Lost in the Woods - 2/7
Author: Daniela
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Pairing: McShep
Rating: R
Category: Romance, Humor, Mystery
Series/Sequel: No
Summary: One day they get literally lost.
Warning: Slash, M/M, Spoiler for Season 1
Disclaimer: No one of Stargate: Atlantis belongs to me.
Least of all Major John Sheppard. Damn.
Feedback: Yes, please. Every word opens a new gate.
Email: daniforblue@yahoo.de
Released: September 2005
Revised: January 2023
Beta: Anomaly
Word Count: 3257
With hunched shoulders, Rodney followed Sheppard through a thick jumble of mossy grounds and tangled branches. Nature isn't the fitting term for this jungle of hell. This mess of sprawled weeds, wild bushes, and creepy trees. Their path had become so bumpy he had a genuine problem keeping up with the major. But he did. Despite hunger, thirst, and gummy sweat covering his face, a burning anger kept him going. Sheppard was going to pay for this. Leading me here, seducing me, jerking me off, and then... ignoring me like I vanished into thin air. It pained him physically to keep his mouth shut for this long, but he wouldn't give the major the pleasure of seeing him give in.
Steadily the air became stickier, but still no sound of any bird was heard, well, no living creature had passed their way so far. No bee, no butterfly, no snake, or lizard, and fortunately for Sheppard no bug either. The apparent nonexistence of any life beyond theirs was somehow scarier than the cries Rodney had heard by night. He didn't know how much time had passed since sunrise because his watch had stopped working. He didn't know when, but time had lost its meaning anyway.
Sheppard led them straight on; still convinced that keeping to a straight line was the way to solve the cause of their problem.
Doesn't he see the wood for the trees? Rodney snorted. He didn't know what was wrong with this forest, but he had already figured out that nothing here was straight. There was no wind rustling through the bean-shaped leaves. The trees were looking odd, some of them were so crooked they almost touched the sick-looking greenish ground, appeared as if its branches wanted to pick him up and... Holy shit! He stopped. "I won't go any further! I'm whacked and it's no use, anyway!"
Sheppard didn't turn but continued fighting the branches in his way.
"Damn it, Major! I stay right here!!" Rodney yelled, flailing at the greenery.
There. He had the leader's attention at last. Sheppard came right back to him. "You do as I say, McKay."
"What for? You have no idea where we are going."
"I don't have time to argue with you."
"I'm not arguing. Keep going and just leave me here."
"I'll drag you out of here if I have to." Sheppard grabbed his arm and started moving.
"Let me go!" Rodney stumbled and his feet scraped over the rooty earth.
Sheppard dragged him forward anyway.
"Sure, violence is your true nature," Rodney panted in a faint voice. "Why am I surprised? After all every soldier is also a killer." The second the words were out of his mouth he regretted them, but it was too late.
The major's hand dropped from his arm like he had been bitten. He looked at him like he never had before, green eyes hard and cold.
Shit! Rodney froze. I'm dead.
Sheppard just turned around and walked away.
For a few seconds, Rodney stayed put, watching the slanting trees around him. They bowed down to him. Smiling. Dear God! He skipped into a sprint. "Major!"
Sheppard vanished through a stand of reddish bushes.
Rodney speeded up and banged right into him. "Ouch!"
Sheppard didn't move, nor did he make a sound while he was busy observing the area.
A small clearing. A band of water cut through wild, messy grass, glittering in the deepest blue. A green oasis, brightened up by the rays of the sun and enclosed by a ring of lofty trees. After hours of walking through a jungle it looked like paradise.
"Water!" Rodney dashed to the stream and kneeled on the verge of the edge. In greedy gulps he drank the pure liquid, satisfying his tremendous thirst. After a while he sensed Sheppard had joined him and got rid of his gun. Rodney didn't dare look at him. He wished he could take his cruel insult back and fumbled for the proper words, surveying the high and even trees. Their branches were loaded with fruit in different colors. "Food!" Quickly back on his feet, he walked through the knee-deep water to the other side straight to the source for stilling his hunger.
"Where are you going?" Sheppard called after him.
"Picking an apple," Rodney replied coolly, relieved Sheppard was talking to him.
"Watch out for snakes!" Sheppard laughed.
"This isn't paradise, Major," Rodney quipped back while he examined the awe-inspiring trees. Where are the bees which pollinate your rich blossoms? He had never seen a tree with so many fruit in such diverse colors. Red like apples. From the corners of his eyes, he could see Sheppard followed his path through the creek. Blue like plums.
The Major sank down to get rid of his boots.
Green and orange.
Sheppard unbuttoned his pants.
Yellow like peaches. Something small, long, and pink. "Here is a fruit I've never seen before."
"We can name it later," Sheppard deadpanned. "Be careful."
Rodney didn't pay any mind to the pink licorice-shaped things but picked a red fruit to take a careful bite. It didn't taste like an apple, yet delicious. Oh my! Cinnamon and cotton candy. I'll put on weight.
Sheppard shoved his pants down.
Rodney blinked. "What are you doing?"
"Cleaning my clothes. I'm pretty messed up thanks to you."
"Oh." Rodney lowered his eyes and took another bite of the juicy fruit. No backtalk. In a rush he picked plenty more fruit. Keep busy. Keep cool.
"What did you think I was doing, McKay?"
Hands full with fruit of every kind, Rodney dropped to the ground and leaned against the colorful tree. "I wasn't thinking anything."
Sheppard rubbed the crotch of his pants with water. "You didn't? Really?"
"Yeah. No shit!"
"So you are alright?"
"Sure, this is fun for me. My feet hurt like hell, and I see no end to any of this any time soon."
Sheppard looked at his pants and smiled ruefully. "Me neither."
Rodney gulped the third fruit of a different color down. Mm. Tasty.
"Ease up. Don't be so greedy. You'll have lots of time to eat all these trees empty."
Seeing Sheppard displaying his cleaned pants on the sun-gifted grass, Rodney felt even more puzzled. "What do you intend to do next?"
"My plan right now is to strip you down and fuck you blue, Rodney."
He gulped and blinked like a fish washed ashore. His skin became hot as if scaled dry and, randomly, he stuffed his mouth with more fruit. He didn't mean that. He's joking. Playing me for a fool.
"Then I plan to stay here for a while," Sheppard continued in a different tone. "It's useless to move on. We're lost."
Rodney snorted. "Well, hearing that from you can only mean this is serious."
"It is." Sheppard grimaced. "Don't you remember how small the area of this forest appeared before we entered?"
"Sure. Pretty small."
"So, you shouldn't get lost in such a small area; if you keep to a straight line..."
Rodney snorted once more.
... you get to the other end eventually. Simple fact."
"Not what has happened here though."
"Thus something's definitely wrong with this forest." Casually, Sheppard shoved his blue shorts over his ass.
For a split second, Rodney stared at his exposed backside and then... he squeezed his eyes shut. His mouth became as dry as his skin. Uh-uh. I won't look. No matter what. Cheerful whistling floated to his ears, tempting him to just do that. How on earth can he be in such a good mood right now? It's not that we are in a happy place, damn it. Yet he peeked. Well.
Covered by a black shirt only, Sheppard kneeled at the edge of the stream, washing his shorts. Finished, he laid them next to the pants to dry. "Still having fun, Rodney?"
"What?" he squeaked and squeezed his eyes shut again.
"I know you're looking."
The grass whispered; the earth crunched. Oh my god. Rodney sensed Sheppard coming towards him. Full frontal nudity. Full frontal nudity. "Don't flatter yourself, Major."
"Do you know how? Simply because you're way too still, Rodney McKay."
Rodney kept his eyes shut.
"Why don't you freshen up too? You'll feel better then."
He shook his head and squinted.
"Are you afraid of me?" Sheppard said, sounding curious.
"Don't be ridiculous," Rodney spat and broke from the tree. The remains of the fruit slipped through his fingers and dropped to the ground.
"Am I?" Sheppard laughed. "So what? The whole trip is ridiculous, isn't it?"
"Mmpf. I don't have time to clean up. I'm still hungry. I need more to eat." Rodney didn't catch one glimpse of bare flesh illuminated by the sun while he climbed up the tree in such a haste, he scratched himself on the biting bark.
Sheppard splashed through the water. "Sure. Suit yourself. You don't know what you're missing."
Silence. Had Sheppard given up? Rodney sighed and embraced the gnarly bole. Why is this happening to me? Why did I become a member of his team? Why did I make such a stupid decision...and now I don't know how to dodge him. Oh. And above all this place... Even though he was sitting still, his head became strangely light, his furry tongue lay dead in his mouth, and his fingertips tingled as drops of sweat dripped from his temples. So much for dry skin. He wiped his forehead. Sure. The dazzling sun. I always said my complexion... A hand touched his neck and shrieking, he jerked around. Dear God! But there was no one just the lush leaves floating around him like nosy onlookers. A shudder ran down his spine and he got goose bumps. The inanimate tree started whispering vividly. For God sakes! What's this? Not the sound of the wind brushing the leaves... it was a murmur... a mystic rustling... reaching out... He yelped and slid down the tree, scratching and bruising himself a good deal more on the way. One branch hit his face. The wood screamed. Rodney yelped again and crashing onto the ground he ran towards the stream - right into the arms of Sheppard. Naked Sheppard. Holy shit! "Major..."
"I'm glad you decided to come around."
"No, no, it's... not... I don't...," he stammered, frightened and breathless. "There is... something... someone... up in the trees... it touched me...wanted me to..."
Sheppard frowned. "Don't talk crap! We're alone here. There is no sign of-"
"No, there is! We must flee," he gasped, still hearing the whisper of unknown creatures, connecting with his mind. Don't! His body jolted; his heart raced. "They'll kill us. The tree devils...," he babbled, flailing. "Green... deadly..."
"Rodney!" Sheppard shook him hard. "Stop that!"
The soldier's face warped to the sides, his eyes bulged, his mouth opened in a silent squeal. "I can't...! He was seized by a power overrunning him like an earthquake. Oh. Oh no. Not in front of him. Rodney collapsed anyway.
"Rodney!!!" What the hell? The scientist's eyes rolled back into his head and his body became limp in John's arms. For a few moments John held him tight, sniffing the guy's complex but sweet flavor, sparking an intoxicant stirring in his groin. Okay. That's enough. Don't lose it. He lowered his teammate down. Rodney was unconscious but his breathing and heartbeat were steady. John sniffed at Rodney's mouth. Ah. Alcohol. Rodney was simply smashed. "I told you not to eat all those fruit, didn't I?" He bedded Rodney's head on his uniform jacket. "That's fine. Sleep it off. I'm afraid I need you sober and of sound mind soon."
*****
Oh god! His head hurt. His stomach grumbled. In a heartbeat Rodney was awake. At first, he didn't know where he was. The twilight around him told him night was coming. Nearby water burbled. Above a mass of branches and leaves. A most peculiar tree. The forest. Shit. I thought that was only one of those dreams. He pushed himself up and look around. Besides him lay a pile of wood ready to be set on fire. The stream close by ran smoothly and pure. On the other side, he saw Sheppard walking to him.
"Hey McKay, back to reality?"
Rodney grimaced. At least, he's dressed. "What the hell happened?"
"You fainted." Sheppard smirked.
Oh no. Not that again. "But... why... what?"
"Don't you remember?"
"Just... the tree... fruit and..." Rodney swallowed... you naked.
"...you, drunk as a skunk up to when you gloriously collapsed."
"What?! I never..."
"It's the fruit. I tasted just one."
"Oh." I gorged them like I was famished, Rodney thought, swiftly licking his lips.
Sheppard sat down beside him. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known."
"Yeah, sure."
"How do you feel now?"
"My head hurts tremendously. I'm not used to drinking alcohol. I'm not used to walking until the end of time."
"Me neither." Sheppard snorted. "I'm a pilot, not a foot soldier."
"Is there anything else to eat besides those fruit from hell?" Rodney asked, concerned about the urgent hunger paining him already.
"I discovered a bunch of berries back there. Also, I ate the small licorice-looking things we don't have a name for. They smelled different from the others, so I dared to eat them. I'll fetch some for you."
"No need. I'm not hungry anymore." He rubbed his burning eyes.
"Huh? You're always hungry."
"So what? Stop taking care of me."
"All right." Sheppard sighed. "Rodney, if I did or said anything wrong, I'm sorry. I've never wanted to hurt you."
"Just to fuck me blue, right?" he blurted out, then seized his head with both hands. Idiot! Don't scream.
"That wasn't a threat." Sheppard looked upset. "I'm sorry you got the wrong idea."
"I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to say those cruel things."
Sheppard shrugged. "That's okay. As a soldier I don't have a choice if I want to be a killer or not. "
"You do," Rodney whispered, smacking his dust-dry lips. Oh shit. The sudden gleam in Sheppard's eyes set him on fire, rather than the waiting wood, and he turned onto his stomach. Well. The soft pillow he was resting on was Sheppard's jacket. Rodney's blood rushed to his groin. Jesus. He's not even my type. He's military. No man for me. Not someone anyone should fall for.
"Do you want me to ease your aching muscles?" Sheppard mumbled after a long awkward pause.
Sure. One specific muscle first off. "No, thanks" he denied, digging his fingers into the jacket.
"Why not?" Sheppard nudged Rodney's left foot.
Does he sulk? Does the super-hero sulk because I won't let him... "Because I... we...," he cleared his throat a few times but couldn't find anything to say. His tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth while his hard-on longed for Sheppard's implied service. Holy shit! Don't let him hypnotize you.
"Didn't you enjoy my doings this morning? I'm always open to constructive criticism," Sheppard baited him, humming.
"Stop it, Major!" He turned back, facing the headstrong troublemaker. "Haven't you had enough fun by humiliating me already?"
Sheppard raised an eyebrow. "Me? Embarrassing you? I was the one who couldn't stop himself from coming right in his pants like a green boy."
"Whatever." Rodney wriggled his heels into the earthy ground. "I don't want you..."
"Fine!" Sheppard barked. "I'm not that desperate, McKay. Give me back my jacket."
Rodney gulped soundlessly while he handed over his convenient pillow. Shit. Why is this happening? Why don't I just let him take me? Didn't I always wanted to have him? He willed his hard-on to shrivel down and plucked at the thick grass to make a substitute pad for his aching head. His hunger was torture, but he wouldn't give Sheppard the satisfaction to be right. Eventually he couldn't help peeking at the guy.
Sheppard had lighted the fire and laid down on the other side.
Right. That's that, Rodney mused looking up at the first blinking stars. Well, my own fault. The fire gave enough heat to keep anyone warm, but Rodney didn't get warm anyway. He longed to share with Sheppard like they did last night. He longed for his touch. Sighing, he turned on his side and watched the major's back. Strong but not as straight as he had thought yesterday. A smile curled his lips. Who would have imagined... him and me... no one... ever...yeah...this is what dreams are made of... or not? he kept wondering and drifted off to sleep after all.
Dark scary night. Once more, he was startled awake by the strange cries. Someone without hope and love screamed ceaselessly, as if treated unfairly without measure and at the same time it sounded soulless and thus just. He stared into the darkness and was shocked to see misty greenish lights roaming here and there. They were beautiful. Hypnotizing. Chilling fear gripped his heart and jerked through his veins. Forgetting about any pride, he stole over to Sheppard and snuggled against his back. Don't look at them. Don't let them have you. Don't listen. He pressed his hands over his ears and squeezed his eyes shut.
Sheppard turned and hugged him.
Oh! That's right. Rodney fidgeted a bit. Out of the frying pan into the fire. The embrace wasn't as tight as last night yet cozy and comforting. With it he was able to keep breathing and ignore the suffering cries of faceless victims. They are green, a voice deep inside of him whispered. No. I'm not listening. He snuggled closer to Sheppard and shut his mind to hexed lights and cries and numbing coldness. Only the pretty face of Sheppard was haunting him while sleep protected him from any evil lurking in the dark until the rise of a mighty sun.
The sun drove away the horror of the night and woke Rodney halfway rested. The pounding in his head had stopped but a nasty taste in his mouth had remained and reminded him of his unpleasant experience yesterday. A thing in the trees had touched him and spoken of ineffable entities. Rodney snorted. Idiocy. I'm a scientist. There are no such things as tree devils. Yeah. Yet there are the Wraith, aren't there? Shivering, he stared at the blue, cloudless sky which promised the arrival of a blazing hot day. Great. I'm sticky already from yesterday's heat. He removed himself from Sheppard's arm. That and this man's violation.
The major didn't wake up but turned on the other side, showing off his strapping ass.
Rodney indulged briefly in the yummy sight but then he put his attention on the glittering water. Stretching his aching body, he marched along the streambed. Water to still his thirst and make the taste go away. Water to clean up. A hidden spot where Sheppard couldn't watch him in the nude and made fun of him afterwards. All right. He stopped. Don't blow this out of all proportions. This was far enough. He knelt and rinsed his mouth several times before he drank in hasty gulps. Very well then! He undressed in a rush. How desperate he was to clean up. Right. Giddy like a kid he splashed through the water. He didn't care anymore if Sheppard was secretly watching him.
But Sheppard was still sleeping, dreaming about none-military related exercises.
Yet other eyes - wooden and ancient - were watching Rodney with growing curiosity and its guts crunched in hunger for the mellow prey invading its territory.
