Thanks for all the reviews. Studying at the mo so they're putting a smile on my face. Didn't know if the transporter thing was any good but hopefully I'll get better at the whole scary atmosphere thing. Anihoo, on we go with chapter 4.
Chapter 4
"Rodney! Rodney!"
John couldn't believe what he had seen. Dr Rodney McKay, genius, saviour of Atlantis and a member of Mensa, hugging what looked like a lab coat wrapped around a ZPM. No not hugging, caressing the ZPM!
"Mmmmmmm, that feels nice…" Rodney purred as John hovered above his sleeping form. "Colonel Carter, you have the most amazing, soft skin…"
"Rodney!" John yelled causing McKay to shriek and fall off his stool landing on his backside.
"Oowwww!" he cried looking up at John though scrunched up eyes. "You know a little nudge wouldn't have hurt! Or was that military style?"
John shook his head and held up his hand to stop the scientist from rambling on.
"There's no time! Elizabeth is stuck in a transporter."
"Really? How'd that happen?"
"Dunno. She said the lights flickered and then it just stopped. She did try and call you but apparently you were, uh…sleeping." John said glancing at the half covered ZPM now sitting at the each of the table.
Rodney looked at the Major with a confused expression then realised what Sheppard was looking at. Clearing his throat and using his hands to push himself up off the floor he stuttered,
"Yeah, well, uh, you know me and, eh, my all nighters…"
"Rodney! We don't have time for this!" John shouted. "Get some stuff and let's go!"
"Right! Right! Tools!"
John shuffled his feet while watching Rodney grab the tools getting more agitated as the minutes when by. Deciding it would be best to contact Elizabeth and tell her help was on the way he put his finger up to his earpiece.
"Elizabeth. I've found Rodney. We're just coming."
Getting no response from her John tried again.
"Elizabeth? Elizabeth?" he asked nervously.
"Relax Major. I'm sure whatever affected the transporter has messed up the com system too." Rodney said although not looking sure himself.
John nodded his head not really believing Rodney but knew it wouldn't help getting worked up. Waving his hand indicating Rodney was to follow him, John left the lab and began walking to where the transporter in question would be.
"Major Sheppard?" a voice called over the radio.
"Yeah?" replied John recognising Simpson, a gate room technician's, voice.
"Eh, we've got a problem with transporter 1." John was about to reply when the technician continued. "On our readings it looked as though it had stopped but then, it went, funny."
"Funny? What do you mean funny? Is that a scientific term?" Rodney asked sarcastically.
"Well, it first moved up to the top floor at an alarming speed and then came back down just as fast. It did it again several times and then stopped on the third floor." Explained Simpson.
John and Rodney stared at each other in horror and John took off in a sprint to the nearest set of stairs. Running up one flight he ran down the corridor to the transporter door where it opened. Seeing Elizabeth lying on the floor he fell to his knees beside her and turned her face towards him.
"Elizabeth?" he asked trying to, but unsuccessfully, keep the fear out of his voice.
Feeling for a pulse John sighed a breath of relief when he felt it beating strong at her neck. Hearing footsteps behind him he turned to see Rodney and Carson Beckett running towards him.
"She's unconscious but okay. I think." John told them moving to the side to give Carson access. "Tell me she's okay Doc!"
Carson felt her pulse and looked into her eyes.
"Aye, she should be. Give me a hand to get her to the infirmary."
John lifted Elizabeth carefully and began carrying her to the stairs.
"Rodney, have a look at that thing and figure out what went wrong!" he ordered.
"Yip. Will do!" Rodney called after the two men.
"Right!" Rodney said to the transporter. "What the hell were you up to?"
John looked at Elizabeth's peaceful face and held her tightly as they reached the infirmary.
"Lie her on the bed." Carson told John. "Look, she might not wake up for a while so you might want to take a nap or get something to eat."
John didn't answer. He just stared at Elizabeth's still body. Carson smiled to himself and began hooking Elizabeth up to a heart monitor and drip sensing that the Major didn't want to leave her. After he checked over Elizabeth, noting she had a fractured rib and a severe bump on her head, he pulled over a chair for John to sit on.
"There's nothing else a c'n do now till she wakes up." He informed John. "I'll be in ma office when she does. Alright?"
"Thanks Doc." John said quietly not moving his eyes from Elizabeth's face. Carson nodded and went to his office.
John took Elizabeth's hand and held it gently. After a couple of minutes he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"John."
John looked up and scanned the dimly lit room. Okay, am sure I heard a voice he thought. Shaking his head he resumed his position next to Elizabeth. Then he heard it again. A faint, feminine voice calling his name,
"John"
"Hello?" he asked once again glancing around the empty infirmary.
Not seeing anything he slowly got off his chair and moved quietly towards the door hoping to find the source of the voice. Having his back towards Elizabeth, John did not see the white light approach her or the fluid filled needle floating next to her left arm.
