Touched By An Ancient
By Ann3
Writer's note - thanks again for all the reviews, they've been much appreciated ! I'm going to try and get a new chapter posted each week from now on - more if I can manage it, Real Life permitting.
There aren't any spoilers as such, but reference is made to scenes in Rising and Thirty Eight Minutes. And from that scene in Letters From Pegasus, where he's recording the message to Sumner's family and states that not everyone has a family back home, I'm assuming that Shep has lost one or both of his parents - hence this chapter.
I've also guess-timated that Shep is slightly older than Carson, if only by a couple of years - rather like Joe Flanigan is to Paul McGillion.
Okay then, on with the show... :o)
Chapter Eight
…beep beep… beep beep… beep be… beep beep beep… beep beep beep… beep beep beep…
Even by the surreal, now mostly accepted quirks of life in the Pegasus galaxy, this was getting spooky. For the past twenty hours, their eyes had anxiously watched the heart monitor at Carson's bedside – reassured and yet slightly unsettled by the two barely separate signals which jumped across its screen.
After a worrying surge from one of them, a third now joined in this compellingly fascinating race – prompting a tiredly dry question from beside her as Kate checked and re-checked her readings.
"Jeez, doc, how many more Ascended Ancients do you think he can fit in there…?"
"You're asking me…?" Kate retorted, casting John Sheppard an equally irreverent grin in response. Enjoying the face he pulled in return, she then sighed, turning back to thoughtfully study her patient – brushing Carson's hair straight with, John noted, a gentleness beyond that of her professional training.
It caused his smile to widen, in genuine pride, with realising what that simple gesture signified. Carson Beckett wasn't just her patient. Not just her CMO. He was a friend. A good friend. Then again, he was a friend to everyone on the base, always there to offer that gentle, calming support.
It felt so damn wrong that none of those friends could reach him now, when he needed them most. So unfair that he should be facing these silent demons in his mind beyond all reach of their help. It had to be this way, of course. He knew that. But that didn't help John Sheppard feel any better.
A quietly concerned voice, the gentlest of hands on his shoulder, broke into still brooding thoughts.
"You should get some rest, Colonel… trust me, if there's any change, you'll be first to know…"
"Thanks, doc, but… no, I'm – I'm okay…" John assured her through yet another cavernous yawn – doggedly reassuring her, as only he could, even as his exhausted body continued to betray him. "'sides, with all the time he's spent sat here, fretting over me, it's kinda time I returned the favour…"
"Aye, there is that…" Kate chuckled, too tired herself to argue against such watertight logic. Instead she turned her attention to another of John Sheppard's equally notorious distinctions. "Can I get you anything…? Turkey sandwich…? King size pizza…? Ten course banquet…?"
"Very funny…" John muttered, not quite succeeding in keeping the appreciative smile from his face. With the ease of much practice, he then upped that smile to its full, glacier melting strength. "Though now you mention it, that pizza does sound good… then maybe some apple pie to go with it…?"
If he'd closed his eyes and gone by voice alone, not forgetting the allowance for age and gender – oh yes, the peeved mutter that followed could so easily have come from someone else.
"I'm a doctor, ye cheeky wee Sassenach… not a bloody skivvy…!"
On the verge of asking for a translation, John Sheppard then wisely thought better of it. He'd learned, from frequent and rueful experience, that making such requests was never a good idea. Instead he smiled his thanks for this welcome diversion, before turning back to more serious matters.
"I see you've got more company now, doc…" he said at last, still watching the screen beside him – waiting until Kate had moved out of earshot, before dropping his voice to a sadly admissive whisper.
"And I think I can guess who it is, 'cos… well, don't be mad at him, doc, but… see, Rodney told me... about your dad, I mean, and… well,you know already, that I lost mine too, when I was a kid… when I was the same age as you, in fact, so we never knew each other… in fact, the longest talk we ever had... well, I – I guess it was the time I had that damn bug round my neck, sucking the life out of me, and… well, let's just say I went through something kinda like what you're going through now…"
Pausing to re-compose himself, John then reached through that telltale glow to squeeze Carson's arm – offering the friend he regarded as a vulnerable younger brother one last piece of heartfelt advice.
"Looks like you're finding a lot to talk about too, doc… and I bet it just freaked you out at first, but… well, just make the most of this chance, Carson, you hear me…? I promise you, you won't regret it…"
Had that surrogate brother heard him…? More to the point, if he had, would he take any notice…?
Only time would tell, John Sheppard reflected, still studying that peaceful face. Only time would tell.