Elizabeth was bored. She wanted to be in her office, working on reports and sorting out requisition forms. She couldn't just lie in her infirmary bed. She knew she was ill and should remain where she was but they wouldn't even let her have her laptop.

She threw back the sheets and swung her legs over the side of the bed. After checking that there were no doctors around, she lowered herself to the floor. Hissing through her teeth as her bare feet hit the cold ground, she ignored the pain.

Elizabeth made it to the door, looking behind her to see if anyone had noticed her absence. Stepping around the corner, Elizabeth crashed into something. Looking forwards she realised the something was a someone. The someone grabbed her shoulders to stop her from falling backwards. Elizabeth noticed the flight suit and winced.

Looking up slowly she spoke. "Hello Colonel."

"Doctor Weir? Shouldn't you be in the infirmary?" Caldwell made sure she was steady on her feet before freeing her shoulders.

"Well…would you believe me if I said I was released?" Elizabeth could hear the hopefulness in her voice and cringed. She'd been spending too much time with John.

Caldwell was about to answer when Colonel Sheppard and Rodney McKay walked round the corner, followed closely by Radek Zelenka and Carson Beckett. John ran forwards as soon as he noticed Elizabeth standing in the hallway.

"What's happened?"

"Nothing, John. I…"

Carson interrupted, pushing his way past Rodney to stand level with John. "What do you bloody well think you're doing out of the infirmary?"

Elizabeth didn't answer. There was no point. Instead she obediently allowed Carson to lead her back to her boredom.

Once Elizabeth was settled back into her bed, everyone, including Caldwell, gathered round. Slightly annoyed at being caught, Elizabeth crossed her arms in font of her and tilted her head to the side.

"Well you were right, Elizabeth." Carson started the conversation. "Now we knew what to look for, we discovered something in the juice of the Orples."

"The same protein marker is present in the Orples. We don't know how they only affect people with a certain blood type, but they are completely harmless to anyone else." Rodney intervened. "Carson, Radek and I are going to start working on a cure to the Orple's affects."

Elizabeth uncrossed her arms and ran a hand through her hair. "You said that people with the Ancient Gene aren't affected?"

"Yes, from what we can tell, since the Orples are indigenous to this planet, the Ancients had an immunity to them and that immunity has been passed down to their descendants which is why Rodney has the marker but Colonel Sheppard doesn't." Radek answered her question.

"Well, could you create something from my or your blood." John said, facing Carson.

Carson nodded. "It will probably be the easiest way."

"How long do you think it'll take to develop this cure then?" John asked and Elizabeth didn't miss the concerned glance he shot in her direction.

"A couple of hours at the least. We'd better start on it now. The sooner the better." Carson replied, following Rodney and Radek to a different part of the infirmary.

Elizabeth looked at the two men who remained standing next to her. Neither John nor Caldwell looked like they were going to move soon. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and mentally sighed. The two colonels were standing completely still, eyes locked, challenging each other. Elizabeth was about to speak when Caldwell received a transmission in his radio.

"Doctor Weir," he nodded to her pleasantly before looking at John and speaking more coldly. "Colonel Sheppard. I'm afraid I must return to the Daedalus. There have been a few technical problems and I'm needed."

Elizabeth smiled as Caldwell tapped his ear piece and a second later vanished in a flash of white light.

"What was that about, John?" Elizabeth narrowed her eyes admonishingly.

John's face was nothing but innocent. "John? Are you going to answer me?"

"It's nothing, Elizabeth. Just leave it." Elizabeth was going to continue trying to coax the answer out of him when a noise from the bed opposite hers distracted her.

The woman, a scientist whose name escaped Elizabeth, started to convulse. As she coughed, blood splattered onto the sheets. Unconsciously, Elizabeth grabbed John's hand as a couple of marines ran over to restrain the woman. John had decided to post marines on the infirmary door after the first few casualties had proved to be dangerous. The woman screamed vomiting over herself and the two soldiers before falling still. Silence followed.

"How many is that now?" Elizabeth's voice was much quieter than she wanted it to be.

"Eleven." John replied, slowly rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand.

Elizabeth looked up at him. She blinked, trying to rid her eyes of the tears that were forming. John glanced down at her, his face neutral and she knew he was trying to hide his unease at her situation.

"It's gonna be alright. Beckett and McKay will sort this out. Everything's gonna be fine." John was saying it to reassure himself, not just her. "You're gonna be fine 'Liz'beth."

Elizabeth's other hand joined her first, holding John's hand tightly. She could tell he was really worried about her. He looked down at their joined hands and smiled sadly. Elizabeth had no idea how long they stayed like that; content with each others company.

Silently John brought a hand up to her cheek. She closed her eyes and leant into the warmth his palm generated. Elizabeth felt his other hand move a stray curl back behind her ear and cursed herself as she sighed softly.

The sigh broke the moment. John coughed uncomfortably and pulled back, embarrassed.

"John?" Her voice was uncharacteristically quiet.

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth...I...I better go see how they're doing." He turned and left heading over to the section she'd seen Carson, Rodney and Radek enter earlier.

Elizabeth looked after him longingly.

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Only one more chapter to go!