Snap

Forrest groaned, rubbing her eyes as she shifted between computer screens, tablets, and microscopes. Hidden away in Carson's office, she had pretty much shut herself inside to buckle down and focus on the task at hand. If anyone had to ask her something, they did not even need to open the office door. Seeing as most of their advanced cases were within arms reach, Castiel had stayed put in the main infirmary, while the other mutes maintained the mess hall ward. So now, anything that happened Castiel told her, allowing her to stay hidden away in the somewhat quiet space that was his was her safe place for now, as she lost herself in the work she had to do. But even then she struggled, a few words she did not know required her to ask Cas, who was able to translate just with a spelling. She hated it, she had never been a strong reader or writer, and now it was causing her a multitude of problems.

She was making progress, as best she could. But deep down she was utterly terrified. The count was now at 12, and at the rate, things were going the number was only going to go up. Thankfully, Cas had left her to her thoughts for the most part. She did not want to have to have him trying to figure out her own emotions along with his own. Right then, their contact was purely as needed, relaying information and answering questions. She sighed, looking up at the screen before her she leaned her head on her hands. Her eyes looking at the board just behind the monitor. He did not keep a lot of personal things, at least compared to most. But the few things he did were fitting.

The calendar on the wall he had explained, more than once to her. How the days, weeks, and months worked on Earth. Of course the pictures too, each time the page changed he had to tell her about it. That month it was an elegant landscape, the land so open and green with rocky outcrops along a shoreline. Each picture had a story that he would tell with enthusiasm and bright eyes.

She smiled, as her eyes drifted to the few other images on the board. Pictures of his family, his mother, and sisters. She had to admit; she still struggled with their names. But he was patient and had no problem telling her each time she asked. Then one of her now favorite pictures; it was of Annie. The little red and white horse he had spoke so fondly of. Only the picture was older, by how much she was not sure, but there was Carson, sitting on to of her with one of his huge grins.

Now knowing what that picture meant to him, it made her smile. She had never really asked about that one, seeing as she was more focused on the people and landscapes. After his story yesterday, she understood. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as she fought against the emotions. She had to figure this all out; he was on the line now. He was in one of the beds getting weaker, and sicker with each passing minute. It scared her, in a way nothing else had before. Not this way, it shook down to her core and made her want to hide. But that was not Forrest, she was not one turn and run when faced with danger or fear. Head on, with attitude was her way of going.

She did not hear the door open, or noticed when Castiel walked up next to her. The dragon lovingly nuzzling his head under her arm and into her lap. She nearly jumped, but smiled as she looked down at him. He had not said a word, but she knew he probably had felt her unease. With a sigh, she wrapped her arms around his head, pressing her face into the mane between his horns. *Thank you.*

He didn't respond, as she let her head rest against his. He always knew, what she needed and when. She caught the smell of something, and she lifted her head to see a silver coffee cup on the desk. *How did you know?* The dragon lifted his head away, pressing his face to hers before leaning back on his haunches.

If there is anything I have learned working here in this city, is that there is never a wrong time for coffee.* She raised an eye but took the cup. Filled with a chocolate flavored creamer just as she had come to enjoy she held the warm mug in her hands for a moment before drinking.

How are the other dragon's doing?*

they are well, thankfully they all are managing to communicate well with the sick. Though they did ask if you would like more, Millie offered to fly back to the clans and get some of the others.* She sighed, knowing full well the youngest dragon here was quick on her wings,

I don't think we are there yet, but I will let you all know if that time comes.*

He nodded, watching as she seemed to down the coffee in a matter of seconds. * I will get you another cup, and possibly find you something to eat?*

Coffee yes, food not so much.* He seemed to laugh, as he turned to walk out of the office. But paused, his ears swirling around. *Rodney is talking to Carson, he sounds angry about something.*

I can take care of that.* she said as she stood from the rolling chair, walking past the dragon to head out into the central ward.

Castiel broke off, heading another direction to check on some things. Forrest walking with ease along the halls leading to where she had left Carson an hour ago. *You are going to be angry, don't kill him.*

She shook her head *Great, just great Cas. Thanks.* he didn't respond, but she could feel that the dragon was somewhat concerned as she rounded the corner to see an empty bed and a very loud Rodney Mckay, who was going off about how he had not been asked by anyone how he was when he first came into the infirmary.

"What the hell is this?" Her tone rose, and her blood started to boil as she looked at the two people before her. Carson was still hooked up to everything but was standing next to Rodney with a scanner in his hands.

"Oh, just checking Rodney real fast." He was attempting to play down the situation, but it was not going to work this time.

"You need to be in bed." Her tone was angry, and Carson looked at Rodney who was doing his best to ignore her. He had gotten paler, and his body was weak. He was not even standing fully but leaned against the bed. "Why did you go to him over Cas or me?" She was between them now, pulling the scanner from Carson's hands before either had a chance to argue.

"Well um, you both seemed busy and I didn't really want to bother you." The scientist stuttered the words, as he found himself now toe to toe with a very agitated Forrest.

"So you thought you would come to ask Carson to look you over, who has been in bed the past hour for a very good reason?" Carson had to admit, he had never really heard her this angry. She was fuming really, as he slowly got back on the bed behind her.

"Well, he said he was not too bad."

"I don't give a damn if he said he was feeling perfect. Anyone with eyes can see he is getting sicker." The words were growled, as Carson watched the color fade from Rodney's face.

"I'm the one that said I could scan him for anything, I didn't think it would be too taxing." Carson did his best to try and divert her rage from Rodney, but she only sent him a sideways glance. Her focus completely on Rodney who at this point in time had managed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person. She was tried, beyond frustrated, and scared, with all of it massing and festering out as rage towards him.

"I didn't think it would take more than a few seconds." He was doing his best to defend himself against her, but the fire in her eyes was enough to scare even a marine into a retreat.

"So what are you feeling? What do you feel is wrong?" Her responses short, as Rodney swallowed.

"Well um, I mean I felt like I was getting feverish, but that stopped. Then I got light headed and a bit dizzy. I figured better safe than sorry."

She did not say anything but pressed her hand to his forehead with a deep sigh. "You have no fever, Rodney."

"You sure, Carson just about had me scan-"

"Rodney, you are fine. If anything you just sealed the fact you will get sick later on by coming in here."

Her statement caused Rodney's eyes to go wide, "Oh God, your right." What little color he had faded with the realization he should not have walked into the infirmary at all.

"Now, get out of here Rodney. If you do actually start to become feverish you come to Cas or me. If I catch you trying this shit again I will have Cas toss you out of here himself."

"But what about the feverish feeling from earlier? I mean it felt like one?" She took a deep breath, doing her best to hold back but failing.

"Rodney, hot flashes are quite common with women your age. Now get the hell out of here." He was shocked into silence with her remark and was about to say something when he caught Carson's glare from behind her. Without a word, he turned and stormed past one of the mutes that had come around a corner. Forrest staying still, watching as he left.

Tell all the others that if he shows up, to make sure he is actually sick.*

"That was a wee bit much." She turned to look at Carson, who had laid back into the bed.

"He should have come to me." The words short, as she walked over to his side, checking all the monitors as he sighed.

"He gets scared with this kind of thing."

"you mean most things?" He laughed a little, as he managed to catch her hand with one of his.

"Forrest, you are starting to overwork yourself." His voice soft, as she stood looking down at where his hand held her own. Able to feel the heat his body was putting off.

"I have to figure this out. And I cant have you trying to help every person who comes to you with a problem." She watched as he was still for a moment, "Even talking this much is taking a lot out of you right now." She held tighter to his hand, watching as his eyes stayed half open.

"Well, I have already puked what little I had eaten up already. That tired me out the most." While he was trying to reassure her, she found it did not help with her own thoughts.

They were both quiet for a moment, as she looked down at her feet. "I can't lose you, Carson." That tone, he had heard it so rarely from her. The way her voice got soft and timid, it was how she spoke when scared. It hurt, as he lay there completely helpless as her hold tightened.

"You won't." He got his hand away, putting it up to her face with a soft smile. Watching as she leaned into the contact, beautiful eyes closing with a sigh. "Just don't lose yourself trying to fix things." Her hand moved over his own, as she opened her eyes. He was right, on that matter. If she broke herself down no one else would be able to fix things.

"I can do that." He smiled warmly. She didn't say anything, as she set his hand back down and left the side of the bed.

She had been right, with how the virus was working. While it had excited her, it now left her with a new frustration. She was back in the office, looking over the results of the tests. The virus did have a second phase it seemed, and the retrovirus that stemmed from it was just as she figured. It was attacking the genes in control of the brain's senses, focusing on touch.

While now she knew what it was working with, she had to figure out how to fix it. That was the hardest part, as she began to set up simulations on the computer as she had seen Carson do a hundred times before. She had no idea how long it would take her, but right then she realized she was making progress. The steps may have been small, but actions none the less.

something else is on your mind little one, what is it?* She had no idea where Castiel was then, but she had to admit his timing was excellent. She needed some second opinions.

I feel like I have seen this before Cas, and it bugs me. Just the turning off of genes it is gnawing at me.* There was a pause, and a curious feeling in her head as she looked at the screen before her.

Now that you say it, I agree. I too feel like we have heard of something like this before.* She pushed away from the desk, the chair sliding over to where she had stored away some of the Loonrian tablets she had been working with.

You think it could be Loonrian then?*

She sighed, *While I do not feel it is, maybe if there is a disease similar we can use that data to speed up the cure for this.* She explained, as she pulled one of the larger tablets out. The blue crystals glowing to life in her hands as she stood, setting it back down on a table.

Good thinking little one, that may very well speed things up.*

He left her, as she tapped a few buttons on the screen and the small tablet projected a blue light display into the air. The giant screens half surrounding Forrest as she began to tap into the projection. She just needed to get into the main archive of known Loonrian diseases. From there, scrolling through them all would take time, but in her native tongue, she could process the information quickly.

Besides, simulations would take time to run, and at that point in time working with much more familiar technology was a weight off her own shoulders. What she would not give to have everyone tucked away in the university ward, back in its prime. Sure, she had a team of mutes working for her but if they were all in their element, things would have been much different.

Elizabeth walked with Woolsey and John down the pretty much empty hallways of the city. They had not gotten any reports in nearly three hours, the last they had all heard was that Carson was down. It had now been nearly 24 hours since they had returned from their trip off world and both Elizabeth and John were concerned with how Forrest could be holding up.

Woolsey, on the other hand, was rather concerned that she had forgotten to keep them updated. The eye rolls had been held back, it had been their luck that something like this had happened in the mans first day back in the city. Then again, they were all secretly hoping that soon the man would start to feel feverish and have to fall into the care of Castiel and his nurses.

They walked into the infirmary quietly, Woolsey watching wide-eyed as a few Mutes worked quietly with the people inside. John and Elizabeth looking around for a familiar face, and soon enough Castiel trotted around the corner to them. Moving quickly over to them he dipped his head in greeting, before writing onto his tablet for them. 'Are you all feeling alright?'

Elizabeth smiled, "We all are fine Castiel, but we had not gotten an update from Forrest in some time and figured it be best to come to check on her." The dragon seemed to sigh, as he wrote.

'Her research and tests hold most of her attention right now, I should have thought of getting a report to you all myself.'

"That's fine Cas, you are all pretty busy down here." John commenting, before the dragon turned to motion them to follow.

They did not speak, as they passed by the people on the beds. Some of them were restrained, others still hurling into buckets over the edge of their beds. John caught Woolsey's unease, as he seemed to do his best to stay away from the beds. But he also was attempting to stay out of the way of the Mutes as they buzzed around the infirmary like worker bees. Castiel led them quietly to the office doors, they were all able to just barely make out a bright blue light that was filling the room. The dragon slowly opened the door, revealing Forrest. Who was flicking through blocks of text on the Loonrian tablet display.

"Unless you have a magic cure Cas, it can wait." She spoke out loud, her mind too focused on the data before her as she worked. John and Elizabeth exchanged glances, realizing that Forrest had no idea they were here. The dragon held up a paw, telling them to stay put as he slowly walked into the office.

Forrest this will only take a few minutes*

"A few minutes that some people do not have Cas." They were all taken back by the venom in her words, as she still refused to turn around. None of them had ever heard her speak to the dragon in such a way.

Please Forrest it is ju* They did not know she had cut the dragon off mid-sentence, as she spun around

"Cas leave me the fuck alone I am working!" She instantly stopped, her eyes wide as she looked at the three people behind the dragon.

I am so sorry Cas*

its okay little one, I know you are stressed* He walked across to her, moving his head under her arms. "I am so sorry I had no idea you all were here."

Elizabeth shook her head, "You are fine Forrest. You have a lot on your plate right now." The three walking into the office, Woolsey looking at the display screen behind her. The Loonrian letters a mess of gibrsh to him as he looked around the small space.

"What all has happened? Have you made any progress?" Elizabeth treading lightly, seeing as the doctor was tired, and beyond strung out in the current situation.

"Well, our theory that the virus has two sections was right. There is a genetic side we had not been able to detect with our normal screens. I have found it, identified it, and I have been running simulations on ways we could get that to stop. If we can stop the retrovirus side of things, we should be able to get everyone over this just like Teyla."

"Speaking of Teyla, how is she?" John asking as he looked at Forrest.

"Other than body sore and tired, she is much better. I had her moved down to the mess hall."

"So what are you doing with all this?" Woolsey asking as he looked at the display screen behind her.

"Cas and I both agree, we feel like we have heard of a virus that behaves this way. We just don't know where or what. So I started up one of my tablets and I have been going through the Loonrian disease archives while the simulations run." She explained, doing her best to be polite to the man, who now had seen her temper flare.

"I thought you said what everyone here has is not Loonrian?"

"It's not, but, if I can find the disease that is similar it may be able to help me perfect a treatment plan faster. Give me an idea on where to start or what to work with." Elizabeth nodded, satisfied.

"How is Carson?" She asked, looking to Forrest who did her best to not display much emotion on the matter.

"Well, he has nothing left to puke up at this point in time. His fever was at 104.2 last I checked on him. Thankfully he was already pretty tired, he has been asleep as of late. No itching yet."

She paused, looking at all of them as they stood around her in silence. "How about all of you? Are any of you showing any symptoms yet?" She asked as he studied each of their faces carefully.

"I know I feel fine." John saying as he looked at the other two, Elizabeth nodding.

"Yes, I am fine as well." Leaving Woolsey to the curious and concerned gazes of Castiel and Forrest.

"All is good here." He said as he looked between the three people focused on him.

"Well, if you all are okay, I will try and have reports up to you in better time. But it is best you all head back up to the conference room. The longer you stay in here the more likely you are to get sick faster." She did not need to tell them twice, the three quick to say their goodbyes and turn for the door.

It was John that hung back, leaving Elizabeth to walk back to the control room with Woolsey. He looked down at the small doctor, who had walked out of the office to see them off. "You are doing good, you know?" he said, watching as Castiel bounded off into another section of the infirmary.

"Sure does not feel like it."

"Well, you have your team working right now. As much as Woolsey wants to find issues it is hard to when you are handling everything so well." She smiled, looking up to him. "You will figure this out." He pat her on the shoulder, before he walked easily out of the infirmary, heading for the mess hall.

She took a deep breath before Castiel poked into her mind. *One of the others had to put restraints on Carson about ten minutes ago.* His report somber, as she closed her eyes.

I am going to go check on him.*

good, you need a break from the screens. Hard on the eyes.* She shook her head a little, Castiel and his parental tone giving her a bit of comfort as she began to walk for where she knew Carson lay. She glided around the corner, and it made her breathing hitch. His arms and legs held down to the bed as she watched him occasionally twitch. His fever now at the 105 mark.

She walked closer to him, able to see how his chest slowly rose and fell with each breath he took. His eyes closed, head tipped back as his entire face glistened with sweat. She walked closer to him, her hand reaching up to gently hold his face. He was going downhill far too fast, he should have been resting hours before. She watched as his eyes slowly opened, the spark and light they held now dull, as his body fought off the horror that was this virus. He smiled lightly, as he felt the contact of her hand. "Well, I am running simulations, and trying to see if I can figure out why the way this thing behaves is so familiar to Cas and me."

She had done her best to take breaks and tell him what she was doing, but even then it was hard to watch him get worse and worse with each visit she paid him. But she knew it meant the world to him, as he did his best to speak. "Good, you will have it soon." It was hardly a whisper, as she did her best to keep her own composure.

"I hope so."

"I know so." His eyes closed, she knew it took more energy to keep them open than he had to spare.

"How are you feeling? Can I try anything to get you more comfortable?" He kept his eyes closed, but smirked,

"Other than a bullet, not really." She laughed a little, as she looked at his smile. "I feel like my entire body is on fire."

She froze, her hand staying on his face in silence her brain began to run rampant. His eyes opened slowly, giving her a concerned look. "Forrest?" She looked at him, her eye suddenly lighting up.

"Carson, by the dragon of the moon you may have just figured this out." He was utterly confused, as she dropped her hand from his face.

You don't think?*

I think exactly that Cas.* she was an energetic mess, as she looked at Carson with a grin. "We may know what this is after all"

Cas go to the morgue now, tell me what their eyes look like.* She could hear rustling and watched as Castiel ran quickly past, causing a few of the other mutes to jump out of his way. Carson looked confused, but she smiled, leaning up and kissing his head quickly.

"Well, glad I could help, I think." He muttered, watching as she turned to run back for the office. He watched her leave without another word, with a soft smile. Letting his eyes close once again.