Isloation, a SGA fic

[cortana]

Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Notes: This is in response for a prompt over at team_sga.  Inquisition AU - in the episode "Inquisition", the team lose their case and are banished together to an abandoned planet, where they must struggle to survive and build a life for themselves.  A big thanks toscifan1  for the beta!



 

 

The verdict had been reached.

The chief guard barked to the four prisoners, “Get up. Now!” For a moment, it seemed as if they would not cooperate. “I can always release the gas again,” he threatened maliciously.

That got them to comply. They watched him suspiciously as his men went around them and grabbed their arms. The largest prisoner struggled, but instantly stopped when the one called Sheppard shook his head slightly. “The Council wants to speak with you.”

The nine of them marched down the long corridor, their booming footsteps echoing through the near-empty hallway. The prisoners were silent except for the fast breathing from the stocky one.

Soon they arrived in the large room, with the three members of the Council looking at them with distain. The chief nodded to his men and they released their hold on the prisoners.

“John Sheppard, Ronon Dex, Rodney McKay and Teyla Emmagan, the Council has deliberated and found that you are guilty of all charges. The punishment is exile. It is our hope that your banishment will serve as an example to those remaining on Atlantis to be more diligent in assessing the repercussions of their actions on this galaxy,” said Dimas.

The woman stepped forward. “You have not heard testimony from Ronon nor me. We are natives from--”

“It is our belief that you and your companion have been corrupted in your perceptions. Therefore, nothing you will say can convince us otherwise,” interrupted Shiana. She motioned to the guards. “Take them away.”

“Please,” the woman continued, despite the firm grip on her arm, “I have a son.”

Dimas frowned, sorrow in his eyes. “It is for his own good. We will make the universe a better place for him and his offspring. I promise you that.” He nodded to the guards.

Together, the guards and the prisoners walked down the hallway. Unsurprisingly, the four attempted to escape. The tallest man head-butted the man closest to him while the woman kicked her leg out, tripping the guard next to her. Their leader punched the chief guard, causing blood to spew out of his nose. The stocky one delivered a kick to his captor’s groin. They knocked out the last man and continued down the hallway, eager to escape.

Unfortunately for them, the chief has suspected that they would not accept the sentence and had stationed a dozen of his men at the exit. Quickly, the prisoners were contained. As they walked by, the chief spat his blood on the leader’s shirt. “Take care of them,” he ordered. “The sooner they are off the planet, the better.”

As commanded, the guards threw the four into a large room, with no windows and a large wooden door. With a smirk, they closed the door and released the gas. The heretics from Atlantis would no longer be a nuisance to the galaxy.

***********

When John opened his eyes, he saw a grim Ronon looking down at him. “Good, you’re awake. Now we can have a look around.”

“I did not want him to wake up thinking he was alone,” Teyla said pointedly.

He turned his head towards her voice, making the room spin terribly. “Careful, Sheppard. You’re going to feel dizzy for the next ten minutes or so,” said Rodney from behind him.

Great, John thought, *Rodney* woke up before he did. He blinked his eyes several times, trying to clear his vision. “Where are we?”

“Somewhere where no one will find us?” offered Rodney sardonically.

Teyla stepped into his line of vision. “We are in some kind of shelter, but I felt as though we should explore this planet together. If we really are separated from any others, we should not be alone,” replied Teyla.

John reached out and Ronon helped pull him to his feet. Shakily he stood, but eventually the room leveled out. “Let’s go.”

Without their weapons, they proceeded out of the room carefully, with Ronon leading the way. He looked both ways carefully. “No one’s here,” he told the others as he stepped outside.

“Well, usually that is what the word banishment means,” grumbled Rodney.

Teyla shot him a disapproving look while John was more direct. “Shut up, McKay,” he said harshly as he pushed his way to Ronon. As he stepped outside, the first thing he noticed was several large animals tied next to a half dozen crates.

Teyla stepped forward. “P‘vants,” she said, referring to the animals as she made their way to them. She turned to Rodney and John. “They are similar to your earth’s horses, only much stronger.”

Ronon started walking towards the crates but John stopped him. “Let’s find the gate first. Maybe McKay can get us off this planet before the sun sets.”

Though his pride was satisfied, Rodney huffed. “Of course it’s up to me to save everyone. Again.”

The three of them ignored him as they followed the newly imprinted footsteps in the dirt. They were silent as they made their way through the trampled grass for a half mile until Teyla gasped.

John looked ahead and frowned. “Something tells me that you’re not going to be able to fix that, McKay.”

In the center of the field, a completely destroyed Gate stood brokenly before them. Jagged pieces of the once sturdy Gate stuck out of the ground, large chunks of the Ancient construct surrounded the destruction. “It almost looks like…” Ronon began.

“C4,” John finished, frowning.

“But the only people who would have that would be the Genii,” Teyla commented. “Why would Laden be willing to breach the alliance with Atlantis?”

“Maybe because the Genii are a bunch of power-hungry people who want to be in control of this galaxy?” Rodney offered sardonically. He approached the shattered remains and looked at John. “I can’t do anything.”

John closed his eyes. He knew that as soon as he saw the broken Gate, but hearing Rodney admit it made it seem that much real. “Well, then, we better hope that Woolsey gets them to tell us which planet we’re on and Caldwell gets here soon.”

Rodney looked at John in disbelief. “You think they are going to tell them where we are? After they went to all this trouble? Face it, Sheppard, we’re stuck here.”

John took a step to Rodney. “We’re going to stay positive, Rodney,” he gritted through his teeth.

“We should go back to where we were abandoned and see what it is inside those crates,” Teyla said, defusing the situation.

For a moment, John debated continuing his argument with Rodney; it would certainly be an effective outlet for his anger. But, he knew that he was still in charge of his team and he needed to maintain some level of control, for all of their sakes. Pushing his way forward, he led his people away from their shattered hope.

Quickly, they made their way back to the run down village. There were three large buildings, all of them in need of repairs with several smaller buildings in equally bad shape. In the center was a large fire pit and a dried out well; next to them were the crates.

Wordlessly, Ronon peered inside the first crate and began removing the items: root vegetables, dried meat and various crudely made dishes. “I guess they didn’t want us to go hungry,” he muttered.

“The Council told us that we were to be cast into exile, not left for dead,” Teyla said pointedly as she proceeded to look in the next box that contained more food along with a variety of seeds to plant.

John grabbed another box and looked inside. Clothing. “Well,” he said, holding up the well-worn clothes, “someone wanted us to look stylish.”

“I‘ll keep my own clothes, thank you,” Rodney complained as he took the lid off another crate. “Ronon will like this box,” he said as he held up the Satedan’s blaster. Inside were several P-90s and knifes of various sizes.

With a quick grab, Ronon took his blaster as John and Teyla looked in the last box together. There were some heavy furs, more clothes and second-hand blankets. At the bottom of the box was a new-looking leather bound book.

Teyla looked at the book in surprise as she lifted it out of the box. “It is a Shyroit.” At John’s confused look, she continued, “It is given to any Athosian who leaves the village as a way of preserving the history of that family line.” As she said the words, the weight the reality--of being away from her son, her lover, her people-- crushed her.

Before she would allow her fears to dominate her thoughts, Teyla forced herself not to panic. Surely, those on Atlantis would not allow the four of them to suffer such a fate.

Now that the boxes were empty, they looked at each other questioningly. “So, now what?” Rodney asked disdainfully.

“We wait for the Daedalus to get here,” John answered simply.

Ronon frowned. “We don’t know when they’ll find us.”

Nodding, Teyla responded, “Ronon is right. We need to find a water source and plant the crops that were given to us. The provisions they have given us will not sustain us for long.”

John understood their points of view, but part of him wanted to rebel against their advice. Trying to start some kind of life here was admitting defeat. Still, foolishness borne out of stubbornness was not a luxury they could afford.

“All right,” he said slowly, “let’s see what this planet is all about.”

Together, he knew, they would survive.

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Rodney held the bow firmly while reaching for an arrow behind him. Teyla’s whisper tickled the back of his neck. “Remember, pull the string taut or else the arrow will not reach its target.”

He was too focused on the deer-like creature in front of him to be annoyed at Teyla’s instructions. Twenty yards ahead of him stood his dinner, if he could just get the shot.

Swish. Thud.

He had hit the dorant.

Teyla beamed at him. “Good job, Rodney. You are improving with each outing.”

He stood up smugly, enjoying the adrenaline coursing through him. “It didn’t stand a chance,” he replied as he made his way to the fallen creature. “I’m just glad I don’t have to clean it. Sheppard will be pissed.”

Teyla rolled her eyes as she walked with Rodney. The creature was large; they would have enough meat to eat for a couple of weeks and the fur would make for excellent wraps for the upcoming winter.

Together, they loaded the fallen animal on a make shift cart that Rodney had rigged soon after their arrival. The evening was crisp, the wind was blowing softly, a welcome respite from the humid day.

“Ronon will be pleased that his training has paid off,” Teyla said as continued making their way back. “I do not think he thought you had the ability to become a skilled hunter.”

“Neither did I,” Rodney admitted in a rare show of honesty. “But we’ve changed a lot in the past five months, haven’t we?”

Things that were considered necessary on Atlantis were trivial here. Ancient technology had been replaced by the basics of survival. Gone were the days of computers and petty annoyances; each day they woke with the goal to endure their punishment until those from Atlantis found them.

After realizing there was no way to go home, Rodney had made it his mission to try to make their lifestyle as “normal” as he could. Carts were crafted, an aqueduct was made for their crops, and the buildings in the abandoned village were built strong.

Each of them lived in their own “houses”, but, more often than not, they stayed together when they could. Teyla and Ronon taught Rodney and Sheppard the basics of hunting, growing crops, and knowing the medicinal value of various herbs and roots. While Rodney was hesitant at first, he soon became a fast study in survival skills.

“We should get back,” Teyla said, as she grabbed one handle as Rodney held the other. “Ronon and John should be near the village.”

*********

As expected, when they returned, Sheppard was not happy to see them. He frowned as he saw the dorant. “Oh come on, McKay! We were on Atlantis for five years and you could hardly get a clean shot with a gun, but you’re skilled with a bow and arrow?”

Rodney dropped his hold on the cart. “Have fun, Sheppard,” he answered with a smirk.

The air was filled with Sheppard’s not so quiet cursing as he cleaned the fallen animal. Before he was halfway done, his watch began chirping loudly.

Rodney stood up from the fire he was building. “I’ll do it,” he said, making his way to the backside of the buildings.

Once they realized the planet they were on had significantly longer days--32 hours--Rodney insisted on keeping track on how many Earth days had gone by. Each day, when Sheppard’s watch chirped, if he was around, Rodney dutifully made another mark in the growing group, signifying the days gone by.

When Rodney came from the back of the building, his expression was somber. “Well, it’s official. We’ve been here for six months now.”

A shroud of tension covered them. Rodney stood next to Teyla. “Do you think they are still looking for us?” he asked to no one in particular.

“No,” Ronon answered simply.

John’s first instinct was to argue with him, but he knew, based on their people, such as Ford or Elizabeth, that the attention span of rescue operations on Atlantis was short. “He’s right, Rodney,” John reluctantly agreed. “They probably had our replacements within a week of us being here.”

With a frown, Rodney walked to the other side of the clearing, not wanting to believe with his friends’ assessment.

“Do not give up hope,” Teyla spoke confidently. “I have no doubt that my people will continue to pursue our locations. They have many allies. Once there is a good opportunity, our planet’s location will be revealed.”

John shook his head slightly.

“You do not believe my people are looking for us?” she asked defensively.

Busted, he thought, as he fidgeted with the knife in his hand. Pissing Teyla off was not on his agenda for the evening. “I think that they are doing what they can, but think if they haven’t heard about what god-forsaken planet the alliance put us on by now, they aren’t ever going to find out,” he answered.

Teyla looked at him coolly. “I believe you underestimate the determination of my people.” She turned to Rodney. “We will return to Atlantis someday, I assure you.”

Not wanting to cause any more tension, Sheppard went back to cleaning the dorant.

Two hours later, the dorant was cleaned and curing. Sheppard slipped away from the village and bathed. When he was finished, he walked back into the center of the village and stoked the fire. Before he could retreat for the evening to his own bed, Teyla stepped out of one of the buildings.

“I apologize for being short with you earlier,” she said, walking to him.

“Hey, don’t worry about it. I know we all want to get home, especially you,” he replied.

“That is true,” she said, frowning. “When I think of Torren, I feel such sadness. I know the longer we are here, the more likely it is that he will not remember me,” she confessed as she looked at the stars, trying to imagine where in the galaxy her son was.

“Hey, I know Kanaan isn’t going to let the little guy forget who you are,” John assured her.

“I know, still…” she said, turning her gaze into the fire, “My mother was culled by the Wraith when I was four. My father did what he could to help preserve her memory, but despite that, I cannot recall my mother’s face.”

An awkward silence danced between the two of them. Finally, John spoke. “Look, you can’t give up. It’s only been a few months.”

Teyla turned back to face him, vulnerability showing on her face. “I want to go home, John,” she said, wrapping her arms around his body.

“Yeah,” he said, as he embraced her, “me too.”

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Teyla floated in the lake, nude, allowing the cool moonlit water to caress her weary body. After a long, but not too difficult winter, the laborious task of replanting their harvest had come upon them again. Her muscles ached, after a hard days’ work.

As she began mentally listing off the tasks she and the others needed to do, John ran up to the lake’s edge. “Teyla!” he shouted.

His urgent voice startled her. Bathing time was usually the only part of the day the men would give her privacy. She waded to John as close as modesty would allow. “What is wrong?”

He ran his hand through his hair. “Ronon‘s hurt.”

Immediately she was alarmed. If John thought something was wrong with the Satedan, something terrible must have happened.

“We got him back to the village,” he continued, not noticed her concern. “It’s not good.” He paced the shoreline frantically.

Teyla frowned at his vagueness. “I will get dressed and meet you there.”

John, not at all concerned with her nudity, nodded before running back the way he came.

Quickly, she made her way to the shore, dried her body and got dressed. As she ran through the woods, she tried to prepare herself for what she might see. When she entered the building, she gasped slightly. Ronon was sweating profusely. She knelt beside him. “When did your fever begin?” she asked, putting a hand on his forehead.

He turned his glassy gaze at her. “About thirty minutes after I got bit,” he answered through chattering teeth.

“Do you know what bit you?”

Ronon nodded slightly. “It was a Cortan.”

Ice flooded her veins. “Are you sure?” she asked, barely a whisper.

He barked a harsh laugh. “Yeah, it’s kind of hard to mistake it for anything else.”

John spoke up. He hated the fact his friend was injured; he hated the fact he didn‘t know what was going on even more. “What are you guys talking about?”

Teyla took a step towards him, lowering her voice. “The Cortan is a large snake. Its venom is one of the most potent known in the galaxy.”

“What can we do to help him?”

She sighed, knowing there was little they could do. “We need to get his fever down. Fill a couple of buckets with water,” she instructed. As John turned to leave, she faced Ronon. “We need to get you undressed.”

Ronon shook his head.

Teyla forced herself not to be annoyed. “This is not the time for modesty.”

“It’s too cold,” he said, continuing to shiver.

“It is not cold,” she said firmly. “Your skin is hot to the touch.”

Struggling slightly, he sat up allowing Teyla to remove his worn shirt and pants, leaving him in only his underwear. She pushed him down on the bed. “You will feel better soon,” she said, trying to reassure the both of them.

As she waited for John to return, Teyla examined where the Cortan had bit Ronon. The two small puncture wounds barely stood out on his skin. He winced as she ran her fingers carefully over the wound. “Sorry,” she said softly.

John burst through the door, the water sloshing over the sides of the buckets. “Here.”

Quickly, Teyla immersed a torn shirt used as a washcloth into the cool water. She rung out the rag and placed it on Ronon’s forehead. Turning to John, she asked, “Where was he attacked?”

John shook his head as Ronon continued to tremble. “We were setting up the traps around the perimeter. I was on the east side when I heard Ronon cry out. I made my way to him as quickly as I could, but by the time I got there, he was already having trouble walking.” He shook his head. “I had Rodney get the p’vant and it got Ronon back here.”

“Where is Rodney now?” she asked, concerned. While Ronon may have a chance of surviving the bite, she knew Rodney would not be able to.

“He said he needed to get something. I’m sure he’ll be here soon, he saw how bad Ronon is.” He lowered his voice. “Is he going to…” He was unable to finish the sentence.

“I do not know,” she answered truthfully. She turned back to Ronon. “Ronon, how bad is that pain?”

Before he could respond, Rodney came in with a handful of roots. “Here,” he said, depositing them on one of the turned over crates. “This should help bring down his fever.”

Teyla looked at the collection of roots approvingly. Perhaps it was due to his previous relationship with Katie Brown; Rodney had picked up quickly on herbs, roots, and their medicinal value. “Excellent, please grind them up into a paste and give Ronon no more than a spoonful every hour,” she instructed, standing up.

“Where are you going?” John asked worriedly.

“There are so wild berries which may help cleanse Ronon’s body of the toxins. They can be found in the foothills,” replied Teyla.

John frowned. “That’s going to take some time to get there,” he said, not wanting to be left alone with Ronon. “Can’t Rodney or I go instead?”

She shook her head. “They are difficult to find. I am confident I know where they are growing.” He put her hand on his shoulder. “You will be fine. Just continue to watch his fever.”

He nodded reluctantly. “Alright, just get back here as soon as you can.”

“I will.”

As Teyla left, John turned to Ronon, who was shaking his head. “It’s not going to work.”

“Hey, you know my rule; no arguing with the doc. And since Keller and Carson aren’t here, Teyla is the closest we get,” he said as he shifted the rag over Ronon’s forehead.

Rodney reentered the room, medicine in hand. “It tastes disgusting, but it should help to keep that fever down.”

Obediently, Ronon opened his mouth and swallowed the bitter mush. Without comment, he lay back down on the bed.

Rodney and John exchanged a glance, not quite knowing what to do next. “Teyla will be back soon,” John said to McKay with false confidence. “And that…stuff should work soon. You know Ronon; he’ll probably be out hunting by tomorrow morning.”

Rodney didn’t believe a word he said, but chose to not comment. For several minutes, they stood silently, watching their friend quietly suffer.

“I hate feeling like this,” John muttered, watching the candlelight flicker over Ronon’s sweaty face.

“Sheppard, give me a blanket,” Ronon demanded.

“Sorry, I can’t do that. If your skin stops smoking, I’ll get you one,” Sheppard replied. “Look, even McKay isn’t wearing his jacket. It’s really warm in here.”

Glaring, Ronon turned away from the two men and curled into a ball, trying to stay warm.

John motioned to Rodney to follow him outside. When they walked away enough for Ronon not to hear, John said, “He’s not doing well.”

“Thank you, Sheppard, for pointing out the painfully obvious,” McKay said dryly.

The colonel ran a hand through his long hair. “There’s gotta be something we can do for him.”

“Yeah, make sure he doesn’t die.”

John glared at him. “Not now, Rodney.”

“Look, Sheppard, I’m as worried as you, but we don’t have any anti-venom or anything remotely close to something like that. We have to wait and see if Teyla’s magical fruit can help rid Ronon’s body of the toxins. All we can do right now is hope that he will survive the bite.”

He knew Rodney was right, but he hated feeling so helpless. “Come on, let‘s wait for Teyla,” he replied, leading the way back into the large room.

When Teyla returned a half hour later, Rodney and John were standing close to Ronon, talking softly to each other. She gently set down the berries as she approached them. “How is he?”

John shrugged, his eyes not leaving Ronon. “About the same, I guess. The roots Rodney gave him seem to be working a little.”

Teyla knelt in front of him. “How is your leg?”

He shook his head slightly. “I’m starting to lose feeling in it,” he admitted softly.

Teyla closed her eyes, sorrow crushing her. “That is what I feared. You need to eat these.”

“No,” Ronon said simply.

“What do you mean ‘no’?” demanded John.

Ronon looked at Teyla. “You know what it means if my leg is already numb. I refuse to live like a cripple.”

She shook her head. “We do not know the extent, if any, lasting damage your leg will have. That is why you need to eat these berries. Please.”

For a few tense seconds, it seemed like Ronon wouldn’t agree, but finally he nodded slightly.

With a small smile, Teyla held out a handful of berries which he grabbed and popped into his mouth, chewing slowly. “This tastes even worse than McKay’s medicine,” he complained slightly.

“It will help you,” she assured him as he swallowed the pulp down. She pushed him back on the bed. “Try to relax, Ronon.”

“When do we know, you know, if he’s going to make it or not?” asked Rodney.

Teyla squeezed Ronon’s shoulder slightly as she stood up. “The toxin usually takes about ten hours to work its way through the system. The worse is yet to come. If the toxins get into his heart, it will stop beating.” She looked at her ill friend sadly. “The only thing we can do is wait.”

Two hours later, it was time for Teyla to give Ronon some more of the berries. He had been dozing intermittently and she didn’t want to wake him, but she was left with little choice. Gently, he touched his shoulder. “Ronon, it is time for you to eat more berries.”

To everyone’s surprise, he grinned broadly at her. “Melena?”

John looked at him questioningly. “Who?”

“She was his lover on Sateda,” Teyla explained quietly. To Ronon, she said, “No, I am Teyla. I need you to eat these.”

With a shaky hand, he reached out and took them. Quickly, he chewed them down. “These taste terrible, but you know I can’t say no to you.”

“Awkward,” Rodney muttered.

Teyla smiled patiently. “Just lie back down. You will feel better soon.” She gently guided him back to his pillow when he noticed John and Rodney.

He sat up quickly. “Who are these men?” he demanded. “Did Kell send them? To make sure I am really going to die this time?” Sweat trickled down his temple as he wildly studied Sheppard and Rodney.

“Ronon, they are your friends,” she assured him. “Please, you need to rest.”

She put her hand on his shoulder, trying to push him back on the bed when he grabbed her wrist firmly. “I don’t believe you.”

John stepped forward. “Let her go, Ronon. We’re here to help you.”

As quickly as he got angry, Ronon deflated. He let go his grip of Teyla‘s arm. “If you see Kell, make sure to tell him that I’m not going to die so he’ll have to keep waiting.” He lay back down and quickly fell into a fitful sleep.

“Do you think he has some resolved issues?” Rodney asked sarcastically.

John turned to Teyla, who was rubbing her wrist. “Are you ok?”

She nodded. “Yes, but I am worried about Ronon.”

“We all are,” John said.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully for the trio. Finally, as the late hours of the night began to fade, Ronon’s fever broke.

He looked at John, who was leaning against the wall, fighting sleep. “Sheppard,” he called.

John shot up and looked at his friend. “Ronon? How are you feeling?”

Rodney and Teyla looked at the Satedan with hope.

He looked at all of them. “I survived.”

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The birds were chirping high in the trees, the scents of the fields filled the air; summer was in full swing. Rodney and Ronon walked slowly across the large field with Ronon falling slightly behind.

“Come on, Ronon, we’re almost there,” Rodney encouraged cheerfully.

At that, Ronon stopped walking altogether. “This is stupid.”

Crossing his arms, Rodney turned back to his stubborn friend. “Your leg needs the exercise. So, let’s get going.”

Unimpressed at his argument, Ronon remained standing in the long grass. “It’s been three months. It’s not going to get any better.”

“Of course it will,” Rodney said. “Look, when you got bit, we didn’t think you would survive the night. Now, you are out hunting--”

“With a limp.”

Rodney rolled his eyes. “A slight one, yes. But you can still run faster than me,” he countered.

“That’s not saying much,” Ronon responded with a smirk.

“Oh har har,” Rodney said dryly. “Now if you’re done complaining, let’s get back. Teyla and John are probably wondering where we are.”

Ronon reluctantly started walking again, this time in step with Rodney. “Why have you helped me so much with the recovery?”

This time, it was Rodney who stopped walking. He swallowed before answering. “My mom, uh, suffered a stroke when I was younger. One day she and I were talking about the finer points of astrophysics and the next, she lost her ability to speak. My dad couldn’t handle the change.”

Rodney looked out at the sky as he continued. “He couldn’t see past the disability; he saw what he had lost. Me, well, I refused to accept that. Even though she could never say a sentence coherently again, she was the same Sally McKay.”

He shrugged as he continued walking. “I know that’s how it is with you. Your leg may not be the same, but your instincts are sharper than ever.”

A long silence stretched out between them. “Well, uh, this is--” Rodney began to stammer.

“Thanks, Rodney,” Ronon said, cutting him off.

Rodney smiled as they turned left down the path. “You know, I was just telling Sheppard---”

Ronon turned to his side, listening carefully. “Shut up, McKay,” he demanded harshly.

Flabbergasted at Ronon‘s change of attitude, Rodney‘s jaw dropped. “Well, that’s how it is now--”

“Shut up,” he insisted.

He clamped down his mouth as Ronon continued to listen. Finally, after several seconds, Ronon looked at Rodney. “We need to get back to John and Teyla now.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” Rodney asked, his mind instantly filled with horrible thoughts.

“I heard a jumper.”

　

John wrapped his leg around the large tree trunk, swearing under his breath. “I can’t do this,” he yelled to Teyla, standing on the ground twenty feet below him.

“You must get comfortable doing this, John. I know that picking fruit is uncomfortable, but it is necessary that we keep our diet balanced,” Teyla replied.

“Teyla,” he said as he climbed on one of the larger branches, “if I haven’t become a skilled climber in the time we have been here, why do you think I have a chance of that happening now?”

“Because,” she said, crossing her arms, “we need the food.”

“Fine,” he huffed as he began to pluck the purple fruit off and drop them to a bucket below. Once he started getting a rhythm, Teyla climbed in the tree next to him.

John was about to climb the next branch when he heard Rodney screaming his and Teyla’s name frantically. Startled, he slipped, falling down several branches.

“John!” Teyla yelled.

Ignoring his pain, he quickly made his way down the tree. He looked at his arm, which was bleeding from the fall, before yelling, “We’re over here, McKay!”

Within seconds, Rodney and Ronon found the two of them. “What is wrong?” Teyla asked, descending from the tree.

Rodney motioned from Ronon to tell the two of them.

“I heard a jumper.”

John’s heart stopped. “What did you say?” he asked incredulously.

“Ronon,” Teyla said, “are you sure?”

He frowned at her disbelief. “I’m pretty sure I know what they sound like,” he retorted.

“But,” Rodney said, “he and I haven’t seen it.”

“Well,” John said, allowing himself to get a slight glimmer of hope, “maybe it was in stealth mode.”

“Then why didn’t it stop? The life signs detector would have picked us up, especially if it was close enough for Ronon to hear,” argued Rodney.

John understood Rodney’s doubt, but he knew that Ronon wouldn’t have said anything if he wasn’t absolutely positive that he heard a jumper. “I don’t know, but I think we should get somewhere that the jumper can land. They won’t be able to reach us with all these trees.”

He glanced at Teyla who was looking in shock. Torren, he knew, was foremost in her mind. “Come on,” he said, leading his team.

It was decided on the way back to their village, to make their way back to the gate. The field in front of it was long and flat, plenty of room for a jumper to land. They stopped quickly in the village to wrap Sheppard’s bleeding arm in a bandage. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Teyla grabbed her book that she had written during their time on the planet.

As they continued walking, Rodney spoke, “You know what I’m looking forward to the most?”

“The mess hall?” they all offered simultaneously.

“What? No,” he huffed. “A nice long shower. No more frigid baths in the lake for me.”

Teyla smiled. “I cannot wait until I see Torren again. I can picture the welcoming feast that my people will prepare for us,” she said with a smile.

“I can’t wait to find those people who sent us here. Maybe I’ll return the favor,” Ronon said bitterly.

As the Gate came into view, John was tempted to discourage their talk about their post-rescue life. After all, Ronon could have misheard the jumper. Still, it was nearly impossible for him to push down the excitement at the possibility of going home. Suddenly, the rescue missions that he had imagined and had long-forgotten, sprung to life.

Despite his new-found euphoria, as the minutes passed, John started to doubt Ronon’s senses. He glanced at the three of them, each looking around for a jumper to magically appear. “And you’re sure--”

“Yes,” Ronon answered for the fifth time since they arrived at the gate.

“Wait, what’s that?” Rodney said, peering into the sky.

A small dot was streaking through the sky, getting closer to the ground. Soon, the familiar hum of a jumper filled Sheppard’s ears.

Turning to Ronon, he smiled. “I didn’t doubt you for a minute,” John lied.

Ronon didn’t respond; he watched the approaching jumper with eagerness as they all were.

Teyla smiled at John. “They found us.”

The need to hug all of them was nearly overwhelming, but John suppressed the urge. He watched as the jumper approached the clearing, slowing lowering to the ground.

Within seconds, the backdoor opened revealing several faces John never thought he would see again: Lorne, Carson, Zelenka and Torren.

Immediately, Teyla dropped to her knees, arms wide opened. “Torren?” she whispered tearfully.

The chubby three year old peered between Carson’s legs. “Go on, lad,” he instructed the toddler.

Obediently, he walked out to Teyla. He studied her face for a few seconds before breaking out into a smile. “Mother,” he said cheerfully as he walked to her warm embrace.

“Colonel Sheppard,” Lorne greeted, taking in the sight of his missing friends.

John knew they made quite a sight. The long hair and beards hid the once clean shaven faces of the men. Teyla’s hair was longer than it had ever been. The clothes were rugged, but John couldn’t care less what he or the others thought about their appearance. All that mattered was they were going home.

“Major Lorne,” he returned with a smile. “How did you find us?”

“We got some help from the Travelers,” he answered. “For a price.”

Sheppard had a feeling that was a long story, so he didn’t push for more information. “Did you do a fly-by earlier?”

Lorne nodded. “Yes, once we confirmed you were really here, we returned to the Daedalus, which is in orbit above us. Kanaan made me promise that if we found Teyla that Torren would be allowed to see Teyla.”

John smiled as he watched the tearful reunion of a mother and her son. Carson stepped out of the jumper and grabbed Sheppard’s injured arm. “Is this the kind of medical attention that you provide each other?”

John looked at Ronon. “Nah, this was just a little patch up job.” He looked at Carson questioningly. “Where’s Keller?” he asked. “No offence, Carson.”

The Scot smiled. “None taken. She’s actually on maternity leave.”

“Maternity leave?” Ronon and Rodney asked together.

“Aye, she’s not due for another two weeks, but unfortunately she’s on bed rest. The little bugger wants to try to come out early,” Carson answered.

“Who’s the proud daddy?” John asked, knowing the two men were dying to know the answer.

“I promised Dr. Heightmeyer that I wouldn’t tell you anything that wasn’t necessary. She wants the four of you to get adjusted to everything gradually,” Carson replied.

John understood her point; he had a feelings the changes on Atlantis were numerous. The adjustment of those, as well as getting accustomed to seeing people outside of his team, would take some time. He had no doubt, however, that they would be able to recover from their isolation.

“Come on,” Sheppard said leading his team to the jumper, “let’s go home.”

Comments

[live-brave.livejournal.com]

This is great! I love seeing the team relying on each other for their mutual survival. So much team-y goodness! :D

[lahela-sga.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, I really enjoyed that! *hugs the team* Thanks Yappi ^^D

[tielan]

Neat little story! I enjoyed this look into them surviving, and love that they've all learned to pull together. :)

(Incidentally, the title of the fic in the subject line/header has been misspelled.)

[ratcreature]

This was a fun team story. I really like stories with them stranded. Though I always thought you couldn't blow up a Stargate without causing a lot of destruction, because of the naquadah.

[tridget.livejournal.com]

Nice team story. I enjoyed the development of their survival skills.