Blood Rituals – Epilogue
by Angel Ruse

Sheppard, Beckett, McKay and Teyla gate to a world with a deadly secret—will Sheppard and Beckett become the victims of genetic exploitation? Sheppard and Carson whump. No Slash.

"I should have brought a PSP with me," Sheppard admonished himself as he lay there in the infirmary. He made the motions of having the portable game player in his hands for a brief second, then sighed. Though infinitely better, he still wasn't completely free of the effects of the catalyst and so he was stuck here for observation. "I betcha McKay has one. I'm gonna ask."

Looking just as disheveled as John felt, Carson nodded. "Aye. He's the type I'd wager, though getting' him to admit it'll be another story." He was on his stomach, the stripes on his back too tender to bear his weight. An IV running antibiotics into his system hovered over the doctor, who showed visible signs of not liking the idea of being on the other side of the gurney. He also didn't like answering to Dr. Heightmeyer's psychological ministrations, either. But she was insistent that both of them should talk about the experience, so neither Beckett nor Sheppard had any choice in the matter. Still, it was hard for either of them to talk about it.

Of course McKay had gotten off scott-free. Still, John knew something Rodney didn't think he knew, a tidbit he would use mercilessly against the man later on. The Colonel snickered. "Doc?"

"I'm not goin' ta get much sleep this way, son," Carson mumbled tiredly.

Sheppard grunted. "Trust me. It's vital information."

"Aye?"

He grinned as the doctor looked at him curiously. "Remember that project Rodney was working on?" Carson nodded and Sheppard snorted. "It was a date. He had a nice private little brunch while we were getting dragged off to hell."

The doctor groaned into his pillow. "I'll kill him."

Carson tried to get some sleep at that point, but it wasn't fated for him just yet. Both men looked up as Dr. Weir entered the room with a gentle expression. "Well, I've just finished reading your report, John," she said, standing at the foot of his bed. "I'm so grateful to have you both back safe and sound."

"It's good to be back," Sheppard replied with a reassuring smile.

Carson, on the other hand, buried his face in his blankets. "I need a long, long vacation."

Elizabeth wandered over to the ailing doctor, touching his shoulder to draw his attention. "How are you feeling?"

The doctor turned his head toward her and opened his eyes. "A' right, love. Just tired. Don't fancy the idea of goin' offworld any time soon, though."

She gave him a lopsided, soft smile and paced back to the foot of Sheppard's bed. "Don't worry. You'll have a long break from that, Carson."

"Yeah," Sheppard agreed gravely. "At least until we find a world populated by werewolves." He thought about it a minute. "Zombies? Zombies have a certain charm."

Carson groaned, again hiding his face as he said, "Don't even joke about that sort of thing, lad."

"Yes, well, you boys get some sleep," Elizabeth told them. "I just came by to see how you were. I want fast recoveries because Atlantis needs you both."

John put his hands over his chest. "You're all heart, Ma." Then he saluted. "We'll be back in action in no time. Don't you worry."

She nodded gently. "I'm going to hold you to that, Colonel. Goodnight."

"Night." Sheppard settled back on his bed and took a long breath, then turned his head. "Hey, Doc?"

"What now?"

"Think we'll get hazard pay out of this?"

A/N: Thank you everyone who read and enjoyed:-) Makes a lass go gig'ly all over, it does.

Email: angelruseATgmailDOTcom
Archive: Go for it.
Disclaimer: Don't own the fine hineys of Shep or Beckett. Don't mean I can't imagine I do.