Thanks again for the totally nice reviews. Also, another word of thanks to rogue for being beta and doing such a fine job. We really must do a joint project one of these days.

Chapter 8

Sheppard became vaguely aware of distant sounds. The sounds seemed to get closer and he gradually began to hear voices and feel hands touching him. Pulse, blood pressure, temperature...and then he was moving. The jolt as he landed on the gurney sent pain spiking through his bruised ribs, causing him to moan. He instinctively tried to gulp in a breath, only to find he couldn't seem to bring any oxygen in. He squirmed and struggled, trying in vain to fill his aching lungs with air. He felt something on his face and swatted at it, convinced that was what was blocking his air supply. Suddenly, his wrists were held firm and he pulled harder, trying to free himself as he struggled to get his eyes open. As he finally managed to crack his eyelids a slit, he heard a familiar voice.

"Colonel, you need to stop fighting. I'm trying to help ya breathe." He stopped struggling as he saw the face of Carson Beckett over him and almost immediately, he could breathe easier. He felt the sweet flow of oxygen through the mask on his face. As he relaxed, Beckett tucked his arms under the covers and he realized he was covered by blankets. He welcomed the warmth that they provided. He also felt the familiar tug of an IV in his left hand. Yeah, Beckett was here.

Beckett smiled at him. "We're just gettin' you settled for the ride back to the infirmary. Looks like you two have been very busy the past few hours."

Sheppard's eyes kept trying to close as he focused on Beckett. Under the mask, he asked, "How much trouble...am I in?"

"We can talk about that later, son. First let's get your injuries evaluated so I can start treatment. I know you're hurtin', but I cannot give you any pain medication until you have been properly examined, especially since it looks like you may have hit your head."

Sheppard was too busy breathing and maintaining eye contact to try to answer. He just blinked at Beckett and hoped he understood. Beckett seemed to get bumped out of the way and McKay's face took his place.

"Okay Colonel, what's this I hear about sea monsters and submarines? Sounds like you and Radek had your own little party...where ever it is you two have been hiding. I'm highly insulted that I wasn't invited. The least you could have done was sent me a sample of the stuff you've been drinking, because it must be some pretty powerful hooch."

McKay was rambling so fast that it made Sheppard's head hurt worse to try to keep up, so he stopped listening about halfway through the rambling tirade. McKay looked like he expected a comment or answer of some kind when he finally quit talking, but Sheppard had no idea what to say. He was too tired to care, so he just looked blankly at McKay and slowly allowed his eyes to close.

"John?" He looked up at Elizabeth, noting that the gurney was now in motion. He didn't have the energy to respond, so he just looked at her as she walked along beside him. That seemed to be enough. She patted him on the arm. "I'm glad we finally found you. I was beginning to get worried. I expect a full report on your adventure when you're up to it. It sounds...exciting." She was smiling at him as his eyes slowly closed and he drifted off.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Colonel?" He thought the voice had been calling him for a while, but it had seemed distant and foreign until now. It was loud and clear and getting more urgent and he began to realize he would soon have to wake up and respond.

"Colonel...you have to wake up for a few minutes."

He didn't open his eyes...he wasn't sure he could. They felt like they had been glued shut. "Nooooo...sleep...ing."

"I know you're tired, Colonel, but you are going to have to wake up for just a few minutes. Then I'll let you go back to sleep."

"Ohhhhhhh. Just...wanna ...sleep...Why can't...anyone...leave me alone?" Every muscle in his body ached and his injuries were beginning to scream at him to take notice. He really didn't want to deal with any of it right now.

"Colonel?" Okay, now he was shaking his shoulder. Sheppard finally peeled his eyes open and blinked several times. As expected, Beckett was standing beside him.

"Wwwwwhat?" Sheppard was obviously annoyed and didn't care who knew it.

"I need you stay awake for a few minutes while I do a proper exam, Colonel. I need to ask you some questions."

Sheppard suddenly started trying to look around. "What about Dr.Z?"

"He's fine. He's in X-ray right now. I know he's broken his ankle, I just need to know where and how bad it is. We'll get his foot fixed up after I tend to you. Dr. Zelenka mentioned you hit your head in the fall and lost consciousness for a few minutes. Have ya been experiencin' any dizziness or nausea?"

"A little," replied Sheppard, his voice muffled by the oxygen mask.

Beckett nodded as if he expected that. "Aye, I think you have a mild concussion. You've got quite a bit of bruising around your ribs. I'll need to check for possible internal injuries." Beckett pulled the blanket back and Sheppard shivered. He realized for the first time that someone had removed his shirt. He had no idea how or when that had happened. Trying to take note of the rest of his body, he noticed his pants were also gone and was glad for the blanket covering him. Felt like they had at least left him his boxers. His right leg seemed to be wrapped up from thigh to ankle.

Beckett began gently probing the area around the Colonel's ribs. Sheppard tried to even out his breathing and stifle the groans of pain, but that only lasted a few minutes. Finally, his face contorted in pain, he moaned loudly. "Oh, stop," he panted, struggling to bring in a breath that didn't send stabbing pains through his sides and chest. "They're bruised already. You don't have to poke them to figure it out. I can tell you that."

"Well, Doctor Sheppard, I'd like a second opinion, if you don't mind - mainly mine. And I know your ribs are bruised, I can see that..."

"Then why are you poking them?" whined Sheppard. "When you poke a bruise, it hurts."

Beckett sighed heavily, trying to remind himself that the man was exhausted and in pain. "I told you, Colonel, I'm checking for internal injuries. Oh, but that's right, you don't listen when I talk so you probably didn't hear me."

Sheppard winced. "Sorry...doc..." he offered, the fight going out of him as he realized he'd been had.

Beckett immediately felt guilty for losing his temper. "It's all right lad. Sorry I snapped at you."

Sheppard looked up at him, his eyes half closed and looking for all the world like those of a tired, scolded child. "Sorry, doc. Don't mean...to be such a...pain."

"How's he doing?" McKay's voice was loud in the relatively quiet confines of the infirmary and both Beckett and Sheppard jumped. "Mmmmmm," Sheppard moaned as he pulled his ribs again.

"Rodney...what are ya doin' over here? I told ya to stay in the waitin' area out of the way."

McKay peered at Sheppard over Beckett's shoulder. "He's been in here forever. I figured you must know something by now. Hey, you're awake. How are you feeling? Carson getting you fixed up?"

"Fine." said Sheppard from under the mask.

"Yeah, like I'm going to believe that. You forget, I have eyes and can actually see out of them. So, Carson, what's the real story?"

Beckett rolled his eyes. "I don't know yet because I haven't finished my exam. I examined Zelenka first so I could get him off to get his foot X-rayed. Now, if you'll let me continue."

McKay stepped back a step. "Please...continue."

Beckett sighed again. "Rodney..."

"I'll stay out of the way, I promise. Come on, Carson...let me stay. Sheppard doesn't care."

Beckett looked down at the Colonel. Sheppard managed to say, "Okay."

"All right, you can stay. But keep quiet and out of my way." Beckett continued to gently, but firmly probe Sheppard's abdomen, occasionally asking him if it hurt. He slowly worked his way down to Sheppard's lower abdomen, noticing the small cuts and bruises that seemed to encircle him close to his waist. There was probably a story about that, but he could ask Sheppard later. Sheppard cringed and jerked slightly at one place on his lower right side, but Beckett decided it was just heavy bruising. He noticed a bruise on Sheppard's right hip and slid the Colonel's boxers down over his hip a couple of inches to get a closer look. The bruise seemed particularly deep and severe. He probed with his fingertips for a few seconds until Sheppard twisted and batted at his hands.

"Bruise...hurts when...you push on it...We had...this discussion...remember?" Beckett could barely understand his slurred speech under the oxygen mask.

"Okay, Colonel, I'm sorry. We'll just add your hip to the list of things to be X-rayed when it's your turn." He replaced Sheppard's boxers and pulled the blankets up over him. He checked to see if Sheppard was still conscious. His eyes were barely slits.

"Verdict?" Sheppard asked.

"You're very definitely dehydrated. I'll have to get X-rays to be sure, but it looks like you might have some cracked ribs. The good news is that you don't seem to have any internal bleedin'. We'll get you X-rayed as soon as Zelenka is back and then we'll take you to surgery."

Sheppard's eyes popped open. "What? You said no bleeding."

"I took a look at that leg earlier, Colonel. That gash on your thigh goes almost to the bone. I'll have to do a little muscle repair before we can stitch you up. Don't worry, it won't take long. We'll have you fixed up before you know it." Beckett turned to check with a nurse.

Sheppard relaxed a little. At least he would be asleep for it. He looked over at McKay. "Where's...Eliz..abeth?"

"Oh...She went to get Teyla and Ronon. They should be back in a few minutes." McKay kept staring at Sheppard, who noticed even in his somewhat disoriented state.

"Wwwhat?"

McKay looked thoughtful. "You do plan on shaving at some point, don't you?"

Sheppard had forgotten about his growing beard. He was now five days into it. He looked at McKay's dismayed expression. "Don't know...never had...a beard."

"Not flattering. You should really shave it off.. Just ask Elizabeth when she gets here."

Sheppard smiled under the mask. This might be fun. He was starting to get used to the extra facial hair. He had some time to think about it because he certainly wasn't going to pop up and shave it off right now. Sleep was the first thing on his agenda and he planned on participating in that activity very soon. McKay turned and, waving at someone, walked across the room. With no one there to keep him awake, Sheppard's eyes closed and he slipped back into the soft darkness, hoping this time he would be allowed to sleep.

McKay filled Elizabeth, Teyla, and Ronon in on Sheppard and Zelenka's condition. He didn't see Beckett around, so he led them over to Sheppard's bed to find the Colonel sleeping soundly.

"Don't wake him," Elizabeth said. "We'll see him after he wakes up. I think he's earned a little sleep." Teyla nodded in agreement.

About that time, they wheeled Zelenka in on a gurney. He was dressed in scrubs with the left pant leg pushed up to the knee. His left foot was propped on a pillow with a cold pack on top. As they locked the wheels, the nurse picked up his IV bag and hung it on the pole next to the bed. Zelenka was singing something in his native language. The trio moved over to his bed, smiling at the Czech's singing.

The nurse smiled at them. "I guess you can tell, Dr. Beckett gave him some pain medication. His ankle was really hurting him."

McKay smirked. "It doesn't sound like anything's bothering him now."

The nurse laughed. "No, and it probably won't for a while. Hope he enjoys it while it lasts." She and the other nurse walked over to Sheppard's bed, unlocked the wheels, and moved the gurney toward X-ray.

"Dr. Zelenka, are you all right? You were lost for some time." Teyla wasn't sure Zelenka was even listening to her, but at least he had stopped singing. He finally bobbled his head over in her direction.

"I am good! Colonel Sheppard...he got us out. Where is the Colonel?" he asked, looking around the infirmary. "The sea monster...it had his leg." He smiled and pointed to himself. "I pulled him out of water. Couldn't let sea monster eat him...that would be bad...leave me alone. We saved each other."

Ronon and Teyla exchanged glances, smiles spreading across their faces. McKay just rolled his eyes.

"Radek, you're higher than a kite."

"No kites...just submarines and sea monsters," he said matter-of-factly. Zelenka lay back against the pillows and yawned. "I am tired. I will take a nap, yes? Where is Colonel Sheppard?" He began looking around again. McKay pushed him back down against the pillows.

"He's okay, Radek. Carson sent him to get some X-rays. He'll be back in a while."

Zelenka seemed happy with that. He lay his head back against the pillow and was snoring within a few minutes. They stood there watching, somewhat surprised at how quickly he had gone from singing to snoring.

"So...how about breakfast?" asked McKay. Teyla and Ronon nodded and the three of them headed for the mess hall. It seemed everyone they wanted to visit was asleep.

TBC

Yes, we're almost done. Just have to finish fixing them.

Sorry about any medical mistakes - going on stuff I've seen on TV, which is not always a good idea.