Friendly Fire
By: Antares Star
Chapter Four: 902M
PG-13: For character whumping, blood, and language
A/N: Some people wanted to know where I got Carson's dialogue from…well, my grandpa is a full Scot from somewhere around Lennoxtown (or maybe Lennertown?), and he read over the lines to ensure their authenticity. I originally got them online at various sites. The lines made Grandpa laugh so hard when he read them, it was great! If you're curious what they mean, you can just google them, but it's not too important, mostly it just meant Carson feels like shit!
Others were curious why the venom is affecting Sheppard differently then the others. If you read carefully you'll see that he was scratched by the shark-thing while Carson and Lydia were bitten. Two very different types of wounds, and two very different venoms! How's that for equal opportunity whumping Greywolf? lol, enjoy…
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Dr. Weir waited, arms crossed, at the bottom of the stairs for the remaining team members to emerge from the gate. Based on how everyone else from the expedition had arrived, it would be a miracle if they came back in one piece. She'd had quite a shock to see Dr. Thompson emerge unconscious and bloodied, pulled Ford and Dr. Wallace. Rodney had followed, looking very sorry for himself and clutching a bandaged shoulder. The real surprise had been Sheppard. Just as Teyla said, the man was way off his rocker. He'd stumbled through, looking back at the blue horizon with childlike wonder, scanned the gate room briefly then slowly slid to the floor like an overly-dramatic Shakespearean actor. Typical Sheppard, always making an entrance.
Oh yes, to see Teyla and Beckett return alive would be enough for Elizabeth. The horizon rippled and they emerged together. A quick scan: four arms, four legs, two heads. "Welcome back, its good to see you safe and sound!" The wormhole flickered away. She has spoken too soon however.
Promptly Beckett's legs folded under him, taking the two awkwardly to the ground's embrace. Elizabeth rushed forward as Teyla detangled herself and gracefully rolled to her feet. "Dr. Weir, he has been injured and possibly poisoned. We must transport him immediately to the medical bay." Carson hadn't moved from where he'd collapsed. A lone member of the medical team crouched at his side and began speaking quietly to him. Teyla looked around confused, seeing no nurses or other doctors. "Where are the other healers?"
Taking the stairs two at a time, Grodin called, "There were quite a few injured, most the medical unit already left." He joined them at the floor and cast his worried gaze to Beckett. Elizabeth crossed her arms nervously, her expression mirroring his. How had the mission turned into such a disaster?
A largish scientist wheeled a gurney up to Beckett. She recognized him as one of the botanists, obviously enlisted as a spare hand. Grodin and Teyla helped lift a sluggish Carson onto the stretcher and at a nod from the young doctor; took over pushing it. Elizabeth placed a comforting hand on Carson's shoulder and swept his damp hair back from his eyes. "Dr. Völker, how is he?"
The young German tucked his med bag against Carson's left side for safekeeping. He'd already clamped a portable oxygen mask to his patient's face, which seemed to alleviate Carson's breathlessness. In a soft accent he replied politely, "One moment please, I am yet trying to determine." He bent over Beckett who was trembling and looked out of it. "Dr Beckett, can you hear me? Open your eyes, please."
Carson's bright blue eyes slowly opened but were bleary and unfocused. He slammed them shut with a shudder and lifted an arm to cover his face.
"Hmm, blurred vision, or perhaps light sensitivity." Völker gently pushed Carson's arm back to his side. "Just relax and try to listen to my questions, you can keep your eyes shut Carson, do you have a headache or feel nauseous?" Carson paused, trying to understand Völker's question through the accent. Finally he nodded. "Abdominal pain?"
He tried to speak, wanted to say something to Elizabeth, but thought better of it when he choked on the words. He raised his hand weakly in a so-so gesture. "Does this hurt?" Völker clasped his forearm and squeezed. Beckett flinched away from the touch like he's been slapped. Völker pursed his lips unhappily. "Muscle aches. These are all classic signs of a venomous bite." He placed a hand on Beckett's forehead. "He already has a fever as well."
A spasm flashed across Beckett's face. He gasped through the mask and tried to pull it off, retching dryly but bringing nothing up. They had reached the blessed infirmary doors. Dr. Völker's only farewell was a rushed, "Please stay out for now; I will contact you later."
That left them standing out alone. "Teyla we can wait until you've had some rest and a shower before debriefing."
"Thank you Dr. Weir." She did feel pretty lousy. She wasn't up for going over the mission or what had happened with Major Sheppard. She had never thought she'd see the day when he'd raise a hand against a fellow teammate.
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The infirmary was overrun. Rodney sat on an out-of-the-way bed and watched the doctors and nurses rush around him. He had been told to wait before being unceremoniously dumped in this corner. He sulkily tried to cross his arms, but thought better of it when his shoulder panged in reminder.
There were four certified physicians on staff apart from Carson. Three were rushing about, ordering equipment from nurses and snapping commands. Rodney wondered briefly who would ever want to be a doctor. All it got you was long lulls of boredom broken by brief periods when someone was rushed in on death's door. Rodney preferred the more structured schedule of a lab; research, tests, results.
He wished he knew what was going on. Thompson had been whisked away to a separate room with two of the doctors. She had looked awful; grey and sweaty. Sheppard had been deposited on a bed that had screens pulled around it. McKay had no idea what was wrong with him, last he'd seen Sheppard on the planet he'd been fine. The man had entered much like Lydia, tightly secured to a litter. He hadn't moved but his eyes had been open which struck Rodney as quite disconcerting. Well, he didn't care what the hell was wrong with Sheppard; he still didn't forgive him for putting a bullet through his shoulder.
Just as Rodney was wondering where the hell Carson and the fourth doctor were, after all he was bleeding over here, the doors whisked opened and they both entered; one flat on his back. Oh shit. Rodney did a double take. Beckett looked awful -- no horrible. He was as pale as Thompson, looked out of it and just as ill as she had. Realizing he'd forgotten about Carson's wound in all the excitement, he felt slightly guilty.
Two nurses converged on Beckett as he entered and had him quickly transferred to a nearby bed. "Dr. Völker, we're running tests on Lydia now, they have the same symptoms, although she seems further along. She started having muscle cramps already."
The young man winced in sympathy. "Let us get a full series on Carson as well. I want a sample of this toxin for Dr. Padgett asap." Gloves were passed around to all. "Clean the area of the wound, we need to sterilize it and suction the bite, though it's probably too late for that. Get an IV going. Someone go ask Dr. Padgett what's he's doing for Lydia, he's more an expert on toxins. Get Carson out of these freezing clothes too. Put some ice, yes right there…"
A nurse slipped away and ran to the adjoining room where Lydia was being tested. Her voice rang clear a second later as she sprinted back to Carson's bedside. "Dr. Padgett says pressure-immobilization treatment first; we'll go from there. Here, I'll take that…" The conversation went on. Rodney's heart was pounding hard. That could have easily been him.
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On the other side of Völker, Carson's heart was pounding too. It echoed dully in his fuzzy head. He wasn't aware of much, just a burning feeling in his leg and hip and dizziness so profound it caused the room to spin drunkenly around him. There were voices too, rushing by him, too fast too keep up with, rising and falling like a bad radio broadcast. Brightness seemed to drill through him leaving him numb and strangely oppressed. It felt like he was breathing through a blanket; every gasp felt forced and rewarded him with little air.
Sharp pain shot through him as his muscles began to cramp. God, he knew in sickening detail the pain poisoning could cause a victim. That was him now, a victim. His stomach lurched and he weakly tried to shake the hands off him so he could roll and expel everything he'd eaten since last Christmas. It didn't help the nausea, not like vomiting sometimes does. He simply took a deep gulp of air before retching again, every muscle in his body taught with the strain.
He couldn't seem to stop. With noting left he was dry heaving now. He felt supportive hands on his back and arms, but there was nothing they could do. Finally he fell back on the bed, utterly spent and gasping. His oxygen mask was replaced and he felt blessed cool air against his hot skin as his sodden shirt was cut off. He tried to curl around his cramping muscles but was being held flat. The spasms were unbearable and left him nearly unconscious. And why was he so bloody cold all of the sudden?
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A/N: Thanks so much reviewers, for suggestions, questions, and your excitement over this fic. It makes it worthwhile! The next chapter is entitled 415 ;-)
Chapter Title Translation: 902M - Medical Aid Requested