A/N: Hi all! Happy belated 4th of July! And to whom it may concern: "I like ceeerrral." Inside thing, worry not. Anyway, here's a new chappy, a bit of light mixed with heavy, it's coming down to crunch time for our boys. Let's hope they keep it together. Oh, the math formulas in here i pulled straight from my book, so...hopefully they make some logical sense. Enjoy.


Chapter Nine: A Wee Bit of Foos.


Through the haze of what was turning out to be an unsatisfactory sleep, McKay swore he heard knocking. His head jerked up, right cheek tingling as the flesh regained feeling from being smashed so long in his pillow. "Wha?" Rodney muttered hoarsely. Being that he was just coming out of a dream, the physicist had a murky image of John building a penthouse up in his head for the long haul, hammering away; but quickly disregarded this when he then heard the knocking again. He cracked a dry eye open, seeing a silhouette of someone standing just outside his door.

"McKay? You awake?" Came a voice sounding faintly like Ford, though muffled immensely by the door.

With a weary grunt, Rodney rolled over off his stomach, sitting up. "Well I am now." He replied with annoyance. Shifting that blurry eye to a table set up beside his bed,where a digital clock rested atop it, McKay was greeted by the blearing red numbers of the current hour. "Do you realize what time it is!" He ended up snapping. "I have clearly pointed out, time and time again that unless the city is about to spontaneously combust, I don't want to know about any crisis till at least, seven a.m." Meanwhile in his mind, all seemed quiet; too quiet in fact. Sheppard was thus far nowhere to be----well, heard. Rodney had the notion that perhaps he managed to catch John while he was actually sleeping. If, that was even possible in their situation.

"I just needed to talk to the Major about something." Aiden retorted, his dark silhouette shifting as he attempted to look inside the room through the door, hands cupped around his eyes. This of course proved un-useful because of the foggy make of the glass was near impossible to see through. "Won't take long, I promise----McKay are you still even listening to me?"

Snorting, the physicistfolded his arms. "Can't it wait till tomorrow?" He asked regrettably, knowing fully well that with the way things were currently going in his life, nothing seemed to be able to wait till tomorrow. If it wasn't an immediate threat, it was a long term one that needed immediate action.

"I, I guess it could." Ford admitted, sounding down and out disappointed. His figure moved to shove his hands in his pockets, a foot scuffing the ground. McKay had a brief pang of guilt, followed by what seemed a sort of sick curiosity as to what Aiden wanted. Before he could consider otherwise, Rodney found himself rolling out of bed and onto his feet. Carefully he made his way to the door, nearly stubbing his toe into a nearby chair by mere inches, his hand fumbling for the light sensor. The blindness that followed, lasted only a few minutes as his eyes adjusted to the sudden light.

As the door slid open, Aiden's head shot up, a triumphant smile crawling over his face. Though, that grin soon turned to a smirk as he got a real good look at McKay: watery-eyed, pasty, stubble-chinned and not to mention; peeved. "Ah, nice shorts doc." The young lieutenant proceeded to snicker, pointing a finger downward.

McKay followed his gesture to his boxers, which were black cotton imprinted with hover cars, sprockets and Jetson character heads. He looked back up with an even deeper frown. "They were a gift from my aunt; Ford, now are we going to stand here in my doorway at four-thirty in the morning and discuss sleepwear or do you have a legitimate problem?"

Retaining yet another laugh, Aiden sobered himself and decided that since it was so late, that perhaps it wasn't the best idea to mock the obviously cranky man. "Is the Major around?"

Tensing his lips, McKay tried to compose himself, replying dryly. "Oh he just stepped out---do you want to leave a message? Of course he's around! I'd love to wake up and find him not around; but at the moment, if you have to know---I think he's asleep; like I was, like you should be." He tapped his bare foot lightly on the floor, seeing Ford making no attempt to respond, Rodney added. "Not grabbing this concept are we lieutenant?" Pointing up and pass Aiden's shoulder in the direction of the hall. "Go---back---to---your---room."

"I know, I know it's late." Ford chuckled, raising his hands up in defense; trying to calm the irritated physicist down. "But I just wanted to know what you and the Major decided. About the Yu'set mission and all. And---something else." He trailed off then, twisting up his mouth—unsure how to go about what he wanted to ask.

McKay leaned his head forward, widening his eyes as if to say 'well? What else?'. Though he simply let Ford dangle in the wind, thinking that if the lieutenant wanted whatever it was so badly, he'd have to come out and ask it himself.

Aiden let out a sigh, kicking the floor with his boot. "Well, around this time---the Major and I, we well---"

The sudden realization came to Rodney like a smack to the head. He knew exactly what Ford was getting at and the idea was absolutely out of the question. "Ooooh no!" He started, throwing a hand up. "Oh no, no, no----there's no way in hel--I don't care what you and John do at---no, the answer is no."

"But you didn't even ask him." Ford began, trying to sound needy.

Narrowing his eyes, McKay came back; his annoyance nearly peeking its limits. "I don't have to ask him Ford, a week from now when he's taken me over, then, then you can ask him yourself. Until then, you can keep your late nights to yourself. Good night." With that, Rodney angrily smacked the censor to his side sending the door sliding shut right in the lieutenant's face. He waited there a moment, seeing Ford pause just behind the door then turn and leave.

McKay let out a long sigh, trying to release his aggravation. He ran a hand through his hair letting his head hang low, that feeling of guilt returning.

"Yeah you should be." John's voice came out of the silence, making the physicist jump.

Rolling his eyes. "I thought you were asleep." McKay made his way tiredly back to bed, plopping down haphazardly on the edge, now rubbing the prickly sting of sleep from his face.

"I was---" Sheppard replied crossly. "Just until the time you tried to send Ford back to his room." "Don't you think you were just a little, rude to him? I mean he did trek all the way down here."

"Ford's room is like ten rooms from here John, I don't think he'll get lost. Besides, If you haven't noticed, it's the middle of the night and I don't feel much like romping around at all hours of the evening. Some of us around here actually take our work seriously." McKay fell back into his bed, ready to make a grab for his covers and curl up in them, proper position on the bed or not; he would get some ounce of sleep.

"Ah, but the kid did have a point. We do need to talk about this rescue mission." John replied in a mater-of-fact tone. Which, he was technically correct on. Since Rodney had retired early to his room after the meeting with Keffis, he had spent the rest of the day held up in there. While Sheppard spent the 'quiet' time devising the best way---if they were going on this mission---to go about it. Trying to figure out a plan of action for the ridiculously short time he had to do it, was no small task. He believed Ford would be the best to accompany Rodney and himself of course; But in order to get their strategy underway, Sheppard needed to talk to Aiden. And McKay wasn't helping at all choosing to stay in.

"Yes, I agree we do---but not around a few casual games of hallway soccer." The physicist replied to John's prolonged silence. He wondered then just what the man was thinking. Though in truth, he really didn't want to know. Being the leader---or so he thought, forced leader on a type of mission like this was not his idea of getting his feet wet. Leading his team on a routine investigation of a new address was more his speed. Rescue missions were for someone like John, not him. But what choice did he have in the end?

After the myriad of thoughts coming from Rodney had finally stopped, Sheppard continued, trying to talk some sense into the man. "Why not? Sometimes I do my best thinking when I'm concentrating on something else. Don't you think we need a little R&R from the shit we've dealt with lately? I've been good McKay, I think I deserve a little time with my friends---our friends." He concluded trying to peak the physicist's interest, knowing fully well that Rodney had a companionment issue; believing he was the odd man out between John and Ford. Which, wasn't all true---and Sheppard would have brought up the subject if he knew Rodney wouldn't flake out of it, not wanting to discuss what the the manfelt was a sensitive issue; this being obvious from McKay's more, inner thoughts that John couldn't help but stumble on. In truth John really didn'twant to know all these things----a man's privacy was a man's privacy.

"No." Rodney said finally, shutting his eyes.

"Yes." Sheppard shot back wryly. Now McKay was screwing up his job, keeping John from doing what he was meant to do.

"I said no!" The physicist snapped, taking the blankets and cocooning himself in them with a roll. "You might be able to think like that, but I can't. I need study, research and more importantly---solitude." His voice was muffled---finding his little bean-like cave a satisfactory source for his so called 'solitude'. That, and it kept the light out, which he would have shut off if he'd not been feeling so lazy at the moment.

"Uh-huh." Sheppard continued his prying, suddenly shut in by darkness, being that Rodney's eyes wereclosed, suddenly feeling incredibly too warm. "McKay, for a moment how about you don't be a scientist, and maybe try to be just---I don't know---a human being "

"Which is so not the point." McKay's huddled form suddenly shifted under the blanket, his voice sounding more than aggravated. "If you hadn't noticed, you're not exactly in your own body---you're in mine. And though that might be a difficult notion to grapple with; it means that I, not you, make up the rules." He lay still then, trying to tune the Major out---as if that were even possible.

"Alright Skippy, I've tried to be nice about this----but you leave me no choice." John replied sadly. Knowing there was only one thing left hecould do, and McKay was bringing this punishment on himself.

"Oh no! Don't you dare start that crap again!" Rodney's body went tense as he sat up, tearing the blanket off his head. "Do you hear me Sheppard!" That's all he needed now, after being so rudely awoken---John to start crooning again. But it was already too late to stop the inevitable torture.

From within, McKay heard John inhale deeply. "OOOOOOOOOHHHHHH MY BOLOGNA HAS A-----"

Quickly Rodney squeezed his eyes shut, plugging his ears up with his fingers and shouting at the top of his lungs any mathematical equation he could think of. "Standard Deviation is a measure of the spread of a set of data about the mean----S equals the square root of the summation times x minus the mean squared all over n minus one."

"FIRST NAME IS O-S-C-A-R---MY BOLOGNA HAS A SECOND NAME IT'S---"

"Chebyshev's Theorem states that minimum percentage equals one minus one overk squared timesk greater than one." But the singing continued, and McKay's voice grew ragged. Anyone outside his room hearing this would have thought the man had gone completely off his rocker.

"M-A-Y-E-R---CAUSE OSCAR MAYER HAS A WAY WITH---"

"The Equation of the line of the best fit isy equalsmx plus b…..FINE! For the love of God we'll go!" McKay pulled his fingers from his ears, his shouting plus Sheppard's singing still rang within them.

"Bologna." John finished with a quiet smugness. He heard the physicist's breath panting all around him felt Rodney's heart pounding in his chest. "You know, it hurts me more then it hurts you."


Ford was leaning over the Foosball tablebeing one of many distractions set up in the city's make-shift wreck-room. His head rested in the palm of his hand as he halfheartedly flicked the ball back and forth between the little plastic men skewered by metal rods; finding little satisfaction in it. Usually he and John would spend a good hour or two playing heated tournaments betting on paperwork duties to ridiculous things like who was king of the universe or who was ultimately cooler: Stewart or Shatner.

Hearing a noise at the doorway, Aiden looked up to find a very disheveled looking physicist wander his way in. Hair an absolute mess, wrinkled pants, and not to mention a scowl that could make metal rust.

"Wow---I ah, didn't think you'd show up." Ford stood up straight, greeting McKay with a smile.

Making his way around a nearby couch and towards the game table, Rodney grumbled. "Well its not like I was going to be getting any sleep with Pavarotti up there serenading me----look lets just get this testosterone fueled fraternity event over with---before I have to hear another round of the Oscar Mayer song."

"Could be worse McKay, I'm partial to 'I'm a Little Tea Pot' too."

Ford laughed, shaking his head. "Alright! Major Sheppardusually takes blue side, so I'll be on red." He motioned excitedly to the side Rodney happened to be standing on. Squatting down, Ford began looking for the small white ball, wondering if it was hidden somewhere in the dark confines of his goal box. He was sure they weren't the last person to use it, and heprayed more then anything no one was a jerk and lost it.

McKay shifted over. "Yeah--yeah---where's the puck and the board?" He looked about, unwilling to even touch the black-gripped poles jutting out on his side of the table.

"You're kidding me right---this ain't knock-hockey McKay."

"Oh I'm sorry---"McKay snapped angrily. "My college didn't offer Foosball 101."

"It's pretty basic." Aiden stood back up, foosball clenched in his fist as he tossed it lightly onto the 'field'; he then proceeded to shift his players into position and explain at the same time. "Just use the poles on the side to your rightand leftto shift your guys back and forth, and hit the ball when you get a shot---aim for my goal and that's all you need to know."

"You expect me to have that kind of coordination at this time of night?" McKay fumed, shifting his weight as he leaned over giving the first rung near him and experimental twist. He watched as the little men rolled upward. It was years since he played this game, far longer then he liked to admit, and he was never good at it in the first place; hence his lack of playing. Rodney could already feel that this night was going to be filled with embarrassment.

"Ooo…you're a real peach this time at night aren't you?" Sheppard mused lightly, instantly sensing McKay's real reasons to be so put-off. It wasn't just the time factor, it was his own skills that annoyed him.Perhaps hewould be merciful."Fine, if you're going be snarky, then I'll do it---but I need control of these." John decided to compromise, concentrating hard on lifting now, both of Rodney's hands in front of the physicist's face, wiggling his fingers at him.

"What?" McKay barked, willing his hands back down where they clenched at the sides of the table. He felt his whole body shift then closer, all without his doing. As to not let on how horrified he was now, Rodney added harshly, though sounding more desperate. "You should just be glad that I came down here----this is ludicrous. I'm not going to just stand here and let you play through me."

"Uh----I don't mean to you know----be the third wheel, but the game's gonna go a lot smoother if I'm not the only one playing it." Ford raised a finger, wondering if they were every going to get this game underway.

"Would you just relax!" The Major scolded; then he tried to sound more reassuring; sensing how freaked out the physicist was at the moment. "I'm not going to break you. Besides, you just might learn something on top of it. Things like synchronization, aim, teamwork, aim, reflexes---did I mention aim?"

"Oh hardy-har--har." McKay said dryly, crossing his arms over his chest. Refusing to let anyone, especially John do anything, especially with him—at the moment. "I'll have you know I was a master at table tennis."

"Don't you mean ping-pong?"

Letting out a huff, Rodney replied in a self-satisfying tone. "No John, where I went to school---they called it table tennis, we were far more civilized there while you knocked rocks back and forth in your cave." If he couldn't win this argument physically, he would sure as hell try to win it verbally.

Seeing as how this was getting them nowhere, Ford chimed in. "If it helps any, the Major's real good at this game, so---you're probably going beat me." This he meant honestly. John was one of the best foosballers in the city, and Aiden rarely beat him.

McKay was silent for a moment, thinking this over. The notion began to grow on him as his expression changed. He seemed to relax some, placing his hands nonchalantly on the table this time. A small smile graced his face. "Well----in that case. But one game." The physicist warned not only Ford, but John as well. "One, I'm serious."

"Perhaps."The Major replied plainly.

"What do you mean, perhaps!" Rodney snarled back, looking off to the side as to not confuse Ford into thinking he was talking to him.

"He's right---we do have a lot to discuss McKay." Ford interjected, realizing the Major was on the same track he was. Even if the man was locked up in Rodney's body, John still kept abreast of the situation, maintained business as usual. Then again, that's why Sheppard was in charge of defense of the city, and that's why Aiden would follow him in to the thick of any circumstance without second thought.

If John had been standing there, McKay would have looked them both down, instead he simply turned his glare to Ford, motioning with a finger his sincerity. "I want you both to know, that I do not----do not approve of this."

Aiden chuckled, preparing himself---he wondered then that since John was technically playing through Rodney if that would make a difference in his skill, maybe the young lieutenant could win a few games off him.

Sighing in defeat, the physicist rubbed the back of his head, smoothing down his ruffled hair. His stomach suddenly grumbled noisily. "You got any snacks?" Rodney asked with a wince, a hand resting on his abdomen.

"Yeah there's half eaten bag of Cheetos on the couch over there." Ford pointed towards the vacant couch sitting in the middle of the wreck-room just in front of the TV.

"Sweet." McKay exclaimed contentedly, about to make his way over to snatch up the bag when he stopped short; realizing what had just come out of his mouth. He looked to Aiden who looked as equally shocked.

"That was John, I swear." Rodney stuttered, raising a hand to his mouth, shrugging.

Aiden, with his tongue pressed up inside his cheek, snorted; unable to control his laughter. Rodney himself began to feel the hilarity of this comment creep over him too, making the physicist's chuckle turn into an all out cackle. Both men laughed for awhile, McKay swiping up the chip bag and bringing it back to the table, plopping it beside his feet. McKay quieted for a moment, listening---Ford's laughter faded as he watched the man intently, wondering if Sheppard was saying something to him.

After a moment Rodney looked across the foosball table to him, smiling wryly—a smile that one would find the Major giving more then him. "Apparently, you should prepare for defeat." McKay relaxed his arms letting them dangle at his side. Suddenly they picked back up again stretching forward as his fingers laced between one another. From within John cracked Rodney's fingers, wiggling them and placing his hands on the coated rungs; licking his lips.

Thoroughly impressed, Ford's previous thought of perhaps winning due to Sheppard's 'handicap' was put aside. This should prove interesting. "Oh." Aiden nodded to himself, rolling his neck, staring Rodney down, seeing for just a moment, a familiar gleam just behind the man's eye. "We'll see about that----sir."

McKay had to admit the idea of his hands moving beyond his control was more then disturbing. But nevertheless he relaxed, keeping his eyes on the table where John told him to; and most of all…to just sit back and enjoy the game. Something by the end, he had to admit was rather enjoyable. He only wished he could retain some of Sheppard's more, finer skills.

Throughout the night matches were won and lost, and plans were laid out; Rodney stopping every so often to jot down Sheppard's master vision of how the mission should go. It was agreed that though technically only two men were going, three would go instead. Though McKay hesitated in going, he knew well enough that the Major wouldn't hear it. If anyone was going, John was and that meant the physicist too. In truth, Rodney wanted an end to this just as much as anyone. He supposed then that if he could at least act as a sort of supervisor, that wouldn't be so bad. John simply told him, tough luck.

The hours passed on, Ford found himself on a the winning end of a eight game tournament. John, who would have blamed McKay first for fouling him up—if things were different of course—instead, commended the man openly and told him they had just about enough technicals to go to Weir.

McKay found himself back in the corridor to his room at six, the sun already beginning to rise, giving the ocean a warming glow. TheRodney couldn't help but feel oddly pleased. Though he had lost out on a few hours of quality sleep, that lost time had been replaced by something better, more fulfilling. He'd actually taken the time to spend time; even if he was at first forced. Rodney had to admit, as he shuffled back into his room, falling into a deep sleep seconds after his body hit the bed; he felt----wanted.

John sat inside the physicist's mind until the thoughts stopped swirling and quieted down; until McKay began the early fazes of dreaming. Now he himself could settle down for rest; unconsciously he thought of stretching, a good long stretch. Without warning, Rodney's body shifted, angling out his legs and arms in the same fashion Sheppard had thought of. John stopped quickly, amazed albeit shocked at what just happened. It seemed he had more control over McKay's body now then he had previously thought. This troubled the Major greatly, disturbing any notion he had of getting sleep. Instead he would ponder just how much time they had left before Rodney got 'kicked' to the back of the line, so to speak; and he took over. Maybe Beckett was wrong---maybe it wasn't a week more till McKay lost control, maybe it was soon. Too soon.


Elizabeth finished rearranging a few city reports she still had to go over on her desk and was in the process of turning round when a very hasty McKay slipped round her office door and entered; papers clutched in his hand.

"Ah Rodney, I was just about to put a call out to you. So, have you and John come to a decision?" She greeted him with a small smile.

"Well—yes and no. What we do have is a plan, ingeniously concocted I might add." The physicist replied with a superior grin. "It was mostly the Major, but I helped with the spelling." He added, placing a hand on his hip. "It's amazing what one loses when entering the military."

Just then the hand that rested at his side dug every finger inward, making McKay bend forward with a wince. "Gahh---sorry, I take that back." His right hand loosened up, a second later Rodney composed himself with a grimace. "You lose etiquette as well."

"So, what is this, ingenious plan of yours?" Weir asked; hiding her amusement at John's slight influences. He'd been go for what seemed so long, at least in body. It was nice to know that he was with them all in mind, even if it was in Rodney's.

"Yes quite right, may I?" McKay began hastily, motioning towards Elizabeth's desk. She gave him a nod and he shifted forward, spreading the papers he'd been carrying with him out onto the desk's surface in a fan shape. He then pulled out the first document he wanted to discuss. "We know that the Yu'set have a man on the inside. Some one of authority in the A'vokien military. Goodie for us." Rodney mused slightly. "Now, how do we essentially get caught by the A'vok so badly, that they haul our butts off to prison?"

Weir said fully attentive. "I'm all ears."

Rodney looked up to her with a slick smile. "Break our agreement with the A'vok and do exactly what I wanted to do weeks ago."

"You mean go back to P2M-744?"

"Yes essentially. We'll futz around, get busted."

"Futz?" Elizabeth asked, wondering just what the man meant by it.

Rodney paused, realizing what he'd had just said; explaining it away with a scowl. "It's a Sheppardism. I regrettably find myself using them more and more." He received an understanding nod from his superior. "Anyway, you might be asking yourself how do we make sure we have our backs covered?"

Weir simply watched him, waiting.

"Well now you are." McKay waved a dismissive hand, continuing as he pulled out another sheet of paper. "If we can get into contact with the Yu'set's inside man, tell them where we're going to be on the planet, even--if we come in fully uncloaked, broad daylight so the A'vok know where there." "If the plant can pick us up and take us into the city, incarcerate us we'll have and instant in and no chance of say the A'vok using us for target practice instead."

"And after you're in?"

"After that, well…we haven't really plotted that out yet. Unless Keffis can get us some information, blueprints, anything he can about the citadel then we might have a better chance of finding our targets and getting out of there before the A'vok catch wind of us." He pulled yet another piece of paper out, placing it on top of the rest, looking at it with contempt. Weir, smiled.

"Ignore the stick-figures Elizabeth. I was tired this morning." Rodney pushed the paper aside that depicted a little man drawn in ink exiting a poorly drawn prison and towards an even poorer drawn puddle jumper; followed by several other smaller stick figure men—all with dotted-eye smiley faces,representing their hopeful success. "Worst comes to worse we stay at the prison until the day of this Gertz's execution. If we can't locate him, the Yu'set official, freeing both them and us by then---well, we come home empty handed."

"Hopefully, it won't come to that." "Rodney, I must say I'm impressed." She rested a hand on his shoulder, eyeing the shortly written procedure. "You've thought up a well executed plan—well, the beginnings of it."

"See, I knew she'd like it." John chimed in, a smirk in his voice.

"Well Elizabeth, It should be---you put the best brain and the best strategist in the whole city together and you get results." Rodney said nonchalantly, taking the time to rearrange the plans in order, plopping the stack back onto Weir's desk.

Elizabeth straightened herself up, adding with a hint of reproof. "I wished you two worked so well together when you were separated."

McKay paused in his fixing, making a side-long glance to her before standing up as well. "You know Skip, she makes a good point." Sheppard agreed; feeling a bit of guilt himself. Only until he and McKay were forced to do so, did they work as a team; it shouldn't have been like that.

"The question now is---who's going on this rescue mission?"

"That would be me and Ford." McKay replied, correcting himself a moment later. "Well, technically, me, Sheppard and..."

"I understand Rodney…." Weir lightly interrupted him."Are you sure you're up for this, we do have the man-power to send someone else; no one would think any less of you or John. Under the circumstances, it's completely understandable."

"Though that sounds exceedingly appealing---the Major and I have amazingly agreed with each other. This is our problem, no one else's. If anyone should attempt to fix it, it should be us."

"Well, I won't dismiss your resolve. But I do insist you take the utmost care—I'm only agreeing to this mission because it's our best and only chance so far to resolve your situation."

"I----we understand." McKay said finally, he himself wished there was more time to come with some other solution. But circumstances being as they were, left no other options.

Just then Beckett entered, quickly followed by Aiden. The physician seemed out of breath, a look of determination on his face. "OH! I'm glad I caught you both together. There's somethin' you should see."

"I passed the doc here in the hall on the way here." Ford added, pointing back to the hallway, moving in towards Weir's desk as Carson gathered them round, placing several scans and charts over McKay's plans; making Rodney frown.

"We're in serious trouble." Beckett began speaking to Elizabeth. He then looked to McKay. "Well, more to the point---you're in serious trouble."

"When am I not?" Rodney exclaimed, part of him unwilling to know what the hell was happening to him now.

Weir asked the question he refused to. "What's going on Carson?"

"I just got back the results on Keffis's physicals." The doctor began hastily, pulling a x-ray from a large folder, holding it up to the overhead lights while he explained. "At first glance when I looked at his CAT scans I thought this here, was a growth just inside the hypothalamus." He pointed to a dark spot about the size of a silver dollar. "Upon runnin' an EEG, that pocket lit up like the 4th of July---it's not a tumor, it's Ezer."

"I thought there was only electrical changes, not physical." Elizabeth replied, her eyes shifting from the spot to Beckett.

"That's what I thought too. Apparently the device, Aradis---whatever you want to call it; causes a change in the brain's structure over time. And from what Keffis has told me, the passin' is only done to young children. Rodney might act it sometimes, but he's no ten year old."

McKay gave Carson a narrow and venomous look, choosing to remain silent until he knew what trouble he was in.

Beckett raised an apologetic hand, moving on. "My point bein' is that since they're younger, they're able to retain command over their bodies." "I believe the same thing is happenin' to John and Rodney. Chances are, if I do a scan it will show an inner membrane forming here, that will develop bigger over time." "It also explains why John's been slowly gainin' the utilities that he has---" He looked to McKay then. "You said the wave hit you in the front of the head right?"

Rodney nodded. "Yeah after it went through Sheppard."

"Well, the temporal and frontal lobes are right there—meanin' the Major sees what you see, remembers your memories. They were the first to be effected. Then it extended, into your motor sections, effectin' your physical body."
"Since John is essentially stronger, no offence Rodney---"The doctor paused, glancing to the physicist.

"None taken." McKay mumbled, crossing his arms.

"---the Major is pushin' McKay inside, this we know---now if say this transferal was done oppositely, happenin' to Sheppard instead---"

"Then John would have continued his control over his body and the process would have gone on unhindered." Weiradded as she slowly began to put the pieces together.

"Exactly." "Which is why I'm concerned. Now, physical control is one thing, John's already proved he can use McKay's voluntary movement; hence my theory of the spread. But it's the involuntary functions; breathin', heart beat that could essentially stop firin' when they switch over, when the influence hits the medulla." "I'm not sayin' it could be immediate mind you, more then likely the process will take time, like a battery runnin' down until---"

"Until I'm dead." McKay ended the thought, his legs feeling weak. He reached for one of the chairs sitting in front of Weir's desk, sitting down in it. A dazed look crossing his already pale face. He had just begun to except the fact that John was more then likely going to take him over, but at least they'd still be alive. But now, all that was changing.

"I'm sorry Rodney, I hadn't even thought about it till I saw the boy's scans." Carson replied regretfully. He turned then to Elizabeth and Aiden. "Unless John's consciousness takes over these involuntary tasks, we're lookin' at full respiratory and cardiac arrest." He finished grimly.

"So even if we do find this Gertz guy---McKay and the Major might die anyway?" Ford asked. Feeling 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' applied far too well in this situation.

"If we don't transfer them back before the switch---yes" "Now, there's still a chance--though small, that John'll take over all functions in Rodney's body."

"How small is small?" The physicist spoke up, looking least then pleased at hearing any of this.

Carson paused, wincing. "Slim. I figure round twenty-five percent odds you'll both live."

"Well I wouldn't bet on that horse." Sheppard replied quietly, the overwhelming feeling of dread swept over him, and this time it wasn't all McKay's doing.

"Even if they do survive the switch over Carson, you yourself said John's body was too damaged now to be livable." Elizabeth countered. She herself had been down in the infirmary early that morning, paying a visit to Sheppard. She could hardly stand to look at him.

"Aye, but that's where the good news comes in." The doctor agreed, sounding more hopeful. He proceeded to pull out a few charts, handing them around. "Keffis's internal organs are about the same as ours, but DNA tests show he's more genetically closer to say the Ancients then we are. Though the Major has a stronger ATA gene, it's not enough to deter the effects. He's still more human then the Yu'set. Even in terms of life expectancy, they only have a few years over us give or take. But it's still more."

"Before this Gertz fellow left, Keffis said there were records of him developin' healin' devices based on some of the Yu'sets knowledge of mental discipline and apothecary practices."

"There's a good chance, the Yu'set could revert enough of John's breakdown in order for his body to be stable again." "I'm not talkin' about full body healin' but enough to get him goin'; the rest will be up to him."

"Well that's wonderful." Weir replied, placing Keffis's physical specs down.

"Yeah wonderful if can even get the guy out of jail." Ford added.

"Speakin' of which, Aiden and I have discussed who'd be goin' on this little tryst of ours. And in the terms of medical safety, I think I should go in his stead." Beckett announced, catching bewildered looks from both McKay and Weir.

"No."

"No." Rodneyspat suddenly, at first unsure why he'djust blurted that out.Realizing that hehadn't said it,John did. He blinked, clearing his throat. "Sheppard says it's too much of a risk to let Beckett go."

"I think it's more a risk Major, if I don't go." Contested the doctor. "As I said before, who knows what sort of condition you two will be in once you transfer. I might have at least some chance of keepin' you alive Rodney if I was there. I figured I could sneak some supplies inon me."

Weir raised a hand, stopping Beckett as she turned to Aiden. "Hold on a moment, Ford, are you sure about this?"

"Yes Ma'am." Replied Ford solemnly, looking to each of them. "We're gonna to need a getaway car by the end of this, and I'm your driver. The Major's taught me a lot, and if it's alright with him---I'd like to act as backup."

"Besides you need someone who's been in the Hold before." Carson added.

Flinching, McKay rose from his seat, glaring reproachfully at the doctor. "You're not really suggestion you've been in jail are you?"

"Aye---well----for a few hours at least, when I was a lad. Got caught up in some nasty business with a childhood mate of mine back home."

"What did you two do?" Asked Elizabeth slowly, unsure if she really wanted to know.

"Us? Oh, just a little this and that. He got caught nabbin' a pack of smokes and I was guilty by association. We didn't get charged. But I did fear for my life, you should of seen our cell mates, biggest blokes I'd ever seen, not to mention most of them were missin' teeth." Beckett explained, receving some strange looks from his teammates. He explained further.
"You see there was a wee riot over at the local rugby match, turns out…"

"I'd hardly call that experience." Rodney interrupted. This wasn't like some video game, shooting chicken monsters with ashotgun while some guy in a wheelchair screams at you that you've killed us all.

"Makes me more qualified then you." Carson fired back. Both men staring each other down for a moment until Elizabeth intervened.

"I suppose I can't convince you otherwise?" She asked finally.

"Not rightly--!"Beckett caught himself, easing his tone. "-Ma'am."

Sighing, Weir looked to McKay then. In reality it was really all Sheppard's decision, who he wanted to take with him. "John, Rodney, what do you think?"

McKay looked off, nodding ever so often to signify to the Major that he heard and understood him. John took a deep breath, trying to remain practical. "Though I hate to admit it, the Doc has a point about us McKay, I---I don't know what's going to happen to us in the next few days. We just might need him on hand. That and he's always been complaining he never gets to go off-world." Sheppard mused lightly before he became serious once more. "And if the shit does hit the fan, Ford would be more useful to us on the outside. As long as we keep constant contact with one another---I'll agree to it." Rodney opened his mouth about to convey John's message when he spoke up again without warning.

"But I want Beckett, Ford and Teyla to meet you and me back here after Weir gets a hold of the Yu'set and we get a bit more information. I want us to go over a step-by-step plan----any screw ups can be obviously dangerous and I want everyone who's going on the ball. Understand?" He said at last. "Ok, now you can tell them."

Clearing his throat McKay looked to them all. "Eight words or less, John will agree to it, but he wants Ford, Carson, Teyla and I to meet with him for a strategic overview. That is, after we've contacted the Yu'set and find out everything they have on this prison, their spy, and what we have to work with." Rodney paused, arching a brow. "alright---that was more then eight words, but you get the point."

Weir nodded. "Then I'll allow it." "I want a full and complete report on my desk by this evening. We'll prepare to say, leave tomorrow----that will give us two days for this mission. Not exactly the timeframe I would have wanted, but it will have to do. In the meantime I'll contact the Yu'set; Rodney you and of course John come with me. Good luck gentlemen." With that she left her office, McKay headed right behind her leaving Beckett and Ford.

"Wait---wait I'm actually goin'?" Carson asked as the notion suddenly seemed to dawn on him. He'd actually gotten his way.

"Seems so doc, congratulations." Ford patted him on the shoulder. "I'm going to go andtell Teyla about our plans; catch you later."

"Oh." Beckett replied, turning pale himself, not even noticing that Aiden had in fact left him alone. He was going on a mission, one of great importance---one that may or may not have meant certain death. Straight into the belly of a alien penitentiary. "Oh—dear---I think I need a sit-down." Carson nearly missed the seat behind him; he hunched over, placing a hand to his forehead as he tried to remain calm. He took deep breaths, shutting his eyes tightly. "Buggar."


To Be Continued….

P.S: Can anyone guess what PS2 game I hinted at in this chapter?