Chapter 2
In the ten minutes between Xander hanging up the phone after making his second call and Jim's truck squealing to stop outside the apartment building, Xander had sat himself on one of the couches with John nearly in his lap.
The soldier had actually managed to fall asleep on him – literally; head tucked into his neck and an arm across his lap. Xander was a little wigged but it wasn't as if stranger things didn't happen to him all the time and John did look like death warmed over…
Rodney settled in the closest chair and Ronon took up position by the window in time to see Jim's truck pull up.
"He doesn't look happy," Ronon rumbled.
Rodney sat up straighter.
Xander 'hummm'-ed.
John slept.
Jim entered the loft looking fairly calm – stony, but calm, while Blair was fairly bouncing. Of course his brother was careful to keep his bouncing behind his partner.
Rodney stood, "Um hi… um… I'm Doctor Rodney McKay, this is Ronon Dex and sleeping beauty over there is Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard."
Jim eyed the sleeping men critically but only nodded at Rodney's greeting. When it became apparent he wasn't going to say something Blair swatted his arm.
"Oh man, um… I'm Blair Sandburg, which you probably know and this is Jim. What can we do for you folks?"
"Well, you see three months ago John had a… traumatic experience and not long after he started displaying symptoms. It couldn't be explained medically… food would make him sick one day and he'd be fine the next… whispers would be too loud and then he wouldn't be able to hear anything. Then there were days he was completely comatose… once it was for over a week. We couldn't find a cause and nothing we did helped."
The scientist took a deep breath, "Then one of our scientists – Doctor Jackson – dug up a copy of your thesis, your fake thesis- "
"Oh man."
"It's not a fake, is it? It can't be. John is exhibiting every symptom you describe down to the skin sensitivity to acidic foods. If your thesis is fake then we can't fix this, can't fix him…"
Xander could see the desperation that had been hidden so well at the door slowly come out as the man spoke. Rodney genuinely cared for John Sheppard and was terrified of losing him.
Apparently Jim could see it too because when Blair looked to him for guidance Jim nodded – then went into the kitchen.
Everyone else just sort of stared at each other, unsure of exactly how to go about having this discussion.
Xander was accepting a beer from the big man when the phone rang. An irritated Blair answered it only to quickly pass it to his brother.
"This is Xander."
"Xander, its Giles. You called about a Doctor Rodney McKay and a Lieutenant Colonel Sheppard?"
"Yeah."
Xander listened on and drank his beer, letting Giles fill him in on their quests and gleefully watching Blair get more and more antsy. Rodney was starting to look ready to burst while Jim and Ronon looked vaguely statue-like. Apparently no one wanted to get the verbal ball rolling while he was on the phone.
"Wow. Thanks for the update G-Man."
Giles sighed at the nickname but only said, "Be careful Xander."
Xander hung up the phone and studied his guests. Rodney was just about to swallow his mouthful of beer when Xander asked, "So you guys chase down aliens, huh?"
John managed to sleep through the beer bath.