Here is your next chapter!

I'm not entirely satisfied with it as I originally wrote it after I pulled a bunch of mandatory overtime at work, so if its not up to par, I blame lack of sleep!

Again, thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! It gives me lots of energy to write future chapters.

It also looks like things are about to hit the fan too...

Chapter Four: The Grumpy Burrito and the Pedialyte Strikes Back

Elizabeth met her staff in the gate room. Cupping a steaming mug of tea in her hands she yawned and tried to wake up a bit more. Carson's morning update was due in soon. They had been on the planet five days, and so far the situation had not improved, however the doctor was being stubborn and wanted to give the team a week to see if they improved during that time. If not, then a team in biohazard suits was to come and contain the situation and bring them back to Atlantis. She hoped it didn't come to that.

Right on schedule the gate sprung to life. "Dr Weir?"

"Carson, how are things going?"

His voice sounded tired and strained, Elizabeth wished he hadn't insisted that no other doctors were to risk contaminating themselves by coming. "The same I'm afraid. I believe that if their fevers have not broken by tomorrow we'll need to have them quarantined on Atlantis, I just don't have the equipment here incase they take a serious turn for the worse."

"You sound tired Carson, how are you holding up?"

"For now, I'm alright. I think I'm starting to come down with it myself, but it will most likely take several more days to reach the point that it is at in the rest of the team."

"I will give you until tomorrow, but after that, you're coming home. No matter what, and I'll have Dr Biro take over for you."

There was no argument in his voice when he said, "Of course Elizabeth. Beckett out."

It took Carson longer than usual to get back to the home of Vivana and Philo. His back ached, his head ached, he was hot and very grumpy. "If Rodney hadn't eaten that bloody lemon I wouldn't be in this Godforsaken mess," he said to himself. Although he knew that then the team would have just come back and infected the city which would have been a bigger problem altogether.

Taking care of the four members of Colonel Sheppard's team was so consuming he had not even had the energy to examine the information Atlantis had sent back about the findings from the blood samples.

He stumbled back into the room planning on taking a nap but was stopped by Rodney.

"Carson," his voice was just a whisper. "Carson, can you grant a man his dying wish?"

Beckett sighed, the man was possibly the worst patient a doctor could ever have. "What Rodney?"

"Let every one know… I died…" he trailed off and the rest of his sentence was barely audible.

"You'll have to speak up Rodney."

"Let them know I died… saving… kids."

Beckett straightened up and groaned when his back protested. "Sure Rodney. Although I doubt you are going to die this time. Oh, and since you've already used that line you may want to think of another, maybe something more along the lines of the truth." The doctor turned to check on the rest of his patients.

Somehow sensing his presence near her Teyla opened her eyes. "Dr Beckett. How is the rest of the team?"

He smiled at her altruism, "Don't worry about them lass, you need to rest up. I'll be needing your help with them later."

She returned his smile before she drifted back off to a fitful sleep. Turning from her sleeping form he checked on Sheppard in the next bed. He had wrapped himself with the comforter and managed to make himself look like a fluffy burrito with two eyes and a bit of dark hair poking out.

"Colonel?"

"What?" he sounded irritated.

"How're you feeling?"

One eye opened a crack, "Doc, either you make me feel better or you get the hell away and let me sleep."

At least John was still lucid. Ronon was the last to be checked on. Carson was a bit nervous waking him up, the man still intimidated him. Cautiously he placed his hand on the man's shoulder, "Ronon. How're you feeling?"

There was no response. Concerned he pulled out his penlight and went to check Ronon's eyes, but was stopped by an ill attempt by Ronon to grab his wrist. On his second try he did manage to grasp it, but only very weakly.

"Do not shine that thing in my eyes."

It was the only thing he managed to get out of him. The doctor sighed and gave up. They were all still responding and seemed to not be getting any worse at the moment. Wiping his eyes Carson realized that he had begun to sweat, a sign that he was moving beyond the achy muscle stage. Making his way over to his cache of medical supplies he looked for the bottle of orange juice that had been sent. He did not relish the idea of giving himself an IV, so drinking fluids would be the best alternative; however the orange juice bottle was empty, it was mostly likely the Colonel who had emptied it. With a grimace he opened the only other alternative, the bubblegum Pedialyte.

It felt like his eyelids were made of sandpaper as Carson struggled to open his eyes. He knew he had to get up and check on his patients. Raising his head he looked around blearily, he vaguely saw a lump on each of the four beds that were occupied. His head thumped back on the pillow, he felt terrible. Glancing at his watch he almost panicked when he realized he had slept all day. He had to let their hosts know that they would most likely be leaving in the morning.

Sitting up he realized he was very thirsty. It looked like there was some of the nasty flavored Pedialyte left, so he finished it off.

Clumsily and using the bed as support he stood and began taking several shaky steps towards the door of the room. When he reached it a wave of bubblegum flavored nausea washed over him and the Pedialyte he had ingested came right back up. He silently cursed whomever thought bubblegum flavored anything was something marketable.

He leaned against the wall and slid down onto the floor. Who was he kidding? He was just as ill as the rest of the group, who were blissfully asleep. The doctor closed his eyes and wished that he could die right then and there.

"They are all infected," whispered Philo from the hallway. Beckett's ears perked up, they could help him.

Vivana's voice drifted through the thin wall, "I knew the child would get him sick."

"Indeed, it was a stroke of brilliance darling."

"They need to go back to their homes as soon as possible. If they're dead when they reach Atlantis then it won't work. They must still be living."

Philo grunted in agreement, "I can help the doctor contact his people."

"Do that then. I do not want to have to dispose of bodies. It's bad enough they made a mess of that room."

"My dear, just remember the reward we get from this."

"Go get the doctor Philo."

Carson had heard them but not absorbed the meaning of their words. He heard Philo enter the room and walk towards him.

"Dr Beckett, you look terrible."

Opening his eyes he said, "Philo, could you contact Atlantis for me, we need to go back."

The man supported the doctor with his arm and half dragged him back to his bed. "Of course doctor. I believe you'll be much more comfortable at home."