John felt himself grow pale. He jumped up, backing away, shaking his head at Rodney. "No!" he protested, his eyes flickering to the computer screen. "It's in English!"
Rodney took a shaky breath then whispered, "No, Major. That's Ancient text."
Why he was surprised by this, John didn't know. He realized he shouldn't be, but he was. He felt his stomach twist into knots. He felt the throbbing ache in his head become sledgehammer blows against his skull. Then his stomached clenched, seizing up, and John clamped a hand over his mouth. He must have turned green, because suddenly McKay was there with a garbage can, holding it steady as John lost the contents of his stomach. He puked until he suffered through dry heaves and his body started shuddering hard from the convulsive gagging. Once he finally - blessedly - stopped, John realized he was sitting on the floor and that Rodney was supporting him.
Lifting a shaking hand to his face, John realized he felt dizzy from the pain in his head and that his skin was cold and slick with sweat. Then his arm felt too heavy to hold up. He felt weak and nauseous again and he wanted nothing more than to crawl into a dark hole where he could curl up and hide away.
Apparently he floated in and out of consciousness, because he was more aware of the images inside his head that seemed so real, than the reality of Rodney's solid bulk against him. John drifted through his dream world, knowing that they were more than his own memories, and yet familiar enough to make him ache with sadness, wonder and disbelief.
Faces and places flashed by in quicksilver eye blinks. Then he saw something that made him hold his breath so that he could cling to it longer. Another world that was vast and stark and within it a city to rival Atlantis in ways John had yet to understand. With a 'slap in your face' kind of clarity, he suddenly realized what it was he was seeing. The Wraith homeworld. John wanted to imprint it into his memory but it faded away, unraveling from his thoughts like a loose bit of yarn, tugged too hard in a homemade sweater. John felt his consciousness fading with it as he spiraled into suffocating darkness.
oOo
Even before he opened his eyes, John knew where he was and that he wasn't alone. So he forced his eyes open, blinked, and the infirmary walls came into view. Turned his head a bit and Weir was there, smiling at him. "Hey," John said softly, then he coughed from the dryness in his throat.
Elizabeth reached for the cup of water on the bed stand and held it out. With her free hand she helped Sheppard sit up and take a few sips. Then she eased him back down and put the glass back on the table. "Better?"
"Better. Thank you." John really wasn't sure what else to say.
"How do you feel?" Elizabeth queried.
John was wondering that himself, but responded instinctively. "Peachy, can I go now?"
Elizabeth let her lips curve in a half smile, then shook her head. "Now that you're awake, Beckett needs to examine you."
"Okay." John knew it wouldn't do any good to argue. "So...how long have I been here?" He figured not long since he still felt tired and achy and vaguely nauseous. His headache was better though, so he figured Beckett had some good drugs pumping through the IV he just now realized was taped to the back of his left hand.
"It's been about twelve hours," Elizabeth replied, after a quick glance at her watch.
That surprised John. "That long?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Guess you were tired."
"I was freaked." John wasn't going to lie about it.
"Rodney told me about the Ancient text."
John had figured he would have. "Just another parlor trick."
Elizabeth moved a step closer, her eyes mirroring the concern she was feeling for him. "I spoke with Avitus as well. John...I think you should let him help you."
"I don't trust him." John wasn't going to lie about it. He just wished he could pin point why he didn't trust the guy. It went beyond the fact that John felt as if Avitus had tricked him into bonding with Atlantis. It was more than that.
"It won't hurt to just listen to him," Elizabeth said gently.
John sighed and plucked at the blankets. "I guess not." He was too tired to argue a moot point.
As if on cue, Carson bustled into the room. He smiled at Sheppard as he reached him and began taking his vitals. "How are you feeling, Major?"
"Better. Can I get out of here?" John wanted to hide out in his room for a while.
"Not yet," Carson countered. "I want to get another bag of fluids in you first. You're a wee bit dehydrated. After that we'll feed you and if you can keep it down I'll let you go to your room. But I want you on bed rest for twenty-four hours."
John made a face at that but nodded. Beckett couldn't see through the walls and so long as he was in his room for the day, he could pretty much do what he wanted. "Fine."
Carson narrowed his gaze at Sheppard then asked, "How's the headache?"
"Doable." And John was sincere. Relieved too.
"I'll speak with you later, Major," Elizabeth interjected. She smiled at him then was gone.
Carson fussed with the blankets a moment, and checked the IV again. Then he was smiling too. "Rest a bit more then I'll bring you something to eat.
John blinked at him. "I have to pee."
"I'll get the urinal."
"No way, jose. Bathroom." About that John was adamant. He tossed back the covers and slid his legs over the side of the bed.
Carson sighed. "Fine, but I'm going with you. You're gonna be a bit weak."
John didn't argue the point. It would be hard to do so effectively given the fact he just stood up and his knees buckled. John cursed and let Beckett support his weight for a moment. Then he shrugged the doctor off, gripped his IV stand and headed for the bathroom. By the time he was done, John was glad to be back in bed. He even let Beckett fuss with the blankets as he closed his eyes and slid into slumber.
oOo
He was finally free. John felt much better after another four hours of sleep, a decent meal and now a long hot shower. In his room. He stayed under the spray for a long time, letting the water wash away any residual aches and sleepiness. Then he got out and pulled on jeans and a tee shirt, and tugged on socks since he wasn't planning on leaving his room. Beckett had reminded John that he was confined here for the next 24 hours and that he would be checking up on him periodically. And John knew the doctor would do just that, popping in himself, without warning, or sending one of his nurses. He had done that a couple of times in the past. So John would stay put. For now. He would relax and try and read and maybe even forget about being a freak for just one day.
But that was not to be. Even before the knock sounded on the door, John knew who was there. He thought the door open and wasn't the least bit surprised when Avitus stepped inside. John rose from the bed and stared at him. "Doctor Weir thinks I should listen to you."
"I can help you, Major," Avitus allowed, as he moved closer and folded his hands together. "First off, let me say that you are not a freak. You are what you were born to be. You are human, Major...but gifted in a way that other's can only dream about. And even their dreams would fall quite short of the reality. You are the key to the future of humankind. And not just in this galaxy, but you can save your world as well."
"Somehow...this isn't helping," John snapped back. "I don't' want to be the key. This was just some dumb fluke!" At least that's what he wanted it to be. Not for the first time, John wished that Rodney had been born with this damn gene instead. It would have made them both much happier.
Avitus looked pained for a moment, but he smoothed out his features and smiled gently. "No, Major. The city came awake for you. She has been waiting for you to come home. From the moment you arrived she has been...bonding...with you. Every time you connect with her, in any way, she has been preparing you."
John did not like the sound of that. "You mean she's been downloading information."
"In a sense," Avitus allowed. "But it is more an awakening of that which is within you."
"I don't want this." John began to pace, stepping around Avitus to do so. "I can't do this." He pressed his palms to his temples. His headache was back full force. But that didn't stop him from pacing. He felt the need to be in motion.
Avitus moved to block his way, holding fast even when Sheppard stilled and glared at him. "Let me show you what you fear, so that you may come to understand it."
John frowned. "Show me?" he echoed.
"Sharing," Avitus explained.
"Like what I did with Chaya." John remembered that and shuddered. At the time it had been amazing, but now he realized that she had been enthralled with him because of what he was, not because of who.
Avitus took a step closer. "Yes, Major. Just like that. And in doing so I will be able to show you how to use that which you have acquired. You will understand what it is and what it means and then you will no longer fear it."
John opened his mouth to refuse, but found himself agreeing. He was tired of being afraid. Besides which, knowledge was power and maybe he wouldn't have to worry about inadvertently hurting someone. "Okay...let's do this."
"Come sit." Avitus guided John over to the bed and sat down beside him. Then he reached out and gripped John's forearms.
"Close my eyes?" John asked, just to ask.
Avitus nodded. "Yes."
So John closed his eyes and felt himself surrounded by a bright warmth. Felt it wrap around him and it was familiar and comforting in a strange way. And then he was jolted into a vision of Atlantis. The city in all her past glory. He knew that Avitus was showing him what was and what could be again. John realized, as he traversed through the city, slipping inside her very soul, that she had been teaching him and that he had resisted that knowledge. She had been teaching him how to 'talk' to her. A part of John now regretted not wanting to listen.
Subconsciously the knowledge had always been there, but John hadn't been ready, or willing, to tap into it. But now he knew how to do so and he found himself wanting to do so. But in this moment alarms sounded, yanking John out of the sharing. He found himself jarred back into his own reality and he broke away from Avitus to clutch his head.
It took a moment for John to work past the dizziness and pain so that he could recognize the alarms for what they were. Something was going on. He ignored Avitus and stuffed his feet into his unlaced boots, then he was out the door and running for the nearest transporter. Then John was racing to the gateroom, and he made it to the steps then froze. Bates's team had stepped through the gate and they were not alone. They had a prisoner with them. A Wraith.
John moved closer. The Wraith was cuffed and he was supported by two marines. He looked barely conscious, but John knew he was awake. He climbed the steps and walked towards the Wraith. Drawn to him like a magnet.
Elizabeth spotted Sheppard and called to the marines. "Stop him!" The major was getting too close and he wasn't even supposed to be here. He was supposed to be resting in his room.
John felt the presence of others. Felt them moving closer and with a simple flicker of thought, he kept them at bay. He was focused only on the Wraith.
The Wraith lifted his head and his eyes went wide as he spotted the human. "You are the one," he hissed.
John did not reply. He took one more step closer and then there was a blinding flash of white. In his head he saw the image of the Wraith home world. He saw the city and then he was inside it. He saw the human, all of them cocooned. Row upon endless row of them. And the children. Some so small and fragile and John felt anger at this. The rage was red hot and glowing inside him and he lashed out, feeling the heat of it surround him.
Rodney had joined Elizabeth. He stood beside her, watching as Sheppard confronted the Wraith. Watched the marines try to move to stop the major, but they were held back somehow. Then Sheppard simply stared at the Wraith until suddenly he seemed to glow. A white misty light flowed around him and Rodney found himself moving. Running towards Sheppard. There was a sudden flash of blinding light as he reached them, making Rodney put up a hand to shield his eyes, and when it faded he saw that the Wraith was on the floor, eyes open and staring at nothing. Dead. Rodney then looked at Sheppard and the major was crumpling and Rodney managed to catch him.
Elizabeth called for a med team then moved towards the major. She sensed a presence and turned to see Avitus standing there. He was looking at the major and smiling.