ABOUT A BABY...part 16

Radek stared at the computer screen. He had spent the past two and a half days stripping information off the hard drive that Ronon had brought back to Atlantis. He knew that somewhere in the data was the address that would lead them to finding Sheppard and Rodney. All he had to do was find it.

"Any luck, Doc?"

Flinching at the voice that was close behind him, Radek ended up tipping over his coffee mug. Luckily, it was empty. Still, he reached for it with a shaky hand, placing it upright again before turning on his stool to stare at the Major. "No...no luck yet." It hurt to admit that. It hurt them all.

Lorne laid a heavy hand on Zelenka's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "Maybe you need to take a break. Get some sleep, Doc. Then you can come at it again with a clear head."

"There's no time for sleep!" Radek protested.

"The Colonel and McKay have made it this far." Lorne made it a fact, not an assumption. "They can wait a little longer. If you don't get some sleep, you'll never find what you're looking for.

Radek wanted to argue with him, but the Major was right. He was long past exhaustion, which meant he was probably missing something vital. "I wish Rodney was here," Radek whispered, as he slid his glasses off so he could rub his tired eyes.

Lorne heaved a sigh that was heart felt. "Yeah...I feel the same about the Colonel. Having walked a mile in his shoes...I have a new respect and admiration for him. And I can't wait till he comes back home so he can have his job back."

"I feel the same about Rodney," Radek confessed, and he found himself smiling for the first time in what felt like forever. It helped knowing that he wasn't alone in his fears. Fears for himself, for Atlantis, and for the Colonel and McKay.

"Come on, Doc...I'll walk you to your room," Lorne stated.

Radek shook his head. "No, no...there is a couch in side room. I will sleep there. I need to be close...in case...well..." he wasn't sure how to explain what he meant. That he felt like he needed to be close to the computer. He could take it back to his room but he needed to be here. To be in this lab. Rodney's lab.

Lorne studied him a moment, seemed to reach some conclusion, then nodded. "Okay then. Just make sure you do sleep. I'll be checking on you."

"Like Sheppard would," Radek whispered. He knew his words reached the Major, because his step faltered as he reached the door. A half salute in response then Lorne was gone. Radek slid off his stool but he took one last look at the computer screen. It was a mass of blurred lines, everything jumbled together, just like the thoughts in his head. Just like his emotions.

Pushing away from the table, Radek stumbled into the other room and curled up on the cot in the corner. He closed his eyes but didn't drift off into sleep. Instead he remembered a prayer his grandmother had taught him as a child. A prayer for god to watch over family and friends. Radek whispered the prayer. Over and over again, until darkness claimed him.

OoO

Ronon found himself back-pedaling as Teyla attacked him. Her sticks were a blur and she was a body of pure motion that he could not ever hope to emulate. He was so focused on her grace that he ignored the ferocity of her attack and soon found himself stumbling. Never one to miss an opening, Teyla was on him in a heartbeat, taking him down hard. Ronon stayed down.

Teyla loomed over him, panting, body quivering and dusky skin slicked with sweat. "You were distracted," she said, her tone clipped. She looked disappointed.

"I'm not good with sticks," Ronon countered, in his own defense.

"You rely too much on brute force," Teyla shot back, and now she sounded angry.

Ronon felt a rising anger as he accepted her hand, making her work at pulling him to his feet. He understood why he was angry, why she was. They both were unsettled. Lost. Adrift without purpose. They needed the team back together. "It's all I know," he said after the silence between them became deafening in his ears.

Teyla flinched, visibly releasing the tension in her body before turning her back on him to grab a towel from the window seat.

"I've watched you fight with Sheppard," Ronon said, as he moved to join her. "He's pretty good."

"He is," Teyla allowed, as she handed him a bottle of water as if it were a peace offering.

Ronon accepted it as such and took a long drink, but he watched her as she began to pace. Teyla never paced.

After a moment she continued to comment. "Colonel Sheppard needs to practice more, but he is better than he lets on."

"He doesn't want to reveal too much of himself," Ronon interjected, handing back the water bottle. "Not to you. Not to anyone."

"He is so much more than he ever lets anyone see," Teyla allowed. Then she took a drink of water before recapping it and slipping it into her bag.

Ronon considered her words. "McKay is the opposite."

Teyla smiled at that. "They compliment each other."

"We need them back!" Ronon hissed. He was angry again. Furious that they were all so helpless.

"I know," Teyla whispered, as she touched Ronon's arm. Then she gathered her belongings and exited the room.

Ronon watched her go then stalked out after her, in search of some marines to fight.

OoO

Carson cooed at Lily as he gave her a check up. He couldn't help but smile as she batted her tiny fist at him, but the smile was a bit strained. He was worried about her. Worried that she wasn't eating or sleeping properly. Worried about what it meant. He felt Elizabeth's eyes on him, and he lifted his head to meet them.

"How is she?" Elizabeth asked, her voice edged with tension.

"She's tired and cranky and needs to eat and sleep more," Carson replied, knowing that wasn't what Elizabeth wanted to hear. He was about to say something else when Lily interrupted him.

"Da da da.." she sing-songed.

Carson blinked at her, wide-eyed. "Did she just say...?"

Elizabeth nodded softly. "Yeah...and John missed it. They both missed it." Her eyes glistened and she swiped at them angrily, with one hand.

"They'll be back to hear it soon enough," Carson replied, and it was an automatic response. No one would allow themselves to believe that the Colonel and McKay might be lost to them.

"Do you think Lily is getting worse?" Elizabeth asked, and she looked terrified by the question. Terrified, but determined.

Carson sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face, not certain what to say. "I think it's possible," he allowed. And it scared him to think that Lily might be mirroring Colonel Sheppard's condition. Mainly because he was certain that if Sheppard was sick or hurt, that it was being filtered by Lily. Which meant that it was far worse for the Colonel, wherever he was. The man hadn't been fully recovered as it was when he'd gone through the gate. Carson didn't want to even think about what condition he might be in now. Or Rodney for that matter. Kolya was cold-blooded and pissed at Sheppard. Carson had no doubt that he would make sure to punish both men.

Elizabeth scooped Lily off the exam table when she started to cry. "Will she be all right?"

"I don't know anything for sure, but I don't believe her condition will become life-threatening for her," Carson stated, as firmly as he could.

"I hope you're right," Elizabeth said, then she turned and walked off, whispering quietly to Lily.

Carson watched them go then breathed, "So do I."

OoO

John came awake with a jolt, his body feeling heavy and achy, chest tight. Pain throbbed in his temples but he forced his eyes open, needing to reassure himself that the image of Rodney, bloody body and dead, was nothing but a dream. "Rodney..." he croaked, only to find a cool hand on his forehead and a soft voice whispering to him to lie still. John knew it was her voice. The scientist lady. "Don't know your name," he mumbled, his tongue feeling thick in his mouth.

"It's Ava," she replied, then she held a cup of water to his lips.

John took a sip and it felt like heaven sliding down his throat. He got his eyes fully open and realized he was in the lab, not the cell. It spooked him to know he hadn't been aware of being moved. Spooked him enough that he felt panic twist in his belly. They must've fallen asleep…"Rodney!"

Ava gripped his arm and held him down. "He's fine. He's here with you."

That made the panic sharper in his gut. "Why? Why is he here? What happened?" John tried to focus, but his head ached and every muscle and joint in his body hurt.

"Kolya is using my serum on McKay," Ava replied, and she looked uneasy at the thought.

"No! You can't!" John felt the panic spike and he tried to sit up, tried to push Ava's hands off him. It scared him that she could hold him back so easily. But he couldn't let Rodney be injected again – he remembered finding the puncture site on Rodney's arm back in the cell. John knew Rodney would not be able to fight its effects for long. He would tell Kolya everything and hate himself for it. John was not going to let that happen.

Leaning in to him, Ava whispered, "There's another way, John."

The use of his first name made him freeze. She had never been so personal with him before. He wondered if it were a trap, only to realize he might not have a choice but to believe her. "What other way?" he prompted.

"Relax, rest, and I'll tell you," Ava countered. She moved away for a moment, only to return with a cool, damp cloth. She wiped John's face and neck with it, then let it rest against his forehead. "You're fever's up and you need to be still."

"I need to protect McKay," John shot back, but he tried to relax against the pillows because he really did feel like crap. Tired and weak and he didn't have time for this. Not if he wanted to help Rodney. "What can you do?"

Ava looked around the lab, then she whispered, "I can give him an injection of something else. But it will make him very sick and send him into a comatose state."

John felt nausea curl in his stomach at her words. "Will it kill him?" he asked.

"No." Ava locked eyes with John as she spoke, and there was no doubt in her gaze.

"Why would you do that?" John wondered. "Why help us?"

Ava hesitated then said, "I have my reasons."

John wanted to ask what they were, but he heard footsteps approaching and he knew they were out of time. "Do it!" he hissed at Ava. "It'll buy us some time. My people are coming for us." He said it as a fact, and didn't let the doubt stay. When she nodded and made to turn away, he gripped her wrist hard, pulling her back. "But if he dies...I will kill you," John promised.

"I believe you," Ava whispered, as she peeled his fingers off her wrist. She schooled her features into a neutral expression then turned to face the door, just as Kolya entered.

"Are they ready?" he asked, without preamble.

Ava nodded. "They are. But it's risky."

Kolya shrugged. "Do it." He moved to McKay's side. "Him first."

Rodney had been still and quiet, dozing thanks to a sedative he'd been given, but now he stirred at the sound of Kolya's voice. "Wha...what?" he stammered, as his eyes opened and he blinked hard.

John watched as Ava prepared a syringe. He focused on Rodney as the guards bound McKay's wrists to the gurney. He wanted to go to him, to tell him that everything would be all right, but he couldn't say anything. He was helpless, unable to do anything but watch this play out. John didn't' even have the faith within himself to pray at this moment. Instead he watched as Ava injected Rodney.

"What are you doing?" Rodney's voice was high pitched with panic, then he was looking at John, seeing him for the first time, blue eyes wide with fear. But the next moment they glazed over and Rodney's body was shuddering, convulsing.

"What's happening?" Kolya snarled at Ava.

She was brave enough to glare back at him. "I warned you not to do this!" she snapped. "He's having a seizure." She moved to McKay and worked over him for a moment, injecting him with something else which calmed the convulsions, leaving Rodney limp and still. Then she checked his vitals before announcing, "He's comatose."

Kolya looked furious. "Wake him up!"

"I can't. He might never wake up." Ava stood her ground. "I warned you this could happen."

"Yes, you did!" Kolya looked like he wanted to punch her, but he held his anger in check and moved to Sheppard's gurney. "Give him a double dose of the serum. I want answers to my questions and I want them now!"

Ava looked horrified. "It could kill him!"

Kolya didn't react. "Do as I say, or must I remind you of the consequences of your disobedience?"

"I don't need a reminder," Ava whispered, even as she turned and moved to the side table. She picked up a vial and a syringe, carefully measuring out a dosage. Then she moved to Sheppard's other side.

John knew that what would happen next was going to be bad. He could see it in Ava's dark eyes. But he held her gaze and nodded slightly, letting her know he would accept his fate. He sensed that she was as much a prisoner to Kolya as he and Rodney were. He would not let her put herself at risk any further. She had done what she could to help them and John appreciated it. So, he did nothing more than close his eyes and offer his arm. He felt the sting of the needle and the familiar cold rush through his veins.

In the blink of an eye, John felt the difference. The burning pain he was used to from the injections was now white-hot agony and he heard himself screaming. Felt his throat go raw, felt his body shuddering. He was aware of trying to get up as if he could escape the pain. He felt hands on him, holding him down. He heard voices shouting but the words sounded muffled and distorted, echoing inside his head.

Then suddenly, he stopped screaming.

Kolya watched as Sheppard went limp against the gurney, body trembling, chest heaving, as he panted for each breath. "What is the gate address for Atlantis?" Kolya demanded.

John saw the image of Lily. He felt himself reaching out to her. Connecting to her the way he had with Dreya. And the moment the connection was complete, he felt her sadness and her pain and it made him ache. He wanted to touch her and he felt the pull of something inside him. He remembered how it had felt, bonding with Chaya, and John reached for that connection, separating his mind and soul from his body, letting himself become something weightless and quicksilver, twisting out of him and drifting away.

He felt a calm serenity wash over him, even as his body stilled.

Kolya watched as Sheppard's body calmed, the trembling fading away. He watched Sheppard's eyes open and he moved into the line of sight, but there was no focus. Realization dawning, Kolya waved a hand in front of Sheppard's face, almost brushing over his eyes. There was no reaction. Furious, he turned on Ava. "What happened?"

"I told you it might kill him," she replied, and for her effort she got a fist in her face that sent her reeling back against the lab table.

"Fix them!" Kolya snarled. He pointed a finger at Sheppard. "He's your top priority!" Moving forward to loom over Ava, Kolya gripped her arm, hauling her upright. "Do you understand me?"

Ava nodded, licking at the blood from her split lip. "I understand," she croaked out. Then she slumped back as Kolya released her. She watched him storm out the door, not moving until it slammed closed behind him. Then she moved to Sheppard, fingers fumbling for a pulse. Relief washed over her as she felt it thump against her fingertips. "I hope your friends come soon, John," she whispered.

But Ava wondered if it was not already too late.

THE END...of part 16

AN: Okay rubs hands everyone ready for the Big Damn Rescue?