THE PINK GAS
PART FOUR: SHENANIGANS
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Eight hours later...
"Hey, McKay, wait up," Sheppard called as he jogged down the corridor to catch up the astrophysicist. "You going to visit the Doc?"
Rodney stopped and turned around, letting out a soft sigh of distraction, "No, I figured I'd visit Nurse Helga and her vampire sisters."
"Oh well then," Sheppard walked passed Rodney and entered the infirmary, "I'll leave you be. Didn't figure you'd miss them so quickly after being released."
Rodney screwed up his face, mocking Sheppard as both men entered the infirmary. The night lights cast the large room into deep shadows accenting the different depths of grey.
"Anyone hear anything about how he's doing?" John headed for the small curtained privacy area with Rodney beside him. McKay kept a nervous eye out for any potential blood sucking medical personnel.
"Nothing since I left, which I remind you was right after your graceless retreat from that hulking genetic monstrosity of a nurse."
"Oh face it, McKay," Sheppard reached forward and started pulling the soft brown/grey curtain back, "you have crush on her." John's teasing smile dipped.
"I do no..." McKay's retort died on his lips.
Both men stared at the empty unmade bed with its blanket pooled on the floor and IV stand on its side.
"That doesn't look good," Sheppard muttered.
"You think?" McKay bit back, squatting down trying to stare under the bed, his casted arm resting on his bent knee.
"What the Hell are you doing?" Sheppard asked incredulously.
"What? He's not in the bed," McKay spat back, hating to have to state the obvious.
"So maybe he'd be under it?" Sheppard quipped back in disbelief. "He's smarter than that, I'd think."
"You weren't, the last time you escaped," Rodney jabbed back with an 'I know something you don't' air as he straightened up.
"What are you talking about, McKay?" Sheppard furrowed his brow trying to pull the information out of Rodney's head with just his glare.
McKay rocked back on his heels with his arms folded across his chest with his 'I'm smarter than you' face on.
Sheppard sometimes really wanted to wipe that look off.
"Nothing."
The major was prevented from any further interrogation when Emily the night nurse twirled her way over. Sheppard wondered what exactly Carson looked for in his nurses? Emily, though kind and gracious and always willing to please, worked in her own private galaxy.
"Oh good, someone to sit with Dr. Beckett. He's quite restless. His fever's climbed some but that's normal at night, but it'd do him some good to have company," she sighed, "especially friends." She smiled at the two men, her head sawing slightly left and right with the movement of her eyes. Her expression became slightly downcast, "though I don't think he'll be terribly aware of you. He's quite sick, you know." Emily strode passed the two men and pushed the curtain completely open.
She gasped and then whirled around and pinned the two men with a murderous accusing stare, "What have you done with Dr. Beckett? He's too sick for your shenanigans."
The major suddenly found himself staring at a tinier version of nurse Helga.
"Us?" Sheppard and McKay both backed away with hands clasped to their chests. "We didn't do anything."
"He was already gone," Sheppard pointed out.
"Where would he go?" Emily asked herself, brushing past the two men and heading toward Beckett's office.
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Sheppard cued his comlink as he and McKay headed toward the gate room to meet with Drs. Zelenka and Weir, "Ford? You find anything?"
"Nothing, his quarters are empty---so's his lab."
Teyla's voice chimed in seconds later, "He has not been seen on the upper levels."
"This is pointless," McKay muttered, "he could be anywhere. We need to do a computer grid search." McKay hit his earpiece in irritation, "Zelenka, start a life signs scan, but focus for body temperatures…" Rodney paused and stared pointedly at Sheppard for an answer.
"What?" John asked taken back and slightly perturbed.
Rodney signed in exasperation, "What did that dimwit nurse say his fever was running the last time she took it?"
"Oh, one oh four point three."
"You hear that, Zelenka?"
"Already searching, Rodney."
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McKay, Sheppard, Teyla, and Ford converged on the control room, forming a half circle around Zelenka and Weir watching the screens for a hit.
With each passing moment, Sheppard became more and more antsy. "Where the Hell could he have gone?" He stepped away from the group and then turned and looked at the others, "I thought he was supposed to be too sick to go anywhere."
"He was complaining of being hot when I visited with him, though I do not think he was aware I was there," Teyla offered.
"Yes, he was very agitated when I visited him before supper, mumbling he was hot. The doctor assured me it was just the effects of the fever," Weir agreed.
Sheppard blew out a frustrated breath and leaned a shoulder against one of the large glass panels that overlooked the Gateroom below. He folded his arms and released a steadying breath between gritted teeth. Waiting when something needed to be done was not his forte.
"Nothing," Zelenka informed everyone once the computer finished its scan.
"That's impossible," Rodney stated. He reached over Zelenka in impatience and, one handed, retyped in the parameters before sending the computer searching yet again.
"Maybe he went swimming," Ford offered half in jest.
The room froze.
Eyes swiveled from face to face desperately searching for someone to dispel the idea.
The tension nearly sparked with the sudden loud hollering of a young voice.
"Major Sheppard! Major Sheppard!" Jinto hailed over the Atlantis intercom system. "Someone's in the water! Major Sheppard hurry to the North Pier! Someone's in the water!"
"Shit," was echoed around the room as people suddenly sprang into action.
"It is alright, Jinto. We are on our way," Teyla calmly informed the boy as she followed the others out of the gate room.
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TBC