Part 9 of 10
Thanks again for all the encouraging reviews!
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Within twenty four hours, John's symptoms had stabilized enough for Carson to tell him he was free to return to his own quarters and, ensuring that Ronon would stay with Rodney, John did. A quick shower and change of clothes later however, Sheppard was back in the infirmary, blatantly ignoring the irritated looks from the medical staff and claiming a chair beside McKay's bed as his own.
Ronon and Teyla stayed in shifts, keeping him company and talking on occasion to Rodney in hopes that the scientist would at least get annoyed enough to wake up and tell them to go away, but Rodney remained stubbornly still and quiet. John suspected that the two timed their visits carefully to make sure he was taking the pain meds that Carson had left him as well since there always seemed to be a fresh glass of water ready for him when it was time to take the pills.
Carson, though tired and often lectured by his own staff to rest, visited regularly, taking readings and checking on both McKay and Sheppard. There'd been no visible improvement in Rodney,but the latest round of scans had brought a relieved smile to Carson's face. The pressure and swelling he'd been so concerned about appeared to be showing a significant reduction. McKay wouldn't need surgery.
"Then why won't he wake up?" Sheppard asked when Beckett had shared the good news.
Carson had shrugged and deflated a little, his weariness showing again. "I don't know," he answered honestly. "He could wake up in an hour or days from now or…" his voice had faded as he'd turned and shuffled back toward his office again.
Time dragged and flew and John stayed in his chair, stubbornly refusing to leave for anything longer than a quick trip to the restroom or to grab a cup of coffee from Carson's stash. Sometimes he'd putter with his laptop. Sometimes he'd attempt to read. Sometimes he'd talk with whoever was around, or to McKay, but most of the time he just sat there and simply watched Rodney.
Sometime around the start of day two in the chair he must have dozed off because he woke with a start and groaned as his stiff neck protested the sudden jolt and his headache ramped up another notch
"You should rest."
John blinked in the general direction of Ronon's voice and was relieved to find only one of the Satedan. The double vision had finally faded.
Ronon sat on the next bed, leaning back slightly, his arms holding him up while one leg swung lazily.
"I'm fine," Sheppard rasped, pushing his stiff frame up in the chair.
"Right."
John glared but said nothing. He glanced at Rodney instead, searching for any change but the man looked just as he had hours ago.
"He'd call you an idiot," Dex continued.
John huffed. "He calls everyone an idiot."
"True."
John listened to Ronon change positions. "What do you want?" he asked looking up at him. He liked it better when Ronon just sat with him. He didn't want to talk right now.
"Stop blaming yourself."
"I'm not."
Dex grinned that little half smile that was more frightening than comforting.
"I told him to stay down there," John admitted suddenly. "I told him it was worth the risk, to start the stardrives and drain the power."
"Was it?"
John scowled. "Look at him. How can you even ask that?"
"How many people did he save?" Ronon's look was intense now, all humor gone. "Not counting you or Teyla or Carson or me?"
"I don't know…still."
"Still nothing." Ronon hopped off the bed and towered over him. "Why not blame me?"
"What? Why? You had nothing to do with this." John pointed at Rodney.
Cocking his head to the side, Ronon looked at him incredulously. "If I hadn't killed the guard…"
John shook his head, ignoring the dizziness that still snuck up on him with the action. "No. We're not playing that game. It's not even the same thing."
"Really?" Ronon sat on the edge of McKay's bed, careful of the booted ankle. "So what would Rodney say?"
John chuckled at the random thought of little wrist bands with "WWRS" printed into them. "He'd probably whine about how I'd nearly gotten him killed and in the same breath turn around and tell me to stop being an idiot."
Ronon folded his arms across his chest. "So…"
"So, what?"
"God, are you a plank?" Rodney stirred, his harsh throaty whisper startling them both. "Quit being such a damn idiot." He blinked bloodshot, unfocused eyes at them. "And shut up will ya? I think I'm half dead here."
Ronon was off the bed and yelling for Carson as John reached for a cup of water. "Stay awake," he ordered gently.
"No, problem." Rodney's words slurred as he already started to slip back under. " 'm wake."