Chapter 3

A/N: Wow, I'm flattered at everyone who's paying attention. I've enjoyed your various works, hope mine doesn't disappoint. I'm a scientist and a little detail-oriented, so I'll try not to ramble on to long or get bogged down.

Carson knew the results of his blood work, even before one of his colleagues spoke. The medic behind her was carrying an open-backed hospital gown and robe. She spoke apologetically, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Sorry, but you're a patient now. You must have contracted it from Colonel Sheppard, Dr. McKay, or Dr. Randall earlier. So far, you're the only we've tested who's showing the presence of antibodies, outside of the original cases, but we've pulled everyone from infirmary duty who has the ATA gene, and we're going to ask Dr. Weir to recommend quarters for anyone else in the general population with the gene."

"House arrest?" asked Carson, eyeing the gown handed to him with obvious distaste.

"Until we know what we're dealing with, in terms of virulence and transmission, it's the best option. We can't afford to take risks, as you well know. Dr. Biro's going to head up the research and we're in luck, the Daedalus is bringing an MD/PhD virologist and they'll be here in two days, although with this outbreak, it's a mixed blessing," the young doctor finished awkwardly. Both she and Carson realized that Caldwell's timing couldn't be better or worse, depending on your point of view. Three of Atlantis' key members were in quarantine, and Caldwell wasn't shy about gunning, so to speak, for Colonel Sheppard's position. Dr. Reik tapped her radio. "We've converted one of the storage areas to an isolation room, when you're ready."

A little while later, Carson was still adjusting to the indignities of this state of affairs, and trying to figure out how to stay in the loop, when the occupants of the room began to wake up. Sheppard was the first, eyes widening in surprise at the new room and the presence of Dr. Beckett as a fellow patient. He chuckled briefly at the physician, stripped, literally and figuratively, of his power and probably now subject to his own threats, before comprehending the seriousness of the situation. "It's not the flu, is it Doc," he asked with a resigned air.

"No, lad, I don't think it is. At least not the normal variety. The suspicion is that the artifact is actually something designed by the Wraith, to infect Ancients. The Colonel's eyes widened to almost cartoon-like proportions.

"You mean we're going to turn into Wraith? I don't think I can go through that again. Just shoot me now, Carson," demanded Sheppard. Carson wasn't sure how serious he was.

"Hush. It's not like that, I think," Carson was interrupted by Kyte's sudden awakening, going from sound asleep to wide awake in a matter of seconds, with the shock of someone who falls sleep in one place and wakes up somewhere else.

"What the smeging…. Please tell me it was some bad sushi," she swore, realizing she was in the infirmary, and taking in the IVs and equipment.

"No such luck," muttered Sheppard. Carson nodded.

"Well, you said you wanted to spend some time together, however, this isn't what I had in mind -not much in the romance category, especially with an audience," Kyte attempted to joke, before lapsing into a fit of coughing.

"Hey, I was trying to sleep. Operative word being was," growled Rodney, sitting up and eyeing two of the room's three occupants glaring at him.

"Rodney, I think we're going to have to institute a no-touch rule for you and Ancient artifacts," Sheppard hissed, as Carson explained the situation.

"Oh sure blame me," sighed Dr. McKay dramatically. "It's always my fault."

"Well, you do have a tendency," started Sheppard, spoiling for a fight. The two traded insults for a few minutes, before noticing the presence of several doctors in protective layers, watching in amusement.

"Sorry to interrupt gentlemen, lady, but we need to run some tests," someone spoke, voice muffled by a mask. Four voices groaned nearly in unison. Temperatures were taken, blood was drawn, vitals noted.

"The masks were a good idea, I can't tell which of you is the sadist," grouched McKay. "Or maybe you all are, you had a good teacher. Did he give you each your own voodoo doll" nodding at Carson, then allowing himself a smug smile as Carson flinched at the needle and tried to protest that he'd just had blood drawn a few hours before. "We need to see how the disease is progressing," was the explanation. Carson resolved to invent better excuses. "We'll give you a copy of the results, " someone else promised him.

"Are you doing alright lass," he asked Dr. Randall, noticing she wasn't putting much resistance to all the poking and prodding.

"My stomach and my chest, everything feels all twisted up, like the time I got food poisoning, only worse," she said, wincing at the memory. "Never eat sushi in a land-locked state. Except maybe in Vegas…" she was shushed by a doctor listening again to her chest.

"You sound a little congested. I can give you something for your stomach and to ease your breathing, " he said nodding to someone behind him. Syringes were emptied into an IV port. "Better?"

"A little," she noted the worried looks reflected in eyes and on Dr. Beckett's face. "Guess I should try and relax, treat this as a vacation. Maybe work on the tan, with all these UV lights." There was nervous laughter.

"What's this about UV lights," demanded McKay, suddenly alert. "Haven't I already been exposed to enough radiation? Isn't my DNA warped enough," he continued, ignoring Sheppard's muttering about that not being the only thing warped.

"It's for your protection and ours. The UV lights should kill most airborne germs. It shouldn't present a problem in the short term. " Carson nodded in agreement, feeling somewhat like a translator, as Rodney relaxed slightly. There was silence for a few minutes after the medical personnel left.

"I wonder if I can get my laptop," said Dr. McKay, breaking the silence. "I need to keep tabs on what's going on in the lab. Who knows what catastrophes are occurring with Radek in charge and how long it will take me to put things back in order. Sheppard and Beckett exchanged conspiratorial looks- the physics lab probably had a lot less yelling going on right now.

"Rodney, can't you ever forget about work for a few moments?" asked Colonel Sheppard. "I mean we're stuck in the infirmary, with the Wraith flu, and you're worried about the lab. I can think of a few new things to worry about," he added sarcastically.

"Colonel! That's not very reassuring," scolded Carson. "I'm sure we can figure out this flu, plus Dr. Reik informed me the Daedalus has a MD/PhD virologist on board. They should be here in less than 48 hours."

Sheppard started to say something, but Dr. Randall interrupted first. "And that's supposed to be reassuring. Jack-of-all-trades, master of none. We know how you MDs feel about them. Guess what. We don't claim those dual degreers either."

"You know how Caldwell's going to see this situation, don't you Carson?" added the Colonel. "That's hardly reassuring." Silence again filled the small room. Carson secretly hoped Dr. Heightmeyer wasn't going to decide this was a good psychological experiment: small room, stressful situation, strong personalities. Nice combustible mix.

TBC