A/N: Anybody out there going to the Fan Expo in Canada? I know I am =D and as always, thanks for all the reviews! They inspire me to get off my ass and write =P
STATUS: TBC
RATING: K+
SUMMARY: Nightmares have begun to plague Rodney's dreams. What happens when they start to merge with real life?
SPOILERS: Nada
DISCLAIMER: Everything Stargate Atlantis related is property of MGM. I own nothing.
x x x
"How's he doing?"
John looked up from where he was standing beside Rodney's bed, his arms crossed loosely over his chest. Ronon had slipped past the privacy curtain, Teyla following quietly.
"Still conked out from when Carson sedated him," John answered the Satedan.
Ronon dropped backwards into the nearest chair, arms resting on the back. His gaze moved from the immobile scientist to the Colonel.
"What were those things McKay thought was attacking him again? Bugs?"
"I believe he called them Replicator bugs," Teyla supplied. "But I have never heard of them before, and certainly never seen them."
"That's because they're from our galaxy," John explained. "They're self-replicating robot things. They can take the form of humans too but they seem to use the bugs to scuttle around causing general mayhem, especially on ships."
"Why would they wish to do that?"
"Oh, you know, the usual; conversion, taking over the galaxy. That sort of thing. They pissed off the Asgard big time, I heard."
"Aye, they're nasty little buggers."
All eyes turned to Carson as he pulled the privacy curtain to the side, a tablet in hand. He walked over to Rodney's beside, opposite John, and gently picked up the scientist's wrist.
"Well, aside from the effects of the sedation, the lad appears to be fine," he said as he mentally kept the pulse rate. "I honestly have no idea what caused the hallucination. His blood work came back clean and the scan showed nothing out of the ordinary."
"Perhaps it is just stress, like you and Kate said?" Teyla suggested.
"That might not be the case anymore," someone announced before Carson could reply.
John watched warily as Elizabeth Weir strode across the infirmary and over to the group, an unreadable expression on her face. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"There was a commotion in the mess hall. Two scientists started yelling about how Atlantis was being attacked by an unknown vessel. It took almost half an hour before they began to calm down." Weir let out a sigh and added, "The marines on duty said they were close to calling the infirmary for a sedative."
"What the bloody hell's going on around here?" asked Carson aghast. "We can't keep sedating everyone over random hallucinations."
"Now hold on here, Carson," John said evenly. "Elizabeth said it was only two scientists, three including Rodney. I'd hardly say it was all our people. It's not an epidemic or anything."
"The coincidence, however, is too obvious to ignore though," Elizabeth pointed out. John nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. So maybe we should—"
"Colonel Sheppard? This is Major Lorne. We need a security team in the main Lab immediately. Doctor Kwiatkowski somehow got a hold of Lieutenant Waltman's sidearm. She's convinced she's on a Wraith Hive Ship."
"Which would make us..." John started darkly as he and Ronon headed for the infirmary doors.
"...the Wraith. Yes, Sir."
"Right, I'll get a team together and meet you down there." Turning around as he walked, John looked back to where Teyla, Elizabeth, and Carson were still hovering beside Rodney's bed. "Teyla, Elizabeth, stay with McKay. Carson, get whatever you need and get down to the lab. Don't enter until I give you the all clear." He turned to Ronon. "You're with me, big guy."
x x x
Ten minutes after Sheppard had gotten the call and the infirmary had calmed down, Rodney woke up. Teyla was the first to notice.
"Rodney, welcome back," she said with a pleased smile as she leaned closer, her chair positioned at his bedside.
The scientist groaned, looking all sorts of bleary eyed and confused.
"Eugh, why do I feel like my head's full of cotton?" he asked, hands flapping lazily at his sides.
Teyla and Elizabeth shared a glance before the Athosian asked, "What is the last thing you remember, Rodney?"
McKay frowned, rubbing his forehead.
"Sheppard and I were in the South Pier, looking around...there was this energy signature...and..." Suddenly he bolted up, previously sluggish hands now batting and slapping at his chest and arms. "Oh, God—the bugs! They were everywhere—"
Immediately Teyla and Elizabeth were on their feet, holding down the scientist's arms firmly.
"Rodney, calm down! The bugs weren't real," Elizabeth stressed as she glanced around, hoping no one had heard the brief commotion. McKay definitely would not have appreciated the attention. "You were just seeing things. Hallucinating. Everything is fine."
It took a few moments for the words to sink in before he started to relax under their grip. Rodney looked up at the two women, wide eyes shifting back and forth.
"A halluc—but they were everywhere...crawling all over me and—" As if suddenly remembering something, Rodney swung his head around, peering anxiously every which way. "My sidearm! I wanted to use it—to shoot them. Where's Sheppard? Did I—Oh, God...did I--"
"Colonel Sheppard is perfectly fine, Rodney," assured Teyla as soon as she realized what the scientist had thought. "From what he said, he took the weapon from you before you had even released the safety. No harm was done."
Rodney let out a breath as he sunk back, scrubbing a hand over his face.
"Good, that's good. Then where is he? And Conan? Not that I, you know...expect them when I wake up or anything...I just..." He trailed off awkwardly, stubbornly ignoring the two amused smiles at either side of him. But within moments they were gone, replaced with grim expressions. "What? What is it?"
"There seems to be...something affecting the base," Elizabeth started slowly. "We're not quite sure yet. The coincidences are too obvious to ignore, but—"
"What coincidences?" interrupted Rodney with an irritated flap of his hand. "Hello? Been in a medically induced sleep here!"
Teyla put a hand on his shoulder, explaining calmly, "There have been many...situations in the city that are quite similar to what has been happening to you. For instance, two scientists in the mess hall earlier were convinced that Atlantis was being attacked by an unknown ship. They were quite distressed."
"And now Doctor Kwiatkowski in the main lab has taken Lieutenant Waltman's sidearm," added Elizabeth grimly.
"What? Why?" asked a baffled Rodney.
"Because she's convinced she's on a Wraith Hive ship. That's where John and Ronon are now with a security team." Elizabeth was silent for a beat before she added, "I've told them to use stunners if absolutely necessary."
"If Kwiatkowski is so convinced that she's armed herself, then trust me, stunners will be necessary," said Rodney with pursed lips. "What you see is very...realistic. It would be safest for everyone involved if she was just stunned."
Elizabeth assessed her Chief Scientist, remembering how panicked he had sounded on the radio and how spooked, no matter how hard he had tried to hide it, John had been once they made it to the infirmary. He had explained how unsettling it had been to watch Rodney race around trying to save them from a nonexistent threat.
"You're sure...?" Elizabeth asked carefully.
Rodney just nodded absently in reply, his mind replaying the earlier events. Realistic was an understatement.
After receiving a slight nod from Teyla, Elizabeth keyed her radio.
"John? How are things progressing?"
There was a long pause, everyone's eyes focused on something different as they waited with poorly hidden tension.
After what seemed like an eternity, the Colonel replied. His voice was pitched low, as if he didn't want to be heard.
"Sheppard here. This isn't really a good time..."
"John, Rodney has woken up. He seems to think that you should just stun Doctor Kwiatkowski."
"...say again?"
"I know, I don't like the thought of stunning one of our people either," Elizabeth assured him steadily. "But Rodney thinks—"
"Oh, for—" With an impatient slap to his radio, Rodney said irritably, "Look, Sheppard. She's not going to snap out of it very easily, and especially not before someone gets hurt. So stun her. Trust me, you'll be doing her a favour."
The scientist could practically hear John purse his lips darkly as he thought. No one liked to stun one of their own, but sometimes it had to be done.
Finally John said, "Major, you get that? You're closer then I am."
"Every word, sir. Sergeant Marks has the stunner and is in range."
"...do it."
The whine of the stunner discharging and the thump that followed was loud in everyone's ears.
"Alright, Kwiatkowski's down," John stated moments later. "Carson and his team are taking her to the infirmary."
"Understood," said Elizabeth, looking none too happy. "Once Doctor Beckett gives Rodney the all clear, I think we should meet in the Conference room and discuss what exactly is going on around here."
"Copy that. We'll see you in ten."
Just before tapping her earpiece, Elizabeth asked apprehensively, "And how about you, John? Are you...experiencing anything?"
"Not me. Haven't seen any Wraith, Replicators...nothing."
"And you, Ronon?"
"Nope."
"Alright then. Weir out."
She turned to look at Teyla and Rodney who were staring back, one with a solemn gaze and the other with wide baby blues.
Until Carson returned, there was nothing to do but to wait.
x x x
A/N: I know, another chapter out so soon. Your reviews inspired me =P