Disclaimer: Still not mine, and it's probably best that way.

Observation
by Hatcheter

"Forty-seven minutes."

At the sound of Grodin's soft announcement, Zelenka crossed the control room to stand next to his station. He made a show of examining the laptop on the console. "Are you sure?"

Grodin nodded toward the small balcony that overlooked the gate room. Doctor Weir's back was to them as she watched the area below, her arms folded across her chest. "Positive."

"She's getting more impatient," Zelenka said. "Last week she averaged fifty-two minutes."

"With the Wraith threat growing, I can't blame her for being anxious when a team is off world."

"She doesn't pace like that when Sergeant Stackhouse is away."

"She's not pacing," Grodin objected. "She's just…watching for their return. Major Sheppard's team does get into the most trouble."

Zelenka folded his arms, staring thoughtfully at Doctor Weir's back. "They are so doing it," he quietly announced.

"What?"

Zelenka and Grodin started, and turned to see Sergeant Bates standing next to them. The Marine was frowning at them. "You don't really think…"

Bates paused as Grodin frantically motioned for him to quiet down. "You don't really think," he began again, softly, "that they're sleeping together, do you?"

"No."

"Yes."

Bates glanced back and forth at the two scientists.

"All we know is that Doctor Weir seems more concerned when Major Sheppard is off world," Grodin said. "Whether that is due to the Major's ability to find trouble in any situation, or something deeper, we don't know."

"You're exaggerating," Bates said.

"She never leaves the control center while Sheppard is away," Zelenka said. "Watch this. Doctor Weir?"

"Yes?" she asked, turning to see the Czech scientist approaching her.

"I believe we have that device on the south pier working now. Do you still want a demonstration this afternoon?"

She frowned slightly. "I do, but I have a lot of paperwork to do today," she said. "How about tomorrow morning?"

Zelenka briefly considered that. "Alright. That will give me time to make sure I know exactly how to operate the machine."

"Great," Weir smiled. "If you'll excuse me…" With that, she went back to her office, sitting down at her desk and opening her laptop computer.

"You see?" Zelenka asked as he rejoined Grodin and Bates.

"I see you still haven't got that machine working right," Grodin said.

"I've been using it all morning," Zelenka replied. "But Doctor Weir wasn't going to come. Why fight a battle I won't win?" he asked, looking to Bates.

Bates smirked, and nodded. "Right." He looked down the catwalk to Weir's office, critically examining her as she focused on the computer on her desk.

The Stargate began to hum as the symbols flashed, circling the gate. "Unscheduled activation," Grodin announced. Bates hurried to the top of the main stairs as Weir emerged from her office, coming to stand next to Grodin's station.

"It's Dr. McKay's IDC, ma'am," Grodin said. "It sounds like there's an injury."

"Lower the shield," she ordered. "Call Doctor Beckett."

McKay was the first through the gate. Shivering and sneezing, he pulled off his wet jacket as soon as he was in the city. Behind him, Teyla and Ford appeared, supporting Major Sheppard between them. The major was completely soaked, his skin blue, and he shuddered violently between the other two.

"What happened?" Weir asked, eyes wide.

"Fell o-off a c-c-cliff," Sheppard mumbled through chattering teeth.

Elizabeth looked to Ford for an explanation. "The ground gave way under his foot, and he fell into a very, very cold pond. He managed to pull himself out of the water, but wasn't able to get up the hill without help."

Beckett had arrived, with a stretcher, and he helped Sheppard to lie down. "He could have hypothermia," the doctor quickly announced. "Let's get him to the infirmary." Sheppard was quickly wheeled out, with rest of his team and Doctor Weir trailing behind.

Bates stood at the top of the main stairs, his left had still resting on his holstered pistol. He glanced over to the control center, catching Zelenka's eye. The Czech raised his eyebrows, as if to ask 'you see?'.

Bates rolled his eyes and turned away. The response team had been sloppy in deploying around the Stargate, and it needed addressed right away. He'd leave the gossip to the scientist.

-- --
-- --

Weir returned to the infirmary late in the evening, to find all four members of Sheppard's team dressed in scrubs and reclining in the hospital beds. Sheppard was sound asleep, wrapped tightly in several blankets. In the next bed, McKay laid flat his back, one arm thrown over his face to cover his eyes and hold an ice pack to his forehead.

Teyla and Ford occupied the last two beds, though they were sitting up and facing each other. There was a checkerboard set up on a stool between the two beds, and Ford appeared to be teaching Teyla the game. Teyla appeared to be winning, handily.

"How are they doing?" Elizabeth asked Beckett as he approached.

"Major Sheppard only had a mild case of hypothermia. He fell asleep soon after we got him here. All we have to do is keep him warm and let him rest."

"I'm dying," McKay announced.

Carson sighed. "There was some sort of mold in the pond that Major Sheppard fell into. We got some samples off his clothing and out of his hair." Beckett picked up a large beaker half full of greenish water and peeled back the plastic film covering it. "Smell it."

Cautiously, Elizabeth leaned forward and sniffed. "It smells like lemons."

"Lethal."

Beckett shook his head and put the beaker back on the worktable. "This mold seems to produce a small amount of citric acid, which Rodney had a reaction too. Migrane, mild rash, nothing severe."

"I'm not going to make it through the night."

"Only if I kill you," Carson grumbled under his breath.

Elizabeth walked over beside McKay and patted his arm. "You'll be alright, Rodney. Just try to rest."

Ford quickly jerked his head toward the other beds, causing Teyla to turn around and look. As Elizabeth continued to encourage McKay, her other hand had settled on Major Sheppard's arm. Teyla turned back to the game, and quickly jumped three of Ford's remaining pieces.

"So what's wrong with Lieutenant Ford and Telya?" Weir asked.

"Nothing!" the young Marine quickly announced.

"They were exposed to the same mold as McKay," Carson explained. "And were also dangerously cold when they came back."

"We are fine now," Teyla said.

"Then you should be fine in the morning," Carson shot back, glaring at the two. "I'm keeping you two overnight for observation."

They glared back at him, sullenly. Elizabeth couldn't help smiling. This argument had obviously been going on all evening.

"Have you had dinner yet, doctor?" Carson asked.

"No, I haven't."

"Would you care to join me? I was about to go to the cafeteria when you arrived, and I would love to have someone mature to converse with," he said, throwing another glare at the far beds.

"I'd love to," Elizabeth replied.

She followed the doctor out of the infirmary, pausing in the door to glance back at her sick team. Her gaze seemed to linger, in Ford's view at least, on Sheppard, before she finally turned and left.

He waited until he was sure they were down the hall and out of hearing range before allowing himself to grin. "Man, they are so doing it."

Teyla roller her eyes, and behind her McKay snorted.

"What? Don't tell me you don't see it," For protested.


Author's note: Are they or aren't they? That is the question. It's fun to play with the idea, though. So, what do y'all think?

("They are so doing it" seems to be the slogan, if not the official motto, of the Weir/Sheppard shippers on the Gateworld forum.)