A/N: Flattery will get you everywhere! Thanks for the kind words and support. Titan5- you're killin' me with your story!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything mentioned before or Star Trek or Robbie the Robot or Dr. Seuss or the Cure or Star Wars or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or ...

Chapter 15

Carson wheeled John down to the brig door. He had guilted Beckett and Weir into letting him confront Rodney.

"Ya realize ya don't have to do this."

"I think I do. I'm the only one who was with him. I must know what happened; he can shake it loose." Sheppard could barely keep his head from lolling around as he sat. Carson helped him up. He mustered all his strength and kept the constant murmurs at the back of his mind. Hopefully, he could do this without faltering.

"Alone Carson."

Carson let him go and Sheppard entered the room. With a nod, he dismissed the guards.

McKay looked at him with surprise and let the Cheshire cat grin erupt again. Sheppard took his silver orbs and matched McKay's gaze.

"Golly jeepers, where'd you get those peepers?" Sang McKay as he stood up and walked towards him. "Peepshow, creepshow. Where'd you get those eyes?"

Sheppard moved his gaze to his bare feet and laughed.

"Didn't know you liked Siouxsie."

"I went to college. Gen X rocks!" Rodney gave a hang loose sign.

"We are the slacker generation. Maybe that's why you and I are in so much trouble." A melancholy tone was injected into his statement.

Rodney cocked his head to the side, "Aah, trouble, what trouble? Speaking of that, I expected you to look like you had vacationed on the sun. I didn't expect Data's and Robbie the Robot's illegitimate child to come waltzing in for a visit."

Sheppard heard Atlantis and his little buddies trying to get his attention. He even noticed the enclosure sending its signals: field output, energy modulations, containment of single individual. He brought himself back to the conversation.

"Well, Dex and Stackhouse arrived in the nick of time."

Rodney raised his eyebrows. "Lucky you."

"Yeah, lucky me…" There was a familiarity to the statement.

"Sheppard, there is something different about you, and of course, I don't mean the obvious," said McKay waving his hand indicating Sheppard's appearance. "There is an air of defeatism that you have been sporting for a while. Like you lost your puppy." The condescension in his tone was heavy.

Sheppard stared back as if disinterested in the conversation. His little minions sending 'pay attention to us' signals through his brain.

"I know what it is. You lost your wittle Ford. He trusted you and you let him down. What's worse, you let his family down as well, because you haven't been able to save him."

Sheppard instantly returned his attention back to McKay.

"He left and- sin of all sins- he disobeyed a direct order. He betrayed your trust." Rodney narrowed his eyes. "You failed him and now you are seeking answers trying to save me. I don't need saving."

Rodney pivoted and walked back over to his cot. "Well, nice chatting with you." He waved bye-bye with his burned hand.

Sheppard was not about to take the bait. Rodney McKay could talk to him like this and get the desired result. This thing was not him, so a smart ass comment seemed appropriate.

"Eew, that looks like it…smarts," John got a crooked grin on his face. The tumblers clicked into place. "Thanks McKay."

McKay quit smiling, glanced at his hand and back at Sheppard. "What? You didn't remember what happened on the planet, did you? Well, let me fill you in. I smashed you in the head. Then I went and killed Thing 1 and 2. They died so easily. It taught me not to leave important work to brainless creatures. I over estimated it's prowess as a predator. Should have just finished you off myself."

He stepped closer to the bars of the enclosure. "I can see you sweating John. The smell is like a sweet elixir carrying your life force past my nose. It's so maddening, such a tasty morsel just…out …of…reach. Oh hell, I guess I'm one now as well."

"Glad I could be a source of torment," said Sheppard as he slowly turned to make his exit. "See ya soon Rodney."

"I trust you will."

The little nano-bots were going crazing. As he stepped out into the hall, his knees buckled. Carson and one of the guards caught him.

"We have to go back to the lab. The computer in the side room- Phantom Ford was right."

Carson and the guard exchanged puzzled looks.

Something big was happening. The Stargate. Until now it had only activated from off-world. For the first time since he had been back on Atlantis, the Stargate was establishing an outgoing wormhole. It was bad enough on Parcini. However, the DHD did not carrying as much data as the whole of Atlantis. He clenched his eyes shut.

"Colonel?" A worried voice asked so very far away.

"Stargate."

He could almost see the dialing sequence. There was a brief pause, and then an orgasmic rush of energy flowed through as the wormhole opened and stabilized. He coughed his next breath. His eyes opened as wide as they possibly could go. The little bots started to keep track of the energy stream, temporal calculations, units of materials and persons being transported. They monitored everything, just in case anything needed to be repaired. The information was so immense; he could not even speak. Ruptures in capillaries happened again as the blood flowed out his ears and nose. His little friends at the ready to repair the ruptures quickly. Even with his mouth hanging wide open, he could not pull any air into his lungs. Then the transmission ended. He was pretty sure this was the end for him too.

All he could think was- help.

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Beckett met Sheppard as he exited the brig. He and the guard caught him before he hit the floor. After his strange comment about a Phantom Ford, Sheppard acted like he had just been punched in the stomach. He was trying with all his might to catch his breath.

The guard spoke first, "Colonel?"

"Stargate," was the only answer.

Carson and the guard eased him down to the floor. "Medical emergency to the brig hallway!"

As the rivulets of blood trickled out, they stopped just as quickly. He looked like a fish out of water. And like anyone not getting any oxygen into his lungs, Sheppard's lips turned blue.

"Dr. Weir, do not activate the Stargate again!" Beckett yelled into his radio.

"Carson? We were just sending the Alpha site some personnel and supplies for the refugees from Parcini. What's wrong?"

"You just about killed Col. Sheppard."

Beckett was performing pulmonary resuscitation as the medical team rushed in.

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The door to the brig remained open. Rodney heard the entire, interesting conversation- well, Beckett's side anyway.

"Such a tasty treat set before the King."

He giggled.

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A/N: John, John the piper's son...poor baby. Rodney you stinker, what are you up to? In lieu of flowers for our convalescing colonel, please send reviews.