Sorry folks! I suffered a bout of heat exhaustion the other day and haven't been quite right the last few days. Imagine that, a dragon who hates the heat... Feeling better now, so time to get a new chapter up :D
Chapter 15
Following Rodney's heartbreaking conversation with John, Teyla needed time to herself. While she'd yet to fully breakdown like Rodney, she was sure spending another minute within the barn would hasten such a display of emotion. She was also sure Ronon felt the same, though the Satedan would never willingly show it. His rare shows of affection were often limited to the occasional hug or warm smile, but Teyla could see the toll John's situation was taking on him. She shared their pain and sorrow, but someone had to keep it together to see them all through this.
She wandered through the village taking in the sights and smells while watching the warriors parading back and forth along the tree line in their bio-suits. Occasionally, one would fire into the trees and Teyla would hear the screeching of a dying, giant insect. She wondered how such creatures had evolved on this world. Most planets with humanoid inhabitants as the dominant species were the same as her own planet; insects and wildlife similar in the size of native cousins back on Earth, or so Rodney said. But the beasts and insects of Caronaa were so different Teyla wondered if, like the Goh, they were foreign to the planet.
As she wandered towards a pond in the center of the village, Teyla looked into the sky, seeing the sun was much lower than before. Had it really only been a few hours since they were attacked? To Teyla it felt like many days had passed since they set foot on Caronaa. In such a short period of time, they had been attacked, lost their ship, and had been injured— even almost died. It was a bad day from the start.
Now they were losing John, and all Teyla could think about was what would happen when they did. Usually the hopeful one, Teyla found herself considering life without the team to which she had grown accustomed. Three strong men, all with their own personalities and traits, all of whom drove her insane— though she loved each of them dearly. She had a special connection with John, one forged in the heat of battle. He was different from most other men of Earth. He'd shown compassion and loyalty to her people within hours of meeting them. Such a thing was rare in this galaxy. Living under the threat of the wraith meant most people lived for themselves and for the day. John went on to prove his basic personality was a loyal and loving one, caring beyond himself and for others often beyond his limits. To lose John would be to lose the heart of the team.
She stopped by the pond, unable to suppress a quiet sob that made her eyes tear. As she wiped the tears away, her com suddenly sparked to life in her ear.
"... Colonel… respond… is Lorne… respond…"
Teyla quickly tapped her earpiece. "Major Lorne?! Major, this is Teyla, it's good to hear your voice!"
"...Teyla… within range… dampening… five minutes…"
"Major Lorne, please hurry! Colonel Sheppard has—"
Static exploded from the com and ended the conversation. Teyla ran back towards the barn to inform the others. Hope blossomed within her, for they now had a way to get John back to Atlantis and hopefully treated and saved.
She ran inside to see Ronon holding John on his side while Rodney and Rella worked on his back.
"What are you doing?" Teyla asked as she came to a halt beside them.
"We're placing a wire connected to the synaptic interface into John's spine so that Primus can communicate with us," Rodney replied.
"I just had Major Lorne on the com, he is on his way. Perhaps it would be better to leave Colonel Sheppard alone until we get him back to Atlantis?"
"Technologically speaking, there is little difference between here and Atlantis on how he would be treated. He's too ill to travel four hours in the Jumper, he won't make it to Atlantis," Rodney said as Rella finished placing the thin wire and taped it down. "Not without help from Primus."
"And you think this will allow you to converse with Primus effectively?"
He nodded to Ronon who gently laid John onto his back. "We're about to find out," Rodney said staring at his tablet.
Minutes passed and nothing happened. Rodney pressed at the tablet numerous times but the text box remained empty. "This should be working," he said frustratedly.
"Teyla, Lorne. We are within the dampening field and north of Central City. What is your location?"
"We are in the main village south of your location, just outside of the forest. Please hurry, Major. Colonel Sheppard is deathly ill."
"I have Doctor Beckett with me and will be with you in a few minutes. Hold tight."
The com fell silent and as it did, the tablet in Rodney's hands came to life.
This is Primus.
"Yes!" Rodney said elatedly.
Am I conversing with the one-kin known as McKay?
Rodney grinned, speaking the answer he simultaneously typed into the tablet. "Yes, this is McKay. I'm hoping you can help us."
I am unsure how I can.
We are dying, McKay.
Limited energy, therefore limited time.
We can not afford to lose more kin.
"No no no, I'm not asking you to let more die. I need you to come up with a way to save Sheppard, while we save you and your… infants."
I know of no way, McKay.
Rodney huffed irritatedly and said, "So, you have the same defeatist attitude that Sheppard currently has, huh?"
It is not an attitude, McKay, it is a fact.
"Look, all I need you to do is stop feeding on Sheppard, allow us to find a way to help you, while you search all that great knowledge of yours to save our friend, our kin."
I have already instructed the infants to lay dormant.
We will not eat, but we will also not survive much longer without doing so.
Teyla was reading over Rodney's shoulder and looked to Rella. "Is there some way we can keep the Goh alive long enough to save John?" she asked.
Rella looked doubtful and was about to speak when Rodney raised a hand to silence them.
"Wait," he said. "Wait a second."
Teyla saw his eyes roving back and forth as he thought. His mouth twitching as he silently mouthed words of his mind. Then he snapped his fingers in the air.
"If we could get the Goh safely out of him and into a vat of water, then maybe we could get John into a… a stasis pod until we can help him. Give him more time, and save them."
"We have stasis pods here," Rella informed them. "I could get one sent from Central City within the hour."
Rodney grinned then typed on the tablet. "What if we were to get you into a vat of water with enough nutrients to survive. Could you leave John without killing him?"
We would survive in suitable water.
John would not survive our leaving his body.
We are in his tissues and blood.
"What about a transfusion?" Teyla asked.
Rella shook her head. "Your blood differs from ours, a transfusion of such would kill him."
"Wouldn't work anyway," Rodney replied. "Just the mechanism of the transfusion would kill the Goh. Plus, I don't think John could survive a complete transfusion right now."
Primus spoke again.
If we leave John's body, he will die.
Are you so sure you wish to save us if it will kill him?
"He wants us to save you," Rodney said and typed angrily. "I will ultimately stand by his decision. But you need to at least try to find a way to help him."
Then I will try to find a way to save your kin.
There was a noise outside and Teyla hurried out to see a Jumper landing. She waited for the craft to land then made her way to the rear. The first out was Carson Beckett, who strode quickly towards her with a grim expression.
"It's great to see you, Carson."
"What has the colonel got himself into now?" he asked.
"It's not what he has gotten himself into, rather, what has gotten inside of him," Teyla replied.
Carson blankly stared at her then said, "I'm gonna need a wee bit more information than that, lass."
As she led them to the barn, Teyla informed Carson and Lorne about what had transpired since they left Atlantis that morning. By the time they had their first view of John, all were fully apprised of the situation. Her words clearly didn't prepare them for what they would see as Lorne and Carson abruptly stopped a few yards inside the barn, both clearly shaken by the sight of John's withered and lifeless form.
"Oh dear God," Carson whispered.
Teyla's heart sank. The look upon the doctor's face was of such fright that the hope which had swelled within her before, dissipated within seconds to be replaced by bitter hopelessness.
To be continued...