Carson left Jesse's side, and pulled the curtain behind him. He bustled over to the waiting group, and gave them a calm smile. He looked at the lone member in a dirty apron and asked, "Flip lad, are we having mystery meatloaf today? Or did you suddenly remember ye're a week late for yer physical?"
As Dr. Weir and Colonel Sheppard entered behind them, Weir teased, "Well Jesse must be okay if the good doctor is attempting to make jokes."
Flip got a relieved smile on his face and said softly, "It's spaghetti western Saturday sir. Speaking of which, I need to get back to the kitchen. I just heard that Jesse was hurt and wanted to check on her."
Colonel Sheppard looked at him, and said, "You know, it's kind of strange how the kitchen staff always seems to know about things before the top of the chain of command does. Got any comments, or thoughts on the matter son? The flow of information to the kitchen seems to be a 'faster than the speed of thought' form of communication. The military and diplomatic applications of such technology could be phenomenal."
Flip had the 'deer caught in the headlights' look on at that. Teyla gave him a quiet look of sympathy, and even Weir took pity and said warningly, "John, he's just checking on his friend."
Sheppard relented, and said, "Sorry Sgt. I was just teasing. ..But you did find out awful fast." Turning to Carson, he said briskly, "Since, you're here, and not there, I'm assuming that it's nothing life threatening. So what's the damage."
"Aye, yer right, nothing life threatening. The two biggest problems were her breathing and her concussion. The constricted airways allowed for decreases in her oxygen levels, which increased the symptoms of her concussion. Such as her inability to focus, and remain coherent. The abnormalities in her behavior that Rodney chronicled in detail. And also with the auditory and aural hallucinations she seemed to have."
"So it was hallucinations?" The Colonel said in relief.
"Aye lad, I'm sure they were hallucinations. ..Unless there is something else that ye'd like to add."
"No. Nothing at all." He added hastily.
"Well, then." Carson continued giving John a sharp look. "She's breathing fine now, but resting. I've stitched the gash on her forehead, reset the shoulder, and her arm was also broken, so it's in a cast now. There were a few chemical abnormalities that I wanted to check out, so I'm keeping her overnight for observation. Other than that, scrapes and bruises all around."
"What kind of chemical abnormalities?" John asked sharply.
There are elevated levels of adrenaline, glutamate and acetylcholine. They're all produced by the body naturally, and seem to be connected with fears, but they don't seem to be leveling out after the stress factor is removed. They seem to actually be increasing incrementally. The amygdala also seems to have a lot of activity."
The Colonel looked at him uncomprehending and said, "Hum, ookaay. I didn't understand a word of what you just said."
"There are no illegal substances in her system, if that's what yer 'not' asking Colonel." Carson bristled as he spoke, finally getting what the Colonel was hinting at.
Sheppard looked unhappy as he said, "Understood, and I'm sorry if my implication upset you."
"I'm not the one to apologize to. Ye know Jesse well enough to know she'd never do that to ye, or ye would've never put her on yer team." Carson said stiffly.
The Colonel had a look of shame on his face as he bowed his head briefly to the groups disapproving faces before quickly leaving.
Carson looked at the group of Flip, Teyla, Ronon and Weir, and said in somewhat forced cheeriness, "She isn't awake now, but everyone can check back after dinner if they'd like. Now begone, this is an infirmary, not a town hall."
As everyone stood and made to move off, Carson called out warningly, "And Flip lad, the next time you return to my infirmary, it had better be for yer regularly scheduled physical."
Flip gave a guilty barely audible mumble, and bolted quickly out the door as if he was afraid that Dr. Beckett might suddenly hustle him into an examing room.
Ronon glanced at Teyla as they left, and asked, "What time is 'after dinner'?"
Weir watched the group leave with an amused smile, which faded as she turned back to Dr. Beckett. "Tell me Carson, did she say or do anything before you put her out like a light? John was extremely evasive about what should have been a very routine trip to break Jesse into away team protocols."
Carson said wryly as he guided Elizabeth to his office for some tea, "Aye lass, but ye forget that there is nothing 'routine' or 'normal' in this galaxy, or in life either. What happened was normal, everyday life. It could've happened on Earth also."
Weir looked him in the eye and admitted, "But I told John, no, I ordered John to get Jesse out of the kitchen. It's my fault she was on an away team in the first place."
"Elizabeth, think. Why exactly did ye want her out of the kitchen? Let me refresh yer memory, she was finding entirely too much mischief to get into. I believe the hallucinogenic wine she and Flip created was the last straw."
Elizabeth gave a strangled snort of laughter at that. "You know, I know hallucinogens are wrong, especially in this galaxy, but I have to admit, I laughed my ass off when she told me that Rodney turned into a giant pink bunny that kept saying, 'I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!'. Sad thing was, I could see it all so clearly."
Caron was grinning as he said, "Elizabeth, ye were right to have her taken out of the kitchen. She is far too smart to have continued there. She is a very capable, nay, good soldier to have continued there. She is merely young, and will eventually grow into responsibility, but only if it is thrust upon her."
"Are you sure about that? Neither Rodney nor John seem to be too sure of what responsibility is, and they're how old?" Elizabeth asked smiling.
Carson had a mock scandalized look on his face as he said, "Elizabeth Weir! I canna' believe that ye think Rodney and John are irresponsible!"
"As if you don't think it every time they come into your infirmary." Elizabeth countered amused.
"Aye, well, they do have a tendency to be a little hot-headed, and have one-track minds at times, but they do put the greater good of the whole before themselves. I have a feeling that for all her unruliness and criminal mischief tendencies, Jesse would do the same. Now off with ye. I'm sure that ye have responsibilities of yer own to tend. I know I do."
"Why Dr Beckett, are you kicking me out of your office?" Elizabeth teased.
"That I am lass. I must be a fool to ask such a beautiful woman to leave my company, but I do have rounds to make." Carson said in pink-faced gallantry.
Weir gave a clear carefree laugh as she stood to leave. "I understand that you accept your responsibility with an appealing grace Dr. Beckett. You have a very warm and comforting bedside manner that makes you indispensable to this expedition. Can you imagine how lost we would be if McKay was in charge of the medical?"
Carson joined her laughter as he escorted her out. "Are ye trying on purpose to give me nightmares?"
Elizabeth gave him a warm smile as she exited the infirmary. Carson turned back to his office thinking, 'Now how do I accidentally tell Rodney that certain expedition members can easily see him as a giant pink bunny quoting Lewis Carroll?'
Elsewhere, or is it else when?
Ronon glanced at Teyla as they left and asked, "What time is 'after dinner'?"
Teyla smiled as she answered, "I think it is whenever the good doctor thinks she is able to receive visitors."
Ronon gave her a disgruntled look, "I was afraid of that." Looking off, he continued, "Which means that I'll have to make a plan to sneak back in. Do you know when he leaves to go to his quarters?"
"He leaves when the last patient doesn't need his care."
"That does not help Teyla. I must plan. Would you join me for dinner and help?" Ronon asked in his usual direct way.
Teyla hid a smile as she answered, "No Ronon. I will take my leave. I must meditate, and you must .. be yourself. A word of warning though, Dr. Beckett is very protective of his patients. He will not take kindly if you disturb one of them."
Ronon's expression did not change, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone as he grunted, "I have always enjoyed a challenge. Good night Teyla."
TBC
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thanks to thedummie2, for their suggestion to reword the summary.lol. thanks for the kind words, and also the ones from chance2 and natalie. Thanks also to linda, aka the sheppardster.