Chap. 26:
The last thing John remembers is being in the chair. I'm gonna kill McKay! and then he realizes that there are voices coming from somewhere far off in the distance. Straining to focus on them, he realizes that it's the bickering whispers of his team.
"But Teyla I told you."
"Yes Rodney, I know. But she is hurting and from what you showed me on the display, she has every right to be. I know that John loves her, but."
Noticing that John is starting to shift in the bed and might be about to join them in the land of the conscious, "uh, guys, I think he's waking up." Ronon says.
Struggling to open his eyes, John shifts in the bed, a low moan escaping him as the movement causes a dull pain to radiate through his chest. Realizing that moving is not such a great idea at the moment, he again tries to open his eyes. Still not having any luck, he suddenly becomes aware of the fact that it feels as if someone is seriously playing with the thermostat and that his throat is as dry as the Sahara. Taking it all in, he feels the nasal cannula under his nose, the IV in his right arm, a tube somewhere he'd rather there not be one and last but not least he hears the beeping of not one but two monitors. Turning his head on the pillow a little, the tug of wires, confirms his suspicions that one of them is an EEG machine.
Coming up to the bed and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Colonel, I need you to open your eyes for me." Keller says.
Hearing her voice and feeling her hand on his shoulder, John resumes his efforts to open his eyes. It takes what feels like forever, but he finally manages to open them a crack, her concerned face solidifying in his line of vision.
"That's it Colonel, open them all the way. I've got the lights on low."
Doing as he is told, he realizes that someone important is missing from the group, surrounding his bed, "Lexi?" he croaks out.
Hearing the roughness of his voice, "hang on." Teyla says, as she reaches for the cup of water on the tray next to her and bringing the straw up to his lips, "take a few sips." she says, as he looks up at her, his eyes conveying his thanks as he does so.
After swallowing all he can, he pushes the cup away and looking at everyone, "where's Lexi?"
Everyone shares a look of concern and when they don't answer him, he looks at Keller who is in the middle of checking his blood pressure, "okay guys, what's going on?"
Placing the blood pressure cuff down on the table next to the bed, wrapping her stethoscope around her neck and looking him in the eye, "what's the last thing you remember?"
He doesn't have to think about it very long, "being in that damn chair. Why, what happened?"
"Do you remember what you saw in the chair?" she asks.
Screwing his face up in thought, it only takes a few seconds for all the images to come flooding back to him in a rush and as the cardiac monitor starts to beep faster and faster, Keller grabs his shoulder, "Colonel, it's okay. Calm down."
Trying to sit up, pulling at all the wires and tubes in and on him, "no. I've got to apologize. Oh g-d! How long?"
Helping Keller hold him down against the bed, "Sheppard, you've been out a week. Calm down." Ronon says.
Hearing this just makes him struggle harder against their hands and he keeps struggling, until he feels his hands being strapped down to the gurney and looking at them, fear and pain in his eyes, "let me outta these things, now!"
Seeing that he is going to harm himself if they don't stop him from trying to get out of the bed, "Marie get me a sedative now!" Keller shouts.
McKay and Teyla can only stand and watch the scene in horror, not knowing what they can do to help.
Still fighting against the hands that are trying to keep him in the bed, he hears Keller shout for the sedative, but all that he is focused on is getting out of the bed. Therefore he only realizes that the sedative is being injected into his IV, when the room starts to grey out around him, as it takes affect. The last thing he is aware of is everyone looking at him, shock and concern written across their faces and then everything goes black.
Seeing him finally lose consciousness, Keller finishes her checks and as she is typing her notes down on his chart, "well, that certainly went well." she says facetiously and seeing the shock on Ronon, Teyla and McKay's faces, "he's gonna be out a while, why don't you go get some rest. I'll radio you when he's awake."
Ronon and McKay, after looking at him one last time head out of the infirmary. Teyla however hangs back.
"Jennifer, we can't give him the necklace."
"I agree. We should wait until he's a little stronger, before we explain it to him. I just wish she'd watch the tape. I tried showing it to her, but she wouldn't watch it."
"I also tried to do so, but she got up and left before I could. In fact, she has only left her quarters for her duties and the only person who she'll even talk to or spend time with is Major Lorne."
Gesturing for Teyla to walk with her, they head for her office, "I think she'll come around to spending time with us again soon. But I don't think she's going to listen to anyone on the subject of getting back together with him." and tiredly running her hands over her face, "there has to be something we can do."
Nodding, "I agree, but I don't know what that could be. Will John be okay, physically?"
Grimacing, "yes. His temp is still up there, but I've upped the dosage on the antibiotics to help fight the infection he got from being injected by the chair. Ironically enough, the person who could help him most is the one person who wants nothing to do with him."
Smiling sadly, "yes well, I'm sure we can help him get through this." Teyla says getting up and reaching the door, "get some sleep Jennifer."
"I will. Have a good night Teyla." she says, as she too heads into the infirmary. Satisfied that everything is indeed in order, she heads for her quarters.
xxxx
Twelve hours later, John wakes up again and certain that he's out of the woods physically, Keller allows McKay to explain what the chair did to him. A couple of days later, she releases him to light duty. The first thing he does, as soon as he's allowed out of the infirmary, is head for Lexi's quarters, necklace in hand and a knot in his stomach.
Halfway to her quarters, "oh, Lorne, I was just, ah..." he stutters, as he comes to an abrupt stop in the hallway.
Frowning, "yes, sir. I know. But I wouldn't go there if I were you."
"But why? I just want to apologize."
"She won't listen. We've all tried to convince her to. But she's stubborn and she's still hurting. You really pulled a number on her, sir."
"Tell me Evan. Do you blame me?"
Taken aback by the use of his first name, but quickly recovering, "no, sir. I saw the end of the dream, so I know the truth. But, well." shifting uncomfortably, "give her time. She'll come around." he says, a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
Looking uncertainly towards the direction of her quarters, "how can you be so sure?"
"Well, because I know Lexi and I know that she loves you."
Curling his fingers around the necklace even tighter and focusing on Lorne, "okay. Thanks Major. Have a good night."
Smiling and nodding, "you too sir. I'm glad that you're okay." he says, as he heads for the Control room, as he's on watch.
Watching him go, he hesitates a moment longer in the hallway, still considering going to see Lexi and deciding against it, he heads for his own quarters. After getting changed and putting the necklace away in a safe place, he heads out of his quarters for a quick run, before going to sleep.