Chapter 16: Bad news

Woolsey was sitting in his office, surrounded by mounds of paperwork. Why did he always have so much paperwork to do and why did the IOA and Stargate command insist on it. He really wasn't in the mood to do any work, with his second in command facing an uncertain future. He knew that he would have to let Stargate command and the IOA know what was happening very soon, but he knew that if he did it may spell and end to Colonel Sheppard's career and he didn't want that to happen. He did have an idea though, one that may help heal Colonel Sheppard one hundred percent.

He was about to tackle a mound of paperwork, when the gate lit up. Rushing out into the control area, he heard Chuck announce, "it's Stargate command and General O'Neill wants to speak to you sir."

"Put him through to my office thanks Chuck."

Woolsey headed back to his office ready to have the conversation that he didn't want to have.

He opened his laptop just in time to see Jack O'Neill's face appear on the screen. "What can I do for you Jack?" He asked in a matter of fact tone.

"We need to talk about Sheppard's condition."

"Before we head down that road. I need to ask you has anyone thought of Vala and her Go'uld healing device." Woolsey asked with hope in his voice.

"Yes we have thought of that idea, but unfortunalty Vala has left Stargate command and manage to procure a spaceship, so as of this moment we don't know where she is. We are trying to find her though and if we can we will certainly ask he to help. Therefore in light of this we feel that is would be more beneficial for the Colonel to come back to earth for his rehab and physical therapy.

"More beneficial for whom?"

"We feel it would be the best for everyone concerned. Atlantis is still at war with the Wraith and we can't afford to have the Military Commander incapacitated. We also believe that if he is on Earth he will get the best possible treatment."

"Would Major Lorne be in charge while he's gone?"

"We'll leave Lorne in charge for the first three months, if Sheppard takes longer to heal or if he is permanently disabled we will have to look at replacing him with a more experienced officer."

"I'm not really happy with that news General and I know that Colonel Sheppard won't be happy either, but I guess we really don't have a choice in the matter do we?" Woolsey asked feeling down hearted.

"Hey don't shoot the messenger!" The general exclaimed

"I will let everyone know. I'll let you know what happens, Woolsey out."

"I'll talk to you soon O'Neill out."

Sighing he tapped his earpiece. "Woolsey to Beckett come in please?"

"Go ahead Mr Woolsey."

"Can you come to my office please? I need to know what the chances are for Colonel Sheppard's Recovery."

"Teyla and Rodney are here with me shall I bring them as well?"

"Yes and try and round Ronan up as well and I'll contact Lorne, Woolsey out."

"See you soon, Beckett out."

He looked around at the mounds of paperwork on his desk again and he knew that was the least of his problems .Great I have to tell Sheppard and his friends that he may be going back to earth. I really don't want to do that, he thought, before taking a paper off one of the mounds and beginning work.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

John stood up in front of a room full of people, General O'Neill and Colonel Carter were standing beside him and his team were behind him, he realised that this was the day that he was promoted to Colonel. He was also given a Medal of Honour from the president that day for being willing to risk his life to take out a hive ship. It was one of the happiest days of his life until now.

General O'Neill and Colonel Carter leant into put his eagle insignia on his collar, when the pins turned into spikes and then suddenly they both had hammers and it looked as if they were about to hammer them through his neck, suddenly the faces morphed into Teyla and Ronan, and Kanaan were standing in front of him laughing, he opened his mouth to scream and no sound came out.

He woke with a start, he had sweat beading on his forehead, his thumbs and index fingers were really beginning to hurt and he really felt nauseous. Lying still on his back he tried to settle his stomach, but nothing worked, before too long he lost his lunch everywhere. He frantically looked around for someone to come and help him, but there was no-one in sight.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand all he could do was moan. He couldn't really press the buzzer for someone to come, because his hands were still heavily bandaged and he still didn't have much control in his hands, so he did the only thing he could do he yelled the top of his voice.

"Will someone please come in here and help me?!

In a matter of seconds, Jennifer came running in with Marie in tow.

"Colonel Sheppard what happened?" Jennifer asked looking worried.

"Nightmare," was all he managed to squeak out, as he was totally worn out from yelling a few minutes earlier.

"Marie can you get a clean gown and some clean sheets and maybe we'll give the Colonel a sponge bath as well."

"Yes Doctor," Marie stated, as she went to collect the requested items.

"Colonel have you had any other nightmares?" Jennifer asked sitting down in a chair beside him.

"Not since I've been back Doc. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I am beginning to get feeling back in my thumb and index finger."

"Wow you sound like a psychologist. Are you looking for another job?" She joked.

He shrugged, "it just makes sense."

Marie came back at that moment and he had to suffer the embarrassment of having a sponge bath and having his clothes and sheets changed at the hands of Dr Keller and Marie. Once they had finished Marie left the room and he was left with Dr Keller.

"You've said that you're starting to get feeling back in your thumb and index finger. Is it on both hands and on a scale of one to ten how painful is it?" Jennifer asked un-bandaging his hands.

"Yes it is both hands and it's about an eight." He told her beginning to feel worried.

"Believe it or not, that is a good sign."

"You mean being in pain is a good thing." He grimaced, as pain shot up his wrist.

"It this case yes. It means that the nerves are healing."

"Not all of them though, right Doc?" He asked her already knowing what the answer would be.

She looked at him with sadness. "No I'm afraid not. A severed nerve cannot be repaired without expensive delicate surgery and even then the chances of success are slim."

He took a breath before asking the next question. He needed to know the answer, but he was pretty sure he already knew, "so I may be permanently disabled?"

"I'm sorry Colonel, but the chances of your hands making a full recovery are slim."

"Thankyou Doctor, now I think I would like to be alone."

"I'll give you something for the pain and nausea and then I'll leave you alone." She patted his shoulder, before injecting the pain and nausea medication into his IV port.

Once he was alone he closed his eyes and tried to stop the tears from coming. He knew that his career was over and that he would probably be recalled from Atlantis. He would be given an honourable discharge form the air force and spend the rest of his days on a disability pension. Teyla wouldn't want to be with him, so he would be without her and T.J forever.

Finally he let the tears come.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Teyla walked into Woolsey's office with Rodney and Carson following. Looking around she saw Ronan and Lorne were there as well.

She had a very bad feeling about all of this, "what is this all about Mr Woolsey?"

"Everyone sit down and I will tell you all."

Teyla took a seat and the others sat beside her. Looking around she saw the worried looks on their faces. Then she looked back at Woolsey's face and she knew immediately that it was bad news.

"I have called this meeting to discuss Colonel Sheppard's future. I received a call from General O'Neill and they feel that Colonel Sheppard should be sent back to earth for rehab and physical therapy. Lorne will remain in Command for three months and if the Colonel is not back by then he will be replaced by a more senior officer."

Teyla was shocked; they wanted to send John back to Earth. What did that mean for them? Would they have a future together? She didn't know if she could live without him; she knew that Torren couldn't.

She wasn't really aware of what was going on in the room until Carson spoke. "He will be able to do most of the things he does with his hands now eventually and his legs will be back to one hundred percent in four to six months, so why can't he stay here and complete his recovery?"

"Stargate Command and the IOA feel that Atlantis is still at war with the wraith and they need to remove severely injured personnel from the front lines." Woolsey told them.

Teyla knew that he was just repeating back what he was told, but it still made her angry.

Before she had a chance to voice her anger Rodney spoke. "He would still be useful in activating the weapons chair in an emergency, or if we had to move Atlantis he could still do it, he doesn't need his hands to be one hundred percent to do that and I'm sure he could fly a jumper as well!" Rodney's voice was high pitched by the time he had finished his rant.

"Yes Doctor McKay I realise that. Maybe in time he could return to Atlantis and fulfil those roles, but for now Stargate command want him back on earth." Wooley told him and Teyla suspected that he was completely frustrated by now.

Teyla decided that it was time for her to speak up, "but this is his home and we are his family. Surely he has a much better chance of recovery if he stays here with us." She told him with a slightly raised voice.

"I understand that Teyla, but unfortunately the IOA and Stargate command don't see it that way. I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do to change their minds."

Rodney was just about to start up again when the gate activated. They all rushed out of the office to see who it was.

"Who is it?" Woolsey asked starting at the gate.

"It's Chaya." Chuck replied with a surprised look on his face.

"Lower the sheild." Woolsey told him heading towards the gate room to greet her.

Teyla followed behind Woolsey, but the others stayed back to watch from the control room.

They reached to bottom of the stairs just as Chaya appeared from the wormhole, "Teyla it is good to see you again," she greeted bowing her head.

"I am Richard Woolsey, current leader of the expedition." Woolsey greeted extending his hand towards her.

"Greetings, is there somewhere private we can talk?"

"Yes come into my office?" Woolsey suggested, beginning to walk off.

A few minutes later Teyla was seated in Woolsey's office again with Woolsey and Chaya, "have you had a chance to speak to the others as yet? Teyla asked in her usual serene tone.

"I have and they have agreed to deal with the ascended Wraith and Wraith worshippers."

"What about healing John?" Teyla asked looking hopeful.

There was sadness in Chaya's voice as she spoke, "they feel that to heal John would be interfering in human affairs. To them his blood is not pure, so they do not feel that they should heal him. I however feel that this is our fault and would like to see John and help in whatever way I can. I won't be able to heal him one hundred percent, because if the others find out what I'm doing they will punish me, but I will do what I can."

There were tears in Teyla's eyes as she spoke, "Thankyou Chaya. We would appreciate whatever you can do.

TBC…

What can Chaya do?