Okay – so I like cliff-hangers. Thanks for all the reviews, it has been very encouraging. Enjoy!

OoOoO

As they approached the spot where they had left Carson and Rodney, John listened intently to see if he could hear anything. Although, commonsense told him, that the likelihood of Carson and Rodney still being there was very remote, there was still a vague hope lingering in the back of his mind. The life-sign detectors hadn't shown anything up, but on this strange planet, who knew how accurate they were.

However, the nearer he got to the spot, the more the hope faded. He knew he should be able to hear Rodney's voice by now. It was impossible for Rodney to be quiet for that length of time. Or at the very least, he should be able to hear Carson's soft brogue.

As John had feared, when they reached the spot, there was no sign of Carson or Rodney. As they checked out the site, Ronon caught sight of a dark patch near the top of the cliff.

"It's blood!" He said, looking at John.

"Rodney wasn't bleeding when we left?" he asked the others. Both Ronon and Teyla shook their heads.

"Crap," he said succinctly. "That's what I thought."

"There are tracks from some kind of animal here," Ronon said, further examining the site.

"What kind of animal?" Teyla asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Ronon replied. "I've never seen anything like it before. It looks about the size of a small deer or goat, but it seems to have claws."

"This planet seems to throw up new surprises all the time," Lorne said.

"And none of them nice," John replied.

"So what do we do now?" Ronon asked.

"Can you track them, to see where they went from here?" John asked Ronon. The large man gave him a sardonic look.

"Okay," John said holding up his hands. "Stupid question."

"It's really quite easy," Ronon said. "It looks like someone, probably McKay, was using crutches or something similar. And the land here is very dry."

"Okay, team," John said, raising his voice slightly. "Let's see where this takes us."

OoOoO

When Carson woke up, he was confronted by a very worried pair of blue eyes.

"Thank God, Carson," Rodney said, the relief evident in his voice as well as his words. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure," Carson replied, thoughtfully. "Everything went a wee bit strange for a moment, and then I lost consciousness. The next thing I know, you're shaking me awake."

"Very odd," Rodney said, his curiosity now engaged. "You don't feel any different now?"

"No," Carson replied. "I feel fine, or I will do, once we get out of here."

Before Rodney could interrogate Carson further, the door opened and the Lord Deviser appeared.

"Well now, Sirs," he said. "Everything has now been prepared for the breeding ceremony. Please follow me."

For all his polite words, it was obvious that this was an order, not a request. Carson and Rodney exchanged anxious glances.

They followed the Lord Deviser down a long hallway into another cluttered room.

"This is where you will prepare for the breeding ceremony," the Lord Deviser said.

However, neither man had heard what he said. Their attention was focused solely on a large machine in the middle of the room. It looked like one of the machines you used to suck up leaves in the fall. There was a long tube, and at the end of it, there was a container to collect whatever it was designed to collect.

"No way!" Rodney said. "You're joking, right? There's no way you're going to attach me to that monstrosity. I have my dignity, I have my pride. That thing could do permanent damage! This is a joke. You got some camera hidden away somewhere. Haven't you? Who put you up to this? This is beyond a joke. It's just not fair. You can't do this to me!" Rodney was almost crying by the end of his speech.

Carson had been equally alarmed by the sight of the machine. But his fear had turned to amusement as he listened to Rodney.

The Lord Deviser looked on bemused. His puzzled gaze fell on Rodney.

"I'm sorry, Sir," he said. "I'm not sure what has alarmed you. Nothing in here is used as part of the breeding ceremony. I've simply brought you here to change into the garments you're required to where the ceremony."

"And that thing?" Rodney asked, pointing at the machine in question.

"That?" Lord Deviser said, looking even more puzzled. "Why, we use that to clear the blossom from the trees when they threaten to block the breeding pools."

Carson couldn't contain his laughter any longer. It was part amusement, and also part relief. But Rodney didn't share the joke. He looked aggrieved and yet embarrassed at the same time.

"Well," he said, trying to save face. "That's just as well."

"Now, Sirs," the Lord Deviser said. "You must prepare yourselves for the breeding ceremony. The first thing you must do is to dress appropriately. These are the clothes that you should wear."

He handed Rodney and Carson a bundle of clothes each.

"Once you are ready, and properly attired, please let me know and I will return and take you to the breeding pools."

Rodney looked at the bundle of clothes he had received. The majority of the bundle was taken up by a long robe. It was made of a silk-like material, and was multicoloured. The only other item in the bundle was a pair of swim shorts.

Rodney looked Carson in horror.

"They want us to wear these?" he asked. "And there's no way I'm going to get undressed in front of you."

"Rodney, I've seen you naked before," Carson reminded him. "It happens a lot to doctors. You could cause an occupational hazard, certainly in your case."

"That's all very well," Rodney replied. "But in the other occasions, I've been unconscious. And, I certainly don't want to see you naked or to see you see me naked."

"Okay, Rodney," Carson said patiently, having just about followed Rodney's logic. "You change over there, behind at screen. And I'll change here. That way we should both survive with our psyches intact."

OoOoO

Ronon led to the others back to the Stargate.

"Their trail stops here," he said, still examining the ground carefully.

"Do you think they managed to get off the planet themselves?" Teyla asked.

"Or got lost somewhere when the gate malfunctioned," Lorne suggested.

"No!" John replied quickly, too quickly.

"I found something here," Ronon's voice interrupted their discussion. "Someone has tried to cover the tracks here, but the people went this way. And one of them was on crutches."

With a sense of relief, the team followed Ronon again, as he led them away from the 'Gate.

Hiding in the bushes, the Observer watched them in silence and in fear. The Lord Deviser was going to be very angry, and it was the Observer who would suffer with his anger. The Observer knew he had to do something, something that would stop them reaching the others. He studied the group for a moment, trying to see who the weakest link might be. His eyes fell on the woman. She was smaller than the others, and, from what he had been told, women were generally weaker than men. He wasn't sure about that himself, as he'd never met a woman before.

Acting out of fear in desperation, he leapt out at the group, grabbing Teyla. His plans had worked so far, but now they started to go wrong. The woman was stronger than she looked. And, her elbow jerked back into his middle, and her hand caught him across the bridge of his nose. As the Observer felt his knees in pain, the rest of the group looked at him, with an element of amusement.

"You could just have said 'hello', Teyla," John said, trying not to laugh. The Observer's attempt ambush them had been so ineffectual, it was almost amusing.

"Please don't kill me," the Observer said looking at them from his knees.

"Why would I kill you?" John asked.

"The Lord Deviser said all aliens will kill, if we don't catch them first."

"The Lord Deviser said that, did he?" John asked. "Then I think I'll just have to have a word with him."

"Oh no!" the Observer said anxiously. "The Lord Deviser doesn't like to be disturbed during the breeding ceremony." His hands through to his mouth as he realised he said too much.

The team looked at each other not sure if they really wanted to know all what the 'breeding ceremony' actually was. Or whether it involved Rodney and Carson.

"Well," John said, putting a hand on the Observer's shoulder. "Why don't you just tell us where we might find the Lord Deviser, and I promise we won't tell him who told us where to find him."

John glanced up and exchanged an amused look with Ronon. The Observer made rather a pitiful figure, kneeling there with blood running down from his nose. He was shivering with fear, and generally seemed unsure how to react in another's company.

The Observer looked up the John. "You'd do that for me?" he asked.

"Of course," John replied. "If you help us, we'll help you."

"You will?" the Observer asked, a note of amazement in his voice. "Then I'll show you how to get there." The poor man seemed almost over eager to please.

OoOoO

Once both Rodney and Carson were changed, they sat waiting for the Lord Deviser to return. They were both slightly on edge, unsure of what they were about to face. Rodney kept fidgeting with one of the devices that was on the table in front of him. It didn't react to his touch, and nothing he did seemed to turn it on. But he kept fidgeting with it anyway.

Carson looked more outwardly calm, but his eyes betrayed the anxiety he felt. He was fidgeting with the belt of the robe, and his fingers were constantly tapping on you arm of the chair.

"Carson, will you stop that!" Rodney said.

"Stop what?" Carson asked.

"That constant tapping," Rodney replied. "Here, try this," Rodney added, tossing the device he was holding to Carson.

In Carson's hand the device lit up, and he glanced down at the display. It seemed to be some kind of medical device, obviously Ancient in design, but he never seen anything like it before.

Before Carson could examine it further, the door to the room opened, and the Lord Deviser came in.

"Sirs," he said. "Please follow me. You're now ready for the breeding pool."

Exchanging anxious glances, Carson and Rodney got up and followed the man out of the room. He led them to a beautiful, sheltered spot. A waterfall framed the scene, and a soothing sound relaxed the men. Carson was aware of a strange but not unpleasant smell. He couldn't quite place the aroma, but it was vaguely familiar.

"Please, Sirs," the Lord Deviser said. "Enter the pool." Again, the words were polite, but there was no denying that it was an order. Both men took off their robes, and entered the pools, gingerly. Carson enjoyed the sensation of the warm water lapping his body. He relaxed into the water, letting it support his body. The strange smell was coming from the water and seemed to help in the feeling of relaxation.

Carson glanced over at Rodney and all sense of relaxation vanished. His friend was struggling in the water. Rodney's panic stricken eyes reached out to Carson, who rushed over to his side.

"What's wrong, Rodney?" he asked, trying to support Rodney's thrashing body in the water. The scientist pointed to his throat.

"Can't breathe," he whispered through a closing throat.

Suddenly, Carson realised that the underlying aroma rising from the water was that of lemon. And Rodney was allergic to lemon.

Jumping out of the water, Carson dragged Rodney after him. He turned to the Lord Deviser. "He's in anaphylactic shock. I need something to reduce the reaction. Move, man, before he dies."