Part 4 - I Told You So

The day progressed far too quickly for McKay's liking and before he knew it, the others were calling him back to the jumper. He still hadn't found anything of great value, which probably meant that there was nothing here anyway. Resigned, he packed up his equipment and headed back.

Everyone was gathered near or by the jumper when Rodney approached. He was mildly surprised to find Sheppard sitting outside instead of resting inside. The colonel looked slightly better but dark rings left shadows under his eyes. "So it was just a stomach bug then?" Rodney called to him.

Sheppard looked up at his friend with a sickly expression. "I told you not to mention bugs around me again, Rodney, but yeah, I guess it must have been. I've slept most of the day. I still feel a bit queasy but it's much better already."

Kavanagh couldn't help but overhear their conversation and a slight shadow crossed his face at the colonel's mention of feeling better. A question flashed though his mind. How could that be? He's supposed to get worse not better. For a minute, he wondered if the Turaka had bitten Sheppard.

Resigned to wait and see, the slimy scientist called over, "That's good to hear, Colonel," before entering the jumper to deposit his things. Quickly looking around, Kavanagh noted that the sleeping bag had been folded up and put with the others. As he wouldn't be alone in the vehicle for very long, he determined that getting to it at the moment was once again out of the question.

Outside the jumper, the rest of the team gathered up their belongings and prepared to leave. Sheppard stood up on slightly shaky legs, all set to enter the jumper in order to fly them home. Rodney watched him go and shook his head in disbelief before catching up with him. Putting his hand on the pilot's shoulder, he said. "Come on, it's not a difficult flight. Sit back and I'll get us home."

John wanted to protest but his vision suddenly swam reminding him that he still wasn't one hundred percent, so he relented. "Okay, as long as you don't leave the controls unattended again."

"You're not going to let me forget that are you?" McKay complained as he followed Sheppard towards the front of the jumper.

John called over his shoulder. "Nope!"

The journey back to Atlantis passed by uneventfully, as Rodney's piloting skills had greatly improved over the last year. As soon as the jumper was safely relocated in its bay, the first group of weary scientists and soldiers left to report to the infirmary for the routine check-up leaving just Sheppard and his team behind.

Teyla glanced at the colonel. "Can you walk to the infirmary or shall I call for assistance?"

"Heck no, Teyla, I can make it." John replied as he eased himself carefully out of the chair behind Rodney. Another dizzy spell hit him but he pushed it to the furthest corner of his mind thinking that it was caused by a lack of food. Slightly unsteadily, he walked determinedly towards the hatch and noted that Dr. Kavanagh still hovering around. "Why are you still here?" he questioned the irritating man.

"I…err…forgot something." Kavanagh stuttered slightly.

"Well get it quickly and come with us. We're locking this jumper up until a crew can clean the mess up." Sheppard replied somewhat embarrassed.

Kavanagh gritted his teeth as the team waited for him. Another opportunity missed.

-SGA-

The infirmary was still busy when they eventually arrived fifteen minutes later. Carson had been informed about the colonel's stomach problem and as soon as the man walked in, he appeared at John's side. "Still feeling sick are we, son?" he asked as he guided Sheppard over to the nearest couch.

Sheppard answered quickly. "Not as bad as it was."

"Aye, okay but have ya had anything to eat at all today?"

Teyla stepped in with the answer before John could open his mouth. "The Colonel has eaten nothing since he was sick but he did drink some water and managed to keep it down."

"That's good to hear. Now if ya could lie down for me, I'd like to feel your stomach." John eased himself up onto the couch and pulled his tracksuit top up. Carson gently felt around his stomach area for hardness or swelling. "Did ya eat anything different from the others?"

"Nope, we all ate the same."

Carson didn't like to imply that John would be stupid enough to ingest any alien fruit or anything but he had to ask. "How about something on the planet?"

Sheppard gave him a pained expression. "Wrong guy, doc," he answered, looking blatantly towards McKay.

"Hey, I heard that! Anybody would think I ate all and sundry!" McKay shouted.

Ronon and Teyla's titters could be heard from where they stood, but John's only answer was to give another pained expression and not entirely brought on by Rodney's denial as Carson found a tender stop.

Carson straightened from his examination. "I'll take some blood and have it checked but it does seem to be the stomach flu. Ya have no temperature and everything else checks out, so ya should feel better soon. I want ya to give your stomach a rest until tomorrow morning, so its fluids only, I'm afraid."

"That's okay, doc, I don't really feel like eating at the moment anyway."

"Okay then. I'll just take the blood sample and then you can go to ya room for a good nights sleep."

Just as Carson finished talking Elizabeth entered the infirmary. She looked over to John, her face a mask of worry. "I've heard you're not well," she asked with concern, noting John's paler then normal complexion.

John didn't get to reply as Carson spoke for him. "He's a little under the weather with a wee touch of stomach flu. I'm sure he'll be fine in a few days time."

Elizabeth smiled with relief. "That's good to hear. Why don't you all get to bed now and I'll see you tomorrow at 0900 for a debriefing."

Everyone nodded in agreement, as Elizabeth left for her own bed.

-SGA-

John was grateful to reach the solitude of his own quarters and although he felt a little better, he couldn't help thinking that something was slightly off. As it was already way past midnight and his bed did look awfully inviting, he decided to take Carson and Elizabeth's advice. So, after a quick shower and change into some comfortable nightwear, he crashed out and slept soundly.

-SGA-

The next morning, Elizabeth gathered everyone into the briefing room at the prearranged time. With all the mission's personnel gathered, the room was a little cramped. However, she really needed to hear everyone's evaluation regarding the mission even though Rodney had already insisted that there was very little to report but protocol made the debriefing necessary.

Sheppard arrived a few minutes late and Elizabeth was pleased to note that he seemed a little brighter but his handsome face was still pale and drawn. "Sorry," he muttered as he took the seat that had been left vacant for him.

He didn't say anymore, so Elizabeth began. "All right, now that we're all here let's make this debriefing as short as possible, shall we? I understand from Dr. McKay that the ruins turned up nothing useful?"

The scientists all nodded but then they went on about the various things they had noticed, describing at great length every little detail.

Kavanagh added a few comments of his own but every now and again, he would glance over towards Sheppard in confusion. He couldn't believe that the man was still functioning and inwardly cursed as it probably meant one thing, the Turaka hadn't bitten him. Frustrated, he turned his full attention back to the debriefing.

The meeting went on far longer than Elizabeth would have liked but eventually it ended and she gave a grateful sigh as the scientists gathered up their reports to leave. She glanced over at Teyla and exchanged an understanding smile with the young woman. They had grown close since the whole Hive ship nearly getting to Earth debacle.

She moved her gaze to rest on John, who had remained unusually quiet during the meeting. "Are you feeling any better this morning, John?" she asked him.

For a minute, John's look seemed unfocused and distant before he turned towards her. "What? Oh, I'm good."

Elizabeth let her eyes stay on him. "That's good to hear but all the same, I suggest that you take it easy today. I hope you had some breakfast before this meeting?"

John looked a little guilty. "I overslept, so I had to skip breakfast."

Rodney overheard him and looked concerned. "I could do with another coffee," he stated, "so why don't we go get something before the breakfast shift is over?"

John didn't like to turn his friend down as he really didn't feel like eating. On the other hand, he'd gone over twenty six hours since his last meal, so he relented. "Okay, but after yesterday, I'm not touching coffee again for a few days. I'll grab a bowl of cereal or something and a juice."

Rodney nodded in agreement and the two men left Elizabeth, Teyla, and Ronon alone.

The two women exchanged another look before Teyla spoke up. "I do believe the Colonel is still a little under the weather."

Ronon growled something under his breath just as Carson entered the room. "I was hoping to find Colonel Sheppard here," he commented looking at the room's three occupants.

"He left about two minutes ago with Rodney," Elizabeth informed him. "They were heading for the main dining area for breakfast."

"Oh really, so he's feeling a mite better this morning?"

Elizabeth was confused as to why Carson would believe that John shouldn't be feeling better. "Is there a problem?" she asked needing answers.

"Oh, no, not really. His blood work came back and it shows that he is fighting some form of viral or bacterial infection. So, I guess that he's suffering from a wee bout of gastric flu like I first suspected. He should be as right as rain in a few days time."

Elizabeth looked relieved and smiled. "That's good to hear. Put him on light duty only, Carson and I'll make sure he sticks to it."

"Aye, okay. Well, I'd better go and find him."

Elizabeth nodded as the doctor left the room and turning to Ronon and Teyla, she whispered. "I'd like you two to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't overdo things." They both nodded and got up to leave the room. "But do it discreetly, you know how much he hates being mothered."

Teyla smiled. "We will."

tbc

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