It wasn't quite fair, really, having a member of the exhibition down. Especially since Rodney was the only other member with him. Night had fallen, and Sheppard had yet to show. Not only that, but Carson was unable to make contact with Atlantis. A four hour hike through the forest in the dark was out of the question. All Carson could do was wait for his patients to rise.

Rodney was first, and true to form. "Oh. . .SHIT!" He sat up and curled his good hand around his injured one. "Ow!" This was in response to the very visible bruising on his chest, which had been bared while Carson examined him. "Christ. . ." was his thought about the shooting pain in his right leg.

"Are you quite finished?" Carson nudged Rodney over with his hip before sitting beside him on the makeshift cot.

"Probably not." Rodney frowned as he took in the scene. "These people not believe in air freshener?"

"With your flowery personality who needs it? I don't suppose I dare ask how you're feeling."

"Like crap! How do you expect me to feel?" His snapped response dulled as he recalled the events that caused so much pain. He looked down at his expertly bandaged hand, and noticed the faint sheen of the rub that had been spread on his chest. His eyes met Carson's. "Thanks."

"I'm sure you'd of done the same for me." He gently clapped his friend's shoulder. "What happened?"

"I don't know. Elf-man ran off with my power bar, next thing I knew the whole world blew up."

Carson frowned. "You don't think he knew, do you?"

"That kid? He did good to find his way out of his mother's womb." Rodney winced.

"I gave you a little something for pain, but I'm running a bit low."

"So it's me or him then, is it?" Rodney signaled the sleeping man with his chin. "How is he?"

"Not good. Resting, but I doubt he's going to make it."

Rodney actually seemed a bit sobered by the fact. "What about these other people? What's wrong with them?"

"I'm not certain, but I believe it is genetic. I've seen several generations that are perfectly healthy, and I can only hope they are related."

"Carson, in a place this small, everyone is related."

"Meaning is this abnormality breeding in, or out? People of all ages are affected, it isn't just the young."

"Does it matter?" He cut off Carson's reprimand. "We came here to do a job, now let's get it done and get the hell out of here." He winced towards the doorway. "I could really use a sandwich about now."

"I'm fresh out," Carson said rather stoically as he stood. Rodney flashed him a look, realizing he was taking his personal aloofness a bit far.

"Have you rested at all?" He knew that Carson, like himself, wouldn't bother to sleep if there was a problem at hand, and knew better than to ask.

"No." Carson was sitting on a stool beside his other patient now, looking weary.

"Oh." Crap. He winced again, this time ashamed by his behavior. He tested his footing and stood carefully, noticing that Carson made no move to restrict him. So, that's how it was, then. He limped to the doorway and peered into the darkness. "You heard Tiran talk about the Wearden?"

"Who's Tiran?"

"My elf."

"Oh. Yes, I heard him."

"What do you think of it?"

The doctor stretched. "I believe it is a story to keep the kids from wandering into the forest at night."

"Nothing in it, then?"

Well, this was odd for Rodney. "Why, do you believe it?"

"With everything we've seen? Why the hell not? I'm beginning to think if the people of any particular planet tell you to stay indoors at night, then you'd better do it or become a human kabob."

"We're you thinking of taking a stroll?"

"Carson, there is no one out there. No one. Nothing is lit, there are no sounds. It's. . .eerie."

Carson rose and stood beside his friend. The night yawned back at them, solid in its stillness. "You're right. It is very dark."

"Dead. I mean, I've heard of the dead of night, but this place really has 'dead night'." He shivered. "Carson, look, fix this guy and let's leave, okay? I know I tend to get a bit overprotective when it comes to my own personal safety but. . .this place is wrong. Very, very wrong. We need to leave at very first light, and I mean before the sun comes up."

"Are you sure it's not just your paranoia speaking?"

Rodney grabbed Carson's arm as the doctor headed back to his patient. The man stopped, reading the seriousness in his eyes, the kind of seriousness that left ego behind and spoke volumes about the man within.

It was all Carson needed. "First light, then."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"And did you leave?" the man asked.

"We tried," Rodney whispered.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Carson had returned once more to the bed and lay his hand on the leader's chest, a man who remained nameless to him. No one had bothered to tell him, and to be truthful, he hadn't bothered to ask. As it stood, he doubted the leader would last through the rest of the night.

Rodney was fully dressed, checking their bags, his hand held tight to his chest. "Look, I've got all my stuff in here, what medicines can you spare right now?" He walked over to the small table and started to examine the small bottles when Carson cursed.

The leader was convulsing again.

Rodney darted to the side as Carson tore through the remaining bottles. He picked up an empty bottle and cursed. "Dammit! I'm out!"

"What?"

"I have nothing left to give him." Carson looked up as several people filed in, distracted from their tents by the noise.

"You mind?" Rodney tried to herd them out, but was unsuccessful. "I take it the colonel didn't run those meds by while I was napping?"

"I've not seen the man."

"What? Not at all?"

"That's not all. I can't get through to Atlantis either."

"And you're just now telling me this?"

"It just came up!"

"Then how the hell were we going to get back, huh?"

"I hadn't got that far!" Carson was holding the leader down, but even his weight couldn't stop the thrashing about. There was a strangled gasp, and the body fell limp.

Rodney just stared as Carson slowly backed away. The leader's eyes were open, bluer than anything they had seen, too blue to be dead. The cheeks even had a rosy gleam. He looked healthier in death than in life, which proved to be a positive sign as far as death being a rebirth. However, the villagers were not pleased, and ran back out, herding themselves into various tents and hovels, escaping the night.

Carson had backed into a chair and fell into it. Rodney looked down at him, uncertain as to what words would be appropriate, what action would soothe. He finally slumped to the floor beside him, and patted his knee with his good hand. Nothing was said, and it turned out that nothing needed to be said. They merely watched as a group of men arrived to shroud the body in a dingy red cloth, preparing it for morning burial.