"How long have they been in there?"
"It has been only ten minutes since the last time you asked, Rodney," Teyla replied tiredly.
"Quit pacing before I shoot you," Ronon groused, moving a hand to his hip for emphasis.
The scientist abruptly plopped down on one of the beds, "So that means it's been an hour and a half? That can't be a good sign, can it?"
"McKay," Ronon rumbled in warning, pointedly eyeing the other man's now swinging legs.
"No, I mean it," he didn't take the hint, "She's been in there a long time…"
"Rodney!" Teyla snapped, "That's enough!"
Out of the corner of his eye, John saw her glance in his direction. She was worried about him, Ronon too. As soon as they were able, the two of them had acquired what must have been the most uncomfortable chairs available and taken up protective posts on either side of his bed.
In reality, he hadn't been paying much attention to his teammates; his gaze was riveted to the doorway through which Keller and Elizabeth had exited since the nurses had finished poking him with needles an hour earlier. McKay had come out of his shock halfway through their examinations and had felt the need to make up for his earlier silence; so John did what he needed to do to keep from strangling the astrophysicist—he ignored him.
"Elizabeth is a very strong woman," Teyla broke the sudden silence, "She is a fighter."
"I think the prison guard learned that the hard way," Ronon commented offhandedly.
That caught John's attention, "What do you mean?"
Ronon smirked, "She punched him."
"She what?" McKay sputtered.
The Satedan shrugged, "I guess he must have made her mad, because his nose wasn't in good shape."
"How do you know it was her?" Teyla inquired softly.
Glancing briefly toward the other end of the infirmary, he shrugged again, "Intuition. I don't see who else would have had the guts to pop him one."
Teyla smiled in agreement and John felt his heart well with pride, Thatta girl, Elizabeth!
"Huh," Rodney looked suitably impressed, "It looks like you rubbed off on her, Sheppard."
"What's that supposed to mean?" John narrowed his eyes.
"No really," McKay grinned, "How do you think it happened, Conan? Do you think the guard baited Elizabeth to the point where sarcastic comebacks just wouldn't cut it and she popped him one?"
The tall Satedan cleared his throat, and the flippant tone their conversation had attained quickly evaporated.
"I think…" Ronon hesitated, glancing at his hands as though they might provide him with an answer, "There was a young girl outside of Dr. Weir's cell…she was dead."
"You believe Elizabeth may have witnessed the death of this child?" Teyla inquired soberly.
John felt his heart sink; no one should ever have to witness the death of a child, least of all Elizabeth. He inhaled sharply as a horrible thought suddenly occurred to him. What if the Ontarish had used the girl as leverage to get Elizabeth to do something and she had refused? He knew that kind of guilt; he was living with it right now.
He heard the doctor coming before he saw her, the swishing of scrubs heralding her arrival long before she entered the room. Stark terror and anxiety seemed to grow in his mind with every footstep until, when it was nearly unbearable, Keller stepped into view.
John tried desperately to ignore the light traces of blood smeared on the doctor's shoe covers.
"How is she?" A worried Teyla took the words right out of his mouth.
"The surgery was successful; barring any complications, Dr. Weir should make a full recovery," Keller sounded tired but happy.
Elizabeth's okay.
The full body and soul relief that had thus far eluded him abruptly exploded in his chest and spread to his extremities like a wildfire. He felt weak, like all of his energy had been transferred to her; and he couldn't think of a better way for his strength to be used.
"Can we see her?" Rodney too, looked like he was suddenly exhausted.
Keller, who had probably been expecting the question, expertly fielded it, "It'll probably be at least an hour before the anesthetic I gave her wears off. Depending on my assessment of her condition, once she wakes up Dr. Weir will be moved into this room later tonight. You can see her then."
"Ronon and I shall inform Major Lorne of the good news; he is currently briefing Stargate Command on our mission," Teyla stood and bowed briefly before leaving the infirmary, her Satedan companion in tow.
McKay wandered out of the room, muttering an explanation to John that involved sandwiches and a nap.
When everyone else had gone, Keller picked up his chart and began perusing it. "I think I'll move Elizabeth in next to you if that's all right, Colonel," she teased lightly.
John's internal reaction to the suggestion was the opposite of what the doctor would have expected. He panicked, the repressed guilt replacing his relief and gnawing at his insides.
He couldn't face her.
What would he say? Sorry you were hurt, Elizabeth; oh, and by the way, that was all my doing.
He had to get out of the infirmary.
"Actually, I was hoping to be released," Keller's look prompted him to quickly add, "Just to my quarters; the mission really wore me out and I was hoping to get some real sleep in a real bed."
She looked suspicious, but after a few moments of deliberation, consented, "All right; you could definitely use some quality rest. But," she jabbed a finger at him, "if I hear of you doing anything more strenuous than walking to the cafeteria, you'll be back in the infirmary so fast it'll make your head spin."
John quickly agreed, then asked tentatively, "Is it all right…can I see Elizabeth before I go?" That should be safe; she was still asleep. He could check on her and then disappear before she even knew he was there.
Keller looked like she was about to deny his request as she had Rodney's earlier, but he anticipated her response and opened himself up, just a little, "Please?"
She nodded, some of the skepticism leaving her face, "But only if you're quick and quiet."
That wouldn't be a problem; he didn't want Elizabeth disturbed any more than the good doctor did.