Title: For Naught 6/7

Thank you again for all your patience with the posting of this fic and the constant feedback. Squeeee!

Thanks again to NT and to Tipper- who doesn't know it but she helped me figure out part of this fic.

Enjoy!

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Rodney knew exactly where he was as soon as he began to wake up. No other beds in two galaxies were as hard and uncomfortable as the ones in Carson's infirmary. He felt like a truck had plowed into him;his earlier pain seemed dulled though he still ached all over. He started to shift, but panic seized him. Images of restraints, tight around his ankles and wrists, hit him so vividly he swore he could feel them again but then he remembered.

Sheppard had promised there'd be no more restraints.

Relief filled McKay as he moved his arm slowly, never second-guessing his faith in John's promise. The only resistance Rodney felt was the awkward, bruising discomfort of an IV taped to the back of his hand and the tubing that snaked up his arm. Curious, he flexed his wrist sharply and half smiled despite the painful twinge as a high pitched alarm began to sound.

He heard Carson's exasperated sigh and opened his eyes as the alarm immediately stopped. Beckett had been close by.

"Rodney," thedoctor greeted, his voice a mix of relief and annoyance,but his smile was warm. "How're you feeling this morning?"

Rodney felt a growing sense of déjà vu, looking up at Carson and tried to ignore the shame that came with it. He looked away and attempted to push himself up in the bed. "Numb," headmitted, finally, when he felt he could safely look at Beckett again and keep his emotions out of the way. "What happened?"

Carson busied himself adjusting McKay's pillows and the IVline, helping him settle. "You had a wee relapse and passed out on us."

"Wee?" Rodney scoffed. "Didn't feel like there was anything 'wee' about it," he pointed out, revealing his memory of what happened was well intact.

"I imagine not," Carson shook his head. "Your body is still dealing with a major shock. Though I think the majority of the enzyme is out of your system now, I don't know enough about its withdrawal symptoms and its aftereffects, as I'd like, especially after the dose you took. I want ya taking it easy until we're positive these—episodes—have passed for good."

When Rodney started to protest,Carson kept going. "I know there were extenuating circumstances earlier, you needed to be up and helping us find the Colonel and Ronon and Teyla as soon as you were able, but Rodney," He laid a hand on McKay's upper arm, "You've been through a serious ordeal here."

"I know that." Rodney shrugged defensively.

"Aye." Carson flickered up a moment before he refocused on McKay again. "You know a lot of things, now start believing them." He patted McKay's arm. "Rest," he ordered before moving away.

Rodney scowled. What did Carson mean by that? Start believing what? And…wait… "Hey, aren't you going to feed me? I could use some food here, I'm starving!" He raised his voice,but Carson kept on going, effectively ignoring him. "Thirsty, too," Rodney half pouted, feeling a bit deserted.

"Water's right beside you."

McKay jumped and yelped, whipping his head around to find John sitting casually on the empty bed beside him. "Geez, Sheppard. Good work," he gasped. "Way to startle the crazy man."

"A crazy man would have been tied down," John smirked, hopping off the bed. He grabbed a large mug of water, adjusted the straw and held it for Rodney. "Here."

McKay rolled his eyes and snatched the mug from Sheppard's hands. " I can do it." He sipped the water and made a point not to look at the Colonel. God, the man must think he really had lost his last marble the way he'd acted out on the balcony, the things he'd said—shouted—screamed. Unfortunately he could remember a lot more than he wanted to. Finally he handed the mug back to John. "Thanks," he muttered, catching his friend's gaze. "For that and," he gestured to the unused restraints tucked down on either side of him.

"No problem." Sheppard set the mug down but didn't move back to his perch on the other bed. "Least I could do."

Rodney frowned. "Could have brought me something to eat," he said pointedly.

"Where do you think Ronon is?"

"Really?" Rodney's eyes widened with surprise. "Does he know I can't have…"

"He knows, McKay." John cut him off. "I'm fairly certain by now—everyone in the Pegasus galaxy knows what you can and can't eat."

Rodney eyed John suspiciously, wondering if he should be offended by the Colonel's tone or not.

"You missed this morning's briefing." John's lack of segue caught McKay off guard.

"What?"

"Slept right through it."

"Well yeah." Rodney mentally caught up and gestured again to his prone form. "Out of commission," he informed, trying to hide his discomfort with the whole subject. "I miss much?"

A slow smile spread across Sheppard's face and Rodney got the sinking feeling that he'd just waltzed into a perfectly laid trap.

"A lot actually."

"Hmm." Mckay was doubtful. He leaned back into his pillows. "The adventures of Colonel John Sheppard and his merry band of junkies."

"Rodney," John leaned his hip against the edge of McKay's bed, turning to face him.

"Am I wrong?"

"Well no, but…"

"Then don't 'Rodney' me," McKay mimicked and closed his eyes. He really didn't want to go into this now. He finally felt half sane and he didn't want to revisit the feeling that John seemed intent on digging at.

"But you are wrong about a few other facts." John's comment surprised him and he opened his eyes again.

"What facts?" hedemanded.

"Important ones. For instance—the fact that without your help, I'd have never been able to fly the dart."

Scowling, Rodney realized where Sheppard was going with this. "Right, because no one else could have interfaced the Atlantis and Wraith technology," hefinished sarcastically. "That was back on Ford's world and had nothing to do with you on the Hive ship."

"Not that dart. Do you thinkI was able to find the exact same ship we flew in on when we were escaping? Barely had time to grab the one I got."

"Really?" Curiosity over John's escape had McKay listening despite himself.

Sheppard nodded, looking pleased with himself for gaining Rodney's full attention at last. " This one was set up all different, but from the things you showed me on the first dart, I was able to at least improvise. Ford helped me escape from the queen." John's eyes darkened. "But by the time I got to Ronon and Teyla everything was chaos. Alarms were going off. I had no idea what had happened to Ford. Theculling had started. Darts were flying everywhere and I wasn't sure I'dbe able to grab a dartwithout being detected."

"How did you?"

"They were pretty distracted by something else. Didn't even look my way."

Were the Wraith so focused on the culling they hadn't bothered with Sheppard? It didn't make sense to Rodney. TheWraith would never have just let John escape. "By what?" he demanded. "They wouldn't just let you go."

"Don't think they fell for my charming personality?" John teased.

Rodney snorted. "Well, the queen is an alien chick."

"Ouch," Sheppard winced and pretend to stumble backwards as if struck.

"Knock it off." McKay found himself grinning. "What do you think happened?"

John sobered immediately. "You."