231Author's Note: I would like to thank my beta reader, Nika Dixon, for her guidance and her quick review of this chapter despite having much of her own writing to do. Any mistakes here are purely my own. And apologies for the delay in posting this chapter, blame the word thief who made it virtually impossible for me to revise the draft into something I was happy to publish. Thanks to him it's taken a week longer than planned and numerous attempts at revising this. At last I think it is ready for the world to see.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Stargate Atlantis or the characters. The only thing that is mine are any original thoughts or characters that you may find here.
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to leave a review. If you haven't left a review yet then, please do. It's easy. All comments are welcome and I will reply. Now on with the adventure.
Chapter 37 - Epilogue
Weir entered the infirmary to find Rodney head down and pacing, the exhaustion showing in the slump of his shoulders. He stopped and looked up when he heard her approach not bothering to hide the worry for his friend that was evident on his face. She wanted to ask him what had happened to them, why they had been unable to use the time machine to return to their own time. But those questions could wait. They didn't matter. Not now that she had them back.
"Any news?" asked Weir.
Rodney shook his head. "No." His eyes drifted over to where a blood stained bandage lay on the floor alongside the remains of a uniform. "Beckett rushed him into surgery…something about internal bleeding. I shouldn't-"
"And Ronon?" interrupted Weir as her gaze followed his.
"In surgery too. Keller says he'll be fine despite his leg being cut up pretty bad." Rodney began pacing again.
Weir understood his apprehension, felt it herself. She knew she should try to calm him but her mind drifted back to the image of him stepping through the gate, so obviously hurting yet still trying to make light of it. She felt like crying as she let herself drop into the waiting room chair. Tears of joy for he was back. And tears of anguish for she might lose him yet.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a hand placed on her shoulder. Looking up she saw Teyla watching her with concern. She wanted to say that she was fine but she didn't feel find and doubted that she could fool Teyla of all people. Behind Teyla she spotted Lorne. She suspected he was another one that was aware of the depth of her feelings towards Sheppard. She was grateful for his support over the last two months. She knew it had not been easy stepping into his CO's position especially when the IOA had been keen to replace Sheppard once they had learned of his absence. It was only her negotiating skills with the aid of Caldwell that had seen the replacement decision being deferred for now.
"Any word?" asked Lorne.
Weir shook her head not trusting her voice. Teyla sat down next to her, letting her hand slide down onto her arm.
"Dr Beckett is a good doctor. He will do everything that he can."
"I know he is Teyla." replied Weir.
Dr Keller opened the doors leading out from the operating room and saw the group of faces that looked towards her expectantly. She sighed. No doubt they wanted news of Sheppard's condition and she knew no more than they did. She took a deep breath and walked over to them. Weir rose from her chair and Teyla followed suit keeping her hand on Weir's arm, a gentle reminder that whatever news they received, she was not alone.
"How is he?" asked Weir.
"Ronon's surgery went well. The nurses are moving him to the Recovery area. Once he's settled you can see him in if you like."
"And the Colonel?" asked Rodney.
Keller turned to face Rodney taking in his appearance properly for the first time. "Dr Beckett is still operating. Colonel Sheppard's injuries are serious. Sorry I can't say any more at the moment." replied Keller. "You should get some rest, Rodney. You look exhausted."
"I'm not leaving." replied Rodney.
"We will keep an eye on him." added Teyla.
Keller sighed and nodded, realizing that no-one was going anywhere until they had news from Beckett. "I'll order some coffee and food to be brought down. It could be a long wait."
"Thank you." replied Weir sinking back down into her chair. She stood again when she saw Nurse Davies enter the waiting area heading in their direction a few minutes later.
"Sorry, there's no more news on the Colonel yet but you can visit Ronon now if you like. He's still a little groggy from the anaesthetic."
Nurse Davies led them through to where Ronon lay and left them. Weir moved up to the head of the bed and looked down at the big man whose eyes were closed noting how young he looked and how gentle. She had been unsure of him when Sheppard had first suggested that Ronon be allowed to join his team. Now she was glad that she had allowed him to. He had proven to be very loyal and very protective, especially where Sheppard was concerned. She had no doubt that he would sacrifice himself to protect Atlantis and especially Sheppard.
Teyla moved up to the head of the bed on the opposite side and studied the man before her. The man she had missed over the last two months. His face was clean now and she could see the minor cuts and bruises that the layer of dirt had hidden from them. She reached out to touch him as if not believing he was really back. "Ronon?"
Ronon slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the bright lights of the infirmary. "Hey."
Teyla and Weir both smiled at his typically brief response.
"Hey back." replied Weir.
"How's Sheppard?" asked Ronon.
"Still in surgery. He should've been out by now." replied Rodney from his position at the foot of the bed.
Teyla gave Rodney her warning glare but he was looking down at his hands buried in his own misery. She looked across at Weir to see her eyes closed her arms crossed in front of her protectively. "I am sure that Doctor Beckett is just being thorough." Looking down at Ronon she could see the drugs re-asserting themselves as he drifted back off to sleep. "Ronon is asleep. We should let him rest."
Lorne handed Weir a cup of coffee before nodding his head in Rodney's direction. "Wouldn't he be more comfortable sleeping in one of the beds?"
"Thanks, probably." replied Weir raising the cup to her lips. She stopped and handed the cup to Teyla when she saw an exhausted Beckett approaching and stood to meet the news, good or bad. "Carson, how is he?"
"He's holding his own. I'll not lie to you, Elizabeth, he got banged up pretty good this time."
Rodney stirred at the sound of voices, scrambling to his feet alongside Weir when he noticed Beckett.
"Just tell me the details. How bad is it?" asked Weir.
Teyla moved closer and placed a hand on Weir's arm, noticing that Lorne had moved closer on her other side. Whatever the news, Teyla knew that Weir would receive support from her friends. That at least some people were aware of just how much Colonel Sheppard had come to mean to her. She spared a glance for Rodney, lost in his own emotions and unaware of anyone else at the moment.
"His spleen was ruptured. We managed to stop the bleeding and save the organ." He paused in his report when he saw Elizabeth was barely in control of her emotions.
Weir closed her eyes for a moment before looking at Beckett again. "Keep going."
"There was a nasty piece of shrapnel in his right thigh, there appears to be no nerve damage so it should heal nicely. His collar bone and scapula are both broken as are four ribs. Luckily they didn't puncture his lung. I'm more concerned about his head injury at the moment or more precisely head injuries. It looks like he has taken two serious blows to the head, one at the front and one at the back. The one to the back caused a small fracture and there is some fluid build-up." Beckett reached out to support Weir when she looked like she was about to collapse and guided her back to her chair. "We'll monitor him and if the pressure increases we'll go in and release it but it might not come to that."
"From the story Rodney told he's lucky to be alive." stated Lorne.
"I'd agree. His injuries are serious but he's a fighter. I'm sure he will be okay." replied Beckett.
"Can we see him?" asked Rodney.
"Aye. He's not conscious but you can all see him for a few minutes then I want you all to get some rest."
Rodney moved towards the Recovery area stopping when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to see Teyla. "What?"
"Give her a moment, Rodney." She noticed the puzzled expression on his face. Obviously he is not aware of Elizabeth's feelings for John. "This has been a most stressful time for Doctor Weir. She has had to make several difficult decisions. You must understand we did not know whether we would see any of you again. Once Doctor Zelenka worked out that we could not pull you back from the future with the device, Major Lorne volunteered to carry a message to you so that you could reverse the device. We did not know if the forces from the device had killed all of you or not. Doctor Weir thought it was too great a risk and did not want to lose any more lives. It was not easy for her to make that choice as it was not easy for her to decide it was time to hold a memorial service."
"You held a memorial service for us? Was it nice? What did people say about me?"
Teyla smiled at that. "Yes. It was and everyone spoke fondly of you as they did the others. Everyone from Atlantis attended as did my people. Doctor Weir thought it was important for everyone to accept what had happened and to move on but I do not think she had truly given up hope of your return until this morning. Your sudden return though much desired has re-opened any doubts that she may have had about the decisions that she has made. We must show her our support and give her the time that she needs."
"Of course."
Weir studied the man in the bed before her, taking in the dark bruising on his face. The undamaged skin was as pale as the white bandage on his temple. She moved to the top of the bed noticing that his left arm was strapped to his chest to immobilize it. She returned her attention back to his face and wished that she could see his hazel eyes. Then maybe she could truly believe that he would be fine. At the moment he looked so vulnerable, so fragile, so unlike the man she knew.
She took his free hand in hers, needing proof that he was real and not another one of her dreams where he had returned only to find out that he was a ghost. She wondered when it was that she had fallen in love with the man before her and found she couldn't pinpoint a single moment. Rather she recalled his many actions that demonstrated his care for those he was responsible for and the passion that drove those actions. His confidence and belief in her had shown itself too after a rocky start. She had come to rely on his support and his ability to lighten her mood whenever things, like the ever present threat of death and destruction, got her down. She didn't know how he could remain light hearted in such circumstances but she was glad that he could.
She could feel the tears building as her emotions from the last two months threatened to overwhelm her. Earlier today she had been ready to accept that he was not going to return and now here he was but still with a cloud hanging over him. She knew without the need for Carson to tell her that his head injury was serious.
Her thoughts were interrupted and she quickly wiped the moisture from her eye as she heard the footsteps of the others approaching.
Teyla joined her, noticing the moisture in her eyes. "He is strong, Dr Weir. He will recover."
Weir nodded. She knew that he had come back from previous serious injuries and wanted to believe that he would come back from this as well. She looked across at Rodney as he stood on the other side of the bed looking down at his best friend. She knew he was blaming himself. While they had waited for news, Rodney had filled her in on what had happened to them. He blamed himself for not working out what the device was before Sheppard accidentally triggered it. He blamed himself for not noticing the difference in time on his laptop from that of the device sooner so that he would've had the time to work out how to reverse it before the Wraith had shown up. "It's not your fault, Rodney."
Rodney looked across at her, wanting to agree but not able to let go of his guilt. He opened his mouth to tell her how wrong she was. That he shouldn't have been so eager to go to the planet. He should've waited until they had retrieved all of the information from PX3-M37 then he would have known what the device was and stayed well clear of it or at least kept Sheppard clear from anything that remotely resembled a trigger.
Beckett joined the group around Sheppard's bed interrupting anything the scientist was about to say. "It's time for you lot to get some rest." Beckett looked from his patient to Rodney, aware that the man was exhausted. "And no sneaking back here with your laptop, Rodney or I'll put you in the next bed and sedate you."
Teyla smiled at Carson's threat. She had no doubts that he would carry it out. McKay nodded taking one more look at his friend before turning to leave. "Call me-".
"Aye, don't worry I will." replied Beckett moving in to take Rodney's place beside his patient and starting his checks. He looked up when Weir remained where she was still holding Sheppard's hand in hers.
"You should get some rest as well, Elizabeth."
"I'd like to stay for a little while longer."
"Okay lass, I know how much you have missed him but only a little longer mind."
"Thank you, Carson."
Beckett completed his checks and wrote the results down on Sheppard's chart before leaving Weir to her solitary vigil. He decided he would give her ten minutes more and then he would threaten her in the same way he had threatened McKay. She may not have been missing off-world for two months but she had endured many sleepless nights during that time and needed sleep just as badly as McKay did.
Weir waited until Beckett left before cupping Sheppard's bruised cheek with her palm."I'm glad you're back, John. I've missed you."
Next morning Rodney sat in the chair by the head of Sheppard's bed tapping away on his laptop as he read his way through science reports from the two months that he had been missing. Reports mostly of the work that had been done to understand the device and how it worked all with the purpose of working out how to bring the missing team members back. It was both heartwarming and depressing at the same time. He was sure that if he'd been the one doing the research that he would've managed to solve the matter.
"It could be a while before he regains consciousness, Rodney." said Beckett as he entered the cubicle to check on his patient.
"I know, you said that last night." Rodney watched as Beckett checked Sheppard's eyes again. "Is he…Is he going to be himself. I mean isn't there a danger that with multiple head injuries of …" Rodney stopped unable to ask the question he was thinking in case he got the answer that he didn't want to hear.
"Brain damage? Aye there is but he recognized Elizabeth before he passed out. That's a good sign and the brain bleed has stopped but I'll know more when he regains consciousness."
Rodney was asleep in the chair beside Sheppard's bed when Weir entered, his laptop forgotten and in danger of crashing to the floor as it sat on his lap at a precarious angle. She approached him quietly and rescued the laptop leaving him to sleep as she moved over to the head of Sheppard's bed. It was two days since he'd returned to her. Two days since she had last heard his voice. Two days of sharing the bedside vigil with the others that cared for him while they waited for him to regain consciousness.
She leaned in close."It's time to wake up, John. You're friends are anxious to see that you're alright. So am I." She brushed his unruly hair away from his face smiling as it disobeyed and fell back into its usual mess. She was glad to see that his face held a little more colour than it had two days ago, a sign that he was gradually improving. Beckett had told her that the fluid building-up on his brain had stopped and there would be no need to operate but he could still give no indication of when Sheppard was likely to regain consciousness.
She reached out and took his hand into hers as she had each time she visited him since his return. She wished she could spend all her time by his side but her duties kept her away more than she would like and she took some comfort knowing that one of his team was always by his side when she couldn't be.
She thought back to the first day that she had met him and remembered the awe she had felt at stumbling across someone with so much control over the ATA gene. She also remembered her frustration when he hadn't immediately accepted her offer of joining the expedition. Since then she had had several occasions where she rued his independent nature and many times when she was grateful for it. She understood now that it stemmed from his strong need to protect those he felt responsible for and especially those he cared about. A need that frequently placed him in danger and all too often in the infirmary. "You have to stop scaring me like this, John."
She tightened her grip on his hand as she remembered his many trips to the infirmary. This time she felt his fingers move against hers and looked back to his face. He moved his head slightly, groaning as he did so.
"Carson! It's John, he's waking." shouted Weir not wanting to let go of his hand.
Rodney shot upright in his chair at the sound of Weir's voice. "Huh?"
"He's waking, Rodney."
Sheppard slowly opened his eyes, blinking at the harsh lights.
"Welcome back, John." Weir gave his hand a gentle squeeze and watched as his eyes slowly turned towards her. His eyes looked glassy and she suspected he was seeing double. "You're in the infirmary. You're going to be alright."
"No thanks to me." stated Rodney as he moved closer to the bed "You had us all worried when you crashed in the Dart."
Sheppard slowly swivelled his attention to Rodney. Weir was concerned that he hadn't said anything yet. She looked towards Rodney and saw the look of worry on his face as well.
"I'm...um...Sorry that I got us into that mess and I'm sorry that I got you hurt." admitted Rodney.
Sheppard continued to look at Rodney, his eyes half shut against the light. "It…wasn't your…fault, Rodney."
Carson entered the cubicle to see his patient awake and smiled. "Glad to have you back, lad." Carson took his penlight from his pocket and checked Sheppard's eyes getting a growl of complaint from him. "I'll give you something for the headache and your other aches and pains in a moment but I just need to check that everything is working first. Do you remember what happened?"
"Time…machine." replied Sheppard his voice barely more than a whisper. "Wraith."
Carson gave him a smile. "Well it looks like you have all of your faculties." He turned to the IV tube and inserted the syringe. "This will make you drowsy so try to get some sleep."
"Ronon?" asked Sheppard.
"He's fine. He'll be released in the morning. You on the other hand will be with us for several more days, I'm afraid." replied Beckett.
"And you had better behave this time." added Weir.
Sheppard turned his attention back to Weir, glad to have the chance to see her again. "Don't…I…always."
Carson noticed where Sheppard was looking and grabbed Rodney's arm pulling him away from the couple. "Come on Rodney. Time you got some rest of your own. In your own room for a change. You can come back tomorrow."
"But.."
"No buts. Just go or I'll bring out the big needle."
"Fine. I'm going."
Carson smiled as McKay made a rapid exit. The big needle threat always seemed to work. He looked back and saw Sheppard's eyes slowly close as the drugs kicked in. Weir leant over him and kissed him on the cheek before turning to leave. She saw Carson watching her and blushed slightly before making her own exit from the infirmary.
Their Return + 2 weeks (or so)
Weir entered Sheppard's cubicle to find Beckett with him. He looked much better than he had when he'd first returned through the gate but she knew he was far from well. "How's our reluctant patient doing today?"
"He's ready to be released." replied Sheppard.
Weir smiled at his impatience. His complaints although annoying were another indication that he was well on the way to recovery. So was the fact that he had already made two escape attempts. He hadn't even made it out of the infirmary the first time before being caught by Beckett and given a solid telling off by the irate Scotsman about the risks of tearing stitches or falling and hitting his head again whilst still recovering from a fractured skull. That warning had lasted for a few days until the second attempt which had been thwarted by Ronon and came with the threat of many heavy training sessions with no-holds barred if a third attempt to escape was made. She was glad to note that there had been no third attempt.
"And just when did you get your medical degree?" asked Carson "I'll be the one deciding when you are ready to leave." He dragged his penlight from his pocket and flashed it into the Colonel's left eye.
"My head's fine."
"So you say. But I know what you're like so you won't mind if I check it for myself."
Carson completed his checks. "Okay, Colonel. I'm releasing you but you're off duty until I say otherwise. I don't want you doing even light duties for a few more days."
"I'll make sure he behaves." added Weir. She waited for him outside the cubicle while Sheppard changed into his track-pants and a t-shirt.
"Are you making sure I go straight to my room?" asked Sheppard when he limped from the cubicle to find Weir waiting for him. "I don't need a baby-sitter."
"Yes I am. I've missed you. I thought we could watch a movie together." replied Weir "I've got pop-corn."
"Pop-corn? Great, lead on. What's the movie? Please tell me it's not a chick flick?"
"Would it be so bad if it was?" asked Weir.
Sheppard groaned. "Great. It's a chick flick."
Weir laughed. "It's The Peacemaker."
The End
A/N 1: Before I get into the speeches I have some housekeeping that needs to be taken care of. Firstly, I apologise for any scientific or medical errors as neither of these are my specialty and you can only learn so much from books and the internet. Secondly, the scientist mentioned by Radek, Frank Tipfler is a real scientist and his theory is real and generally accepted as a plausible method to achieve time travel. Not sure I'd like to be the first human to try it though given the risk of being crushed to death in the process. Sheppard got off lightly only being thrown against the wall. Anyway for those interested in the idea and don't want to read a book that is heavy on equations and hard core physics, I suggest you read Breaking the Time Barrier by Jenny Randles.
A/N 2:Thirdly, how many of you spotted the clues along the way? The torch that mysteriously turned up from the jumper, the change in seasons, the black hole reference by Radek earlier on in the story. The title. They were not only running out of time, they were removed from time – for two months they did not exist in the Pegasus galaxy or anywhere else. Please drop a final review and let me know what you thought of the story. I'd love to hear from you.
A/N 3: For those that took the time to post a review you have my thanks. Thanks also to those that put this story on their alert list or in their favourites. I hope you have enjoyed the ride as much as I enjoyed writing it. I originally wrote a short draft of this story last year and have spent the last few months working on refining it and adding some sub-plots. I doubt that it would've been completed without the positive feedback from you the readers. So please take a bow. I'd also like to thank my ever patient beta, Nika Dixon who had to endure reading the raw chapters. They are much improved thanks to her feedback. Any mistakes that have made it through are wholly mine and mine alone.
I have a sequel for this story in mind but it is only in draft form at present. It promises to be somewhat shorter but for those who like Shep/Weir there will be further development of their relationship. There are a couple of other ideas under development as well so if you wish to give any of my future stories a shot then please register for an author alert or visit my blog available through my profile page. I'd love to have you along for the ride. And to Shepsgirl72, she was the winner of the challenge so keep an eye out for Emma Bradshaw, her alter ego in an upcoming story.