Chapter 8
The sound of two men arguing out in the hall made Sheppard curious and he walked quietly over to the entranceway. By the way things were going, Beckett was on the losing end of the battle and in a few moments would have to admit defeat.
"Carl, when exactly was the last time you practiced general medicine of any sort?"
"Carson, that's not the issue. I'm here to assist you in finding the answer to Krahn's problem and to cure our teammates. I can't do that if you won't rest."
"I don't need you to tell me what to do, laddie."
"And I don't need you to wear yourself to the point of exhaustion. All I'm saying is you need at least four hours sleep. I'd prefer eight to ten but I realize the situation at hand doesn't allow us that luxury."
"I don't have time…"
"Doctor, if you don't rest, I'll sedate your ass."
"You and what army?"
A loud sigh emanated from the tension filled void. "Is that the way you want this to go down, Carson? I always thought you and Sheppard's team were tight. Because of your reluctance to take a break, your exhaustion may create more of a hindrance than a help. It's a rest, that's all. It's not a declaration of inability to solve this problem. You'll think better. You know I'm right."
The voices grew quiet and the major hustled back over to Rodney's side, not wanting to get caught eavesdropping. Moments later the two physicians returned to the room, neither man's face giving away any sign of their argument.
Beckett made his way over to the major and looked down at Rodney, then to Teyla. He chewed his lower lip, clearly battling his inner most thoughts, before a look of resignation finally settled over his face. His shoulders drooped as he sat on the empty cot across from the sleeping scientist. "Major, Dr. Turner needs you to assist him while I get some rest. If you or anyone else gets sick, I insist that you wake me immediately."
Sheppard nodded, looking up to catch Turner roll his eyes and mouth 'thank god' to the ceiling. "Don't worry doc, I'll keep him in line for you."
The weary Scot smiled briefly before tipping sideways onto the cot, his eyes fixed on Rodney. "I hate this," he mumbled to himself before his eyes drifted shut. Within moments his tired body succumbed to sleep.
"You go, Doc," Sheppard smirked up to Turner with a grin. "I never saw anyone give it to Beckett."
"And you still haven't, major. Exhaustion makes a person more compliant. Once he's back to his full bagpipe-blowin' glory, I'd run for the hills before telling him off."
Walking over to the lab table, Turner stared down at Carson's notes and then gazed into the microscope. He shuffled through various slides, his intelligent eyes taking in every detail. Nodding in approval at what had been accomplished so far, he looked up to meet Sheppard's curious gaze. "I need you to get me some samples from the other city."
"Okay…"
The tall doctor sat down on one of the stools and motioned for the major to take the other. "From what Carson sent back to Atlantis for us to study, along with his most recent observations, it appears that whatever is happening, the origin point is not from this city. The illness has occurred after contact in the underground tunnels that connect the two. And when I studied the layout of their systems, that portion of tunnel contains air that is not circulated by this side. Also, the two Krahn team members to get sick, were the individuals that Master Connor sent through the gate to collect the first set of samples."
An odd sense of relief washed over the major. "So, what you're saying is, we didn't cause this?"
"Oh, absolutely not. Dr. Kasbaugm and I came up with several hypotheses as to what may be causing this and the one we kept coming back to is, somehow the other city has been in recent contact with the atmosphere. The metamorphosis in the Krahns that has safely allowed them to evolve over thousands of years to their current state isn't completely stable. Once reintroduced to the 'plague',it biogenetically stirs up their DNA. It makes them suceptible."
"Well, what about Rodney and Teyla?"
"They appear to have come in contact with the original virus."
Rubbing the day old growth across his face, Sheppard grunted as reality of their situation kicked in, "So, actually, you need to find two cures? One for us, and one for them?"
"Yes."
"Okay, doc, tell me what I need to do."
SG: A
Once again dressed in a blue hazmat suit, Sheppard stood in front of the large glowing puddle. Connor and two more of her team accompanied him. This time, they also were suited up, more cautious as to what to expect from the other city.
Ford joined his commander and handed over the case with the culture dishes, "You ready, sir?"
"Yeah. Help Kavanagh set up the decon unit around the gate once we signal our return." He gripped the radio Connor had given him earlier. "If, for any reason Beckett or Turner needs me while I'm gone, don't hesitate to contact me." The unspoken request to be updated on his sick teammates was a given.
"Yes, sir. Good luck."
"Thanks, lieutenant." Sheppard glanced over to the waiting scientists, "Ready?"
The orangish-red Krahns nodded then stepped through the gate, Sheppard right behind them.
SG: A
The second city appeared abandoned as they emerged from the gate. Light filtered down from above the spiraled staircase, casting long shadows across the floor.
"Kinda spooky," Sheppard said out loud, walking slowly off the platform. He opened the case Ford had given him and removed a culture dish. Taking off the sealed lid, he scratched the waxy surface with a stylus, before placing both items back into a sealed bag, labeling it with the location from which it had been taken. Connor's team did the same.
"Where is everyone?" he asked her.
"When I contacted Master Linton, to inform him that we were coming, he said that the majority of the inhabitants had confined themselves to their personal homes. The city is virtually at our disposal. I will begin with his laboratory and check the upper levels." She gestured to the young scientist standing at her side, "This is Marlton, my head of genetic studies. He will accompany you through the lower levels, Major, while Brae goes with me."
"Okay, I'm ready to get this done. You too, Marlton?"
The scientist nodded, "Yes, Major."
"Good." Sheppard switched on his radio, paging the other side of the gate, "Ford, can you hear me alright?"
"Affirmative, sir."
"We're setting out. I'll call back in exactly one hour unless something else comes up."
"One hour sir. Dr. K and I are moving the decon unit now."
"Good. Sheppard out." One final glance up the empty staircase, and he turned to Marlton, "Let's get this show on the road."
SG: A
Marlton patiently guided Sheppard through the lower levels, stopping to take samples of the different environments at set intervals. To the major's relief, the young scientist also revealed that he had dry sense of humor that could almost rival McKay's. And when the major nicknamed him 'Marty', he only grinned behind the mask, his color changing briefly to the blue friendship hue.
They had made it to the tunnel level without complications when they ran across the first citizen of the city. The bedraggled figure looked ill and it was clear from the ground in front of him that his lunch had been his first casualty.
"Sir, can we help get you to the infirmary?"
The splotchy figure looked up, his eyes widening in horror at the sight of the two blue clad individuals standing before him. Stumbling back in fear, he reached out to shove them away when they reached out to give him a hand up from the floor. His hand connected with Sheppard's air hose, ripping it free from the back of his suit.
Marlton instantly dropped the sick man, desperately trying to reattach the hose as the major stood holding his breath. He knew the actions were futile, that he'd been exposed. Pushing Marty's hands away, he shook his head, "Let's get this man back to Connor and then return to Beckett's lab."
"Major…" Marty started to say but was stopped when Sheppard held up his hand.
"Let's just go back. I need to notify the others." They half carried, half dragged the sick Krahn between them, making their way slowly down the long hallway and then up the winding staircase. Reaching the top, Sheppard let Marty take the sick man to their infirmary while he called Ford.
"Yes, Major," his second quickly replied.
"We're ready to come back, so once we send the code and the gate opens, set up the rest of the decon unit."
"We're ready, sir."
"And, Ford?"
"Yes, sir?
Sheppard paused a moment, staring down at the empty gate. This really sucked. "Let Beckett and Turner know I've been exposed."
TBC
A/N: Thanks for all of your great reviews! Lovin' every one of them!