Day 12
Rodney knocks on Elizabeth's door, but she doesn't answer. He taps the control crystal that emits a soft, tinkling beep and waits. Nothing. Rodney taps his headset. "Control Room, where's Dr. Weir."
"She's supposed to be in her quarters resting," Peter says.
Rodney rocks his head from side to side. "I know where she's supposed to be. I want to know where she is." Rodney knocks on her door again. "Elizabeth. If you're in there, you better open up or I'm overriding the lock and coming in on my own."
No answer.
"Fine." Rodney does as he threatened and the doors swish open. The room's empty, the bed unmade. He goes inside, covers his eyes and leans through the bathroom door. "Elizabeth? I'm not looking, but if you don't answer me, I can't guarantee I won't see something you want hidden."
Again no answer. Rodney checks the bathroom, it's empty. He clicks his headset again. "Peter, call Dr. Beckett, ask him if he's seen Dr. Weir."
"Just a moment." Rodney waits and Peter comes back on-line. "She's not in the infirmary and he says she missed her check-up."
Fuck! Rodney stomps his foot. "Control Room, go city wide, please."
"Do you really think that's necessary, Dr. McKay?"
Rodney grunts. "No, I'm just bored. Of course it's necessary!"
"Very well. Go ahead."
"Dr. Weir, this is Dr. McKay. Both Dr. Beckett and I would appreciate your immediate attention in the infirmary…do you copy?" Several moments of silence pass, pushing Rodney into full-blown panic. He rushes out of her room, the doors closing as he leaves and he heads straight to the infirmary.
Carson's optimistic gaze on the door sours when Rodney comes through instead of Dr. Weir. "What the bloody hell's going on?"
"You tell me, you released her."
"Yeah, well, she promised to follow my orders."
"Nobody follows your orders, Carson!" Just then the infirmary doors part and Dr. Zelenka comes inside, his face full of worry as usual. "Not now, Radek," Rodney snaps.
Zelenka sighs heavily. "I have three things you should know, McKay. One: the power problem is getting exponentially worse every moment-"
"Tell me something I don't know."
"Two: It's not my fault so stop biting my head off every time I come into a room."
"And three?" Rodney asks in his usual pissy manner.
"I know where Dr. Weir is." With that, Zelenka turns and heads out the doors.
Rodney rushes to catch up, with Carson in tow. "That should have been the first thing you told me!" The three doctors take the nearest transporter and as soon as they head down a familiar corridor, Rodney and Carson exchange knowing looks. "I should have guessed," Rodney says as Zelenka powers open the door to Sheppard's quarters.
Dr. Weir's lying curled in the fetal position, hugging a pillow, on top of the Major's bed, sound asleep. Carson and Rodney give a relieved sigh in unison. Carson closes the door and the three men talk in the corridor. "That explains why she didn't answer the city wide," Rodney says.
"How's that?" Carson asks.
"Sheppard did something to his quarters so he wouldn't be disturbed except for the headset. He said the speakers made a hissing sound." Rodney turns to Zelenka. "How'd you find her?"
"I'm manually shutting off power in unused sections until we find out what is wrong. Since the Major isn't going to be using-"
"Yes, yes…I get it." Rodney looks back at Carson. "So what do we do?"
Carson shakes his head. "Leave her be. She's exhausted. That seems to be the most sound sleep she's had in a while."
"But…Major Sheppard's room?" Rodney furrows his brows and wrinkles his nose.
"We all deal with death in our own ways, Rodney. This is Dr. Weir's. She's lost someone very close to her."
Rodney takes a moment to process that. "Very close…I mean…how…close are you suggesting?"
Carson pats Rodney on the back and starts to lead him to the transporter with Zelenka following. "I'm afraid that is something you'll have to ask Dr. Weir. For now, leave her be. I'll check in on her later, make sure she's following at least the rest of my orders. For now, I suggest you get back to work on that power problem. I can't have my infirmary suffering from any blackouts."
Rodney nods at that. "We'll keep that sustained as long as possible. How are Teyla and Ford?"
Carson shakes his head. "The virus seems to be draining them of energy."
"Like a Wraith?"
"Not really. It's attacking their cells. I'm assuming that is why you're not sick. The ATA gene acts as a barrier to the virus."
"Lucky me. So what's it doing to them?"
"Basically, draining them like batteries."
Zelenka and Rodney shoot Carson astonished looks. "What?"
"Well, if you remember your high school biology, you know that every living cell has a form of electricity at its core-"
"Ohmygod!" Rodney snaps his fingers quickly.
Zelenka picks up his train of thought. "The Matrix!"
Rodney wags a finger at Zelenka. "That's it!"
"What? What did I say?"
"We'll have to run some tests," Zelenka states.
"Of course, we do."
"Could you tell me what's going on?" Carson's utterly confused.
"Not just yet," Rodney says.
John walks through one of the hologram walls carrying a basket of fruit, veggies and that awesome bread. It's only been a few days, but he's become accustom to using the passageways and no longer feels any awe in regards to the temple, especially since most of it remains in the dark. He gets that now, the whole power-saver settings. He's surprised it took him so long. Maybe he's just spoiled having been on Atlantis the past six months.
Atlantis. They must think he's dead. Hell, he was dead! But surely they would have tried to return for him, for his body at least. Maybe they did. Maybe they came right back, but because of the temple, didn't find him. Won't they be shocked?
God, Elizabeth thinks I'm dead.
He's seen the toll any expedition member's death takes on her no matter how hard she tries to hide it. And he's not about to hold himself up higher than the others, but they're friends. Close friends. He would go so far as to say he loves her. Not romantically, though she's definitely a beautiful, brilliant woman, but he put that thought out of his head months ago. She's the best friend he's ever had, man or woman, and there's no way in hell he'll screw with that by getting a schoolboy crush on her.
He knows Elizabeth loves him too…one friend to another. But more than that, she relies on him. She needs him as much as he needs her. And John knows from personal experience, sometimes losing a close friend is worse than losing anyone else, even a lover. He'll never forget how Koyla ripped his heart out by claiming he'd killed Elizabeth. John couldn't speak it hurt so badly. He wanted to tear Koyla apart limb by limb. He'd gone all Die Hard on the Genii attack force as payback. And when he found out Koyla had lied…he still wanted his pound of flesh from the man. And he got it too.
Elizabeth had been in shock for days afterward. They spent all their spare time together, just sitting, enjoying each others company, even in silence. It was all either needed, just to know they had each other...alive. Screw the rumors on Atlantis. Screw Rodney's insane jealousy. Elizabeth and he would always be friends. Best friends. She trusts him and he trusts her.
He has to get back there.
John sets the basket on the table and goes over to the nook, leaning against the wall with one arm overhead. He wonders why Ashri sleeps here when there are actual bedrooms in other sections. Not that it isn't comfy. His mind suddenly turns to mush as she rolls her head toward him in her sleep so that he can see her face in the soft candlelight of the cavern. His breath catches. She looks like an angel. What was that about a crush? John shakes the thought aside, his little voice is really starting to bug.
He looks at Ashri. Showing him the past took a lot out of her, letting John know that her "powers" or whatever are not unlimited. She's been sleeping most of the past couple of days, though fitfully. John wonders if nightmares are a consequence of reliving the memories. Seems reasonable they would be, considering she's vividly recalling the deaths of her parents, the destruction of her home.
John feels a wave of gratitude flood through him. It's quite possible she could have died that day, giving all of herself to save his life. He can't prove it, but his mind won't let him forget the toll it took on her. For a while after, he wondered why she would take such a risk on a complete stranger. But the only reason he can come up with makes his heart ache. She's been alone a long time. Too long. John rests his head against his arm. That's something he can fix…when the storm lets up. Hopefully she'll go along with it.
Her brows crease and she whimpers in her sleep. Forgetting about the food, John slides into the nook, pushing a pillow behind him as he sits against the stone wall and stretches his legs out beside Ashri. He smoothes a hand over her forehead and the worry lines lessen. Her body rolls toward him and she nuzzles against his hip, her left hand on his thigh. His chest tightens at the innocent, but sensual touch. John forces himself to relax. He's done this many times in the last couple of days. It's all he has to give her…his comfort…his companionship. He's certainly not going to take advantage of her.
Ashri's breathing steadies and the whimpering ends with a soft sigh. John slowly combs his fingers through her silky hair, gently pulling aside a few strands attached to her cheek, and tucking them behind her ear, only then noticing a bit more white at her temple. John sighs. He owes her more than he can ever repay.