When It Snows (part 10)
The sound of someone softly humming tugged at the sleeping physician's consciousness, and when a warm hand pressed against his scruffy cheek, he instinctively leaned towards it, the sensation drawing him like a moth to a flame. "T'la," Carson murmured, too weak to open his eyes and see that it was a stranger at his side.
"Shhhh…," a feminine voice encouraged while she made notes of readouts of the various machines surrounding the bedside. Once finished, she readjusted the several layers of blankets before smiling down at her charge.
"How's he doing?"
The nurse smiled over her shoulder at the tall, thin man entering the room. Another visitor from Atlantis, she told herself. When the man stopped at the bed and rested his hand on the doctor's shoulder for a moment while taking in every nuance of the sleeping man's condition, she noticed the obvious concern he had for his teammate. "He is resting peacefully."
The man nodded, his shoulders dropping with a sigh as he pulled a stool over to sit on. His dark green eyes looked up to meet hers for the first time and he smiled a smile that would charm a grandmother to give up her fresh baked cookies. "It's pretty rare to see him on this side of the bed. He's not giving you any trouble, is he?"
Her smile grew, a twinkle highlighting her own dark green eyes. "No, but I've had my own share of dealing with doctors, and I'm certain I can handle your friend."
Another nod and the smile faded. "I'm Colonel John Sheppard," he said, standing again and holding out his hand.
"Prem Nex," she replied before taking his hand and holding it firmly in her own.
"Nex? Any relation to…" Sheppard waved his free hand towards the other room.
"Chal is my son." She released his hand while enjoying the look of disbelief cross his face as he sat back on the stool. "My youngest son," Prem added with a soft chuckle.
"Youngest," he repeated and grinned, cocking an eyebrow mischievously in her direction, "The ladies on Atlantis find out your secret and you won't be able to keep them away." For some reason after he said that, his smile slipped and he refocused his attention on his sleeping friend. "When we get back," he reaffirmed to himself.
Prem waited briefly before picking up another blanket and making her way to the opposite side of the bed where the young man sat. In one quick move she had the material draped over his shoulders before he could protest. A motherly pat to his arm and she left the room in search of her youngest.
His feet hooked on a bar running across the middle of the stool, elbows propped on his knees, Sheppard watched Beckett sleep. "Something's up with McKay, Doc, and it's looking like it's gonna be awhile before we get home. Any chance you might wake up soon and fill me in? He's over there half out of his mind with some sort of a fever, yelling about people falling through ice and dying. Something about Radek." He frowned, pieces of the puzzle shifting in his mind. "You three were together in Antarctica, weren't you? I've read all your files and you all were part of the initial team to work on the Ancient base."
Carson stirred beneath the cocoon of warm blankets, his brows drawing close together in sleep filled thought. On the very edge of consciousness, he could hear Sheppard speaking to him, and he knew he should answer but the all encompassing exhaustion left his brain feeling like he was trapped in a bog. Still, the colonel needed to know. Anchoring his reserves on Sheppard's voice, he followed the sound until he found himself blearily staring at the hunched figure on the stool. "Colonel."
The word, no more than a puff of air passing the doctor's lips, caused Sheppard to jerk unexpectedly, his eyes locking onto Beckett's. "Doc?" A heavy blink answered him and he grinned. "Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked, leaning close to the bed so that his friend could see him better.
Carson's mouth worked but no more words came out.
"You warm enough?"
Another blink.
Sheppard gripped Beckett's blanket covered arm, "You are going to be okay. In a few days, you should be up and about. And by then we'll all be back on Atlantis."
Sleep was pressing heavily on the physician, but he had to know. Slowly he attempted to wet his lips, hoping to relieve the sticky dryness, when he felt a straw touch his mouth. He could make out Sheppard leaning close to his face, concern and lack of sleep filling the colonel's face with deep lines and bags. The straw tapped his lips again and he drew a small amount of liquid into his mouth, holding it there before letting it slide down his parched throat. When he didn't take more, the cup was pulled away and set out of view.
"Want me to get Dr. Nex?"
He slowly shook his head 'no', his eyelids succumbing to the heavy pull of sleep. Once again on the edge of darkness, he forced his lids back open for a final moment. "Accident," he whispered, hoping that somehow the colonel understood what he was trying to say. The confused gaze meeting his own let him know that he'd failed, and he let go to slide back into the nameless void.
The soft hum of the monitors surrounding Beckett, the murmur of voices off in distant rooms, and an occasional groan of the roof above being battered from the storm outside, filled the room in an oddly comforting sort of way. Leaning forward to rest his head and arms on the side of the bed, Sheppard allowed sleep to claim him as well, while his mind still wrestled with the events of the past day.
SG: A
A thump from the outer hallway jerked Ronon instantly awake from his light doze. He sat still; alert and waiting to hear what it was that had startled him, only to relax at the sound of the doctor and someone else speaking softly.
When the voices continued on past the room, the runner took a closer inspection of the where he'd chosen to rest. Teyla still lay curled up on the bed beneath several blankets, deep in sleep. A small light had been turned on in the corner of the room to give off just enough light without disturbing the occupants. And somehow, someone had draped a blanket over him without waking him.
He set it aside and pulled himself to his feet, the final vestiges of sleep shaken off, leaving him ready to check on the rest of his team. A final glance at Teyla, and he slipped from the room, heading down the deserted hall.
He discovered Sheppard with Beckett first. The physician had some color back in his face and was sleeping peacefully, while the colonel appeared agitated, his eyes moving rapidly beneath his closed lids. Not wanting to disturb either man, he headed next to check in on Rodney.
Dr. Nex was standing just inside the doorway to McKay's room speaking quietly with a nurse. When he saw Ronon approach, he stepped aside and made room for the tall man to join them.
"How is he?" Dex asked, nodding towards Rodney's bed.
"We've been able to bring his fever down and make him more comfortable, but there's no sign that the virus is breaking up in his chest." Ronon's continued silence made the doctor study him closely. "How are you feeling? Any irritation to your throat? How's your arm?"
Uncomfortable with the attention, Ronon avoided the doctor by walking over to McKay's bedside, only to have the man follow him. "Fine," he grunted, in hopes of warding off any further questions. Getting his first up close look at Rodney, it was hard to miss the mask strapped over the scientist's mouth and nose, a fine mist rising and disappearing with every breath. "What's that?"
"I'm giving him breathing treatments to help keep his lungs strong and to ease the pressure in his chest. They seem to be helping."
"Has he been asleep since we left?"
"For the most part, yes. He has mumbled a few times, but nothing coherent enough for anyone to understand."
Ronon took up an abandoned stool from the opposite side of the room and sat down next to Rodney. "I'll stay with him." His arms folded across his chest, his face unreadable mask, he looked every part of a sentry on watch.
"If you need me," Dr. Nex started to say, but then shrugged and left the room. His instincts told him nothing would happen to Dr. McKay during his absence.
SG: A
The morning passed slowly as the storm continued to rage outside. Several more search parties had returned during the early hours, sharing stories of what they had encountered. It was speculated by many that a storm such as this one had not been encountered in over one hundred cycles. By mid-day, all teams had returned but one, and the villagers grew concerned as they stood about the large open hall heated by the briskly burning fireplace in the center of the room.
Sheppard had joined them after waking up with a stiff neck and back at Beckett's bedside. After a brief chat with the villager's good doctor, he'd made his way over to check on McKay and discovered Ronon keeping an eye on the scientist. Satisfied that all that could be done was being done for their friends, the two men headed out together in search of something to eat. They found an open space at one of the long tables and soon had plates of steaming food placed before them.
Mathis and Johan arrived soon after, taking up seats across from Dex and Sheppard. Rested and fed, the four men listened as the director of the search parties stood on one of the tables, issuing orders on how they were to find the lost team. Five groups of four would go out this time, experienced trackers only. No matter what their situation, they were to return to the lodge by evening and if one were to become lost, additional teams would not be sent until after the storm dissipated.
Before Sheppard had the chance to offer, Mathis had volunteered to go back out with his son, and then turned to look questioningly at the two strangers.
"You up for going back out?" the colonel asked Ronon.
The runner looked refreshed and ready, "Let me get my gear."
Mathis gave a curt nod before working his way through the people to meet with the director. The others back at the table could see the leader glance their way in surprise, but then nod at whatever Mathis was telling them. In the end, the villager returned, looking successful. "We are to be the fifth team."
The group quickly disbanded to get what they needed before meeting back outside at the sled. Ronon was in charge of gathering his and Sheppard's gear, while Sheppard went to inform Teyla and do one final check on the doctors.
He wasn't surprised to find her sitting at Beckett's side, her fingers tracing a mindless pattern over the back of the physician's hand. "You get to stay here and keep an eye on these two while we're gone. Make sure they behave themselves and keep the feuding down to a dull roar." When she didn't smile, he gave her a reassuring pat to the shoulder, "We're going home soon. Keep your radio handy. Ronon and I will both have ours if something should happen."
"Take care, Colonel."
He gave her a quick nod and then went to check on McKay.
The scientist had rolled over on his side, curled up under a single blanket. He looked miserable but the raspy breathing from earlier was noticeably less labored.
Sheppard reached out and pulled the blanket back over McKay's shoulders, surprised when the scientist shifted and looked up at him. "Hey."
Rodney coughed and curled up tighter. "I feel like crap," he mumbled miserably.
"You look like it too."
Red rimmed, watery blue eyes attempted to glare back at the comment, but instead the scientist just groaned, tucking his head closer to his chest, coughing. "Where's Carson?" he whispered hoarsely, once the latest fit passed.
"Room right next door. Dr. Nex is keeping you apart because you, my friend, didn't get inoculated against the nasty bug Beckett came to save the planet from."
Rodney remained silent a moment, concentrating on his breathing instead of talking. "He gave me a shot before we left," he said with a sniff and a sigh.
"Well, something went wrong because you are a mess, and have to be kept away from everyone else."
"Wond'rful. 'splains a lot."
Sheppard had to lean forward to hear what McKay was saying. "What's that?"
"Gonna kill him when I feel better." With his head tipped over the side of the bed, he let loose another series of deep coughs.
Sheppard stood quietly at his side, rubbing soothing circles on the tired man's back until he once again could breathe. Helping Rodney straighten back up, he waited until the scientist opened his eyes and looked at him again. "I'm going out with Ronon to do a little search and rescue op. Shouldn't be gone too long. You be here when I get back, okay?"
Rodney nodded slowly.
"Good. Someone needs to keep an eye on Teyla and I'm counting on you. She's been too quiet since we got here. Think you can do that for me?"
The scientist blinked heavily, his head tipped towards his chest, and he fell asleep.
"Sheppard?" Ronon's voice came clearly over the radio.
"On my way," he replied with one final pat to the scientist's foot before heading out.
TBC