SLOW MOTION...part 18
John stared at Rodney's prone form and felt a stab of guilt over the fact that he was almost glad the man had fainted. Glad because it drew attention away from himself. He wasn't thrilled with the way everyone had been eyeballing him. It was bad enough he could feel Ronon's eyes burning into him almost every moment. He knew the Satedan was watching him for signs of weakness. Sadly, John had to focus all his will power in not giving in to the throbbing ache in his head and the way his muscles burned and his stomach twisted with nausea and pain. He didn't even want to think about how he felt jittery enough to jump out of his skin. It bothered John a bit that the Shuloc seemed to be wearing off so fast. He told himself it was probably because Ronon had watered down the tea. Maybe he was trying to wean him off in his own way. John wasn't sure if he should be pissed or grateful if it was true.
"Have another swallow," Ronon whispered, suddenly appearing right beside John and using his body as a shield to the others.
A part of John considered refusing the flask, but they weren't home yet and he knew he needed to keep up appearances. So he grabbed the flask, gulped down what he could in two swallows, then handed it back. By the time Rodney was on his feet again, John felt better. The pain was fading and his focus was much sharper now. He moved to Rodney's side and touched his shoulder. "You okay?"
Rodney looked embarrassed and annoyed. "Oh yes!" he snapped. "I'm just perfect! Did you know they were going to make me a slave in the mines? How did you and Ronon skip that fate?"
"Sheppard is royalty," Ronon stated, earning a glare from John.
"So it's true!" Now Rodney had passed annoyed and he was heading into irritated. "You two were taken to the palace!" It sounded like an accusation.
John had to fight the urge to fidget. "Look, we'll explain everything once we're back on Atlantis. I'm guessing the guards have noticed Ronon and I are missing by now and I really don't want to run into them. Do you?"
Rodney turned a bit pale at that. "No...not really. Let's go home." He turned and headed off, only to have Teyla head him off and turn him around so he was heading in the right direction.
"I think going home is a great idea," Lorne confirmed, as he and the other marines formed a protective circle around John, Ronon, Teyla and Rodney.
"My sentiments exactly, Major," John said, stepping up his pace. He wanted back on Atlantis more than anything. A hot shower, another cup of Shuloc and about twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep would do wonders.
It took four hours to get to the gate and during a quick break, John finished off the tea in Ronon's flask. He was grateful that the big guy just handed it off to him without saying a word. No one needed to know about this, and John intended to explain that to Ronon back on Atlantis. He just wanted to be back in the city where it was relatively safe, before getting into it. Not to mention the fact it needed to be a private conversation.
Rodney fell into step with John during the last hour of the trek and asked a million questions, all of which John refused to answer. He knew Elizabeth would expect a full debrief when they got back and he was only going to tell his story once. So he was relieved when they reached the gate. He felt impatient while he waited for Rodney to dial it up and send his IDC. Then they were stepping through and John had never been so happy to be back on Atlantis. So happy that he had to force himself not to drop to his knees and kiss the damn floor.
"Welcome back, John," Elizabeth offered in greeting. She said the same to Ronon, then to the team in general. But her focus was mostly on John and he could almost feel the intensity of her gaze.
"Glad to be back," he replied.
Elizabeth nodded. "Are you okay?"
John decided to be honest. It was the best deflection in this case. "I'm tired, but I think we all are. It was a long walk."
"Do you want to rest before you debrief?" She was giving him a choice, even though it was obvious she was anxious to know what had happened on the planet.
"I'd just as soon get it over with now," John replied.
Relief flickered over Elizabeth's face, then she was leading them all into the conference room. Once they were seated she asked John to begin.
He told them what he knew, letting Ronon fill in the blanks from the time they were captured till they reached the palace. He was relieved when Ronon explained that John had been ill during the journey and left it at that.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Elizabeth asked, her concern shining through in her eyes and her voice. "I can call Beckett."
"I'm fine," John assured her, but he wanted to curse out loud. Elizabeth's mention of Beckett reminded John that he would have to undergo a post mission check up. But if he got to it soon, he'd skate through it. The Shuloc was still in effect so he was feeling okay. Tired and achy, but okay.
Rodney had been fidgeting in his chair, looking impatient. "So what happened at the palace?" he interjected. "Ronon said you were royalty."
John grimaced then explained about the Queen and the bloodline thing, then he showed them the bracelet. He tugged on it, rather hoping the damn thing would finally fall off. "Chamaelion said only the Queen could remove it."
"Really?" It was Rodney who spoke, as he leaned forward and grabbed John's arm, head bent to study the bracelet. He moved a finger over it. "There's no opening. Interesting."
"Totally," John drawled, not finding anything about it at all interesting.
Rodney glared at him, looking annoyed now. "So while Teyla and I were going to be sentenced to mining as slaves, you were being treated like a king? What is it with you and the Kirk syndrome? Seriously!"
It was John's turn to glare at Rodney. "Just for the record, I wasn't trying to seduce her and it wasn't about that. The palace is a replica of the main tower here in Atlantis. Complete with a chair, which I made light up. Hence their belief that I'm a member of their royal bloodline." He turned away from Rodney's stunned expression to focus on Elizabeth. "I think it might be a good idea to send a team back there. But no one with the gene. Just some marines and some scientists and this time take a jumper so they can cloak themselves. Chamealion seemed like a decent guy and I think he'd be able to convince the Queen to let us take a look around."
"Maybe they have a spare ZPM lying around!" Rodney interjected, sounded excited.
"Maybe," John allowed. Since coming to the Pegasus galaxy, he'd learned anything was possible.
Elizabeth looked thoughtful, one hand fisting her chin. "I'll consider it," she allowed. "After Carson's had a chance to look you all over and confirm that you're okay."
Rodney pushed out of his chair. "Well I'm not okay," he stated. "I'm tired and hungry and I'm going to get Carson to give me the good drugs."
"He fainted," John piped up. He figured focusing all the attention on Rodney was a good idea.
"Fainted?" Elizabeth echoed, looking stunned. But John's intention to divert her attention worked. She got up and went to Rodney, eyes full of concern. "Do you need an escort?"
Ronon was beside McKay in a heartbeat. "I'll take him," he offered.
Teyla stood up as well. "We will go together," she said firmly, and her eyes included John.
"Good idea," he said, moving to Ronon's other side. He drew the Satedan aside just long enough to whisper, "Don't mention the Shuloc to Beckett."
"Is that an order?" Ronon shot back, eyes locked on John's face with a scrutiny that had him fidgeting.
Refusing to be intimidated, John made himself hold the Runner's gaze as he replied, "Do I have to make it one?"
Ronon held the gaze for a moment longer, then he turned away without saying a word. With Teyla he escorted Rodney out of the room.
John believed Ronon would obey him, so he let himself relax as he made to follow them. Only to have Elizabeth call him back as he reached the doorway. "Something wrong?" he asked, as he turned back around to face her.
"No, I just wanted to see the bracelet," Elizabeth replied, moving to his side and reaching for his arm. She took a moment to run her fingers over the band, her touch light. Then she fingered the material of his tunic. "The fabric is beautiful, I haven't seen anything like it yet in this galaxy," she commented.
"I guess," John replied. His head was starting to throb and he really just wanted to get his post check over with so he could go to his room.
Elizabeth eyed him with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"
John nodded, winced as the motion sent pain stabbing through his temples, and attempted a smile. "Just tired."
"You haven't really had time to get back up to par with everything that's happened," Elizabeth allowed. "Then Ronon did say you were sick on the planet."
"But I'm fine now," John insisted. Elizabeth was still holding his sleeve so he tugged his hand away. "We done?"
She studied him a moment, then nodded. "I'm going to do some research in the Atlantis data base. See if I can find anything on the metal that bracelet is made of. Between that and the fabric alone, I'm rather anxious to go back to the planet. Once we're sure no one will be forced into slavery again."
John was agreeable to that. "Let me know what you come up with," he said, slowing inching his way to the door. He caught her eyes and when she nodded again, he slipped out. He was half considering just heading straight for his room, but he knew Carson would pitch a fit if he didn't show up, so John made himself go to the infirmary. He was surprised to see it was empty, other than Beckett, who appeared to be waiting on him. "Where'd my team go?" John asked, even as he let himself be pushed over to a bed in the corner.
"They've been checked, cleared, and sent to their rooms to rest," Carson replied. He then proceeded to do the standard check list. Heart, lungs, eyes, throat, ears, BP and temp. "How are you feeling?" Carson asked, after reading the thermometer.
"Tired," John admitted. It was best to be as honest as one could with Carson. When he caught you out in a lie, he reamed you for it. John didn't have the energy to deal with that right now. The pain in his head was bad enough that he forgot himself and pressed his palms into his temples in an attempt to ease the throbbing.
Carson sighed and pulled John's hands away, then said, "Ronon told me about the Shuloc."
Body stiffening in shock, John stared at Beckett. He could see anger and something else in the Doc's eyes. Something he couldn't identify. But he had to deal with this calmly. Later, when he was feeling better, he would confront Ronon. "What did he tell you?"
"That you're addicted to the stuff," Carson shot back. "That you were sick on the planet because of withdrawals, and let me tell you, Colonel...I'm almost relieved to learn about this."
"Relieved?" That surprised John enough to let his guard down. "What are you talking about?"
Carson pinned him with a look. "That stomach virus I couldn't figure out...you had withdrawal symptoms. I'd even considered that at one point but your blood tests had come back clean. I just wish we knew more about this drug."
John felt anger flare through him. "It's not a drug! It's a goddamn tea and it makes me feel better! End of story! I don't know what bullshit Ronon told you, but he's wrong!" As he spoke, John slid off the bed but when his feet hit the floor his legs buckled and he would have fallen had Beckett not grabbed him by the arm.
"Lay back down, son," Carson ordered, pretty much lifting John back onto the bed. And given his tone of voice, he wasn't in the mood to be argued with. "You're going to be my guest for the next few days, Colonel," Carson said firmly.
"No." John felt like shit, and nausea was now coiling through his gut and pushing bile into his throat, but he wasn't about to give in. "I'm not sick."
Carson sighed and grabbed a stool over to sit on. He then focused his full attention on John. "Denial is a symptom with addicts. And don't even bother to argue with me because it's a fact you can't argue. I think this Shuloc is different from being addicted to pain killers or such. Ronon told me what he found out about it and I'm going to run some tests and maybe I'll find something more now that I know what to look for. While I'm doing that you're going to stay here and work your way through the withdrawals. We'll get you off the stuff and on the road to recovery."
John wanted to argue everything Carson was saying, but at that very moment he lost the battle to keep his stomach contents in his stomach. Luckily the Doc picked up on his signal, which was clapping a hand over his mouth, and he got a basin under John's chin just before he spewed. The dry heaves that hit after his stomach was emptied, left John feeling truly wretched. To the point where he zoned out of it a bit and then was grateful when Carson gave him an injection and said it was an anti-emetic. He hoped it worked fast.
During the course of the next twenty minutes, John found himself stripped and dressed in scrubs, then hooked up to two IV lines. He also dry heaved two more times. He was about ready to beg Carson to knock him out when the Scotsman seemed to read his mind.
"I can't give you anything, Colonel," Carson said with what sounded like sincere regret. "Adding to the substance in your body is a bad idea. I'm afraid that's nothing but for you to suffer through this."
"Figures," John croaked, then he coughed, which ended up making him gag again. His head was pounding, hard enough to make him have to blink hard against tears. This was the worst he had felt yet. He closed his eyes and tried to think about happy, pain-free, things, but he couldn't focus on anything. It hurt just to breathe. A hand on his wrist made him jerk in reaction and his eyes flew open.
Carson was studying the bracelet. "Doesn't look like there's a way to open it. When you're feeling better we'll see if we can get it off."
John didn't respond. He knew talking would make him hurt more, and no doubt make him puke more too. Instead her curled up on his side and wished for oblivion to claim him.
He didn't get his wish.
THE END...of part 18