Author's Notes: Phew, one more chapter to go after this one and then we're done! Thank you for all the lovely reviews.
If I Die
Chapter Twenty Four - The End
Sheppard shifted uncomfortably, trying to find a better position for his bandaged leg.
He'd been sat in the chair for little over an hour now, ignoring Carson's advice and insisting on being moved from his bed to see the first signs of life from the scientist up close. The shift of eyes under closed lids, the quickening heart rate against the monitor, a slight twitch in one hand.
Carson had assured him that McKay would make a full recovery, given enough time, and that the semi-coherent ramblings were to be expected, since 'when did you ever know the man to be quiet?'
He felt the need to watch, nevertheless. He hadn't left McKay alone on the planet, and he wasn't about to do so now.
"He awake yet?"
Ford, coming to slouch against the bed. Teyla stood beside him, keeping herself more rigid, lifting one hand to touch the bed rail.
"No," Carson said, from his desk in the corner, "but it shouldn't be long."
Right on cue, there was a flicker of blue, and a soft groan. Beckett rose from his chair immediately, crossing over to the bed armed with a penlight.
The doctor bent over his patient, flashed white brilliance into his eyes. "Rodney?"
"Oh god," came the mumble, dry and indistinct, "I've died and woken up in Scotland."
The Scottish brogue: "You wish."
"He's okay?" Ford asked, quickly. Anxious over words spoken previously, oxygen deprivation and brain damage. Sheppard flinched, then relaxed when Carson released a small sigh.
"Aye. And as cranky as ever." Raising his hand, Beckett again flashed the penlight into McKay's gaze only for the scientist to recoil, screwing his eyes shut.
"Carson!"
A whine. Sheppard felt the knot in his stomach uncoil.
Beckett ignored him, withdrawing the penlight before tapping Rodney, gently on the cheek. "All done."
"Great. I'm blind." McKay's voice slurred, tongue thick.
Reaching out for the cup of ice chips, Sheppard waited a moment whilst Ford and Carson gently propped Rodney into a sitting position. Saw McKay grimace, but accept the chip obediently, closing his eyes as the chip melted.
"S' cold."
Teyla reached out to move the blanket up several inches, her face lit up by a smile. "Is this better?"
One pale hand fumbled at the hem of the blanket and hitched it a little higher. "Thank you."
"How are you feeling?" Ford asked, grinning.
"Like I was run over by a truck. Twice." Still slurred. Then a cough, and a gasp and a grimace of pain. Sheppard shifted forward in his seat instinctively, ignoring the protest from his injured knee.
Carson was already adjusting the IV, one hand resting gently on McKay's back. Gently: "Take it easy, Rodney. You've given us quite the scare. Do you remember anything?"
The words sounded dull, lifeless, as though the scientist was speaking about someone else. "I was shot."
"Yeah. It was real close, too."
Sheppard flinched, shot a dark look at Ford. The grin immediately fell, bouncing feet coming to rest. "You're gonna be fine, though," Aiden added, lamely.
Carson rolled his eyes. "Let me be the one to give the medical opinions, alright Lieutenant?"
Taking pity, Sheppard shrugged, flashing Beckett a grin. "But he's right, right?"
"I don't feel fine," McKay managed. He was stretching one hand out in front of him, watching with abstract curiosity as the appendage trembled.
John watched him, and frowned. "Well, like Ford said, it was close."
To his gratification Rodney looked up, hand dropping to his lap, his gaze gaining clarity as he took in Sheppard's bandaged leg. "You're hurt."
"You're not the only one who took a bullet," he replied, posturing a childlike pride, puffing up his chest.
"You did not take a bullet," Teyla broke in calmly. "I believe the earth phrase is, you were winged."
"Barely a scratch, actually," Carson added.
He scrunched his face in mock disgust. "Great. After me risking my own neck to get Rodney back, that's the thanks I get."
McKay blinked, evidently struggling to keep his eyes open. "I don't remember it."
"You were unconscious at the time," Teyla explained.
There was a long moment whilst Rodney engaged in some deep thought. Then: "I died?"
An uncomfortable silence followed, and a flurry of looks. Sheppard's turn to grimace, and to look away from his friend. McKay struggled to sit up, repeated disbelievingly: "I died?"
Then another gasp, and a stifled groan. What little color the scientist had gained suddenly fled from his face, the alarm on the ECG machine bleeping alarmingly. Sheppard was ready to rise from his chair but Carson was ahead of him, fiddling again with McKay's IV and pushing the man gently back against the covers.
After what seemed a long moment both the machine and McKay seemed to settle, though a look of frustration remained. "Ow."
Another grin, and Sheppard allowed himself to relax. "You've been saying that a lot."
"Well I died," Rodney responded testily.
"Fair point."
"I'll have no bickering in my infirmary, thank you," Carson broke in. "Rodney needs to rest."
There broke out a series of protests, from Ford's pleading "Come on, doc –" to Teyla's reasonable "Perhaps if we promised to remain quiet –" and his own childlike whine: "Aw, just a little longer…"
"Now," Carson said firmly. "You can be the first to tell Dr. Weir if you want. Stop her from wearing a hole in her office floor."
Sheppard gave a long, exaggerated sigh. "Fine." He took the crutches proffered by Ford, rose awkwardly, but lingered after his teammates had left. Watched Carson fussing over McKay, checking monitors and feeding him another ice chip, adjusting the bed and checking the IV for a third time.
Eventually Beckett stopped his ministrations and looked down on his patient.. Sheppard saw him place a hand on McKay's shoulder, and give a soft sigh. "Promise me you won't do this again, alright Rodney? I don't like having to patch you up all the time." Carson patted the shoulder. "Now go to sleep."
McKay pulled a face, but the effort seemed half hearted and he closed his eyes, slumping against the pillows.
Moving past Sheppard, Carson glanced down at his bandaged knee, then back up at him disapprovingly. "And you should be resting that leg of yours, Major."
Sheppard winced guiltily, and put on his best pious face. "Will do, Doc. In a sec."
Carson frowned, but seemed satisfied, returning to his desk. Sheppard moved to stand beside McKay's bed, leaning on the mattress a little to take his weight off the crutches.
"Do what Carson says."
McKay was still awake, though very drowsy. "Or fear his wrath," came back a reply, soft.
"Plus you'll be out of here quicker." And he glanced at Carson, then dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "While you were out of it, I thought of some interesting ways to spend our downtime."
One eyebrow rose curiously. "I'm intrigued."
He patted the scientist on the arm, told him: "Just wait."
Rodney nodded, sleepily, then closed his eyes.
Pushing himself away from the bed, Sheppard turned, and was hobbling out of the door when a voice called him back.
"John?"
He glanced back, and saw one blue eye had cracked open.
"Thank you. For, ah, back on the planet. Saving my life, and everything."
He floundered at the unexpected gratitude, searching for an appropriate response. "Any time." And meant it. Added: "McKay?"
"Mm?"
"That best scientist in Atlantis comment? Don't let it go to your head."
There was no response, but there was a smug, self-satisfied smile on the scientist's face as he finally settled to sleep.
