Carson Beckett glanced up from the form he was reading, setting the clipboard on his cluttered desk. Sighing heavily, he rubbed his temples with one hand and glanced up at his most recent patient: Rodney McKay. 'If I had but a nickel for every time he was here…' Carson thought to himself, a sad smile on his face. He'd been working on a cure for the virus inside of the other man for a week with hardly any sleep, and the stress was catching up to him. 'If it works, it'll be worth it,' Carson reflected, not daring to hope. Rodney's pale skin was covered in a sheen of sweat, his body motionless other than the rise and fall of his chest. As he watched Rodney, Carson's eyes fell on Elizabeth Weir. She was leaning over, her elbow propped up on her thigh, her hand supporting her cheek and her other hand resting on top of Rodney's. Her eyes betrayed her sadness, and for once she looked like the weary leader that she was.

He'd become accustomed to her presence in the infirmary long ago. She would come and sit next to the patient's beside in silence, waiting. It seemed like whenever he saw her she was always waiting. Waiting for someone to explain, waiting for her people to return, waiting for good news… She was always waiting, her back up straight, and her eyes drilling through the person as if that would bring the answer quicker. But when she sat here there was something different in her. Carson had been stumped by the soft sadness swirling about her eyes until her infirmary visits had become routine enough for him to notice that she only visited one person: Rodney McKay.

Carson smiled slightly. He doubted she even realized it – but he saw it. He saw in her eyes every time she walked in and saw him in that hospital bed; he saw it in her fingers resting on top of his immobile ones; it was hard not to see it anymore. Carson picked up his clipboard again and stared at it feebly, but it was no use trying to concentrate when his best friend was toeing the line between life and death...again.

"Mmm…" Carson's eyes snapped to the bed at the low moan from Rodney. He could see Elizabeth's shoulders tense as she straightened before she glanced in his direction.

"Carson, he's waking up," she said softly. Carson stood and walked hurriedly over toward the bed, his eyes sweeping the heart monitor next to Rodney for a moment. "He's gonna be okay," Elizabeth said, her voice but a whisper. Carson looked over toward Elizabeth and his heart immediately went out to the woman. The joy was in her eyes, but the sadness was there; even stronger now.

"Ay, that he is," he confirmed, looking down at Rodney with relief in his voice. He'd been worried that Rodney wouldn't make it. Elizabeth stood up, distracting Carson from his thoughts. She turned away before he could catch her eyes and began to walk toward the hallway. Her shoulders were slumped slightly, her head hanging. Her steps slowed and she took one look back. Carson, studying her expression, saw the briefest crack in her mask before she looked away, the first of her salty tears falling down her cheeks. Elizabeth's steps were hurried as she walked away, her hands clenched at her sides.

Carson couldn't help the pitying look that claimed his face. 'Poor lass…' For a long moment, he caught himself wondering what drove her to do this to herself. What drove her to leave every time? That anguish in her eyes… No one would do that to themselves without a reason. He wondered what hers was.

Rodney coughed slightly, his head lolling to one side as Carson looked back at him. He smiled as Rodney slowly regained consciousness. "Take it easy," he murmured softly. Rodney's eyes opened, wincing at the bright light.

"Where am I?"

"The imfirmary, lad," Carson supplied, chuckling slightly. Rodney nodded. "Can ye move yer toes?" Rodney wiggled them, "Yer fingers?" Rodney made a fist. "Ay, you're going to be fine, McKay," Carson told him. "Are you feeling any significant pain anywhere else?"

"Not really," Rodney croaked. Carson smiled, knowing full well that the other man must feel like he got run over by a truck, but he was far too weak to launch into a long tirade about the incompetence of medicine. Carson made a mental note to monitor the morphine doses and began to walk away when Rodney's voice stopped him.

"Who was here?" Carson turned at the unusual softness in the other man's voice. Rodney was staring at the chair where Elizabeth Weir had been sitting, his eyes still holding a slight glaze to them.

"It's…not my place to say," Carson replied, wishing that he could tell Rodney. Whenever Rodney woke up, he was always alone – sans the medical staff, of course. Carson felt a cold feeling in his stomach as he thought of what it would be like to wake up to no one. What would that say to a person? 'Sorry, no one cares enough to stay next to you'… Carson wondered how Rodney knew that someone had been there. He hoped to God that Rodney had the same suspicion during all of his other visits where Elizabeth had been. It was inhumane; it was, to make someone wake up to this sterile lab without a friendly face in sight. Carson did not doubt his friendship to Rodney, but he was a doctor first.

Rodney moved his head so that his pleading gaze fell on Carson. Carson looked away, his heart burdened by guilt. Elizabeth had not said a word about keeping her visits secret, but it had been something that didn't need to be said. If she disappeared every time before he woke up, it was obvious she didn't want him to know. "It's their place to tell you," Carson said, his voice weak. He hoped for Rodney's sake that it was soon. As tough and insensitive as Rodney acted, he cared – perhaps far too much. Carson ran a hand over his head as he walked back to his desk to grab his clipboard, knowing full well Rodney would be well on his way to napping by the time he returned.

Someday Rodney would know who had warmed the seat beside him. Someday Elizabeth would realize what it was that made her continue to push this anguish upon herself and Rodney. Someday she would overcome it.

Someday.


Author's Note: Well, I did the second part! Hope you guys liked! May do a Rodney "POV" to wrap it up, but I'm not sure. Anyway, feedback is welcome!

Thanks to Shippie, JamSack, Fanwoman, Porthos1013, Estellio, Margaret, aaobuttons and PurpleYin for the wonderful reviews!