![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Title: Bloodlust
Author: Chaps1870
Pairing: McShep
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Vampire AU
Chapter Eight
Lying in bed alone for the second night in a row wasn’t Rodney’s idea of working things out. Frustrated, he rolled to his side, staring at the door and wishing John would come back, but knowing deep down he wouldn’t.
They’d argued and John told him no uncertain terms that it was his job to protect Rodney, not the other way around. Rodney was willing to concede that point but it was more than that. As much as John enjoyed Rodney making love to him, there seemed to be some deep rooted issues with letting him take over. Rodney’s big mistake had been to take the initiative, anxious to please John. And he did, or so he thought, until John became very quiet after. After several hours of tossing and turning, John finally left, saying he just needed to work things out. That was three days ago.
John couldn’t let Rodney have that kind of control. Or wouldn’t. Every attempt to talk with John had ended in stony silence or a shrug. John clearly wasn’t ready to talk. Even on the off chance that John returned, Rodney knew he’d never feed off John again, never share that level of intimacy again. They might share what they had before but it wasn’t the same as what they shared with the feeding, especially with the bonding. He’d risked it all with John and lost. Now he was left alone to pick up the pieces and he just couldn’t do it again. He couldn’t give up his own level of control over his emotions when John clearly wasn’t comfortable with his own.
Tossing on the bed, Rodney rolled away from the door and closed his burning eyes, turning his back on any hope he had. He laid there an indeterminable amount of time, sleep finally beating out the exhaustion.
He was roused from sleep some time later, someone shaking him awake. “Get up.”
Rodney brushed off the familiar voice, “Go away.”
“Damn it, McKay. Get up. Our ride’s here,” hissed John, still nudging him.
“What?” Rodney sat up groggily and ground the heel of his hand into his eyes. He stilled as he became aware of John’s hand still on his shoulder. As he turned towards it, John jerked it away. So…no tender reunion then. Rodney closed his eyes and ducked his head to hide the hurt.
“Jumper. I can feel it out there somewhere,” answered John, getting up and moving around the room.
Rodney looked at John for the first time and frowned, “You woke me up on a feeling?
“Just get dressed,” John ground out, throwing a shirt at Rodney. “We need to find some way to alert them, so they know we’re here.”
“And how do you propose to do that,” he asked, slipping on his shoes and pulling the shirt over his head. “This isn’t exactly technoworld,”
Standing at the door, John opened it enough to peer out. “You can wave a fire stick for all I care. I just want to get the hell out of here.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you do,” countered Rodney, not bothering to hide the bitterness.
John bristled, “We need to get out of here before the rescue party thinks we’re not here and leaves.” Rodney stepped beside him and John whispered, “Stay with me. No side trips.”
“Well, yes, because I was gonna sneak off to the mall and pick up that new pair of shoes I’ve been dying for. Maybe grab a corndog or two,” smirked Rodney.
“McKay!” hissed John, glowering at him.
Raising his chin and looking to the ceiling, Rodney snipped, “Yes, Colonel. I’ll stay right by your side,” He gestured towards the hallway impatiently. “Can we just go now?”
John only gave a cursory glance back as he exited the room. Rodney started to follow, hurried back and gathered the four glowballs that lit the small room and tucked them in his pocket. Receiving a death glare for his efforts, Rodney only replied, “Fire stick.”
Leaving the building was almost too easy and Rodney stayed right on Sheppard’s heels as they moved from one building to the next, slowly working their way out of the compound. If Rodney really concentrated, he could sense the low hum of the jumper. Obviously the Colonel’s stronger gene had picked up on it sooner. As they waited in the shadows for another guard to make the rounds, Rodney tried to calm his ragged breathing. Not that he was afraid. No. He was terrified. The only thing keeping him from going off the deep end of fear was Sheppard’s proximity. He was all but plastered to the man’s back as they peered around the corner.
He muttered under his breath, “This can’t end well.” Sheppard twisted his head and for a brief moment they stared eye to eye before Rodney felt the Colonel take a stuttering breath. The gods chose that moment to erupt the night into chaos with yelling and shouting and imminent death.
*********
Lorne was flying directly overhead, scanning the HUD for anything that would indicate that the rumors they’d heard were accurate. They’d revisited all their trading worlds in hopes of getting a gate address for the Telosians and up until a day ago they’d come up with nil. Ronon and Teyla had returned home almost a month ago…alone.
They’d begged, pleaded, even threatened the Ytallarans to reveal the Telosian homeworld but no help was forthcoming. The Ytallarans simple did not know where the Telosians came from. They would appear, trade, sometimes take the unsuspecting wanderer and leave again.
They’d found other worlds that knew of the Telosians but no one knew the gate address. This week, one of their regular trading partners, the Kolarians, came to them with news of the Telosians. They’d shown up to trade the little rocks that put off light and the Kolarians, bless them, insisted on knowing exactly who they were trading with and learned the Telosians gate address. They’d only secured the information because the Telosians were anxious to trade the fine weaves the Kolarians were known for.
Lorne, Ronon, Teyla and Carson had come through to Telosia ten hours ago and had searched three other camps before finding this one. This was by far the biggest camp, but they’d have to wait until morning before knowing if Sheppard and McKay were part of the slave population. Carson was riding shotgun, nervously watching the HUD when Teyla leaned over his seat and pointed to the screen. “There.”
Four sets of eyes focused on where she was pointing and they watched as two heat sources moved from building to building, working closer to the edge of the huge encampment. Ronon spoke up, “Could be anybody?”
Just then the camp began to light up and the two figures were running. Lorne grinned, “Or it could be them.”
Carson was smiling too. “Aye.”
Teyla chimed in, “Perhaps we should land.” Pointing at the edge of the camp in the direction the two men were heading. “There.”
“Already headed that way,” answered Lorne.
Ronon looked towards Teyla. “We’ll give ‘em cover.”
Lorne nodded. “I’m not going to uncloak until we absolutely have to. No point raising more alarms.” He turned to Carson and asked, “You want to take over and I’ll help with that?”
“I’d rather not,” replied Carson, his voice shaky. He really hated flying. “I should probably be available in case one of them is hurt.”
“Okay, but be ready in case they need help,” agreed Lorne, hating that he couldn’t join the others in retrieving the lost team members.
A pale Carson nodded in agreement, then followed Ronon and Teyla into the rear compartment. Ronon was pacing the rear hatch waiting for Lorne to land. Teyla wasn’t pacing, but she was just as anxious to reunite with her teammates.
Lorne shouted from the front, “One of them is down. They’re being flanked.” He muttered under his breath as he watched one of them help the other and they both kept moving towards the periphery of camp, “Come on, come on.” As they cleared the camp, Lorne turned to the Ronon. “I’m gonna land between them and the camp.”
He looked at Carson, “Let Teyla and Ronon provide cover. I don’t want you out there unless there are no other options. If one of them is hurt we can’t afford to lose you.”
Carson was pulling his pack out and setting up emergencies supplies as the jumper touched down. Teyla impatiently punched the hatch panel, leaving as the sounds of shouting and gunfire filtered into the jumper. Hastily readying supplies, Carson moved to the opening and peered out just in time to see Rodney running by with the Colonel draped over his shoulders. He was limping badly. Carson shouted over the noise, “Rodney, over here.”
Rodney ran a few more steps and fell to his knees. He didn’t acknowledge Carson as he bent over Sheppard’s prone form. Taking a quick look in Ronon and Teyla’s direction, Carson darted out of the jumper and approached his friends at a crouched run.
Dropping beside Rodney, he gave him a gentle push so he could get a better look at the Colonel. Rodney’s head came up and Carson gasped as he fell back on his ass in shock. It took all his self control not to back away in alarm. He rasped out loud at the sight before him, “Bloody hell.”
Snarling and hissing, Rodney’s mouth dripped blood, covering his chin. His eyes were a feral, deep and glowing blue. His pointed canines, glistening blood, shone bright in the pale light of the jumper.
Recovering quickly, Carson carefully eased closer to the pair as Rodney bent over the Colonel again. Each time he tried to move, Rodney lifted his head and growled. The tension and fear were thick and Carson wasn’t sure what to do. He wanted to help, but Rodney wasn’t having any of it, each time returning his mouth to Sheppard’s neck. Carson’s heart raced as he tried to process it all when suddenly a single shot of Ronon’s stunner dropped Rodney over the Colonel’s still body.
Wide-eyed, Carson looked up at the Satedan, his gun still aimed on the pair. “Why did ya do that?”
“Ain’t got time. Natives are restless.” He nodded over his shoulder where Teyla was holding off the guards. “Gotta go.” Ronon turned his head enough to call Lorne out, his eyes darting between Teyla and Rodney.
When Lorne appeared, Ronon issued commands. “Help Beckett. I’m with Teyla.”
Lorne nodded and rushed to help Carson get the two men into the jumper while Ronon returned to aid Teyla. The guards seemed to realize they were outgunned and were staying at the edge of the encampment, afraid to venture too close to the superior firepower. Both Ronon and Teyla edged closer to the jumper, their guns trained on the gathering crowd. Teyla dared a glance over her shoulder where Carson and Lorne were dragging Sheppard into the jumper. “Carson?”
Carson was red faced and panting from the exertion of moving the two men. He managed to answer breathlessly, “They’re alive.”
Teyla followed them and Ronon stood guard as she pressed the hatch closed. He stepped in at the last possible moment, his eyes never leaving the native population. As soon as the hatch sealed shut they all visibly relaxed. Lorne was already in the pilot’s seat. “We’re outta here.”
Dropping beside Carson to aid in medical treatment, Teyla asked gently, “What can I do?”
“I cannot find but a small wound on the Colonel. Rodney has a gunshot wound in his thigh and…ah…” Carson stuttered, and looked up at Ronon.
Ronon stood above them, his gun still in hand, alert to any movement from the men on the floor. “Seen a movie with Sheppard ‘bout that. Said it wasn’t real.”
“It’s real, as you saw,” replied Carson, cutting away Rodney’s pant leg to stop the bleeding. The bullet went clear through which was a blessing at this point. He hated to think what cutting into the man might do. Tearing at the wrapper of a pressure bandage, he barely pressed it to Rodney’s thigh when he jerked awake. Before anyone could make a move Rodney had himself jammed in the corner, his arm wrapped possessively around the Colonel’s chest, providing the perfect shield against Ronon’s blaster.
His eyes were wild, sweat poured off his face, matting his hair as he panted harshly for air. His pant leg was stained red and the now exposed site oozed fresh blood as he sat with Sheppard between his outstretched legs. Ronon had his gun pointed at the pair, his stance threatening as he said calmly, “Let him go, McKay.”
Rodney snarled at them, making Teyla gasp and back away in alarm. She uttered a half strangled whisper, “Wraith.”
Carson’s hand shot out and pushed Ronon’s gun down, holding it away from the pair as he tried to reassure Teyla, “He’s not Wraith. He’s a vampire.”
“There is no such thing as vampires,” replied Teyla, “The Colonel said they are a myth,” her voice shaky, but recovering slowly.
Lorne was twisting in his seat at the commotion. “Do I need to land?”
“No,” stammered Carson, his attention returning to Rodney who was frantically pulling Sheppard closer, one hand holding him against his chest while the other roamed chest and arms as if in search of something. Sheppard’s head lolled back onto Rodney’s shoulder. The exposed neck seemed to draw Rodney’s attention and he sniffed at it.
Rodney smelled John, sharp and alive. The smell of blood heightening his senses. His memories were vague, fuzzy as he tried to remember, but there was so much blood. Blood everywhere. So much blood. Too much blood. He’d sucked and licked, cleaning, repairing as fast as he could. Too much blood. It drowned his senses, filling him with need. The need to protect. He had to save John, had to take over even if it meant he’d lose him. He gripped him tighter, holding him possessively. John was his… had to save… had to protect.
Rodney was lost in the blood induced haze. Like a drug it flooded his system, better than any enzyme. The wild, naturalness of the blood let him take care of John. John was his. Mine, mine, mine his mind chanted happily. He licked at the exposed neck, reeling under the smell and taste of his lover.
Sheppard’s eyes fluttered open and he moaned incoherently. Carson took the opportunity to draw everyone’s attention to the Colonel, hoping it would calm Rodney. “Colonel, can you hear me?”
“Ngghh,” answered Sheppard, his head lazily trying to lift off Rodney’s shoulder. Feeling Rodney’s warm breath at the junction of his neck, he rolled his head, exposing it further and moaned when Rodney licked at it, “Mmmm.”
Carson pleaded with him, louder, “Colonel!”
Sheppard’s eyes came open and again tried to lift his head. He answered sleepily, “Carson?”
“Aye, Colonel. Can you tell me what happened?”
“Shot,” he drawled. “Neck.” He attempted to raise his hand but it wouldn’t cooperate and dropped heavily back into his lap. “Bleeding. Rodney...” His eyes seemed to focus some and he frowned, “Rodney?”
Carson spoke reassuringly, “He’s holding you, Colonel.”
John turned his head and pulled back at the pure animal lust in Rodney’s eyes. Rodney’s teeth grazed his neck and John tensed then tried to pull away. “No!” Rodney held him tight and John pleaded, “Not here.”
The whine of Ronon’s blaster startled them all and Rodney opened his mouth, exposing sharp fangs as he snarled loudly. In his primal state, he couldn’t find any words and the sharp hissing fear was all he could utter. His only defense was John and he buried his head in his shoulder, whining with terror.
Adrenalin pumping through his veins, John sat up straighter, his hand dropping to Rodney’s thigh for leverage. Rodney stiffened and howled in pain behind him, his eyes darker and bluer from the pain.
Staring down at the blood on his hand, John reacted, “Oh shit. You’re bleeding.” His eyes turned to Carson. “He’s been shot.” Seeing Ronon with his gun trained on Rodney, Sheppard commanded sluggishly, “Put the gun down, he won’t hurt you.”
Shaking his head, Ronon refused, “He was sucking your blood. Makes him dangerous.”
John shook his head, keeping himself firmly in front of Rodney despite the lightheadedness that threatened to send him into oblivion. “No, he was saving me.” Ronon wasn’t convinced and John barked at him, his head spinning, “He won’t hurt you.”
“Saw the blood,” said Ronon, his voice monotone, unbelieving.
Blackness encroached on John’s vision and he slumped into Rodney as his eyes rolled back. The added weight caught Rodney off guard and John fell forward, exposing Rodney to Ronon’s stunner. One shot and he slumped over John once more.
Carson scooted forward pulling the Colonel out from under him. “Help me here.” Ronon holstered his gun and dragged Sheppard clear of McKay.
Teyla took a deep breath and stepped forward cautiously. “What can I do?”
“Make the Colonel comfortable. I’ll help Rodney,” answered Carson, letting the doctor in him take over so he didn’t have to think about anything else at the moment. Grabbing fresh bandages, he slipped one under Rodney’s leg and applied pressure to the exit wound on his thigh with the other. Rodney stayed unconscious but he didn’t want to take a chance at him waking. He turned to Ronon and said reluctantly, “Perhaps you should tie him up.”
Nodding, Ronon searched the cargo compartments for rope. “They going to make it?”
“Aye, the Colonel’s suffering from blood loss and Rodney just has the leg wound. Thankfully the bullet went through and through. I’d hate to think how he’d do in surgery if you’re stunner doesn’t keep him down.” He looked around the bloody mess of the jumper and sighed, “We need to get them home.”
Part Nine
Author: Chaps1870
Pairing: McShep
Rating: NC-17
Warning: Vampire AU
Chapter Eight
Lying in bed alone for the second night in a row wasn’t Rodney’s idea of working things out. Frustrated, he rolled to his side, staring at the door and wishing John would come back, but knowing deep down he wouldn’t.
They’d argued and John told him no uncertain terms that it was his job to protect Rodney, not the other way around. Rodney was willing to concede that point but it was more than that. As much as John enjoyed Rodney making love to him, there seemed to be some deep rooted issues with letting him take over. Rodney’s big mistake had been to take the initiative, anxious to please John. And he did, or so he thought, until John became very quiet after. After several hours of tossing and turning, John finally left, saying he just needed to work things out. That was three days ago.
John couldn’t let Rodney have that kind of control. Or wouldn’t. Every attempt to talk with John had ended in stony silence or a shrug. John clearly wasn’t ready to talk. Even on the off chance that John returned, Rodney knew he’d never feed off John again, never share that level of intimacy again. They might share what they had before but it wasn’t the same as what they shared with the feeding, especially with the bonding. He’d risked it all with John and lost. Now he was left alone to pick up the pieces and he just couldn’t do it again. He couldn’t give up his own level of control over his emotions when John clearly wasn’t comfortable with his own.
Tossing on the bed, Rodney rolled away from the door and closed his burning eyes, turning his back on any hope he had. He laid there an indeterminable amount of time, sleep finally beating out the exhaustion.
He was roused from sleep some time later, someone shaking him awake. “Get up.”
Rodney brushed off the familiar voice, “Go away.”
“Damn it, McKay. Get up. Our ride’s here,” hissed John, still nudging him.
“What?” Rodney sat up groggily and ground the heel of his hand into his eyes. He stilled as he became aware of John’s hand still on his shoulder. As he turned towards it, John jerked it away. So…no tender reunion then. Rodney closed his eyes and ducked his head to hide the hurt.
“Jumper. I can feel it out there somewhere,” answered John, getting up and moving around the room.
Rodney looked at John for the first time and frowned, “You woke me up on a feeling?
“Just get dressed,” John ground out, throwing a shirt at Rodney. “We need to find some way to alert them, so they know we’re here.”
“And how do you propose to do that,” he asked, slipping on his shoes and pulling the shirt over his head. “This isn’t exactly technoworld,”
Standing at the door, John opened it enough to peer out. “You can wave a fire stick for all I care. I just want to get the hell out of here.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you do,” countered Rodney, not bothering to hide the bitterness.
John bristled, “We need to get out of here before the rescue party thinks we’re not here and leaves.” Rodney stepped beside him and John whispered, “Stay with me. No side trips.”
“Well, yes, because I was gonna sneak off to the mall and pick up that new pair of shoes I’ve been dying for. Maybe grab a corndog or two,” smirked Rodney.
“McKay!” hissed John, glowering at him.
Raising his chin and looking to the ceiling, Rodney snipped, “Yes, Colonel. I’ll stay right by your side,” He gestured towards the hallway impatiently. “Can we just go now?”
John only gave a cursory glance back as he exited the room. Rodney started to follow, hurried back and gathered the four glowballs that lit the small room and tucked them in his pocket. Receiving a death glare for his efforts, Rodney only replied, “Fire stick.”
Leaving the building was almost too easy and Rodney stayed right on Sheppard’s heels as they moved from one building to the next, slowly working their way out of the compound. If Rodney really concentrated, he could sense the low hum of the jumper. Obviously the Colonel’s stronger gene had picked up on it sooner. As they waited in the shadows for another guard to make the rounds, Rodney tried to calm his ragged breathing. Not that he was afraid. No. He was terrified. The only thing keeping him from going off the deep end of fear was Sheppard’s proximity. He was all but plastered to the man’s back as they peered around the corner.
He muttered under his breath, “This can’t end well.” Sheppard twisted his head and for a brief moment they stared eye to eye before Rodney felt the Colonel take a stuttering breath. The gods chose that moment to erupt the night into chaos with yelling and shouting and imminent death.
*********
Lorne was flying directly overhead, scanning the HUD for anything that would indicate that the rumors they’d heard were accurate. They’d revisited all their trading worlds in hopes of getting a gate address for the Telosians and up until a day ago they’d come up with nil. Ronon and Teyla had returned home almost a month ago…alone.
They’d begged, pleaded, even threatened the Ytallarans to reveal the Telosian homeworld but no help was forthcoming. The Ytallarans simple did not know where the Telosians came from. They would appear, trade, sometimes take the unsuspecting wanderer and leave again.
They’d found other worlds that knew of the Telosians but no one knew the gate address. This week, one of their regular trading partners, the Kolarians, came to them with news of the Telosians. They’d shown up to trade the little rocks that put off light and the Kolarians, bless them, insisted on knowing exactly who they were trading with and learned the Telosians gate address. They’d only secured the information because the Telosians were anxious to trade the fine weaves the Kolarians were known for.
Lorne, Ronon, Teyla and Carson had come through to Telosia ten hours ago and had searched three other camps before finding this one. This was by far the biggest camp, but they’d have to wait until morning before knowing if Sheppard and McKay were part of the slave population. Carson was riding shotgun, nervously watching the HUD when Teyla leaned over his seat and pointed to the screen. “There.”
Four sets of eyes focused on where she was pointing and they watched as two heat sources moved from building to building, working closer to the edge of the huge encampment. Ronon spoke up, “Could be anybody?”
Just then the camp began to light up and the two figures were running. Lorne grinned, “Or it could be them.”
Carson was smiling too. “Aye.”
Teyla chimed in, “Perhaps we should land.” Pointing at the edge of the camp in the direction the two men were heading. “There.”
“Already headed that way,” answered Lorne.
Ronon looked towards Teyla. “We’ll give ‘em cover.”
Lorne nodded. “I’m not going to uncloak until we absolutely have to. No point raising more alarms.” He turned to Carson and asked, “You want to take over and I’ll help with that?”
“I’d rather not,” replied Carson, his voice shaky. He really hated flying. “I should probably be available in case one of them is hurt.”
“Okay, but be ready in case they need help,” agreed Lorne, hating that he couldn’t join the others in retrieving the lost team members.
A pale Carson nodded in agreement, then followed Ronon and Teyla into the rear compartment. Ronon was pacing the rear hatch waiting for Lorne to land. Teyla wasn’t pacing, but she was just as anxious to reunite with her teammates.
Lorne shouted from the front, “One of them is down. They’re being flanked.” He muttered under his breath as he watched one of them help the other and they both kept moving towards the periphery of camp, “Come on, come on.” As they cleared the camp, Lorne turned to the Ronon. “I’m gonna land between them and the camp.”
He looked at Carson, “Let Teyla and Ronon provide cover. I don’t want you out there unless there are no other options. If one of them is hurt we can’t afford to lose you.”
Carson was pulling his pack out and setting up emergencies supplies as the jumper touched down. Teyla impatiently punched the hatch panel, leaving as the sounds of shouting and gunfire filtered into the jumper. Hastily readying supplies, Carson moved to the opening and peered out just in time to see Rodney running by with the Colonel draped over his shoulders. He was limping badly. Carson shouted over the noise, “Rodney, over here.”
Rodney ran a few more steps and fell to his knees. He didn’t acknowledge Carson as he bent over Sheppard’s prone form. Taking a quick look in Ronon and Teyla’s direction, Carson darted out of the jumper and approached his friends at a crouched run.
Dropping beside Rodney, he gave him a gentle push so he could get a better look at the Colonel. Rodney’s head came up and Carson gasped as he fell back on his ass in shock. It took all his self control not to back away in alarm. He rasped out loud at the sight before him, “Bloody hell.”
Snarling and hissing, Rodney’s mouth dripped blood, covering his chin. His eyes were a feral, deep and glowing blue. His pointed canines, glistening blood, shone bright in the pale light of the jumper.
Recovering quickly, Carson carefully eased closer to the pair as Rodney bent over the Colonel again. Each time he tried to move, Rodney lifted his head and growled. The tension and fear were thick and Carson wasn’t sure what to do. He wanted to help, but Rodney wasn’t having any of it, each time returning his mouth to Sheppard’s neck. Carson’s heart raced as he tried to process it all when suddenly a single shot of Ronon’s stunner dropped Rodney over the Colonel’s still body.
Wide-eyed, Carson looked up at the Satedan, his gun still aimed on the pair. “Why did ya do that?”
“Ain’t got time. Natives are restless.” He nodded over his shoulder where Teyla was holding off the guards. “Gotta go.” Ronon turned his head enough to call Lorne out, his eyes darting between Teyla and Rodney.
When Lorne appeared, Ronon issued commands. “Help Beckett. I’m with Teyla.”
Lorne nodded and rushed to help Carson get the two men into the jumper while Ronon returned to aid Teyla. The guards seemed to realize they were outgunned and were staying at the edge of the encampment, afraid to venture too close to the superior firepower. Both Ronon and Teyla edged closer to the jumper, their guns trained on the gathering crowd. Teyla dared a glance over her shoulder where Carson and Lorne were dragging Sheppard into the jumper. “Carson?”
Carson was red faced and panting from the exertion of moving the two men. He managed to answer breathlessly, “They’re alive.”
Teyla followed them and Ronon stood guard as she pressed the hatch closed. He stepped in at the last possible moment, his eyes never leaving the native population. As soon as the hatch sealed shut they all visibly relaxed. Lorne was already in the pilot’s seat. “We’re outta here.”
Dropping beside Carson to aid in medical treatment, Teyla asked gently, “What can I do?”
“I cannot find but a small wound on the Colonel. Rodney has a gunshot wound in his thigh and…ah…” Carson stuttered, and looked up at Ronon.
Ronon stood above them, his gun still in hand, alert to any movement from the men on the floor. “Seen a movie with Sheppard ‘bout that. Said it wasn’t real.”
“It’s real, as you saw,” replied Carson, cutting away Rodney’s pant leg to stop the bleeding. The bullet went clear through which was a blessing at this point. He hated to think what cutting into the man might do. Tearing at the wrapper of a pressure bandage, he barely pressed it to Rodney’s thigh when he jerked awake. Before anyone could make a move Rodney had himself jammed in the corner, his arm wrapped possessively around the Colonel’s chest, providing the perfect shield against Ronon’s blaster.
His eyes were wild, sweat poured off his face, matting his hair as he panted harshly for air. His pant leg was stained red and the now exposed site oozed fresh blood as he sat with Sheppard between his outstretched legs. Ronon had his gun pointed at the pair, his stance threatening as he said calmly, “Let him go, McKay.”
Rodney snarled at them, making Teyla gasp and back away in alarm. She uttered a half strangled whisper, “Wraith.”
Carson’s hand shot out and pushed Ronon’s gun down, holding it away from the pair as he tried to reassure Teyla, “He’s not Wraith. He’s a vampire.”
“There is no such thing as vampires,” replied Teyla, “The Colonel said they are a myth,” her voice shaky, but recovering slowly.
Lorne was twisting in his seat at the commotion. “Do I need to land?”
“No,” stammered Carson, his attention returning to Rodney who was frantically pulling Sheppard closer, one hand holding him against his chest while the other roamed chest and arms as if in search of something. Sheppard’s head lolled back onto Rodney’s shoulder. The exposed neck seemed to draw Rodney’s attention and he sniffed at it.
Rodney smelled John, sharp and alive. The smell of blood heightening his senses. His memories were vague, fuzzy as he tried to remember, but there was so much blood. Blood everywhere. So much blood. Too much blood. He’d sucked and licked, cleaning, repairing as fast as he could. Too much blood. It drowned his senses, filling him with need. The need to protect. He had to save John, had to take over even if it meant he’d lose him. He gripped him tighter, holding him possessively. John was his… had to save… had to protect.
Rodney was lost in the blood induced haze. Like a drug it flooded his system, better than any enzyme. The wild, naturalness of the blood let him take care of John. John was his. Mine, mine, mine his mind chanted happily. He licked at the exposed neck, reeling under the smell and taste of his lover.
Sheppard’s eyes fluttered open and he moaned incoherently. Carson took the opportunity to draw everyone’s attention to the Colonel, hoping it would calm Rodney. “Colonel, can you hear me?”
“Ngghh,” answered Sheppard, his head lazily trying to lift off Rodney’s shoulder. Feeling Rodney’s warm breath at the junction of his neck, he rolled his head, exposing it further and moaned when Rodney licked at it, “Mmmm.”
Carson pleaded with him, louder, “Colonel!”
Sheppard’s eyes came open and again tried to lift his head. He answered sleepily, “Carson?”
“Aye, Colonel. Can you tell me what happened?”
“Shot,” he drawled. “Neck.” He attempted to raise his hand but it wouldn’t cooperate and dropped heavily back into his lap. “Bleeding. Rodney...” His eyes seemed to focus some and he frowned, “Rodney?”
Carson spoke reassuringly, “He’s holding you, Colonel.”
John turned his head and pulled back at the pure animal lust in Rodney’s eyes. Rodney’s teeth grazed his neck and John tensed then tried to pull away. “No!” Rodney held him tight and John pleaded, “Not here.”
The whine of Ronon’s blaster startled them all and Rodney opened his mouth, exposing sharp fangs as he snarled loudly. In his primal state, he couldn’t find any words and the sharp hissing fear was all he could utter. His only defense was John and he buried his head in his shoulder, whining with terror.
Adrenalin pumping through his veins, John sat up straighter, his hand dropping to Rodney’s thigh for leverage. Rodney stiffened and howled in pain behind him, his eyes darker and bluer from the pain.
Staring down at the blood on his hand, John reacted, “Oh shit. You’re bleeding.” His eyes turned to Carson. “He’s been shot.” Seeing Ronon with his gun trained on Rodney, Sheppard commanded sluggishly, “Put the gun down, he won’t hurt you.”
Shaking his head, Ronon refused, “He was sucking your blood. Makes him dangerous.”
John shook his head, keeping himself firmly in front of Rodney despite the lightheadedness that threatened to send him into oblivion. “No, he was saving me.” Ronon wasn’t convinced and John barked at him, his head spinning, “He won’t hurt you.”
“Saw the blood,” said Ronon, his voice monotone, unbelieving.
Blackness encroached on John’s vision and he slumped into Rodney as his eyes rolled back. The added weight caught Rodney off guard and John fell forward, exposing Rodney to Ronon’s stunner. One shot and he slumped over John once more.
Carson scooted forward pulling the Colonel out from under him. “Help me here.” Ronon holstered his gun and dragged Sheppard clear of McKay.
Teyla took a deep breath and stepped forward cautiously. “What can I do?”
“Make the Colonel comfortable. I’ll help Rodney,” answered Carson, letting the doctor in him take over so he didn’t have to think about anything else at the moment. Grabbing fresh bandages, he slipped one under Rodney’s leg and applied pressure to the exit wound on his thigh with the other. Rodney stayed unconscious but he didn’t want to take a chance at him waking. He turned to Ronon and said reluctantly, “Perhaps you should tie him up.”
Nodding, Ronon searched the cargo compartments for rope. “They going to make it?”
“Aye, the Colonel’s suffering from blood loss and Rodney just has the leg wound. Thankfully the bullet went through and through. I’d hate to think how he’d do in surgery if you’re stunner doesn’t keep him down.” He looked around the bloody mess of the jumper and sighed, “We need to get them home.”
Part Nine
Tags: