Warning : see chapter 1
They returned to collect the bags once the danger had passed. Kendra helped Keller sit against a tree. Teyla returned the bag to the doctor while Kendra went to get hers. Jennifer took out a box of medicine.
"Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever," Keller explains while taking the pills.
"I know, Doctor Mckay takes this medicine often. As well as antiistamines, antacids and antiemetics" Teyla lists.
"It's no longer what I just prescribed for him because he can't stop his right leg from trembling," adds the doctor.
"I can understand Rodney taking so many medications," Kendra says.
Kendra sits across from the doctor. Keller winced in pain as Teyla looked around.
"I have always been a little person, I must admit that I am very cozy" declares the doctor.
"Most people underestimate their ability to withstand difficult situations. When I was a child, we were sent to the forest to fend for ourselves for 10 days," says the Athosian.
"Children, ten days alone in the forest" repeats Jennifer.
"It is a rite of passage for the children of my people. We left without food, without water and we had to manage to survive. We thought we couldn't keep costs down but we did," says Teyla.
Kendra laughed, Teyla looked at her.
"Before Nirrti arrived, my sister and I participated in a rite of passage. According to our traditions, to choose the next head of the family, we had to survive a full week in caves. We realized that we were the monsters and we turned it around by becoming hunters," says Kendra.
Keller looks up.
"Kyla," Jennifer whispers.
"How do you know his name ? I never told you," Kendra said.
The sophrologist massaged the doctor's foot to soothe the pain.
"You said his name during your trance," Jennifer reveals.
"Why didn't you say it before?" she asks.
"You forgot and I didn't think it would be too painful memories for you so I didn't say anything" Keller replies.
"I understand, I'll talk to you about it when we get back to town" Kendra promised.
"I would be delighted," adds the doctor, smiling.
Teyla rolls her eyes and smiles.
"I went to summer camp one summer with lots of other children and all the necessary comfort" reveals the doctor.
Kendra was bandaging him.
"Very organized," says Teyla.
"I broke down after three days, I wanted to leave and I called my parents to come pick me up," Keller continued.
"What a beautiful life" comments Kendra, winking at him.
Keller chuckled as Teyla took a few steps away.
Jennifer put her shoe back on and Teya took the doctor's bag while Kendra took hers. They went under while going to find the weapon cage.
"Was that the weapon cage ?" Keller asks.
Teyla nods in response.
"Why is it empty ? It wasn't the Bola Kai who stole it" remarks the doctor.
"My companions had to take them to defend themselves" declares the Athosian.
Kendra puts a hand on his shoulder.
"But why didn't they manage to repel the attack? The Bola Kai's amres are worthless compared to those that were there" continues Teyla.
"We will find them" assures Kendra.
They continued on their way, passing through a rope bridge and finding themselves on the other bank. Kendra stopped all movement as Teyla looked at her. Keller notices a disturbing silence between the two women.
"What's going on ?" Keller asks.
A circular object lands in front of the tree in front of the doctor's face. Another circular object stolen. Teyla dove to tackle Keller to the ground. The Athosian picked up her piece of wood and her knife to confront the three bola kai.
Jennifer tried to pick up a scalpel, Kendra stood in front to protect her. While the fight has begun. The three men rushed towards Teyla. The first found himself on Earth, the other received a hand in the stomach and collapsed.
The third escaped. Teyla gave chase. Kendra approached slowly when she saw the first living thing. She rushed at him and slit his throat as Keller looked on in horror.
"Why did you do it !" shouts the doctor.
"We can't keep prisoners," Kendra says, wiping her blade.
"We could have tied it up and left it," adds Keller.
"The other Bola Kai would have found him and released him to join the hunt" comments Teyla upon arriving.
Jennifer had a worried look when she saw this side of Kendra's personality. A moan caught their attention. They followed the bruti down a green side. A man dressed in Athosian clothing lay on a fallen tree stand, his hands bound and a wound in his stomach.
"His hands are tied, he was probably a prisoner of the Bola Kai" writes Keller.
Keller looked closer as Kendra stood beside him.
"He got a wound in the wind, do you want to give me my bag ?" asked the doctor.
"We don't have time to take care of it," says Teyla.
"You're still not going to abandon one of your people ?" Keller asks.
"He's not an Athosian, I don't owe him anything" replies the Athosian.
"But, finally look at his clothes" adds the doctor.
"I don't know him, I've never seen him" replies Teyla.
"Teyla is right, we can't stay here" comments Kendra.
"I'm sure he's not with them, and I have to cover his wound, otherwise he'll bleed out," the doctor objects.
"More Bola Kai will be arriving soon" Teyla counters.
"I know, yes. But, I swear to you that I will do it quickly. So, let me take care of him" implores Jennifer.
Kendra sighs looking at Teyla. The Athosian grunted and agreed. She gave the bag to Keller who got to work without further ado. Kendra helped him treat the injury by muffling the man's moans.
A few minutes later, Keller covers the stomach of the man who has fallen into unconsciousness. Kendra saw the doctor approaching her direction.
"I managed to stop the bleeding and if the wound doesn't get infected, then you should be OK," Keller says.
"It won't be dark for long. Stay here with him, I'll find the hiding place" admits Teyla.
"Is the hiding place far from here ?" asks the doctor.
"No" replies the Athosian.
She left, leaving Kendra and Keller.
Jennifer shivered from the cold. She and Kendra exchanged a look. Kendra sat a few feet away, slashing the dagger blade, remaining silent. The doctor approached her gently.
"Should we make a fire ?" Keller asks.
"Let's avoid it, we would only attract attention" replies Kendra.
"What's wrong ?" she asks.
"I don't know what you're talking about," assures the sophrologist.
Jennifer frowns, she puts her hand on Kendra's shoulder to push her against the ground. Kendra looked surprised, raising her eyebrows.
"Don't play distance with me. You didn't like the fact that I knew this part of myself, did you?" guesses the doctor, towering over her from his height.
"You got it right," Kendra admits.
"Good…" Keller whispers.
Kendra gets up.
"I don't know how you were going to react but when my loved ones are in danger, I don't stand by and do nothing" says Kendra.
"I noticed and I think we can't blame you for that" she wrote.
"But, there are limits that must not be exceeded" Kendra understood.
"You spent the rest of your childhood on earth. And in this situation, I feel like you want to show that you are strong like Ronon and Teyla are. I can understand that they have different customs." explains the doctor.
"You don't want me to become another person," Kendra whispers.
Keller nods positively at his words. Kendra took his hands, resting her forehead against his.