After they were waylaid by the third well-wisher, Ronan kept to the lesser-used corridors, pushing Carson's wheelchair unhurriedly in the direction of Rodney's lab. The extra travel time gave the doctor an opportunity to ask a question that had been weighing heavily on his mind.

"Ronan."

"Yeah?"

"Back on the planet, at the jumper. Do you know…is there any way to tell…" Carson sighed and chewed on one knuckle. "I know there was one lad, I couldn't see very well, but…I think I killed him."

Ronan made a noncommittal noise and kept pushing..

"Were there others?" Carson blurted. "How many did I kill?"

The Satedan was silent for a moment. The wheels of the chair hummed and creaked in the quiet hallway. "I don't know," he finally said. "You weren't the only one firing on them, and we didn't stick around to count the bodies."

Carson hung his head. That brought his medal into view, which only depressed him more.

"I killed six men guarding the gate," Ronan stated calmly. "I don't know if they were good men or bad men, whether they deserved to die or not. I just know they were keeping me from getting help for my friends."

"Is that all, then? Because they were in your way, it's okay to kill them?"

"I don't know what's right. I only know what's necessary."

"Right," Carson said uncertainly. "I did what was necessary."

"You never should have been put in that position," Ronan said, uncharacteristic anger lacing his voice. "Guys like me are supposed to protect guys like you, so you don't have to deal with the killing."

"You did the absolute only thing you could do under the circumstances. I suppose I did too," Carson sighed. "It doesn't make me feel any better, but I guess I'll have to learn to live with it."

"I'm sorry," Ronan said. "Sorry that you have to."

The remainder of the trip passed in silence.

They could hear raised voices in the lab before they'd gotten within twenty feet of the door. "Sheppard," Ronan noted. As they got closer, they could clearly make out the sound of the colonel arguing furiously with Rodney McKay.

"I'll tell you, Rodney, you have pulled some selfish stunts in the time I've know you, but this tops 'em all."

"Excuse me, Colonel, but I'm working on upgrades to the shield technology that will benefit all of Atlantis. Whereas you are hanging around my lab doing nothing productive whatsoever, unless you count harassing and annoying me."

"He saved your life, Rodney," Sheppard ground out through what sounded like a tightly clenched jaw. "The least you can do is go thank the man."

"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm a very busy man," Rodney replied in the same tone. "Carson is just going to have to survive on the accolades of everyone else in this freakin' city until I find time to send him a greeting card!"

"Jesus, Rodney, are you jealous? Not even you can possibly be that petty!"

"Clearly you've underestimated me," Rodney snarked back. "Now that we've established that I'm a horrible, ungrateful person, would you mind leaving me the hell alone?"

"Yes, Colonel," Carson cut in. "Why don't you step outside with Ronan, give Rodney and I a moment to chat?"

Rodney wheeled around, giving Carson his first look at him since their rescue. The Canadian's arm was in a sling and strapped snugly to his torso. Patches of pink covered his face like a blotchy sunburn, and the end of one eyebrow seemed to have been singed away. It was his eyes that caught Carson's attention, however. A spectrum of emotions chased through those orbs, leaving the doctor shocked at the naked vulnerability he saw in his friend. Then the iron gates slammed down, Rodney's jaw jutted out, and the obnoxious scientist took over. "I'm really very busy. Now isn't a good time."

"Too bad," Sheppard said, heading for the door. "Ronan and I will be right outside if you need us, Doc. And McKay? If he gets so much as winded, I will personally kick your ass."

The door closed behind the soldiers, and the scientists were left alone.

"Hullo, Rodney," Carson said casually. "How've you been?"