Aw, you guys are sweet to give positive reviews on the 'necessary evil' chapter.
For some reason the text program deleted my apostrophes. I reread and put them back in but I may have missed a few. So please excuse. On with the story>>>
Sixteen.
Rodney opened his eyes to the voices arguing beside him.
"Yer not getting up." Demanding but pleading.
That was Carson.
"My butt is asleep, Doc." Loud, grating, touch of whine.
That was Major Sheppard.
He turned his head to the right to see the doctor and the major head to head, although John was reclined on his bed. Releasing the majors wrist from a pulse count, Dr Beckett folded his arms and closed his eyes, face tilted toward the ceiling. Rodney knew he was counting to ten, having many times been witness to this first hand.
"I heard about yer little sight seein trip in the wee hours, major."
John winced at being discovered. "I had to go," he defended himself belligerently.
"Ya were wandering around in a completely foreign place, frightening poor Saysha half to death and ended up flat on yer back in her office. Ya haven't punctured that lung yet and I'm not about to give ya more opportunity to try." Carson was trying to keep a civil tone with the man but thick skulls were a pet peeve of his.
John opened his mouth to protest but Carson cut him off with a quiet, "No."
He tried once more, finger raised as if to make his case but the doctor interrupted again with a more forceful, "No."
Major Sheppard narrowed his eyes, dark eyes challenging Carson. "N-O," came the definitive answer, sealed with the fiery blue-eyed glare.
John pouted, remaining silent. He folded his arms over his chest, laying his heavy head back on the pillow.
Carson looked up to see Rodney's eyes on them. "Welcome back, Rodney," he greeted coming round to stand beside the bed. "How do you feel?"
'Oh, you know, same way I always feel after being zapped by an alien device, attacked by wild beasts, engulfed in a levitation light-- hungry, stiff, little woozy.' Rodney knew from Carson's expression that he hadn't gotten a word he said. With a sigh, he folded his arms around himself, with an over exaggerated 'Fine.'
Carson gripped the scientists wrist to get a pulse count. Saysha's equipment was extraordinarily advanced but he trusted his own hands-on method more and he wasn't sure what everything on the panels stood for. He had quite the conversation with her on his waking. Her people had designed and built all of the technology in their city based on the pieces of equipment the Ancients had left behind on the surface. All of her people could use the technology but, after scanning her logs on the computer, they were not genetically Ancient so they would be of no help on Atlantis.
"I was right about poison being in the talons of those animals. Ya had more in yer system than I did but Saysha's people have natural medicines that nullified the poison in minutes. We just had to sleep off the fever. These people have extraordinary topical medicines, as well. The major's head wound and yer scratches are nearly fully healed, as are mine. Unfortunately, bones cannot be manipulated like soft tissue so Major Sheppard's wrist and ribs are going to have at heal at a normal rate." Carson was excitedly chattering on while checking Rodney's gut, which had four thin pink stripes instead of stitched gashes. When he was finished, he dropped McKay's shirt turning to go.
Rodney grabbed his arm, sitting upright. 'What about this?' He motioned to his throat.
Carson's blue eyes locked on Rodney's. "Saysha says she has a device that she can try. The device you and Major Sheppard messed with was old, old enough that it may be irreversible." Carson let the news sink in then continued, "She's gone to consult some of her top scientists. If they agree with her, well know something soon." He patted Rodney's shoulder turning to see Lt Ford, Teyla and Sgt Bates being led in by Jotham.
The group came straight to the foot of Rodney and John's bed. Teyla continued forward, coming to stand between the heads of the beds, smiling brightly at both men.
"How's the patients, Doc?" Ford asked. He smiled, pleased to see the other half of the team, a bit ragged but conscious and appearing well.
"I was just telling Rodney that the medicines here are incredible. Saysha may even have something to repair Rodney's condition. She's checkin it out in the lab right now."
"I will see if I can help her," Jotham said exiting the room.
"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Bates asked with a half-smile.
Everyone shot grins at McKay, to which Rodney mocked with a 'ha, ha, ha' added. He lay back against his pillow, staring at the ceiling in thought. To have a possible cure so close again, he was afraid that if he hoped, it would disappear. He tuned out Carson telling the rest of the team what had been happening and what he had learned talking to Saysha. His eyes wandered over to Major Sheppard. His eyes were closed, head rolled Rodney's direction. Must've dozed off listening to Carson's accented chatter. He looked better with the thick white wrap gone from his head but his breathing still hitched every now and again.
From the other end of the healing room, Saysha strode in with Jotham and a younger man on her heels. Rodney sat up as she walked up to his bedside.
"Rodney," she spoke as if she had known him all of his life, "This is Malkim. He has concurred with my thoughts on your circumstance and we are prepared to use a treatment we think will give you the results you desire." She paused letting it sink in. At the impatient gesture to continue, she finished, "We are ready when you are."
Rodney sat for a moment letting hope build. 'Will it hurt?'
Saysha turned to Dr Beckett, not understanding. Rodney couldn't help rolling his eyes, his fists unconsciously clenching. 'Will. It. Hurt.'
Carson translated for her. A sorrowful look came into her eyes, she placed her hand on Rodney's fist. "We do not know what the effects will be, if it will work at all."
He let his head drop forward, closing his eyes. The room was silent around him. A quiet voice from across the way, brought his gaze up to meet John's.
"Come on, Rodney, lets get this done," he whispered.
When Rodney finally looked up at Saysha, his jaw was set in determination. He gave her a sharp nod, he was ready. 'Let's do it.'
Saysha motioned to Malkim. The young man handed her a reflective square chip, smaller than a matchbook. She motioned him to lay. "I am not sure how long this will take so make yourself comfortable." Once he was situated, she placed the device on Rodney's forehead. It seemed to sprout a dozen hair-thin needles that painlessly buried themselves into Rodney's flesh.
He gazed at the ceiling, twitching his fingers against his chest. A tingling sensation started where the chip touched his skin then spread over his skull, across his chest, down to his fingers and toes. His eyes drooped at the relaxing massage, his mind beginning to wander.
Carson watched the heads-up display broadcasting Rodney's vitals. He dropped his hands to his hips, exchanging a look with Saysha. She didn't seem to like it as the readings started to rise.
