Disclaimer: I am not a Doctor or medical healthcare professional. Although I have tried to research medical terms, they may not be one hundred percent accurate.

Chapter 12: Home at last

The next time John awoke he was in absolute agony from the excruciating pain in his leg, which permeated through his entire body. It didn't help that he appeared to be laying on a hard wet surface either. He moaned hoping to get someone's attention, because surely he wasn't alone? A vague memory surfaced of him being in a cave with his brother and then there was a giant cat gnawing at his leg. Moaning again, he desperately tried to open his eyes to see if Dave was still there with him. What good will it do if I open my eyes? He thought, because he seemed to remember that the last time he was awake he was completely blind. Oh well here goes.

Finally he managed to open his eyes and he was surprised that he could actually see something, everything was blurry, but at least he could make out the shapes of things around him and off to his left he could see a blurry image that was the size and shape of Dave.

"Dave," he whispered, trying to breathe through the pain he was in, "why… am… I… lying… on ….the…ground?"

"It looks as if Klull and his buddies have made their way to the stargate," Dave whispered coming to sit beside of him.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke again, hoping that he didn't sound quite so breathless this time, "Help… me sit up,…. so that I can…have a….look?"

Dave was quiet for a moment and John wondered whether his brother had heard him or not, but finally Dave spoke, "but John you can't see."

"I..think…I'd…know if I…couln't see." He hissed through gritted teeth.

"Oh, alright let me help you then." Dave offered and John didn't miss the hint of sarcasm in his voice.

When John was sitting up he squinted in the direction he was facing and much to his chagrin all he saw was a blurry view in the distance, which could have been a stargate with people around it, or it could just as easily been a rock formation.

"Okay,.. so I reckon that's… Klull and his buddies ….down at the gate." John said sounding more confident than he felt, "so now… we have… to come… up with a plan… to get past them… and go home."

"Well I have one bullet left in the gun."

"What…happened…to ….the…other…one?" John asked, breathing hard, as a sudden wave of intense pain shot up his leg.

"I used it to kill the enormous cat that was trying to chew your leg off."

John knew that he had to ignore the pain that he was feeling, so he tried to block it out and concentrate on the matter at hand, "where's Puss?"

A Meow from a short distance away answered his question, so now that he knew his cat was alright it was time to focus on the matter at hand. "So…I'm…thinking…that…we need to somehow….create….a…distraction to…lead…Klull away from the gate."

"Well I have no idea how I'm going to do that, all I have to work with is a gun with one bullet, a cat and a severely injured man in a kid's body." Dave said and all John could do was roll his eyes at his clueless brother.

John wasn't really in the mood to deal with his brother when Dave was acting dopey, "I'm…sure…we'll think…of something," he said with sarcasm, despite the pain he was in.

"Well, you're the expert on these situations John, what do you have in mind!" Dave stated and John could sense his impatience.

"Well,….you have a gun," was all that John said to him.

"You expect me to shoot someone!?" Dave exclaimed and a look of horror crossed him face.

John rolled his eyes, "no create a diversion, by shooting a tree or something." He said feeling less breathless despite his pain.

"And what, will you be doing?"

"I'll head round to the gate and try and dial the DHD once Klull and his buddies leave the area."

Dave laughed at him and he could sense his brother's disbelief at his plan. "John that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, you can't walk, because a giant cat tried to eat you and you can barely see. I'm not even going to mention the fact that you look like a giant ten year old."

He just glared at his brother, "do you have a better idea Dave?"

"Well, no. So how do you want to proceed with this plan of yours?"

"I think that you should carry me as close to the gate as possible and then you should create the distraction and then hopefully Klull and his men will leave, so that I can dial the gate," he paused and if he could have kicked himself he would have, for not asking the obvious question, "how many of Klull's buddies are at the gate with him?"

"I saw two with him, but that doesn't mean that there isn't more lying in wait for us."

"You're right, but I really don't see any other option, so I suggest we get started as soon as possible, because I'm in pain and I'm not sure how long my adrenaline rush is going to last."

Dave sighed and gently picked him up, "come on then little brother let's get to the gate and get this over with."

John closed his eyes not wanting to suffer the embarrassment of being carried by his brother. Sure no one could see him, but he knew and so did Dave. His leg was constantly jostled as Dave appeared to be in a hurry to reach the gate, but he was in a hurry to get home too, so he knew that he should grit his teeth and put up with the pain it caused. On the plus side his eyesight seemed to be getting better.

They walked along in silence and John was relieved to see that Puss was running alongside of them and meowing every so often to let them know that he was alright. It took them about half an hour to reach the gate and when they did Dave carefully lowered him to the ground and sat beside of him.

"Okay John, how do we proceed from here?" Dave asked him, while looking around the area.

John managed to sit himself up and look around, he was relieved to see that Klull and one other person were at the gate, this is going to be easier than I expected, he thought to himself while trying to formulate a plan of attack.

"If you circle to the left and shoot at one of the trees, I'll wait until they leave the clearing and run down to the stargate and dial the alpha site, when you see the wormhole spring to life get through it as quickly as you can." John took a deep breath, as he knew that the next part was going to be hard for him, "can you please help me to my feet?"

"Sure thing little brother," Dave smirked before patting him on the head.

Dave's last comment infuriated him, his energy was fading fast and he had very little time for jokes, "I told you not to call me that!"

"Sorry," was all that Dave gave in the way of an apology.

He gritted his teeth as Dave slowly pulled him to his feet and he would have fallen back on his butt again if his brother hadn't been holding him. He was thankful when Dave gave him a sturdy stick to hold onto. He sighed, he was a real mess at the moment, his left lower left leg had been shredded to pieces by a wild cat, his right shoulder was still not fully recovered from the gunshot wound he'd received when he was held captive by the trust and his left hand was still injured from the accident in Rodney's lab. At the moment he wondered if he had the strength to walk to the stargate and after that he wondered whether he would ever be whole again.

John watched his brother walk away and he really hoped that he was as good a shot as he remembered, because if he wasn't then his plan had no hope of succeeding. John continued to watch for what seemed like hours and he was happy that his eyesight seemed to be getting better all of the time. He had no idea why he'd been blind in the first place, but that was something that he'd have to asked Carson or Jennifer when they got back to Atlantis.

Suddenly a gunshot rang out breaking the silence around him and it shocked him out of his contemplations, Puss seemed to be disturbed by it and meowed loudly to voice his displeasure at the loud sound. He watched as Klull walked away from the gate, but the other man stayed put and again he could have kicked himself, for not thinking that could be a possibility.

Dave was hiding behind a tree and trying to get his attention, so he took one last look at his brother and began to head towards the gate. The man at the gate was looking in the other direction, so he knew that he had one chance and he hoped that he would be strong enough to deal with him. As he got closer, he slowed his approach; not that he could really go much faster than he was going at the moment. Taking one last look at Dave he turned back towards his target and lifted the branch that Dave had given him as a walking stick and with all the strength that he could muster he wacked him in the back of the head. The man instantly crumbled to the ground and John was relieved that he had somehow managed to stay on his feet.

The act had left him feeling totally exhausted, but he knew that he had to get through the gate, so after indicating to Dave that he should head down to join him, he dialled the gate to the alpha site.

Just as he was dialling the seventh symbol he heard a shout in the distance, he recognised the voice in and instant; it was Klull's. "Dave, hurry up!" John shouted, as he saw that Klull was gaining on him.

John thought he was about the collapse by the time that Dave finally made it to his side, but luckily for him Dave grabbed his hand and dragged him through the active wormhole, but unluckily for him he was hit by a stunner blast coming through the wormhole. The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was Dave hitting the ground beside of him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Rodney had narrowed the list of planets that Klull and his buddies could be hiding out on to twenty. He knew that they were running out of time to find Sheppard, so he didn't even know why he was bothering to tell Woolsey about it. But Woolsey had told him to keep him informed, so that was exactly what he was doing.

He had spent the last eight hours in his lab and he wasn't feeling very happy, he should probably head off to the mess hall before he went to see Woolsey, but this couldn't really wait.

Arriving in the control room a few minutes later, he was surprised to find that Teyla was in Woolsey's office and they were in deep conversation. He wondered what they were talking about, probably Sheppard, he thought, before heading to the office to join them.

Woolsey turned his head away from Teyla as soon as he entered the office, "Ah Dr McKay, what have you found out?"

"Im sorry Mr Woolsey, but we could only narrow the list of planets down to twenty and if possible I would like to start searching straight away." Rodney replied feeling determined to get on with the search.

"I would have to agree with Dr McKay," Teyla added.

Woolsey nodded giving them permission, "I will contact Lorne and Ronon and you can get started straight away."

Before Woolsey even got his hand to his earpiece the Chevrons on the gate started to light up. Rodney was on his feet and running to the control room, before the second chevron had lit up.

"Who is it?" Teyla asked arriving a split second after him.

"It's Lt Peters dialling in from the alpha site." Chuck replied, with a bewildered look on his face.

"Put him through," Woolsey suggested, looking as confused as Chuck did.

Rodney felt perplexed, they never really heard from the teams that were located at the alpha side, unless it was time for them to come home. At least that's what Colonel Sheppard had told him.

"Lower the shield," Woolsey ordered.

The shield was lowered and Rodney listened to the transmission, thanks to Chuck, who had put it over the control room coms so that everyone could here.

"What's the situation Lt Peters?" Woolsey asked.

"We've found Mr Sheppard, Colonel Sheppard and Puss by the gate."

"And what is their condition?"

"They're both unconscious, Colonel Sheppard appears to have been mauled by some kind of wild animal" there was a slight pause before Lt Peters continued " and the Colonel seems to have grown by four inches."

"I'll get a medical team down to the gate room, can you get them through or shall I send reinforcements?"

"Don't worry Mr Sheppard seems to be coming around, so we'll help them through, Peters out."

Rodney felt a huge sense of relief that Sheppard had managed to escape, but then he was worried about what state he was going to be in when he came through the gate, he turned to look at Teyla wondering how she would be feeling and he was shocked to see how pale she had become.

"Wwwould you like to ssit ddown?" He stammered wanting to offer some support, but now really knowing how he could help.

"Thank you Rodney," Teyla said taking the chair that he had offered.

Once he was sure that Teyla was comfortable, he turned to look at the gate, because all he could do right now was wait for his friends to come home.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Dave was not impressed when he awoke to the feeling of pins and needles in his extremities. He was pretty sure that he had been stunned as he and John dove through the gate. Opening his eyes and looking around at his surroundings, he realised that he was on a lush green world with plenty of grass and shady trees. The sky was blue and the sun was shining and he felt as if he could stay in this place for ever, but he knew that he had to get John back to Atlantis as soon as possible. It wasn't long before he saw a soldier from Atlantis looking down at him.

"Are you alright Sir?" The soldier asked him.

"Umm… other than the pins and needles, I think I'm fine, but I really need to get John back to Atlantis."

"I have already contacted Atlantis and they are expecting you. Dr Beckett and a medical team should be waiting for you in the gate room." The young soldier informed him.

Dave looked at him and felt an immense sense of gratitude to the young man, "thank you, Lt….I'm sorry I didn't catch your name?"

"Lt Samuel Peters, Sir."

"Thank you for your help Lt now if you can dial the gate I should be able to carry John through."

"Are you sure Mr Sheppard, he looks to have grown since I last saw him?"

"I know, but he's my brother, so I won't let anyone else do it."

Dave bent down and picked John up; the pins and needles that he felt when he'd first woken up were almost gone now, so it wasn't as difficult as he thought it would be. He watched as the chevrons lit up on the gate and he suddenly felt exhausted, he'd had very little food, water, or sleep for the last few days, so he longed for a few days in the infirmary sleeping. Finally the wormhole sprang to life and he stepped through, knowing that he was one step closer to having a long sleep and plenty of food and water.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Carson arrived in the gate room just in time to see the wormhole spring to life. Woolsey had contacted him five minutes ago, to say that Dave and John were on their way home and that John was severely injured.

He had no idea what to expect, but knowing Colonel Sheppard it wouldn't be good. As far as he knew the Colonel was still a child, but from what Rodney had told him, he would definitely grow up at some point in the near future and it would most likely be painful for him.

His thoughts were interrupted when Dave stepped out of the wormhole with John in his arms, the poor man looked on the brink of collapse, so he rushed over with a gurney and told the nurse that was with him to bring the other one over.

Dave laid John on the gurney and had no problem hopping on the other one. Teyla was beside them both, before he had a chance to get moving.

"Dave, how are you, how is John?" She asked and Carson could hear the panic in her voice.

When Carson looked down at Dave, he realised that he was fast asleep and John seemed to still be unconscious.

"Don't worry Lassie, "I'll look after them, why don't you go and let Ronon and Jane, know they're back and then wait in the waiting room? I'm sure Rodney will go with you. Make sure you take Puss with you, perhaps you can drop him off, so that Torren can look after him."

Carson was relieved when Rodney put his arm around Teyla and led her away. He took note of the bloody looking bandage on John's lower left leg and he knew that if it wasn't cleaned soon he would probably end up with an infection. The only other thing that was of note was the fact that John had grown at least four inches since he had last seen him.

Once he was sure that John was secured to the gurney he began the long walk to the infirmary, keeping an eye on his patient at all times. He had instructed Jennifer to have the OR ready; because if John had been attacked by a wild animal chances are they would need to operate straight away.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Teyla held on tight to Puss as John and Dave were wheeled towards the infirmary. She had no idea how bad John's leg was, or how much longer it would be before he grew up again, but for now he was home and at least that was a place to start.

She was about to head to the infirmary waiting room when the chevrons on the gate started to light up again.

"Who the hell could that be?" Rodney muttered under his breath, but still loud enough for Teyla to hear.

Teyla turned to look at the control room just as Chuck announced, "Unscheduled off world activation."

"Do you know who it is?" Woolsey asked and Teyla could sense the worry in his voice.

"It's an audio communication sir." Chuck announced.

"Put it through." Woolsey ordered.

Teyla watched as Chuck pushed a few buttons, and then the transmission came through, "Mr Woolsey it's Klull here, I was just wondering if you are ready to give us what we want?"

She would have laughed if she hadn't have been so worried about John, this guy must be a complete idiot, to think that we would fall for whatever he is trying to pull, Teyla thought, before turning to look at Woolsey and waiting for him to answer.

"No, I don't think I will Mr Klull." Woolsey answered with a smirk.

"In that case I'm going to start breaking the brat's bones!"

"I don't think so, John and his brother arrived through the gate a few minutes ago, so I suggest you go and annoy someone else, but let me tell you, if any of my people ever come across you again, we will turn you over to your people and let them punish you. But only after we have dealt with you first, we don't take kindly to our people being threatened, especially our children."

The transmission cut off and Teyla felt like applauding Woolsey's speech, but first she had a cat to deliver to Torren, before she headed down to the infirmary waiting room to wait for news on John and Dave.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Carson arrived in the infirmary, just as John's bed began to shake looking down at his patient, it didn't take him long to realise that he was having a seizure. "He's seizing, give me 5ml of Lorazepam?!" Carson shouted, while trying to hold John's leg down, so he didn't damage it farther.

Jennifer emptied the anticonvulsant into John's IV and Carson was relieved when the seizure stopped.

Once he was sure that the seizures had stopped, Carson started to bark orders, "I need to look at his leg, but first someone tell me what his vitals are?"

"Temperature is 101 degrees, blood pressure 90 over 60 and dropping, and his heart rate is 55 and he's bordering on bradycardia."

Without warning John sat up on the bed and screamed, before falling silent as he fell back and started to writhe around on the bed. As suddenly as it started the writhing stopped and John fell still and silent.

"Dam it he's stopped breathing, I'm going to have to intubate!" Carson yelled at the medical team standing around him.

Before Carson had a chance to intubate Jennifer yelled at him, "Carson his heart has stopped and," Carson looked down at his patient before she continued, "he appears to be his adult size again."

Carson stared at John in complete shock for a split second, before he started performing chest compressions. A nurse had already placed and ambu bag over his nose and mouth.

Jennifer rushed in to give him the defibrillator, "Dr Beckett it's charged to 200"

Carson hit John with the panels and his back arched off the floor as the electrical charge hit him.

Looking at the monitors that he had set up, he still saw a flatline.

"Charge to 300?" Carson yelled as he started chest compressions again.

Carson hit him again and there were a few blips on the screen before it settled down to a flatline again.

"Let's hit him again?" Carson yelled still performing chest compressions.

Carson hit him again and the flatline turned into a regular sinus rhythm.

"Okay we've got him back." Carson said with a sigh of relief, "but we still need to intubate and then I really need to look at that leg of his. I want a blood transfusion started as well, as he has lost a lot much blood."

Carson laid the head of the bed down and inserted the laryngoscope into John's mouth; he then inserted the breathing tube down John's throat and hooked it up to the ventilator.

Taking a deep breath he composed himself, and started giving orders to his team again, "Dr Keller is the OR ready?"

"Yes it is Dr Beckett."

"Right let's have a look at this leg and see what we can do to fix it?"

Taking the makeshift bandages off of John's leg, he was shocked to see the damage that the animal had caused. The area just below his knee was totally shredded, the wounds were deep and they had torn through the muscles and ligaments at the front and back of his leg.

Carson was trying hard to detach himself from the situation, but it was very hard when the patient was one of his best friend's, "I think he's defiantly going to need some physical therapy on this one, for now let's get him into surgery and hope that he's not too weak to perform it without killing him."

He walked towards to OR to scrub up, he knew that it was going to be an incredibly long night, while he patched up John Sheppard yet again.

TBC…