Radek handed the much spindled print out to Daniel and a thumb drive to Sam.

"This is entry I need translated. On the drive is compilation of all mentions I have found in the database."

Daniel perused the Ancient text, his eyes beginning to widen as he read on.

"This says there is a planet where an Ancient lab with this device was abandoned. It was abandoned because of the Wraith. Apparently they have a cloning facility there and it is heavily protected."

Radek sighed, "I was afraid that's what it said."

Sam looked at Radek and said, "You can't tell John, he'll do anything to save Rodney."

"I cannot lie to him Samantha, Colonel Sheppard sees too much."

"Why don't we send a MALP through and see if there's still a danger there. Maybe it's on the planet they already destroyed."

"No, is different one, out on far edge of Pegasus."

"The question now is why haven't we seen evidence of these Wraith? Their numbers are steadily dwindling if this cloning facility was still on line wouldn't we see a surge in hives?" Sam was back into expedition leader mode, as if she never left.

"Yes, I wondered the same. Rodney's cure is almost secondary, to the need to find out what's happening on that planet." Daniel replied.

"Radek?"

"Yes Colonel Carter."

"How much information do you have on this planet?"

Radek grinned. "Is all on thumb drive..."

With a shared smile the trio leaned over the monitor to watch as the data from the drive flowed across the screen.

"Jeannie I do not believe Rodney will succumb to his illness. He is very strong and blessed of the Ancestors. We will find a way to save him."

Jeannie nodded absently at Teyla's confident words. All she felt was cold and empty, she couldn't muster the strength required for hope, false or otherwise.

Ronon sat as still as a stone the only thing revealing his presence was his impossible size and the heat radiating off his lumbering figure. Even his breathing was silent. He was in lockdown mode, his team mates knew that he was best left alone during these moments of brooding. And brooding he was. He couldn't get the sight of Rodney's blood cascading down his nose forming a river of gore that flowed down his neck and flooded his chest, soaking his blue uniform shirt into a purplish black slick. As much trauma as Ronon had experienced he was unprepared for how this scene would shake him. He knew from one look at McKay that he was dying, that his annoying friend would probably not survive. What no one knew was that Ronon too recognized the blood sickness when he saw it. His younger brother died from it when they were teenagers. The big man was lost in his own sadness and was unable to help anyone else with theirs', not even Sheppard.

"Ronon?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you know the way to the infirmary?" Teyla asked him.

"Yeah, come on."

He stood up and began striding out of the mess hall not waiting for the two women to catch up. As he turned out the door into the hall, he almost ran into Teal'c.

"Ronon, it is good to see you though it saddens me the reason you are here is Dr. Mc Kay's illness."

"Thanks, you too."

"Teyla." Teal'c leaned his head towards her in acknowledgement.

"Teal'c it is good to see you." Teyla responded.

"This is Dr. McKay's sister Jeannie Miller."

"Yes, we have met. I am sorry for your brother's sickness. He is a brilliant and surprising man."

They all smiled at the Jaffa's description of Rodney, it was spot on.

"We are headed to the infirmary if you care to join us?" Teyla asked.

"I am afraid Colonel Carter has requested I join her in Daniel Jackson's laboratory. But do give Dr. Mc Kay my regards."

Ronon and Teal'c shared an arm clasp and a look that said volumes, and they went their separate ways.


Captain Chris Morgan was shuttled down to the base of Cheyenne Mountain, his patient was involved in some top secret mission and was too ill to be transferred to Portsmouth Naval Hospital where he was stationed. Though Morgan was relatively new to the military he was the physician to much of the brass at the pentagon, there was a surprising number of senior officers with some form of cancer on active duty. The state of the world was such that the military couldn't afford to lose a treatable officer, and most remained on active duty as long as humanly possible. Oddly enough, he was more busy now than when he had his private practice.

The complex was impressive, and though it was spacious and well lit Morgan couldn't help but feel the slight panic at the thought of thousands of tons of mountain pushing down on them.

Deep breaths Morgan, you can't afford a panic attack here, your patient needs you, you can be claustrophobic later.

After what must have been half an hour and several elevator bank changes and security checks they arrived at the level where the infirmary was. He was accompanied by two marines it gave him comfort to see other branches here besides Air Force, but it was clear they weren't there for his comfort but to keep him from straying to restricted areas. The group of service members from the Department of the Navy walked down a narrow hallway divided by a green stripe that curved around to a junction of two other hallways with different colored stripes. At the intersection, the visitor found his group waiting for the right a way from an unusual trio of civilians, and in the other tunnel stood two generals, a Colonel, and some sort of DOD employee, it promised to be a Mexican standoff, until one of the Generals held out his hand and introduced himself.

"General Landry, you must be Captain Morgan."

Chris nodded and shook the man's hand firmly, choosing to ignore the snickering from the other general at his name.

The smirking general held his hand out too. "General Jack O'Neill pleased to meet you Captain Morgan."

As irritating, as it was to have this joke about his name made continuously O'Neill's charm made him smile.

"Good to meet you sirs."

He noticed the dark haired Colonel watching him skeptically and wanted to start moving again. The man's scrutiny was unnerving, but it was nothing compared to the giant with dreadlocks in the group standing in the left tunnel.

"I was just headed to the infirmary; these helpful Marines were escorting me."

"No worries Captain we'll take you." O'Neill said as he waved the Marines off and began to lead the odd group down the hallway lined in yellow.

They arrived at the infirmary in a few minutes, Chris was impressed by the state of the art equipment in the tiny facility, and by the beautiful Dr. Lam.

"Dr. Morgan, thank you for coming so quickly." Her almond eyes were sincere.

Watch it Morgan, you're here for a patient not to find a girlfriend.

"My pleasure Dr. Lam, while I may be new to the military and in the Navy no less, even I know better than to turn down a request from two Generals."

Everyone smiled at his humor and the tension lessened significantly.

"Would you like to see his chart?"

"No I think I'd rather meet my patient first."

"This way then."

Morgan could feel the collective eyes of the group on him and heard their footsteps begin to follow him.

"Just a minute Dr. Lam. Generals, sirs? I need to see my patient in private first and then you may join us." His tone left no room for negotiation, and the men acquiesced.

Dr. Lam led him to a small isolated room off the main infirmary, where a very sick man lay.

The man turned his head to see who was entering his room when his eyes locked on Chris'. Those eyes were astonishingly blue, he had only seen eyes that blue one other time in his life and that was in the eyes of one of the kids he RA'd for in college. That poor kid was a genius and had been sent to college at the age of fourteen, he needed the protection of the RA frequently.

There were two other doctors in the small room, one also a beautiful woman, and another a man about his age.

"Dr. Carson Beckett and this is Dr. Jennifer Keller. We are here as family members but we can help with his more recent medical history."

As they introduced themselves, Chris heard the shuffling of a large number of feet entering the room behind him.

Great I have two generals and three doctors and who knows how many other people watching my every move. Just who is this guy?

"Thank you I'm sure I will need whatever you can give me. Now I'd like to meet my patient."

He walked to the side of the bed and the man's eyes followed him, looking up into his face as he stopped and gently picked up his emaciated hand and said, "Hello, my name is Captain Chris Morgan, I am a Navy oncologist and I'm here to help you. What's your name?"

The frail man began to smile. "Hello Chris. Long time no see."

For a moment, he was confused because he recognized that voice, those eyes… "Rodney? Rodney McKay?"

"Yep it's me."

"You know you could have just emailed me, this is a bit extreme even for you." Chris joked.

"Yeah well you know me, I'm never one for subtle."

The whole room laughed at that. These people obviously knew Rodney quite well.

"By the way where the hell have you been? Last, I heard you were in Antarctica of all things. Then you just seemed to disappear."

Suddenly the dark haired Colonel spoke up.

"Mc Kay mind telling us who the hell this is?"

"Oh yeah sorry… Chris was like a big brother to me while I was at university. He was my RA and kept an eye on me. I was only fourteen and needed all the help I could get."

"He was a mess. Had no social skills at all, being fourteen only made it worse. But he kind of grows on you. I missed you kid."

"Kid? I am nearly forty Chris, hardly a kid."

"Well I'm nearly fifty, so yeah you're a kid."

"As touching as this is can we get on with why we're here?"

The bald bespectacled man said with irritation.

"Oh, yes certainly." Chris picked up Rodney's chart and began reading he walked to a nearby stool and sat down never taking his eyes off the chart.

Damn, Rodney you poor bastard.

"What the hell Mc Kay? How'd you get so sick?"

"What do you mean?" Carson asked.

"Well from the looks of it he spiraled down quickly and should have been on chemo a month ago. Before the CNS was apparent."

Everyone looked around nervously.

"It was my fault Chris."

Morgan knew exactly what he meant, he'd seen Rodney's self destruction and self loathing in action before.

"Well for a freaky smart genius Mc Kay, you can be such an idiot."

"Yeah, so I'm told. So what do you think?"

"I think you look like crap."

"Besides that."

"I think we better start with the chemo now. After we get you going then tomorrow or the next day we'll do the intrathecal chemo."

"You don't want to discuss the protocol?" Jennifer questioned.

"No, there's no time to hem and haw about this. He's given us no wiggle room we'll have to use the strongest and most aggressive protocol we have, and start right now."

Behind them, Dr. Lam's gloved hands pulled bags of chemo from the med cabinet. Morgan had emailed what he thought was a good combination for aggressive ALL and she had it all on hand.

"Hey Chris?"

"Yeah kid?"

"Meet my future wife and my family."

He waved Jennifer over to him.

Morgan whistled. "Beauty and brains, a doctor no less, I knew you had it in you kid."

Jennifer blushed.

"And all these people are my family, this is John Sheppard my best friend, Teyla Emmagen is like my big sister, Jeannie is my little sister, Ronon well he's my big brother and Carson is my other best friend."

"What about these generals?"

"Oh they're kind of like my dads and my bosses. And Richard's my favorite uncle." He pointed at Woolsey.

The older men blushed and laughed.

"Pleased to meet you all, it's great to see the kid has such a wonderful family. Now I'm afraid you guys are going to have to get out of here so I'll give you each a minute with him while Dr. Lam and I prepare his chemo."

Thus began his first round of chemo, and the fight to save Rodney Mc Kay's life was underway.