Oh yeah Angela! We so did it! You rule!

Notes: This is it folks! Thank you so very very much for hanging on so long! Honestly, Ronon wasn't supposed to kill Oblee; he messed up the plan! Which is why there will be a sequel; too many things left unexplored. Thank you so much for reading, you truly made a difference!

Oneness

"Unity, to be real, must stand the severest strain without breaking"

He'd just exited his room when it started. His heart was beating too fast, there was a tight, burning pain in his chest and he was sweating far too profusely for the temperature and the negligible amount of strain he had put on his body. He should really go to the infirmary, this couldn't be good! Elizabeth would understand, wouldn't she? He couldn't attend a mission briefing with a potentially deadly condition! It was completely insane, not to mention unprofessional. It was just a briefing...with them. They'd all be there. John, who knew too much and made Rodney distinctly uncomfortable these days despite their semblance of an understanding; Ronon and Teyla fresh from the Mainland, as thick as thieves and without a doubt planning his death by primitive weapons for the wringer he'd put them through.

The first mission since they'd gone to Atle. Now, Atlantis' first contact team, of which Rodney had the misfortune to be a part, would be preparing to go out there again, eager to face the next world, the next people who would threaten their lives and possibly take them. Rodney shook his head; thoughts like these would only worry him needlessly. It would be fine, once again they'd all escaped, none the worst for wear and they would keep on doing so until the day they all fell. He entered the transporter, wiping his face with the collar of his shirt.

The briefing could wait, better go see Carson before it was too late for him! He could very well be living his last moments on Earth or, rather, in Atlantis. They always said he overreacted, made mountains out of molehills! Yes well, they should know a splinter could mean pain and infection if not removed properly! What if the one time he refrained from making his discomfort known was the one time he died! Yes! Better, much better to go see Carson! He might get candy out of it too; Carson had gotten a care package in the mail just the other day! His mother sent caramels every time. Certainly, impending death, misbehaving bodily fluids and caramels were perfectly good reasons to pay a visit to the doctor!

He bypassed the central section of the city completely and chose the transporter closest to the infirmary as his destination. Upon entering, he wasted no time in making his presence known. "Carson!"

The wanted man sat at his desk, pouring over data, blissfully immersed in the marvel that was the field of human genetics. He sighed as the urgent tone of voice registered. "Rodney?" He stood up and waited for his most regular patient to come forth with a tale of infectious cuts, cancerous lumps or a newly discovered allergy.

"I'm having a heart attack!" That was the conclusion he had reached. The addition of a tingling in his left arm to the list of symptoms he was experiencing only made it evident. It was a wonder he was still standing, had been able to make his way to the infirmary at all.

Energy shot through Carson, for this was not the answer he had been expecting, and he hurried to Rodney's side, placing a hand on his chest to guide him backwards to the bed. "Sit. How are you feeling?" He armed himself of his arsenal and proceeded to poke and prod.

"Bad! Carson! Bad! I'm having a heart attack!"

"Symptoms?" It was usually easy with Rodney, he always knew what was happening, didn't hold back. In fact, he tended to give too much information.

"Chest pains, like my heart's going to explode, I can't breathe properly, and I'm definitely sweating a lot more than I should and my arm…it hurts, Carson! My arm is tingly!"

"Alright Rodney, calm down, you'll be fine."

"Carson! Heart attack can cause brain damage! Shove the platitude and do something!"

"I am, you just breathe. Go on, slowly, in…" Carson inhaled deeply and motioned for Rodney to do the same. Give the man something to concentrate on so he didn't add a full-blown panic to his ever-growing list of problems…panic…oh surely Rodney knew better! "…out. Again…in…out…that's it, that's it, slowly."

"I'm not giving birth! I don't need to breathe like an idiot! Oh God, oh God, oh God, I'm dying, I'm dying and you don't know what to do!"

"You're not dying. I know what to do and I am telling you to breathe. In…out…in…out…"

"I know how to breathe thank you!"

"Do it then. Concentrate."

Whilst Rodney focused on breathing, his heartbeat slowed, his body relaxed and the sweating went down a notch. Carson concluded he was not, in fact, having a heart attack but rather one brought on by anxiety. It was less concerning but just as traumatic for the sufferer. He was surprised that Rodney had not recognised it for what it was; the man was usually able to reach a suitable diagnosis for his ailments. He put down his medical paraphernalia and sat down, bumping his shoulder into the other man's.

"What are you doing! Carson, I'm –"

"Rodney…" Threading dangerous grounds, possible insulted scientist in the near future. "…you're having a panic attack."

"I'm not!" He wasn't, was he? Rodney took a moment to catalogue the symptoms which had abated drastically. It made sense. He had been quite tense since waking up this morning. "Alright…ok… yes, I suppose I was…" He cleared his throat loudly, attempting to regain his composure. "I'll be going now, things to do, people to see…" He stood, intent on escaping Carson's perceptive and questioning nature.

Knowing a strategic retreat when he saw one, Carson reached out and pulled Rodney back to his original sitting position. "Wait a tick, I say when a patient is ready to leave."

"Obviously I don't need your permission as I'm not a patient!"

"I say who's a patient or not. You step through that door, you're in my kingdom, and I'm telling you to keep your arse down on that bed."

"I, for one, have not stopped breathing once today and certainly do not need medical supervision from a royal quack to do it!" His arguments and tone were convincing but his body betrayed him as it sat down much closer to Carson than was reasonable. He shifted slightly. "I'm fine now." This was impossibly embarrassing. He should've known! He'd had panic attacks before!

"Glad to hear it, but you'll stay here for a while."

"I can't! I have a million things to do and…briefing! Briefing! I have a briefing, I have to go, they'll be waiting! We have a mission, tomorrow! I have to go!"

"No you don't. I'll tell Elizabeth you'll be a while."

"No no no, I have to go! I'm fine now!"

"Sit!"

"I'm not your pet!"

"Aye, I'd never keep a cheeky bugger like you around!" He tapped his radio once. "Elizabeth?"

Her voice answered immediately. "Carson? What is it?" Nice but to the point.

"Rodney's here and tells me he's meant to be at a briefing. It might be a good idea to reschedule if you can."

"What happened? Is he okay?"

"Should be right as rain this afternoon, it's not serious."

"Alright, I'll take care of it. Thank you, keep me posted."

"I will." Carson turned off the communication unit and turned back to Rodney as Elizabeth informed John, Teyla and Ronon that it would be wise to discuss this mission later in the day.

"Why?" John was eager to finalise this planning, eager to get back out there and do something! He'd last walked through the gate almost a month ago and cabin fever was nowhere near his level of restlessness.

"Rodney's in the infirmary."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. Carson wasn't very forthcoming. Nothing to be worried about, seems he'll be released this afternoon. We can set the briefing for…1500 hours, if Rodney's well."

"Yeah." John shrugged, his mind travelling through Atlantis' lengthy corridors to settle on Rodney.

"May we go and see him?" Teyla couldn't mask the worry in her voice. She had been away from the city for more than a week and had only this morning heard of the difficulties John had faced when trying to put things right with their team-mate.

"I think that would be a great use of your time. Now, I will see you all here later!" Elizabeth vacated her chair after a quick nod and went to her office. She would contact Carson soon for more information.

Teyla turned to Sheppard. "Shall we go now or would it be better if you went by yourself?"

"Poke the bear, we'll cover you." Ronon had taken to grinning, a lot. It was slightly disturbing, but once you got used to him losing his stoic front, it was really quite pleasant. Not that he'd ever do it in public, he had a rep to protect after all. Still, a joke and a grin from Ronon were all kinds of all right for John.

"Right, because you guys think I'm going in there first! I've died enough times already…"

Wince.

Wince.

Wince.

"That didn't come out right. Yeah, let's go see what's wrong with our drama queen."

They stood and made their way to the infirmary in silence, each too preoccupied by their thoughts which John's innocent comment had slightly darkened.

John heard the familiar brogue but couldn't make out the words. He only heard what Rodney's not-so-soft voice declared. "I know that, I'm not an idiot!"

They drew closer and he grew worried for Carson did not take the obvious bait. "I'm not saying you are."

"Well it sure sounded like it! Could you be any more condescending! Really, it's like I've suddenly regressed! I'm a grown man and I don't need you chastising me!"

"Give the man a break, McKay, he's doing his job!" John sat on the other side of the bed.

"Colonel. What do you want?"

"We came to see what you've done to yourself this time."

Rodney's eyes travelled from him to Ronon and lingered on Teyla a second too long, noting her worried expression. Clearing his throat loudly he stood and moved to Carson's side. "Yes well…I just…I was…I didn't do anything!"

"Relax, you're not on trial! We just came by to see how you were!"

"Oh…right, right…I'm fine…uh…thank...uh…thank you."

"Is he really, Doc?"

"Aye. Should rest, maybe take a nap, but he'll be fine."

"I'm rested enough, Carson! I don't need a nap!"

"Would, let's see, a walk and some sunshine do?" John had a plan. This was the perfect opportunity to get his team away from the main sections of the city and start work on his unification theory.

"As long as he's kept away from enticing consoles, panels and other flirty energy things…"

"Flirty! I'll have you know that what you dismiss so easily makes this ridiculous kingdom of yours as useful as it can possibly be, which is not a lot, granted, but I would be careful of the terms I used if I were you! What does that mean anyway, flirty energy things? You have the worst vocabulary known to man!" Rodney had to buy some time; he didn't want to go walk with any of them at the moment. "Now, I'm going to go have a shower and rest."

"Wait a minute, Rodney. You just said you were rested enough. I think it would be much better for you to get some sun, get that death-pale skin pinked up and those lungs flushed out. Fresh air can't hurt, can it?" John turned his sight to Carson who smiled knowingly.

"Right you are, Colonel. Rodney, as your Doctor, I'm recommending a stroll on the balconies, an accompanied stroll."

"Oh, very clever, but it's not going to work. I don't need keepers and I certainly don't need to burn to a crisp for the sake of fresh air. I'll open the window!"

Carson laid a hand on Rodney's forearm. "It'll do you good."

"Carson…"

"Just for an hour."

Shoulders slumping, sighing lengthily, Rodney McKay agreed. Mark the calendars! "Fine. I'll go."

"Jeeeeee, Rodney, where's the love!"

"I obviously dislike you immensely; you'll have to get your love somewhere else!"

"Well, I sure like a challenge! Now, get a move on." Smirking smugly, answering with a confidence he did not feel, John pretended that scatting comment hadn't hurt. If things were to get back to normal, he'd have to stop overreacting like this. Rodney hadn't meant it.

"Right…yes, I can do that…"

Carson was quite pleased, as he watched them walk away. He wasn't foolish enough to think their wounds had mended, but they would be treated.

They made it to the East Pier in relative silence. The sun was shining brightly, there was a light breeze that carried the scent of the ocean bringing a salty taste to their mouths. Teyla and Ronon preceded John and Rodney, walking much slower than their usual pace, enjoying the moment, the company. Ronon was the first to suggest they take a break.

"McKay's supposed to be resting…"

"I don't need rest! I'm fine, I said I was fine didn't I?"

"You did say you were feeling well, but you were in the infirmary and Doctor Beckett did insist you should rest. We can sit here for a moment. I am certain we can all benefit from the rest, we shall be more alert tomorrow."

"I suppose we can…it's nice out today." Rodney sat his back against the wall, legs stretched out in front. The wind brought a light mist to his location, an impression of freshness to his skin. His eyes roamed the horizon, taking in the blue of the sky reflected in the translucent waves of the ocean.

"Weather talk. Wow, we've reached rock bottom."

"Yeah, a few days ago." Ronon was all for a strong approach. He knew Sheppard had meant it as a joke, but it would be foolish not to take advantage of the utter truth hidden in the innocent comment. He so desperately wanted them, and his life by extension, to be as it had been. He especially wanted them to be happy. How his priorities had changed. He was used to wanting life to continue on flowing through his body, and though he still did for very obvious reasons, he had the luxury to want other less important things. Like chocolate cake, with ice cream and hot fudge. Or friendship.

Rodney ignored the message. "What! I was just commenting on the day! What's wrong with that! I haven't been out for a while!"

"It's fine, weather talk is fine…go on, talk about the barometric pressure, I know you're dying to astound us with your incredible knowledge of everything."

"I'll have you know meteorology is a very boring and wasteful pseudo-science –"

"That you could give lectures about, umm?"

"Why'd you go see Beckett?" This, in Ronon's opinion, was a much better topic and as Rodney was breathing in deeply, no doubt gathering his forces for an extensive exposé, he thought it wise to interrupt.

Rodney's face betrayed his unease by taking a rather un-fetching shade of red. "Nothing! That's personal!"

"If it's personal, it must be something!" John had to agree with Ronon, this promised to bring not only valuable information to the table, but possible blackmail material. He had accumulated quite a list in the two years he'd known Rodney and was always eager for more. If it could protect him on the day the scientist crossed to the truly evil side and put his plan for universal domination in effect…

"It's something that's no one's business but my own!"

"Come on, McKay, we have a mission tomorrow. If you're not feeling well we have to know."

"I'm feeling perfectly fine! I've said that already if you would only listen!"

Teyla sat down beside him and placed a gentle hand on his knee. "Rodney, we only want to help. If you are unwell we would very much like to be informed."

"Yeah, can't go out there when you're sick!"

"Oh for God's sake! I thought I was having a heart attack! There! Happy now? I'm not sick, you're not sick, we're all great and we'll have a great mission tomorrow!" He resisted the urge to stand and walk back to his lab. Teyla's hand was comfortably warm where it lay on his leg and he didn't want to move, for fear it would be taken away.

"What happened?"

"Turns out I wasn't, Carson said I should rest, you showed up and here we are. The end!"

"Was there nothing wrong?"

"Nothing."

"What made you think you were having a heart attack? What's the deal?"

"Fine!" He got up and walked over to the railing, placed his hands upon it and leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the ocean. "I had a panic attack alright! I was on my way to the briefing and I got scared! Now let's all have a good laugh and go back, I have work to do."

He felt a hand on his back, the same hand that had warmed his leg a moment ago. "We would never laugh at your pain." Teyla wasn't quite sure what a panic attack was but could extrapolate from empirical evidence acquired over the last two years. If Rodney had felt the need to go see Carson, it must have been frightfully unpleasant.

John had also moved to the edge of the balcony and was leaning mostly against the railing, though his left arm was pressed companionably against Rodney's, letting a fraction of his weight rest upon it. Ronon stood beside Teyla, leaning in casually, as if it was by accident that his side brushed against her just so.

"What's scary about a briefing?" Ronon asked earnestly.

"I don't know. I just got scared. Happens often enough, it's not like I need a reason!"

"There is no need to be afraid, we are here, we will protect you."

"That's just it, isn't it! You can't! You can't do that! You'll just…" His shoulders hunched, his head fell that much closer to the railing. He breathed in deeply. "You'll just die! You'll die because I won't be able to save you! You'll die because you think it's your job or that's what you do; fight because instinct tells you to! You'll all die and I'll wish I had instead! I don't do that! I'm not some…selfless hero! I don't have the martyr complex! I'm all about me but…damn it!"

"Rodney…"

"No! Don't Rodney me again! Someone's always Rodney-ing me like I'm unreasonable! I'm not! You know it's true! How many times have you almost died this year, eh? Ten, twenty, fifty! How many times in the last month!"

"Too many…"

There was no answer after John spoke, no comeback, no retort, no sound but the crashing waves of the ocean as they rushed toward Atlantis' side. They stood, sharing the warmth as it came from the sun and was communicated by the proximity of bodies. Watching the waves, Ronon couldn't help but admire their strength, Teyla wondered what hid beneath the turbulent waters and Rodney worried that someday they would claim his city and its inhabitants. As for John, he noted that they kept going, never to be stopped, only falling back to mesh with their counterparts.

Life; just a matter of perception.

Pause