Retaliation of the Wraith

Chapter 4

Author: Lorrie Ellis

Email: lorrieannhotmail

Summary : This story takes place after the team returns from Jordonia and a confrontation with the Wraith. (Sequel to The Jordonian Ritual)

Disclaimer: The following story is based on the characters of the TV Series "Stargate: Atlantis". The characters belong to MGM, The Sci-Fi channel, etc. but the story is mine. ALL DISCLAIMERS APPLY. (No copyright infringement is intended.)

"An autopsy on a rat, whoever heard of such a thing?" Carson fumed as he and Rodney entered the hyperbaric chamber.

"Well, at the very least, once the autopsy is complete, I will know if it was the chemical or not and then if something does go wrong with Major Shepherd, at least I won't feel completely responsible." McKay replied.

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Elizabeth sat by John's bedside, moving a small wisp of his hair out of his face. "What should I do, John?" She questioned quietly as she watched him in his drug induced slumber. "I know that as long as you have that Wraith tracker inside of you, you are a danger to all of Atlantis. I know that and I know that as a leader, my first concern should be Atlantis, but John . . . I can't just abandon you. I've come to depend on you too much since we've been here. I've also come to . . . love you.

I shouldn't have these feelings for you, not like this. I'm supposed to be the CO here, even though I'm not military. I'm supposed to be a strong leader for all of these people, but right now I feel as weak as a kitten seeing you just lying there." She took his hand in hers. "I hope that the antidote that Rodney and Carson are working on is the answer. If not, I'm at the end of my rope."

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Carson ran a vile of the rat's blood through the Centro fuse and was pleased with the results produced. "Rodney, Rodney!" He called across the room.

Rodney McKay looked up from paperwork. "What?" He answered, somewhat disgusted at having been pulled away from his research.

"I have the results, Rodney! It's not the chemical!" Carson shouted enthusiastically.

Rodney left his research and made his way towards Carson. "You're certain?"

"Absolutely!" Carson said firmly.

Rodney looked at the printout from the Centro fuse. "So, we can give it to the Major?"

Carson nodded. "Yes. I don't see any reason to withhold it now."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go talk to Dr. Weir."

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Elizabeth Weir had long since left the infirmary and was sitting at her desk, trying to wind down when Drs. Beckett and McKay both burst in, causing her to jump.

Seeing her startled look, Rodney began to apologize. "Sorry Dr. Weir, we should have knocked, but the news is just too . . ."

"It's just too great for the formality of knocking on a door." Carson finished.

She could have sworn that she saw a hint of a smile on their faces. "Well, out with it."

"It's not the chemical. It was definitely the chamber." Rodney blurted out. "Dr. Beckett has ran extensive tests on the rat and the chemical definitely was not responsible for the rat's death."

She raised her eyebrows. "You're absolutely sure?" She asked, holding her breath, waiting for the answer.

Carson nodded. "I'm absolutely certain, Dr. Weir. As a matter-of-fact, if it's agreeable with you, I'll be knocking down the Major's sedative tonight, so he'll be awake and alert in the morning."

"He won't be in any pain, will he?" Elizabeth asked.

"We'll make sure that any pain is minimal. I can do that without sedating him."

Dr. Weir nodded. "If you're certain that the chemical isn't a threat to his well-being, then, yes, you have a go."

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"Keep a close watch on him throughout the night. If he begins to wake, I want to be notified." Dr. Beckett said as he reduced the IV drip. "And continue to reduce this each hour until he's off of it."

"Yes sir." The PA replied, making a few notes in John's chart.

Somewhere near 0200, one of the medical assistants knocked on Dr. Beckett's door, letting him know that John was showing signs of waking. "I'll be right there." He replied, groggily.

Soon, the doctor was by John's bedside. "Major Shepherd, ya need to wake up."

John moaned slightly.

"Come on Major, wake up."

John's eyes slowly began to flutter. "What?" He whispered.

"It's time to wake up John."

"Beckett?" He whispered.

"I'm right here John." Dr. Beckett picked up John's motionless hand and held it in his own. "Open your eyes John. We need to talk and I need you coherent."

An hour later, John was sitting up in his bed. "Are ya awake enough to talk?"

John nodded. "I'm awake. My head hurts, but I'm awake." He said, reaching for his injured cheek as if to emphasize the pain.

"I know you're in a bit of pain, but I'd really like to talk to ya before I give ya anything for it. I want to know that ya're not under the influence of drugs when ya make this decision."

"Sounds serious." John said.

"It is." Dr. Weir's voice sounded as she entered the room.

"Elizabeth." John acknowledged.

"John," She took his hand in hers. "Carson and Rodney have come up with a drug that seems to be effective against the tracker left by the Wraith."

John looked at McKay and Beckett and then back at Elizabeth. "But . . .?

"There were some complications with the test study . . ." Rodney started and then quickly added; ". . . but they've all been ironed out, well except the convulsions at the beginning. The drug, well chemical actually, is sound and we've determined, Carson determined, that the test subject didn't die because of the chemical . . ."

"I definitely heard the words convulsions and die?" John asked, his eyes growing large.

"It was a rat, Major." Rodney replied. "And it only died because there was a malfunction in the Hyperbaric chamber."

"Hyperbaric chamber?" John questioned, growing increasing uncomfortable. "No way! I've been in one before and . . ."

Carson stepped in, seeing that John was becoming agitated. "It won't be the same as when ya had ya diving accident."

John looked at the doctor and raised his eyebrows, questioning Carson's knowledge of the incident. "And what exactly do you know about it?"

Elizabeth and Rodney's focus turned to Carson. "It's in ya file. I know that ya were divin' off the coast of California with friends and somethin' happened, you were in trouble and one of ya friends was tryin' to help, but didn't realize that ya would come up so fast." Carson had more facts, but didn't know how much of the story John was willing to share with Elizabeth and Rodney.

John shook his head. "I wasn't in trouble, Holly was, but Mike didn't know that and he was going to get me up top first and then go back for Holly, but . . . " John's voice faded out.

Elizabeth looked to Carson who quickly changed the subject. "John, this procedure has to be done in the Hyperbaric chamber. The drug will take care of the tracker, but it will also release air into your bloodstream. If you're not in a controlled environment, it will kill you."

John paused and then slowly nodded his head.

"Good man." Carson said. "We'll get everything set up and be ready to start the procedure in about half an hour."

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Aboard the Wraith mothership Vexnos had once again joined the skeleton crew on deck. "Are we still on target?" She asked.

Tramock looked at her. "Yes Vexnos, we are still on target. We should exit hyperspeed within the next hour, after that we will determine where we are in the galaxy and plan our attack."

"Good." She turned and left.

"Tramock," one of the other Wraith addressed. "I do not wish to disobey Vexnos' orders, but is this mission wise?"

"No. No, it isn't, but Vexnos is our leader and we have vowed to obey her commands."

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"It's ready." Rodney said as he placed a full syringe on a tray near a now empty cot.

"Good. I'll get our patient." Carson replied and started out towards the infirmary for John.

Moments later, he returned with John in a wheelchair, followed closely by Dr. Weir, Teyla and Lt. Ford. "I came with my own seeing-off party." John said candidly.

"The only thing we'll be seeing off here is the tracking device of the Wraith." Carson said as he helped John from the wheelchair and into the chamber.

"Everything's going to be fine Major." Teyla offered encouragement.

"Yeah, just relax and put yourself on a nice beach somewhere." Lt. Ford said with a smile.

"Yeah, a nice beach." John repeated. "That's just what I need when I get out of here, a little R & R on one of those nice beaches that I saw on the mainland."

"Well, you keep thinking those thoughts while we get you ready for your injection." Carson said.

John made the mistake of looking at the syringe. "So, is that it?" He asked, looking at Rodney.

Rodney nodded. "Yes, yes that's it. You really shouldn't feel too much once the needle is in, just a slight warming sensation."

"And the rat told you this?" John asked.

"Ha, ha, very funny. I know that it will radiate a warming sensation because of the properties of the chemicals and the way that they will react with the tracker."

"But it's not dangerous, right?" John asked again for confirmation.

Carson shook his head. "Ya may have trimmers or convulsions when it first hits ya bloodstream, but I'd not be doin' it, if it were goin' to really hurt ya John." He paused. "Are ya ready?"

"Yeah, as ready as I'm ever gonna be." John replied and allowed Carson to inject him.

To be continued . . .