He should have known something was going to go wrong, something always goes wrong, especially one of the Major...er...Colonel Sheppard's plans. Dr. Rodney McKay wiped his face, then leaned in and rested his face in his palms, elbows on the table, as he recalled how they'd gotten into this horrible nightmare. How Colonel Sheppard had gotten a message from one of Teyla's contacts and wanted to meet. Rodney had bitched and griped that it was a waste of time, though inside he felt it was off somehow, but he felt he would have better success getting John to listen if he griped at him to death. He should have figured Lt. Colonel John Sheppard had learned to tune him out by now, as the man didn't listen and argued with him about wanting to attend the meeting ...also kept his attention off the trap they all had walked in to.
"Great," Rodney muttered softly to himself, as he realized a good portion was his fault. He'd kept the others distracted so the Neanderthal idiots, who turned out to be working for Aiden Ford, of all people, could get the jump on them and knock them out with Wraith stunners....just great.
Rodney sighed and leaned back, feeling anxious and restless, his body twitching from the enzyme...the Wraith enzyme that Aiden Ford and his 'brilliant' mind believed would be the answer of all answers in dealing with the Wraith, and wanted to use his old 'teammates' as guinea pigs...all but John. No, John got to remain untainted, while he, Teyla, and Ronon Dex got it laced in their food and then held down and injected with the crap, to 'prove' to everyone it was great stuff and everyone should have it...as if! Then to top off his madness, he informed them that they were going to destroy a hive ship...a HIVE SHIP!
Rodney shifted in his chair again, worried for his team, especially John. He knew John had managed to get Ford to tone down the amount of the enzyme he got compared to the others, but for some reason, it was still affecting him just as much. He also trusted John when the man told him to fix the Wraith Dart in order to betray Ford and his junkie-lackeys and return to Atlantis...should have known...should have. He'd fixed the flyer, but Ford was on to John, seemed the demented puppy was not that stupid...sadly, and forced him to remain behind on this dreadful planet, while the others headed to the Hive ship...making sure the ship only went to the one planet and back again. Rodney knew that was his 'assistant' Kanayo's doing...bastard. He also felt something more was off, but couldn't put a finger on it...so he worried.
Sitting back, Rodney looked up and stared at one of the two henchmen assigned to watch him inject himself with the enzyme. "Oh! Do...?" Rodney was appalled and looked away.
The guard smirked as he continued and looked at Rodney, "Want some?"
"No, I'm good thanks," Rodney replied, wishing he were just about anywhere than here...preferably back in Atlantis bugging John Sheppard. He was still working on getting John's trust back, and he wanted it desperately; especially after what happened with the Ancient technology and blowing up part of a galaxy. He saw it as good sign that he was still on the team and he did help save John, and free the lost Ancients from the ship Aurora...that had to count. Getting John's trust back was very important, especially since that was probably all he'd have of the man he'd fallen in love with...you couldn't have a friendship with someone you didn't trust...so...
"You sure?" The same guard asked, finding McKay's antics amusing.
"Yeah, pretty sure," Rodney replied. No longer able to sit still he got up and began to pace. "Look, don't you think that they should be back by now, huh?" he asked, getting more and more hyped up, the enzyme making him even more twitchy and restless, and the very thought the enzyme making it only worse for Rodney and making it hard to think much less speak his mind. "I mean, how long does it take to fly there and fly back, you know? I mean, I say, uh, it's a minute from, uh, here to the Gate, uh, ten tops from their Gate to the Hive ship, um, twenty to get in and lay a charge and then, then, what? Like, ten more to get, get back out and home, right? So..." Rodney was now facing the guard who was injecting himself, wanting him to agree with him...do something.
"Worrying really isn't going to do anything," the guard commented, sharing a look with his partner, a dark haired man, who also thought Rodney, was amusing.
Rodney sneered, "Yeah, well, I subscribe to a different school of thought."
Rodney had crossed the line, getting dangerously close to invading the man's space. He was no longer amusing. The guard was getting annoyed with Rodney, and wanted him to relax, "They're FINE!"
Getting into the man's face, Rodney looked the man in the eye, daring him to challenge him, "You can't possibly know that!"
The guards exchanged a look; both smiled, once more finding Rodney...the scientist, amusing at his attempt to intimidate one of them. The guard looked back at Rodney, "I got a gut feeling," he told him.
"Yeah, well, I have a different gut..." Rodney began to say, folding his arms around his chest as he saw the guard before him stand and the other one close behind him, "...feeling."
"You know, you need to relax, they'll be fine," the second guard said as he closed in behind Rodney.
Rodney was feeling very nervous now, and the million little ants that were crawling through his bloodstream weren't helping. He was also worried and something inside him was telling him something very bad was going to happen. "And just how am I supposed to do that with this...this garbage in my veins?" he challenged, hoping to step back and away from these two, and get some room to pace.
The first guard shared another look with his partner, and grinned wickedly, "I know what you really need," he smirked.
"The crystals to the DHD and a Go To Home card, while collecting two hundred dollars?" Rodney snarked, his nerves now really getting to him, as the two men took a step even closer. By the time he realized what was happening, he was already being manhandled face down on the table, his right arm being held out by the dark haired guard. The dirty-blond grabbed a bag of enzyme and filled a very large needle with it, smirking as he watched McKay struggle, helpless against the enhanced strength of the other man.
"Don't do this...I'm an important scientist...do you have any idea what you're doing...what that crap can do...no..." Rodney protested, seeing what was about to happen. He saw how much was going into the chamber and his eyes bugged out wide. "Wait...wait...that's three...four...times the amount...STOP!" Rodney shouted as the guards just laughed. The blond brought over the needle and injected him with it.
"You need to understand what's really going on here, and just how important this is," the blond haired guard said as he continued to inject the enzyme into McKay. "Ford's been babying you and the others...the best way is a hard hit right off," he smirked knowingly.
Rodney's eyes were as wide as they could get, his breathing increased with fear of what was going to happen to him, feeling the thousands of ants increase to millions, and the laughter from the two men really was not helping.
"Now you'll understand," the blond guard said as he finished and pulled the needle away. He nodded to his partner who grabbed Rodney and tossed him into the chair Rodney had been sitting in, and both laughed, seeing the distress on his face, ignoring or not taking notice of how bad McKay was shaking or how pale he'd become.
***
Sheppard was far from happy. He knew this was a bad idea, but with McKay being held hostage, and the DHD in the Wraith ship locked out but to one address, which he had double... triple checked, he had little choice. If it were anyone else on his team BUT Rodney, he'd have chosen his backup plan, flying to another Stargate and dialing for help...but Ford knew, of all of his team members, Rodney was the weak point...he just wondered if Ford knew how much of one?
John shook his head; it wasn't fair to think of McKay that way. For a man who had never been in the field and was a self-professed coward, the man had done amazing and very brave things, including saving John's life on Atlantis a few times. Rodney was special, more special than he wanted to admit, especially being in the military. But, despite his improved resourcefulness in the field, Rodney was still not able to take care of himself the same way Teyla or Ronon could, and thus John was now heading to a Hive ship, full of life-sucking Wraith...the flyer on autopilot, and little he could do about it.
Sheppard had focused on what was at hand and had no choice but to release his cargo that of his team and Ford's, blind. He was glad Teyla and Dex were all right and could hear the whining in Ford's voice when he accused him of caring nothing for anyone else ...that guy was definitely messed in the head. John had his own hands full as he was greeted with his own Wraith party, setting off a ship-wide alarm...great, they knew they were here.
After taking his welcoming party out, John secured his P90 and set out to find his team, in hopes of getting this disastrous mission over with and getting out ASAP! Ducking down a few corridors, seeing it clear...after taking out a Wraith, tapped his radio. "Ford. What's your position?" Seeing the Wraith was getting up and coming toward him again, Sheppard pulled out a flash-bang. "Ford!" he called into his radio again, getting no answer. He heard the growl of a guard, "Ah, damn it!" he snarled, as he pulled the pin, and tossed it at the guard, taking cover behind the hall wall. The guard was temporarily blinded from the flash, allowing John to break cover and gun it down. John then made a beeline in front of him and down the hall, turning and coming face to face with another Wraith guard, who then stunned him. As John lost consciousness, his last thought was - how he'd failed his team...failed Rodney...he then became unaware of the two guards dragging him away or that elsewhere his team and Ford were also in the midst of being captured as well.
***
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Rodney shouted, as he paced frantically back and forth away from the two men who were not only guarding him, but also taunting him. Telling him how he should be savoring the power; the power the enzyme gave them, and how Rodney was probably able to take one of them on...if he had the guts.
"Come on," the blond guard insisted, enjoying his game. "Two rounds...just me and you, I'll even go easy on you...softy," he snickered.
Rodney stopped and stared at the blond idiot, and sneered, "What? Out of millions of insults that you could choose from, you pick...SOFTY? What do I look like, the Pillsbury Dough Boy? You pod brains may find this amusing, but I don't," he snarled, not caring at the moment that the two men were drawing closer to him, on opposite sides. "Brute strength is NOT how we're going to win the war against the Wraith...even a kindergartner could figure that one out...which of course leaves you two out, as I doubt either of you could read a Dick and Jane book between the two of you," he growled, sneering at the blond.
Before anything more could be said, the dark haired guard shoved Rodney toward the blond who snickered and shoved him back to the other guard, as if Rodney had become a ball. Rodney tried to catch himself and grab the dark haired guard, but got a blow to the stomach for his efforts. While bending over, the air knocked out of him, the blond guard kicked him in the ass, knocking him to the floor and hitting his head on the wall.
"Get up you lazy pig," the blond guard ordered, no longer amused, but angry and wanting to kick McKay's ass.
McKay heard the man behind him, his eyes were closed, and his head was hurting, his anger raging, as he heard the insult and the laughing, associating it with all the bullies he'd had to put up with over the years. "Leave me alone," he said, his voice holding a restrained anger.
"Get up, McKay," the other guard ordered, kicking Rodney's leg.
"Get up and fight or I'll have to teach you another lesson," the blond guard threatened, and then laughed, looking at his partner. "That fat ass of yours could be good for something other than sitting on it, after all," he added.
"Yeah," was all the other guard said and the two of them moved forward to grab Rodney.
Sensing the two men were approaching, knowing what they intended to do, and having more than had enough of their puny, small minded, backwards behavior, Rodney felt something snap inside him. Like a dark bolt of electricity, he felt it move through his body as he turned and saw the two men approach. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" he shouted and watched the two men fly away from him, slamming into the cave wall with a sickening thud, then slumped to the ground.
Seeing the two men on the ground not moving took a few seconds before Rodney reacted to it...he smirked, then got to his feet, his body shaking as he moved. He stepped forward, not feeling afraid of them, but feeling superior. "Another round?" he asked smugly, knowing full well both men were now dead. He laughed, not taking note of the almost hysterical lilt in it. He then turned around looking. He needed to find the DHD crystals and his GDO and get to Atlantis and get help, for he KNEW John was in trouble, and it seemed it was his turn...again...to save John's life. John would just have to owe him another one.
***
Dr. Elizabeth Weir sat in her office, holing up a small recorder, trying to continue on with the daily aspects of Atlantis life. "... and thanks to several modifications, the specifics of which are encrypted in this databurst, we believe we can streamline our power consumption a further thirty percent." She paused for a moment, lowering the microphone, and then lifted it to her mouth again. "Also at the time of this transmission, Colonel Sheppard's team is still missing and is..." Elizabeth hesitated for a long time. "... is presumed ..." she hesitated again and realized she couldn't pronounce them KIA. "... Colonel Sheppard's team is still missing. End transmission." Weir switched off the microphone, put it on the desk and sighed; wondering what, if anything, there was she could do, but eventually accept their disappearance.
Suddenly the alarm sounded indicating there was an incoming wormhole. She was up, out of her seat, and in the control room nearby, before anyone could call her. She saw that Major Loren and his men were taking up positions, as the wormhole was established moments before the shield was raised. "What's happening?" she asked, wondering who was dialing in; and holding her breath in hope that it was Sheppard's team.
"I'm getting a transmission code," one of the techs called out, and then grinned widely, "It's Doctor McKay," the man stated happily.
"Lower the shield," Weir ordered, and moved to the bottom of the steps as she watched the shield flicker off and Major Loren and his men remain ready just in case someone uninvited tagged along. She was barely to the bottom of the steps when she saw Doctor McKay come through...alone. "Rodney..." she began but was cut off.
"No time, Elizabeth," Rodney said, adjusting a satchels he was carrying and looked up, ignoring the men with guns generally pointing in his direction. He saw the roof parting where a Jumper would soon be joining them, as he had just mentally called for one, which should have been their first sign something was wrong as he could not have done this before, then he hurried past Weir and Major Loren and went to the control area where he began hitting keys with intent. "We have to go after them," he finally stated, having ignored any attempts from Weir or Carson Beckett to get a report out of him so far.
"After them...where? What's going on, Rodney? Where have you been?" Elizabeth asked, moving into Rodney's space, though it didn't slow the man down as he continued to key in information of some sort.
Rodney looked up, his fingers moving of their own accord as he multitasked. "Ford, that's what happened. He survived his swoop and scoop with Wraith and found a bunch of moronic Neanderthals to follow him into his madness...going after Wraith for the enzyme. He wants to PROVE to you it's safe and the key..." Rodney couldn't help but laugh, and which caused Weir and Beckett to exchange a worried look. "Key to overcoming the Wraith...he just might be right," Rodney smiled, as he began to move past Weir, toward the Jumper that had landed, and was ready to be boarded and exit the though the gate.
"Rodney, what happened to the others?" Carson asked, seeing for himself that McKay looked unwell, pale and sweating, and bouncier than a rubber ball.
"Ford's been drugging us with the damn enzyme, mostly Teyla and Ronon...John got Ford to keep my dosage low so I could fix the Wraith flyer..." Rodney rambled, trying to get to the jumper, but finding his way blocked by Carson, Elizabeth and Major Loren.
"Rodney, I think you need to come with me," Carson began to say, but Elizabeth cut him off.
"Fix...Wraith flyer...? Rodney, WHAT is going on?" she demanded, worried for her team members off world still.
"Oh, they're on a Hive ship...in trouble no doubt...Ford thought they could sneak on and blow it up. Peon," Rodney snorted, then got serious. "They've been gone too long as it is...they're in trouble, and WE need to get to them, fast," Rodney replied and tried to push passed but was held at bay by Major Loren at a nod from Weir.
"I think you should just tell us where they are and let me and my team go after them, Doc. You look like you should go get checked out," Loren stated, looking concerned but serious.
Rodney turned to see he was not going to get the cooperation he was hoping for. But being a man of thought he knew this was a possibility, even planned on it. He glared at the Major, "Either help me or get out of my way," he snarled, determined to help save John...and the others.
"Look, Rodney," Weir began, laying a hand on Rodney's shoulder, something she quickly discovered was a mistake as she found herself in Rodney's grip, his one hand holding her up and slightly choking her, much like Ford had done to Carson not that long ago.
Rodney looked furious, and with a glare, sent everyone tumbling back, to the amazement and shock of those few not affected in the control room and Elizabeth. "I am NOT in the mood for your simple-minded bureaucratic nonsense," Rodney told Weir, as he moved with her towards the Jumper, which was opening at his mental command.
Elizabeth was struggling to breathe, the hold tight, but not fully cutting off her air supply. She noticed three of the Marines had retained their weapons and were moving into position, unaware that she betrayed them with her gaze. Rodney looked, and with a gesture of his hand the weapons went flying out of the men's hands, then he faced Weir as he stood at the bottom of the Jumper's ramp. "See..." he beamed with pride and awe of his new found powers. "Ford was right," he laughed, the sound a tad too giddy and laced with some hysterics. "But of course it's not for everyone, some will rise above...others will fall to their knees...as it should be," he said, his eyes growing dark with anger, looking at those trying to scramble to their feet to gain a weapon or purchase in order to stop him.
"Rodney, think about what you're doing," Carson called out, seeing Elizabeth still struggling, her feet kicking in the air, her hands clawing Rodney's single handed grip.
"I am THINKING, Carson," McKay barked back. "I'm going to get John...and the others," he said looking at Elizabeth, "Don't get in my way." He then tossed Weir, and with a thought, she went flying toward Carson, who by default used his body to cushion her fall.
The jumper ramp closed, as Major Loren was able to stand, his head spinning, like the rest who hit a wall or some other solid object when Rodney had sent them flying. "Raise the shield," Loren ordered upon seeing the gate dialing, being ready to open.
The same technician who had been monitoring the gate previously, moved and tried to follow through with Major Loren's orders, but found nothing working. "I can't," he said in frustration. He kept trying as the gate locked and the wormhole opened. He looked up at Loren, Weir, now on her feet, holding her throat, and looking helpless, "He's locked us out."
"Ov...over...ride," Weir said, her voice raspy, the bruises clear about her throat from where Rodney had been holding her moments ago, as she moved to a control panel and entered her command codes as does at the same time as Major Loren, but before they were even halfway through, the Jumper was through the gate and gone.
"He obviously isn't in his right mind, Elizabeth," Carson said, fearful of the repercussions of what his friend, Rodney, had done. "And I think I best take you to the infirmary," he added, seeing the nasty discoloring forming on her skin.
Weir just shook her head no, trying to hold back anger and frustration, trying to figure out what just happened here. She looked up at Carson, "Why?' she asked, knowing it was a loaded question, but all she could manage.
"As I said, he was not in his right mind. He said himself...Lieutenant Ford has been drugging him..." Carson began.
"I've read the report," Loren interjected. "Its effects never covered....what he did," he added, still not believing what just took place, though grateful no one was seriously injured.
"Aye, they didn't. I can't begin to tell you but I can say this...I'm worried...mighty worried," Carson replied, and saw that he was far from alone in this concern.
***
Rodney was through the gate and directed the Jumper upward. He was now glad for the flying lessons he got from Sheppard as he directed the Puddle Jumper higher. He let lose with an uproarious laugh as he closed his eyes and thought the cloak in place, "Can't be seen...nope, can't be seen," he smiled.
As clouds surrounded the Jumper, Rodney decided to 'fly' and tried a few loops, which occurred too fast for his liking. "Nope...not the best of ideas, McKay...stick to straight and...even," he chided himself, suddenly feeling green, along with weary, his 'high' starting to fade. Knowing the Jumper would maintain its climb, Rodney opened the satchel he was carrying and pulled out a large bag of the enzyme and even a larger needle than the one he had used on him previously. "Ahhhg," he said, hating needles. He looked at the drug that held the key to the power he was possessing, which he was now losing, and debated what he should do next. As the Jumper passed the atmosphere and cleared the planet, the Hive Ship coming into view, he knew what he had to do; it was the only way HE could save John and the others...John being his priority.
"For you, John," he said, convincing himself this was the reason he took the same massive dose he had initially been given when his 'ability' first appeared. Then bracing himself, he gave himself the shot, feeling once again the ants that crawled through his veins increase...but now the feeling was soothing, and he could breathe again...think again...focus, or so he believed.
Rodney cleaned up and put his stuff back in the satchel, and then began to search for a way into the hive ship. He noticed a Wraith Dart flying toward the ship, and he followed it in without hesitation, confident that the Wraith did NOT know he was there. Once inside, he became lost for a few moments in seeing the honeycomb interior. "Reminds me more of bees than spiders," he muttered, then turned to John to say something and realized...there. "Right...find John," he said, his hands shaking as he reached out to slow the Jumper, while thinking life signs, and got a display screen before him.
Normally Rodney would have swallowed hard with some fear seeing the hundreds of Wraith life signs, but with the power surging through his veins, he didn't give them much of a thought. He concentrated on the group of 'human' life signs, noticing one by itself, but it was too far and he could not reach it with the Jumper...he'd have to get the others first, and so directed the cloaked Jumper in the direction he saw the life signs, while grabbing the portable scanner, and making a mental list of what to bring with him...for the others to use, should it be needed.
***
John's head felt like someone had done the Mariachi Stomp on it, as it hurt. He slowly realized he was laying down and had a pillow, a warm pillow. "Auuuh," he moaned.
Teyla looked down to see John coming around, having been pillowing his head, in hopes to make him more comfortable, knowing how unwell he would feel from the stun gun of the Wraith. "Are you alright?" she asked, hoping he was, regardless of the headache she knew would be present
John quickly glanced around and immediately feared where they were, "We're in a holding cell?"
"Yes," Teyla replied, knowing John needed a moment to gather his bearings
"On a hive ship," John stated knowingly, feeling more the fool for not listening to Rodney and not going back to Atlantis when he wanted to...though of course had the man not been bitching... as usual...
"Uh-huh," she replied, not seeing anything else needed to be said.
John gave a small groan, not only from the headache, but as a small chastisement to himself for wanting to blame Rodney even for a moment. The man always griped, it was his way, and John should have had his head on the mission and tuning him out, instead of getting himself in Rodney baiting...this was his fault for not paying attention and letting those bastards catch him and his team off guard in the first place. "Well, then, no, I'm not doing so good," he said to Teyla, looking to see all who were with him here, and was relieved to see Ronon present as well. He even realized that to a lesser degree, that he was pleased to see Ford and the other man.
Aiden walked over to Sheppard, his anger clear in his movement, "I can't believe you screwed up," he accused John.
John got to his feet, a tad unsteady for a moment, and gaped at Ford, "I did WHAT?"
Ford got into Sheppard's face, meeting John's glare with one of his own. "You set off the alarm. You RUINED the mission," he growled.
"The Dart went on autopilot the second I got close to the hive. You're lucky I was able to get you out," John replied, knowing full well he wasn't to blame for the failure of this pre-doomed mission.
Aiden tilted his head slightly and eyed John, "Well, why would it do that? Why would it go on autopilot?" he asked, as if knowing John did it on purpose.
Sheppard looked exasperatedly at Ford, "That's what Jumpers do when they gate to Atlantis."
"Well, why didn't you say something?" Ford asked, again with an accusing tone.
John looked disbelievingly at Ford, "Why didn't I *say* something?" He resisted the temptation to reach out and smack the guy. Nearby, Ronon looked as if he was about to interject in the argument, when Kanayo stepped in front of him to keep him back, and they glared at each other in a standoff.
"You want me to fail. You want me to look bad!" Ford told John, like a petulant child, blaming the other kid for his mistakes.
John really had to control his temper at seeing and hearing this nonsense. "Yeah, that's right, you snot-nosed brat. I put my team's life on the line just to prove you wrong!" He was going to say more, when he noticed Ronon turn away from Kanayo, and realized something was up.
"We've got company," Dex said quietly so all knew to be alert.
A Wraith and two guards approached the door. The Wraith stared into Ronon's face, grinning, as to whether it is from some recognition of the runner or simply seeing a big strong meal it was unknown. "Move away," he ordered.
Ronon didn't move, standing his ground. "What do you want?" he demanded, as if the bars were in front of him at HIS inclination not the Wraith's.
"The one who flew the ship," the Wraith replied, deciding to go along.
Ronon had no intention of letting the Wraith hurt his friends and team, he sneered at the Wraith, "Why don't you start with me?" he challenged.
The doors to the cell opened at the Wraith's gestured command. Then the Wraith looked at one of the guards and it shot Ronon with a stunner, dropping him to the floor, showing he was more than willing to meet the prey's challenge.
"No, wait! You want me," John said, not going to let anyone hurt another member of his team, especially one not able to defend himself, as Ronon was not fully able to at the moment. He knew that being in command would put him in such a position...he would meet this challenge head on. The Wraith moved into John's face and sniffed, making a satisfied sound, and turned and walked away without word or gesture. The guards used their stunners to herd John into following the Wraith out of the cell; the doors closed behind them, leaving Teyla, who had gone to help Ronon, and the others behind.
Aiden stared at the cell doors as they closed, and then turned to Ronon and Teyla as she helped her injured teammate up from the floor, his arm around her shoulder, "It's alright. There's always a way out," he said, believing his own words, though there was a small amount of concern on his face as he saw John fading into the distance, as he and the Wraith drew farther away.
Ronon glared at Ford, "If he dies, you die," he stated, and the look in his eyes told Ford it was no idle threat, but a solemn vow.
"Enough," Teyla stated, "we need to find away out of here and help Colonel Sheppard, not fight among ourselves," she added then helped him to move him to where she had laid John earlier.
Ford nodded, "You're right," he said and moved to the wall next to Kanayo, "Lets get looking," he said; and they started going over the walls...again.
"There was nothing here the last time," Kanayo said in a whispered voice, beginning to feel...scared.
"We overlooked something," Ford replied, "we must have," he added, not allowing his own fear for his friend and himself show. He was also having some doubts about his plans, but he couldn't let that show either, for a commander never showed weakness, that's what he was told...or should say saw. General O'Neill never showed it back on Earth, Sheppard never showed it...he couldn't either.
"What would you guys do without me?" came a familiar, slightly arrogant, and amused voice.
"Rodney?" Teyla gasped in surprise.
"McKay?" Ford and Ronon stated almost as one.
"The one and only," Rodney grinned, feeling very pleased at the expressions of disbelief at his arrival. "Give me a second," he said, and ripped open some of the material used to act as walls allowing him access to the circuitry and in a few moments, grinned ear to ear when the doors slid open. "Voila," he said, gesturing to his grand feat.
"Doctor McKay, I am most pleased to see you, and please do not misunderstand when I ask, how did you come to be here?" Teyla asked, not able to fathom Rodney's appearance as their rescuer.
"Yeah, how did...YOU get passed MY men," Ford asked, unable to believe that Rodney...untrained, scared of his own shadow McKay, was able to take on two...TWO of his skilled warriors.
Rodney sneered at Ford like he was dog shit on his shoe, "Your MEN..." he sneered, "...are DEAD," he grinned wickedly. Then he eyed the cell. "Where's John?" he asked, no longer caring about Ford or the others.
"They took him moments ago down that corridor. We must hurry if we are to aide him," Teyla advised.
"With what? We have no weapons..." Kanayo protested.
"Here," Rodney said, stepping back and handing Ronon and Teyla P90's and a stunner each, having gathered them from some of the dead wraith he'd ...encountered.
"Hey, what about us?" Ford protested this time.
"As John would probably say, eat shit and die," Rodney growled, and took a step forward as if ready to deliver that sentence himself.
"Not now," Teyla growled, feeling some of the effects of the enzyme herself, and did not need this nor did Sheppard. "Colonel Sheppard is in danger..."
"You're right," Rodney said, recalling his purpose here, the rest were unimportant next to John. He gave Ford a deadly glare and then reached in his satchel and pulled out the mini scanner. "He's straight ahead...only two guards ahead...easy pickings," he said and moved forward, no gun in hand, and not seeing the concerned and puzzled looks all four of them shared, then they too followed suit.
***
The guards marched John along a corridor and into a chamber with an illuminated low platform in the middle. They walked him onto the platform and took up positions nearby. John turned around several times, looking round the room, although there wasn't much to see because the rest of it is so dark. Suddenly a Wraith female appeared next to him. She had long white hair, and her teeth were long and huge, like a piranha. John stared at her, startled at her sudden appearance, as she just looked at him for a few seconds, then her right hand shot up, and her long fingernails touched the side of his face. Her voice echoed in his mind, and John was unable to resist, and found himself kneeling before the Wraith Queen, just like Colonel Sumner did not so long ago. He wondered if there would be someone with a bullet for him, to save him from the fate before him.
"Why are you here?" she demanded, eyeing John like a tasty morsel.
"Oh, just in the neighborhood, thought I'd drop by, check out the local schools, chur..." he didn't say more as his head exploded in pain, though she never touched him.
"Why are you here?" she demanded again, this time echoing the question in John's mind.
Sheppard was sweating as he tried to block out the Wraith, focusing on football scores and mathematical equations. "Wanted...to...discuss...decorating tips," he panted out, and doubled over in pain again.
"How did you fly our ship?" the Queen asked, deciding to change tactics at the moment.
"You know," John said, huffing a bit as if he had run a marathon, "Got in, turned the key, stepped on the gassssss...aaaaaaah," he cried out, as again, she made his mind explode with pain.
Without a word, the two guards that were near by moved forward and held Sheppard tight, and he knew what was going to come; he'd seen it with Colonel Sumner. He braced himself as best he could and waited for the strike to hit.
***
Teyla and Ronon took the lead from Rodney who was using the mini-scanner to direct them. Since the two guards were not expecting them, they were able to quickly and quietly dispose of them and move farther down the hall toward where they were detecting John. They slowed to a stop and Rodney and the others peeked in and saw John, doubling over in pain, and the two wraith guards in the background.
"She's not going to be so easily taken out," Ford warned in a whisper.
"There are also several Wraith guards in the shadows, there and there," Rodney stated, handing over the scanner to Teyla, who moved back with Ronon to discuss a strategy, not quite ignoring Ford and Kanayo, who were now armed with stunners also.
Rodney leaned against the hive ship wall, feeling the sweat bead down his skin and felt even shakier than before. He knew it wasn't that long, but he also felt that he was losing his edge and if he were going to save John....hearing him scream in pain, made Rodney jump and rush toward the entrance, but Ronon kept him back, and from exposing their position. "She's hurting him," he whispered angrily.
"Queens are known for their stronger psychic powers," Ford stated, as if they needed a simple reminder.
"Look, stay here, we'll handle it," Ronon ordered Rodney, seeing he would probably only get in the way without a weapon.
Rodney didn't like being told to stay back, but he didn't know if he could take on the Queen...but having seen his John in pain, he knew what he had to do. He moved a few steps back and let the others do what they needed to, as he pulled out his pack of enzyme and the large needle, planning on filling up before injecting himself with it.
"What are you...that's too much," Kanayo said, having spotted what Rodney was up to.
This of course got the attention of the others, who were about to go charging in, and Teyla and Ronon were shocked, even Ford looked startled at seeing Rodney ready to inject himself with so much of the drug. "Don't..." Ford began to say as Teyla and Ronon moved forward to prevent him, but they all found themselves pushed back hard against the wall, nowhere near as hard as could have been an hour or so ago, but enough to stun them. This left Rodney free to carry out his plans and injected himself...quickly.
Once he felt the power flow through him again, Rodney just dropped the satchel and the now empty enzyme bag and needle, and went marching in, more than ready to deal with the Queen bitch. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!" he ordered as he stormed in, startling the Queen from her strike on John's chest, as one of the guards had ripped open his shirt in preparation for the assault.
"Rodney?" John gasped out, shocked at seeing him here of all people, much less storming in like he owned the place. "Get the hell out of here!" he shouted, wondering what the hell possessed the man to be so...so...STUPID! Then John's jaw dropped as he saw several Wraith guards step forward going to stun Rodney and suddenly go sailing into the wall with a sickening crunch. "Rodney?"
Rodney was furious now, having been assaulted or the attempt by the few guards that were nearby, and the two guards and the Queen were still too close to the man he loved. "I think it's time Heckle and Jeckle here take a nap..." he snarled and with a wave of his hand, the two guards went sailing back just as hard and fast as the others had, with the same result.
"Huh-ah...I wouldn't try that if I were you," Rodney scolded as the Queen meant to grab John, but his words seemed to make her hesitate and that was all Rodney needed as he mentally lifted her upward and walked her to the nearest wall, suddenly forgetting all about the reason and person he was here to save. The Queen hissed at him as she struggled to free herself of the unseen grip. "Save it, BITCH!" he snapped, as he moved closer, but staying out of touching distance. "I'm not going to let you or your little life-sucking hatchlings touch him, or anyone else in fact. You like sucking...how about this?" he snarled and then met the Queen's eyes and began to concentrate.
By this time, Teyla, Ronon and the others were in the room, Teyla helping John up, as Ronon secured the room and kept his eyes peeled for others, while Ford and Kanayo stared in amazement and fear at what they were witnessing. "What...what's he doing?" Kanayo stuttered, seeing the Queen's head thrash back and forth, as if in agony.
"What the HELL is going on? What did you do to him?" Sheppard demanded, looking accusingly at Ford.
"Nothing...nothing. He's not even supposed to be here," Ford stated in shock at what he was seeing, and trying to process what might have happened back on his planet with the two guards.
"He injected himself with a massive dose of the enzyme," Teyla told John, but before more could be said, the Hive Queen stopped struggling and looked stunned, her eyes empty looking. Then they witnessed Rodney make a little twisting move with his hand and they could hear the neck of the Queen Wraith snap.
John swallowed hard, not even able to imagine what was going on with his friend and the man he'd come to care so much about, even love, if things were different. "Rodney?" he called out as he approached the man with caution, for he'd already proven himself ten times more dangerous then Ford was, when freshly hyped on up on the Wraith enzyme. "Rodney?" he called again, seeing Rodney still had his back to him.
Rodney tilted his head back, then after a few seconds, smiled, "This is amazing, John," he said, his voice sounding a bit deeper, than normal. Then he turned and faced John and didn't take notice of the small wince everyone gave as they saw his eyes were completely black. Unlike Ford, there was no facial disfiguration, just the pure black eyes staring at them, and a smile that looked more wicked because of it. "I...I know how they work...I...I know why they're fighting, I know..." he laughed, sounding like a mad scientist, then caught himself, "Sorry," he smiled, then frowned as he looked over John's shoulder. "Go find the Jumper," he ordered, his tone brooking no argument.
"Doctor McKay..." Teyla began, but a hand gesture from John stopped her. She saw him nod yes, that they should locate the Jumper or at least leave the room.
"Leave us," Rodney said as he moved to the empty platform, where a chair was raising, much like the Ancient technology, via mental command. "You'll be safe, I've taken care of things," he stated confidently, as he took a seat. Seeing only Teyla and Ronon leaving he gave Kanayo a mental push, but it only made him stumble back and he quickly joined the others, as Ford turned to leave as well.
"Rodney, perhaps we should go with them," John suggested, as he moved cautiously toward McKay.
"It's okay, John. They won't bother us. I've sent them elsewhere..." Rodney grinned; his face was glowing with pride at his accomplishment. He looked for a moment as if he were going to explain more, and then changed his mind. "Come here, John," he said.
Sheppard heard the command in his mind, and sensed the intent behind the order and couldn't help but shiver. "We...we really should be...heading back," he stated, semi-conscience of the fact he was walking forward, toward Rodney.
"We're perfectly safe, John," McKay said, and amplified his words to John's mind. "I'm in control here...you're safe, John, come to me," he said, the volume of his voice lowering as he projected his words and intent more than he could speak. "I'd never let any harm come to you," he whispered as he reached out, Sheppard now within reach, and caressed John's cheek.
At the touch, all was lost but the sight, sound, smell, and sexual desire of wanting Rodney, nothing else mattered. "Rodney," John said in a breath, feeling his pulse quicken at being so close to the man he desired.
Rodney smiled, "You want me John?" he asked, already reading John's mind and sensing the passion from the man before him. Silently he willed John onto his lap, and grinned wider as John straddled him on the open chair, then he wrapped his arms around the man he'd wanted to be his for so long. "I want you too, John," he said and then leaned in and captured the sweet mouth before him.
John felt the draw and didn't even think about fighting it. He wanted Rodney and now he KNEW Rodney wanted him...wanted to touch him, kiss him, and love him. Rodney wanted him to be his...he could do that. Oh YES, he could do that, especially as Rodney took possession of his mouth, and his hands were everywhere on his body. John gave back as good as he was getting, for he didn't feel hampered, just free...free to express how he felt with the man he loved...regardless of military. "Oh Rodney," he panted out in between deep kisses.
Rodney breathed in his soon to be lover's scent. He pulled John as close to him as he could get the man, and began to undo the rest of his jumpsuit; wishing the man was wearing the two-piece set, making getting him naked so much easier. But even in the back of his mind, knowing he had the Wraith contained at present, he knew this place was not for taking his lover all the way...no that was for back in Atlantis in a nice comfortable bed. "Mine," he growled and once again took possession of John's mouth, his hands parting the jumpsuit, shoving up the undershirt so he could touch skin, one hand caressing Sheppard's chest, the other going in and around to clasp his firm butt cheeks.
John's mind was now fogged with passion and heat. All he could really think about was being with Rodney, touching him, making him cum. He reached and lifted up Rodney's shirt with one hand, and down his pants with the other, giving Rodney's cock a nice stroke, getting a hot gasp from his lover. "Like that?" he grinned, and then with both hands, undid his lover's pants, freeing his cock, then shifted his own underwear, so his cock was free. This of course was made easier once Rodney pushed the top portion of his jumpsuit off his shoulders.
For a moment, John thought he heard a voice...a nagging voice asking him if he were insane, and saying this wasn't the place for such things, but once his cock touched Rodney's nothing else existed...only Rodney, who was in his mind, telling him over and over again, he was wanted, loved, cherished and of course, what was in store for him once they got a bed, in full detail...it was SO hot!
"Yes, John...oh yes," Rodney panted out, then started to nip along John's neck, savoring the tangy taste of his lover's skin, finding he liked the area between the neck and the shoulder and locked on there, and began to suck hard, planning on marking his lover so all knew whom he belonged to. The feel of John's cock rubbing on his own, was sending electrical bolts through his body and he thought them right back and John, who was moaning and shivering in delight, as he could also read what John was feeling...John LOVED HIM! "That's it, John...ride me, work your cock against mine...yes...oh yes!"
John felt his own breath increase and knew he was close, as he could not only feel his own arousal but Rodney's and what HE was doing to his lover, making him more aroused in the process. "Oh...I'm...I'm close," he called out, knowing he couldn't last much longer.
"Cum for me, John...cum for me," Rodney ordered, verbally and mentally.
John couldn't help but obey...he wanted to obey, and his body did so, bursting into a million points of light in seconds and then back again, just enough, so he could see Rodney doing the same.
Rodney was holding his lover, panting, breathing...feeling...not thinking, just being. He and John had touched, not only in body but mind and it was beautiful...true harmony. Then suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his neck...it took him a moment to realize John was holding a thin needle in his hand, and had just used it on him...why? "John?"
"I do love you, Rodney, and I'm afraid for you...I have to get you back to Atlantis," he whispered, and was glad that between the orgasm and the sedative, it worked, Rodney blacked out. "Sorry, babe," he whispered, and began to move, his senses free once again.
"What the HELL was that?" Ford asked, having never left and witnessed the whole...bizarre scene.
John was pulling on his clothes and was glad he had a bandana to clean himself and Rodney as he quickly as he could. Deciding to overlook the obvious he figured he'd keep his reply to the not so obvious. "It was a sedative. I was going to use it on you, and take the others back...but...didn't go that way," he smirked at Ford, glad he'd had that little puppy hidden in his side pant leg pocket.
Ford was shocked and not a little disoriented at seeing his commanding officer...former commanding officer, just have sex with a scientist...a drugged out scientist, on the Queen Wraith's chair...on a Wraith hive ship! "Ah...ah..." he was a loss for words.
John barely had himself together, having gotten Rodney's clothes back in order first, when Rodney began to convulse. "Crap, no!" he said, fear filing his eyes. He pulled Rodney from the chair and searched for something to place between the man's teeth to keep him from biting his tongue, but could find nothing.
Suddenly from somewhere off in the distance, there was a massive explosion that rocked the hive ship. John fell forward, covering Rodney, then got his balance once again, and noticed the convulsion had stopped. "Help me get him to the Jumper," Sheppard ordered Ford.
Ford, for his part, was too stunned and shocked to do anything other than follow orders, and helped John lift Rodney to his feet, and between the two of them, begin to drag him down the same hall they came.
John noticed the headset radio Rodney was wearing and grabbed it for himself. It was awkward, walking with the unconscious man, and placing in the radio earpiece but he managed. "Teyla? Ronon?" he called, hoping they had found the Jumper, as he and Ford rushed down the halls, mindful of any company they might meet. John kept calling every few minutes and was concerned not to hear from them, as they finally reached the cell in which they were originally being held.
"Colonel Sheppard," Teyla's voice came over the radio.
"I take it you found the Jumper?" John smiled, for he was very worried for Rodney. Once more he had a convulsion and once again, somewhere on the ship blew up, and John was beginning to think it was NOT a coincidence.
"Yes. Where are you?"
"I'm just in front of the cell we were in, facing the door," John stated, needing to know where to go.
"Move to your right, and I will guide you, as best I can. I am not able to use the Jumpers sensors, but you still register on the hand held one," Teyla explained.
"Good," was all John said, knowing only he and Rodney could operate the Jumper.
John and moved quickly and quietly, and then paused as Rodney had another convulsion, and John needed to make sure Rodney didn't swallow his own tongue or bite himself. Rodney was sweaty, clammy, cold and hot...his body was going through degrees of various reactions, and John was scared.
Once John was sure Rodney was all right, usually after something went boom, he gathered him up with Ford's help and once again began moving as quickly as they could. "I never meant for this to happen," Ford finally said as they went.
"I really don't give a crap," John snapped back. "You set me and my team up, you used us, abused our friendship, and drugged my team...I'd say that had some intent."
"I mean...this...getting caught..." Ford tried to clarify.
"You don't have a fucking clue, Ford, not a damn clue what you're doing, and you're trying to impose your...rightness on us...well, I hope you're happy how it all turned out," John snarled as they turned the corner and came to an open area that had an odd distortion where Teyla came out of nowhere toward them, showing them where the Jumper was.
As soon as Teyla drew close, Ford jumped back, dropping his half of Mckay, "I'm not going back," he declared.
"I really don't give a crap what you do, anymore," John said coolly, as he and Teyla began to move Rodney to the open ramp of the Jumper. Once close he gave his half over to Ronon, then faced Ford, and glared. "Just stay the hell away from me and my team," he added, then saw Rodney go into another convulsion and then turned back to Ford once again, his hazel eyes now dark with fury, "and know this...if McKay dies, or is permanently damaged from this...I'm going to hunt you down and kill you, got it?"
Ford stood stunned as the realization that he was no longer a part of the team...the family, struck home. He was now an outsider, no longer welcomed. He swallowed hard, and nodded, "Where's Kanayo?" he asked, wanting to get his real friend and go home.
John didn't say another word, he entered the Jumper, it was Teyla who stepped out as Ronon got McKay settled, after they all waited for the ship to stop rocking from another explosion. "I am not sure what is happening, but parts of the ship are destroying themselves.... Kanayo was caught in one of the explosions, having decided to take another direction than us...I...I am sorry..."
"Teyla!" John said, not going to wait longer than for her to get herself inside, wanting to get Rodney back to Atlantis quickly. "We've got to go," he snapped. He turned to see her give a remorseful look at Ford who apparently didn't want to come and she stepped inside.
Not going to waste time Rodney may not have, John closed the hatch mentally and got the ship up and moving as fast as possible, heading outward, hoping to find an exit. He only had a brief wave of guilt as they were leaving Ford behind, but that ended when Rodney had another convulsion and more of the ship exploded around them, providing an exit for the Jumper. Deep down he convinced himself that Ford had survived the Wraith before he could do it again, and then gave it no more thought...his focus was now on getting Rodney home...and his team, for he could see they were not doing so well either, by the pale hues they both sported.
John flew the Jumper as fast as he could toward the planet and the gate. He was just in the stratosphere when the Jumper rocked from the explosive pulse from the hive ship having exploded. He managed to keep control of the ship and continued his descent. When he felt he was close enough he dialed Atlantis. Seeing the chevrons lock, "Sheppard to Atlantis, do you read me?" he asked.
"John..." came Weir's voice, sounding a bit raspy. "Where are you?"
"We're coming in. I need a medical team standing by...something's wrong with Rodney..." he said, trying to keep his voice professional and calm, but failing.
Carson's voice came over the radio, "Aye, we've some idea of that. He mentioned something about the Wraith enzyme...is he still showing...unusual effects?"
It took John a moment to process that McKay had to go back to Atlantis to get a Jumper and still had come alone, which meant something happened. "If you're talking about tossing people around with a thought...yeah, he did that, but now...he's been having convulsions, Doc...I had to give him a sedative...his heart is beating out of control...he's..." he was dying, that was what Rodney was doing and John couldn't say it...didn't want to believe it.
"Doctor Beckett," Teyla called out, knowing she could be heard. "Prior to Doctor McKay's...final conflict with the Hive Queen..." she began.
"HIVE QUEEN!" Carson gasped.
"Yes," Teyla replied calmly, and continued, determined to inform the Doctor of what happened. "He gave himself a massive dose of the enzyme..."
"How massive," Carson asked, his voice filled with great concern.
"From the fear in the other's eyes, I would guess...very," she replied, not having any way of expressing the measurement as she didn't know.
"We're approaching the gate now," John stated, cutting off the conversation.
"Aye, I'll meet you..." Carson began.
"John, he is convulsing again," Teyla cried out, unsure how to help her friend.
"In the first aid kit, there is a greenish plastic stick, grab it and place it between his teeth so he doesn't injure himself," Carson advised, while moving with his team to the Jumper bay, wishing they was already there, as time was not on his side and he knew it.
John was sweating from worry and was glad when the Jumper went to autopilot, knowing there was nothing more he could do to speed it up. He leaped from his seat to kneel next to Rodney who just went limp and he checked for a pulse...not finding one, nor was he breathing. "No damn it...no!" he shouted and began CPR, praying he could keep Rodney going until Carson could take over and save him...he had to save Rodney; he couldn't lose him now...not now!
Sheppard was focused on keeping Rodney's heart going and breathing for him, he didn't notice they had landed or the Jumper door being opened by Ronon, until Carson was next to him, intubating Rodney and then letting one of the nurses bag him, for breath. "Move," Carson ordered John and physically moved in and took over the CPR, ordering another nurse, smaller than himself to take over, as they got the gurney in, and as and the team lifted Rodney onto it. The small nurse was on top of the gurney with Rodney, continuing the CPR, Carson having decided not to try and defibrillate him here, for he knew there was a lot more going on then a simple heart attack, and needed to be ready for the side effects of his actions.
John stood still, his eyes following Rodney being rushed out of the Jumper by Carson and his medical team, and then it hit him...and he began to shake. But his need to be with Rodney was stronger so he moved forward; ready to follow, only for him and his team to be met with two dozen Marines, guns pointed at them. "What the hell?"
"Sorry, John," Elizabeth said as she moved closer, but kept a healthy distance back. "Rodney had mentioned you all being used for some enzyme experiment, I...I can't take any chances," she added, looking apologetic, but absently rubbing her neck, now covered in a turtleneck shirt, she was now wearing.
"Look," Sheppard snapped his nerves almost shot as his worry for Rodney increased. "Ford didn't inject me...he wanted a...measuring stick and a clean witness to his...experiment."
"Well, I'm not taking any chances," Weir stated, then gave him an understanding look. "We're all going to the infirmary anyway...I'm sure Rodney will be...okay," she said, not truly believing that, seeing Carson and his team fighting to keep him alive as they left.
Sheppard nodded, wanting to get there ASAP, and turned to see Teyla was looking worse for wear and Ronon looked ready to snap. "It'll be okay," he told them, and led them to the infirmary, very much aware of the guns still pointing at him, and glad that half were Wraith stunners.
Once there they were separated to different areas, and shown the beds they were going to be strapped to. All three protested, but Sheppard finally realized it was going to happen one way or another, and all he wanted was word on Rodney. Several female Marines helped Teyla change into a medical gown, and got her secured in a new set up to hold her, should she act like Ford once the withdrawal hit. It took a dozen to get Ronon as he began to protest...harshly, the stunners only slowing him down. John cooperated, knowing the sooner he did, the sooner, he'd be told of Rodney...besides, if anything happened, he doubted even this would hold him.
The slide of the curtain around his bed, opening to show the others with Carson and Weir, brought fear to his heart, but he had to know. "Rodney?"
Carson didn't look well, as he wiped his face. "Not good," he said, meeting Sheppard's gaze. "I've got him on a respirator, and another machine is keeping his heart beating...his body is shutting down," he stated, his expression showing how serious this was. "His brain scans are all over the place, I cannot tell you what's happening there," he added. Before he could say more, one of the nurses called him and he rushed off.
All were quiet as the other nurses and Doctors not helping with Rodney came in and began to take vitals and blood for testing, all holding their breath as they waited.
***
John hated being strapped to the bed. Hated more so not knowing more about Rodney's condition. At least Elizabeth was keeping him up to date, and she didn't have anything new either and it had been hours...two to be precise.
John snapped his head up as far as he could, the padded neck restraint, keeping him close to the now partially sitting bed, hearing the curtain move, this time revealing Doctor Bennett, coming toward him, a small smile on her face. "Your blood work came back clean, Colonel," she said as she began to undo the straps, allowing him his freedom. "You are a bit malnourished and dehydrated. I'm going to give you an IV with a nutritional drip added. Then you'll be free to go," she added, warmly.
"How's Rodney?" was all he asked, seeing Elizabeth enter in his little corner, behind the doctor.
"No word yet," she said, and then smiled in relief seeing John being freed from his restraints.
Sheppard looked to Bennett, "Rodney?" he asked, his eyes hopeful for some word.
"All I know is that Doctor Beckett hasn't given up...that's a good thing," she insisted and moved to leave. "I'll have a nurse come with the IV."
"How's the rest of my team?" John suddenly asked, feeling bad that he'd almost forgot them in his worry about McKay.
"Unfortunately they DO have to remain restrained, as they have high doses of the enzyme in their blood stream. The weaning program Doctor Beckett is suggesting is going to require large does of the enzyme...we don't have it," she said honestly. "We're working on a substitute to help..."
"Wish I knew the address to the planet Ford held us on...they had a whole flock of Wraith for the picking," Sheppard growled.
"When Rodney was here...before he took off and locked us out," Weir began.
"He locked you out?" Sheppard asked, disbelieving what he was hearing.
Elizabeth moved to the side of Sheppard's bed and explained what had happened in the control room. "Then he tossed me, and I landed on Carson. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt...but," she absently rubbed her throat, "we tried to prevent him from leaving, we couldn't. The lockout didn't last long though, and we found an address placed there by Rodney...it might be the same planet."
"I can give Major Loren directions on where to find the hide out," John said, having no intentions of leaving Atlantis until he knew how Rodney was.
The curtain moving again was the nurse with John's IV and liquid nourishment. Carson followed her, and he looked exhausted and not happy.
"Well?" John asked, needing to know. Needing to get out of this damn bed and be with Rodney.
Carson sighed, "Not much better I'm afraid. His body has mostly shut down, but his brain functions remain high and out of whack..."
"Out of whack? That a new medical term?" John asked, trying to keep it light, but he felt anything but. "What are you going to do?"
"What's happening to him?" Weir asked.
"From what I can understand, Rodney has been given a massive dose of the enzyme, and I believe more than what Teyla witnessed," he added. "Now, we were under the impression it worked on the body, increasing strength and other physical factors..."
"But that's not what happened with Rodney," John interjected.
"Aye, not to the same effect, no. We know the Wraith have a psychic ability, and it seems the enzyme is also tied into it...why, I cannot tell you at the moment. But we do know it effected his mental abilities...and as we know, he uses a higher percentage of his brain then the most of us..."
"And it's effected that, some how, allowing him to toss people like rag dolls," John commented.
"Aye," Carson nodded. "How it did that I cannot say at the moment either. I can say, whatever has happened has his brain working over time, as his body is shutting down..."
"Is there anything you can do for him?" Weir asked.
"Unlike Lieutenant Ford, Rodney's body is rejecting the enzyme...and from what tests I've done, it's due to the gene therapy he's taken. I've done a few quick tests with your blood work, Colonel, and it shows that like Ford, Teyla and Ronon, have the same absorption rate...though Teyla's body is breaking it down better due to her Wraith DNA, its still affecting her very similarly...so I can only conclude it's the therapy. I've asked a few others with the therapy gene to come and let me take a few fresh samples. In the meantime, I've need of these good folk," Carson said and handed a data pad to Weir. "He's going to need a massive blood transfusion...I'm going to replace his blood, hoping it'll cut the effect of the enzyme down and then use dialysis to filter the rest out. I'm hoping that will allow his body to heal enough for me to restart his heart and lungs..."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Weir asked.
"Aye, but I've no choice. Unlike the others, who can be weaned off it safely, it's killing him and I need to get him free of it fast, so I need the other blood to replace what he has..." Carson replied.
"Am I on that list?" Sheppard asked, sure that he and McKay shared the same blood type, one of many little things they shared.
"Aye, but I'm not taking anything from you until Doctor Bennett tells me I can...and yes, she knows I want to," Beckett replied.
"I'll have them report to you immediately," Weir nodded, seeing the list of names before her. "You think this will work?"
Beckett looked at both Weir and Sheppard and shrugged, "It's all I can think of. I haven't had a lot of experience with the enzyme much less been able to research its effects outside of what we saw with Lieutenant Ford."
John sighed, "There is something else you should know," he said, hating to bring it up, but knew it had to be said. "I would like this to remain between us...OFF McKay's medical record," he added, his eyes showing how serious he was on this point.
"John, if it's a danger to the City," Elizabeth began.
"It's a danger to Rodney if anyone, especially the military find this out," he replied coolly. He waited until he got nods from both people, the nurse gone a while ago. Then he explained what Rodney did with the two guards, the precision of his actions, and then what he did with the Hive Queen. "From the way he was talking, he...sucked...the knowledge out of her mind," he told them.
"Is...is that even possible?" Elizabeth asked, shocked and amazed at the same time from what she was hearing.
"Well, if the Wraith can suck the life force from a person, I don't know why one can't do the same with information," Carson replied, his expression one of dire concern.
"It was only afterwards that his eyes changed," John added.
"What do you think that means?" Elizabeth asked, also trying to accept what she was hearing.
"I honestly don't know," Carson admitted. "If you, excuse me, I'm going to run some more tests. The sooner you get everyone here, Elizabeth, the sooner I can start replacing his blood," Beckett added, then with a nod, left.
"He's strong, John," she said, moving and laying a hand on Sheppard's arm. "He's proven that a few times..."
"He said he didn't want to go on the meeting...he bitched about how he could be spending his time elsewhere, but...I think he knew something was off...just didn't trust...trust me...enough," he shook his head to keep his emotions reigned in.
"You and Rodney have become very close friends, John," Weir replied warmly. "He's risked his life for you and you for him...it creates a bond and it's strong between you two. We also know Rodney flat out refuses to go through the gate with just anyone...this we've seen, so he DOES trust you, John. It's probably himself he's still learning to trust. Learning that perhaps he DOES have instincts after all, and probably feels too insecure to mention them to you...after all, all three of you are warriors, and he's not..."
"Some warriors, none of us detected that we were walking into a trap," John sneered, feeling the guilt of letting his team down...again.
"Doctor Weir to the control room," one of the Tech's called.
"I have to go...and since you're here for a bit," she nodded to the IV, "I'll have someone send down a laptop and you can write up your report. We'll discuss this more later," she added then dashed off, relaying to the tech the list of names she got from Carson, to have them report to the infirmary, as she went.
"Colonel Sheppard?"
Sheppard looked around, and then realized it was Teyla's voice. He adjusted his gown and got out of bed, dragging his IV pole with him and went to visit both Ronon and Teyla, both restrained, curtains separating them both. He opened the divider as he entered. "Hey," he smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Rodney IS strong, Colonel...he will make it, I know it," Teyla stated, believing this in her heart.
"Yeah," Ronon said, and then pulled on his straps. "Get us out of here, would you?" he asked, wanting to get up and kick some ass.
"Sorry, no can do," John replied, regretfully that was the case. "You're going to be in withdraw soon, if not already. I'm sending Major Loren back to the planet...apparently Rodney provided Weir with the address. Carson's going to wean you both off...believe me, it's best you remain as you are..."
Ronon tried to leap from his bed, the restraints holding him, "Get me out of here, Sheppard, or when I am free I'll break your scrawny little neck!" he snarled.
John had winced when Ronon had tried to attack him, but maintained his calm, "Now, now, name calling is only going to lead to tears," he smirked, which only caused Ronon to try harder and snarl at him. "See now THAT'S why you're here...and going to remain," he added, then with a smile his heart heavy in his eyes, he moved to get the curtain that separated both Teyla and Ronon. "I'll let you nap on it," he grinned and closed the curtain, ignoring Ronon's threats. He then looked at Teyla, "How you doing?"
"Not much better," she admitted. "I too would like out of this..." she said, pulling on the restrains, but then she took some deep breaths, using her meditation techniques to help center herself. "Though I believe I will be much happier if Doctor Beckett can get this enzyme...out of me...soon," she added between clenched teeth.
"We'll get you fixed up," John promised, and then left, heading back to his bed, but couldn't resist, the area appeared clear, though there were guards at the entrances, should they be needed. He headed to where he guessed Rodney was and slowly opened the curtain and felt his heart flop into his stomach. He was hooked up to numerous machines, and looked like death, in fact, if not for the machines, he would be dead, as they kept his body going. Daring, he moved in and took Rodney's hand in his own, and caressed it to his face, uncaring at the moment if anyone knew how much he loved the man before him. "You've got to fight this, Rodney," he said softly. "You can't leave me now...not now, not when we just found each other," he added, feeling a few stray tears fall down his face. He then kissed Rodney's fingers, remembering how they caressed his body not that many hours ago, and the knowledge of how Rodney loved him, flowing through his body and mind. "You have to come back to me," he added, then straightened up when he turned and saw Carson enter, not looking too surprised to see him.
"I'll do everything I can for him," Carson promised, not making any comment on what he may or may not have seen. "In the meantime, I need you back in your own bed before Doctor Bennett has my head...and then what good will I be?" he teased, hoping to lighten the burden he saw in Sheppard's eyes.
"Okay, but I'll be back," he stated, for it was a fact. Once he was fully discharged he was planting himself in a chair next to this bed. He then made his way back to his area and saw the laptop was already delivered. He sat down, got comfortable and started on his 'official' report, going to protect Rodney from those who would use the knowledge of what he had achieved against him, and probably humanity...pity they were their own worst enemy at times.
***
Elizabeth carefully pulled back the curtain that surrounded Rodney's bed, balancing the tray of food she carried in the other one. "Hey," she said softly, getting John Sheppard's attention, the man silently sitting vigil and looked almost as bad as Rodney did. "I brought you something to eat," she smiled.
John looked up and saw who was there and the tray and gave a small smile, and wiped his face, as he felt the stubble on his unshaven face. He felt the weariness right down to his bones. "Thanks," he said, not wanting to be rude, but he wasn't really hungry.
"How's he?" she asked, placing the tray down on a small portable table and moved it near John.
John smiled, a bit more sincere, "See this?" he said, pointing to the heart monitor, which was beating strong and regular, "He's doing that himself," he said with a touch of pride. "Carson took him off this morning and it was touch and go for a moment, but Rodney got with the program," John explained. "Man's too stubborn to die," he joked, giving a small laugh, and his eyes lit up slightly as he gazed at the man in the bed, still on a respirator.
Weir actually knew this, as Carson had given her an update, but she knew John needed someone to talk to. "I fully agree with you there," she smiled in return, while handing John a cup of hot coffee. "Did Carson say when he plans on taking Rodney off the respirator?"
"He wants to wait a few more days, apparently Rodney's lungs sustained a bit of damage...he's lucky, his heart seems fine," John replied, taking the offered drink and savoring a small sip. "It's probably good that he put Rodney in an induced coma," he added, though he it sounded like a reluctant agreement.
"He needs time to find out how the enzyme effected Rodney and his brain...at least the blood transfusion removed enough of the enzyme that he was able to prevent the rest of Rodney's organs from shutting down," Elizabeth said, subtlety pushing the tray closer to John, having filled it with a few of his favorites, according to the kitchen staff.
The smell of fresh cinnamon rolls was too much and John reached out and took one, reluctantly enjoying the taste, as a part of him felt he didn't deserve such treats. "Thanks," he said, his mouth full, and then sipped more of the coffee to help swallow. "Yeah, apparently the gene therapy effected Rodney's ability to absorb the enzyme..."
"Wasn't there a second reason as well?" Weir interjected.
"Yeah...as I was going to say, the gene therapy and apparently a recessive gene, combined and worked as an...anti-absorption...whatcha-ma-call-it, and was interfering the enzyme...reason Rodney was so much more twitchy than the others. He was reacting more to it...I just thought..." he put the half uneaten roll down on the tray along with the coffee and bowed his head with guilt.
"You thought he was being overdramatic...again," Elizabeth said knowingly. "John, Rodney DOES overreact to things...there was no way you could have known..."
"I shouldn't have been so eager to dismiss his complaints," John replied forcefully, the guilt clear in his voice.
"If Rodney wouldn't overreact and make false claims so much, you wouldn't be face with the boy who cried wolf syndrome," Weir countered.
John stood, needing to stretch his back and legs, "I know but still..."
"You had Ford lower the dosage, so on some level you DID notice and did your best to help," she added.
"But still...I should have done more," John replied, his voice sounding as tired as he looked. "Carson said he was surprised that Rodney didn't go into cardiac arrest with the first massive dose he got, but contributes it to a chemical reaction with his brain...some sort of crap like that," he sighed, again wiping his face and stretching his back at the same time.
"You should go take a shower, clean up and go to bed," Elizabeth advised.
"I'm good," John lied out right, and retook his seat.
"John, you're exhausted, and you're not doing Rodney any good like this," she said, hoping to sway him into taking care of himself. "A few hours in your own bed won't make a difference here, but it will for you and for Rodney down the line, when he's awake and needs you," she said knowingly. Seeing the shocked look from John, he smiled and continued. "No, it's not that obvious, and most think it's just dedication to your team, but I've been observing you two for sometime now, wondering if...when. It's not my place, but I know he loves you too, John. As to whether or not he can deal with it or not..."
"He told me," John said, letting Weir know she was off the hook from overstepping her bounds, even in the name of friendship. "But...but only recently," he said, turning to look at the extremely pale man lying so very still before him. "I can't lose him, Elizabeth," he whispered, holding the rest of his pain inside.
"He's strong, John...but you need to take care of yourself too," she tried to say again.
"I can't leave him alone, I won't," John said firmly.
"You're not alone in this, John. I'll stay, and Zelenka and many others are willing to help too, John. You saw the line outside of the infirmary when word spread that Rodney needed a blood transfusion...we got more than we needed. Those who knew O positive blood could be used if needed, and those who just wanted to offer their help," she said, laying a gentle hand on John's shoulder. "You don't have to do this by yourself, and Rodney WON'T be alone, I promise," she finished, her smile and eyes showing how sincere she was.
John thought about it, and he was tired. Plus, Carson was threatening to ban him from the infirmary, and he didn't want that. "Okay, but after I finish breakfast," he grinned, deciding he would sleep better with a full stomach.
"Okay," Elizabeth nodded.
After a few minutes of silence, Elizabeth watching John eat, she spoke up again, "Carson said that Teyla will probably be out of restraints in a few more days...Ronon probably a few more after her," she said, hoping to make more conversation.
"Teyla is a strong woman," John nodded. "While Dex is trying to tear people's heads off, the most she'll do is a few choice words...that's self discipline at its finest," John replied, his awe of his teammate clear. "I didn't think too much of the meditation lessons she wanted to offer, but..."
"Perhaps they might offer something after all," Weir chuckled, seeing that John might be right. "She's offered them to me too...might just take her up on it as well."
"You want to know who HAS taken her up on them, not that we're supposed to know this?" John laughed slightly. "Rodney," he continued, not waiting for a reply. "Think it might have helped him....you know..." he shrugged, and gestured with his chin at Rodney.
"I can't say, but it's very probable. You know, I can't hide the telekinesis from Colonel Caldwell, too many witnesses, but I will try to hide the...other aspect. But I'm wondering, if he retains any of the knowledge he...gained, how we're going to explain how he got it?"
"I'm not sure. Guess we cross that bridge when we come to it," John sighed, feeling the weight of his exhaustion upon him, especially after finishing his meal, which wasn't too big, thankfully.
"I do have a question I'd like to ask?" Weir asked, and waited until John was looking at her. "Why didn't you bring Lieutenant Ford back?"
John was actually waiting for this question, and had wondered why it had not come sooner over the past two and half days since their return and his report given. "Rodney was dying, Elizabeth, and he didn't want to come. To be honest with you, seeing what he did to my team and McKay..." he shook his head then met her gaze, "I didn't want him back and I sure as hell wasn't going to waste time trying to force him. He made his choice...I made mine," he stated firmly, the anger of what happened darkening his eyes as he spoke. "And so you know, I promised him, if Rodney dies or suffers any permanent damage from this, I'm going to hunt him down and kill him," he told her, deep down feeling she had a right to know...as his friend.
"John..."
"I meant it Elizabeth," he told her, wanting her to know how serious he was in this matter. "He pushed this on us...on Rodney. He was more concerned about being show up than the safety of his men or my team..."
"I notice it's HIS men and YOUR team," Weir interjected. "I didn't know Lieutenant Ford was the enemy?"
"He is now," John said coolly, once more turning to look at his lover, and feeling the anger boil once again. He then stood up, taking a napkin and wiping his face. "Thanks for breakfast...and for staying with Rodney," he stated, indicating the other subject was closed and he was leaving.
Elizabeth folded her arms over her chest and nodded, "Sure thing," she replied and watched him leave. She then sat in the chair that John had occupied and looked at the man before her, "Some say that even in a coma a person can hear what's going on. If that's the case, Rodney, and with you I don't discount it," she smiled softly, "I, no...WE need you to fight this. You're needed here, not only for your great mind, but...there are a LOT of people who care about you, some who love you...very much," she said, then paused. She then reached out and took Rodney's hand, "John won't survive this, no matter how strong he seems, and he is strong, he won't survive losing you. Oh, he'll keep breathing...but I fear what will be left walking around...don't let that happen?" she asked, then sat back, shifting the chair a little so she could still hold Rodney's hand, so he wouldn't feel alone, and began to fill him in on all the minute happenings on Atlantis, and some of the gossip.
***
Ronon Dex was nearing the end of his patience, not that he had that much to begin with, having been strapped to a bed for over a week, but in a few moments, if his test came back clear, he would be free to go...and he wanted OUT!
The door to the isolation room he was placed in, his shouts and violent threats not conducive to those resting in the infirmary, opened, and he saw Teyla and Sheppard come in, both looking very pleased. "Does this mean I can go?" he asked flat out.
"Yes, and we're here to spring you," John smirked, looking a bit better having gotten some sleep last night, this time being relieved in his vigil by Zelenka and Grovirich, one of the newer scientists that had come to 'befriend' Rodney. John suspected it was to keep Zelenka company, as John couldn't see the small petite blond warming up to McKay's sometimes annoying and other times aggressive manner...but so long as she didn't have a thing for Rodney himself, John was okay with her being there. "Thought we take you to lunch in the mess hall, you up for it?" he asked, not sure how Ronon would feel after his bout with the addictive properties of the enzyme; after all he had threatened to kill over half the Marine populace.
"I guess," Dex grumbled, and started to get up from the bed, and looked at the IV still in his arm. "What about this and my clothes?" he asked.
"I have your clothes here," Teyla smiled warmly, as she lifted a satchel she was carrying and placed it on the bed.
"A nurse will be here in a moment, relax," John smirked, and as if on cue, in came a nurse to remove the IV.
"By the way, how is McKay?" Ronon asked, having been given some information about the man, but not much as he hadn't given a damn at the time.
The subject of Rodney brought mixed emotions to John's eyes. "Oh...better. He's breathing on his own now, and the Doc says he's going to start weaning him off the drugs that are keeping him in a coma, so...better," John said, trying to keep a smile plastered to his face.
"I must admit, I didn't think he would have made it this long," Ronon confessed, ignoring the nurse who was removing his IV. "But he has been a constant source of surprises."
"Yes, that he has," Teyla agreed.
"Rodney's a special man," John replied, feeling he had to defend his lover slightly.
Ronon agreed, rubbing his arm, now free of the IV, and went to get his clothes, having long lost the sense of modesty over the years. "I taken him for a soft...coward," Ronon continued, but his voice was even, as he looked John in the eye. "But yet I saw him display much bravery...in his own way," he smirked.
"He's saved my life several times...and Atlantis," John replied, glad that Ronon had come to have some respect for his lover.
"But he's still a pain in the ass," Ronon added, and all had to laugh in agreement.
"I do not think he would be Doctor McKay if he were not," Teyla added warmly.
"No...a Rodney that doesn't gripe at something is not something I want to see anytime soon," John admitted, though in the back of his mind he knew he had seen it, and would for some time to come, until Rodney woke up. Seeing that Ronon was going to change regardless of them there, John nodded with his head to Teyla, "We'll ah...wait for you outside," he informed Dex and the two moved out to give the man some privacy.
Shortly afterwards, the trio were making their way to the commissary where Major Loren stopped them. "Sir, now that we don't need such a high amount of the enzyme, what are we going to do with the Wraith?" he asked, as he had been placed in charge of overseeing them.
"Have you checked with Beckett to see if he's going to need anything from them still?" Sheppard asked, knowing that Carson used the Wraith reluctantly. The man was a true healer, and despised doing harm...even to the enemy. Only the necessity to harvest the enzyme needed for Ronon and Teyla, along with research to understand its effect on Rodney, forced him to use the captured Wraith in such a manner.
"Not yet. But when he IS done?" Loren asked.
"Then you go back to that planet and dispose of them, Major," John stated coolly, not wanting to keep any Wraith prisoners, nor did he want a live one here on Atlantis, thus giving away their secret that Atlantis was NOT destroyed when they faked its destruction to deceive the dozen Hive Ships that were poised to destroy them...again. It was Rodney along with Zelenka that had led to the saving of the city and everyone with in it.
"Yes, sir," Loren replied, approving of this decision, and then headed off to finish whatever duties he still had.
John was just going to continue to the mess hall, "Beckett to Sheppard." John tapped his earpiece. "Sheppard, go ahead."
"You asked me to call you when it looked like Rodney was waking up," Carson's voice came over.
"But, you said it wouldn't be for days yet," John replied, turning around and heading to the Infirmary even as he spoke.
"Aye, that's what I thought, but...he's starting to come around, Colonel," Beckett explained.
"I'm on my way," John said and began to run to the transport and back to the infirmary, Ronon and Teyla on his heels.
As fast as John could go, he was there by Rodney's bedside, in time to see Rodney's eyes begin to flutter. John took Rodney's hand in his, "Rodney," he called out, wanting his lover to know he wasn't alone and was safe.
"He really shouldn't be coming around yet," Carson stated, still amazed at some of the results he was getting from McKay in the aftermath of the enzyme.
As Rodney was still fighting to come around, John noticed a new piece of equipment hanging over Rodney's bed, green laser like beams shooting out toward his head. "What is that?"
"Ah, it's a new scanner. In the last databurst we received from Earth, I got a report on SG-1 finding this little baby in an abandoned lab, filled with Ancient technology. Having a full report and a description of the wee thing, I went looking for it and found it in one of the storage cabinets, marked for study...months from now," Carson explained and pointed to the monitor that was nearby displaying an image of Rodney's brain. As I said to you before, Colonel, Rodney normally uses about ten percent of his brain...this scan is showing a ten percent increase and this area here," he points to a large red spot in the right lobe, "it is not supposed to be active at all. But from what we can tell from those who have shown..."
"Stop talking about my brain as if I'm not here," Rodney groaned.
"Rodney," John gasped in surprise, looking down to see Rodney blinking his eyes...that were still black as midnight.
"And turn down the lights will ya?" Rodney bitched, and the lights dimmed immediately. "Better," Rodney said, as if someone else had lowered them.
"Did you...?" Carson asked John who shook his head no. He pointed to Rodney and John nodded yes. "Hmm," was all he said, before looking at Rodney, who was not staring back at him or was it John...he couldn't tell. "How you feeling?"
"Like a truck ran over my head, how do you think I feel?" McKay snarled back. He then turned his head slightly and saw John smiling, holding back a laugh. "It's not funny, Colonel," he snapped.
"It's wonderful, Rodney, absolutely wonderful," John said, marveling at his lover's recuperative powers, even if assisted by the same crap that put him in the hospital in the first place.
"Rodney, you almost died. Do you recall what happened?" Beckett asked, keeping one eye on the scanner and one on his patient.
Rodney turned his head to face Carson for a moment, then John. It was so hard to tell what he was thinking or feeling, his solid black eyes seemed to prevent any expression from being shown. "Ah...I think..." went still for a moment, then turned to eye John ...Ford," he said, his tone sounding concerned. "He made you take a Wraith Dart to a hive ship...I was being held hostage...then one of the guards..." he began to shake, as did the bed and some of the equipment around him.
Carson saw the activity displayed on the screen flare as things began to shake. John reached out and caressed Rodney's hair, "It's okay, you're safe, we're all safe," he reassured McKay. "You saved us, do you remember that?" he asked, hoping to get Rodney to focus and of course, remember their 'moment' together. A moment that John dreamed about every night and desperately wanted to repeat...without the hive ship and Wraith of course.
"Ah..." Rodney again seemed in thought as he went still. Carson noticed the shockwave had gone as Rodney relaxed under Sheppard's administrations. "Something about a Hive Queen...oh...OH!" he said, shooting up in bed, regardless of the wires and things on him, facing John. "I...I...I know..." he placed his hands on his head, refusing to lay back down, as Carson saw his vitals skyrocket and the scanner showing another flare of activity.
"Rodney, please, you've got to calm down," Carson told him, but was obviously being ignored.
"I...I'm turning into one of them," Rodney gasped in panic, moving away from Carson's touch, even pulling away from John. "Don't touch me!" he snapped with fear, more concerned for what he might do to them.
"You're not..." John was trying to tell him, but the man was not listening, so he reached out and grabbed Rodney by the head and made him face him, "You are NOT turning into a Wraith. You are WELL and SAFE," he told him firmly, hoping his own eyes expressed how true this was and his love, then released him.
"But I remember...I...I remember...I...I took...then...I...I killed her," Rodney stuttered in fear and concern.
"The enzyme caused an unusual side effect," Carson began.
"Unusual side effect?" Rodney snipped, his sarcastic tone in full. "I SUCKED her mind right out of her..." he gasped with shock and anger.
"Whatever you did, you can't do it now," John jumped in, thinking this was part of Rodney's fear.
"How do you know that?" he challenged, turning again to face John, subconsciously relaxing under his touch.
"Because you don't have but a wee bit of the enzyme in your body, Rodney. You cannot handle it...you were rejecting it, even as you managed to exploit its uses."
"Huh?" Rodney simply said, not quite understanding what Carson was telling him.
"Rodney, your body can't absorb the enzyme. The reason you were reacting so much...more," John began to explain, having had Carson explain it all to him days ago, "is because you were beginning to reject it. Apparently some recessive gene and the ATA therapy combined and had a side effect which acts as a...a..." he looked to Carson to finish up as he forgot.
"Reaction," Carson picked up. "With the lower dosage you were getting, you were just able to absorb it...had Colonel Sheppard NOT kept it low..."
"I could have died, right?" Rodney asked knowingly. "But...why didn't I die when they...they overdosed me...on purpose I might add," he said, some anger starting to rise as he recalled what happened to him, and only John and Carson saw the bed vibrate and then settle.
"I'm still at a loss to explain it all, Rodney. But let's just say your brain took on the excess energy the enzyme promoted and you...used it, thus giving your body a secondary way of dealing with the unwanted chemical in your system. Also, with more and more of that stuff in your system, your body began to counter act it, thus you were building a tolerance to it, while at the same time you were rejecting it...it's a wonder you made it back here at all," Carson stated in awe. "Just how much of that did you have before you gave yourself more on the ship?" he asked, wondering just how much of an overdose Rodney's body had managed to cope with.
"I...I don't recall," Rodney said, but it was an obvious lie...he didn't want to talk about it. "I want to go back to my room," he then said, withdrawing from John's touch and in to himself.
"No, you're still in no shape to be going anywhere. Ye might be feeling better but I can tell from your vitals, you're still no condition to be going anywhere. Besides, you still have some of the enzyme in your system...I cannot get it all out, and your body is still working on eliminating it from your system...of which I have no idea how it'll effect you," Carson told him firmly.
Rodney had other ideas, "Look, I'm leaving," he stated, and started to pull the monitor wires off him and sit up full on the side of the bed with the IV, but found John there, before him, blocking his way. "Get out of my way," he demanded, ignoring the wave of nausea and dizziness that was starting to build.
"You're in no condition to go anywhere," John stated and reached out to push Rodney back, but McKay flinched away as if frighten to make contact.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" he shouted, the fear clear in his voice.
"No one's going to hurt you, Rodney," Carson replied, hoping to console the man from panicking.
"You imbecile, it's the other way around...there's no telling what I could do...I..." Rodney went silent as he closed his eyes, a huge wave of pain went through his head.
Carson watched the wave on the brain scanner as John moved Rodney back in bed, then everything shook as if there was an earthquake...everything. It took a moment for John to get to his feet, and saw the minor disarray around him. It was the frantic calls on the radio that clued him in that this tremor didn't remain local. "Doc?" John asked, seeing Carson up and examining Rodney who was unconscious.
"I don't know," he said, calling for assistance, to get Rodney re-hooked to the scanners, and getting vitals. "He's unconscious, his readings are off the charts again. I've not witnessed anything like this..."
"On the hive ship, every time Rodney had a convulsion, shortly after there was an explosion..." John's face paled. "Sheppard to Weir," he said, tapping his radio.
"Weir...are you all right? We're trying to find out what happened," she explained quickly.
"I think it was Rodney...no time to explain. Are there any...power build ups anywhere in the city?" He asked, wondering why he was even thinking this, but the fear and concern were real.
There was silence for a minute, and then Weir's voice came back on, "Yes, in the West Pier, the power uplinks are building...so far all attempts to alleviate the problem are failing...how did you know? John, what's going on?"
John didn't reply to her, but looked at Carson, who was still trying to get McKay situated. "You need to put him back in a coma," he said, his heart breaking at the words, but deep down he knew he was doing the right thing and Rodney would understand.
"What? Colonel, I just..."
John cut Carson off, "Doc, if you don't, in a few minutes, Rodney is going to go into a convulsion and then somewhere in the West Pier is going to explode...it's what happened on the hive ship. Doc..." John looked at Beckett, hoping the man trusted him, as he didn't think they had much time.
Carson looked at the scanner and saw the readings building, especially in the around the area that was pinpointed to hold the secrets of telekinesis, and it dawned on him that the quake had effected Atlantis. "Aye," he said in understanding and instructed one of his nurses what he'd need to return Rodney to his drug-induced coma.
"John," Weir was calling, her voice urgent.
"I can't explain, but it's Rodney...he's having another...fit. Carson's going to..." he closed his eyes, hating the words he was about to say, "...to put him back in a coma...otherwise..."
"Otherwise what, John?" Weir prompted. "John, the readings are reaching the red, otherwise what?"
John swallowed hard, "Something will blow up...that's what happened on the hive ship. I didn't connect the two...he'll go into a convulsion and..." John didn't get to say anything else, as his words became a reality Rodney was now convulsing.
John could only stand back and watch helplessly as his lover shook uncontrollably, and as Carson tried to administer the drug that would send his lover away again. He could hear what was going on in the control room as Weir had left her mic open...the power uplinks had reached critical...it was only a matter of seconds...a race to see who would win.
John closed his eyes and let a stray tear fall, as he hoped this time it wasn't Rodney, and that thought broke his heart.
***
It had been two days since Rodney had been placed back into a coma, barely preventing disaster from hitting Atlantis. It had been two days since John had slept, and two days more than he could take of medical jargon that all added up to 'I don't know'. At this point he didn't give a damn who know how he felt about Rodney, or that Colonel Caldwell was due back any day now and he looked like crap, or that he'd left everything to Major Loren. No, the only thing he cared about was the man lying too still, too pale in the bed next to him.
John looked up to see Carson come in, and he looked just as bad as John felt if not worse. He knew Rodney was his friend, and even if he wasn't, Carson Beckett was the man to give his all, thus why he was here. "Well?" John asked.
"I think I've got it," he smiled, taking off a few years from his weary face. "I think the brain chemistry..."
"Doc...please. It's been almost two weeks of DNA this and enzyme that, mutation this and recessive gene that. English, Doc...please," John pleased, his head hurting almost as much as his heart.
"Aye, alright, I'll bottom line it for you, Colonel," Carson nodded as he understood. "There have been some changes on the genetic level which effected his brain chemistry. It's what was....powering the tremors and the chain reaction which could have damaged Atlantis and Rodney himself' he explained. "I'm hoping this," he raised a needle that held a dark liquid within, "will fix all that. I've run every test I can think of and the results are promising...but...?"
John nodded, as he knew there weren't any guarantees, "Okay," he said, trying to accept what he was being told.
"I've already talked with Elizabeth, even though she's in charge, Rodney has listed you as his next of kin...as it were. That means it's your call, Doctor Weir didn't want to step on your toes on this one," Carson finished.
"What are the..." John stood up, not sure if he wanted to know, but realized he had to. "What could go wrong?"
"I cannot lie to you, if this doesn't work, he'll have to remain in a coma until we can find a safe way of bringing him out...he cannot go through another seizure and not suffer brain damage from it. As it is, I've got my concerns, but with that...stuff...in his head, I cannot say..." Carson closed his eyes, not only from weariness but fear for his friend. "There is a very small chance he might reject this as he did the enzyme...if he does...not only will his body begin to shut down again...he...he WILL suffer brain damage."
John heard the words and felt them sink into his bones, his very soul, and hated them. He took his free hand, one still holding Rodney's, and wiped his eyes, wishing he could go to sleep and put this hell aside. He wished he didn't have to make this decision, but he wouldn't let Rodney down...he'd done that enough as it was. He nodded, "Okay, Carson...give it to him," he said, his voice rough and raspy from lack of sleep. He watched as Beckett moved to the IV and then reached out and grabbed his wrist, firmly, and met Carson's eyes before the injection was given. "If this goes south...if he..." he swallowed hard, feeling his heart shatter at the words he had to say, knew Rodney would want him to say. "Let go...if that happens...just let him go," he said, his eyes expressing the pain and grief of the possibility of what he was saying.
Carson looked at John for along moment, and then realized how hard this had to be for him to say. It would be just as hard for him to accept it, but Rodney lived in his mind as it were. He would be beyond miserable or worse if he survived with brain damage...he wouldn't be the same, nor would he want to live that way. "Aye," he said softly and then when John let go of his wrist, he injected the serum he had developed. "Now we wait...the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours will be the telling," he said to John, waiting to see if there would be an immediate reaction.
After a long moment, he left John alone with Rodney, the monitors would alert him if there were trouble. John sat back in his chair, exhausted. He knew Carson wanted him to get some sleep, even put a cot in the room with him, he didn't want to be that far from his lover, but he was tired. He gave a small laugh, he knew his own brain was not firing on all thrusters, but he had an idea, and he couldn't resist. He got up and lowered the side railing of the bed, and gently slid Rodney on to his side, he was due anyway, as they moved him regularly to keep him from getting bedsores, and then John kicked off his shoes, having changed days ago into civilian clothes, and climbed in the bed and spooned up behind Rodney. He didn't really think it would make a difference, but he needed to hold Rodney and he felt McKay needed him too...either way he'd have a little bit of time with him. Once settled he wrapped an arm around his love, and seconds later, he was in a deep sleep.
Carson had come back to see if he could convince John to eat and found John spooned up to Rodney, sound asleep. He put the tray down and got the spare blanket from the cot and laid it over the man. He then went to check on Rodney's condition and found no change. "You told me once, Rodney, that you'd do anything to have the man you loved love you back...well, here's your chance. Just get well," he said, patting his friend's hand and left, taking the tray with him, and left word no one but himself or his head nurse, whom he trusted to keep a confidence, were to be allowed in the curtained off room.
***
He didn't know how he got here or where here was, but one thing was for sure, he didn't like it. The place was dark, and from what little he could see from some strange blue lighting that came seemingly from no where, the walls, floor and ceiling were all black; the blue hue only added more shadows, which could hide anything. It took a minute of thinking to realize he was dressed in his BDUs, the ones he normally wore out on missions, instead of the civilian clothes he last recalled having on. He was also unarmed, which didn't sit well with him, but then again, who or whatever brought him here wasn't going to give him a gun now would they? "HELLO!" he shouted, figuring he might as well, for he had no idea what was going on and he couldn't be here alone...could he? After not getting a response, John picked a direction and carefully started moving, trying to get a sense of what was going on and his surroundings.
The place felt cold, though it was more of a sensation then a physical reaction, and it felt...dark. Not in the lack of light/shadow sense, but dark as in foreboding, that something evil was lurking just around the corner. John tried to laugh at that thought, knowing he'd watched one too many horror and science fiction films to be thinking like this...yet?
John froze in his tracks at the hissing sound that echoed in the air. His first instinct was snake...his second was Wraith! "Great," he murmured to himself, and went even slower as he moved forward, eyeing the shadows for anything he might be able to use as a weapon or a way out of this...place.
Around another corner and at the end of what had to be a hall, John saw a wide open room, that looked a great deal like the one he was dragged into on the hive ship, and there was someone standing there, who also looked familiar, though his back was turned and there appeared to be...something or someone on the floor just out of his vision. "Rodney?" he said as he approached closer, but Rodney didn't move or turn around. John drew even closer, now in the open room, less then five feet away, "Rodney?"
"STOP IT'S A TRAP!" someone yelled.
John stopped, startled by the familiar voice as well as its sudden appearance, as he could see nothing or no one else in the room as he looked around. Then he was struck with a sense of fear as the form of Rodney turned to face him, his eyes solid black and a mouth full of teeth that would make any Wraith envious. "CRAP!" he replied, wanting to get as far away as he could from this...this thing, but then realized he couldn't move. He also realized that the forms on the floor were bodies; dried out husks of people who had their lives sucked out of them...familiar people.
Sheppard heard his heart beating a million miles a minute, as fear coursed though his veins like ice, freezing him to the spot, not even considering that there might be another reason he was paralyzed before this thing...this thing that was reaching out a hand toward his chest. The vision of Rodney, now turned Wraith, was so horrid on so many levels that he could no longer bare to see it, and didn't want his last thoughts to be of the man he loved sucking the life out of him, so he closed his eyes tightly, the only movement he could make.
"UMPH!" John gasped as he felt himself being tackled to the ground and rolled away. He opened his eyes the lighting still poor, but there was no mistaking there was someone on top of him. He also looked to see the Rodney-Wraith hissing in fury, but NOT moving from the area it was standing in, as if blocked by something. He then looked at the person getting off of him, his eyes going even wider. "Rodney?"
"Colonel," McKay said, getting up and rubbing his shoulder and knees. "Am I glad to see you. Even if I did have to practically tackle you into the ground to keep you from being Wraith chow," Rodney grumbled. "I think I twisted something," he then whined, trying to cover up how badly he was shaking from his own fear.
"Rodney?" John said again, as he got to his feet, a tad sore, but alive, and that's all that mattered.
"Yes, Colonel, that's my name. And at the risk of sounding seven, don't wear it out...get to the point? Do you know how to get us out of here or what?" he glared, though his normal blue eyes did nothing to mask the tension and fear laced under the pseudo anger.
John blinked a few times; feeling confused on what was going on and hurt that Rodney was being so...formal with him. "Um...where exactly is here?" he asked, then looked to the thing highlighted in the blue lighting, still hissing at them. "And what the HELL is that?" he demanded.
It was Rodney's turn to look a bit confused. "I'm...I'm not sure. At first I thought I was trapped in my own mind, but that can't be, as you're here..." he began.
"Rodney, the last thing I recall was you being in a drug induced coma in the infirmary and me about to take a nap," he added, leaving out the 'with you' part at present.
"Huh," Rodney said, as if it were a common occurrence him being in a drug inducted coma. "Perhaps I am right...but that doesn't explain you being here," he muttered to himself, though subconsciously side stepping away from the THING toward Sheppard.
"Rodney...McKay," he said when he realized he was being ignored. "What IS that thing?" he asked again, pointing to the creature that almost had him for lunch.
"Oh..." Rodney said, and then looked a bit pale and scared. "I...I'm not sure. I think, when I...ah...sucked, the mind of the Wraith....some of...it came across too. I've managed to keep it at bay...as it were, but...it's growing," he said, gesturing to the darkness around them. "I ah...think it's trying to take over," he added, his voice shaking as he whispered the dreaded words.
John took a moment to process what he was being told. "Okay, just for a minute, let's suppose we ARE in your mind, and for some reason I'm here too," he said, trying to think. "You're telling me, that...that thing is part of the Wraith and is some how...what?"
"Colonel..."
"John," Sheppard corrected, not liking the formality between them. He was unsure if he liked the fact Rodney looked away from him, his eyes to the ground. "Rodney?"
McKay looked up and pulled John down another hall, getting away from the creature that had been hissing and watching them as if laughing at them. "I ah...I want to apologize for ah...well you know. I shouldn't have..."
John felt his heartache and his soul hurt at hearing what Rodney was saying, knowing full well what he was talking about. "Are you telling me you...you're having regrets?' he asked, trying to keep the pain reigned in.
McKay seemed exasperated at that question, "Of COURSE I regret it, Colonel. I never...I ...shouldn't have..." he sighed in frustration then slumped his shoulders in defeat. "I of course will submit to any charges you press..." he began.
"Charges?"
Rodney looked up and saw confusion in John's beautiful hazel eyes, "Ah...we are talking about the same thing aren't we? I mean...you know...the chair thing...you...me...?"
"Incredibly HOT sex?" John finished for Rodney in order to be sure they WERE talking about the same thing.
Rodney blinked, "You...you thought it was incredibly hot sex?" he asked, feeling stunned and yet feeling his lips curve with a touch of smugness.
"Yeah...didn't you?" John asked, suddenly feeling insecure.
"Well, yes of course I did, but...I mean. I forced you to...to...I mean I could feel myself wanting you to and you..."
Suddenly it all made sense now and John chuckled.
"It's not funny," McKay snapped.
"Oh, but it is," John said, then took a step closer and leaned in and kissed Rodney soundly on the mouth. When he leaned back, he could see Rodney looking stunned at him. "You DIDN'T force me to do ANYTHING I did WANT to do," he told him with a seductive smile.
"But I felt it...I felt myself pulling you..." Rodney stuttered.
"Yes...you pulled and I went...willingly, Rodney. I WANTED you just as much as you wanted me," he whispered in a husky tone, closing the small gap between their bodies and wrapped his arms around his lover. "It was the most...AMAZING thing I've ever experienced...like...we were...like..."
"One," Rodney breathed, unable to resist the heat and lure of the man he so desperately wanted, and then leaned in and kissed John with all the passion and love he had, holding him so close even air couldn't pass between them.
A moment later when they broke the kiss it was John who noticed the area seemed...brighter. "Huh," he said, then looked at Rodney whose eyes were still glazed over from their kiss and it made him grin. "So...we good?" he asked.
"I think with some practice we'd be great," Rodney said without thinking, and then blushed after realizing what he just said.
John laughed, "I couldn't agree with you more. So...how do we get out of here?" he asked.
"Um...how did you get in?" Rodney asked, hoping that would give him some clue.
"Don't know...as I said I was going to take a nap...uh...with you," John said, feeling his own face blush a bit.
"With me? I thought you said I was in some sort of coma?" Rodney asked puzzled.
"Well...I didn't want to sleep on the cot Carson provided, and I was tired...I guess I got the idea of sliding up to you and spooning with you was a good one and well..." he shrugged, then gave his most charming smile. "Seems to be working so far."
"Ah...is it me or does it appear...brighter all of a sudden?" Rodney asked, now noticing the change.
"I did notice that...what do you think that means?" John asked, looking around. Then the hairs in the back of neck started to rise. "Um, Rodney...I'm starting to get a bad feeling here," he said, and just managed to push the two of them aside as the Rodney-Wraith lurched out at them.
"CRAP, I thought you said it couldn't move from that spot," John shouted as he was dragging Rodney down a hall away from that thing.
"It couldn't...or wouldn't," Rodney huffed as they were only managing to barely stay ahead of the thing, chasing them.
John wasn't sure how it happened, but in their rush to escape the Wraith he had lost Rodney. One moment he was there, the next he was gone. "RODNEY!" he shouted, fear once more coursing through his veins, but this time, his love and determination to find and protect his lover overcame the paralyzing fear and urged him on to search. He turned down corridor after another, the echoes of someone almost whimpering and shouting in the distance his only guide as to where Rodney might be and urging him to move faster.
Another turn and he went smack face into a Wraith web. It took a moment to get through the stuff, as it was thick, and move forward, in what looked like a Wraith storage cell for their food, having seen them on other hive ships before. He shivered at the various shriveled corpses and then he noticed it...they were wearing Atlantis uniforms. "The bastard is torturing him," John said knowingly.
"NO, LEAVE THEM ALONE!"
John knew Rodney's voice when he heard it and from what he was seeing here, he could imagine what his lover was being forced to witness. "RODNEY!" he shouted as he moved his way around the bodies in order to find McKay.
"RUN, JOHN...RUN!" Rodney shouted with real fear and concern.
"THIS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD, RODNEY...YOU TOLD ME THAT. EVERYONE IS SAFE BACK IN ATLANTIS, THIS ISN'T REAL," John shouted back, hoping that somehow that knowledge could help, as he hurried and soon turned and saw Rodney huddled in a corner, the Wraith-Rodney dumping what John could only assume had been Zelenka on the ground, dead. "RODNEY!"
The Wraith-Rodney turned and grinned evilly, "This is only a foreshadowing of what I have in store for all of you once I take over," it hissed.
"Rodney, this isn't real..." John tried again, but could see Rodney was scared beyond measure. "You can stop him, Rodney, he's just a figment of your own imagination...your fear...he's not real," John insisted, somehow knowing he was right, even as the Wraith turned and slowly started towards him. "Son-of-a-bitch," he snarled, just ducking away from the Wraith as he dodged the thing and snatched up Rodney, and made a break for it. "Come on, Rodney, snap out of it," he said, shaking the man as he dragged his lover along the hall, hearing the laughing hiss of the Wraith echoing in the hall around them.
"I'm going to become a monster and kill everyone," Rodney whimpered, not really focused on anything but his own thoughts.
John whirled around and shook Rodney hard in order to get his attention. "Stop that!" he ordered. Once he saw Rodney was paying attention to him, he continued. "You are NOT going to turn into a monster..." he began.
"Oh?" Rodney challenged. "I already killed two men...just thought it and smashed them against the cave wall..."
John didn't need more information to know Rodney was talking about the two guards that had injected him full of the enzyme, as Major Loren had given him a full report of what he found when he went back to the planet to investigate. "They tried to hurt you, Rodney. You defended yourself," he countered.
"Look what I did to Elizabeth?" he glared at John, daring him to excuse that away.
"You were NOT yourself, Rodney and you didn't seriously harm her...you could have, but you CHOSE not to. Rodney, as power hungry or omnipotent as you were feeling, you CHOSE to come rescue your team...you SAVED me! Is that something a monster would do?" John challenged right back.
"But...but...it's everywhere, growing stronger...I feel it...I've...seen..." Rodney began to shake.
John pulled him in to a tight embrace, "It's your fear, Rodney. Whatever is going on with your brain, your fear has taken hold and manifested itself into this..." he pulled back. "It's YOU, Rodney." He said meeting his love's eyes. "You can stop it."
"H...how?" Rodney sounded all of five when he asked that simple question.
"You have to face it..." John began.
"I don't want to face it," Rodney said, and then looked over his shoulder as if sensing its approach and sure enough, there it was, and took off, this time, dragging John in tow.
"Rodney....stop," John said, wanting Rodney to face the thing, but knew his lover was too caught up in the moment to listen so he tightened his grip, so not to lose him again and ran with him, knowing sooner or later they would have to stop.
Several twists and turns later, only led them back to the same open black hall, where the thing managed somehow to get from behind to in front of them, causing John to put on the brakes and Rodney almost knocking him over. "What are we going to do?" Rodney asked as he panicked.
"He will die," the Rodney-Wraith hissed, "And I will take over...then I will lead my people back here and with the knowledge I have learned from you...we will finally possess the keys to not only the Ancient knowledge, but Earth," it laughed.
"Oh no...what have I done?" Rodney asked with fear and a sense of doom once more overwhelming him.
John moved slowly backwards with Rodney, keeping an eye on the thing before them. "Ah...Rodney, does it not strike you as...ODD...that it sounds like the Wrath Queen?" he asked, hoping to get Rodney to stop reacting and think.
"A part of it probably IS the Wraith Queen..."
"Then WHY does it look like you...only a thousand times uglier?" John asked, wondering if now would be a good time to force Rodney into facing this thing, and then wondered if perhaps he was wrong and they really WERE in danger, thus taking another step back.
"Probably a reflection of my own subconscious, my fear of the Wraith, and all that power, and how I..." Rodney stopped moving backwards and John almost stumbled over him.
"Rodney?" John asked, wondering what was happening, as his focus was on the thing approaching. "Rodney?" he asked again, turning to see Rodney staring at the creature, shaking, but his eyes looked determined.
"You were right, John. It's NOT the Wraith Queen...it's ME," Rodney stated and moved around John to come face to face with the creature. "My fears of what happened, of the powers I displayed, and my fear of what might happen to me...it's all fear...MY FEAR," Rodney said first looking at John, then faced the thing, "My fear made real...in MY mind," he said firmly though he was still quaking as he moved.
"That's right, Rodney. This thing doesn't have any power over you, unless you give in to it," John encouraged, now standing behind his lover. He then watched the two face off, neither moving for several minutes. "Now what?" he asked.
"Now..." Rodney swallowed hard still looking at the thing before him, "I face it."
John couldn't help his gasp of fear when he saw the thing slam its hand into Rodney's chest, just like a real Wraith, but Rodney seemed to be standing there staring back at it. John felt helpless at the moment, and he wondered if McKay was in any real danger...and at seeing Rodney begin to sweat and grow a bit weak, he reached out to grab him. "You can do it, Rodney...you're not alone, I'm here," he said, trying to help Rodney stand. The moment he touched Rodney, he could feel it...their 'oneness' as he liked to call it, and smiled. It was then he knew how to help, and that was in giving his lover his love and support, which he did. "You don't have to face everything alone anymore," he added, sensing this was how Rodney had faced many things in his life, but no more. "I love you, and I'm here for you...always," he vowed.
John could feel Rodney relaxing and growing more confident and the creature began to sweat and look weaker by the second. "See it for what it really is, love," he whispered. The then saw the glowing smile that crossed Rodney's face and couldn't help but beam his own smile. "Show it who's boss," he grinned.
"You're nothing but my fear, nothing but a bundle of nerves and energy that I created...no more," Rodney ordered and watched as the thing shimmered into an image of the weak Hive Queen, as it slid to its knees then vanished, along with the darkness...and along with John.
***
John hadn't liked being forced awake by Carson at such a critical moment, and even told him so and why. Of course this only got him his own physical and a mild sedative the sneak slipped into his coffee, and sent to his room, which he really hated. The fact he couldn't reconnect to Rodney the way he had in the 'dream' wasn't helping his mood either, but at least Rodney's vitals were good and his brain scans were going very well according to Beckett.
However, if there WAS a good side to all the fuzz and mock interest in his claim, it was that time had passed rather fast and now forty-eight hours later, Carson was convinced the serum had worked, and he was going to start the withdraw of the drug like he had done before. He was also unsure how 'fast' Rodney would react in coming around, this time as opposed to last time.
"If it's like the last time, it'll be about two hours before..." Carson started, only to see Rodney's eyes flutter. "Ack, the man is going to drive me insane. Can't he follow the logic of things just this once?" Beckett griped, though one could tell he was very pleased to see McKay coming around.
"Rodney?" John called out, once again holding his lover's hand, having a good feeling this time around.
"John?" he said in a soft raspy voice, being dry from being kept asleep.
"Here," Carson said, pressing the button to raise the bed up so he could spoon a few ice chips in McKay's mouth, so he could swallow better with some moisture.
"Thanks," Rodney said, then noticed John was holding his hand and his eyes looking so...loving, it made him swallow hard with wonder. "Um...what's going on?" he finally asked, deciding he'd think about John and the memories that were flooding his mind, later.
"What do you last remember?" Carson asked, needing to see if there was any memory loss or damage, though the scans didn't show any.
"Ah...Ford, lackeys, enzyme...Wraith Dart.... hostage...overdose...oh no," he groaned as the rest began to come back to him. "Did I hurt anyone?" he asked, his eyes pleading the answer was no. Seeing the exchange of looks between Carson and John, Rodney went into full guilt mode. "I did...I hurt someone...I'm a monster..."
"NO!" John snapped angrily, and then made Rodney look at him, not caring about the still solid black eyes that looked back at him. "You are NOT a monster, Rodney. You scared Elizabeth, but you didn't hurt her and those that you DID hurt, deserved it, since they were trying to hurt you and kill ME," he told him truthfully as he believed it.
"Eliza...beth?" Rodney asked, the expression of concern still able to be made out, even with the alien eyes.
"She's fine, Rodney, honest. She understands what happened," Carson began.
"Then could you explain it to me? I mean...how...I mean, I can theorize, but..." A finger from John on his lips silenced him, and puzzled him, as that was a very intimate gesture.
"One thing at a time, Rodney...how do you feel?" John asked, pretty sure he knew the answer by how well he was responding.
"Ah...tired, stiff, like I've been asleep too long," he began to gripe.
"Well, that's because you've been out for over two weeks," Beckett informed him.
"Two...weeks?" Rodney looked puzzled. "I...I have this image of us having this conversation before..." he shook his head slowly trying to focus on the fading memories.
"Well, you did wake up for a short time, but we had to put you back out..." Carson began.
"Why?" Rodney asked, lips drawn up tight and his body going still, clear signs he was afraid of what he was going to hear.
Carson felt Rodney would do with a full report and explanation of what happened and what he believed was the cause and the cure. It was hard for the healer to see how Rodney was taking it, as again, the solid eyes were making it impossible to read anything in his face. "But other than some minor changes, you're basically back to normal..."
"An additional ten percent increase in brain activity is NOT normal, Carson, not even in MY book. As for this...telekinesis, is it gone? Will I...hurt anyone? The City?"
"The energy output you needed to be a danger to the City is no longer possible to be to created, as the enzyme has been neutralized. As for the resulting increase of activity that was left behind, five percent still in that area, well it's too early to tell, but I'm confident..." Beckett tried to reassure him.
"Oh, I'm glad you are not concerned that I could freak out or become some..."
"Stop Rodney," John said, preventing Rodney's tantrum from developing any further. "You defeated the fear and the monster inside. WE stopped it together...don't you remember?" he asked, suddenly wondering if it really HAD been just a dream.
Rodney's strange gaze remained on John for along eerie moment, and then looked at their joined hands, then he gave a slow smile. "It was...real? You were really there?" he asked, his voice small like a child, full of wonder and amazement.
John couldn't help but smile and laugh with joy, it was REAL! "Yeah, I was there, babe," he said, and leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on his lover's lips. "He knows," he added, knowing what Rodney probably was thinking about the kiss in front of Carson.
"Wait, are you telling me, you two really shared a...mind?" Carson asked, not sure if he wanted to believe what he was hearing.
"Yes," both men said as one, then laughed, their hands clasping a bit tighter.
"You can run your tests later, Doc....just keep this to yourself, okay?" John asked, his fear of what others would do if they found out still plagued him. "We agreed, the official story is to focus on the moving of things..." he began to remind Carson.
"No, John, it can't," Rodney replied, knowing what his...his LOVER was trying to do. The thought that John loved him...wanted him...filled him with so much joy it was almost too easy to forget the dark stuff that happened, but he couldn't...not yet. "I have to...share what I remember. I know...things...about the Wraith...I have to share that," he insisted.
"Rodney, if the wrong people learn of how you...got that information..." John tried to reason, wanting to protect Rodney.
"I know, John, believe me...I of all people know, but what choice do I have?" Rodney asked, knowing the others understood.
"First things first. I need to run some more tests, and you need to rest..." Carson stated.
"First I need a laptop," Rodney interjected.
"No...first you need to know you're loved, safe and then..." he placed a soft kiss on his lover's lips, "do as the doctor ordered," he said with a firm smile and loving eyes. "I'll be here when you wake, with some food..."
"And a laptop?" Rodney asked, as the bed was lowered for him to sleep, he was rather tired suddenly.
"We'll see," John said softly and then watched as Rodney's eyes closed, and then his breathing evened out showing he was asleep fairly fast. John then followed Carson out of the area so they could talk. "Well?"
"He's doing better than I expected, which is good," Carson smiled.
"What about the rest?" John asked with some small concern.
"I'll mention the eyes later and I didn't think he'd be interested just yet in the fact that his blood just might be the missing key to an anti-Wraith formula...do you?" Beckett asked, seeing if John agreed or not.
"No, you're right. He's got enough on his plate with all that happened and his recovery, even if he is doing so well. No...leave it for later...much later," John stated, folding his arms over his chest to help control the fear of what might happen if word got out about not only the mind 'sucking' ability that Rodney possessed, even briefly, but that his body in its rejection of the enzyme, might have created an antibody to aid toward defeating the Wraith. The latter part only known to him and Carson, not even Elizabeth knew, and he hoped to keep it that way. They would let Rodney decide who else knew if any, and perhaps Carson would be able to 'discover' the same thing in his lab, without placing Rodney in any more danger. As it was, Elizabeth might not let him through the gate again and John knew that would hurt Rodney deeply.
"Agreed. He should be out for a few hours. Go get some rest, Colonel. You KNOW I'll contact you if he wakes before you return," Carson promised, and watched Sheppard depart, and sighed in relief, as both his patients were doing better now...much better.
***
Everyone sat around th