"Dr Beckett." Woolsey greeted as Carson entered his office. "Any news?"

"Dyson is stable and should make a full recovery from the gun shot wounds." Carson began.

"I sense a but." Woolsey commented.

"But when we did a full scan we found he was infected by parasites."

"He was a Goa'uld?" Woolsey asked immediately concerned.

"No. Although there seems to be some similarities such as increased strength and regenerative power, his body contains in excess of a hundred of them, which is probably lucky. He should not have survived the infirmary and now he is healing disturbingly quickly. But unlike the Goa'uld they seem to have no problems sharing his body. Whether or not they have intelligence as such, I can't be sure. They are concentrated in his muscles and his brain. It is possible that their occurrence in his brain impaired his mental ability, rather than controlled his actions." Carson said, however Woolsey sensed there was more to come.

"It appears all the men he brought with him were also infected, but to a lesser extent. This could explain why none of them questioned his actions."

"How about everyone here and on the Apollo?" Woolsey questioned, immediately concerned by the extent of the problem. "What about on Earth?"

"Well we are starting to scan all personal here and on the Apollo. I have sent you details of the parasite and ways to detect it to be sent onto Earth." Carson explained. "On the bright side none of the infirmary staff are showing signs of infection."

"Can you get rid of them?" Woolsey asked.

"Well there's the question." Carson said. "Dr Keller is working on a theory at the moment."

"Should she be? I mean shouldn't she be resting?"

"Yes, but do you want to tell her that?" Carson said. "Besides at least if she is in the infirmary we can keep an eye on her."

Woolsey nodded and asked. "How long before theory can be turned into practice?"

"That I don't know." Beckett replied. "It is hard to judge how successful something really is until it is tested on a human. But if you get it wrong it can have dire consequences for the patient. Although there are many who would see that as justice in the case of Dyson, neither myself or Dr Keller will try anything until we are confident it will cause no lasting damage."

"Thank you Dr Beckett. I will send this information to Earth immediately, please tell me as soon as there is any headway."

"Of course." Beckett smiled before returning to his more difficult patients in the infirmary, he was not at all surprised as he entered the infirmary to see a Teyla sitting by Sheppard's bed.

"Colonel." Beckett greeted. "How are you feeling?"

"A little sore. But I have had worse. Just waiting to get out of here. How is Lorne?"

"Bruised and concussed, but he should make a full recovery."

"That's good." Sheppard replied before noticing McKay enter the infirmary. "Hey McKay, you have returned to civilisation." Sheppard said as McKay approached his bed looking more stressed than normal. "So where exactly where you?"

"Doesn't matter." McKay mumbled before seeing Jennifer near the group. Relieved by the distraction he said. "Jennifer! How are you? Sorry stupid question, I can see you feel like crap."

"Rodney." Teyla chastised.

"Thanks Rodney." Jennifer replied sarcastically.

"What? Oh, I mean, well I don't mean that you don't look good, it is just that well you know, you…" He bumbled along until Jennifer put him out of his misery.

"It is ok Rodney."

"You shouldn't have stopped him. I thought he was about so spontaneously combust." Sheppard said, wearing a smile but clearly still in pain. "How is Ronon?"

"Broken finger, bruised ribs and twelve stitches but nothing too serious, by his standards. But no sparring for either of you for at least a month."

"Yes Ma'am." Sheppard replied with a mock salute, only for a wave of pain to surge from his side.

"Easy there lad, or you will be spending a hell of a lot longer here." Carson warned.

"Any luck finding a cure for Dyson?" Teyla asked.

"Well possibly. There is a combination of drugs that should do it, the test should finish any minute, but the side effects although not fatal will be extreme." Jennifer answered.

"So? He is a tool." McKay threw in.

"But, the parasites are spreading rapidly and not giving treatment might prove fatal." Jennifer surmised ignoring Rodney.

"So if you don't treat him he will die, possibly, and if you do treat him he could die?" Sheppard clarified.

"Pretty much." Carson confirmed.

"I could shoot him now." Ronon offered.

"No and you should be in bed." Jennifer said spinning round, unaware that Ronon had crept up on them.

Ronon raised an eyebrow, which John was unsure whether it meant 'so' or 'as should you'. Either way it failed as Ronon obediently sat in the chair that Jennifer pointed to. As the rest of the group tried to hide their smirks Jennifer headed back to her work bench hoping for positive results.