Stargate SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis, the characters and universe are the property of Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, Gekko Productions and the Sci-Fi Channel. The content of this story is solely for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: I am NOT in the medical, military, mathematics or science professions so what you read is just 'winging it'. Hope it all sounds plausible. Also in my stories there will always be Dr. Weir and Dr. Beckett.
This is the fifth and final story completing the story arc I've written dealing with Colonel Sheppard's disability. Preceding order: Three for the Price of Two, Conquering Adversities, Unexpected Surprises, Life Altering and now New Beginnings.
The story was beta read and any remaining errors are my own. Enjoy.
New Beginnings
Author: kwillads
"Any questions before we begin the procedure Colonel? Now's the time to ask." Carson stated from behind his green surgical mask.
The Daedalus had landed very early this morning and Carson wasted no time in bringing Dr. Epson up to speed on the Colonel's condition which was evident by Carl's duffle bag sitting on the floor of Carson's office. For two hours Carl poured over the tests results that had been taken over the past few days. Carson pointed out one item that stuck out in his mind to Carl. During the Visual Sensory EEG Colonel Sheppard had associated the feeling of comfort when he was shone the picture of Dr. McKay. And of course the helicopter, puddle jumper and Dr. Weir resulted in a strong feeling of love. Carl took the opportunity to explain to Dr. Beckett how the Colonel viewed his relationship with Rodney. Carl could only describe it as a 'deep bond of brotherhood' between the two men.
Carl re-introduced himself to the Colonel making his own cursory examination.
At first the Colonel just stared. Carl had his hand extended in greeting but the Colonel made no move to accept. As Carl paid closer attention he noticed a glimmer of recognition. Dr. Epson was pulling his hand back when the Colonel quickly grabbed it in a manly handshake.
"Sorry. I'm a little slow on courtesy." Sheppard offered as an excuse.
A few quick images flashed acrossed his mind, a wheelchair, harness, parallel bars, gym mat all items he'd seen before. Nothing of any pertinent detail to reawaken his memories, but the images leaned more towards a feeling. He saw a friendly face; that had attitude, ethics and could be persuasive when the need arose. He saw helping hands that were aware of his dignity. That were willing and helpful but only when he desired it. He saw quiet conversations where sensitive matters were brought to light. A warmth of appreciation towards this man swept over him. Sheppard thought it was strange to feel these things towards a total stranger. Then he remembered Carson explaining Dr. Epson's role over the years.
"Were you remembering something?"
"It was all too fast." John admitted. "You know a glimpse of a wheelchair, you taking my pulse, talking. Those sort of things. Even had a few emotions thrown in. I'm sorry to say it wasn't enough to actually remember who you are or what we were to each other."
"That's alright Colonel. What we are to each other are friends. I became more than just your rehab doctor. I became your confidant. We worked well together over the years. I told you what to do and you did it." Carl smiled at the thought.
John returned the smile somehow knowing that Dr. Epson was mocking him. "A dictator then." Taking a minute for introspection he knew he wasn't the type to do what he was told. At least not all the time but perhaps this guy had managed to break down a few carefully crafted walls he kept in place for his protection in order to help with his paralysis. Time would tell but getting his memories back in order was top priority.
Carl offered no response other than to humm and raise a questioning brow. Carl was amazed at the blatant honesty that poured out of the Colonel.
After breakfast Carl assisted the Colonel in a shower, shave and change of gowns. Carl was taken aback by the Colonel's lack to attempt to get scrubs over a gown only proving that his memory was truly problematic needing to be dealt with. The same thought was given about his early morning talk with the nurse. That too was out of character for the Colonel.
After talking the Colonel through the procedure of what to expect they were now all crowded in the operating room. Dr. McKay's equipment had to be sterilized. Becky, one of the OR nurses assisted Dr. McKay in scrubbing. It wasn't simply wash your hands with soap and water. Rodney complained the whole time as the soft nail brush went over each finger, his hand and up to his elbows until his skin turned bright pink. You would have thought he was performing surgery or something. After the solid scrubbing Becky helped Dr. McKay into a surgical gown, mask, hair cap, footsies and gloves. Drs. Beckett and Epson were already inside the operating room with the Colonel. From Rodney's advantage point in the outer room he could gather that Carson was asking John questions.
Finally Becky pronounced him ready to enter the sterile environment of the operating room. Shoving past the door that Becky was holding open Rodney's nervousness took over. When Rodney was nervous, he talked and talk he did.
"Hey Sheppard I hope you know the sacrifice I'm making here. Carson's nurse took off three layers of skin with a Brill-o pad. I'd take a pink scrubbie over that any day. Looks like I've been sunburned up to my elbows."
"Not my fault you don't have a long enough extension cord." Sheppard said from his position on the cold OR table. They had him laying on his right side with more wires and tubes attached to him than he thought he had orifices for. Heart monitor, EEG leads, an IV, pulse/ox monitor clip, BP cuff, nasal cannula tube, catheter tube, if this was what it's like for a simple procedure, and he hoped it was a simple procedure, God help him if he was really injured. McKay was bitching about scrubbing up but John had been bitching about all the wires and tubes. He didn't think any of them were necessary.
Carl's presence in the OR helped anchor the Colonel. Carl kept his voice a moderate tone, unwavering when he spoke. Dr. Epson's extensive background into the Colonel's psyche and his many degrees played a major role in getting the Colonel this far into the procedure, whether the Colonel remembered him or not. After Carl reintroduced himself earlier that morning the two men talked for close to two hours getting to know one another again.
After leaving Carl and John to talk, Carson set about arranging for the surgery. There were many small details that needed his personal attention and of primary importance was how Rodney would cope in the operating room.
"How many times do I have to tell you it's not an extension cord. It's a highly sophisticated USB connector cable made by yours truly for this very purpose. It's not my fault I only had seven feet of cabling left. Next time, tell me in advance when you do something this stupid and I'll make sure I have the right supplies available."
"Enough Rodney. You sit over there and be quiet now." Carson commanded. This was his domain and everyone better follow his instructions to the letter. "The Colonel doesn't need to hear ya ranting over nothing."
"Nothing? I don't rant over nothing. There's always a purpose to my…rants…that you less than genius minds just don't comprehend."
"Rodney!" That was Sheppard. He may have memory issues, but when it comes to Dr. McKay he still remembered how to get the desired results from the errant Canadian. He would have to tell Rodney some day that he wasn't the only genius on Atlantis. When Dr. Heightmeyer and Carson gave him the Simon-Binet IQ test he scored ten points over his last intelligence quotient score. His new score was now 191 which slated him in the highest genius category.
When John first thought to put Dr. McKay on his team he read over his personnel file top to bottom and back again. It always stuck with him that Rodney's IQ was 190 also in the highest genius category. Radek was 177 at high genius and while he had access he took the liberty to see if Elizabeth had an IQ score. He was pleased to see her score at 142 which fell in the very gifted category.
Maybe some day when Rodney was being really obnoxious he would tell him.
"Dr. Epson your position is there. I want you to keep an eye on the Colonel and be ready if I need you to hold him still. Calm and quiet Colonel is what I want from you. You need to stay absolutely still, focus on Carl. You trust him remember." Carson pointed out.
"Okay."
"All right then I'm going to give you a local anesthetic around the area where I'll make my incision. You shouldn't feel anything, but if you do I want you to say something. Got it?"
"Aye, say something if I feel anything. Got it." Sheppard mimicked the Scottish brogue of his doctor even if it was a poor attempt at imitation.
"Carson what's in his IV? Sheppard sounds a bit loopy to me." McKay added from his perch on a stool with his laptop in front of him resting on one of the roll away bed trays, seven feet of sophisticated cabling sat at the ready.
Carson ignored Rodney's snark he had more important things on his mind right now. Carson injected the numbing agent and waited a couple of minutes before making his incision.
"Hey McKay…you better not faint from the sight of blood." Sheppard tallied back wishing he could move his head to see how Rodney was doing. He remembered the two of them having countless squabbles over which phrase was correct: 'faint' or 'pass out'. Carson halted one such debate informing his two friends that the medical term was faint. However, it didn't stop the Colonel or Rodney from continuing the pointless banter.
"Funny har, har…oh…that is just…" Rodney clinched his eyes shut from the view in front of him. He had been keeping his eyes on his computer but looked up right when Sheppard started talking in time to see Carson making the incision.
"Hey buddy…you okay back there?" Sheppard asked with concern. John looked into the eyes of Dr. Epson for any indication that something might be wrong with Rodney since his back was to friend.
McKay gulped a few times in order to keep his stomach contents where they belonged. "Yeah I'm good…still here Sheppard."
"Good to know."
"Okay Rodney I need you to deactivate the cloaking device around the implant now." Carson quipped.
Rodney looked over at the small incision. Carson had the small cut resected which made the opening even larger. The blood was all gone and he could see an orange-ish energy field around where the implant was to be. Rodney was actually seeing the cloak at work. He could see part of the spine then nothing. "Cool." He whispered. Remembering what he was asked to do, Rodney typed a few commands into his laptop with speed and accuracy and the orange-ish field disappeared revealing the RB implant.
"Colonel how do you feel?" Carson inquired hoping to get more than a 'I'm fine' back in response.
"Strange."
"Strange how Colonel?" This time Carl asked.
"Like…like pins and needles only in a straight line. Not all over like a stunner hit."
"A straight line you say. Can you tell where?" Carson was beginning to worry.
"Not really." The sensation was new to him, hard to explain.
"Okay…Colonel I'm going to run my knuckle over your back and I want you to tell me if I get anywhere close to that straight line you feel."
Carson started on his left flank moving downward. Not getting any response he trailed his knuckle up the Colonel's spine towards the base of his neck in slow motion.
"There!" John shouted. Carson stopped his forward momentum immediately and looked to see where his knuckle had stopped. He had only moved about three or four inches away from his incision.
"Are you sure Colonel this is where you feel the pins and needles running in a straight line?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"No Colonel, no problem. Just relax for me." Carson checked the monitors noticing the raised pressure and respirations brought on by the Colonel's anxiety. Carson had done some strange things while here in Pegasus, but operating on a conscious person was something he didn't want to do often.
Carl leaned over the operating table to have a look of his own.
"Colonel I want you to tell me if you feel anything okay." Carson moved down the operating table towards the Colonel's feet. He picked up an instrument off the surgical tray uncovered his feet and used the handle of the instrument to run a line down the inside of the Colonel's left foot.
"I felt that. My left foot, right?"
"Aye." Carson replied from behind his surgical mask a relieved smile wide on his covered face. He moved back behind his patient's slightly bent knees and pinched the skin hard on his right leg.
John's leg gave an involuntary jerk. "Ow! Right leg just below my knee."
"Aye, right again. Rodney re-activate the cloak if you please."
"What? Oh…um…okay. Done." Rodney had been taken in by what was transpiring before him so much so that he almost didn't hear Carson's request. Snapping out of his daze he typed in a command and the orange-ish shield was back in place.
Carson pinched the Colonel's left thigh right in that sweet spot on the back of his leg. Pinching again a second time hard enough to leave a bruise he suspected. "Colonel did ya feel anything?"
"No Carson. And the pins and needles feeling are gone now too." John added.
"Okay son. We're almost done. Rodney de-activate the cloak and we'll get the diagnostic."
Rodney complied handing one end of the cabling to Carson's nurse who passed it off to Carson to attach to the RB implant in the designated location Rodney had showed him prior to surgery. The other end he connected to the laptop and booted up the special program he wrote. "It's working!" Rodney announced enthusiastically to everyone.
"How are you doing Colonel?" Carl asked. It had been a few minutes and he was becoming concerned. Colonel Sheppard had a grim expression on his face. His eyes were lost in deep contemplation, his brow furrowed.
"Okay I guess. Something's wrong with the shield isn't there? And it's the only thing that protects me from EM emissions so that I can walk around. What little I remember about that doesn't seem good."
The pins and needles feeling in his back started sizzling, growing more intense by the minute. If anyone would ask him to describe it now his response would be that it felt like lightning traveling up his spine or a shooting star across the dark blue night sky.
"You know Dr. McKay he'll figure this all out. You don't call him the 'Answer Man' for nothing." Carl trying to do his best to relieve some of the anxiety the Colonel was beginning to show although the Colonel's facial features told a different story.
"I actually call him the 'Answer Man'? I don't remember tha…Arraggghh!" John's only free hand moved from his left side towards his head. The pain was bad coming out of no where all of a sudden. He clinched his eyes shut and concentrated on not moving. He wanted to curl into himself but there were wires sticking out of his back and he knew he had to remain still, but the pain in his head was unbearable.
Every monitor announced itself with high pitched wailing, beeping and screeching. Lights were flashing, monitor screens were flashing important details to anyone who would take the time to read them.
"Colonel what's wrong? Talk to me." Carl insisted moving in to hold the Colonel's left arm still and the rest of him if need be.
While on the other side of the operating table, "Whoa! Where did that come from?" Rodney shrieked as he saw the energy spike. His hands stilled over the key board when he heard Sheppard moan in agony and the alarms sounding. "I'm on it. Hang in there Colonel. Just a few seconds more…There! Carson you can disconnect the cable."
The sophisticated cable was released and the Colonel passed out at the same time. In a matter of sixty seconds the playful banter between friends had turned into a medical frenzy.
TBC 25/60