Chapter 26: Escape from the infirmary.
John awoke the next morning just as the sun was beginning to rise. The strange shadows from the window cast an eerie gloom around his room, but this in no way reflected his mood. Today was the day that he was supposed to be getting out of the infirmary and he would be allowed to go to his quarters for the first time in almost three weeks.
Yesterday had been an exhausting day for him, as Carson and Jennifer had him on his feet for the first time in almost three weeks and they had him using crutches to get around the room and to the bathroom; he had even been able to take a small walk to the nearest balcony with Ronon, when he'd come to visit.
He was happy that the outcome of yesterday's activities was that Carson was going to release him after lunch today and there was a good chance that he would be back on light duty in a weeks' time. It would be a bit longer before he would be back on full duty though as the cast on his leg would have to stay for another four weeks at least. He could live with that though, he knew that if it hadn't been for Atlantis intervening, his road to recovery would have been a lot longer and he could have had permanent problems from brain damage.
As it was still early it was quiet in the infirmary, as the hustle and bustle of the day shift hadn't begun. He looked around the room trying to figure out if he was alone or not; it was very rare for him to wake up in the infirmary alone. After a quick survey of the room his eyes settled on the bed beside him and he was surprised to see that Teyla was fast asleep. He decided not to disturb her and just enjoy the quietness of the morning by himself.
Snuggling down under his covers again, he had every intention of enjoying the silence, but it wasn't long before he drifted off to sleep again.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Teyla was jolted out of a peaceful sleep by someone entering John's room. Looking around the room she saw that Jennifer was checking on John's vitals. He was still fast asleep and he had a peaceful look on his face. She decided to lie back in her bed and enjoy the peace and quiet. It was going to be a busy day, once she left the infirmary she needed to get Torren and do a few more things in the apartment before John came home after lunch.
She was startled from her thoughts by her radio crackling on the bedside table, putting it on she was surprised to find that Amelia was on the other end.
"Go ahead Amelia?"
"It's 0900 and I have to be at work in half an hour, could you come and pick Torren please?"
"Okay I'm on my way I'll be there in a few minutes, Teyla out."
"See you soon, "Amelia out."
Climbing out of the bed she leant down and gave John a kiss on the cheek, before heading out of the room to pick up Torren and start the day.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
John was coalescing somewhere between darkness and light, when the sweet gentle voice of Atlantis spoke to him again, "John are you there?"
"Yes Atlantis I am here?"
"How are you feeling John?"
"I'm feeling much better thanks to you, but is there anything you can do to heal my leg?"
"Your leg will heal on its own given time. It is already healing at a faster rate than it should."
"Thank you Atlantis for everything that you have done for me."
"It has been my pleasure John."
"Will I be able to talk to you again in the future?"
"I am always with you John. You just need to quiet yourself and listen."
Atlantis faded away and John became aware of voices surrounding him, as he became more aware of what was going on around him, he realised that one of the voices was from someone he didn't want to see or talk to; it was Dr Eva Robinson.
Maybe if I keep my eyes closed she'll just go away. He knew that wouldn't work, because she was incredibly persistent, as was Carson. If he had to speak to her, now was the time to do it, or they'd never let him out of the infirmary.
Opening his eyes he looked over at the two doctors' who were sitting beside his bed.
Smiling at her, he greeted her as sincerely as he could, "Dr Robinson, how lovely to see you."
She smiled back at him and he sensed that her smile was anything but sincere. "How are you feeling Colonel and I'm good is not an acceptable answer?"
"I'm fine Dr Robinson and I honestly don't need to talk to you about anything."
"Well Colonel Sheppard, you may not want to talk to me know, but you will have to eventually. I won't be putting you back on active duty until then. In the mean time I will be happy if you talk to your team about what you have been through in the last three weeks."
He plastered a smile on his face, as he replied, "sure Doctor, I'm happy to talk to my friends and if I have to talk to you later on I will, but I will be about as happy about it as I usually am."
As she stared back at him, he suspected that the smile on her face was equally as fake, "That is all I ask Colonel, now I will see you at some later date and remember talk to your friends."
He watched her walk out of the room and then he turned to Carson who was hovering beside his bed, "and what can I do for you Dr Beckett?" he asked in a suspicious tone.
"You'll have to talk to her eventually."
He sighed, "yes I know, but for now I just want to be able to get out of here and enjoy being with my family and friends, and that includes you Carson."
He felt uncomfortable as Carson patted his arm, he really hated having to deal with any kind of emotion, "thank you John I consider you a friend too. Now you've missed breakfast, but how about and early lunch and then we can get you on your way home."
"Can I have a shower first?" He asked using his best puppy dog eyes.
"Aye you can lad, but I'll get you a bag to put over your cast and you must sit down!" Carson used his most insistent tone to emphasise the last point.
"Unfortunately Doc I don't really have any other choice do I?"
"And Marie will wait outside the bathroom door in case you have any problems? Do you understand?"
"You drive a hard bargain Doc, but I really want a shower, so I will comply with your instructions."
"Good lad I'll go and get you some towels and then I'll get Marie to help you."
He looked at Carson with a stormy look and decided that it was best not to say anything, as he knew there was only so far he could push Carson to get him own way and he suspected that the matter was closed. He knew that if he wanted a shower he would need to follow the doctor's instructions.
He lay back in his bed after Carson had left and stared at the ceiling. He was sure that he knew every spot and blemish on it, because he had spent so much of his time here over the last six and a half years. He wondered if it was time to take himself off the active duty list and command Atlantis from home.
He was a family man now and although he and Teyla weren't husband and wife and Torren wasn't really his son, it didn't matter, they were his family and he needed to look after them. He really wanted to ask Teyla to marry him when he was feeling better and he knew that he wanted to have children with her one day soon; neither of them was getting any younger.
He was almost asleep when someone entered his room and touched him on his arm. He was so startled that he almost fell out of his bed. Looking around he found that Marie was standing beside his bed with a pile of towels.
"Colonel, I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you. Do you still want to have a shower?"
"It's okay you didn't wake me and yes I think I would like to have a shower now."
By the time he'd managed to get over to the bathroom he felt so exhausted that he was tempted to just turn around and get back in bed again, but he felt dirty and he knew how much better he would feel if he pushed through.
Fifteen minutes later he was back in his bed feeling clean and refreshed. He laid back and closed his eyes, thinking that he would just have a few minutes rest before lunch. Five minutes later he was fast asleep.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Teyla rushed down the hallway to the infirmary. She'd left Torren with Ronon in her apartment while she went and picked up John. Ronon was due in the gym in and hours' time, so she knew that she needed to be quick, as there was no way she wanted Torren in the gym while Ronon was training the marines.
She arrived in John's room a few minutes later, to find him staring at his food.
"John, what is wrong?"
"I really don't know if I can eat whatever this is?"
She looked at the food and saw that it was some kind of chicken broth, but she'd have to agree with John that it wasn't very appetizing.
"I do not believe that I would want to eat that either, shall we get out of here and then I can find you something better to eat?"
"Sound's good to me, can you go and get Carson? Then I can get out of here."
Teyla left John still staring at his broth and went to find Carson. She found him in his medical lab with Jennifer, "What are you working on Doctors?" She asked with interest.
"We're still refining the vaccine for the red spot. We hope to be able to start inoculating children throughout the Pegasus galaxy soon." Jennifer told her not bothering to look up from the microscope she was peering into.
Teyla was still interested in what the doctors were doing, so she continued the conversation. "Can you inoculate adults as well?"
"If they haven't had the red spot as a child we can vaccinate them with a slightly different vaccine, but as most people in the Pegasus galaxy seem to have had it as a child we will concentrate on vaccinating the children first." Carson explained not bothering to look up from what he was doing.
"That is wonderful news Carson, but would it be possible to take John home now?"
Finally he looked up from what he was doing and smiled, "That's fine lassie, but I'll just come and give him one last check up and give you a list of instructions and then you can take him home."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
John was still staring at his broth when he heard someone enter the infirmary. He looked up to find that Carson and Teyla had entered his room.
"Okay lad, are you going to eat that or just play with that?" Carson asked with a grin on his face?
"I don't think I'm going to eat it, so can I get out of here now?" John asked still looking disgusted with the broth in front of him.
He looked over at Carson with pleading in his eyes; he really wanted to go home with Teyla. He suspected that they would head off to Teyla's quarters, because they were larger than his and there was no way that Carson would want him to be left alone.
Carson busily took his vitals one last time while giving him a list of instructions, "I really don't want you moving around a lot with crutches at this stage, so you can use your crutches in your room, if you need to go longer distances you can use a wheelchair."
"Really doc, a wheelchair?"
"If you don't like it you can stay here under my supervision for a while longer."
He thought about arguing with him, but then he saw the look on Carson's face, it was his don't mess with me look.
"Alright Doc, is there anything else?"
"If you feel any pain at all, take some Tylenol and I want you back here in a weeks' time for another check-up."
"Is that all doc?"
"Aye now be on your way before I change my mind laddie."
Before John had a chance to say anything Teyla interrupted, "Thankyou Carson we will be on our way now and I will make sure he follows all of your instructions."
"I'll go and get a wheelchair while you help him get dressed," Carson suggested and John didn't miss twinkle in his eye.
Ten minutes later, when he was dressed and settled in the wheelchair, he looked at Carson with gratitude, "thank you Carson for taking such good care of me; yet again."
"You're welcome son; I only wish I didn't have to take care of you so often."
"Yeh I know Doc, I'll try and stay out of trouble in the future, but I can't promise anything."
He smiled at Carson one last time, as Teyla wheeled him out of the infirmary and he headed off to start a new life with Teyla and Torren.
TBC…
I'm thinking that they will be one or two more chapters until this story is finished.
