Background Noise And Cannon Fodder

Disclaimer: Atlantis is owned by MGM/Sony. This is done for fun not profit.

Category: Angst/Friendship

All ages

Again thanks to all who are still with me on this, you make my day!

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Chapter Three: The Man Called McKay

Rodney's POV:

I awaken to bright lights, a dry mouth and lots of pain. My head feels like it's stuffed with cotton balls and my mouth feels like I swallowed the same.

Thank goodness for drugs or I'm sure I'd be in a bigger world of hurt. Speaking of which, I seem to remember Sheppard calling my name, but I don't remember when. I think I got everyone back safe from the planet, but again everything is fuzzy including my brain.

The memory of our return slowly comes back to me now as I lie here and then I realize the pain is from a bullet wound in my back. That's right, Carson told me it wasn't my back that was injured. I vaguely remember falling down with Sheppard on the planet under a hail of bullets and then trying to get him moving again. Must have made a great target for an Annie Oakley wannabe. Someone was a good shot, that's for sure.

Right now, I wish I was anywhere but here, where Sheppard can find me. There's gonna be trouble; I remember from his tone of voice as he called my name. I just hope I didn't call him Fearless, or I'm so dead.

Now I'm beginning to wish I was dead, then he couldn't hurt me; he doesn't like nicknames, especially from me. I remember calling him Kirk one time and that didn't go over so big.

Looking around, I realize it's very early morning, a guess would be about 06:00am. Everything is quiet and I swear if I could move I'd crawl back to my quarters and bar the door. Call me a coward, but the wrath of Sheppard is not nice to watch, especially if one is the recipient of that wrath. Usually I can hold my own with him, but not today, my heart just isn't in it. Part of me just wants to pull the covers over my head and hide. Like I said Coward.

Just to be on the safe side I check both sides of the bed to be sure he isn't hiding, ready to pounce on me when I least expect it. The man can be a nut job when he wants to. After all, it was his idea to throw me off that balcony when I was testing the personal shield. His next idea was to toss me in the ocean and see if I could walk underwater. I nixed that idea fast.

Like I said nut job.

So here I am, awaiting to see if I die a slow painful death, or a quick painful death. My fate is in one crazed Colonel's hands.

Where's Carson when I need him?

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Carson's POV:

Colonel Sheppard didn't get much out of Rodney last night ,as the daft bugger fell asleep as I'd hoped. The Colonel also needed to get a good nights sleep before he accosted our Rodney and the same can be said of the latter. Neither man was in any condition for arguing.

The Colonel feels badly about what happened and he said that he'd spoken to Teyla and Ronon and told them about Rodney's condition. Understandably they were upset as well. Can't say as I blame them, I also feel responsible. The only one who wasn't at fault is Colonel Sheppard, he was injured and more or less out of it at the time. However, as team leader he's taken on the guilt for the whole thing.

This morning Rodney seems to be coming along. His readings are improving and everything seems to be under control so far. Still not out of the woods yet.

What I don't want is for him and Sheppard to argue. Neither of them need that, so I plan on being the referee. I'll toss John out and shake Rodney if I have to, in order to keep the peace. I'm on my way now to check on my patient to be sure he's ok ,for at any time now I expect John to show up.

I think I'll just increase the pain meds, that way Rodney will be sleepy and maybe not say anything to dig himself a bigger hole than the one he's already in.

I can see that he's awake now.

"How ya feeling, Rodney? Are ye in any pain?"

He looks at me with that pitiful hurt look he has when he's badly injured. I swear no matter how mad you get at him, when he looks this way you just feel sorry for him.

So help me, Colonel Sheppard better not start anything or I swear he'll answer to me.

"I'm in a little pain, Carson"

"A little you say, I bet it's a whole lot more. I'll increase the dosage. "

It's a simple thing to adjust the drip to increase the amount and only takes me a moment. What's so unusual is how quiet Rodney is through all this. Not like him at all, even if he is medicated.

"So, how are you feeling otherwise?"

He looks at me as if he's not sure what to say.

"Like crap, and I think everyone ...hates me."

"What's that you say, Rodney? Hates you? Why?"

"I don't know, just feels that way. I feel useless." He suddenly averts his eyes and stares at his lap.

This is as pitiful a look as I've ever seen on Rodney's face. It suddenly comes to me that the man's depressed. It has to be that. So much has happened this year, sadly most of it bad.

"You're not useless, look at all the times you've saved us. Where'd we be without you? Dead for sure! So stop talking rubbish and let's worry about getting you well."

He looks at me with his sad blue eyes, but I see a spark of hope there, maybe what I've said is sinking in. Sometimes people with big egos have to be told that they are worthwhile.

I know I consider him a good friend and wouldn't trade him for the world. He looks sleepy, so I carefully tuck the covers around him and he looks grateful as his eyes start to close.

I smile at him then leave hoping he gets some more rest before John arrives. Elizabeth wants to drop in as well, so it's going to be hectic here in a little while.

TBC

AN: Sorry it's so short, but I will post more tomorrow and hopefully have an end Ta Ta by Monday. :)