"You look so much better, child," Greta greeted when Lilly returned to her husband's bedside. "Did you sleep well, my love," he crossed and kissed Lilly gently on the cheek. She stood tenderly stroking her husband's forehead as she visually checked his condition. It was now nearly midnight and she was about hear an update from her senior Platon before he returned to Mari and his bed.

"Has he been awake at all?" Lilly asked as she reached for his chart and started to run her eye over it.

"You did not answer my question, Lilly Ashton," Greta persisted. "Did you manage to sleep at all?"

"What?" Lilly mumbled as she concentrated on assessing the information compiled since her departure.

"Lilly." Greta tipped the corner of the chart down. "I asked if you slept at all."

"Yes, yes, I slept," Lilly, replied avoiding his gaze as she crossed to Ben's IV stand. "This will need changing soon," she stated to herself, giving the fluid bag a slight squeezed. "And it looks like you're due another dose of antibiotic's, Ben," she sighed, flipping through his chart.

Greta made his way to her side and placed his hand on her arm. "Are you all right?" He asked, concern showing in his voice. Lilly seemed jittery and nervous, bordering on manic and it worried him.

"Lilly? Are you all right?" He repeated when she all but ignored him and carried on reading. It was then that Greta realised her hands were shaking and he gently steered her over the bedside chair and urged her to sit.

"You have to calm down, Lilly Lou," he removed the chart from her hands and knelt at her side. "Benjamin needs you to be strong," he continued as Lilly then bowed her head. "You are doing so well but we need to keep our heads. He is still very sick."

"I know," Lilly's voice was barely above a whisper as she glanced up and watched her husband sleep. "He is so still," she observed and then turned to Greta. "There's something we are missing, Quinny," she sighed.

"Like?"

"I don't know," Lilly slowly shook her head. "His temperature is down so the antibiotics seem to be working but his chest sounds just as bad and he is so lethargic."

"He is sick, he needs to sleep as it is the best way for his body to recover," Greta assured.

"It's more than that," Lilly continued to shake her head as she moved to her husband's side and started to run her fingers through his stringy hair. "Apart from being aware enough to take some medication, he's really been out of it for the day."

"Like I said, he is very sick," Greta repeated. "It is to be expected."

"No, there's something more to it," Lilly stood up and started to nervously pace. "What am I missing?" She mused, picking up the chart again.

Greta bowed his head and sighed. "He needs time, child. His body is undergoing a great stress."

Lilly picked up one of Ben's encyclopaedias from the pile that were on the bedside table and started flicking through it. "When I was on Earth, Max had pneumonia," she sighed, licking her index finger before turning another page. "He had far more tubes and leads than Ben has," she turned the next page and then glanced over at Greta. "We are missing something, Quinny," she repeated.

Greta picked up another book and started to study it. "Okay, let's see if we can find anything," he smiled.

The two Platons then lost themselves in their research as their patient slept on, barely stirring at all, even with his wife's continual urging when she got up to fetch other book's.

Xxx

"Go home, Quinny," Lilly sighed and closed her book. "You should have returned to Mari hours ago, she will be worried." she smiled sadly.

They'd been going around in circles for over an hour now and making little progress, apart from the fact that Lilly had replaced Ben's oxygen mask with a nasal cannula when they discovered that they risked over oxygenating him, which could cause further problems. He had managed to smile weakly at his wife when she did the exchange but returned to sleep immediately despite her urging to stay awake.

Greta yawned and closed the book in his hands. "I am tired," he admitted.

"Mari is going to be so cross with me, I'm so sorry," she apologised as she stretched.

"It will not be a problem," Greta stood and reached for his coat. "She understands the long hours I work," he shrugged as he put it on. "She has been a Platon's wife for a lifetime," he smiled, crossed and kissed Lilly's cheek. "I need you to try and rest while Benjamin rests," he then urged the young Platon. "There is no point in you becoming ill as well," he patted her arm, gently.

Lilly returned the smile. "I will rest," she agreed. Although she'd returned to her parent's home she'd only managed to sleep for just over an hour as Ben's condition kept running through her mind. She was probably as exhausted as Greta, not that she was going to admit to that.

"Did your mother feed you?" Greta asked as he crossed to Ben's side and placed his hand on the sick man's forehead. "You need to keep up your strength, Lilly Lou," he sighed when he noted that the young man felt warmer.

"Don't fuss, Quinny," Lilly huffed, light heartedly. "You know my mother, there was no way she was going to let me leave without some food in my stomach," she joined Greta and took her husband's hand. It was then she discovered how dry his skin was. She reached and pulled Ben's blanket down slightly and placed her hand on his abdomen and then, turned, and kissed Greta on the cheek.

"You are clever man, my Quinny," she grinned, turned and picked up her book again.

"Lilly?"

"He needs food in his stomach," she glanced up and beamed as she marked her place in her book.

"There is no way he can eat, child."

"I know but he hasn't had any nutrition for days. He needs a lot of calories," she sat and picked up another book. "While I was on Earth, they gave Max some sort of feed through his nose. Janet said he was too sick to tolerate solid food and this was the best way to build his strength up to fight the infection," she ran her fingers along a line of type. "Here," she nodded and started to read the passage out loud. "If a seriously ill patient has eaten little or nothing for more than five days, nutritional support should be started," she glanced up a Greta. "He has not eaten anything since last week," she sighed. "He needs calories and fast. That's why he's so listless and weak."

"Are you sure?"

"No, not 100%," Lilly admitted. "But I do remember Max having a tube in his nose and it says here that that is the easiest route to give liquid feed, through the nose and into the stomach, a nasogastric tube."

"Do we have such food?"

"No," Lilly shook her head. "But I do know where to get some," she smiled sadly.

"The Stargate?"

"Yes. I need to contact Doctor Fraiser; she will know what to do..."

"But, Ben would not want you to."

"I know, but unless we do something he will die. He is becoming too weak to fight any more. I need to talk things through with Janet and ask her to send through some more supplies," she sighed. "If I feel able to act on her advice I will. If not, I will take Ben back to Earth for their more advance treatment," she placed her book on the floor and took her husband's hand once more. "I cannot stand by and let him d..ie," she stuttered.

"Can you wait until morning?" Greta asked, placing his arm round his protégé. "It is very late and dark. The journey to the Stargate will not be easy."

"I don't know, Quinny," Lilly sniffed and shook her head.

"May I suggest we wait, he is resting well and it is merely hours to sun break. I will return home, freshen up and return with your father, he can escort you to the ring. Does that sound feasible?" He asked, gently and Lilly thought for a few moments. Ben did seem settled, for now, and Greta was correct about the journey though the hills. It was probably best to wait. Ben would be all right for a little while longer as long as she made sure she kept his IV running full blast.

Lilly nodded slowly and took a deep breath. "We will wait until day break," she agreed. "Go, get some rest my dear Quinny," she gave Greta a peck on the cheek. "Ben and I will be fine for now," she smiled with as much reassurance as she could. She was feeling slightly happier about things now that she'd figured out for herself what she believed to be the next stage in her husband's care.

Greta returned the kiss. "Try and rest," he urged again. "Sunrise will not be long, child."

Xxx

"Lilly, your father is waiting out front."

Lilly turned and smiled at Platon Beuner. "Thank you," she nodded and was just about to leave her husband's side when she heard him whisper her name.

She reached and gently stroked Ben's hair. "Hey," she greeted warmly and then turned to Anton Beuner.

"Could you inform my father that I will be with him shortly?" She asked him and took her seat again. She picked up Ben's hand. "How are you feeling?" She asked as she ran her fingers up and down his too warm skin.

"Tired," Ben mumbled, turning his head to face her.

"I know," Lilly soothed tenderly. "You have been sleeping a long time," she sighed.

"Mmm," Ben closed his eyes again. He felt so exhausted. "Just wanna sleep," his words were slurred and his mind muddled. He felt like surrendering to his illness and giving up. "Too tired to fight anymore, Lilly," he sighed. "I'm so sorry..."

"No. You have to listen to me," Lilly urged, squeezing his hand firmly. "I'm going to the Stargate..."

"No. Need you to stay with me," Ben opened his eyes to look at his wife. He was so frightened that if she left him, he'd slip away. "I need you to fight for me. I'm too tired now."

"Ben, please just listen to me," Lilly ran her fingers through his hair. "I think you need some liquid feeds, like Max had. Janet said that patients often need calories to help fight infections and you haven't eaten for days, my love. I'm going to get some supplies from the Stargate, so you'll soon be feeling so much stronger," she reassured.

Ben lifted a shaking hand and ran it over his hipbones and then his abdomen. "I can eat," he sighed when he felt the jutting out bones. "I will eat," he promised but Lilly shook her head.

"You are too sick, my love. You are too weak to eat. I'm going to fetch some help..."

"I d...don't want to go back," Ben's voice broke as he pleaded. "W...e have to do this ourselves," he paused and stood a shuddering breath. "Part of learning. No matter what happens. Promise me. Have to learn," he closed his eyes and his head lolled weakly from side to side.

Lilly grabbed is hand again, she knew that he was using a lot of energy just talking; she didn't want him to be upset, he didn't have the strength. "I will care for you. I promise. I just need the equipment to help you. Quinny and I have been studying your books all night, we know what to do. I don't want to you worry, you can rest now. We have you."

"Uh, huh," Ben seemed to sigh in relief as he gave into his exhaustion.

Lilly leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Just sleep, my love," she urged gently. "I will be back soon," she promised and then crossed to Anton.

"I want someone with him at all times," she ordered. "He is very weak and scared. I will return before nightfall. Platon Quinn knows what to do," she assured him and then glanced over at her sleeping husband before hurrying out of the room.

She knew he was tired and giving up, his life and her future were solely in her hands and there was no way she was going to let anything happen to either of them.

Xxx

Lilly and Sergi made good time to the Stargate. They had spent the journey in silence, both lost in their worry for the sick young man back in the hospital. Sergi had never seen his daughter look so exhausted or lost. He'd been a bit apprehensive about the young Tau'ri's intention toward his oldest child but Ben had proved him wrong. Lilly was blissfully happy and that was because of Benjamin, he seemed to be the soul mate Sergi didn't think his daughter would ever find and, if anything happened to him...if he didn't make it, he knew Lilly's life would be devastated and that would break his heart.

He had barely been able to halt the buggy when Lilly jumped off and sprinted to the Stargate.

"Lilly?" He called after her, but she ignored him, her mind fixed on the one thing; getting help for her husband, nothing else mattered.

When she reached the DHD, she took a deep calming breath before dialling Earth's address. Her hands still shook as she keyed in her code on the GDO. She was worried that her radio call would not be answered as they weren't due to check in for another week. The Gate whooshed open and she sighed in relief as she waited for a reply to her standard radio hail. She checked her bag as she paced just in front of the DHD, making sure she had a copy of Ben's chart and the sample of his blood she hoped they'd analyse and guide her to the treatment her husband needed.

"Lilly?" Her radio finally crackled to life.

Lilly was surprised to hear Daniel's voice.

"Daniel?" She peered at the 'gate as if she could see the Tau'ri archaeologist through the rippling puddle.

"What's wrong, Lilly?" He was sitting in the embarkation room doing some research when the emergency call came in and had rushed over to answer the call.

"I need Janet."

Daniel could hear the desperation in the Mandanan Platon's voice. Something was obviously very wrong. "Stand by," Daniel said, picked up the phone, dialled the infirmary and put a call through for the immediate presence of the base physician before returning his attention to Lilly.

"Is Ben there?" He asked gently. Daniel turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder and gave General Hammond a wan smile.

"What's going on Doctor Jackson?" The General asked in concern.

"Not sure yet, sir," Daniel sighed and then keyed the radio again.

"Is Ben all right, Lilly?" he asked.

"I...I... need, Doctor Fraiser," Daniel heard the stutter in Lilly's voice.

"Daniel, what have you got?"

He then looked up, smiled in relief when Janet Fraiser appeared at his side and moved to allow her better access to the screen.

"I think it's Ben," he said and his sigh was all but drowned out by Janet's as she pressed the communication button on the console.

"Lilly, it's Janet," she stated, grabbed a piece of paper and removed the pencil from behind her ear.

"Oh, thank god," they could all hear the relief in Lilly's voice. "I need your help, Benjamin is very sick...and..."

"Take it slowly," Janet urged. "You need to calm down and tell me exactly what is wrong with him."

Lilly took a deep breath before continuing. "As you know a week ago, Ben fell off the roof of our home. He dislocated his shoulder, broke three ribs and suffered a concussion."

"Yes." Janet confirmed.

"He made reasonable progress after we tended his shoulder and treated his ribs but three days ago he started to run a fever."

"Okay," Janet sighed as she began to take notes. "Carry on," she urged, Lilly was obviously trying to control her emotions as she imparted the information. "Its okay, Lilly," Janet soothed. "I'm here to help."

Lilly nodded at the puddle and took another deep breath to pull herself together. "He complained of a tight chest and started to struggle with a cough," she continued. "He then urged me to take him to hospital when his fever hit 103 and then diagnosed himself with pneumonia, affecting both lungs..."

"He diagnosed himself?" Janet interrupted and glanced in shock at the worried faces gathered at the console.

"Yes," Lilly sighed in response. "He also told me how to treat him, what to do...he was so sick but he knew what to do," Lilly took another shuddering breath. "Under his guidance I set up an IV and started him on fluids and antibiotics," she paused and reached into her pocket for the notes she had bought with her. "Levoquin," she read out and then looked up at the camera again. "I put him on oxygen and he assessed his chest..."

"He?"

"Yes, he used the stethoscope. He said he has course crackles in the base of both lobes."

"Okay," Janet hurriedly scribbled down the facts, shaking her head in amazement that her friend had been aware enough to diagnose himself. "Go on."

"He is nauseous and has a painful but productive cough. Temperature did rise to 103.8 but we managed to get it down with tepid bed baths and ice packs," Lilly continued. "Breathing is rapid and shallow, nails are slightly blue and he is very weak and lethargic now," she admitted.

Janet assessed the information she'd been given before responding. "It looks like he knows what he's doing," she confirmed confidently.

"He is very weak," Lilly repeated and Janet immediately recognised the overwhelming worry in her voice.

"How weak?"

"We are struggling to wake him at all," Lilly admitted. "I fear he is too weak to fight the infection," she whispered.

"He's young and strong, I'm sure he..." Janet assured.

"He has not eaten in over six days now," Lilly interrupted. "When I was on rotation you gave the airman some liquid feed when he was not strong enough to feed himself. I checked in one of Benjamin's medical book and it states that seriously sick people need calories to fight infection and fever."

Janet smiled slowly, the young woman was learning fast. "You're right, Platon," she replied. "If he can't eat you need to provide nourishment," she agreed.

"We do not have anything like it here."

"I'll bring some through with me..."

"No. No," Lilly urged strongly. "We need to do this ourselves. Ben is insistent that we have to care for him so we learn."

"But..."

"No, Janet. I have promised my husband that I will care for him, no matter what," Lilly's voice was adamant and Janet sighed and shook her head in frustration.

"He is our responsibility," she stated, hoping that Lilly would see sense; Ben needed specialised treatment, treatment she knew that the Mandana's were not yet capable of. Yes they were learning fast but still needed so much support and guidance from the SGC.

"He is my responsibility," Lilly countered curtly. "I have made a promise to my husband. I understand if you are not willing to help..."

"No, Lilly, of course we will help. I just thought it would be easier on him and you if I came over," Janet sighed again.

"Thank you but no."

Janet shook her head but smiled at Lilly's response. She was shaping up to be a wonderful Platon.

"Okay, Lilly. Stand by," she then spoke calmly into the intercom. "I'm going to send through all the equipment you'll need and a step by step instructions of what to do. The procedure itself is relatively straight forward," she reached for her pen and paper again. "I'm going to add in a couple of inhalers and more antibiotics...," she continued, "and some intubation kits. Not that I think for one minute you'll need them but you should have them just in case," she kept her tone as light as possible so she wouldn't worry her friend too much but Janet knew that pneumonia could go either way. She needed to make sure they had everything they needed for any eventuality.

"I have brought with me a blood and sputum samples," Lilly countered. "Benjamin said you might analyse them to make sure we are giving him the right antibiotics. He is concerned that his fever was muddling his judgement at the time."

"He is a remarkable young man," Janet sighed, shaking her head again.

"Indeed he is," Lilly agreed.

"Okay, I'll send you through all you need in approximately twenty minutes," Janet then stated. "Send the samples through now and someone will need to return the day after tomorrow for the results."

"I will send Niall."

Janet thought for a moment. "Are you sure you don't want me to come and help?" She asked.

"No, Janet. Thank you, but we have to do this. We have to learn ourselves. You do understand?"

"Yes, I understand, Lilly," Janet reluctantly conceded and then straightened. "Stand by," she repeated. "Please tell Ben that we are all praying and thinking of him and if you need anything at all, just contact us."

"I will and thank you," Lilly smiled, wishing that Janet could see her.

"Be strong, Lilly," Janet grabbed her paper and ran out of the room.

Daniel sprinted to the 'gate, portable radio in hand, to grab the specimens Lilly was sending. He really wanted to go and offer her comfort but understood her point of view. He had the utmost confidence in his new friend's abilities and knew that Ben would be guiding her as much as he could under the circumstances.

They were millions of miles away and all they could do was pray.