The mess hall was mostly empty, though it wouldn't have bothered Rodney one way or the other. It was too soon after the whole event for the news to have filtered through Atlantis' grapevine. He would escape odd looks today, though he didn't doubt they'd be coming.

Still he was glad that there were few people in since it meant he could eat in peace and quiet. He devoured the stew despite its indiscriminate contents and drank great swallows of his coffee. It was nice to have his head to himself, to be able to think without a constant barrage of questions.

Finishing off his food, Rodney stood and headed to his quarters for a well-earned shower, planning to check on Cadman after that and then head to bed.

He was passing near Cadman's quarters when he stopped. He glanced down the corridor. It was empty, quiet. There was nothing odd or untoward. Yet Rodney felt unsettled. Not questioning the instinct, he walked down to Cadman's door. He hammered on it.

There was no response.

"Cadman?" he called, wondering if she'd gone to bed already. There was still no reply. He frowned and looked at the closed door. He had a very bad feeling and he'd learnt to pay attention to such things. Removing the cover from the crystals, he jimmied the door open and went in.

Rodney's gaze immediately settled on the form lying on the floor. Cadman. She was crying - no sobbing - and there was clear terror in the sound. He dashed to her, kneeling by her side and shaking her shoulder.

"Laura?"

Her head came up and she stared at him. Her eyes were huge in her white face.

"Rodney!" she cried, sounding more relieved than he even though she would saying his name.

"What-"

"I can't move!" she wailed, obviously frightened. "Oh god. Rodney. What's happening?"

Rodney hadn't got a clue, but what Beckett had told him came back in a rush. He gathering her into his arms, trying to comfort and calm her. She was shaking violently.

"Okay shush, calm down," he said, trying to sound impatient. It didn't quite work. "Panicking isn't going to help. Tell me what happened."

"I... I don't know," she stuttered.

"I just got a shower and then... Then I collapsed and I couldn't get up and-"

"Okay," he interrupted, breaking off her rising panic. "I doubt showering has anything to do with it. Is it just that you can't move?"

"No," Cadman replied in a small voice. She trembled in his arms. "Everything's... hazy. Like it was before."

She didn't explain further, but she didn't need to – Rodney understood perfectly. What he was going to do about it, he had no idea. However he decided the floor wasn't the best place for her so he untangled himself from her and stood up. Then he picked her up. She didn't weigh as much as he thought she would. Or he was more capable than he thought he was.

It didn't matter and he pushed the thought to one side as e carried Cadman to her bed. She might not have been that heavy but she'd showered and wore nothing more than a towelling robe. The warmth of her bare legs against the skin of his forearms was highly distracting and he stumbled slightly.

Rodney laid Cadman on the bed carefully, pulling the blanket over her. He doubted her shivering had anything to do with cold, but he could cover all angles, couldn't he? He looked at her. Her eyes seemed huge in her pale face and she was looking at him like he was the second coming. He wasn't as sure he had the answers this time.

"I think I should call Beckett," he said.

"No, don't bother," Cadman sighed. "Obviously something went wrong and I'm not... back properly."

"Hey you can stop that right now. You're not dying on me Cadman, think of the paperwork."

She laughed softly and closed her eyes. "I feel so tired."

"Maybe that's it, maybe you're just tired. God knows you've been through a lot these last few days."

"Hmm," she replied sleepily. "You know I was thinking. My body wouldn't have aged in the Wraith machine, would it? Do you think maybe that's it?"

Rodney looked at her, stunned at what she'd said, that she'd figured this out when he couldn't.

"Crap, Cadman!"

She opened her eyes. "What?"

"That will be it! It's... it's like-"

"Jet-lag?"

"What? No it's not like... Yes, actually, it's like jet-lag. And what's best for jet-lag?"

"Sleep."

"That's the one."

"Oh. So I'm not dying?"

"Not today no."

"Well that a relief," Cadman said with a smile as she sank back onto her pillow.

"I'm sure," Rodney chuckled. "Okay you sleep. I'm going to bed." He stood up.

"Rodney?"

"What?"

"Actually, would you..." She trailed off and glanced down. Rodney wasn't sure but he thought she was blushing a little. "I know I'm being stupid, but I really don't want to be alone." She looked up again, her expression somewhere between embarrassed and pleading.

"I said I'd look after you," Rodney reminded her with a careless shrug. He glanced round her quarters, his gaze settling on the small sofa. He headed towards it.

"Actually... I think there's room for two in here."

The words quickly, halting him immediately. Rodney's gaze snapped back to her, his eyes widening as she managed to push back the covers.

"I'll keep my clothes on," she said, smiling at that, though her eyes still begged him.

Rodney started at her uncertainly. Half of him wanted to get the hell out of here, the other understood the reasons behind her request. He was unwilling just to walk away from her; he'd promised her and Beckett that he would be here.

Then again, it wouldn't be strictly the first time they'd slept together and at least this time she wouldn't be hijacking his body in the middle of the night.

"Yeah well, make sure you do," he said. He toed off his trainers and took off his jacket, tossing it onto the sofa. He looked at her. "Go on then, shove over."

Cadman gave him a grateful smile then glanced away as his hand went to his trousers. Rodney glared at her and the little smirk that played around her mouth, but he still stripped them off. He balled his socks and poked them into his trainers, then clambered into her bed.

"Thanks," she murmured as he propped himself against the wall.

"Hmm," he said, wishing there was another pillow. "You should be grateful given that this mattress is appalling and I'll get no sleep whatsoever on it."

"I am," she replied simply.

He stiffened as she snuggling up to him. She looked up, her brown eyes wide. He rolled his eyes and

draped an arm around her with a hard-done-by sigh. She smiled and rested her head against his chest.

Rodney looked down at the golden head, listening as her breathing got slower as she drifted into sleep. Her body relaxed, becoming a not unpleasant weight against his side. He stroked her back, his fingers moving in slow circles, massaging the tension from her. He heard her sigh softly and he smiled.

"That's it, Laura," he said quietly. "You go to sleep. Everything's fine; I'm right here. And you'll be better in the morning."