Team, Week 2: Unexpected Downtime
Title: Unexpected Downtime
Author: jennytork
Genre: Gen, team
Prompt Team, Be Prepared
Word Count: 2400
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Trapped in a cave, the team spends a quiet night of conversation
--Sometimes, a little unexpected downtime can be the best time of all. -- author's husband, the comment that sparked this story....
The rain had taken them by surprise. More than halfway back to the Gate after a reconnaissance mission, the skies had gone from sunny and bright to clouding over. And then, suddenly, the skies had let go.
The team bolted for a cave up on top of the hill off the path. "Hope it's bigger than it looks," Rodney groused.
The cave was, indeed, bigger than it looked, and the team set about the process of settling in to wait out the rain. "We'll notify Atlantis when they dial in to check up on us after we've missed a check-in," John said.
"That's right," Rodney said, nodding. "We can't reach the DHD in this weather."
"Exactly," John said, then watched in visible fascination. Rodney followed his gaze to see Ronon finishing making a pile of twigs and dried leaves.
Then they watched Ronon calmly stand up and set the pile ablaze with one single shot from his blaster.
"Comes in handy," John quipped, making Rodney chuckle.
They settled in around the fire, letting its warmth chase away the chill of the rain. John and Teyla had, between them, brought a change of clothing for everyone. John even had underthings for Rodney, who gasped when they were brought out of the pack.
"Where did you get those?" he squeaked.
"Remember the Scout motto?" John chuckled as he handed Rodney the boxers and turned his back. "Be Prepared?"
"Hmph," Rodney sighed. "Unfortunately, I was never a Scout. Okay, I'm decent."
John turned back to find Rodney buttoning his shirt. "You were never a Boy Scout?"
"They're called Scouts Canada up there," Rodney corrected. "Both sexes. And no - I never got the chance."
"Better things to do?" Ronon asked.
Rodney suddenly couldn't meet his eyes. "Not allowed," he sighed. "Jeannie was permitted to be a Girl Guide --- my mother adored their cookies --- but I wasn't allowed." He busied himself with laying out four sets of clothing to dry, and his next words were barely audible. "Sometimes I wonder if I didn't miss out on something fundamental in my education."
Silence greeted that soft remark. All three of them realised what that admission had cost Rodney. For someone who prized education so highly to admit that he thought he had large gaps in his own was a tremendous thing.
And for long moments, no one knew quite what to say.
Ronon broke the awkward silence. "We'll find out what you don't know --- and we'll fix it."
Teyla smiled. "Agreed. You have learned much. You will learn and fill these gaps in your knowledge."
Rodney stared at them. "You sound so matter of fact about that. You're assuming I CAN learn."
"Of course you can, buddy," John grinned. "You're part of this team. And this isn't just to improve you --- this can help the team as well."
Rodney leaned against the cave wall and hummed, closing his eyes. Then they opened. "In all this preparedness, do any of you have anything to eat?"
The others laughed, and John handed Rodney a canteen while Teyla handed him a MRE. As they ate --- sharing meals from John and Teyla's packs --- they began to tease and bicker and plan.
Radios suddenly flared to life, visibly startling Teyla and John and making Rodney jump so badly that Ronon had to rescue his MRE from falling into the fire.
AR-1, this is Atlantis, do you read? AR-1, this is Atlantis --- do you read?
John swallowed his mouthful, then touched his radio. "Atlantis, this is AR-1. We are safe, but cannot reach the Gate or the DHD at this time."
Good to hear your voice, John. The team shared smiles --- Richard Woolsey had come so far in the hellish year before the Great Mutiny, and now he was a dear friend. Why can't you reach them?
Rodney snarked, "Because we're trapped in a cave - pinned down by sheets of rain!"
But you're all safe. It was more statement than question.
"We are damp," Teyla answered, "but safe and uninjured."
All right -- I'll send someone from meteorology through to see if we need to come pick you up or if it would be best to batten down. And John? This is the last time I let you talk me into letting you go on a mission without a Jumper.
Rodney smirked at John as John rolled his eyes, but answered, "Sounds good to me."
"Oh!" Rodney called. "And tell Carson the villagers are going to be just fine!"
"That's right!" John literally smacked himself in the forehead for forgetting the mission objective. You know better, Sheppard, he chided himself. Aloud, he said, "It's not the Hoffan Virus. It's --- what did you say?"
"Morotavian Fever," Ronon replied. "Childhood illness. Pretty common."
Common to the Pegasus Galaxy, Richard pointed out.
Teyla's smile shone in her voice. "You have nothing to fear, Richard. Once it is had, immunity results. And it is neither contagious to nor carried by those who have immunity."
Yes, but John and Rodney---
"Contracted the tongue-twister of a disease shortly after Ronon came," Rodney interrupted. "And thus - immune!"
"Makes you uncomfortable as hell for about 72 hours, then you're fine," John said.
Very well. Since you're clearly all right, I'll shut down and send a meteorological team through.
"Make sure they have rain gear!" Rodney said.
"Yeah, he's not exaggerating about it coming down in sheets," Ronon put in.
Duly noted. Atlantis out.
Two hours later, word came down. The storm was lessening, but had awhile to do. It would probably blow itself out by morning. The meteorological team was leaving it entirely up to AR-1 whether or not they wanted to leave.
The team looked at each other. "Our sleeping bags are dry," John pointed out.
"The ground is hard," Rodney put in.
"I'm willing to do the back thing," Ronon countered. Sometimes when ground-sleeping was unavoidable, he'd let Rodney lean against his back. Supported that way, Rodney's back wouldn't hurt as bad in the morning.
"Food and water?" Rodney asked.
"We have MREs and powerbars," Teyla said. "And I have some entara jerky and tassa berries."
Rodney licked his lips - he adored tassa berries. "And water?"
"Three canteens full," John said. "One half-full. Plenty for drinking."
"And we're close enough we can wash up on Atlantis," Rodney nodded. "In that case, I'll do what the three of you decide."
He wasn't surprised at all when John informed the meteorological team that they would be camping out. He busied himself laying out their sleeping bags and digging a small pit at the rear of the cave for business to be done.
"Never a Scout?" John asked with a fond smile. "You're doing nearly everything right."
"I learned from watching the three of you," Rodney grinned. "And also, hello, genius here? Of COURSE it's done right!"
John laughed, and Teyla and Ronon shared fond smiles.
"Oh, ha, ha, every funny," Rodney said, rolling his eyes - but the grin was fighting to get out.
Darkness started to spread outside, and conversation turned from bantering to serious. They talked about how their dreams had changed since coming to Atlantis.
All four were surprised to realise they all wanted to remain together as a team no matter what. They had become a true family.
Rodney's "Huh!" seemed to sum that up perfectly, then all four laughed.
John made his way to the cave mouth. "Rain's starting to ease up. Looks like meteorology was right and we'll be out of here in the morning."
"That's good news," Ronon said. "It feels late."
"It IS late," Rodney said after a check of his watch.
"John and I shall take first watch," Teyla said.
"Don't forget to wake me up this time," Rodney said, glaring at them. "I don't like it when you do that."
"You don't like keeping watch, either," Ronon pointed out.
"And that is SO beside the point," Rodney said as they both stood and began to prepare for bed.
"Then what IS the point?" Ronon asked.
Rodney glared at him. "The point is that if I'm part of this team, I need to do my fair share!"
"Since when?" Ronon asked, and grinned when Rodney shot him a second glare.
"He's winding you up, Rodney," John chuckled.
"And doing a beautiful job of it," Teyla teased.
"I'm surrounded by comedians today," Rodney grumped as he slid into his sleeping bag.
"You take yourself too seriously, McKay," Ronon said as he got into his sleeping bag.
"I do? Huh." Rodney rolled onto his side and, a moment later, felt Ronon's solid back against his own. The support was gentle, but unyielding. Rodney's breath soon smoothed to sleep.
A few moments later, so did Ronon's.
Only then did Teyla turn to John. "What is going on behind your eyes?"
"Do you remember when we were still trapped on Earth and I told you I was going to get Torren the complete set of Boy Scout manuals in case the break was permanent?"
She arched a brow at him. "Do you remember my telling you that was not necessary?"
"Yeah, well, I wanted to do it. You know, give my namesake a little bit of Earth childhood experiences." He shrugged. "So I did."
"And you are telling me this because you are thinking of our conversation about Scouts with Rodney?"
"And because I'd like to close some of those gaps in his education. Teach him and then he can help us teach Torren."
Teyla smiled warmly at him. "I think that would be wonderful. I'd like to help."
"You and Ronon both. Make this a true team effort."
She nodded. "Then we all shall be ready for anything that comes."
"Be Prepared, as we said in Scouts," John grinned. "Same sentiment, different words."
Teyla and John were awakened by Rodney shaking them. "Ronon's out tracking the ten-foot-tall bird that poked its head in an hour ago. He says it'll make a good breakfast before we head back."
John frowned. "A ten foot tall what?"
"I believe Rodney is exaggerating again," Teyla said as she sat up.
"Well, maybe a little," Rodney admitted. "But not by much!"
Teyla chuckled, shaking her head, while Rodney ducked the swipe John aimed at his head with the ease of long practice. Both of them were laughing as well.
Their laughter greeted Ronon as he arrived, dead bird in tow. When he understood what the laughter was about, he smiled. "He's right - he wasn't exaggerating by much. I'd say it's six or seven feet."
John whistled softly as he went outside the cave and helped Ronon clean and skin the dead bird. "I can see why Rodney thought it was ten feet tall!"
Two hours later, the team was finishing their breakfast of roast bird, entara jerky and tassa berries, when Ronon and Teyla went on alert.
"What?" Rodney asked softly, already shifting position so he could stand quickly.
"Someone approaches," Teyla said just as softly. She and Ronon climbed to their feet and gestured for the others to stay alert as they crept to the edge of their shelter.
John looked at Rodney, noting with an inward smile that he was rising to his feet slowly, silently - his hand resting on his holstered gun as he did so. Good man, he thought as he, too, rose readily to his feet.
Teyla reappeared in the mouth of the cave, all smiles. "It is a party from the village," she reported.
Instantly relaxing, John and Rodney followed her.
The chief's son led the contingent. He smiled warmly at them. "We did not hear the Ring at the correct time - then we heard it engage twice several hours later - and then once some hours after that! We feared the worst!"
"We got caught by the rain," Rodney began.
"-and decided to wait it out in the cave," John pointed. "The Ring's activating was our people seeing if we were all right."
The chief's son nodded. "Very wise. It is never wise to travel when the rains are that hard. The streams can become rivers in a moment's time." He squinted toward the cave. "And you chose highest ground. Very good." He turned to a woman and whispered in her ear. She nodded and ran back toward the village.
The chief's son then smiled at the team again. "Please, remain until she returns. Such loyalty to one another and to a world you barely know deserves recognition."
Puzzled, the team frowned at each other.
Richard Woolsey leaned on the railing overlooking the control room and watched the activity buzzing down on the floor.
Since mutinying against the IOA and returning Atlantis to the Pegasus Galaxy, life had been busier than ever. More challenging than ever.
Richard couldn't really fault AR-1 for taking an impromptu night camping out when the opportunity presented itself.
Sargent Campbell - Chuck, Richard mentally corrected himself --- announced an incoming wormhole. And, as always, Richard found himself holding his breath.
"Receiving Doctor McKay's IDC," Chuck announced. Richard nodded, and Chuck lowered the shield.
"AR-1," Richard announced, "You are clear to return."
And moments later, they did. Ronon and Rodney walked through - turned slightly to the side - pulling ropes behind them.
Richard straightened. "What the...?"
As the pair walked down the steps, the loaded pallet came into view. Behind it were John and Teyla, pushing it with all their might.
The wormhole winked out, and Richard leaned over the railing again. "John, I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting story."
John smiled up at him. "No, sir. Just a group impressed by your checking up on us last night."
Rodney nodded. "Yeah, they said that showed real loyalty, so they gave us extra supplies and provisions."
"And," John finished, "we've brought something the biologists might like." He gestured at the covered pallet. "The carcasses of two ten foot tall birds."
Rodney shot a startled look at him, then began to smile. The other two added theirs and they moved toward the Infirmary for their standard post-mission checkup.
As their forms vanished out the door, Richard finally found his voice.
"Wait - what --- TEN FEET?"
END
Author: jennytork
Genre: Gen, team
Prompt Team, Be Prepared
Word Count: 2400
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Trapped in a cave, the team spends a quiet night of conversation
--Sometimes, a little unexpected downtime can be the best time of all. -- author's husband, the comment that sparked this story....
The rain had taken them by surprise. More than halfway back to the Gate after a reconnaissance mission, the skies had gone from sunny and bright to clouding over. And then, suddenly, the skies had let go.
The team bolted for a cave up on top of the hill off the path. "Hope it's bigger than it looks," Rodney groused.
The cave was, indeed, bigger than it looked, and the team set about the process of settling in to wait out the rain. "We'll notify Atlantis when they dial in to check up on us after we've missed a check-in," John said.
"That's right," Rodney said, nodding. "We can't reach the DHD in this weather."
"Exactly," John said, then watched in visible fascination. Rodney followed his gaze to see Ronon finishing making a pile of twigs and dried leaves.
Then they watched Ronon calmly stand up and set the pile ablaze with one single shot from his blaster.
"Comes in handy," John quipped, making Rodney chuckle.
They settled in around the fire, letting its warmth chase away the chill of the rain. John and Teyla had, between them, brought a change of clothing for everyone. John even had underthings for Rodney, who gasped when they were brought out of the pack.
"Where did you get those?" he squeaked.
"Remember the Scout motto?" John chuckled as he handed Rodney the boxers and turned his back. "Be Prepared?"
"Hmph," Rodney sighed. "Unfortunately, I was never a Scout. Okay, I'm decent."
John turned back to find Rodney buttoning his shirt. "You were never a Boy Scout?"
"They're called Scouts Canada up there," Rodney corrected. "Both sexes. And no - I never got the chance."
"Better things to do?" Ronon asked.
Rodney suddenly couldn't meet his eyes. "Not allowed," he sighed. "Jeannie was permitted to be a Girl Guide --- my mother adored their cookies --- but I wasn't allowed." He busied himself with laying out four sets of clothing to dry, and his next words were barely audible. "Sometimes I wonder if I didn't miss out on something fundamental in my education."
Silence greeted that soft remark. All three of them realised what that admission had cost Rodney. For someone who prized education so highly to admit that he thought he had large gaps in his own was a tremendous thing.
And for long moments, no one knew quite what to say.
Ronon broke the awkward silence. "We'll find out what you don't know --- and we'll fix it."
Teyla smiled. "Agreed. You have learned much. You will learn and fill these gaps in your knowledge."
Rodney stared at them. "You sound so matter of fact about that. You're assuming I CAN learn."
"Of course you can, buddy," John grinned. "You're part of this team. And this isn't just to improve you --- this can help the team as well."
Rodney leaned against the cave wall and hummed, closing his eyes. Then they opened. "In all this preparedness, do any of you have anything to eat?"
The others laughed, and John handed Rodney a canteen while Teyla handed him a MRE. As they ate --- sharing meals from John and Teyla's packs --- they began to tease and bicker and plan.
Radios suddenly flared to life, visibly startling Teyla and John and making Rodney jump so badly that Ronon had to rescue his MRE from falling into the fire.
AR-1, this is Atlantis, do you read? AR-1, this is Atlantis --- do you read?
John swallowed his mouthful, then touched his radio. "Atlantis, this is AR-1. We are safe, but cannot reach the Gate or the DHD at this time."
Good to hear your voice, John. The team shared smiles --- Richard Woolsey had come so far in the hellish year before the Great Mutiny, and now he was a dear friend. Why can't you reach them?
Rodney snarked, "Because we're trapped in a cave - pinned down by sheets of rain!"
But you're all safe. It was more statement than question.
"We are damp," Teyla answered, "but safe and uninjured."
All right -- I'll send someone from meteorology through to see if we need to come pick you up or if it would be best to batten down. And John? This is the last time I let you talk me into letting you go on a mission without a Jumper.
Rodney smirked at John as John rolled his eyes, but answered, "Sounds good to me."
"Oh!" Rodney called. "And tell Carson the villagers are going to be just fine!"
"That's right!" John literally smacked himself in the forehead for forgetting the mission objective. You know better, Sheppard, he chided himself. Aloud, he said, "It's not the Hoffan Virus. It's --- what did you say?"
"Morotavian Fever," Ronon replied. "Childhood illness. Pretty common."
Common to the Pegasus Galaxy, Richard pointed out.
Teyla's smile shone in her voice. "You have nothing to fear, Richard. Once it is had, immunity results. And it is neither contagious to nor carried by those who have immunity."
Yes, but John and Rodney---
"Contracted the tongue-twister of a disease shortly after Ronon came," Rodney interrupted. "And thus - immune!"
"Makes you uncomfortable as hell for about 72 hours, then you're fine," John said.
Very well. Since you're clearly all right, I'll shut down and send a meteorological team through.
"Make sure they have rain gear!" Rodney said.
"Yeah, he's not exaggerating about it coming down in sheets," Ronon put in.
Duly noted. Atlantis out.
Two hours later, word came down. The storm was lessening, but had awhile to do. It would probably blow itself out by morning. The meteorological team was leaving it entirely up to AR-1 whether or not they wanted to leave.
The team looked at each other. "Our sleeping bags are dry," John pointed out.
"The ground is hard," Rodney put in.
"I'm willing to do the back thing," Ronon countered. Sometimes when ground-sleeping was unavoidable, he'd let Rodney lean against his back. Supported that way, Rodney's back wouldn't hurt as bad in the morning.
"Food and water?" Rodney asked.
"We have MREs and powerbars," Teyla said. "And I have some entara jerky and tassa berries."
Rodney licked his lips - he adored tassa berries. "And water?"
"Three canteens full," John said. "One half-full. Plenty for drinking."
"And we're close enough we can wash up on Atlantis," Rodney nodded. "In that case, I'll do what the three of you decide."
He wasn't surprised at all when John informed the meteorological team that they would be camping out. He busied himself laying out their sleeping bags and digging a small pit at the rear of the cave for business to be done.
"Never a Scout?" John asked with a fond smile. "You're doing nearly everything right."
"I learned from watching the three of you," Rodney grinned. "And also, hello, genius here? Of COURSE it's done right!"
John laughed, and Teyla and Ronon shared fond smiles.
"Oh, ha, ha, every funny," Rodney said, rolling his eyes - but the grin was fighting to get out.
Darkness started to spread outside, and conversation turned from bantering to serious. They talked about how their dreams had changed since coming to Atlantis.
All four were surprised to realise they all wanted to remain together as a team no matter what. They had become a true family.
Rodney's "Huh!" seemed to sum that up perfectly, then all four laughed.
John made his way to the cave mouth. "Rain's starting to ease up. Looks like meteorology was right and we'll be out of here in the morning."
"That's good news," Ronon said. "It feels late."
"It IS late," Rodney said after a check of his watch.
"John and I shall take first watch," Teyla said.
"Don't forget to wake me up this time," Rodney said, glaring at them. "I don't like it when you do that."
"You don't like keeping watch, either," Ronon pointed out.
"And that is SO beside the point," Rodney said as they both stood and began to prepare for bed.
"Then what IS the point?" Ronon asked.
Rodney glared at him. "The point is that if I'm part of this team, I need to do my fair share!"
"Since when?" Ronon asked, and grinned when Rodney shot him a second glare.
"He's winding you up, Rodney," John chuckled.
"And doing a beautiful job of it," Teyla teased.
"I'm surrounded by comedians today," Rodney grumped as he slid into his sleeping bag.
"You take yourself too seriously, McKay," Ronon said as he got into his sleeping bag.
"I do? Huh." Rodney rolled onto his side and, a moment later, felt Ronon's solid back against his own. The support was gentle, but unyielding. Rodney's breath soon smoothed to sleep.
A few moments later, so did Ronon's.
Only then did Teyla turn to John. "What is going on behind your eyes?"
"Do you remember when we were still trapped on Earth and I told you I was going to get Torren the complete set of Boy Scout manuals in case the break was permanent?"
She arched a brow at him. "Do you remember my telling you that was not necessary?"
"Yeah, well, I wanted to do it. You know, give my namesake a little bit of Earth childhood experiences." He shrugged. "So I did."
"And you are telling me this because you are thinking of our conversation about Scouts with Rodney?"
"And because I'd like to close some of those gaps in his education. Teach him and then he can help us teach Torren."
Teyla smiled warmly at him. "I think that would be wonderful. I'd like to help."
"You and Ronon both. Make this a true team effort."
She nodded. "Then we all shall be ready for anything that comes."
"Be Prepared, as we said in Scouts," John grinned. "Same sentiment, different words."
Teyla and John were awakened by Rodney shaking them. "Ronon's out tracking the ten-foot-tall bird that poked its head in an hour ago. He says it'll make a good breakfast before we head back."
John frowned. "A ten foot tall what?"
"I believe Rodney is exaggerating again," Teyla said as she sat up.
"Well, maybe a little," Rodney admitted. "But not by much!"
Teyla chuckled, shaking her head, while Rodney ducked the swipe John aimed at his head with the ease of long practice. Both of them were laughing as well.
Their laughter greeted Ronon as he arrived, dead bird in tow. When he understood what the laughter was about, he smiled. "He's right - he wasn't exaggerating by much. I'd say it's six or seven feet."
John whistled softly as he went outside the cave and helped Ronon clean and skin the dead bird. "I can see why Rodney thought it was ten feet tall!"
Two hours later, the team was finishing their breakfast of roast bird, entara jerky and tassa berries, when Ronon and Teyla went on alert.
"What?" Rodney asked softly, already shifting position so he could stand quickly.
"Someone approaches," Teyla said just as softly. She and Ronon climbed to their feet and gestured for the others to stay alert as they crept to the edge of their shelter.
John looked at Rodney, noting with an inward smile that he was rising to his feet slowly, silently - his hand resting on his holstered gun as he did so. Good man, he thought as he, too, rose readily to his feet.
Teyla reappeared in the mouth of the cave, all smiles. "It is a party from the village," she reported.
Instantly relaxing, John and Rodney followed her.
The chief's son led the contingent. He smiled warmly at them. "We did not hear the Ring at the correct time - then we heard it engage twice several hours later - and then once some hours after that! We feared the worst!"
"We got caught by the rain," Rodney began.
"-and decided to wait it out in the cave," John pointed. "The Ring's activating was our people seeing if we were all right."
The chief's son nodded. "Very wise. It is never wise to travel when the rains are that hard. The streams can become rivers in a moment's time." He squinted toward the cave. "And you chose highest ground. Very good." He turned to a woman and whispered in her ear. She nodded and ran back toward the village.
The chief's son then smiled at the team again. "Please, remain until she returns. Such loyalty to one another and to a world you barely know deserves recognition."
Puzzled, the team frowned at each other.
Richard Woolsey leaned on the railing overlooking the control room and watched the activity buzzing down on the floor.
Since mutinying against the IOA and returning Atlantis to the Pegasus Galaxy, life had been busier than ever. More challenging than ever.
Richard couldn't really fault AR-1 for taking an impromptu night camping out when the opportunity presented itself.
Sargent Campbell - Chuck, Richard mentally corrected himself --- announced an incoming wormhole. And, as always, Richard found himself holding his breath.
"Receiving Doctor McKay's IDC," Chuck announced. Richard nodded, and Chuck lowered the shield.
"AR-1," Richard announced, "You are clear to return."
And moments later, they did. Ronon and Rodney walked through - turned slightly to the side - pulling ropes behind them.
Richard straightened. "What the...?"
As the pair walked down the steps, the loaded pallet came into view. Behind it were John and Teyla, pushing it with all their might.
The wormhole winked out, and Richard leaned over the railing again. "John, I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting story."
John smiled up at him. "No, sir. Just a group impressed by your checking up on us last night."
Rodney nodded. "Yeah, they said that showed real loyalty, so they gave us extra supplies and provisions."
"And," John finished, "we've brought something the biologists might like." He gestured at the covered pallet. "The carcasses of two ten foot tall birds."
Rodney shot a startled look at him, then began to smile. The other two added theirs and they moved toward the Infirmary for their standard post-mission checkup.
As their forms vanished out the door, Richard finally found his voice.
"Wait - what --- TEN FEET?"
END