Author's Note: Okay, I believe I have responded to all reviews. The link in my email was giving me fits, and the link for replies wasn't working. So, if I have not responded to a review for the previous chapter, please forgive me. Know that I appreciate every single one of your reviews. ~lg

oOo

"Control Room to Dr. Beckett." The call startled him out of his thoughts. Carson touched the radio in his ear.

"This is Dr. Beckett." His standard greeting made him think of his clone, and he pushed aside the residual sadness that would likely linger for a good long time.

"Colonel Carter is about to head off world to assist Colonel Sheppard. She asked that you and your team be ready to accompany her."

"Right." Carson closed that channel and looked around. "I need Dr. Keller and her team to prepare with me. Dr. Cole, you're in charge until we get back."

The infirmary staff went into action, each one having drilled for this possibility. It happened more often than Carson cared to admit, and he watched the activity with pride. It felt great to have such a wonderful staff. Touching the radio again, he said, "Dr. Beckett to Dr. MacKenzie."

After a brief lull, Sarah's voice echoed in his ear. "Go ahead."

Carson grinned at the surprise in her voice. "I just wanted ta tell ye that I'm headin' off world to assist Colonel Sheppard. I'm not entirely certain when I'll be back."

"Understood." She paused yet again. "Carson?"

"Aye?"

"Be safe."

He caught the underlying message in those words. Don't get hurtor worse. "You have my word, love."

Ending the conversation, he allowed his focus to narrow and his training to take over. Less than thirty minutes later, he crowded into a Jumper along with Jennifer's team and flew through the Stargate to a planet where one of Michael's compounds had collapsed, trapping Sheppard's team and Lorne's team. All of this information came as they reached the site of the collapse, and Carson took a moment to survey the damage. Night had fallen, and structural engineers set up spotlights so that they'd have time to work. Carter and Jennifer walked the rubble, and Jennifer stopped and tilted her head. "Listen."

Carter exchanged a glance and then dropped to her knees. "McKay? Is that you?"

Carson hurried over in time to hear McKay reply, "Oh, thank God! Yes! I'm trapped down here with Lorne!"

"Are you okay?" Carter called.

"We're fine!" McKay's voice trailed off for just a moment. "Okay, Lorne's got a broken leg!"

"Alright, McKay, stay put." Carter waved over her shoulder. "We've got combat engineers here. We're gonna dig you out."

"Well, hurry up!"

"We'll work as fast as is safe, Rodney!" Carter sounded a bit frustrated.

"No, no, no, you don't understand." McKay's muffled voice was hard to be understood. "I just found out that when the self-destruct is initiated, it's automatically programmed to send a subspace burst. Michael's probably on his way."

Carson let out a breath as he moved to the side. Alicia Vega took a few more scans, and the conversation turned to the other two life signs. There was no way to tell who they were, but Carson hoped and prayed it was Colonel Sheppard and Ronon. He didn't want to recover Teyla only to tell her that those two people had been lost. As Carson prepared to treat the injured, Carter sent a Jumper into orbit to keep an eye out for Michael's ship. Carson watched the man go and revised his prayers. He hoped they found Colonel Sheppard and Ronon alive before Michael arrived.

oOo

Lorne came out of that hole with a broken leg, just like McKay had said. Allowing Jennifer the liberty of looking over McKay, Carson splinted the major's leg before helping him to the Jumper. In true Pegasus fashion, Michael arrived at the worst possible moment, sending them scurrying for the cover of cloaked Jumpers. Once in orbit, Carson allowed Jennifer, Carter, and McKay to discuss their situation while he set Lorne's leg. The break wasn't a bad one, but it would take some time to heal up. Carson ironically thought that Lorne had his own personal doctor waiting back on Atlantis to help him get through this.

Things went from bad to worse when Carter convinced Caldwell, who arrived a short time later, to lower the Daedalus's shields and beam Sheppard and Ronon on board. The relief Carson felt when he heard those two names was palpable in the Jumper. The pilot maneuvered the Jumper on board the Daedalus while shields were down, and Carson gave terse instructions to his team regarding Major Lorne before making a beeline for the infirmary. He found the infirmary staff swarming Sheppard and fighting with Ronon.

Carson waded into the fray. "Ronon, lad, just let them look at ye."

Ronon batted away the hand of the Daedalus's CMO. "Not until I know what's goin' on with Sheppard."

Carson looked at the Chief of Medicine on the ship, heard the soft "please," and immediately turned to Colonel Sheppard. He let his eyes rove the man's side, seeing the severe injuries through his off-world gear. "Colonel."

"Doc."

"We thought we'd lost ye."

Sheppard nodded. "Yeah, well, for a second I thought we'd lost me. It's gonna be okay, though, right?"

"Aye." Carson nodded. "You need surgery, but you should pull through this."

"So, what's going on?" Sheppard looked around, giving Ronon a glare when the Satedan again snarked at Keller. Ronon returned the glare but settled in so that Jennifer could treat his wounds. "I guess Michael showed up before the Daedalus, huh?"

Carson nodded, peeling the man's TAC vest from his side and taking a closer look at the scans provided by the ship's doctor. "Aye," he said distractedly. "We had ta lower shields ta beam the pair o' ya up here."

"Sorry about that." Sheppard grimaced when he touched a tender spot.

"I'm sure Rodney and Carter will be able to fix it."

Sheppard blinked. "McKay's alive?"

"Aye," Carson replied with a smile. It felt good to say that one word. His smile faded. "He and Major Lorne were the only two to make it."

Sheppard took a moment to think about the losses. "Patch me up. I need to get back out there."

"I very well will not patch ye up!" Carson glared at the man, horrified he'd even suggested it. "Ye need surgery and a blood transfusion! I willnae be allowin' ye ta leave this infirmary!"

"Look, Doc, Michael's here." Sheppard met Carson's eyes. "That means Teyla's probably on that ship. I'm too close to sit here and do nothing."

"You won't be sittin' around, lad," Carson said. "You'll be lyin' there, in surgery."

"Look, there's gotta be. . . ." He tried to sit up and couldn't manage, sinking back into the bed with a roll of his eyes. "There's gotta be a quick fix."

"No!"

"Carson." Sheppard took hold of his friend's shoulder. "I had this chance with Ford, and I didn't take it. I almost didn't get this chance with you. I'm not letting this be one of those times."

Carson folded his arms, unwilling to admit that the colonel's words had gotten through his irritation. Now, he was irritated at himself for even considering it. "There might be a way. An' it's dangerous."

"Well, I'll take it."

"That device Rodney used on me." Carson shook his head. "I brought it back with me ta study, an' it's in my pack."

"You packed it?"

"Aye," Carson admitted with a sheepish expression. "I honestly don't know wha' I was thinkin'. It nearly killed me. But, it might do just enough ta keep ye alive while we go off on this insane mission."

"We?"

"I'm not allowin ye ta go after Teyla in your condition without a doctor with ye." Carson nodded across the way. "Jennifer can handle things up here."

Sheppard grinned slightly. "Let's get to it, Doc.

Carson reached for his pack and pulled out the device. He couldn't believe he'd even packed the thing, much less suggested it. It wouldn't solve Sheppard's problems, but it would heal up enough of the wound that he wouldn't bleed out before major surgery could be done. Praying one treatment didn't cause too many problems, Carson started the device and, against all of his medical training, helped a friend rescue a friend.

oOo

A short time later, Carson followed Sheppard, McKay, and Ronon through Michael's cruiser. He was concerned for the colonel, who was still in a great deal of pain. But that device had healed up the bleeding. The rest of the damage. . . .Well, Carson just hoped he'd made the right call.

"John?" The call startled him, and he blinked at the wall. Sheppard had just taken out two hybrids that came to meet them.

Sheppard stopped at the door. "We're gonna get you out of here."

"Not a moment too soon!" Teyla replied. McKay fiddled with the door panel, opening it in time for them to see Teyla struggling to rise from a bench. Carson's eyes swept her from head to toe, taking in the pained expression, sweat, and the way she held her back.

Ronon rushed over to her. "We're gonna get you back to the Jumper." He caught her as she collapsed, crying out as a contraction hit.

"Dear Lord!" Carson whispered. "It's the baby."

Sheppard looked concerned. "What, is something wrong?"

Teyla shook her head as Ronon eased her to the ground. "No. I have been having contractions for over an hour now. They're very close. My baby's coming!"

Carson moved to her side, already shedding the heavy pack he'd carried. "Right. Teyla, love, I need you ta take it easy. I'm here, now, an' we're gonna take care o' ye."

She gasped for breath and nodded at his calm words. "I am sorry. I just need a moment."

"No apologies," Carson told her seriously. He ran a scanner over her, seeing how far along she'd progressed. Thinking that Ancient technology made some things a bit easier, he turned to Sheppard. "She's stable for now. I think we can move her to the Jumper. Ronon, if you please?"

Ronon nodded and looked at Teyla. "Okay, you ready?"

"No, I can walk." Teyla breathed deeply. "I just need a moment."

"Uh, say, friends?" McKay's voice stopped the stressed reunion. "We have a small issue here."

Sheppard frowned, irritated. "Oh, what now?"

"Looks like Michael's got his hyperdrive back online." McKay stared at them. "It's powering up."

"Can you shut it down?" Sheppard asked.

"Well, not from this little thing," McKay answered, waving the tablet in his hands. "Look, the drive room is just down the corridor. You slap a C4 charge on that thing, it should certainly shut it down."

Sheppard nodded once. "Where?"

"Here. I have a map." Rodney typed into his tablet and gave it to Sheppard.

The colonel took it abruptly. "Alright. Ronon, you're with me."

The Satedan turned to Teyla. "I'll be right back. Everything's gonna be fine." He glanced at Rodney and Carson. "Take care of her."

"Aye," Carson agreed.

Teyla gasped in pain, and Carson started setting out his medical kit. This baby was coming faster than he'd anticipated, and he wanted to be prepared.

McKay moved to her side. "So, how you doing?"

"The pain is very great!" Teyla closed her eyes as another contraction arrived. Carson gently warned her and then did a quick check for how far she'd progressed. She slid further into a reclined position when a second contraction followed closely. Carson continued scanning, snapping on his sterile gloves and keeping a calm face. He talked to her constantly, though what he said was lost in a haze of pain.

Rodney, however, wasn't so calm. He knelt next to Teyla. "Okay. Just—just—just breathe, okay?" Then, he started panting in a very un-Lamaze-like way. If the circumstances hadn't been so dire, Carson would have laughed.

"What are you doing?" Teyla demanded.

Rodney's panicked look grew. "Well, it's Lamaze. It's supposed to help with the. . . .Look, I don't know what I'm doing. What do you need me to do?" Right then, another contraction took hold, and Teyla grabbed his hand. Carson could have sworn he'd heard fingers pop with how tightly she squeezed. Rodney's face contorted, but he didn't scream. "Okay, there, there." He spoke through gritted teeth. "There, there you are." He patted her hand. "There, there."

Teyla turned to Carson. "The baby is coming!"

"Aye," he said calmly. "I was hopin' we could put this off until we got you to the Daedalus."

She shook her head. "No. The baby is coming now."

Carson moved to prepare, pointing to Rodney. "Get behind her and help support her." Rodney's panicked expression changed from out-of-control to thankful someone was there who knew what was happening. Carson pulled off his jacket and met Teyla's eyes. "When the next contraction hits, I want ye ta push."

She nodded and bore down almost immediately. Rodney's face scrunched up along with her, but he supported her and was there to soften her landing when she fell back against the bench. Carson kept his eyes on Teyla's for a moment. "You're doin' great, love. Just a couple more pushes, an' you'll be done."

Another contraction built, and Teyla bore down again, gritting her teeth and wailing through them. The circumstances surrounding the birth, their surroundings, and everything else disappeared when, another contraction later, Carson delivered Teyla's child into the world. He grinned immediately and went to work cutting the umbilical cord and wrapping him in his jacket. "Teyla, meet your son."

She smiled as Carson laid him in her arms, and the doctor's attention shifted to the man next to her. "Rodney?"

McKay looked up, his face pale. "I'm good." It reminded Carson of the time they'd barely escaped a super-volcano.

The door to the lab opened, Sheppard and Ronon rushing through. In all of the excitement, Carson hadn't felt the explosion of the hyperdrive being destroyed. Now, Sheppard skidded to a stop. "Wow!"

McKay glanced between them. "And I helped! Well, Carson did the actual delivering, but I helped!"

Teyla actually chuckled. "He did a wonderful job."

Aye, for a pillow, Carson thought. He grinned again as he finished cleaning the area as best as possible and started packing up the supplies. He'd need to sterilize everything when they arrived back on the Daedalus, but this moment was worth it. Teyla smiled up at Ronon and John, proudly presenting her son.

Sheppard nodded as Ronon moved to Teyla's side to look at her newborn child. "That's good. That's. . .you did good, Rodney. Alright. We need to get you out of here."

Teyla looked up at the Satedan. "Ronon, you may need to help me."

Carson followed the motley group out the door, shaking his head at the turn of events. He'd anticipated assisting Jennifer with the birth of Teyla's child, not actually delivering the child. As they rushed back toward the Jumper, they met up with Kanaan, the father of the child, and Teyla convinced him to join them. Even losing the Jumper, while troubling, couldn't keep his thoughts from what had just occurred. He'd just seen a baby born! Even as an experienced doctor, the high that brought was incredible. He often saw death, disease, and injury. Seeing a new life was beyond anything he could have imagined.

oOo

"Dr. MacKenzie?" Kleinfeld's voice startled Sarah out of her concentration. She looked up from her work to see him standing next to her, a sheepish expression on his face. "Colonel Carter is requesting your assistance in the infirmary. The Daedalus just arrived back with an overload of injuries, and they're short-handed."

Sarah blinked and nodded. "Of course." She saved her work and headed for the door without another word.

The infirmary was in a state of controlled chaos. Major Lorne was on a bed, his leg being casted by Jennifer while Amanda checked Rodney. The two doctors kept glancing at the opposite men, and Sarah had to smile at that. Her smile faded, however, when she saw Carson. He wore his white lab coat and was calmly orchestrating the entire thing. But his limp was more pronounced, and she blinked when he reached for his cane as he moved across the infirmary. He hadn't seen her, giving her a chance to study him. The dark circles under his eyes showed his exhaustion, as did the limp, but he looked focused. And a smile touched his face every time he glanced toward Teyla.

Sarah heard her name and turned to see that Jennifer had finished with Major Lorne. The doctor pointed. "We've got the less critically wounded in that area. I think Carson needed help with stitching cuts and other minor injuries."

Sarah nodded and went to work. For the next three hours, she stitched minor cuts, applied ointment to burns, and in general made certain the less-wounded were treated. A medic from the Daedalus, sent down by the ship's CMO to get some bruised ribs checked out since the scanning technology on the ship had been damaged, followed Sarah, providing a helping hand and making sure she stayed supplied with coffee as the hour grew late. Carson worked tirelessly, making sure that each person who needed his care was given adequate time. He finally disappeared into surgery with Colonel Sheppard after giving Sarah a warm smile.

An hour later, Sarah smiled at the woman helping her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Karen, the medic, returned the smile, looking pale and weak.

Sarah frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Karen waved a hand. "I'm just. . . ." Her voice trailed off as she collapsed, creating a stir when she crashed into a metal cart.

Sarah blinked and dropped to her knees, turning Karen onto her back. Jennifer came running at the sound, and she promptly took over the situation. "Let's get her under a scanner."

Sarah nodded and helped lift Karen onto a gurney. A few moments later, she stared over Jennifer's shoulder as the scan revealed internal bleeding. It wasn't bad, just a slow bleed that had built up over the course of the last few hours. "Oh, Jennifer, I am so sorry! She told me she'd hit her ribs and bruised them. I didn't think anything of it!"

Jennifer put a hand on Sarah's arm. "It's okay. I understand. But, right now, I need to get her into surgery."

"Right." Sarah took a steadying breath and climbed into scrubs. Marie was assisting Carson with Colonel Sheppard's surgery, and Sarah smiled gratefully at another medic from the Daedalus, this one thankfully unscathed, who joined her as they prepped Karen for her operation. It took several hours, and Sarah was thoroughly exhausted by then. A glance at her watch told her it had passed midnight hours ago, and she'd not noticed. Now, with caffeine leaving her system, the adrenaline wearing off, and Karen comfortably situated in a bed, Sarah felt the headache that she'd ignored. She had put in nearly a full day in Marine Biology before being called here. Taking a few moments to sit down, she folded her arms on the workbench and laid her head down. As soon as her eyes closed, she started drifting.

A warm hand on her waist woke her. Sarah blinked the grit away and looked into Carson's tired eyes. He smiled. "Ye should go get some rest, love."

"I'll be fine, Carson." She straightened, stretching back muscles that ached.

His hand traveled up her back, and he took a few moments to rub the knotted muscles. "Aye, I know ye will. But the work is done, an' things are slowin' down. Go get some rest."

Sarah heard the order in the tone. He'd said it softly, with that wonderfully warm hint of something more between them, but he was a doctor. And he had just kicked her out of his infirmary. For some reason, it endeared him to her. "Okay," she agreed. "But I want to check on Karen, first."

"Karen?" He blinked, completely nonplussed.

Sarah pointed and, in a soft voice, explained what had happened. Carson accompanied her to Karen's side, quickly reading the monitors and deciding that the medic would live to fight another day. Finally, he escorted Sarah to the infirmary door with a gentle hand on her elbow, promising to join her in a bit. He wanted to wait until he was certain Sheppard would be okay.

Beyond exhausted, Sarah trudged toward her quarters. Being back in the infirmary, even if only temporarily, had been absolutely wonderful. She had no doubt that she'd go back to nursing one day, perhaps if Carson ever decided to open his own private practice, but she knew she couldn't work there all the time. Not with their relationship such as it was. Deciding to stop thinking about everything for a few moments, Sarah reached her quarters, climbed into pajamas, and crawled into bed.

She woke briefly when Carson arrived. He tiredly tossed his radio on the bedside table next to hers and slipped under the covers. Sarah rolled into his side, positioning her head on his shoulder as his arms wrapped around her in the same way they had for the last week. The two of them fell asleep immediately, worn out from the battle but thankful that their friends had been returned to them, safe and sound.

~TBC