It would have been very easy to just not tell anyone. Dr. Keller was the only one that had to

know that she was pregnant. And even then she didn't know the specifics of how it had happened.

And it would have been very easy if Rodney McKay hadn't been laying on the floor in front of the gate,

blood gushing everywhere. She looked at his face, as he lay there staring up glassy eyed, and was

suddenly very compelled to tell him that he couldn't die now. Guilt filled her to the brim, how could she

let him die not knowing.

Seemingly out of nowhere she was pushed aside and Rodney was whisked away towards the

infirmary. She found herself following them, the rest of the team right behind her. They waited for what

must have been 45 minutes before the silence was broken.

" We were surveying the abandoned buildings, I think he may have activated a system that was

damaged and a small explosion cause part of a wall to collapse inward." Hearing Sheppard speak she

nodded her head taking note that the rest of his team were unharmed but exhausted looking. They

must have spent a few minutes getting him out before they had been able to bring him back through

the gate. He spoke again, " We didn't think he'd make it if we waited for a med team." She heard a

catch in his voice and saw that tears had welled up in his eyes, Teyla already silently letting hers fall.

Her mouth opened to speak and she blinked a few times before she was able to speak. " We'll debrief

later, I doubt any of us are even thinking of leaving the infirmary right now." Sheppard nodded his head

but they were saved from having to converse further when Doctor Keller emerged from behind the glass

walls. They all stood and started towards her hoping to hear good news.

Keller reached up and tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and breathed heavily. " Doctor McKay

took some crush damage, he's got 6 broken ribs, broken arm, his lung was punctured but we managed to

reinflate it. He's got internal bleeding, we think we managed to stop it, but he's lost allot of blood. I'll know

more in a few hours, but I expect that he'll make it through just fine."

The shared sigh was heard and through the next half hour everyone took turns peeking in on him under

the strict orders that they were to stay no more than five minutes each. Sam took her turn last, partially

avoiding him and partially avoiding the others stares. When she finally entered the curtained off area she

winced slightly at the sight of him. His body was bandaged, casted, covered in little wires and very

definatly purple in places. She lowered herself into the chair beside the bed and sat there watching

him, knowing that when he awoke she'd have to share her secret.

OoOo

OoOoOo

OoOo

She didn't know how long we had been sitting there but realized that at some point she'd dozed off. A soft

voice was talking to her and she look up to see the soft features and red hair of Katie Brown, Rodney's

girlfriend. A sad smile visited her face and she repeated what she had said. " I'm so sorry to wake you Colonel

Carter, but you didn't look comfortable and Doctor Keller said you really should be in your own bed if you intend

to sleep. I wanted to thank you for sitting with Rodney, I rushed down here as soon as I heard." Her voice was

so very quiet, almost ethereal and it struck her funny that McKay would find a woman that was very nearly her

oposite to fall for. Blondes indeed.

Sam nodded towards the other scientist and replied, " He's a good friend, he'll pull though this, he has to. We

all need him here." She rose from the chair and gestured towards it, And as an afterthought added, "Let me

know if you need anything." The other woman nodded her thanks and Sam slipped out from the room.

Reluctantly she left the infirmary but only after getting the staff to promise to notify her of McKay's condition

hourly.

Walking back towards the conference room she called for a meeting to discuss what had happened with

Sheppard's team, all the way dreading the inevitable conversation with her snarky Chief Scientist. How

in the world had she let this happen? And deep down though she knew she hadn't "let" it she couldn't help

but feel like she was ruining lives.