Let's Make A Deal. Chapter ten
After nearly sixteen hours of sleep, Colonel Sheppard was awake and enjoying a simple breakfast at two in the afternoon. Carson waited until the Colonel was done before he went to have a chat.
"Colonel, the connection you have with Atlantis is quite amazing. She was quite worried with your being so ill...she connected with me and told me she had the means to help you heal yourself. With the aid of that Ancient device Taslo made you activate, you are about ninety percent healed...and I don't mind telling you it was in the nick of time."
Carson grimaced, a look of guilt on his face. " Colonel, I was moments away from taking you back into surgery...the infection was so invasive that I would have had to excise quite a bit of your leg...it would have been quite radical I'm afraid...I think Atlantis felt my anguish and intervened on your behalf."
"I don't know what to say Carson...I'm just really glad Atlantis contacted you when she did! Thanks for listening and acting on her suggestion...I imagine that was as hard a decision to make as the other...". John was visibly shaken, thinking about what could have been his fate.
"Aye...I'm glad the way things turned out." Carson said sincerely. Patting John on the shoulder, he decided to broach the subject he was concerned with now.
"Colonel, I don't know how what happened actually happened, but apparently Atlantis sensed the healing powers that Ancient device seems to have instilled upon you. I believe the city, the device and your gene interacted and the combined powers somehow allowed your body to heal itself...Now, I don't pretend to even know how it was possible, but it is quite amazing! Thinking back, I believe Atlantis may have been able to assist you somewhat in the past...quite frankly, I always thought it extraordinary that you had an amazing ability to heal quickly...but, it makes sense that Atlantis found it necessary to help you as much as she could, though it was never like this...so that Ancient device is the key."
John sat pensively, thinking of all Carson was telling him.
"So...I have these cool healing powers, can talk to stargates and make things happen by thinking them...looks like I should kind of thank that bastard Taslo...if he weren't dead..."
"I don't know about those things, I mean, I read the mission report Rodney filed...but Colonel...my concern is that you might be more careless with your own well-being in tedious situations, now that..."
John was taken aback. "Carson, I would never do anything to put myself in danger on purpose, I..."
"Hold on, lad! I mean no offense! But, you must admit you give yourself and your team the more difficult and precarious missions..and you have taken on two suicide missions...and that's all before this turn of events!"
John was frustrated. Did Carson really think he'd purposely put himself in danger, and now...be a liability!?
"Listen, Carson...I'm military commander of this crazy place! I have and always will do whatever I need to do to ensure the safety of everyone in this city and Atlantis herself! You minds well have cut my leg up, if you think that would stop me from putting myself in danger when needs be!
Carson regretted this whole conversation. It wasn't going the way he wanted. Now he had the Colonel upset and on the verge of blowing his top.
"Colonel. I don't mean to insult you. Everyone here knows you would do anything necessary to fulfill your duties to them! But trouble seems to find you, more often than not. Listen, we just need to know more about what powers this device has instilled in you. We don't know any of the factors here! We just need to be a bit cautious about everything."
"Whether I now have my own personal healing device or not, it won't affect how I do my job-ever!" John shouted, a little more forcefully than he intended.
John sighed deeply. "I'm sorry Carson. I know you're just worried..but my job is what it is and I won't compromise my responsibilities and yes, I agree, we need to learn more about this device, which is what I assume Rodney is doing as we speak!"
Changing the subject, because he appreciated Carson's concern, but they could debate this all day and nothing would change. John figured this was a really good time to ask. "So Doc, when can I get out of here?
"Awk! I knew you'd be itching to leave us as soon as you opened your eyes! I'd like to keep you for 24 hours observation...just in case."
John was disappointed, but he owed Carson, so he didn't put up a fuss. "Can I at least take a nice hot shower?"
Carson smiled "Aye...supervised, of course! You'll be weak as a kitten and I'll not be having you injuring yourself by passing out, deal?"
"Deal...Thanks, Carson...for everything...again."
Carson was humbled, for he knew John was sincere. "I'll get Nick to help you. Take it slow, Colonel."
Half an hour later, the clean and refreshed Colonel almost looked forward to climbing back into the infirmary bed. He hated feeling so weak and exhausted, but then he thought about just how lucky he was. His leg was achy and weak, and he would be spending week or two doing physical therapy, but Carson had insured him that his leg would be back to one hundred per cent.
His stomach flipped at the thought of how close he came to losing the function of his leg and how close he came to losing everything he loved. His career would have been done for. As well-he would never be able to pilot again, at least not planes. He would still be able to pilot the jumpers, but alot of good that would have been because they'd ship him back to Earth if he weren't military anymore. Atlantis was his home, what would he do without the friends he now thought of as his family, what about Teyla?! That thought in particular,made his stomach clench. The resulting nausea had him retching.
Luckily Nick was still hovering nearby and was quick to grab a basin, just in time. He got the Colonel back in bed and noted the sweaty, clammy skin of his patient. He checked his vital signs, then called for Dr Beckett.
Nick informed Beckett with what had happened and gave him the vital signs readings. Carson was not one to take any chances, so he ordered an EKG and some bloodworm. John made to protest, but Carson was having none of it.
"Now, Colonel...You're looking mighty peeked. You've been through a lot and we still don't know what effect the whole healing process will have on your body...I'm inclined to think you've just overdone it a bit, but I need to do some tests to be sure.
TBC