Friendly Fire

By: Antares Star

Chapter Five: 415

PG-13: For character whumping, blood, and language

A/N: Thank you for the kind reviews!
szhismine, potterfan2006 - thanks, enjoy chap 5!
Greywolf - you're right on the mark, as usual! And don't worry, some Rod & Shep coming up (chap 6)
Emma - lol, ER sounds about right now! We'll get back to Atlanti soon, just a little more angst
flah7 - yeah, love those three together, "the boys"!
LtCol Carter - Colonel ma'am I love the whumping too, hence this fic. Not enough good honest whumping out there.
Dr.Dredd - thanks, enjoy chap 5!
Dr.E. Vance - Cereal box! That's great, made me laugh, and now I'm craving cheerios. :digs in box for prize:

xoxoxoxoxox

Elizabeth Weir entered the med bay almost two hours later. It was tranquil and only soft voices drifted in from the adjoining lab. Everything seemed peaceful, under control. Dr. Weir knew better than that; the tone of Völker's voice when he'd called her had given away the severity of the situation.

"Ah, Dr. Weir, there you are." Völker stepped up to her. "We've done all we can for now. They're relatively stable…would you like to see them?"

"Yes, of course." She followed him to the furthest corner where Carson and Lydia lay side by side. A nurse stood by to monitor the patients closely. She smiled as they approached -- a fake smile. Forced comfort that didn't reach her pale eyes. Did they train nurses to smile like that in school?

"Well, here's the breakdown. Some type of venomous creature bit Carson and Lydia. Dr. McKay suffered a gunshot wound. Major Sheppard has also been envenomed, although his is a different type it seems. Drs. Padgett and Brooks are working on developing a treatment; they have experience in this sort of thing but I must admit, so far they're stumped. The chemical composition is like none we've ever seen." He paused and looked quickly at her. "I do wish we had a live sample of the creature."

Elizabeth bit her lip, not missing the unspoken question. "I'd rather not send any more people back there before we know exactly what happened. We don't know if anyone returning would be danger. If it becomes necessary, we'll reconsider."

"Ah well. Of course you are correct, we already have four patients and would hate any more." Völker led her to Carson's bed first. He was covered in a blue blanket and dressed in a thin white gown. Countless machines monitored him and several tubes snaked into his nose (which was bruised horrifically) and forearm. Sweat coated his face and neck, glistening under the harsh lights. His eyes were rolling under darkened lids, standing out against deathly white skin.

"Is he in pain?" Elizabeth asked softly.

"He's mostly out of it, but he was quite uncomfortable for a while there." Elizabeth silently thanked him for putting it so delicately. Völker rubbed a tired hand over his face. "We've limited meds for them. We don't want to risk any unforeseen combination with the venom." Carson tensed and rolled to his side. Miserably, he kicked at his blanket so it slipped off to the floor.

The nurse bent down and replaced the blanket, tucking it snugly around the feverish patient. Völker explained, "He began thrashing around soon after we brought him in." He frowned at one of the readouts, considered it, then took the blanket off and set it aside. "His temperature kept fluctuating in a cyclic manner; it's seems to be steadily rising now though. That's to be expected for this type of injury. Oh, and something weird, see this?" He rolled one of Carson's shoulders over to show her extensive bruising. "He got beat up by something, that's for sure. But don't worry, his nose isn't broken." Weir hoped Teyla or Ford could shed light on the doctor's myriad injuries.

They paced the few feet to Lydia's bed where the dark haired biologist was resting. "They were both extremely ill earlier. Luckily the vomiting and cramping stages seems to have passed. A fever is to be expected. Now all we can do is wait for the toxin to run its course or hopefully, derive some treatment. We have no idea yet if it's meant to be fatal. I'm no expert on poison, but if it's anything like snakebites back on Earth, we'll lick it."

A raised brow followed that statement, leaving her wondering vaguely where the German had learned it. Sighing, she wished there was something more they could do. "What about John and Rodney?"

His face relaxed marginally. "Ah, actually Dr. McKay is being treated as we speak. I regret he had to wait so long, but we really had bigger problems. Dr. Chan should be just about --"

His voice was cut off by a shout from the opposite corner of the infirmary. A softer woman's voice snapped back, not sounding at all pleased. "Oh dear, sounds like there may be a problem, come on then." Völker and Weir dashed over. He peeked around the curtain. "Are you decent Dr. McKay? Dr. Weir is here to see you."

They entered to find a very cross Rodney and a flustered looking Dr. Chan. She was holding a bandage in one hand and holding Rodney's forearm in the other with a vice-like grip. Rodney's shirt was off, a cleaned shoulder wound glistening under the harsh infirmary lights. They looked ready to kill one another. Rodney exclaimed, "Elizabeth, thank God you're here! This bungling excuse for a--"

"Dr. McKay," Chan cut in icily. "Just hold still or so help me..." She came in with the bandage.

"You gotta work on that bedside manner Chang."

"It's Dr. Chan."

"Whatever. Look, I want someone else to do this." He suddenly seemed to notice the state of his undress, which was only accentuated by the large amount of mud covering his pants and socks. "Oh, ah Elizabeth, um hello." She smiled wanly.

Chan cut in. "Stop fidgeting." He leaned away. She huffed, face taught and at wits end. "Here Hans, you do it for Christ's sake." She tossed the bandages at Völker who caught them clumsily. "He already sent Nurse Hennings away, demanded to be treated by a 'real doctor'. If you weren't injured I'd…oh! I've got more important things to do, like helping Carson and Lydia." She stormed out. Rodney had the dignity to look slightly ashamed at her parting statement.

"Rodney," Elizabeth sighed.

"Hmm?" Innocence poured off him as he pulled his injured shoulder in close and winced.

"I think you should be more tolerant with the doctors. You get injured often enough that you want to stay on their good side." After seeing Carson and Lydia in such a bad state, she couldn't say she was in the mood for Rodney's more frustrating side.

"Sorry, she's rough." It fell flat, especially since his wound looked small and insignificant now that it was clean.

Völker began to wrap it, pulling the bandage firmer than was perhaps necessary. He patted it down flat and slipped a finger under to check how tight it was. "Here," He tossed Rodney a scrub top to slip on.

Elizabeth hadn't debriefed anyone yet, it was killing her not knowing what events had occurred. "Rodney, how in the world did you get shot?"

He carefully slid his arms into the scrubs. "It was an accident; Sheppard's bullet went through the shark and hit me. Idiot is always bragging about his sharp-shooting, well no more…" He stopped when he realized how confused she looked. "Oh well, you see it started raining--"

"No, it can wait for the debriefing. I want to hear it all at once, with all the details." He looked dead on his feet and that wasn't the time to grill anyone for information.

With a last piece of tape the doctor proclaimed, "There, all done, you can go. No lollipops, sorry." Völker patted McKay's good arm, smiled tightly, and stepped away to give them some privacy.

"I can go?" Rodney looked utterly surprised. He turned to Weir. "No overnight stay, never ending tests? Carson always gives me tests, just in case…you know?" Rodney actually sounded disappointed.

Elizabeth was aware a friendship had grown between Rodney and the doctor. It was an odd combination but somehow it worked. She knew Rodney didn't mean to be difficult with the other doctors, he was just like that sometimes. An obsessive, arrogant pain-in-the-ass but deep down a pretty good guy. He just didn't trust people easily, especially doctors. He openly thought the whole medical community was, in his precise words, "witchdoctors pretending to be scientists."

"Look Elizabeth, I'm gonna go eat and take a shower, call me for the debriefing, okay? Oh, and tell me about Sheppard once you've seen him, they'll only let you visit him right now." Rodney huffed at that, obviously taking it as a personal insult. "They seem to think I'd annoy him or something." He hopped off the bed, buttoning the last hole on the ridiculous burgundy scrubs and left, muttering to himself. Elizabeth sighed, feeling drained. Rodney often left her feeling like that.

Smiling slightly, Völker shook his head. "Never a dull moment when he steps in. Every time, he demands to be treated by Dr. Beckett and not any 'underlings'. I'd almost venture to call him a hypochondriac." Völker began chewing on his thumbnail in a fashion that suggested it was a nervous habit.

"Now, on to Major Sheppard, who is managing to puzzle us greatly. According to him, the same creature that bit Carson and Lydia scratched him with its talons. It has had, uh, adverse effects but so far doesn't seem physically harmful like the bites, apart from one thing." He paused and dropped the hand from his mouth. "It's, uh, temporarily paralyzed him."

Elizabeth worked to keep her jaw from dropping. She hadn't expected that. Her eyes widened as she tried to digest the newest development. "Temporarily?"

"Oh yes, he's already recovered some, obviously has been able to speak to us. It doesn't seem overly serious, a very mild poison perhaps intended to weaken prey, not kill it. It should work its way out of his system on its own. He's over here, probably awake too."

Well, the doctor could say what he liked but it sounded damn serious to her. He led the way to a curtained-off bed that was being watched by a security guard, who straightened and nodded to them both. Völker continued, "He's also, oh shall I say irritable. I must admit, I never knew the English language contained so many curses. He's acting almost bipolar, ups and downs you know. To add, he also has short-term memory loss and headaches. So please don't talk too long, he shouldn't be stressed in any way." He pulled the curtains back.

In the private area the screens created, Sheppard was resting on his back, his upper body propped by pillows. His eyes rolled up to Elizabeth as she entered. She gingerly sat next to him, careful not to touch him. "John, how are you?"

He closed his eyes and slowly tilted his head back as if she'd asked a particularly difficult question. A deep sigh and he began haltingly. "I don't know…I can't remember what happened, can barely feel my brain. She keeps telling me what happened to me, but I keep forgetting." He sloppily motioned with his hand to the attending nurse who, with nothing really to do, was buried in a book. Obviously he was in a 'down' phase, which suited Elizabeth fine. She wasn't up for getting cussed out by her chief military officer.

"Its okay, don't try to remember, you just need to rest and get better." He was breathing too shallowly she thought. Was that normal for someone in his state?

"Yeah, but I keep thinking something bad has happened, but I can't remember, but something else is wrong, and I'm so damn angry, but so tired …" He trailed off, knew he was rambling. "…sorry." He tried a small smile on.

She was pleased, he didn't seem at all like the doctor had said. Sure, he wasn't jumping for joy but he didn't seem overly angry or irritable, and he'd moved his hand! Elizabeth wanted to offer comfort, but was afraid she'd set him off. She settled for words instead of actions. "John, it's okay, just promise me you'll get better. Don't worry; it's just the toxin making you feel like this."

He let a heavily bandaged hand roll off his thigh where it'd been resting. "Elizabeth, I…on the mission. I just lost it, I think, it's like a dream I can't quite remember…." Sheppard licked his lips spastically. "I think I shot someone! Damn, I remember that much…"

Trying to force his memory wasn't working. It was just frustrating him and Elizabeth knew she had to calm him down. "It doesn't matter John. Look, Rodney is fine, you may have accidentally hit him, but he's fine. Carson and Lydia are on their way to recovery and you…what?" She got up and peered into his oddly blank face. His breath had hitched at her words. "What is it John?"

The image of Carson's face a split second before he'd been punched made Sheppard cringe. "No-nothing, look, I'm ti-tired, I'm just gonna get some rest."

"All right. John just feel better, and don't worry, okay?" Weir paused, clasped his shoulder gently and left quietly. Sheppard watched her and shuddered. His memory was coming back in bits and pieces. What the hell had he done? Let his team down, betrayed their trust. He sure as hell hadn't taken care of them.

xoxoxoxoxox

A/N: Action coming up, too much angst lately I think, so I added some Sheppard/Rodney action and snark. Twist coming up soon too! Next chapter is 10-44.

Chapter Title translation: 415 is police code for 'disturbing the peace'…which I suppose applies to both Rodney and Sheppard (earlier, with the cursing).