Chapter 24: The Recovery begins.

John slowly became aware of his surroundings. The smell of antiseptic, the soft bed and pillows told him he was in the infirmary, but what had happened this time, this is a good question, he thought, so he attempted to open his eyes.

He felt a soft silky hand on his arm and he whispered, "Teyla."

He managed to open his eyes a slit, but it seemed like an impossible task to keep them open for long, he kept trying and finally succeeded and found the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen staring down at him.

"John, I'm so happy that you are awake. I will go and get Carson; he wanted me to let him know when you awoke."

He just nodded his head and watched her walk out of the door. Always a pleasant sight, he thought to himself and smiled.

He was immensely happy that his mouth was working properly, it almost seemed like a dream what happened when he was unconscious. He really hoped that it was true and that Atlantis had healed him and there was no permanent brain damage. He tried moving his right arm and leg and found that they moved as well as they ever had and he was incredibly grateful for that. The only thing he didn't know was if his left wrist was healed, he would have to ask one of the doctors about that. His thoughts were interrupted by Carson's cheery voice.

"How are you feeling lad?"

He looked at his friend and smiled, before he gave his standard answer, "I'm fine. How long have I been out?"

Carson just stared back at him, "You have been unconscious for two days, do you know what happened to you son?"

"Not really, I have a vague idea, but I don't really know for sure."

"What do you remember?" Carson asked with concern.

"I remember having some really strange nightmare's where my friends were giants and for some reason they all turned against me. "

"Is that all you remember John?" Teyla asked him in a gentle voice.

"Yes. "He lied, how was supposed to tell them that he'd had a visit from Atlantis and that she had healed him. "Can someone please fill me in on what happened to me?"

He kept his eye on Carson, who took a deep breath before he spoke, "We suspect that every time you had a nightmare, you had a massive seizure, and you brain activity was off the charts at the time." Carson told him looking at the floor.

John knew that Carson wasn't telling him everything, by the way he was looking at the floor, "what aren't you telling me Doc?"

"There was a device inserted in your brain, by the giants when they kidnapped you and it was put there to manipulate your mind. The only problem is that when Todd and Rodney removed it, it caused some damage in the left side of your brain, which may lead to problems on the right side of your body."

"Well you know what Doc I feel fine, I can move my arm and my leg fine and as you can hear I can talk with no problems as well."

"Let me be the judge of that laddie, I need to get you under the scanner and perform a brain scan to make sure."

"Sure Doc, but I have a question before we proceed?"

"What is it Colonel?" Carson asked looking worried.

He looked at his left wrist and thought about what Atlantis had done before he asked the question. "Can you scan my left wrist as well, to see if you can take this dam cast off."

"Why would it be any different than it was before?"

John didn't quite know what to tell him, "Umm… I just have a feeling about it. Honestly it feels much better than it did."

"Okay if you insist laddie, I'll scan the wrist as well, now why don't we go and check it out now?"

He felt Teyla squeeze his hand, he hadn't even realised that she was still holding his hand. "I will see you later John and if it's okay with Dr Beckett I will bring Torren by in the morning."

"Yes it should be okay if you bring Torren in around 0900 tomorrow morning." Carson informed her.

John watched her leave the room and he knew that he would never get tired of that view. Turning to look at Carson he realised that he had a huge grin on his face.

"What?"

"Anybody would think you are in love John."

"I am Carson and I want the whole galaxy to know about it." John told him, as his grim became even bigger.

"Okay laddie let's get these scans done and see if you are going to have any long term issues or not?"

Carson wheeled his bed to the room with the ancient scanner in. Jennifer came in and helped Carson get him on to the scanner bed.

He lay on the scanner bed feeling more relaxed and much better than he had in the two weeks since he'd been rescued; he wasn't sure, but that is the time he estimated he'd been back. The scanner ran over his body and he wasn't worried at all, in fact a sense of peace came over him.

It wasn't long before the scanner had finished its job and Carson was looking at results.

"How am I doing Doc?"

He watched as Carson turned and he took note of the totally amazed look on his face. He had seen that look one or twice before and it was usually when something happened that he couldn't explain.

"I can't believe it, but there is no sign of brain damage and your wrist seems to be one hundred percent healed. How is this possible?"

John just looked the other way as he spoke, "you wouldn't believe me if you told you."

"Colonel I never would have believed cloning a human was possible before I came to the Pegasus galaxy, but I am a clone. Nothing you could tell me would shock me."

John just smirked at him, "well when I was unconscious I received a visit from Atlantis and she healed me. Apparently she likes me."

"Well Lad, believe it or not I have felt Atlantis whispering in my ear as well and when I had the Red Spot I had her screaming in my ear and that wasn't a good experience. I have one question though, did she tell you why she didn't heal your leg."

"Apparently, my body couldn't take anymore of her touch at this time."

"Never mind your leg should heal without to many problems now that the chip has been removed from your leg."

John was incredulous as he answered, "What do you mean that you've removed the chip from my leg!?"

"Well the giants put a chip in your leg as well, we think that they used it the stop your leg from healing properly, or to cause you pain. We're not really sure which at this point."

"Okay Doc if these giants put chips in my leg and brain then why haven't I had major brain surgery twice?" He thought about it before Carson had a chance to answer, he answered the question himself. "Let me guess, they used a mini transporter."

"That they did lad. Okay lad let's get you back to bed and take the cast of your wrist, then tomorrow I will put a cast on your leg and in a couple of days I will let you out of the infirmary."

He lay back in his bed as he was wheeled back to his private room, he actually felt better than he had for quite a while and his leg wasn't hurting much at the moment. In a few days he would be out of this place and he could finally move in with Teyla and Torren.

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Teyla left the infirmary and headed straight for the gym, she had a fair idea that's where Ronon would be. She really wanted to tell him that John was going to be okay. She'd left her radio in her quarters, so she couldn't use it to contact him.

She arrived at the gym, just as Ronon arrived, "Ronon it is good to see you, how are you feeling?"

"Frustrated and annoyed, how the hell do you think I'm feeling!? I've just come in here to beat the crap out of the punching bag some more! The run didn't quite work! Ronon thundered.

"Ronon you do not have to hit anything else, I have just come from the infirmary and John is awake and it appears that he has not suffered any brain damage, Carson is running a scan now."

"Well in that case I'm off to the infirmary," Ronon mumbled, as he turned away from her ready to head down the corridor.

Teyla tapped him on the shoulder before he had a chance to leave, "Ronon, can you please let Rodney know?"

He just waved his hand at her and tapped his radio as he went on his way.

Now she could go and get Torren and make sure that they could get good night's sleep. She had every intention of asking for help to shift things into the new family apartment tomorrow, so that when John came out of the infirmary, they could go home as a family.

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John had just been settled back in the infirmary when Ronon came in with Rodney close behind, "Sheppard you're awake."

"Gee nothing gets by you does it big guy." He quipped.

"So you're okay then and there's no sign of brain damage?" Rodney asked as he stepped up to his bedside.

It was Carson who answered the question for him, "Yes he is going to be fine, there's no sign of brain damage. Now if you can leave us for about half an hour I want to get the cast of his wrist, you can both stay for as long as you wish then, as long as you let my patient get some sleep."

"See you in a while Sheppard, "Rodney said and Ronon just grunted as they both left the room.

"You know what Carson I really don't feel tired. In fact I feel better than I have in a while."

"That's all well and good laddie, but you still need your rest. You're not out of my clutches yet, so do as I say or you'll be here a bit longer."

He looked at Carson sheepishly, "sure thing Doc I'll do anything to get out of here, no offense"

"None taken, now let me get some things and then I'll take that cast of your arm."

He nodded as Carson left the room, he felt so much happier than he had before he'd lost consciousness, but he also knew that he would have to make a few apologies, starting with Rodney and Ronon when they came back to see him.

It wasn't long before Carson came back with a tray of tools including a cast separator and a cast saw, "make sure you don't cut my arm of Doc." John quipped.

Carson smiled at him as he spoke, "cheeky bugger."

It wasn't long before the cast was off his wrist and Carson had put an ace bandage on it to give it a little bit of extra support.

"Okay doc what now?"

"Now you can have your visitors back and I'm going to go to bed. Dr Keller will be on duty if you need anything."

He knew that he had to apologise to Carson for something, but he couldn't remember what, "Umm…. Carson, before you go I just wanted to say that I'm….umm sorry if I was angry at you at any point."

"Well if you were I can't remember what you were angry about, so all is forgiven."

John smiled at Carson, as he left the room. Carson had only just left when Rodney and Ronon came back in.

"Sheppard, I think I'm going to sit here all night and keep an eye on you. I'm sure if there is trouble to be found you'll somehow find it." Rodney snarked sitting down beside his bed.

"Yep and I'm going to sit at the end of your bed all night, just to make sure your safe." Ronon stated, sitting down at the end of his bed with his feet up on the bed.

"Thanks guys, I really appreciate it."

"Well don't think your special or anything; it's just that I don't want to have to train up a new military commander at this point." Rodney replied sarcastically.

John looked at his two friends and knew that he needed to apologise. He knew what he had said to Ronon; he'd got angry with Ronon for telling Teyla about his nightmares, but for the life of him he had no idea how he had upset Rodney. He was sure that he had probably said something at some point though.

"Umm…guy's, if I shouted at you at any point, or umm… did anything to upset you I just want to apologise."

He was sure that Rodney was about to make some sarcastic comment, but Ronon spoke before he had a chance, "apology accepted; now I think Carson wants you to get some sleep."

John looked at his friend with suspicion, "Since when do you listen to Carson?"

Ronon smirked at him, "Just because I don't always follow Carson's advice, doesn't mean I don't listen to him. Now go to sleep."

Rodney nodded his head, "just do it Sheppard, we're not going anywhere in a hurry."

"Yes mom," John joked giving him a mock salute.

He settled back into his bed and closed his eyes thinking that he probably wouldn't fall asleep anytime soon. Within a few minutes his eyelids were drooping and before too long he fell into a deep restful sleep.

TBC…