Trials of Faith – Chapter 16
Bound
'How in the bloody hell did this happen? No! Don't tell me! Let's just get you to the infirmary…' Carson hurried Ronan, Teyla, John and the limp form of Astra to the infirmary, speaking quickly, clearly not too happy about their state.
'Put her on the bed.' John and Rodney lifted her onto the bed whilst Ronan and Teyla sat opposite, both looking pale and the worse for wear.
Carson glanced at them in turn – all of them were filthy and all of them injured, except Rodney. Two Nurses rushed into the infirmary and headed for Teyla and Ronan, leading them to separate beds.
'Alright, so who's going to tell me?' Carson prodded, using a small light and shining it into Astra's eyes. She did not move. Rodney paused.
'You said not to tell you…' He pointed out. The Doctor spun on him.
'You've all walked in as though you've come from a bloody battle! You went to the mainland and there's nothing there to battle except rabbits and butterflies!' He glared at Rodney who threw him an exasperated look.
'There was a cave-in, we were trapped-' He began.
'We?' John gave him a side glance.
'They - they were trapped. Although I was almost crushed by hundreds of flying rocks.'
Carson frowned. 'I can see Colonel Sheppard has a head injury Rodney, but he's not the one talking crap.' He hurried round to the other side of Astra, checking the usual and ordering a nurse to fetch medication.
'No, he's right Carson.' John said, slowly lowering himself onto a bed. 'Astra managed to…'He made an emphatic hand gesture and Carson stared. 'Basically she levitated the cave so we could get out.'
Carson raised his eyebrows and stared at the girl lying in front of him. 'So she's got a little power in her then?' He smiled nervously.
'Try a lot, but it seems to have drained her considerably.' Rodney looked over at Teyla and Ronan who were listening intently.
'She has never used her powers to that extent; she has had no experience with it.' Teyla informed, wincing at her injury. 'I believe that she panicked and it suddenly arose. She has much work to do before she truly masters it.' Teyla watched Astra, realising that she was seeing double.
John nodded. 'Yeah, well, it's a start. I'll tell Elizabeth.'
'You will not!' Carson stepped in his path. 'You've got a severe head injury Colonel, you're not going anywhere.'
John narrowed his eyes and then looked back at Rodney. He caught on.
'I should tell Elizabeth, because I'm not severely wounded in any way. Unless you count the emotional trauma…' He strode out of the infirmary and John sat down, watching Astra.
They were all seen to and Elizabeth was informed, practically running to the infirmary to check that everyone was alright. Rodney had told her most of it, but John and Teyla filled in the rest, leaving out the fact that Ilea had done this on purpose. Teyla had looked the worst out of all of them having had the injury for days, not to mention the constant abuse it seemed to be receiving. She was pale and slow with her words, working through the pain. Carson had already given her medicine which he believed would take effect soon. Satisfied that they were safe, she returned to her office, thinking over the various things that Astra could do with her new found ability – and if there was anything more to come.
Teyla slept, uncomfortably, Ronan on one side and John on the other. John dozed in and out, listening to the tapping of Rodney's laptop which he had brought with him to sit across the room from them. Ronan watched him. He could have done it back in his lab, but his entire team was in the infirmary, and he felt compelled to be there. The man had the strangest qualities – arrogant and condescending to brave and selfless. It made Ronan smile.
He sat up in bed, the pain in his leg a dull thud. He was tired, weary, but he knew that he couldn't sleep. He glanced over at Astra who was still unconscious.
Ronan swung his leg over the bed and stood gingerly, avoiding putting too much weight on the leg, he hobbled to her side. Carson hurried over.
'Ronan, for Gods sake, you won't get better if you don't keep off it!' He whispered harshly. Ronan raised an eyebrow. 'At least keep it levitated.' He slouched back to his desk and Ronan found Astra's hand and squeezed.
He remembered waking to pain, and noise, darkness turning into day. He saw her face as she raised the cave, the rock going into the air, her eyes burning blue – pain flooding her features. She had fallen, wrapped his leg, and the pain had been immense – but not as immense as his worry for her when she collapsed. She had not wakened since.
Ronan swept a piece of hair from her face, stroking his hand down her cheek. She had displayed great power, but it had taken its toll on her. How could she hope to defeat the Wraith if every advancement made her weak?
As though she had sensed his doubt, her eyes flickered open. Ronan smiled down. 'We were getting worried.'
Astra smiled weakly and tried to sit up, Ronan helped her. She looked around at her surroundings, registering the injured in their beds and Mckay setting his computer down and coming toward her.
'Astra, how do you feel?' He asked folding his arms, hearing the commotion, Carson came over as well.
'You alright lass?' He asked kindly. She nodded her head. 'You feel okay? Any pain?' She shook her head.
Ronan watched her with a frown. She wasn't right, something was bothering her. He could see it in the way that she looked at objects, glancing at people and turning away. She tried to stand.
'Are you sure that's a good idea-?' Carson began. She stood easily and Carson paused, he had thought she would need his assistance.
Astra edged forward, Ronan close behind, hobbling.
She walked to the balcony of the infirmary, the cold air hitting her face. Night had fallen, and the moon shone onto the ocean. She paused, breathing the fresh sea air.
Rodney and Carson exchanged glances at her strange behaviour.
'Astra?' Ronan whispered, frowning, reaching for her arm.
'It was a big day today.' Rodney stated, using his own subtle techniques to get her to tell them how she did what she did. Carson nudged him in disapproval.
'Mh.' Was all she produced before she walked out to the put her hands on the railing.
Ronan followed. Rodney began to do the same when Carson took his arm and dragged him back inside, closing the door behind them. They needed a moment's privacy.
Ronan put both hands on her shoulders, kissing her neck. She did not acknowledge his touch.
'Astra?' He whispered in her ear.
She did not take her eyes from the ocean. 'I feel different.' She whispered. 'The world has not changed, and I can feel it. But I have.'
He waited.
'I can hear, I can see.' She continued. 'There's more but, I cannot bear it yet, I cannot understand it. Such implications would be grave if I did not heed such understanding.'
She wasn't making sense, he didn't like it.
'Astra?' He gently turned her to face. 'What are you talking about?'
'I was alone, in the dark…and I remembered them, all of them, all of their faces, their words to me. I wasn't afraid, but I remember being angry…'
'Astra, you're not making-'
'I am capable of so much more Ronan, but I'm not ready, I don't think I can ever be. This vessel is not capable of possessing much more.' She looked at her own hands; he took them in his and kissed them. He didn't like what she was saying.
'I am nothing more than what I am.' She stated.
Ronan cupped her cheeks.
'What you are is nothing short of amazing.'
She smiled weakly. 'You and your friends are injured.'
Ronan smiled slightly. 'We're always injured. It's a constant.'
She took his hand and led him inside, Rodney and Carson rising once more as she crossed to Teyla's bed.
Teyla had woken and was speaking with John about the book she was reading, and smiled weakly when she saw her. Teyla appeared a little out of phase with the world, blinking constantly, as though trying to stay awake.
'Ilea told me to find the trigger to my abilities, I believe I have. Training with them must begin immediately.' She informed. John frowned.
'How can we possibly help you? We have no experience with what you can do?' He perched on the edge of his bed, glancing at Teyla.
'You may accompany me to a world under the control of the Wraith, once you have healed.'
The all gaped.
'You can't be serious…?' Rodney snapped.
'I am entirely serious, the best way to learn how to control these abilities, and if possible, develop them is to put me in a situation where my emotions are at such a height where I am able to cause damage.'
Teyla frowned, breathing slowly. 'Emotion?'
'It is my trigger. I have always used focus and concentration to search; this has led me only so far. In the cave, when the situation was desperate, I could not control my emotions, and my abilities flared.'
'I will not put my team at risk.' John said firmly.
'Then I will go alone.' She said, expressionless, heading for the door. Ronan grabbed her arm and spun her around.
'You are not going alone.' He growled.
Astra looked at his leg, stepped in and jabbed it sharply with her knee. Ronan snarled in pain, stumbling. 'You are injured. I cannot use you.'
She left.
Ronan growled and followed John, Rodney and Carson as they followed Astra, hoping to stop her from doing something stupid.
Teyla struggled to climb out of bed, grasping at the covers. She felt so cold, and yet there were waves of heat sweeping over her. Her side was in enormous pain despite the medicine Carson had given her, she had not complained because she did not want to be a burden. Ronan and John had been badly injured too, not to mention Astra's unusual unconscious state.
She managed to push the covers from her body and tried to move her legs, they were so heavy, like lead. She forced them to move, using her hands – so weak…so hard to breathe. She looked at the doorway – doorways, there were three, all of them moving side to side. She frowned, her feet touching the floor; at least she thought they were, she couldn't feel the floor.
She had to stop Astra, had to convince her – her breath caught as the pain made her freeze. It stabbed and screamed, tore and broke. Then there was no pain, just a numb coldness. The painkillers? She stood, her legs shaky. The doorways were still moving, she could feel herself straying to the side. She willed her legs to go straight, for the cold to leave her.
Teyla breathed slow, not realising the ragged breaths she was taking. She held onto her side, only slightly conscious of the fact that the floor was rising. It met her face and she could no longer walk forward. Atlantis had fallen onto its side.
Her breathing slowed, the faint taste of copper on her tongue. So cold, so unfeeling. So confused…
She could not hear the Nurse calling her name, could not feel the woman's worried hands on her. She could not understand why Atlantis had fallen over…
'I am trying to explain it to you, but it is difficult. I must do it now, while I understand what it is.' Astra did not slow her pace. Ronan barged forward, pushing Rodney to the wall and stopped in front of her.
'You can't take on the Wraith alone! What if you collapse again?' He said harshly, trying to knock some sense into her.
'I won't.' Ronan was about to speak. 'Ronan! I feel everything. The air around me, the beating hearts, all of them in this city. I can hear the wind outside.' She paused, all of them listening. 'I must go.'
She dodged past Ronan and approached Weir standing in the control room; Elizabeth frowned at her but smiled all the same.
'Astra, how are you feeling?'
'Insane.' Rodney chimed.
'She wants to go to a Wraith world.' John stated, folding his arms.
'What? Why?' Elizabeth looked at her in alarm.
'Insane.' Rodney chimed.
'She wants to train with her powers.' Ronan stated.
'With live Wraith? And lots of them?' Elizabeth shook her head.
'It is my decision. No one else is to come with me.' Astra told her, determined to go.
'No, I'm sorry. I can't allow it.' Elizabeth fixed her with a firm stare.
'You cannot keep me here, I am not your priso-' Astra stopped, looking to the floor for a moment, frowning.
They all frowned at her, Carson coming forward. 'Astra?'
She turned to look behind them, staring at the wall.
It took her, enveloped her. A coldness, a pain. So dizzy and lost, so confused…hard to breathe. The colours ran.
'Teyla…' She whispered.
John frowned.
'Doctor Beckett! Doctor Beckett to the infirmary!' An urgent voice sounded over the radio, the woman sounded desperate, almost terrified.
'Doctor Beckett!' They heard a scuffle in the background and the radio switched off.
John sprinted to the infirmary for all he was worth, Carson on his heels, Astra just behind.
They tore into the infirmary, blood on the floor, a trail of drops and smudges leading to the nearest bed where two men and a woman tried desperately to restrain a convulsing Teyla as she coughed up blood.
John froze as Carson ran past and skidded by her bed side ordering them to pump her with stimulants Adrenaline. Blood bags. Surgery. So many orders and yet John could not hear the words, he stumbled toward the end of her bed. She arched and fell, shaking, blood staining her face and the white sheets around her.
'She's bleeding internally! The body wasn't meant to handle so much stress! Linda!' The female turned to Carson. 'Strap her down! I can't inject her with anythin' until she's still!'
Rodney and Ronan watched in horror as John stood, frozen, trying to breathe through the numb fear holding him in place, attacking his mind and soul.
They hooked her up to the machine. 'Heartbeat's erratic! She's going into a rest!' Carson yelled. Teyla stopped suddenly, her body falling to the bed limp. The line rang out flat.
The team froze.
'Set the panels!' Carson shouted. The defibrillator was pulled out immediately and charged.
It was happening again. She was dead, and they would watch. But she had been fine…
'She was fine…' John whispered.
'Clear!' Carson held the panels ready, Nurses stepping away.
The metal met her chest and she shot up, falling back hard. No pulse. 'Charge to three hundred!' He yelled. The Nurse obeyed. They waited.
Astra paced slowly.
'Clear!' Carson shouted. Arched and fell. No pulse. Again. Arched and fell. No pulse. Again. Arched and fell. No pulse.
Carson stopped, staring at the still form of Teyla. Pale. Cold.
Rodney and Ronan hung their heads in sorrow. John did not register the tear sliding down his cheek. He saw only her face. Closed eyes. Closed mouth. No life. No smile…not ever.
'She's gone.' Carson croaked, eyes welling with tears.
Silence descended. Only the flat line sounded, carving into their minds mercilessly for all time.
Astra stepped forward, the only moving soul in the room. Rodney watched her while the others held onto the image of Teyla, dead.
She ran her hand inches above Teyla, from toe to head. The room turned to her, all except John.
Astra studied her with a frown, her blue eyes sad and mournful - but strong. She placed a hand on Teyla's lifeless cheek and then searched with her other hand, slowly, for the injury within. She breathed hard, closing her eyes.
Rodney could feel the static in the air, could feel a warmth, could hear sounds that were not there. The lights flashed and the room rumbled. Astra gasped. Her eyes flew open and a blinding blue light enveloped the room, tearing at them, forcing them to cover their ears and shut their eyes. The room fell silent. The lights returned to normal. Astra fell to the floor.
John turned to the bed. Teyla's eyes flew open. They looked left, looked right. Her head rose as she surveyed the room. Her eyes fell on John. He looked as though he was about to keel over, his face pale and wet.
'It's not possible…' Carson breathed.
'Yes. It is.' Rodney said slowly, walking to Astra's side as Ronan rushed over to pull her up into his arms. Ronan did a double take. 'What?' Rodney looked at him in concern.
Ronan rushed to a bed and put Astra on it, carefully positioning her head. He rolled up his trouser leg. The injury was gone.
'Amazing.' Mckay whispered, turning to see the nasty cut on the side of the Colonel's head had also disappeared. They both looked at Astra with concern, and a level of awe.
Carson was frozen, staring at Teyla as she sat up, smoothing her hand over her side. No stitches. No wound. She felt fine. Normal.
John saw her eyes, her eyes looking at him. He didn't feel his legs walking to her side, leaning over her. He didn't feel anything but her face in his hands and her eyes staring up at him.
Carson frowned.
Teyla looked up at him, her breathing fast. John hovered watching her. Then his mouth met hers in a tender kiss. He pulled her to a standing position, crushing her against him, feeling her back and shoulders. Teyla's hands instantly went for his hair; she wound her arms around his neck before searching the softness with her fingers. He kissed her hard, and long, possessing her so completely. So soft and desperate for each others touch. The world fell away.
Carson gaped for a few seconds before stepping back, aiming in a roundabout sort of way for Astra. His head cocked, watching them all the way there. He felt a sharp slap on the head and turned to see Rodney shaking his head and frowning. Rodney watched them for a moment, without the inappropriate gaping, in an uncomfortable and silently happy way. Ronan grinned.
Teyla and John were bound together. Rodney and Ronan steered a slightly horrified Carson to face Astra, giving their friends what privacy they could.