Carson sat next to Rodney and hung his head in his hands.
"I couldn't do it Rodney. I thought I could fix this… but I don't know what to do. This is all my fault and there's nothing I can bloody do without those stem cells!"
Rodney rubbed circles on Carson's back. He knew the doctor would take the mission failure hard. He was sure Carson also blamed himself for the two marine's deaths. It wasn't directly his fault, Rodney knew that at least, not like with Collins… but Carson wouldn't care. The whole situation was his fault, and so any deaths would also be his fault.
"It's not your fault, Carson." Rodney all but whispered. He held Carson close.
"I had to tell Elizabeth that there wasn't anything I could do, not without the eggs. And that we couldn't go again."
Rodney nodded.
"We'll work it out somehow." Rodney said, and could even hear the uncertainty in his voice. They both knew there was only one way to fix the problem.
"I'll do whatever I can to help you, Carson, but don't give up." Rodney tried to support Carson again, with more success this time.
"Thank you."
Suddenly, Dr Weir called out a security breach in Sheppard's quarters. They both sat upright and looked at each other, and ran to the control room.
Rodney brought up the colonel on the life signs detector. As the orders were issued, Rodney just awkwardly stared at the screen… hoping not to be called into action. Thankfully, he was asked to lock down the Stargate and remain in mission control with the computer. It was where he felt more comfortable. He snapped at Cadwell's stupid remarks, and reported on the activity he saw occurring on the life signs detector… far separated from the danger and possibility of letting people down. Far sooner than expected, Ronon reported he'd captured John and was requesting Carson to come down to him. Honestly, Rodney didn't want Carson to go - but there would be little use stopping him. Instead, he went to the infirmary to meet them when they brought Sheppard in.
Carson stood looking at the colonel with worried eyes. He explained to Elizabeth and Cadwell that he only had 24 hours left to save him. He felt both defeated and determined at the same time. His body was flooded with adrenaline, but his mind told him it was pointless. There just was no other way than the stem cells plan that would work. Elizabeth left to go talk to Ronon and Teyla who had joined Rodney waiting outside the infirmary, and so Cadwell left as well to the gateroom. Carson hung his head and went to the computer, trying to think of some other way to help.
Elizabeth approached the rest of the team. Rodney tried to distract himself from the reality with food, and it also was proving a good means of avoiding conversation with the others. He was scared for John, but deep down he had confidence in Carson. But once Elizabeth mentioned saying goodbye… Rodney couldn't believe it.
"Are we really there?" He asked.
"I think we might be." She responded, and Rodney could tell by her demeanour that she was serious. Rodney's muscles tensed. He didn't want to lose his friend, and he didn't want to see what became of Carson if he failed to save John.
Before he could think too much, Carson radioed Elizabeth and then they were all walking to her office to meet up with the doctor… perhaps there was hope after all? Carson was there waiting for them at the stairs of gateroom control, and began to splutter out his plan immediately. Rodney listened intently, and realised that there was indeed hope.
"wow wow wow wow I see where you're going. If we could artificially create the pheromone, we might be able to confuse them enough to leave us alone." He said, excitement peaking and cutting Carson off.
"Aye, that would work." Carson said, not particularly enjoying being interrupted.
"Well that's an excellent plan Carson!"
"I wish it was…" Carson said. Surprisingly, it was Ronon who pointed out the obvious.
"You can't do that in time?"
"No, it'd take days." Carson responded. If he'd just be left to finish his sentence, he would have avoided all this…
"You said Sheppard only had 24 hours before the damage the retrovirus was causing would be irreparable…" Weir chimed in.
"Well that's a terrible plan Carson!" Rodney said, with the same inflection just to mock him. Choosing to just ignore him, Carson continued.
"There's only one person on this base that wouldn't need the artificial pheromone…" Carson concluded, the team understanding what he meant.
"Sheppard?" Weir exclaimed, Rodney sharing her bewilderment.
"He can walk right into those caves and those bugs won't pay him any mind."
"Um, I'm not sure if you noticed or not, but colonel Sheppard's not feeling that well." Rodney said, realising that it came across as more snarky than he intended. He just was trying to help… except he wasn't really sure how to do that anymore, he was too turbulent inside to make out what he was feeling let alone thinking. This whole situation was very stressful, and all Rodney could think of was having a quiet alone time in his quarters with the knife. Suddenly he realised the conversation was still going, and heard that Carson's plan was in give the colonel a massive dose of inhibitor. Helpful or not, he felt obliged to point it out.
"'K, but won't giving him that much inhibitor like…"
"Kill him? Yes, that's a definite possibility. Even if I knew it were for certain, I'd be tempted to give him one last out with lucidity."
"Do it. Gear up, and take him as far as the cave." Weir concluded, time being an issue. Rodney really didn't want to go back, but if it would help save Sheppard then he would do it.