John listened to the echo of his own scream fade away and his voice felt raw and tight. He shifted in the bed, tugging on the restraints that held him, trying to free himself from the vice grip of the being's fingers on his temples. But they didn't budge and a moment later the pain faded and darkness drifted over him. But it was not the warm darkness of slumber or unconsciousness, rather it was cold and felt almost slick, as if he were touched by wetness. But then the darkness faded into gray then lightened into images that he did not see so much as he became a part of them.
He knew where he was. Atlantis. But not the Atlantis he knew now. John realized he was seeing the Atlantis of long ago. The way they were dressed reminded him somewhat of the gods and goddesses of Greek Mythology. They were a beautiful race and they spoke to each other in a language that he could not understand and yet it seemed familiar to him.
Without warning, the images began to fade and John felt the cold, slick, darkness wash over him again only this time it eased into warm, black velvet dreams.
Pain throbbed in his temples, catapulting John out of the fuzzy darkness he had been drifting in. He realized someone was calling his name.
"Major Sheppard...come on, laddie...open your eyes now."
John recognized Dr. Beckett's brogue. He peeled his eyes open and instantly regretted it. The pain in his temples intensified as light hit his eyeballs. John closed his eyes and bit back a moan.
Carson made a clucking sound and hit the panel over the bed that toned down the lights. "You can open your eyes, major...I've darkened the area."
"Where is he?" John croaked, as he slowly cracked open one eyelid. The lights were dimmed and pain in his temples remained steady but didn't flare up.
"Where is who?" Carson countered, in a falsely bright tone.
John knew the man was hoping he wouldn't ask about the being. And maybe he wouldn't. Not until he got his bearings back anyway. He opened both eyes and made to raise a hand to his face. But the restraints restricted the movement. "Fuck!" John tugged at them. "I want these off!" He hissed, but softly. He did not want his head to explode.
Carson sighed. "You know I can't do that, major." He reached for the controls on the bed and shifted the head so that Sheppard was more upright. "Is that better?"
"Peachy." Sarcasm rolled off of John in waves. "How long are you going to keep me in these things?" He needed to be out of here and searching for McKay. And for the being.
"That depends on you." Carson grabbed a stool and sat down next to Sheppard's bed. "Look, major...we need to talk and you need to be honest with me."
John sighed and let his head plop back against the pillows. He knew he was going to have to lie like hell if he was ever to get released. "What's there to talk about?"
Carson studied him a moment then said, "I ran some tests on Rodney. Bloodwork and DNA samples...the works. Just so you know...it is Rodney. No doubt about it."
"Oh." John felt more than a little stunned by Beckett's revelation. Stunned and scared. Whatever the creature was he was able to fool Beckett completely. John was afraid that McKay might be dead. He tugged at the restraints again. "I want out of here."
"I want you to tell me what you saw when you looked at Rodney? Was it a Wraith?" Carson locked eyes with Sheppard. "Maybe something from a nightmare? I mean...that whole Wraith bug thing had to have messed with you, major, and that would be totally understandable. That along with everything else you've been through. What you had to do to protect Atlantis from the Genii. Taking on the Wraith on that planet. And let's not forget Chaya. I know you had deep feelings for her, laddie."
John almost laughed at what he was hearing. Not because it wasn't true. On way too many levels Beckett was spot on in what he was saying. But it was almost funny to hear it listed like this. Funny and scary and not something John wanted to deal with right now. So he glared back at Beckett and stated, "I'm not crazy."
Carson shook his head. "I'm not saying you are...I'm just saying that you've experienced enough trauma to last twenty lifetimes. And that's on top of what you lived through before coming here. I know you went through enough hell on earth, laddie."
"What...did you read my file?" John was not thrilled if that was the case. It was supposed to be confidential.
"Of course I read it." Carson made a face at him. "I'm the medical doctor. I've read everyone's files. As has Dr. Heightmeyer. I've spoken to her and she'll be in to see you soon. I want you to talk to her, major. If she clears you then I can remove the restraints. But not before. Not until we know what's going on with you."
John was furious now. "I'm not talking to a shrink!"
Carson shook a finger at him. "Then you can damn well stay strapped to this bed forever!" He was on his feet now and just about yelling. "Dammit, major! I can't find anything, physically wrong with you. Although something is causing you some pain and I will be running more tests. But what happened with Rodney...I have no doubt but you're going through an emotional breakdown."
"Fuck you!" John yanked on the restraints and his fingers clenched into fists. Lucky for Beckett he was restrained or he would have slugged him by now. "You're the one who's fucking nuts! You hear me? I know what I saw and that...being...was not McKay! Now let me out of these fucking restraints!" John was pulling so hard on them he could feel the leather biting into his skin.
"Calm down or I'll have to sedate you!" Carson replied, and he was back in doctor mode, his hands pressed to Sheppard's chest to hold him still.
John just struggled harder, but went still when a soft voice called his name. It was Teyla. He turned his head and watched her approach.
Smiling, Teyla looked at Dr. Beckett. "May I speak with Major Sheppard alone, please?"
"I don't think that's a good idea right now," Carson replied. He was watching the major with a wary eye.
"I'll be good," John interjected, and he forcibly made his body relax. He wanted to talk to Teyla. John felt certain he could make her understand and that she would help him.
Carson still looked doubtful, but he eased his hands off Sheppard's chest then he turned to Teyla and nodded. "Alright. You can talk for a few minutes then I have some more tests to run. I'll be back soon." With that he gave the major a glare then he turned on his heel and headed out.
Teyla sat down on the stool. "How are you feeling, Major?"
"I've been better." John managed to dredge up a smile as he tugged on his restraints. "Feeling a bit tied up though." The joke fell flat, and not because Teyla did not understand it. He could see that she was worried about him. A part of John felt warmed by her concern, but more than anything he was pissed that everyone thought he was losing it. But he felt he might be able to convince Teyla otherwise. First thing to do would be to find out what she was thinking. "Do you think I'm cracking up?" John blurted out.
"Cracking up?" Teyla echoed, frowning.
John sighed. "Losing my mind."
She shook her head. "No...you are not losing your mind. You are a very strong man, major. But something is wrong."
"You're right, Teyla." John felt a sense of relief at her words. "Something is very wrong. I need to get out of here and find Rodney. That creature...thing...he did something to Rodney."
"Dr. Beckett has assured us all that Dr. McKay is truly Dr. McKay." Teyla spoke softly and almost reluctantly.
John felt his spark of hope die. "I see. So you do think I'm losing it."
Teyla frowned at him. "I think that something is affecting you. Perhaps from a past injury. Or a nightmare?"
"You've been talking to Beckett." John's tone was sharp and he didn't mean for it to be, but he was frustrated. He had to make Teyla believe in him. "I didn't imagine the being, Teyla. What you see as Rodney McKay isn't. I swear I'm telling you the truth."
"I believe that you are telling me the truth, major," Teyla allowed. "But as you see it. I wish there was something I could do to help you."
John was more than ready to take her up on her offer. "There is something you can do. Get these things off me!" He tugged on the restraints and gave her his best puppy dog look. But it didn't work anymore than it had with Weir.
Teyla reached out and stroked Sheppard's forearm. "I think, for now, it is best that you remain here, major. Dr. Beckett will do all he can to make you better."
"I'm not sick!" John snapped. He saw Teyla flinch at his tone but did not apologize. He wasn't crazy and he wasn't going to pretend to be to appease her or anyone else. John leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "I'm tired," he said firmly, hoping Teyla would get the hint and leave. If she wasn't going to help him then he wanted to be alone so he could figure out what to do.
"Get well soon, major," Teyla replied softly.
John felt her hand in his hair, meant to soothe him, and he felt a twinge of guilt. He would apologize to her later. He knew it wasn't her fault that she didn't believe him. He said nothing for now and soon her hand slipped away. John listened to the sound of her footsteps fading away and after a moment the throbbing in his temples seemed to echo the sound. And strangely enough, in spite of the pain, it lulled him back to sleep.
He knew, even before coming fully awake, that he was not alone. And John didn't have to open his eyes to know that the being was standing there, watching him. Blinking his eyes open, John turned his head. The being was standing next to his bed. Too close. John could not stop his body from shivering in reaction. He finally realized what the creature reminded him of - Gollum from Lord of the Rings. Only fleshier and a dark gray color with scalier skin. Still the likeness was creepy and even his voice was somewhat lispy. John tried to shift up into a full sitting position. Hard to do in restraints, but he managed. Then he glared at the being ."What did you do to McKay?"
The being smiled at him. "Why do you care?"
"He's my friend." John didn't hesitate to answer. It surprised him a little, but it was the truth. Somewhere along the way, he and Rodney had become friends.
"He's...sleeping," the being replied.
John would not accept that as an answer. "Is he alive? Why did you do this? What do you want from us? From me? And why the hell am I the only one who can see you?" The questions came out of John like bullets shot from a gun.
The being looked pleased. "I have been waiting for you to ask that question, Sheppard. I was surprised to realize that you could see me. I have not met one of your kind for millennium."
"My kind?" John wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. "What the fuck does that mean?"
"Only a blood Ancient could see my kind," said the being. "I had thought they had all died out. I guess not. I'm rather glad. I was lonely with no one to play with."
Pain throbbed in John's temples again. He was getting more confused by the minute. "You mean I can see you because of that stupid gene? Then why can't Beckett see you?"
The being sighed and looked put upon. "I said only a blood Ancient could see my kind, Sheppard. You are not a stupid man...pay attention."
"Blood Ancient?" John echoed. And, yep, he was all the more confused now.
"Let's talk about Weir," the being countered. "Do you like her? She likes you, you know."
John was surprised to hear that, not that he believed the being. "You got a name or something?" He was tired of calling it a being or Creature.
The being shrugged. "I have had many names."
"How about adding a new one to the list. I like Tim."
"Tim?" The being echoed.
John made a face then continued. "You never answered my question, Tim. What do you want with us?"
Tim smiled, or what passed for a smile on his odd face. "I told you...I was bored. But now that you have come...I have someone to play with. The others are fun but a bit boring. So easy to manipulate. To make them see what I want them to see. They believe anything I wish them to believe. Weir will believe anything I tell her. I don't like her much. She is not...needed."
"What the hell does that mean?" John heard warning bells go off in his head and he did not like the look that glowed in Tim's gray eyes. That was the other creepy thing about him. Tim's eyes were almost the same color as his skin.
Tim turned away. "Dr. Weir serves no purpose here, Sheppard. I shall make her go away." He spoke in a sing-song voice as he glided out of the room.
John felt himself grow pale as Tim's meaning became clear. "NO! Come back here!" John yanked on his restraints, and he could feel the veins in his neck bulge as he tried to rip the straps free. He slumped back and cursed. Dr. Weir was in danger. "BECKETT!" John shouted. "Sonofabitch! Let me out of here!" Again he struggled to no avail, but he didn't give up. If he didn't get out of here, Elizabeth was dead.
Beckett came flying into the room, followed by a nurse. He gripped Sheppard by the shoulders. "Easy, major. Calm down!"
"Get me out of here!" John snarled. "Dr. Weir is in danger!"
"What are you talking about?" Carson almost shook the major. "I just spoke with her. She's fine. Now you have to calm down."
That was the last thing John was going to do. He continued to pull on the restraints, feeling the leather biting into his flesh, scouring his skin and making it bleed and he didn't care. He didn't bother to try and make Beckett understand. He knew the man would not listen. So John kept fighting until strong hands pinned him down and a pin prick in his shoulder sent him swirling into darkness.