When David returned from showering and dropping his suit off at the laundry, again, there was a crowd around John's bed. John was sitting, propped up on a pile of pillows, and talking seriously with Colonel Carter, Major Lorne, Dr. McKay and Ronon. With a jolt of surprise, David realized that Lorne, McKay and Ronon were dressed in combat gear, bristling with weapons. Even McKay, whom David had assumed was a civilian scientist, had a sidearm strapped to his hip, and an automatic weapon of some sort clipped to his multi-pocketed black vest.
David quietly walked closer to the group, both curious and anxious about what might be going on. Nobody noticed him as he sat down on the edge of his bed to listen in.
Colonel Carter was saying, "It's a stretch, I know. There's no proof that Michael is dialing the 'gate network from the same lab as the 2nd ascension device, but we have seen that he tends to organize his labs around projects –."
"This being the 'mess with everyone in the galaxy's DNA' project," McKay interjected. Carter just went on.
"At the least, McKay might get lucky and find some data somewhere in the lab that could point us to the location where Michael is dialing from. At best, you'll be able to turn Michael's program off and free up our 'gate directly."
"Either way, we'll have access to one or two of Michael's computers. We have a bit of information of our own to leave for him to find." McKay hesitated before continuing, "I've changed the destination on my auto-dialing program to dial 655. The first attempt will be in 20 minutes. It will try to keep the 'gate open as many times as needed to stay in radio contact. However, if we can't shut down Michael's program, then we're making a one way trip. The Atlantis 'gate will be busy."
John nodded grimly, and David saw him press his arm into his side before he looked at Lorne.
"You're taking two teams of Marines?"
"Three, actually," Lorne said casually. "Two to take the facility, one to hold the 'gate. Carter says we need to work fast."
John paused, seeming to be thinking things through. "Then don't use a MALP, they're too slow and will give any hybrids in the area too much time to think about what might be coming through next. Throw a palm scanner through the 'gate linked up with one you keep. Set it to scan for a viable atmosphere, then go through the instant the scan comes back clear."
"Yessir. That's a good idea!" Lorne caught the eye of McKay and Ronon then turned to leave.
"McKay," John said, and McKay turned back.
"This time, blow the place up AFTER you get out of the building?" David thought John sounded deadly serious, and he wondered with some alarm at John's choice of the phrase 'this time'. But McKay grinned and wagged his finger at John.
"Always with the funny, you. You're just jealous you're not coming."
"Would if I could," John answered gruffly.
"I know." Rodney looked like he might offer something more, then he just tilted his head in farewell and hurried off after the others. David saw John watching the men walk out of the infirmary. John's expression was worried, angry almost.
"Colonel," John said with a snap in his tone, "How long before the Hive drops out of hyperspace?"
Carter threw a wary look at David and seemed hesitant to answer. "It will drop out in about 16 hours, reaching the planet in 20."
"And we're going to play dead?"
"We'll turn on the cloak and hope they go away, yes. Now that your DNA is not generating any energy signature that Michael can track, we're hoping they'll think we either left, or that they made a mistake."
John rolled his head in annoyance. "I don't like it. I don't like that Michael's got our 'gate address."
"McKay had an idea about that."
"Yeah, well - ."
"Colonel, your job is to rest up. We'll keep you apprised of the situation as it develops." David saw John clamp his jaw in the expression he used right before he was about to argue himself into a fistfight. He stood up suddenly and stepped closer, wondering if there were any way he could keep his brother from jeopardizing his career. When John finally answered, David was shocked to hear that John's words were respectful and his voice was controlled.
"Sam, we need a plan B, in case they don't just go away. I recommend deploying three cloaked jumpers into orbit before the hive arrives at the planet, armed with nukes. That way we'll already be out there if things start to go bad. Secondly, we should run the data on exactly where we need to hit that ship if the nukes don't get through and we have to take it out with drones alone."
Colonel Carter looked thoughtful, then nodded. "I'll see to it. Care to recommend the pilots?"
"Anderson, Abramowicz, and Walker."
"I'll put them on standby, and I'll send them by before they deploy so you can give final instructions. I was serious about resting up, John. If this thing goes to a firefight, we'll need you to help out as much as you can."
"I'll be fine. Do you have a plan for how we're going to explain to Michael how his Hive ship got destroyed if no one is supposed to be here?" Sam frowned.
"You don't think Michael is on the Hive that's approaching?"
"Hell, no. That would be way too easy. We either need to fake him out like we did the Wraith 3 years ago, or we'll have to move the city again."
"I'll think about it, run some ideas by Zelenka."
"Good," said John.
"And about that rest?"
John finally sank his head back against the pillows. "Yes, sir," he said tiredly.
"Good," Carter said, sounding amused. She looked at David and smiled, "I'm counting on you, Mr. Sheppard, to make sure your brother keeps that promise." David shot a glance at John who rolled his eyes in disgust.
"I think John understands his responsibilities, Colonel."
David was more impressed by his brother than he was almost willing to admit. While very little of anything John had said made sense to David, he'd seen a man in full control of himself and those he commanded. He'd seen a man who was respected by his superiors, and who was fully engaged in the important decisions of this unique facility. If John weren't his little brother, he'd even caught a glimpse of a man David might be able to admire.
John rolled his head to stare at David in utter surprise at the implied compliment. David affected not to notice, and Sam chuckled. "Do what you can, anyway." And she strolled out of the infirmary.
David was lost in thought as she left, watching John watching her leave. There was something dangerous going on, something that affected the whole city, and that meant John as well - in the safety of the infirmary or not. All that David understood was that there was an enemy on the way that would arrive in 20 hours, and that these people were planning for its disturbing appearance. He began to wonder just what exactly he was supposed to do when it got here.
The second Carter stepped out of view, John gasped and squeezed his eyes shut tight in a startling expression of agony. He curled onto his side, and lay against his pillows, panting through clenched teeth. David rushed closer and suddenly understood that John had been forcing himself to seem stronger than he actually was, succumbing to the discomfort he was truly feeling only once his commander was out of sight. John grabbed for the rail of the bed and clung to it with white-knuckled ferocity.
"Go get Keller," John hissed.
David scrambled.
John was all but unconscious when Dr. Keller reached him, only a minute or two later. David paced as the doctor forced John to describe his pain, then plunged more liquid pain-killer into his IV. John continued to rock slightly for another few minutes, then his hand slid limply off the bedrail and his breaths slowed into the quiet rhythm of sleep. David ran his hand through his hair.
"How did he do that?" David asked abruptly as Keller seemed satisfied for the moment and turned to return to her offices.
"Do what?"
"How did John just fake it through an entire meeting? He was obviously miserable. Why wouldn't he just say something?" Keller looked as if she couldn't decide between being exasperated or puzzled by the question. She chose a little of each for her answer.
"John does what he has to do, David. We all do." She suddenly gave David her full attention, studying him until he shifted a bit under the uncomfortable scrutiny. "When did you sleep last?"
The question threw David off guard. He tried to think through the past day and felt like he'd been living underground, or in a kind of surreal prison where time meant nothing and there was no such thing as day or night. He looked at his watch. It said 3:00 a.m. But he realized that he'd never reset it to local time. At that moment decided he didn't want to. The watch was a small connection to the place he felt terribly homesick for. And he still hadn't answered Dr. Keller's question.
"That's what I thought," she said into the silence. "John isn't the only one around here that is good a faking it. You should get some sleep now, David, because it's very likely that things will get very busy in a few hours."
"When this enemy ship arrives."
"Mmmm. Yes." Keller quickly sidestepped the implied question. "You seem to be doing fine with the blood we gave you to replace the blood you donated, so I can release you to the VIP quarters. You can sleep there. It will be quieter and more comfortable."
David thought about it for a long moment. Surreal prison though it may be, the infirmary was the only place he'd been in the last 3 days. It was the only place that felt even a little familiar. And John was here. As if in response, John groaned in his sleep and rolled slightly in his bed.
"Thank you, Doctor. But I think I'll just lie down nearby to rest for a while." Jennifer watched him closely in concern, then nodded.
"I'll dim the lights for both of you."
David lay down on the bed next to John, fully dressed. He'd just showered and changed. But the world had turned upside down again, and he was supposed to sleep now? Unsurprisingly, sleep came slowly. Next to him, John was also restless.
David drifted into daydreams, thinking about his brother and the look on John's face when he'd called him so. He thought about John's command and how much responsibility John carried, and how well he carried it.
As the daydreams sank into restless sleep, David felt fear settle into his chest. Had he finally found his brother, had he traveled all this way to save his life, only to have him taken away again by some faceless enemy and the danger John faced every day? David twitched, sleep taking him at last into dark, cold dreams.
