Surviving Sunday
by twinchaosblade
Disclaimer:
Me
owning Stargate: Atlantis? If only…!
Then no one would have to
fear for their lives, especially not a certain Scottish doctor,
unless for whump's sake of course…!
A/N:
Although
I have put some effort in the research of the medical stuff, keep in
mind I'm in no way claiming to have appropriate knowledge of what
I'm writing about, and some things are plainly for dramatic
purpose.
Muchísimas gracias to my twin TCB 0.5 for the
beta!
Summary:
different
ending for 'Sunday': lots of Carson whump, team angst/drama;
happy ending guaranteed!
I
A muffled detonation, the crackling static in the radio…
All of them knew instantly what this sudden silence meant but they didn't dare even think of it, breathlessly hoping it would not come true as long as they refused to believe it. None of them moved or said a word. For an endless moment they stared blankly into nothingness, desperately waiting for the familiar voice that never came…
xXxXx
The man who had touched so many hearts, who had healed so many bodies and minds was gone. How could the world not fall to ruin? How could it not have shattered at this loss? How could the world survive without its kindest soul?
But time moved on, taking no heed, mercilessly ignoring the people reeling in pain. Twice the sun had gone down, and twice the sun had risen again, and there was still no waking from the never-ending nightmare.
Discreetly looking at the faces of the people gathered in the Gateroom for Carson's memorial, Elizabeth sensed they all shared this feeling. No matter how hard some of them tried to hide it, she could see beyond their façade of suppressed emotions. Even Atlantis seemed to feel the loss.
As the pall-bearers were about to lift the coffin and make their way through the gate, bracing themselves for the burden far heavier on their hearts than the casket's physical weight, Elizabeth's radio crackled.
"Dr Weir, sis is Doctor Gitano", a voice said in less than perfect English.
The expedition leader was outright annoyed to say the least at the completely inappropriate disturbance in the middle of the memorial service for one of her closest friends. Without waiting for an answer, Dr Gitano continued, "Please report at once at se infirmary, and bring Colonel Sheppard and Doctor McKay along. Sis is urgent. Gitano out."
Rodney and John shot her a highly bemused glance at the inadequate interruption when Elizabeth called for them. Startled looks and a rising murmur accompanied the three of them as they headed for the infirmary with Teyla and Ronon following suit. The Satedan was fuming, determined to inflict a cruel fate upon whoever had dared to show such disrespect for the fallen.
xXxXx
Upon arriving at the infirmary, Dr Gitano met the group on the doorstep with a shy smile. While in Sheppard's eyes annoyed irritation was predominant, McKay's displayed open hatred for the doctor, and even Weir's glance would have slain a Wraith. Teyla leaned heavily on Ronon, audibly panting, pain and distress engraved in her weary expression. Clearly intimidated by the sight of them, the elderly doctor had to swallow hard before he was able to speak.
"I… am… sorry", he stammered, leading them to the intensive care area of the infirmary, "but as I said, sis is urgent. I need you to see sis." When the physician drew back the curtain surrounding the bed, Elizabeth gave a cry, her hands flying to her mouth. Equally shocked, the others gasped in surprise…
A broad smile spread on the drained face of the man lying in the bed. "Still here…", he whispered barely audible with a shaky, hoarse voice.
"Carson…?!?" John was the first to recover, disbelief obvious in his flabbergasted voice. He was not sure whether or not he could trust his eyes and ears. True, the past few days had been hard and he hadn't slept since… − then… but were his eyes playing nasty tricks on him? What he saw before him was beyond possibility; it couldn't be, he couldn't hope for it to be true. The wave of contradictory feelings that washed over him seemed to overwhelm him. Bereft of words, he turned to McKay for help, searching the physicist's eyes. Yet Rodney was in no state to offer John what he desperately sought. McKay stood there like a salt statue, pale as the sheets, expressionlessly staring at the bed. With his mouth open, he looked stricken, taking no notice of his surroundings or the others, who were in no better shape. Only Ronon seemed to have preserved at least the slightest grip on the real world, a genuine smile making its way from his mouth to the eyes.
"How… I mean… this is… how could… this… possible…?" Despite his best efforts, Rodney's attempt to form a coherent sentence failed miserably.
"I hones'ly have ne idea", came Carson's soft reply, his slurred voice revealing he was heavily drugged.
In the background they heard another astounded exclaim, which shook them at last out of their apathy. Dr Cole had entered and was beside herself at the unexpected surprise.
"You look like shit, Doc." John's teasing remark earned him a faint but hearty grin before the Scot's eyes slowly drifted shut. The initial euphoria having subsided a bit, Sheppard had worriedly noticed for the first time how bad Carson looked, his face terribly swollen and as red as a cooked lobster, the rest of his body hidden under the bed sheets. John met Rodney's eyes, perceiving that, beside the boundless relief they all felt, McKay had just realized exactly the same.
Dr Gitano silently called for the team's attention and motioned them to leave. Obediently they followed him to another corner.
To be continued…