Chapter 2: What's wrong with me?

Notes:

TW deliriousness

"Ryder," she heard someone calling her from a distant. Almost like a far off dream. Her head felt fuzzy. And all she wanted to do was to sleep.

That isn't too much to ask, is it?

She heard it a few times again and wanted to open her eyes to ask this person to leave her the hell alone. But no matter how hard she tried her eyes refused to listen to her.

"Amber you need to wake up," her eyes finally shot open. The invisible glue that held them shut was gone. If she wasn't mistaken it was Lexi talking to her. "Come," she grabbed her arm, "Let's go to the med bay."

Lexi stopped, Ryder could see worry filling her features. "Can you stand?"

"Yes," she answered before she thought about it. She bit her lower lip and tried to stand up. Her weak body protested. She needed to hold on to the walls for support. It took a while but they finally made it to the med bay

Ryder fell on one of the beds with a thud.

"I need to run some tests, first, we'll start with some scans. Then I'll put up the IV line. Getting some fluids in you will only do you some good."

"Ryder?" Lexi asked.

Ryder snapped her eyes opened. She must've moaned. "Yeah?" she answered between consciousness and unconsciousness.

"I know this is hard, but we have to figure out what's going on," Lexi said. Ryder tried to keep her eyes open but all she could see was a blurry blue figure. The room stayed out of focus. The blue figure went on, "You need to stay awake. Just until I've done the scans and your IV line is up."

"Just let me sleep," Ryder's weak voice protested. "Just five minutes then…" her voice trailed off as she was starting to lose consciousness again.

"Ryder!" Lexi shouted. "Just try."

Ryder would've sighed if it wasn't so much trouble but instead she just gave a small nod.

While Lexi did the scans Ryder lost so many times consciousness that she lost count.

"Hmm…" Ryder snapped her eyes opened up again and realized Lexi spoke. "This doesn't make sense."

Ryder rubbed her eyes, "Not what you expected?" her voice sounded droopy to her ears.

"The scans show nothing. I'll have to run some other tests," when Lexi saw the disappointed look in Ryder's eyes she added, "You can sleep while I run them."

Lexi's cold hands worked on Ryder to put the IV on. Ryder felt the needle making contact with her skin and soon she could return to restless sleep. Or that's what she thought.

The next few days Ryder's condition only got worse. Lexi ran tests after tests, but she couldn't find out what was going on. As the days went on Ryder got only weaker.

Ryder jerked awake as she felt a needle making contact on her skin. When she looked at her arm she saw Lexi taking blood again. "The last tests didn't give you the answers." It wasn't a question, but an observation.

"No," Lexi answered with a sigh. "I can only treat your symptoms and that isn't enough."

"Well it's a new Galaxy with it comes more unknown illnesses, right?" Ryder tried to lighten the atmosphere.

Lexi gave her a smile that was a mixture between warm and sympathy. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a buss ran over me," Ryder buried her face in her hands. "Maybe even worse."

"What's a bus?" Jaal asked entering the Med Bay.

A smile formed at the sides of Ryder's lips, "I'll tell you later.

"I'll give you two some time," Before she left the room she added, "I can use a break."

"So I buss-" Ryder started but was interrupted by Jaal.

"I don't care what a buss is. There's much more important things to discuss."

"Okay. You're probably right." Ryder understood why Jaal asked when he entered the room, he wondered out loud.

"So…" Jaal tried to start a new conversation but it was too awkward.

"You look uncomfortable," Ryder concluded. "You okay?"

"I'm not the one lying in the med bay."

"Don't worry," Ryder said, "It'll blow over soon." She took Jaal's hand into hers.

Jaal didn't need to say that it wasn't the case they both knew it. Ryder only said that to lighten the mood.

She felt Jaal's bio-electricity and it made her relax. Ryder didn't even know she was tense. After a moment she shifted uncomfortably.

Jaal immediately realized it, "Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"Yeah," she said as a wave of dizziness hit her, "I'm just so damn hot."

"Pathfinder," SAM spoke over the med bay's comm speakers, "I detect a rise in your temperature."

Ryder could see Jaal wanted to ask what that meant but hesitated. Jaal looked even more uncomfortable. "My fever is getting worse," she explained.

"That is correct," SAM confirmed. "I'll let Dr. T'Perro know."

"No. Just wait a bit," Ryder protested. "I'll be okay."

"It will be best if she knows." SAM went on to explain further, "Left untreated it will get worse."

"It will get worse SAM," Ryder said in an irritating tone. "Nothing helps," she murmured and wished SAM didn't hear it but knew it was too good to be true.

Jaal's grip got tighter and somehow gave her the strength she needed, "Fine. Let her know."

"I should go," Jaal stood up from his chair. The chair scraping the floor as Jaal pushed it away. It intensified Ryder's headache. "You should get some rest."

"No," her voice left him in his tracks. "Please. Stay."

There must've been something hidden in her eyes because Jaal kept studying them until he sat back in his chair. "Alright."

Lexi rushed inside the med bay and got the scanner ready. As the scanner did its work Jaal gave Ryder a supporting smile until everyone heard a beep telling them that the scanner did its work.

A worried expression made it's way to Lexi's features as she read the results. "Well, that's not good." She looked at Ryder as the gears turned inside her head, "You should rest. I'll give you something for the fever."

"Lexi is everything alright with Ryder?" Cora asked as she strolled into the med bay. "I got your email."

Lexi looked exhausted but still focused. "The short answer, no."

Cora's gaze fixed on a still form of Ryder sleeping. Her skin looked paler. She looked weak. Something was terribly wrong. "And the long answer?"

Lexi took a deep breath. "I don't know what's wrong with her. There are still some tests that I can do. But…" she stopped. Looking at Ryder. Lexi was worried. "So far there's nothing."

These past few months she saw Lexi being worried when the crew got injured, but nothing like this. That told Cora how grim the situation really was.

Cora struggled to see Lexi's point, "Meaning what?"

"I don't think I can run the right tests here."

"Cora nodded catching up to the point Lexi was making, "I'll tell Kallo to take us to the Nexus."

Cora started to leave the med bay but turned around again, "Is she staying the same?"

"No. She's getting worse," Lexi gave the news that Cora feared. "I tried treating her symptoms but there's nothing I can do for her anymore."

"So you have no idea what's going on?" Cora asked in disbelief. Something was wrong and Lexi must've known something.

"The tests-"

"Screw the tests," Cora said and could immediately see the shocked expression forming on Lexi's features. "What do you think?"

"I think it's a virus. There's signs of one."

Ryder was hot. The blanket too heavy and it was suffocating her. She threw it off and opened her eyes. It was a mistake lights pierced her eyes and she winced, letting out a little groan.

Where am I?

She should get up. Did she oversleep? Her legs felt too heavy to move them to the side. Where did she tell Kallo to go next? Was it Kadara? No Aya should be the one.

She sat up straight but realized it was a big mistake. The edges of her vision got darker and she felt so damn hot. Now was not the time for getting a cold.

Her feet touched the cold floor and immediately it felt like it was on fire, "Ryder!" The voice belonged to Lexi, but what the hell was Lexi doing in her room? "Where are you going!?"

Ryder was confused by Lexi's tone. She sounded alarmed. But why?

"I need to go," Ryder explained though she didn't know why she owed Lexi an explanation. "We're almost at Aya."

"Aya?" Lexi repeated and blinked her eyes a couple of times. Lexi grabbed Ryder's shoulders and forced her to look at her," Ryder what are you talking about? You should get back to bed."

"Bed?" Ryder's furrows borrowed in confusion. There were cotton balls in her mind. She couldn't think straight. "And why the hell are you in my room?" she yelled.

Lexi's alarming features only grew further.

"What's going on?" Jaal ran in. "I heard a commotion."

Lexi ignored him, "Ryder what is the last thing you remember?"

Ryder tried to remember but it was too hard and with it her splitting headache got worse. All she knew was that she needed to get to Aya. It was important, but she couldn't recall why.

"I have to get to Aya." Why didn't they understand? Why did they look at me as if I'm crazy?

She stood up from her bed but she wasn't strong enough and her feet gave out from under her.

Before Ryder knew what happened Lexi was at her side. "Jaal help!" she ordered. "SAM a little help," Lexi directed at SAM.

"Pathfinder you need to listen to Dr. T'Perro," SAM spoke from a speaker.

With the help of Jaal and Lexi Ryder was on the bed again. "Why? I have a job to do."

"That's why Cora is there," Lexi tried to be helpful. "She's standing in for you until you're ready again."

"Ready?" That didn't make sense. "How far are we from Aya?" Ryder asked.

"Ryder…" Lexi held Ryder's hand. "We're not going to Aya. We're going to the Nexus and we're almost there."

"Wh-" Ryder interrupted herself with a fit of coughs. It took a while for her to catch her breath again. "Why? I set the course to Aya."

"You didn't Ryder," Jaal broke the news. He looked scared.

Ryder blinked confusingly. She still had no idea what was going on. "I don't understand."

"You're sick Ryder," Lexi said. "We're going to get you help, okay?"

Ryder frowned until her memories came back to her in a flood. She was still confused but she understood better. "Oh," she didn't know what else to say.

She couldn't sort the line of thoughts. Everything was confusing.

"I can help you relax," SAM suggested.

Ryder laid back and looked at the ceiling then she realized this wasn't her room. "Okay. Thanks, SAM."

A few hours later after Ryder was asleep again and her things were sorted for the Nexus she heard a soft knock.

Lexi immediately knew who it was. "Jaal come in."

"Can we talk?" he sounded worried.

Lexi knew Ryder and Jaal got closer lately. Jaal cared a great deal about Ryder. She turned her chair around, "You want to talk about what happened."

Jaal seemed shocked, "Yes." There was an uncomfortable silence forming between them. "How did you know that?"

"It's my job to know the Tempest crew," she got up to get a datapad. This was the third time that Lexi double checked Ryder's list of symptoms, but she couldn't afford to screw up. Time was of the essence.

"What happened?" Jaal asked the question that was probably swimming in his head for the last couple of hours. "I know she wasn't fine. But that was…" he stopped, and a guilty look took the place of the worried one. "I'm sorry. It's rude to ask. I shouldn't have come."

"Jaal wait," he stopped when Lexi spoke. "Ryder is delirious."

That didn't help at all, it confused him even further. "I...don't know what that means," he admitted.

"I'll explain that to you later. After we get to the Nexus."

"Dr. T'Perro," SAM said before Jaal could say anything further. "We'll be arriving at the Nexus soon."

Jaal almost seemed relief with the news.

"I've informed Dr. Carlyle," SAM continued, "He'll meet us at the docking bay."

"Good," Lexi said as she grabbed a couple of datapads and placed it in her medical bag. "You can stay here while I meet Harry."

Lexi was too busy to see if Jaal nodded or not.

"I don't get it," Lexi said holding her tea with both hands. "Are we missing something?"

After the 10th time Harry told Lexi to take a break she finally agreed. She was exhausted. But she couldn't stop. Ryder was her responsibility.

Ryder is not alright. Far from it. Lexi wasn't even sure if she would survive whatever this was.

"Stop Lexi," Harry said. "No work."

"How can you say that?" Lexi said louder than she should have. "If we don't…" her voice trailed off not being able to voice her thoughts.

"I know," he touched her hand for some form of assurance. "You need to go Lexi."

"Go?" she repeated. "Go where? Ryder needs me." Lexi couldn't believe Harry would ask her to leave.

"The Tempest needs you," he insisted. "Cora can only do so much Pathfinder work on the Nexus. Everyone has a job. Including you."

"Cora came and talk to you," Lexi didn't need to see Harry nodding to know it was the truth. "I can't leave her. She's my responsibility."

"No," Harry said, "The Tempest is your responsibility. That's the job, Lexi."

"We still don't know what's wrong with her."

"We'll figure it out." When Lexi didn't say anything else he continued, "There's nothing else you can do for her here. I'll keep running tests and let you know what I find."

Reluctantly Lexi finally agreed, "Okay."

"I'll take good care of her," Harry promised.

It wasn't the first time Harry or Cora had this talk with Lexi. It has been weeks since they've arrived at the Nexus. More tests with no answers. Ryder was connected to machines. Making life for her somehow easier.

It has really come to this. Lexi thought they could help her sooner, but that was just wishful thinking.

Her twin visited her. Since Asher was still recovering neither she nor Harry thought it was a good idea that he came and see her. But…he was persistent.

Most of his visits Ryder was asleep except for one time. Unfortunately, she was delirious again. Asher didn't need to say anything for Lexi to see it was hard for him. The look in his eyes was enough to show it.

So the next day Lexi said goodbye to an unconscious Ryder and left. She and Harry emailed each other back and forth.

Lexi might've slept difficult before but not working the whole time to find answers on Ryder have left her being more worried than before. She worked until her brain was too tired to focus.

After another sleepless night she checked her messages. She was glad to see one from Harry.

She almost jumped up from her seat of excitement when she read the subject line.

Is that what I think it is?

That was very unlike Lexi. But how could she react differently? Did Harry find the answers they were looking for? Did all the sleepless nights finally paid off?

She opened the attachment and studied the notes Harry sent. It wasn't long before she came to the conclusion that before her eyes were the answers to their questions.

When Ryder woke up she had to blink her eyes a couple of times to get used to the light. She frowned when she saw her brother sitting on a chair next to her bed.

"Hello Amber," she smiled as she recognized SAM's voice in her head. "I've contacted Dr. Carlyle and Dr. T'Perro to let them know you're awake."

Before Ryder could respond through their private channel she heard a chair creak protesting her brother's movements. "Amber," he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, "you're awake."

Ryder was confused. A million questions popped in her head.

Where am I?

What happened?

How did I get here?

Why the hell does Asher looks so worried?

She didn't give voice to any of her questions, at least not now. "Yeah…" she trailed off, not sure what to say. "Shouldn't you still be in bed?"

"Finished physical therapy about an hour ago," he explained. "So I decided to come here."

"You're awake," Lexi said when she stood next to Ryder's bed. "Looks like the cure worked."

"As I said it would," SAM spoke from Lexi's omni-tool. He almost sounded offended, but he couldn't possibly be, could he?

"What happened?" Ryder asked. She had no idea what Lexi talked about.

"What do you remember?" Lexi asked.

Ryder had to think hard. Her memory felt foggy but she did remember bits and pieces. "I was sick," she recalled. "You dragged me to the med bay," she looked at Lexi. "The rest is…very vague."

Lexi nodded as she made some notes on her datapad. "How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I think. A bit dizzy," she said as she sat up straight. She had no problem doing so. "And… I have a headache."

"Hold still," Lexi ordered as she scanned Ryder. "Hmm…" she said as she looked at the results. "Your temperature is normal again. That's great news." Ryder could hear the excitement from Lexi's voice.

"I had a fever?"

"Yes," Lexi confirmed. "At some point, you were even delirious."

"Oh," she said surprised. That would explain why her brother looked worried. She remembered waking up a few times but it almost seemed like a strange dream. "What was wrong with me?"

"Asher," Lexi switched her gaze to him. "Do you mind leaving us alone for a bit? I need to talk to your sister."

"Sure," he left his chair. "I have to get back anyways. See you later Amber."

Ryder greeted him with a nod.

"Lexi you're scaring me. What's up?" Ryder asked when her brother left the room. "Should I be worried?"

"No. According to your vitals," she pointed to a monitor, "you're getting much better. I just thought we should have this conversation in private." Lexi sat on the chair that was abandoned by her brother. "You remember being injected by the Archon?"

"Yeah," Ryder shifted uncomfortably in her bed. She didn't like where this conversation was heading. "It's kind of hard to forget something like that."

"It gave you a virus. A virus that took its toll on your body."

"Wait," Ryder said as she thought this over. "I thought SAM dissolved it. How is that even possible?"

"We're not sure. It took us a long time to figure out what was wrong. But the important thing is you're okay. And you're recovering."

This was supposed to be good news for Ryder. At least in the sense that this disease was over and she could go on with her life. But for Ryder, this was a hard pill to swallow.