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The sequence of events after Carson's arrival in the lab was a blur for Elizabeth. Carson took over CPR for the Major, and somehow they got his body loaded onto the gurney and wheeled him to the infirmary. They burst through the doors with Carson straddling Rodney's body on the stretcher, doing chest compressions. The rest of the medical team was working frantically to resuscitate Rodney's unresponsive body. The were followed closely by John, Elizabeth, and the other Rodney. Elizabeth noticed that Sheppard had gone uncharacteristically quiet, and if the steely look in his eyes was anything to go by, he had retreated inside himself. Rodney also had been disturbingly quiet. He watched everything Carson's medical team did with the single-minded focus of a laser beam, but at least he seemed to have his panic under control.

Elizabeth's thoughts were interrupted by a high pitched whine, and she realized they had hooked McKay up to a heart monitor. He was flat line. A nurse prepped the crash cart, then handed the paddles to Carson.

"Clear!" He pressed the paddles to Rodney's bare chest, and Elizabeth watched in horror as his back arched with the first jolt. There was a brief pause in the heart monitor, which was quickly replaced again by the high-pitched whine.

"Up the voltage to ten. Clear!" Carson tried again, with the same results.

"Again, fifteen volts. Clear!" Carson continued, upping the voltage each time. Each time, Rodney's body hit the bed with a thud that made Elizabeth flinch.

"Twenty. Clear!" Elizabeth felt like she'd never stop hearing that whine.

"Damn it, you arrogant bastard! Don't you dare die on my table! Alright, give me twenty-five volts."

"Doctor?" the nurse asked, eyebrows raised.

"Do it!" At her nod, Carson tried again. "Clear!" This time when there was no rhythm, the nurse placed her hand gently on Carson's arm. He cast her a desperate look, then bowed his head in resignation. His voice cracked as he spoke. "Alright. I'm calling it."

There was a loud crash, and Elizabeth turned just in time to see John's back as he left the room. The noise had come from a tray full of medical utensils that had been dumped on the ground, near the door. Rodney, who had been standing next to him, was staring off into space, looking confused and frightened. Deciding she could only deal with one crisis at a time, Elizabeth turned her attention to Carson and the nurse, who were draping a sheet over McKay's body.

"Stop!" she commanded, finally finding her voice. "Carson, stop! He's not dead!"

Elizabeth suddenly felt the gaze of the entire medical staff. "Please, listen to me! He's not dead! He's standing right there!" She whipped her head around to stare at Rodney, the motion throwing her slightly off balance. She motioned to Rodney, who managed to tear his eyes away from his own body and look at her.

"Dr. Weir, are you alright, lass?" Carson asked, his voice gentle and soothing, but it did nothing to ease her rising nausea.

"No! I'm not alright!" she replied, clearly agitated. "Listen, I know you can't see him, but he's there! He's not dead, he's…he's looking right at me!" She noticed Rodney's expression had changed from confusion and disbelief to one of concern, although she was having difficulty focusing on him.

"Elizabeth?" he asked softly.

"Dr. Weir, let me have a look at that head of yours."

"My head?" Elizabeth frowned and put a hand to her temple, surprised to see blood on her fingers when she drew it away. "Carson?" The world suddenly began to spin, Carson and Rodney's faces dancing in her field of vision, before it all went black.

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