I know you're all about to pass out at this rapid update. g I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Eight

not mine, don't sue

as always thanks to my beta :)

John's boots slammed against the metal floor of the hallway as he raced toward the infirmary. He could hear the echo's of his teammates footsteps a little further behind him.

John's mind kept replaying Elizabeth's words over and over again. "He's alive"
According to Major Lorne they had found him on a small ledge fifteen feet down, a damn piece of rock jutting out of the canyon wall had succeeded where he had failed. It had saved his friend's life.

The bounty hunter hadn't been so lucky, he'd fallen all the way down. That knowledge made John feel slightly better. John couldn't shake the feeling he had abandoned Rodney, despite Weir's assurances that from his position Rodney would have been near impossible to see. Or that since McKay was unconscious he wouldn't have heard him call out for him.

None of those excuses meant anything to John. He should have looked harder, Rodney could have bled to death from his injuries lying there...alone.

John rounded the last corner, his goal was in sight. Carson was preparing his friend for surgery. There was the possibility of internal bleeding and quite a few broken bones, not to mention one hell of a concussion. John hadn't stuck around to let Elizabeth finish her debrief, once he had know that Rodney was back on Atlantis he'd headed to the infirmary.

John had to see him before Dr. Beckett operated, he just needed to see that Rodney was alive for himself. He needed to let him know he was there, even if Rodney wasn't awake.

Sheppard barreled into the infirmary and was confronted with a very surprised Doctor and two nurses staring at him.

John slowed his breaths and walked a few steps closer to the gurney his friend was lying unmoving on.

"Colonel, you can't be here." Carson was holding up his already gloved hands in an expression of slight regret.

John met Beckett's gaze. "I need to be here...please I just need..."

A flicker of understanding passed over Carson's face.

"Ya have one minute, he's stable at the moment but I've got to sedate him shortly."

"He's awake?" John blurted.

Carson nodded. "Kind of."

John swallowed, taking five steps to bring him to Rodney's side. His friend looked like shit. White as a ghost, dark sunken in eyes, his head was bandaged at the top and dried blood had crusted on various cuts all over his face, neck, and arms. His right arm was already in a splint, probably jury-rigged by the field medic on Lorne's team.

Sheppard leaned over so his face was directly in front of McKay's. Blood shot, pain filled eyes slowly focused on him.

John took Rodney's undamaged hand and squeezed.

"You're late." Rodney's hoarse and weak voice floated into his ears.

It was the best sound John had ever heard and he smiled in response. Even now he manages to be a smart ass.

"I'm sorry Rodney." John hoped his friend understood the deeper meaning behind his words. There was so much more to say, but no time at the moment.

"I know, me too," he squeezed John's hand, hard, and managed a smile.

He knows.

"John." Carson's gentle voice drew his attention.

John nodded and patted his friend's cheek. He leaned in quickly and whispered, "Come back to us."

Then he backed away as the nurse placed a mask over Rodney's face and told him to count back from one-hundred. Rodney began counting but his eyes never left John until the gas took effect and his hand went limp.

Reluctantly Sheppard released his grip and quietly stepped out of the way.

Carson gave him an encouraging smile as he pulled the curtain back and went to work.

John leaned against the wall behind him and did something he hadn't done in years.

He prayed.

A soft hand rested on his tense shoulder and he jumped slightly.

"I am sorry Colonel."

John turned and for the first time noticed the rest of his team hovering behind him.

"No it's okay...how long have you two been there."

"Long enough." Teyla smiled and stared toward the operating room.

Ronon nodded at him and he gestured toward three chairs sitting off to their left.

The three teammates took their seats. John chose the seat in the middle and felt a surge of pride at their little family. They were all different as hell, half of them weren't even from the same galaxy, but it didn't matter. They were a family nonetheless, and none of them were going anywhere until they knew they were going to be whole again.

As John waited for Carson to finish he found himself realizing how lucky he was, he had been given another chance.

Damned if he'd screw it up this time. Now he just had to wait.

end chapter 8

feedback is loved and adored. I hope you enjoyed. :)

A/N: I think there will be only one more chapter ( i think)