A/N: This has been a lot slower going than I expected but there are too many loose ends to tie up before the mega team heads on their crazy mysterious mission. So thanks for bearing with me.

Disclaimer: Don't own.

###################################################

Jeannie Miller was doing the dishes at her sink somewhere in Canada, when a flash of light filled the room behind her and reflected on the night darkened window. She should have jumped but she didn't, she knew what it was, just not the who. She turned slowly as she dried her hands, to find the handsome imp John Sheppard standing in her kitchen.

"Hello Jeannie."

He looked sad, "What's happened? Is he worse?"

John looked at his hands avoiding Jeannie's gaze. "Not, exactly..."

"What is it John?"

"He had a rough time after you came home, and he doesn't want to keep up the treatment."

"What? I was only gone a week."

"Yeah, he wasn't reacting too well to the treatment; he just couldn't take it anymore."

"Okay, let me get some things together. What about Maddie and Caleb? I mean should we, can we …?"

"Uhhh, I don't know? Let me find out."

John turned his comm. on and asked to speak with the SGC. Jeannie busied herself packing her bag. She returned to the kitchen in time to hear John say, "Okay yes sir."

"Well what's the verdict?"

"You can go ahead and bring them."

She smiled at him with a sad smile and left to wake her husband and pack Maddie for their trip.

A few minutes later John could hear Caleb say, "How are we going to explain the beaming to her?"

"We just won't wake her up. We can fly back, it'll be fine."

Caleb walked out to the living room where John was waiting.

"You ready to go?"

"Almost Jeannie's packing up Maddie's things. John?"

"Yeah?"

"How bad, I mean…" he exhaled in frustration at a loss for words.

"It's really bad Caleb, the worst in fact." John's voice quavered.

Caleb sank into the couch trying to take it in.

"I don't know how Jeannie's going to handle losing him, when she just got him back."

"Hell Caleb, I don't know how I'm going to handle losing him. But I have to leave and I need Jeannie there with him so I can do what I have to do."

Jeannie walked in quietly as the two men sat talking, when John finished she said, "It's okay John, I'm happy to be there for him, don't worry. Now can Hermiod beam us up from Maddie's room?"

"Sure Jeannie."

And in a minute they were standing in the SGC. Maddie in Caleb's arms, never stirring once, as they walked to the quarters assigned to them.

##################################################

Rodney was feeling remarkably better, the headache was less torturous, the nausea was manageable, and he had only a couple of more seizures since the chemo stopped. It was less than forty eight hours later but he was already so glad he stopped when he did.

Chris Morgan walked into the infirmary to talk with Rodney about his latest labs.

"Hey Rodney. How you feeling?"

"Much better Chris thanks."

Chris looked at Rodney's chart.

"I see you've quit vomiting, and that your headache's better."

"Yeah, now I only feel like I'm dying, not like I want to die." He laughed cynically.

Chris looked at him ruefully. " I have some good news for you."

"What good news?" Rodney awkwardly tried to pull himself up, but found he lacked the strength.

"Well your sister is here with her family, and all the arrangements have been made for your wedding."

Rodney felt himself get choked up. "Maddie and Caleb are here?"

"Yes, and I heard from a little birdie that someone wanted to see you, so I came to see if you were up to it."

Rodney's mind was reeling, he hadn't expected Jeannie to bring Maddie, but it made everything all the more final. He was saying goodbye, that was all he had left, goodbye.

"Uhhhh Chris?"

"Yes."

"Could you ask Jeannie, John and Jennifer to come here first?"

"Sure, just give me a few minutes."

Chris walked out into the hallway where a small crowd of people waited. Jennifer was handing out germ gel, masks, paper gowns and gloves to those who wanted to visit Rodney. His white count was dangerously low and he could not afford to get an infection at this stage, it would certainly kill him.

"Hey guys. He's awake but he asked to speak with John, Jennifer and Jeannie first."

The crowd parted to allow them through, and continued on with their precautions.

"In here, we moved him to keep him more isolated to protect him from infection." Chris led them through the infirmary to the isolation room.

The gloved gowned and masked trio came in single file to Rodney's room.

Rodney started laughing at the parade of masked individuals entering his room.

"You look ridiculous Sheppard." He sniggered.

"What do you mean; I think he looks rather dashing, in a Dr. Kildare sort of way."

"Careful Jeannie you're dating yourself."

"Whatever BIG brother, you are much older than me!"

Rodney smiled and whispered, "For now anyway."

Jeannie's eyes filled with tears and she turned her head, so he wouldn't see. John patted her on the shoulder.

"Rodney knock it off! We're about to get married I won't have you being so molly grubby."

"Sorry."

"Anyway Mc Kay what did you want to see us about?"

"A couple of things really, first I wanted to ask you to be my best man."

John swallowed the lump forming in his throat and croaked, "Of course I'll be your best man Rodney. It would be my honor."

John barely squeaked it out without losing it. Jennifer stood across the room out of Rodney's sight with tears streaming down her face.

"Now some of the more unpleasant business we need to attend to. Jeannie, I have changed my medical proxy to you, as John will be leaving on a mission. I don't want Jen to have to make…certain decisions. I hope you don't mind."

"No Mer I don't mind, I'm here for you." She reached out and took his frail hand into her gloved one.

You always were the stronger one Jeannie, I need that strength to help Jen and I get through this.

"Thanks, I knew I could count on you. I need to ask John to remain my executor though; you can have the reading of the will when he gets back. Jennifer and I also have another request of you John. Jen?"

"John we'd like you to be the baby's Godfather, and Teyla to be his Godmother. Of course he'll also need to spend lots of time with his Aunt and Uncle and his cousin."

John's face was pale as he considered everything that was said. This was it, after his best friend was married today, John would be leaving on a long shot mission to the edge of Pegasus and most likely returning to bury Rodney and execute his will, the only thing he would have left of his best friend would be Rodney's wife and son. The grief and responsibility threatened to overwhelm him.

"I don't know what to say…"

"Just say yes John."

John was raised Catholic so being a Godparent was a huge responsibility to him even if nothing happened to the parents but this was monumental.

"I—I …yes. I would love to be baby Mc Kay's Godfather."

"Jeannie just so you know I want my son raised on Atlantis, even if, God forbid, something were to happen to his mother, but I also need him to spend time with you and his cousin. So I have asked a big favor and would like you to consider a posting for you and Caleb on Atlantis. I'm still the Chief Science Officer and can hire who I want and have no problem with nepotism. You don't have to say yes, but I wanted you to have the option."

"Wow, Atlantis. I would love it but I'm not sure about Caleb, besides Baby Mc Kay's about to get another cousin."

"What?"

"Jeannie that's wonderful!" Jennifer hugged her soon to be sister in law.

John and Rodney looked around uncomfortably while the women gushed, John could see that Rodney was growing more tired by the second.

"Hey that's great Jeannie I'm really happy for you and Caleb." Rodney said quietly.

"Me too Jeannie, but ladies why don't we let Rodney get some rest before the ceremony."

The women became more subdued as they looked at the pale figure of Rodney, his eyes sunken in darkened sockets, full of fatigue. He offered them a wan smile.

"You're right John we have to get Jennifer ready for the ceremony! Come on Jen." Jeannie's cornflower blue eyes were full of mischief as she pulled her brother's bride from the room.

Rodney sighed, "Can you stay for a minute?"

John shuffled over to the chair beside Rodney's bed.

"How are you holding up buddy?"

"Not so well. My hair's fallen out, not that I had a lot to spare, but I didn't expect my wedding day to be anything like this. Though given my luck I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

"Hey, stop that. Have you seen your bride? Man if I could do half as good I'd be hitting it out of the park. And on top of that you're having a kid, a boy no less! That is some awesome good fortune if you ask me."

"Well I guess I just figure it doesn't mean as much since I'll be dead."

"Rodney, come on, the fact is, this could be happening without all of these good things, can you honestly say you'd prefer it that way?"

"No, God help me I can't. I know it's selfish but I am so happy I have Jennifer and the baby, I almost forget what I am doing to them."

"Rodney you're not doing anything to them. This is just some rotten luck that's all. You love Jennifer, and she loves you and you guys are going to have a baby together, that is about the most beautiful gift you can give someone, a piece of yourself."

"When did you become Oprah?" Rodney snorted.

"About the same time you became Eeyore." The two friends cracked up.

"John?"

"Yeah, Rodney?"

"Thank you, for everything."

"My pleasure buddy, now you better get some rest before we have to get you dressed for your wedding." John stood to go but Rodney stopped him.

"Would you mind sitting here with me while I sleep?" Rodney couldn't hide the fear in his eyes.

"No, I don't mind at all. You get some rest, we have a big day ahead of us."

"Thanks John."

Rodney started to drift off, but woke back up with a start.

"John?"

"Yes."

"I really do you know."

"Really do what?"

"Love you." Rodney closed his eyes and was finally asleep.

"I love you too Rodney." John whispered.

The mood in the embarkation room was restive and morose. The excitement of the undertaking ahead was tamped down by the reality that Rodney would probably be dead before they returned.