"He wasn't watching where he was going and fell into a big crack that cuts across the tunnel we were checking out…" Sheppard explained to the group as they headed back into the lava tube and out of the rain. "He's awake and seems fine, but he's hurt his ankle, so I figured I'd better get help rather than try and pull him out alone and maybe hurt something he doesn't even realize is injured."

Mitchell nodded her agreement to that, biting back her next comment.

Don't you dare blame him…

I wasn't going to.

You were thinking about it

I know, but I wouldn't have said it. It's not his fault. I should have-

No, you shouldn't have. You were right to put him with Sheppard – he'd have been a distraction if he was with us

And you don't like him, and don't want him near me.

And I don't like him, Talon agreed. And would rather he stayed in the bottom of that crack for a few days to think about what he's done

The symbiote wasn't afraid to express himself, and never had been, and he never lied to Melony. She didn't mind, because she was the same way – and besides, she knew he loved her, and wallowed in that love on many occasions.

He's been thinking about it, she reminded him. Remember that apology?

There was a purely mental sniff, but it made Mitchell smile – even through her worry for Carson.

You hold a grudge longer than anyone I've ever met…

I'm older than you. I've had more time to become jaded. Besides, you haven't completely forgiven him, either

I'm trying, she said, glad that they were walking in an area that she'd been before, because she couldn't concentrate completely on where she was going while she was having this conversation with Talon – which had been one of the reasons Carson hadn't been with her. The forgiving part is easier than the forgetting… She felt a pang of hurt at the memory of what had occurred between her and Carson, and instantly felt Talon overwhelm her bad memory with waves of his own love for her, smothering them completely and literally blocking her thoughts of anything else for a moment.

I'm sorry, Hot Shot, he told her, truly contrite for bringing up the subject in the first place. I didn't mean to upset you

You didn't. How could she be upset with that kind of unconditional love swelling her heart? Too bad Talon was a symbiote and not an actual guy.

She heard his laughter in her head, and grinned.

You'd never get anything accomplished

Well, that wouldn't be so-

"He's just around this bend, I think…"

Mitchell was brought out of her inner conversation by Sheppard's voice, and realized that they'd managed to make it all the way across the main cavern and into the tube that Sheppard and Beckett had been exploring without her even realizing it.

"Doctor Beckett?" Sheppard called, shining his light on the ground, watching for the crack so none of them stumbled into it as well.

The reply was immediate, much to everyone's relief.

"Here!"

His voice sounded strong – and filled with relief.

The group gathered at the edge of the crack, and five flashlights shined down on Beckett, who was looking up at them from where he was sitting with his back to the sheer wall of the crack and his leg stretched out in front of him.

"How are you doing?" McKay asked, shining his light on Beckett's foot.

"Peachy."

Sitting alone in the dark in a strange place for any length of time can do wonders for a man's sarcasm, Beckett knew now.

Melony smiled, and looked at Ford.

"You and I can probably boost him up to the others…"

"Yeah."

Mitchell looked down at Carson.

"No other injuries besides the foot?"

"No."

"You're sure?"

"As sure as I can be without an x-ray machine. Do you have one handy?"

That bas-

He's under a bit of stress, Talon, Melony told him. I've said far worse, for less reason.

Since that was true, and Talon knew it, he didn't say anything else, but she could feel his simmering sullenness at the Doctor's cheeky response. Nothing carried a good grudge further than another insult, after all.

"Come on, Lieutenant."

She took off her pack and sat down on the edge of the crack, then turned slightly and hooked her fingers on the ledge beside her and lowered herself over the edge. Since she had Talon's help she was a lot stronger than she'd been before her blending with him – which was kind of nice she had to admit – and it was a simple matter to hang for a moment, and then drop the three feet or so to the floor of the crack.

She moved out of the way as Ford came down in a similar manner, and they both went over to Beckett, who'd been watching them. Melony knelt down on one side, and Ford knelt on the other.

"Is it broken?"

"I don't know." He told her, wincing when Ford ran his hand along the swollen ankle. "It hurts, though."

"I bet…"

"How did you get wet?" He asked, noticing she was dripping water on him, and that Ford's jacket was beaded with water.

"I'll tell you later." She said. "Should we splint it?"

He shook his head.

"The boot is enough right now. It's not going to go anywhere."

"You're the doctor… Lieutenant?"

They both took hold of Carson – one hand reaching under his armpit on the side they were on and the other grabbing his belt.

"This might hurt," Melony warned him as they heaved him to his feet as carefully as they could.

He bit down on the gasp of pain, and put his arms over their shoulders, taking all his weight off the ankle in question. In the light of the three flashlights shining down on them, Melony could see his face was pale, but there wasn't anything they could do about it. Even if they had a stretcher, it'd still hurt him to move him.

"You guys ready?" She called up. A moment later, Sheppard and McKay were both on their stomachs with their hands hanging down, ready to take hold of Beckett's hands when Ford and Mitchell pushed him up.

Carson couldn't bite back the yelp of pain when his foot hit the stone wall as they maneuvered him up to the others, but he still managed to reach his hands up, and a moment later, Sheppard and McKay had him out of the pit and on the floor of the tunnel beside them.

"I hate holes…" he gasped, as Teyla knelt down next to him, still shining her light down the crack so Mitchell and Ford could see.

Melony looked at Ford.

"How's your vertical leap?"

"Probably better than yours," he told her, grinning. "I am younger, and healthier, and better looking, and-"

"Going to stay here if you keep that up."

He smiled, and made a stirrup out of his hand.

"Go on, Colonel."

She put her foot in his hands and he boosted her up to Sheppard and McKay, who grabbed her and easily pulled her out of the crack, then did the same when Ford leaped up and caught their hands a minute later.