When Jen Wallace walked into the isolation room, ready to check on Major Sheppard, she was surprised to find a visitor with him. Dr. McKay slept slumped over in a chair, snoring softly. She shook his shoulder.
"Dr. McKay. What are you doing here?" Rodney's eyes snapped open.
"What? I..." He mumbled looking around.
"You aren't supposed to be here." The nurse admonished. "Major Sheppard needs rest."
"Is all right." John mumbled from the bed, now awake. Hearing his voice, the nurse turned from Rodney to her patient. "Major. Can you look at me for a moment?"
"Mmh." John tried, but couldn't really focus. He had a splitting head ache. Going back to sleep looked like a really good idea. He closed his eyes.
"Major, open your eyes." Someone tapped him on the cheek. The nurse pulled out a penlight and checked his pupils. "Are you having a head ache? Double vision? Nausea?"
Too many questions. John was just tired. "Headache. Blurry." Talking was hard.
Suddenly everyone started talking at once and Rodney was there, yelling and arguing with the nurse. They made John's head ache worse. Then Rodney's was leaning over him. "I'm sorry, Major. You are going to be okay."
John wanted to shake his head but it would have hurt too much. Suddenly Rodney was gone and nurse Tiny was back. "I radioed Dr. Kang. She'll want to run some tests." She face was more tense than usual. The bed started moving and everything went black.
oOo
Rodney had refused to leave the infirmary after the nurse had wheeled off John for tests. He'd seen the look on her face. There was something seriously wrong and he was going to find out. Rodney had settled in the main room of the infirmary when Carson came in.
"Carson. What's happening?" Rodney asked as soon as he spotted the physician.
"You are leaving the infirmary, that's what happening." Carson seemed seriously angry. "What were you thinking, Rodney?"
"I'm not going anywhere until I know how John is doing." Rodney crossed his arm in front of his chest. Carson could yell all he wanted.
"I don't care that you and John have issues to work you. Right now, John needs to rest and keep stress to a minimum. He didn't want to see anyone and you came in and start pestering him. No wondering his blood pressure his sky high!" Carson exclaimed.
Rodney paled. "He was already slurring words when I came last night!"
"And you didn't mention this to anyone? Why didn't call Jen immediately?" Carson exclaimed.
The enormity of his oversight only started to dawn on him now. "No...I thought it was because of his head. I didn't know..." Rodney stammered. He was suddenly feeling sick. He needed to know that John was going to be all right. "How..."
Carson didn't hear him. "What the hell were you thinking, Rodney? You were with him the whole night! He might have been bleeding in-"
The words were echoing inside his head, drowning out everything else. The infirmary started spinning, and Carson's voice disappeared into a swirl of white noise. Rodney's fingers curled around the edge of the bed, trying to hold on to something, but like a raging river, oblivion washed over him and swallowed him whole.
oOo
Rodney woke up to a familiar headache and immediately knew that nothing good had happened. He didn't need to open his eyes to have the feeling that everything was spinning. He cracked open an eye and saw a shadow move across his field of vision. A moment later, something warm touched his shoulder.
"Rodney, can you open your eyes for me?" The doctor's familiar voice sounded from the side.
Rodney turned his head to see Carson standing at his side. The physician looked tired. Rodney had the feeling that he should know why, but he couldn't drag up the memory.
"That's good." Carson approved and started checking his pulse. "How are you feeling?"
Rodney licked his lip. They felt dry and hot. "Hot, tired." His voice sounded raw.
Carson released his wrist and came back with a cup. "Here. Have a sip of water." Carson held the cup for Rodney as he drank. The water was soothing and left him wanting for more, but Carson had already removed the cup. His back turned to Rodney, Carson spoke. "Once the glucose IV has run through, Jen will do another blood sugar test. You are running a temperature of 101.2. Dr. Biro is running your blood test right now. She'll have the result in about an hour. I'd like you to stay for your anti-biotics, but of the test comes back clear, you can go back to your quarters after that."
Carson sounded angry and Rodney wasn't sure why.
"What happened?" He asked, realizing that his clothes had changed to scrubs and that an IV was stuck in his right hand.
"Carson turned, now looking genuinely annoyed. "I think you know best. You are not doing yourself any favours if your aren't drinking or eating, Rodney. The world isn't revolving around you. It wouldn't hurt you to think of others for one second."
It all came back to Rodney now. Visiting John, waking up in the morning, seeing the nurse rush away John. John had been bleeding internally, possibly dying and he'd not even noticed. Carson was right about him, he really did saw nothing but himself. Still, he needed to know.
"How's John?"
Carson was already a few steps away, but he turned back. His expression softened a bit.
"He's resting now." Carson paused. "He developed some bleeding on his brain."
"I thought that was under control?" Rodney was scared.
"We've had trouble getting the swelling on his brain under control. It's been almost two weeks since he was injured. Now, the pressure has caused a blood vessel to leak." Carson explained, sounding grave.
Rodney's heart sank. "He's had a hemorrhagic stroke?" He didn't want to believe it, but he'd heard what Carson had said.
"Yes." Carson nodded. "I'm afraid so. Fortunately, it was a relatively small stroke, affecting a limited area."
It had to be a nightmare, it had to be. Before Carson could continue, Rodney asked. "How bad is it?"
"He got lucky. We can't tell for sure until he wakes up and we can examine him. But our scans have confirmed that only a small area of his brain was affected." Carson said.
Rodney swallowed. At least something. "Can I see him?"
Carson shook his head. "We're aggressively trying to bring down the swelling inside his skull and he is sedated at the moment anyway. He needs to wake up as gently as possible. This isn't a good time to visit, especially with the issues you two have been having lately."
"He shouldn't wake up alone. I promise I won't upset him." Rodney persisted.
"Your track record lately hasn't exactly been impressive, Rodney. And I need you here for your anti-biotics." Carson said.
"I can sit with John while the IV is running." Rodney insisted. "I promise I'll call you as soon as there is anything." He felt the need to be there when John woke up. He could only image what John was going through right now. John didn't want his friends to be there for him, but he was wrong and Rodney was determined to prove it to him.
"All right. But you call me as soon as he shows any sign of waking. And if I tell you to leave, you do no fussing about." Carson laid out the rules.
Rodney nodded. "Whatever."
oOo
Somewhere in the distance, John heard beeping sounds that hadn't been there before. It sounded like the infirmary, but that made no sense, I was already there. He tried to open his eyes, but his body wouldn't co-operate. It took all he had, to get them open even a tiny bit. All he saw were white clouds. Suddenly blurred shape moved in front of his eyes and he could hear muffled sounds.
Then a clear shout.
"Carson. Come here. I think he's waking up."
John drifted off again.
oOo
"And, how is he?" Rodney shot up from his chair. Carson had threatened him with bodily harm if he didn't leave the infirmary after he'd chased him from the isolation room. In the make-shift waiting area, he'd meet Aiden and Teyla, who'd obviously heard about what'd happened and were waiting for news.
"He's still asleep." Carson replied. The three waiting expedition members were clearly disappointed.
"But he was waking up when I called you. I don't understand." Rodney said in confusion.
"He's sedated. It can take a while from him to wake up. And no, you can't go back in there. I don't need you yelling like crazy again." Carson returned.
"Will Major Sheppard be well again?" Teyla asked, speaking for the first time.
"Well, I won't speculate as to his existing injuries, since frankly we haven't much of an idea about them yet, but right now our biggest concern is the pressure that the swelling is causing on his brain. It's causing strain on the blood vessels on it could cause another rupture and there is no guarantee that it won't be more severe." Carson said sorrowfully.
"What can you do to help him?" Aiden asked.
"For the moment, we are treating him with steroids for the swelling and beta-blockers to keep his blood pressure down. He needs to keep as calm as possible. But that might not be enough. There are surgical options of relieving the pressure built-up." Carson explained. He didn't look too happy.
Rodney picked up on it. "What's the catch?"
"We didn't come prepared for these kinds of injuries. There is no qualified neurosurgeon on the expedition. We brought extensive medical documentation, but it isn't a substitute for experience. We are going through are medication supplies at a faster rate than anyone ever expected. In two months time, we'll be out of major pain killers and I doubt the sedatives will even last that long. The major will have to take blood thinners and beta-blockers even if we lower the pressure successfully. It's a difficult situation." Carson admitted. He hadn't meant to say all that. He wanted to give John's friends as much hope as he realistically could.
"You are a very skilled healer, Dr Beckett. Do not lose hope. I have faith in Major Sheppard's strength to get through this." Teyla said intently.
"I hope you are right about this." Aiden agreed, taking her hand. The young soldiers was still bound to a wheelchair, but had been released from the infirmary.
"Rodney, I believe you never had that blood test. Come." Carson said. He felt dead tired, even though it was early afternoon.
Rodney followed Carson into the infirmary and sat down in the exam table that Carson had indicated. The air was heavy with tension. He could tell that the events had taken a heavy toll on Carson, even more so then usually when a patient had taken a turn for the worse.
A little prick in his index finger and a minute later the result of his blood sugar test was in.
"Still on the low side, but I think we can forgo more glucose. A meal should do it, and then we'll see." Carson told him the results of his blood sugar test. "I'll see about the anti-body test now. I'll be back in a minute." Carson left for the medical labs.
Rodney wrapped his arms around himself. The truth was, he hadn't been feeling well since his release from the infirmary. He'd been feeling tired and run down. He'd chalked it up to the drugs. He'd not feeling hungry the last few days. The thought of hypoglycaemia had entered his mind and he'd felt the familiar symptoms, but it hadn't mattered to him.
Carson was coming back from the lab, a piece of paper in his hand. His face was a tired mask; Rodney couldn't tell what kind of news he was bringing.
"What's the verdict?" Rodney asked with more levity than he felt. In truth, he was terrified. His fear had only been pushed back by his worry for John.
"The infection is still festering." Carson sighed. "It hasn't spread further than your eye, and there has been a slight decrease in the levels of anti-bodies in your blood, but not really enough to say that the anti-biotics treatment has been effective."
Rodney lowered his head. This was turning into the worst day of his life. "What's next?"
"I wish we had more resources available. There might be some new or experimental drugs that could help. For now there are a few more modifications that I can make to your anti-biotics cocktail. Any one of them might do the trick." Carson said, rubbing a hand over his face, Rodney could tell that he wasn't holding out much hope.
"Lie down and relax. Jen will be over in a minute and get you settled in a bed." Carson said softly.
"Why?" Rodney asked, but in reality he didn't care.
"You had a couple of hard days. You are still slightly dehydrated, your blood sugar is low and your eye is infected." Carson reeled off the list. Rodney had the feeling that there was something else that Carson wanted to keep on eye on him, but he didn't protest, He lied down, closing his eyes.
Fifteen minutes later, he was curled up in a bed in the ward of the infirmary. He was covered with an extra blanket, he'd been shivering by the time the nurse, Jen, had arrived. She's ordered yet another blood test and had then set up another glucose IV.
Rodney was worn out, yet he couldn't seem to fall asleep. His mind was keeping his own hours. The thought of John wouldn't leave him. With the storm of events, he was only slowly starting to process the thought that it was his fault that John's condition had not been detected for hours. He had been bleeding inside his brain all night and he hadn't noticed. There was no excuse for that. He couldn't only hope that John would come out of this okay. But how much worse could it get, the man was already paralysed! Which was also his fault. Maybe he should just go back to Earth right now...
Earth! That was it. He'd been worried about being sent home all the time, without realizing that going back to Earth might be the answer. They could save John on Earth! Why hadn't he thought of this before? He should have realized it when Carson told him about their limited resources, but there was something better on Earth, Something better than neurosurgeons and anti-biotics. He'd read about this when he'd worked at area 51. The Tok'ra healing device. They'd be able to cure John. The realization shot through Rodney like a bolt of lightning.
Of course, he'd be stuck on Earth. At least until they'd found a way to gate to Atlantis. Or until the SGC built a ship with hyper drive engines. But better stuck on Earth than permanently paralysed, Rodney guessed. The SGC had been working on building ships with the Asgard hyper dive when they had left for Atlantis. How far off could they be? A few months maybe?
He had to talk to Elizabeth. She just had to agree and Rodney had a feeling she would. This could wait. No longer tired, Rodney pushed himself up in bed. He was just about to get rid of his IV when the nurse from early appeared out of thin air.
"You shouldn't be going anywhere, Dr. McKay." She scolded. "The IV stays in."
Rodney didn't have the time to bother with her. He pulled back the covers and swung his legs over the edge.
"It's urgent." He barked, ready to go for the IV needle again when he saw Carson hurrying towards him. He knew he was finished.
"Now what's going on here?" Rodney couldn't decide whether Carson was just tired or whether he was really pissed off.
"Dr. McKay insists on leaving." Nurse Nasty reported.
"Rodney, back into bed." Carson ordered in a long suffering tone. He threw to covers back over Rodney.
"Carson, listen, I need to talk to Elizabeth. It's important." Rodney pleaded, secretly glad to be under the warm covers again.
"I'm not keeping you here for fun." Carson said and pinched his nose. "After your IV has run through, I'll call her down here. Now try to rest."
"Thanks."
TBC