A/N Still no Frito box with notes in it. So, on behalf of you, my lovely readers, I'm squashing all ego I just built up in that sentence. Heh. I went back and re-read everything I posted, and I'm pretty sure I know what I was thinking when I wrote it, and where the bunnies wanted me to go next. So, without any more babbling, here's chapter 10!
P.S. This is one week later, y'all.
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"Back in bed now, Major, before I give you a very strong sedative." John groaned out loud, but acquiesced to Dr. Beckett's request. He had been sitting next to Adien's bed, helping him with the visual exercises Jana had come up with.
"I've been in here a week, Doc, and all that time I never eventried to break out. Can't a guy get a break?" John pulled his blankets up under his chin and laid his head back on his pillow.
"No, you can't. What you can do is lay there and be quiet while I tend to my other patients." Carson moved to Teyla, who was quietly waiting in her bed.
"How do you feel, lass?" He pulled out the stethoscope and placed the cold disk to her chest, listening to her heartbeat.
"I am feeling much better, thank you." Teyla had suffered the least of anyone, but even she was made to stay in the infirmary for a week. Her stay had been much quieter than that of her teammates, Ford included. He had gone into a shell after returning to Atlantis, but the dangling promise of recovery pulled him out. Carson thought he might need glasses for reading and some other things John didn't remember, but that was nothing compared to total blindness.
Adien gave all the credit to Rodney, whose quick thinking was the main reason he would be able to see his hand in front of his face again. Along with the anti-coagulant that had been administered, he was given a drug found in one of the Ancient labs. It was supposed to heal damage to the optic nerve, which was a major concern of Carson's. Going that long without a steady blood flow wasn't good for the tissues.
Rodney had nested down in the corner bed along with his laptop and a few scanning devices. John had spent some time helping him, but for the most part the scientist was quietly working. He had spent some time examining the bandages they all wore on their return to Atlantis. After deciding there was nothing significant enough to warrant further investigation, he had focused his attentions on the circular devices that John and Teyla had pocketed.
"Carson, Jana, come and take a look at this." Both of the doctors dropped what they were doing and made their way over to the seated scientist. He had only spoken a few words to anyone besides Liz, so whatever he had found warranted a quick response.
"What do ya got there Rodney?" Carson reached out to turn the computer towards him, only to receive a swat to the wrist. "Touchy, aren't we?"
Rodney only grabbed one of the devices and held it out. "As best as I can figure, they impersonate your immune system, but much better. What would normally take about a week to heal only takes a few hours with one of these. I'm guessing that's why they didn't bother to bandage our smaller cuts. It's ingenious, really."
"And that must be what happened to your black eye. Remember, on the planet? It was there, then gone." John circled his own eye with his finger to illustrate his point.
"Are they useable now?" Jana had picked one up and was turning it over in her hand. The disk resembled old flying saucer accounts, complete with blinking lights. They were smooth on the bottom, except that there was a set of needles surrounding the edge. Jana was careful not to stab herself with one, as there was no telling what effect they would have on a healthy person.
"No, they are dead. It seems that they would have to be recharged every few hours or so, as their power requirements are greater than the source can generate for any length of time. I don't think we have a way to recharge them either. Although, I might be able to reverse engineer them once I'm out of here. I'll see if Dr. Zelenka might help me with them." Rodney scooped them up and placed them in a cup. Just as he finished clearing off his lap, Adien gave a great sneeze, which scared everyone in the room.
"Geez Ford. I about jumped out of my skin!" John had lifted about a foot of the bed, and was only now soothing his frazzled nerves. Teyla looked like she was doing the same thing, but much more calmly than her husband.
Adien wiped his nose on a kleenex that had been handed to him. He finished and looked around the room, not really expecting to see anything. To his surprise though, he could make out dim shapes in the light.
"Carson? Are you wearing a blue shirt?" Everyone turned towards Adien in surprise.
"Yes I am laddie. Why?" No one was prepared for what was said next.
"Because, well, I think I can see it."
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I was gonna end it here, but I couldn't be that mean!
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"Peter, I'm going to head down to the infirmary to check on AT-1. Keep an eye on things up here for me?" Liz closed the door to her office, wondering why anyone would want a completely see-through room.
"You mean that you are going to check on Rodney, and the others just happen to be in the same room as him, so you are going to chat with them as well?" The technician nodded his head at Liz's curious look. "It's the third time you've gone down today, Dr. Weir. It's a bit obvious to everyone that you're worried."
"Yes, I am, but I believe it is warranted. He was beat up by a giant tree, after all."
"I understand. I just wanted to let you know, that if anything ever changes, it is rather obvious."
"Noted. Now, I'm headed down." Liz squeezed Peter shoulder before heading down the stairs in the direction of the infirmary. As she walked down the hall, Liz thought back to the strange day-mare she had just before passing out. At the time, she had chalked it up to an overactive imagination. After the second one, however, she began to get suspicious of something greater going on.
Liz was pulled out of her thoughts by her arrival at the doors to the infirmary. She passed through them, only to see everyone staring at Adien like he had just done the most amazing stunt they had ever seen. Apparently he had, because he turned and focused on her figure in the doorway.
"Hi there Liz."
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That's all for this one. I dedicate this chapter to Heather, whose constant nagging got me to sit and finish this chapter up. So, here ya go girl! Enjoy!
