A/N: Once again, due to the short nature of this chapter, and the fact that it kind of goes with the next one, I'm uploading them both today, bringing this fic to a close :)

oOo

Chapter 15: Diagnosis: Ow

"Incoming wormhole!" someone shouted.

Elizabeth ran to the edge of the balcony overlooking the Stargate, hoping, trying not to hope. "IDC?" She asked, attempting to keep her voice neutral. After what had happed to Lorne and his team, though, was there any way she could even expect one of Sheppard's people to be ok?

"Yes, ma'am," the tech replied. "It's Colonel Sheppard!"

"Let them in!" she exclaimed, beaming. If Sheppard was alive, then chances were his team was too. She practically ran down to meet them, calling Carson on the way. Even if they were all alive, she knew better than to think they were all ok. With this team, they never were all ok.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, four figures staggered through the gate. Her relief at seeing all four paled when she saw what shape they were in. Sheppard was supporting Ronon, who was paler than she had ever seen him. Rodney and Teyla was both sort of holding each other up. "Good god," she breathed. "John?" She almost asked if they were ok, but caught herself at the absurdity of asking that.

Sheppard looked up at her as he sort of slithered to the floor, trying to lower Ronon and not being able to keep himself up either. He looked exhausted. Bruised, and exhausted. "Hey, Elizabeth," he greeted with a small smile. "Didja miss us?"

She knelt down to his eye level. " Carson is on his way," she said, dodging a question for which he undoubtedly didn't expect an answer.

"Never thought I'd be glad to hear that," Rodney muttered. He and Teyla had also sat down on the floor, and were now propping each other up. They looked just as battered as Sheppard. She gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile.

" Elizabeth?" Sheppard said, bringing her attention back to him, "We saw blood. Did…did anybody…?" he let the question hang, but she knew what he was asking.

"Nobody died, John. Lorne and his team got pretty badly beaten up, but they'll make a full recovery."

Sheppard relaxed. "Thank god."

They were interrupted from further conversation by the arrival of Carson and his team. He automatically headed for Rodney first. "No, Ronon," Rodney murmured, gesturing. Carson raised an eyebrow at this, but went where he was told.

"How you doing, lad?" he asked in what was probably the first time in Ronon's life he had been referred to as 'lad.'

"Been better," the runner admitted, and Elizabeth saw why Rodney had sent Carson over here. Ronon was heavily bandaged in at least three places. He had obviously gotten the worst of whatever had happened to them. She stood up and moved out of Carson's way. Any questions she had for the team could wait until they were taken care of.

Two hours later she was sitting across from Carson in his office. She still hadn't had a chance to debrief John, but she wanted to know what was wrong with them first. That, and Carson had pretty much told her she had to let them rest.

"So how are they?" She asked.

"Ach," Carson said, "that group gives me a migraine. I swear, not once can they come back from a mission without someone bloody beat up, poisoned, shot, stabbed, or broken!" The words were harsh, but the tone was fond. Most of Carson's closest friends happened to be on that team, after all.

"So…?" she prompted.

"Ronon was the worst," he said with a sigh. "Apparently he got hit by three arrows from an arrow trap, crushed against a tree by a boulder, and nearly crushed under a fallen stone block. So he's got blood loss, dehydration, bruised ribs, and a slight fever, and he was in shock when he first came in."

Elizabeth winced in sympathy. "But he's going to be alright?"

"Aye, he'll be fine. He's a tough one, our Ronon."

"That he is," Elizabeth agreed.

"Next up for injury is Rodney. He's got…let's see. He's got a long list. Severe bruising and pinching of a calf muscle where a door fell on him, deep tissue bruises on his shoulder, dehydration, low blood sugar, second-degree burns on his finders from when he was electrocuted, and apparently yesterday he had heatstroke."

Elizabeth sucked in a breath. "Oh, poor Rodney! It's amazing he's still breathing!"

"Aye. But he's a tough one too. I'm more worried about his mental state, frankly."

"Why? What happened?"

"Well, nothing to him that didn't affect the others: small, dark tunnel, room with the walls closing in, and a stone block falling on them."

"Oh god," Elizabeth exclaimed, catching on. "But he's claustrophobic!"

"Aye," Carson said sadly. "Imagine how horrible it must have been for him when the walls really did start closing in."

"He's going to have to spend some serious time with Kate."

Carson rubbed his eyes. "That he is. In the meantime, I've opened up a few curtains in their part of the infirmary to make it seem bigger, and I've left the lights on. They all seem to appreciate that, actually."

Elizabeth nodded. That made sense. "And the others?"

"Teyla's also dehydrated, has a badly sprained ankle, and the same cuts and bruises as the others. She'll probably be the first to mend. Our Colonel, as you might expect, is a walking accident. He's also got the dehydration, bruises, and electrocution, a deep gash on his arm that Rodney informed me was 'self-inflicted,' and a badly wrenched knee. And then of course, all four of them are exhausted."

"I can see, in light of where they were, most of it," Elizabeth said, "but how'd Rodney and John get electrocuted?"

"Apparently they were playing with loose wires, but neither one seems to want to discuss it."

"Ok, fair enough. What did Rodney mean the cut on John's arm was self-inflicted?"

"Not sure, love. Something about shooting at gravel. They didn't want to talk about that one, either."

"Ah." There wasn't really much more to say at that point. "Can I see them?"

"Yes, love, but don't tire them. They all need rest right now."

Elizabeth stood. "Understood, Doctor. Thank you." With a final smile, she went to check on her people.