Chapter 4: Time Running Out
7 hours and counting…
John watched Elizabeth from the far side of the infirmary. She was finally out of surgery and Dr. Keller had told a nervous John that the prognosis was not good and that there was a chance that she would have to go under again- which was both dangerous and tricky.
As for John, there was a million and one things that he could have been- hell should have been doing but he just couldn't leave her side for more than a few hours at a time. He needed to be at her side, and even though she was pale as the moon and as still as a stone, just being in her presence was comforting.
But it was more than that, there was a part of him that needed to be there as much as he can, to let her know that he was there for her, just like he was there for her the last time she had been injured.
Slowly, John walked over to her bedside and sat down on a chair that had been brought up and tentatively took her hand. It was warm and was one of the few indications that she was still alive. This small measure of life gave John the much needed hope that she would be alright in the end… and although the infirmary was deadly quiet, he felt the need to speak in the stillness.
"Elizabeth…" John began quietly, absentmindedly rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. "…I don't know if you can hear me but it worked last time so I hope that it will work this time…" John looked around and was reassured that there was no one in the infirmary, all the patients being evacuated hours before for their own good.
"…things are progressing okay. There's about seven hours till the shield fails but we've already gotten most of the remaining population evacuated. The Athosians and Ladon are granting us sanctuary. You were right about them Elizabeth… they are our allies now…." John paused and watched her still face for a moment before continuing.
"….Rodney's been busy trying to fix the power and the hyper-drive engines because you can't be moved right now. But Dr. Keller says that if your brain stays clear of fluid you'll be able to be moved eventually…" John paused again and took her hand into both of his and kissed it softly.
"…god Elizabeth-" He muttered, his voice low and hoarse. "-this is so much harder than it was the last time…at least this time I can hold your hand…." John paused for another moment and felt the rage and horror and shame and a myriad of other emotions bubble to the surface. "….God Elizabeth, I'm sorry. I am so sorry that you're in this situation. If I had only been able to get us out of there sooner then maybe…
….maybe you wouldn't be in this situation now."
"It's not your fault John." Elizabeth whispered, looking at John as he was silhouetted against the white background of her mind.
"He can't hear you…" Came her voice and Elizabeth looked to her left to see an image of herself standing there.
"Who are you?" The real Elizabeth asked.
"I am you." The image replied, her voice void of emotion. "I am your immortal soul. The part of you that will live on after you the 'ego' dies."
"Well, I'm sorry to say that I have no plans of dying just yet." Elizabeth stated firmly, taking John's hand within her own.
"What are you doing?" The image asked in concern as it faded into the white background. "What are you doing?"
"He was my lifeline once…" Elizabeth stated firmly, looking into the un-seeing eyes of John. "…he can do it again."
oOo
6 hours and counting…
"Elizabeth?" John asked suddenly, jolted from the small cat-nap that he had and looked at Elizabeth expecting a change, but of course there was none other than Dr. Keller, checking her readings.
"There's no change Colonel." Dr. Keller informed sadly. "But her readings are steady, I'll know more once I do some more tests…"
"Right," John agreed standing up awkwardly. "-I should be seeing to the last evacuation. Rodney wants everyone out of here in an hour…"
"…I don't know if that'll be possible." Dr. Keller admitted, biting her lip. "But I'll do my best…"
"That's all I can ask for…" John stated quietly turning to leave, but mid step he changed his mind and saw that Dr. Keller had gone to her office for something and John took this opportunity to lean over Elizabeth and kiss her softly on the forehead, jumping back once Dr. Keller had re-emerged. "…take care of her."
"Yes sir."
And John finally left the infirmary, leaving Dr. Jennifer Keller to wonder if he knew that she had been watching, and had seen how much he truly cared for their leader.
oOo
"Rodney," John began, walking into the control room where Rodney was checking and re-checking figures. "How goes it?"
"Not well…" Rodney admitted, looking exhausted.
"We still have six hours-"
"A little under six hours Sheppard," Rodney corrected, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "-and before you say anything the evacuation is practically complete, the only people left in the city are Elizabeth, Dr. Keller, myself, Zelenka, and you…"
"…everyone else is gone?" John asked, knowing that they were.
"Yes everyone is gone…" Rodney confirmed, as he bent down to start tinkering with the control panel.
"Not quite everyone." Teyla corrected coming up to John, Zelenka and Rodney with Ronan close behind her.
"I thought I told you two to go through the gate." John stated, looking to his team-mates. "That it would be safer."
"I'm not abandoning my home." Ronan stated simply. "Not again."
"Well none of us want to leave but-"
"…but I suggest that you find some way to move Elizabeth." Rodney interrupted, after a couple sparks came flying out of the top of the control panel.
"She can't be moved." Dr. Keller informed, running up the main stairs to the control room. "That's why I'm here, I need to know how our plan B is coming along…"
"….not so well by the look of things." John answered looking from the new CMO to Rodney. "Rodney, do we need a plan C?"
"Yes." Rodney snipped, looking up briefly. "Listen, in five hours the shield is going to fail and-"
"Rodney-" Zelenka interrupted when a couple panels started beeping wildly.
"-what?!??" Rodney snapped, looking at his fellow scientist.
"Ze shield." Zelenka explained, holding up his laptop for Rodney to see. "It has collapsed to its lowest sustainable level-"
"- it's just a thin shield between the buildings and the vacuum of space…" Rodney interrupted, his eyes opening wide in horror as déjà vu washed over him. "…oh this is not good…"
"What do we do Rodney?" John asked, to get Rodney to think of something. "Rodney?"
"Dr. Keller, can you move Elizabeth to a jumper?" Rodney asked, completely ignoring John.
"Yes but-"
"Good." Rodney interrupted before turning to Zelenka, "Dial the gate and recall Major Lorne, we're going to need someone to pilot that jumper if things don't go so well."
"What are you planning Rodney?" John asked as Zelenka went to work.
"If we can get Elizabeth to the jumper she, Dr. Keller and Major Lorne will be save when the shield fails."
"And what about the rest of us?" Ronan asked, his right arm hanging by his side. "Those of us who are staying behind…"
"…if the time comes-" Rodney began only to be interrupted by Ronan again.
"I am not abandoning my home…"
"…oh how noble of you." Rodney snarled, shaking his head. "Because I would have thought that living would be preferable instead of-"
"RODNEY." John yelled, catching the scientist's attention. "What about the rest of us…?"
"What about the rest of us…" Rodney muttered looking at the members of his team and Zelenka counting them in his head. 'Me, Zelenka, Ronan, Teyla and John that makes 5 and we have 5….' The idea hit him like lightning and he relayed it to the group. "…the rest of us will get into the five space suits that are kept in one of our storage sections. That'll give us about eight extra hours to fix the hyper-drive and at least get us to where we need to be…"
Lorne came through the gate and helped Dr. Keller get Elizabeth to one of the jumpers. Rodney and Zelenka began the delicate process of hooking up the naquadah generators to the chair and hyper-drive while John, Teyla and Ronan got the suits ready; the final hours counting down, and time running out.
A/N- Hello beloved readers! Your weekly monday update of Everlasting here:) So time is running out for our beloved team...hope you all can wait a week to find out! Thank you to SMBBOOKS, TerryFreak, tynut127, KeeganPaige and dear Anuna for reviewing chapter 3. I hope you 5 (and more) review this chapter too... :) Till next monday- in the mean time, check out my other sparky stories and review them, heaven knows this lovely pairing dominates my writing (though I am branching out).
A/N2- I've fixed the chapter number.