After a lot of requests...we're going to check in on someone else for a min. ;-)

Quick update on the writer. Doing much better now and finally over the concussion and the migraines caused by it. (((hugs))) to all and thank you!

Chapter 27 - Interlude

The steady beep…beep…beep of the heart monitor finally wormed its way back into Rodney's awareness and dragged him back to consciousness. He groaned and forced his eyes open. Blessedly the lights were turned down in the infirmary and he could open his eyes all the way without the light trying to burn itself through his retinas. He looked around and smiled a little when he saw Ford sound asleep in the chair beside his bed, the young man's broken leg still propped up on the side of his bed.

He heard a soft noise to his other side and slowly turned his head to look. "Carson?" he called when his mind finally registered who it was.

The physician turned and smiled. "Ah, you're awake." He limped over and started checking the machines flanking the bed. "How are you feeling?"

Rodney grimaced. "Fuzzy and achy, but I have a feeling the fuzzy is from a great deal of drugs you've got me pumped full of so the achy is just achy and not excruciating."

Carson chuckled. "Correct. You've done quite a number on yourself here, Rodney."

McKay's gaze traveled back to the sleeping Marine. "How's he doing?"

"Ford?"

He nodded slowly, trying not to jar his head too much.

"He'll be fine. He broke his leg and he's going to be on crutches for a wee bit, but it was a clean break and will heal up well."

"How did he do that?"

"He took a tumble down in that hole you fell in."

"And you?"

Carson frowned a bit in confusion and Rodney made a vague motion toward the knee the Scot was favoring. Carson colored. "I fell in one of those holes too. Twisted my knee a bit, but nothing serious."

Rodney frowned deeply at him and then sighed, grimacing, his good hand wrapping around his aching ribs. "This is all my fault."

"No way, Doc," came a sleep voice from his other side. Ford shifted to sit up, grimacing in pain as he did.

"Ease there, Lieutenant," Carson said, shuffling around the bed to help the younger man sit up and resettle himself on the chair.

Rodney watched in concern as Ford's face twisted in pain until he had his leg settled and still for a moment. "Are you okay?" he asked, when Ford opened his eyes and looked at him again.

The young man flashed him a smile. "I'm fine. Leg's being a son of a—" he grimaced and then smiled again. "It's not happy."

Rodney chuckled and then grimaced as the movement made his chest flare in pain. "Oh, laughing, bad," he groaned.

"Sorry," Ford said contritely.

McKay slowly opened his eyes again once he got his breathing under control. "Are Sheppard, Teyla and Zelenka back yet?"

Ford looked over Carson and the doctor shook his head. "Not yet."

Rodney frowned, glancing at the clock, but he couldn't quite make the numbers pull into focus. "I have no idea what time it is, but isn't it late?"

"Aye, but I'm sure they're fine," Carson said quickly.

"Sure, they're fine on a planet that likes to swallow people and has Wraith popping out of the woodwork. Yes, I'm sure they're having a lovely time," he groused.

"They haven't been gone that long, Doctor McKay," Ford reassure him. "And the natives on the planet were pretty nice. They helped get us out that hole and back to the Jumper."

A dark look passed over Ford face and Rodney frowned at him. "What?"

"Nothing," he answered, flashing him a quick, very fake smile.

Rodney glanced over Carson and caught the same look on Scot's face. "What?"

Carson sighed. "Things just go pretty grim on the planet for a while, Rodney. We weren't totally sure we'd be able to get you back in time."

A cold lump formed in the pit of his stomach. "Why?"

"You're recovering from a very severe concussion, Rodney," Carson said slowly. "That's why you really need to be as calm and as quiet as you can. Give your body some time to recover."

"Do I have brain damage?" he asked quietly, swallowing hard against the lump forming in his throat, threatening to choke him.

"Not that we can tell," Carson said quickly. "Your last brain scan looked good."

Rodney chewed on his lower lip and just nodded.

Ford patted his knee, comfortingly. "You're doing really good, Doctor McKay. You just kind of scared me when we were trapped down in that cave. You were pretty out of it and I couldn't keep you awake and then you had that seizure—"

Rodney's eyes widened. "Seizure?"

"Which was perfectly normal due to the type of injure you had and completely under control now," Carson cut in quickly shooting Ford a sharp look. "I think the Lieutenant needs to go get some rest of his own right now," he said, pointedly to Marine.

Ford grimaced and sighed. "Sorry," he said, moving lift his leg off the bed.

Rodney frowned. "Does he have to?" he started and then caught himself. "Yes, you've had better. This hasn't been an easy day for you either."

Ford glanced over at Carson. "I'm really not all that tired," he commented offhandedly. "I mean, if the you and the Doc don't mind, I'm as comfortable here as anywhere right now."

Rodney glanced over at Carson and the Scot nodded. "All right. All right. Just be quiet." He shot Rodney a look. "The both of you. There are patients that are supposed to be sleeping right now," he said pointedly.

McKay leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "Yes, sir." He cracked an eye open. "You'll let me know when they get back, right?"

"Just as soon as they back through the gate."

He sighed carefully and nodded. "Good," he said as his eyes slid closed again. They'd be fine. They had to be.