Rodney couldn't take the repelling sniffling for another second. Disgusted he turned away and lay down again. Groaning he rubbed his aching tummy for awhile, then tiredness got the best of him again. After a long yawn and another acid fart he went to sleep. But that didn't make things better for him... Suddenly the mice were crawling all over his body, scratching him with their little, prickly toes. Scared to death he beat about himself. A moment later he shot up screaming and pooping like mad.

It didn't take long for Carson to come around, alerted and pissed by the sudden eruption. Wrinkling his nose he fanned away the intolerable stink wafting all about the room with his hand.

"What is it this time, Rodney?" the doctor questioned with an annoyed sigh.

"These- these-", Rodney sat up pointing at the terrarium with a shaking finger, "disgusting little mice..."

The Scot rolled his eyes, "What about the poor creatures, lad?"

"Move them away", the physicist snapped almost hysterically, "I can't take them anymore."

"Fine", unnerved Carson went over to his helpless little lab animals, only to find one of them lying on its back with all fours spread out into the air. Sniffling he put the tiny white mouse into his hand. "Look what you've done Rodney. Wee Stinky has died. All because of you..."

"Me??" the Canadian squeaked, deadly insulted, "What do I have to do with it? They don't live very long in your company anyway."

The physician held the mouse right into Rodney's face, secretly gloating about his disgusted reaction. It served him very well.

"Either you screamed him to death with your constant whining or...", he paused to glare at him angrily, "...you gassed him with the toxic plasticine fumes coming out of your butt."

"Ugh", the last color drowned from the physicist's face, "You make me puke." Pressing a hand over his mouth he fingered about for some vessel he could lose the rest of his stomach's content in. As Carson finally handed him a bowl his urge to vomit was gone. Instead his intestine gave off an unmistakable cry for help in form of just another cloud of gas.

"Owww", Rodney yelped, then pleaded, "Don't you have any laxatives?"

"Not for mouse murderers anyway", the Scotsman deadpanned, "But I could offer you a cork for the time being." Sulking he went away, still cradling Stinky in his hand.

"Ha-ha, very funny", Rodney mocked him from behind until he realized that the mice where still there. Way too close to him. "Damn rodents", grumbling he grabbed his sheet and threw it over their glass home so that at least they were out of his sight. Yawning he dropped back onto the pillow, stuck his thumb into his mouth and fell asleep for yet another time.

xxxxx

"Good Morning", it was well past seven as Major Sheppard entered the infirmary, merry as he'd left it the night before, "Maan, this place needs some fresh air." He looked over at Rodney who was snoring peacefully in the faraway corner of the room, inhaling the fumes he himself had produced. "And then he's lamenting about hazardous gases and whatnot", snickering quietly he went on to Beckett's office, placing the breakfast tray he'd brought with him on the desk. The good doc was still sleeping, too, his head resting on his folded arms. Some inches away from him there was standing a little paper box. In it lay the dead body of a lab mouse, gently wrapped into a Kleenex as though it were a miniature shroud.

That moment Carson stirred and finally woke up. He blinked at Sheppard, looking a little groggy. "Good Morning, Major."

"Morning, Doc. Brought you some breakfast", John smirked.

"That's very kind of you, lad", Beckett smiled a little. Knowing very well that this simply was an excuse for getting a peak at Rodney.

"Say has Rodney killed the poor mouse?" the major inquired innocently.

Carson nodded slowly, "Aye, he scared poor Stinky to death with his constant screaming."

"Ouch", Sheppard flinched, "Any idea how we could punish him for it?"

The doctor winked at him, "Already happened. Unless you've got something else we could do?"

"Let me think..." John pondered for a moment, "How about not giving him any food until the blue stuff comes out of him?"

At first this thought conflicted with Carson's ideas of medical ethics. But the more he mulled it over, the better he liked it. In the end the plans for revenge he had plotted against the major last night were forgotten. His feelings for little Stinky were much stronger.
"I really like this idea, Major. Perhaps it coaxes Rodney into getting out that lump a wee bit faster", he rubbed his hands and grinned mischievously. He couldn't wait to see the Canadian's face when he told him...

AN: So, here's the promised new chapter. I hope you liked it. Sorry for the insanely long break, though. School was getting a lot out of me lately. The next update won't take so much time, that's for granted. )