Chapter 15: Home

Carson was relieved to finally be outside again. The sky was an incredible shade of pink, as the primary sun began to sink below the horizon casting strange shadows over the eerie red landscape. Two small moons were beginning to rise in the east. The evening was warm and there was storm clouds brewing in the distance, but it was nowhere near as stuffy as it had been in the cave. If he hadn't have been in such a hurry to get Colonel Sheppard home, he might have enjoyed the view. But he had no intention of ever coming to this planet again, so it didn't really matter what he thought of the surroundings anyway.

When the combat engineers had finally broken through the wall of rubble that had trapped them in the cave, Rodney was the first one through and Carson was surprised when he pulled him in for a big hug, Ronon came through next and slapped him on the back, finally Lorne entered and shook his hand.

Now he was heading towards the jumper walking alongside the gurney which contained the limp form of Colonel Sheppard, who was as white as a ghost and shivering with a fever. Giall walked on the other side of him, while Lorne and Ronon pushed the gurney. There was urgency in his steps, as he just wanted this nightmare to end and the quicker he got Colonel Sheppard back to Atlantis the better he would feel.

He was still determined to perform the surgery on Colonel Sheppard when they got back to Atlantis and he had asked Giall to help, he had seen him at work in the military hospital and he was impressed by his skills. He hadn't given a lot of thought to how long it would take him to freshen up and have a bite to eat, but he would do it while Dr Keller prepped the patient for surgery. That was his plan and no-one was going to talk him out of it.

A few minutes later they were back in the jumper and Carson was sitting on the floor next to his patient, Rodney was in the pilot's seat and Lorne was sitting next to him, Ronon sat behind Lorne and Giall sat in the back on the other side of Sheppard. The combat engineers and any other military personnel were heading back to Atlantis in the other jumper.

A moan from his patient interrupted his musings, "Colonel Sheppard, are you with us?" He asked him peering into the man's face.

"Doc, Wha….appening?"

"We're heading back to Atlantis now and I should have you in surgery in no time."

"Don't…want…surgery…again?" He said and Carson didn't miss the tears in his eyes.

"I know lad but I'm afraid that it's necessary."

"Why?" John asked and Carson could see the pain and confusion in his eyes.

"You have been shot in the shoulder and all of your fingers have been either dislocated or broken."

"Okay…"

Carson watched as his patient lost consciousness again, before getting to work. He put an oxygen mask on his face and then he checked his IV, before taking his temperature. "101.2, not bad for now, "he muttered more for his benefit than anyone else's. He decided that he wouldn't check any of his injures, as they would be back in Atlantis in another five minutes.

For the next five minutes he kept a close eye on John, to make sure that his vitals didn't change and when they went through the wormhole he sighed with relief, finally they were home. Now the hard work started, patching Colonel Sheppard up yet again. Carson knew that it wasn't his fault, but Sheppard did seem to have the worst luck in the galaxy, perhaps Rodney was right when he called him Colonel Calamity, or Colonel Catastrophe.

Once the jumper was landed and the hatch was open, he was the first one out and he then immediately started to push Sheppard's gurney towards the infirmary. He was so intent on what he was doing that he barely noticed when Dr Keller came up alongside of him and started to talk to him.

"Dr Beckett, what are his injuries?"

"He has been shot in the shoulder and the bullet is still in there, every one of his fingers has either been broken or dislocated, his temperature is 101.2 and his blood pressure and oxygen levels are normal for now. He has been in and out of consciousness for the last five hours and he needs immediate surgery, which I will be performing with Gail's assistance."

"Dr Beckett, I can handle the surgery and we have plenty of medical personnel on hand to assist. You should rest and have something to eat." Jennifer suggested, in a gentle tone.

He stopped pushing the gurney and allowed one of the nurses to take his place, so that he could walk next to Jennifer and tell her what was going to happen, "I appreciate your concern luv, but I will be performing the surgery, but first I will need to have a quick clean up, I ate a couple of power bars in the jumper and while I was on the planet I was fed three meals a day, so I am fine. What I need from you is to prep the Colonel and then I would appreciate your assistance in surgery."

He was relieved when she nodded and didn't say anything more. When they reached the infirmary a few seconds later the first thing he did after taking one last look at his patient was headed off to have a nice hot shower, since he knew that he had a long night ahead of him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Rodney sat and watched as Sheppard was wheeled out of the jumper. As soon as they had left he was out of his seat and following Carson and his injured friend to the infirmary. He didn't even bother to look around, but he assumed that Ronon would be following him. Just before they reached the infirmary they were asked to wait in the waiting room, much to his disgust. He wanted to be with his friend, but he knew that he would only get in the way of what the doctors were trying to do.

Walking into the waiting area, he was surprised to find that Teyla was already there.

"How is he?" Teyla asked the concern evident in her face.

Rodney ran his fingers through his hair, it certainly had been a frustrating day and his arm was beginning to ache, maybe he would go and get some pain meds, before he sat and waited. "He's not good. Carson is taking him into surgery now to repair a gunshot wound to his left shoulder and well, you saw what Viallso did to his fingers."

"Yeah and I'm glad that Sheppard shot him, at least I won't have to do it myself," Ronon growled.

Rodney didn't miss the glare that Teyla gave Ronon, before she turned to him, "Rodney is your arm hurting?"

"I suppose it is."

"How about you come and sit down next to me and then I can then give you some pain medicine for your arm?" Teyla soothed.

Although he didn't really want to sit down, he did it anyway. Perhaps he could have something to eat and a sleep before Carson came out to see them, but then he didn't want to leave in case someone came to give them news on Sheppard. He knew that Carson would probably be in surgery for hours, but he still didn't want to leave.

Teyla handed him some pills and a bottle of water and he gladly accepted; now all he needed was something to eat and a sleep.

Elizabeth walked in a few minutes later with a worried look on her face and all he could do was stare at her, the last thing he needed to do right now was to go into a long winded explanation as to what was happening.

"How is he?" She asked and Rodney was thankful that she looked straight a Teyla.

"Carson has him in surgery at the moment, but apparently he is not good."

"Would anyone like anything to eat or drink?" Elizabeth asked, "Because I'm happy to make a run to the mess hall for some sandwiches and coffee."

"Coffee," Ronon mumbled.

"A cup of tea and a turkey sandwich would be nice?" Teyla asked with a smile.

Finally someone had read his mind, finally he was going to get some food and then finally he could have a nap while he waited, "Coffee and sandwiches."

He watched as Elizabeth left the room and then he looked up at Ronon, who seemed to be intent on wearing a hole in the floor, "do you think you could sit down, because you're driving me in sane with all that pacing?"

"Sorry," Ronon mumbled before he sat down on the other side of him.

At last the room was quiet, so he closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift into a restless sleep.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Carson exited the OR and threw his blood soaked scrub top in the biohazard bin, he had just spent four hours putting Colonel Sheppard back together again and he knew that his work was far from over. His patient still had a fever due to and infection in his left shoulder and he would definitely need physical therapy on it in the future. Not to mention the wounds on his right side, from the previous gunshot wounds. Luckily his fingers were relatively easy to fix and they should be back to normal within four to six weeks.

He watched as his team wheeled his patient out of the OR and towards the ICU area, he really wanted to be with him right now, but he knew that there were some anxious people in the waiting room expecting to hear some news of their friend.

Catching Jennifer's eye as she walked past, he went up alongside of her to speak with her, "can you please get Colonel Sheppard settled in the ICU, while I go and speak with his friends?"

"Sure Carson and then I will stay with him for a while, if you'd like to go and get some rest."

"No I think that I'll sit with the Colonel for a while, but if I need a rest, I'll go and lay down if my office."

She sighed and he could feel her intense glare, "fine, but I will be staying here as well!"

Carson gave her a small smile and then turned around to head down the hall to the waiting area. He really did want to go to sleep, but he knew that would have to wait for a while, because for now his patient needed him.

Although it wasn't really a long walk the waiting room, he was so exhausted that it seemed to take forever and when he finally arrived, he found the occupants of the room sleeping. He thought about turning around and leaving them to sleep, because they must have been as tired as he was, but he knew that wasn't fair and that they would all want to know about their friend.

Looking around the small room, he saw the remains of a meal on the coffee table and he felt a bit envious, because he knew it would be a while before he got to have a meal of his own. He felt a tap on his shoulder and it took him by surprise, turning around he realised that Teyla was awake and standing behind him, Rodney, Ronon and Elizabeth were awake too.

"How is he Dr Beckett?" Teyla asked and Carson could see the worry in her face.

"He came through surgery without any complications, but he is still in critical condition, he has a fever, which we are monitoring. The gunshot wound to his left shoulder has caused extensive tissue and muscle damage, so he will need to have physical therapy when he is feeling better."

"And what about his hands, will he ever be able to use them again, because if he can't he won't be able to fly and then he'll have to leave Atlantis?" Rodney ranted.

Carson rubbed his eyes; the last thing he wanted was to listen to Rodney's ranting right now. "Although his fingers were a mess, they should be back to 100% within four to six weeks."

"Can we see him?" Teyla asked in her usual serene tone.

"Aye come with me, but as usual I only want one person in with him at a time, just in case my staff need to get to him in an emergency."

Carson turned around and headed down the hallway towards the area that had been designated as ICU; he didn't bother to look back, because he assumed that the others were following him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Teyla was the first to enter the ICU and when she did she was shocked by what she saw, because no matter how often she saw John in this state, she never got used to it, especially as she'd only seen him here a few days earlier. His right leg and side were still heavily bandaged and his head had a new white bandage on it, but now his left shoulder was heavily bandaged and both of his hands were splinted and heavily bandaged as well. There was an IV in his left arm, an oxygen Cannula under his nose, there was sweat beading on his forehead and his colour was an ashen grey, but at least he was alive and home, where Carson could take good care of him.

"May I sit with him for a while?" Teyla pleaded. There was no way she was going to let him out of her sight ever again and if she got the chance she was going to tell him how she felt about him. Her friend Kanaan had expressed interest in pursuing a relationship with her, but she hadn't accepted his advances and yet, because she wanted to talk to John first.

"Sure go ahead lass, but make sure my nurses can get to him if need be."

"I think I'll head back to my office," Elizabeth announced before patting John on his good leg, "keep me informed on his condition Carson."

"Yes, I must get back to my lab." Rodney mumbled, before immediately turning and leaving the room.

"You better get better soon Sheppard, because it's about time we finished our camping trip." Ronon said, patting his friend on his good leg.

Teyla watched as her friends left and she wondered how she'd gotten so lucky as to have such a wonderful group of friends and the three men that were on her team were even more special to her. Although she felt like she was the mother of three young boys at times, she valued each of them for who they were and the thing she valued the most was their willingness to accept each other, despite their respective faults. She also had her Athosian friends and family, so she felt doubly blessed that she had her rich Athosian heritage, but she also had everything that Atlantis had to offer.

"Are you alright Lassie?" Carson asked interrupting her thoughts.

She hadn't even realised that Carson was still in the room, "I am alright, I am just worried about Colonel Sheppard."

"I know, we all are," he said stifling a yawn, "I think I'm going to have a sleep in my office, so unless it's an emergency please call on Dr Keller."

Before Carson had a chance to leave the room, she grabbed his arm, "have the biologists created and anti-venom for the spider bite as yet?"

"No, but they are close, so at least that is a one bit of one good news." Carson stated before turning to look at his patient again, "I think I'll take his vitals one last time before I leave."

Teyla sat and watched as Carson set about checking John's IV, checking his blood pressure and taking his temperature and it didn't surprise her when he tutted after taking his temperature.

"It's up to 103.5, I think I'll put a cooling blanket on him and perhaps you could start sponging him down? I'll send Marie in, in a moment with some water."

"Thanks Carson."

Once Carson had left she turned to her friend and sighed, "I do not think I will ever let you leave my sight again John Sheppard, I do not want to have to go through this again."

Marie came into the room at that point and handed her some cloths and a basin of water, before placing a cooling blanket over John, "Dr Beckett wants me to check his temperature every half an hour." She stated before leaving the room.

She set about wiping John's forehead, careful not to get the large bandage on the side of his head wet.

Deciding that she was going to be here for a while, she started humming to John, hoping that it would sooth him. Her father had sung this particular lullaby to her when she was young and she'd always felt much better after he had sung it, so she was hoping that it would have the same effect on John as it had on her.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Elizabeth rushed out of the infirmary and straight to her office, she still had a lot of work to do, but she didn't know how she was going to focus knowing the condition that John was in, but at least he was home and in the infirmary, where Carson and Jennifer could make him well again.

The first thing she did when she opened up her computer was checked her e-mails. She was desperately waiting for a message to say that the anti-venom was ready and that they would be able to use it immediately. According to Carson, John was still in danger of losing his arm, even though they had managed to slow the spread of the necrosis in his arm and even if the anti-venom was a success, John would still need extensive skin grafts on his shoulder. She shuddered at the thought of how long it would be before her military commander was well again, but what then? Would she ever allow him to go through the gate again? At this stage she would have to say no.

Her contemplations were interrupted when the chevrons on the gate began to light up; she wasn't expecting anyone to dial right now, so she rushed out of her office and into the control room and looked at Chuck anxiously.

She was relieved when the wormhole finally sprang to life, "who is it?"

"It's Major Lorne's IDC."

"He's not due to check in for another two hours; I really hope that nothing has gone wrong. Put it through."

"Major Lorne I hope that everything is alright?"

"Don't worry Dr Weir, everything is running smoothly here. Tiall has asked to come to Atlantis to see Colonel Sheppard and Ziall, since everything seems to be running smoothly here."

"That's fine send him through. They are both still unconscious, but I'm sure that they'd appreciate the visit."

"Okay, I'll send him through and then I'll get back to supervising the setup of the village, Lorne out."

As soon as the transmission was cut, Elizabeth rushed down to the gate-room floor ready to welcome her guest.

A second later Tiall exited the gate and greeted her, "Dr Weir it is good to see you again and I want to thank you for all of your help in resettling my people."

"You are welcome and we will continue to help you for as long as you need it. Now would you like me to show you to the infirmary?"

"I think I can find my way." Tiall replied.

"I will assign Lt Jones to accompany you, as it is a security protocol that every visitor is accompanied by a military escort."

"That is acceptable Dr Weir."

Five minutes later she was alone in her office again and she went back to checking her e-mails hoping that something had come through from the biologists.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

John heard an angel singing in the distance and it was the most beautiful voice he had ever heard in his life and he knew a lovely voice when he heard one, as his mother used to sing to him when he was young, that was before she'd died when he was fourteen leaving him heartbroken.

He shrugged of thoughts of his mother and lay in the darkness listening to the lovely voice; he knew that he could stay there forever and feel comforted by it. But then where was he and why was he feeling so fuzzy in the head? Was he home with his mother singing to him? No, that couldn't be right because she'd died years ago.

In the end he decided that there was only one way he was going to find out what was going on and that was to open his eyes. He saw a patch of grey up ahead and decided to head in that direction, but as he did the pain in his body began to increase, so he really wondered whether that was such a good idea. But then the angel was still singing and he wanted to see who it was, so with much effort his tried to open his eyes. After three attempts he managed the feat, and saw the most beautiful sight he had ever seen looking down at him.

He moaned at the spike in his pain levels, before he managed to whisper, "Teyla." At least he hoped that was what he'd said, since it didn't really sound like it to him.

"John it is good to see you awake, Carson wanted me to inform him when you woke up," she told him leaving the room.

He watched her leave the room and despite the pain he was in he thought that she was the most beautiful woman in two galaxies and he really needed to tell him how he thought about her.

Closing his eyes, he really hoped that Carson would have some good medication for him, because he was certain that the pain was becoming worse again.

A loud booming voice interrupted his thoughts, "how ya doing Colonel?"

"Fine," he said using his usual answer.

John looked at Carson and he knew that the doctor didn't buy it, "Let me be the judge of that laddie."

John lay still while Carson did his health checks, "what's the damage doc?" He asked raising his hand to try and rub his face, but he only succeeded in hitting himself in the face with his splinted hand.

"Well the good news is that your fingers should all heal and be back to normal within four to six weeks."

The tone of Carson's voice freaked him out a little, "what's the bad news Doc and how bad is it?"

"There was extensive tissue and muscle damage in your left shoulder and although I'm confident you will make a complete recovery, you will need intense physical therapy and it may take up to six months for complete healing.

"And what about my right arm Doc, have the biologists managed to develop an anti-venom yet?"

"They are close, so why don't you go back to sleep for a while and then hopefully when you wake up again I will have some better news."

"Thanks Doc, have you got some pain meds to give me?"

It wasn't long before, he felt the pain meds flowing through his veins and the pain began to dissipate. He felt Teyla's hand on his arm and he managed to roll his head to look at her, "stay with me?" he whispered, as he felt his eyes closing.

He barely heard Teyla whisper "always," before he drifted off to sleep.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Carson quietly left John's room, sensing that he needed to be alone with Teyla for a while, everyone knew that their feelings ran deeper than friendship, but there was no way John would ever admit it.

Turning around he headed down to his office to do some paperwork. He'd just sent Jennifer off to her quarters after managing to have a few hours of sleep himself.

Arriving in his office a few minutes later he was surprised to see Tiall sitting there waiting for him.

"Tiall what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering how Colonel Sheppard and Ziall are?"

"Colonel Sheppard is still in a great deal of pain and asleep at the moment, but Ziall is awake and ready to accept visitors. I'll have one of the nurses show you to him if you like?"

"I would like that, and thank you for everything that you have done for Ziall and my people. I would like to thank Colonel Sheppard when he is well enough as well."

"I'll let you know when he wakes up and you were the one that set the chain of events in motion to help your people, so we were only following your lead." He responded kindly.

One of his nurses walked by at that moment, which was a relief, because it saved him embarrassing himself or Tiall further, "Sally can you please take Tiall to visit Ziall."

"Certainly Dr Beckett," she said before turning to Tiall, "come with me and I'll show you the way."

Once they had both left, he sat down and looked at his computer and the pile of paperwork sitting on his desk. It had certainly been a rough few days, but for now the infirmary was quiet. Anyone who was fit to be moved Giall had taken back to New Ngering, to be looked after by his medical staff. The only one left in his infirmary was Ziall, other than Colonel Sheppard of course.

He almost jumped out of his skin when his com activated, "Dr Beckett it is Dr McKnight and we have managed to develop an anti-venom for the spider bite. We will be able to meet you in the infirmary in about twenty minutes."

"That's great news, I'll see you in twenty minutes."

The transmission ended and he sighed with relief, at last things were looking up.

TBC…