Part 4
Colonel John Sheppard could no longer discern where he hurt the most, but he knew he had to figure out a way out of this mess. Kolya, Michael, and Ford were not going to let up and he knew they would not let him die until they had what they wanted, and he couldn’t betray his people even if it meant saving his own life. He moved on the small cot, feeling the blood on his side and wondering whether there was enough left inside him to sustain life.
John heard sounds at the door and tried to find the energy to move, but there just didn’t seem to be anything left. ‘Get your ass moving, Sheppard…you have promises to keep!’
Sheppard recognized the voice in his head and couldn’t help but smile, wincing as the movement brought back the memory of Kolya’s latest interrogation techniques. John knew he had to move, no matter how hard it was because to lay down and die would mean betrayal of not only the promises he’d made, but of his own beliefs. He had to fight…to the very last breath or he’d never be able to live with himself.
“That’s funny, John, because dying is not what it’s cracked up to be,” Sheppard whispered and moved to face whoever was about to enter his cell. He stood behind the door and held his breath as it opened inward and prayed he could take his nemesis down.
“Colonel...”
Sheppard knew it was Aiden Ford and wished there was something he could have done to prove to he regretted what had happened and wished there was some way he could change it. As Ford entered, John drove his upper body forward in a vicious attack that was meant to throw the other man against the wall. It didn’t totally succeed, but Ford was off balanced by the attack and John forced the issue, but his dwindling strength was nearly depleted.
“Colonel…stop…I’m going to h…help,” Ford tried and reached out to grab the flailing arms. He had no idea where Sheppard found the strength, but the man still packed a powerful punch. “Colonel…wait…”
John heard the words, but they didn’t cut through the anger and pain as he fought with the former lieutenant. He knew he was weakening, but he couldn’t give up even as Ford took the upper hand and manipulated his body so that his arms wrapped around Sheppard’s abdomen. He tried to snap his head back, but Ford easily moved out of the way, but John wasn’t about to quit.
“Colonel, listen…we need to get the hell out of here before Kolya and Michael realize what we’re doing!” Ford said, and finally forced Sheppard to the floor of the cell. He knew he wasn’t probably opening the wounds he’d helped cause, but right now he needed Sheppard immobilized so he’d have no choice but to listen. “You ready to listen, Colonel?”
John suddenly realized there was something different about Ford’s voice and that it held none of the hatred that had been present earlier. He stopped struggling and tried to draw enough air into his lungs, but with Ford’s weight holding him down it was next to impossible. “I…I’m listening,” Sheppard managed and was relieved when Ford got off and he was finally able to breathe.
“Good…we need to move fast. Do you think you can walk?” Ford asked.
“No, but I’ll do it anyway,” Sheppard told him.
“That’s what I thought,” the former lieutenant said and couldn’t suppress the half smile on his face. “We need to get out of here and wait for McKay…”
“McKay’s c…coming?”
“Yes…I’ll explain later,” Ford said and helped the other man to his feet. He offered his arm in support and quickly helped Sheppard to the open door. He saw Lo’ra’tek near the edge of the path and hurried toward him, silently thanking the little humanoid for his help and praying Sheppard remained on his feet long enough to make good his escape.
Sheppard knew he was weakening and leaned heavily against Ford as they made their way out of the compound. He couldn’t see a damn thing and wondered how Ford was able to move without a problem. John quickly realized it must have something to do with the heightened senses cause by the enzyme and wondered at the difference in his former lieutenant. John had no idea how long it took them to reach the cave, but he’d never been so glad to lie down in his life. He concentrated on breathing and blinked his eyes when Ford lit a small torch and placed it in some kind of wall sconce.
“Colonel, I’m going to make sure we weren’t followed so stay put,” Ford warned.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Sheppard said and closed his eyes. His gut churned, and his vision blurred as he turned on his side and noxious bile spewed form his mouth.
“Easy, Colonel,” Ford said upon returning a couple of minutes later. He knew Sheppard was in bad shape, and that he was partly to blame for it, but right now he couldn’t take the time to hold the blame. Right now he needed to keep Sheppard alive long enough for help to arrive.
“Aiden…thanks…” Sheppard said, but could no longer keep the darkness at bay.
Ford looked down at Sheppard and knew there wasn’t much he could do for the Colonel, but at least he would be alive once the others arrived. Ford sat on the ground, leaning his head back as knifing pain lanced through his gut and his head felt ready to explode. He knew deep down he was dying, but at least he was dying with a clear conscience and that the enzyme would no longer make him an animal.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Rodney McKay closed his eyes and pretended he was sleeping, but his ribs ached and sitting in the chair was not helping him at all. He wished he could lie down in his comfortable bed on Atlantis, but he knew he would not rest until he kept his promise to John Sheppard. The man was exasperating and got on his nerves sometimes…hell if he was honest it was most of the time, but there was something about Sheppard that brought out the best in him. Sheppard challenged him to think outside the box and rely on other things besides the tried and true. John had seen right through his own façade and understood there was more to Rodney McKay than the smartest man in the galaxy. Rodney smiled in spite of his discomfort at the memory of how many times Sheppard had caught him in his little idiosyncrasy of making everything seem like an impossible situation and called him on it.
God, how he wished they could have that little sparring match right now, but Sheppard was not here, not yet anyway. When they reached John, Rodney prayed they’d find things were not as bad as Lo’ra’tek had told him. ‘Just hang on, Sheppard, we’re on our way,’ he thought and shifted slightly, scowling when he felt someone touch his forehead.
“You should have stayed on Atlantis,” Beckett lightly scolded and reached for his med kit.
“I’m okay, Carson…”
“No, you’re not, but you will be because I don’t intend to let you do anything stupid,” Beckett told him and showed him the item he had in his hand. “This will help with the pain…”
“You’re not knocking me out!” McKay warned.
“I have no intention of knocking you out, Rodney, it’s just something to give you some relief,” Beckett assured him and gave the man the injection before he could mount much of a protest.
“Dammit, Carson, I thought doctors were supposed to have a gentle touch!” McKay snapped and rubbed his arm.
“We do, but we prefer to save it for those patients who appreciate what we do for them,” Beckett said with a ghost of a smile as he retook his seat next to Ronan Dex.
“How long before we reach the planet?” McKay asked Lorne.
“An hour…depending on the atmospheric interference,” the major answered. “We should be able to locate the compound Lo’ra’tek mentioned. Did he say anything about Kolya being able to detect incoming crafts?”
“No, but it’s doubtful when you consider the atmospheric interference would wreak havoc with their systems…what about our own? Did you do a systems check to make sure the shields are functioning properly?”
“I did, and everything’s working fine, Dr. McKay,” Lorne said and returned his attention to the task at hand.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Kolya made his way across the compound toward Sheppard cell, but stopped and looked around when his instincts kicked in and he felt something was wrong. The wraith guards were still in position, but something told him they were guarding an empty cell. He moved carefully across the rest of the compound and entered through the partially open door, silently cursing when he saw the empty cot in the corner.
Kolya closed the door and looked around, spotting several of the small humanoids nearby and knew they were behind Sheppard’s disappearance. He knew the one who seemed to be their leader and knew his instincts had been right about them. They only appeared to be harmless, when in reality they were cunning and dangerous. He turned to the first guard and asked where Michael was, but neither of the wraiths spoke to him.
Kolya made his way across the compound and stood outside the structure used by Michael and his followers and debated whether he should simply go inside and ask about Sheppard. The problem with that was he didn’t think Michael knew anything about Sheppard’s disappearance. The small humanoids seemed to be chittering excitedly amongst themselves and there was no sing of Aiden Ford anywhere. The wraith hybrid had disappeared and there was still no sign of him anywhere.
“You should leave now before they kill you,” Lo’ra’tek warned from behind him and waited for the former Genii commander to turn and face him.
“Who are you to tell me what I should do?” Kolya snapped, bending slightly at the waist and pasted a chilling smile on his face.
“The wraith have been feeding, but they are angry and Michael blames you for Ford’s betrayal.”
“Where is Ford?”
“I do not know, but the wraith are going to be angry when they find Sheppard is no longer inside,” Lo’ra’tek advised.
“How do you know Sheppard is gone?” Kolya asked, grabbing the smaller humanoid by the throat and lifting him off his feet. There was no doubt in his mind that he had found the person responsible for the colonel’s disappearance, but something told him he wouldn’t get the answers he wanted. “Where is he?”
“You would be well advised to leave now while you can,” Lo’ra’tek ground out.
“Why? Are you little people going to kill me?”
“If it becomes necessary that could be arranged, but I believe the danger is from Michael and his followers. They are not going to believe you had nothing to do with Colonel Sheppard’s escape.”
“I should kill you…”
“Perhaps, but it would not get you what you want and I believe you are in need of help if you wish to escape before the wraith realize Sheppard is gone,” Lo’ra’tek said and was forcefully thrown to the ground.
“I have a way off this planet,” Kolya told him.
“Then you should leave now because Michael and the others will be finished feeding soon and will be looking to take Sheppard and make him tell them what they want. They will be angry and who do you think they will blame? You are one man to their many and they do not care whether you live or die.”
“What about you and your kind? Won’t they look at feeding off you?”
“We do not plan to be here when they make the discovery,” Lo’ra’tek advised and turned to see the others waiting for him.
“What about Sheppard? Do you plan on leaving him to the wraith?” Kolya asked.
“No…Colonel Sheppard will be fine…he is safe until his friends arrive…”
“Where?”
“I will not tell you…your time is running out, Kolya…you must leave now if you wish to escape.”
“I’m not a coward…”
“It is not a coward who runs out when he knows there are insurmountable odds…it is a smart man,” Lo’ra’tek advised and turned away form Kolya. He’d given the Genii commander a chance to leave and survive, whether the man took advantage f it or not, no longer mattered. It was time for him to leave and follow their own calling, but he wondered how Sheppard and the others would make out once McKay showed up. Would he find the Colonel in time or would the wraith discover the cave first? It was not for him to know, and he made his way to the others, turning in time to see Kolya disappear and wondered if the man would heed his warning.
SGASGASGASGASGA
John shivered uncontrollably and fought to open his eyes, but it seemed to take every ounce of strength he had just to take in enough oxygen to satisfy his lungs. He shifted slightly, crying out when pain sprang to life and reminded him his body was not meant to withstand this kind of abuse. He closed his eyes, but opened them again as a strange, almost muted sound reached his ears. Memories came flooding back and he frantically searched his surroundings for the source of the sound and realized it was coming from the man lying nearby.
“Ford?” Sheppard called and called on his own stubbornness to pull himself into a sitting position. He had to lean against the cold wall of the cave to keep from blacking out when pain raced along jagged nerve endings and slammed into his skull with enough force to make him nauseas.
It took several long, agonizing minutes to get his body and mind focused on what he needed to do and he blinked several times until his vision cleared. Once more he looked at the figure lying on the floor beside him and reached out to touch the man’s shoulder. “Ford…Aiden, can you hear me?”
Sheppard’s concern increased when there was no answer from the other man and he forced himself to ignore the fiery agony that encompassed his own body and dragged the unconscious man closer. He must have blacked out because he could not remember succeeding in getting Ford into a sitting position and leaning against his chest. Ford was trembling, but how badly was hard to tell because Sheppard knew his own body was shaking uncontrollably.
“Aiden, come on, open your eyes and…God,” Sheppard cried out as a spasm ripped through his lower back, but he did not relinquish his hold on his friend. He stayed as he was, eyes closed, breathing irregular, and holding on to Ford for dear life, afraid if he let go they would both die. “Come on Ford…wake up…don’t do this to me…not now…God, I can’t…Wake up, Lieutenant! That’s an order, Soldier!”
“Yes, Sir,” Ford’s voice was so low it was barely heard, but it brought a smile to Sheppard’s battered face.
“”Bout time…was just about to threaten you with a court martial,” Sheppard warned and held tightly to Ford when he tried to draw away. “Just rest, Aiden, I got you.”
“I…I thought I was sup…posed to be tak…taking care of you,” Ford told him.
“Well, right now I’d say it’s about 50/50 in that department. What’s happened to you? Where are you hurt?”
“I’m not hurt…not like you think, Colonel,” Ford said, fighting to control his breathing. And keep from passing out again.
“Then what’s going on? Is it the enzyme?” Sheppard asked worriedly, fighting the waves of pain and fatigue that washed over him. With his arms wrapped around Ford’s chest he could feel Ford’s heart beating too rapidly and wished Beckett was here, but right now they only had each others. Ford’s head came to rest against his shoulder and John wished he could do something to help, but right now he was as helpless as a newborn kitten.
“I…the enzyme…I stop…stopped taking it, Colonel…it w…was like a d…drug…”
“So this is like with…drawal?” Sheppard asked.
“W…worse…I think…I can’t…my body is shut…ting down, Sir, and there’s not a d…damn thing anyone c…can do…I’m dying.”
“No…no you’re not, Ford! I won’t let you!” Sheppard snapped, but it felt as if he was watching the former lieutenant’s life drain out in front of his eyes. “You listen to me, Lieutenant, because I hate repeating myself! I won’t let you die.”
“Don’t have a choice any…more, Sir,” Ford said, his voice weak and barely audible. “I…I didn’t choose this, but I did choose to make the mistakes afterward…”
“That was the enzyme…not you…”
“The enzyme was part of it, Colonel, but not everything. I chose to make Teyla, Ronan, and McKay into something they didn’t want and you know why?”
“The…”
“No, Sir, not the enzyme…not to…totally anyway. I did it because I didn’t want to be alone…I wanted to have them like me…”
“Then why didn’t you give it to me?” Sheppard asked.
“Because you’re Colonel Sheppard…you’re my commanding officer and even with the…the enzyme I understood the necessity of not breaking those rules. I co…couldn’t do that to you, Sir…not after everything you did for me…for everyone on Atlantis,” Ford answered.
“I don’t th…think everyone would agree with you about that, Lieutenant,” Sheppard said and closed his eyes as the pain intensified.
“You’re a natural leader, Colonel and I…I was honored to serve with you…”
“Thank you, Aiden,” Sheppard managed before slipping unconscious once more.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Major Evan Lorne held tight to the controls and maneuvered the Puddle Jumper through the worst of the turbulence and broke through the thick atmospheric phenomenon into a bleak landscape that looked barren and uninhabitable. He banked left, using the controls to keep the craft invisible to anyone who might be searching for them.
“Anything, Rodney?” Beckett asked.
“Nothing yet…although there seem to be several life signs just south of those mountains. I’m not picking up Sheppard’s IDC, but that could be due to the atmosphere’s interference,” McKay answered. The medication Beckett had given him dulled the pain and allowed him to concentrate on his job and so far he had been able to get them through the violent atmosphere and closer to their destination. “Lo’ra’tek said he would try to protect Sheppard, but God only knows whether he was able to or not.”
“Just find them,” Dex ordered.
“I’m doing my best…this is not a game of eenie meanie minie moe. This is precision instrumentation and it’s important to…wait!” McKay snapped and checked several readings. “Major, go left about one point two kilometers and stay on that course.”
“What is it, Rodney?” Beckett asked.
“I’m picking up two life signs…both are weak and separate from the others. I’m thinking Lo’ra’tek was able to get Sheppard away from the others and is holding him there. The structure showing up here looks like some kind of buildings and there are a lot of life signs…way too many for us to confront,” the Canadian explained. “Just a little further, Major, and hopefully there’s a clearing nearby for us to land and mount a rescue effort.”
“Rodney, you and Ronan should stay…”
“No way in hell, Carson,” McKay snapped and could see the surprise on Beckett’s face. “I need to be there…and so does, Ronan…right?”
“Right,” Dex agreed easily and knew there was no way anyone could stop McKay short of knocking him out. The closer they got to their final destination the stronger and more stubborn the Canadian would become.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
John Sheppard woke to the raging pain that now seemed the norm for him. He was also hot…hotter than he ever thought possible and a part of him knew there were two causes. The first was the fever building inside him, and the second was the man who leaned back against him. Ford’s heartbeat was no longer fast and furious…no longer racing as if the man had been in a run for his life. Instead it was weak and thready and Sheppard knew there was nothing he could do to save him.
“Colonel…you a…wake?”
“I’m right here, Lieutenant, just be quiet and save your strength,” Sheppard warned and felt as if his heart was being cut from his chest with each breath Ford managed. It had always been hard on him when he lost a man under his command, but this felt ten times worse than anything he’d ever been through before.
“Colonel, would you…could you tell the o…others…tell them I’m sorry…”
“You can tell them yourself when they get here. That’s an or…order, Soldier!” Sheppard told him. He felt a spasm wrack the other man’s body and held him in spite of his own pain. Ford’s elbow connected with the wounds to his abdomen and he cried out, but did not release his hold on Aiden Ford. “Just hold on to me, Aiden…God help me, but I can’t…can’t…”
“Colonel, you’ve always b…been a friend and I t…thank you and I’m s…sorry for what I did to you…and the others,” Ford said once the spasm had finally subsided and he could breathe a little easier. He groaned and curled into a fetal position, clinging to Sheppard’s arm in an effort to ease the knife twisting in his gut. He was dying, there was no doubt of that and he looked up into the sorrow filled eyes gazing down at him. He lifted his left hand and touched Sheppard’s cheek where evidence of his own emotional upheaval was visible.
“Lieutenant…”
“It was an honor to serve with you, Colonel,” Ford said, a hint of a smile on his face as his eyes cleared for several seconds.
“It is an honor to serve with you, Lieutenant Aiden Ford…I promise you that your family will know that you gave your life to save others…including me,” Sheppard said, holding the other man tight as he drew his final breath, shuddered and went still in Sheppard’s arms.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Michael could still feel the effects of the feeding frenzy that had taken control of them when they’d entered the underground cell and seen the captives waiting there. With nothing to stop them they’d gorged themselves on the captives and with a sickeningly hostile smile, Michael had led the others to Sheppard’s cell and found it empty. Next they’d swept the compound and found it deserted except for him and his followers. Even the little creatures had disappeared, leaving the compound ominously silent, but it was interrupted by a familiar sound that made him look skyward.
Michael knew who had taken the craft and left the planet, his problem now was whether or not Kolya had taken Sheppard with him. He turned to the others and knew it was time to leave and with only one option open to them he turned toward the gate and strode purposefully toward it. He knew the dangers of using the gate with the atmospheric disturbances, but there was no other option. They needed to leave and regroup somewhere else because if Kolya had Sheppard it would not take long to find him.
Michael dialed the number of a planet he knew was safe for all of them because they’d laid down the groundwork and built their own ‘sanctuary’ with special attention to the full blooded wraiths who would track them down and kill them without warning. As soon as the gate was dialed in they stepped through, leaving the compound as empty as it had been when they’d found it.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Rodney watched as the life signs slowly disappeared and worried that they might be too late as the equipment registered only a single life sign, weak and alone. They were searching for an area to land the Puddle Jumper, but so far there was nothing even remotely usable.
“I may have to take…”
“No…over there,” Ronan pointed to an area about 100 yards ahead of their position and Lorne expertly maneuvered the craft until they descended through the heavy tree coverage and landed in the clearing.
“Rodney…”
“I’m fine, Carson, come on…I have to do this,” McKay stated emphatically.
“I know you do, but I want you to go easy and don’t do anything stupid,” Beckett warned and turned to the Setedan, but the warning glint in Ronan’s eyes told him his words would fall on deaf ears. He grumbled about his patients and followed the others out the door, hoping he wouldn’t regret not putting a stop to it, not that there was any real chance of him making the others listen to reason.
“Follow me,” McKay said, holding the device and watching the signal that told him there was still someone alive on this Godforsaken planet and praying it was Colonel John Sheppard.
SGASGASGASGASGASGA
Colonel John Sheppard held tight to the man whose life had come full circle and knew he would follow through on his promise. Aiden Ford did not deserve what had happened to him and his parents deserved to know that their son had given his life to save his friends and serve his country.
John breathed past the agony that was his body and closed his eyes in an effort to rid himself of the nauseating dizziness that swept through him. He whispered a silent prayer that Aiden Ford was at peace with his life now and that he understood just what his sacrifice had proven. The wraith enzyme had not been strong enough to wipe away Ford’s humanity and he’d come through when he was needed the most.
Sheppard could feel the cold taking up residence in his body and he wondered whether he would have the chance to keep his promise to Ford or if it was another he could added to his list of promises to keep, but left unfulfilled. He thought about Rodney McKay and the strange friendship he had with the Canadian. There were times when they got on each other’s nerves, but when push came to shove, Rodney was a good man to have at his side. The only thing that really bugged Sheppard about McKay was his penchant for making everything seem like an impossible scenario so that his ‘brilliant’ idea seemed even more spectacular than it actually was. The thing was, McKay was brilliant and he wasn’t afraid to let everyone know it.
The cold was growing worse and his body shook with the need for heat, but there was nothing he could do with Ford’s body leaning against his chest. He couldn’t find the energy to move his arms let alone push the dead weight off. John heard movement outside the cave and turned his head to search for anything he could use to defend himself, chuckling softly when he realized the impossible situation he was now in.
“This way!”
God, he knew that voice, but was it real or his imagination playing games. He fought to keep his eyes open and heard the impatience in the newcomer’s words as he stepped into the cavern.
“Colonel…”
“’Bout time…McKay,” Sheppard managed and heard the change in the Canadian’s breathing when the man knelt at his side and tried to move Ford’s body.
“There’s gratitude for y…you…”
“Rodney, move out of the way and let Major Lorne and Ronan get Ford out of the way,” Beckett ordered.
“I can…”
“No, you can’t…all I need right now is for you to pop a lung,” the physician warned and saw the horror on McKay’s face. “Look, Rodney, you did good and you got us here…now let me do my job and we can get him back to Atlantis.”
“Don’t y…you go any…where,” McKay ordered and moved back, finding it harder to draw in enough oxygen as Lorne and Dex moved Ford’s body off Sheppard.
“What kind of mess did ya get yourself into now, Colonel?” Beckett asked, watching as Sheppard fought to stay conscious.
“Hell, you know me, Carson…never do things b…by halves,” Sheppard said, but he lifted his head until he was looking right at Rodney McKay. “Kept your pro…mise…”
“Yes, well, what is a man if he goes back on his word? I’m glad you k…kept yours,” McKay said simply.
“Dr. McKay, are you all right?” Lorne asked.
“I’m fi…oh my,” the Canadian said and his eyes rolled up in his head. He would have hit the floor hard had it not been for Ronan’s quick thinking as he grabbed McKay and lowered him to the cold ground, easing him back against a pile of clothing as McKay’s breathing grew worse.
“Doc, McKay’s in trouble,” Ronan told him.
“Dammit, I knew I should have made him stay with the Puddle Jumper. Make sure he’s breathing and I’ll get to him in a minute,” Beckett ordered, fearful of the wounds he’d seen covering Sheppard’s body. He wanted to give him something to ease the pain, but right now there were too many unknown variables to chance anything.”
“What should we do about Ford?” Lorne asked.
“We can send someone back…”
“No…no,” Sheppard shook his head, crying out when Beckett touched a wound on his chest. “Ta…take him to the P…Puddle Jumper…”
“Colonel…”
“Please, Carson…he saved m…my l…life,” Sheppard stammered, teeth chattering uncontrollably. “His folks…n…need to be t…told.”
“All right, Lad, but you need to be still…Major, have your men get Ford to the Puddle Jumper and bring back a second stretcher for Rodney,” Beckett ordered. There wasn’t much he could do for Sheppard until they got back to the Puddle Jumper and from the looks of things McKay was going to need his attention ASAP. He reached into his kit and brought out an oxygen mask and a small cylinder and soon had oxygen flowing into Sheppard’s lungs. “I’m going to get Rodney on oxygen, Colonel, and then I’m going to set up and IV and see if we can get you back to the Puddle Jumper.”
“…k…tired…cold…”
“I know you are,” Beckett said and took a thermal blanket form the kit. He quickly covered Sheppard and moved to attach the second oxygen cylinder to McKay, wondering why he’d even thought to throw in the extra items when he was gathering the supplies he’d need. “Make sure he keeps that on, Ronan.”
Ronan Dex nodded his head and looked at the two downed men. Sheppard was frighteningly pale, while his body trembled uncontrollably, while, McKay was quiet except for the wheezing quality of his breathing. He held the injured Canadian, keeping him in a sitting position to help him breathe, and watched as Beckett returned his attention to John Sheppard. The Colonel was still conscious and Dex was amazed at how hard Sheppard fought to stay that way.
“Major, give Ronan a hand getting McKay on the stretcher and get him to the ship while I finish with the major,” Beckett ordered. He searched for an area to insert the IV, but there didn’t seem to be an unmarked area on either of Sheppard’s arms. He heard Lorne and Dex lifting McKay onto the stretcher and hoped they’d make it to the Jumper before McKay came around. Shaking his head in disgust, Beckett decided on an area on his patient’s left arm and quickly cleaned it with an alcohol swab before inserting the needle and taping it in place.
Beckett kept an eye on his patient while he worked, making sure the colonel’s breathing didn’t worsen as he did his best to clean the worst of the wounds and cover them in gauze. Lorne and Dex had returned before he was close to completing his work, and he ordered Sheppard moved onto the stretcher so they could get back to the Jumper and hopefully get to Atlantis before things got any worse.
“All right, Colonel, we’re gonna transfer you to the stretcher…just relax and we’ll have you safely tucked in bed before you know it,” Beckett told him.
Sheppard held his breath when they log rolled him onto the stretcher and he was lifted and carried between Major Lorne and Ronan Dex who insisted he could handle the short trip. John didn’t hear Beckett’s reply as the darkness finally captured him and dragged him under.
“About time…all right let’s get him home,” Beckett ordered as one of Lorne’s team grabbed his supplies and he held the bag of IV solution and raced alongside the stretcher.
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