Carson Beckett gave the silent form he was holding a gentle kiss before reluctantly releasing her and sliding out of bed. Despite her weariness, the action woke Melony immediately. Mostly.

"Carson…?"

It was the sleepy mumble of someone who had no desire to wake up any time soon, and Beckett knew there was no reason for her to. He pulled the body-warmed blankets up around her, covering her warmly, and kissed her again.

"Shhh… go back to sleep."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm just going to go check on things," he whispered, softly, unable to stop his fingers from running through her silky blonde hair. "I'll be back soon."

"Want me to come?" she asked, her eyes still closed. Despite the fact that she was healing nicely, she wasn't completely there yet. The only reason Carson had released her from the infirmary was Talon. And maybe because he wanted to have some alone time with her. But he wouldn't admit that.

"No…" he told her, still whispering because he was hoping it would lull her back to sleep. "I want you to get some rest…"

"You'll be back?"

"Right away."

She nodded into her pillow.

"Come get me if you need me…"

"I will."

He watched as she drifted off once more, and then left his quarters, closing the door softly behind him.

OOOOOOOO

"Just the man we were hoping to see."

The two scientists came through the door of the infirmary only moments after Carson himself had. Beckett had noticed immediately that McKay's bed was empty and had headed that direction when he'd been interrupted. He turned and waited as Zalenka and Kavanaugh walked over to him.

"What's up?"

"We just finished our last tests on that cat," Zalenka said. "And we thought you might be interested in hearing what we found out."

"It's fascinating," Kavanaugh added.

Kavanaugh had changed a lot in the last couple of months. Carson knew what had initiated that change – although most people on Atlantis didn't – and he was actually coming to like the scientist now that he wasn't being such an asshole to the people around him. He didn't trust him with his life or anything, but most of the smug mannerisms were gone, and he didn't question Weir any more – for that matter, he rarely questioned anyone. At least when it came to their authority. Scientific questions were another matter completely.

"What did you find out?" Carson asked, curious.

"The thing definitely fed on a Wraith sometime recently," Zalenka said.

"Are you certain?"

Both men nodded.

"The DNA didn't completely break down in the cat's system," Kavanaugh said. "Its own cells are laced with Wraith DNA."

"Probably the cat's body turned the proteins into amino acids and those amino acids are what spread the Wraith contaminate."

"In all parts of it," Kavanaugh added. "Including the brain."

Beckett frowned.

"That's impossible."

"You know better than that, Doctor Beckett," Zalenka said. "We've seen so many crazy things here, I don't think there is such a thing as impossible any more."

Carson had to admit that was true, but still…

"It didn't mesh with the cat's brain waves, though," Kavanaugh said. "Most likely, the addition of the Wraith DNA is why they're so much more aggressive – not because a Wraith is more aggressive, but because it undoubtedly was going mad – whether it was an instant thing, or it took a while…"

"And all the others agree with this?" Carson asked, curiously. He was willing to admit that it sounded conceivable. They didn't know all that much about the consequences of eating a Wraith – why would they even think something would eat one? – and the more he considered it, the more he thought that was probably the case. Of course, he was well aware that he'd been distracted taking care of Melony and Dex, so he would go along with what the others – who were just as bright as he was – came up with.

Both Zalenka and Kavanaugh nodded.

"Have you spoken to Doctor Weir about it?"

Kavanaugh hesitated an instant before shaking his head. Zalenka didn't hesitate, but he, too, shook his head.

"We thought we'd wait until the others were up on their feet before giving a complete report," Zalenka said. "That would give us time to repeat all the tests."

Not to mention Kavanaugh never went anywhere near Weir. The only time they were in the same room was when Weir happened to walk into a room he was in. While he never told anyone why, Carson was certain Melony had something to do with it.

"Very well," Carson said, his attention caught by the door to the room Dex was in opening and Rodney McKay coming out, looking smug. "I'll have everyone out of bed by morning. I'm sure Doctor Weir will want a report as soon as possible after that."

"Okay."

"I'll have someone contact you – or you contact us…"

Carson was distracted, now, and it showed. Both of the scientists simply assumed it was because he was worried about Colonel Mitchell, so neither was offended by it. Indeed, Zalenka decided that they might as well get out of his hair so that he could get back to work.

"We'll do that," he said, gesturing for Kavanaugh to head for the door. "I'll send you copies of the results if you'd like…?"

"Aye, that'd be great, thanks."

The two left and Carson turned towards McKay, who had reached his bed and was starting to sit down.

"What were you doing in there?" he asked without ceremony, coming over and frowning down at his patient.

McKay gave him an innocent look.

"In where?"

Carson's frown turned into an annoyed scowl.

"You know what I'm talking about, Rodney."

"What?" McKay said, aware he wasn't fooling anyone. "I was just… making friends…"

"Stay in your bed, Rodney," Beckett said. "Or I'll strap you to it. I mean it."