Title: After the Aurora
Rating: G
Author: MacGateFan
Disclaimers: Not mine.

After toasting to the crew of the Aurora, I headed down to the infirmary. Carson had given me permission to deal with the briefing first. To be honest, I'm not sure if I told them everything that happened.

I can't seem to focus on much of anything at the moment and I have no idea why. My head is pounding and everything seems a bit on the blurry side. I will definitely have to ask Carson about this!

I stopped. Where was I going? I turn to the left and see the infirmary. That's as good a place as any. Besides, I told Carson I'd come down after the briefing anyway.

"Colonel?"

"Carson," I said. "Something's wrong."

A wave of dizziness washed over me and I felt Carson immediately grab a hold of me. "Colonel?" he said again, worry evident in his voice.

"Make it stop!" I groaned as the room tilted dangerously to the right... or maybe it was me?

"We're almost to a bed, Colonel. Jane, give me a hand!"

As soon as I felt my head hit the pillow, I lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I could feel things attached to my head. A glance to the right showed an EEG monitor blinking at me. I tried to remember what happened, but everything seemed fuzzy. As I was about to call Carson's name, he came into view.

"Colonel," he said with a smile. "It's good to see you awake. How are you feeling, Son?"

"A little confused," I admitted.

"You've been unconscious for nearly ten hours. The weapon you were shot with in virtual environment caused your brainwaves to fluctuate abnormally. It wasn't until you showed up here that it really took a hold of you."

I stared at him for a moment, trying to understand what he was saying to me. I mean, I could hear what he was saying, but I don't have any clue as to what he was referring to. I told him as much.

"Your memory will return in time," Carson replied. "Just lie back and relax."

"How long do I have to stay here?"

Carson smiled. I think he was relieved to hear me say that. "I'd like to keep you here for observation until tomorrow morning. Now, are you still feeling any pain?"

"No."

"Dizziness?"

I shook my head. "Just a little tired."

"Finally! You must really love attention, Sheppard."

"Nice to see you too, Rodney," I replied saracastically.

Carson sighed. "Not too long, he needs his rest."

"Yeah, yeah."

Rodney stood quietly at the foot of the bed as Carson gave me a sympathetic grin and headed back to his office. "So..."

"So... You feeling any better?"

"Much."

"Good because I'm going to have Ronon kick your ass for scaring me yet again!"

"What's this, Rodney? Feeling emotional?" I asked.

"If that gets out, I'll tell everyone how you were drooling over a Wraith!"

"That was you!"

Rodney glared at me, sputtering. "Yeah, well... they don't have to know that!"

"Is that all you came here to say to me?"

Instead of replying, Rodney looked around the room, rushed to my side and suddenly hugged me. Before I could say anything to him, he was gone.