He came awake with a jolt of aching lucidity. He knew where he was and he understood what he had seen. What Deyenne had been trying to show him. John felt nauseous at the memory of what he had seen, and she had told him that it was not over yet. That there was more he needed to understand. He didn't want to think about that now. Right now he needed to talk to Beckett. So John tried to sit up but he couldn't move far with his wrists bound to the sides of the bed. "What the…?" The words were little more than a croak, but someone heard him.
Ronon moved to the side of the bed, his eyes watchful. "How you feel?" he asked.
"You tell me." John managed to make his words more articulate, but the effort cost him. He started coughing and trying to curl into himself as pain radiated from pretty much every nerve ending in his body. Then Ronon was suddenly there, holding a water bottle to his lips while somehow supporting John's shuddering body. A few spluttered sips and enough went down his throat to ease the attack. John found himself able to breathe again. He felt Ronon watching him with patient eyes. After a time he asked, "What happened?" As he spoke he tugged on the restraints.
"You flipped out." Ronon was succinct.
John felt himself grow cold. "Did I hurt anyone?"
Ronon shook his head. "Just yourself." He pointed to John's arm.
"I don't remember..." John whispered, as he gazed at the bandage wrapped around his forearm. Only just then he did remember and his stomach lurched. Swallowing hard he was able to keep it down, but he slumped against the pillows, still fighting the nausea. "I need to see Beckett," he said softly.
"I'll call him." Ronon put actions to words then, suddenly, Beckett was there.
Reaching for John's wrist, Carson queried, "How are you feeling, Colonel?"
John winced then decided to be honest. "Like shit. What happened to me?"
"You'd know better than I would," Carson countered, looking worried. "Are you in pain?" He was checking the bandages on John's arm then running a gentle hand down his sore side. He pulled back when John flinched.
"I wouldn't mind some Tylenol about now," John confessed. His body was one massive ache. But he needed to focus on what mattered. "Can you take these off?" he asked, tugging on the restraints.
Carson looked regretful as he shook his head. "Not right this moment, Colonel. Sorry. I don't think that would be wise until we can be sure you'll stay lucid."
A snappy reply was on the tip of John's tongue when Deyenne suddenly appeared beside him and John became distracted. She looked off somehow and that made him nervous. "What's wrong?" he asked her.
Before Deyenne could reply, Carson responded, not realizing the girl was in the room. "Everything is wrong," he stated, heaving a put upon sigh.
"Not you," John shot back, tugging restlessly at the restraints. They were starting to become annoying, making him feel trapped and not in control. Which, he realized, he wasn't really. Which made him feel all the more anxious. Feeling Beckett's surprised gaze upon him, John realized he needed to explain. "Deyenne is here, I was talking to her."
"Oh...I see." Carson looked uncomfortable, his gaze shifting about the room. "Where is she?"
John pointed as best he could, given his bound wrist.
Carson nodded and pretty much glared in that direction. "So why are you asking her what's wrong? Did something happen?"
"I haven't had a chance to get an answer yet!" John's tone was sharp but he was unrepentant. He was tired and he hurt and he just wanted this over with. Turning to Deyenne again, he asked, "Did something happen?"
"You are running out of time," Deyenne replied. "The other one...Teyla...she is falling ill again."
John was not happy to hear that. "What? Are you sure?" He yanked at the restraints now, almost growling in frustration. "Get these damn things off of me! NOW!" He directed the order at Ronon, expecting to be obeyed.
Ronon studied him a moment, shrugged, then moved to undo John's right arm.
"What are you doing?" Carson exclaimed, looking horrified.
"What I was ordered to do," Ronon replied. He reached over John to undo the other arm.
John patted Ronon's shoulder. "Thanks." Then he sat up and focused solely on Deyenne. "What's wrong with Teyla?"
Carson made a choked sound. "Something's wrong with Teyla? She was fine a minute ago." He made to tap his earpiece.
"Wait." John stopped him, his attention still mainly focused on Deyenne. "Are you saying she's falling ill again?"
"Yes. She is trying to hide it, but yes." Deyenne looked contrite. "You must hurry with the serum, John. You must tell the doctor what he must do. Remember what you saw and tell him to hurry."
John remembered all too well the images he had seen. Seen and felt. Death and madness and something else that left him feeling cold inside. But he knew that she meant something else. He turned to Beckett. "Is the serum ready?"
Carson looked queasy, but nodded. "I think so. It's prepared but not yet ready for testing."
"Why not?" John was pushing off the bed as he asked, rising to stand on shaky legs. He was grateful for Ronon's hand on his arm to steady him.
"I need to recheck that I've done everything properly," Carson explained. "If I did just one thing wrong it could kill us."
John shook his head. "We don't have time for that." He headed for the door, Ronon moving with him and John knew the big guy would be there if he stumbled.
Carson rushed to catch up. "Where are you going? You shouldn't be out of bed. You still have a fever!"
"How are you feeling, Ronon?" John asked. He glanced at the Satedan, seeing Deyenne hovering close by, her expression saying what he knew Ronon wouldn't.
"I'm good," Ronon stated, and his expression dared John to argue with him.
John knew there was no point in calling Ronon on the lie. He looked to Deyenne who nodded. Ronon was falling ill too. Trying to move as swiftly as he could, John made his way back to the lab, ignoring Beckett's monologue of why he needed to get back in bed. Once there, John saw Teyla lying in a heap on the second level. He grabbed Ronon by the forearm. "Go!" He watched the other man run down the stairs. He watched Beckett follow more slowly. "How is she?" he called out, once Beckett had a moment to examine Teyla.
Carson looked pale as he looked at John. "Not good."
Deyenne moved to face John. "You must hurry. You must take the serum now."
"Get the serum!" John ordered. "Ronon...bring Teyla." Orders given, he headed back the way he had come. He lingered near the doorway to the bedroom he had just left, and when Ronon appeared with Teyla he nodded at the room across the hall. "Put her there and stay with her," he ordered. He watched Ronon nod then disappear into the room.
"Colonel...what are you doing?" Carson queried, as he finally caught up.
John glared at him. "Do you have the serum?"
Carson held up a small vial. "I have it."
"Give it to me." John turned and headed into the room. He stretched out on the bed, moving carefully, biting his lip to hold back a cry of pain.
"This could kill you," Carson argued, as he moved to the side of the bed.
John knew that better than anyone. "If you don't try, Teyla will die. We all will. Just do it."
Carson looked like he was going to argue, but then he shook himself and pulled a capped syringe from the pocket of the lab coat he was wearing. He prepared it then reached for John's arm. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," John replied, but he pulled away when Deyenne said his name. "What now?" he snapped at her.
"You forgot to tell him the rest of what you saw," she reminded him.
John had forgotten. He pulled his arm free of Beckett's grasp for the moment, then he locked eyes with the doctor. "I don't know what's going to happen to me. But once you're certain I'm…cured. Use my blood to make a serum for the rest of you. Just make it fast. There's a file coded Mars. Follow the instructions to make the serum."
Carson looked confused. "Why wouldn't we use the same one?"
"I'll explain why later. Just do as I say." John was stalling somewhat because he really wasn't all that sure why himself. All he knew was that he trusted Deyenne. He had no choice but to trust her. Something suddenly occurred to him though. "Where is your brother?"
"Nearby," Deyenne said, smiling at John. "Do not worry about anything but getting well, John."
He nodded. "Right." Turning back to Beckett, he held his arm out. "Let's do this." John watched as Carson tapped a vein then inserted the needle. It stung a bit but that tiny discomfort was forgotten as liquid fire rushed throughout his body, sizzling in his blood.
John didn't hear the scream that escaped him. He didn't realize his body went into convulsions.
He knew nothing but white-hot pain.