"So?" Sheppard asked hovering behind Jennifer who was reading the latest test results off a screen.
"So," Jennifer started, "these test results are encouraging."
"I sense hesitation." Sheppard replied gloomily.
"No. Just double checking the results." Jennifer replied distractedly. Finally she looked at the assembled group and said.
"There are signs the treatment is working, but as I said it will not work instantaneously. Until the virus is under control he will still be in terrible pain. So I am going to keep him sedated for awhile, giving the drugs a chance to work. When he wakes the worse should be over and his sight and hearing should have returned to normal, if Shingles is the underlying cause. Until he wakes up though we won't know for sure."
"How long?" McKay asked.
"I don't know Rodney. Seeing how he reacted to the virus in the first place it could take a long time, especially if there is something else at play, or his body could start working normally in which case it could be hours. I will monitor him closely and keep you updated." Jennifer said.
Eighteen hours later Jennifer entered Ronon's room, so exhausted she could barely stand.
"Well?" McKay asked jumping up.
"I am going to give the go ahead to wake him up." Jennifer replied. "When he does wake I don't want you to agitate him. I want him to remain calm."
"You make it sound like you won't be here." McKay said suspiciously.
"That is because I won't. As I said he needs to remain calm. Last time he saw me he got upset, so just in case he reacts in the same way I will keep my distance."
"But shouldn't you be here?" McKay yammered.
"Rodney, if something goes wrong, there is not much I can do one handed. I'll just be outside." She smiled. "I expect him to wake up in about thirty minutes." She added as she left the room.
Sheppard and Teyla shared a silent glance before turning their attention back to Ronon.
Half an hour later the tension was building in the room.
"How long has it been?" McKay asked.
"About ten seconds longer than the last time you asked." Sheppard replied.
"Shouldn't he be awake then?"
"She said about thirty minutes Rodney, not exactly thirty." Sheppard responded.
"But he never oversleeps." McKay threw back.
"Don't think this is the same thing as an afternoon nap." Sheppard pointed out.
"What if he doesn't wake up? What if Jennifer's wrong?"
"Rodney, Ronon is a fighter, he will pull through." Teyla assured him just as Ronon twitched. Squeezing Ronon's hand Teyla leaned towards the Satedan.
"Ronon, can you here me?" She asked as Sheppard and McKay took up residence on his other side.
"Te..." He started as he blinked.
"Are you in pain?" Teyla asked. Before she could answer a medical team rushed in and moved Sheppard's team out of the way whilst they ran some tests. By the time they were done Ronon was asleep again.
"Should he have done that?" McKay questioned.
"Done what?" The confused doctor asked.
"Gone to sleep."
"Yes Dr McKay. He will drift in and out for a couple of hours."
"Well how was he?" McKay pressed.
"He was not awake long enough to confirm anything, but the readings look good. We will know more in a few more hours." The doctor replied.
"So we just wait?" McKay asked.
"Yes Dr McKay." The doctor said leaving, as Sheppard's team returned to their seats.
For the next few hours Ronon drifted in and out of consciousness as the team became more and more frustrated, not helped by McKay's rumbling stomach.
"McKay will you go get something to eat?" Sheppard eventually snapped.
"What if he wakes up when I'm gone?"
"I'll get peace." Ronon said hoarsely.
"Ronon, how are you feeling?" Teyla asked, whipping her head round.
"Sore, tired. What happened?"
"You had a kid's illness." McKay said causing Ronon to frown.
"How's your vision?" Sheppard asked.
"Fine." Ronon replied unable to think why it wouldn't be.
"Mr Dex, you're awake." A doctor, Ronon didn't recognise, said approaching his bedside. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"Um, well if you could excuse us." The doctor said to the rest of Ronon's team, "I need to run a few tests."
"Why?" Ronon asked.
"To see how you are."
"I'm fine." Ronon shrugged.
"Well I'll be the judge of that." The doctor said ushering the team out of the room.
A few minutes later the doctor emerged and was immediately surrounded by the remainder of Sheppard's team.
"He will be fine." The doctor said before waving the team off and heading straight for Jennifer who was falling to sleep in her office.
The conversation was barely started when Rodney came hurrying over.
"He's not ok."
"What's happened?" Jennifer asked springing up and rushing to Ronon's room. When she arrived in the room she saw Ronon sleeping soundly.
"He's asleep, again." Rodney said.
"That is to be expected Rodney." Jennifer said wearily.
"You sure?" McKay asked. "Cos your team kinda screwed up the diagnosis."
Jennifer grabbed the chart and reviewed it, confirming the picture her subordinate had just painted was correct.
"I'm sure. He is out of the woods. He just needs rest." Jennifer assured him.
"As do you." Teyla said.
"Yeah doc go rest." Sheppard half suggested, half ordered.
"I'm going, but I'll get regular updates from my staff. If you are worried about anything call me." She demanded before reluctantly leaving.
"Doc, you still seem to be here." Sheppard said a few hours later as he stretched his legs, wondering round the infirmary.
"I just wanted to make sure everything was ok and try to work out why he reacted so badly."
"And?"
"As far as I can tell he is still fine. His improvement is surprisingly fast. As for why, I have no idea. It could just be his different physiology. I mean if his body has never been exposed to a similar type of virus he would have no defences and get hit worse. That could explain why when he got the anti virals he showed such rapid improvement, I mean they would have effectively kick started his immune system." She hypothesised. "But you probably aren't interested in that part are you?" She said noticing Sheppard's slightly glazed look.
"Not as long as he will be ok." He smiled.
"It is all looking good."
"So why are you still here?"
"Just in case."
"We have radios for that situation." Sheppard smiled kindly. "So either go get some rest or I'll get Lorne down here to ensure it."
Jennifer quirked an eyebrow then sighed. Holding her good arm up she said.
"I'm going. But if anything happens at all-"
"In the exceptional case when you staff don't, I'll call you back." He promised. "Now go." He ordered.