Heart (Part II)

Rodney lay on a bed in the infirmary. Heart monitor leads went under the white scrubs he was wearing and attached to his chest. There was a steady beeping next to him and he frowned sadly down at the IV line needle jabbed into and taped to the back of his hand. His face was pale, but the dark circles around his eyes were gradually fading.

Carson and John stood next to him with angry expressions which was why he could not meet their gaze. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back onto the pillows propping him up.

Carson said, "Not so fast, laddie."

John folded his arms over his chest and said sternly, "I know you'd probably do anything for a day off, but that was a bit extreme, McKay."

Rodney cracked his eyes open and pulled the sheet up to his chest. He furrowed his brow and looked at them miserably.

Carson's expression softened and he said, "Your blood pressure was off the chart, Rodney, and there was so much caffeine in you, your heart just couldn't take it any more."

Rodney remained silent and placed his hands over his chest protectively. Carson asked, "When was the last time you ate before you collapsed?"

Rodney opened his mouth and stuttered, "I, uh, don't remember."

"Have you had any sleep in the last few days?"

"Not really."

Carson shook his head in exasperation, "Honestly, Rodney, you should take better care of yourself or you'll have a fatal heart attack next time."

Rodney replied indignantly, "But then who'd take care of Atlantis? I can't just abandon my duties when I feel tired or get a little bit peckish."

John narrowed his eyes and asked, "And who will take care of Atlantis after you've worked yourself to death?"

John sighed and shook his head. He unfolded his arms so that he could gesture at Rodney. "Dr Zelenka told me he's found you asleep at your desk in the science labs at 7am every day this week. Do you ever even go to your quarters to sleep?"

"You asked Radek about this?"

"No. I didn't. But he has expressed a concern and volunteered the information after what just happened."

Rodney hummed and fiddled with the sheet covering him nervously. His eyelids started to droop and he muttered, "Have you finished? I'm just going to pass out now."

Carson patted his hand and John smiled, "Yes, we have. Just concentrate on getting better."

"Good. Good." Rodney mumbled and his face slackened as he fell asleep.

John turned to Carson as they continued to stand next to Rodney. He asked, "Is he going to be alright?"

"Aye. He should be after a few days of rest and a complete caffeine purge. A proper hot meal, not eaten on the run, won't go amiss either. Not to mention no radio or laptop and the infirmary's now off limits for discussing work. I already had to request Kavanagh's forcible removal a few times as he snuck in and started hounding Rodney."

"I'll post a guard to scare him away," John reassured him.

Carson furrowed his brow at Rodney's still form and then turned to John. "He nearly died. If help hadn't been so close, he wouldn't have made it. The crazy man worked himself to the point of exhaustion and then kept going. He damn near killed himself."

John glanced down at Rodney and said, "I'm just off to have a word with Elizabeth about that in a minute. Things will start getting better for him from now on. We owe it to him after everything he's done for us. Heaping all this pressure and stress on him was a poor way to repay him and I'm going to see to it that it doesn't happen again."

Carson nodded, "Aye, see that you do."

John took hold of Rodney's hand where it was resting over his heart and gave it a gentle squeeze. He placed the limp hand back down carefully and then left the infirmary.