The Mind of Atlantis - Chapter 23
"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Ford, concern in his eyes.
"I am fine, Aiden. Dr. Beckett has examined me and released me. I am merely a bit sore," Teyla assured him, absently rubbing her throat. She picked up her vest and put it on without fastening the front. "Now, I would like to see the Major and tell him thank you."
Ford nodded. "Okay...I think Dr. Beckett's about done with him. I'll go with you."
Teyla looked up at him. "I am fine. I do not need a...babysitter," she said, remembering the earth expression she had heard the others use on numerous occasions.
Ford smiled. "Is that what you think I"m doing? Because I'm not. I'm just...hanging around because, you know...nothing better to do. Besides, I'd like to check on the Major too."
Teyla smiled at him. "Well, you are welcome to join me then. Shall we go?" She motioned forward. They made their way across the infirmary, finding Sheppard with ease. He was sitting on one of the beds, leaned back against some pillows. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be sleeping. He still had his jeans on and his legs were crossed as he stretched out across the bed. His shirt had been replaced by a loosely secured hospital gown. They could see the heavy bandaging on his right shoulder through the thin fabric and peeking out around the edges of the gown. His right arm lay firmly tucked across his lap and his left hand lay across his right forearm, securing the injured limb to his body.
Teyla watched him for a second before turning to leave, not wanting to wake him.
"Teyla?" She turned at the sound of his voice.
"I am sorry, Major. I did not mean to wake you."
"You didn't. Just closed my eyes for a minute. That stuff Beckett gave me knocked the pain back pretty good, but it's also making me kind of loopy. You okay?" he asked, studying her intently for signs of injury or pain.
Teyla smiled, finding it typical that Sheppard was the one all bandaged up and yet asking others if they were okay. "I am fine Major. Dr. Beckett has even released me. I wanted to stop by and tell you thank you for saving my life. I am not certain as to exactly what happened, but I am grateful for your intervention. Without it, I fear the Genii would have Atlantis at this moment."
Sheppard started to reply, but paused as McKay and Weir approached his bed. Weir nodded acknowledgement to Teyla. "How are you two doing?" she asked.
"I am fine," replied Teyla.
Elizabeth smiled and looked over to Sheppard. "How about you? You look a little better than the last time I saw you."
"I'm good," he replied easily.
"Elizabeth...what are you asking him for?" asked McKay. "The man could have his arm cut off and he'd tell you he was okay. If you really want to know how he is, ask Carson. Where is he, anyway? Shouldn't he be here tending to his patient?" McKay looked around for Beckett.
"He'll be back in a minute, Rodney. I'm trying to talk him into discharging me to my quarters, so he went to have a second look at my x-rays. And I AM fine...at least for the moment. Doc gave me some pretty good pain medication before he stitched me up. Just don't expect too much lucidity right now."
McKay snorted. "Don't worry, Major. I never expect too much in that department."
"Oh ha, ha, McKay," said Sheppard sarcastically.
"Boys," said Elizabeth, annoyance showing in her voice. Teyla smiled at Ford, who winked back at her.
Beckett joined them at that moment. "Major...looks like you've attracted a bit of a crowd since I left."
"Guess I have, Doc. So...what's the verdict?" Just then a nurse stepped around Beckett to lay an IV bag and tubing on the table beside Sheppard's bed.
"Thank you Marcy. Why don't you give us a few minutes please." The nurse smiled, nodded at Beckett, and left.
No one missed the crestfallen expression on Sheppard's face. "Doc..."
Beckett crossed his arms across his chest. "All right, Major, this is what I'm proposing. I need you to stick around for a few hours so I can be sure the bleedin' has stopped and you're not in too much pain. I'm also not happy with the amount of blood you lost. I want to set up an IV to get some fluids into your system while you are here. When the bag is empty, if everything else still looks okay, I'll release you to your quarters."
Sheppard sighed, obviously still not very happy. "Okay...I guess I can live with that."
"Someone will come check on you every few hours the first day or so until I'm confident you'll not start bleedin' again or fall out on us. I'll expect you to stay in your quarters and rest unless you are going to the mess hall."
Sheppard nodded. "Okay, Doc. I know the drill."
"Good. See that you actually follow it this time. Now, I need to check your dressing and make sure you haven't started bleedin' again." Beckett stepped over to Sheppard's right side and gently slid the gown off his shoulder. He poked and prodded and checked the bandages in the front. "Okay, that looks good. Now I need you to lean forward a wee bit for me so I can check the back. Go easy now and let me help."
Beckett stretched one arm across Sheppard's chest, while placing the other hand on his back just below the shoulder blade so he could help support the Major as he leaned forward. Ford immediately moved to Sheppard's left side and helped support him from there. Sheppard grimaced and grunted softly, the movement spiking the pain in his shoulder.
"Sorry, Major," said Beckett. "Hang on, son. This will just take a minute." Beckett did a quick check of the bandages on the back of Sheppard's shoulder. "Okay, this looks good. Let's lay you back." Beckett and Ford eased Sheppard gently back against the pillows. Beckett pulled the gown back up and over Sheppard's shoulder, gently tucking the edge around his neck.
"Okay, lad, You can rest now." Sheppard's face was strained with the pain caused by the movement. As he lay there a few minutes, his breathing eased and his expression began to relax as the pain fell back to a dull throb instead of the burning and stabbing pain of earlier.
"Major, are you sure you want to be released to your quarters? You might be better off staying here the night," said Beckett.
"No," Sheppard said quickly. "I'm okay. Just...caught me off guard. Gotta catch my breath."
Beckett eyed him critically and Sheppard thought for a minute that he was going to retract his offer to release Sheppard later in the day. "Well...lets get some fluids in you and see how it goes from there. I'll get the nurse to start the IV as soon as your visitors are gone." Beckett turned to the team. "Five minutes. If you're not gone by then, I'm throwing you out." And with that statement, he turned and left.
Elizabeth looked away from Beckett's path and back to Sheppard. "John...how did you do that...earlier, in the gateroom?"
Sheppard started to shrug his shoulders, groaning in pain as he was reminded why that wasn't a good idea at the moment. "Ohhh...that was smart. Quite honestly, Elizabeth...I have no idea. I just...did it."
"How long have you known you could do things like that?"
"How long has it been since it happened?" he said, answering her question with a question.
"Wait a minute," broke in McKay. "Are you saying you didn't know you could shut the stargate on and off at will until the moment you did it? Or ...do whatever it was that you did to that guy's hand...or play mind tricks on everyone in the room?"
Elizabeth moved over to Sheppard's left side and placed a hand on his good arm. "Just tell us what happened."
Sheppard sighed, not sure if he knew what happened, much less if he could explain it to everyone else. "I guess it started when that guy mentioned brining Kolya to Atlantis. I ...I just knew I couldn't let him in my city again...not after the last time. I knew I had to do something to stop him and I was thinking I really needed to get the gate shut down And then it did. I'm not sure what happened but...I knew it had been me. I knew I had shut the gate down and I just...somehow I knew I could do a lot more. I can't really explailn how or why I knew I could do those things...it's lilke it was suddenly just there in my head."
McKay looked thoughtful. "Do you think it has anything to do with your training?"
"I don't know. I wish I could talk to Atlantis...I think she could explain a lot."
Elizabeth looked at Sheppard in confusion. "You haven't talked to Atlantis?"
Sheppard looked somewhat sad. "Not since the chair...the last contact I had was her screaming to get the ZPM out. I'm afraid...I'm afraid she might have been damaged when Atlantis's systems went down."
"I'll see what I can find out," offered McKay. "We don't actually have everything fixed yet. I've got a couple of things I'm still working on...maybe that has something to do with it. I'll work on it."
"Thanks, Rodney," said Sheppard. "I...I kind of miss her and...I could really use her help right now."
"Why are you people still here?" asked Beckett as he walked up to join them. "Does no one here know the meaning of five minutes? Out with you...all of you. You can talk to the Major later." The nurse came up from behind Beckett and made her way to Sheppard's left side, preparing to start the IV.
"Doc...can't they stay," Sheppard pleaded.
Beckett shook his head. "You might as well let her start the IV Major. It's not going to go away. And you need to get some rest, which you won't do if you're talking to them. I want all of you out, NOW!"
Elizabeth raised her hands defensively as she backed up. "Okay, Carson. We're going...we're going."
They each said their good-byes to the Major and filed out of the infirmary. Sheppard felt the nurse prepping the back of his hand for the IV. "Just a little pinch, Major."
Yeah, just a little pinch, he thought. That's what they said the previous huncred or so times someone came at him with a needle. Just one more little pinch. He closed his eyes as the needle pierced the skin on the back of his hand.
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Nick walked beside Sheppard, keeping a careful eye on his patient as he shuffled slowly down the corridor. He now had on a button up shirt that he had insisted Ford bring him from his quarters. It had been obvious that getting any kind of a pullover shirt on was unthinkable. Sheppard had refused to wear the hospital gown long enough to walk to his room, even though he still had his jeans on. His right arm was secured in a sling and he was obviously walking in such a way as to not jostle his shoulder. He was still suprised that Carson had let Sheppard out of the infirmary so soon.
"You doing okay, Major?" Sheppard was beginning to look tired and he could see from his face that the movement had upped the pain level in his shoulder.
"Yeah...I'm good. We're almost there." A few seconds later a door several feet in front of them opened. "See, we're here. I made it."
"How did you open the door from that far back?" asked Nick in wonder.
"I dunno...just thought it open, I guess." Sheppard moved tiredly into the room and cautiously sat on the edge of the bed.
"Major?"
Sheppard looked up at him. "Yeah, doc?"
Nick shuffled his feet, not sure how to approach the subject. "I...I just wanted to tell you that if...if you need a medical person on any more of your missions...well, I'd be honored if you'd let me go with you again." He looked sheepishly at the Major, half expecting him to laugh at him. Sheppard just raised his eyebrows in suprise.
"Really? Our little encounter with the wraith didn't sour you on off world missions?"
"No...I mean I was scared all right, but...It was so exciting. The not knowing what was going to happen next and when you'd be needed...It was definitely different than a standard day in the infirmary. Don't get me wrong...I love what I do. But I think I'd also like to go out in the field occasionally. It was so...different."
Sheppard smiled to the extent it almost hid the underlying pain. "Oh I know what you mean, Doc. Believe me. I've been missing it all these weeks while I was cooped up here. I'd be happy to have you along. I'll keep an eye out for missions where you might be helpful and let you know. If you're going to go out regularly, I need to check your weapons training myself."
"No problem. Just let me know what you want me to do and when," Nick responded eagerly.
Sheppard nodded. "I will. Might be a few days, though." He nodded toward his shoulder.
"I know. That's okay. Speaking of which, let's get you settled."
Sheppard leaned over and began trying to untie his shoelaces. He was fuzzy from the drugs and trying to undo the knot one-handed, so it took what seemed like forever. Nick started to offer to help, but then thought better of it. Sheppard seemed to crave a little independence. He finally got the knots undone and kicked his shoes off. Nick did step forward and help arrange the pillows behind Sheppard and helped Sheppard scoot around until he was semi-comfortable.
"How's that?" asked Nick.
"Not bad," replied Sheppard. He was having trouble finding a position that didn't put pressure on his shoulder or back. He finally seeemed to get settled and lay still, now looking completely worn out. "I think I've got it, now."
Nick pulled two bottles out of his labcoat pocket and placed them on the table. "Okay, Major, we've got two kinds of pain medication. One of them is mild and will knock the edge off the pain so you can still stay awake and function. The other one says it may make you drowsy. Personally, I think the warning should say it will knock you on your butt, because more than likely, that's what it will do. Only take that one if you are about to crawl into bed and stay a while. That should knock back the pain, even when it's pretty bad, and let you sleep. If that one doesn't handle the pain, you need to call us right away. Carson's note on his chart said he gave you something in your IV this afternoon. You shouldn't need anything more until...oh, about 2100 hours...maybe 2130. Someone will be by periodically to check on you, so don't lock your door. One of us will be by tomorrow to change your dressing and check the stitches. Can you think of anything else?"
"No..." said Sheppard, stifling a yawn. "I'm good."
Nick filled a glass of water and placed it on the table by the bed with the pills. He also checked to be sure Sheppard's radio was on the table and within reach. "Okay, Major. Looks like your set. I'll see you after while." He looked down at Sheppard to find his eyes already closed. "Good night, Major," he said softly as he quietly left the room.
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Sheppard watched in horror as the soldier tightened his grip on Teyla's throat, the look of pain evident on her face. "Help me, Major," she cried. Sheppard reached for his gun, but it wasn't there.
"I'm taking her with me...You'll never see her again." The soldier began backing toward the active stargate.
"No...don't take her." Sheppard shouted.
The soldier laughed and laughed. And then he was Kolya and he had Elizabeth. "I'm taking her with me and you'll never see her again." Kolya laughed at him as he backed into the event horizon, dragging Elizabeth with him.
"NO!" Sheppard tried to sit up, but the pain bolted through his shoulder before he got six inches off the bed and he instantly dropped back down. He grunted as the pressure of coming back down so suddenly jolted his shoulder, sending a wave of misery rolling through the right side of his torso.
"John?" The unexpected voice combined with the sudden touch on his arm caused him to pull back suddenly, further jerking his injured shoulder. He moaned and hissed in pain. feeling like someone had just stabbed him through the injury.
"John, it's Elizabeth. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Are...are you okay or should I call Nick?"
Sheppard eased back down againt the pillows, using his left hand to firmly press his upper right arm against his body. He worked on getting his eyes to open and focus. Fortunately the room was dark, making it easier to get his vision working properly. "Elizabeth...what...what are you doing here?" He looked around the room, trying to be sure he was really in his quarters and not the infirmary.
"I came to check on you. You were having a nightmare. I didn't mean to scare you like that."
Sheppard blinked a few times, still trying to get his bearings. "It's okay...you just...startled me. What time is it?"
Elizabeth looked at her watch. "Almost 10. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm okay now." He began trying to get his feet over the side of the bed and sit up. Elizabeth got on his left side so she could place her hands on his arm and back and help push him up to a sitting position."
"That better?" she asked.
He sturggled to his feet and she helped him get up. "Yeah...thanks...excuse me for a minute". He made his way to the bathroom, thinking this should be fun. By the time he emerged, she was getting worried.
"You okay?" she asked, a funny expression on her face.
Sheppard flushed. "Yeah...apparently I'm not good with zippers using just my left hand. I was almost desperate enough to call for help."
Elizabeth raised one eyebrow. "Now that could have been interesting."
Sheppard grinned and looked at the floor. "No doubt. Hey...let's go out on the balcony for a few minutes."
"John...it's late and you're supposed to stay in your quarters. I don't think that's such a good idea."
"Just for a few minutes. I need some air... to clear my head...get rid of that drugged, sluggish feeling, even if it's just for a few minutes." His eyes were pleading and she had such a hard time saying no to those eyes.
"Okay...but just for a few minutes. Carson will have my head if he knows I drug you outside just a little while after you were shot."
"Thanks," he said. They started for the door, with Sheppard walking gingerly.
"John...you don't have any shoes on."
Sheppard looked down at his bare feet and then over to his shoes. "Too much trouble. We won't be long."
Elizabeth sighed. "Carson really is going to kill me."
TBC
Winding down...hopefully.