For disclaimer check the 1st chapter...

A/N: Here it is… our final stop ladies and gentelmen. Mind you it was angsty for McKay and very painful for Sheppard but that's the way I love them ^^

Hope you enjoyed the ride!

Chapter Ten

The next time Sheppard showed signs of being aware of his surroundings was almost a day later. He didn't open his eyes in a lazy attempt to see where he was, no. He snapped them wide open and began to thrash around. It happened while Ronon was in the room and the only thing he was able to do was yell for help. Ronon was a warrior; he wasn't used to feeling helpless, but in that moment when all he saw was fear in Sheppard's eyes, he truly didn't know what to do. The man in front of him was but a shell of the man he knew Sheppard to be. The warrior he respected. And yet with broken ribs, bullet wounds and having a machine breathing for him, he was still giving the medical personal a hard time. That's when it clicked in his head, the tube Sheppard was breathing through was the thing he was scared of. Ronon didn't blame him, if he was in the same confused state, it would feel like something attacking from the inside. "Sedate him!" Ronon heard a doctor shout."I did! He's fighting it!" responded the nurse. All of their words, telling Sheppard to calm down, to stop fighting them, were falling onto deaf ears. So Ronon decided to take matters into his own hands before Sheppard could hurt himself further. "Sheppard!" said Ronon in his gruff voice. "Let them help you. You are safe." While trying to hold him down as gently as he was capable of. It helped, Sheppard must have known Ronon wasn't one to kid around, so he relaxed enough to let the nurses do their jobs. That's when both Keller and Beckett made an appearance.

"Colonel, can you hear me lad? It's Carson." There was a barely noticeable nod and he continued. "I know you must be hurting like hell and that thing in your throat feels like it's burning all the way down. But you need it just a wee bit longer. John you're going to be just fine and I promise you, I'll take it out the moment your lungs improve and not a moment later. Now rest, everything will be better the next time you open your eyes."

Sheppard's eyes started drooping as the drugs finally took effect. He gave one final nod before his body went limp with sleep. And Keller approached Ronon.

"You did good," she said with warm smile.

After that incident it took John close to two days to crawl out of the dreamless sleep the sedatives had left him in. At that point he didn't know much, he felt like his brain was still loading and needed a bit of time before he could access the information stored there. The smell of antiseptic he recognized before he even opened his eyes; been there, done that, in fact too many times for his (or Beckett's) liking. The memories were flowing now. He remembered with clarity everything up to getting to his quarters and feeling sick and being in pain. After that things got fuzzy.

"Colonel how are you feeling?"

"Keller?" O…kay, he didn't remember her being around.

"Yes, now let's see how things are progressing." Usual stuff followed, blinding light, vitals, checking bandages, etc.

"Where's Beckett?" …and what was that god awful sound, it sure couldn't be his voice.

"He should be resting but I'm just not sure. Things were a little hectic so I'm told. It seems trouble found you yet again. But it looks like you're healing nicely."

"I'm a fast healer." As soon as the words were out he regretted them. She gave him her usual Keller smile as if she didn't catch his unintended and really distasteful pun.

"Your team's hanging around, especially McKay. Think you can handle him?"

He wanted to say something sarcastic but was afraid his throat would spoil the intentions behind it. So he settled for giving her his best "I'm good" smile.

She nodded and proceeded to feed him ice chips. He fought the satisfied moan that wanted to escape him. If it was one of the pretty nurses he had no problem with it but with Keller it was another story. So he made do with a relieved sigh.

"There now you can talk to Rodney."

She winked at him before disappearing. Time was always a problem when he was in the infirmary. So he didn't know how many minutes passed after Keller left, but since McKay didn't come through the door he decided to catalogue his injuries. He could've asked Jennifer but he didn't want the medical version, he wasn't sure he even wanted the cliff-notes version. Truth to be thought – because he wasn't about to say it out loud – everything was hurting. Hurting wasn't the strongest word to describe the pain he was feeling all over but sadly it would have to do. Back hurt like a bitch, so did his chest and ribs and come to think of it so did his hand. His hand? His hand! He slowly lifted it and it was device free. Good. Details could wait 'till his brain was in working order.

With another sigh he tried finding a comfortable position but it was hard to when he could feel pain all around his body. Sheppard closed his eyes and let the sounds of the room fill him. Many 'beeps' sounded near, voices were more distant and someone dragging his feet…McKay…

"How are you feeling?"

Jackpot thought Sheppard before replying. "Sore but not too bad."

"Either you're on the really good stuff or you're a bad liar."

"A little bit of both." They both felt the presence of the awkward silence that had been lurking around waiting for an opportunity to show its ugly face. So Sheppard tried to keep it at bay. "What happened to that thing?"

"Destroyed and probably rusting in the bottom of the ocean as we speak."

"Good." Silence and McKay didn't really go together. That's what made it so uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry," he finally said looking at the floor, ashamed of the excitement he felt when it had all started.

"It's not your fault. I touched it without being asked to." If things were going to be fine once and for all Sheppard had to take care of McKay's guilt trip.

"I thought it was a great discovery, I was so wound up about it I never stopped to examine what it was doing to you instead of focusing on what it could do for all of us. Then I was afraid I couldn't fix it in time."

"But you did. I'm alive aren't I?"

"It came close!"

"It always does, the point is if it can be fixed I know you'll find a way, but you don't have to fix everything."

"You know what? It shouldn't be!"

"You lost me, you shouldn't be the one fixing things?" Sheppard was confused about the sudden change of emotions.

"Yes!...What?...No! I mean you shouldn't always come close to dying. That act is getting old."

"Is not like I go asking for it, it just happens." And just like that the tables were turned and McKay focused his anger at Sheppard.

"It happens because you have a self-sacrificing hero complex that you can't seem to shake and it's not healthy!"

"When did you turn this around at me?"

"When I started thinking that when it isn't a faulty ancient device, it's an explosion, a bullet, a knife, a creature; hell with you it can be anything!"

"Too bad that gizmo didn't actually work, it could've come in handy for me then."

"I might start thinking of making one up, either that or buy you some life insurance."

"I don't think any insurance will cover either this galaxy or my job related accidents."

"I guess not but I could name myself as the sole beneficiary and when the military uses the necessary-clearance card I could make some serious money."

"Good for you." There was a pause before he continued. "So are we good?"

"We are."

Rodney finally relaxed into the chair he had grown accustomed to. John smiled again and settled back against the pillow. Everything was fine now. He let his eyes slip shut. His body barely had saved up the energy for the much needed conversation and it left him exhausted. Besides, he wasn't looking forward to feeling… well, every break, incision, and bruise his body was covered with.

Finis