Author's Note: A million apologies for this being so scattered in posts. Today my boss finally returned from her three week vacation and my work load has resumed a less strenuous pace. That and the fact that emergencyfan sent me a box of 12 tapes that I glazed over and watched every spare second over the past weekend. Australian TV, who knew it was so darn entertaining? Not her fault though, mine for watching them instead of typing.
And, yes, still betaed by Gaffer. Thanks!
Chapter 6
Ford and Sheppard snapped the decontamination chamber together in an intense silence, neither man commenting on the situation. It was almost as if they spoke that somehow things could possibly get worse. Of course, that would be nearly impossible with their friends struggling with some unknown illness, Beckett forced to dissect and rebuild some 11,000 year old virus that had mutated beyond recognition with equipment that was as foreign to him, as well as individuals that displayed emotion in color, and god help them all, Kavanagh. The man still hadn't taken off the suit. Just how long could he go with out having to take a leak, anyhow?
The major had caught his second watching the scientist's feet several times and finally had to ask him just what the heck he was looking for. The young man didn't bat an eyelash when he answered 'smurf socks'. It had taken everything he had not to reach out and cuff the youngster along side the back of the head for yet one more stupid name, but it did make sense. If filled with liquid, the toe of the hazmat suit would point up almost in a grinch/smurf sort of way. He and Rodney had discovered that little fact while cleaning up a lab spill that turned into an all out hose fight, complete with each seeing who could fill their gear with the most water before bursting. Of course, Elizabeth's predictable timing didn't fail her as she got more than an eyeful as McKay's suit burst at the seams, the weight of the water dragging his pants down.
Sheppard stopped to shake his head, remembering the sight of soaked boxers covered in red maple leaves resting about the Canadian's ankles. For days, all he had to do was sing the words "Oh, Canada" before humming the rest to receive murderous glares from the scientist. What he'd give right now to catch even one arched brow or egotistical snort of disapproval.
"Sir?"
He discovered Ford scrutinizing him, trying to contemplate just exactly what had his superior standing still with one hand scrunched in his hair and the other open mid air, reaching for some unseen object. "Ford?"
"You alright, sir?" The dark eyes searched for signs of a headache in his superiors face.
"Yeah." He rolled his tight shoulders and snapped his neck, taking in the completed unit standing before them. "Everything set to go?"
"Yes, sir. Once Dr. Kavanagh finishes connecting the filtration unit to the power supply, we're good."
Scrubbing his hand over the stubble from the one day growth that covered his cheeks, he nodded, "Okay then, suit up. I'll let Beckett and the others know we're ready. Once Master Connor gets here, we go and check out the tunnel." Sheppard glanced around the back of the chamber in search of Kavanagh but found the area empty. "Now, where'd he go?" Retracing his steps, he found Ford stepping into one of the hazmat suits. "Where's Kavanagh?"
"He was just there, a minute ago, sir."
"Son of a…" Sheppard glanced up the winding staircases, then around the rest of the area surrounding the far corner of the gateroom. With no sign of the missing scientist, he grabbed his radio and paged Beckett; hating to disturb the physician, but needing to check up on his teammates and see if Kavanagh was up there.
The Scot sounded tired when he returned the call, "What can I do for you, Major?"
"How they doin', doc?"
"Well, I've got them both on a broad spectrum antibiotic and am pushing the fluids. Can't seem to keep them hydrated." Carson paused to glance towards his charges. "Rodney's having a tough go of it. Teyla's just starting."
"Any chance you're starting to figure out what's wrong with them?"
"Nay, lad, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack and I don't even know what the bloody haystack looks like."
"Well, hopefully we'll be able to find some clues down in the hallway. You haven't seen Kavanagh by chance? We're waiting on him."
"I'm sorry, major, that's my fault. I asked him to come up here a moment and see if he could get the computer working. He's about finished now. Havis came up with an idea but we couldn't get the two systems to cooperate." His weary sigh came over the radio, "This is one time we could really use Rodney," he added quietly.
"I hear you, doc. Send Kavanagh down when he's done. He can meet us in the tunnels. Sheppard, out." Donning the blue hazmat suit, he stepped up beside Ford and nodded to Connor, "We're ready when you are."
SG: A
The three members from Atlantis, Master Connor, and four of her top technicians scoured the tunnels for hours; taking samples of the stone walls, checking for possible leaks from the outside environment, and running the Krahn's own hand held air analyzer. From all of the mind boggling tech speak that Sheppard heard, hegathered that increased readings of air particles showed a denser concentration of active elements the further they moved away from the city. Particles of what, left them all guessing.
Sheppard stopped to take in his crew's haggard appearance. The mere fact that Kavanagh had quit his bitching over an hour ago and was working silently, signaled just how long they'd been searching without a stop. Plus, even the major was beginning to watch the pony-tailed scientists feet: just how long could the guy go without going? "Okay, let's pack it in. I imagine Beckett's ready to come and get us and I want to check in on the others."
"I will come with you Major," Connor announced. She turned to speak with her crew, sending them further down the passageway before joining the visitors.
There was something different about the Krahns that was bothering the major, that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Silently wishing once more for McKay's gift of observation for minute detail, he waited for her to join them before proceeding back the way they had come. "Dr. K, any ideas or thoughts as to what might be happening down here?"
Looking decidedly uncomfortable, the uncharacteristically silent scientist shifted the sealed containers he was carrying before meeting the major's inquisitive gaze. "This is a bit out of my field, Major, but if I were to hypothesize, I'd suggest that whatever the contaminant is, it is emanating from the second city."
Connor studied Kavanagh before turning to Sheppard, "I must agree. I will send a team through the gate to take samples and bring them back to the lab once we return." She eyed the men in the crinkling blue suits critically, "Perhaps it would be best if you remained here and rested."
Henodded, seeing the others mimic his movement. By his nearest guesstimate, it must be close to four or five in the morning. He was hungry, worried, and exhausted. He wanted to check on McKay and Teyla and to find out what, if anything Atlantis had discovered during their absence. Maybe Dr. Z had come up with something on his end.
When they finally made their way to the end of the corridor housing the decontamination unit, they each took a turn stripping, shoving their suits in sealed bags, and showering thoroughly. Kavanagh took off like a jackrabbit towards the guest suite while the major and Ford dragged themselves up the stairs to Beckett's makeshift lab. What they saw took them both by surprise.
"McKay?" Sheppard squawked, staring at the bedraggled scientist sitting on a stool beside the doctor, his IV hanging on a makeshift pole, madly typing away on his laptop. To say the Canadian looked awful was an understatement. Dark bags had settled under his eyes, turning the usually piercing blues into an almost pale grey color, and the rash that they'd discovered on his chest earlier now covered his face.
"Close your mouth, major. That's a good way to catch flies," his friend attempted to jibe but his comment didn't hold the usual sting.
"Doc?"
Carson shook his head and blinked, finally giving up all together at pretending not to be tired and rubbed his eyes hard with both palms. "Aye, lad, I needed help and he was laying there staring at me so I put him to work."
Okay, things had to be bad if Beckett let Rodney up looking like that. "How's Teyla?"
"Whatever this is, it's affecting her differently. She doesn't appear to be forming the rash that Rodney has." Carson picked up the containers that they had brought back, studying each one closely before placing it back on the table. "These should help us isolate what ever the contagion might be. Working with the sample of the original plague that Havis has in his lab and cross referencing it with the anomalies I've found in their blood and Rodney's, along with whatever I can get from your samples; I might possibly come up with a common denominator and be able to go on from there."
Sheppard scratched his head, taking up the empty stool vacated by Beckett beside Rodney. Bumping shoulders with his friend, he nodded towards the open laptop, "What are you working on?"
"Breakdown components of the Krahn's atmosphere and water table shows an increased elevation of some sort of biogenetic compound that has become naturally forming over the years." The scientist stopped to sip from a glass of water, continuing once the cool liquid soothed the fire in his throat. "It's become a part of who they are. I think that's why they don't get sick."
"Yeah? How long you been at it?"
"Hour. Two tops." Rodney tipped sideways, whispering to Sheppard, "I'm out of my element. This is Carson's forte and I don't honestly know how much help I can give him." Glancing up to meet the major's concerned gaze, he painstakingly straightened, folding his arms in his familiar posture. "I feel like shit. I think need to lie down."
"Mind if I give you a hand?" Not waiting for an answer, the major slipped one hand under the scientist's arm, the other grabbing the IV pole, as he gently steered the trembling man back over to the cot. "Can I get you anything?"
"No," Rodney grunted, sliding down until his head hit the pillow. Through heavily lidded eyes, he watched Sheppard take up a seat on the chair beside his bed. "You know what time it is?"
The scruffy haired man glanced down at his watch, "4:35."
"Go to bed," McKay rasped, his lids closing on their own accord.
"I got to go contact Atlantis."
Rodney grunted, his hand falling over the side of the bed and tugging slightly on Sheppard's pant leg, then patting the side of the cot. "Power nap. Fifteen minutes," he mumbled before finally drifting off.
Watching the slow rise and fall of McKay's chest, Sheppard felt his own eyes grow heavy. He could use fifteen minutes. Propping his feet on the edge of the cot, he folded his arms, resting his chin to his chest. Moments later, he, too, was sound asleep.
Carson scrutinized the two men closely out of the corner of his eye. Both were clearly dead on their feet, and Rodney's ailment had exhausted what reserves the scientist may have had. Making his way silently to the bed, he reached out and felt McKay's fever returning. It seemed as though every time he'd been able to get it under control, out of the dangerously high numbers, it would spike once again when they didn't expect it.
Reaching down to the foot of the bed, he pulled the blanket free from under the major's feet, draping it across the sleeping scientist. Havis handed him a second one to drape over Sheppard.
"We are so sorry," the Krahn physician spoke quietly. "We didn't know."
"I know, and so do they." He returned to the table, stopping briefly when he spied Ford's lanky form stretched out over another cot, snoring softly. "We'll get out of this; it's just a matter of finding the answer."
Resuming their seats at the table, both physicians got back to work. There would be little rest for them tonight.
TBC