The Price of Freedom – Part 12
Arms wrapped nervously around her waist, Elizabeth anxiously waited for the jumper's arrival as she stood overlooking the gate. Rodney had made no indication as to who needed the emergency care but after nearly three years in Atlantis, she could hazard a guess - John. Were they bringing him home after nearly six weeks? But in what state? She could only hope that it wasn't as bad as Rodney had made it sound.
With no more time for further contemplation, she quickly moved towards the stairs as the jumper rushed into the gateroom and started its ascent towards the hanger above.
By the time Elizabeth arrived, the hatchway was already down and a gurney stood waiting at the bottom. She remained outside, unwilling to get in the way as Ronon and one of Carson's team emerged carrying a backboard bearing a covered figure, which they carefully placed on the gurney. She could see from the hair that it was John, but he was hardly recognisable. Teyla stood near his head pumping an Ambu bag, looking tired and concerned.
Carson quickly moved down the ramp and threw Elizabeth a look, as if to say, "We'll talk later," before he and several assistants prepared to move the gurney.
"Teyla, love, we're going to attach a portable ventilator, so you can stop pumping now." Carson told her.
Teyla managed to look both relieved and disappointed at the same time as she moved away to stand with the others. She stood in silence and watched as the medical personnel move off with great speed.
Once the gurney was out of sight, Elizabeth turned to the rescue team. "How bad is it?"
The team looked grim as Rodney answered for them. "Bad, very bad. He fell from a cliff but luckily landed on some soft ground, otherwise-" He couldn't say more, which gave Elizabeth a sign of just how serious it really was.
Elizabeth simply nodded. "All right, why don't you all go and get cleaned-up before reporting to the infirmary for your post mission check-up. Oh, and Major Lorne, Colonel Caldwell will want a full report after your check-up."
Evan looked like he'd rather not before replying. "Yes, ma'am."
Sirena came down the ramp looking absolutely lost and bewildered. She stayed near the jumper, looking around the bay with a measure of fear and confusion.
Seeing her distress, Teyla moved over to the former slave to place a reassuring hand on her arm. Then turning to Elizabeth, she said. "Dr. Weir, this is Sirena. She helped Colonel Sheppard during his enslavement and assisted in his rescue."
Elizabeth moved over and took the older woman's hand warmly. "Then thank you very much. I'm Doctor Elizabeth Weir and on behalf of all our people, I welcome you to Atlantis. While I am sure that you are very tired and distressed after today's ordeal, it is required that all visitors have a medical check-up. So I'll take you to the infirmary myself in a minute and if everything checks out all right, then we'll find a room for you."
Sirena looked a little apprehensive but she nodded her thanks. Nevertheless, it was plain to see that the surroundings were still overwhelming her.
-SGA-
In the quiet corridors of the Ancient city, nothing stirred as Atlantis slept. However, in one lone part, the lights still shone brightly as people worked relentlessly to save a life while others waited patiently for news concerning that life. Well, as patiently as Rodney McKay could wait.
He checked his watch. "What's taking them so long?" he asked for the umpteenth time.
Everyone sighed. They'd been over this ground several times before. "I am sure Dr. Beckett will let us know as soon as there is any news." Teyla tried to reassure him.
"Yes, I know, but it's been nearly five hours."
Elizabeth looked over and gave him a slight smile. She had all the facts by now, as they had debriefed her while they waited. She didn't like to say anything that would put their hopes up too high, but a little optimism was needed. "You know what they say, Rodney, no news is good news, and the fact that it has been so long means he must be still alive and fighting."
Rodney tried to put on a brave face, but he just wasn't any good at the waiting game. Never had been, even as a child. He desperately needed a distraction, although the thought of going to his lab and trying to work was out of the question. How long had it been since he'd seen his lab anyway? Seven weeks? A horrible thought suddenly stuck him. What if Radek had altered things or worse still, deleted some of his work?
Those thoughts brought on a sudden obsessive feeling and Rodney felt an urgent need to go and check - right there and then. He intended to move, but that was ridiculous as while he was gone Carson could come and tell them that Sheppard was … that Sheppard was dead. No, he had to stay, so he forced himself to sit still and wait. Well, at least for the next hour or so.
Teyla felt herself drifting towards a light doze; it had been a long day. However, restful sleep was a long way off. Not only because of the uncomfortable chair, but also because she just couldn't get the image of John's battered body out of her mind. She'd seen him beaten, bruised, bleeding or ill many times before but this time there was something haunting about his appearance as she'd never seen anyone so destroyed. She asked herself what kind of people could do such a thing and she prayed that the slaves they had seen fighting had survived. Her thoughts turned to Sirena. Dr. Cole had done the initial medical but she hadn't been very pleased with the state the older woman was in. So on her advice, Sirena had been admitted for further observation and treatment. The last time Teyla had checked, Sirena had been comfortably tucked up in bed, fast asleep.
A loud snore from Ronon's direction jolted Rodney out of his light doze. He checked his watch again and did a double take. That can't be right, he thought. Another two hours seemed to have passed making seven in all. He squirmed and shifted his right leg that had gone to sleep, which sent pins and needles shooting up the limb. When the discomfort died down, Rodney realised that he was thirsty, tired and unbelievably uncomfortable. Oh and hungry too. That's it, Rodney thought, I need to go and find something to eat before my hyperglycaemia sets in. Of course, as is inevitably the case, the minute Rodney started to move out of his chair, a tired and serious looking Carson Beckett walked in.
Carson immediately sank into a chair to look earnestly at the sea of worried faces around him. He sighed and rubbed his bloodshot eyes before talking. "Okay, he's still with us, just about. You're probably wondering what took so long. Well, we had some difficulty locating and stopping several serious bleeders. There was also severe bruising to the liver and spleen. Luckily, I was able to save the spleen. After that, we had to remove quite of lot of nasty shot from his shoulder. We then set his broken arm and stabilised his broken collarbone. He has several broken ribs and hairline fractures in five other ribs as well as one in his foot and the lower fibula of his left leg. There is extensive bruising and laceration all over his body, most of which must have occurred at an earlier date." Carson paused for a minute to catch his breath. He decided not to say anymore on that subject but from the look of the others gave him; Carson knew that they understood the implications.
When he continued his report, he went back to the injuries caused by the fall. "Strangely, all the major damage was located on his right hand side. There's fresh bruising down that side and even an indentation made by one of the chains. It's as if he landed hard on his right side before bouncing off onto the sandbank. That probably broke the left arm. One of the broken ribs punctured a lung causing even more damaged to his already congested respiratory system. As you already know, that lung collapsed during the flight back home but the chest drain I inserted has rectified the problem."
Carson paused again to look even grimmer, if that was possible. "While I was setting his arm, he crashed on us and I was forced to-. Well, ya know the procedure by now. We got him back but his stats aren't-"
Carson stopped there and sighed loudly before giving them another serious look. "I'm not going to lie to ya, if he makes it through the next 24 hours, then he's in with a chance. He has a very high fever, which I suspect was present even before whatever happened to cause the fall. He lost a lot of blood during the operation and he wasn't in very good health to begin with, so if he makes it, then he's in for a long haul.
Everyone remained silent, taking in the news. Eventually, Rodney asked what they all probably wanted to know. "Is it possible to see him?"
Carson had been waiting for the question. He really shouldn't let them but how could he deny it when John may not survive through the night. "Ya can visit for a very short time, and I mean short. He's under constant surveillance not only by machines but I have a doctor and a nurse watching over him at the moment, that's just how poorly he is. Ya can come in two at a time and stay for no more than a few minutes." Throwing a warning look towards McKay, he continued. "I'd also appreciate it if ya didn't disturb the other patients, especially Sirena. She's been through a lot and needs her rest."
Everyone nodded solemnly before deciding who would go first.
-SGA-
Sirena woke to the sight and sounds of a very strange place. For a few minutes, she didn't know where she was, so she closed her eyes and concentrated until her mind cleared enough for her memory to return. When the realization of where she was finally came to her, she allowed her senses to focus on the strange sound that had probably woken her. Off in the distance someone was shouting the word, "clear!" just before a whining sound ended with a loud clunk. The sound worried her and although she felt as weak as a newborn Teekie, Sirena felt compelled to investigate. So slipping from her bed, she moved towards to the noise.
A minute later, she entered a small side room and paused while she took in the scene before her. The kindly doctor she remembered from before was standing by a bed holding some very strange looking objects, while several others stood nearby busy doing unidentifiable things to various weird looking contraptions and bleeping boxes.
Sirena couldn't see who was on the bed until one of the people moved out of her line of vision. John … it was John. He looked so pale, so fragile and ill, it nearly broke her heart.
Instinctively, Sirena know that she mustn't interrupt, so she stood well away and watched them work. She had no idea what they were doing to John but somehow it looked vital in saving his life.
A few noisy minutes went by before the weary looking doctor turned to the others and sighed. "That was close." The other people looked grim and nodded in agreement, as they tidied up the equipment and moved it out of the way.
Sirena gave a little cough and inched closer, finally catching Carson's attention. "What are ya doing up, my dear?"
Sirena didn't reply, she simply stared at John. To her he still looked a moment from death. Carson watched as she walked over to his bed to place a hand upon his fever soaked brow.
She stroked it lightly and murmured. "Do not let Karakus win, John. He deliberately pulled you down with the intent of dragging you into death with him. You must fight it, fight it with all the strength that I know you have within you." Saying no more, she bowed her head and placed her hand over John's heart as if in prayer.
After a few minutes of silence, she turned tear-filled eyes towards Carson. "He always stood up to him and tried so hard not to become a slave to that awful man."
"Aye, the Colonel has an inner strength that always astounds me. But you, my dear, should go back to ya bed now. It's still very early in the morning."
Sirena nodded in agreement before asking. "What are his chances?"
Carson didn't what to upset the sweet lady but she deserved to know the truth. "He's gravely ill and the way things are at present, I have to say, not good. We nearly lost him a few minutes ago and I really don't know how much longer his heart can take the strain of having to fight such a high fever as well as coping with the countless injuries." Carson stopped to squeeze her hand and looked earnestly into her eyes. "But as I said before, John Sheppard is a fighter and I'm sure he'll give it his best."
Sirena looked up at him and smiled slightly. "Thank you for being honest." With one last glance towards John, she went back to her bed.
-SGA-
Sirena must have slept for hours because the next time she woke, the large room was lighter and there were more people about. Carefully sitting up, she glanced towards John's room before slipping from her bed unnoticed. Arriving in his room a minute later, she noted that the contraptions were still all there but the bed was gone. Her knees suddenly felt weak and a lump constricted her throat. She wanted to call out but no sound came. Overwhelmed, she buried her face in her hands, gave into her tears and wept.
Elizabeth heard the sound of sobbing from her position near Carson's office, so she decided to investigate. The sound led her towards John's room and entering, she swallowed her shock at seeing the ex-slave obviously deeply distressed. Gently moving over to her, Elizabeth placed a hand on her arm. "Sirena?"
Sirena looked up into the eyes of the dark haired woman and gulped back a sob. "I am so sorry, I-" But she couldn't say more as her voice broke and the tears threatened to return.
Elizabeth looked puzzled at the woman, wondering what was wrong. Then she glanced at the empty space and it dawned on her as Beckett had told her about last night.
"Sirena," she called gently, "John is still alive." She stopped to take the woman's hand. "He has been moved into another area for a scan. They should be bringing him back here anytime soon. He was showing a slight improvement. Although it is still far too early to say how things will turn out, but at least he hasn't suffered anymore crashes." Sirena looked relieved but mystified, so Elizabeth elaborated, "Heart failure."
"Is that what happened last night and what is this scan?"
"Well, to answer your questions. John's heart did stop last night but we have a machine called a defibrillator that can help restart it again. A scan is done with another machine that can see inside the body. Dr. Beckett wanted to check that there wasn't any reoccurrence of the internal bleeding. He was a little concerned about something and wanted to be a hundred percent sure." Elizabeth didn't like to say that if John needed further surgery, he was highly unlikely to survive it. She didn't think Sirena could handle that right now.
The older woman nodded gratefully before saying. "You have so many wondrous things here. Is this really the great legendary city of Atlantis?"
Elizabeth brightened a little as she began to talk about her favourite subject. "It most certainly is. The Ancients abandoned it at the bottom of the sea when they were overwhelmed by the Wraith. We found it nearly intact when we arrived a few years ago through the Stargate from a place called Earth." Elizabeth paused there when she thought Sirena had heard enough about Atlantis for now. "When you're feeling little stronger someone will show you around but before that I'd like to know a little about you and what happen to Colonel Sheppard while he was held captive by the man you called … err … Karakus?"
Sirena nodded and started to relate her story but Elizabeth quickly stopped her. "Oh, I didn't mean right now. Firstly, you need to go back to your bed and have some breakfast. Then I am sure that Dr. Cole will want to check you over again. Maybe, I can come by later and we can talk?"
"Yes, of course and thank you."
"You're welcome. Now let's see you back to your bed."
Elizabeth stayed with Sirena until she was safely back her in bed. She was just about to turn away and leave the infirmary when an assistant waved her over, so she quickly moved towards him.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Dr Weir, but Dr Beckett asked me to tell you that he's had to go back into surgery with the Colonel."
Elizabeth felt the blood drain from her face before she nodded her thanks.
Tbc