prowling around out here. You're in no condition to defend yourself."
"And you are, sweetheart? I've got my weapon, I'll be fine. Just bring some help back here."
Her lips firmed in a straight line and John knew that she was battling anger right now. Yeah, he was stubborn. But he was also right. She turned and broke into an easy run, crossing the clearing quickly and was soon out of sight. He breathed a sigh of relief. He was in a lot of pain, and didn't need her seeing him like that right now. He wanted to deal with it alone, and with her gone? He could attempt to get himself up and moving, without putting any pressure on her.
She entered the jumper and quickly scanned the control panel, looking for the radio. She had seen him operate it, but her mind refused to assist and she felt a moment of panic as she stared helplessly at the array of controls. "Damn it, Nicole. Think. Can't be that hard." She sat down in the control chair and as the word radio sprang into her mind she heard the crackle as it was activated and she remembered that everything on board the ship was controlled by her mind activation, by the ATA gene that coursed more or less harmlessly through her blood.
"Colonel Sheppard? Come in."
A relieved laugh escaped her and she ran a hand through her hair, struggling a little to get her breath and her equilibrium back. "Yeah.. um, it's me. Nicole. There's been an accident. John.. ahh... Colonel Sheppard's been hit and he has a head injury. I can't get him back to the jumper. I need some help... please..."
The response from Atlantis was immediate. "Nicole? It's me, Sam. Colonel Carter. Are you Ok?"
She couldn't help the small sob that escaped her. Relief at hearing a friendly voice and knowing that she could get some help back for John. "Sam.. yeah, I'm good. But John? Someone hit him, someone was here following us. They had a jumper... hurry, please. His head is bleeding and he is too dizzy to walk."
"Is he conscious Nicole?" She heard Carson Beckett's voice this time, and breathed another sigh of relief. Help would be coming.
"He was unconscious when I found him Dr Beckett, but he woke up. I tried to help him up, but he's too heavy."
"Don't worry lass. Sam has already dispatched another jumper, as we speak. You'll have help soon. Can you wait for the jumper to arrive, so that they can locate you?" Carson's voice was calm, and she instantly reacted to it, taking deep breaths and feeling her racing heart begin to slow.
"Hurry, Dr Beckett. I don't want to leave him too long. Tell Sam that whoever was following us came in a jumper."
"Nicole? It's Sam again... I have that information and there's a small problem. I'll discuss it with you and John when you get back. Go and wait for the jumper to arrive Nicole. It won't be long. Atlantis out."
The radio fell ominously silent and she cast a final look at the control panel, but pushed herself out of the seat and out the door, scanning the sky. True to Sam's word, the jumper arrived within minutes and she recalled that it had been a short trip across to the mainland, if one didn't count the occasional showing off.
Ronon leapt out of the jumper, along with Major Lorne who had been piloting. She had met him briefly on that first day in Atlantis and acknowledged him now with a small smile. He had moved quickly to her side, putting out a hand to place gently on her arm as though to calm her. He had seen the panic in her eyes, but it was Ronon who said gruffly.
"Where is he Nicole?"
"I'll take you, it's not far. We were at the caves, I was photographing and then..." the words tumbled out of her as they jogged lightly across the clearing and Ronon flicked a concerned glance at her.
"Did he see who hit him? There's jumpers in and out of Atlantis at the moment. The Athosians are having a festival tonight, and there's been crews back and forward to the mainland with supplies and assistance. It'll be impossible to isolate the one that flew these guys in."
John had pushed himself up and was resting slightly bent over, against the side of the cave and they could see immediately, that he was pale and sweating. It was Nicole who sped up and reached his side first, sliding her shoulder in under his to take some of the pressure off him. He tried to straighten and looked down into her face,seeing the fear and panic there and sought to reassure her.
"I'm ok... and thanks, for getting help. You did good." His words were a little slurred, and Ronon, reaching his friend's side, eased Nicole out of the way and got a grip on the smaller man, propping him up and letting Major Lorne take the other side.
"Let's get you home Sheppard."
Relieved, John let them support him and they made it to the jumper reasonably fast, with Nicole bringing up the rear. She cast her eyes at the jumper they had come in and addressed Lorne.
"Do you want me to fly this one back? Or will Ronon?"
Ronon's voice was gruff. "I don't have the gene, and I doubt Sheppard will let you take this back on your own without an experienced pilot. Gene or not."
"You got that right Ronon... Nic? Leave it here. Someone will come back for it." His voice was soft but held that hint of steel she had come to recognise. That same hint of steel that made her want to disregard his request and take the pilot's seat right now, and fly the ship home. Authority did not sit well with her. She took her own advice and her own counsel and when pushed into a corner? She came out spitting and clawing like any wild animal. He saw that now. Saw the flare of disregard in her eyes and pushed himself away from Ronon, standing in front of her somewhat unsteadily. Grasping her chin in his hands,he kept his touch firm, needing her to know that he was serious.
"Look at me. You will not fly this without supervision. You wanna add heart attack to my list of ailments? Let it go, Nicole.. please."
He saw the instant she went from wildcat to sheathed claws and sagged slightly in relief. He didn't want a fight on his hands, didn't have the energy for it. "Good girl."
His knees buckled and she tried to catch him, feeling immediate remorse and allowed Ronon to get him into the jumper and secure in a seat. Lorne had watched the interaction and quirked an eyebrow at her before they entered the jumper.
"Wow... never seen the Colonel tread on eggshells quite like that... either he's really off his game, or someone has gotten under his skin." His voice was teasing and he spoke in jest. But had seen the look that had passed between the Colonel and the newly arrived guest from Earth, and while he didn't know the full story as to how she had arrived in Atlantis, there had been some talk but more to the point? If there had been any more sparks flying,then there would have been some serious combustion.
Nicole chose wisely not to comment.
There was no fanfare when they arrived in the jumper bay in Atlantis, but Carson was there to meet them with a gurney and Sam also rode shotgun, a worried look on her face. Ronon and Lorne managed to get John onto a gurney under much protest from him, and Carson held him down firmly as they moved out of the jumper bay and headed toward the infirmary, Nicole and Sam following. Ronon hesistated a moment, unsure whether to follow, then catching Lorne's eye, the smaller man indicated that he would grab another pilot and head back for the remaining jumper and Ronon nodded. Turning, he followed the others to the infirmary. His hand hovered over where his weapon sat securely at his hip. He flexed it slightly, needing to hit out at something. His friend had been attacked and the woman under his protection was being threatened by people here in Atlantis. That put them all at risk. Ronon's theory was act first, talk later and the itch he felt in his gun hand confirmed this. He needed to go after these people and bring them down before anyone else got hurt.
Sam's mouth was set in serious lines and her blue eyes held a glint of steel, not so different than what Nicole had seen in John's eyes. She was angry, not with her - she knew that, but it appeared her anger was directed at John.
"What the hell were you thinking, John? You took her out there alone, no backup - knowing that you would likely be followed. You deliberately set both yourself and Nicole up as bait. That is not acceptable. You know that."
"Sam...Colonel Carter?" Nicole's voice was hesitant and she moved toward the bed, intent on putting herself between Sam's anger and the man who lay in the bed, staring up at the base commander with resolve in his eyes, clouded only slightly by pain.
"Stay out of this Nicole. This is between John and myself. He knew what he was doing and deliberately put the two of you in danger. Without backup - and that Nicole? Is the thing I am having difficulty getting past."
"Wait a minute Sam... he took me to the caves to get away for a while... to take photos... not to set up a trap. John...?" Nicole's small body had insinuated itself between the fiery Colonel and the patient and she flicked her eyes up to the doctor, who wisely chose not to intervene. He simply continued probing John's head wound and kept his thoughts to himself. Looking back at Ronon who had entered the room late, she saw no help coming from that quarter. He looked angry as well.
"John...?" Something in his eyes had her raising her eyebrows in question. "You knew that we would attract attention leaving Atlantis like that? Why didn't you warn me.. damn..." She dropped her eyes to the blindingly white sheet that lay underneath the Colonel and she saw his hand lying tanned and strong against the sheet, saw it clench slightly then move, coming up to take her hand. She pulled away and he knew that anger had found it's way into her as well.
"My job to worry... not yours..." His voice was fading a little and she saw that he struggled to keep his eyes open. Carson had given him a shot of something, she had seen him moving resolutely toward the bed and out of the corner of her eye she had seen the needle that had plunged into his upper thigh, wincing slightly as she had tried not to look.
"You took me out there with you, so that makes it my job as well." She turned then, and pushed past the others, leaving the man on the bed gazing tiredly after her, questioning his actions and his decisions, wondering also, if he should begin questioning his feelings.