Chapter 6 : News from Earth
While the Daedalus was bringing back the people evacuated to Atlantis, Carson was busy supervising Rodney's care on Earth.
As soon as he had crossed the gate, he had been surrounded by doctors checking Rodney as they walked to the infirmary. When they arrived to the infirmary, the room seemed to have every medical equipment you could imagine. The General had made sure everything was at the doctors' disposal. Carson quickly tried to explain what had happen back on Atlantis and what Rodney's part in it. When he came to the medical part, he became cautious.
"He has been exposed to very powerful radiations, he was not breathing when I found him..." had explained Carson to Doctor Lam.
"Let me see him." Carolyn had checked his vitals and was quite pessimistic about the outcome. Rodney McKay's ashen face was a quite a sight for Carson, something he dreaded above all.
"He needs surgery, the radiations did affect all his organs, I afraid the damage is already too widespread." had declared Carolyn.
"We need to save him doctor, I will not accept defeat!"
At those words, the infirmary got busy and long hours just began to unfold. The doctors worked, trying the impossible, at least eight people were surrounding Rodney's body, and giving him every care they could.
After 8 hours of operations, Carson was exhausted as well as the entire team. He was called to the General's office, and quickly made his way there.
"So what can you tell me, doctor?" Asked General Landry as soon as he came in.
"Well, he is stable but he went into a coma. Now only time will tell how things will go... It's only up to Rodney, we did everything we could." Carson's gaze went to his hands, with a sigh he looked up back to the General, "I'm afraid this is it. I would like to notify his family and friends. I know that his team on Atlantis would like to be here"
"I understand," answered Landry "I will contact his family on Earth"
"Can I inform Atlantis about his condition?" asked Carson.
"Sure go ahead doctor." said General Landry.
The day seemed to be a very dark one, as Carson departed, the General wondered how many would die in the future. Carson made his way to the control room and waited for Atlantis to made contact.
As soon as the wormhole connected, he saw the worried faces of John, Teyla, Ronon and Radek.
"So?" asked John.
"It's good to see you Colonel. Well, we did our best, now it's up to Rodney, however I must tell you that no one has ever survived this level of radiations. We are doing some research about a cure but it will take time, and Rodney doesn't have this luxury..." he paused trying to find his words.
"I think it would be good if you all came to see him. He is stable but I don't think this will last very long", the look on Carson's face did nothing but increase the feeling of helplessness they were all currently in.
"I will inform Elizabeth," replied John weakly.
Meanwhile at the SGC, Colonel Carter had just arrived in the base. As she went to her lab, she heard fragment of conversation, and heard about McKay being in here, she took her usual morning cup of coffee and went to see Daniel to ask.
"Hey !" she happily greeted Daniel
"Hello Sam. You just arrived?"
"Yes, but I wanted to ask you what was happening here, the corridors are buzzing about McKay…"
"He is dying." Answered Daniel shortly.
"What?" she exclaimed
"We cannot save him, they did all they could but it's only a matter of time now, he is in coma, Doctor Beckett has asked the rest of the team to come to say goodbye."
"You are serious? He is dying? How? Why?"
"Long story cut short, the city was under Wraith' attack and a device was tempering with the entire city rendering it powerless, McKay went to disconnect it and got full radiations saving the city."
"He is in the infirmary? Or did they took him on the surface?"
"He is still here. But let me warn you, you knew him, he doesn't look like the man we met..."
Sam left for the infirmary, when she arrived she saw a body partly covered in bandages, it reminded her of Daniel just before his ascension. McKay was awfully pale and he was connected to a variety of machines she had never seen before.
"Colonel Carter!" greeted Carson.
"Doctor!"
"Is it true?"
"I'm afraid so, there's nothing humanly possible to do."
She approached McKay's body and was about to touch him when she turned to Carson and asked "Can I?"
"Yes, he doesn't feel anything at that point..."
She took his hand and sighed. How many more would have to die?
End of chapter
