SLOW MOTION...part 20

John came back to awareness slowly. Something had pulled him out of the warm darkness he had been floating in. Voices. That was is. The muffled sound of voices had penetrated sweet oblivion. At first he had felt irritated at being disturbed and that had pushed him towards consciousness. But now he was aching and uncomfortable and he wanted the voices to stop. But it took a moment to get his voice to work properly. After what felt like a Herculean effort, John managed to croak out a pitiful, "Hey..."

It was enough to get the voices to stop. If only for a moment. Then they got louder. Well, one did. A familiar voice. Beckett.

"Colonel? Can you hear me lad?" A heavy warmth touched his shoulder. Beckett's hand. "Colonel Sheppard...I need you to open your eyes for me," the Doc persisted.

"Hurts," John whispered, because suddenly every part of him felt achy and bruised, but more specifically his wrist felt like it was burning. The wrist with the bracelet. He weakly lifted both arms and tried tugging at the metal even though he knew it wouldn't come off.

Carson eyed John with concern that he wasn't able to hide. "Would you like and ice chip, Colonel?"

John wanted one desperately but to reply seemed to be too much of an effort. Apparently his attempt to open his eyes was reply enough and John felt something cool and wet touch his lips. He parted them and heavenly wetness slid down his parched throat. He wanted more. Gearing himself up to vocalize his need, John felt wetness on his lips again and pushed the tip of his tongue out to taste copper. Then something was being pressed against his face. The pressure hurt but he didn't have the strength to make it stop. He felt himself drifting away again, but the darkness didn't claim him this time.

He had a peripheral awareness of things. People. Familiar voices. He recognized Rodney and Elizabeth and Carson. He recognized his name as Rodney spoke in sharp, staccato bursts. He realized Carson was explaining something about him. Nosebleeds. He was talking about John having nosebleeds. A lot of them in twenty-four hours. Sluggish as his mind felt, John realized that couldn't be good.

That wasn't the only thing he realized. The pain he was feeling, it didn't feel right. It felt different than he remembered pain feeling. As if it weren't his pain, which made no sense and he would have laughed at that if he was able. Yet the thought remained that something wasn't right and that he needed to make Rodney understand that.

"M-Mc..Kay..." It hurt to make that simple sound. Hurt enough to make John whimper.

"Colonel?" Carson was by his side in an instant. "Are you in pain?"

John forced his eyes open, blinking hard to bring everything into focus. He thought he was zoning out again for a moment when everything faded to black, but then it flashed bright again, making his head hurt more.

Rodney cursed. "Looks like another system will be shutting down soon!"

That statement cut through the fog in John's head. "System?" he echoed.

"Don't worry about it, John." It was Elizabeth who spoke from the other side of his bed.

"What...what's..." John broke off, as pain lanced through his skull.

Rodney had moved to his side now and he studied John through a narrowed gaze. "Atlantis is shutting down, system by system," he said, having apparently been able to translate John's question. "It started happening a few days ago." Rodney's eyes were bloodshot and he rubbed at them wearily with one fist. "This really sucks. It's bad enough you're shutting down, but Atlantis seems to feel the need to follow suit."

"Rodney!" Carson's tone was sharp and conveyed anger. "Watch what you say!" he chided the scientist.

John didn't want them mincing words. And the fact that he was shutting down wasn't much of a revelation. He could feel his body betraying him. But it still felt as if it were someone else's pain. The lights flickered again and pain centered on his wrist where the bracelet touched his skin, sending bursts throughout his body. John couldn't hold back a soft cry and he felt a hand on his face. He managed to focus his gaze on Elizabeth. She looked sad and scared and John wished he could tell her not to worry. But his only real focus was the pain. He dug at his skin, wishing he could tear it away and make the pain stop. "Burns...burns," he whispered.

Rodney stiffened suddenly, then he was grabbing John's wrist and shoving the bracelet aside. "There aren't any marks." He sounded surprised as he rubbed a finger over John's skin. Then his grip tightened and he seemed oblivious to John's whimper of pain as he hissed out, "Oh my god! I'm an idiot!"

"What are you talking about?" It was Elizabeth who asked.

"When did Atlantis start shutting down, so to speak?" Rodney countered.

John waited for the answer to that question.

He didn't have long to wait. Rodney answered it himself. "About the same time that Sheppard started shutting down. It's connected. Like she's feeling sympathy pains or something. Carson...you have to make Sheppard better. Now!" Rodney sounded frantic.

"No..." John croaked out the word. Rodney was close, so close, but he was wrong about one very important thing. John wasn't making Atlantis sick. It was the reverse. He suddenly understood the pain he was feeling. Atlantis was hurting and he knew how to fix her. "Chair..the...the chair." John gasped out the words and felt breathless when he was done.

"What?" The startled exclamation came from Elizabeth and Carson in unison.

John heard Elizabeth speak up. "What is he talking about? What Chair?"

Rodney snorted. "What chair do you think? And it's worth a shot. Call Ronon and get a wheel chair. We need to get Sheppard in the control chair. Now!"

"Are you insane, Rodney?" Carson sounded furious. "We can't move him! He's too weak! Moving him will set him back further!"

"He's dying, Carson!" Rodney snapped. "Your voodoo tricks aren't helping him. And if that doesn't convince you to try this, then keep in mind the fact that we will all die if Atlantis shuts down. It's worth a shot! Don't you think?"

John heard shuffling, then Carson asking, "Elizabeth? It's your call. Rodney's right. The Colonel is just getting worse and I don't know how to stop it."

There was a long moment of silence, or maybe John just zoned out. He was pretty sure the latter happened because suddenly he felt himself being lifted and he thought maybe it was Ronon and they were going to take him to the chair room, only when he blinked hard he realized he was already there. It was Ronon lifting him though. Holding him carefully before striding over to the chair and setting him down into it gently.

John felt himself list over to the side, felt strong hands grip him. He fumbled with his own arms, trying to lift them so he could set his palms against the chair pads. He felt his wrists gripped and then his hands were flat down where they belonged and John lifted his head to see Rodney's blurry image.

"You ready?" Rodney asked him.

"Yes," John whispered. He closed his eyes and he felt the connection take hold of him. He felt himself shattering into light and heat and traveling into the core of Atlantis. He felt Atlantis become as liquid as he was and she weaved herself into him, twining them together.

She was sick. A virus was destroying her from within. It was so close to the core that John felt the pain even now. He felt the weakness but he fought against it. He had to save her. So he focused on the cold sickness, seeking it out and ripping it away from Atlantis in layers. He didn't understand how he was doing it, but he knew he was helping and that Atlantis was gaining strength because of it. In her strength she was able to support him and John sensed that Rodney was doing his part as well.

It seemed to last forever and then he felt lighter and the pain started fading away from him. He felt himself become warmer and stronger and free. He felt Atlantis bloom into life again and the hum that was her soul filled him. He felt his heart beat strong within his chest even as he realized he was shifting back into himself. Back to awareness.

There was no more pain. The relief made John want to weep, but darkness claimed him and he fell into her warm embrace.

OoO

Elizabeth sat at the head of the conference table, staring at Rodney who was typing furiously on his laptop, even as he conversed in whispered tones with Radek. After a moment she looked at the others. Teyla and Ronon who sat across from her, and Carson on their left. She cleared her throat and said firmly, "Rodney?"

"Yes, what?" He didn't look up from his task.

"Can you explain what happened to those of us who are sitting here in the dark." Thankfully, it wasn't literal darkness.

Rodney's head snapped up at that and he grimaced. "Well...uh...I can tell you that Sheppard fixed everything."

Radek was nodding and interjected with, "He may have made things better."

"How so?" It was Teyla who asked.

"Hard to explain," Radek replied, almost apologetically. "But he seems to have brought more systems online that will allow us to protect Atlantis better and make better use of our energy outputs."

Elizabeth was pleased to hear that. "That's good news."

Rodney nodded. "Very."

"What about Sheppard?" Ronon was the one to ask and he looked to Beckett for a reply.

"He's doing better as well," Carson said happily. "He's sleeping and it's a healing sleep. Finally."

Teyla looked relieved. "What about the bracelet? Why did it just...disappear?"

Rodney looked excited. "That is a most excellent question," he enthused.

"And the answer would be?" Elizabeth prompted, curious to know.

"I have no idea," Rodney admitted. "It would have helped to be able to study it, but maybe Sheppard will be able to explain it when he wakes up."

Radek picked up at that point. "I have been searching Ancient data base and there is mention of an alloy that seems to be similar to what the bracelet was made of. My Ancient is not up to par." He paused to look at Elizabeth. "I was hoping you might be willing to do some translating for me. Perhaps then I will have better idea of where to look next."

Elizabeth nodded. "I'd be happy too," she replied. Any chance to help was welcome. She smiled at Radek, noticing his slight blush, but not commenting on it as she turned to Carson. "So can you safely say that John will make a full recovery now?"

"He'll get better," Carson allowed. "He will still have to deal with the Shuloc addiction."

"Of course." Elizabeth had rather hoped that whole scenario might have just disappeared. "Will his connection to Atlantis remain as strong as it has been?"

Rodney jumped up and began pacing. "I've been wondering about that myself and I believe it will. In fact, I'm thinking it might become stronger if he works on it. Maybe Teyla can teach him to meditate and all that stuff."

Teyla looked surprised but nodded. "I would be happy to help if John wishes."

"That might be a good idea all the way around," Carson interjected. "And there's something I've been wanting to ask you about, Rodney." He turned his attention to the scientist who was still pacing around the table.

"Ask me anything," Rodney offered. "Seeing as how I know pretty much everything."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and Rodney's lack of modesty, then she watched Carson, waiting for his question.

It was blurted out. "Could the Shuloc addiction be connected to Colonel Sheppard's ability to connect with Atlantis the way he has?"

Rodney didn't look surprised by the question. He looked thoughtful for a moment, then he nodded. "I've tried to put a timeline together and I'll need to talk to Sheppard to confirm it, but I'm guessing that it is connected. Between his gene and the Shuloc and the way Atlantis has always liked him best, I'm sure it's all connected." There was a tinge of jealousy in Rodney's tone.

"Then he might lose his connection now that he's off the Shuloc," Ronon commented.

"Or not," Carson replied, firmly. "I don't think there were any traces of the drug in his system when he connected to Atlantis this last time. The bracelet might have been something of a conduit, but I believe the connection is something that's just meant to be between the Colonel and this city."

Elizabeth found herself agreeing with Carson. She had always thought, even before coming to the Pegasus galaxy, that John Sheppard belonged in Atlantis. So far he had proven her theory to be true. Pushing away from the table, she stood up and smiled. She was tired and she knew everyone else felt the same. It had been a rough few weeks, but she felt hope burning bright within her now. "Bottom line for me is that Atlantis is better and so is Colonel Sheppard. And on that positive note, I think we should all get some rest."

Rodney snatched up his laptop and headed for the door without saying goodbye to anyone.

Radek followed suit, but he waved as he left.

"Want to get something to eat?" Ronon asked Teyla.

"Yes, I would like that," she replied, walking out with him.

That left Elizabeth and Carson. She walked him to the door. "Would it be all right if I sat with John for a while?" she queried.

Carson nodded. "It's fine. Just don't wear yourself out. I have enough worry over the Colonel to deal with." His tone was teasing as he cautioned her.

"Don't I know it," Elizabeth replied. She accompanied Carson to the infirmary, then headed for the corner and the curtained off area that housed the Military head of Atlantis. Pushing the curtain aside, Elizabeth moved to John's bed. She studied him for a moment. He looked different now. Not as pale and much less fragile. The heaviness that had been weighing Elizabeth down, lifted.

Smiling, she reached out gave in to the urge to comb spiky dark strands of hair off John's forehead. "Good job, Colonel," she said softly. "Thanks for saving everyone once again."

She watched as he shifted slightly, head turning so he faced her, almost as if he'd heard her.

Elizabeth thought maybe he had so she whispered softly, "Thank you, John."

THE END...of part 20