Authors Notes: I started writing this months ago before I knew anything about season two. So, even though they've been in Atlantis for a few years, they still aren't in contact with Earth, and Ford is there. He and Teyla are a couple, as are Elizabeth and Carson.

xoxoxo

They met Aiden and Teyla in the mess hall for breakfast, as usual. The couple were already there when John and Rodney arrived, and had snagged them their usual table. Rodney was being his usual testy self that morning, but John noticed the bags under his husband's eyes, and was pretty sure that Rodney had gotten no sleep after the dream he'd had.

Aiden was chattering away about a mission they had been on recently, when the Thesarians arrived in the mess hall. Elizabeth was with them, being a good diplomat (and good hostess in his opinion. Though John would never actually tell her that using those words. He'd prefer to live, thank you very much)

The Thesarians were the second species of honest-to-God aliens that they had come across. After the Wraith, they were the first non-humans that the Atlantis crew had encountered in Pegasus. They looked fairly human, except their skin had a slight blue-ish tinge that made John refer to them (often) as their little blue friends. Along with the skin colour, the main difference was that they were a race of telepaths. That being so, they had heard John's comment, but had sensed that he was a good man, and had thankfully taken no offence.

Personally, John liked them. They were kind, and courteous, and for the first time he felt like a race they had met weren't lying to them. AG-1 had made contact with them the month before when they had arrived on a Thesarian research outpost. Since then, a relationship had been building up between the two peoples, and an exchange had been arranged.

A team of scientists and cultural anthropologists from Atlantis were spending the week on their home world of Thesaria and a team of Thesarian scientists were staying on Atlantis for the week. Elizabeth was in regular contact with their people, and so far, things had been going brilliantly. They were being treated with courtesy, respect and friendliness.

And best of all, no one had tried to kill them, capture them or harm them in any way. Elizabeth was of the opinion that maybe, just maybe, they would form a working alliance against the Wraith.

John had been assigned the task of tour guide while Rodney had been asked to work with one of their leading physicists, Dr. Mendesa. He had bitched and moaned, naturally, but Rodney actually found himself liking the fellow scientist. He was a fascinating man. Mendesa was an expert not only in physics, but in their equivalent of child psychology and medicine. Rodney had marveled at the varying fields of expertise, but Mendesa had jokingly reminded him that with a life span of 300 years, they had to do something interesting with their time.

At first Rodney had been wary of the scientist. He had been worried that Mendesa would constantly read his mind, but he had been assured that there was no worse crime on Thesaria than reading another person's thoughts without their express knowledge and permission. Despite his normal lack of patience for all things cultural, Rodney had asked question after question about Mendesa and his people, and the two had become friends.

Therefore, it was no surprise when Rodney left their table to talk to Dr. Mendesa when he entered the room. John was no expert on the Thesarians, but it looked to him that the good doctor was in the last few years of his three-hundred year life span. His steps were slow, and deliberate, and his figure was slightly hunched over; probably from spending years leaning over a lab table.

The rest of AG-1 watched as Rodney conversed excitedly with the alien scientist, and as they left fifteen minutes later.

"You know, if I was an insecure man, I'd be worried about those two," John remarked as he watched the retreating pair.

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Radek couldn't help the smile of amusement that flitted across his features as he watched the two scientists examine a newly-found Ancient device. Rodney and Dr. Mendesa were talking animatedly and gesturing widely with their hands as they poked and prodded the machine (with the utmost care, of course.) They were like two kids with a new toy, and their enthusiasm was infectious.

The smile turned into a frown though when he saw the two of them, at the exact same moment, slump down in tiredness. They both held onto the edge of the table and sank down onto their stools in unison.

"Rodney? Dr. Mendesa?" Radek was truly concerned now. Rodney's face was grey with fatigue and was a mirror image of Mendesa's worn features. Granted, it was late, but not late enough to warrant such tiredness. He had seen Rodney go for hours longer without needing sleep or taking a rest.

"I… I feel so tired…" Rodney whispered, his voice quiet and frail. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

"I'll get Doctor Beckett," Radek told him, but Mendesa interrupted him.

"There is no need. I know what is wrong," he told them, as he struggled to stay upright. "The fault is mine, unfortunately. I'm nearing the end of my lifespan, and as so often happens amongst my people, my control of my mental abilities is slipping. My emotions and feelings are leaking though; being projected out and others are picking up on it. Since coming here, I have become closest to you, Dr. McKay-Sheppard, and so you feel this more than others. I am sorry."

"If you are dying, then why come to Atlantis?" Rodney asked tiredly.

"It was my last wish as head of the Physic Directorate to come here. It is the chance of a life time, to study the city of the Atlantians. I did not think that I would loose control so completely. I am sorry."

"It's alright," Rodney slurred a little with tiredness. "I understand your fascination with this place. I don't hold you responsible" And he honestly didn't. If he was on his deathbed, and had an opportunity to do something like explore Atlantis, the he would be first in line, even if he had to carry around an I.V.

"Perhaps you should return to your world, Dr. Mendesa?" Radek suggested.

"My home is many miles away from the Stargate and would take time to travel to. It would be best if I rested here for the night, and then left in the morning. Dr. Zelenka, could you please contact my aide, Venered?"

"Certainly," Radek told him, walking over to the comm. system and contacting Elizabeth. While he was at it, he contacted John so he could bring Rodney home. He arrived with Elizabeth and some of the Thesarians a few minutes later.

Worry was etched into his features, and he hurried over to his husband. John wrapped his arms around Rodney, who burrowed into his embrace and leaned against his chest.

"Rodney, you ok babe?"

"Don't call me Babe in public," Rodney snarked, completely ruining the effect by yawning widely.

"He's ok," John assured the rest of the room, running fingers through his Rodney's hair in a relaxing motion.

Sonider, the leader if the visiting scientists and diplomats stepped towards Dr. Mendesa.

"Mendesa, my old friend, is your control slipping?"

Mendesa nodded affirmative. "I am sorry," he said. "I though I could keep control for the week I was here."

"It's alright," Rodney assured him, just as he brightening visibly. He looked confused. "What just happened? I don't feel so tired any more?" he sat up, and away from John and looked enquiringly at the Thesarians. Mendesa looked even more tired than before, but now, Rodney felt fine.

"I have regained some control of my mental abilities," Dr. Mendesa told him. "And the presence of my people has dampened the effects. Again, I apologise."

"It's alright," Rodney told him again. "Maybe you should rest now though."

"I will take him to his quarters, and tomorrow, I will accompany him to a hospital on our home world," Venered volunteered, placing a supportive hand on the shoulder of his friend and mentor.

Sonider nodded his agreement. "Very well. I am sorry this is happening, my friend," he told Mendesa.

"As am I," Mendesa smiled weakly.

"Is there anything we can do at all?" Elizabeth asked. "Our medical facilities are at your full disposal."

"Thank you for your generous offer, Dr. Beckett," Sonider told her, "but there is nothing that can be done. Dr. Mendesa needs to be amongst our own kind. We have all been trained from childhood to block the effects of this mental degradation. It happens to most Thesarians, when their time comes."

"I will retire now, and tomorrow return home. Goodnight and goodbye."

Venered supported the old man as he walked stiffly back to his rooms for the night. Elizabeth and the Thesarians followed him.

"How do you feel now Rodney?" John asked.

"I feel fine," Rodney replied, sounding surprised. "Hungry, but fine other than that."

"That's my boy," John grinned. Rodney just rolled his eyes.

"I'm just going to finish up here with Radek. I'll meet you in the Mess Hall in half an hour?"

"Sure, and Radek? I'm counting on you to get him there. You know how he gets when he starts playing with one of his toys."

Radek smirked at the couple, who still fought like they hated each other, even though it was common knowledge that they would die for each other. Almost had a couple of times, in fact.

"Yes Colonel," he assured him. Rodney rolled his eyes again, and went back to work, though at a much more subdued pace.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

John groaned at the frantic beeping of his alarm clock, and reached over to turn it off. His sleep dazed mind couldn't help his hand locate the off button but it did allow him to pick up the clock and hurl it against the wall. John grunted in satisfaction at the loud crashing sound and the pathetic half beeps that faded quickly. He'd get Rodney to fix it again later. He squinted against the early morning light, and reached over to poke Rodney awake.

"Babe, come on. It's time to wake up."

Rodney didn't move a muscle. He was sprawled on his back, breathing deeply.

"Rodney," John said, getting irritated. "Come on, wake up!" He nudged him again, but again got no response.

"Rodney?" John questioned, fear creeping into his voice. Rodney wasn't usually this hard to wake up. In fact, he was sometimes up and about before the alarm went off. John shook his husband, trying to wake him, but nothing happened. He tried shouting Rodney's name, poking him several times, tickling him, even wetting a cloth and wringing it over his face.

Rodney's face twisted momentarily as if he was in pain, and then smoothed out in sleep again. His eyes flickered as if he was dreaming, but his breathing didn't change, and he didn't wake up. John was frantic now as he scrambled over to the comm. unit.

"Sheppard-McKay to the infirmary!"

"What is it Colonel?" Carson's stressed voice answered after a moment. "We are having a bit of a crisis here."

"Well so am I!" John shouted. "Rodney won't wake up! He's not moving! You've gotta help me!"

Carson swore under his breath.

"Alright, I'll get down there A.S.A.P. Don't panic."

"Don't panic? Oh course I'm going to panic! How the fuck else do you think I'm going to react?" John shouted before turning off the comm. and hurrying back to Rodney's side.

Carson burst in a few minutes later with a medical team. He immediately started repeating everything John had done. He called his friends name as he checked his pupils, tapped his arm as he checked Rodney's blood pressure.

"Alright, we need to get him to the infirmary," Carson said. "Mike," he ordered one of the nurses, "Call ahead and tell them to clear all non-essential personnel out. It's going to be too crowed in there with everyone there."

John pulled on a pair of pants and a tee-shirt. He tried to take hold of Rodney's hand, but Carson ushered him back.

"John, please stand back."

"I can't just stand here and do nothing!" John shouted, pointing at the disappearing stretcher. "That's my husband on that gurney. How would you feel if it were Elizabeth there?"

"I'd feel as you do," Carson told him honestly. "But we need you to stay back John. Let us work. One of the Thesarians is ill, and is stuck in the infirmary. He can't be moved and they are trying to tend to him there. It's very crowded, so please John, don't get in the way."

With that, he turned and sprinted down the hall. John followed him but hung back a little when he arrived at the infirmary. Part of the reason for that was that the infirmary really was already pretty crowded.

Elizabeth was there, along with Sonider and Venered, the latter of which was wringing his hands, his face a picture of despair. Several Thesarians were buzzing around a bed, working on someone who was lying there. Rodney was in the other end of the infirmary, and it looked to John as if the movements of Carson and his staff were slow and sluggish.

"John?" Elizabeth approached him, laying a supportive hand on John's arm. She saw how distraught the man was.

"He won't wake up Elizabeth," John whispered. His voice cracked with worry when he spoke, and Elizabeth wrapped her arms around him to comfort him. "I couldn't wake him up." She held him as John shook, tears falling down his face. He was powerless to help Rodney and that scared him more than anything. He could do nothing but wait, and it was killing him. They stayed that way for a long time. Aiden and Teyla arrived shortly after John, but didn't disturb him. They spoke quietly to one of the nurses, who told them that they would have to speak to Doctor Beckett.

John straightened up when Carson came over. Past him, he saw that Rodney was attached to heart monitors and other pieces of equipment.

"What's wrong with him Carson?" he asked, not liking the worry that had settled over the doctor's features.

"John," he began, trying to get the Colonel to sit down. John refused to move though. He crossed his arms and glared at the Scotsman.

"Carson, just tell me!" he urged.

Carson sighed. There were times when he hated being a doctor; times like this when he had to deliver bad news, especially to a friend.

"John, Rodney is in a coma."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Dun dun dun!

You know the drill. Read and review please.