A/N: Hey guys! I know it's been forever so here's a little Thanksgiving present for you guys! Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven

"What is sickle cell disease?" Rae asked Keller.

"It's a disease where red blood cells don't carry enough oxygen to the organs. This cause damage to the organs and extreme pain."

"Is it deadly?"

"Not necessarily, although it does shorten the person's life by about 30 years. And causes random spasms of pain."

Rae looked at Keller with horror in her face. "So you mean he could die before he reaches 70? And how often are these random spasms?"

Keller shook her head. "More like before he reaches 60. And the spasms depend on the person. It can vary from several times a day to barely ever."

Rae put her face in her hands, "Oh god."

Keller put her hand on Rae's shoulder. "We don't know what it is yet. The only reason I mentioned it is because people in his family have had it. I have to take a blood sample first to be sure."

Rae nodded, "Okay."

Just then John walked into the room. "Hey, I heard what happened, is Lorne okay?"

"We don't know yet, I have to go." Keller excused herself.

John looked at Rae, "Are you okay?"

Rae looked up, "I'm fine."

John sat down next to her and hesitantly put an arm around her. Rae leaned into him and buried her face in his shirt. He could feel her shaking slightly. Finally she pulled her face out and wiped her eyes. John tilted her chin up.

"He's going to be okay."

"How do you know that?" Rae sniffed, "It's just like Emery all over again."

Then she broke down and sobbed in John's shirt again. John pulled her in closer, wishing he knew the right words to comfort her. Emery was her little brother, he had died from leukemia when he was six. John had said those exact same words to her,

"He's going to be okay."

But, six months later, he died. Rae had been heartbroken. Emery had been her pride and joy, she had adored him and spoiled him rotten.

"Rae," John sighed, "I'm not going to lie to you, I don't know if he's going to be okay or not,"

Rae sobbed harder into his shirt.

"but I do know that I'll be with you all the way."

Rae raised her head and looked at John. She had never seen him look at her so...so lovingly. He reached over and wiped the tears from her eyes. They stared into each others eyes and started to lean in.

"Hey guys, I heard what happened to Lorne, is he okay?" McKay asked as he burst into the infirmary.

Rae and John broke away from each other and looked at each other awkwardly.

"Well?" McKay asked, completely unaware of what he'd just interrupted.

John cleared his throat, "Keller doesn't know yet, we're waiting for her to come back."

"Ah, I see. Rae did you get a chance to ask him why his report was so scrambled?"

Rae and John both stared at him in disbelief.

"Oh, that's probably not a good question to asked right now huh?"

Rae just shook her head, "No Rodney, I didn't get a chance to ask him."

"Oh, well, let me know when you get some news."

"Okay." John and Rae answered.

McKay gave them both a look before going, "Hmph." and walking out of the infirmary.

John looked at Rae and was about to say something when a voice came over the comm,

"Col. Sheppard to the control room."

John looked at Rae,

"Go," she said. "I'll be fine."

He nodded and leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll be back." He whispered in her ear.

After he left, Rae buried her face in her hands, trying to figure out all her confusing emotions.

A/N: Ahhhh! They almost kissed! Then Rodney came along and ruined it! Haha :) So most of the stuff about sickle cell disease is true. Some of it I made up to go along with the story. hope you liked it!