Author's Note: This was written for this week's Carson Beckett Thunk/Whump Challenge. The challenge was to take an episode where there was Carson whump or one where we thought there should be some Carson whump and rewrite it. I chose "Conversion." Enjoy! ~lg

oOo

An unearthly shout of agony echoed through the cave, it's high pitch a testament to the severity of the pain. Carson fell backwards, unable to do much more than let another scream rip from his throat. He'd never had pain shoot through his head like this.

"Carson!" Teyla's should was drowned out by the fire of P90s.

"Doc!" Ronon's roar seemed a bit closer, but Carson could do nothing. He squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth so that he wouldn't scream again. The creature that had attached itself to his neck tightened its hold. He felt a strong tail wrap under his arm and back up between his shoulders. Before he could say anything, he was hauled to his feet. Another shout came out before he could stop it as pain radiated from his head and down his spine. His neck felt as if he'd pinched a nerve and had been bit by the biggest mosquito that ever lived all at the same time.

"Let's go! Come on!" Lorne's voice seemed close. Carson ground his teeth together as he bounced on Ronon's shoulder. The pain was so severe that his mind formed a partition of sorts. He'd always heard of them in relation to computers, but he'd never experienced this. He felt somewhat distant from the whole situation. Mentally, anyway.

Ronon carried him out of the cave and into the dim light of the planet. He vaguely heard Lorne holler, "Fire in the hole!" before an explosion tossed dirt and debris into the air. Part of it landed in his face as Ronon dropped him on the ground.

"Carson!" Teyla's face appeared.

Carson closed his eyes and took deep breaths, hissing them out as he tried to control his breathing. "I've got. . . .a bug. . . . ."

She nodded. "Yes."

"You remember. . . .what to. . . .do?"

"Yes!" She looked around. "But we do not have the defibrillator with us."

"Aye," he said weakly, understanding the problem. The only way to remove one of these things was to zap the human with the defibrillator, essentially rendering him dead and tricking the bug into releasing its hold. The last time he'd encountered one of these bugs, it had been attached to Colonel Sheppard. Even while he felt his legs and hands go numb, he shook his head at the irony. His mission to the Iratus cave was a direct result of Sheppard's transformation into a humanoid Iratus bug. He tried to give Teyla a smile. "Well, we got. . .the stem cells."

She didn't return the smile. "Stay still, Carson. Ronon's already headed back to the gate. He'll return soon with the equipment we need."

"May not. . .have enough time." Carson pushed out another breath. The ache in his head had transferred to his neck as he felt the bug pulsate. His legs had lost all feeling, however, and he almost looked forward to the numbness that would eventually take over his body. Part of him realized that the effects had spread much faster than they had through Colonel Sheppard's body, and he wondered if his sensitivity to medications had something to do with it. "Need to. . .get back. . . ."

"Carson, stay still." Rodney's voice came from his left as the physicist knelt next to him. "Just stay put, and Ronon'll be back soon with that defibrillator. I mean, he was a Runner, right? He'd be able to get to the gate in. . .what? Ten minutes? Fifteen at the most? Then, fifteen back, so thirty more minutes and we'll have you fixed up."

Carson closed his eyes rather than telling Rodney that the defibrillator might not work. Last time, he'd had to revive Sheppard, and even he had held his breath for a few moments. What was to say that this team—none of whom were doctors—would be able revive him? He didn't have the advantage of having an active wormhole to preserve him in suspended animation should this go wrong.

"Teyla."

"Carson, just remain calm."

He looked at her. "Teyla, love, listen." She clearly sensed the seriousness in his voice, because she took his hand. He appreciated the gesture, even if he could no longer feel it. Near his feet, Lorne paced with his P90 at the ready, looking out for any dangers. Carson turned back to Teyla. "If this goes wrong. . . ."

"But it won't," Rodney stated emphatically.

Carson moved his eyes to look at his best friend. "Rodney, if this goes badly, I need you ta tell my mum. Please?" He moved his head, and the bug attached to his neck shifted. Pain radiated outward, and he squeezed his eyes closed until it faded. "Teyla, make sure this. . .creature. . .gets back to Dr. Biro. She should be able to synthesize the genetic treatment for Colonel Sheppard."

She nodded, her eyes filled with tears. "I will see to it, Carson. Just try to rest."

Satisfied he'd done all he could, Carson closed his eyes against his friends' panicked, pain-filled faces and relaxed against the rock they'd used to support him. The pain had faded into a strange numbness that left all but the area around the creature deadened. The area around the creature throbbed in time to the pulse he felt coming from the bug.

"I hate these bugs," he said under his breath.

"You and Sheppard both," Rodney replied. His hand was still on Carson's shoulder, and Carson appreciated the physicist not abandoning him. The two of them had really become decent friends since the entire Cadman incident. Thinking of that made Carson shudder, and the shudder made the bug tighten its tentacles. Carson clenched his teeth again, but a groan still escaped. Tears came to his eyes and leaked down his face and into his ears. Rodney tensed. "Okay, breathe, Carson, just breathe!"

"I. . .am!" Carson ground out between his teeth. "Just don't make me move!"

Rodney fell silent, not knowing what to say. Carson appreciated the awkwardness as they waited. The bug attached to his neck made a strange warbling sound, seeming rather loud in his ear. He kept his eyes closed most of the time, opening them only when he wanted to see what was happening. Time stretched on, and Carson caught sight of Rodney checking his watch. At least Teyla and Lorne had managed not to panic, though he noticed a distinct absence. "Where are. . . .the others?"

Lorne gave him a frustrated glance and shook his head. Carson got the message. Walker and Stevens had sacrificed their lives to make sure he made it back to Atlantis. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure he had it in him to survive much longer. Even the pain in his neck was starting to dim, leaving him unable to move at all.

"Carson?" Teyla picked up on his sigh.

"I'm fine, love." He licked his lips, amazed at how soft his voice sounded.

Rodney snorted, knowing that numbness was a very, very bad sign. "The fact that you can breathe again would contradict you."

"Aye, an' that's because I'm numb." Carson met his friends' eyes. "I'm fine right now."

"No, you're not." Rodney glared. "And don't pretend like you're Sheppard, either. Even he didn't act like he was fine when he had one of these things attached to him!"

Carson couldn't argue with that.

An inordinate amount of time later, Ronon came running back to the cave. The former Runner breathed hard, a testament of how much speed he'd put into his journey, and handed a pack to Teyla. Carson recognized the defibrillator typically kept in the Jumpers.

Teyla started pulling things from the case. "Carson. . . ."

"I know, love." He met her eyes. "I know ye'll have ta kill the bugger, but we need. . . ."

"I know." She put a hand on his shoulder. "You will be fine."

Carson pressed his lips together. "Just. . .if it doesn't. . . ."

Rodney exchanged a glance with Teyla. "I will, Carson. You have my word."

Nothing more was said as Teyla unbuttoned Carson's shirt as Rodney added the gel to the paddles. After receiving one quick nod from Carson, Teyla put the paddles on his chest and pressed the button. The shock went through his system, resulting in one final burst of agony. Then, everything went black.

oOo

The sound of someone entering the cubicle where Carson rested pulled him from a happy doze. He opened his eyes and turned his head slightly so as not to agitate the wound on his neck. Dr. Biro had examined him and assured him that the wound would heal. Carson suspected he might have an ever-so-slight scar there, but he would soon lose the tenderness.

Rodney stood in the opening between the two curtains. "Hey."

"Hello, Rodney." Carson shifted in the bed. "Come in."

"How are you?"

"Oh, I'll live." He smiled at his friend. "Feeling finally returned to my feet."

"Yeah, I heard there was a slight pinched nerve."

"Aye." Carson swallowed. "How's the colonel?"

"Um. . .he's fine." Rodney shrugged. "Biro says it'll be a couple of weeks."

"Aye, she's right." Carson shook his head. "I'm just very glad he'll recover."

"Well, we couldn't have done it without your. . .uh. . .you know." Rodney made a motion toward his neck.

Carson nodded slightly, the pain medication making him drowsy.

Rodney jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "I'm gonna. . . ."

"Aye," he said again. "Thanks for comin', Rodney."

"Yeah." Rodney left then, letting Carson drift back into the comfortable darkness. He settled back into his pillow, appreciating how it cradled his neck. He'd have other visitors as time wore on, but he was happy for the quiet. He was home, would recover, and had his friends close.

At this moment, he couldn't ask for more.