Triple Terror chp. 10

Chapter 10 Part I: Good Byes and Bad Hellos

Teyla desperately clung onto feeling as the world raced around her in utter darkness. The only thing that seemed to penetrate her deep mind was the concerned and rushed voices of the doctors and her friends. They never seemed to leave her. When one voice faded away, another would take its place. Sometimes the words were cheerful, encouraging. Other times they were stricken with sadness and fell upon her like a gentle rain.

She wanted to just reach out and comfort the owner of the words. To hold them, to reassure them that she was okay and everything was going to be fine. But how could it be fine? She already knew the fate that awaited not only her, but Sheppard and Ronon as well.

After a while, Teyla began to ignore the voices and accepted that she could no longer stave off sleep and bliss unconsciousness. So slowly, she drifted off to the darkness of a dreamless sleep. Shame it didn’t last long.

Teyla couldn’t tell how much time had passed, but it must have been at least a few hours, perhaps a whole day, before she awoke. It came slowly at first, her mind vaguely aware of what was happening outside of her own mind.

There was the slight beeping of a machine. Rhythmically it let out a happy beep, keeping in pace with Teyla’s breathing. Then she realized it was her breathing that was actually following the machine. Heart monitor. The little girl thought.

Now knowing she was in the infirmary, Teyla tried to reach out and wake herself, find out what had happened. However, consciousness was harder to grasp then she first expected.

So, concentrating on her ears, Teyla listened. There was the constant sound of nurses and doctors mumbling to each other and moving around the infirmary. She could clearly hear the whisper of Dr. Beckett as he drew closer to the girl. The infirmary was so silent, the Athosian could even hear the scratching of the man’s pen on paper. Clearly he was checking her condition.

Trying to get mouth to form a smile, Teyla just wanted to wake up already.

Pushing her mind a little harder, the young girl slowly felt her fingers twitching just as Carson seemed to disappear from her side. She gently felt the rough sheets of the bed underneath her touch and relaxed. She could still work everything it seemed, her toes wiggling under the blanket atop of her, now if only she could her eyes open!

Almost laughing at her own frustration, Teyla slowly felt the weight on her eyelids lifting. No more did she want to sleep. She needed to check on her friends as well. After all, by the sound of McKay’s voice back on the planet, it did not sound like the two boys would survive the flight home. Finding new motivation, Teyla managed to crack her eyes open to little more than paper thin slits.

Everything was still fuzzy and Teyla couldn’t quite focus on anything. However, the light from the infirmary gave her a vague impression of what was going on. Naturally, she was laying in a bed, IVs running from both of her arms. She felt a bit uncomfortable at the heart monitor she was hooked up to, and squirmed a little under the tight blankets. She was a bit lightheaded too.

Slightly remembering what had happened, Teyla tried to lie still, but that was proving difficult.

Suddenly, her senses were assaulted with the laughter of two very familiar boys, their shadowy figures racing past her bed. They too were dressed in white scrubs, and were they wearing helmets?

Sheppard was chasing Ronon, his fingers imitating the shape of a pistol as he let out quiet “Pshew! Pshew!” pretending to fire at his friend. The Satedan couldn’t help but giggle as he leapt and ran around the girl’s bed.

Sheppard nearly slammed into the side, his eyes only focusing on the larger boy. He ducked down and aimed, sticking his tongue out in concentration. That’s when an older and almost annoyed voice called out, “What are you doing?!”

Sheppard turned back and laughed as he scampered over Teyla’s bed and slid off the other side, nearly taking the blankets with him.

Chasing after the boy, McKay paused slightly at the foot of Teyla’s bed. He was slightly flushed with anger, but looked much happier than he had on the mainland.

The scientist stopped completely, realizing the boys were now out of his reach and he’d never catch them. “John! For Pete’s sake, you know what those things are?! Take ‘em off !” Obviously referring to the odd helmets the boys carried on their heads.

Sighing, McKay just rubbed his hands over his face. Not really meaning to, the man looked over the tips of his fingers, his hands staying on his cheeks, and scanned Teyla up and down. Then, his mind clicked and he realized the girl was staring back at him, her eyes now fully opened and alert.

Pulling his hands away from his face, McKay put on a soft smile as he stared down at the girl. “Hey,” he spoke sweetly, moving over to the girl’s right. Teyla looked up at him, her large, beautiful eyes almost subdued from the drugs they had pumping through her. However, she did manage a wispy “hey” of her own.

McKay placed a gentle hand on the girl’s arm, “How you feeling? Gave us quite a scare back there.”

Teyla tried her best at a smile, but it turned into a grimace when she realized the pounding behind her right eye. “Headache,” she whispered, closing her eyes as the pain rippled sharply through her. She could hear McKay calling for Beckett and then there was another hand on her left arm this time and a sweet Scottish Brogue filling her mind.

“Hang on luv, this should help.”

Then sweet numbness washed over her, spreading from her left arm to her head. Smiling softly, Teyla reopened her eyes and looked up into the smiling face of Carson Beckett. “Thanks,” she managed to pipe out.

Then her brow furrowed as she took in the doctor’s eyes. The smile on his face wasn’t happy, it was sad. Deeply sad. “What is it?” she asked, then turned to McKay, who was looking puzzled as well. His blue eyes sharp and concentrated on the doctor.

Beckett tried not to look up at McKay, although he knew the man’s eyes were burrowing into his skull, trying to get the doctor to speak. Instead, he kept his gaze on the little girl before him, and actually fiddled with his hands a bit. “I’m sorry,” he finally looked up at McKay, “Perhaps you should call the boys over. They’re going to want to hear this.”

::-:SGA:-::

You should’ve gone back earlier. You should’ve demanded to go back the very next day! Now look what you’ve done. Stupid, stupid, STUPID! You’ve wasted five days and practically killed them… But you can still fix it. You still have time, they still have time.

McKay kept his head in his hands, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He didn’t know how long he had been like that, but it was all he could to keep himself from shuddering and his feelings neutral. Beckett had just delivered a heavy blow. A deep and heavy blow.

As it turns out, Ronon, Sheppard, and Teyla were never meant to keep this form. The transformation had done more damage than just de-age the cells. McKay hadn’t quite caught all of Carson’s medical explanation, but all he really needed to know was that all of Teyla’s organs were failing. Slowly, but they were still failing and there was nothing Beckett or anyone else could do to stop it. Soon, Sheppard and Ronon’s would start to go. And there was nothing anyone can do to save them…

McKay kept that line running through his head.

Surely there was something Beckett could conjure up? Nothing anyone can do. Save the day, keep their organs from going. Nothing…Perhaps a stasis chamber? Anyone can do…Was there enough time for him to go back and reset the machine? To save them. Probably not, judging by the disheartening face Beckett continued to hold. Nothing…

Finally, McKay let out a desperate sigh, and looked up from his hands, allowing them to fall to his side. Sheppard and Ronon were standing on either side of Teyla, looking as frightened as a mouse cornered by a cat.

Teyla on the other hand… Well, McKay had to admit he knew the girl had strength, but to face certain death with a seven year old’s mind?- and remain that calm. He had greatly underestimated the Athosian.

Locking eyes with the young girl, McKay felt a wave of confidence impart from the child. He tried his best at a smile, but his lips only managed a slight twitch before falling back into a grim line. Teyla however, smiled greatly at his attempt and sat a little straighter. She wanted to say something.

Sitting a little straighter as well, McKay caught the attention of the two boys, who gave him a quick glance than peered up at Teyla.

“I have a solution,” Teyla finally spoke. Her voice was stronger than before, and it demanded everyone’s attention. Beckett seemed to snap out of a trance, and several passing nurses stopped and listened as well. Teyla took in everyone’s face, before turning back to McKay, determination set in her eyes. “We need to return to the planet.”

::-ne hour later:-::

“Stop touching me.”

“I’m not touching you,” Sheppard cooed, twirling his finger in a circle inches from Ronon’s face.

“Stop it!” Ronon, hissed, glaring at the boy stretched out between the space of the chairs.

“I’m not touching you,” Sheppard teased again, an evil grin splitting across his face.

“He’s touching me!” Ronon shouted to the front of the jumper where McKay and Teyla sat.

The scientist sighed heavily at the controls of the jumper and dropped his shoulders as he continued to look forward. “John, stop touching Ronon.”

“I’m not touching him!” Sheppard called indignantly from the back, looking towards the driver while keeping his finger where it had stopped twirling before Ronon’s face. That was a mistake. “Ow! He bit me!”

That’s when all hell broke loose. Sheppard tugged at his hand, but the little Satedan had a firm grip between his teeth. “Get off!” the crazy-haired pilot yelled, dragging Ronon over towards his seat while pushing on the Satedan’s face.

Ronon simple growled and pulled back, causing Sheppard to cry out in pain. Sheppard’s fist came down on Ronon’s head, bashing him like he was some wild dog. “I said get off!” Teyla giggled from the front seat, peering over the chair’s shoulder to watch the scene. She danced with delight in the chair, pleasantly entertained with the entire fiasco.

Ronon was relentless and Sheppard could only struggle helplessly. He was caught and the entire battle had turned into a tug of war over his hand. Sheppard glared, Ronon growled, Teyla giggled, and McKay was trying so desperately to just block it all out. Finally, when one of them, no one was sure who, spit out a curse, McKay swiveled in his seat.

His large hands easily slapped onto either child’s face, the boys having pulled each other nose to nose, and pried them apart. With a gasp of pain, Sheppard recoiled his hand to his chest while Ronon growled and released the appendage. It was all McKay could do to keep the boys in their respective seats and the jumper under control in autopilot.

“Now!” McKay shouted, his words almost echoing through the small craft, “Settle down! It’s very important that I’m able to think and I can’t do that while you two are wrestling back here. If you don’t settle, I’m gonna through you in the back, close the bulkhead, and open the rear hatch. You’ll be too occupied hanging on for your life to fight, and I’ll be happy!”

McKay glared at the two, whom just huffed in their chairs, taking his threat quite seriously. When he was satisfied that neither were going to stir any trouble, McKay turned back in his seat and retook control of the jumper. His face as stern as could be, at least for a couple of seconds.

Then he caught the sight of Teyla doubling over in her chair with laugher. McKay snorted, and finally gave in as he too started laughing.

Ronon and Sheppard just sat with their arms crossed over their chest and their heads tucked into their shoulders, both severely embarrassed.

::-:little later:-::

McKay stared down into the holed, it seemed to go on forever. Nothing but darkness swirled at the edges of the unnatural break of the planet’s crust. It was almost impossible to imagine that an entire city rest down there. Stretching for miles on end, supported only by the faith in the strength of the planet’s own earth.

It was an amazing concept, and McKay smirked at the engineering of the people. It was one of the interesting things the man had learned about the facility. True, the balcony was all Ancient, but the people of the planet had been the one’s to construct the city below.

“Shame it worked too well,” the man mumbled to himself, standing up from his crouched position near the opening.

Taking one more glance down the hole at his destination, McKay let out a sigh and turned to head back over to the small group gathered around the puddle jumper. They had landed nearly an hour ago and were going over the last few details that needed to be addressed.

It had only been about twenty-minutes since Ramierez and his crew finished cutting through the ceiling of the underground city, and McKay was anxious to get down there. After all, Teyla had assured him, convinced him was more accurate, that going back to the that balcony was their only hope.

Seeing as the tunnels were completely blocked, Weir did not hesitate to give the order to tear open the earth. In just a few short minutes, McKay would be lowered down through the hole by way of harness. He would then swing over the railing of the balcony and assist the others as they were lowered.

Shaking his head, the scientist shook off a sudden shudder. Something wasn’t right, he knew that. Although Teyla had been confident in the fact that once they were on the balcony, everything would fix itself, McKay didn’t like this sudden feeling of forbidding coming from the city below.

It was as if the facility was warning him.

But there was more than that; Teyla was lying to him. Not completely, flat out lying… but she was hiding something, he could see it. She might’ve been a stone wall, but when you have the control of a seven year old your face tends to be more expressive. Unfortunately, McKay didn’t want to press the matter, already feeling the girl was a bit disconcerted over her organ failure.

Shaking his head more slowly this time, McKay began to tromp back the small troop of marines and medics.

Seeing their friend coming, the children grew excited. They stood on the benches of the open jumper and called out to him, all smiles and confidence. Wish some of that would rub off on me, the man thought bleakly, trying his best to return their excitement.

Teyla settled a little as he drew closer to the jumper, her body clearly weaker than it had been while flying here. Damn, McKay swore, wondering how much time they’d have to fix this whole mess before it was too late.

Sheppard never sat down, not even as McKay reached the edge of the ten or so men surrounding the children. The young boy just kept bouncing and bouncing. Obviously his body had yet to begin its little fall. Then there was Ronon. The Satedan had given up on his silent act. As soon as they had landed the former runner was all gab chittering with Teyla and Sheppard. It had surprised McKay, seeing as Ronon usually confined himself to eleven words a day.

Smiling a bit at that thought, McKay managed to squeeze past the crew workers and the medics monitoring his three charges. Some moved out of the way seeing him, but one stubborn nurse didn’t budge from her sentry over Teyla.

“Are we going now?!” Sheppard asked, his voice high with excitement. As much as he loved getting away with sticking gum under Weir’s desk and badgering Carson into convincing McKay it was a good idea to feed them sweets and cookies for lunch, he was eager to get back to his grown-up self.

“Yeah, we’ve been waiting long enough,” Ronon mumbled, crossing his arms as he sat on the bench. McKay knew the boy was just as eager to be all grow-ed up again. The Satedan missed always having a weapon at his side and being allowed to spar with the marines. After all, there were only so many times you could beat up McKay before he just gave up five minutes into each round and let ya use him as a punching bag.

“You all set Uncle Rodney?” Teyla’s sweet voice called after the others as McKay disappeared behind some of the crates left over from the cleanup crew. As the man shuffled about, the young girl hopped down from her perch on the bench, the kind nurse by her side when she swayed a little.

Teyla wasn’t quite ready for what she had to do, nor did she want to tell the others what they had to do. She would certainly miss sitting in McKay’s lap and buttering Sheppard and Ronon into doing stuff for her.

Teyla’s face softened at that thought. She took in a shaky breath, suddenly feeling very scared and very alone. None of them knew yet, and they wouldn’t. Not until she was sure they couldn’t change their minds or try to convince her there was another way. She knew better, and she hoped they would forgive her after today.

Holding back the tears that wanted to over take the poor girl, Teyla put on the most eager face out of all of them as McKay reappeared from behind the crates, holding some lining and a harness. “Ready?” he asked, and at the nods from all three children, Mckay pushed back into the crowd, Ramierez taking the line and harnesses from McKay to get them set up, and headed for the hole. Sheppard, Ronon, and Teyla in tow.

…

“Now what?” Ronon grunted. It had only taken about ten minutes to get the children down to the balcony. McKay actually found himself thanking God that they didn’t decide a harness suspended hundreds of feet in the air was as amusing as Sheppard had thought. In fact, Ronon practically got himself to the railing and Teyla didn’t struggle one bit in hooking her legs onto the railing.

They had come down by way of harness and rope. Thanks to Ramierez and his team, everyone was lowered safely over the city. McKay had no help getting over the railing, but managed after a few good swings. Then the man had literally caught each of his teammates as they too were lowered and swung towards the balcony. Of course, Ronon needed no help, and Teyla little.

However, Sheppard had decided that swinging over the city was more fun that trying to change them back. McKay had to cling himself to the boy’s legs in order to slow him down. This nearly caused himself to be dragged over the railing, and it gave Sheppard quite a scare. But for now, they were all safe behind the railing and back on that odd balcony.

Nothing had changed drastically. The lights still illuminated the small facility, even if they had gone out over the now dark city. The pedestals were in tack and the consoles beeped happily at sensing gene carriers. The only drastic change that McKay noticed was that the once open doorway was blocked by rocks and debris, some of it trickling into the room.

“I don’t know,” McKay stated rather bluntly, looking towards Teyla. So far he had been just following what the little girl said. She seemed determined and like she knew what she was doing. He still wondered at how she had convinced Beckett to stay behind and how she knew so much. It seemed like Teyla had a little epiphany over night.

After the girl had suggested going back to the planet in the infirmary, there was a whole uproar from Carson over her current condition. Teyla didn’t flinch as he said it wasn’t going to happen, a little more creatively than needed. The seven year old Athosian just waited from him to be done, and so did McKay. As soon as the Scot had stopped talking, the astrophysicist popped out the question of why they needed to return.

Teyla calmly explained the brunt of her dream, saying it felt more like a vision than anything else. It seemed as if she was telling herself to return to the facility. She also said she’d know what they had to do to fix this once they got there. There were several more arguments, and McKay couldn’t help but question every little bit of Teyla’s “dream”.

Finally, Sheppard piped in, and effectively won the argument for his friend. “We’re dead if we don’t do anything and I’d like to think you’d be willing to take that one last chance to save us.” McKay succumbed at that and said they’d need Weir’s permission first. However, Beckett wasn’t convinced and was about to scold McKay for being such a softy.

Teyla beat him though, asking her babysitter to go to Weir now. McKay did as asked, still a bit stunned from the death sentence Beckett seemed to give the three children. Ronon and Sheppard were at his side at once, not wanting to leave the man at the moment. Teyla thanked the Ancestors for that and then turned to a very agitated and worried Beckett.

McKay hadn’t heard what she said, but when he got back, Elizabeth in toe, the Scottish doctor seemed resign to do whatever Teyla asked. He even stayed behind on Atlantis. Weir had asked him why, but Beckett didn’t answer. Then, as McKay left to get ready to leave, he heard the two speaking in whispers.

Nothing exciting happened after that. Word spread quickly that the team of children was leaving and hopefully coming back as a team of adults. On their way to the armory and jumper bay, the band of five (Major Lorne offering to help until his team went off world) were constantly stopped as people wished them luck and said their goodbyes to the children.

The scientist only became irriated and impatient as every three yards some woman would smile and ruffle Ronon’s hair, or a marine would salute Sheppard, or someone would pat Teyla on the shoulder. It took them nearly an hour to get to the jumper and down into the gate room. Before they left, McKay was informed of Ramierez planning to dig a hole above the facility so they could quickly lower the team into the room.

That was when Teyla went off. She took basically tackled McKay and sat in his lap to keep him quiet as she started talking rather quickly over the comm. “No! No he can’t dig right above it! That’s gonna ruin everything. Only we can enter that room, or else nothing is going to work and we’ll be stuck like this!” There was a strain in her voice, and McKay felt like the girl was hiding something. He didn’t know what, but he had felt like this ever since they picked her up to go searching for Ronon and Sheppard.

Weir tried to calm her down, as Teyla continued her protest. After a few loud moments, Weir sent the order through for Ramierez to dig as close as he could to the facility, but directly above any portion of the balcony. The Athosian child finally backed off at this and settled back into her own seat. When it looked like she had calmed down fully, McKay gave her shoulder a quick grip, earning him a smile, then sent the puddle jumper through the wormhole.

Now here they were. Standing about an Ancient room, waiting for their next instructions. Teyla seemed a little lost though, slowly stepping away from the balcony and glancing at the pedestals. She moved to the one she had occupied and stood within the circle on the floor. The girl’s head barely reached the height of the console, and Teyla looked deterred at that. Glaring at the pedestal for a few more moments, the Athosian gave a dejected sigh and turned to her friends.

Teyla started a little, seeing the three pair of questioning eyes staring at her intently. Did they know? No, of course not. Realizing, they were waiting for her to say or do something, Teyla relaxed a bit and then promptly sat down on the floor. Crossing her legs, the girl just fit inside the engraved circle. “We wait,” was the answer she offered up to them.

“What?!” McKay asked, grimacing to hide his confusion. Teyla didn’t flinch, her face innocent and her eyebrows raised as if to ask why he was confused. “We just wait? No, no nothing is that easy for us. Isn’t there more we have to do? More I have to do.”

Teyla shrugged, “You’re welcome to look at the consoles if you want. Just don’t try to do anything to them please. I know it seems… odd, but trust me okay? Oh,” Teyla turned to Sheppard and Ronon, who were just as equally bewildered as McKay, “Could you two join me on the pedestals? It needs all three of us to work.”

Teyla seemed to have matured a couple of years in the past few minutes. Though… McKay noticed she was appearing more tired.

Teyla smiled happily as Sheppard and Ronon moved to sit at the base of the pedestals they had stood on a little more than five days ago. They didn’t ask questions, they didn’t whine, they just did what she asked. Teyla liked that, but she also found it a bit disconcerting. She knew her body was dying faster now, and she had hoped her friends would have a little more time than her. However, it seemed like the facility was working fully, based on the drooping eyes of the two boys.

Letting out another sad sigh, the Athosian didn’t wait until they were sitting before she turned to McKay. “Uncle Rodney,” her voice was soft now, loosing the edge it had had since she awoke from the infirmary. Yes, this place was doing its job. Even if it wasn’t the job the Ancient’s intended it to do. “I don’t think you should be standing there when they sit down.”

McKay had been watching them all carefully, a hint of fear in his eyes. His shoulders were slumped a little. He had brought a pack with him, but had tossed the thing across the floor to one of the consoles after unhooking his harness. Now he glanced at it, then turned his eyes back on his three teammates. Both Ronon and Sheppard were waiting to sit down, having heard Teyla’s warning.

“Right, right, right, I’ll just stand over there then? Let me know what I… can do,” the last words were a bit of a whisper. Teyla wanted to leap from her spot and hug the man, sensing that currently the scientist felt useless. But she stayed her urge and gave McKay a nod as he moved over to his pack. “You sure you know what you’re doing?” the scientist couldn’t help himself, looking over his shoulder at the little girl.

“Yes Uncle Rodney, I think I do. Remember? You said nothing would hurt me if you were here. I believe we’ll be safe,” Teyla gave him a big smile. To her utter delight, McKay smiled back, nodded, and leaned against one of the consoles. He kept his smile as he crossed his arms and watched his teammates.

“Okay,” Teyla said, looking back at Sheppard and Ronon. The two boys gave small smiles, then sat crossed leg as she did. Teyla rested against her pedestal and waited.

A few moments of silence went by, and the air of the room became itchy. Ronon was squirming a bit by his pedestal, and Sheppard was looking around, still waiting for something to happen. McKay had his laptop out and was interfacing with the console. Clearly, something was expose to happen already.

Sheppard leaned forward from his seat and looked at Teyla. The girl had relaxed and her eyes were closed. She looked… patient. “Hey!” Sheppard called, waking Teyla from her trance. “When this thing gonna kih-”

McKay forgot his laptop and jumped from surprise as a white light enveloped the three children. It was unexpected and not as bright as before. McKay watched, standing several feet away from the console know, and waited. He couldn’t do anything at the moment, and it seemed he hadn’t been able to do anything since last they came here. He hated it, but he had become slightly excited when Teyla had beamed with confidence a few moments ago.

Was this it? Was the thing working? Were they going back to normal?

McKay just stood there, frozen. The beam didn’t go away nor did the children disappear. It just hummed and wavered over the shady figures within it. Finally, when the light subsided, McKay held his breath and closed his eyes. Then the humming stopped and he could see the world get a little darker beyond his eyelids. Still reluctant to open his eyes, McKay slowly cracked one open.

Just as he did so, a familiar voice echoed in the room, “What’s the big idea Teyla?!” It was Sheppard’s voice, but not the one he had been hoping for. Instead of the deep tone of a grown man, it was the high pitchy one of a seven year old boy.

“It didn’t work,” Ronon grumbled. His voice was deeper than Sheppard’s, but still held the young tone of a child.

Opening his eyes all the way now, McKay felt a wave of disappointment wash over him as the three children sat before their pedestals. They all seemed very, very weary and weak. A knot of worry began to form in the man’s stomach. The machine hadn’t worked, and time was running out. It was really beginning to look like he’d have to do something. Guess nothing’s ever easy for us, McKay thought.

“No,” Teyla’s voice was little more than a whisper, successfully catching the scientist’s full attention. “It did work, look,” with a shaky hand, Teyla pointed from her spot. McKay was already moving over to the little girl when his eyes followed her arm, leapt from her finger, and towards the rail…ing.

“What…?” McKay said softly, now staring at a completley solid metal wall. When did that happen? He hadn’t heard anything. If the railing was like that… McKay did a one-eighty and looked towards the main entrance. The door was no longer blocked by debris, but instead a metal wall just like the one that had taken the railing’s place.

“What did you do?” McKay managed to get out, not understanding, and not liking it at all.

“I… did… what I was… expose to…” Teyla’s words barely made it out of her between gasps of air. McKay’s whole attention was back on the child. Ronon and Sheppard did not miss out on the fading Athosian’s tone. They too were scampering from their seats and around the pedestals in seconds.

McKay fell down to one knee beside Teyla. He took her hand in his… when did it get so cold? The girl’s eyes were barely open and all energy seemed to have been drained from the young girl. Sweat broke her brow and the small chest of the Athosian struggled to rise with each wheezing breath. McKay noticed that the pedestal was the only thing keeping Teyla from falling over.

“Teyla…” McKay whispered the name, feeling that if he said it too loud the little girl would just be whisked away. “Are you all right?” But Teyla didn’t answer, she just wrestled with her lungs, forcing as much air into them as she could. Shaking his head, McKay couldn’t believe what was happening. Teyla really was dying and a lot faster than he wanted or expected.

Pulling the girl up into a sitting position, Sheppard lending a hand while Ronon stayed quiet and still, McKay moved to be on his knees beside the girl and scooped her into his arms. Teyla didn’t move or make a sound, her body limp in her friend’s grip. Resting her head in the crook of his elbow, McKay made sure she was comfortable.

Teyla managed a smile, her tired eyes looking up to McKay. The man seemed lost, his own pale eyes solely for her, and yet never focusing. She was so sorry for doing this to him, but it had to be done. Letting her smile fade away, she wanted to voice her apology. Gathering what strength she had left, Teyla whispered, “I’m sorry.”

McKay appeared surprised at this. His eyes grew wide for a second, then grew soft as he struggled with the words in his mouth. “Sssh, you don’t have anything to be sorry for. So it didn’t work, that’s not your fault. Listen, I’ll fix it, I’ll fix it, then we’ll try again. Okay?” There was a pleading tone to his words and Teyla didn’t like it.

Frowning even deeper, the girl snuggled against McKay’s chest and reached up as if to wrap her arms around his neck. Seeing this, the scientist pulled her closer and Teyla succeeded in looping her arms around him. She then buried her face in his shoulder and mumbled. “But it did work. That’s what I’m sorry about.” McKay held her closer, and she felt the tears stinging her eyes, not holding back the remorse any longer, “You should’ve stayed behind. I shouldn’t have made you go through this… but I’m glad you’re here too… is that wrong?”

Utter bewilderment struck the faces of everyone else in the room. “Teyla-” Sheppard began, reaching out for his friend. As if sensing his hand, Teyla only hunched her shoulders and buried her head further into McKay’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry! I- I just did what I knew was right!” She was sobbing now, her body trembling as muffled cries filled the silence of the room. “I don’t want to die…” She whispered, this time pulling herself back a little. She continued to cry, her red eyes looking up into McKay’s blue ones. “But I know I have to. We all do…We’re not who you think we are… we’re not them. We’re not your team.”

There was no response to that. What did she expect? She hadn’t explained anything. She just left them in the dark and now she wouldn’t be able to say anything. She felt her body shutting down, her mind getting blurred and she couldn’t hold on much longer. “You’ll understand… soon enough… you’ll understand…”

Her eyes slowly closed and she felt the darkness close around her. There was a soft, older voice in her ear. A reassuring voice from a very familiar woman. Thank-you, it said. Teyla smiled softly and her arms slipped from McKay’s shoulders.

::-:SGA:-::

“Teyla?!” McKay shook the girl slightly. He felt every muscle in her go limp and panic quickly set in. What the hell was she talking about? They all to die?! “Teyla?” his voice was higher, every little bit of his fear filling that one name. “Teyla please don’t do this!” he set the girl down on the floor, being careful of her head as it rolled in his hand. Placing two fingers on her neck, McKay begged and pleaded with whatever ran the universe to find a pulse.

But he didn’t. No pulse, no breathing, nothing. Teyla was dead.

McKay felt his hand shaky, his heart twisted, and the knot of worry exploded into full on nausea. Teyla was dead. His fingers traced the outline of her cheek, his eyes not really seeing the body before him. For that was all it was now wasn’t it… a body. An empty corpse. Teyla was dead. Pulling his hand away in disgust, McKay swallowed hard and closed his eyes.

No, no, no, the man shook his head in disbelief, no, No, NO! We’ve made it this far damn it! We’ve made it this far! “Everything was expose to be okay. We came, you’d do what you needed to, we’d go home,” McKay’s voice was just as shaky as his body. He forced his open again and looked down on the still girl. So still, so pale, so… McKay swallowed again, but this time did not look away.

“She’s not… I mean she didn’t…Teyla?” Sheppard was now on all fours across from McKay. One of the boy’s arms was outstretched towards Teyla’s body, as if he didn’t know what to do or what had happened. His eyes kept darting from McKay to Teyla and then back again. They were brimming with tears, tears that no one would be able to stop if the boy realized his friend was gone. “Shouldn’t we… We should-”

McKay didn’t say anything, as he suddenly pulled Sheppard close to him and stood up, minding not to come anywhere close to Teyla’s body. That’s when Sheppard knew, knew what McKay knew. There was nothing anyone could do to save her. She was gone, lost, beyond their reach. Sheppard didn’t hold back as McKay hugged the boy to his chest, slowly walking towards Ronon, who had curled in on himself.

“I know, I know,” McKay hushed, not really sure why. It just felt like the right thing to do at the moment, his large hand stroking Sheppard’s head. The boy was full on crying now, his head buried into the man’s neck and his small arms never wanting to let go of the scientist.

McKay sighed, holding back his own grief for the moment. After all, he still had to take care of the other two. At least, he could save them.

Slowly, McKay kneeled down and lowered Sheppard onto the floor next to Ronon. The small Satedan sat with his knees to his chest and his arms wrapped around them. The boy’s face was lost as he rested it in his arms, his mane like hair bristling out. Gently prying Sheppard’s arms from around his neck, McKay placed a supporting hand on Ronon’s shoulder. Ronon flinched away, and McKay pulled back, a little hurt at the movement.

Sighing, McKay turned back to Sheppard and stroked the boy’s face, wiping away some of the tears. The boy’s cries were heart wrenching and it was becoming increasingly difficult for McKay to hold back his own. “Hey, I need you to calm down okay? I need to get us out of here, but first I have to figure how to turn you two back to yourselves. That’s what Teyla wanted right?” At the mention of the girl’s name, Sheppard managed to choke down his sobs, but he still shivered as it all threatened to bubble up again.

Sniffling, Sheppard nodded silently, understanding that McKay still had work to do and when he worked he needed to concentrate. Not wanting to be a burden to his friend any longer, Sheppard swallowed another wave of pain and sat closer to Ronon. Nodding to show he understood.

“That’s a boy,” McKay said, cuffing Sheppard’s check in his hand. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I need you to stay here and keep still. Let me know when you start to feel sick okay?” Sheppard managed another nod. “Good… good,” McKay’s energy was starting to fade. He knew the children were tired and it seemed as if the past five days were finally catching up to him.

Rubbing his face with one hand, McKay gave the two boys a once look over before he stood and headed back over to Teyla. He could only stare sadly at her body for a few quiet moments. He was too late to save her… but he wasn’t too late to save the others. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, taking off his coat and crouching down beside the girl.

Gently wrapping Teyla’s body with his coat, McKay picked her up and moved her to one of the empty corners, far, far away from him and the boys.

As McKay let Teyla’s head slip from his hand, a raspy voice drifted over to him. “We’re next aren’t we?” McKay turned around, still crouching, and grimaced as he caught Ronon’s dark eyes. The boy looked more worn than them and the whites of his eyes were red from him rubbing them to stop the tears.

When McKay didn’t say anything, Ronon took that as a confirmation and placed his head back into his arms. Shaking his head back and forth, Ronon seemed on the breaking point. McKay wasn’t use to seeing this side of his friend. Ronon was usually the strongest when faced with death. He caught it full on and thrust it back at the forces of the world. But this… Ronon seemed defeated.

“I started to feel sick after we landed,” Ronon confessed, “I didn’t tell anyone ‘cuz I didn’t want to think about it.” McKay finally understood what had gotten Ronon so talkative. “I don’t want to die!” Ronon pulled away from his hands fully, his eyes holding McKay where he was. There was only fear in those eyes, pure and unadulturated fear. “I don’t wanna be just a body! I want to live! I-I-” Ronon’s breath caught in his throat and the tears finally came.

McKay almost felt embarrassed at seeing the boy like this. It was just wrong. This wasn’t Ronon, not the Ronon he knew. No, this was Ronon with the mind of a seven year old child. Scared, confused, terrified of what was happening.

“I’m not going to let you die,” McKay said firmly. Holding Ronon’s gaze. He tried to embark confidence and courage. It seemed to work a little, as Ronon didn’t look away. “I’m going to fix this, and I’m going to get you home.” McKay was now standing and moving towards the console where his computer blipped with information. “I should’ve done that the minute this whole damn thing started.” McKay’s words were filled with anger and determination.

The two boys just watched him from their spots on the floor. Neither sure what to do or what to say. Everyone was a bit knocked around, no one really making heads or tails of what was going. But one thing was for sure, McKay would find out. The only question was, would he find out before it was too late?

::-:TBC:-::