AN: I'm sorry that this chapter is short but it's for the best to keep it separately as it has direct reference to the previous one.

Learning About John's Blame

Atlantis' Infirmary. Aiden had his ankle checked there when first Drs. Simpson and Ginger, followed a moment later by Teyla, Maria and Lt. Vegaz entered it. Aiden didn't know their first names and it didn't bother him at all. Except for Maria they hadn't got on well since John had chosen him as his 2IC.

Aiden watched them expectantly, the raw hope clear in his eyes. Nevertheless, Teyla's sombre expression gave away that their mission was unsuccessful.

Aiden sighed; he didn't long for getting used to another scientist who hadn't set a foot out of his or her lab. Those lab-rats had always been a catastrophe on missions. And, unfortunately, McKay was the one and only scientist who worked the best when you kept reminding him how little time you had, and stressing him. Others, like Dr. Zelenka, could get so nervous that they were prone to making mistakes that could cost them their lives.

Aiden blinked and hissed silently when the doctor treating him pressed the cast too tightly. The doctor, whose name Aiden didn't know, either, apologised immediately: "I'm sorry if it hurt but I had to fasten the cast."

Aiden smiled at him politely and said: "Don't worry about it, doctor."

The doctor nodded and finished with the cast. "You're good to go, Lieutenant," he said and patted Aiden's shin gently.

Aiden thanked him and hopped off the examination table. He took his crutches and walked over to Teyla, who was being checked by Carson. She saw him as soon as he was about five meters away and sent him a sad look.

"So?" Aiden asked when he reached the pair. "How did it go, Teyla?"

She sighed. Carson looked at her intently before closing his eyes. Aiden partly sat on a table next to them and waited. He hated being the one to learn about important things second-hand but there was no other option for him now.

An awkward silence stretched between them while Carson performed his duty as a doctor. A body scan and a quick blood test were some of the standard procedures.

Before he received the results and could return to them, Sarah had popped her head into the area from behind a corner and asked: "Teyla, do you know if Radek's in his lab?"

"He's not," Teyla answered sorrowfully. "He uses Rodney's now."

Sarah gave her an apologetic look. "Oh, okay. I'll find him then." And then she was gone, collecting Isabella on her way to the labs.

Aiden cracked his knuckles and voiced his frustration. "Teyla, hell, tell me what happened on the planet. I can see it that you're fighting with something."

At that time Carson returned. She looked up embarrassed and felt Carson touch her arm gently before encouraging her to speak. "Lass, ye're safe to say anything with us two. Or if ye don't want me to hear it, I can leave ye two here alone."

She took a deep breath and rubbed her forehead. "No, Carson, stay." He nodded and she continued sadly. "Now we're sure Rodney was taken on the cliff. And the pillar down the corridor contained only one text Drs. Ginger and Simpson are about to get translated."

Carson nodded in mute acceptance and wished Rodney had never left for the planet in the first place. All this because of a useless pillar with a message! No ZPM, another futile loss. Carson would have loved to punch or kick something but knew better. He had to appear calm on the outside, it was his role in this tragic play called 'Life' written by the fate itself.

Aiden was also angry that there was no link to the promised ZPM even though the mission had taken its prize, but he could guess that Teyla hadn't told them everything yet. So he prompted: "But…? I can hear a but coming. Or some other version of adding more information. What is it?"

Teyla looked at him in surprise. She was unable to understand how he could read her so easily. However, he had spent a lot of time with her. Despite that, for many people including him, she was still a… How had John called her once? Then he applied it on Rodney to explain the term to her… It was something with texts to read… Oh yeah, he had called her an unfinished novel that could still astonish you with the content of its following pages and chapters. She was sure that Rodney was a much better example, though, as he didn't open up in public and he could be their hero even when he doubted in himself.

Teyla sighed slowly. "You're right, there is more to add, Aiden." Both men sent her a look encouraging her to continue. She said: "I mean, there had been another cave-in in the complex before we arrived. While others were cleaning…"

She stopped when she heard footsteps closing in on them. She was about to spill the beans as to why John had been so hard on himself, but she would never do it in front of him when he believed she hadn't heard anything.

Aiden and Carson noticed the change in her mood and exchanged an unsure glance. Then they heard footsteps, too, and Carson decided to greet the visitor. It was Allan, who looked a bit flushed. He looked around and acknowledged Carson. "Good afternoon, Doctor. Have you seen Lt. Vegaz or Sgt. Vysockaja?"

Carson pointed towards the other room. "They went over there. Doctor Biro has been assigned to their check-ups."

"Thank you, Doctor," Allan responded before walking to the indicated room.

But Carson stopped him with: "Where's Major Sheppard? I'm waiting for him."

Allan tensed slightly and closed his eyes shut tightly. Then he reopened them and turned back to Carson, playing casual. "Still with Dr. Weir. They're discussing particularities of the mission." And then he left without giving Carson a chance to ask anything more.

Carson was surprised by his abrupt exit but supposed that Allan needed to be with his team. Then he returned to Teyla and Aiden, who was standing in front of her as white as an Infirmary sheet. Carson quickly prepared a stool under him and eased him on it. "Lieutenant Ford," he asked professionally, "are ye alright, son?"

"Ye-yeah, yes, yes I am," Aiden stuttered, "I just… it's just… I can't believe…"

Carson was perplexed. Aiden wasn't one for getting distracted this much so easily. 'What was wrong with the man?' he asked himself. Then he noticed that Teyla seemed deep in thought and her forehead was creased with a frown. "Aiden, Teyla, what happened?" he asked in the end.

Teyla took a long breath and answered: "I've told him that the complex almost fell on us again. There was a quake and…" She shrugged and shook her head.

The surprising news made Carson search for a support of a table. He was shocked that the area was so unstable when the first reconnaissance mission with a Jumper reported no problems with tectonic plates, volcanoes, or others. He breathed heavily while some colour drained from his face at the thought of having to dig the team out, again.

In the meantime, Aiden was gaining his colour back slowly, whilst Teyla was preparing herself for the last fact that needed to be said. Better sooner than later, she thought. However, Aiden beat her in speaking: "Do you think Major will be in the mood to talk after this?"

Teyla moved her unsure look at him and frowned a little bit.

Aiden continued: "I mean, er, there is something…eh…something I would like to ask him about."

"I'm not sure," Teyla said blinking. "We've experienced quite a rough mission and Elizabeth has him in her office…"

Carson knew what Aiden was implying, he remembered their conversation, so he tried to delay him. "Ye shouldn't push him to talk about Rodney now. I think he needs to sort it out himself before he can talk about what has happened between them."

Teyla couldn't agree more with Carson. She didn't hold back anymore because that sentence played right in her cards and wondered aloud: "Do you mean that John needs to overcome the fact that he may have doomed Rodney when he didn't allow him to come with us three for the swimming trip because he had been assigned to Captain Jorgenson's team?"

"What?!" Aiden exclaimed while Carson opened his mouth in surprise.

"Rodney knew about our trip, Aiden, and wanted to go dearly," Teyla said sadly. "Unfortunately, John forbade him to go because he had committed himself and a promise has always been a given for John. And now, John is beating himself for it."

They sat in silence, breathing in and out simultaneously, watching one another. A few seconds had passed before Carson found his voice. "That surely explains a few things. Like yer stay here when he tried to make ma release ye at all costs."

"Or the hunch Major had when we were having fun at the lake," Aiden supplied.

Teyla nodded. "But I haven't told you a thing, okay? John mustn't find out it was me who has told you."

Carson stood up and took her right hand in his. "Don't worry. We won't tell him anything."

"I'll shut up like a clam," Aiden declared and made Teyla chuckle. Carson smiled at them in amusement and was glad Teyla's face had lit up.

And so they didn't notice John until he stood next to them and asked: "Are they all right, Carson?"

His question caught them all surprised, but Aiden still tried to get up and salute John, who noticed and calmed him: "At ease, Ford."

Carson prepared to catch Aden if needed and answered: "They're doing fine. No new health problems. And Aiden's ankle is healing nicely."

"Fine." John looked at Teyla and Aiden, and contemplated taking them away and informing them about the mission the next day. But that could wait. "Find me later?" he asked the pair.

"Yes, sir," Aiden said.

John nodded and prepared to leave when an incredulous cough stopped him. John stopped mid-turn and looked back at Carson who tapped his leg a few times. "Haven't ye forgotten something, Major?" he asked sweetly but with a dangerous undertone.

Oh hell, John thought, the post-mission check-up. To camouflage that he forgot, he said: "Can't a man have a cup of water before the examination? I'm thirsty, Doc." And he gave Carson an innocent look.

"Don't tell ma that yer discussion with Dr. Weir has been so heated," Carson added more as a joke than anything else.

But John took it personally and his eyes lost even the faint glow of cheekiness from before. The rumour couldn't have spread so fast, could it? And Jorgenson surely hadn't told Carson about their … How to put it? … unfriendly discussion.

Carson recognised the sudden change of John's behaviour indicating that he had been right, although he didn't mean to. He quickly glanced at Teyla and Aiden, then walked to John. "Come on, Major. Let's get ye checked. And I want to see the scalped hand of yers."

John made a face but obeyed him and allowed himself to be led over to the other examination table.

Aiden and Teyla got up and silently fled from the Infirmary. As Carson figuratively had his eyes everywhere, he noticed their quick disappearance but let them go. There was no point in keeping them here. Moreover, he wanted to ask John a few questions on his own and it would be easier for John to talk privately. They had already had a few meetings like this and they had proved beneficial to both sides, letting them learn about various matters.