Teyla sighed as she pulled her coat closer around her soaked shoulders and looked at her companion. Rodney had his head down, trying to keep the pouring rain from getting in his eyes. "Rodney…should we not stop?" she asked softly, she was not normally one to complain, but she was lost, and she had the feeling he might be as well.

"Probab…" the end of his sentence was broken off when he suddenly lost his foot. Teyla cried out in fear as she couldn't stop and they plummeted down the side of a large cliff. Rodney cried out in pain as his shoulder and chest slammed into several large rocks and boulders. He squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for the end, when he felt something jagged slam into his temple, and his world went black.

The first thing he became aware of was the chill seeping into his bones and skin. Groaning he slowly opened his eyes, the rain was still pouring. He cried out as pain shot up his ribs and to his shoulder. He gasped, closing his eyes against the ragged pain, he forced himself to breath through the pain. He definately wasn't dead, although he had the feeling it would be a fair alternative. He finally cracked one bruised eyelid open, he was face up on an outcropping on the side of the cliff, they had just slid down. The ground was probably fifty feet or so up. He groaned, coughing slightly, which agitated his sore ribs. Suddenly Rodney remembered he had fallen with Teyla, he looked around rapidly, and let out a painful sigh in relief as he saw her lying on her side only inches away on the very same outcropping. Taking a deep breath, he bit his lip and dragged himself over to her side, with a shaking, bloody hand he touched two fingers to her neck, and waited. Then he felt it, one beat…another beat…several more followed, although shallow they were stable. He moved his hand up and gently pushed her beautiful cooper colored hair from the large jagged cut on her left temple. "Teyla," he whispered gently, not wanting to nudge her incase she was seriously injured. "Teyla…come on Teyla," he whispered softly again, trying to ignore the growing fire in his shoulder and arm.

Two doe brown eyes slowly cracked open, he saw a sudden flash of panic and he positioned himself directly in her line of sight, "I'm right here Teyla…can you speak?"

Her eyes looked around for a moment, then seemed to refocus on his figure, "ye…yes…what happened?" she murmured grimacing, she slowly reached up to touch her head, but Rodney captured her's in his.

"I wouldn't do that…Teyla, we need to get out of the rain…and get warm…can you move?" he asked seeing the cavern at the base of their little outcrop.

"I…I believe so…my leg hurts," she whispered.

"If you can stand…I will help you get into this little cavern just inches away. Can you stand?" He asked as he carefully pushed himself up, testing his legs. While they were sore, no doubt from the fall, they were stable. He slowly bent over, gasping through the pain in his side as he gently helped her up.

He cried out when she was finally leaning against her, "Are you all right?" she asked looking at him with worry written in her beautiful doe eyes.

"Survivin'," he mumbled as he took his first step there, he couldn't worry about himself right now, he had to take care of her. With a deep breath together, the two managed to get into the small cave. Gasping against the pain Rodney gently sat Teyla down against one of the walls. Without a second thought, he then proceeded to collapse by her side.

Teyla watched him for a moment, very worried, and reached out, she was hurting as well, but she had to protect him, she had to help him too. "Stay…with me Rodney," she said gently as she ran a hand through his hair.

"Still here," he mumbled. "Just…hurts…" Opening his eyes again, Rodney pushed off the ground with one hand and began to search for anything that he could build a fire with, he then proceeded to take off his pack as well as Teyla's and search for several things.

Teyla just remained on the ground and watched him, blood was dripping slowly down the side of his face, he looked terrible, though she imagined she didn't look much better at this point.

Rodney moved over to her, the two first aid kits in hand, "I'm going to treat you…this may hurt, and I won't lie…I'm not exactly good in first aid…"

"I saw your arm," she mumbled.

"Huh?" he said looking at her, he could see the glint of humor behind the hazy pain.

"After…the storm…I saw your attempt…"

He chuckled and smiled gently, "right…well see I'm really not very good at it…you've got a pair of paints, a blanket and a shirt in your bag…I need you to change, try to dry off…it'll help keep you warm."

"What about you?"

"Let's just get you fixed up before we go worrying about me…you've got a pretty bad concussion probably…it's amazing you can even talk and think straight," he said smiling as he handed her the dry clothes. With that he got up and headed back over to the other corner to begin making the fire.

Teyla had a rough time changing, trying to keep her world from spinning, but finally she settled back onto the cave ground with the blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

Rodney turned back around and nodded, "good," he moved over towards her again and began to look her over, "you've got at least a mild concussion…the key here is you can't fall asleep…it's too dangerous, and based on my headache I'm fairly sure I have a mild one as well…we'll have to keep each other awake…" he continued the quick exam, only stopping to treat some of her scrapes. He looked at her when he got to her legs.

"It's okay Rodney…it's my knee," she explained.

He nodded and gently pushed the pant leg up her leg, the knee was badly scrapped, so he quickly wiped it with the alcohol wipes and put a bandage on it. He grabbed a nearby water bottle and handed it to her. "No broken bones, other than the concussion you're okay…"

"Let me look at you," she said.

Nodding slowly, swallowing the bile in his throat he allowed her to take over as he tried to relax, it didn't take her long, after all she had probably been helping to treat her people for years, as well as many people on Atlantis now when Carson asked. "I believe your collar bone may be broken…your shoulder is also bruised…you do have a concussion…you have a broken rib…and internal bleeding I fear," she said pressing against his abdomen and watching him cry out in pain.

"We're going…to be fine…" he managed as he sighed in pain, no wonder everything hurt. He looked at her, noticing she was still shivering and pointed to his bag, "there's another…blanket in my bag…bring it over here, we have to get warm…that means using the little body heat we have left."

"Very well," seconds later she was seated between his legs, his arms wrapped around her as they tried to keep each other warm. Teyla leaned against his shoulder, and felt his breathing becoming labored, "Rodney?"

"Ok…" he whimpered through a wave of pain, "just…god it hurts Teyla…"

"I know…why don't we talk about something…to keep our minds off the pain," she whispered

"Such as?" he whispered.

"I don't know…perhaps…our childhoods…"

"This will be fun," he grumbled as he tried to get comfortable again.

"Did you have fears…aspirations as a child?" she asked.

"I suppose…I was afraid of the same things I am now," he chuckled weakly.

"I don't think there's much your afraid of Rodney…for every time you act frightened, you show everyone just how much strength you have…I am very proud to call you my friend," she whispered gently.

"Thank you Teyla," he replied. He was quiet for a moment, "I was weird…I always wanted to go into outer space as a kid…it never changed, from the time I was old enough to say space and understand something about the stars I wanted nothing more than to go into a rocket ship and travel planets…"

"You are living your dream job?" she grinned.

"I suppose I am," he replied with a smile, "my father always used to say I couldn't do it…said I wasn't smart enough for space…but my mom…both of them, they always told me to go for my dreams."

"What about Luke? Did he not help you?"

"Yes…he encouraged me greatly…always helped me to believe in myself, he was good at that…he told John and I nearly everyday that if we put our minds to it we could do anything, accomplish anything."

"You are both happy?"

"We have our moments when we aren't…but in general, yeah I think we're both happy with how life ended up."

"That is good… were you close as children?"

"Well…honestly he was already eleven when I came, and I was ten…I was young when my mother died…so the memories I had of her were vague at best…but my father…I thought every dad was the same…John helped show me that wasn't true."

"They sound like a wonderful family."

"They were…sometimes I wondered if I didn't complicate their lives."

"You were their son as much as John…you would not have complicated their lives any more than him."

"I suppose…what 'bout you?" he grimaced through another wave of pain.

"My mother died when I was a baby…she had been ill for a long time…like you I had few memories of her, images truly…my father said I had her kind soul and ability to care for others. My father died…when I was twenty of your years… he was quite a man Rodney, you would have like him, and he you."

"Really?"

"Yes, he was noble…"

"What did you want to do when you grew up Teyla?"

"Unlike your people, we didn't have as many options…but I wanted to help people…serve my people in the best way I could and knew how. My father was very similar to Dr. Weir, he helped create bonds between our world and other worlds…When my father died, and I was still young, I became that person. He would take me to many of his worlds…so I knew the people, I knew what they needed as a whole…"

"You are quite a woman Teyla Emmagan," he said smiling softly.

"You are not so bad yourself Doctor McKay," she whispered.

The two friends lapsed into a comfortable silence, Rodney watched the fire across from them crackle for a few moments, before she became aware of Teyla's head leaning against his shoulder with her eyes closed, "Teyla wake up," he gently nudged her. The eye lids slowly slid open and she looked at him through haze and pain.

"My head hurts," she whimpered softly.

Rodney sighed as he hugged her close, she had never truly lost it around any of them, he assumed she had moments where she wasn't in control and broke down, but he wasn't ready to see it yet. Not from one so strong, "I know it does Teyla…believe me, I'll think of a way to get us out of here…but I need you to stay with me, okay?" he whispered.

"Water?" she whispered.

"Sure, take it slow though, so what's with you and John?" Rodney asked.

"I have no idea what your talking about," she repeated John's normal line.

"Nice try," he whispered as he took the water bottle back and set it on the ground once she was finished.

"He kissed me…"

"Whoa…really?" Rodney was excited.

"You do not understand…it wasn't really him…"

"Was that during the whole turning into a bug thing?" Rodney questioned.

"Yes…and then he apologized for it."

"Oh…did you like it?"

"Perhaps," she said smiling softly, "I did not like that he did it because he was sick…or that it was done harshly…"

"But you liked being close to him…Teyla, you really need to tell him…"

"And you need to tell Elizabeth the truth about Adnia, and Seri…she would not think less of you for falling for someone."

"I gave her the bracelet for Christmas…and then I turned right around and gave my heart to someone else…"

"You are human Rodney…man, man makes mistakes."

"And women?"

"We never make them," Rodney almost too her seriously until he saw the smile filter across her beautiful but bruised face.

"You know…I sorta wish my sister would have been more like you."

"You have a sister Rodney…you have two, I am merely an extension," she said smiling softly and weakly at him.

"I do love her," Rodney whispered.

"Then you should tell her," Teyla replied, knowing Rodney was no longer talking about his sister, but about Elizabeth.

"I'm afraid too hear her say we can't do anything…can't date…can't fall in love. I can't explain it to you Teyla, there has never been another woman in my life like Elizabeth, one that makes me feel so whole, so complete as Elizabeth. I'm a better person when I'm with her, she's the only one who will listen to all my stupid theories, who will pretend to understand me when I get really excited…she was there when I wake up from injuries, she has always been there. She's my best friend."

"Tell her Rodney."

"You tell John," he returned.

"Perhaps."

"We have to go back!" yelled John.

"No one wants you to go back out there and look more than I do John, but you said yourself, the terrain is rough, the rain was coming down like a sheet, what makes you think you'll be able to find them? You won't do anyone any good if you get hurt too. We have to be smart about this John, I promise we will go find them…you have my word." Elizabeth tried to remain calm. In truth she was just as worried as John about Teyla and Rodney.

John, Ronan and Lorne had shown up three hours ago, drenched and exhausted, and missing two of their teammates. Now John wanted a search and rescue mission that Elizabeth wasn't ready to send them on just yet, especially if it meant losing more of her people. She wasn't willing to risk that just yet.

She sighed as she watched John storm out of the room in anger, she understood how he felt, he was worried about his brother and Teyla…the woman he cared for very deeply. She felt it too, Teyla was like a sister to her, and she cared Rodney a lot more than she was supposed to. She laid her head in her hands and sighed, she was tired, and worried, "John," she suddenly called hitting her head set.

"What?" he sounded angry as he snapped the simple word at her.

"Get a team of four ready…including Carson and myself, tell Carson this could be a medical emergency and he should prepare for such, we'll take a jumper and embark in an hour."

"Thanks Liz…"

"I don't want them out there anymore than you do," she whispered gently as she looked down at her desk again.

"Are you all right?" Teyla's voice jolted Rodney from his thoughts. He sighed and nodded softly.

"Yeah…just thinking."

"Of?"

"The kidnapping…I was stuck in a jail cell not much smaller than this…"

"I was amazed you had survived, I knew you had strength but I am not sure I would have as much as you did."

"It was the hardest thing I've ever had to live through…even withdraw wasn't that bad…I knew everyday I could die…that there was no fear or loss in them killing me."

"How did you survive?"

"At first? Anger…lots and lots of anger and defiance. Then after awhile it was just a need, I had to see John, Carson, you and Liz again…I had to help Ford. There was no choice but to survive…I knew if John was alive he would be looking…I knew if he was alive I had to see him one more time before dying…I suppose I was still trying to defy them the joy of watching me just curl up and die…they almost raped me…" he whispered.

"Does Carson know this?"

"He knows they thought about it…I didn't tell them how far they got," Rodney sighed and shrugged. "They were close…then John apparently broke through the gate…he saved my soul…Koyla demanded me dressed in what was left and thrown back into my cell…I thought for sure I was a goner…"

"You were very brave to survive that Rodney…don't ever think other wise…Many have stood in your place and not made it out…"

"There was this little girl…shared the cell with her for awhile…probably about ten or eleven…they killed her at some point…because I wasn't doing what they wanted…I wasn't giving them the satisfaction of death…"

"We will survive this as well Rodney."

"That's what...Elaine told me," he said smiling.

"Elaine?"

"When I was younger...my father...beat me terribly...I was in the hospital for days...he beat me into a coma. I remember waking up and she whispered to me, we'll survive this. She was right, I hate it but a year later my father had died and I was with a safe family."

"Then she was correct, you will survive this as well."

"I know…Teyla…oh god!" Rodney suddenly cried out in pain and gripped his stomach.

Teyla turned instantly and held him as he slipped to the ground, withering in pain, his hands around his stomach, "it hurts," he whimpered as she held him, running her hands through his soft wet hair.

"Breathe Rodney," she whispered, reminding him gently.

"Oh…damnit," he cried; suddenly his eyes got as big as saucers, "we've got…rope…uh…wrap…wrap around you…we could clim….oh god…" he wasn't aware of the tears slipping from his eyes until she proceeded to wipe them away with her thumbs.

"Shh, we'll be found Rodney…"

"No…we…we could…could climb…"

"Rodney, I do not think that is a wise idea…you cannot use your arm…and my knee still hurts."

"Teyla…" his eyes and face grew serious, "we…have to…I'm dying…" he whispered.

"You are n…"

"Yes…I'm shaking and cold…my hypoglycemia levels have dropped considerably…if we don't get out of here…what I'm trying to say is…if we don't get out of here within another day…I will die"

"Very well…what do you wish me to do," she conceded.

"I…you've got to get up the side of the cliff…take the rope…tie it to a tree…or anything on this cliff…I'll be out there to watch you…you have to climb up the cliff…"

"All right…and then you?"

"Get help…I don't care how or what you do, just go and get help."

"Rodney, I cannot leave you."

"Listen to me Teyla…you can't stay here, you have a severe concussion…if we don't get the hell out of here now, we'll both die, if you get to the gate…you've got a better chance of saving us both…you are strong…I need you to be even stronger right now," he whispered.

"Very well."

Elizabeth watched over John's shoulder, waiting for some sign of her two friends. They had arrived on a fairly dry planet, some of her worry for the two missing members of John's team had dissipated, although she was still concerned if they were okay.

"I'm getting life signs from right here," John said pointing to the edge of what looked like a large mountain.

"You don't think they went over… do you?" Carson asked.

"If they did…they're alive…otherwise they wouldn't be showing as life signs…"

"How far are we from the cliff?"

"Ten minutes…maybe…" John said.

"Hurry up."

Teyla looked up the side of the cliff and sighed for a moment, there was no denying that she was scared of what might happen if she attempted to get up this cliff, there was no telling what would happen to Rodney as she attempted to scale the side of the small mountain. Taking a deep breath and looking back at the sagging Rodney McKay she took the first step, grimacing at the weight on her knee. Then she reached up for the next part of the cliff.

Rodney watched in a pregnant silence, as she began the slow climb to the top of the small mountain. She was doing well, she didn't let the little slipping rocks daunt her progress. She just kept going, as if fueled by something greater.

Teyla bit her lip as she finally reached the top…after what seemed like a good hour, she pulled her self up slightly, and was stunned to see a jumper sitting no more than twenty feet away from her, John, Carson, Lorne and Elizabeth walking from behind it.

"TEYLA!" John yelled.

She wanted nothing more than to collapse in his arms, to let him take control. She watched as he, Lorne, Carson and Elizabeth ran over to her. "John," she whispered.

"Come here," he said gently, no one else got the chance to help her, he reached out, and all by himself he pulled her up into his arms, seconds later he was holding her close as she clung to him in exhaustion.

"Lass…are you hurt? Where's Rodney?"

"He's still down there…he has internal injuries Carson…"

"Right lass," Carson said nodding. "How are you?"

"I have a concussion…"

"All right, John get her back into the jumper and settled…"

"Wait Carson, your too heavy for us to pull you both up…let me go down," Elizabeth said.

Carson and John studied her for a moment, "it will be easier to pull up a woman and a man, then two strong men…"

"She's got a point…" John spoke as he continued to hold Teyla tightly in his arms.

"All right then, get her down there…" Carson agreed.

Elizabeth watched the painfully slow decent as she hung by the rope that Teyla had used to scale the wall. Rodney lay on the ground, here he had the rope tied down. He looked terrible, she moved over to him, when she finally hit the ground.

"Rodney," she gently nudged his good shoulder. Two hazy blue eyes slowly slid open, "hey there?" she whispered running her hand through his hair.

"Lizzy…"

"Hey…we're going to get you home…sound good?"

"Love you…" he whispered as he closed his eyes again.

Elizabeth sighed, trying to hold back the tears, leaning over she pressed a kiss to his unmarred temple, "love you too big guy."

He became aware of the constant beeping around him, and knew instantly he was in the infirmary…he was safe, warm and home. Turning his head to look around he smiled when he saw Elizabeth's head next to his hand. Reaching out he gently ran a hand through her soft brown hair.

"Rod?" she said lifting her head.

"Hey there," he mimicked her usual tone. She smiled as she squeezed the hand on her cheek. "So…how am I?"

"Well…according to the fare doctor, you'll live to fight another day superman."

"Good…plenty of nasty things out there to kick…how's Teyla."

"She's doing fine, she was released a few hours ago…you did good Rodney. Carson said you did everything right."

"Teyla did a fairly good job herself."

"Where is she?"

"I'm here," came Teyla's voice.

"I'll let you two alone for a moment, be right back."

"Promise?" he asked looking at her.

"Of course," she pressed another kiss to his cheek and left the two friends alone.

"How ya doin'?" Rodney asked Teyla.

"I am well…thanks to you…"

"I owe you my life…" Teyla said as she reached out and grasped his hand.

"And I yours…so I believe that makes us even…you are a good man Rodney…and a wonderful friend…I am truly blessed to have you for such a friend."

"Did you talk to John?"

"We've spoken…"

"And?"

"And…my relationship with your brother is none of your business," she said grinning slyly.

"HA! You little fiend! He's my brother, I have every right to know if I'm going to have a new sister-in-law," Rodney said cheekily.

"Rodney…get some rest," she said shaking her head.

He smiled, and closed his eyes, aware that Teyla was still holding his hand. They had formed, and even if he wasn't going to have a new sister-in-law, he had a new sister and a stronger relationship with her. Together they had averted another catastrophe, but then they always did, afterall they were the super people of Atlantis.