WHY McKAY PREFERS HIS LAB BY ga_unicorn [LFWS#3 ROUND 7]
Title: Why McKay Prefers his Lab
Author: ga_unicorn
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Stargate belongs to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., no infringements of any rights is intended.
Spoilers: None
Prompt for the Round: The story must take place at night and must have the whole team. It must be H/C, angst, or both.
WHY McKAY PREFERS HIS LAB by ga_unicorn
“I hate hot, sandy planets,” McKay muttered, fumbling through his pack for a flashlight and cursing as sand poured in. It would take forever to get it all out of the bag.
A breathless chuckle answered his complaint. “And jungle planets, and hilly ones, and… ahh… ones with too much grass or flowers or…. AHH!”
“John, you must be still,” Teyla scolded, exchanging a worried glance with McKay. “You need to keep your leg still or the tourniquet will not work properly.” She was tightening the bandage as she spoke, working to stop the flow of blood that covered her hands and stained the ground. Unfortunately the wound was ragged and ran the length of Sheppard’s thigh, making it difficult to manage.
“S-sorry, sorry,” Sheppard gasped, his hands clenching in the sand as his head arched back.
McKay tried not to look at the leg, once had been enough: ripped skin and muscle with a disturbing glimpse of bone. He clicked the flashlight on and then plunged the base into the sand, aiming it so that it illuminated Teyla’s work area. The creature that had popped out of the sand and mangled the leg lay several yards away where Ronon had dragged it. He really tried not to look at that.
It had been twilight when Ronon left on the ten mile run to the stargate. The sun was now just a pale pink glimmer on the horizon.
He reached up to his radio mic. “Ronon, come in.”
There was a brief pause before: “What, McKay?” Ronon snapped. He didn’t sound breathless, but his words had the odd syncopation of someone moving at a rapid pace.
“Are you there yet?” he asked, although he knew the answer would be negative. Ronon would have let them know he’d gotten in touch with Atlantis and a jumper was on the way. God, he hated having nothing to do, having to just sit and wait.
“Not yet.” There was a pause and then, “Another mile, maybe five minutes. How’s he doing?”
McKay looked over, could just make out Sheppard’s face at the edge of the flashlights glow. He had the far away look of someone who was concentrating on a distant object, but McKay could see his hands clenching and releasing in time with his breathing. Teyla was apparently satisfied with the bandage for now. She was kneeling at his head, stroking a cloth across his brow. Her voice was a quiet murmur, soothing in the dimming light.
“About the same. In pain. He’s still losing blood, but not as quickly as before.” McKay turned away and lowered his voice, forgetting that the others were on the same channel, “You need to hurry.”
“I am.”
“Hurry faster.”
All he got in return was a grunt and a click when Ronon turned off his mic. Reluctantly he returned to the softly lit area around Sheppard. Thumping down next to his friend he tried to work up an encouraging smile, and knew he failed miserably.
“Ronon’s almost to the ‘gate.”
Sheppard’s eyes flicked in his direction briefly and then returned to contemplating the deepening sky.
“That is good to hear, is it not, John?” Teyla asked, stroking the cloth across his brow again. She caught McKay’s eye and nodded toward Sheppard, obviously wanting him to help keep Sheppard engaged. He grimaced back. He was no good at this sort of thing. “Are you sure you will not take some water? You need to stay hydrated. You know Carson would tell you this.”
Sheppard shook his head slightly, almost convulsively. “No. S-sick.”
“You will be sick if you drink?” He must have nodded, but it was getting too dark to see in the light of the single flashlight. “Well, a jumper should be here soon, so you may wait for an IV.”
“Th-thanks.” Sheppard tried to grin but it changed to grimace.
McKay could feel Teyla’s staring at him now. Scowling, because he didn’t want to show how worried he was, he grabbed Sheppard’s backpack and opened it. The wind chose that moment to pick up and blow a shower of sand into his face and down the front of his t-shirt, clinging to the hairs on his arms. He vented his worry and frustration in a petulant snarl.
“Gah! Damned sandy planets.”
A shaky, but amused, snort was the only answer.
“Do you really blame me for preferring climate controlled environments to the whole Mother Nature experience? There is sand in places where sand should never get, Sheppard.”
There was no reply this time. He left off pawing through the pack in search of a second flashlight and glanced down. Sheppard had gone back to staring up at the stars, fisting handfuls of sand and then releasing it. Without thinking, McKay reached out and laid a hand over Sheppards. In a flash his was caught up and squeezed. He caught his breath at the pressure exerted on his bones and he looked toward Teyla for help. But she just nodded in approval. He grimaced back.
Click.
“I’m at the ‘gate.”
He looked down, but Sheppard gave no indication that he’d heard. Concerned he leaned close. In the background he could hear Teyla speaking to Atlantis.
“Hey. They’re coming. Don’t give up now.”
The grip on his hand tightened.
...end
Don’t forget to leave ONLY FEEDBACK in the comments and NOT VOTES. All comments will be screened until the voting closes.
Author: ga_unicorn
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Stargate belongs to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., no infringements of any rights is intended.
Spoilers: None
Prompt for the Round: The story must take place at night and must have the whole team. It must be H/C, angst, or both.
WHY McKAY PREFERS HIS LAB by ga_unicorn
“I hate hot, sandy planets,” McKay muttered, fumbling through his pack for a flashlight and cursing as sand poured in. It would take forever to get it all out of the bag.
A breathless chuckle answered his complaint. “And jungle planets, and hilly ones, and… ahh… ones with too much grass or flowers or…. AHH!”
“John, you must be still,” Teyla scolded, exchanging a worried glance with McKay. “You need to keep your leg still or the tourniquet will not work properly.” She was tightening the bandage as she spoke, working to stop the flow of blood that covered her hands and stained the ground. Unfortunately the wound was ragged and ran the length of Sheppard’s thigh, making it difficult to manage.
“S-sorry, sorry,” Sheppard gasped, his hands clenching in the sand as his head arched back.
McKay tried not to look at the leg, once had been enough: ripped skin and muscle with a disturbing glimpse of bone. He clicked the flashlight on and then plunged the base into the sand, aiming it so that it illuminated Teyla’s work area. The creature that had popped out of the sand and mangled the leg lay several yards away where Ronon had dragged it. He really tried not to look at that.
It had been twilight when Ronon left on the ten mile run to the stargate. The sun was now just a pale pink glimmer on the horizon.
He reached up to his radio mic. “Ronon, come in.”
There was a brief pause before: “What, McKay?” Ronon snapped. He didn’t sound breathless, but his words had the odd syncopation of someone moving at a rapid pace.
“Are you there yet?” he asked, although he knew the answer would be negative. Ronon would have let them know he’d gotten in touch with Atlantis and a jumper was on the way. God, he hated having nothing to do, having to just sit and wait.
“Not yet.” There was a pause and then, “Another mile, maybe five minutes. How’s he doing?”
McKay looked over, could just make out Sheppard’s face at the edge of the flashlights glow. He had the far away look of someone who was concentrating on a distant object, but McKay could see his hands clenching and releasing in time with his breathing. Teyla was apparently satisfied with the bandage for now. She was kneeling at his head, stroking a cloth across his brow. Her voice was a quiet murmur, soothing in the dimming light.
“About the same. In pain. He’s still losing blood, but not as quickly as before.” McKay turned away and lowered his voice, forgetting that the others were on the same channel, “You need to hurry.”
“I am.”
“Hurry faster.”
All he got in return was a grunt and a click when Ronon turned off his mic. Reluctantly he returned to the softly lit area around Sheppard. Thumping down next to his friend he tried to work up an encouraging smile, and knew he failed miserably.
“Ronon’s almost to the ‘gate.”
Sheppard’s eyes flicked in his direction briefly and then returned to contemplating the deepening sky.
“That is good to hear, is it not, John?” Teyla asked, stroking the cloth across his brow again. She caught McKay’s eye and nodded toward Sheppard, obviously wanting him to help keep Sheppard engaged. He grimaced back. He was no good at this sort of thing. “Are you sure you will not take some water? You need to stay hydrated. You know Carson would tell you this.”
Sheppard shook his head slightly, almost convulsively. “No. S-sick.”
“You will be sick if you drink?” He must have nodded, but it was getting too dark to see in the light of the single flashlight. “Well, a jumper should be here soon, so you may wait for an IV.”
“Th-thanks.” Sheppard tried to grin but it changed to grimace.
McKay could feel Teyla’s staring at him now. Scowling, because he didn’t want to show how worried he was, he grabbed Sheppard’s backpack and opened it. The wind chose that moment to pick up and blow a shower of sand into his face and down the front of his t-shirt, clinging to the hairs on his arms. He vented his worry and frustration in a petulant snarl.
“Gah! Damned sandy planets.”
A shaky, but amused, snort was the only answer.
“Do you really blame me for preferring climate controlled environments to the whole Mother Nature experience? There is sand in places where sand should never get, Sheppard.”
There was no reply this time. He left off pawing through the pack in search of a second flashlight and glanced down. Sheppard had gone back to staring up at the stars, fisting handfuls of sand and then releasing it. Without thinking, McKay reached out and laid a hand over Sheppards. In a flash his was caught up and squeezed. He caught his breath at the pressure exerted on his bones and he looked toward Teyla for help. But she just nodded in approval. He grimaced back.
Click.
“I’m at the ‘gate.”
He looked down, but Sheppard gave no indication that he’d heard. Concerned he leaned close. In the background he could hear Teyla speaking to Atlantis.
“Hey. They’re coming. Don’t give up now.”
The grip on his hand tightened.
...end
Don’t forget to leave ONLY FEEDBACK in the comments and NOT VOTES. All comments will be screened until the voting closes.