Stargate Atlantis: Summer Rain

Chapter 2

"We need to find Teyla," said John, his teeth chattering together.

"We have to get back to McKay, light a fire and get you warm first," replied Ronon, helping John to his feet.

John knew Ronon was right and he allowed himself to be supported back along the riverbank to where Rodney still lay, motionless. 

"Hasn't he moved?" said John, worriedly.

"Not yet," said Ronon, helping John sit down next to Rodney.  Ronon began searching for some dry wood, with not much success.  He found some which wasn't too damp, added some tinder of his own that he kept in a pocket and aimed his blaster into the pile, resulting in a pretty good blaze.

"I like the style of your woodcraft," said John, arms wrapped round himself, still shuddering with cold.

"Take those off, you can wear this," said Ronon, taking off his coat and top, giving John the top and putting his coat back on.

John took off his waterlogged tac vest, jacket and shirt and put Ronon's top on.  He saw Ronon looking at the bruises and cuts that decorated his torso and arms.

"Any of those bad?" asked Ronon.

"I'm good, for now," John replied.

Ronon continued to watch him.  "You'll have to take your pants and boots off too and pull the blankets over you both," said Ronon, wringing out John's clothes and setting them in front of the fire to dry.

John grimaced with embarrassment, but knew Ronon was right.  He still felt cold sharing the crinkly silver blankets with Rodney and as his body thawed out he became more aware of the many aches and pains caused by his river trip.  He was reassured to hear Rodney stir and murmur a couple of times, though he didn't reply when John spoke to him.

After about half an hour Ronon said, "These are still damp, but at least they're warm.  We need to get moving."

John reached out and began putting his clothes back on. 

"Hey, it's past time for our check-in, isn't it?" he said.  "Have you heard from Atlantis?"

"Think the explosion must've fried the comms," said Ronon.

John tried his radio, then reached over to Rodney's.  Nothing.  Not even static.

"Great.  No rescue then."

John wrapped one of the spaceblankets round him to try to conserve warmth.  His tac vest was still waterlogged so he had to carry it in one hand. Most of the water had drained out of his P90, and he attached it to its sling and had to just let it hang so he could hold the blanket with his other hand.

Ronon picked up Rodney and resumed his fireman's carry.  They scrambled up a steep, rocky bank before reaching the top of the ravine that the river cut through.  The route to the gate took them roughly parallel to the river, heading once more downstream.  John kept trying to see down through the trees to the river, hoping for a glimpse of Teyla.

"I'll come back and look," said Ronon.  "You and McKay need to get back to Atlantis, but I'll stay with the S and R team.  I won't give up."

"I'll stay too," said John, but Ronon gave him a doubtful look.  Truthfully, John wasn't feeling so good.  He'd swallowed a lot of dirty water and after a few minutes his stomach rebelled and he had to stop and empty its contents, leaning heavily against a tree.  He stood up, swaying, noticing that his cuts felt hot and itchy and his head was beginning to ache.

"Think I've picked something up from that water," he said.

Ronon looked at him.  "Have to get going," he said.  "Nothing else we can do."