Hunger Strike - Part 3/? Beckett/Cadman darkfic
Title: Hunger Strike, (Part 3/?)
Author: Shelby (gateruner)
E-mail: gateruner2000 at yahoo.com
Feedback: yes, please!
Archive: LJ, my website. Any place else, just ask.
Category: Beckett/Cadman, Angst, Drama, WIP
Rating: pushing a R for this chapter, will turn NC-17
Spoilers: Up to the ending of S3, EXCEPT that “Sunday” didn’t happen! No, no way, no how.
Summary: Laura Cadman is abducted off-world and rescued, but her nightmare has only begun as she starts to remember exactly what happened to her and what evil plans the Wraith have in store for humanity.
Warnings: This is darkfic people. Beware! If you don’t want the angst, don’t read on.
Disclaimer: They aren’t mine, I don’t own them, don’t make any money from them, just playing, honest.
Special Notes: There is episode dialog in this chapter - 3.02 "Misbegotten"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hunger Strike
Part 3
“Michael?” Colonel Sheppard eyed Teyla as she circled the conference table. The situation had just gone from bad to worse. What the hell did Michael have to do with all of this?
“I told you we should have killed him. It was a bad idea from the beginning.” Ronon added.
“And you are sure Lt. Cadman was talking about our Michael?” Elizabeth didn’t like having to admit when mistakes were made, and this was a huge one.
“Yes, I am quite sure.” Teyla slid into a chair, opposite Dr. Beckett. She took a deep breath, ready to recall her conversation with Laura, “Lt. Cadman was adamant that he was the one responsible for her capture. She…” Teyla took a deep breath and hesitated before continuing, “… saw him, on the Wraith cruiser, and he spoke to her.” Teyla cast her gaze towards Dr. Beckett, “Michael told her that if humans could experiment on Wraith, then the Wraith could do the same with humans.”
“Bloody hell.” Carson felt like all the wind had been knocked out of him. His own ambitions were coming back to bite him in the ass. He thought about all the reasons he shouldn’t have performed that experiment, versus all the reasons he should. Even after the first incident, he’d forged ahead, damn the consequences. Now, the consequences were here.
“According to Lt. Cadman, these people whom her team met on the P4A-562, the ones that called themselves the Ancilli are humans that serve the Wraith, like the woman Neera. Apparently they have been working with Michael to find humans, preferably females, to harvest their eggs and use their genetic material. Michael has used Dr. Beckett’s research as well as some of his own knowledge to artificially reproduce human offspring.”
-----------------
Laura gripped the bedrail, trying to will the pain away. Her body had broken out in a cold sweat and she began to shake. Pain wasn’t a stranger to Laura, she’d endured some of the harshest training the U.S. military had to offer, but this was different. She took deep breaths, focusing her mind on Carson and away from the pain.
Carson was sure to know what was happening by now. Teyla would have briefed everyone on what she had passed on. Laura knew Teyla would know what to say and what not to say. She could be trusted, as a friend and a woman. Some things were best left unsaid, and while she felt better for barring her soul, it wasn’t something she was ready to do in front of her C.O. or her boyfriend.
-----------------
“Laura, he must know, you must tell him.” Teyla sat on the edge of the bed, holding Laura’s hand. She reached out and retrieved a tissue for her friend.
“I can’t.” Laura shook her head, wiping the tears from her eyes. She hated crying, even as a child she couldn’t stand it. It made her feel weak and vulnerable. She’d made certain the curtains were closed, that no one else saw or heard her. Laura had fought hard to become an officer in the Marines; she couldn’t afford to let others see her like this.
“He will understand. No one will blame you for anything.” Teyla wasn’t sure what she could afford to keep a secret. There was too much at stake, too many lives at risk.
“It’s not that simple.” Laura released her grip on Teyla’s hand and brought her own hands over her eyes. She took a deep breath, “Michael, he didn’t just want…. he wanted more.” Laura shook her head, her hands fisting against her face, “He told me that he would come after Atlantis AND Carson if I didn’t comply. I shouldn’t have given in to him. It was blackmail.”
“You were only trying to protect Dr. Beckett, and the city. It’s understandable how you could want to believe him.” Teyla wanted to believe there was still some good in Michael, somewhere, even after all this time. Laura said he was still part human, which meant there had to be hope.
“But that’s just it, I didn’t believe him! I knew he wouldn’t keep his word, I knew it!” Laura slammed her fists down on the mattress, gripping the sheets.
Teyla noticed the monitors begin to race, “That’s enough for now, you should rest.”
Laura blinked through the tears and stared at the ceiling. What difference did it make now? Once Michael got what he wanted, there would be no stopping him. Nothing made sense anymore.
“Are you in any pain? Would you like me to get one of the nurses?”
“No.” Laura shook her head, “I’m just tired. I think I need to be alone.”
Teyla nodded, “Of course.”
~~~~~~~~~
“How many years of your life will I have to take away before you tell me what I want to know?” Michael snarled at the doctor.
“That’s hardly a threat, since you’re obviously going to kill me anyway.” Carson tried his best to remain calm, but he was beginning to shake.
“You underestimate your own value, Doctor.”
What the hell did Michael expect him to do? “Look, they don’t tell me this sort of thing. I’m just a doctor. Maybe you shouldn’t have been so quick to kill Lt. Morrison.”
“I don’t like to question military people. They are like our own Wraith warriors. Unimaginative. Rigid thought patterns. But you on the other hand are trained to have an open mind. And you have a strong sense of empathy towards others.”
“It’s not as strong as it used to be, believe me.” In fact, the whole incident with Michael just made him all the more jaded.
“You are exactly what I need. Now..” Carson could feel him pressing into his mind. “Let’s begin….”
Carson stared at his desk, his mind lost in a race of anger and fear. Michael. Bloody Michael! He should have seen it coming, should have been prepared for it. The man had been is his mind, had seen what he knew; gained all the knowledge and insight of his training. All the research on genetic coding, DNA sequencing, viral retrogrades, everything. It was like a buffet to the man, and the worst part was, he couldn’t fight him. He had tried to resist him, but in the end Michael had proven to be stronger and had used his own fears against him.
Even after the incident, Carson was nauseous when he thought about all the knowledge that Michael obtained in his mind. That he might be responsible for the downfall of Atlantis or worse, Earth. But he never considered that Michael might search for something personal. Laura.
A chill ran down his spine and Carson shook against it, running his hand over his mouth. It was something Michael had simply stumbled upon in his mind, and he had thought Michael paid no attention to it. Michael had been so busy trying to find out about the failsafe and the genetic research, that Carson didn’t believe he would even care. But apparently he had, and now…. Now Carson wanted to lash out, to scream.
“Dr. Beckett?”
Carson hadn’t even heard the nurse walk up behind him, “Oh, sorry. What can I do for ye?”
The young nurse handed him a sheet of paper, “Here are the latest lab results for Lt. Cadman.”
Carson rubbed his eyes and took the sheet, “Thank you, thank you very much.” He began to scan the results, still sensing the nurse standing by. “That will be all, thank you.”
The nurse opened her mouth, as though to speak, but simply nodded and walked away. Carson shook his head and turned back to the page. For the first time in days, he sighed in relief. Laura’s blood work was beginning to stabilize. Hormone levels were still high, but her electrolytes were definitely back within acceptable levels. Good news. Something everyone needed, especially Laura. He grabbed her chart and headed towards the infirmary.
--------------
Laura wanted him; no she needed him, more than she’d ever needed anything in her entire life. She nestled her face against his neck, inhaling his scent, as he wrapped his arms around her.
She could feel the breeze coming off the water, cooling her overheated skin. The silver glow of the moon cast shadows over the deck and reflected off the ocean surface. She ran her arms up his back, inhaling his scent. The smell of his shampoo and aftershave filled her nostrils and she sighed.
It was intoxicating having him this close and in her arms. Carson pulled back and smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Laura felt her pulse quicken as he caressed her cheek. His eyes were dark, but almost twinkling in the moonlight, and the white collar of his dress shirt cast a glow around his face. Laura reached out and slowly unbuttoned the top of his shirt. “Laura, what are ye doing, love?” he chuckled.
She nuzzled her cheek against his hand, turning so she could capture his thumb in her mouth. She began to suck gently, a promise of things to come. Laura grinned as he let out a small noise, something close to a whimper. She released his thumb with an audible pop, as her hands found the next button, “What am I doing? Whatever you want.”
---------------
Carson headed towards the back of the infirmary. He’d made sure she had as much privacy as possible, even considering moving her to the secure area. But her condition required that she was kept under close watch and he didn’t want to subject her to the observation room. And unfortunately the only other private room was too far away from the main lab and equipment, and more importantly, his office.
As he rounded the corner, he noticed the privacy curtains were drawn and a nurse was hovering outside, and she seemed agitated.
“Dr. Beckett.” She wrung her hands as he approached, blushing.
He nodded, suddenly realizing she was the same nurse that had brought him the lab results. She was a civilian, new to the expedition, but very capable. And now something was bothering her, “Nurse Lisa, is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. I think Lt. Cadman is… well, having a dream.” Her faced turned a deeper shade of red as Carson heard a distinct moan come from behind the curtain.
It was a sound that he’d become quite familiar with and was usually guilty of inducing. Oh, this was not good. Carson coughed, “It’s okay love, I’ll take care of it.” The nurse smiled and looked away. Oh shit! “I mean, um, well I’ll check on her and.. um, make sure everything is okay.”
“Of course, doctor.” Lisa grinned as she walked away.
Carson took a deep breath as he pulled the curtain back and stepped inside. Laura was mumbling as he entered the area. The sheets were hanging off the edge of the bed, as her legs kicked against the mattress. A sheen of perspiration coated her face and skin, causing her gown to stick to her body in an almost obscene way. Carson focused his attention to the monitors, noting her elevated respiration and heart rate.
He debated whether to wake her. According to the readings, she didn’t appear to be having a nightmare, in fact it was quite the opposite judging from what he heard. Carson shook his head, and placed her chart on the bedside table. He reached over, brushing a strand of sweat-soaked hair from her face. It hit him like a tidal wave, almost knocking him to his feet. He pulled his hand back, as though it was burned. Images flashed through his mind; all the times they’d spent together, the talks, candlelight dinners, walks on the terrace, camping on the mainland, even their first date dancing on the deck.
Carson shook his head. It was stress, it had to be. He’d been so focused on making sure that Laura was safe, he hadn’t had time to work through just how much he’d been missing her. And now it was all starting to hit him. Yeah, of course, that’s what it was.
Carson grabbed a chair and pulled it next to the bed. He slipped his arm through the bedrail, reaching for Laura’s hand. He captured it with his own, stilling her movements momentarily, “Shhh, I’m here, love.”
Suddenly the chair rolled backwards, crashing through the curtains and into the wall. Carson stumbled backwards as he jerked his arm back, “Bloody hell!”
He watched as Laura continued to dream, her moans increasing as her body began to writhe against the bed. Carson reached up and tapped his headset, “This is Dr. Beckett, I need Col. Sheppard to the infirmary, asap. We’ve got a problem.”
End Part 3
Part 4
x-posted at beckett_cadman and atlantisfic
Author: Shelby (gateruner)
E-mail: gateruner2000 at yahoo.com
Feedback: yes, please!
Archive: LJ, my website. Any place else, just ask.
Category: Beckett/Cadman, Angst, Drama, WIP
Rating: pushing a R for this chapter, will turn NC-17
Spoilers: Up to the ending of S3, EXCEPT that “Sunday” didn’t happen! No, no way, no how.
Summary: Laura Cadman is abducted off-world and rescued, but her nightmare has only begun as she starts to remember exactly what happened to her and what evil plans the Wraith have in store for humanity.
Warnings: This is darkfic people. Beware! If you don’t want the angst, don’t read on.
Disclaimer: They aren’t mine, I don’t own them, don’t make any money from them, just playing, honest.
Special Notes: There is episode dialog in this chapter - 3.02 "Misbegotten"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hunger Strike
Part 3
“Michael?” Colonel Sheppard eyed Teyla as she circled the conference table. The situation had just gone from bad to worse. What the hell did Michael have to do with all of this?
“I told you we should have killed him. It was a bad idea from the beginning.” Ronon added.
“And you are sure Lt. Cadman was talking about our Michael?” Elizabeth didn’t like having to admit when mistakes were made, and this was a huge one.
“Yes, I am quite sure.” Teyla slid into a chair, opposite Dr. Beckett. She took a deep breath, ready to recall her conversation with Laura, “Lt. Cadman was adamant that he was the one responsible for her capture. She…” Teyla took a deep breath and hesitated before continuing, “… saw him, on the Wraith cruiser, and he spoke to her.” Teyla cast her gaze towards Dr. Beckett, “Michael told her that if humans could experiment on Wraith, then the Wraith could do the same with humans.”
“Bloody hell.” Carson felt like all the wind had been knocked out of him. His own ambitions were coming back to bite him in the ass. He thought about all the reasons he shouldn’t have performed that experiment, versus all the reasons he should. Even after the first incident, he’d forged ahead, damn the consequences. Now, the consequences were here.
“According to Lt. Cadman, these people whom her team met on the P4A-562, the ones that called themselves the Ancilli are humans that serve the Wraith, like the woman Neera. Apparently they have been working with Michael to find humans, preferably females, to harvest their eggs and use their genetic material. Michael has used Dr. Beckett’s research as well as some of his own knowledge to artificially reproduce human offspring.”
-----------------
Laura gripped the bedrail, trying to will the pain away. Her body had broken out in a cold sweat and she began to shake. Pain wasn’t a stranger to Laura, she’d endured some of the harshest training the U.S. military had to offer, but this was different. She took deep breaths, focusing her mind on Carson and away from the pain.
Carson was sure to know what was happening by now. Teyla would have briefed everyone on what she had passed on. Laura knew Teyla would know what to say and what not to say. She could be trusted, as a friend and a woman. Some things were best left unsaid, and while she felt better for barring her soul, it wasn’t something she was ready to do in front of her C.O. or her boyfriend.
-----------------
“Laura, he must know, you must tell him.” Teyla sat on the edge of the bed, holding Laura’s hand. She reached out and retrieved a tissue for her friend.
“I can’t.” Laura shook her head, wiping the tears from her eyes. She hated crying, even as a child she couldn’t stand it. It made her feel weak and vulnerable. She’d made certain the curtains were closed, that no one else saw or heard her. Laura had fought hard to become an officer in the Marines; she couldn’t afford to let others see her like this.
“He will understand. No one will blame you for anything.” Teyla wasn’t sure what she could afford to keep a secret. There was too much at stake, too many lives at risk.
“It’s not that simple.” Laura released her grip on Teyla’s hand and brought her own hands over her eyes. She took a deep breath, “Michael, he didn’t just want…. he wanted more.” Laura shook her head, her hands fisting against her face, “He told me that he would come after Atlantis AND Carson if I didn’t comply. I shouldn’t have given in to him. It was blackmail.”
“You were only trying to protect Dr. Beckett, and the city. It’s understandable how you could want to believe him.” Teyla wanted to believe there was still some good in Michael, somewhere, even after all this time. Laura said he was still part human, which meant there had to be hope.
“But that’s just it, I didn’t believe him! I knew he wouldn’t keep his word, I knew it!” Laura slammed her fists down on the mattress, gripping the sheets.
Teyla noticed the monitors begin to race, “That’s enough for now, you should rest.”
Laura blinked through the tears and stared at the ceiling. What difference did it make now? Once Michael got what he wanted, there would be no stopping him. Nothing made sense anymore.
“Are you in any pain? Would you like me to get one of the nurses?”
“No.” Laura shook her head, “I’m just tired. I think I need to be alone.”
Teyla nodded, “Of course.”
~~~~~~~~~
“How many years of your life will I have to take away before you tell me what I want to know?” Michael snarled at the doctor.
“That’s hardly a threat, since you’re obviously going to kill me anyway.” Carson tried his best to remain calm, but he was beginning to shake.
“You underestimate your own value, Doctor.”
What the hell did Michael expect him to do? “Look, they don’t tell me this sort of thing. I’m just a doctor. Maybe you shouldn’t have been so quick to kill Lt. Morrison.”
“I don’t like to question military people. They are like our own Wraith warriors. Unimaginative. Rigid thought patterns. But you on the other hand are trained to have an open mind. And you have a strong sense of empathy towards others.”
“It’s not as strong as it used to be, believe me.” In fact, the whole incident with Michael just made him all the more jaded.
“You are exactly what I need. Now..” Carson could feel him pressing into his mind. “Let’s begin….”
Carson stared at his desk, his mind lost in a race of anger and fear. Michael. Bloody Michael! He should have seen it coming, should have been prepared for it. The man had been is his mind, had seen what he knew; gained all the knowledge and insight of his training. All the research on genetic coding, DNA sequencing, viral retrogrades, everything. It was like a buffet to the man, and the worst part was, he couldn’t fight him. He had tried to resist him, but in the end Michael had proven to be stronger and had used his own fears against him.
Even after the incident, Carson was nauseous when he thought about all the knowledge that Michael obtained in his mind. That he might be responsible for the downfall of Atlantis or worse, Earth. But he never considered that Michael might search for something personal. Laura.
A chill ran down his spine and Carson shook against it, running his hand over his mouth. It was something Michael had simply stumbled upon in his mind, and he had thought Michael paid no attention to it. Michael had been so busy trying to find out about the failsafe and the genetic research, that Carson didn’t believe he would even care. But apparently he had, and now…. Now Carson wanted to lash out, to scream.
“Dr. Beckett?”
Carson hadn’t even heard the nurse walk up behind him, “Oh, sorry. What can I do for ye?”
The young nurse handed him a sheet of paper, “Here are the latest lab results for Lt. Cadman.”
Carson rubbed his eyes and took the sheet, “Thank you, thank you very much.” He began to scan the results, still sensing the nurse standing by. “That will be all, thank you.”
The nurse opened her mouth, as though to speak, but simply nodded and walked away. Carson shook his head and turned back to the page. For the first time in days, he sighed in relief. Laura’s blood work was beginning to stabilize. Hormone levels were still high, but her electrolytes were definitely back within acceptable levels. Good news. Something everyone needed, especially Laura. He grabbed her chart and headed towards the infirmary.
--------------
Laura wanted him; no she needed him, more than she’d ever needed anything in her entire life. She nestled her face against his neck, inhaling his scent, as he wrapped his arms around her.
She could feel the breeze coming off the water, cooling her overheated skin. The silver glow of the moon cast shadows over the deck and reflected off the ocean surface. She ran her arms up his back, inhaling his scent. The smell of his shampoo and aftershave filled her nostrils and she sighed.
It was intoxicating having him this close and in her arms. Carson pulled back and smiled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. Laura felt her pulse quicken as he caressed her cheek. His eyes were dark, but almost twinkling in the moonlight, and the white collar of his dress shirt cast a glow around his face. Laura reached out and slowly unbuttoned the top of his shirt. “Laura, what are ye doing, love?” he chuckled.
She nuzzled her cheek against his hand, turning so she could capture his thumb in her mouth. She began to suck gently, a promise of things to come. Laura grinned as he let out a small noise, something close to a whimper. She released his thumb with an audible pop, as her hands found the next button, “What am I doing? Whatever you want.”
---------------
Carson headed towards the back of the infirmary. He’d made sure she had as much privacy as possible, even considering moving her to the secure area. But her condition required that she was kept under close watch and he didn’t want to subject her to the observation room. And unfortunately the only other private room was too far away from the main lab and equipment, and more importantly, his office.
As he rounded the corner, he noticed the privacy curtains were drawn and a nurse was hovering outside, and she seemed agitated.
“Dr. Beckett.” She wrung her hands as he approached, blushing.
He nodded, suddenly realizing she was the same nurse that had brought him the lab results. She was a civilian, new to the expedition, but very capable. And now something was bothering her, “Nurse Lisa, is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. I think Lt. Cadman is… well, having a dream.” Her faced turned a deeper shade of red as Carson heard a distinct moan come from behind the curtain.
It was a sound that he’d become quite familiar with and was usually guilty of inducing. Oh, this was not good. Carson coughed, “It’s okay love, I’ll take care of it.” The nurse smiled and looked away. Oh shit! “I mean, um, well I’ll check on her and.. um, make sure everything is okay.”
“Of course, doctor.” Lisa grinned as she walked away.
Carson took a deep breath as he pulled the curtain back and stepped inside. Laura was mumbling as he entered the area. The sheets were hanging off the edge of the bed, as her legs kicked against the mattress. A sheen of perspiration coated her face and skin, causing her gown to stick to her body in an almost obscene way. Carson focused his attention to the monitors, noting her elevated respiration and heart rate.
He debated whether to wake her. According to the readings, she didn’t appear to be having a nightmare, in fact it was quite the opposite judging from what he heard. Carson shook his head, and placed her chart on the bedside table. He reached over, brushing a strand of sweat-soaked hair from her face. It hit him like a tidal wave, almost knocking him to his feet. He pulled his hand back, as though it was burned. Images flashed through his mind; all the times they’d spent together, the talks, candlelight dinners, walks on the terrace, camping on the mainland, even their first date dancing on the deck.
Carson shook his head. It was stress, it had to be. He’d been so focused on making sure that Laura was safe, he hadn’t had time to work through just how much he’d been missing her. And now it was all starting to hit him. Yeah, of course, that’s what it was.
Carson grabbed a chair and pulled it next to the bed. He slipped his arm through the bedrail, reaching for Laura’s hand. He captured it with his own, stilling her movements momentarily, “Shhh, I’m here, love.”
Suddenly the chair rolled backwards, crashing through the curtains and into the wall. Carson stumbled backwards as he jerked his arm back, “Bloody hell!”
He watched as Laura continued to dream, her moans increasing as her body began to writhe against the bed. Carson reached up and tapped his headset, “This is Dr. Beckett, I need Col. Sheppard to the infirmary, asap. We’ve got a problem.”
End Part 3
Part 4
x-posted at beckett_cadman and atlantisfic