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A/N: To - lala (anon) and Barb (anon – chap 21) – Thank you guys for reviewing even if it was anonymous and thank you for commenting.
Well this is the end of the line folks. I hope you enjoyed this fic. I'm sorry I wasn't very good at keeping up with updates. I had a lot of writers block and real life kept me busy. I am planning on a second fic but I've got to finish three fics: Sheppard Reads Romance Novels, Burden and The Zipper Trick. Still working on Dreams Night Sweats btw.
Oh yes while I love, love slash of John/Rodney I won't be going there with this. In this fic or in the continuation fic for this storyline. Just to let you readers know. So thank you all for you support, patience, watches, favs and comments. You are what made this fic continue.
Since people are having issues with the darn link for the picture I made. I put the link in my fanfiction profile. Right below the first two paragraphs. Just cut and paste it. I was going to post this picture at deviant art . com but they would have made a fuss about copyrights or some nonsense. So it is a photo manip of what Rodney looks like at the end of this fic posted at my live journal. I put the Jarudian symbol on him but since its hard to see I put it on the left side in its full form so you can see what it looks like.
… .LV. …
Bound to Happen – Chapter 24
By Lady Valmar
John felt something soft behind his head as he rolled onto his side. No, it wasn't just that. He was lying down…hm…on a mattress? He opened one eye then the next. It didn't make sense. Wasn't he just on the Daedulus?
Oh god Rodney. Where was Rodney? He had to find him. John pushed himself up only to have a hand gently pressing him back on the bed. "Take it easy."
"Rodney?"
"No…I'm Patta. Okay we're going to take this nice and slow. First off, are you feeling nauseated? Or any pain?"
John's brows wrinkled. Who was Patta? "Where the hell am I? Who are you? Where's Rodney?" John snapped and heard a pair of feet clanking against the floor.
"Dr. Beckett told me to keep an eye on you so that's what I'm doing Colonel. Now are you feeling any pain?"
John shook his head. "Look where is Rodney?"
He heard the woman sigh. "I can't say…"
That's it he'd had it with this nurse and the question routines. "I don't give a damn. Now where is he?"
"Sheppard?" John heard Teyla's voice say. "It's alright I can take it from here."
He was almost relieved that it was Teyla. "Teyla?"
"Yes, John I'm here," she said and put her hand on his own. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine just have a pounding headache. I've been trying to ask nurse whatever her name was about Rodney but she wouldn't tell me," John said slightly exasperated. His eyesight was getting better and he slowly sat up.
He rubbed his eyes a few times and blinked a lot before he could focus clearly on Teyla, her expression was discouraging. "What is it?"
Her eyes lowered. "He…"
"Teyla?"
"Carson is working on him right now."
John looked around the infirmary before letting his eyes drift back to hers. This wasn't good. "Well is he going to be okay?"
Teyla shook her head. "He says using the retrovirus might kill Rodney."
"WHAT?" John said and immediately regretted the sound of his own voice because it made his headache worse.
"I...we all thought it would be better if you didn't know until Carson was done but…?"
John took a deep breath. "I want to see him."
Teyla looked worried but he refused to change his mind and in the end she helped him to his feet. When he was sure that the effects of whatever Ronon's stun gun had done to him was over, she led him to an adjacent area of the infirmary.
"Let me guess I was given something," John said realizing there was a bandaide in the crook of his arm.
She nodded. "When you woke up last, you tried to get up to go to Rodney but Dr. Beckett said he thought it would be better if you rested more so he gave you something."
John rolled his eyes. "Doctors."
"It was only to help you. He said that we will have to give it time for him," Teyla said and put a hand on John's shoulder.
What he came upon was Ronon completely passed out on an infirmary bed, Elizabeth leaning against her arm in a chair, almost asleep, Radek typing on a laptop and a plastic makeshift room where inside Carson and a nurse we're monitoring vitals and talking.
Radek looked up nodded and went back to his typing. John returned to look at Rodney.
There he was center stage, hooked up to all sorts of monitors and machines. He looked like death and John was shocked to see that some of the Wraith transformations had been changed back to human looking skin. For the most part Rodney looked like he was going to make it but the worried expressions on both Carson's face and Dr. Biro's made him nervous.
"Is he…?"
Teyla nodded. "So far he seems to be okay but I haven't been able to ask."
John nodded and when he finally took some time to really look around he saw the guards. They had passed two at the door, but he'd figured that it was only a precaution. Now he saw two more guards in the room, armed with stunners on either side of the plastic room.
"John?"
He turned to see Elizabeth standing up and stretching. "Elizabeth."
"I heard the news and I…Carson's doing everything he can. He says he's…"
John nodded. "I know Teyla told me. So…how you convince Caldwell?"
Elizabeth smiled. "I had to remind him that I'm in charge of my people not him. I think he's actually relieved that we took Rodney. I'm surprised that the Wriath didn't follow."
John's eyebrow rose. "I thought the Wraith took care of them."
When he turned to look at Teyla she frowned. "We saw the Wriath hive ship take off into hyper space."
"Figures. I'm guessing we won't be seeing the last of them."
"Well let's just hope that isn't the case," Elizabeth said and she turned back to watch Rodney. "But yes…I think I have to reluctantly agree with you on that."
John took a seat near Ronon's bed. When Teyla finally sat down beside him he said, "You know you'd think I'd be relieved to back in Atlantis."
"I know what you mean," Teyla said and they both traded looks before watching Carson move to point at a monitor near Rodney.
"So have you…?"
"Been briefed?" Elizabeth asked, shaking her hand to get the circulation going.
John couldn't help the smile. "Yes."
"Teyla's told me the basics of it but I would like later on if all of you could explain to me better what happened."
John nodded. "So…does ah…everybody know about Rodney?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I only told Radek because he was insistent but we're keeping this on a need to know basis for the time being."
He sat there for awhile in silence just watching. Then inevitably his thoughts began to roll over the events that had brought him and his team here in this moment in time. It seemed so ridiculous that all that had happened but then after a horrible event you always did feel a little detached after wards at least until it hit you.
And then it did. Like a sucker punch to the stomach John felt nauseated but he refused to say anything. It was just so crazy.
Rodney had to live he just had to. John wasn't inclined to say Rodney and him were best friends but right now if he thought hard enough about Rodney actually dying…it hurt. It really did.
After all they'd been thorough since coming to Atlantis and since they'd gotten to know each other, John knew he'd really have a hard time if Rodney… My god he couldn't even think about it.
He crossed his arms and bit his lip. Then in a whisper he said, "Come on Rodney…you can do this."
Somehow Rodney had to make it because John wasn't sure he could deal with losing him…
It kind of made him feel better to know that maybe he wasn't the only one who was thinking about it too. He felt Teyla's hand in his and he squeezed back, hoping the snarky scientist he knew would beat this. Survive.
Rodney fought hard against the darkness tugging him down. It felt like sludge or cold hands were trying to keep him there but he refused to give up. He was not going to surrender to it.
He had to wake up. He had to make it. He had so many things he needed to do. So many things he always wanted to try. So many words that he had to say. My god…if he didn't make it then how would he ever tell them and do that stuff.
Voices…Rodney could hear voices. They were faint like something was blocking them but he was sure that it was voices. Hm…and he could feel light? It was warm that much he could tell.
"Rodney?"
Okay he could have sworn he'd heard Carson's voice.
"Come on Rodney."
"Carson?" Rodney said but he didn't hear his voice. So he tried again and this time a weak, hiss of a C expelled from him. In return a lot voices hit Rodney's ears and he had to work hard to figure out what they were all so upset about.
That was right. Him. They were upset about him and he was fighting. Rodney remembered it slowly. Like those flashes of memories your suppose to get before you die, he saw a face. It was his sisters. Then slowly Elizabeth's face appeared. Then each of his team mate's.
Yes, he remembered but… Rodney felt a shiver go down his spine. They'd been captured by the natives and then he'd…oh god no… that was why he had to fight now.
He'd been experimented on and… My god! Rodney forced his eyes open and began to struggle. He realized he was in straps.
"Rodney! I don't want to sedate you but you need to calm down. Everything's okay. Your okay. You just need to relax," said Carson's voice.
He thought he heard another voice. Yes…there it was again. Even though his eyesight was clearing there was a bit of fuzziness. So he had a hard time placing Carson until he realized he was looking up.
When his vision finally cleared and things started to make more sense which hadn't taken long. He found himself listening still detached to what was going on around him.
"Colonel you can't come in here yet. No, he isn't…Colonel!" Carson's sharp voice snapped Rodney back a little.
"John?" Rodney asked when familiar black rakish hair and a black shirt passed his bed.
"Oh…god…" John said, his voice sounded odd. Like he was shocked or something.
Rodney tried again to put the disjointed pieces together. The voices, the scene and yes…okay that was Sheppard standing in front of his bed. So where was he? Rodney looked around. It was the infirmary. He was on Atlantis.
He wanted to cry. In fact he could feel a tear rolling down his cheek. He cleared his throat and in a squeaky voice said. "Finally. Home."
"Rodney?"
Well he was in one of those sealed off plastic rooms. So Sheppard wasn't supposed to be in here. And…Carson must have used the retrovirus on him. So…
"John…am I?" Rodney couldn't bear to look down at his arms or anything. "I have to know."
More whispering near his head. He wanted to say something…but he had to hear it from John.
The frown, the worried eyes... It said it all. He was still…a Wraith. He was still this monster. Carson hadn't cured him. "So it didn't work."
Carson stood beside his bed and touched his arm. "It worked but…"
"What?" Rodney snapped feeling angry now. He knew he was probably being a bit unfair but he couldn't' take this suspense.
Thankfully John didn't let the silence hang. "Rodney…you've still got some Wraith er…Wriath dna…well a bit of both in you so…you have…"
"Carson…could you explain?" Rodney said, he wasn't going to take pieced information.
Finally after a few sighs Carson explained. "The retrovirus worked but you still have some characteristics of the Wriath and Wraith. I'm still working on it Rodney but it might take some time."
"So…about…" Rodney lifted his hands and turned them so he could see them. "Thank god."
"Yeah…you can't feed anymore like Wraith…Wriath…"John said, "Whatever. You're human."
"But…"
Thankfully he didn't have to wait; a mirror was handed to him. "Now Rodney…just try to think positive." John said and bit his lip.
Rodney hoped it wasn't as bad as it sounded. He pulled the mirror up but shut his eyes. After all this confusion he needed to get some bearings. He reviewed everything going on around him and once he was sure he was ready for it he opened his eyes.
What greeted him, made him startle. The tentacles were gone but he still had those stupid face pits, his nose resembled a Wraith's and his brow was still Wraith like. Yes, he saw the major features but right now he was concentrating on part by part.
Well his hair was a pale sort of brown but at least it wasn't white and his eyebrows thankfully were there. But my god he had tattoos!
Rodney looked up at John. "Why didn't you say anything?"
John shrugged. "It wasn't high on my list of priorities. Besides it makes you uh…look…"
He gave John a glare. "When the hell did they do this? And why would they waste time like that."
Carson and John traded looks. "Who knows Rodney."
Which made Rodney feel a little more like he was home. He still wasn't done with the inspection yet. He caught sight of the slightly blue inked tattoo on his neck. It was a very familiar symbol.
"He put his symbol on me!" Rodney snapped.
"What?" John leaned in to see what he was fussing about and made an oh when he saw. "I didn't see that. I was too busy worrying about your feeding hand."
Rodney had to roll his eyes for that one. He had to hand it to John though; he was good with the cheering up part at least a little. Which reminded him since he was alive he had a huge list to write up and work through. First things first though.
Rodney peered back into the mirror. His skin had a sort of pale gray sheen over it and it was almost shiny like a Wraith's skin. My god…he could only imagine how worse it must have been before…
When he could find nothing else. Rodney reached up to touch his eyes. They were slightly lavender and his pupils still had traces of the Wraith slits but barely. His eyesight was still improved. He couldn't really get upset about the improvement staying but the color.
"Great…" Rodney said and looked up at Carson with a glare.
"I'm not giving up on it Rodney. It just might take awhile."
"Right in the mean time I'm stuck with lavender eyes. Gee thanks."
John smirked. "Oh come on. You can now get those matching purple pants you always wanted."
Rodney hissed and slowed. His voice… it was almost normal except for the hissing urge that he'd let escape.
"Guess you aren't going to lose the hissing. Snake boy," John said cocking his head.
"Hey…at least I didn't turn into a bug!"
"Yeah well at least I didn't kiss Carson…on the lips!"
Carson flushed and so did Rodney. "Don't antagonize my patient Sheppard. He needs to rest and your not even suppose to be in here."
But when Carson tried to shoo John out, Rodney panicked. "No!"
At the stares he got he explained. "Don't leave…its just…"
"Okay I'll stay. See Carson he doesn't want me to leave."
Carson only shook his head. "You have five minutes and then I'm going to toss you out Sheppard. No antagonizing!"
"Got it."
Rodney looked up at John who had sauntered back over to his bed. When Carson left he looked over his hands next which only had tracery lines where the slits had been. So he could feed…no eat normally and not worry now. Thank god those were gone. His nails were still…long. Rodney guessed the word would be stark but it didn't bother him too much.
He could always cut them and file them down. When he was convinced he was mostly okay something struck him besides his voice. So he pulled the mirror back up and opened his mouth.
Rodney frowned his teeth were…odd. They were back to being mostly white well as white as it could be with the amount of coffee he drank per day but some of his teeth were still pointy. Three teeth on either side of his upper set were pointy and two on his lower set were pointy too. He didn't like it but then he figured he could file those too.
"So you done playing beauty queen?" John drawled.
"I can't believe I still have lavender eyes and that I have tattoos. You should have just told me!"
Again he got a shoulder roll with eyebrow raise from John. Some things were at least back to normal. He still wanted to inspect the rest of his body but that would have to wait till later.
"Uh…so how are you?"
"Okay. Those chest wounds healed when you. Well you know. So you sure you're okay?"
Well he would be but for right now he was stuck with lavender eyes and some annoying features he couldn't wait to lose. The tattoos however…he wasn't sure how to get rid of those.
"Just glad I'm back to being human well…I still have to get rid of the facial features and I'm not sure about the tattoos but yeah I feel good. So do you know how long I'll have to stay in here?"
Just as John had been about to answer, Carson walked in and crossed his arms. "Times up and your to stay until I tell you to Rodney."
Rodney frowned. "That's not fair. At least give me an estimation."
He saw John give him a slight nod before taking off. So first thing on his list. Convince Carson he didn't need to stay in the infirmary…well even though he looked still wraith like didn't mean he had to be bed ridden.
"Sorry Rodney but I'm going to have to disagree on that one."
"Oh come on…"
John lifted his cup of coffee to his mouth and drank deeply. Surrounding him was Elizabeth, Ronon, Teyla and Colonel Caldwell. They were all waiting for the news on Rodney.
He'd been kept in the infirmary for almost a week and a half. Carson worked throughout that time to find a way to get Rodney completely back to normal. They hoped the prognosis was good.
John couldn't wait to see everybody's reaction to the tattoos. Which brought him to… He'd talked with Rodney a little but he'd kept from talking about the Wriath. He didn't see the need to pick a healing wound.
If Rodney wanted to talk he could do it on his own terms. John knew that Rodney had been told he had to see Dr. Heightmeyer but he'd heard little progress was being made on that front.
"So did Monin say whether the Tarren are willing to trade or not?" John asked Elizabeth.
He'd briefed her about his turn of events and listened to the others recounts. Only Rodney remained silent on the matter. He knew Elizabeth wanted Rodney's version but she wasn't going to push him till he was ready to talk.
"Well…their leader…"Elizabeth wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Urok? Said he'd speak to the other tribes but I don't think so John."
"Why not?"
"Because of what happened…and their also a little afraid of us I think."
"That's kind of strange but then I figured they would be stingy."
"Well at least their willing to keep in contact and tell us if any of the Wriath return."
"I guess that's a good thing. Sure could have used some of their technology though."
Elizabeth nodded. "I'm still trying to convince him so maybe it will follow through."
"Maybe. So Rodney…"
"Is right here."
John turned to see Rodney standing in front of the infirmary doors and he was stunned. Rodney was flanked by two guards on either side and he was… He still had those Wraith features?
"What the hell happened?"
Rodney's frown grew bigger. "Carson tried…but the retrovirus couldn't remove all of it…so I'm stuck…looking like this. At least there's one positive. He says I'm almost 100 percent human. And he's still going to work on it."
Teyla smiled. "Welcome back."
Ronon just grunted. "So you still have lavender eyes."
"Ha. Ha. Ronon." Rodney replied.
John wasn't sure whether laugh or drop back in his chair.
"So Elizabeth can I still stay on Jo…Colonel Sheppard's team?
John didn't miss the name change. He had to admit it was a little weird for Rodney to call him by his first name but now that they'd gone back to how it use to be…he kind of felt a little let down and disappointed.
Elizabeth also didn't miss it but said nothing. "Well if Dr. Beckett says your clear for missions then yes but I still want to have someone keep an eye on you…" When Rodney tried to protest she held her hand up. "Hear me out…this is for your safety. After all they did a huge alteration to your body and even with the retrovirus…"
"Okay…" Rodney said. "So guards for awhile?"
"Or me?" Ronon said, standing up and smirking with a glare.
John shook his head. "Elizabeth maybe that's a little much. I'll keep an eye on him okay?"
She looked between them, Ronon and back. "Alright but if either of you notice anything…unusual…"
"What this isn't unusual?" Rodney said, pointing at his face.
Elizabeth smiled. "More so…let me and Dr. Beckett know."
Both of them nodded before she left to talk to Carson. "So anybody want to get some food. I'm starving," Rodney said and then suddenly he slapped his hand against John's chest.
"RODNEY!" John shouted, immediately the guards were trying to pry Rodney off him but they stopped when they heard laughter.
"Got you!" Rodney said, made a little hiss and began walking, still laughing.
"Rodney…" John said in his irritated voice. Glaring at Ronon who was smiling and Teyla.
Ah the good times… John thought and even though there was still a few things like Rodney's change that would take some getting use to or getting more information about the Wriath or even the trade negotiations with the Tarrens it felt like things were getting back to normal.
So just maybe he'd be able to get back to relaxing…hell even surfing sounded good right now.
"Um…Sheppard?" Rodney said.
John looked up to look at him. "Yeah…?"
"Thanks for…being there for me."
John nodded. "Its what team mates…friends are for."
Rodney smiled and then jumped back as John tried to punch his shoulder. "Hey!"
"That's for being stupid!"
"So uh…Teyla and Ronon are headed to the mess hall. Well it was more like Teyla insisted I go. You coming?"
John shrugged. "Sure…can't wait to see the expressions."
He got a classic crinkled eye and shake head for his trouble. "Ha ha Col…"
"Rodney its okay if you stick with John just uh…when we're around my superiors stick with Sheppard."
"Okay…John."
"Meredith."
"Funny."
Together they entered the mess hall and John smiled at the decorations. "Oh I get it now. Teyla?"
"It was Elizabeth's idea," Teyla said smiling.
It wasn't too decorated but the balloons, some streamers and the few people who had party hats made it feel a little festive.
"But what's to celebrate? We have another enemy. We didn't get any technology and I look like a monster." Rodney said.
"No, you don't Rodney," John said about to slap Rodney's head but instead he just gave Rodney a manly pat to his shoulder.
"Survival of the fittest," Elizabeth said approaching and handed John and Rodney a glass of wine. "Would you do the honors, John?"
John stared at the glass. Rodney was kind of right. This was really not the time for a celebration but everybody seemed a little lighter hearted because it. Maybe it was a good idea.
So he thought for a moment before he spoke. "To Rodney. To my team." He nodded at Rodney and then Teyla and Ronon. "To Elizabeth." They traded smiles. "To Atlantis." He looked around the room. "And to whatever you want to toast to."
Someone shouted underwear. Another shouted boobs. One shouted Meredith. Everybody laughed at that before they said cheers and drank.
"So where's the cake?"
"Rodney!"
"John."
