The name of this title is a real phobia! I didn't make it up. Just fyi.

I can now accept anon reviews, I hadn't realized you could change that.

We've got Dr Biro on the war path, some delirious chatter amongst our patients and the situation has gone from bad to worse!

Oh, and you've all been great! These reviews are just making me want to write more and more. Hehe.

Chapter Five: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

Elizabeth had never seen Dr Biro so angry. Actually she had not seen Dr Biro much at all; the woman seemed to spend most of her time pent up in her lab studying viruses and other sorts of microscopic enemies. However when the medical team had brought back Dr Beckett strapped to a backboard and unconscious she had practically exploded.

"That man is an idiot!" She slammed her fist into Elizabeth's desk causing a statuette to jump off the surface. Deftly the doctor caught it and placed back on the desk like nothing had happened. "He was perfectly aware he was infected, yet he waits two days before actually telling us, and he didn't even let us know how far it had progressed!"

Biro flopped into one of the chairs adjacent to Weir's desk. "To compound the situation, what he has isn't the same strain the rest of the team's got. The DNA in the bacteria has significant differences. We think that this is because he was originally infected with a different strain through a needle stick when he was trying to draw blood from a local. There is also evidence that there has been some mutation of the bacteria, we've got some ideas about that, but we'll know more after further examination."

"So how is he going to be?"

"He should be awake this evening. His lack of consciousness was due in part to exhaustion and hypotension, not to mention his idiotic stubbornness."

Dr Weir let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, "And the rest of the team?"

"Oh them; well at the moment they're all awake but disoriented. Rodney seems to be fairing better than the rest, we think it's because of either the dose of epinephrine, antihistamine or corticosteroids he received before the symptoms started to manifest." She paused and scratched her nose thoughtfully, "It was probably the methylprednisolone disseminating the bacteria in his bloodstream and making it easier for his…."

Elizabeth interrupted before Biro could digress further. "I am sure that they are in the best of hands. Will you let me know if their conditions change?"

Looking chagrined from not being allowed to finish her thoughts out loud the doctor nodded.

"Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia," said Rodney from his bed between Beckett and Sheppard.

Sheppard looked blearily at the physicist. "You're delirious Rodney. Shut up before you say something even more stupid." He turned to look back at the ceiling and started to wonder himself if he was not a bit delirious as the ceiling looked like it was slowly moving and swirling around, it looked kind of cool.

"Yeah, well, it just goes to show you that even when I'm not thinking with my full capacity I'm still smarter than you." McKay grinned gleefully, "I bet you don't even know what it means."

"Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words," said a weak voice from the other side of Rodney.

John tried to look over Rodney at the doctor but he lacked the strength, "How the hell did you know that Carson?"

"Probably for the same reason he has an MD after his name Colonel. Although from my point of view it doesn't mean much."

"The how do you know it?" said Teyla softly. She had just woken and had been listening in.

"Are you kidding? I know everything!" stated Rodney factually. "Why wouldn't I know what it means?"

"Dr McKay, I would suggest ending your conversation here. It's moved from amusing to irritating," said a gowned, masked and gloved Biro. A similarly dressed nurse behind her was pushing a cart with a variety of syringes and bottles on it. She started with Dr Beckett.

"Carson! So glad to see you up." She pulled his chart off the end of the bed and was checking something off on it. "You'll be pleased to know that the medical staff has chosen not to flail you alive for your stubbornness until after you're at least able to stomach solid foods again."

Carson grunted in disgust, "I'm gone for a week and the whole crew mutinies."

"That sounds like a good idea. Teyla, wanna mutiny?" said McKay.

"Does that mean Colonel Sheppard is no longer in charge, Rodney?"

Ronon for the first time spoke up, "It means I'll be in charge."

"I would not mind that. But what would become of the Colonel?"

"We can leave him marooned on a planet. Preferably one with beautiful women so that Kirk can be happy and we don't have to worry about him coming after us." said Rodney.

"Hey," objected Sheppard. "Well, the last part doesn't sound so bad, but that's not the point. What if…" he stopped and held his head in pain.

Dr Biro, seeing this rushed to attend to him. "Did this just suddenly come on?" She flashed her penlight in his eyes, concerned that he winced away from the light.

"Nah, headache for a while, but it feels like someone just kicked me in the head right now."

She helped him sit up and felt his neck for swelling, "Can you touch your chin to your chest? No? Ok." She raised the back of his bed up so his head was elevated. "Just lay back and we're going to have to run some more tests.

"Does anyone else have a headache?" Ronon, Teyla and Rodney all raised their hands.

Carson tried to remember if he had a headache earlier, as his head was feeling much better. A memory of their hosts flashed before his eyes, he didn't know then, but now he realized what they had been discussing. "Biro, can you get Dr Weir for me?"

The doctor raised an eyebrow, "I don't want to risk exposing her if it's not necessary. Does she have to be the one you tell?"

"I don't care, let her know I overheard a conversation between our hosts on Dolosus. I don't think that us getting sick was accidental."

"Be cautious Major. We just need a sample of all the produce so that Dr Brown can make sure it is safe for our consumption." Elizabeth was speaking to Major Lorne's team and a nervous looking Katie Brown. They were to visit Dolosus and prepare to pick up the produce they were trading for. "And avoid any unnecessary contact."

Despite the illness the team had caught Dr Weir had assured the Dolosians that they were still very open to trading with them. However there were to be some precautions taken for the safety of their people. Dr Brown was to inspect the produce and assess its general health and all Atlantis personnel were to wear a mask and gloves when coming into contact with the locals.

"Dial the gate." She watched as the liquid blue puddle sprang to life and the team, without even a glance back, stepped through the gate.