A BEE IN THE BONNET
By NotTasha
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PART 17: NOODLE

He opened his eyes with a start … expecting blackness…and stared out at the brightly lit room. He tried to figure out where the hell he was, but before he could register anything, he heard his name.

"Rodney?"

He turned toward the voice, to see a tired-looking Sheppard sitting beside him, eyebrow arched, looking apprehensive.

"Hey," Sheppard said.

"Hey," Rodney whispered. Around him, machines beeped.

"Welcome back," John replied, smiling and looking goofy. "How're you feeling?"

He considered a moment before he answered, "Not so good."

"Yeah, well, that figures." Sheppard continued to smile, as if he hadn't heard how McKay had just described his current disposition.

McKay tiredly registered the tubes and wires that connected him to the devices around him. "What…?" he tried to ask.

"Just stay still, okay?" Sheppard extended one arm and lay it gently on his shoulder.

What did he expect? Rodney thought. It wasn't as if I have any strength to even lift a hand, let alone lunge out of the bed at him. He felt as if he were made from limp noodles, unable to move, hardly able to keep his eyes open.

"Are you going to talk sensibly this time?" the major asked, not moving his hand.

"What?" Rodney responded again, and had to pause to cough. Sheppard's eyes grew concerned as the cough continued. Why did the major look that way? What had happened? What was wrong? Did something need his attention? And here he was, lounging about in bed. "What …?" McKay tried to ask, wanting to know so much, but unable to say anything.

"He's awake, is he?" Carson's voice sounded from somewhere in the room. "Oh, thank goodness."

"Yeah," Sheppard responded. "He's not saying much."

"Quieted has he? Thank goodness for that. As badly dehydrated as he was, I was surprised he'd managed anything at all. Amazing he caused no damage to his throat."

"Hard to keep the man quiet."

Carson chuckled.

The next thing he knew, Rodney was staring up at the beaming doctor. "Rodney, how're feelin'?"

McKay grimaced, finally stilling his cough and John answered for him, "Not so good."

"Oh, well that's to be expected," Beckett responded glibly. He picked up one of Rodney's arms and pumped on a bulb. McKay felt a blood-pressure cuff constrict around his arm. Now when had that gotten there? Carson took his pulse as he worked, smiling and humming. "Much better!" he exclaimed as he let the cuff loose. He gave McKay a happy pat on the shoulder. "You're lookin' much better, Rodney," the doctor declared. "Almost 100!"

McKay looked to Sheppard for concurrence. The major gave him an expression that seemed to say he only partially agreed with that assessment. Sheppard had sat back in his chair by that point. Rodney hadn't even noticed that he'd moved.

"You're well on your way to recovery," Beckett continued on. "I've been pumpin' you full of all manner of liquids, but I'd like you to try to drink an ORS." And he moved toward the counter where he'd kept the packets of oral rehydration solution. "Best thing for you, really."

But everything was getting fuzzy again and he couldn't focus.

"McKay?"

He heard Sheppard call his name. The major sounded alarmed, and McKay really wanted to answer him, but he was far too tired to respond and he slipped again into sleep.

TBC -one more section left

A/N: Don't worry. At least it's better than being trapped in a floor.