Chapter 30: Answers
Twelve hours had elapsed since John's awakening and extubation, and he felt considerably better. His heart was heavy with the desire to leave the infirmary, reunite with his beloved family, and set off on the long-awaited vacation. For most of the past twelve hours, John had been in a deep slumber, with Teyla, Rodney, or Ronon always there when he stirred, providing a comforting presence. Teyla had even shared the news of his brother Dave's visit, but he had been lost in the world of dreams and missed his brother's presence.
He awoke twenty minutes ago and was now staring at the ceiling, waiting for General O'Neill to come and deliver his fate. His leg was still in plaster, but there was no pain, a promising sign of his recovery. He still felt washed out from his recent sickness, but the absence of pain in his leg was a small victory. No one had told John how he'd become sick because he'd spent most of the last twelve hours sleeping. Perhaps O'Neill would fill him in on the details when he arrived. But first, he needed to know if he was going to jail or being discharged from the service dishonourably. Neither option was good, but he'd prefer a dishonourable discharge if he had to choose one. That reflected his desperation and lack of hope; at least he would have some freedom.
His contemplations were interrupted when heavy footsteps entered the infirmary. He looked up to see his superior, General O'Neill, and the chief medical officer, Dr Beckett, heading his way. He did his best to put a blank look on his face so the two men had no idea what he was thinking.
"How are you doing, General?" Carson asked on approach.
"Where's the guards?" He asked O'Neill with sarcasm. However, he was ready to face his fate.
"Now, why must I come heavily guarded to the infirmary?" O'Neill asked with a twinkle in his eye.
By this time, John was losing his patience, and he wanted it over with no matter the outcome: " Either arrest me or discharge me from the military. However, I stand by every decision I've made in my career because all I ever wanted to do was save lives."
The look on O'Neill's face turned serious, "All charges against you have been dropped."
The unexpected news took him aback. All charges against him had been dropped. But why? He was guilty of interfering in politics in other galaxies. He was the one who awoke the wraith, after all.
"Why?" He asked, his voice filled with shock and disbelief, his mind struggling to accept the truth.
Carson answered his question, "Because Stoodly wanted your job, and he was going to get it no matter how he did it." Carson's face softened as he continued," He poisoned you, son."
The revelation of Stoodly's betrayal hit him like a ton of bricks. Even though he didn't like the man, the thought that an airforce General wanted to harm him was a shock he couldn't have anticipated. Especially one who has worked in Washington for a distinguished career. Landry had told him about Stoodly's career.
"How?" John asked, the shock of Carson's news about his poisoning still reverberating through him.
"Do you remember the small white berries from CXZ-117?" Carson asked him.
"Yeah," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper, "I was allergic to them."
O'Neill continued the explanation," Well, Lt. Davis, from Atlantis, was instrumental in procuring some from the local population. He convinced them to share their knowledge and resources. With his expertise in chemistry, Dr Symmons made them into a serum so it could be injected into your food. When he visited Earth two weeks ago, Dr Symmons smuggled it to the SGC. Once here, two of our marines hid it before injecting it into the food you were served in the brig."
"But I barely ate much, and the food had a bland taste," John said, his voice tinged with disbelief at the poison's potency.
"It was extremely potent," Carson explained, "and it took many berries to make a small amount of the serum."
John was overwhelmed with relief that he would be alright, but the betrayal he felt at being deliberately poisoned was a wound that would take time to heal.
"What's going to happen to Stoodly?" He asked, not that he cared.
O'Neill offered an explanation, "He will be charged with attempted murder of a high-ranking military officer and spend the rest of his life in jail. Probably in area 51 because he knows too much."
John still couldn't grasp why Stoodly did what he did," I still don't get it. If he worked in Washington, why give up a nice, cushy, well-paid job to go to the Pegasus galaxy and fight the Wraith? It's just... unbelievable."
"I can answer that," O'Neill began, "I did some digging into his background, and he has numerous gambling debts that he's struggling to pay. A few years in the Pegasus galaxy, he could make enough money to pay them back and disappear, so he would never have to see his bookies again."
John was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of exhaustion despite having been awake for only an hour. He managed a weak smile, "Thank you for telling me the truth, but I think I'd like to be alone for a while now."
"Teyla's resting, and I'll contact Lorne to send the rest of your family through the gate," O'Neill said, his words carrying a comforting reassurance before exiting the room.
Once O'Neill had left, John expected Carson to go, but for some reason, he remained, "What's happening, Carson? Why are you still here?" He asked, his weariness palpable.
"Someone outside the infirmary wants to speak with you right away."
John wasn't sure he wanted to speak - or argue - with his brother right now, but the sooner he talked to Dave, the sooner he could go to sleep, "send him in."
While waiting, he lay and stared at the ceiling, thinking David would insist on him giving up his job on Atlantis and coming to work for the business. The way he felt at the moment, he would probably say yes.
As Dave walked into the infirmary, his expression was one of unmistakable compassion—or perhaps worry—that was impossible to miss.
"How are you, little brother?" Dave's voice was filled with concern, a stark contrast to their usual relationship.
John hadn't been called that in years, and he wasn't sure he liked it, so he ignored the comment.
"I feel like I've been hit by a truck because an Air Force General wanted to poison me so he could steal my job. How are you, Dave?"
Dave's following words made him uncomfortable. They never discussed their emotions, and Dave's rare display of empathy caught John off guard: "I'm sorry that happened to you, John. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."
"Umm…thanks," he replied, looking down at his feet.
"How much longer does the cast have to stay on?" Dave asked, expertly changing the subject.
A smile of relief graced John's lips, "Carson says it's healing faster than we thought. Just another month and I can say goodbye to this cast; no physical therapy needed."
"So, will you and Teyla stay with Jane and me until then? I should probably tell you we have two kids, too."
John was stunned. Dave had never mentioned his family before, and John himself had been relatively reserved about his own. The revelation was a complete surprise.
"Boys or Girls, or one of each?" John asked, trying to keep the conversation light and friendly.
"A girl who's five years old, her name is Elizabeth Jane, but we call her Lizzy and a boy named Patrick David, he's three," Dave answered with obvious affection for his family. "You haven't told me about your children either."
"Torren John is almost six, Charin Elizabeth is almost two and a half, and Halling Kanaan is five weeks old," John answered, his voice filled with unmistakable pride.
"They are interesting names, " Dave commented," are they common among Teyla's people?"
John took a deep breath before continuing. Things were becoming emotional again, and he longed to close his eyes, "yeah, Torren was the name of Teyla's father, who died at the hands of the Wraith," John didn't know how much Dave learned about the Wraith. Still, he decided to tell him the truth," Charin was the woman who raised Teyla after her father died. She died of old age several years ago. Halling was a dear friend of Teyla's and one of the leaders of the Athosian people. He was killed in a hunting accident a year ago. Kanaan was Teyla's partner for a while, and he was killed by a wild animal a few years ago. These names are significant for Teyla, each representing a story of loss and heartache."
The long-winded explanation had exhausted him, so he smiled weakly at his brother, "Do you think you could leave me alone for a while so I can sleep?"
"No problems, John," Dave said, patting his shoulder," I'll see you soon."
Once Dave had left, John closed his eyes. The last hour had been a rollercoaster of emotions, and the conversations had left him utterly drained. He was about to give in to the pull of sleep when someone else entered the infirmary. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions, making it hard to focus on anything else.
He knew immediately who it was because of the floral scent she usually wore. It was a gift from the Athosians after Halling had died.
Sighing, he opened his eyes as Teyla sat beside him, "Hey, Teyla," he said, stifling a yawn.
"How are you, Honey?" Teyla asked, her tone filled with empathy. John sensed she didn't come to talk about his condition.
John ignored her question about his physical state, "Are you going to tell me what's bothering you, Teyla?"
A dark, protective look crossed her face, "I do not believe your brother wants you to return to Atlantis. He said that he needs someone good at numbers in accounting and that it would be great if you would join the family business. I told him it was not entirely up to you; you also had a family to consider."
John smiled; he loved it when she tried to protect him, but the truth was that even if he considered returning to Earth, he would never join Sheppard Industries.
"You don't need to worry, Sweetie; even if I considered returning to Earth, I would never join the business. It's just not me, and it never has been. I would have thought Dave knew that by now." John's voice was firm, his resolve unwavering.
Teyla's face turned sombre, "I want you to know I will support whatever decision you make about the future John."
"Thanks, Teyla. Right now, I'm too exhausted to make any decisions. But when I do, we will make them together," John told her, his voice reflecting his weariness, "Do you mind if I go to sleep now, sweetie? It's been a rough few days, and I'm still exhausted." His fatigue was palpable, and Teyla could see the toll the recent events had taken on him.
"I think you should get some rest because I must prepare for the children, as they will arrive after lunch," Teyla said with a sparkle in her eyes and a smile that lit up the room. In fact, she reminded John of a child eagerly waiting for her friends to show up at her home.
"I look forward to that," John replied with a yawn that threatened to split his head in two.
Teyla leaned in and kissed his cheek before exiting the infirmary. Now that she had gone, it was an excellent time to go back to sleep. Although he'd slept for twelve hours, and Carson had assured him it was a deep healing sleep, he still felt exhausted.
He'd just closed his eyes when someone else entered the room. Opening his eyes, he tried to remain patient as Carson began to take his vitals. The only problem was there seemed to be a lot of poking and prodding happening.
"Have you finished torturing me, Carson!?" He asked with as much patience as he could muster.
"Don't bite my head off, John; I have finished. You'll be happy to know that I will get you on your feet this afternoon, and if you can manage to get around on crutches, I will release you into the care of your family tomorrow morning."
John yawned again, and his eyelids drooped. "That's great, Doc, but can I sleep until lunch?"
"Go ahead," Carson said before dimming the lights and exiting the room.
At last, he was alone with his thoughts, but he didn't get a chance to think for long because a minute after Cason left his eyes closed for good, he fell into a deep sleep.
oOo
When O'Neill contacted Lorne with the news of General Sheppard's pardon, a wave of relief washed over him; the burden of uncertainty weighing on him was finally lifted. Not that he was surprised, given Stoodly's nefarious intentions towards John. O'Neill then revealed Stoodly's proper motives-a desperate bid to escape his bookies due to substantial gambling debts. None of his actions were befitting of an Air Force officer, let alone a General and Lorne felt no sympathy for the man whatsoever.
He shuddered at the thought of some middle-aged stuffy general coming to lead Atlantis because he had no doubt Stoodly would be the kind of man to lead Atlantis from his office and never go off-world. Something Sheppard had hated when he took over the leadership of the city. Now, Sheppard spent as much time off-world as he did and couldn't be happier with the arrangement. Lorne, who had served under Sheppard for years, had developed a deep respect and admiration for his leadership. Although Sheppard was still the expedition leader, they shared the responsibility of running the great city.
Children's laughter filled the air, drawing Lorne's attention. He looked up to see the Sheppard children and Jasmine entering the gate room. Their faces were lit up with joy, and their laughter was a testament to their excitement. Finally, they were going to Earth for a vacation and couldn't be happier. The prospect of seeing their father, who was currently on Earth, added an extra layer of joy to their anticipation.
He hurried out of Sheppard's office and rushed down the stairs to the gate room just before Torren threw his arms around his legs. " Thank you for looking after the city and everyone," the child said with a sincerity that warmed Lorne's heart.
"You're welcome, Torren," he replied," are you ready to go to Earth for your much-awaited vacation?"
"We see Da?" Charin asked, the excitement evident in her voice.
"Charin, In a moment, we will be going through the Stargate to Earth," Jasmine began."I want you to hold Torren's hand, do you understand?"
"Yes," Charin replied before asking," We see Da?"
Jasmine stood alongside Charin with Halling in her arms, and two marines heading to the SGC held the children's luggage.
"Come on, Charlie, hold my hand, and Aunt Amelia will dial up the gate," Torren suggested taking the girl's hand.
Lorne turned to Amelia and instructed her to dial the gate. While the Cheverons lit up, he couldn't help but be swept away by Charin's pure joy on her face. It was a sight he'd never tired of seeing; her happiness was infectious.
Once the final Chevron lit up and the gate activated, Charin eagerly dragged her brother toward the active wormhole. "We see Da," she demanded, her excitement palpable.
A smile spread across Torren's face as he followed his sister, "We sure will," he replied before they both stepped through the gate together, a perfect picture of family unity. Their bond was so strong it was almost tangible. Jasmine smiled and waved and followed.
The gate shut down within minutes, so he turned to Amelia and asked, "Is Ronon coming home this afternoon?"
"Yes. Then we will pack so we can head to New Sateda tomorrow."
He nodded and climbed the stairs to Sheppard's office. He was looking forward to a vacation, but that would have to wait a few weeks until O'Neill and Carter could come and keep an eye on Atlantis. Rodney and Jennifer would also be heading to Earth for a Vacation at the time.
oOo
Carson watched as John made his way around the infirmary on crutches. He moved slowly, but there was a smile on his face, and Carson could only assume John was happy to be on the move again. His cast seemed heavy, but it didn't bother John.
"How are you feeling, John? I'm genuinely concerned about your health," Carson asked, his worry about John's well-being unmistakable.
"I'm fine, Carson. When can I get out of here? John asked with a glare.
Carson knew that John was far from okay. He was pale and thin and not steady on his feet, but as usual, he was stubborn and determined to get on with things. As much as he would like to keep the General in the infirmary for another twenty-four hours, he knew it wouldn't do any good because he needed some relaxation with his family. Besides, Jasmine was coming through the gate with the Sheppard kids this afternoon, and he was ready to visit his family in Scottland.
"So, can I go now?" John asked, interrupting his thoughts.
He looked up into the expressive hazel eyes of his friend and colleague, and they had a twinkle in them, a familiar spark that instantly warmed his heart.
"Are you sure you feel alright, John? You've been through a lot over the last few weeks."
John chuckled before replying, "Look, Carson, I don't want to talk about things right now. I want to leave here and meet up with my family for a long-overdue vacation. Dave's already gone home to prepare things for us, so he's expecting us soon."
"Okay then, you're good to go. Sit on the bed, and I'll get your clothes."
Carson watched as John gingerly climbed on the bed, his determination shining through even in discomfort. He thought about trying to help him, but Carson understood Sheppard's independent nature. He knew John would never ask for help, even if needed.
He delivered John's clothes and walked to his office when Teyla entered, "How is John? Will he be able to accompany me to the gate room to meet the children?"
"Of course, Teyla. He's just getting changed now," Carson replied, smiling at the thought of the children's excitement to see John.
Suddenly, a loud thump came from the other room, and Carson and Teyla ran to it. When they pulled the privacy curtain back, they found John sitting on the floor without his pants on, a comical sight that even John couldn't help but chuckle at, his embarrassment turning into shared laughter.
"Are you okay, Honey?" Teyla asked, and Carson didn't miss the grin on her face.
John's face went scarlet."Umm… I might need some help getting my pants on."
"I think I'll leave you to help your husband, Teyla," Carson said with a chuckle, noticing Teyla's readiness to assist John.
He closed the privacy curtains around the bed and returned to his office; he had half an hour before Jasmine and the Sheppard kids were due to arrive at the SGC, so he might as well catch up on the last of his paperwork before he went on a long over-due vacation.
The SGC had told his mother he'd be coming home for a visit, and she couldn't be happier. Although, for a while, his mother had been angry that she had believed he'd been dead for so many years. When the SGC explained everything to her, she'd settled down - although the SGC hadn't told her he was a clone, a fact that could change everything.
Smiling at the thought of introducing Jasmine to his mother, he sat at the computer and began to upload General Sheppard's final medical report. Then, he could have a two-week break from all his medical duties - including General Sheppard.
oOo
John stood - on crutches - in the SGC gate room, his heart pounding with excitement at the thought of seeing his children again. Teyla stood beside him, her eyes shining with the same thrill. Carson, on the other side of Teyla, could barely contain his joy at the prospect of seeing his wife again.
Their plan for the day was set. They would have a heartwarming lunch at the SGC, a brief respite before the Hammond picked them up. The ship would then transport them to Dave's house, where, hopefully, a warm welcome awaited them. Due to leave a few hours later, Carson was determined to make the most of his time. Rodney and Ronon would join them for lunch and then return to the Atlantis later in the day.
Even before John was discharged from the infirmary, Dave had already returned home via the Hammond. His eagerness to prepare everything for their arrival was evident—at least, that's what Teyla had told him.
He couldn't wait to meet Jane and her children and looked forward to seeing Dave again. It felt good to have his brother by his side while he was sick, and John cherished the chance to have a relationship with him again, hoping they could develop an excellent bond to keep in touch when he returned to Atlantis.
"Incoming wormhole from Atlantis," Walter announced from the control room, sparking a surge of excitement in John's heart.
John was glad it wasn't an outgoing wormhole because he wasn't interested in Walter announcing each Chevron as it locked. He wondered if Walter had ever left the control room and, if he had if there was someone else to do his job. He chuckled at the thought, and Teyla stared at him.
"Is something funny, John?"
"I'll let you know later, Sweetie," he whispered in her ear.
The wormhole engaged, and John's heart raced with anticipation. As the children emerged from the wormhole, he couldn't contain his joy. He hobbled towards them with all the speed he could muster. He would have run if he could.
"Da! Charin yelled when she saw him. Her little legs carried her as fast as they could until she threw her tiny arms around his legs. Torren walked slower and let Charin finish hugging him before he came in for a hug.
"Hey kids, how are you?" John asked with delight.
"It's good to see you again, Dad?" Torren said, and John put his arm around him the best he could on crutches.
His thoughts returned to when he'd first returned to the SGC and had been threatened with a court-martial; he then shuddered when he thought of how Stoodly had tried to poison him. This is precisely what he needed right now- his family's love and acceptance.
"Are you cold, Dad?" Torren asked with concern.
"No, I just really missed you," John replied, his heart swelling with joy and relief. The burden of his past struggles seemed to lift off his shoulders, and he felt happier by the minute.
He looked at Teyla, who now held Halling in her arms. As usual, the baby was fast asleep.
Jasmine was wrapped up in Carson's arms, and he couldn't be happier for his friend.
He looked down at his eldest son and daughter, a sense of hope for a peaceful vacation filling his heart. It was time to get to know his brother again and finally put the past behind him. A future of harmony and understanding beckoned.
TBC…
John and his family are at Dave's house in the following chapter.