Mind Meld:

Mind Meld:

Chapter Three:

Sheppard went to check on Rodney and see if Keller had any results as yet. He walked into the infirmary and walked over to Rodney's body. He just stood watching the steady rise and fall of his chest, listening to the beat, beat of the heart monitor. He was alive and for now that was going to have to be good enough.

There was something about Kavanaugh that was setting off his spidey senses but he couldn't seem to put his finger on it. He was sure he knew more than he was saying but as much as he was expecting Kavanaugh to be okay with McKay's current situation, he couldn't bring himself to accept that Kavanaugh would just leave McKay in this situation if he knew a way to bring him back.

He kept going through the emergency in the control room. There was something there that kept nagging at him, something he should have seen. He sighed heavily as he realised he was probably looking for shadows, anything to bring McKay back now. He looked up at his face, so peaceful and yet so wrong. McKay never looked right unless he was moving it always put the world on a tilt when he saw McKay still.

He patted McKay's forearm. "Hold on, McKay. We will find a way to get you back." He turned and walked through to Keller's office. He swung his head through the door and finding her with her head buried in her laptop he knocked on the door jamb. "Hey, Doc? Find anything?"

Keller looked up with a tight smile and then pushed away from the laptop at an angle, welcoming him in to see for himself. "I'm afraid I just don't know, Colonel. There is something wrong with the chemistry in the brain but I just can't figure out what it means. I can't try and wake him up using medication without knowing what the cause is in case it has a detrimental effect. I'm running a program to see if there is a match but the only thing I have found so far is an incident that happened last year where he shared the consciousness of a Laura Cadman. The only similarity though is that the chemistry imbalance is in the same area." She looked up at him with a lost expression. "I'm sorry, Colonel. I've got nothing," she leant forward earnestly, "but I'm still looking. It's early days yet. I am sure I will find something." Her gaze automatically drifted to McKay laying in the infirmary bed.

"I'm sure you will, Doc." He tried an encouraging smile and nodded at her. He glanced over his shoulder at McKay. "He's okay though, apart from the not waking up, he's okay, right?"

She sagged into a worn smile and nodded. "He's stable. The head injury is not that bad and I think it's just a coincidence. I am sure the only reason he won't wake up is because of something the A.T. did. Once we figure out how to wake him up I'm sure he'll be fine. The injuries themselves are minor."

Sheppard nodded. "Well, I'd better be going. Let me know if there is any change. I'm going to check on Kavanaugh and see if he has managed to find anything. I'll keep you posted. Let me know if you make any headway."

She nodded in response and he gave a tight smile as he left, glancing at McKay on the way out. He headed down to the labs to see what Kavanaugh had found whilst he went over the things that Keller had found out so far.

Number ten. I think number ten will be to push you through the Stargate to a wraith infested world. I may even make you a nice little notice to hang around your neck. Something like, 'Come get your skinny ribs here'.

Kavanaugh growled to himself. At least as far as the rest of the scientist's in the lab were concerned. McKay knew better and grinned a little more. He had done his rant and it seemed Kavanaugh was immune so, taking a page out of Sheppard's book, he was trying another approach. He was quite happy with the results.

Number Eleven. Hmmmm. I'm thinking I have a chat with Hermoid and we beam you to the bottom of the ocean. I wonder which would get you first, drowning or the pressure pushing in on you slowly, crushing the air from your lungs. Hmmmm… I may actually move that one upto number three – I quite like that one. Mind you I wouldn't be able to see your face and I really, really want to see your face. Guess we're sticking with number one then.

McKay felt the uncontrolled shiver go through Kavanauh and smiled a satisfactory smile. That had been pure inspiration. McKay knew that even if he got out of here and had the chance he wouldn't follow through on the threats. Even with the Wraith and the other numerous bad guys he had shot over his time on the SGA team he was not a killer. He had killed in defence of himself and his team and yet regretted every one. He could not kill in cold blood, regardless of what the person had done.

Hell, if he couldn't kill Koyla then he wouldn't be able to kill Kavanaugh. However, Kavanaugh did not know that. He also knew that one or two of the Scientists had started a rumour about missing bodies, which he just hadn't found the time to deny. He smirked.

If Kavanaugh thought he was going to just sit here and be a good little prisoner he was going to be very disappointed. Whilst trying to think of number twelve he was also trying to decide what the most irritating song he knew was. He had decided that the rendition would be all through dinner… repeatedly. There was also the fact that he could hold a note, a fact he intended to thoroughly forget later that day.

As it was he was humming, 'I know a song that will get on your nerves' over and over again for the last hour while he was thinking of the next inventive way to kill Kavanaugh. Truth be told, he was actually starting to really enjoy himself.

Oh, you've done that wrong. But as it's not a danger to Atlantis I think I can let that one go. Of course it means that even the lab assistants will be laughing at you behind your back for making such a stupid mistake. Still, it's to be expected I suppose. Just out of curiosity, what website did you buy your degree from anyways? ? www. smartmonkies. com?

McKay had no idea if he had typed something wrong but he knew a scientist's weak points. He nearly giggled when he saw Kavanaugh go back and check his work.

Maybe you should get a calculator

"Will you just. Shut. Up!" Kavanaugh shouted. The three lab assistants sitting in the deathly quiet lab nearly fell of their stools at the outbreak and looked at Kavanaugh with alarm. Kavanaugh cleared his throat. "Damn emails, why can't these imbeciles deal with there own projects."

Oh nice cover. There's no way they think you're loosing it. No, really. That was really, really convincing. This is how it starts Kavanaugh. A couple of days and they will be whispering behind your back. Taking bets on when and how you're going to crack up. Won't be long now, do you like buckles? Of course, you could always tell them it's the voice of God in your head – I'm sure they would understand. Still, you'll always have me.

Kavanaugh was breathing heavily through his nose, desperately trying to bring his temper under control.

"Kavanaugh"

"What?!" Kavanaugh shouted as he spun round to see who had called his name.

Colonel Sheppard walked across the lab with a raised eyebrow. "Everything okay, Kavanaugh?"

McKay could feel him physically wiling himself to relax. "Of course, Colonel, I'm just a little frustrated. I'm afraid that I haven't made any headway yet."

You know you really should be used to disappointment in your life by now.

The Colonel nodded as he approached his desk. "I know how you feel." He perched against the desk.

"You look tired, Colonel. I'm sure we will find a solution soon. I still have more ideas to work through." Kavanaugh said softly and McKay could hear the smarmy tone of his voice wheedling away.

First my genius, then my job and now you want my friends too? I appreciate that I am of course better than you in absolutely everything and how you would want to be just like me. After all I'm the first one to say I should be worshipped but I think this falls into obsession, Kavanaugh. Quite frankly, I don't think it's healthy.

Sheppard was looking down at Kavanaugh's hands. The view followed his gaze as Kavanaugh glanced down and saw his hands gripping the sides of the stool, his knuckles stood out stark white. Do you think he's on to you? McKay whispered. The hands quickly released and his gaze flew back up to Sheppard's face. "I'm sorry, Colonel. I'm finding the lack of results a little frustrating. Do you have any news from Doctor Keller?"

Sheppard sighed. "No. She's running a search in the database to see if she can come up with anything."

Kavanaugh nodded. "Well, if you'll excuse me, Colonel. I still have more simulations I want to run. I will let you know if I find anything."

"I… er… I just wanted to say. Well done. You know for earlier in the control room. You did good."

Oh, isn't that nice. Shame it was all me and absolutely nothing to do with you isn't it. Still maybe you can get him to post a recommendation on www. smartmonkies. com .

"Thank you, Colonel, just doing my job. I'll keep Atlantis safe until Mckay wakes up."

Oh please. Pass me a bag. I think I'm going to be sick.

"Well, yes. I'll be going. Let me know if you find anything." Sheppard nodded and pushed himself away from the desk and then left the lab.

Kavanaugh leapt up from his stool and charged into McKay's office, slamming the door behind him. "If you don't shut up…"

You'll what...? If I can make a suggestion I reckon a gun to the head, that'll teach me.

"I just might. If you don't shut up I might just blow my brains out to get to you."

Well, a shot to the face can only be an improvement although I wouldn't try to hit your brains – you would have to be an excellent marksman to hit something that small.

Kavanaugh's scream could be heard across three labs.

TBC