AN: Thank you soooooo much for all the reviews. I really loved to read your thoughts about the story. I don't have all of it planed out yet, but I have a basic idea of how it's going to end. Many apologies for grammar and spelling errors. Without further delay, enjoy the story. –D
Another Virus
Chapter 2
"Beckett!" John yelled rushing into the infirmary.
"Colonel, what is it?" Carson asked standing up to meet him.
"Elizabeth just fainted!"
"What were you two doing?" He asked noticing John shirtless and Elizabeth's clothes.
"It's not what you think. We were practicing fighting exercises when she collapsed.
Carson's face turned serious when he heard what happened. "I'll help you set her on the bed."
They laid her onto the bed, and Carson checked her heart rate.
"Her heart rates steady," he informed John.
"Is she going to be alright," John asked worried.
"I can't tell you that until I find out what caused her to faint. Now, tell me exactly what happened."
"Colonel Sheppard!" Teyla said entering the room with Rodney close on her heels.
"We saw you carrying Elizabeth in here," Rodney said.
"Is Doctor Weir alright?" Teyla asked, as concern showed on her face.
"Colonel Sheppard was just about to tell me what happened," Carson informed them.
They all turned to John expectantly.
"Nice shirt," Rodney said noticing John wasn't wearing one.
"Thanks, it's new," John replied sarcastically. Rodney had been trying to bug him, but when he heard his answer, he looked away annoyed. "Doctor Weir and I were doing fighting exercises, and I noticed her having a hard time breathing. I asked her if she was ok, and she said that she was. Then a second later, she fainted."
"You probably whacked her to hard with a training stick," Rodney mumbled.
"I didn't quite catch that," John said turning defensively towards him. "Want to repeat that to my face?"
"Stop your bickering," Carson snapped "Let me run a few tests."
"How long will that take?" Rodney asked.
"A few hours, but after the tests, we should know what she has. I'll let you guys know what I find out."
Teyla and Rodney took another look at Elizabeth and left to be back when ever they got word that she had woken up.
"I'd like to stay with her."
Carson saw the urgency and concern in John's voice. "Very well, Colonel. Have a seat. This might take a while."
"Colonel Sheppard, Beckett!" Rodney yelled coming back into the room a few minutes later. "Two of my scientists just collapsed on the floor!"
Carson's medical team followed Rodney to his lab. They brought the two scientists from the lab into the infirmary and placed them on the other beds.
"Is what Doctor Weir has spreading?" John asked.
"I don't know," Carson said franticly. "But for now I'm putting Atlantis on quartine until I find out what this is."
In the next few hours, while Carson was running the tests, two more people had fainted and were sent to the infirmary. A crowd had gathered at the door of the infirmary wanting to know what was going on.
"The tests have just come back," Carson announced to the group. "The people that fainted have a virus."
"A virus?" Someone at the door asked.
"Last time the Wraith were in Atlantis, we took samples of their DNA, and we found traces of Wraith DNA in the patient's blood system."
"Are you saying that this is a Wraith DNA virus?" John asked sitting up.
"There is no other way to explain it. Take a look at this screen. This is a sample of Elizabeth's DNA. These white dots are the virus spreading through her system."
"What are the white dots doing?" Teyla asked.
"They are slowly killing off her cells and feeding off of parts of her body."
"How do we contain the virus?" A technician at the door asked.
"We have probably all been exposed to it by now and just haven't gotten the symptoms yet. It would be a good idea we flushed out the air and replaced it with clean uncontaminated air."
"The purifiers!" Rodney said thinking of an idea. "I'll open up the sky lights and run the air purifiers the Ancients left behind. That should do the trick. You...you...and you come with me," Rodney said pointing out a group to help him.
John started to pace back and forth. "If we have all been exposed to this Wraith virus, then why aren't we all sick?" He looked over at Elizabeth. "Why are only a few sick?"
"Each person who had fainted had a weak immune system. My guess is that this virus preys on weaker immune systems first. If we have all been exposed, then it's only a matter of time before we are all feeling the effects."
"Is it curable?" Someone else asked.
"So far I've been trying to reverse the effects, but I've not been able too. I can give you all antibiotics to give us longer time before we feel the effects, but I don't know how much longer."
John thought for a moment trying to think of anything that could help their situation. "The Ancients must have left something behind in their medical research. There must be something around here that can help us find a cure."
"I agree," Teyla said. "The Ancients must have dealt with this before. They have fought the Wraith for many years."
"Alright," John said. "Teyla and I will go look for something that can help find a cure. I just hope we can find something useful," he mumbled, as he and Teyla dashed out of the room.
Two hours later…
"There has to be something here," John said, as he and Teyla searched though endless stacks of books and old parchment. There were small books, big books, books with pages falling out, dusty books, colorful books and books in different languages. "McKay said that when he was here last, he found a book on medicines."
"Why isn't Doctor McKay down here helping us?" Teyla asked looking though a few books.
"He opted to stay with Beckett to help try and find a cure."
"I see," Teyla said, "but he would have probably been more helpful here."
John laughed at the thought of Rodney trying to help Carson. He could picture them arguing. "Wait a sec," John said moments later.
"Did you find something?"
"This book has pictures of plant looking stuff," John said. "Does this look like medical research to you?"
Teyla took thebook in her hands. "It's in Ancient. I can't read Ancient." (AN: I don't know if Teyla can read Ancient or not. So, in this story let's just assume she can't.)
"Wait…yes I do believe these are medical files."
"I though you said you couldn't read this." John had a confused look on his face.
"Most of it I can't read, but some of the words are those of plants that are used in some of the medicines my people use."
"Alright, let's take this to Beckett. I'm sure he'll be happy to see this."
End of chapter 2
AN: If any scientific stuff in this chapter is wrong, sorry. It's fiction after all, so hey anything can happen or be written.
Review…review…review. There is no such thing as a stupid review. lol