How To Save a Life

by The Watch Stander

Thank you all for being so wonderful in reading this and leaving reviews behind. I can't believe how many like this and put it on their favorites list as well as alert list! That's just so nice!

On with the story of our two unsung heroes!

Chapter 12- The Good of the Many

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Carson finished scanning his last patient and sat on the chair beside Cerwin's bed. The readings were all the same and it was both a relief and a curse as he knew he could cure almost all of these people, but not without going to Atlantis for the drugs and supplies to do it with. The other problem was finding the cause of the disease and for that he'd need to go back to McKay. He hated having to keep disturbing the scientist, but he'd do it if it meant getting out of here quickly. If Turi and his father wanted a cure they'd have to let them go.

"Turi, I can help all of these people, most of them are in the beginning stages of the disease and I know with the right medicine from my world I can cure almost all of them, including your brother."

The young man had kept silent the whole time that Beckett had gone from one patient to another checking them with the scanner as he went. When he heard what Carson said he smiled in relief.

"My brother will live?" he asked.

Carson sighed as he looked at the pale features of Cerwin, who lay so still on the bed.

"Aye, he will and so will most of the others here."

Turi smiled, a genuine smile, "That's wonderful news! What do you need? Tell me and I'll make sure you have it!"

Carson got up and moved away from the bed where he could talk with Turi. He started to explain...

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Jerin had found another bottle of liquor and had already finished off a third of its contents when one of his men came running through the door.

Jerin didn't look up at him, but continued to stare at the table before him and the drink he had cupped his hands around. His mood was dark, his son had turned against him and was helping strangers.

"What is it?," he demanded.

"I have news! The healer told Turi he knows what the disease is and it can be cured! I heard him say it," he was overjoyed at bringing this news since one of his brothers also had the disease.

Jerin looked away from the drink and almost got up from the seat, "What's that? He's found a cure?"

"Yes, and Cerwin will be cured, I heard him say it to Turi!"

Jerin looked around the room trying to get his mind to grasp the ramifications of this development.

"This is very good! You must go and find out more. Let me know what the doctor needs to help us." His eyes suddenly narrowed, "And be sure it isn't a trick he's playing!"

The man nodded and left. Jerin got up from the table and walked over to the window, the drink now forgotten. For the first time in many months there was hope...

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Carson told Turi that they would need medicines that were on his world and other supplies as well. He and Rodney would leave and he would bring back the supplies and others to help him treat the villagers.

"My father will never allow you to leave! I will go with you and this way we both can bring back the supplies," Turi quickly answered.

Surely my father will see reason and allow this, it's our only hope...

"Aye, you'd better tell him, I'll wait here."

Carson knew this was going to be a hard sell. The father was a nut job as well as a drunk and probably would react the same way he had been before, stubborn and arrogant. It was just as well that Turi was the one that would deal with him.

He sat on the chair next to Cerwin's bed and thought about what supplies he'd need. They would also have to check the area for the source of the disease and hopefully be able to do something about it before he left. Otherwise this would all be for naught and the villagers would just get sick again.

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Jerin listened to the information from the man he had sent to find out what was going on. When he heard about the Doctor saying he must leave and get supplies to bring back he slammed his hand on the table.

"No! They will not leave here like the others! They will not come back!"

Turi walked in and caught the last sentence his father said before his fist hit the table.

"Father, we must let the doctor get the supplies, we need that cure!"

Jerin turned on his son, "I said no! He's a liar and is trying to trick us by giving us false hope!"

Turi sighed, he saw the bottle and could smell the alcohol that permeated the air around the table. It explained why his father was in such a bad mood.

This is going to be difficult, he then tried to reason with his father.

In the end he told his father he would get Beckett to explain what the disease was and maybe they could help him find its source. Jerin agreed and watched his son leave. He then turned to the his man that had remained in the room.

"This is what I want you to do...",and he explained.

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Carson walked outside the temporary hospital and turned on Rodney's scanner. The signal from the town was very weak and he walked toward the fields of grain. Still, the signal was weak and he shook his head. This just wasn't right. There was something around here that had made these people sick and he was determined to find it.

Ailee came running over and suddenly hugged him, surprising him. "What's this for, Lass?"

"I heard the news that you have a cure for the disease?" she looked at him with sparkling eyes and a wide smile.

"Aye, that I have! News travels fast around here."

"I had to come and Thank you, for you said you can save my brother."

Carson bent down and looked her in the eye," Yes, I can and the others too. I just need to get certain medicines and we'll begin the treatment. I promise you your brother will be the first one I give it to."

Ailee wrapped her arms around Carson's neck and hugged him again, tears starting to flow from her eyes."Thank you, Carson!"

"It's my pleasure, I'm a doctor and it's what we do, save people."

Turi spotted them as he left his father's house and came over, smiling at the way his sister was hugging the doctor. He knew she somehow had found out about the cure.

"My father wants you to explain to him about the disease and why you need to leave."

Carson straightened up and looked at Turi's face reading what he expected to find displayed there.

"Aye, the bugger is a stubborn man, but he'd better allow this or we'll not be saving anyone today."

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Jerin refused to listen to Carson's promise of returning immediately with the drugs. He also refused to allow him to communicate with his planet as well, fearing others would invade this world and take what they had so closely guarded these past seasons.

Carson tried again, "I must have these drugs! This disease is similar to one I have treated on another world."

Jerin looked at him,"What other world?"

For a moment Carson feared that telling him might cause a problem, but went ahead anyhow. "It was a people called the Genii, they had radiation sickness and I was able to save almost all of those effected."

"Genii, you say?" Jerin asked.

"Yes, you've heard of them?" Carson asked back, dreading the answer.

"They were the ones who came here and traded with us. You must be one of them and have lied to us!" Jerin spat at him.

"What! You've no idea what we went through with those fascist wannabees! They invaded our city almost killed Rodney and our Leader!"

"Then why would you help them?"

Carson sighed, "Long story short, they had a military coup and someone new took over. We 're actually friendly now."

"They left us here to die and you call them friends," Jerin was furious.

"Just a minute, remember they had a regime change and anyone involved with you was probably killed during the takeover. I'm not saying what they did was right, but maybe their own problems overrode yours."

"All right, here is my only offer, you will go to your city and get what supplies you need and bring them back. You may bring one other person back with you to help you, no weapons! If anyone else comes through we will kill all of you."

Carson nodded, "All right. I'll just get Rodney ready to go..."

"No! He stays here!" Jerin said softly. "He will insure that you return."

Beckett took a step forward, "What! You can't be serious, he's got internal bleeding and needs help that only my planet can offer!"

Jerin was adamant, "You heard what I said."

Carson looked defeated, this was Rodney's life they were discussing. If he left him he could die, but if he stayed with him here, he surly would die.

"There's one other thing, your people show radiation poisoning which can be caused by different things and I'm at a loss as to what you have here that could be the cause of this. What exactly did you trade to the genii?"

"That's none of your business!"

Carson knew when to quit..."All right we'll cross that bridge later.. I'll give you my answer after I talk to Rodney..."

"There won't be any need to do that, for we've moved him."

"You what? Are you daft! He's badly injured, where is he? You tell me now or there'll be no cure, for I'm not leaving here without him." Carson was furious and started toward Jerin, but was held back by Turi.

Jerin's men were also about to grab the doctor.

"He's where you'll never find him, so I suggest you take my offer and go now... If you don't return in one day's time, he will be killed," Jerin sneered back.

Carson turned away and stomped out the door with Turi right behind him.

Once outside the doctor wasted no time in turning on the younger man,"Where's he taken him, Turi! Tell me now or there'll be no cure!"

Turi decided too much was at stake to let this opportunity to cure the disease fail. He believed Carson, he could see the honesty in the man and how loyal he was to his friend and how caring he was to the other patients. People he didn't even know.

" Trust me when I say, we'll never find him. There are thousands of caves up in the hills just south of here. Even I don't know all the ways in and out of those tunnels. I never worked in them."

Carson's eyes widened at Turi's last words, "Worked? Did you say worked?"

"Yes, we mined them for rocks." Turi said slowly. "We've also used them in the past to hide from the wraith."

"Do you have one of these rocks?"

Turi knew he'd said too much,"Yes, but why do you want to see it?"

The doctor took a deep breath," Because Lad, I think we've found the cause of your disease."

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Beckett sat on the chair beside a table in the makeshift hospital. He was tired and his head was pounding again. The long forgotten headache having decided to return for a repeat performance and it was outdoing itself this time. He wondered how Rodney was doing.

Where had they taken him?

If it was to the mines then he was in bigger trouble for he would be exposed to the same radiation that effected the villagers. Turi had broken down and told him of how half the village had been assigned to help the genii mine the ore that they wanted in trade for their goods and seeds that they had given to his father in trade. It seemed such a good bargain at the time and only after several months of digging had the disease suddenly appeared. The people who were assigned to the mines were the ones that showed the disease first, then others who had served meals and brought water to the workers were also effected. No one had thought about it being the ore that was doing it to them.

Carson had explained what happened when you had too much exposure. Turi's brother had gone in and out of the mines all day long as he oversaw the operation, while others stayed inside and cut rock. Turi was a hunter and with his men helped keep meat on the table for the village. Others worked the fields and with the Genii's help they brought in enough wheat to keep everyone alive through the harsh winter season. This agreement was applauded by all and made Jerin a hero until the disease came.

The fate of Rodney and these villagers rested in Carson's hands and he didn't know what to do.

Voices in the background appeared to be getting louder and suddenly Carson looked up and saw people standing beside patient's beds, holding the person's hand and looking at Carson silently.

Strange that he had been so self absorbed that he hadn't heard them come in.

All around the room faces stared back at him, men women and children all looking at him with hope in their eyes.

Carson could see the pleading looks that each of them gave him as glanced from one face to another. Finally he dropped his eyes.

It's time for a decision..., he told himself

It was a tough choice, but he did it and got up to leave.

I'm sorry Rodney...echoed in his heart.

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