In retrospect, he really should've gone surfing. The waves on the mainland's south shore were sweet this time of year, even if temperatures were a bit frigid, but Teyla had wanted to visit her people and Ronon had slobbered over the idea of climbing Taghan Mountain again. (Rodney, of course, was "too busy" getting resettled on New Lantea to be bothered with a day off.)
The day had started well. While cooing over Marta's new baby and debating trade policy with Halling at the same time, Teyla managed to throw a wave in their general direction as John and Ronon headed out, backpacks filled with climbing gear and a day's provision. The sun was warm, the breeze pleasant. Birds called, leaves rustled, and the scent of flowers blooming filled the air. They hiked in companionable silence, following an animal path through the foothills, stopping occasionally for a drink and to admire the view. The Athosians had picked a beautiful new homeworld.
When the trail ended, the real fun began. John ignored Ronon's eyeroll as he slipped on his climbing shoes. After examining the rope one last time, they tethered their harnesses. John started lead, allowing Ronon to belay until he reached a good spot to pitch. He set the anchor and belayed Ronon up. Back and forth they went until they were halfway up the mountain. The wind whipped around them and when Ronon missed a step, he howled in delight when the safety rope caught and he dangled in mid-air.
John grunted as he reeled him in. "How old are you?"
Ronon landed on the ledge with an unrepentant grin. John shook his head and started up again, searching for a good place to pitch, but the spot he found was unstable. He held tight as the ground trembled, trying to anchor.
Then he was flying. He heard Ronon's shout as he plummeted past. The rope went taut as the safety caught, but it was looped around his knee and ankle. He slammed into the rock, first his shoulder, then his back and head. His knee wrenched. Pain exploded down his left side from behind his ear to his ankle, blanketing him from sight and sound. Blood rushed to his head as he hung upside down, pounding in his ears to the beat of his heart. Something warm dripped in his ear and dribbled across his forehead, through his hair, and off his right temple. Stunned, John blinked at the fluff of clouds above, watching an elephant chase a jumper.
"Sheppard?"
John blinked again and twisted as much as his body would allow. Ronon was lying on a ledge above him, peering down in worry. "Hey."
"You okay?"
"Been better." He swiped at his forehead and frowned at the smear of red on his hand. "You coming to get me or what?"
"No place closer than here. I'll have to pull you up."
John glanced up at the rope strangling his leg. "That's going to hurt."
"A lot. You ready?"
"Aw, what the hell. Sure."
The rope tightened and John choked on a scream as the pain in his knee and ankle quadrupled. He bent up but couldn't reach. Each pull made him swing and he bounced against the rockface again and again until his vision grayed.
Then Ronon had him.
John concentrated on not passing out, knowing Ronon was radioing for help without listening to the actual words.
"Teyla's dialing Atlantis," Ronon said. "Jumper will be here soon."
"Fantastic. Just what I wanted to do with my day off."
"Could be worse."
John winced as the throbbing in his leg increased. "How?"
"Rope could've broken."
"Stop spending so much time with McKay."
Ronon shifted him until he was upright, his back against Ronon's chest. John grinned as Ronon's laugh vibrated through him. They sat in silence, waiting for help, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. The view was incredible, really.
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chiming
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Date: 2011-01-13 12:04 am (UTC)From:The day had started well. While cooing over Marta's new baby and debating trade policy with Halling at the same time, Teyla managed to throw a wave in their general direction as John and Ronon headed out, backpacks filled with climbing gear and a day's provision. The sun was warm, the breeze pleasant. Birds called, leaves rustled, and the scent of flowers blooming filled the air. They hiked in companionable silence, following an animal path through the foothills, stopping occasionally for a drink and to admire the view. The Athosians had picked a beautiful new homeworld.
When the trail ended, the real fun began. John ignored Ronon's eyeroll as he slipped on his climbing shoes. After examining the rope one last time, they tethered their harnesses. John started lead, allowing Ronon to belay until he reached a good spot to pitch. He set the anchor and belayed Ronon up. Back and forth they went until they were halfway up the mountain. The wind whipped around them and when Ronon missed a step, he howled in delight when the safety rope caught and he dangled in mid-air.
John grunted as he reeled him in. "How old are you?"
Ronon landed on the ledge with an unrepentant grin. John shook his head and started up again, searching for a good place to pitch, but the spot he found was unstable. He held tight as the ground trembled, trying to anchor.
Then he was flying. He heard Ronon's shout as he plummeted past. The rope went taut as the safety caught, but it was looped around his knee and ankle. He slammed into the rock, first his shoulder, then his back and head. His knee wrenched. Pain exploded down his left side from behind his ear to his ankle, blanketing him from sight and sound. Blood rushed to his head as he hung upside down, pounding in his ears to the beat of his heart. Something warm dripped in his ear and dribbled across his forehead, through his hair, and off his right temple. Stunned, John blinked at the fluff of clouds above, watching an elephant chase a jumper.
"Sheppard?"
John blinked again and twisted as much as his body would allow. Ronon was lying on a ledge above him, peering down in worry. "Hey."
"You okay?"
"Been better." He swiped at his forehead and frowned at the smear of red on his hand. "You coming to get me or what?"
"No place closer than here. I'll have to pull you up."
John glanced up at the rope strangling his leg. "That's going to hurt."
"A lot. You ready?"
"Aw, what the hell. Sure."
The rope tightened and John choked on a scream as the pain in his knee and ankle quadrupled. He bent up but couldn't reach. Each pull made him swing and he bounced against the rockface again and again until his vision grayed.
Then Ronon had him.
John concentrated on not passing out, knowing Ronon was radioing for help without listening to the actual words.
"Teyla's dialing Atlantis," Ronon said. "Jumper will be here soon."
"Fantastic. Just what I wanted to do with my day off."
"Could be worse."
John winced as the throbbing in his leg increased. "How?"
"Rope could've broken."
"Stop spending so much time with McKay."
Ronon shifted him until he was upright, his back against Ronon's chest. John grinned as Ronon's laugh vibrated through him. They sat in silence, waiting for help, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. The view was incredible, really.
He still should've gone surfing.