Carson slept most of the next two days, sometimes only opening his eyes long enough to see Ronan's face before dropping off again. By the third day Carmen had cut back his medication and insisted he get out of bed. He took short, painful walks around the infirmary, supported on one side by his rolling IV pole and on the other by the Satedan, who had to crouch nearly double to do the job.

Carson grew so accustomed to waking up to Ronan's sober eyes that he was actually worried when he was greeted by Sheppard instead. "Colonel," he yawned, stretching careful in consideration of his healing incision. "Where's my shadow?"

"Waiting outside. You up for some visitors?"

"That would be lovely." Easing himself into a sitting position, he ran a hand through his hair and over his whiskered face. He grimaced at the sight he must present.

Sheppard smirked. "You look fine, doc. We're not gonna drag you off to a beauty pageant. Hang on, I'll get everybody."

Everybody? Carson had time to think, and then the room began to fill with people. Ronan, Elizabeth and Caldwell joined Sheppard at his bedside, while everyone on the medical staff, most of the scientists and a fair portion of Atlantis' military contingent crowded around, spilling into the hallway. Carson looked around in bewilderment. "What's all this, then?"

Elizabeth smiled and laid a warm hand on his arm. "Everyone wanted a chance to thank you for what you did on Kaleria. You impressed a lot of people."

Major Lorne nodded. "Sorry to say that some of us might have underestimated you, doc. I sure won't make that mistake again."

"You are an inspiration," Radek Zelenka piped up. "My copy of 'Braveheart' is most requested DVD in city."

A laugh moved through the crowd at that. Ronan deadpanned, "They're calling you Beckett the Brave."

"Ach," Carson moaned, covering his flaming face with his hands. The crowd chuckled again.

"The thanks goes double for me," Sheppard said. "You saved my ass, doc, and I won't forget it."

"It's nothing you haven't done for me several times over, Colonel."

"Be that as it may," Elizabeth broke in, "it has been suggested – by just about everyone in the city – that something official be done to recognize your bravery. Since you're a civilian, we were unable to secure you a Congressional Medal of Honor, as some people were advocating." She leveled a glance at Sheppard, who was clearly still sulking about it. "After a great deal of discussion, I think we've come up with something appropriate."

"Really," Carson protested, "this isn't necessary."

Sheppard ignored him and accepted a small box from Lorne. "Carson Beckett, for your selfless actions in defense of your fellow Atlanteans, you are hereby awarded the first ever Star of Atlantis." He opened the box, revealing a stunning silver star covered with intricate swirls of engraved lines that evoked thoughts of waves. In the center was a stylized letter A formed from a gemstone that shifted colors from blue to green and back. A small circle above the A mimicked the gate symbol for Earth.

Elizabeth removed the medal from its box and pinned it to the front of Carson's scrub top. "Well done, Carson," she said, kissing his cheek. "And thank you." The crowd around him erupted in applause.

"It's beautiful," Carson breathed, touching the medal reverently.

"The geologists have been arguing over the design for days," Zelenka said. "There was almost a fistfight over the size of the A."

Carson chuckled around the lump in his throat. "Thank you, everyone. I'm so honored…I don't know what to say."

Carmen Ruiz smiled and stepped forward. "I hate to put an end to the ceremony, but our hero needs his beauty sleep."

"There's usually a party after a medal ceremony," Sheppard said, "but we've decided to postpone it. You know, until you can actually attend."

"Right generous of you, Colonel." As the crowd started to disburse, Carson caught hold of Sheppard's sleeve. "John, what's going on with Rodney?"

The colonel's lips tightened, his entire expression expressing his irritation. "I don't know, doc. He knew this was going down today, I don't know why he wasn't here." He gave Carson's shoulder a quick pat and headed for the door. "But I'm sure as hell going to find out."

"How's your pain, Carson?" Carmen asked. "Would you like something to help you sleep?"

"No thank you, love. I don't believe I'll have a problem sleeping, it's all I seem to do these days."

"Give it time," she advised. "You lost most of your blood volume. It's going to take a while to get your strength back."

"I know. Thank you, lass." Dr. Ruiz smiled and headed for his office, and Carson was left, once again, with Ronan. "And what do you think, lad? What's Rodney's problem?"

"He's a jerk," the Satedan promptly replied.

Carson snorted. "I mean specifically, not generally. You think Sheppard will convince him to come 'round?"

"No."

"Right then," Carson sighed, pushing the blankets back.

"What are you doing?"

"Rodney needs sorting, and it'll have to be me to do it. Apparently, the mountain will have to go to Mohammed."

"Should you be getting up?"

"I'm not going to exert myself. You'll be doing the hard work. Still," he muttered, shooting a glance towards the open office door, "best keep your voice down. Now, if you'd be so kind, fetch me robe and baffies." He sighed at Ronan's blank look. "Slippers, lad. They're under the bed."

Ronan retrieved the 'baffies' and stuck them on Carson's feet. The doctor struggled into his robe and slid to the edge of the bed. "Right. Find us a wheelchair then, and let's go pull Rodney's head out of his arse."

A/N: I'm going to stop predicting how many chapters are left, I've been wrong too many times already. Thanks for reading!