It is Teyla who is sitting by Colonel Sheppard's bed when he finally awakens.
Hours have passed since Dr Beckett explained the Colonel's illness to them. Carson won't allow too many people to clutter up his infirmary so the members of Sheppard's team have fallen into a kind of unofficial rota, taking it in turns to sit with the Colonel. Rodney had taken the first shift by virtue of installing himself in a seat by the Colonel's bed and refusing to leave. He'd given up his turn reluctantly, only conceding defeat when Ronon had loomed over him menacingly, not saying a word, but the expression on his face speaking volumes.
As it turned out, Ronon hadn't stayed long; it was not in his nature to wait patiently. Sitting around with nothing to do made him restless. He had been pacing beside the bed when Teyla had entered the infirmary and the look on Carson's face had made it clear he'd about reached the end of his tether with the fidgeting Satedan.
Dr Beckett has been an almost constant presence during the hours since Sheppard's collapse, dividing his time between the Colonel's bedside, where he checks vitals and monitors Sheppard's progress, and his desk at the far end of the room where he pores over test results, discussing prognoses and treatments options with his team. He is seated at his desk, his face a frown of concentration, when Colonel Sheppard's eyes flutter and open.
"Dr Beckett?" Teyla keeps her voice low, not wishing to startle the sleepy Colonel, but Carson's head jerks up immediately and he hurries over to join them.
Sheppard is still restless and shivering, his skin bathed in a hot sweat that plasters his hair to his forehead. His eyes are open but they are glassy, unfocused; he seems to look right through Teyla.
"Colonel Sheppard?" Carson's voice is gentle, soothing. "Are you with us, son?"
Sheppard's head turns towards the sound but he is sluggish, confused, his gaze sliding past Dr Beckett vacantly.
"Colonel?" Carson's tone is sharper now, demanding. "Do you know where you are, Colonel?"
Sheppard flinches, startled by the voice, and he blinks owlishly.
"M'cold.." he mumbles quietly. His voice is dry, little more than a cracked whisper
"I know, son. You're in the infirmary. You have a fever"
Sheppard frowns and Teyla cannot discern if he is in pain or perhaps struggling to concentrate. She looks questioningly at Carson and finds a matching frown on the doctor's face. Sheppard shivers again and closes his eyes, turning his head away from Dr Beckett.
"Colonel Sheppard," Carson continues to push. "This is important, son. I need to know if you remember hurting your leg? You've a wee scratch on your right leg, Colonel. Do you know how you got it?"
Sheppard mumbles something under his breath but his eyes remain closed and he rolls onto his side, curling his body into itself, hugging himself against the shivering. Carson sighs in defeat, an expression of resignation on his face.
Teyla watches the Colonel as he shivers restlessly. His frown deepens as his muscles tense against the tremors. She leans forward and takes his hand, having to worm her small fingers into his tightly clenched fist. His eyelids flutter and he sighs.
"Colonel Sheppard? It is Teyla." His eyes open slowly and this time he seems to look right at her. He is curled up in the infirmary bed, facing towards her, the sheets tangled around his body, his face flushed and damp with sweat. His eyes look huge in his face, still glassy and struggling to focus. He breathes out softly, a sigh of air so quiet that only she is close enough to hear the whispered word, "Teyla.."
"Yes, Colonel." She smiles in genuine pleasure at his recognition. "I am here."
His lips curve in the smallest of smiles. His eyes are fixed on hers now.
A shiver runs through him and his smile is gone, replaced once more by the crease of a frown across his forehead. His grip tightens around her hand. She looks up at Carson in consternation.
"Dr Beckett? He seems to be in some pain?"
Carson checks the various machines that surround the Colonel's bed, moving around to crouch beside Teyla, reaching across her extended arm to hold Sheppard's eyelids open whilst he shines his pen flashlight into his eyes. The Colonel barely reacts to the bright light, his eyes staying locked on hers. His breathing is quiet but rapid.
"His heart rate is elevated but that's quite common with a fever," Carson muses. He leans forward, trying to catch the Colonel's drowsy attention. "Colonel Sheppard? Are you in any pain, son?"
Sheppard mumbles something intelligible but Teyla could almost swear she hears the words "I'm good" in there somewhere. Carson obviously thinks likewise as he straightens up with a sigh of exasperation.
"You'll be turning me prematurely grey, lad," he chides the semi-conscious Colonel with rueful good-nature. He takes a moment to scribble something on Sheppard's chart and, with a gentle smile for Teyla, leaves.
Colonel Sheppard is still clutching her hand, his eyelids drooping over clouded hazel eyes.
"Colonel Sheppard?" His eyes are fluttering closed now, his breath hitching as another shiver runs through him.
"John?" He smiles sleepily and his eyes open again, seeking out her face.
"John, do you remember how you scratched your leg?" He frowns, confusion apparent on his face.
"A small scratch, John, on your right leg. A minor thing, barely felt. Do you remember at all?"
His eyelids slip closed again and for a moment she thinks he is gone, sinking back into unconsciousness, but then his lips move and she has to lean close to hear the mumbled words, his breath a whisper against her cheek.
"Caught my pants on something. Ruins. PM4-77G."
She leans back with a smile. "Thank you, John."
His eyes open for a moment, bright and glassy in his fever-drawn face, and he flashes her a smile that is classic John Sheppard, a brief glimpse of the strong, compassionate leader she has come to know.
When Carson returns bearing a syringe, Sheppard's eyes have closed again and Teyla is brushing the sweat-damp hair back from his brow. The Colonel continues to shiver and tremble, his hand squeezing Teyla's with each tremor.
Carson swabs the IV port and slowly pushes a dose of pain medication into Sheppard's IV, watching carefully for the Colonel's reaction. Sheppard's shivering continues, his breathing rapid, but slowly and surely his body relaxes, a barely-noticed tension seeping from his muscles.
"Aches and pains are common with fevers," Carson explains, "particularly headaches and joint pain." He shakes his head, mildly annoyed at himself, "I should have suspected something, knowing the Colonel's propensity for keeping these things to himself."
Teyla smiles up at the gentle Scotsman. "You could not have known anything was amiss," she reassures him, "the Colonel is well-practised at hiding his pain."
She glanced down at the her sleeping team leader. His hand is now limp and relaxed in hers and she gives it a gentle squeeze before sliding her hand free. She is surprised to see the hint of a smile flit across Sheppard's face before she turns back to Carson. "I believe he does not wish to be seen to complain," she smiles ruefully.
Beckett nods and instinctively extends a hand as she makes to rise from the chair. She accepts gracefully and stands, stretching out muscles gone stiff after a couple of hours sat in one position.
"I may have some more information about the Colonel's condition," she informs Carson seriously as he makes to return to his notes and test results. The doctor stops in his tracks.
"Really? Did the Colonel say something to you?"
She nods. "He said he caught his pants on something in the ruins we explored during our last mission."
She can't help but smile as Carson all but claps his hands in delight. "Teyla, my dear, that may be the very answer we need! My test results haven't been able to pin down this bacteria but a sample from the planet would allow us to target the infection with the right antibiotics!"
Teyla needs no more encouragement than that. "I will get Ronon and Dr McKay. We will leave at once."
She leaves Carson to care for Colonel Sheppard and goes to find her team-mates – at last there is something they can do the help the Colonel.