"Damn it, I can't find a vein."

Lilly undid the tourniquet round Ben's arm, took his hot hand into hers and rubbed her thumb up and down the back of it, hoping to improve his blood flow. This was her third attempt at starting his IV. It had seemed so much easier back on earth but her trembling hands were hampering her endeavour.

"Niall, can you bring another lamp over?" She asked as she stretched. She needed to take a moment, clear her head and quit her shaking, she needed to calm down and start again.

Niall placed another ice pack under Ben's armpit and collected a lamp off of the windowsill. He limped over to Lilly's chair and held the light over her shoulder.

Lilly turned her head and smiled. "Thanks," she said and then picked up the tourniquet again.

"Can I help?" Niall asked as Lilly tightened the elastic tubing round her patients arm. She shook her head and picked up the IV needle.

"I just need to get this done," she sighed and glanced up at Ben who was restlessly moving on the bed, his legs in constant motion and his head tossing from side to side as his fever soared. He needed medication and quickly. The addition of strategically placed Ice bags was making little difference to his high temperature.

Lilly wiped the sweat out of her eyes, leaned in closer and then started to insert the needle into the only vein that stood out on her patient's hand. "Can you lower the light," she asked and Niall lowered the lamp, giving the Platon an easier view of what she was doing. She eased the needle in and paused when a small amount of blood trickled into the hub. She then gently threaded the plastic cannula up the vein and off the needle. She reached up and removed the tourniquet, keeping pressure on the tip of the cannula. She placed the needle into a basin on the table, attached the end of the tubing to the cannula, taped the cannula down, stood and hung the bag on the IV stand and gave it a squeeze to ensure that the precious fluid dripped into her husband's blood stream.

"There," she sighed and wiped her brow before turning and smiling reassuringly at Niall. "That's better," she nodded and then reached for the pre filled syringes of antibiotics. She unscrewed a port in the IV tubing and injected the medication. Her training kicked in without her really realising, she had watched Janet and Doctor Warner at great length during her stay and had devoured medical books that Ben had brought with him to Mandana. At this precise moment in time, she felt so grateful for the Tau'ri's intervention in Mandana medical practice as patients who were as sick as Ben would have normally just been given herbs to help their symptoms rather than proper treatment. Many, many people died unnecessarily and there was no way Lilly was going to let that happen to the man who had stolen her heart.

"Is that it?" Niall asked as Lilly flicked the tubing to make sure the medication flowed properly.

"Pretty much," she nodded and took Ben's wrist to check his pulse. "Hopefully the fluids and antibiotics will help soon," she turned and smiled. "Like they did you when you were so sick," she added and placed Ben's hand under the sheet that covered his lower body. She then replaced the ice pack onto his inflamed shoulder and checked the positions of the ones in his groin, knowing that catheterisation was the next job in hand. She wasn't sure Ben would be too pleased if she allowed Niall to watch her perform that procedure so she had to distract the young farmer.

"Can you go back to the party, Niall?" She asked, snapping off her gloves. "Let people know what happened, I'm sure they'll be wondering where we've gone," she tossed her gloves on to the med tray and gathered up the used equipment.

"Will you be okay?" Niall asked as he then watched Lilly mop Ben's brow.

"We'll be fine, won't we Ben?" She smiled, turned and dipped her cloth in the water. "I'm sure Quinny will come running," she added as she folded the cloth in half and placed it on her patient's forehead.

"I won't be long," Niall crossed and placed his hand on Lilly's shoulder. She patted it, turned and flashed Niall what she hoped was another reassuring smile. "He's going to be just fine," she promised and then returned to her work.

Niall sighed and watched her for a while. He was so impressed that she'd been able to keep things together so well. Ben was obviously very ill. Platon's shouldn't be the sick ones; they were supposed to be the experts with all the answers, the fact that his friend was now so sick that he couldn't care for himself frightened Niall and he could only imagine how scared Lilly must be really feeling. One thing he did know was that Ben would be so very proud of his wife.

He grabbed his coat and gave Lilly's shoulder another comforting squeeze on his way out.

When the door close behind him the young Platon slumped down in the chair at her husband's bedside and picked up his hand.

"You have to fight this, my love," she urged as she allowed herself a few more tears. Being a Platon had its downside, you understood how ill patients really were and she knew that the person she loved with all her heart was very sick, very sick indeed.

Xxx

"Well," Greta straightened and hung his stethoscope round his neck before turning to Lilly who was nervously waiting for the senior Platon's diagnosis.

"If Ben had presented with symptoms like this a year ago, I'd have prescribed some grunda herbs and tried to keep him as comfortable as we possibly could," Greta sighed. "But I have hope that, because of our Earth friends and Earth teaching, he may, indeed, have a fighting chance of survival."

Greta and Conrad had left the party as soon as Niall had rushed in with the news. Sergi and Hanah, who were anxiously waiting outside the door for news on their son-in-law's condition, had quickly followed them. They were keen for Greta to take over Ben's care; figuring that he, as the senior Platon should oversee the treatment, Lilly was still learning and, as Ben's wife, she was too emotionally involved to be able to administer to the her husband. Greta had disagreed strongly as soon as he'd seen how seriously ill Ben was and how Lilly was instrumental in his care and had asked them to step out of the room.

"How did you know what treatment to give?" Greta crossed to the IV stand and studied the clear bag of fluid that hung off one of the prongs. "I know you've been on rotation on Earth," he continued. "But this looks so complicated," he shook his head as held up the empty syringes. "I mean, how do you know that this is the correct medicine? Are you sure we are not making things worse rather than better?"

Greta Quinn was an old fashion healer, herbs and holistic medicine had been his life and his father's before him. Things were moving so fast on Mandana now. The visitors from Earth had turned medical practices upside down and, though Greta understood that change and learning the new way was a necessity he also felt out of his depth and almost helpless to assist in the new style of treatment. He had turned down the latest offer from Janet Fraiser to join in with the rotation. He felt it was the younger Platon's world but, now, he was feeling very sorry for Lilly as there was nothing he could really do to help her nor did he have any words of wisdom to offer her.

Lilly slumped down in a chair and took Ben's hand in hers again. "I...I didn't know what to do," she admitted. "I knew basic theory but Ben had to guide me," she bowed her head, when her eyes filled with tears again.

Greta shook his head in amazement. "You're telling me that the boy told you what to do, how to treat himself?"

"Yes," Lilly admitted softly. "He was so sick and yet he was able to talk me through his treatment. He diagnosed himself and ordered his drug regime," she sniffed.

"But the boy is dying..."

"No!" Lilly snapped and turned to face her tutor. "He is not dying," she shook her head adamantly. "Last year he would have been dying, this year we are treating him, there is a difference Quinny,"

Greta knelt at her side and took her hand. "I meant that I am so amazed that he was capable of explaining his symptoms let alone telling you how to treat them," he explained softly. "He has very serious infections in both lungs and a fever of over 103, the fact that he was conscious enough to even talk is staggering, Lilly Lou," he reached up and tenderly brushed Lilly's tears away. "He is an amazing young man," he smiled.

Lilly slowly returned the smile. "Not a boy?" Greta had always seen the young Tau'ri as a child, as he did Lilly. To him, they were both young and inexperienced in life, he was the guide and they were the pupils.

"He is an amazing young man," Greta repeated, squeezing Lilly's hand. "And you make me so proud," he leaned in and kissed his protégés forehead. "And," he continued. "You have to show me what I can do to help you, Platon Ashton," he smiled. "I may not be as learned as you but I can offer any support you need."

Lilly nodded, wiped her eyes and turned her attention back to her patient. "I'm not sure what to do next, Quinny," she admitted softly. "He is the strong one, he is my rock, my guide and I'm not sure what to do..."

Greta rubbed her back in sympathy. "I think we need to study Benjamin's books. The answers will be in there," he assured. "You have done the hard work with the equipment as far as I can see, we now need to take things step by step, to make sure we totally know how to give him the correct treatment so he can carry on making you as happy as he does," he stood and laid a comforting hand on Lilly's shoulder. "The other alternative would be to send for Doctor Frasier, she could..."

Lilly shook her head. "Ben would not want us to," she stated almost curtly. "He would want us to figure things out for ourselves," she sighed. "Practice is the only way to learn," she turned and smiled sadly at Greta. "That is Platon Ashton's main teaching."

"Well, Platon Aston is right and we must learn and make him proud, whatever happens."

"Yes we must."

As easy as it was to send for help from Earth, Lilly knew that Ben would be so cross if they didn't even try, if they gave up without putting into practice what they had learned. It was the only way to continue the progress they'd been making.

Greta cleared his throat and straightened. "Right, we need to study, Lilly Lou," he nodded, confidently. "And your parents are anxious for news," he added, glancing out of the window at Sergi who was now pacing the corridor.

"Tell them I will talk to them in the morning," Lilly stood and picked up her damp cloth again. "My place is with my husband," she proceeded to sooth Ben when he began to moan restlessly.

Greta stood and watched with pride. The pupil was fast becoming the tutor and that was right and proper. He patted her arm. "I will not be long," he said and then made his way out of the room to fill Ben's anxious family in and then collect the vast amount of books from the young Platon's office.

Lilly needed him.

Xxx

"How is he?"

Sergi and Hanah asked in unison as Greta walked out of Ben's room.

"He is in the best hands," Greta smiled and placed his arm round Hanah's shoulders when he noticed her shaking slightly. "Your daughter is doing a wonderful job," he reassured.

"Niall said Ben was extremely sick," Sergi crossed to the window and watched his eldest child tend to her patient. "And he looks dreadful, what does he have on his face?" He turned and asked.

"It is providing medication to help him breath. I don't have time to explain how now my friend," Greta crossed to Sergi's side. "Lilly and Ben need my help but I will say that, because of the Earth's training, Benjamin is getting the best treatment possible and your wonderful daughter is fighting hard to save her husband. You should be so proud."

Hanah joined the two men and they all continued to observe the activity in the room. "We are very proud of her," she agreed. "But we are also most concerned. Niall believes that Benjamin's condition is critical and we know how devastated Lilly will be if something happened to him while she tended him. She would never forgive herself if he passed. That is why we both feel that you should take over, Greta."

"No, Hanah. I will not be doing that," Greta shook his head slowly. "I am not experienced enough to treat him. Lilly knows what she's doing. She's the only one who can help him and only she can treat his illness," he admitted. "If it was left to us, Hanah, Ben would not survive. His wife is his only hope and we must give her all the support we can."

"This is going to be so hard on her," Sergi sighed. "She is only a child."

"She is much stronger than you give her credit for," Greta chuckled. "And, your son-in-law is a remarkable man. I have full confidence in both of them."

They stood in silence for a while, watching as Lilly continued to tend her patient as if it was the most natural thing for her to do.

Hanah and Sergi were so incredibly impressed at their daughter's calmness. "We will return home and fetch her some essentials," Hanah said. "She will need a change of clothes if she intends to remain where she quite obviously belongs," she smiled and turned to face Greta. "You must send for us if she needs us," she urged. "She is not alone in this."

"I will, I promise," Great bowed. "And I must hasten to collect as much information on Benjamin's condition as I can."

The three friends hugged and Sergi and Hanah waved goodbye to their daughter when she looked up and smiled at them.

They all had much to do...

Xxx

"L...Lilly?"

Lilly looked up from her research when she heard her husband call her name. She placed the large medical book on the floor and grabbed his hand.

"How are you feeling, my love?"

"I'm c...cold," Ben's rapid breaths fogged the oxygen mask as he began to shiver.

Lilly snagged a blanket from the end of the bed and covered his shaking body, as she had done several times through the night. He had alternated between bone rattling chills and being tremendously hot for hours and Lilly had made sure she had warm blankets and ice packs ready for either reaction to his high fever.

"Just try and relax," she urged, carding her fingers through his hair as he tried to curl up in an effort to warm up.

"W...What's m...my t...temp," Ben stuttered, moving his oxygen mask to one side.

Lilly sighed and reluctantly reached for the thermometer. "You need to sleep," she urged as she placed the end into his ear. He'd been moving restlessly for the past hour and she knew that quality sleep had not been achieved most of the night because of his fever.

"N...need...to know...vitals," Ben groaned. He was very confused but aware that his condition was still poor. He had to help his wife help him, which actually made sense in his muddled mind.

"You're doing great," Lilly tried to reassure. She really wanted him to rest and not worry, he was too sick to worry about things.

"Lilly...please, I need t...o... kn...ow," the look of pleading in Ben's eyes caused her heart to ache, so she nodded her head reluctantly and waited for the bleep of the thermometer.

She, herself, was so incredibly tired, having spent the night either studying or administering to her seriously sick husband. He had been delirious most of the night and she'd had to continually reassure him that he was not alone and that things were going to be all right. Greta had been a wonderful support and help but had left to take Mari home a couple of hours ago and Lilly had been pouring over her books, trying to find out what treatments to give next since then.

"103.8," Lilly informed Ben after the thermometer bleeped.

"T...too h...high."

"I know," Lilly reached for a glass of water and the two Tylenol she had waiting for his next scheduled dose of fever reducer. "You need to take these now," she urged, lifted his head slightly. She placed the capsules in his mouth and helped him to drink a small amount of water. His teeth clattered the glass as he continued to shake but he did manage to swallow the much needed medication. Lilly then slowly lowered his head back onto his pillows and adjusted his oxygen mask.

"Rest, Ben," she urged, gently but Ben shook his head.

"Need to listen to my chest," he insisted, holding out a shaky hand.

Lilly sighed but reached for her stethoscope. There was no point in upsetting him, she knew he needed to try and be in control as much as possible and she wasn't going admit that she didn't really need him to help her too. She placed the end of the stethoscope in his ears, pulled his blanket and sheet down to expose his chest. After warming the bell slightly she placed is over his lungs and rubbed his arm when his head lolled to one side and he close his eyes.

"Ben?" She called and he came to with a start and tried to smile reassuringly. He then orchestrated his wife as he listened to the crackles in his lungs. Lilly sat on the bed and watched as he concentrated.

When Ben's head fell to one side again, Lilly reached and removed the stethoscope out of his ears and stroked his face.

"Just sleep," she whispered, thinking that Ben had passed out again but he moaned and shook his head slightly.

"Keep going," he murmured.

"What was that, my love? Lilly leant her ear near his mouth.

"Keep antibio...going," Ben moaned again and then moved his legs restlessly. "Too hot," he complained.

Lilly sat back and sighed. She then reached for her cloth again.

Things did not seem to be improving and she continued her fight with Ben's fever.

Xxx

"Benjamin? I need you to wake up and take some medication."

Greta gently shook the sleeping man's shoulder. He was loathed to wake his patient but he had been given strict instructions by Lilly on his care before she finally admitted that she needed to sleep herself. It was now early evening and Ben had been pretty much out of it all day, barely rousing at all when Lilly took his vital signs or changed his IV bag. His condition was still poor and Lilly had argued and balked at leaving his side but when Greta confirmed a slight drop in Ben's temperature, she had reluctantly agreed to go to her parents for a few hours rest and a home cooked meal. Greta had promised not to leave their patient and had been given a list of things to look out for and medication timings, though Lilly had done all the technical procedures prior to leaving, the emptying of Ben's catheter bag, the evening dosage of antibiotic and replacing the IV bag. He was actually pretty much set, medication wise, for the next few hours apart from the four hourly dose of Tylenol and Greta was not sure how he was going to manage to wake Ben up enough to actually swallow the capsules and keep them down.

The elderly Platon sighed when Ben just turned his head away when he called his name again. A gentle hand on the sick man's forehead confirmed the increasing temperature and there was no way Greta was going to allow all their hard work in reducing it to be in vain. They had spent hours mopping his brow, inserting ice packs and covering him with warm blankets when the chills hit. Then fact that his temperature had dipped to just above 101 had been a huge boost and Greta knew he'd be risking the wrath of Platon Lilly Ashton if he Ben's fever increased on his watch because he didn't have the ability to wake his patient to take the prescribed medication.

"Sorry, Benjamin but you are going to have to wake up and take these tablets," he urged again, this time giving Ben's shoulder a firm shake and smiled when he received a groan in response.

"That's it, my boy," reaching down he removed his patient's oxygen mask as Ben's eyes fluttered open. "We need to get you a bit more upright so you can swallow these," he told the drowsy young man.

"Greta?" Ben mouthed as the Platon pulled the elastic straps of the mask up over his head.

"In person," Greta replied, placed the mask on the bed and then gently eased an extra pillow behind Ben's neck. "I've been trying to wake you for a while now," he sighed as he adjusted the height of the back of the bed. "You have been out of it all day and we have been most concerned."

"Where's Lilly," Ben croaked. His mouth was so dry and sore.

"She is sleeping," Greta informed and reached for a glass of water.

"Good," Ben mumbled as he closed his eyes again. He felt very shaky, exhausted and weak.

"No sleeping, boy," Greta tutted. "You have to take these, Lilly will be very cross if she comes back to find your temperature so high again." He eased Ben's head forward slightly and helped him swallow the medication with a few small sips of water. "That's good," he praised as he gently lowered his head back onto the pillow. He then took a seat on the bed next to his patient and picked up his wrist.

"How are you feeling?" He asked as he took Ben's pulse.

Ben brought his other hand up to knuckle his eyes. "Really tired," he admitted softly. "What were my last vitals like?" He asked, letting his hand flop back onto the bed when the art of just holding it upright added to his exhaustion.

Greta picked up the chart Lilly had made up for her husband. "Your fever is down to 101.3," he readout.

"Good," Ben mumbled and nodded. He could tell his temperature was lower as things were not so murky and he could think a bit clearer. "What about my lungs?" He asked as he shifted slightly so not to put too much pressure on his still painful ribs. He knew that being as upright as possible was necessary to fight the infection in both lungs but his broken bones were still bothersome. "Can you pass me the stethoscope, again," he murmured, closing his eyes again when another wave of exhaustion washed over him. He longed to curl up and sleep until he felt better but he knew, because of the seriousness of his condition, he couldn't. He needed to help his Platons if he possibly could.

Greta stroked his shoulder. "You must rest, my boy," he sighed but Ben shook his head.

"No, I need to listen to my lungs," he insisted. "My chest feels very tight," he admitted and tried to take a deep breath, which caused him to cough so hard that his vision greyed at the edges.

Greta immediately pulled him forward, rubbed his back, and waited out the coughing spell, offering what comfort he could.

When Ben suddenly started to heave he quickly placed a container under his mouth and the sick man gratefully spat out the gunk that came up from his lungs due to the hacking cough. He then flopped back onto the pillows and allowed Greta to mop the sweat off his face and return the oxygen mask.

He rested for a while as he brought his breathing under control and then held his hand out for the stethoscope. Greta sighed with frustration but helped position the device again. Ben closed his eyes and tried to listen to his congested lungs above the pounding heartbeat that echoed in his ears.

Both sounded awful.

When he managed to pull the stethoscope out of his ears with a very shaky hand, he moved his mask away from his mouth.

"Y...you n...eed to write this down," he urged Greta. "Lilly w...ill n...eed to know."

Greta sighed in frustration again but picked up his pen. "Go on, boy," he urged, softly.

Ben took as deep a breath as he could be for proceeding. "Patient weak, drowsy and hard to wake. Painful non-productive cough," he lay listlessly and assessed the rest of his growing symptoms. "Nausea and chest pain with deep breaths," he sighed. "Temperature 101.3, pulse rate, you know that, Greta. Course crackles in both lower lobes," pausing he rubbed his forehead to try and ease the awful cough induced headache which had joined in with the aching of his ribs and his queasy stomach. "Crackles on inspiration and expiration," he continued, knowing that the information he was imparting was not at all good, the infection in his lungs was a very serious one and he hoped that the antibiotics he'd asked Lilly to give him were the right ones. He knew that because he had been so ill and muddled - he could have actually prescribed himself anything. What he really needed was someone to do blood test and get it analysed at the SGC. "Ask Lilly to draw some blood," he asked and whimpered softy, he could not prevent himself from giving in to the overwhelming feeling of exhaustion that pulled at him once more. He wanted to stay awake but found himself tumbling back into oblivion. He couldn't decide whether he was passing out or falling asleep again. It was as if someone had just turned the lights out and he had no choice in the matter. "I'll explain later," he fumbled to put his mask back on and let his head fall to one side again.

"Benjamin?" Greta looked up from his note taking and shook the drowsy Platon's shoulder again.

"Later, can't stay awake..." Ben mumbled sleepily and Greta sighed heavily.

"I'll let you rest then," he allowed and lowered the bed slightly so Ben looked more comfortable. He then pulled the sheet over the now sleeping man's chest and let his hand rest over his lungs. His heart sank at the rattle he felt underneath his touch and he checked the sun clock. Lilly would be returning soon and she would know what to do, hopefully.