Chapter 24: You'd be the first person who has
"Hey," John stopped in the doorway of my lab to greet me.
"Hey yourself," I returned with a smile. "Something up?"
"Have you been anywhere near the infirmary today?" John asked.
"No," I replied with a frown, swivelling my chair to face him. "Why?"
"Doctor Keller thinks we've got some kind of disease outbreak," John admitted, walking across to my position. "The survey team came back from the mainland this morning. A few of them have symptoms, along with people who've been in the infirmary since the team got back."
"What kind of disease?" I asked in concern. "Is it serious?"
"Looks like a variant of the flu," John said simply. "Jennifer said she found bacteria she's never seen before – she's trying to track it in the Ancient database. The infirmary level's been quarantined but I was worried maybe you ...,"
"I've been here all morning," I reassured him. "I'm assuming since you're running around freely that you haven't been exposed either. What about anyone else who might have been in the infirmary today?"
"I've got a team trying to track anyone down now," John advised.
"Katie was on that survey team wasn't she?" I suddenly remembered that fact.
"Yeah, she and Rodney both tested positive," John admitted. "I wouldn't worry though – so far there's nothing to suggest this is gonna get any worse and Jennifer will work something out for the people who have been exposed."
"Oh – okay," I let John's words settle any hint of concern about Rodney. "Can I do anything to help out?"
"Just stay down here for now," John replied. "I need to check back in with Colonel Carter but I'll keep you informed. Now get back to work."
"Yes Sir," I smiled as John put a hand on my shoulder, spinning me back towards the desk as he squeezed fondly.
And then he was gone, leaving me with just the faint edge of worry ... because on Atlantis even the minor things often turned out to be anything but.
oOo
Four hours later the situation hadn't improved but it didn't seem to have gotten hugely worse either. Doctor Keller had a team conducting random blood tests throughout the city because one of the nurses who'd been in Hazmat had tested positive for the disease. There were more cases in the infirmary too, all those from the survey team plus others they'd been in contact with when they'd first returned to the city. The first symptoms were supposed to be headaches and dizziness ... what came after that was still being discovered as the initial patients fought against the illness.
It was kind of bizarre to be continuing on with normal work when in the background something potentially serious was happening but there was nothing else I could do.
Another two hours later and that changed.
"Sabina, can you come down to the Mess Hall?" John's voice over the radio was purposeful ... and worried.
"On my way," I confirmed, heading out immediately and continuing the conversation along the way. "What's the status?"
"Results from the random blood tests are in," John advised. "It's pretty likely that everyone is already infected. Jennifer is gonna do another round of blood tests to confirm that."
"Crap!" I muttered, picking up the pace to get to his position.
"That's not even the worst part," John continued. "The first patients all have a new symptom – memory loss. Jennifer said if the rate of deterioration continues it'll be only a matter of hours before they won't remember their own names."
"Double crap!" I turned the corner and strode through the doors to the Mess. "Hey," I greeted John personally, heading straight over to him. "What's the plan?"
"The infirmary's been inundated," John explained. "We need to turn this area into a makeshift ward. Help Ronon bring in some portable cots."
"Okay," I turned to do just that when John put a hand on my arm.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, his expression making it clear he was hoping he wouldn't hear the answer I was gonna have to give him.
"Slight headache," I admitted. "You?"
"The same," John returned. "Maybe you should ...,"
"I'll stick close by," I broke in before he could suggest I start acting like I was sick. "But I'm fine to help out here."
"Yeah ... okay," John rubbed a hand over his forehead before meeting my gaze. We didn't need to say anything, each of us reading the worry in the other's eyes. "Jennifer will come up with something," John said confidently. "For now we just need to look after everyone, make sure they're comfortable."
"You're right," I agreed with as confident a smile as I could manage. "I'll go help Ronon."
oOo
Activity in the Mess Hall escalated – both those of us helping to set it up and the arrival of the first people transferred down from the infirmary. I'd already been there more than an hour, having switched from helping Ronon carry in cots to helping Teyla make them ready for those needing bed rest.
"How are you feeling Teyla?" I asked curiously as we moved on to the next bed.
"No different than usual," Teyla replied, shaking out a sheet and bending to tuck it around the mattress.
"No signs of headache, dizziness?" I asked in surprise.
"None," Teyla confirmed.
We glanced up as John and Ronon arrived with one of the last cots available. John put a hand to his forehead, grimacing as he leaned on the bed. I was over there beside him in moments, Teyla close behind me.
"John?" I put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine," John insisted, moving away before I could call him up on it. Sharing a concerned glance with Teyla and Ronon I left them together and followed John across the room.
"You're not fine," I said when he stopped and began a count of beds.
"It's still just a headache," John looked at me quickly before going back to his count. "I can handle it."
"Teyla's not sick," I told him.
"Not even the headache?" John raised an eyebrow in surprise. "That could mean something."
"It could," I replied. "No one tested my blood – maybe they never tested Teyla's either."
"Let's find out," John put a hand on my arm and urged me back over to where Teyla now stood by herself. "Sabina said you don't even have a headache yet," he began.
"Ronon and I were just discussing that neither of us appear affected," Teyla offered. "Ronon has gone to the infirmary to inform Doctor Keller."
"Oh ... good," John grimaced, clearly restraining himself from rubbing at his forehead again. He glanced up, shrugging when I raised an eyebrow questioning his condition. Rather than look away John kept his eyes on me, a thoughtful look appearing on his face. "Sabina, is your headache getting worse?"
"No," I admitted, surprised I hadn't really noticed that fact. "Actually I'm feeling a bit better that I was when we first started moving cots in here."
"Perhaps you have not been infected either," Teyla suggested.
"More likely you've managed to fight it off," John countered. "Go join Ronon down in the infirmary – get Jennifer to test you as well."
"If I've gotten better then maybe it's only a matter of time before everyone else does too," I offered, feeling hopeful for the first time that day. "It could just be that I only got a mild case because I spent the whole morning by myself."
"Maybe," John agreed. "Jennifer will be able to confirm that."
"Will you be okay here?" I asked, reluctant to leave him when I knew how crappy he was really feeling.
"I will stay close to John," Teyla said graciously.
Completely ignoring John's protests that he didn't need looking after, I thanked Teyla gratefully. "Be good," I told John sternly, putting my hand to his arm and waiting for him to nod an agreement before I left for the infirmary.
oOo
"Doctor Keller?" I approached hesitantly. Jennifer looked rushed, pale, uncertain ... not a facade I was used to seeing on her.
"Sabina," Jennifer turned to me with a forced smile. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm hoping I can do something for you," I said in reply. "I was definitely feeling the same symptoms as everyone else a couple of hours ago but now I'm actually feeling better. Is it possible I could have already gotten over it?"
"You'd be the first person who has," Jennifer looked me over with renewed interest. "Let me take some blood and run some tests."
I looked around the infirmary curiously as Jennifer prepared to take her samples. This was the place where the worst cases were still located ... and from here it looked really bad. Rodney was sitting with Katie Brown, the expression on his face a mix of his strange love/hate relationship with all things medical, confusion and maybe even hurt because Katie didn't know who he was, and fear ... for himself as much as anyone else. I knew the very idea of forgetting himself and everyone else would be abhorrent to Rodney.
"Hey," I said softly, approaching silently once Jennifer had what she needed from me.
"Sabina," Rodney tried to smile but didn't quite get there.
"How is she?" I gestured to Katie in concern.
"She doesn't remember me," Rodney said sadly, "or anyone else. Jennifer said it's likely she doesn't really know who she is anymore ... she's just too confused to describe how's she's feeling."
"I'm sorry Rodney," I put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know Jennifer's working hard to find a cure for this ... Ronon and Teyla haven't had any symptoms so far so there might be something in that."
"What about you?" Rodney asked curiously.
"I had the dizziness and headache a couple of hours ago," I told him, "but now I'm actually feeling better. Jennifer just took some blood to work out why that is. How are you feeling?"
"Headache for a couple of hours now," Rodney admitted. He went to say more but Jennifer walked in from her office with a grim expression on her face that stopped our conversation cold.
"The latest random blood tests are back," she announced to everyone present. "If you're feeling well enough you're all free to go."
"What?" Rodney demanded incredulously.
"The second set of results are all positive too Rodney," Jennifer explained. "There's no point in quarantining anymore – whatever this is, its spread to the entire population. We'll be transferring everyone who can be moved down to the Mess Hall."
"Come on Rodney," I urged him up from his seat next to Katie. "You've been here for hours – let's go find John and see if they've managed to come up with anything."
Rodney followed me reluctantly from the infirmary, glancing over his shoulder at Katie as we walked away. We didn't need to search for John, all of us converging on the same spot – the stairs leading up to Colonel Carter's office.
"They let you out?" John greeted Rodney in surprise.
"The second set of random blood tests just came back – all positive," Rodney explained. "Didn't seem much point in quarantining the Infirmary any more."
"You showing any signs?" John looked at Rodney curiously.
"Headache," Rodney admitted reluctantly.
"How's your headache?" I asked John, looking closely at his eyes. Even if he tried to make light of it, just seeing the more intense green – highlighted by the bloodshot red, would have been enough for me to know he was only getting worse.
"About the same," John dismissed lightly.
"Five bucks says you start losing your memories first," Rodney quipped.
"Rodney!" Both John and I looked at him in exasperation. Rodney's shrug said if there was ever a time when we needed to make light of the situation just to get through it, this would be it.
Colonel Carter was waiting for us outside her office. "All right, we've got food, water and blankets," she reported. "We don't have enough beds but we're just gonna have to make do."
"Well, we may need to think about ordering all non-essential personnel to report to the Mess Hall," Rodney suggested. "I mean, they're gonna wind up there anyway and this way we won't have people with no memories wandering the hallways."
"That's what I'm worried about," John said seriously. "I'll send Lorne and a team out, make sure those orders are followed."
Colonel Carter gestured for us to follow her inside her office. On her desk were a couple of small bottles which she picked up, handing one each to John and Rodney.
"These are from Doctor Neaves," she explained. "They're stimulants. He thinks they may slow the effects of the memory loss. It's just a stop-gap but at least it may buy us a few hours."
"Do we know what's in these, because I'm allergic ...," Rodney took out a pill and eyed it suspiciously.
"Just take it," John ordered, tossing one of the tablets into his own mouth and swallowing it dry. Rodney reluctantly complied, grimacing as he choked down his own tablet.
"Hand these out to Lorne and his men," Carter added, handing John a third bottle of tablets. "One more thing: I've ordered Doctor Zelenka to remove the Gate's main control crystal. No matter what happens, we cannot risk spreading this disease elsewhere in the galaxy or to Earth."
"What happens when we all start losing our memory?" Rodney asked glumly.
Author's Note:
Finally, after four days of trying, I've been able to log in and update the story! I WILL reply to reviews too but thought I should lock in a new chapter while I can ... just in case. If there's a long posting delay in the future, check the blog on my website (link on my author page) cause I'll let you know what's going on (as much as I know!) there. Thanks for your patience.
Next Up? Fortunate Journey Season 4 Chapter 25