Thanks for all of the wonderful reviews I've been receiving. I guess I'm doing something right with this one :D

One more chapter to go after this one.

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When Laraby arrived at the infirmary, he was surprised to see so many people milling around the waiting area.

One of them was a middle aged man who was waving his hands around while pacing back and forth and moaning unremittingly, "He shouldn't have thrown us out. We were helping him," he alleged in a weary voice.

A large hulking man with dreadlocks, who was leaning casually against the wall, looked up and stated, "He only threw you out."

"Ha ha Ronon, very funny," the man said with a sigh.

"Doctor Mckay, perhaps you should sit down," a dark woman suggested.

Laraby found his eyebrows rising in surprise. This was the famous Doctor Rodney Mckay whom Colonel Sheppard had spoken so highly.

The man was a mess, babbling only just coherently with his hands waving around the air as if they had a life of their own. At the moment, it seemed doubtful that this man standing before him had ever conceived a rational or logical thought in his life.

Doctor Mckay turned suddenly, apparently sensing that he was being watched.

"You!" Mckay said pointing an accusatory finger and shaking his head.

This Doctor seemed to recognise him and yet Laraby had never met the man in his life.

Laraby shuffled his feet uncomfortably and cleared his throat, "I'm here to see Colonel Sheppard."

"What are you doing here?" Mckay said crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm here to see-" Laraby began.

"Well, Colonel Sheppard isn't very well at the moment so you'll have to come back later. That's if he even wants to see you after what you did to him. "

Laraby was confused. What he did to him? Had Colonel Sheppard told him about Afghanistan?

"Rodney?" the dark haired woman warned as she stood up.

"Doctor Weir said that I could visit him," Laraby stated in an uncertain voice.

"Look, he's not-"

A shriek sliced through Mckay's sentence and cut him off.

"No!…" the pleading voice said loudly, "No……."

Laraby felt his stomach twist in a note of unexpected sympathy and he moved towards the infirmary door.

"What are you doing?" Mckay asked him in a weary tone.

Laraby shot him a look and then barrelled into the infirmary without answering.

It was unlike any infirmary he had been to before. It didn't have the sterile atmosphere that hospitals generally had, but it did smell overpoweringly of antiseptic and cleaning products.

He followed the source of the anguished noise, glancing through the cracks in other curtains as he passed. Something clattered to the floor up ahead and a bedpan slid across the floor and settled at his feet.

He finally found what he was looking for and discovered a Doctor and a Nurse trying to hold Sheppard down as they spoke soothingly to him.

Laraby stooped to pick up the bedpan and placed it on an instrument tray to his side. The Doctor, alerted by his movements, stiffened and looked up.

"Son, you'll have to wait outside," the Doctor instructed him in a Scottish brogue.

Laraby met Sheppard's eyes and for a second fell completely motionless and unable to speak. The man who had guided him on that ill-fated mission was staring at him with wild eyes, his face was unhealthily flustered, his chin was bruised and stitched and his bare legs had kicked away the covers and were flailing helplessly.

He hardly recognised him.

"Uh, Doc, I 'd like to help," Laraby offered as Sheppard struggled under their grip.

"Cole!" Sheppard shouted, toes curling, fingers digging into the nurse's hands.

She yelped and took a step back, relinquishing her grip on Sheppard and allowing his hand to slam down onto the beds railing with a thud.

Laraby stepped over to the nurse and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Please, let me help."

The nurse gave the Doctor a quick look and the Doctor merely nodded, obviously struggling to control Sheppard, and reaching desperate measures.

"Wraith!" Sheppard called out as he broke from free from Beckett's hands and tried to dive off the bed.

Laraby managed to grab Sheppard by his gown and yank him back onto the bed. He noticed that the one side of his gown was soaked through with blood.

"I didn't uh-"

"I know," the Doctor said, "He's torn his stitches."

Laraby nodded and swallowed, thankful that his rough treatment hadn't resulted in such a gory injury.

"What happened?" Laraby asked.

"There was an accident off-world. He was shot."

Laraby narrowed his eyes and watched Sheppard as he struggled.

"Who are you son?" the Doctor asked.

"Lt Laraby. I served with Sheppard recently."

"When he went home?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm glad he has a friend here to help right now."

Laraby felt an unusual surge of guilt rush through his veins in the face of Sheppard's friends.

"I'm Doctor Beckett, I'd shake ya hand but I'm a bit busy," Beckett smiled as Sheppard groaned.

"Cole…….dammit!…..Martins!"

"You think you can help?" Beckett asked as Sheppard bucked under his hands.

"I think so."

Laraby placed a firm hand on Sheppard's shoulder and moved in close to usher in a low voice, "Sir," he hesitated briefly and then said, "It's over."

Sheppard whipped his head around to the voice and reached up to grab a fistful of Laraby's uniform," Did you get them out?" he asked unseeingly.

Laraby looked up at Beckett, who was watching him closely with an expression of confusion, and then turned back to Sheppard, "We didn't get them out remember?"

Sheppard's eyes were darting all over the place, his face slick with sweat.

"You're on Atlantis. We got off the ship. We made it out alive. You and me Sir."

"No!" Sheppard said in a low voice and turned away.

Laraby took Sheppard's face and gently turned his head back towards him, "Sir. We got out."

Sheppard's gaze wandered briefly before he met Laraby's eyes and his breathing started to slow, "Laraby?"

Laraby nodded, "Yes Sir."

"You're-"

"I'm on Atlantis. Arrived with the new shipment this morning."

"We didn't get them out," Sheppard said in a defeated voice.

Laraby looked up at Beckett nervously and then answered, all the while wondering if he had inadvertently given away too much, "No."

"And I didn't get King and Adams out."

Laraby narrowed his eyes and looked up at Beckett. He didn't know who he was referring to.

"Two new recruits who died off-world when-"

Laraby understood, "Oh."

Sheppard rolled his head, saw Beckett and licked his lips, "Doc?" he asked in a voice marked with confusion.

"Aye."

"What's going on?" he said struggling feebly against their loose grips.

"You've got a nasty fever Colonel."

"Hot," Sheppard said blinking slowly.

"I'm going to give you something to help you sleep if you'll let me."

Sheppard wiped a hand across his face and groaned, "Sure………sorry."

"That's okay."

A frown creased Sheppard's brow and he stared up at the ceiling, "Thought I was……" he closed his eyes and took in a deep cleansing breath.

"What was that all about?" Beckett asked.

"You had to be there," Laraby said in a distracted voice as he watched Sheppard.

"I've given you a sedative Colonel. It should take effect in a few minutes and you'll be able to get some much needed rest."

"Thanks," Sheppard rasped in a weak voice.

"Thank you for your help Lt," Beckett said as he released Sheppard's wrists, "He should be okay now."

Laraby watched as Beckett left and he was just about to depart himself when Sheppard called him back over, "Uh…..Lt?"

"Yes Sir?"

"Can…….. you……. stay here?"

"Wouldn't you rather have one of your friends sitting with you?"

"No," Sheppard said, "Not right now."

"I really think-"

"No," Sheppard said firmly, "Please. I need you to stay in case I say something in my sleep."

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Laraby wasn't exactly close to Colonel Sheppard, nor could the man really be regarded as a friend. As it was they had shared a disturbing experience, had lost members of their team and had become unified as a result. In light of that, Laraby had come to respect Sheppard. Unexpected as that may seem.

He still didn't forgive him for being the cause of a friend's death, and he was doubtful if he ever could.

Laraby stood, arched his aching back and started towards the exit. He had only taken a few steps when Sheppard awoke with a bone chilling cry.

Laraby turned and ran back over to the bed without breaking step.

"Colonel?" he called out as Sheppard thrashed under the covers and waved his hands out.

"No!" Sheppard cried, "Get this thing off me!"

Sheppard reached up and started to scratch at his neck. Within a few seconds, his neck was red raw and bleeding.

"Get it off!"

Laraby didn't know what Sheppard was seeing but by the sounds of it, it was horrific.

"Doctor Beckett!"

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Beckett awoke suddenly, cricking his neck when he raised his head in response to someone calling his name. He scrubbed a hand over his face, grappled with his chair as he pushed himself from behind his desk and rushed through the infirmary to find Lt Laraby holding down Sheppard again.

Beckett placed his hand on Sheppard's forehead and wasn't surprised to feel that he was excessively hot again.

"Okay," Beckett said as he pulled on some latex gloves, "I'll have to give him something to sedate him."

"Can I help?" Laraby asked as he watched the Doctor run over to a supplies cart.

Beckett retrieved what he was looking for and returned quickly, throwing Laraby a rag, "Soak it in cold water and place it on the Colonel's forehead."

When Laraby had returned, Sheppard was beginning to stop his frantic fighting and was settling back onto the pillow and into a less animated sleep.

"Is he okay?" Laraby asked as he blew out some air.

Beckett pulled off his gloves, "He'll be fine once this fever lets go of him."

"He was…" Laraby paused and wondered whether to ask the question that was on his mind.

"What is it son?" Beckett asked in a soothing voice.

"Before…….you got here he was scratching at his neck and….."

Beckett's mouth pursed into a tight line and his face became grim, "Aye."

"And he mentioned Sumner…..I………." He was at a loss for words.

"Colonel Sheppard had a nasty incident with something called an Iratus bug a few years ago."

"Iratus bug?" Laraby asked testing the words.

"Aye, it attached itself to his neck and proceeded to suck the life from him. Like a wraith. We had to intervene with the defibrillators and essentially kill him to get the bugger off."

Laraby swallowed hard.

"He's had nightmares ever since, not that he ever talks about them mind you. Too busy worrying about everyone else."

And Sumner?" Laraby was reluctant to hear the answer.

"Maybe you should ask him about that one. Colonel Sumner was the initial Commanding Officer on this expedition and let's just say he…met an untimely end."

Laraby shook his head numbly.

"I beat him up," Laraby blurted out before he could stop himself.

"I'm sorry son?" Beckett asked as he steered him away from the bed.

"Back on earth. I was angry with him because…….because of something he did and I'm starting to realise that I…..I made a judgement call about him that…it seems…..wrong now."

"Well, I can't comment on what happened while he was back on earth, nor can I comment on what you did to him, but I can tell you, Colonel Sheppard cares deeply about everything that happens around him. He doesn't talk about it, he conceals it well, but he does care and believe me Lt, it eats him up inside. These recurring nightmares aren't new."

Laraby turned back to Sheppard and closed his eyes.

"You look tired. You should get some sleep. I'll sit with the Colonel in case he wakes up again."

Laraby nodded even as a million different thoughts collided in his head. It would seem that so much had happened here on Atlantis, so much that he didn't know about.

The picture that he had cultivated of Sheppard for so many years seemed to be deteriorating before his very eyes and he wasn't sure what to think anymore.

"I'll be back tomorrow."

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Mckay entered Sheppard's quarters and immediately called out, "Are you in here?" before stalking over to the bathroom, palming the door open and then sighing when it was empty.

He circled Sheppard's room and then angrily tapped his earpiece.

"He's not here. Any luck on your end?"

"He's not in the gym," Teyla answered quickly as she walked.

"Well, of course he isn't," Mckay sighed as he exited Sheppard's room, "The man has just got over a fever, he couldn't bench-press a kitten right now."

"Why would you bench-press a kitten?" Ronon's voice came over the radio and joined their conversation.

"It was just a phrase….I don't mean he would……." He shook his head.

"Whether he is able to bench-press kittens or not, he was strong enough to leave the infirmary all by himself," Teyla argued in a soft voice.

"Can we stop talking about kittens? Just find him," Mckay snapped as he walked.

As soon as Ronon and Teyla had signed off Mckay contacted Lorne, "Anything?"
"Not yet Doctor Mckay. We've checked almost everywhere he could be."

"Obviously not or you would have found him," Mckay said in a frustrated tone.

"Point taken Doctor."

"Well Carson says he's still weak from the fever so he could be passed out somewhere or-"

"We'll find him," Lorne reassured him.

"We better."

TBC

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