A/N:
I am overjoyed by your glowing reviews! This story has become very dear to me, and you can be sure that your feedback is very much appreciated. As you have probably already guessed in advance, around the weekend turned out to be after the weekend, but hey, it's still Monday.
TCB 0.5 again sacrificed her sanity to beta my new chapter instead of getting any sleep. Thanks, Twinchy!

XII

Sheppard noticed it first; though no one else seemed to do so. The awkward, depressed silence, which had been lingering for days, was gone. All around the infirmary he heard people chatting or softly whistling tunes to themselves while going along their business. Teyla and Elizabeth were engaged in an eager discussion about different ceremonies and rituals of the Athosian people. But even when the conversation died down and the quiet of the night slowly settled in, it seemed peaceful and companionable. Although still fragile, something pivotal had returned to the somber ward, HOPE.

Two hours earlier, when Dr Jollet had come to disconnect the dialysis machine, he had observed that Beckett's fever had fallen below 103 degrees. The doctor had called two nurses to remove the cold compresses and spread a light blanket over the unconscious form of their boss again.

'Things are finally looking up', the physician had told them; a great burden seemed to have lifted from his shoulders. Leaning in closely, John had realized that Carson actually looked much better. The swelling of his face had gone down a bit, and it had turned a more healthy colour. Jollet had also suggested for them to take a nap. They had nodded and smiled in reply but not so much as moved a single inch. Had Sheppard been able to read the other's mind, he would have learned a whole variety of French curses about stubbornness.

What the one doctor hadn't accomplished, his colleague from the night shift did at last. As soon as Dr Gitano had seen the improvement in his patient's condition, a softness had graced his features that let him appear younger by ten years. Then he shoed them out, strongly disinclined to accept 'no' for an answer.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, you have proven sat you are good friends but now it is time to go. For se moment se immediate danger is past. No need to keep up constant vigil. You can get your sleep now. I will call you if anysing is wrong."

A protest formed on five mouths at the same time.

Impatiently the doctor raised his hand to reject any upcoming argument. "I will not discuss sat matter wis you. And you will not help him nor you if you break down from exhaustion." In an understanding but firm tone he added, "I don't want to see one of you in se infirmary again while my night shift. After all, we have rules for se intensive care area, remember? You can come back in se morning, in pairs of two a time."

Realizing they would be fighting a losing battle, they rose reluctantly from their places. Rodney stifled a yawn and stretched melodramatically, hoping Dr Gitano would leave and give him a chance to stay behind. But the experienced Columbian was no one to be fooled so easily. He stood next to the curtain and eyed the physicist suspiciously, waiting for the entire group to lead the way.

"After you." Not a request but an order.

Giving the physician one last exasperated glare that could have melted steel, McKay marched arrogantly by, catching up with his team mates at the door.

xXxXx

Elizabeth felt rested; in fact, for the first time in almost a week she had found the calm to relax and sleep for more than two or three hours. Too much had occupied her thoughts and office. While her mind had finally been able to shut out all the worries which had wracked her nerves, her work lay in piles on her desk, the neatly arranged files laughing at her, mockingly demanding attention. But for the first time in three years of self-denying service for the Ancient city and her inhabitants, she didn't care.

She paused briefly in mid-stride to look out of one of her large windows. The sudden commotion in the Gateroom below had distracted her from her reflections. One of the off-world teams was coming back through the gate. They were handing sacks of supplies to the personnel standing around. Contentedly Weir smiled at herself. This mission had obviously been a success and gone down smoothly as none of the team members showed any sign of an injury. For once letting the teasing mood get the better of her, she considered reminding John that it really was possible to come back from a mission unscathed, unmaimed and generally in one piece. She enjoyed the quip exchanges with him more than she ever cared to admit. 'Well, no rest for the wicked though.' Still smiling, she sighed and got down to her work.

xXxXx

Both McKay and Sheppard had neglected their work for one week now, but no one held it against them. Everyone understood that they had almost lost one of their closest friends. Even if the Air Force Colonel wouldn't let it on, he had suffered just as much as their head scientist had. And in their upset state, neither of them would have been any good at their work, for they wouldn't have been able to muster the due concentration. Also, Major Lorne and Dr Zelenka had been more than ready to take over for a short period of time. Actually, if the clearing-up team hadn't discovered Dr Beckett just in the nick of time before the pall-bearers had left Atlantis, both men would have been gone for a week anyway, to attend the funeral in the CMO's native Scotland.

Although he trusted the major with his very life, John dreaded his return to work. Lorne was no more a man for paper work than he himself was. So the pilot assumed his 2IC had only done what had been necessary, leaving the vast majority for his superior. Sheppard couldn't grudge him this attitude. He would have done exactly that in Lorne's stead.

Deciding his paper work could wait a few more hours, John started for the infirmary, where he was surprised to find Rodney already sitting at Carson's side. The man was balancing his laptop on his knees and eagerly typing on his keyboard. The physicist grinned like a five-year old upon Sheppard's arrival.

"I can also work from here", he answered in response to his friend's questioning glance. He tapped his forehead with his right index finger and continued, "You know, my biggest asset are my brains, and fortunately my brilliance accompanies me everywhere!" The statement was followed by an extensive gesture which almost caused the computer to slip from McKay's legs.

"Really?!" the colonel teased back. "From what I heard, Radek said he was much better off without you raining destruction on the labs."

"He did, now?" Rodney asked looking up from the screen.

"You better believe it. He also said he would never have gotten as much work done with you around."

"Fine. I'll make sure to teach that little, messy-haired gnome what a true genius is capable of." McKay shot an accusatory stare at Sheppard.

"Preaching to the choir here." The pilot vainly tried to hide his amusement while raising his hands defensively. Now that their worry was eased a little, the old snark mode was back with a vengeance. And it was a most welcome feeling, too.

xXxXx

Teyla slipped gracefully down onto one of the chairs. At noon she had taken over from Sheppard and McKay. She smiled to herself as she remembered the conversation they had been engrossed in when she had entered the infirmary. It was good to see her team mates go back to normal after the last frantic days.

Carefully she regarded Carson, her keen eyes searching for obvious and subtle changes in his condition. His fever had settled at 102.7, which was hopefully a good sign, and the beeping of the heart rate monitor was steady-paced and regular. Affectionately stroking away a stray lock of his hair, she whispered, "You are looking much better, Doctor."

"Yes, he is", came a sudden reply from the curtain. Startled, the Athosian looked up. Intent on her assessment, she hadn't heard Samantha approaching. After a brief pause the physician added, "I need to change the dressings. Will you give us a minute?"

"Of course." Teyla rose from her seat.

"And afterwards I would like to have a look at your stitches too. Choose one of the treatment cubicals over there and I'll be right with you." The physician pointed to the admittance area.

xXxXx

Sheppard found his office in better shape than he had left it in. There were two piles of files on his desk, one consisting of only two or three files and the other towering menacingly above it. It didn't take a seer to know which pile was the 'to do' list. He sat down heavily and sighed before reaching for the topmost file. With a frown he put it on his desk again and grabbed the next one. To his complete astonishment he realized that the higher pile was the one Lorne had already worked over meticulously. They were even arranged in chronological order. The only thing John needed to do was scanning through and giving them his final approval.

"Good to have you back, sir," Maj. Lorne greeted from the door.

"Thanks, Major." The pilot gave him a cordial smile. "Your work?" he added after a moment.

"Yes, sir. I thought you might…", he hesitated, unsure what his CO was aiming at. "Anything wrong?"

"No. Actually, I was just wondering if Caldwell subjected you to a brainwashing session or if you have simply been bored out of your shoes."

Both men shared a brief chuckle before Lorne answered. "No. No brainwashing, sir."

When the major turned to go, Sheppard called after him.

"Yes, sir?" He returned to the doorframe.

A short awkward silence spread between them.

"Thank you, Major. Good work", John finally said.

"Any time, sir."

xXxXx

Legs adangle, Teyla patiently waited on the exam bed for Dr Cole. She liked the young physician; and their recent joint venture of holding the ritual had brought them even closer. Prior to the ceremony, they had had a long talk about the Athosian's culture, and Samantha had appeared genuinely interested in learning more about it. Teyla hated to admit it, but sometimes she still felt like a stranger among the Lantians. Their culture was so different from that of her people, and there were not many who understood the importance of keeping up her own traditions, especially since the Athosians from the mainland had left. Dr Weir did. But her time was very limited. Maybe the young doctor would…

"Sorry for the delay", Dr Cole exclaimed as she swiftly passed the curtain, interrupting Teyla's thoughts.

"There is no need for you to apologize. Is everything alright with Dr Beckett?" She asked concerned.

"Yes, he is fine. After we finally got the infection and fever under control, his wounds are healing nicely, and he's getting stronger by the minute. I think he has turned the corner now. Perhaps we can even start to let him wake up tomorrow and then slowly try to wean him off the ventilator", she chimed, her face beaming with contentment while thoroughly examining the Athosian's sutures.

"That is good news indeed."

Applying a new band aid to the young woman's side, Dr Cole proceeded, "Yes, it certainly is. And your sutures are also looking fine. Carson has done an amazing job." With a light pat on her patient's shoulder, an affectionate gesture she had adopted from her boss, she saw Teyla to the ICU again.

When the physician headed towards Beckett's office, a soft hand held her back.

"Samantha. Do you have a moment to… talk?" Teyla looked expectantly at her.

"Sure." Dr Cole took the seat beside the other woman. "What's up?"

To be continued…