Two days later they took her off the I.V. They let her sit up and eat broth and jell-o. She actually managed to stay awake for several hours.

A couple of days later Dr. Keller strode up to her bed. "How are you feeling today, Mrs. McKay?"

"Megan, please. Better; bored; crazed with inactivity." She grimaced and smiled.

"Well, those are all sure signs that you are almost well. They are also signs that it's time to start getting you on your feet." At Megan's excited look, she held up her hand. "Don't get too excited. At first, you'll be doing no more than walking down this aisle and back. Possibly a couple of bed lengths."

Megan sighed. "It's a start Dr. Keller. Don't take this the wrong way. I'm very, very grateful, but I'm also very, very tired of your infirmary."

Dr. Keller laughed. "Yes, well, don't it wrong when I say for the entire staff, we'll be glad when you're released."

Megan joined her in laughter. "He's been a grumpy bear, hasn't he?"

"Yes, he has." Dr. Keller smiled gently then turned serious for a moment. "But for good reason. He's been worried sick that you wouldn't pull through. He loves you very much."

Megan glowed. "Yes, he does and I love him just as much."

"Now see that confounds us all." Dr. Keller shook her head, smiling to take the sting out of her words. "Watching him at his unflagging vigil by your side, listening to him talk to you, seeing how determined he was to make you live by sheer will power has given me a greater understanding of the man."

"He hides the soft underbelly quite well." Megan replied with an affectionate smile, then she looked past the doctor and her eyes lit up, her face glowed.

Dr. Keller turned, knowing it would Dr. McKay standing behind her. "Just in time," she told him.

"In time? For what?" Rodney looked at her puzzled.

"To take your lovely wife for a short walk."

"A walk? Really?" He perked up.

"Regretfully, just down the aisle a ways. She is going to tire extremely fast. In fact, if she makes it down to Norris' bed I'll be happy."

"I'll be happy when I can make it to our quarters." Megan mumbled with a sly glance at Rodney.

Rodney flushed, beet red. "Meg!"

Dr. Keller looked embarrassed. "Short walk." She turned and beat a hasty retreat.

Megan chuckled. "Come here. I'm finally awake long enough to do this." She reached up and tugged him down and kissed him.

A slow, lingering kiss full of promise. Rodney groaned and managed to get seated on the bed. Gently, he pulled her close, kissing her back.

"You two want me to pull the curtain?" Sheppard drawled.

They broke apart, flushed. Rodney brushed her hair off her forehead. "Tempting, Colonel. Tempting." Rodney responded softly.

Megan's lilting laughter filtered down the infirmary. "Very. Dr. Keller's ordered me to walk though so I suppose I should get off my duff."

Rodney jumped up and helped her off the gurney. The scrubs, the smallest they had, hung on her threatening to fall to the floor at any moment. He swallowed hard at the physical evidence of how frail she still was.

"Okay," she said with determination, "who's Norris?"

Confused, John pointed out a burly, freckled face young man two beds down.

"She doesn't think I can make it that far? Hmmph!" She set her jaw stubbornly and started walking with Rodney on one side and John on the other. By the time she reached the bed she was trembling and sweating with the effort.

"Let me get you back to bed." Rodney started to lift her up.

"No. I can do more." She turned and started back.

"Megan." John frowned. "Don't overdo."

"Meg." Rodney scolded at the same time.

"Let go!" She hissed, glaring at them. "I'll do it alone." They both let go of her. She took two tottering steps and wobbled.

"Crap! Meg!" Rodney swooped her up and carried her to the bed ignoring her waspish comments and demands to be put down. He glared down as stubbornly as she stared up until he had her tucked under the covers.

"Don't treat me like an invalid." She snapped angrily.

"Don't be pigheaded. You're energy levels are nil." He snapped back.

She glared at him, then suddenly the anger drained from her. "I want out of here. I want out so badly. I miss…." She broke off burying her head in her hands. She drew up knees up, crying quietly.

Rodney and John exchanged panicked looks and then Rodney sat on the bed and pulled Meg onto his lap. "Meg," he asked softly. "What's really upset you?"

"I hate being sick and seeing you so worried and not eating right." She clutched his shirt tightly. "I want to wake up next to you not in this antiseptic smelling infirmary."

He rubbed her back and traded anguished looks with John. Megan very rarely had meltdowns and neither were very good at handling them.

Just then John's radio clicked. "Sheppard, here."

He listened intently, his eyes narrowing. "Alright. Keep an eye on them. I'm on my way." He met Rodney's eyes. "Newbies, taunting some of your scientists that Ronon has been working with. I got to go rescue the newbies before Megan here has company."

Rodney turned his attention back to Megan unaware that the medical staff was unobtrusively keeping an eye on them in case she took a turn for the worse.

"Meg, you are getting well."

"I know." She hiccupped tearfully.

"And soon you'll be hogging our bed again."

"I don't hog the bed." She muttered.

"You take up three quarters." He huffed gently.

"Yeah, but you're in that three quarters. Underneath me if I recall correctly." Megan said with a final sniff looking up at him with a tiny grin.

He wiped the tears from her face tenderly and leaned down to kiss her. "In you, if I recall correctly." He murmured softly against her lips.

She grinned brazenly. "I do believe you are right, Dr. McKay." She squirmed in his lap. "I wonder if we can bribe Dr. Keller into releasing me if I promise to behave."

"No, you can't because I know you won't." Dr. Keller said hiding her amusement at Dr. McKay's flustered appearance. "You will be our guest for another week or two at least."

Megan sighed and rested her head on Rodney's shoulder. "I shouldn't complain. I should be dead."

Dr. Keller checked her vitals and made notations on her chart then left the two of them alone.

Rodney pressed a kiss on her head and tightened his embrace then plopped her onto the bed.

"Rodney?"

"Shhh." He shut the curtains and kicked off his shoes. "Scoot over."

She moved and he laid down next to her. With a contented sigh, she snuggled up to him. Exhausted, she fell asleep with his hand stroking her back.

She woke up sprawled over Rodney's lax body. She remained absolutely still listening to the gentle huff of his breathing. She noticed the curtain was still shut and that the lighting had been dimmed. She smiled at the solicitousness of the medical staff. She had no doubt that they knew he was in here with her, sleeping, but then again they were probably just as grateful that he was sound asleep and not haranguing them.

She shifted slightly and felt only the smallest of aches in her muscles. Nearly pain free! What a glorious feeling to be able to move, to touch without being in excruciating pain. She lay there content to feel his steady heartbeat under her hand. After Scott died she had thought she would never love again. And then Rodney had walked into her life and into her heart. She loved him every bit as much as she had loved Scott.

The curtain silently parted and Dr. Keller peeked in. She smiled at Rodney and then shifted her gaze to Megan. "Six hours. The longest he's been asleep since you arrived. I was beginning to get worried about him."

She moved into the room and took a seat. "How are you feeling?"

"Alive; achy."

"No pain though?"

"No," Megan sighed softly. "It feels great to be able to touch and be touched again after five months, Dr. Keller."

"Call me Jennifer."

"Jennifer. Any contact at all has been extremely painful for the past five months. Just laying in bed hurt. Wearing clothes hurt like sandpaper on raw skin.

Jennifer frowned and nodded. "He showed me your pain meds and told me the doses you were taking. The fact that you didn't overdose tells me how much pain you were in."

"How long have you been here, Jennifer?"

"About a year and a half. It's an amazing place."

"And dangerous?"

"There's a danger, yes. More for the teams that go on missions that those who stay in Atlantis, but yes there is a certain amount of danger, but the rewards are worth the risk." Jennifer looked thoughtful and sad for a moment then shook it off. "I actually came in here to see if you were awake and wanting to stretch your legs a little."

"I'd love to. Let's see if I can get up without waking him."

Jennifer came around and helped her disentangle herself and get out of bed without disturbing him. She wrapped an arm around Megan's waist as she slid off the bed hiding her dismay at how little Megan weighed behind a professional mask.

Megan gained her feet shakily. Nearly four weeks unconscious and being fed thru a tube had left her considerably weakened. Slowly she shuffled forward determined to regain her strength so she could get out of the infirmary.

"Easy," Jennifer whispered. "Take your time."

"I just want to feel like myself again." Megan ground out as she forced herself to continue placing one shaky foot in front of the other.

"You will," Jennifer said encouragingly. "It just…"

"Don't say it'll take time." Megan snapped angrily cutting her off. "I've lost too much time to this illness! My career's over, my family and friends have no idea where I am. I haven't been able to even hug my husband."

"Well, then," Jennifer replied not taking offense at the angry tone. "I guess we better buckle down and get you well so that you can, um, well…" She flushed.

Megan gave her an impish grin, her mood flip-flopping. "Yeah, I've been missing that, too."

Jennifer groaned. "I really don't want to know about Dr. McKay's, um, private life."

Megan chuckled. "Make you a deal." She stopped to catch her breath. "Get me out of here so he can have a private life again and I'll keep you totally in the dark about the details."

Jennifer laughed. "I like you Megan. It's a deal." She noticed how shaky the petite woman was and turned her back toward her bed. "Let's get you back."

"Not yet." Megan said stubbornly.

"Megan, you've already went further than earlier. Don't overdo it. I'm serious. We've beat the virus, but your immune system is very fragile right now."

"Fine." Megan agreed ungraciously and began making her way slowly back.

The curtain yanked back and Rodney stepped out looking mussed and still half asleep. His eyes wide and panicked until they lighted on Megan and Jennifer.

"Hey, Lover boy," Megan greeted him. "Made another two beds down."

Rodney's eyes drank in the sight of her. She was practically nothing but skin and bones, but she wasn't all tense with pain and there was a sparkle in her eyes. "Marathon ready in no time." He quipped with a grin.

She reached for him and he took her from Jennifer, wrapping her in his embrace. He frowned at the trembling he felt. He felt her begin to wilt and swept her up in his arms. He started to place her on the bed, but she stopped him.

"No, I want a to clean up, a bath or a shower either one. I feel grungy."

Rodney looked over at Dr. Keller.

"We have a shower that the doctors and nurses use on occasion, but I don't think she can stay on her feet long enough."

Rodney looked torn. If they were at the bungalow or even in his quarters, he wouldn't hesitate to shower with her, but here in the infirmary everyone would know. He had a reputation on Atlantis; a reputation for being prickly about his dignity in addition to being obnoxious, self-centered and condescending. He also knew that the past four weeks had put a serious dent in that reputation.

Everyone who saw him at Megan's side saw him being gentle, concerned, loving. They saw him care more about someone else than himself. A few had seen him shed tears and beg her not to leave him. At the time he hadn't cared. Looking down at her now he realized he still didn't care. She wanted a shower and he would get her a shower.

"Get a clean set of scrubs, Dr. Keller and show me where the shower is."

"Dr. McKay…"

"My wife wants a shower." He set his jaw obstinately.

Dr. Keller eyed Megan. They had of course sponged her over the weeks, but she really could use a good scrubbing and shampoo. And she'd probably feel better afterwards, Jennifer had to admit. "Okay," she grimaced. "TMI" she muttered as she walked away.

Rodney followed her down the aisle and into another room. Lockers with name tags lined the walls. At the end of the room was another door. Dr. Keller stopped and got a new set of scrubs and handed them to Megan. "Through there. Towels are right inside the door. Soap and shampoo are in the shower." She turned around and strode off.

Rodney went through the door and into the shower room. Megan had been very quiet and he looked down to see her eyes were shut. "Meg?"

Her eyes fluttered open. "I'm here; just tired and little embarrassed."

He sat down on one of the benches lining the wall. "Embarrassed? You?"

She gave a faint smile. "It is possible."

"Hmmph." They sat for a second in silence. "Why are you embarrassed?"

"Being carried around like a small child; unable to care for myself."

"Oh."

"What did you think?"

He shook his head and settled her on the bench. "I'll get towels." He got towels and hung them just outside the shower stall and began stripping.

"Rodney, what is it?"

Rodney came back to her and helped her with the scrubs. "It doesn't bother you? Them knowing we're in here showering together?"

"No. It bothers me that not one of them would want to take my place." She placed her palm on his face feeling the rough texture of whiskers. "Let's get naked and slippery wet." She murmured against his lips as she kissed him.

He groaned at the memories her husky request brought to mind. He thought of silky skin slippery with soap sliding between his hands and moans of pleasure and felt his body respond.

She managed to gather enough energy to straddle him. She leaned her head forward on his shoulder. She groaned. "I want you so bad." She moved against him creating a slight friction that caused heat to spiral through both of them.

"You can barely stand." He stammered trying to do the honorable thing and not overexert her.

Megan kissed him. "Don't have to stand." She moved forward and then sank back sighing as he slid in her.

He closed his eyes and gave himself over to the feel of her rocking back and forth. They hadn't had sex for five long months and his body was very willing to resume the practice. He grasped her hips and helped her set a rhythm that soon had them both gasping and moaning and climaxing.

He helped her to her feet and into the shower. She leaned against the tile wall trembling, her reserves spent, while he got the water on and adjusted. He soaped a washrag and then said, "Come here. Wrap your arms around me."

She leaned against him and wrapped her arms around his neck surrendering to his ministrations. When he finished her backside he turned her around, wrapping one arm around her waist he washed her off. He knelt and washed her legs and feet.

"I need two hands to shampoo you." He said hoping she had a solution since she couldn't stand any longer without his help.

With a tired little smile she sank to her knees sitting on her heels. She leaned back slightly and let the water soak her hair. He squirted shampoo in his hands and began to gently massage her scalp working the suds through her hair until she made happy little sounds. He tilted her head back into the water and carefully rinsed the suds out then he worked conditioner into the clean strands.

She leaned forward and licked his semi-erect manhood smiling impishly when he jerked in surprise. His fingers tightened in her hair when she mouthed him. He uttered soft words of encouragement and bliss as she continued to suck and nip and lathe him until he came.

Satisfied with the result of her actions, she leaned back and let the water rinse the conditioner from her hair. "I think I'm ready to get out now."

"You sound very pleased with yourself." He retorted as he got her to her feet.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "You look very pleased with me." She countered smugly.

He turned off the water and got the towels. He toweled them both off and carried her to the bench. Sitting her down he dropped a towel over her head and began towel drying her hair. "There." he said and began folding the towels and placing them on the floor at her feet.

"What are you doing?" She asked suspiciously.

"Teaching you a lesson about smugness." He said matter-of-factly.

"Really?" She drawled challengingly while she quivered with anticipation.

He knelt on the towels and said, "Really," then spread her legs, bent his head and licked her. She inhaled sharply as exquisite sensations burst inside her..

As he continued to flick his tongue across her clit, she lost all train of thought. Heat coiled deep in her until she felt heavy and then she climaxed with a small cry. She sat there languidly while he dressed only stirring when he began to pull the clean scrubs on her.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Umm," she nodded. "We better get out of here before they come looking to see what's wrong."

Rodney chuckled. "I don't think you could make one of them come in here."

"You really think they know we're in here having sex?"

He snorted. "No. They can't believe you married me. They won't want to chance seeing me without clothes on."

She eyed his body. "Idiots." She held out her hands. "Help me up, Lover."

He pulled her to her feet and picked up her, cradling her against him. Sure enough, the locker room was completely empty as they crossed through it. She laid her head against his chest resting. Everyone, she noticed, was busy being occupied with something when they reentered the infirmary.

"Told you," he muttered, scowling.

"Mmmm," she said and pulled his head down for a very passionate, very thorough kiss.

He froze as she caught him completely off-guard. Then he began kissing her back. Her kisses were amazing; no way could he not respond to those sweet lips not if all of Atlantis was watching.

When the kiss finally ended he managed to get her back into the bed. "Let them wonder now," she murmured, "if you make love as well as you kiss."

Startled at the thought, he glanced up and saw several of the nurses staring in their direction speculatively. They flushed when he caught them staring and hurried off.

He glared down at her smirking face. "You do realize I have a reputation to uphold around here?"

"Do you now?" She grinned mischievously. "I believe you may have a different type of reputation now."

"I get a fair amount of what I want done accomplished because of the fear I've managed to instill and more done still because they want me gone as fast as possible."

She studied him intently. "You want me to quit loving on you in public? Keep my hands to myself? Allow you to go around grumping and snarling and instilling fear?"

He swiped a hand through his hair and looked exasperated. "No, of course not. The loving in public part. That's you and I don't want you to change, but I do absolutely retain the right to grump and instill fear in others." He crossed his arms and looked adamant.

"Fine," she closed her eyes and yawned, "go instill fear, Attila." She curled up on her side and drifted off to sleep with a contented smile.

He chuckled and brushed her damp hair back from her face and leaned over and kissed her temple. "I don't deserve you." He whispered then he left to go see if the labs were in shambles yet.

Two weeks of tortuous rehabilitation passed with the speed of two turtles racing. The better Megan felt the more bored and impatient she became with her confinement. Now that she was out of the woods Rodney had to pick his regular duties back up. He has in the labs eight to ten hours a day and often showed up after supper red eyed with exhaustion. On those days she'd kiss him softly and send him to bed.

John brought her his MP3 player loaded with a wide variety of music which helped somewhat. Hours would pass unnoticed as she concentrated on adding even more songs to her impressive repertoire. Teyla dropped by and visited often bringing the rest of the base outside the infirmary alive to Megan. She would tell her stories about people she hadn't met yet in her mellow voice often bringing laughter to the quiet ward. Ronon even stopped by to check on her a few times. He said very little, but seemed sincere in his attention. He was the one who would inform on Rodney. The hours he put in, the meals he wasn't eating, the risks he would take to keep someone else from taking them.

It drove Rodney crazy trying to figure out who was informing on him, but no amount of coercion or cajoling would get Megan to give up her source.