The Grudge
Part 5
Author: Mac
Disclaimers in Part 1
Note from Author: Please remember that I don't really know much about the medical profession when you read this. I hope it came out all right.


John arrived in the infirmary to see Dr. Beckett releasing two of his four patients. "Doc?"

"They don't remember anything beyond Dr. Kavanaugh, Major," he said. "I'm sorry."

"How's Bates doing?"

"I'm still here, Sir." Beckett shrugged and went to check on his other patient, who had yet to wake up.

"Bates. Good to see you awake. Now what the hell happened?"

He shook his head. "I have no idea, Sir. One minute, everything was normal and the next, Kavanaugh began firing a Wraith stunner."

"There's no way he could have done it by himself," John replied. "There were three armed soldiers in the control room, not to mention five scientists. Someone had to have seen something!"

"I didn't, Sir."

John patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll find out who did this, and when I do, they'll beg me not to throw them at the Wraith."

Bates watched as John walked back over to Dr. Beckett. He was seething on the inside. How dare Kavanaugh just leave him like that! He knew Kinsey had been an idiot to trust that man.

He also knew there was one person on this base who could blow his cover. It was Lieutenant Petrovic and she was lying unconscious in the infirmary with him. He'd have to be very careful with his planning.


Elizabeth sighed as she sank into her chair. It had been a long day. They had a rogue scientist on the loose and they still had one in Atlantis. As if they didn't have enough to deal with!

Whenever she got back to Earth (when, not if), she was going to go straight to Senator Kinsey and kick his ass! The fate of the Earth was resting in their hands and he was sending people to sabotage it? It made absolutely no sense!

She stared at her laptop. The Solitaire icon was beckoning her. That game always cleared her mind. As she moved the mouse to double click it, she noticed there was someone standing in the doorway.

"Elizabeth, are you all right?"

"I've been better," she replied testily.

John stared at her in concern. "Why don't I leave and come back so we can start our conversation over?" he suggested.

"Wait. I'm sorry, John. This has been rather a crazy day."

"Really? What tipped you on that? Our own people shooting each other or the fact that you were about to play Solitaire on your computer."

"Both."

He nodded and took the seat across from her. "I just spoke with Bates. He didn't see anything. Only Lieutenant Petrovic is left to question when she wakes up. I just don't know who else could have done this."

"I get the feeling we're going to be slapping ourselves when we find out," Elizabeth said.

"Oh my God."

"John?"

"Bates!"

"What about him?"

John explained, "After I spoke with him, I went to Dr. Beckett to see how Petrovic was doing. I glanced back over at Bates and he had this... look in his eyes."

"What kind of look?"

"Like he was planning to do something. He was staring at Petrovic. I've seen that look in his eyes before when we were fighting the Wraith. It's not a good look to see on his face."

Her eyes widened. "He probably doesn't realize we know yet. I'll go down to see how he's doing. You join me in a few minutes."

"Fine, but don't tip him off until I get down there."

"Understood," she replied. "See you there!"

John leaned back in his chair. Why do I get the feeling my suggestion fell on deaf ears?



"Sergeant Bates, how are you feeling?"

"Much better now, Ma'am."

She smiled. "Good. I wanted to inform you that we figure out who Dr. Kavanaugh was working for."

"Really?" he asked. "Who?"

"Senator Kinsey. He also mentioned he had an accomplice in his journal. We're still trying to establish who that is. Major Sheppard suspects Lieutenant Petrovic. He thinks Kavanaugh betrayed her and hit her hardest with the stunner."

Bates stared at her, wondering if that's what they really thought. Sheppard already told him that there was no way Kavanaugh could have done it by himself. And he knew that already!

No, this was a set up. They knew he was the one behind the attack. He grabbed something from under his pillow and lunged at Elizabeth. She attempted to jump out of the way, but he was too quick for her and she felt something pierce the skin on her shoulder.

"Goodnight, Dr. Weir," he whispered as her eyes closed and she fell to the ground.

"Step away from her, Bates!"

Bates moved, but only Dr. Beckett, who was coming at the man from behind, noticed he was holding a gun. He took a deep breath and lunged at the sergeant. The gun went flying from his hands. This really pissed him off and he punched the wayward doctor in the mouth.

Luckily, John was able to secure Bates. He shoved him at the rest of his team. "What the hell is your problem!" he exclaimed. "We out here to do a job! We're out here to help Earth and you're attacking us! How much was Kinsey paying you to do this? What was the price you put on our lives?"

"I don't have to tell you anything!"

John cocked the gun. "Like hell you don't! You tell me or I will find the Wraith and give you to them!"

Bates just stared at John with a cold, hard expression on his face. "Take him down to the brig and make sure there's a guard on him the whole time!"

"Yes, Sir!"

After the guards had led the traitor away, John took a deep breath and turned to face Dr. Beckett, afraid of what he might say about Elizabeth. "Is she all right?"

Dr. Beckett glanced at the syringe that was lying next to her. "Help me get her onto the bed, Major. Nurse, find out what was in that syringe!"

"Doc?"

"Get me a heart monitor!" he exclaimed.

"Doc!"

"Major, her heart is beating irregularly. I want to keep an eye on it. Could you please step out of the way."

John nodded slowly and moved as the nurses helped to ensure Elizabeth stayed alive. "Doctor! There was methadone hydrochloride in that syringe!"

Dr. Beckett took a deep breath. That was why she was in erythema and her blood pressure was so low. "Get me an IV of normal saline started. We'll need to flush the drug out of her system!"

John was going crazy as he watched them work. He really wanted to know what was going on. He wanted to know she was going to be all right and no one was saying anything to him.

"Carson!"

"Major, she'll be fine in a few hours. You should get to the control room and let everyone know. I'm certain they're just as worried that something has gone wrong."

"Yeah," John replied distractedly. "I'll do that. Call me when she wakes up."

"I will."