A Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Part 4
Author: MacGateFan
Disclaimers in Part 1

"Colonel, I need you to open your eyes for me, son."

John didn't want to open his eyes because they were on fire. They didn't bother him so much when they were closed. "No," he managed to choke out. His breathing was getting somewhat better he noticed.

"We need to wash your eyes out and we can't do that when they're closed."

"They hurt, Carson."

Carson took a deep breath and looked at the other physician. They both knew how much that admission cost John. "I know, but Dr. Whittamore and I are trying to help you."

John nodded slowly and opened his eyes. His immediate reaction to the cold air was to shut them, but he leaned over the sink as Carson and Andria did their work. He noticed that everything was blurred.

He wondered how much time had passed because Carson was telling him to close his eyes again. "Colonel," Dr Whittamore said, "we're going to cover your eyes for now. Are they still bothering you?"

"It's just a slight tingle," John replied, wincing. He really didn't want to mention the massive headache that was building up behind them.

"Colonel, what's wrong?"

He knew he'd been stupid to try and hide it from Carson Beckett. "Headache."

Before Carson could reply, John's legs gave out. The two doctors rushed to grab his arms before he fell to the floor. "John!"

"Sorry," he muttered as the helped him to one of the beds. "Guess having my eyes covered and a headache has made me a bit dizzy."

"You have a gift for understatement, Colonel," Carson said.

When John was finally settled, he let out a slow deep breath. He was feeling slightly better, but his head was still pounding. He smiled gratefully at Carson when he felt the cool pain medication filled his veins.

Elizabeth leaned against the railing, looking out into the ocean. She closed her eyes as a warm breeze filled the air. Major Lorne was no closer to finding out who orchestrated this whole mess than he was when she ordered him to do so.

She was about to head inside when a voice came over her radio. "I hear your precious Sheppard is having some difficulties."

"Kavanagh!" she exclaimed, recognizing the voice immediately. "You're responsible for this, aren't you?"

"Maybe."

"Where are you?"

"No, it doesn't work like that, Dr. Weir," he replied. "Go down to the chair room. I'll be meeting you shortly. Oh, and come alone!"

He clicked off before she could say anything. Elizabeth took a deep breath and headed for one of the weapons lockers. The guard on duty eyed at her questioningly. "Just checking on something for Colonel Sheppard," she told him.

Making certain he wasn't looking, Elizabeth grabbed one of the 9 mils and an extra clip, silently thanking John for teaching her how to fire one. She would be damned if Kavanagh was going to get away with this!

"Are you certain, Andria?"

"I'm afraid so, Carson. There's a good chance that Colonel Sheppard will be blind."

John did not like what he was hearing. It was bad enough sitting around with gauze covering your eyes and now they were saying he might never see again? His stomach began to hurt when he thought of never flying a Jumper again, never seeing the beauty of Atlantis, or never seeing Elizabeth's gorgeous eyes staring back at him.

Carson mentally scolded himself when he glanced at John's heart monitor. He put a hand on Andria's arm to get her attention. The color drained from her face when she realized John heard every word.

"Carson?" John asked. "Say something."

"I'm sorry, John."

"Don't be sorry, Doc, you were going to have to tell me anyway. So is this going to be a permanent thing?"

Andria shook her head. "I don't believe so, but I don't want to get your hopes up too high. We're just going to have to take this one day at a time, okay?"

"Yeah."

The doctors shared a glance. They could tell John wasn't convinced. "We'll let you rest now, Colonel, before Rodney arrives and keeps you awake," Carson told him. The best thing he could do for himself was sleep.

"Thanks, Docs," John replied.

As he drifted off to sleep, John idly wondered where Elizabeth had gone off to. He hadn't heard from her since earlier in the day. Maybe she was trying to avoid him. He decided that maybe he should escape for a bit.

One question remained: How was he going to pull it off?