NOT THE DADDY...part 8
Almost an hour passed before John made his way to Weir's office. He had puked until he gagged and Beckett had reconsidered releasing him until John had pretty much begged him. He made a pit stop at his room for a quick shower and a change of clothes, and he had to brush his teeth - twice - and use mouthwash. But John finally took a seat across from Weir's desk. "You wanted to see me?" he drawled.
Elizabeth leaned over her desk, forearms resting on the top, hands clasped together, and nodded. "Yes...how are you feeling, John?"
"I've been better," John replied, deciding he might as well be honest. "This is still freaking me out and pissing me off."
"Do you want to talk to Kate?"
John felt his eyes go wide. "Hell no! Why would you even ask that?"
Elizabeth sighed, slumping back into her chair. "I've talked with both Carson and Dreya while you were sleeping. You feel everything that she feels, John."
"Tell me something I don't know," John interjected, his voice sharp and grumbly.
"Let me finish." Elizabeth eyed him until he nodded, then she continued. "This is hard on Dreya both physically and emotionally. It's the same for you."
John resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Of course it is. You just felt the need to remind us both that I feel everything Dreya feels."
Elizabeth winced. "Everything she feels physically, John. Not emotionally."
"You're point being?" John prompted, because he knew she had one, and he was pretty sure he was not going to like it.
"How do feel about Dreya losing the baby?" Elizabeth asked, point blank.
John didn't expect that question and it caught him off guard, reminding him of how empty he had felt. Reminding him of sadness and longing for something that was now lost. But he shook it off and replied, "I feel sad for her."
Elizabeth sighed and rose from her chair, moving in front of the desk to face him. "We both know you're not pregnant in the typical sense, but you feel the pregnancy. You'll felt the loss of the baby, and you'll feel the twin that's left when it starts to move in Dreya's belly. You can't sit here and tell me that that does not affect you, John."
"What I do or don't feel...that's my business!" John shot back, pushing out of the chair and having to lock his knees when they suddenly buckled on him. He felt a wave of dizziness and a twist of pain in his belly. Dreya must be awake and in pain. John was really beginning to hate this.
"Sit down!" Elizabeth ordered, gripping John by the arm to press him back into the chair. She tapped her ear piece, "Dr. Beckett...I need you in my office!"
John cursed under his breath, curling in to himself in an attempt to relieve the pain. "You shouldn't have called him..." John broke off, panting against the pain. His vision grayed out for a moment and the next thing he knew, Carson was beside him, asking if he was all right. "Fine..." John gasped. "How...how's Dreya?"
Carson shook his head. "Hurting and she won't let me give her something for the pain. It's not the way of her people and I won't force it on her. However..." Carson felt around in his pocket and withdrew a syringe. "I can give you a little something to ease the pain, Colonel."
A protest curved John's lips but never made it past them. Darkness swirled over John and he went along for the ride.
OoO
The next two days passed in a drug induced haze. John woke up several times and managed to convince Dreya to take something, just a little something, to relieve her pain. He convinced her that the stress she suffered wasn't good for her baby. So she finally accepted something and dozed off. John had tried to wait for his pain to stop but it didn't and Carson was forced to sedate him again. Finally, Dreya healed enough so that the pain was doable and she requested to return to her home.
John saw her off at the jumper, but he was reluctant to see her go and said as much. She looked worn out and he would deny it to anyone who asked, but John was worried about Dreya and the baby. "If you stay, Dr. Beckett will take good care of you," John stated, hoping to convince her.
Dreya smiled but it trembled with sadness. "I need to get back to my life, Colonel Sheppard. We both do."
"Wish I could," John mumbled, unable to stop himself. He was worried for Dreya, but still angry at what she had done.
"It will get better for us both," Dreya said, reaching out to touch his arm. "I will be better once I am home, and that will be better for you."
John wanted to believe her, but he wasn't so sure he did. Still, he plastered a smile on his face and nodded. "Okay then...you take care."
Dreya's smile was brighter this time. "I will do that," she allowed. Then the stepped into the Jumper. Major Lorne was taking Dreya home.
John stepped back then turned away, feeling suddenly very lost and alone.
OoO
Three days later, John was tired of resting in his room. He was also deathly sick and tired of morning sickness, but he was more afraid of dying of boredom than anything else. He wasn't in pain anymore, which meant Dreya must be healing well, so John headed for the infirmary to ask Beckett what could be a very important question.
"Doc...got a minute?" John asked, as he stood in the doorway to Beckett's office.
"Of course," Carson replied. "Come in, Colonel. Are you feeling well? Is anything wrong?"
John waved him back into his chair. "I'm fine. I feel much better."
Carson eyed him carefully. "Still throwing up?"
"Unfortunately...yes," John replied. "That doesn't last for the whole nine months...does it?"
"No. It should be easing up soon," Carson replied.
Relief washed over John. "Great! Some good news for a change. And maybe you can make my day even better."
Carson looked intrigued. "How is that?"
"I feel what Dreya feels," John began, as he leaned a hip against Beckett's desk. "But she doesn't feel what I feel, right? I mean...if I got a splinter or something...she wouldn't feel it."
"No...she wouldn't," Carson confirmed. "I spoke with her about that, actually. She said that you could be injured, even die, and she wouldn't feel it. The bond is very strong but kind of...one way."
John actually considered that a good thing. "So...I could work out with Teyla and stuff without risking harm to Dreya or the baby."
Carson chuckled. "What you're asking me is, can Teyla kick your ass without it doing any harm to anyone other than you?"
"Pretty much," John allowed, grinning back.
"If you feel up to it you can do anything you like, Colonel. Just don't over do it." Carson shook a warning finger at him.
John rolled his eyes. "I'll be good," he promised. "Catch you later." With that he headed out to find Teyla. Maybe a good work out would make him feel less restless.
OoO
One week later the morning sickness stopped.
John made up for lost time by pigging out in the messhall. Pretty much all day long. After two days of it, Rodney caught on.
"You're not sick anymore," he said, joining John at his table, which was also occupied by Beckett.
"Nope...I feel great!" John enthused, then he stuffed a forkful of eggs into his mouth and chewed happily.
Carson watched him and grinned. "It's good to see," he stated. "I was beginning to get concerned. The Colonel had lost almost six pounds he could ill afford to lose."
John grimaced. "Yeah...well puking will do that to you."
Rodney looked disgusted. "Hello...eating," he reminded John.
"Duh. You have a cast iron stomach...what do you care," John shot back.
"True," Rodney allowed, as he buttered some toast. "But you'd better start slowing down or you'll get fat, Colonel."
John grinned at him. "Not a chance. I can eat like a horse without gaining an ounce."
Rodney shrugged. "We'll see." Then he set about digging in to his own breakfast.
OoO
Two weeks later, John was feeling great. Rodney was pissed off because he had gained two pounds while John, though eating enough for three people, had barely gained one pound. Good metabolism, John had told him. But that wasn't why he was smiling and feeling happy today. He was in a good mood because Beckett had just cleared him for a mission. Convincing Weir hadn't been easy, but John had argued that since the morning sickness was over, he was eating good, sleeping great and he was ready to go back through the gate. It was only after Teyla and Ronon had gone to check on Dreya that Elizabeth had conceded to let John back through the gate, on the condition that Beckett cleared. Which he had just done.
Striding into Elizabeth's office, John greeted her with,"I'm good to go!"
"So I heard," Elizabeth replied. "Carson just radioed me. Congratulations, Colonel."
John nodded. "Thanks. So…when can we go? I'm ready now."
Elizabeth made a face then she picked a report and handed it to him. "You leave tomorrow morning. Just scout the location and make friends if you can. Then I want you to come right back, understood?"
"Understood." John offered a blinding smile then he practically bounced out of the room. It was time to tell his team they were back in business.
OoO
It should have been an easy mission. But that should have sent off warning bells, and maybe it did, but John ignored them. The people of M5R-655 were almost too friendly. And maybe they would have remained friendly had Rodney not touched the very thing he had just been asked not too. And suddenly the Devians were holding weapons that looked, disturbingly, like Genii guns. John had ordered a retreat back to the Jumper and they were almost all on board when John noticed Rodney was about to get shot. He did the only thing he could. He moved to shield Rodney, even as he fired off a shot. The Devian dropped like a stone, but not before his own bullet hit it's mark. John's shoulder. Knocked John on his back but he rolled to his feet and made it the rest of the way in the Jumper with Ronon's help.
"Rodney...get us out of here!" John ordered, knowing he wouldn't be able to fly. So he let Teyla sit him down and rip open his shirt. "Straight through," John muttered, through clenched teeth. Because he felt the burn of an entry and exit wound. He gritted his teeth and Teyla checked, then she was nodding and John fought a wave of dizziness. He heard Teyla contacting Atlantis and asking for Beckett to meet them.
The trip back to Atlantis was quick and John was still conscious and able to walk out of the Jumper. Beckett took one look at him and John didn't get a chance to protest having to ride on the gurney. It became a moot point anyway when he passed out halfway there.
He came awake to a beeping sound and snoring. Peeling his eyes open, John saw Rodney asleep in the chair next to his bed. He then looked to his left and saw the heart monitor, and he wasn't the least bit surprised to see the IV in the back of his left hand. "Rodney!" John tried to be loud but it hurt and his throat was dry.
Rodney heard him anyways. He came awake with a grunt and pushed out of the chair. "How are you feeling, Colonel?" he asked.
"Thirsty," John replied, happily accepting the glass of water Rodney held out to him. Took two hands to keep it steady enough to drink from, though, and John was relieved to hand it back. "How long?" he asked.
"About 36 hours, you've been in and out." Rodney was still staring at his watch. "Anyway...thanks...you know...for taking the bullet and all. Although it was stupid of you...I mean...because you got shot."
John knew what Rodney was trying to say. "You're welcome," he interjected, then he let his eyes drift closed again.
OoO
Two days later, John was released. But he was not a happy camper. He was grounded again and this time he had to wear a sling, which immobilized him to the point where he needed help with everyday things like getting dressed and carrying his food tray. All of which put John in a bad mood. But that was nothing compared to how he felt on his third night back in his room. He had just finished eating a powerbar and reading page 77 of War and Peace when his stomach coiled with nausea. Five seconds later he was over the toilet and puking his guts up which, aggravatingly enough, was harder to do with one arm in a sling. So during a short break period of non-heaving, John unstrapped the sling so he could clutch the toilet bowl with both hands for round two.
Half an hour later, John was in bed with Beckett checking him over. "What's wrong now?" John asked, his voice little more than a hoarse whisper. He felt weak and worn out and he really couldn't deal with much more happening.
"I'm guessing that Dreya's morning sickness is turning into night sickness," Carson replied. "Doesn't happen often, but in some cases...well..." He trailed off.
"This sucks," John moaned, turning on his good side and curling up.
Carson patted his head. "I know, son. I'm going to send Teyla and Ronon to see Dreya tomorrow and they can confirm her condition. "I hope you're just suffering a bout of stomach flu or a wee virus. Lord knows you can't afford to lose any more weight." That said, Carson rose to his feet. "I've sent someone to bring you some cracker and ginger ale. See if that helps and give me a call if you get worse."
John grunted. "Don't see how it could get any worse," he stated, and in hindsight he wished he could have taken those words back.
The next day Teyla and Ronon returned from seeing Dreya and confirmed that she was now suffering from being sick at night instead of the morning. But to make it even worse, she was now suffering back pains and John was pretty much inconsolable. Nothing could bring him out of his funk, not even Teyla's offer of back rubs. He stayed holed up in his room, refusing to see anyone, and with his gene he was able to keep them out. Beckett could use a medical override, he reminded John, but he didn't. At least not yet.
But a week in to John's self-inflicted hibernation, Carson called a meeting.
"This isn't good for the Colonel, physically or emotionally," Carson stated to the group surrounding the table. Which included Kate, Weir, Rodney, Ronon and Teyla.
"Meaning what exactly?" Elizabeth asked, her voice and expression conveying her concern.
Carson sighed. "I know the Colonel isn't eating properly, which means he's losing more weight. And cutting himself off from people isn't healthy. He's not the type to do that. The thing is, I know this whole pregnancy thing is overwhelming him. How can it not? A man isn't prepared to experience what Sheppard is going through."
Kate interjected to add, "This isn't something any man would handle well on an emotional level. Add to the fact that it's not something he wanted or asked for...it was forced on him and it's messing with his life. It's taking away the Colonel's control."
"That would suck," Rodney exclaimed.
"Indeed it would," Elizabeth replied, then she looked at Beckett and Kate. "So what do we do?"
Kate and Beckett exchanged looks before Kate replied, "It's time for an intervention." After everyone got over their surprise and Beckett explained exactly what an intervention was to Ronon and Teyla, Kate then picked up again to spell out her exact plan.
OoO
In his room John sat on the bathroom floor, next to the toilet. He was sweaty and trembling and beyond tired, but he slumped against the wall, singing beneath his breath, "...I cross the line..."
THE END...of part 8