Major Sheppard was angry and annoyed at the other McKay for holding out on this information for so long, especially after Sarah's close panic attack but his feelings were nothing compared to Sarah's. He swore he could see the vein in her forehead pulsing and she had definitely gone off the red colour scale.
"What idea! Why have you only just mentioned this! Were you waiting for me to have a full blown panic attack so you could 'save the day' or something!" She started to stalk closer to McKay. With a small 'eep' Rodney jumped behind Zelenka. He tried to reason with her from his cowering place
"It's nothing like that. We only thought of it last night after we sat thinking about possible ways to accommodate you two long term and we don't even know if it will work." She tried to make a grab for Rodney and poor Radek tried to get out of harm's way. Weir being the responsible adult of the group felt it was time to put a stop to this before someone got hurt, most likely Rodney, then she would have to fill in too many forms back to the SGC.
"Enough people! Everybody calm down and take a deep breath. Thank you. Now Rodney, tell us what you have in mind."
Only after Sarah McKay had taken a few steps back did Rodney start talking.
"Zelenka and I were up thinking about possible ways round the cascade failure and with the help of Carson, we think we've come up with something. While we are in most sense, the same being, due to the fact that there are some very big changes, theoriarly, you are not identical to me on a molecule level. Even twins have different figure prints and retinal data." Carson broke in "He's right. In medical terms, you would be seen as identical twins, rather than the same person."
Sarah took a deep breath of relief. "That makes a lot of sense. If I hadn't been so worked up over what was my soon to be death, I would have been able to think clearly and realise this myself. I don't think I've even been so happy to be a woman."
"I'm happy for you, I really am, but this doesn't help my situation. I don't think I'll have the same solution as Sarah." Major Sheppard folded his arms and leaned back on the wall. He hadn't been joking, he really was happy that at least Sarah would be okay and find away home. She would be able to tell everyone back there what had happened to him at least.
Rodney rolled his eyes "I was getting there! I wanted to hold you in suspense for a few seconds, you know like they do in movies, felt the situation called for it."
Everyone waited for him to finish. After a few seconds both Sheppard's were ready to kill him. Radek finally seemed to grasp Rodney's dire situation.
"We use the retro virus"
Both Major Sheppard and Sarah McKay looked at him blankly. Rodney sighed. "If they never woke up the wraith, they would have never had any need for the retro virus."
Major Sheppard turned to Weir "Okay, what's a retro virus and how do you think it can help me?"
Weir turned to Rodney "Actually I'm curious myself. How does the retro virus help us?"
Carson decided it was best to answer "We use the older version of the retro virus to start to turn Major Sheppard into the iratus creature like Colonel Sheppard was." Radek finished for him "We then use a careful balance to keep him in just enough of the stage that it starts to alter his DNA. Hopefully we can use this long enough for our team to find a way to get them back before lasting damage is done." Weir and Colonel Sheppard looked at each other doubtful and concerned. Carson finished ". It should work, although I would strongly suggest Major Sheppard be confined to the infirmary or at least supervised at all times while he is infected. It's not a prefect plan but it was the best we could come up with in the short time. It's better than the alternate"
Colonel Sheppard broke in "What, being turned into one of those bugs! I've been there remember and I'm telling you, I wouldn't wish that on anyone, let alone myself!"
"Okay, I'm really confused. Would someone please tell us what you're going on about and what the big problem is? I don't really care what I have to be turned into if it will last long enough to get me home." Major Sheppard said.
Weir took control of the situation "Carson, why don't you take Major Sheppard down to the infirmary and show him the information on the retro virus and the iratus bug. Colonel Sheppard, I want you to put together a team to check out the planet, make sure it's safe before we send a scientist team." Everyone snapped to action and headed off. Rodney headed with Colonel Sheppard to head to the planet while Radek went to start getting the science team ready to head off world. Sarah McKay strolled out into the control room and stood looking at the Stargate. Weir walked over to her side.
"We'll get you home, don't worry."
Sarah gave her a small smile. "I know. It's weird; I keep seeing people who we've lost and seeing you here, it just gives me the creeps. I knew you were looking forward to this so much but with having to get everything ready for departure, I hadn't had time to say goodbye. We got a deep space message a few days ago saying the Daedalus was finished and due to arrive in the next few days. I was planning to go back to Earth to see you but with being so short of staff, I would have had to put it back till next time. How's that for irony."
Weir looked confused over at her "The Daedalus was only just finished? I suppose if the SGC hadn't got our message about the wraith, they wouldn't have hurried the completion. So we were close in your reality? Looking at Rodney I must admit, it's hard to picture."
Sarah smiled, thinking back to what she had seen of Rodney so far. "We hit it off in Antarctica; there weren't that many women there and you helped me through a bad break up." She looked over her shoulder to check no one was listening
"Seeing myself as a male, that's the worst bit. I don't know about you but I always imaged myself a lot differently. No offence to Rodney but lets just say that seeing him and how he is, it's forced me to see a few home truths that I didn't really want to see. Not to mention that sitting around waiting is doing my head in. I want to be out helping my team get ready. I should be working in my lab on the problems at hand. I'm a scientist, I'm the one who finds away to get everyone home, I'm the one who everyone looks to for the answer. I'm not use to playing second fiddle, especially to myself of all people!"
"Major Sheppard told us about doctor Zelenka. That most have been hard. If you ever need to talk…"
Sarah cut in harshly "I don't need to talk, it's fine. I'm fine. I've got enough of this in my reality, I don't need this now. I have to focus on getting home before my reality falls apart without me. With Radek gone, Kavanough's properly been put in charge and I want to get back before he takes over my labs and blows something up. I'm going to see if I can help the science team get ready. With your permission, I want to be on the team that goes back to the planet. I know my way round and I think I'm right in saying that I'm the most qualified to work on that machine."
She walked away without looking back or waiting for an answer. Weir took a deep breath and headed into her office. It was clear that Sarah McKay had shut herself off from her feelings over Radek's death. She had seen Rodney do the same thing after Doctor Gaul's and Peter's death. She didn't know what had happened in that lab but it was clear that Sarah blamed herself. Maybe she could get Radek to talk to her. Help her over her guilt.
God, that was long. Maybe I should go away more often, I write more. I have no idea whether anything with the retro virus would work. I just wanted to find a way for them to stay here for a while without just saying something boring like 'the machine altered their bodies so it wouldn't affect them'. Wow, that's a good idea, why didn't I think of that earlier. Oh well. If too many people complain I'll change it. Sorry if Sarah McKay is a bit OCC but Rodney was written by males, so i find it hard for me, a woman to write for someone who can be so cold without showing that other side. Tell me what you think.