Title: Adapting
Chapter: Moving On
Author: Gypsy Lupin-Black
A/N: Hello again, everyone! Hope the sudden use of quotes and all that doesn't bother anyone too much… can't wait for more great reviews!
"Aye, Rodney's doing well. I dialled back his medications night before last, and so far, he's been responding quite well. We removed the IV last night, and he's been on oral meds. If he gets through lunch time today with out having a panic attack, I think he can be released to his quarters." Carson was speaking to someone when Rodney woke up.
"That's good, Carson. I'm very glad to hear that." Oh, it was Elizabeth.
"Hey, Elizabeth," Rodney called. He heard both her and Carson turn towards him.
"Rodney, you're awake. How are you feeling?" Elizabeth asked, and Rodney felt her take his hand. He squeezed her hand back.
"I'm feeling pretty good actually," Rodney replied. "Though I'm trying not to think about it too much," he added. At the current medication doses, Rodney felt almost like himself. Everything was in focus, he didn't feel like he was floating and drifting this way and that on the air currents and voice patterns around him. He felt grounded. Solid. He didn't know how much he'd missed that feeling.
Elizabeth sat down beside him, on the creaky chair. "Good. Carson said you may be released to quarters today, if you're up for it. I still want you to talk to Kate. And we've sent a message to Earth. We caught the Daedalus before it left, so they're going to send a specialist to come see you."
Rodney was glad to hear all this, though he didn't know what he thought about being released to his quarters. He'd be happy enough to have his bed back, but… it'd be so quiet. He realized he'd grown very used to hearing his team around him, to listening in on the infirmary conversations and movement. He was afraid that he'd feel too cut off in his quarters. But he didn't say anything to Elizabeth. He was trying to be strong. Everyone pitied him enough already, he didn't want to give them more reason to do so.
Rodney heard a faint, flat voice, distant, he couldn't quite make it out. But Elizabeth had heard it to. She shifted, then said, "I'm here," and paused. The flat voice said something else before Rodney figured out that he was hearing Elizabeth's radio. "I'll be right there, Chuck."
Rodney smiled, "back to work?"
Elizabeth squeezed his hand, "Yeah. I'll see you again soon, ok?" Rodney nodded and then Elizabeth was gone.
****
Rodney was eating lunch when he heard Carson approach, some one else was with him, but Rodney couldn't tell who it was. The smells of his lunch were mucking with his nose. "Well, Rodney, if you think you're up for it, I want to try releasing you."
Rodney swallowed his current mouthful of blue jello and nodded. They'd given him the chicken thing again today. Rodney had refused to eat it since his vomiting episode earlier that week.
"Radek's here to help you to your quarters, whenever you're ready." Carson continued.
Rodney turned his head toward them. "What about John? And Teyla and Ronon? When are they getting released?" He pushed his lunch tray away. He'd finished everything except the chicken thing, and he wasn't ready to face that again.
"John should be released to quarters and further bed rest in a couple days, as will Teyla. Ronon's throat is still very delicate, and we've had to keep him in a head brace so he wont move too much. He'll have to stay here a wee bit longer, I'm afraid."
"Doc," a croaking voice called. Ronon, Rodney thought. He's talking today. That gave Rodney more relief then he thought it would. Carson excused himself and went to check on the Setedan, and Radek came forward to stand next to Rodney's bed.
A sweet smelling nurse came and took Rodney's lunch tray, and Rodney turned his head back in Radek's direction. He could smell him, now that the lunch tray was gone. Soap and Ancient machinery. Radek had been crawling around fixing things today, Rodney thought.
"We found new lab last night," Radek told him. "It looks like a marine biology lab. Way out on west pier."
"Oh, well that's not terribly interesting. Did you tell the squishy sciences about it yet?" Rodney replied, scratching his hand where the IV catheter had been.
"Ano. They were happy to take it over this morning." The air shifted and then there was the telltale creak as Radek sat down.
The two were silent for a moment, before Radek spoke again, "Are you ready to get out of here?"
Rodney sighed. "Usually I'd say god yes, get me out of here…"
"But you're used to it here. Are aware of everything," Radek finished for him. Rodney nodded.
"Aw, get out of here Rodney," John called, probably from his bed. "You're gonna have to do it sometime."
Rodney grimaced. Yeah, yeah, he knew that. Thanks, John.
Radek stood up and patted his arm. "Come, I have something for you anyway."
Sighing, Rodney shifted, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Where are my clothes?"
"I brought you some fresh ones from your quarters. The ones you were wearing are total loss." He could hear Radek moving, heard the swish of the privacy curtains moving. The sounds of the rest of the infirmary dimmed slightly. "Here. Take off your shirt."
Rodney hesitated for a moment, then complied, pulling the scrub top off. The neck of the shirt rubbed his face as it came off, but his eyes weren't bothering him anymore. Radek took the shirt from him. "Hold out both hands. I'm going to give you this front side forward."
"I can figure this out for myself, Radek." Rodney snapped, but he did as he was told. He felt the familiar fabric of one of his well worn off duty shirts, and quickly pulled it on.
"Right. Stand up. I will turn around. Tell me when you want your shorts and pants." Radek's voice already sounded like he was facing away from him, so Rodney again did as he was told.
Rodney dressed as quickly as he could, fumbling a little as he figured out which was the right way for his shorts. The jeans Radek passed him were easier. Feeling around, Rodney located the creaky chair and sat down. "Socks? Shoes?"
"Here." Radek pressed the socks in his hand. Rodney pulled them on, then fumbled with his shoes for a moment before his fingers remembered how to do the laces. He'd put on and tied his shoes often enough in the dark that this wasn't that big a challenge. He just didn't like that Radek was hovering.
Sitting back up, Rodney scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Ready, I guess."
A/N: To explain, in case you were wondering… Rodney's off the heavy drugs now, so I figured things would sound much more normal to him, hence the quotation marks and all that. Hope you all agree!