"Major Sheppard to the infirmary. Now." John's head snapped up from the latest report, something about the power distribution system Rodney had came up with.
"Is she awake?" his voice shook slightly
"Not yet, but we're getting rapid eye movement. I'd say she'll be awake in a few minutes."
"Alright Carson, I'm on my way." He stood, and walked to the transporter. His stomach was clenching, he felt ill.
He arrived at the infirmary. He paused, staring at the door. He started to check himself over, then stopped. Why the hell would she care if he looked tired? He walked in. Carson and a nurse were standing over Elizabeth. She looked so calm, so peaceful. The bruises on her face were already starting to fade, and someone had combed out her hair. Carson turned
"She's starting to wake up. Major, are you sure you want to be here for this?"
"I have to be here." Carson nodded
"Aye, alright."
"Doctor!" The nurse called out to them.
Elizabeth started to move slowly, her eyes opening. Carson leaned over her.
"Elizabeth? Can you hear me?"
She nodded, slowly, carefully
"Yes Carson I can hear you. What happened?"
"You ran into some trouble off world. You have bruising on your face, but that's going down. Your arm is broken, but that will be fine as well."
John just stood there, watching. He wanted to run, wanted to escape what was coming. Carson looked at him briefly, then turned back.
"Elizabeth, there's something I need you to do." He put one hand on her foot. "Can you feel that?" Her face showed her confusion.
"Feel what? I don't understand." John gasped, and sank into a chair. Carson winced, then became professional again.
"Elizabeth, I need you to try and move your legs. Just focus on that."
He stared at her, as her face showed first confusion. Then, a terrifying look of fear slowly formed.
"I, I can't feel my legs. I can't move them. Carson, what the hell happened!" Her eyes were wide, staring. Accusing.
"Elizabeth, I am so sorry to tell you this, but you were shot in the lower back. The bullet hit your spine and caused nerve damage. It seems that you are now…" His voice trailed off
"That I am now what Carson?" She was scared, more scared than she had been when that bastard Kolya was holding her. He couldn't take it, couldn't watch her wait.
"Doc, tell her. Please." Elizabeth turned to him. She hadn't even realised he was there.
"Tell me what!" Carson nodded slowly.
"Elizabeth, I think that the bullet has severed nerves in your spine that link your legs and your brain. You're paralysed." She gasped in shock and horror, and her hands tightened into fists. John stood up and moved closer to her.
"Carson told me that there are some treatments that he can try. This may not be permanent." She looked up, hope showing in her eyes.
"Carson?" Carson glared at John for a moment, clearly angry that he had said anything.
"Aye, there is a chance. The Ancient technology is extremely sophisticated, and there is a chance that in time the nerves will regrow." Elizabeth stared at them.
"A chance? How good a chance?" Carson grimaced slightly; he clearly had not wanted to get into the details so soon.
"I've got to be honest with you Elizabeth. There is only a twenty percent chance that you will ever walk again." Her eyes closed, her head sank down onto her chest.
"I see. Thank you for being honest with me Carson. I'd, I'd like to have some time alone if you don't mind."
"Of course. I can't tell you how…" Carson trailed off, he looked at John and shrugged helplessly. John suddenly realised that he wasn't the only one feeling guilty. Carson had access to some of the most advanced medical technology ever made by humans or Ancients, and yet he was powerless. As Carson walked off, John saw the same helplessness that he had seen in himself.
Elizabeth just lay there, so quiet it was hard to tell she was awake. Then he saw the tears slowly sliding down her cheeks. He couldn't take it. He moved over to her, and took her hand in his. Her eyes opened, and he could see the pain etched on her face.
"John please, I just, I need to be alone." He shook his head.
"I'm not going anywhere. You can yell at me, order me out of here, but no way in hell am I leaving you alone like this." He blinked, trying to hold back the tears in his eyes.
"John, I'm never going to walk again"
"Don't say that. The doc said there's a chance, there's a lot of technology in this city. We'll find a way Liz" She shook her head a simple gesture of defeat that cut him to the bone.
"Twenty percent? With the Ancient therapies? I guess I'm going to have to get used to sitting. I guess I will have to get used to a lot of things." The tears streaming down her face were now mirrored by his, their hands were both shaking.
"John, I'm scared." He said nothing, just leaned down and slid his arms around her trembling body as she clung to him desperately. He tried to find words, something to comfort her, but his mind was blank. Finally, he said
"We'll find a way to make this work. You'll still be the leader of this expedition. No one is going to think any less of you." She couldn't miss the slight emphasis on his last word, and she pulled away from him. Her head tilted slightly, a familiar gesture.
"John, what is it?" He paused, considering. No. This wasn't the time. This wasn't the time to tell her why she was paralysed. That it was his fault.
"Forget it Liz, you've got enough on your mind. I've taken over as leader temporarily, just until you're able to work again." Her eyes continued to bore into him.
"Really, it's not important." He stood. "I've umm, I've gotta go. Work." He grinned slightly "You'd have to be crazy to want to run this city."
She smiled, a small thing in comparison to how he used to make her smile, but at that moment it meant the world.
"Tell me about it. You'd better get back to it though." He nodded, and started to walk out the door.
"John?" He turned back.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For not leaving me." He nodded, turned again, and left the infirmary.
To be continued...
(Ok I know I'm going to get flames for this, but trust me when I say it's necessary. Hope you're enjoying this.)