Title: Adapting

Author: Gypsy Lupin-Black

Rating: G

Warning: SGA team Whump, Rodney Whump

Disclaimer: No own, no money, no sue

A/N: Another drabble. Don't expect any more from this… unless MAYBE if enough people review and tell me they really want more. But no promises. This is supposed to just be a drabble. But read and review it anyway! This has not been to a beta.

Rodney woke up, but he didn't open his eyes. He wouldn't see anything even if he did. He could hear the distant beep beep of John's heart monitor, could hear the coosh coosh of Ronan's ventilator. He could hear a soft chinking noise as Teyla shifted her position, trying to get comfortable with her broken leg in traction.

Oh yeah, this last mission had been a doozy.

Though he was the least injured of the team, Rodney didn't really remember the mission very well. He'd hit his head, hard, and everything was very muzzy. Everyone was being very careful around him. Radek visited three times a day, keeping him updated on the goings on of the labs.

In fact, it must have been that time again, because Rodney could hear the whispered accents of Radek and Carson. They must have been on the other side of the room. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but he happily let his mind drift and ride on the accents and the drugs Carson was pumping through his system.

Distantly, he knew those drugs were anti-anxiety meds, tranquilizers… things to keep him from freaking out and falling out of bed if claustrophobia were to strike him. Again.

He could hear the light foot steps as Radek approached his bed. Could hear him talking, talking, talking about the current simulations and experiments, talking about a malfunctioning transporter and a Puddle Jumper that wouldn't dial the gate. All the while, Rodney just let himself drift on Radek's accent. He didn't know what kind of expression he had on his face, but his voice suddenly sounded sad. Bidding a sudden goodbye that took a moment for Rodney to understand, Radek hurried away.

Beep, beep, beep…

Coosh…Coosh….Coosh….

Clink, rattle…

Rodney could hear his team all around him. Could hear Carson talking softly to Teyla. Could feel the warmth of some faceless nurse's hand as she checked his vitals. He fell back asleep.

Some time later, Rodney drifted towards awareness again. The sounds had changed. The rhythm was off. Something was missing. With a quick intake of breath, Rodney called for Carson, his voice cracking slightly from disuse. He couldn't hear Ronan. He called for Carson again, this time stronger and more urgent.

Finally he heard the doctor's hurried footsteps. He felt Carson's hand on his arm, the slight, reassuring squeeze. Ronan was fine, the Scottish accent was just as easy to drift on as Radek's was. Ronan was off the ventilator. Nothing to worry about. How was Rodney feeling?

Rodney pulled his shoulders up in a slight shrug. The darkness was getting to him. He wondered if he'd be able to get back to sleep without the assurance that Ronan was still alive. He could still hear John and Teyla, but the tones and rhythms were all off now.

Carson spoke again, he was going to give Rodney his next dose of drugs. Rodney wanted to protest, no he didn't want them, but it was too late. He could hear Carson drawing up medication into a syringe. He felt Carson inject the medication into Rodney's IV catheter. Felt his brain grow sluggish again. Again, he was happy to float on Carson's voice, on the reassuring beep of John's heart monitor. A new sound entered his awareness. It was very faint, and Rodney wondered if he was maybe imagining it. There it was again; the faint sound of Ronan's snores.

Drifting, Rodney contemplated his predicament. He was doing fairly well, with how aware of his surroundings he was. Knowing part of his new-found optimism was merely because Carson had just doped him up again didn't stop him from being pleased with himself. He was adaptable to new situations. And he was a genius, after all.

Rodney felt a giggle rise from his throat. As long as Carson kept giving him these great drugs, Rodney was sure he wouldn't care that he'd never see again.

-fin