Thanks for all the words of encouragement. I feel better now. Hope you enjoy the next chapter. I'm kind of branching out into a little strange part towards the end of this chapter and continuing into the next. Not sure how that's going to work, but I guess we'll see as we get there.

reyclou - Okay, okay! Sheppard is now warm and dry - no more ice water. By the way, I'm enjoying your sequel. You are writing on that right now, right?

Chapter 22

Beckett entered the infirmary to see both Nick and Kelly working at Sheppard's bed. He silently hoped they were just checking on the major's condition, but he knew there was too much activity for that to be the case. He heard Sheppard coughing as he approached the bed, giving him a pretty good idea what was happening.

They had Sheppard's bed elevated at about a forty-five degree angle and Nick was in the process of adjusting nasal cannula on the major as he struggled to breathe. "Okay, major, that should help. Just give it a couple of minutes."

Beckett stepped up to the foot of the bed. "Nick? What's happened?"

Nick turned to Beckett and handed him Sheppard's chart. "He started running a fever a few hours ago. We're at..." He looked at Kelly.

"He's currently at 102.3," Kelly replied.

"...right, 102.3. He's also developed a nice cough and his breathing has become pretty labored recently. He was really starting to struggle, so we decided to get him some oxygen."

Beckett frowned at the chart and then looked up at Sheppard. His face and eyes looked tired, as if he hadn't slept in days. A thin layer of sweat covered his face, his cheeks flushed with the fever. His breathing still seemed somewhat labored, but not as much as it had earlier. "Major, how do you feel?"

Sheppard looked like he wanted to slug Beckett for asking. "Just peachy, doc. Head hurts...hot, and then I'm cold...darn elephant sitting on my chest is crushing me..." He broke off into a coughing fit and Nick helped him sit up a little more until he got through it. He wheezed heavily, trying to catch his breath again. "Oh...yeah...just...peachy..."

Beckett looked at Nick, worry lines across his brow. "Did you order..."

"Of course. Results should be back soon. Do you want to go ahead and start antibiotics or do you want to wait on the test results?"

Beckett looked at Sheppard, processing how much he had already been through and how weak he already was. "I think we both know we're looking at pneumonia, so let's go ahead with the antibiotics. We need to get on this quick. He's already pretty weak and it's taking hold pretty fast. I think we need to be aggressive in our treatment."

Nick nodded. "I agree. Kelly and I will get the antibiotics started." He turned back to Sheppard and patted him on the leg. "I'll be back in a minute, major. We're going to get you on some kick-butt antibiotics and see if we can't knock this thing into next week." Nick and Kelly headed across the infirmary to get the needed supplies.

Beckett stepped up to the side of Sheppard's bed and checked his IV. He looked down at Sheppard, who was quietly watching him. "I leave you alone a few minutes to take a nap and look what happens. What am I going to do with you, major?"

Sheppard blinked slowly. It seemed to take most of his energy just to breathe. "Sorrrrry...doc...just...trouble...I guessssss."

Beckett smiled. "Aye. That you are, lad. That you are."

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"Oh surely he's awake and warmed up by now. He's been thawing out for almost twenty hours now." McKay led the rest of the team as they barged loudly into the infirmary. Nick met them almost immediately.

"Shhhhhh. You're going to have to quiet down, Dr. McKay. We have patients trying to rest."

McKay just looked annoyed. "Yes, yes, yes," he said more quietly. "We're being quiet. We're just going to say hello to Major Sheppard."

Nick stood fast, blocking their way. "I don't think that's a good idea right now. The major's running a fever and having some trouble breathing. He needs to rest right now."

All three members of the team looked shocked. "When did this happen?" asked Teyla.

"During the night. His fever's been steadily rising ever since. We suspect pneumonia, so we've started him on antibiotics."

"The major's going to be okay, though, right?" asked Ford.

Nick hesitated just long enough to worry the trio. "Probably. The antibiotics should take care of the infection. I...I can't honestly guarantee anything. This infection seems to be very aggressive and the major is very weak. There's no easy way to say this but...mental attitude often has a lot to do with recovery during serious injury or illness and Major Sheppard's been...well, you know...a little out of sorts lately. Still, he was strong and healthy before this whole ordeal began and we caught the infection pretty early, so the prognosis is good."

"Can...can we just see him for a minute? We...we won't disturb him," asked McKay. Nick knew he should probably say no, but he also knew that the team had been through hell and back on several occasions. They depended on each other and were closer than most families. They had suffered with Sheppard the last few weeks and he could see the fear on their faces now. He just couldn't bring himself to say no. So much for remaining the impassive, detached doctor.

"All right, but only for a moment. And for heaven's sake, be quiet. Carson will throw the lot of us out if he catches you." He turned around and quietly led the way across the infirmary to Sheppard's bed.

They stood around Sheppard's bed, watching him sleep and listening to the gentle whistle in his breathing. A nurse was gently wiping the sweat from his face as he mumbled something incoherently in his slumber. Two IV lines hung from the pole beside the bed, the tubes snaking their way down to the major's arm. He looked frail and sick. Somehow it just didn't seem fair. After a few minutes, Nick motioned for them to follow him and he led them back to the entrance to the infirmary. No one said a word as they silently followed the doctor. Once they were back to the doorway, Nick spoke to them again. "Look, I didn't mean to make it sound so serious. The chances are good that the major will be fine. It just may take a little time. We won't know anything for a while, so why don't you guys check back this afternoon." They glumly filed out the door.

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Elizabeth finally shut down her computer and turned it off. She had been staring at the same screen for almost twenty minutes and she still had no idea what it said. She just kept wondering how John was. She'd been to the infirmary several times already and each time Beckett ran her out. She decided to make one final run on the way to her quarters for the night. This time, she would insist on seeing John for a few minutes.

She entered the infirmary a few minutes later to find McKay, Ford, and Teyla sitting around the waiting area in the front. "Why wasn't I invited to the party?" she asked.

"No party," replied McKay sadly.

"How is he?"

McKay leaned forward in his seat and put his head in his hands. He sat there a moment before sitting up and looking at Elizabeth. "His fever keeps edging up. We haven't heard anything in a while, so I guess he's about the same."

Elizabeth nodded. "I'll see if I can find Carson." She walked further into the infirmary, glancing around as she moved forward. Her ears found Sheppard before her eyes did, his coughing attracting her attention. She moved toward him slowly, expecting Beckett to take her by the arm and guide her out at any minute. But Beckett appeared to be busy with Sheppard at the moment, trading his nasal cannula for an oxygen mask as he gave the nurse instructions. Sheppard was mumbling under the mask and occasionally waved an arm feebly at either Beckett or the nurse. Carson finally seemed to finish and turned around, obviously surprised to see her there.

"Elizabeth, you shouldn't be here." His face did not look happy.

"He's worse, isn't he?" she asked, wishing she didn't already know the answer.

"Aye. His fever's up to 104.6. So far he's not responding to anything we've done to lower the fever. We've had him under a cooling blanket for a while, but his fever just keeps going up. I'm starting to get a little concerned. His breathing is gettin' more labored as well. Looks like we're in for a long night."

Sheppard stirred briefly and partially opened his eyes. Beckett leaned forward towards Sheppard. "Major, how are you?"

Sheppard's eyes shifted back and forth between being open and closed. "C-c-c-c-old," he said, his voice muffled under the mask. He kept trying to push the cooling blanket off and the nurse kept pulling it back up over him. Sheppard finally stopped battling the nurse and drifted back off to sleep.

"Now that his fever's up, he's having chills as well. He keeps trying to pull the cooling blanket off. Between that and his breathing problems, I'm keeping a nurse close at hand."

They stood and watched Sheppard for another minute before Beckett finally took Elizabeth by the arm and began leading her away. "Come on, lass. Let's let him rest."

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Sheppard opened his eyes to find himself standing on a beach, his shoes in his hands and the damp sand squishing up between his toes. He looked out at the waves crashing up on the beach around his ankles. The cool water felt good on his feet as he stood on the hot sand. He looked down the length of the beach, but didn't see anyone. It looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. He started walking along the edge of the tide line, not sure where he was going or if it even mattered. He walked for several minutes, trying to figure out what he was doing here and where here was.

He was suddenly aware of someone beside him and turned to see who it was just as they touched his arm. He stepped back quickly as he drew in a sharp breath, stumbling and almost falling on his butt.

"John, what are you doing here?" He stood staring at the pretty woman with the hazel eyes and the short, somewhat unruly, dark hair.

"Mom?" he said softly, his voice expressing his confusion. He stood with his mouth open for a minute. He licked his lips, suddenly dry and rough. "Am I...dead?"

The woman smiled and took his hand in hers. "No, son, you're not dead. But you don't belong here. It's not your time yet. You can't give up...you have to go back."

Sheppard pulled his hand from hers and paced nervously around in a circle, running his free hand through his hair. "I don't understand. Go back where? Where are we? And what do you mean I can't give up?"

She continued to smile peacefully. "John, just calm down. Let me look at you. I knew you'd grow up to be a fine boy. A major in the Air Force? I'm very proud of you, you know. You've done well. A lot of people depend on you. That's why you have to go back."

"But mom, I haven't seen you since I was...12. Can't we just talk a while?"

"I'm sorry, John. I can't stay very long. I'm only here to tell you how proud I am of you and how much I love you...and that you can't give up. My...you've turned into a handsome man...like your father. He always took my breath away."

"Mom..."

"Shhhh," she placed her fingers on his lips. "Go back, John. They need you. It's where you were meant to be and there is so much waiting for you in Atlantis. And always carry my love with you." He felt her arms around him like when he was a boy and he embraced her, smelling "her" scent for the first time in over twenty years. And then she was gone and he was standing on the beach, alone. the water lapping around his ankles. He felt dizzy, his vision graying, and then he felt like he was falling as the world went black.

TBC