A/N: Resolutions!!! Yay! Math test was eh. Didn't fail, but didn't do as well as I'd hoped. Still, it was my first college-level math test. Thanks for all the support! Here's the final chap of 38 Minutes.
Chapter 12
"That bad?" Sheppard asked, concerned. I whined and looked at him, devastated by what was about to happen. He nodded and relayed the request. As Ford pulled down the kit I realized it had a lot more stuff in it than seemed practical for a first aid kit.
Is this a full med kit? I looked over the items. It had IV bags and tubing, syringes, large dressings, and almost an entire doctor's arsenal. It was not the one they usually had in the jumper.
"Thought I'd plan ahead. Figured when you said my life was on the line I was gonna get shot, not bitten. I went ahead and pulled the first aid kit and replaced it with the whole shebang. Now why do we need the defibrillator?" He groaned out. I nodded stiffly at his forethought, wondering why I hadn't thought of that. Too much worrying and not enough planning, that's why. Just as I was about to answer, I was cut off by McKay's return to the rear compartment. He was holding an unwrapped, yet untouched power bar. He seemed to be analyzing it.
"Does anyone know if they have citrus power bars?" Upon the groans that statement received, he shrank back and bit into it carefully. His face cleared as he tasted the obviously chocolate bar. His expression of intense relief momentarily distracted me from answering Sheppard.
What would he have done if it did taste like… SALINE!!! I shrieked, the epiphany startling me in its simplicity. I darted back to the med kit. Would it work? Maybe. Would he die? Probably not. Eh, that was good enough for me.
"If the power bar tasted like saline? Huh?" Sheppard was understandably lost.
No, not the power bar! You! I was practically tripping over myself, trying to dial Atlantis mentally. This was close to my field, but I needed to consult an expert. Tell them it's you, but to not lower the shield. I'm sure some idiot dart thinks we just dialed them an easy way to Atlantis. Get Beckett on the line and explain what's happened so far. I need to ask him something.
"Right. Got it." He was still panting sporadically, but his eyes had taken on this glazed, far-away look that told me a large part of his body was numb already. He repeated my instructions, glossing over the seriousness of the situation. Damn warrior stoics.
"Aye, ok. Bri, what do you need?" Carson's voice came over the radio as brisk as ever. The man was scared to death of gate travel or weapons platform (how he'd bypassed the failsafes at the Antarctica outpost and fired a drone still had me confused), but he was the pinnacle of efficiency when it came to someone needing medical help.
Ask him what the maximum concentration of saline human physiology can handle is. I shifted impatiently, waiting for the reply.
"A normal saline solution is less than one percent sodium chloride, I would nae go much higher than that. Unless the patient is has a low enough sodium intake, a hypertonic solution would be too much for the body to handle." Carson answered, not really following my train of thought. I considered it carefully. We could try it at least.
All right. I may have an answer that doesn't necessarily contain you dying. Iratus bugs, like I mentioned before, hate saltwater. Almost fear it even. If we can put enough saline into your system to change the 'taste' of your blood, for lack of a better term, the bug should release you. Just like McKay would have spit out the power bar if he tasted citrus. It wouldn't even have to be a drastic amount. If we can put in enough of it at once, it'll overwhelm the blood cells as it passes by the bug, effectively giving it a straight shot of saline. Instinct will make it act like you're the closest thing a bug has to a devil. I revealed my plan, slightly miffed at the simplicity. Sheppard frowned in concentration as he listened, then finally cleared.
"Cool." He grunted out, obviously pleased with the idea of the bug off of him. He informed Beckett of the plan and, after receiving his tenuous support, ordered Ford to hook him up. The kid nodded, but stared at the needle in his hand like he had no idea of what to do. Probably didn't. Sure almost all military fields were given field training, but inserting an IV wasn't exactly something a soldier was expected to have to do in the middle of a battle. Teyla didn't have a clue as to what an IV was, and McKay would probably faint of the thought of the blood. I sighed and sat down, my eyes half lidded as I accessed a very particular skill set. It was allowed, probably because they'd refused me any other method of saving him. I neatly plucked the needle from the lieutenant's hands and pulled Sheppard's arm out with a mental tug. It only took me a few seconds to find the vein and insert it. Good, I hadn't fallen out of practice. Sheppard still winced. "Ow."
Oh sure, the dog just used its mental powers to telekinetically hook you up to an IV and you're complaining that it hurt. All while you have an Iratus bug stuck to your neck. I'll have you know that my previous patients, though it has been about ten thousand years, never complained. I told him briskly. He raised his eyebrows.
"You were a doctor?" He asked, interested. I shook my head and laughed.
Nope! I grinned. I was the equivalent of your veterinarian, even at my young age. My patients never said a word.
"Great. I feel much better." He replied sarcastically. "Isn't it McKay who claims Beckett's a sheep doctor?"
Hey, if you'd rather have Ford trying to stick you several times trying to hit a vein, go right ahead. He isn't trained for IV insertion. I raised an eyebrow and waited for something to happen. Anything.
"I could have done it." Sheppard pointed out.
Sure, Mr. Special Forces. Can you even move your fingers? I asked, doubtful. A single twitch answered me. Yeah, that really would have worked, John.
"Has anything happened yet?" Beckett's voice reminded us of the task at hand. I stared at the bug, willing it to give up.
"Nothing yet, doc." Ford responded.
"It may take the saline a few minutes to circulate through his bloodstream and reach a high enough concentration to impact the insect." Beckett reassured him. Sheppard sighed.
"Well, I'm pretty sure that if we wait too long, it won't matter anymore." Sheppard pointed out. I grimaced and nudged his limp hand.
Come on, Mr. Positive. That's not gonna happen. I don't break my promises. I told him.
"I'll have to take your word for it… hey." Sheppard's voice was a bit concerned, but his expression startled. The bug was moving again, complete with its strange hissing and chittering. I jumped up, scared that it was trying to grip his neck harder, when it suddenly emitted a harsh clicking sound. I stared at it as it seemed to almost leap from the major's neck. I pounced, ready to kill it before it could find a new subject, but it merely seemed to curl up and die. "It worked!"
"Is it dead?" Ford asked. He couldn't see it as I had leapt after it. I sniffed carefully and grinned.
Holy crap, it is dead. I didn't think salt water could do that to these suckers. I thought a second. Oh! The constant avoidance of salt water for the last ten thousand years must have made the bug's system intolerant to even the slightest bit of salt water. When it ingested the saline, it literally poisoned itself.
"She said it's dead, Lieutenant. Bri, are we good to go?" Sheppard was still laying down, but sounded stronger.
Well, you'll have to visit the infirmary until the venom dissipates in your system, and we'll have to make sure there aren't anymore darts around the gate, but since I made sure the Jumper wasn't damaged, we still have the cloak. Let's go home. I wagged my tail, relieved that the ordeal was over. Life-and-death situation averted.
***
We made it back in one piece. Obviously. The darts had either tried to go through the wormhole and been disintegrated by the shield or had given up. It was simple to get home. Beckett leaped on the Sheppard and the bug, intent on healing and, in the bug's case, dissecting. The rest of the men gained a new insight into Sheppard's toughness, while McKay had the fact that Sheppard had shoved him out of the way of the bug, effectively sacrificing himself. He'd even come with Teyla and Ford to the infirmary to see him. I spent a little while with him, but as the night went on, I found myself drawn to Teyla's room. I felt obligated to tell her. I finally worked up the nerve to ring the chime. She was in and, when she saw me, she was understandably confused.
"Bri? Do you need something? Should I call Major Sheppard?" She reached a hand to her radio, but I shook my head. She knelt down to be on my level. I offered a paw and she took it, though hesitant.
Hello, Teyla. I spoke softly, not wanting to scare her. I also made sure that Sheppard, who was currently sleeping in the infirmary, couldn't overhear me. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"How is this possible? I thought you only spoke with the major." She was astounded.
I can only do so when we are physically touching. The reason for this is why I needed to talk to you. You see, I am capable of tapping into telepathic networks, as are you. This may seem hard to comprehend, but I assure you, there is nothing to fear. In past generations, a Wraith attempted to make a food source that would provide more sustenance than a normal human. He spliced Wraith DNA to human DNA. His subjects, however, gained the ability to tap into the Wraith neural network. He abandoned them. Some went insane, others were killed by Wraith who feared their ability to sense the thoughts of Wraith, while others were ostracized to other planets. One of them was your ancestor. Thus you have Wraith DNA. It is what gives you the ability to sense the Wraith coming. I tried to explain the situation as best I could. Her eyes grew horrified.
"I am part Wraith?" She whispered.
It is only a small part. No more than John is an Ancient. By now the DNA has been all but bred out of you, leaving you with nothing but the ability to sense Wraith and tap into their neural network if you practice. It is actually an advantage, one that Atlantis will need in the upcoming years. I felt you deserved to know. I reassured her. She looked troubled, but still nodded. It would have been discovered in the future, but I believe that you should know now. I ask that you trust me when I say that there is nothing to fear. And that I won't be telling Sheppard. It is your decision and I won't tell him something so personal. There is no risk to Atlantis for now. I would like to offer to meditate with you. It is something that my people did daily and provides you with a better understanding of your mind. With practice you can learn to speak mentally and, in the distant future, have enough focus to control a Wraith.
"I would be honored if you meditated with me, Bri. You are positive that my DNA won't cause trouble?" She seemed more relaxed after my offer of assistance, but was still wary of the consequences.
I am sure. Some will create a fuss about it, but when the time comes to reveal it, Sheppard and those whose opinions really matter will understand. I bowed my head. I am glad of the chance to speak with someone other than Sheppard for once, even if I must be touching you to do so. It is a bit… frustrating to have no one else understand me.
"You may speak with me anytime, Bri." Teyla promised.
Thanks, Teyla. I broke contact and trotted to the door. I wagged my tail as a sort of good-bye and left. Perhaps this punishment wouldn't be so bad after all.
***
A/N: Well? Plausible enough? I got the idea about the saline and just had to try it out. I actually did research into saline. Hope it was semi-believable (talking dog, wormholes in space, and alien cities and species aside). I really wanted to give someone for Bri to talk to besides Sheppard, but didn't want it to be just some random character. Therefore, I used Teyla's Wraith DNA as a way to circumvent the Ascended punishment rules. I love loopholes. Next up is Suspicion.
