To all of you who reviewed and liked the first chapter thanks. I need to know when I'm doing a good or bad job on these things even if people don't like to review much, so much thanks to those of you who do. It means a lot.

It was 6:30 A.M. and Elizabeth was nursing a cup of coffee, while staring at the computer screen in front of her on her desk.

Radek was set up on the other side of the desk marking down things on a sheet of paper, occasionally looking at the tired woman in front of him, "Do you need more coffee?"

"No thanks Radek," she said looking up at him. "I can't believe you stayed up the whole night with me, especially when what we're working on seems to be pointless."

"I don't think that is true. I have been counting up number of articles about the Protocol, we don't know specifics but most are found in the medical part of the database."

She looked up at him, "So you're saying that whatever goes on at the end of the count down as people needing medical attention?"

"No," he pushed his glasses up his nose, "medical check-up."

"Check-ups?"

"And many weeks after. I know very few words in Ancient but," he turned his laptop toward her, "you should look here."

"Elizabeth?" Rodney called from the doorway of her office, "I forgot to ask you yesterday but I need Sheppard to help me run some test scenarios on a jumper. We'll need to take a trip to the main land and back."

She looked up from the laptop, "Are you sure you want to do that Rodney?"

"I'll be fine," he looked at Zelenka, "and someone has to do it, right? I am out in the field the most, so I stand the best chance of needing to actually execute these scenarios at some point."

"Alright," she held his eyes for a while, "just be careful."

"Yes. I do not feel like saving you again," Zelenka never took his eyes off Elizabeth's computer that he was now tapping something out on.

"Ha Ha. Well…I better got back to my room and wait for…the Colonel."

Dr. Weir watched as the man walked off and smiled at his back, "Radek you probably work closest to Rodney of anyone but his team right?"

"Unfortunately for me."

"Well…I know it isn't my place to say it…but I think Dr. McKay has a crush on Colonel Sheppard."

Radek chuckled, "I have noticed and I am not so sure his feelings are not returned. Sheppard is by his side always."

"What about you? Are you sweet on anyone?" she asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

The Czech lowered his eyes, "I would rather not talk about that."

"Why not? Are you in love with John or Rodney?"

"No…they are both…arrogant and I am not attracted to men," he added shaking his head slightly.

"So it's someone you work with?"

He looked up at her for a moment and then gave her a half smile, "Sometimes."

"Does she know?"

"No…probably not…and prefer to keep it like this. Makes working together easier on one."

Elizabeth was silent for a moment and the only sound in the room was the tapping of computer keys, "What if she likes you?"

"I think she is with someone," Radek didn't look up, or sound depressed when he said it, "I am happy for her."

"Oh. You're not going to try to win her?"

He shook his head and looked up at her sadly, "I do not have the right."

Elizabeth blinked at him for a few moments after he had lowered his head then went back to work herself. She would have to finish this conversation with him later.

Rodney was dreading every foot he moved closer to his room. He knew once he got there he would be waiting for the man he loved, who loved someone else. The 'someone else' happens to be a good friend of his…who has or had a crush on him, Rodney McKay.

"Dr. McKay," Teyla stopped him and moved over to stand in front of him. "I am sorry for how I treated you in the mess hall yesterday."

"Its fine," he assured her. "Like I said yesterday, we were done talking and-"

"That is not what I mean," she interrupted him. "Among my people, women choose a man to mate…marry with," she smiled. "We seek the council of our close male friends and family when deciding and Colonel Sheppard was the first I spoke to."

The scientist's eyes widened, "You were asking him if it was ok to marry Ronon?"

Teyla looked at him surprised, "You knew?"

"Well it's been obvious that you…" he trailed off seeing her intent look of calculation at him. "When you came back from that one planet…you didn't seem…as interested in Sheppard any more…and when Ford was holding us hostage you two seemed to…"

She nodded and smiled at him understanding, "You see more than you let on Dr. McKay."

"Well uh…I guess," he looked down at his wrist and realized he didn't have a watch and shook his head, "Sheppard was going to meet me in my room soon. We were going to-"

"I am sorry. I did not realize that you were doing something with Colonel Sheppard today," her look was one of slight amusement.

"Well it was sort of…last minute. Did you…want to talk to me about something or?"

"Yes actually," she looked into his eyes, "I would like your opinion on my choice of Ronon."

"Mine?" Rodney blinked surprised.

"Yes. You are one of my friends as well, Dr. McKay. To not ask you would be an insult and a mistake."

"Well I…I'm not good with the whole relationship…thing and what not but," he looked at her serious, eager face and he sighed, "Ronon seems like…just the person…guy for you. I'm sure you'll be very happy together."

She grinned, "You are not going to give me a talk about respect and loyalty?"

Rodney frowned and shook his head, "No."

"Colonel Sheppard seemed very adamant in making sure I was aware of how I should expect Ronon to act as my…husband?"

"Yes well…that's him. I know you're perfectly able to take care of yourself even against Ronon."

Once again she smiled, but this time she put her hands on his shoulders and bowed her head forward. After a moment of glancing around to make sure no one was watching, Rodney leaned in and touched his forehead to hers.

"Thank you Dr. McKay," she turned and walked off back toward the control room leaving him standing alone in the hall.

A goofy, amused but pleased look covered Rodney's face, "Huh."

John came out of the shower and looked at the clock on his bedside table. It read 6:40, which was more than enough time to get dressed and head over to the mess to pick up a few snacks for the trip to the Main Land.

He had just pulled his pants on when he heard Carson call his name from out in the hall, "Colonel Sheppard?"

"Come on in Doc."

When the Scottish man entered and saw the shirtless Colonel he quickly glanced around, "Am I interrupting something?" he whispered.

"No…I just had a shower. I like to clean up after my morning jog around the city, especially when I'm going to be spending the next few hours in a tight enclosed space with McKay."

Carson gave him a look that asked a question John didn't want to think about right at the moment, "With Rodney?"

"Yeah. He's having me fly a puddle jumper that he's rerouted power in."

"Aye. I saw him yesterday while he was working." He seemed a little disappointed that was all that was going on between them.

John smiled at him, "He came to see me after you talked to him. It seemed he wasn't taking the news very well. Something about me not liking him any more because you had or have a crush on him?"

"Colonel there's something you need to know. Rodney thinks-"

The rest of what Carson said was muffled out by Elizabeth's voice in his ear, "Sheppard this is Weir."

"Hold that thought," John held up his hand for the doctor to be quiet. "Sheppard."

"Dr. McKay just asked me if the two of you could take a jumper to the Main Land."

"He just did?"

"Yes and I've okayed you to go but-"

"We'll be careful."

"Well that's good to hear but that's not what I wanted to tell you," her voice was amused. "I want to make sure that you know to return to the city before the count down expires."

"Why? Have you found something out about it?"

"There are medical records that mention the protocol, but other than that there's nothing so far."

"Medical records?" he looked at Carson who was watching him intently.

"Dr. Zelenka and I are still trying to translate some of them."

"Alright. I'll head over to Rodney's place and pick him up. We'll be back. Sheppard out."

Carson stared at him, "What about medical records?"

John sighed, "Well we haven't made any sort of announcement to the city but, there's a count down that's rolling away up on the main screen in the control room. Rodney just thinks it's the primary system doing a self check for errors, but Weir and Zelenka aren't so sure. They've found this…protocol, as Rodney calls it…documented in medical records."

"Oh my."

"Yeah. She wants us back here before the clock runs out incase there's some kind of emergency. Which means," John glanced at the clock again, which now read 6:55, "that I better go get McKay."

"Colonel, Rodney-"

"Sorry Doc…you can tell me about him later," John left his room picking up his vest and his two guns before heading out of the room.

"This isn't good," Carson mumbled, exiting Sheppard's room.