"Holy shit." John breathed then moved to check on Max; Beckett was at his elbow shouting crisp commands to his assistant.
Max was breathing slowly and evenly, aside from the burn on her chest she could have been sleeping.
"I think she'll be okay –" Beckett said and then Max groaned interrupting him.
"Hey, Holloway wake up." John said sharply.
Her eyes fluttered open and she slowly focused on Beckett then John.
"I'm not dead." She croaked.
"Aye I'd say you're lucky but I think you're just built to higher standards." Beckett chided her and helped her sit up.
She tried to look around but Beckett was shining a light in her eyes.
"Where's the wraith?" She asked.
"Dead love, you put paid to it quite thoroughly I'd say." Beckett said and released his gentle grip on her head freeing her to look around.
At the center of the cage lay a smoking hulk, it was like a cartoon, no flesh, just a blackened skeleton.
"What the fuck?" She asked in blank shock.
"Your Quickening Max –" Carter said excitedly.
"It fried the wraith? How?"
"We'll find out soon enough lass but right now you need fluids and rest." Beckett said firmly. His assistant returned with a gurney.
"I can walk." Max said, Ronon stepped forward and offered her his hand. He seemed like a giant at that angle, taller and broader than ever, she accepted his hand and he pulled her to her feet with surprising control.
She was wrong, she couldn't walk yet. Ronon immediately gripped her elbow and supported her on one side while John snaked her arm over his shoulder and supported her other side. They lead her back to the transporter. Beckett eye balled the assistant who remained behind to gather up equipment. Beckett lead Max and her new fan club to the infirmary with Carter and Tey'la not far behind.
"Now let's get a proper look at you." Beckett said warmly as John and Ronon helped her sit on an exam table.
"Can I get some water?"
"Certainly." Beckett agreed and brought her some himself as one of expert nurses in the infirmary attached an I.V. to her arm. She watched with a smile as her quickening sparked and shocked the hapless nurse.
"Sorry, I think things are a little unsettled." She said and drank her water.
John and Carter remained through the duration of the very long exam. Once Beckett finished and declared she could go but was to report any symptoms immediately John gave her an earpiece and taught her how to use it.
"It's stupid easy, trust me." John said with a smile.
"Thank you sir."
"Colonel would you mind giving us some privacy?" Carter asked, he could tell by her tone that it was a request and not an order.
"Sure, I'm guessing Lorne and the rest could use an update anyway."
Max didn't look at Carter.
"I'm sorry Max. I didn't give you much choice about coming and doing this."
"I don't know, stay in prison or save the planet is a choice of sorts." Max tried to say it as a joke but it twisted in her mouth and her voice broke. She finally looked at Carter at the regret and certainty in her friend's face and let out a shaky breath.
"I would have done the same thing Sam." She admitted.
"I'm still sorry. When I saw you go down…"
"Unstoppable remember?"
"You're not a very good liar."
"I know."
"This place…Atlantis is amazing you can make a life here."
"Offering me a job? Professional wraith fryer?"
"Maybe."
Max shook her head. "I can't take a hit like that in combat without becoming a liability. I didn't have any control when that thing was on me. Whatever happened wasn't my choice."
"You still have experience in off world operations and combat."
"What team would want me?"
"Mine." John said from the doorway. Carter scowled at him as Max jumped and twisted on the table to see who had spoken. John walked around the table to face Max.
"With your skillset and abilities I'd be crazy to say no."
"Sir with respect I'm a convicted murderer. Who is going to trust me? I don't trust me."
"We will." Ronon said from the doorway. Max slipped off the table and faced the doorway, putting John and Carter between her and it. Tey'la stood with Ronon expression calm and confident.