Time Capsule
Chapter 3
Dr. Carson Beckett slowly opened his eyes. He was lying in a bed, in his own infirmary. He felt the leads from a heart monitor, cold on his body. An IV was dripping fluids into his left arm. A sheet covered him, a soft pillow behind his head. For a moment, Carson thought to ask what happened. Then, exhaustion overcoming him, he changed his mind. It could wait.
As he shut his eyes, the image of the woman came to him. And her distress. Suddenly, his memory came rushing in, and he sat up in bed, startling Rodney.
"Carson! Carson, are you okay?" Without waiting for an answer, Rodney turned and barked, "Nurse! Dr. Beckett's awake!" He turned his attention back to Carson, concern mingled with relief on his worn face. Behind McKay stood Dr. Elizabeth Weir, the expedition leader, and Colonel Sheppard. The worry in their eyes deepened as Carson spoke.
"The woman? Where is she?" Carson struggled to get up, only to be pushed back down by a frowning Rodney.
"Take it easy. Cadman just left. Sheppard ordered her to get some rest," Rodney explained. He watched as confusion crossed Carson's face, then the Scotsman shook his head.
"Not Laura…although she was here? Really?" Carson slumped back into the bed, his original exhaustion overtaking him. He took a moment, closing his eyes. He felt like he had just run one hundred miles, being pursued by the Wraith the whole time. His entire body ached and throbbed, and his head felt ready to shatter.
"Dr. Beckett. How do you feel?" The warm voice of Dr. Amrubi prompted Carson to open his eyes. The physician leaned in, listened to Carson's chest, frowned slightly, and then checked the IV lines.
Carson waited until Amrubi was done, then answered his question. "I hurt. Everywhere," he said, lifting his right hand to rub his eyes. As he dropped his arm, he was uncomfortably aware that four sets of eyes were staring at him. Hard.
"What happened?" he asked, fear and confusion in his voice.
Elizabeth leaned in, placing a warm hand on his arm. "Carson, you've been unconscious for three days. We were very concerned." She shot a look at Rodney, who fidgeted under her gaze.
"Three days!" Carson repeated. As he absorbed her statement, Carson could feel Amrubi's eyes scan him clinically. The heart monitor had increased, the normal beep-beep accelerating. His memory came flooding back, and the look on the woman's face as she reached towards him, her eyes distressed…..
"The woman! There was a woman," Carson repeated his earlier statement, causing Rodney to stare at him.
"What woman? Who are talking about, Carson?" Rodney asked, fearing that his friend may have been damaged by the Ancient device. His heart had nearly stopped when Carson's eyes had shot open, his hands ripping at the circlet on his head. For a moment, Rodney had witnessed the pain and fear reflected in Carson's blue eyes, then Beckett had lapsed into convulsions, and all hell had broken loose. Doctors and nurses had elbowed Rodney out of the way, frantically trying to control Carson as he continued to shake uncontrollably. Rodney had been unable to do more than stand back and watch as one of his closest friends turned a deathly shade of white, horrible gasping noises coming from his mouth as he tried to breathe, his body twitching and writhing in pain. Never had McKay felt so helpless.
For three days he stayed by Carson's side. Elizabeth and John hadn't yet reprimanded him for making Carson use the circlet; Rodney knew they were waiting to see if the doctor recovered. Carson had lay so still in the bed, his face pale, his breathing slight. Laura had arrived moments after the incident, her own eyes worried and fearful. She and Rodney had taken turns watching over the doctor, Laura speaking to him softly, frequently touching his arm, or running a hand through Carson's thick hair. Rodney was less vocal, but no less watchful. More than guilt prompted his attendance, although Rodney knew if Carson was permanently damaged or, God forbid, died from using the circlet, he would carry the weight of hurting his friend for the rest of his life.
Carson Beckett was special. Rodney knew that if he voiced that comment out loud, he would be the recipient of many raised eyebrows and knowing smirks, especially since the 'kissing incident.' But Rodney had grown to know the Doctor quite well, due to so many trips to the infirmary, and, invariably, they had become friends. And in their growing friendship, Rodney learned the truth about the doctor.
He was kind. And gentle. He only wanted to help people, never hurt them. He had offered to help an injured Wraith, for Pete's sake. And his patience was limitless. Rodney knew that no other physician in Atlantis would deal with him; his health care was only administered by Beckett. The man wasn't a brilliant physicist, a top-notch negotiator or an especially brave soldier. But when he was needed, he was always there, ready to do his job. Carson was generous, compassionate and thoughtful. He was everything Rodney wasn't, and by befriending the doctor, Rodney had thought maybe some of the qualities Carson possessed would rub off on his own cynical, impatient self.
Now, though, Rodney watched as Carson closed his eyes, his face bewildered.
Exhaustion lined Beckett's features, and Dr. Amrubi leaned in, administering something to Carson's IV line.
"I've given him a light sedative. He needs to rest," Dr. Amrubi stated. He drew the sheets up, tucked them around the relaxing doctor, then shooed his hands at the others.
"You can come back and see him later," Amrubi advised. Elizabeth nodded her head in agreement, and John took her elbow, leading her out the door.
"Are you coming, Rodney?" John asked, although he already knew the answer to his question. Rodney had retaken his post next to Carson, his eyes on the still form sleeping in the bed.
"I'll just be a minute," Rodney said, and John nodded. His gaze caught that of Elizabeth's and they shared a small smile. Rodney was nothing if not predictable. With one last look, they left the room.
TBC