Chapter 3
"Sheppard?" Rodney called out as he came back to his senses and got up onto his feet. Answer me you idiot!
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"Mmm" John groaned from the corner of the room. His head was throbbing against the cold, hard surface of the lab's wall. He squeezed his eyes open and moaned again at the influx of pain the light caused.
John's back felt like it had a rod attached to it to keep it straight. He was wary of moving it in case it would snap.
"Are you OK?" Rodney asked innocently.
"No Rodney," he winced, "I was just flung back against a wall!" He let his frustration out on Rodney but calmed when he saw the genuine concern in his friend's eyes. "I'm fine Rodney." He willed his body to move and cringed as his back cracked but thankfully remained intact. He got up without the use of his crutch just to prove to Rodney, and himself, that he'd told the truth. He swayed but managed to steady himself with a hand on the wall.
"Ow" John involuntarily croaked out as he stretched his back.
"We'll let Carsen be the judge of that…oh god he's gonna kill me, you've only just been discharged." Rodney fretted.
John glared back at Rodney, I know that Rodney. "It's not your fault Rodney but just so you know, I'm retiring from lighting things up… on purpose anyway."
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"Colonel, your check up's not for a few hours." Carsen said surprised to find John in the infirmary unnecessarily.
"Oh you know me doc, there are some benefits to the infirmary." John drawled as he watched one of the nurses go by.
"Hgh" Carsen grunted noticing the strained expression on Rodney's face. "What did you do Rodney?" The Chief Medical Officer asked sternly.
"What… why do you assume its something I did?" Rodney asked flabbergasted.
"Ohh because if he hasn't done it to himself, which he usually tries to hide from me, then its more often than not got something to do with you." Carsen said, hitting the nail on the head so to speak.
"Well it kinda is anyway." Rodney stated looking guilty.
"No, its not." John countered. "The device did it, there's nothing wrong with me anyway. I'm only here cos Rodney was scared you'd blame him if you found out." Rodney scowled back at Sheppard.
Carsen looked between the two friends fascinated at how easy it was for them to flip between comforting and sniping. "Good, and so he should be. Take a seat Colonel. What actually happened?" Carsen asked patting the bed.
John gently eased onto the bed. "Stupid device sent out a pulse like thing, knocking me back against the wall."
"He hit his head." Rodney put his two cents in ignoring the scathing look from Sheppard.
"I can see that." Carsen said inspecting a small bump on the back of John's head. "Was the device supposed to do that?"
"Yeah, did it to me earlier, but I thought, hey, Sheppard hasn't seen Carsen for a while, I'll let him have a go." Rodney snapped back.
"There's no need for sarcasm laddie." Carsen replied calmly.
"Was a bit of a stupid question doc." Sheppard joined in.
"Oh don't you start." Carsen said to the Colonel, oblivious to the smug scientist stood behind him.
Carsen noticed a sag in John's posture at his right shoulder. "Could you take off your T-shirt for me Colonel?" John did as he was told but winced at lifting his right arm so high.
"Dr Beckett, can I help with anything?" A young, female nurse asked appearing out of nowhere.
"No thanks love." Carsen replied concentrating on his patient. The nurse left looking disappointed.
John winced again as Carsen tested the manoeuvrability of his arm. "Right, looks like you've got a bump to the head, luckily no concussion, and a jarred shoulder, I'll give you some pain meds but you should be all right."
"He's never all right, there's always some injury or another." Carsen glared at Rodney for daring to ruin his good news.
"I'm not the hypochondriac McKay!" John shot back.
Quickly forgetting the exchange John asked "Am I still good for light duties?"
"Aye, but I mean light duties Colonel, no more touching unknown alien devices." Giving his caring doctor speech, which with Carsen you knew that he meant it.
"Don't worry doc," John said as he got off the bed and reached for his crutch "I've retired."
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John hobbled up to Elizabeth's desk. "John, shouldn't you be resting, Carsen told me what happened." Elizabeth asked partly scolding Sheppard for getting injured again.
"I have been." John said as if butter wouldn't melt.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow unconvinced. "What can I do for you?" She asked letting it go.
"You wanted to go over a report." John stated.
"Oh, of course, I completely forgot." John nodded knowing the strain Elizabeth was under on a daily basis, it was amazing she didn't forget things more often. He knew he would. "There's no hurry for that, it was only the reports from Lorne's latest mission, they had a run in with the Wraith near the gate."
"Yeah" John stalled trying to recall what happened, he'd had a lot to deal with since then.
"There was a couple of inconsistencies but it can wait." She offered.
"Elizabeth" John drawled, "Does it look like I have much else to?" He was prepared to beg if necessarily, hating the feeling that he was useless.
Elizabeth sensed John's need, "Right" she smiled, reaching for the reports "If you don't mind reading over them yourself, I've got to go see Zelenka in the labs, he's been trying to catch me all week." She said as she stood to leave, whomever she decided to work with she would be left with a twinge of guilt for the other but she felt that John would be fine as long as he had something to occupy his time.
"Sure." John replied taking the files off of Elizabeth, already intrigued at the prospect. He carried the papers in the crux of his left arm, his right didn't feel too bad, just a bit sore but he didn't want to make things worse by over straining it.
"Aren't you supposed to be having dinner with Teyla?" Elizabeth enquired as they left her office nearly bumping into Sergeant Davies.
"Not for a few hours."
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John awoke with a start. He quickly recognised his quarters but was surprised to find himself in BDU's and with a bunch of reports on his lap. Oh Great. His head still throbbing and the inevitable tiredness to deal with. At least Carsen would be pleased that he'd gotten some rest. On the other hand he'd got the rest of the reports to read through at another time.
After finally regaining all of his senses he glanced at his watch to check how long he'd been out of it.
"Teyla!"
It dawned on him that there was only ten minutes until he was supposed to be at Teyla's quarters for their meal. He jumped off the bed and began rummaging through his wardrobe for something suitable to wear. Deciding on a pair of jeans and a navy blue shirt that he folded up to his elbows.
He picked up the single yellow daisy that he'd persuaded Katie Brown to let him have so that he could give Teyla something as a thank you for the evening.
The door to his quarters whooshed open when he thought them to. Gotta love that right? Running his left hand through his hair as he made the short distance down the corridor, abandoning his crutch.
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Teyla was just lighting the single candle on the table that she'd set up for her meal with John, when the door beeped. She crossed the room and waved her hand over the ancient crystals to activate the door. On the other side was a beaming and devilishly handsome Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard.
She gracefully stepped to one side giving him room to enter. "John, come in." She said warmly.
"Why thank you Teyla." He replied as he made his way in.
"This," he held out the flower "is for you."
Teyla was taken aback that he'd thought to bring something for her, especially something so beautiful, even if she wasn't quite sure what it was. But then again John was quite the gentleman.
"It's a daisy." John clarified, clearly becoming a little nervous that he'd gone over the top. She was just a friend after all.
"Well it's lovely John." She put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a peck on the cheek, making him blush, "Thank you."
"Would you like something to drink?" She asked while putting the daisy in some water.
"Yeah, that'd be great."
"I believe this is similar to your red wine." Teyla explained as she poured the rich red liquid into two glasses.
"Cool." John swirled the glass under his nose before taking a large sip and choked out, "A bit stronger though!"
Teyla laughed as John's breathing returned to normal. "My aunt used to drink a cup everyday with her breakfast."
"Wow, bet she was an interesting woman." John exclaimed as he sat down at the table.
"Oh you would have liked her… She would have hated Rodney."
"Ha" John chuckled.
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John enjoyed the main course that Teyla had made from traditional Athosian ingredients, but what he really enjoyed was getting to know Teyla. He knew her personality inside out but they didn't often get the chance to talk at length about their previous lives. For John this wasn't such a bad thing, he was always careful not to reveal too much about himself but he knew Teyla was very proud of her heritage and her people.
"Halling's cousin Melina had stolen the fruit meant for the ambassador and fed it to her pet latooch!" Teyla Laughed.
"Uh, bet he wasn't too happy bout that." John replied, completely absorbed in Teyla's story.
"Oh, not at all, Melina was only ten at the time and carried her latooch everywhere, the ambassador thought they were both adorable."
"So he signed the treaty?" John asked.
"Yes, and we had a celebratory feast that lasted 3 days." Teyla continued as she cleared away their plates.
John quickly jumped up to help her. "We should do that here, you know, next time we go on a mission and no-one comes back injured or traumatised, we should have a 3 day feast" he paused "Rodney and Ronon would be up for it."
"Yes they would, but it will never happen." Teyla said matter of factly.
"What? Why?" John exclaimed, "Elizabeth wouldn't mind and we're not short on food anymore."
"It is not that," Teyla replied now unable to hide the mischievous glint in her eyes, "You are incapable of keeping yourself out of trouble!"
"Hey!" John responded surprised at how high his voice came out "s'not always my fault." He pouted.
Teyla laughed and couldn't continue teasing him anymore, although she did love that cute expression now embodying his face.
She shooed him over to the table "Please take your seat, I have a surprise for you."
"Really" John raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, now sit or you will not get it."
"Yessir" John said eagerly as he sat back down.
Teyla brought out a steaming hot bowl accompanied by a jug of custard.
"That's not!" John exclaimed, the excitement getting too much for him.
"I believe you call it apple crumble." Teyla said as she brought out her own bowl "I hope it is as delicious as everyone says it is."
"Oh, it is don't worry about that, but how did you know?" John asked intrigued.
"I overheard you and Rodney arguing over puddings you liked as a child so I asked Elizabeth how to make it."
John, satisfied with her answer, delved into the traditional dessert. "Ohhh, this is good, just like how my Nan used to make it. You sure you've never made this before?" He knew Teyla wasn't known for her culinary skills.
"No I have not but I will be making it again. You have very good taste." Teyla said while eating her own portion.
John savoured every last mouthful and it wasn't until he'd devoured the whole bowl that he realised how tired he was.
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Dr Weir was making her way towards McKay's lab when she got a call on her comm. from the irate scientist; "I thought you were coming here?" Rodney asked accusingly.
"I am Rodney!" Elizabeth replied as she nodded towards a couple of techs.
"It's been 15 minutes and your still not here."
"That's because, Rodney, I was in a meeting when you called. There are other people on this base you know." Elizabeth said, sometimes she couldn't believe how single minded the astrophysicist could be.
"None as important." Rodney snapped under his breath.
He must have found something really interesting if he was being this obnoxious.
"I'm here now." Elizabeth stated calmly as she entered the blustering lab.
"Good" Rodney said oblivious to anything other than his work, "Take a look at these readings."
She stared at them for a few minutes before saying, "What am I looking for?"
Rodney rolled his eyes, why did he always have to spell everything out. "It's an energy spike." Rodney said as though it should be obvious.
"And…" Elizabeth said still a bit dumbfounded as to why this was so important.
"Its on MX25011, I told you that planet was worth visiting!"
"You mean the planet that banished you from ever returning and ran you out through the Stargate." Elizabeth asked incredulously.
"Yes" Rodney answered a little sheepishly.
Elizabeth was sure Rodney was more to blame for their banishment than what came out of the debriefing.
"Rodney, they are not going to welcome you back with open arms, they threatened to sacrifice you to the ancestors!"
"That's why we go back in a cloaked jumper." Rodney said as thought that was the answer to everything.
"Rodney!" Elizabeth said starting to loose her patience.
"They were obviously hiding something…There could be a ZPM!" And there it was, the one thing that Rodney could say to get almost any mission green lighted.
"OK, clear it with Colonel Sheppard first, if he doesn't think its viable then we leave it at that." Elizabeth stated finally giving in.
Rodney turned back to his work with glee in his eyes.
Elizabeth was just about to leave when she noticed Sergeant Davies working with Radek. What on earth is he doing here?
"Sergeant" The marine looked up at the base commander.
"Yes Maam." She would never be comfortable being called that.
"Major Lorne was looking for you earlier, I don't know why he didn't think to look for you in here."
Rodney jumped in noticing the sarcasm in her voice, "Yes well, some people actually appreciate the work we do here."
"Yes Rodney." Elizabeth said in that condescending tone that could send shivers down your spine, that only Rodney seemed impervious to noticing.
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Teyla looked over at John, she really didn't want to call an end to their night but she was getting too exhausted to think straight.
"Would you like some more to drink?" Teyla asked trying not to slur her words.
"Oh no, no, no" John replied as his hand slipped off the edge of the table "…think I've had too much of that already."
Teyla was surprised, John had only had a couple of glasses and she knew he could handle his drink.
"Don't know what you put in that stuff but it's making me really sleepy." John yawned out.
Teyla stood up but immediately regretted it as she collapsed to the floor.
John was by her side as fast as his reactions would allow.
"I think something's wrong." He murmured as he slumped down beside her.
tbc...