AN: Thank you to all the people who have reviewed. You are all so kind and full of great ideas! Now, I've taken a bit of literary licence with the medical side of things in this chapter (actually, in this entire story :P) so please bare with me if its wrong. Unfortunately, I dont have a masters in Medical Science.

LadyBozi - I wanted his eyes to be dark this time because it seemed to fit. Next story I might put in the correct colour ;)

Cathain - I have changed it so people without accounts can review. Thanks for leting me know!

As always, reviews make me a happy, happy person :D

And now, for the story...

Chapter 2

Ronon had moved with lightning fast reflexes when he saw how unstable Teyla was on her feet. Lifting her into his arms, her face buried in the crook of his neck, she felt like dead weight in his arms. Studying her face, he felt alarmed by her paleness and lack of movement.

"Teyla?" Ronon asked, worry and concern evident in his voice. "Can you hear me?"

Teyla mumbled something unintelligible and tucked her body against his chest. Slightly panicking now ('Teyla is never this weak!' Ronon thought to himself), he practically ran to the infirmary, being careful not to jostle his bundle of beautiful woman.

Momentarily distracted by the moaning and shifting of a fevered Teyla, Ronon didn't realise he had reached the infirmary until the doors whooshed open before him. Striding into the room, he called for Carson Beckett.

"Dr Beckett!" Ronon's voice, like a whiplash, sounded throughout the room with dangerous purpose. Teyla stirred for a moment and Ronon looked down hopefully. She didn't wake up though, and a slight frown now creased her brow.

"Aye lad, what is it?" Carson said as he rounded the corner. Immediately seeing Teyla unconscious in Ronon's arms, he took charge and ordered him to lay her on a bed. Carefully crossing to a bed, Ronon gently laid Teyla down and swept a piece of hair from her eyes.

Carson, who was as sharp as his surgical instruments, missed none of this intimate exchange. He said nothing however, his attention focused mainly on his newest patient.

"Good lad. Now give me some room to work." Giving Teyla a thorough examination, all the while very aware of the presence of a protective and dangerous male looking over his shoulder, watching everything, Carson announced his diagnosis. Turning to face a worried Ronon, Carson stated in a clinical but caring voice:

"She is exhausted, obviously. Very dehydrated. She appears to have a severe case of what looks like a very potent strain of influenza, which is a common virus on Earth. Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything quite like this before and I am not sure how to effectively treat it. Except for the usual remedies of course." Carson took a breath and, eyeing Ronon, decided to givehim the other bit of bad news. "Being a highly virulent strain, influenza is mainly passed from one person to another. If you both have been close since Teyla became sick, there is the distinct possibility that you may be infected as well."

Ronon, thinking of their close proximity during sparring, let the doctor examine him and take some blood for testing.

"I'll analyse this straight away, but it will still be a few hours before I am certain. If there is anything you…" Carson trailed off as Ronon took a seat on the bed next to Teyla. Staring at him, Carson clearly read the determination and also the warning in his eyes. Ronon had no intention of going anywhere.

Carson had a different opinion.

"Lad, Teyla needs to be kept isolated from the rest of Atlantis. Just until we know exactly what we are dealing with and how contagious it might be," Carson said firmly, but not unkindly.

Ronon did not move, just continued to stare at him with that determined protective gaze. Not wishing to aggravate him further, and subsequently waste time, Carson motioned for him to help wheel Teyla into a room separated from the rest of the infirmary.

5 hours later

"Alright, we have good news and not-so-good news," Carson announced as he came through the door.

"It's about time," Ronon growled, annoyed at having nothing to do for the past few hours.

"You didn't have to stay," Carson admonished sternly, not in the best of moods after staring through a microscope for so long.

Slightly abashed, Ronon addressed the doctor's first statement. "What have you discovered? And by 'not-so-good news' I am guessing that you mean bad news?" he stated a bit sarcastically.

"Well, the good news is that we have identified the virus. It seems that a regular strain of influenza has mated with another virus, that we have yet to identify, and we are seeing the resulting mutation in Teyla," Carson gestured vaguely towards the bed where she lay, distracted by his findings. "This is really quite fascinating, you know," he continued, oblivious to Ronon's growing agitation. "The fact that…"

"Beckett!" Ronon finally interrupted, trying to curb his impatience. "I am assuming that was the good news. What other news do you have?"

"Oh yes. Right. Well, down to it then." Carson checked his notes, and then faced Ronon squarely. "While you tested negative for the virus, your bloodwork did contain antibodies. Now, while I am fairly certain that this means you are not actually infected with the virus, results indicate that you could be a carrier."

Ronon stared at him blankly.

"Which of course wouldn't mean a thing to you," Carson sighed. "Basically, what I said translates to you not becoming sick, but you can carry the virus around and pass it to other people."

'Why didn't he just say that in the first place?' Ronon wondered silently. Out loud he informed the doctor that they had not passed anyone on the way to the infirmary.

" Well, that's good news then!" Carson exclaimed cheerfully.

"You have not said anything about Teyla's condition yet. Is she in danger?" Ronon asked straightforwardly. He was aware that the doctor had tried to avoid that topic.

'Doesn't miss a trick this one', Carson thought, a bit impressed despite himself. "I wont sugar-coat it for you lad. There is a real danger to her health. If we don't keep her fluids up and try to get her to eat something, there is the possibility that she might not… fully recover," Carson said quietly after a slight pause.

Ronon looked down, guilt washing through him. He knew that she was unwell, yet he had acquiesced to her request to continue sparring. He should have forced her to stop. 'Who are you trying to kid? You would never go against her wishes, a traitorous voice whispered in his mind.

Watching the battle of emotions play across Ronon's face, Carson knew what he was thinking. He had seen enough of it when confronting families in hospitals.

"It's not your fault lad, no matter how much you would like to think it is. Teyla is a grown woman. If anyone is to blame, it would be her," Carson stated, knowing exactly how Ronon would react to the statement, and also knowing it wasone of the more effective ways to get him to let go of his guilt.He wasn't disappointed.

Ronon's head shot up and he slid of the bed to land on the balls of feet, pivoting perfectly with all the dangerous grace of a feline. Disliking the slur that Teyla was at fault, he bared his teeth and took a protective stance between Carson and Teyla. Noting the reaction, Carson smirked. 'Works like a charm every time' he silently congratulated himself.

"There is a way that you can help her though," he said slyly. 'And me while you're at it' he thought.

Seeing Carson smile, Ronon grunted in reluctantadmiration when he realised that he had been played. Relaxing his stance, he nevertheless didn't move from his spot.

"What can I do?" he asked, regaining his composure.

'This is going to be fun,' Carson thought, as a grin spread across his face.