x_erikah_x | FIC: Devil Inside

DEVIL INSIDE By ErikaHK

Title: Devil Inside - Ch. 8/14

Word count: 1.740
Rating: PG
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Elizabeth Weir, Teyla Emmagan, Ronon Dex, Carson Beckett
Genre: Drama, Angst, H/C, Suspense, Gen
Disclaimer: Stargate and all related characters are the property of MGM Television Entertainment. Not done for profit, just for fun.

Summary: A mysterious entity takes over the bodies of the members of the Atlantis Expedition. Season 3 pre-Sunday. No spoilers.

Special thanks to my beta lauriel01 !

Chapter 8

John heard Rodney’s shouts, but through the agonizing breaths couldn’t find the opportunity to respond. His heart was rapid and his chest felt like it was being constricted. The sharp pain didn’t ease up and the simple task of keeping the air flowing was an ever growing anguish. Dark red stained his jacket and vest on his back where he assumed the exit wound was located, and on his chest. The blood kept flowing through his trembling fingers and on the floor beside him a puddle was forming.

He knew he was bleeding internally too. He had coughing fits from time to time that only made his throat tighter and his body weaker. He felt like he was drowning in his own blood and the rapid pulse of his heart gave away that he didn’t have too long before he bled to death. Black spots covered his vision as he tried to bring air to his lungs but failed.

Minutes passed without him being able to move. All he could do was to fight for his life; try to stay conscious and try to breathe until he was found.

…

Rodney ran along with the med team with the life signs detector in his hand, guiding them towards Sheppard’s location. Following them was a group of marines, called to secure the alien entity within Teyla, and Ronon soon joined them.

As soon as they entered the room the medical team rushed to tend the downed Colonel and the ten marines secured the knocked out woman. Rodney froze in the corner and stared at the pool of blood under his pale friend, feeling his own blood slow.

“Take her to a cell and leave the force field on.” Ronon ordered the marine in charge of Teyla.

Carson kneeled beside the pilot touching his chest gently. Sheppard opened his eyes weakly, moaning. Rodney couldn’t help but notice his paleness, his clammy skin and the blood coming out from the corner of his mouth. The doctor put the stethoscope to his ears then placed it on the chest of the pilot, already freed of the jacket and vest by a nurse while the others worked on taking vitals with speedy accuracy. He couldn’t understand how the voodoo that Carson called medicine worked, but he admired their professionalism and ability in an emergency situation.

“We have an open hemothorax. I want two saline IVs wide open stat.” Carson’s voice was thick with the accent. “I want a tube ready when we arrive.”

“Pulse is 130, BP is 50/30.” The nurse reported.

Several pair of hands covered Sheppard’s body, each performing a different task. The pilot was put in the gurney and the med team hurried out of the room shouting stats and commands leaving Rodney and Ronon to follow helplessly.

…

One hour had passed and Rodney continued to pace outside the infirmary with his hands tightly together playing with his fingers. He paused from time to time and looked at the door impatiently.

“They have been there for too long. What’s going on inside?” He turned to the woman behind him.

“They are doing their best, Rodney.” Elizabeth stood with arms across her chest looking equally worried. “Why don’t you sit down?” She indicated a seat beside her.

He couldn’t stand still. Rodney resumed his hurried pacing, biting his fingernails. How could he be so reckless? It was his fault that the creature was released and now Sheppard was dying because of it.

“What if he dies? I’m responsible for killing my own friend!” Rodney directed pleading eyes to Elizabeth, his voice sharpened by doubt.

“He’s not gonna die!” Ronon spoke in angry grunts. “Stop pacing!” His eyes shot lasers at Rodney.

Rodney saw the fierce look on the runner and decided it would be best not to upset him. He halted and went sulking to a corner. The waiting was always the worst part. Rodney wasn’t the friendliest person. He was actually the opposite, but after all they went through the last few years he really developed important bonds with every member of the senior staff. Being part of a group was something that made him proud. It had never happened to him before and John Sheppard was one of the closest friends he had on Atlantis. He couldn’t die.

Another hour passed until the door of the OR opened revealing the Scot still in surgical scrubs. He removed the mask and cap sitting tiredly on the vacant chair. All eyes fixed on him.

“We were able to stabilize him. The bullet penetrated his right lung causing it to collapse almost completely and he lost a lot of blood. We sewed his injuries, placed a chest tube to remove the air and blood from his pleura and are replenishing the loss of fluids.” Gentle blue eyes gazed back at the worried expressions.

“Is going to make it?” Rodney asked on a fragile voice.

“Yes, it will take a few weeks for his lung to re-inflate completely, but he’ll make it. He’s a tough lad.” His frown turned into a faint smile.

“Can we see him?” Elizabeth asked.

“Shortly. He’s taking a chest X-Ray now then he’ll be set into the ICU. I’ll call when he’s ready.” The doctor got up and headed back into the infirmary leaving the rest staring at each other in concern.

Rodney sat down at the seat previously occupied by the physician and put his face to his hands. It was happening again. Sitting and waiting for a medical report on Sheppard’s condition wasn’t new to him. It first happened when the jumper got stuck on the stargate while Sheppard had a giant bug attached to his neck. Then again when he was infected with the wraith retrovirus and almost turned into a giant bug himself.

That’s what happens when your best friend is a damn space hero and smart ass. He gets to your nerves on a daily basis, gets all the attention by putting himself in harm’s way to save the day and then Rodney is the one to feel bad for releasing the alien creature and getting his blood pressure to rise like a rocket.

“If he survives this,” he raised a finger “I’m gonna kill him!” Rodney said angry.

He heard a faint chuckle coming from Elizabeth. “He sure knows how to get us worried.” She sat down running her hand down her hair. “We’re…” She stared at the floor. “We’re getting too used to this.” She said in a low voice. “Aren’t we?”

He just gave an angry puff at that remark. He hated the fact that what she said was very true. He knew all the steps already. First scared, then worried, going to angry, then sorry, until they finally laughed about it and left it behind.

Elizabeth continued. “I know this is a dangerous job, but…” There was a pause. “We always manage to make it through. If some day that doesn’t happen… if our luck runs out…”

“It will.” Rodney said bluntly. He raised his head and saw the gazes over him. “I mean, some day… you know, we won’t be lucky anymore.” That was the cold reality as he saw it and to believe otherwise was stupid. They had to face the fact that the world is not made of infinite gardens of daisies. The universe is a dangerous place and they were out here all by themselves. He just wished the day hasn’t come.

Soon the door opened again and Carson gestured them in. Rodney followed behind the others, hesitating before stepping into the ICU. When he did, the sensation of helplessness took over him. Sheppard was whiter than the sheet covering his body and lay still horizontally on the bed with all kinds of tubes coming out of him. One was inserted through the mouth and down his throat connected to the ventilator, there was a group inserted in his neck carrying a clear liquid in two and blood in the other. Another one was connecting his chest to a bag of liquid stained with blood, a tube came from his wrist and a final one was collecting urine. The place was completely silent except for the constant beeping of the heart monitor and the bag of the ventilator.

Rodney approached the pilot with apprehension, afraid that a breath released too hard would damage him further. He stopped beside the bed with his gaze fixed on broken body. It was so close. They almost lost him. Again.

Elizabeth stood at the opposite side of the bed and touched Sheppard’s hand gently. Her fingers traveled over his skin from wrist to fingers and locked with his. She gave a faint smile. He imagined that she felt comforted with finally being with him. He disagreed. He though it was very unsettling.

Ronon stayed at the end of the bed. His eyes never left Sheppard and he looked angry, probably thinking of a way to kill the entity that caused this. That was the hard issue. They couldn’t kill it. It was in Teyla’s body and they still had no idea what to do with it. Rodney imagined that, most of all, it was this fact that made the Satedan angrier.

Rodney hated hospitals and the ICU specially. It was a scary, uncomfortable place, filled with grief, smells and sounds that only reminded him of the fragility of the human body. Voices were rarely heard and when a sound was uttered it always came as a whisper. People walked slowly, dragging their heavy bodies in a semi zombie state waiting for any news of recovery of their loved ones. He only went to such a place once in his life and it was more than enough. He avoided it since his father had died, but now on Atlantis it seemed like they couldn’t escape from it. Even Rodney himself had already been in that bed.

It seemed that no time had passed when Carson came back to drag them out of the infirmary. No one protested. Elizabeth went to continue her translations to find out how the ancients dealt with the entity ten thousand years ago. Ronon went to the brig to try to intimidate the creature, and all Rodney could think off was going to the mess hall to have some lunch and grab a cup of coffee. He would continue with the decryption after that.

…

TBC...