Chapter 13

Sheppard held the still unconscious Rodney in his arms, making sure he was covered up. Not everyone in Atlantis had to see how abused his body was.

When the gurney finally arrived, he carefully lifted Rodney and put him on it. They all ran to the medical centre, Sheppard still holding on to his friend, leaving Teyla to update Carter.

Jennifer was waiting for her patient. She tried to keep a distance but it was hard.

John still hadn't moved from his side.

'Thank you, colonel. We can take it from here.' She tried to make him leave.

As she took hold of a corner of the sheet, John put his hand on hers. She looked up at his worried eyes.

'Doc, it's bad.' He simply stated. Then he let go of her hand. Slowly she lifted the sheet.

'Where are his clothes?' She asked no one in particular, just looking up at Sheppard again. She swallowed and then continued to uncover Rodney.

More and more was revealed to her and her medical staff as they turned Rodney's body and removed the sheet.

'Who did this to him?' Jennifer asked through unshed tears. Everywhere she touched, the small wounds started to bleed again. She looked down at Rodney and gently ran her hand over his hair, wanting him to wake up and moan to her, at least give some reaction. But none was coming.

'Alicia, get blood works started. These wounds should not be bleeding as they are.

Tom, get fluids in him as quickly as possible. What's his temperature?

Get me some disinfectant and start cleaning these wounds, now!'

Jennifer gave her team instructions, taking a pace back to check on Rodney's heart rate. She still could not get over it that one human being had abused another in such a way. The pain he must be in now. In her heart she wished she could just hold him in her arms and make him all better. But she knew it would take some time.

Sheppard had taken a step back by now, leaving his friend to the good care of the doctor and her team. He went in search of his other friend and found him on the other side of the medical centre, in a quiet area.

Sheppard was startled to see how wrapped up Ronon was. He knew he had been hurt, hurt badly actually. He couldn't remember ever seeing Ronon so bad. And still he became silent as he saw his friend like that.

Ronon was fast asleep and Sheppard took a chair to sit and wait with him. In the distance he saw how they were still working on Rodney. He knew he should go to Carter for his report but half his team was down. He was not going anywhere until he was sure they were both ok, or at least well on their way at being ok.

He had just closed his eye when he heard a small moan coming from the bed. He got up immediately and looked at the now awake Ronon.

'Hey, there, Buddy. How you feeling?' John smiled, happy to see at least one of his friends recovering.

But Ronon just turned his head away and ignored him.

Sheppard was confused. Why did Ronon act this way? Had he done something wrong? Sure, he hadn't been here when he first woke up. But John was sure Jennifer would have explained they had to go back to save Rodney.

John carefully touched Ronon, trying to get his attention again.

Sheppard took a physical step back when Ronon turned around to him, eye blazing and voice shouting angry: 'GET LOST!'

Ronon turned away immediately again, not wanting to look into Sheppard's eyes and see the confusion.

But John was not so easily dissuaded.

'Hey, Chewie. No need to be grumpy.' He slowly approached Ronon again.

He had no reaction. So he tried touching his friend again.

But again Ronon turned to him, anger showing through every movement: 'I said: GET LOST!'

And again Ronon turned away, closing his eyes, hoping Sheppard had not seen his tears, not noticed how his heart was breaking. But he knew he had to push his friend away. Sheppard would try everything to keep him in his team. And Ronon knew he had to make sure Sheppard would not want that anymore, not with a man who could not hear.

Jennifer had noticed to shouting and took a moment away from Rodney to pull John to the side.

'What's the matter with him? Why is he so angry?' He asked confused.

'He's only just recovering from serious surgery.' She tried to explain.

'What are you not telling me, Doc?' Sheppard insisted.

But Jennifer hesitated. She did not have time to explain it to him now.

'Please, let me attend to Rodney first. Go and get yourself cleaned up. Then come back and we'll talk.'

Reluctantly, Sheppard let himself be pushed out of the medical centre, away from his friends.

He slowly walked back to his room. His uniform was stained with Rodney's blood. He could hardly report to Carter like that. Still, he felt terrible leaving his friends like that.

TBC