Disclaimer – See Chapter 1
Carson let out a satisfied sigh as he sank deeply into his chair, inviting the wondrous aroma of his freshly brewed cup of coffee overwhelm him while the beeps and whirs of the infirmary's machines combined into a comforting white noise soundtrack, reassuring all who knew to listen of their charge's safety.
After a long and trying ten days, his most errant and stubborn patient appeared to be on the mend. Not that John hadn't given Carson his best try to leave the land of the living. While John's little excursion had proven a great discovery for the more archeologically minded scientists, Carson had originally worried about the trip's effects on John's recovery. Old, moldy, broken-down marketplaces were not usually high on Carson recommended therapy options. However, John had responded well to treatment despite the risks he had faced and had now spent 36 hours fever free with moments of memory and lucidity increasing, though at a mind-numbing pace if Rodney's complaints were to be believed Carson thought to himself. In fact, if John kept improving at the speed he had, Carson wouldn't be surprised if John was up to actually conversation in the near future.
Making himself more comfortable in his chair, Carson tipped his mug ever so slightly to take a welcome sip of the glorious brew before him when a nurse burst into his office, diverting the mouthful from its intended target to his previously white lab coat.
"Dr. Beckett." One of Carson's nurses stated firmly, a mixture of concern and annoyance plastered across their face.
"Aye lass, what seems to be the problem?" Carson responded while grabbing a cloth to attempt and clean up the mess upon him, mourning his lost java more than just a little.
"Our star patient is having issues, Doctor. I could use a professional assist." The young woman ground out in a long-suffering tone.
Intrigued by his nurse's ambiguity, Carson rose from his chair, grabbed a clean lab coat, noting the coffee had only slightly seeped into his shirt through the thick material, and followed the nurse into the larger ward.
Turning the corner, Carson spotted the trouble instantly, not bothering to hide the smile that lit up his face as he did.
There lay John, still peacefully asleep, a natural one though not drug, fever, or injury induced, looking all the world like a man lost in pleasant dreams. The nurse's issue was with the new fixtures which had become temporarily permanent features in the infirmary since John's great escape.
On John's left sat Rodney McKay, furiously typing away on his keyboard, occasionally making remarks to the sleeping man about the idiocy of one scientist or another and how frustrating it was to be the genius on whom everyone's survival was dependent. On John's right lay Teyla, somehow the lass had found space to drag a bed from another treatment bay setting it right next to John. Though Carson was sure she'd deny it later, the Athosian woman looked more peaceful than he could remember seeing her in the past as she lay curled up, one arm draped gently across the sleeping man, miraculously missing the remaining tubes, wires, and injuries.
Carson smiled even more deeply as he allowed himself to wonder where the two friends would eventually end up. They obviously cared for one another deeply but were proud and stubborn enough to deny something that could be for their good. If it had been anyone but the petite woman, John's past combined with his training would have left Carson worried for their safety, but Teyla had not only slipped past the unconscious man's demons but had also eased his nightmares better than any prescription he had discovered so far in two galaxies.
That alone would have been frustrating for the new transfer to deal with. However, adding to the poor nurse's difficulties was a Ronon. The Satedan had taken point at the end of John's bed and though maintaining his usual silent posturing, the fact that the rather large and muscular man had confiscated a hospital tray and was using it to organize his personal knives, cleaning and sharpening them methodically, greatly added to the intimidation factor.
Stepping up to the privacy partition, Carson began lightly "Excuse me lads, do ye think wee Melissa might just be able to slip in and, perhaps, check the Colonel's vitals?" Carson finished merrily, glee dancing in his eyes despite the hijacking of his infirmary, at the sight of his family reunited.
Rodney looked up with a start, noticing the medical staff for what was obviously the first time "Of course the nurse can do her job. What kind of question is that?" Rodney responded incredulously before getting a thoughtful look on his face. "Of course, I assume that means she is qualified to interact with living patients. You only let people with their papers practice your medical voodoo in here, right? Be quick Melissa. I was just about to tell Sheppard about my run in with Kavanagh yesterday."
Grinding her teeth slightly, Carson had to give the woman credit as she tightly smiled while uttering the firm correction "Melissa."
"Right, sorry," Rodney apologized distractedly. "Anyway, if Melissa is still learning all this mumbo jumbo, maybe Chewie should stay put until Helga comes on. Her shift starts in a few minutes right?"
Carson rolled his eyes, knowing that this was actual growth for Rodney's social skills during a crisis. "No, Rodney, Helga's shift ended an hour ago. This is why you lads need to go and get sleep in ye own beds. You're confused . . . and cranky," Carson added smartly.
Ronon glanced behind him "Teyla's getting good sleep."
"Ronon's right," Rodney agreed. "Besides we all know what happened the last time we all left. Team's don't leave each other behind," Rodney stated firmly before glancing down at his computer and muttering under his breath "families even more so."
Carson melted instantly at Rodney's muttered vulnerability. Glancing over, he saw by Melissa's visible slump of her shoulders that she had caught the sentiment too. Marshalling himself in an attempt to regain the situation, Carson tried another angle. "Rodney, what if I personally vouch for Melissa's abilities? Ye know I'm just around the corner and experience has shown you that Melissa is more than capable of quickly getting me, should the need arise."
"That sounds agreeable, all you had to do was tell us she was qualified Carson." Rodney said easily, standing up and setting his laptop on a nearby tray while Carson rolled his eyes wearily. On the other side of the bed, Ronon reached over and gently shook Teyla awake.
Blinking slowly, Teyla stretched herself out soundly as she came to wakefulness feeling safe and content as she revelled in the stretch. She had been having such a good dream she thought, smiling softly to herself when, all of a sudden, she distinctly heard someone clear their throat. Whirring out of bed into a defensive stance, Teyla observed the sleeping form which had been her pillow, her obviously amused teammates, a goofily grinning Carson, and an embarrassed nurse whom she believed was named Melissa and was wearing a similar shade of red to the one she knew was gracing her own face.
Working hard to soften the reddened tint, Teyla subtly smoothed her features and looked at the nurse. "I am sorry for disturbing your duties, apparently I was more tired than I realised."
Melissa was about to respond when a gravelly voice softly whispered "warm," silencing the room around him.
Every head in the room snapped to focus on the, now, sole occupant of the bed before them, who was slowly opening his eyes. "Warm went away," he muttered, the words draining him as they increased in strength, the underused voice scratching out each syllable.
Carson and Melissa jumped into action, checking his vitals with lightening efficiency. "John, lad, do ye know where you are?" Carson asked gently.
"Lantis?" John questioned sleepily.
Carson glowed with the response despite the underlying question in John's voice. "Aye son, you're back home now."
"Teyla was warm, why'd she go away." John muttered sleepily – a combination of recovery, medication, and lack of wakefulness making him far more open than he would have been under normal circumstances.
Carson grinned, while Teyla fixated on the floor, the reddish tint slowly creeping back up her face at John's honesty. "We just asked her to move for a minute lad, need to make sure she's not affecting your vital any now." Carson teased.
John slowly processed the information, accepting it with a easy nod 'makes sense. Where'd Amanda go?" John suddenly asked eyes widening as an unspoken revelation flashed through his eyes.
But Carson and the team's confusion at John's question went unaddressed as Melissa's newly administered dose of meds pulled the Colonel back into unconsciousness once again.
A.N. So, I decided to split the chapter because . . . I'm getting married in two weeks. That means I have no idea on update schedule. I was originally going to make this longer but decided I'd rather put up a scene than make you wait. So review, encouragement is much appreciated as I'm having issues finishing this story and I'll see you all when I can :D