Five hours later Elizabeth started awake in her quarters. She looked at the clock beside her bed and sat up, knowing that she wasn't going to get back to sleep.
She stood and went into the bathroom. Ten minutes later she came back out, showered and dressed. She picked up her laptop and left the room, heading towards the infirmary. As she passed John's room she had a thought and paused. She opened the door and stepped in. she looked around and smiled lightly. Like her room it was fairly plain although Elizabeth could see some framed pictures on his desk. She walked over to have a closer look. She was expecting to see pictures of his family and was surprised to find only one. It showed who Elizabeth guessed was a teenage John and his family. The other pictures were of members of the expedition.
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile when she saw one of the ones of his team. It had been taken in the mess and was of John, Rodney, Teyla and Ronan and the four of them were laughing at something Rodney had said, although Rodney himself didn't look all that happy so Elizabeth guessed that whatever he had said wasn't meant to be funny.
She looked at the other photos and her eyes stopped on one of her. She picked it up and took a closer look at it. She was standing on the balcony looking out at the sea and the picture had been taken side on. She didn't remember when it had been taken but she was pleasantly surprised that John had placed the photo on his desk, right at the front, beside the one of his team.
She shook her head and put the photo back down. Then, remembering why she had come in here in the first place, she walked over to his bedside table and picked up the book there. He still hadn't finished it yet she was pleased to see, he was only just past halfway. She stuck War and Peace under one arm and her laptop under the other before leaving the room and once more heading towards the infirmary.
As she entered she was glad to see that the infirmary was deserted except for John. She went over to his bed and placed her laptop and book on the edge before pulling up a chair and getting comfortable. She picked up her laptop first and after checking that there was nothing that needed her immediate attention, put it on the floor beside her and picked the book up off the bed and began to read.
That was how Carson found her two hours later when he came to check on John's vitals. He listened to her read for a moment before he walked over and gently touched her on the shoulder. She jumped slightly and stopped reading. She turned her head and smiled at Carson. "I didn't hear you come in."
"What are you reading?" Carson asked as he checked the machines.
She blushed lightly and handed him the book. "I heard that people can hear what's going on around them while they're in a coma. I thought he might like it since he said he wanted to finish it while he was here." she was rambling she knew but couldn't do anything to stop herself.
Carson nodded, "I'm just going to give him a quick check and then I'll leave you to it." He handed the book back as he spoke.
Elizabeth looked at her watch and saw that she had an hour before she was meeting with Rachel and the rest of SGA1. Looking up she turned her gaze to Caron, who was slowly checking John's arms and legs.
His face didn't give anything away so Elizabeth waited for him to finish his examination before she asked, "How is he?"
Carson shook his head. "There's no change love, it's like he's asleep; at least that's what his vitals are showing. His heartbeat is similar to what it was the last time he spent the night in the infirmary, the same with his breathing."
Elizabeth nodded slowly and asked, "If he's just asleep then maybe he'll wake up in his own time."
Carson nodded, "Maybe love, but I could be wrong, or he could get worse."
Elizabeth nodded once more before standing and saying, "Teyla and the others brought back someone through the gate who they think can help."
Carson nodded. "I checked them all out last night but our three were tired and since John was stable I didn't ask any questions."
Elizabeth glanced at her watch before saying, "Come to the conference room in forty minutes and then Rachel won't have to repeat herself."
Carson nodded and Elizabeth picked up her laptop, although she left the book on the bedside table. She touched John's hand softly before turning and leaving.