Warning tissue alert: This is a sad chapter, so you may need your tissues.
Chapter 4: Mini John.
John had been unconscious for ten hours and Carson and Jennifer hadn't been able to wake him in that time. A member of his team or his brother, or Jane had sat with him talking and encouraging him all that time, but there was no sign that he was going to wake up anytime soon. Claudia had come by at that time and looked at his shoulder and she had told them that at this point she wouldn't be able to continue his therapy. Despite his appearance, he was still John Sheppard and until he woke up no-one had any idea whether they would be dealing with a child or a man in a child's body.
Carson was really beginning to worry that John may slip into a coma and that wouldn't be good, because he'd spent the last nine weeks injured and before that, he had been in a coma for two.
Dave looked up from the chair he was sitting in and saw the worry on Carson's face.
"Things aren't looking too good, are they?" Dave asked him, the worry evident on his own face.
"No, if we can't wake him in the next two hours, I'm afraid that he may not wake up at all. At this point, I don't know whether that is due to the concussion, or his being turned into a child."
Dave nodded, "what are we supposed to do Carson, John just keeps getting kidnapped or shot or injured and now he's been turned into a child. We need to keep him someplace safe where he'll never get injured and we definitely shouldn't let him play with Ancient devices."
Rodney snorted, upon entering the room. "Good luck with that the man's a trouble magnet, he'd find trouble in a locked room," Rodney said in his usual acerbic tone.
"Hey that's not fair," a voice whispered from the bed.
Dave patted him on the shoulder, "ah little brother it's about time you woke up, we've been worried about you."
John tried to open his eyes but the light was too bright and hurt his head. He thought the lights down and his head felt marginally better, so he opened his eyes.
"How are ya feeling Colonel?" Carson asked with concern.
"Head's killing me and my hand hurts, what the hell happened this time?" John asked the pain evident around his eyes.
"What do you remember Sheppard?" Rodney asked him.
"Oh yeah Rodney, you wanted to keep testing devices and one of them exploded in my face!" he exclaimed his anger rising.
"Sorry," was all that Rodney could manage to say.
"Apology not accepted, this isn't the first time this has happened, but it will be the last, as I won't be helping you again, now can everyone leave, so I can go back to sleep," John ranted in anger, before turning his back on the group.
Rodney looked distraught, by what had just occurred and left the room.
Dave stopped long enough to say. "Catch you later John," before leaving the room.
Carson went around to the other side of the bed and spoke to John, "that really wasn't fair on Rodney. It was an accident and he's upset enough about what happened."
"I'm really sick of ending up in the infirmary and what the hell had happened to me this time?" John asked looking down at the oversized gown he was wearing, "and why the hell, do I look like a child!?" John's voice was barely a whisper, but Carson could hear the anger in his voice.
"I'm sorry John, but the device you were testing did this to you," Carson explained, his eyes full of worry.
"This may come as a surprise, but I don't want to talk right now, so unless you have some pain meds for me I suggest you get out!"
"I'll give you some pain meds and then I'll leave you alone," Carson told him injecting the pain meds into his IV.
After Carson had left the room, John closed his eyes and lay awake for a long time. He knew that he would have to apologise to his friends, but he was sick of the pain and anguish he'd experienced over the last few years and now to top it all off he was in a child's body and he had no idea whether that was going to reversible or not. Would he have to go through puberty again, he shuddered at the thought because he'd been an awkward teenager. Oh, how he longed for a simple life.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Carson left John's room and headed to the office that he shared with Jennifer, he was hoping that she was there, as he wanted to talk to her. Now that John was awake and his mind appeared to be unaffected by the changes, he wanted to run some blood tests to make sure that was the real John Sheppard in that room, but if it wasn't what the hell had happened to John's body.
When Carson finally entered his office, he was pleased to find that Jennifer was there, "Hello Luv, have you got a moment to talk?"
"Sure Carson, has Colonel Sheppard woken up as yet?"
"Yes, he has and he appears to be rather angry, not that I blame him. He appears to be the John Sheppard we know, trapped in a child's body. But I'd like to conduct some neurological tests and take some blood, just to make sure."
Jennifer looked at him and Carson knew how worried she was. She really was a fantastic doctor and she really cared about her patients. That was one of the reasons, he'd employed her.
"I totally agree, but if that is John Sheppard in there what are we supposed to do about him. Shall we just send him home?" She asked.
"I really don't know Luv, but I think it's time we called a meeting and let Woolsey know what's going on."
Jennifer nodded at him and tapped her earpiece, "Keller to Mr Woolsey, come in please."
"Go ahead, Doctor?"
"Colonel Sheppard has regained consciousness and he appears to be the John we all know, but Carson and I would like to run further tests."
"How about you meet me in my office in an hour, to give me a preliminary report? I will contact Dr McKay as well."
"We'll see you then, Keller out."
"Well Carson, I think it's time we conducted those tests."
"Aye lassie I agree, but I don't think that the Colonel will be very happy."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Rodney headed towards the mess hall, it was almost time for lunch and he was so upset that he needed to eat. He'd wandered around Atlantis for half an hour after he'd left the infirmary, but he knew that if he was going to be able to help Sheppard, he needed to eat and then head to his lab.
On entering the mess hall, he went to the serving table and filled up his plate with as much food as he could. Looking around he noticed Teyla sitting with Dave and Ronan.
Rodney sat down next to Teyla and spluttered out, "what the hell 'John's problem?"
Teyla looked up at him and sighed, Rodney was really quite oblivious to the obvious. "Dave was telling me that John was not very happy, but I can hardly blame him, "He's been injured, kidnapped and tortured, spent nine weeks on earth away from his closest friends. When he finally gets back to Atlantis and he is well on the road to healing, he is injured testing an ancient device, which has turned him into a child."
Dave looked at him and Rodney could see the anger in his eyes "think about it, how would you feel, Rodney?!"
Rodney looked down at the food on his plate and started playing with it considering what he was going to say next, "I guess I'd be pretty angry."
"What do we do now?" Ronan asked.
"Rodney needs to go and fix the device that did this to him!" Dave stated forcefully and Rodney knew that if this had happened to Jeanie, that he would be angry too.
"I guess, Dave's right." Rodney conceded. "When I have finished eating I will go back to my lab and try to work this out."
Rodney watched Teyla as she looked around the table, he had no idea what was going through her mind right now and he actually felt bad for her.
"I think I will go and pick up Torren from Amelia's, as I believe that she is due on duty soon. I may take him to see John for a while then. I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to tell Torren though." Teyla told them.
"Perhaps you should hold off telling him anything for now," Dave suggested.
"I understand what you are saying Dave, but what if John is like this forever, or what if he has to grow up again. I think I will have to tell Torren something."
"Alright then, just let me know if you need me or Jane for anything. Jane is at home today, so I think I'll get back to her."
"I'm going to the gym, because I feel like hitting something," Ronon growled before getting up and leaving the table.
Rodney watched as his friends left the table one, by one. He quickly finished his food and decided that he was going to head off to his lab, knowing that he had a long afternoon ahead of him.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Carson headed for John's room with Jennifer following closely behind, he knew that John would not be happy, but they really needed to conduct the tests anyway. He was pretty sure that the child lying in front of him was John Sheppard, but he needed to conduct some tests just to be 100 percent sure.
"Colonel Sheppard, are you awake?" He asked feeling a little apprehensive.
"How about you just call me John? I am just a little kid after all." He paused before continuing, "you know what Carson, I haven't even looked in a mirror, so I have no idea whether I look like I did when I was a child or not."
Carson turned to look at Jennifer who was standing beside him, "can you get John a mirror please?"
Jennifer nodded and walked away, "John, I'm sorry, but we're going to have to perform some tests to prove that you are in fact the John Sheppard we all know."
"I understand Carson, but believe me when I say I am John Sheppard, I think the same as him and I feel the same as him. I am still the man who loves Teyla and Torren, who is protector to all who live in Atlantis and most of all I am still the man who is one of your closest friends. Even though I'm trapped in a child's body right now, I want to do everything that I can to get back to my duties as soon as possible."
Carson was amazed at the sincerity and wisdom coming from the small child in front of him, "I know lad, but Woolsey wants to know what's happening for sure."
"Go ahead and take your tests Carson and when you've done that can I get out of here?"
Just like the old John, Carson thought as he smiled at him, "I want to keep you under observation overnight again, but if all goes well I should be able to release you tomorrow morning."
Jennifer came back at that moment with a mirror and handed it to John. Carson watched as she held it up to John's face for him to take a look at himself.
"That's a relief; I look the same as I did the first time around. My only fear is if I have to grow up again I will become the same gawky awkward teenager that I was."
"I can't imagine you ever being gawky and awkward John."
"Ask Dave and he'd probably tell you that I wasn't that way, but believe me when I say I certainly felt that way." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Anyway can you hurry up and get these tests done and give me some pain meds because everything is really beginning to hurt."
Before they had a chance to discuss the matter further, Jennifer announced that if she wasn't needed for anything else she was heading back to the office.
"Alright son, I'll get onto it straight away." He said and he didn't miss John wince. He knew that it was probably because he'd called him son, or perhaps he really was in pain.
Carson set about attaching the sensors to John's head and it freaked him out a little to think that in this small body everything that was John Sheppard was being contained. While he went about the task he took the opportunity to study John's face. It was definitely John's face, but he was so much younger and much more innocent. The face of the hardened soldier was gone and, in its place, an innocent child. His voice was different as well, it still had its usual drawl, but it was now higher pitched. He really hoped that Rodney could fix the problem because if he didn't it would be the end of John Sheppard's career for now.
Once he'd finished performing the tests, he injected John's pain meds into his IV and quietly left the room, suspecting that John may like to be alone for a while.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
John was dosing and finally, he was alone with his thoughts. He was happy that everyone had left him alone for the time being. Although he had put on a brave face when Carson was in the room with him, he still felt pretty depressed. When would it all end? Would he ever get his life back? Now he was faced with the possibility of having to grow up again or worse still, he could be stuck in a child's body for the rest of his life. What would that mean for, Teyla and Torren? The thought didn't bear thinking about, so he decided that it would be a good time for another sleep when he heard a sound at the door, he sighed, "whoever you are go away I'm not really in the mood for conversation right now."
A little voice spoke, "Daddy ya otay," Torren asked.
He sighed and rolled over to face his son, "Hey T.J what are you doing here, is Momma here with you?"
"She coming," Torren stated, his eyes open wide.
It was obvious that he was trying to figure at what was going on, so it didn't surprise him when Torren asked, "what your name? Where Daddy?"
"I know that you may not understand, but there was an accident and Daddy has been turned into a child." John tried to explain to his son.
Torren just stared at him, "where Daddy?"
John was almost in tears, how was he supposed to explain what was going on, so in the end, he just gave up in defeat, "my name is John, what's your name."
"My name is Torren, where my Daddy? He asked again.
"I have no idea, but I'm sure if you ask your Momma, she should be able to help.
"Otay I will." Torren told him, before walking over to his bed and patting his arm, "where your Momma and Daddy?"
John was trying really hard to not let the tears fall, how the hell was he supposed to answer that. "I have no idea?"
"I stay with you," Torren told him while still patting his arm.
"Thank you, Torren."
John turned his head away from Torren and closed his eyes, he felt comfort in the fact that Torren was there, but it was quite demoralising that his own son didn't recognise him.
Finally, he let the tears fall, he'd really had enough. Whatever happened he decided that he would be resigning from the air-force and going back to earth. Of course, if Rodney couldn't reverse what the device had done to him, he wouldn't have any other choice.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Teyla and Torren arrived in the infirmary, to find Jennifer in her office, looking at her computer.
"Hello Jennifer, how are you today?" She asked.
"I'm not too bad thanks Teyla, are you here to see John?"
It was Torren who answered that question, "I see Daddy?"
"I'm sure that he would love to see you Torren," Jennifer told him, with a smile.
Torren looked up at Teyla with big puppy dog eyes, "momma?"
Teyla looked at Torren with concern, how was she supposed to tell him that his father looked like a child, of all the things that they had come across in Atlantis this had to be the worst, her partner and the love of her life, was a child and she wasn't sure that Torren would understand.
She decided to send him into see John and see what happened, "off you go, Darling, I will be there in a minute."
Teyla watched as Torren ran into the other room and then she looked at Jennifer, "when can come John come home? I fear that if he stays here for much longer, he will only become depressed. This whole situation has to be killing him and I feel that when he comes home and is in a familiar environment, he may feel a little better."
"I tend to agree with you Teyla, but I want to keep him under observation for another twenty-four hours before I let him go home. He was unconscious for over ten hours and we were not able to wake him and to be honest are we really sure that the child in there is John Sheppard? I just want to make sure that there won't be any problems before we let him go."
Teyla nodded, "Thank you, Jennifer, I think I will go and see him now."
Teyla walked into John's room and found that Torren was sitting next to John holding his hand and speaking to him in a quiet soothing voice.
Torren looked up at her and smiled, "Loot Momma this is John. He lost his Momma and Daddy."
Her heart absolutely broke, how could her son not realise that this was his father and would he ever know that this was John, and if he did work it out, how would it affect him?
"Do you think he needs us to stay with him for a while?" Teyla suggested.
Torren nodded and looked at John and then back at her, "momma where daddy?"
"He has had to go away for a few days, he will be back soon I am sure."
"Otay Momma." He said and looked back at John.
Teyla put her hand on John's arm and was relieved when she realised that he was asleep. She decided that she would sit with him for another five minutes and then she would take Torren home.
She had no idea what was going to happen when John came home, but she had a feeling that it wasn't going to be good.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Richard Woolsey sat in his office doing paperwork; he was waiting for the Doctors and the rest of the Colonel's team to come. He had asked Claudia to come and join them as well because he really needed to know where the Colonel was at with his shoulder injury. He would have liked Major Lorne's team there as well, but they were off-world for the next three days and not due to check in until tomorrow morning. He was really beginning to become fed-up with the problems that he had to face daily. Poor Colonel Sheppard, he couldn't catch a break. He had no idea what he was going to do with a military commander who was a child, but perhaps by the time he was well enough to go back on duty Rodney would have reversed whatever the problem was.
He looked up when he heard someone enter, he was surprised to find that it was Dave, "what came I do for you, Mr Sheppard?"
"If you're having a conversation about John, I really feel the need to be here."
Woolsey nodded, he couldn't imagine what Dave was going through right now, he'd already seen his brother grow up once and he probably didn't want to have to do it again.
It wasn't long before the others came into the room to join them, Carson was the last one in, so he closed the door and sat down.
Woolsey looked around at their troubled faces before he began, "Okay Dr Beckett the first thing I want to know is, is that child lying in the infirmary Colonel John Sheppard?"
"Every test we have performed has confirmed that he is John Sheppard in a child's body, his mind seems to be that of the adult John Sheppard, and only his physical form has changed."
"And how are his injuries, Dr Beckett?" Woolsey asked.
"His hand is healing well and he's no longer showing signs of concussion, so I will be releasing him from the infirmary in the morning."
Woolsey turned to Claudia and asked, "When will he be able to begin physical therapy again?"
"Well his right leg is strong enough not to need any more therapy, but I should still be able to work with him on his shoulder. I will try the day after tomorrow and see how he goes."
"And how are you going in the lab, Dr McKay?" Woolsey asked.
"We have managed to repair most of the damage to the lab, but the device which caused this problem is a lost cause, so basically Sheppard is totally screwed."
"Please do not say that Doctor McKay, you are one of the most resourceful people I have ever known, so if anyone can find an answer I am sure that you can," Teyla told him in a soothing tone.
"I'll keep trying," Rodney told her and Woolsey could see that he was blushing a little.
"So what happens now?" Dave asked, looking around the room.
"Well Colonel Sheppard can go home tomorrow, and Rodney will need to keep working to find an answer to fix him," Jennifer explained.
"What does Torren think of John at the moment Teyla?" Ronon asked, joining the conversation for the first time.
Woolsey watched, as Teyla's countenance changed, "he believes that John is an injured child who has no idea where his mother and father are. John and I both tried to tell him the truth, but I believe he is too young to comprehend it."
"Well in that case he should come home with me," Dave suggested with a serious look on his face. "Jane and I can tell Torren that we are looking after him for a while and maybe at some point he will understand what is going on."
Woolsey looked at Teyla and he could see that she was trying to contemplate what Dave had just said. "Perhaps that is the best option for now, but I would really like to run it past John first." She told them.
Woolsey looked around the room and he could see that everyone was nodding their heads, "well I think we'll go with that plan then, does anyone want to add anything?"
When everyone shook their heads, he stood up and dismissed them. Once he had seen everyone out he closed the door again, he knew that at some point he would have to let the SGC know about the accident, but perhaps he would wait a few days before he did that. Hopefully, things would be back to normal by then. If not he had no idea what would happen to Colonel Sheppard and his family.
TBC…