Hey, in case you're wondering where Teyla was she will be around. Lets just say shes on the Mainland for now. Thanks for the reviews!

Disclaimer: NOT MINE! I get the point.

"Hey." John said, Rodney turned sharply and looked at him as if he didn't notice John had walked onto the balcony and sat down beside him. Before letting concern fully control his emotions, he took a good look at Rodney. He wasn't crying or angry or even scared, he just looked numb, hollow. As Rodney turned away it occurred to John that, that frightened him more than anything. "You okay?" McKay just nodded. Afraid he was shutting himself off from everyone John tried to prompt McKay into talking. "Are you hurt?" A shake of the head… "Why did you leave the infirmary?" At that McKay turned to him again with desperation evident on his features,

"One of my lecturers has the view that the best description of time that he can come up with is 'Time is something that is measured by clocks'. What kind of clock measures this? What equation can I write down to explain why this is happening?" John had no answer so he just waited for him to continue. "By clocks he meant anything, a rotating pulsar in space, a tap of a foot, a beat of a heart. My heart still beating the same, 20 years of age and stress may be making my blood pressure higher, but right now I'm still 17, my heart is beating, my foot would be tapping if it wasn't in a plaster cast. The clocks are different though. For the first time in my life I don't have a theory. I don't have a clue why or how but I know when and it scares me." At that moment he looked impossibly young, too young to go through all of this. Too young to carry such a burden and if he could have John would have taken it all away for him.

"Why don't we just go inside, get warm. We can talk about it then." John was trying to comfort him but was unsure of what else he could do. McKay silently pulled himself up and went to grab for his crutches but John had already got to them and handed them over. As he reached out for them he swayed on his feet slightly and John went to catch him but the crutches bore his weight. "You ok? I can get Carson…"

"I'm fine." He left no room for argument. It wasn't a long walk to the infirmary but most of the time was taken up by the pace at which they were walking. Rodney's steps were becoming more and more sluggish and the crutches were unable to hold him up when his legs buckled and he went down hard. Carson rushed forward muttering under his breathe about things never changing.

"Carson?" John asked worriedly.

"I don't know yet Major, it's possible his hypoglycaemia or it could just be exhaustion, we need to get him to the infirmary."

With some well positioned arms they managed to get Rodney to the infirmary without having to call for a stretcher. Once they had reached the infirmary Dr. Beckett checked him over finding him dehydrated, exhausted and feverish. Deducing that he was probably coming down with the flu, Carson couldn't believe he'd get the flu with such bad timing. After letting the rest of the team know he set off to his office to carry on reading through the research the linguists had turned out from the device that changed old Rodney to young Rodney in moments.

Two days past and John, Ford and Teyla were on their way to see Rodney. They walked into the infirmary to find McKay sitting in bed looking downright miserable. He had rosy coloured cheeks, he was sniffling and every other word he was saying to Carson was punctuated with a cough.

"Hey." He said when he had saw they'd walked in. "No Carson, no more, stop." He said as he turned to the doctor.

"Hey, what's Carson doing?" John asked.

"He's a doctor and feels he isn't doing his job if he isn't poking me something. No more needles, I don't want the IV and no I have eaten enough oddly coloured foods to last a lifetime thank you. Please just leave me alone." It was almost like looking at and listening to the older McKay.

"He's just trying to help doc, right doc?" Ford put in.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I am but as it turns out he's a stubborn bugger no matter the age." Amusement evident in his voice. After two days with him in the infirmary Carson had formed a bond with the 17 year, finding him not so different. Quieter but as the hours dragged on he had gained more confidence around him and they had talked more and more.

"When will he be up and about doc?" Sheppard asked choosing not to bait the doctors further.

"I don't know yet, as long as he rests I cant see it being much longer."

"I am sitting right here, in plain view." McKay cut in. the others just chuckled.

Later on that evening McKay was sitting in the infirmary twiddling his thumbs bored to tears. He'd counted the ceiling tiles done an A to Z of famous scientists listing their theories in order of importance and coming up with a few of his own. He had no computer, no cards, no energy. Miserably he rolled over onto his side and decided to stare at the nurse until she looked up, then as soon as she did he'd close his eyes. Watching her get more and more paranoid he repeated his exercise several times but soon got bored. Rolling back onto his back he stared at the ceiling, 523 tiles. Prime. 523 multiplied by the number of people who had walked through the door since he'd been awake - 12, 6,276. Not prime. The amount of years he'd lost. 20. Not prime. 20 multiplied by how old he was now. 17. 340. How much had he lost. What had he done in those 20 years. How many scientific break trough's, how many more people had he lost, pissed off, pushed away, how many girlfriends, how many meals, how many more times did he have to tell Carson he felt fine. Giving in he flopped back over on to his side and closed his eyes. Sleep didn't come immediately but eventually darkness over took him.

He woke to the sound of John Sheppard bickering with Ford. "The old Star Wars films are classics, George Lucas spent the first half of his life making the best films ever made and spent the second half wrecking them."

"I don't deny they were good sir. I'm just I haven't seen the originals so I have nothing to compare them to."

"That's what I'm trying to say Ford. You haven't seen Star Wars until you've seen the first one." He replied to the young lieutenant.

"I preferred The Empire Strikes Back." Rodney put in as he sat up. Sniffled and promptly sneezed.

"See he's seen them and he's had less time than you." Sheppard said giving Ford a reproachful look. Then before he could reply turned to Rodney and said: "how are you feeling?"

"Better thanks. Carson has stopped hovering so I think I'm a lot better. Think he'll bring me some real food? Those military things were really nice." Ford rolled his eyes and turned to Sheppard letting the older man reply.

"I think we can sneak some in if he says no. they are supposed to be nutritional."

"Thanks, I need real food. That doesn't mover on its own and isn't electric blue." At that point Ford looked at his watch and had to go for guard duty, giving Sheppard a proper chance to talk to McKay.

"You sure you're feeling alright? I mean…" Sheppard said apprehensively.

"Yeah, the other day, it just got a bit too much. I feel like I'm dreaming but not. Its like I've lost my keys to my very own Tardis." Sheppard chuckled at his statement but still got the seriousness of the situation.

"You know, you haven't really changed all that much."

"No, I always wished I'd be a bit taller. I think I'd have taken a hair cut. You know, but trade off for my genius I suppose." The completely straight face with which this was said put Sheppard at ease. It was McKay nothing more and 20 years less.

"Well, I don't think we have chicken soup but I'm sure we can bring you a M.R.E, I'm sire they are superior in your opinion anyway. And I'd like to think I don't look like your mother when I'm doing this motherly stuff. So no comments."

"My mom never brought me chicken soup when I was ill."

"Was there an alternative in the McKay household?"

"There was nothing, you dealt with it. She'd say she 'I didn't give birth to you to be your servant.' I just accepted it, didn't know there was much else anyone could do when you're sick anyways." John took a minute to take in this information. Whenever he was sick his mom would bring him chicken soup, then milk and cookies for dessert. Something that simple missing from your life seemed to leave a big hole in his memories. The lack comforts like that made him wonder what else McKay had missed out on in his childhood. Realising he'd been quiet for a few minutes he looked at Rodney , who had seemed to apply all his energy into unthreaded one of Carson's blankets that was currently covering him. Sensing a change of subject was in order he went ahead and did so.

"Wanna play a game?" he asked.

"What game?"

"Well we haven't got any cards, or a laptop, or anything…prime not prime?" he asked wondering if the younger McKay was familiar with the game. And it seemed he was.

"Sure. You can go first." he'd replied.

"1193." Easy one to start off John thought.

"Prime. 1126."

"Not prime. 2342."

"Prime. 4446."

"Not prime. 6983." John had asked, McKay obviously had the smarts he'd boasted about. Just then Carson walked in before Rodney had chance to answer. He was carrying electric blue jelly. The frown instantly appeared on Rodney's face, a look of distaste crossed his features before he turned to John, eyebrows raised as if to say 'See, what did I tell you.'

"Hey Carson, when is he allowed real food?"

"As soon as he eats the food I give him. Instead of just picking at the stuff, I think it'll be alright tomorrow if he eats all his meals today." Carson said approvingly.

"You know, again sitting here and having never been mothered, I havegotten quite used to it. I haven't even lived at home for two years. You can leave out the protective parent stuff. I don't eat it all 'cos I'm not hungry. Not to spite you." Rodney said shortly.

"Hey, I think may have regressed because in 20 years we have to drag you out of the lab to eat your meals. It isn't protective parent stuff - its protective friend stuff. Now eat your jelly." John said with a smirk. Carson just shook his head and walked off talking about stubborn Canadians, but there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Rodney just scowled at John and began to munch on his 'nutritional food'.