By the time the two teams had rendezvoused Ronon could barely walk from the pain. As soon as Dr Thorpe saw Ronon he ordered Sheppard and McKay to lie the big Satedan on the ground so he could examine him. After a few minutes the doctor injected something into Ronon's arm and turned to face the rest of the group.
"We need to get him on the stretcher and back to Atlantis."
"What's wrong with him?" Sheppard asked.
"At this stage I am not certain. There are no signs of trauma round the site of the pain, suggesting that it is something internal. The location of the pain and the slight fever are consistent with appendicitis, but the level of pain is too great. Right now we need to get him back to the infirmary for further tests."
"What did you give him?" Sheppard asked.
"Morphine and sedatives. He should remain out for the trip back." Thorpe said. Sheppard felt worried and frustrated but knew time was an important factor, so rather than questioning Thorpe further he gave the order to head back to Atlantis.
Unfortunately Thorpe's estimate of how long Ronon would remain unconscious was off and when the group were still half an hour from the gate the former runner began writhing in pain. His movements were so great he nearly rolled off the stretcher.
"Ronon, it's Sheppard. Hold still, we are nearly back at the gate." The Colonel said, jogging up along side Ronon on the stretcher. "How are you feeling." Cringing for asking such a stupid question.
"Hurts." Ronon said through gritted teeth.
"Ronon, I can give you something for the pain, but it might make diagnosing you more difficult when we get back. But the choice is yours." Thorpe said, coming up on the other side.
"I'll wait." Ronon grimaced, clenching his fists.
Sharing a worried glance with the doctor Sheppard nodded. "Let's pick up the pace." The Colonel ordered.
As the group sprinted to the gate, Ronon lay, muscles clenched, on the stretcher. Sweat pouring down his face.
As soon as the group made it through the Gate, Ronon was whisked off to the infirmary, Sheppard desperate to follow. However, Woolsey's hovering form told him that was not an option. Fighting his instincts Sheppard hurried up the steps to meet Woolsey, whilst Teyla and McKay followed Ronon to the infirmary.
"Colonel." Woolsey said when Sheppard reached him. "I imagine you wish to be down in the infirmary so I won't keep you long. Just give me the top level of what happened."
"He was showing signs of being unwell, but told Teyla to drop it when she pressed. We carried on and were trying to get the artefact when he screamed in pain and fell. He had the artefact in his pocket on his right hand side just where the pain was. How could I have been so stupid?" He asked before sprinting off to the infirmary, leaving a very confused Woolsey in his wake.
As Sheppard hurried to the infirmary he radioed McKay. "Rodney the artefact, could it have done this?"
"One step ahead of you, I am taking it to the lab, but I doubt it. It is not giving off any type of radiation." McKay replied slightly breathlessly. "I've got a team scanning the database as well for any similar symptoms."
"Keep me posted." Sheppard ordered as he entered the infirmary where Teyla was sitting waiting nervously. Silently he took a seat next to Teyla and waited. As the time silently and slowly slipped by Sheppard began to second guess his actions on the mission, thinking about all the times he should have aborted. If he had turned back when Ronon started to act strangely and what ever it was affecting him had caused those earlier symptoms he would be closer to a cure. If on the other hand it was the ancient device that had caused his friend's pain, again turning back when Ronon for some reason felt unwell would have prevented him ever coming into contact with the device.
Sensing his turmoil Teyla moved her hand to his and giving it a reassuring squeeze said, "It is not your fault." Sheppard nodded half-heartily, his thoughts elsewhere.
"Doc, how is he?" Sheppard said standing as a doctor finally approached.
"So far we can't find any definite cause of his pain. The scans showed his appendix was fine, so we can probably rule that out. The problem is other than the pain his symptoms aren't specific to any one cause. The initial blood work has come back negative for everything." The doctor said. "None of us have seen anything with this presentation before. So either it is something local to Pegasus or it is an unusual reaction, possibly due to his Satedan physiology. Unfortunately it opens up many possibilities and it will take a while to rule them out." The doctor said. "The fact that none of you are showing symptoms may mean it is possibly not anything to do with the planet, perhaps." He continued hesitantly.
"The artefact?" Sheppard probed.
"Well, that is closer to being ruled out. Myself and the nurse had direct contact with it and neither of us showed ill effects, well not yet anyway. Dr McKay's work has found nothing so it is unlikely. But as I said Ronon's physiology is different so I can't rule it out, not yet anyway. However, Teyla did mention that Ronon was feeling unwell before he had contact with it, increasing the chances it has nothing to do with his current state. Although, a combination of the artefact and an illness may cause unusual symptoms." He rambled on.
"How does that help Ronon. He is in pain now, he doesn't want to wait around for you to make up your minds." Sheppard said, beginning to loose his cool. The doctor's manner not helping to temper his frustration.
"John." Teyla said placing a hand on his arm hoping to calm him.
"Sorry." Sheppard muttered. "I'm just worried about Ronon."
"For now we will keep Ronon on high levels of pain killers. This is obviously only a short term solution, but it should keep him comfortable while we try to get to the route of the trouble. Teyla could you come with me please? If it is a Pegasus condition you may be able to shed some light on it. Colonel, if you wish to see Ronon you may." Sharing a glance, Teyla and Sheppard went their separate ways.
"Hey buddy, how are you feeling?" Sheppard said as he took a seat by Ronon's bed.
"Better." Ronon said, his hands still clenched.
"I can tell from your relaxed posture. Seriously buddy, the doctors are going to work out what is wrong with you." Sheppard said. "And you'll be back beating up my marines in no time." He smiled, but he could not hide the worry from his eyes.
"You lie worse than you fight." Ronon said. "They don't have any ideas."
"No, they have lots of ideas." Sheppard said. "It is just a question of picking the right one. You want me to get you anything in the mean time?"
"Think I'll just sleep. Drugs making me tired." Ronon slurred, before drifting off.
An hour later Teyla quietly entered the room Ronon had been placed and sat next to Sheppard.
"How is he?" She whispered.
"Sleeping, the drugs are keeping him out of it." Sheppard replied quietly. "How'd it go with you?"
"I don't think I could tell them anything relevant, but they are running tests on my blood. Any news from Rodney?"
"He still can't find anything that should have caused this, but he is still looking." Sheppard answered forlornly.
"He will pull through. Ronon always does." Teyla said, before the two fell into a silence.
Two hours later the doctor appeared in Ronon's room and began to administer a new treatment. Turning to the expectant Sheppard and Teyla he said.
"Whilst we are trying to confirm the diagnosis I will treat for conditions where the treatment is not harmful. I have scaled back his pain meds. When he wakes if he is showing improvement we know we have found the cause. If not we try something else. Until the tests come back this is the best we can do and some of the tests will take a couple of days."
Although, Sheppard was happy the infirmary team were being proactive, their methods did not inspire confidence and when Ronon finally awoke, gasping in pain, Sheppard began to loose more faith. As time passed and treatment after treatment failed Sheppard felt his hope fade.
"How is he?" McKay asked several hours later when he entered the room.
"The same." Sheppard said. "You find anything?" He asked.
"No. I am confident that artefact has nothing to do with his condition. Apart from the fact it is showing no evidence of giving off any form of radiation or ever having given off any radiation, I found it in the database and it is completely harmless."
"Well that's good. I guess." Sheppard replied wearily. "Look I need to report to Woolsey. If anything happens..."
"We'll call you." Teyla assured him.
"How is he?" Woolsey asked looking up from his desk as Sheppard entered his office.
"The same. They are keeping him drugged at the moment to try to relieve the pain, but they are still searching for answers." Sheppard said as he sat down on a spare chair.
"Do you want me to contact Dr Keller?" Woolsey asked.
"I thought the infirmary team said there was nothing she could do?" Sheppard said leaning forward.
"They did. I agree with them, trapped off world with no equipment there is little she could do, but Ronon is on your team and if you want her consulted it is your decision."
"I appreciate the offer but I doubt she could do much from where she is apart from get more stressed. She is back in two days anyway."
"Very well. If you change your mind let me know. And Colonel, I know you are worried about Ronon, but try and get some rest, you look like you need it." Woolsey added causing Sheppard to sub-consciously rub his unshaven face. "In the mean time I have removed you and your team from duty. Major Lorne will be handling your responsibilities until Ronon is out of the woods, assuming you don't want the paperwork."
"Thanks." Sheppard said just as Teyla's voice came over his radio. "Excuse me." He said to Woolsey before answering the call.
"Go ahead Teyla."
Woolsey watched, from behind the desk, Sheppard stiffen.
"I'll be right there." Sheppard said standing. Looking at Woolsey he explained.
"He's got worse." With that he hurried out of the office and ran down to the infirmary.
"What happened?" He asked when he saw Teyla.
"The pain has spread." She explained.
"How bad?" Sheppard asked
"Ah Colonel you are back." The doctor said approaching. "Ronon's pain has started to spread, but Teyla has probably already told you that."
"Yeah, so how bad is it and why is it spreading?"
"I have increased his pain killers to off-set the pain. As for why, I don't know, yet. But I think this could be a good thing. It gives us more evidence to work with. If you'll excuse me I need to look at the latest tests. Feel free to sit with him, but be aware with the higher dose of pain killers he will be asleep more." Not allowing the others time to ask questions he quickly turned and left.
"And you complain about my people skills." McKay muttered as he returned to Ronon's room.