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THIRTY-EIGHT MINUTES - RED

Somewhere far beneath
Your pointed tongue and teeth
Is where you really are…

~Aqualung, 'Pressure Suit'

He remained locked in place after Sheppard had been rushed away, sight obscured by memories of redness. The slick, slippery curve of Sheppard's neck, bright with blood as he yelled in pain, that sickening black insect squirming at his jugular.

I wasn't prepared for this.

Universes distant now from theory and statistics, nightmare visions forming of teammates broken, gutted, bleeding out across the floor…

We're too fragile.

"Rodney?"

He slowly comprehended Zelenka's concerned voice. Questioning.

"Yes. Ok. We need to fix – "

"Are you alright?"

"Me?" He laughed brusquely. "I'm fine. I'm not the one whose heart stopped."

Not Yet.