Part Three – What Dreams May Come, and Bite You on the Butt!
Ford moved down the hallway at his usual unhurried saunter. Halling strode at his side, smoothly keeping pace.
"So are you looking forward to your, date." Holling said the word carefully, as though he was tasting it. Ford looked at him, faintly alarmed.
"How did you know about that?"
"I apologize if it is a private matter," said Halling, looking concerned. "I saw Dr. Zelenka's assistant returning from a visit to the mainland and she told me she had found a new piece of apparel for your engagement."
"Engagement!" Ford heard himself yelp and stopped dead in the hallway. "Halling, what exactly did Cherri say?" Halling frowned in concentration.
"That she had 'traded for a new skirt for her date with Aiden,'" he repeated, speaking very precisely, and Ford whooshed out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and continued on down the hallway towards McKay's quarters. Halling followed after a moment, wondering at the odd response. "I also heard her mention a piece of clothing she called a 'teddy' and I was hoping you could show me how to wear such an item. I am trying to find a gift for Teyla and thought something from Earth might be appropriate." Ford almost tripped, he looked back so suddenly at Halling.
"That might be something you should discuss with ummm, one of the, uhhh, female staff members," he said, a flush showing dark red on his brown skin. Halling decided to change the subject before he made Ford any more upset.
"Is Dr. McKay often late for meetings?" he asked.
"He gets kinda wrapped up in his work, but I checked his lab and he's not there. It's unusual for both him and the major to be late though, but Kavanaugh's decided to throw a hissy and with Dr. Weir gone, we need one of them."
Stopping outside Dr. McKay's quarters, he sighed and then knocked briskly. There was no answer. He chewed on his lip a minute. Making up his mind he hammered on the door again, calling the doctor at the same time. Still nothing.
Then the door quivered slightly and opened a crack. Ford peered through the crack and saw McKay's head, his hair dark with sweat, and Sheppard's black combat boots at the foot of the bed. Both men appeared to be unconscious. Cursing, he shoved the door the rest of the way open, tapping his com open.
"I need a medical team in Dr. McKay's quarters immediately!" Ford snapped as he checked the major for a pulse while Halling dealt with Dr. McKay.
"Understood," came Beckett's resigned brogue, with just a hint of exasperation. "What seems to be the problem this time, Lieutenant?"
"The major and Dr. McKay are both unconscious. There are no visible wounds."
"Any Ancient devices in the room with them?" The exasperation had left Beckett's voice. Ford scanned the cluttered room quickly.
"I don't see anything new, but the doc's room is full of all kinds of crap."
"We're on our way, Lieutenant."
"What is the matter with them?" asked Halling, obviously wondering if this was yet another strange Earth custom.
"I have no idea, but it doesn't look good," They were both breathing, though Major Sheppard's respiration had a strange snoring quality that made Ford nervous. McKay roused, disoriented, his short brown hair plastered to his head with sweat and distastefully shoved Sheppard's boots out of his face.
"What are you doing in here, Lieutenant?" he demanded feebly, struggling to breathe. Beckett and his team came pouring into the room behind Ford.
"What have ye done, now, Rodney?" said Beckett sounding relieved and annoyed at the sight of the scientist awake. Then he saw Sheppard, head tipped at an odd angle, motionless.
"Major Sheppard, can ye hear me?" he asked rapidly as he shone a penlight into Sheppard's unseeing hazel eyes. "He's unresponsive; get him on the gurney and back to the infirmary stat." Beckett's concerned blue eyes turned on McKay next.
"Carson," McKay gasped, "I'm having trouble breathing." Beckett flipped McKay's shirt up to his embarrassment.
"There's no sign of trauma, Rodney," he said, frowning in puzzlement.
"Fine," snapped McKay, the veins in his neck standing out a little as he fought for air, "just wait til I asphyxiate."
"Ye're just as much of an obnoxious bastard as ye ever are," sighed Beckett wearily, then he looked closely at the pale skin and saw just the faintest hint of purpling at the edge of his ribcage. Beckett shook his head and gestured for the second gurney. "I dinna know what ye two have gotten yerselves into this time," he said, glaring at McKay, "but I have a feeling I'm not going to like it."
