A/N: I apologize for the delay in posting this part. RL has a firm hold and won't give me much free time to type. Thank you for all of the kind notes. They are greatly appreciated.

Part 11

Propped on his side with several pillows strategically placed behind his back and another underneath his bent left knee, Ronon first became aware of the sound of footsteps and soft female voices as they invaded the pain free fog that had settled inside his head and body. Instantly synapses fired, his consciousness forcing the lethargy to dissipate in a way that left Beckett at times shaking his head in wonder at how the Runner could break free from an anesthetic so easily. Forcing himself to lie still, he listened to their conversation, knowing that the truth might be kept from him if they were alerted to his current state of wakefulness.

"Dr. Biro, I have the labs back on Specialist Dex and Dr. Beckett. Also, the cultures for Colonel Sheppard should be ready in the next half hour." The woman's voice was unfamiliar but he suspected it to be from one of the many techs or nurses that made up the med team. The following reply he knew instantly as the physician being addressed.

She sighed heavily, the worried tap of her fingertip on what he imagined to be a datapad indicated her uneasiness at what she was viewing. "It appears I was right, the infection is resistant to the usual antibiotic cocktail. We're going to have to get creative to knock out this bug that he and the colonel seemed to have picked up in that prison. Continue with the Corticosteroids, I want an updated CT and MRI, and page Dr. Heightmeyer for me."

"Yes, doctor." A single set of footsteps walked away and he waited to hear the second leave. When they remained, and he could sense her presence close to his proximity, he opened his eyes to find the physician staring expectantly back at him.

"Never figured you to be one to play possum," Biro said, taking a step closer to his bedside. Not waiting for his answer, she read the surrounding monitors before nodding in satisfaction and unhooking several leads from his chest. Next she stepped out of his line of sight, her hands touching his back as she examined the wounds beneath the bandages.

With her no longer blocking his view, this gave the runner the opportunity to study the silent figure on the bed beside him. Carson looked pale and bruised, his eyes were closed in sleep, and his chest moved in a steady rhythm. His bandaged hands lay on pillows at his side. "How is he?" Dex rumbled.

The movement on the back of his thigh paused briefly before continuing. "Not good. We're trying to get the infection under control, he has a broken foot, and his hands took some work to debride the burned skin on his fingers and palms. Not to mention broken bones in his wrists, a few cracked ribs, dislocations, and the trauma from the accumulative beatings he sustained."

"What about moving?"

Biro stepped back around, her face filled with worry as she rubbed her chin thoughtfully with her right hand before dropping it inside a deep lab coat pocket. "There's bruising and swelling to the tissue around his spine. All the scans have come back clean when we've looked for breaks, tears, leaking fluids…." Blowing out a slow breath, she turned to face Ronon, "Time and rest are what he needs most right now."

When he remained quiet, she pulled over a nearby stool so that she was close to eye level without blocking his view. "What can you tell me about his condition? How was he on the planet?"

Ronon's features hardened, anger flared across his face. "I found him in a field. He'd been dumped in a pit filled with bodies, climbed out on is own, and escaped."

She glanced back to her superior, her complexion paled at the thought of what horrors he must have faced. "If he was able to move then, perhaps he aggravated a prior injury from the prison. Did you see him move? Hear him speak?"

"No."

"Did he seem aware of his surroundings?"

Ronon shook his head 'no'. "Didn't know who I was."

"Is there anything you can tell me?"

He blinked, his gaze back on the now clean, dark-haired physician on the bed across from him. "He ate a little, took some water. Slept a lot. Didn't seem to want me to leave his sight."

"Did he appear to be in any pain?"

"When I found him in the morning, he didn't. A squad came upon our location in the afternoon and one of the members kicked him in the chest. After that he didn't look so well."

She was shocked at his words. "Someone kicked him in the chest when he was already clearly injured?"

"Didn't do it again." Ronon said, his fierce gaze locking on to hers .

"Good," she said under her breath, surprised at her own feelings of justice being met via Dex.

"I got him to the lake, cleaned him up. He ate a little more and then slept again. Once it was dark I put him in the wagon and made our way back to the gate."

"Judging by the fresh wounds to your back and leg when you came through the gate, along with the one that appears to be slightly older on your shoulder, I find it hard to beleive that it was that simple."

He shifted and it appeared that he was about to get up. Instantly hopping off the stool, she pressed a firm hand against his shoulder to keep him still. "I got rid of all the extras because I know they make you crazy, but until I say so, you are to stay in that bed. Do I make myself clear? I'll let you know the minute he starts to show signs of waking up."

When he merely glared at her, his dark eyes challenging then reluctantly acquiesing, she smiled in triumph. She made to go back to check on the rest of her patients when his deep voice stopped her.

"How are the others? Sheppard looked sick at the prison."

Biro chewed the inside of her cheek a moment before answering. "The infection in his arms is spreading. Being beaten half to death and then left lying in that cess pool for three days didn't help. Right now we are fighting it with all we have. Teyla sustained a severe concussion and is being monitored closely. She has yet to wake up but I believe later on today we might get a response from her. And as for Dr. McKay, he pulled some back muscles carrying her to the gate, and from what little I was able to get out of him, had an encounter with a member of the second squad before making his way back through to Atlantis. The scorch on his calf resembles the one on your shoulder but he denies that he was shot. And in typical fashion, has taken the blame for the entire failed mission upon himself and refuses to rest."

She stepped closer to the bed, pulling a blanket high over his bare shoulder and tucking it loosely behind him. "I know you don't want to hear it, but I'm going to tell you anyways. You've been shot and need to rest." Seeing a protest form, she held up her finger and waved it back and forth to stop him. "Uh-uh, right now you do as I say and I will let you up later to sit with whoever wakes up first. Deal?"

He knew she was right for he could feel sleep beckoning even though he tried to deny it. With the rest of the team still sleeping, he raised one brow at the lady physician and gave in. "Deal," he grumbled, closing his eyes. Her hesitant pat to his shoulder took him by surprise but he refused to show it. Soon his soft snores mixed with those around him.

Part 12

Half an hour later, Kate Heightmeyer enetered the infirmary, casiting a glance over the array of occupied beds before spying Dr. Biro sitting back at Carson's desk. The physician's head was propped in her palm, she appeared to be either studying a datapad or be half asleep. Kate popped her head in the doorway. "You paged me?" she asked, causing the physician to jump.

The other woman nodded and waved the psychiatrist in to take up an empty chair. "I spoke with Ronon earlier and was able to get a little more information in regards to Carson's condition."

Kate pulled her chair closer to the desk, placed her elbows on the smooth surface, and leaned forward.

oOo

On the other side of the room, outside the small office, dark dreams surfaced for two of the sleeping individuals. For one, it was bodies pressing so tightly that his breath was being stolen, for the other, the smell of putrid decay and filth causing him to gag. Various monitors began to emit warnings, nurses scrambled, and two more team members sleepily rolled off their beds to take up postioions by the one closest to their own.

Rodney propped himself against Sheppard's bed, holding an emisis basin in one hand and trying to assist the retching colonel with his other. "I could use a little help here," he called out to no one in particular. When a nurse slipped in past him to help support Sheppard, he gratefully shifted to take the weight off his sore leg.

"What's wrong with him?" the scientist demanded once the colonel stopped gagging and sank wearliy back against his pillow. Watching the nurse wipe off the fevered face and brow, he noticed how Sheppard turned toward the cool cloth. "Is he even awake?"

"He's semi-conscious," the nurse explained, wringing out the cloth in the basin at the bedside before draping it back across the sweaty brow. Seeing the concerend look on McKay's face, she smiled softly. "With all that he's been through, it's hard on his system to fight the infection. Right now he could probably stand to hear a familiar voice." Taking the scientist's hand, she pressed it against the damp cloth, waiting for him to relax slightly before she let go. "I need to check on Dr. Beckett. Can you keep Colonel Sheppard cool and talk to him?"

His discomfort shifted to irritation. "Of course I can. What kind of idiot do you think I am? Do you want me to change his bedpan, next?"

"Not right now. But if you're available later," she started, then gave him a reassuring pat to the arm before following Dr. Biro across the room to assist Ronon, leaving him awkwardly holding the cloth.

"So," he began then paused, focusing on the face pressed back into the pillow, before shooting a concerned glance over to Carson's bedside. Too many people stood around the bed and he couldn't see what was going on. "Looks as though Carson is stealing all your attention. Why don't you wake up and give him a run for his money?"

He didn't get any response and the rag felt warm beneath his fingertips so he peeled it off to dip slightly in the cool water before placing it back over Sheppard's brow. "You do know that that lumbering Neanderthal brought him back last night, don't you?" Rodney paused a second to glance again to the group on the far end of the room, then turned back with a heavy sigh. "He doesn't look too good. I overheard one of the nurses last night say that he can't move, doesn't even know who he is."

The forehead beneath his hand shifted slightly and he peered closer, then gave Sheppard's shoulder a small shake. "You awake?"

"Cars'n."

The word was barely a whisper but that was all the scientist needed. "He's here, safe and sound, plugged into half of Atlantis by the looks of it."

The bandaged arms shifted restlessly on top of the blanket, fingers scrabbling to grip some of the fabric, but Sheppard didn't open his eyes. "How is he?" he rasped.

Rodney frowned. "I just told you, he's pretty much monopolized the medical staff but the nurse told me he was going to be fine."

That made Sheppard frown, his eyes cracking just the slightest to look up and find the scientist worridly watching him. "You're…lying. I …" He paused trying to find moisture to wet his dry throat. McKay must have noticed because the rim of a cup touched his lips. After a few painful swallows, he nodded that he was finished. "I heard the nurse," he whispered.

"That's right…you heard the nurse. Did Biro or one of the other bone shaking quacks around here come and talk to you? No. So before you get yourself all worked up over some second hand bit of news, why don't you just lie there and wait until I can find out the truth."

"McKay…" He knew he wasn't going to be awake much longer and the light really hurt his eyes. Closing them wasn't an option though so he scowled at the rumpled figure standing beside him.

"Sheppard, would you just shut up and listen to me for once." Rodney didn't miss the raised brow arched in surprise. "I'll keep an eye on Carson, and Teyla, and Ronon. Anything happens, I'll let you know."

"What 'bout you?" Okay, now his eyes were no longer listening to him and closed on their own. The cloth was taken and then placed back on his forehead.

"I'm fine."

"Liar."

Rodney's hand automatically went to his back. "Shut up. I pulled a muscle while carrying a beautiful woman. It's been awhile and I'm not as young as I used to be."

Sleep was closing in fast on Sheppard. Hot and achy, he gave up holding it at bay."Not what … I heard the nurse say."

"Again, second hand news. You really need to stop eavesdropping, colonel." All he got in reply was some sort of strange mumble. Rodney shifted his weight, testing his injured leg. The hot twinge up the muscle made him hiss, but with his teeth clamped tight, the sound was little more than a sigh. One last check on the sleeping man, then he hobbled over to the other end of the room. Maybe Dex needed his help.

oOo

Carson couldn't catch his breath, the bodies were pressing tight against him, their faces staring with unseeing eyes into his own. With the fire radiating throughout his hands and legs, the terrifying faces and dreams haunting his mind, he did the only thing left in his power to control… he followed the deep rumbling voice that told him to wake up. His eyes snapped open to reveal the bearded man with strange hair. Dex, his mind informed him.

"You need to calm down," Ronon growled quietly. "Breathe." And the physician obeyed. "You're safe, back on Atlantis." The whining machine at the side of the bed continued to shrill, and having seen the med staff shut it off during some of his prior visits, the runner without any second thought, flipped the power switch, silencing the annoying noise. "Better?"

Carson frowned. His eyes traced wearily over the various pieces of aparatus in his limited field of vision then back to the man at his side. Somehow he knew that turning the noise off wasn't the right thing to do. The sound of people suddenly moving closeby startled him and he looked to find the face of a worried woman on his other side, and then back to Dex.

"What happened?" she asked Dex before she looked down at the man staring between them. A smile spread across her face. "Carson, I'm Dr. Carol Biro. Do you know where you are?"

He blinked, looking to Dex, and then back to her. Other than the man at his side, nothing looked familiar.

She seemed to understand. "That's okay. You've gone through quite an ordeal and if it wasn't for Ronon here," she paused to look at the tall man who should really be in bed, and then sighed. "All I can say is thank god he was able to find you and get you back home to us." When he looked away from her, she reached out and touched the side of his face, carful of the myriad of cuts and bruises. "Carson, I need you to look at me and answer some questions if you can."

Dex nodded in her direction and he shifted his gaze back.

"Are you in pain?"

He blinked slowly.

"Is it a general, all-over sort of burning pain?"

He blinked again and she nodded at his answer.

"The tissue around your spine is badly bruised and swollen, but all tests have come back clean. With plenty of rest, your prognosis looks promising." When his eyes closed at the news, she glanced to Ronon. "Did you tell about his team mates?"

For some reason, that caught Carson's attention and he looked back to the bearded man expectantly.

"They're all here," he said, with a glance over his shoulder. "McKay is the only one up, Sheppard and Teyla are still resting." Seeing Rodney standing beside the colonel, having some sort of discussion, he raised a brow and grinned. "Looks like McKay is already filling Sheppard in."

Carson stared at the ceiling, hating that he couldn't look around to see who else was in the room beside himself. When the lady doctor touched his cheek again, he looked over expectantly, only to discover her holding a shiney object. She shifted it slightly and he was surprised to see the reflection of two men further down the room.

"McKay is standing, Sheppard's on the bed," Dex said.

He couldn't see the man on the bed very well until the one named McKay moved. Then, getting his first real glimpse of Sheppard, he stared and then clenched his eyes shut tight as the voice in his head whispered to 'hold on'.

"Doc?"

"Carson?"

The worry in both of their voices forced him to look back up. The mirror was still in place and he glanced across the room for a second look. There was only the man in the bed this time, the other was gone. Studying what little he could see of the sleeping man's face that was turned in his direction… 'Sheppard' he reminded himself…he noticed the swollen eyes, bandages, and the cloth across his head. 'Just a little longer, doc,' the voice whispered again.

He stared harder at Sheppard, trying to capture the face that went with the voice. Fleeting images of a dark room, people crying, a terrible smell, and a man with dark hair. More memories surfaced faster now: a rope and a chair, blood, so much blood, a man begging to be spared. Gun fire. Bodies. It all swirled in a nauseating crescendo. He couldn't breathe.

"Carson, you need to calm down," Biro insturcted, her hand touching his face, trying to pull him from his nightmare.

Dex leaned in close, trying to catch the injured physician's attention to no avail. This time Beckett was trapped and didn't seem to be able to surface. The clunck of Rodney stepping up beside the bed was missed by all as Biro injected something to calm Carson into his IV.

They stood silently watching the drug take effect.

Before he faded into the welcoming darkness, Carson pried open his eyes one more time to see the faces around him. It was the one named McKay that was leaning close to him this time.

"Hold on, Carson. Sheppard needs you," the man whispered before everything went dark.

TBC