Shep Whump Day 9 - Air
He’s exhausted from the heat and all the running around fighting the Wraith, not to mention the 15 hour flight in the Puddle- jumper before that. There’s also the soul weariness from knowing four of them came out but only two will return. He sits in the pilot seat, grimacing as his cracked ribs protest at the movement, His arm throbs and his whole body aches from the fight and slamming into the force field the wraith put round Jumper One. McKay is quiet in the back, feeling guilty over Gaul’s death. He rubs a hand over his face, hearing it rasp over his stubble. There’s sand in his boots, vest, probably in the bandage and he can feel it gritty in his hair too.
“Are you sure you want to fly back, Major Sheppard?” Teyla asks next to him. He nods wearily.
“I need to get going, I can swap out with McKay later- give him something to concentrate instead of Gaul...”
Hours into the flight his discomfort grows worse and it’s sapping his energy. He slumps a little over the controls, alarming Teyla.
“Sheppard, what’s wrong? McKay wake up, we need your help.”
“What?”
“M’fine, just…need a little air…” he says gasping. Stumbling to the back bench seat, Teyla passes him a Powerbar and some water. But eating makes him queasy and the slick sweat breaking out over his body makes him pant for air he doesn’t seem to have.
“Here sip a little water...”
But that makes him cough badly and almost pass out, when he looks into the tissue there’s blood. He’s still staring at it in horror, as urgent voices radio Atlantis, and he’s slipping onto his back, trying to pull in air he desperately needs. The voices and hum of the Jumper fade away.
300 words
.
“Are you sure you want to fly back, Major Sheppard?” Teyla asks next to him. He nods wearily.
“I need to get going, I can swap out with McKay later- give him something to concentrate instead of Gaul...”
Hours into the flight his discomfort grows worse and it’s sapping his energy. He slumps a little over the controls, alarming Teyla.
“Sheppard, what’s wrong? McKay wake up, we need your help.”
“What?”
“M’fine, just…need a little air…” he says gasping. Stumbling to the back bench seat, Teyla passes him a Powerbar and some water. But eating makes him queasy and the slick sweat breaking out over his body makes him pant for air he doesn’t seem to have.
“Here sip a little water...”
But that makes him cough badly and almost pass out, when he looks into the tissue there’s blood. He’s still staring at it in horror, as urgent voices radio Atlantis, and he’s slipping onto his back, trying to pull in air he desperately needs. The voices and hum of the Jumper fade away.
300 words
.