Cowen meandered slowly around the sunlit room, thankful the guards had finally moved outside. He knew that Ballard would be finding a way to check in soon and didn�t want any of the Atlantians around to overhear any radio communication. Confidently, Cowen took his radio receiver out of an ornately carved cupboard and was rewarded almost immediately by the static covered voice of Ballard, identifying himself.
�Report,� Cowen said simply, keeping his eyes on the door.
�Sheppard and his party set down in the eastern clearing, third hilltop. The ships came out of hiding in order to land and enabled us to get a lock on their location. According to my scouts, Sheppard left the ships under minimal guard, though they�re invisible again so we�re not certain. The rest of his force went into the forest.�
�Follow him,� Cowen ordered. �I believe the Major has found Commander Kolya for us.� He paced to the window and stared out at the almost harvest ready fields. �If he makes a move on Kolya, I want you following him in. Bring Kolya back to me, as well as McKay and Sheppard.�
�And the rest of the Atlantis team?� Ballard questioned.
�I really don�t care what you do with them.�
There was a pause. �Won�t they fight for Sheppard and McKay?�
Cowen frowned. �Possibly. But the way Sheppard�s intent on apprehending Kolya�we should be able to catch them when they�re most distracted. They�ll have to return to Atlantis to regroup and by the time they return�it�ll be too late.� He sighed contentedly as Ballard signed off. He knew his Commander had more questions, but they could wait. If the Atlantians sent more forces back for Sheppard and McKay, he�d simply tell them the two were already dead. True, he might have to relocate on another world but it would be worth it. Then, McKay would build any weaponry the Genii needed to defend themselves against any threat�and having Major Sheppard along would be the perfect motivation to keep the Doctor working.
Cowen slipped the radio back into the cupboard, closing the door with satisfaction. It was a perfect plan. Sheppard would do the hard work�removing Kolya�s threat and the Genii would reap the benefits of McKay�s knowledge. Perfect.
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�Oh God. Oh God,� Rodney moaned, pressing his face into the ground, tasting dirt and trying to command his arms and legs to cooperate with his efforts to push himself up�but nothing was working. He couldn�t concentrate on anything but the pain searing his body.
�That was stupid, McKay.� He heard Kolya moving beside him but there was no warning before strong hands grabbed him and flipped him onto his back. He cried out, writhing as agony jolted through him. He wanted to escape it, to push it away, to scratch it out of him. His hands moved toward his side but Kolya caught his wrists and held him. �Be still. Help is on the way.�
�You shot me,� Rodney gasped the words, his voice hoarse and raw as he squinted up at the commander, trying to focus. �You son of a bitch.� He tried to pull away but Kolya�s grip tightened.
�I didn�t shoot you.� Kolya shook his head. �Your guard did.�
�Same thing.� Rodney grimaced, biting his already abused lip.
Kolya looked at him with genuine concern. �What were you thinking anyway, coming at me that way?� He released McKay�s hands and tried to check the wound. Rodney hissed as the material of his shirt was pulled across the injury. �Is that thing even worth it? I mean, you said it yourself�it�s nothing more than an�.� He stopped talking suddenly and Rodney sensed him move away.
McKay strained to watch him, to look where he was going.
Kolya was staring at the blinking screen, realization dawning. He looked back down at McKay, his expression turning from concern to rage. He grabbed the scanner and ripped it violently away from the control panel, connections popping, the screen going dead in his hands. Kolya held the device up, making sure Rodney could see it was no longer functioning. �You didn�t want me to look to closely at this.� He waved it in front of McKay�s pain ridden face.
Rodney reached for the scanner, flailing aimlessly as Kolya pulled it back out of his reach and hurled it across the cavern into the shadows. �It was a signal wasn�t it?� He crouched beside Rodney, waving off the medic who�d just arrived. �Did you really think it�d work?� he asked.
Rodney licked his lips. �No. No. It�s not.�
Kolya lashed out, slamming his fist into the torn flesh just above McKay�s hip.
Rodney screamed, his fingers clawed into the dirt, his heels kicked, trying to gain purchase to push himself away from the torture.
�Did you think I wouldn�t figure it out?� Kolya snarled, keeping the pressure constant.
Rodney�s voice died, his cries turning to harsh desperate gasps as he squirmed and twisted trying to free himself.
�I had so much in store for you.�
McKay could barely hear Kolya over the roaring in his head. �No,� he begged. �Please.� The pain, it went beyond overwhelming�it was consuming him.
�Oh yes, Doctor. I put faith in you and you in turn, betrayed that trust.� The fist twisted.
Tears filled Rodney�s eyes. Waves of nausea washed over him and he swallowed compulsively, somehow commanding himself not to throw up. Breathe, he reminded himself. Breathe. He tried to lash out at Kolya but his fist bounced clumsily against Kolya�s forearm.
Kolya actually chuckled. �You think you have all the answers, don�t you McKay? Those brains of yours always working on something new?� Suddenly the skewering pressure was gone but the throbbing torture continued in its absence. �Who did you think would find your signal?� Kolya kept talking. His words fading, and then growing louder again.
Rodney shivered. He felt so cold and yet�his body burned, the fire spreading up and down the length of his body.
�Did you think Sheppard would come for you?�
Sheppard. �Major,� McKay whispered. He needed Sheppard. John would help him. John would crack a joke, blame him for getting himself shot then assure him that everything was going to be okay. He�d help. He�d kill Kolya.
�Major Sheppard isn�t coming for you,� Kolya�s voice was low and sinister.
John? No, he�d come. Rodney wanted to protest, to tell Kolya differently but all he could do was grunt.
�Did you honestly believe that John Sheppard would leave Atlantis undefended to come back just for you? They don�t even know for certain what world you�re on.�
�Commander?� Another unfamiliar voice cut in. �He needs care.�
�Shut up and get away from him,� Kolya answered.
�Acastus.�
�NO!� Kolya roared. �He. Gets. Nothing.�
�He�s going to let me die.� The thought came instantly as Rodney shook. He struggled to move his arms again. He had to do something, try and stop the bleeding. He could feel it, seeping out of him, turning the dirt beneath his fingers to a ghastly muddy mix.
�That�s right.� McKay could feel the commander�s hot breath on his face. �You get nothing. After all you�re efforts, all your work. No one�s coming for you,� Kolya whispered nastily. �You might be a genius, but you aren�t the only intelligent man on Atlantis and certainly not the most enjoyable to work with, I�m sure. Why would they come for you?�
�Team,� Rodney managed to grit the words out between clenched teeth. �My team.�
�Your team?� Kolya scoffed. �You�re only on Sheppard�s team for your brains and those, dear Rodney, are replaceable. You might be good at figuring out ancient technology but how often do you really contribute? When I raided Atlantis, you�re the one who readily revealed the plans to save the city. You gave up your precious power source by spilling too much information to the Daganians. Oh yeah, I heard all about that.�
�No, no, I didn�t mean to, I�� Rodney stuttered.
�Yeah, yeah.� Kolya stood, towering above him. �What else have you done wrong? What other missions have you messed up for Sheppard? Whatever your intent, McKay, you are not an asset to anyone�especially the Major. You screw things up. You couldn�t even fix this one simple device or even keep your desperate signal hidden from me for long. Hell, you even got yourself shot. Face it, McKay. I�m doing Sheppard a favor just by taking you out of the picture.�
Rodney gazed through watery eyes up at Kolya, blood running into his eyes from the previous cut. He shook his head, denying the words that pounded into his mind. Kolya merely smiled maliciously�and kicked him.
Hell exploded through Rodney and dragged him, screaming, into the dark.
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Sheppard pulled up and signaled for the others to stop. The late morning sunlight provided just enough light to see by through the canopy of trees. Below them, the hill dropped sharply. Signally again, John waved at Ford to accompany him and dropped to the ground. �Stay here,� he commanded in a short whisper when Beckett moved to follow.
Carefully, stealthily, the two soldiers crawled across the forest floor and peered down the steep embankment. Two guards stood on either side of what John could only guess was a hidden entry. They�d found the cave.
He motioned once and together he and the lieutenant inched backwards until they could safely stand again. Then they hurried back to meet the others, now in a group, hovering over the remaining life signs detector that Carson held. John studied the blinking screen of his life signs detector carefully. �The two main guards are here.� He pointed on the screen, whispering, to the group. �But there�s a large concentration here.� He indicated a cluster of more than a dozen dots. �Ford and I will take out these two quietly, but the rest, we�ll need to use something big.�
�I can handle that,� Wilmington spoke in a low, easy voice, patting the munitions on his vest lightly.
Sheppard nodded. �You, Bohnsack and King will go in first, taking out as many as possible�any way possible.� He turned pointing, �Min, Steiner and Allen. You�re the second wave. Clear a path for Ford, Teyla and Beckett. When you have the group contained, you three will stay behind as guards. The rest of us will keep going.�
�What about the rest of the Genii?� Carson asked.
John met the Doctor�s worried gaze. �They�ll know we�re coming from the commotion but this,� he held up the scanner, �this will give us the edge we need. Let�s go.�
�Major,� Teyla�s voice stopped him.
�What?� he asked sharply, frustrated by the delay.
�The screen.� The Athosian pointed to the detector in his hand, her face filled with concern. �It has stopped sending the signal from Dr. McKay.�
Sheppard�s eyes dropped to the screen. The life signs still shone brightly but the staggered SOS blinking had stopped. �Crap.� He looked up. �We need to go now.� He waved to Ford, �Wait for our signal,� he ordered over his shoulder.
Slithering back to the edge of the hillside, John�s thoughts raced. Had the SOS simply stopped working? Had Rodney stopped it because Kolya was about to find it�or had Kolya found it himself? Fear gripped him, coupled with renewed anger, fueling his determination. Rodney had to be okay, the Commander needed him. We�re coming, McKay, he promised. Just put up with Kolya a few more minutes and we�ll have you out of there.
With one last glance, he checked that Lt. Ford was in place. Ford nodded once, waiting for his lead. Sheppard held up his fist, counting one finger at time. One. Two. Three. They were in motion.
Silently, the duo moved with a frightening efficiency, flipping over the drop off and easily taking out both of the unsuspecting and inexperienced Genii guards. Sheppard keyed his radio once, sending the signal and only moments later, Corporal Wilmington was leading the way into the cave.
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Kolya stared down at McKay with disgust, his rage continuing. Not only had the Doctor been unable to produce anything worthwhile out of the ancient machine, he�d actually had the audacity to try sending a signal for help.
Shaking his head, Kolya held back his desire to lash out again. McKay was laying there, his pathetic face covered with dirt and blood. He was half curled, protectively around his injured side, blood seeping into the dirt and pooling beside him. The man was going to lie there and die, that was enough. He turned, catching the pleading look his medic was giving him.
Seeing the commander meet his gaze, the medic pleaded. �Commander, please. Let me at least��
�No,� Kolya cut him off. �He made his choice when he defied me.�
The medical officer backed away without another word, but Kolya could see the frustrated helplessness in his eyes�and ignored it. Turning away, Kolya�s gaze settled on the device. The crystals were still lit�mocking him. Cautiously, he pressed down on a blue crystal the way he�d seen Rodney imitate. A clear, pleasant tone filled the room. He pressed the green crystal, and a lower tone joined the first, blending beautifully. Abruptly, he pulled his hand back. �A musical instrument.� He glanced back at McKay, seeing no signs of life from the doctor other than pitiful gasps for air. The arrogant know-it-all HAD managed to fix the damn thing. He�d been stalling with all the convincing gibberish about needing to take things slow and careful. The whole time, even after all the threats and intimidation, the bastard had been lying.
Suddenly the ground trembled. �What was that?� Kolya demanded, already knowing the answer. It�d been an explosive. Gunfire echoed through the cave�s tunnels. �Go!� He waved his men forward, casting another look at McKay�s still form before following them. �Sounds like he came for you after all,� he muttered, listening to McKay�s struggling breaths. Unfortunately for you�he�s too late.�
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Sheppard made his way through the open cavern, aware of everything happening around him, despite the chaos of smoke and noise. He�d seen Bohnsack go down early, but the rest of his men, he confirmed visually, were still in the mix. To his left he saw Ford and Teyla had gotten Beckett through the thickest fighting. Ford leading, Teyla following, both covered the doctor, but Beckett held his own against the onslaught as well.
John fired at motion to his right, taking out another young Genii soldier and advancing forward. Behind him, he could hear the fight calming, the Atlantians quickly gaining control. Checking the life signs detector he could see more Genii were moving toward them from deeper in the cave.
�Ford,� he signaled for the lieutenant to advance with him, indicating how many there were coming their way. �The cave narrows, there.� He pointed to where the cave turned into a narrower tunnel. �Not enough room for them to gain any advantage with their numbers. We�ll take them out as they come at us.�
�Yes, Sir.� Ford was ready. Together, the two of them started forward, Teyla, Beckett and King at their flank. The tunnel proved to be the Genii�s undoing, for even as they outnumbered Sheppard�s group by more than half, only a few could come through the passage at a time. With the life signs detector, Sheppard was able to predict exactly where and when the Genii were coming and combined with the advanced firepower from Atlantis, the Genii didn�t have a chance.
The passage curved sharply, the dust and smoke thick, as chunks of earth were knocked free by stray shots. Sheppard held up the scanner, showing Aiden the two life signs just around the bend. Ford indicated he�d take the one on the left and then motioned for Teyla and Beckett to hold up with King.
With a sharp nod, John and Ford rounded the corner, simultaneously firing. One Genii went down instantly, the other staggered and spun, running the opposite direction but not before Sheppard had gotten a clear look at his haggard face.
�Kolya!�
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The wind and rain lashed brutally at Rodney as he fought, pushed back against the balcony rail. �You still need me!� he protested trying not to think of the sea raging hungrily below him. He scowled angrily and struggled to keep his footing, but the pressure�Then, horror filled him; the rail was suddenly gone and he was falling, flailing, screaming.
�You still need me!� he cried desperately slamming into the sea; the waves swallowing him as John Sheppard watched from above�smiling.
Rodney came aware with a harsh shout, gasping for air and struggling to sit up. Agony tore through him and instinctively his body curled tighter as he flopped back to the ground with another tortured cry. He took a deep breath, trying to chase the vision of John grinning above him from his mind. He knew it wasn�t real, it couldn�t be. He wasn�t in the water, John hadn�t pushed him. John would never do that and yet�he could remember�John and a railing and falling.
No, he struggled, trying to get his thoughts to work. It was Kolya who�d kidnapped him. Kolya who�d hit him; Kolya who�d shot him. NO. He�d gotten himself shot�. He�d screwed up and� and�
A wave of pain swept through him again. Shot. He�d been shot and Kolya had found the scanner, the signal. John wasn�t coming because there was no more signal. Kolya had left him�to die.
Fumbling, Rodney tried to move, tried to make his hands obey his commands and work. He needed to do something, to stop the bleeding, but he couldn�t. He couldn�t twist in the right direction, God, it hurt. His arms and hands felt like lead. He couldn�t do it right�couldn�t do anything right.
He turned his head, trying to see if anyone was still in the cave. Was he really alone? He saw nothing but empty shadows. Dark, scary shadows. He was alone. His eyes settled on the ancient device, the top keys still glowed. Their colors were bright- red, green, yellow, blue-not dull and dark like his sister�s broken game.
�Rodney!� He could hear her outraged screech again. �You broke it! You�you idiot!� She came at him, tears in her eyes, grabbing the parts from his hands and ignoring his protests.
�I can fix it.� He reached out but she batted his hand away, glaring angrily.
�Don�t touch it, you jerk,� she screamed. �I�m telling. DAD!�
�NO! Don�t tell.� He tried again but she pushed him back, shoving him into her pink dresser.
�Why do you have to screw everything up?� she cried. �You. Screw. Up. Everything!�
His father had dragged him from her room into his own, and then took away everything. His tools, his science kits, his books�everything. Rodney had tried to reason with his father, tried to explain that he could fix the toy. He tried to make his father understand - he just wanted to see how it had worked, but in the end, his father had just looked at him with that look. That look he�d seen so many times before. The look that said �you�re a disappointment, Rodney.� �You screwed up again, kid.� �I really don�t care, so leave me alone,� and then he had turned and walked away leaving Rodney with the sudden awful realization. It wasn�t that that his father couldn�t understand him�he just didn�t want to bother to try.
Rodney turned away from the device, pushing the hazy memory away, straining to see further into the depths of the cavern. His teeth chattered and he realized he was cold. The burning fire in his side had faded and now, a deep, numbing cold settled over him. This was not good. He stared up at the dirt ceiling. He was already in the ground. He was dying�already in his grave. He clenched his jaw, trying in vain to still his teeth, and wondered if Sheppard would ever find his body. Would John keep looking, searching worlds with known Genii spies in an attempt to find out what had happened to him? Was John even looking now? Maybe Kolya was right, maybe�
Rodney closed his eyes. It didn�t matter. The signal was gone, he�d screwed that up, he thought blearily. His eyelids felt heavy as he blinked them closed and strained to open them again. He was so cold, so tired. It was hard to take a breath; it hurt to breathe deeply. The room was closing in on him. He didn�t want to be alone. His heart raced, he didn�t want to die this way. He didn�t want to die at all, not like so many that he�d let down already. Abrams, Gall, Dumays, Peterson�so many he couldn�t think straight to remember them all. He�d let them all down, just like he let everyone down. He always had, somehow.
He felt so heavy, so very heavy, like he was sinking into the dirt and it would swallow him: his grave. He�d always been afraid of graves, every since his great-grandmother�s funeral when he was five. Terrified at the idea of being lowered into the ground, buried under all that dirt�alone.
He didn�t want to be alone, it just always seemed to work out that way. For years, he knew he�d pushed everyone away, not letting anyone get too close, not letting anyone see the real Rodney McKay. It was safer that way. You couldn�t let anyone down if they didn�t care, and when they turned their backs on you and walked away�they couldn�t ever see how much it destroyed you inside. But now, on Atlantis, he�d thought maybe�
His eyes watered, and a tear rolled across his temple, stinging the open, oozing cut and burning, before it pooled in his ear, tickling him. He giggled as another tear followed, and another, until he didn�t care anymore that he was crying. It didn�t matter�he was alone and he was dying.
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Sheppard took off after Kolya, knowing that Ford would follow. Carson had the other life signs detector for Teyla and the others to use. He followed the tunnel, watching Kolya�s life sign and straining to see any sign of the man as the commander stayed just far enough ahead of him to be out of range. He wanted to shoot the bastard down, but knew he needed to find out where Rodney was first. He had to find Rodney.
The passage opened suddenly into a huge cavernous room with some kind of machine in the center. John pulled up with caution. Surprisingly, Kolya slowed, almost pausing in the opening of another tunnel that branched off to the left. He looked at Sheppard, unphased by the Major�s angry pursuit. He merely looked at something beyond the device, then looked up at Sheppard again, smiling knowingly before he disappeared into the depths of the new passage.
�Kolya!� John shouted, confused by the commander�s strange behavior. He ran through the room, wishing Kolya had paused long enough for him to get a shot off instead of just glancing at�
Sheppard�s eyes followed instinctively to where Kolya had looked. He raised his weapon, fully expecting an ambush or bomb or anything but what he actually found. He stopped cold, changing directions so fast he stumbled, lurched and ended up on his hands and knees scrambling to McKay�s side. Rodney was unconscious. His face was slack and covered with dirt and blood.
�McKay? Oh God, Rodney?� He dropped his weapon and the life signs detector, forgetting its function and reached for McKay, holding his breath as his fingers trembled against Rodney�s neck, searching, feeling and praying for a heartbeat.
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Sheppard pressed his fingers tightly against McKay�s neck, searching frantically for a pulse. He couldn�t find it. �Come on, McKay,� he demanded. This wasn�t happening. This was not going to happen. He was not going to let Rodney die. His eyes swept over McKay�s face, taking in the pale stillness of his features, lingering on the dark bruise and split lip, the bleeding cut stretching from Rodney�s eyebrow to his ear and the drying line of tears. He was going to kill Kolya.
�Come on, Rodney,� he pleaded again, moving his fingers, searching and finally�there. He found it, the soft flutter of life�struggling. �Damn it!� He keyed his radio, leaving the channel open. �Beckett, I need you. Now!�
�I can�t get to you, Major. What�s wrong?� Carson answered immediately.
�What do you mean you can�t get to me?�
�We are trapped by enemy fire, Major,� Teyla reported. �It will take us time to get past them.�
John heard Lt. Ford enter the cavern behind him. �Major?� Aiden questioned.
�Go back and get Beckett,� Sheppard ordered, his eyes roaming over Rodney again, checking for any other injuries and settling on the growing pool of blood beside him. �Shit. Hurry!� he yelled, trying to find where the blood was coming from.
McKay was half-curled into a fetal position, twisted awkwardly as if he�d tried to move and just didn�t have the strength to see it through. Sheppard was afraid to move him, but knew he had to find the source and stop the bleeding. Gently, but quickly he turned Rodney all the way over onto his back.
�Oh God, McKay.� He fumbled for the field dressing packed in his vest, shaking it loose and pressing it down on the wound. Rodney moaned, struggling against the renewed pain.
�Good, McKay. Come on. Fight me, damn it, fight! Beckett where are you?� he yelled, his helplessness feeding his rage.
�I�m coming as fast as I can!� Carson shouted back. �Tell me what�s wrong with Rodney.�
John took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. �He�s been shot�in the side. He�s lost a lot of blood already.�
�Is he conscious?�
�No, not really. He moaned once.�
�Keep pressure on the wound.�
�I�m doing that!� John yelled.
The gunfire on Carson�s end of the conversation increased suddenly. �Is the bullet still in him? Where�s he hit?� Beckett�s voice was thick with worry.
�Ah�� John tried to focus. �His side, just above his hip, along his waistline and,� Carefully he rolled Rodney toward him, checking his back. Blood seeped between his fingers. �Crap. It must have gone straight through, there�s an exit wound.�
�Get pressure on it, too.� Carson ordered.
�With what?� John scowled, trying to think. He didn�t have a pack, they�d left them in the jumpers so they could move easier and faster through the forest. Carson was the only one carrying his. Quickly, John supported Rodney against his legs, letting go just long enough to undo his vest, slipping it off and then peeling off his shirt. Wadding it, he clamped the black cloth against McKay�s back and rolled him down onto it, applying pressure again to the entry wound.
Rodney�s eyes shot open and he gasped loudly, surprising Sheppard. �Easy, McKay. I�ve got you,� John tried to reassure as Rodney�s eyes darted wildly. John could read the panic, fear and pain there.
Rodney struggled. �No,� he rasped, pleadingly. �Stop, please.�
�I have to, McKay. We need to stop the bleeding. You�re gonna be okay.�
Rodney heard Sheppard�s voice but continued to struggle, weakly. It was Kolya who�d pinned him to the ground�not John. John wasn�t here. His confused thoughts swarmed. Kolya had left him.
�Talk to me,� Sheppard ordered, his concern growing. Rodney seemed to lose more color, as his struggling grew weaker.
�You�re not real,� McKay whispered.
�Like hell I�m not,� John argued. �Beckett?� The gunfire had ceased.
�We�re coming.� Carson sounded breathless, like he was running.
Rodney stirred beneath Sheppard�s hands, groaning. Tears filled his eyes again.
�Beckett�s coming,� John told him gently.
�You�re not here.� McKay shook his head, his words barely audible. �Dying alone,� he managed.
�You are not!� John yelled. �Look at me, Rodney.�
Rodney closed his eyes.
�No.� John shook him slightly, eliciting a pain-filled gasp. �Open your eyes, McKay.�
Rodney�s eyes opened sluggishly, still not seeing clearly. �I screwed up,� he muttered, his voice sounding stronger.
�No you didn�t.� John adjusted his hand on Rodney�s side, trying not to think about the warm, sticky blood coating it. �We got your signal just fine. Led us right to you.�
�Stupid idea,� Rodney protested. �Don�t even know where I am.�
�We found you. We�re here.� John glanced over his shoulder, willing Carson to hurry.
�Let you down. I always let you down.� Rodney went on, deliriously. �Didn�t mean to�I, I, didn�t mean it. Don�t leave me, please��
�Damn.� John�s head dropped. What the hell was going on in McKay�s head? What had Kolya done to him? �I�m here, Rodney. I�m not going anywhere without you,� he said without looking up.
Rodney�s breathing hitched. �Major?�
John�s head snapped up. �You with me?�
�You came.�
Sheppard was stunned by the surprise in McKay�s voice. �Hell yeah I came.�
�Hurts.� McKay tried to shift from under John�s hands.
�Be still.� John smiled weakly. �You are a stubborn, stubborn man.�
Rodney laughed shortly then hissed in pain. His eyes closed again.
�Stay with me, McKay.�
�You came,� Rodney repeated as his voice faded.
�Rodney? John panicked. �Beckett!�
�I�m here. I�m here!� Carson came running into the cavern, Teyla and Ford with him.
�Thank God.� Sheppard nodded to McKay. �He�s been in and out, mostly delirious, but was clear for a second. Knew who I was.�
Carson nodded, dropping to his knees and shrugging off his backpack. He opened it quickly, pulling out packets of sterile gauze bandages. �Open this and put it on top of that dressing,� he indicated the soaked field dressing. �Keep pressure on it, hard,� he ordered. �Teyla, I need your help.� He handed her another packet without waiting for an answer. �Open that.�
With fast, sure hands, Beckett opened a package himself. �Help me roll him.� Carefully, the three rolled Rodney onto his good side. Carson added his dressing and Teyla�s to the shirt pressed against McKay�s back. �Grab me that,� he barked instructions, concentrating only on Rodney. He grabbed McKay�s wrist as Teyla and John gently resettled the scientist.
John watched the concern deepen on Carson�s face.
�Get his feet up on something.� Carson motioned for Sheppard to do that while he took over applying pressure. �He�s going into shock, I�m afraid.� His eyes swept over McKay, settling on his abused face. �Teyla, grab another pack of gauze. See if you can clean up that cut.� He looked at John who was propping McKay�s legs up on the discarded pack he�d found by the ancient device. �Good, that�s good.� He lifted his hands, checking if any fresh blood had oozed through the top layer of gauze. �The good news is, from where the wound is situated�it looks like it caught his flank. Lots of skin and muscle. I�ll know more after I can do a real exam.�
�And the bad news?� John swallowed the lump growing in his throat.
�He�s lost an awful lot of blood and I don�t know what other injuries he�s got.� He looked at Teyla. �How�s he doing, lass?�
�The cut is rather shallow, but it continues to bleed.� She didn�t look up from gently pressing the dressing against Rodney�s temple. �He has not stirred.�
�We need to get him home.� Beckett looked at John. �Now.�
Sheppard glanced at Ford who was standing guard at the main entrance of the cavern. �What�s our status?�
�We�re stable for the moment, but don�t know how long we have before they might try to regroup.� Ford let his worried gaze settle on McKay. �Can he be moved?�
Carson nodded. �Bleeding has slowed now, almost stopped. I�ll get him wrapped up tight. Won�t be pretty or recommended under normal circumstances, but I can�t see any other way to get him out quick.� He sounded more confident than he looked.
�Okay.� John patted Rodney�s leg absently. �Ford and Teyla will lead us back to the entrance. We�ll use the scanners to make sure no one�s following. I�ll carry McKay.�
�Just give me a few minutes to get him ready,� Carson said.
�Ford, tell Wilmington we�re coming. We don�t want to get shot by �� He stopped, hearing movement behind him and turned, pulling his gun from his hip holster and aiming it at the terrified young Genii soldier emerging from the same tunnel Kolya had escaped down. �Take another step and you�re a dead men,� Sheppard threatened harshly.
Nobody moved, even Carson and Teyla froze, watching the stranger warily.
The young man slowly raised his hands into the air, his bag slipping off his shoulder and jerking him off balance for a moment. �I- I just came back to help�him.�
�Ford.� John turned, sliding forward and taking a more defensive posture in front of Rodney, Carson and Teyla. �Search him.�
Ford hurried toward the Genii, patting him down efficiently. �He�s clean,� he reported, moving to the bag. �It�s all med supplies.�
�I couldn�t leave him like that,� the soldier tried to explain as Ford escorted him closer.
�What�s your name?� John asked.
�Kendrick,� he answered. �I�m trained in medicine.�
�Help me then,� Beckett ordered. �And be quick about it.�
Kendrick looked nervously at Sheppard as if checking for permission.
�You heard the doctor,� John said, none too pleasantly.
Kendrick hurried forward, taking the bag that Ford offered and handing it to Beckett. �There�s more bandages in there.�
Sheppard watched the two doctors work together to wrap up Rodney�s wound so he could be carried out of the cave. �What�d Kolya want with McKay?� he asked suddenly.
�The Commander was hoping that Dr. McKay would be able to fix the ancient device we found here. He thought it was a weapon or the means to defend against one.� Kendrick talked as he worked.
John glanced at the glowing machine. �McKay fix it?�
�I�m not sure. He said he didn�t, but Commander Kolya is angry that he was deceived.�
�Is it a weapon?� John asked, his brow furrowing.
�No, McKay told us it was only a musical instrument.�
�Music, huh?� John watched Rodney�s unresponsive face as Beckett, Kendrick and Teyla worked on him. �Bet that pissed Kolya off.� He paused, realizing that Rodney had borne the brunt of Kolya�s rage. �Where is he now?�
Kendrick looked up sharply, meeting Sheppard�s fierce stare. �He�s gone.�
�Where?� John pushed wanting to go after the Commander to seek his own personal vengeance when suddenly the radios crackled to life.
�Major!� Wilmington�s voice was almost drowned out by gunfire. �We�ve got more Genii moving in on us.�
Sheppard stood quickly, looming over Kendrick. �More of Kolya�s men?�
�No,� Kendrick answered. �We are small in number and we scattered when you arrived. It would take much longer to reorganize.�
�Who the hell�� John exchanged a look with Lt. Ford. �Cowen.� He turned to Kendrick again. �There�s another way out of here?�
�Yes, through the tunnels.� Kendrick nodded. �I can lead you.�
�How nice of you to offer,� John answered sarcastically. �Wilmington, retreat through the main tunnel.� He grabbed the life signs detector he�d discarded earlier. �The way is clear and we just happen to have our own personal guide out of here.� He squatted down next to Kendrick and leaned close, his voice dropping low and threatening. �If you lead us anywhere but out of here�to safety. I will kill you.�
Kendrick gave an almost imperceptive nod as his eyes flicked up from Rodney to meet John�s. �I assure you, I mean you no harm.�
The gunfire was growing louder now and Sheppard could see the life signs of his men approaching followed by a growing group of pursuers. Man there were a lot Genii coming after them. �Wells?� Sheppard tapped his radio, trying to reach the jumpers.
�Yes, sir?� The young private�s voice responded.
�We�re on our way back to you.�
�Yes, sir. We�re ready for you.�
�We�ll be coming in hot. Get the med supplies ready on one jumper.�
�Understood.�
�Ford.� He waved Aiden over to him. �Raise Stackhouse on the radio and make sure he�s not having any trouble with Cowen at the settlement. Let him know what�s happening and tell him to get his men ready to get the hell out of here as soon as he sees the jumpers.�
John scowled. If he had his way, he�d like to have a heart to heart with Cowen, but unfortunately, like Kolya, the Genii leader was going to have to wait for his attention. �You�ll both pay,� John muttered under his breath. He�d get Cowen for trying again to get the upper hand in a miserable situation, and then he�d hunt down Kolya and tear him apart for everything he�d done to Rodney.
�Major?� Ford�s voice pulled him back from any thought of trying to stay and track down Kolya. �I think you ought to take Rodney and go with Kendrick here now. Carrying McKay is gonna slow you down a good bit The rest of us will follow.�
�I�m not leaving anyone behind,� John argued.
�Lt. Ford is right, Major.� Teyla looked up at him. �You will be able to monitor our progress and direct us over the radios. You are not leaving us behind,� she smiled reassuringly. �You will be leading the way.�
Sheppard arched an eyebrow, liking the way Teyla thought. He still didn�t like the idea of going ahead, but he knew McKay was not going to be easy to carry. �Beckett, I want you with us.�
�Kendrick will be with you.� Carson shook his head. �Someone needs to be capable of using the life signs detector to keep track of the Genii coming after us.� He shrugged. �I�m the only other option.�
Frowning, John cast a dubious look at Kendrick before relenting. �Is McKay ready?�
�As ready as he can be.� Carson waved Sheppard closer.
Quickly, John donned his vest, ignoring the discomfort of the scratchy material against his bare skin. He shifted his P90 out of the way and allowed Beckett and Kendrick to help drape McKay over his shoulder. McKay, for his part, remained unresponsive and John found himself wishing worriedly to hear Rodney�s indignation at being hauled around so unceremoniously. Wrapping his left arm tightly around McKay�s leg and holding the scanner in that hand, he took his revolver in his right and looked at Kendrick. �Let�s go.�
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Sheppard ran, staggering, off-balanced as he carried Rodney through the almost dark tunnel and thankful for the scattered, dim lights flickering along the way. The passage narrowed dramatically once they�d gone about 100 yards from the main cavern. Sheppard checked the life signs detector constantly to reassure himself that he wasn�t being led into an ambush.
Kendrick looked back at him with concern. �I could�.� he started, but John cut him off.
�I got him.�
�You need a rest,� The Genii medic tried again.
�I said I got him,� Sheppard snarled. He blocked out the growing numbness in his left shoulder and the prickly pains running to his fingertips. He ignored the cramping protests in his back and the shaky weakness in his legs. He was not giving Rodney to anyone.
He no longer needed his radio to hear the others moving up quickly behind them, still chased by Cowen�s forces. Once they caught up, it�d be all he could do to maintain pace. �How much further?� he grunted, hating that he sounded like a small child on a long trip.
�We�re almost there,� Kendrick assured.
John didn�t answer, just kept running, one step after another, after another, after another. He wondered where this cave was going to spit them out and how far it would be to the jumpers.
�Here.� Kendrick motioned to a sharp turn and John checked the scanner again before following.
With no warning, the dark dank passage spilled them into the sun-streamed light of the forest. John squinted against the sudden brightness, but reveled in the fresh breeze teasing his overworked lungs. He paused and braced himself against a tree as he tried to get his barings. McKay continued to hang limply over his shoulder, showing no sign of coming around. Finally, Sheppard looked at Kendrick who stood studying him without any expression.
�There�s a clearing,� John panted, sucking in deep painful breaths. �It�s above the cave�s main entrance.�
Kendrick�s eyes lit up. �I know the one. It�s not far.�
�Lead on, then.� John pushed off the tree, worried that if he rested too long, he�d never move again. �Ford.� He was quickly relaying the tunnel�s exit and which direction they were headed in when Beckett�s voice cut in.
�Be careful, Major.� There was something different about Carson�s tone, but John didn�t have time to dwell on it as he struggled over the uneven, unfamiliar terrain.
Sheppard�s concentration was torn as he tried to focus on following Kendrick, on Rodney�s struggling breaths, on keeping his feet moving and on checking the scanner and their surroundings for signs of any lurking Genii. �Where�s Kolya?� he asked breathlessly when Kendrick looked in his direction again.
�I don�t know.� Kendrick was unphased by the question.
�What about you? You going back to him?�
�He is my commander.� Kendrick nodded.
John scowled. �Won�t he be pissed at you for coming back to help McKay?�
Kendrick turned again, his dark eyes meeting John�s gaze. �We split up in the forest. He doesn�t know I came back.�
Curious, John thought of Kendrick�s split loyalties, but didn�t comment again, thankful the man was there to lead them to safety and away from Cowen�s grasp.
�Here,� Kendrick pulled up and looked at John with obvious confusion. Before him the trees ended abruptly at the edge of an empty field. �There�s nothing�.� Kendrick frowned at him. �You said�.�
�Shhh. Hold up.� Sheppard watched the scanner and then peered across the small field, being careful to stay behind the trees.
�What is it? Have your ships left you?� Kendrick watched worriedly.
�No, but Cowen�s men haven�t either.� He turned quickly, hearing the other�s approach. Ford appeared first, followed closely by Beckett, Teyla and the rest of the small contingent.
�We lost them for now, I think, but chances are it won�t take long for them to find us again,� Ford informed.
�We�ve got four unknowns there and there.� Sheppard nodded to the life signs detector.
�Do we take them out first or just run for it, using the jumpers for cover?� Aiden asked.
�How long for you to take them out?�
�We don�t have time for that.� Carson spoke up, unintimidated when both men turned their frustrated glares at him. �Look.� He held up his own scanner, showing how a new array of dots had appeared, forming a loose line moving closer to their own location.
�Damn.� John looked across the field again. �Okay, Ford, Teyla, you two lay down cover for the rest of us. Wilmington, Allen cover our six. Wells? Daniels?� he waited for them to acknowledge him. �You�re on.�
He gave the signal and the group moved at once. Ford and Teyla led the way, providing cover fire, but the Genii staking out the field quickly deserted their posts when the two jumpers suddenly appeared in the field.
Kendrick gaped as he ran, but managed to keep up.
Sheppard reached the first Jumper and stumbled at the ramp. Kendrick reached forward to help with McKay when Beckett grabbed the young Genii and slammed him against the side of the ship�s entrance. �You don�t lay yer hands on him, you hear me?� Carson was livid.
�Beckett,� John was confused by the doctor�s reactions. �He was trying to help.�
�He�s got no help we�re a wanting.� Beckett�s hand moved to Kendrick�s throat. �Daniels, get out here and take Dr. McKay inside.�
Kendrick�s eyes widened, fearfully, but he remained silent.
Daniels, obeyed Carson�s order without question, moving to ease Rodney off of John and carrying him into the back of the jumper.
�We don�t have time for this.� Sheppard reminded. �Get in the jumper.�
�Ask him about this.� Carson held out the hand not squeezing Kendrick�s neck dangerously, revealing a primitive looking syringe filled with a clear liquid.
John took the syringe, turning it in his hand and looked up at Kendrick who closed his eyes.
�What is it?� Carson demanded harshly.
�It�s- It�s just something to ease his pain.� Kendrick admitted hoarsely, struggling to speak.
Sheppard reached out and gently pulled Beckett toward him, surprised when Carson so readily released Kendrick. He could still feel the straining tension in the muscles of Beckett�s arm. �Rodney needs you,� he reminded softly.
Carson glared. �You,� he pointed threateningly and then moved past John into the jumper.
Kendrick looked remorsefully at John. �I couldn�t let him suffer there and die like that. I didn�t know you were coming. Kolya said�.�
�Kolya said what?� John stared down at the needle in his hand.
�He told McKay you weren�t coming, that you wouldn�t come for him. I thought he knew that. I didn�t have any place to hide and heal him, but I couldn�t bear the thought of him suffering alone.�
�He�s not alone.� John hurled the syringe against the side of the jumper where it exploded.
Kendrick jumped aside. �I know that now.� He looked pleadingly at John. �What would you have done?�
John looked down, then checked the scanner, noting how close Cowen�s troops were now. �I can�t offer to take you with us.� He looked back up at Kendrick, ignoring the medic�s question.
Kendrick smiled. �I wouldn�t accept.� He looked out across the field. �I�ll be fine. You must go.� He turned to leave, but John snagged his upper arm in a steely grip and pulled him closer.
�This is not over.� He glowered. �You be sure,� he shook Kendrick hard. �You make damn sure that Koyla believes McKay is dead. You hear me? Rodney died before I got to him.�
Kendrick nodded slowly. �I understand.�
Sheppard released his grip and the medic scurried away, using the jumpers for cover before dashing into the woods.
�Should you have let him go?� Teyla asked softly. He hadn�t heard her approach.
�I don�t know,� John admitted wearily before glancing down at the scanner again. �But we don�t have time to think about it now. Let�s get out of here and get Rodney home.�
