A/N: This story was not Betaed, all mistakes are my own.
Possible Ending Number 1 of: When It Rains It Pours
John woke relishing the feeling of warmth that surrounded and bathed him. He remembered being so cold, now he was warm and could easily go back to sleep. But his stomach had other ideas. John realized it had been close to thirty-six hours since he had eaten and his stomach was complaining tenfold. John managed to get his eyes open and found the doctor slumped back over his desk snoring just like he was when he came to his room late last night. His clock read 05:17. He carefully removed the IV needle from the back of his hand and pulled off the nasal cannula that had helped him breathe as he dug himself out from within the cocoon of blankets. John slipped out of bed quietly and managed to make it to his closet without waking the snoring doctor. John slipped his socked feet into his sneakers and moved towards the door.
The door opened with a silent swish and closed just as quietly after him. John was startled to see five figures lined up against the opposite wall all sound asleep. Including Ronon who he knew from missions didn't sleep that soundly. He took a moment to wonder why they were camped outside his door. The last he remembered Teyla, Ronon and Lorne were on the mainland. And he definitely remembered walking Elizabeth and Rodney to their own rooms last night. As his stomach growled once again, he smiled at them and headed for the mess hall for some much needed breakfast. There would be time later for questions and answers.
"Morning Sir. You're up early. What can I get for you?" Asked Airman Stockard who was on KP rotation this week as he was just setting up the chow line. "We have the usual, eggs, bacon, toast, muffins and oatmeal or if you're not in a hurry we will be serving pancakes."
It didn't take John all that long to decide. "I'll take two pancakes Airman." John said with a hungry smile.
"Coming right up Sir. It'll just take me a couple of minutes. I'll bring them to you."
The Colonel nodded and filled a glass with milk, grabbed some utensils, butter and syrup and sat down. The mess hall was relatively quiet at this hour with the exception of the occasional pot or pan banging coming from the kitchen. He watched as the mess staff made several trips back and forth setting up the morning buffet line. Soon the mess hall would be filled with hungry expedition members. In no time at all the Airman delivered two steaming hot golden-brown pancakes to his table. "Thanks Airman. Would you do me another favor if you have time? I need five cups of coffee, one Athosian tea and one large glass of milk to go. Say in twenty minutes."
"Sure thing Sir."
John turned back to his breakfast he spread butter and poured syrup before he dug into his pancakes enjoying every bite and washing it all down with his glass of milk. At first he wasn't too sure how his sore throat would handle the sweet cakes but after his second bite it was not an issue. They went down nicely and for that his stomach was grateful. When he finished he returned his empty dishes and picked up the tray that Airman Stockard had just prepared for him.
Carefully he navigated down the empty hallway trying not to spill the contents of his tray. When he reached his still sleeping friends he thought how stiff their necks will be when they woke up. John couldn't image that sleeping like that would be comfortable and the question still remained was why? Ronon's and Teyla's room was just around the corner from his. Rodney was on the next floor up, Elizabeth was in section six and Major Lorne's room was one hallway away from where most of the military bunked. Yesterday had been a long day that blurred in time as John racked his brain why his friends would be camped outside his room but kept drawing a blank. John lightly tapped Ronon's foot. Once his eyes were open, John handed him the large glass of milk from his heavy tray. He nodded to Ronon to nudge Teyla and handed her the Athosian tea. When she moved to take the hot cup it woke Rodney up as he had his head resting on her shoulder. At least he wasn't drooling this time. John laughed inwardly at the thought. John handed Rodney a cup of coffee indicating he should remain quiet. Rodney took the cup and after a couple sips began working out the kinks in his neck as silently as he could.
John tapped Evan on the boot. He had his arms folded crossed and his chin rested on his chest. As Evan woke enough John handed him his wake up cup of coffee. By the time he got to Elizabeth she had already roused. Her eyes were open and accepted the hot cup with enthusiasm and a warm smile. Before he could start asking why they were all sitting outside his door, Beckett burst out of his room in a panic shouting into the hallway "he's gone!"
"Who's gone?" John asked concernedly holding the tray with the last two cups of coffee on it.
Carson finally took a moment to get his bearings and noticed that Elizabeth and the rest, still sitting on the floor, all had wide smiles on their faces.
"Here Doc I think you might need this." John offered him a cup of coffee to help him wake up.
Carson took the offered cup and swallowed down a few sips. "Where did you get off too Colonel?"
"The mess hall. I was starving when I woke up. They're serving pancakes this morning. You were snoring at my desk and these guys were asleep out here. Which reminds me why…?" He started to ask.
"Did you say pancakes?" Ronon interrupted as he got himself to his feet.
"Yeah. Hot of the grill too." John added.
Slowly the rest of his friends pulled themselves off the floor and into a standing position. He offered Elizabeth a hand up, while Rodney helped Teyla to stand. John was just reaching for his coffee when Beckett stopped him cold.
"I don't think so Colonel. The last thing you need is caffeine." The doctor took the cup away from him in a move that would make Bruce Lee proud.
"I'll take it!" Rodney moved over to Carson and took it greedily. Rodney had already inhaled the first cup.
"Hey!"
"Sorry Colonel, no coffee for you. That's the last thing you need right now. What you do need is sleep. You're heading back to bed this very instance. Fours hours is not enough after the day you had."
"Carson I'm fine. Whatever you gave me last night…it worked. I feel great and besides I have several reports to get done, I need to make out a new schedule for the Marines. There's still the Athosian settlement and I…"
"No Colonel. No reports, no settlement, no work of any kind. You're heading back to bed. You will let me examine you and you will do as I say." Carson stated in a no nonsense tone.
"Guys…help me out here." John pleaded to his friends. "I'm fine."
"You're on your own Sheppard. I'm with Conan here and pancakes sound really good this morning." Shouted McKay as he and the rest of his friends started to trail down the hall towards the mess hall.
"Sorry Sir. The Doc outranks us both." Offered Lorne with a quirky sympathetic grin as he too followed McKay and Ronon to the mess hall.
Feeling deserted he turned to Teyla and Elizabeth. "Teyla? Elizabeth? Help me out here. I'm fine…really."
"Sorry John, you heard the doctor. Get some rest. We'll talk later." She gave him a pat on the arm and took the empty tray he was still holding. She walked away barely containing her amusement of the situation.
"But…"
"Rest well John." Teyla offered with a pat on his shoulder.
"But…I'm fine!" He yelled after them as Carson grabbed an elbow and steered him back into his quarters. "I'm fine."