Chapter 5

Miserable really didn't cover how Sheppard felt as he sat in the infirmary that evening. In fact, it was hard to conjure a word that could adequately express the mixture of pain, exhaustion and, embarrassment and disappointment he was doing his best to conceal. Marie was dabbing cortisone cream onto his mascala bites one at a time, and he was doing his best not to whimper as he was once again consumed by stinging and itching.

Dr Keller had already told him he should plan for an overnight stay, so there went his hopes of drinking out his fortieth. He'd assumed that was down to the whole harama bucking thing, which had left him with a dislocated shoulder and a severe laceration, but she'd told him the bites might yet prove problematic, too, and so had insisted on him spending the night in infirmary care and under observation.

Knowing she was just doing her job, he didn't mention the fact he was depriving him of the opportunity of finally celebrating his milestone. He supposed it could wait for another day when he was feeling less beat up and didn't resemble someone suffering from the plague. At least he hadn't been boiled alive, although he couldn't help being annoyed that they'd lost the opportunity to mine the naquadah on Bratala, as per the negotiated trade agreement. He figured that deal no longer stood since he'd rejected the opportunity to marry Untooka's lovely daughter. He shuddered at the thought again, then winced as Marie dabbed some cream on a particularly tender spot.

Sam turned up at that point. She did her utmost to keep a straight face, but she was fighting a losing battle, he could see that from the happy sparkle in her eyes. He supposed he did look pretty funny right now.

'Well, John, I have to say you've certainly outdone yourself this time. I'm guessing we'd have trouble finding one square inch of your body that isn't bitten, scraped or bruised.'

She didn't know how accurate that was. He'd answered the call of nature earlier, and those bugs certainly hadn't spared his blushes.

He watched her struggling not to smile, and much as he wanted to protest at her continuing amusement, he felt far too contrite about wrecking the trade deal to complain. 'Look, I'm sorry about what happened on Bratala. I know how useful that naquadah would have been.'

'No apologies necessary,' she insisted, hands clasped in front of her as she watched Marie work. 'Sounds to me like you were just being your usual friendly self. You weren't to know that kind of thing could cause offence.'

True enough, not that it made the fact he'd been the one to spoil the deal any easier to bear.

Apparently seeing his doubt, she added, 'C'mon, John. If I'd been there I'd have done exactly the same thing.'

'But you're a woman, so that would have been okay,' he pointed out. 'I'm really gonna have to be more careful.'

'Hindsight is a wonderful thing,' she sighed, rocking back on her heels, 'but I doubt anyone would have foreseen that situation arising. Anyway, there are three people waiting outside when Marie's finished up here. I know they're pretty keen to see you.'

'I'm all done,' Marie announced to his great relief.

'Okay. I'll just have a word with Jennifer and then I'll send them in...if that's okay?'

He nodded, swinging his legs up onto his bed and leaning back against the pillows, pulling up the sheets to cover most of his exposed flesh. Rodney always looked a little green around the gills if he could see too many injuries, and he had no desire to set him off tonight.

Sam hovered just in view talking to Dr Keller. Occasionally, they would glance over his way and smile, and he wondered if they were laughing at his expense. He did look and feel pretty silly, covered as he was in red lumps and various scrapes, and his day had been one long example of bad luck gone mad, after all. Eventually, Jennifer gave a nod and the two women separated, Jennifer heading back toward her office, and Sam no doubt heading to tell his friends he was ready to receive visitors. He kind of hoped they wouldn't stay long. He was tired and sore and he just wanted to fall asleep so this damn awful day could be over with once and for all.

He'd already started to drift off in the few minutes it took for his team to arrive at his bedside. McKay cleared his throat loudly, waking him up again, and he found each of them standing beside him with impish smiles on their faces.

'What are you all looking so pleased about?' he drawled, pinching the bridge of his nose and blinking his eyes into focus.

'Just glad to see you looking...better?' Rodney beamed at him, bouncing a little. He was keeping a secret he was literally bursting to share. McKay was never good at hiding things from him. Definitely not someone to pick as a poker partner.

'I look like crap.' Sheppard noticed they all had their hands behind their backs, not a natural stance for any of them. He strained his neck to try to peer behind Teyla, who was standing closest to him. She gracefully shifted position to ensure his view remained obscured.

'How are you feeling now, John?' she asked in her usual soothing tones.

'I'm...' he resisted saying good, because that clearly wasn't true. '...sore, and kinda itchy.'

'Not surprising! Only you could get yourself into that kind of trouble after a successful trading negotiation,' Rodney snorted. 'Why are you always the one to get yourself in a mess?'

Feeling a little aggrieved now, Sheppard's answer was rather more acidic than he'd intended it to be. 'Because I'm the team leader, Rodney. I make the mistakes so you guys don't have to.'

'You did nothing wrong, John,' Teyla assured him. 'You merely tried to put Akala at her ease. How could anyone have known what that would lead to?'

'So people keep telling me,' he muttered, sliding down in his bed and pulling up the blanket a little higher. Even though he knew they were right, it didn't stop him feeling stupid. Perhaps it was time to stop being so trusting and positive and start viewing the universe with Rodney's cynical eye.

'She's right,' Ronon rumbled in support. 'You weren't to know what a bunch of crazies those guys were.'

Teyla rolled her eyes, shaking her head with a heartfelt sigh. Clearly that hadn't quite been the sentiment she'd intended to impart, but Sheppard understood that already. People just had different cultures in various parts of the Pegasus Galaxy, just as they did in different countries all over Earth. This wasn't just a Pegasus thing; he could get himself into just as much trouble back home if he ever wanted to.

'Thanks, buddy,' Sheppard replied, giving Teyla an understanding glance. That seemed to appease them both. He'd learned the fine art of pleasing the very different members of his team long ago and it came naturally to him now. If only all interplanetary relations came as easily.

The trio beside his bed were still smiling as if they were enjoying some shared joke he wasn't part of. He eyed them, one at a time, then said, 'C'mon, you guys. You're obviously up to something so just put me out of my misery and we'll call it a night.'

They looked at each other, their smiles broadening, then Teyla announced. 'Very well. Should I begin?'

Her partners in crime nodded their agreement, and she deftly manoeuvred a box from behind her back, careful not to tip it as she set it on his outstretched legs.

'I imagine you thought we had forgotten in all the excitement of the day,' she explained, lifting the lid off the box to reveal a cake lying within. 'Happy Fortieth Birthday.' Stabbing four candles into the chocolate icing, one for each decade as she told him, she lit them with her firelighter and told him to make a wish. He blew them out, feeling a little foolish, but the wish he made was sincere enough. He hoped to survive another birthday in this perilous galaxy.

'I had help making it, of course. I am not familiar with the methods of "baking", but I'm told it will be delicious. Oh, and I also brought you this,' she added, delving into her pocket and then handing him a sweatband. 'I thought you might like to cover your Bratalan tattoo.'

Did he ever, and as soon as he was fit he was going to ask Keller about getting rid of the damn thing all together. He really did suspect that if he kept it, some other planet's inhabitants would see it as a bad omen and shoot him where he stood.

Since his left arm was currently in a sling to support his shoulder, Teyla set the cake down and helped him slip it on. It felt good to have it on his wrist, a sign things were finally returning to normal. 'Thanks, Teyla. This is all...great!'

Teyla lifted up the cake and set it on the stand beside his bed, then stepped back to allow the others to approach. Sheppard shifted his attention to Rodney, who was smiling so hard he thought his head might pop. 'You have something you'd like to share, Rodney?' he enquired.

McKay bounced some more, then casually tossed a comic book wrapped in a pristine plastic covering onto his thighs. Sheppard winced but the shock of what he was seeing stopped him from voicing his pain.

It was a Superman comic, issue 234, proudly bearing its 15 cents price tag. 'It's not one of the more expensive ones I own, but I've seen you eying it a few times and...well...it is a special birthday.'

'I...I don't know what to say...' Sheppard stammered, picking it up with his free hand and admiring the cover.

'Well...I usually find that 'Thank you' goes a long way in these kinds of situations,' McKay offered, giving him a lop-sided smile.

Sheppard met his gaze and held it earnestly. 'Thank you, Rodney...really...thanks.'

'You're welcome. I figure you've saved my ass enough times to have earned that one.'

Finally, it was Ronon's turn. The Satedan stared at Sheppard, his eyes crinkled in amusement. 'Happy Birthday. I understand turning forty is a big thing where you come from.'

'Well, I wasn't gonna make a fuss...'

Ronon drew his gun and spun it on his index finger in several skilled twists before wrapping his palm around the broad barrel. 'One week.'

Sheppard frowned at his friend, wondering what he was talking about. Was that some kind of threat? Had the big guy gone all Logan's Run on him and decided his time was up? He checked his palm to make sure he didn't have a red crystal there. All clear. 'One week until what?' he asked.

Shooting him a puzzled look, Ronon clarified his offer. 'That's how long you get to own my gun...except if some emergency arises and I need it. Your time starts when you're back on your feet.'

Sheppard looked at the gun clutched in the thick fingers of his friend's right hand. He'd coveted that weapon for so long he could barely believe the Satedan would hand it over, not even temporarily, especially knowing how much it meant to him. It suddenly occurred to the colonel that this might actually have been the reason why Ronon was so desperate to get the gun back from the Bratalans. 'Man...I...I'm speechless...again.'

'You're welcome.'

McKay looked backward and forward between the two of them so fast Sheppard genuinely feared his head might come loose. 'Wait a minute...I didn't know we could just loan him things...'

'Don't spoil it, Rodney,' Sheppard almost begged, tightening his grip on the comic.

Rodney's eyes remained glued to it for a few seconds more, his shoulders tensed, then he relaxed and let it wash over him. 'No...you know what? It's fine. You keep it. I can probably pick up another some time.'

'Maybe I'll give it you back for your fortieth,' Sheppard offered.

'Really?' The thought seemed to please the scientist, and Sheppard figured he might just about manage to do that.

'Oh, and one more thing,' Teyla announced, casting a playful look Ronon's way.

The Satedan revealed what he carried in his left hand, which he had kept behind his back the whole time – a six-pack of Bud.

'We thought we'd help you celebrate in style. Sam got clearance from Jennifer, so long as we limit you to one otherwise the meds you're on for those bites will be rendered ineffective. Oh, and she said she's drop by later to wish you a happy birthday herself. She didn't want to spoil the surprise before,' Rodney told him, slipping a bottle opener from his top pocket.

He might only be allowed one beer, but at least they'd made that one really count. That was good enough for Sheppard. He had great presents, great beer, and great company...maybe this birthday wasn't such a dead loss after all.

After opening up four bottles and handing them out, Rodney made the toast. 'Here's to you on your fortieth...or perhaps we should be offering you congratulations on your engagement.'

'Cute,' Sheppard grunted as his friends all grinned back at him. 'Very cute.'

'Well, she was a sweet kid. Perhaps you could head back on your fiftieth and see if she's still available.'

'No...to both parts of that suggestion,' Sheppard told him firmly, swigging back some Bud. He closed his eyes to savour the taste. There was no better beer in the universe, he was sure of that.

'So, no chance of salvaging that trade deal, huh? Okay, I guess we could sneak back and steal the naquadah instead.'

Sheppard flashed him a warning look. 'Not funny.'

'I bet the IOA are considering it.'

Now that was a possibility. Bratala had naquadah it didn't need; they would undoubtedly find some way to justify it if they could.

'So...we having cake or what?' Rodney pestered, peering into the box at the chocolate delight Teyla had whipped up.

'You want me to serve it?' Ronon offered, sliding a particularly wicked looking blade from inside his boot.

Rodney turned green. 'You know what, maybe I'll pass.'

Laughing at them both, Teyla lifted the cake from the box to reveal a knife and several plates stowed beneath it. 'Do not worry, Rodney. We will use the knife I brought instead.'

'Huh...now that's more like it,' he grinned, rubbing his hands together with glee. 'I haven't eaten for hours.'

Even though this wasn't supposed to be about McKay, Sheppard let him take the first slice. As he looked back on the day, he supposed it was kind of funny how things had escalated, but he hoped Rodney's joke about the IOA was wrong. Whatever the outcome, he figured he had the perfect excuse not to go back to Bratala himself. And just to be sure his forty-first birthday went off without a hitch, he made a mental note to book the day off on leave with Carter when she dropped by later, then he slugged back the rest of his beer.

A/N: Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to leave reviews, they are much appreciated. I hope you all enjoyed the story, brief as it was. And to those of you who have followed the story this far without comment, let me know what you think. :D