Part 7
Beckett had no idea how long it took to get John Sheppard’s breathing under control and adjusted the straps that fastened the oxygen mask over his mouth and nose. John had tried to speak several times, but just didn’t seem to have the energy, or air, to say anything that made sense.
Carson looked at the monitors, relieved to see Sheppard’s oxygen intake was registering above 95, but his temperature was still too high for his liking. “Salina, would you get the cooling blanket.”
“Certainly, Dr. Beckett,” the nurse said and moved to the cabinet that held the special unit. She brought it over to the bed and helped Beckett set it up and cover the injured man with it.
“Car…Carson…Rodney okay?”
“Rodney’s fine, Colonel, it’s you who’s got us all worried right now. How do you feel?”
“Tired…what happened?”
“You were hurt on an away mission…”
“Traxians…ugly little s…slugs,” Sheppard whispered.
“I imagine they are, but you don’t have to worry about them now. You’re safe on Atlantis and the little blighters are nowhere to be seen.”
“Good…tired…”
“I know you are and I want you to go ahead and sleep, Colonel. Salina will be right here if you need anything…anything at all.”
“…k…” was the barely heard response as Sheppard slipped toward sleep.
“Salina, I’m going to check on Rodney and hopefully get some sleep, but if anything changes have me paged.”
“I will, Doctor,” Salina Morrison said and turned to see Elizabeth Weir staring at them.
Carson hurried to the door and stepped outside, not really surprised to find key members of the Atlantis Expedition gathered and awaiting word on the injured colonel. His gaze went to Rodney McKay and he quickly took note of his washed out complexion and cursed the man’s innate stubbornness.
“Carson, how is he? What went wrong?” Weir asked.
“He’s stable for now and resting. I believe his problems stem from the pathogen in his blood stream. Whatever it is it’s causing problems with his respiratory system amongst other things. His temperature is higher than it should be and that’s why we’re using the cooling blanket. Teyla and Ronan mentioned their people had contact with the Traxians and I’m hoping I can get some samples form the survivors and work on an antidote. Do you think your people would agree to that, Teyla?”
“I will contact them, but I don’t see it being a problem, Carson,” Teyla assured him.
“Thank you, Lass,” Beckett said and turned to the others. “Colonel Sheppard is resting comfortably right now and since I’d rather keep visitors to a minimum I suggest you all go get some rest.”
“Carson, I’d like to sit with him for a while,” Weir said.
“All right, Elizabeth, but don’t spend the whole night sitting in that chair or I’ll be seeing you because of a back ache come morning,” Beckett told her and turned to his second patient, while motioning for the nurse to bring a wheelchair. “Now, Rodney, it’s time we got you back to bed.”
“Carson….did I…was I…”
“No, Rodney, you’re not responsible for what just happened, but see these,” Beckett said and motioned to both sides of his head.
“What?”
“Those little grey hairs…I can safely say you’re responsible for them,” the physician said, smiling when McKay relaxed slightly, but not enough to take the guilt completely from his eyes. “Now then, why don’t you get in the wheelchair and we’ll get you settled for the night?”
“I’m not really tired…”
“I can give you something to help you sleep, Rodney, because I’m not going to deal with an exhausted, cantankerous mulish…”
“Mulish?” McKay spat indignantly.
“Well, you do act like a Jack-Ass at times,” Beckett said, chuckling softly at the look on the Canadian’s face as they transferred him from one chair to another. He took control of the handles and wheeled him toward his bed, relaxing only after he had McKay safely tucked under his blankets and had given him something to help him sleep.
“Carson?”
“Yes, Rodney?”
“Sheppard…John…he’s going to be okay isn’t he?”
“I think so, Rodney, with the Athosian’s help we should be able to come up with an antidote for the Traxian’s pathogen. Now I don’t want you to worry about anything except getting a good night’s sleep,” Beckett ordered.
Rodney McKay closed his eyes and felt his mind drifting with the effects of the medication. He sighed heavily and allowed himself the respite promised by a deep, hopefully dreamless, sleep.
Beckett looked at the man and was relieved to find him finally give in to his body’s need for sleep. He felt the turmoil of the day catching up to him and knew there was no reason to put off sleep any longer. His patients were sleeping and now it was time their doctor did the same and reluctantly left the infirmary.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Elizabeth sat next to the bed and reached over the safety rail. She reached under the cooling blanket and felt for his hand, her fingers curling around his as she watched him sleep. He was whiter than the sheets he lay on, except for the bruises that still marred his features.
How many times had she seen him like this? How many times would she find the scene repeated in the future? Could she allow her heart to become enthralled in his life knowing how dangerous the off world missions were? Elizabeth almost laughed aloud at the questions playing through her mind because this whole set up had been one massive decision to ride on the coat tails of danger. She’d chosen to believe in this mission from day one and would not change anything…well she’d change the missions in which the team was injured, but otherwise it was an exciting adventure. They’d made new friends, new allies, and in Teyla and Ronan’s case new families.
“Dr. Weir, would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you, Salina, I’m fine. I just want to sit with him for a few minutes,” Weir told the nurse and returned her attention to the sleeping man. Her heart beat a little faster as she slowly reached out and touched the unruly hair on his forehead. McKay and several others tended to joke about Sheppard’s hair, but she loved how wild it was, and how it gave him an almost boyish look at times. She wondered what it would be like to lie next to him in bed and run her hands through the silken strands.
Elizabeth knew the nurse was watching her, but right now she didn’t really care. What she cared about was John Sheppard and it didn’t matter that she was in charge of Atlantis; all that mattered right now was making sure John survived his ordeal. Her hand dropped to his cheek and she wanted to tell him how she felt, but for now she had to content herself with being able to touch him like this.
SGASGASGASGASGA
Carson Beckett looked at the people who entered his office the next morning and smiled at Teyla Emmagan. He’d been expecting the visitors, but not this soon and smiled as he shook hands with the Athosians. There were five in all, two men and three women who all seemed familiar and he knew they’d spent time on Atlantis.
“Thank you all for coming,” Beckett said.
“It seemed the least we could do after everything your people have done for us,” the leader of the group offered. “Teyla said Colonel Sheppard was a victim of the Traxian Bug.”
“Yes, he was and he’s weak because of the other injuries. He’s having trouble fighting the pathogen…the poison,” he corrected when they didn’t understand what he was talking about.
“How can we help?”
“I’d like to take a sample of your blood and see if there’s a way to use your blood to come up with an antidote. It won’t take long and all I need is a single vial of blood from each of you,” Beckett told them.
“If it will help Colonel Sheppard you are welcome to take as much as you need,” the leader assured him.
“Thank you, but one vial should be enough,” Beckett said and motioned for the Athosians to follow him. “Donna will take the samples and when she’s done you’re free to return to your homes.”
“Elizabeth told them she would treat them to lunch and give them a tour of Atlantis before they went home,” Teyla said. “How are John and Rodney?”
“Rodney is still sleeping…which reminds me…you really shouldn’t be doing so much with that leg, Teyla…”
“I’m fine, Carson…”
“Oh really…well let me warn you about helping my patients on moonlit excursions in the infirmary…”
“Oh, that…would you rather I let him try it on his own?”
“No, I’d rather he didn’t do it at all,” Beckett told her, a hint of a smile on his face. They reached the section where Donna Rideout was waiting to take blood samples and he left the Athosians in their capable hands. He made his way toward McKay’s bed and found the Canadian on the verge of waking up.
A soft moan escaped the slack lips and Rodney coughed, wincing as he struggled to full consciousness and found himself under Carson Beckett’s scrutiny. “They don’t pay me enough to wake up to this…I’m betting Sheppard’s got the pretty nurse…am I right?”
“Probably, but at least you get the doctor…how do you feel?”
“Better…a little sore, but things are getting easier,” McKay told him.
“That’s good news. Now, I want your word there won’t be any more late night excursions…for any reason,” Beckett told him.
“How is Sheppard?”
“Uhuh, Rodney, you’re not going to change the subject that easy. I want your word…”
“Yes, yes, you got it…anything…just tell me about, Sheppard.”
“Well, Teyla’s people have agreed to allow us to get blood samples from the survivors who had run ins with the Traxians and hopefully…”
“You’ll be able to come up with an antidote,” McKay said with a slight grin. Carson Beckett had always been someone he admired, in spite of the ribbing he gave him about medicine and voodoo. That admiration had just gone up another notch because of how Beckett was handling life in another galaxy.
“Hopefully, but it will take some time,” Beckett told him.
“Carson, can I…”
“Yes, you can visit Colonel Sheppard…after you eat something and I take a look at your test results,” Beckett warned.
“Thank you…now that you mention it I could eat something,” McKay said.
“Oh…there’s a bloody surprise,” the physician said and left the man to his late breakfast as he walked toward the isolation room. He listed Sheppard’s chart and checked the notations made by the nursing staff, relieved to see that the cooling blanket was doing its job and Sheppard’s temperature was slowly coming down. Carson changed into the special scrubs and stepped through the chamber before entering the isolation room.
“Good morning, Dr. Beckett.”
“Good morning, Salina, how is he doing?”
“He had a good night and his temperature has come down a bit.”
“Yes, I saw that…what about his blood work?”
“They haven’t come back yet,” Salina told him.
“Tell the desk to notify me as soon as they come in,” Beckett said, knowing Salina would be relieved shortly. “You can go ahead and leave…I’ve got a few things I want to check while I’m here.”
“Yes, Dr. Beckett. Nora should be here in a couple of minutes.”
“That’s fine…just make sure you update her on the changes in treatment,” the physician said, smiling as the patient showed signs of waking up. He reached out and gently caught Sheppard’s hands when he tried to grab the oxygen mask. “Leave that be, Colonel.”
“Carson?”
“That’s right, Lad, how are you feeling this morning?”
“Cold…”
“That’s the blanket. Your temperature went to high last night and we needed to bring it down. The blanket stays in place for a little longer,” Beckett said and checked Sheppard’s eyes before taking his wrist.
“Rather have Elizabeth…” Sheppard grew quiet as he realized he was about to reveal his feelings.
“I’m sure you would, Colonel, and she’ll probably be here as soon as the Athosians leave, but I’m afraid you’re stuck with me right now.”
“Damn,” Sheppard said, closing his eyes as Beckett continued his examination and drifted toward sleep, smiling as Elizabeth Weir replaced Carson Beckett at his side.
SGASGASGASGASGA
John shifted on the bed and stared down at his body as something moved beneath the thin cooling blanket covering him. He shivered, but it wasn’t from the cold as a strange sensation raced through him. His hand went to the blanket and he lifted it, looking under it, fearful of what he might see. He swallowed several times, but there seemed to be no moisture to be found as the strange feeling continued and he caught sight of the creature from his nightmares. He lifted his head, searching for anyone who could help him, frowning when it seemed like the room was impossibly large and out of focus.
‘No, it can’t be…Carson…Carson…help me!’ he thought he screamed the word, but he couldn’t be sure as a figure dressed in dark clothing strode toward him and lifted the blanket. John stared at the creature that had settled on his chest, but harsh laughter from the figure beside his bed tore his attention away form the razor sharp teeth.
‘Now that you’re awake, Colonel, we can get on with it…’
‘Kolya…’
‘Of course…don’t tell me you were expecting someone else? Perhaps Ford…but he’s dead now isn’t he? Michael maybe?’
“No…Carson!’
‘I’m sorry, Colonel, but that was a dream…you’re still on my world and I still need the information…now tell me the codes or my little friend there is going to chow down…oh I do like you world’s penchant for sayings such as that. Chow down is rather amusing don’t you think, Colonel?’
‘No…don’t…’
“The codes…’
‘Go to hell!’
‘Didn’t you know, Colonel…you’re already there,’ Kolya said, a hint of a smile on his face as he made a small incision in John’s chest.
Sheppard could only stare as the Traxian went into a feeding frenzy. Its body shaking as it caught scent of the blood that seeped from the small wound. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe, and couldn’t scream as the creature bit into his flesh, igniting a fiery path along his nerve endings until it exploded in his skull. He could hear Kolya’s insidious laughter, but above the sound came the clicking of mandibles and the tearing of flesh, his flesh. His mouth opened in a silent scream, one that never reached his ears.
“NO!”
“Colonel, it’s okay….you’re okay…”
“No! Kolya, you bastard! Get that thing off me!” Sheppard screamed and tore at the bandages covering his chest. Something grabbed at his hands, but he couldn’t stop, not when the creature was feeding off him and Kolya’s laughter tormented him.
“Colonel, you’re okay…open your eyes…”
“John, it’s not real. Whatever you’re seeing is not there…you’re safe, John…you’re on Atlantis and you’re safe…”
Sheppard heard a new voice, one that seemed to cut through the images flooding his mind and he finally drew in a deep breath when his eyes opened and he focused on the woman standing beside his bed. “Not real,” Sheppard asked, shocked when he looked at his chest and saw the bandages he’d been trying to tear off.
“John, are you okay?”
“I think so…it just seemed so damn real, Elizabeth,” Sheppard told her, and leaned his head back against the pillows, unconsciously rubbing at his chest.
“I know, but it’s over. Kolya won’t get anywhere near you,” Weir vowed.
“Thanks…how’s Rodney?”
“He’s okay…arguing with Carson about the merits of modern medicine when compared to the old voodoo legends of the eighteenth century,” Weir said with a grin.
“Sounds like Rodney,” Sheppard told her, closing his eyes, and smiling when he felt her hand on his. “Your hand is warm…”
“Oh, sorry…”
“Don’t be…feels nice,” Sheppard said and opened his eyes when someone new entered the room.
“Hello, Colonel, how do you feel?” Beckett asked, reaching for Sheppard’s chart, while watching the man’s face closely.
“Tired,” Sheppard answered.
“Well, that’s to be expected after everything you’ve been through,” Beckett assure him. “Your temperature’s come down a bit, but it’s still higher than I’d like so I’m afraid the cooling blanket stays put. I do have some good news. The Athosian blood samples we took should help us come up with an antidote against the pathogen left by the Traxians.”
“How long will it take?” Weir asked.
“I’m not sure, Elizabeth, but we’re working on it. Hopefully we’ll have something in the next 48 hours,” Becket answered. “Now in the meantime I want you to let me know if you’re in any pain…”
“I’m not feeling much of anything with the stuff you’re pumping into me,” Sheppard griped.
“That’s good. I’ll be back to check on you later, but in the meantime you let the nurses know if you need anything,” Beckett told him, making several notations on the chart before leaving the isolation room.
“I should let you rest…”
“No, you should stay,” Sheppard told her, feeling selfish at wanting the woman to stay at his side while he slept. “I’m sorry…I know you have better things to do than sit here and watch me sleep.”
“I can’t think of any,” Elizabeth said with a smile. She watched his eyes close and knew she had to get back to work, but there was something almost vulnerable in the way he tilted his head to one side while he slept.
SGASGASGASGASGA
McKay could not believe Becket had finally released him, although there were certain conditions he had to adhere to or he’d find himself back in the infirmary with a blunt needle in his ass. Rodney knew Carson well enough to know that it wasn’t and idle threat. He reached for his shirt, wincing as the movement tugged at his healing ribs, and sat for several minutes until he could move again. It took longer than normal to get into his shirt, but he managed it without calling for help and slid off the edge of the bed. Standing was not something he’d been looking forward to, but he managed to stay on his feet until the world stopped spinning.
Taking a deep breath, Rodney pulled back the curtain and stepped out into the empty room, feeling slightly let down that no one was there to see his victory, small though it was. He walked to the door, and smiled when he spotted two figures standing there. Ronan and Teyla had been deep in conversation, but broke it off as he stepped through. “All right…what did I miss?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Rodney,” Teyla said.
“Oh come on…you’ve got that look.”
“What look?” Ronan asked.
“On Earth we’d call it ‘the cat that swallowed the canary’ look and you two are both wearing it. So what have I missed?”
“Sorry, Rodney, we were just taking bets on how long it would take you to find your way to one of the labs,” Teyla told him.
“You were…oh, makes sense,” McKay said. “Put me down for ten dollars in ten minutes…”
“Dollars?” Ronan asked.
“Money…”
“Rodney, we don’t use money…we trade for the things we need,” Teyla reminded him.
“Yes, well it comes in handy where I come from,” the Canadian told them and made his way toward the isolation room. He stood looking in at his friend, wishing there was some way to undo the damage done by Kolya, Michael, and Ford. God, if it hadn’t been for Ford, John Sheppard would probably have died before they reached him. Rodney knew he should feel something for the man, but there was still too much anger involved for him to forgive the dead man his part in Sheppard’s injuries.
“Rodney, are you okay?” Teyla asked, leaning heavily on her crutches.
“I think so…I was just thinking about Ford…why did…how could he…”
“That’s something we’ll never know, Rodney,” the Athosian told him. “Aiden was a victim of the wraith and could not control what happened to him, but he did find the strength he needed to help John and for that we should be grateful.”
“I am, but I’m also angry that he was involved with Kolya and Michael,” McKay said.
“I believe we all are,” Teyla assured him.
“Has Rodney found out anything about the pathogen?”
“Not much, but he’s got everyone working on it,” Teyla answered.
“He looks terrible.”
“I’ve seen my people after they’ve been attacked by Traxians…it’s not pretty, but most of the time they survive,” Ronan tried, but his words brought little relief to the scientist.
Rodney heard the words and leaned his head against the glass surface separating them form John Sheppard and thought about the promises they’d made and kept since coming to Atlantis. He wouldn’t openly admit it, but Sheppard had become more than a passing acquaintance. He was more like a brother, a sometimes annoying brother who was smarter than average and he could easily keep up with Rodney on an intellectual level.
“Rodney, why don’t we go get something to eat?” Teyla asked.
“I’m not hungry…”
“Rodney, go…eat and maybe when you come back I’ll let you visit with Colonel Sheppard for a while,” Beckett ordered, smiling when McKay and the others seemed taken aback by his presence. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
“You’re worse than those wraith ghosts,” McKay grumbled.
“I’ve been practicing…”
“You should spend more time on your bedside manners.”
“I have been, but since you’re not a patient anymore I’ll save them for my patients.”
“I feel sorry for Sheppard,” the Canadian told him. “Carson, how long before you’re able to find an antidote?”
“I don’t know, Rodney. I’m doing everything I can and God knows everyone’s working overtime, but it’s slow going and until I’m sure of the findings I can’t use anything we find on Colonel Sheppard. The samples we took from Teyla’s people have given us some answers, but we still have a ways to go.”
“I could help…”
“Yes, you could…by going with Teyla and Ronan and eating something. Then I’d suggest you go outside for some air or go to your quarters and get some rest,” Beckett ordered. “Ronan, throw him over your shoulder if you have to, but be careful of his ribs.”
“You heard him, Rodney, let’s go,” Teyla said, smiling at the put upon expression McKay now wore.
SGASGASGASGASGA
The next two days found John Sheppard growing weaker and barely able to talk when he had visitors. There was no mistaking the pain he was in and the fact that Carson Beckett was worried. He’d had teams working round the clock searching for an antidote to the pathogen that was wreaking havoc with the colonel’s respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems.
Rodney McKay ignored his own injuries and spent most of his time in Sheppard’s isolation room. He had his laptop and helped correlate some of the information they’d already gathered with anything new the lab techs discovered. There was no mistaking the fear losing Sheppard caused him, but he ignored his own needs in an effort to help wherever he could. The only time he left was when Beckett threatened to knock him out for a week, or to give Elizabeth Weir a chance to spend some time with John Sheppard. Even Rodney could see there was a growing ‘bond’ between them and he hoped they’d have a future together.
What frightened McKay most was Beckett’s declaration that if something didn’t break soon he’d have to put Sheppard on a ventilator and drain the fluids building up in his lungs. ‘God, Sheppard, someday Kolya and Michael will pay for what they’ve done to you,’ he thought.
PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 / PART 4 / PART 5 / PART 6 / PART 8
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