"Hello," he whispered grimacing as he stared at this strange man. Where was his brother, why hadn't he come to help his brother? Where was Teyla…what had happened to Ford?

Slashing out the man cut the rope that held Rodney. Rodney let out a high pitched scream and dropped to the ground, darkness surrounding him as he slammed his head and neck.

Sheppard came back towards Ronan, "help me get him back to the jumper," Sheppard spoke as he lifted his brother off the ground. Ronan nodded and helped lift the annoying man from the ground.

"He is annoying," Ronan stated simply as they dragged him to the jumper.

Carson was already in the jumper when they arrived, he took one look at the collapsed scientist and cursed, "what happened?" he gently took the man from their hands and put him on the ground.

"He was screaming…I found him hanging upside down…"

"Oh Rodney," Carson reached out and unzipped the suit, he grimaced, Rodney was soaked with sweat.

"That's just gross," muttered John.

"Did you cut him down?" Carson questioned.

"Ah…no I figured he was fine and went after Ford."

"I did," spoke Ronan.

"Did you catch him when he fell?"

"Was I supposed to?"

"Oh bloody hell, and you moved him, he could have spinal damage! You left him hanging!" growled Carson.

"Doc, we've gotta go," called Major Lorne.

"Then go! We've got to get Rodney back to the infirmary."

"What can I do?" John questioned.

"You've done quite enough Major, Teyla come help me," growled Beckett.

Teyla didn't hesitate to join Carson's side as she knelt down by Rodney's side. John led Ronan over to the front pilot seats. "Don't be shy lass, we need to get him out of this suit, help me remove it."

It took ten minutes to strip the suit off the soaked McKay, Carson pinched Rodney's skin on the back of his hand, as suspected the skin slowly sank back to his palm, "he's dehydrated, Rodney, open your eyes lad," he said gently.

Rodney groaned, he felt like he was dying, "Rodney, can ya hear me?"

Rodney didn't reply, his blue eyes fluttered open for a moment then closed again. "What else can I do?" Teyla inquired.

"Check out his ankle, he was hanging by one of them," Carson gently began to feel his way down Rodney's spine, thanking God when he didn't feel any serious injuries.

"One feels very swollen Carson," Teyla said looking down at his right ankle.

"Aye, probably a sprain, get me the med kit please lass, there should be an IV in there."

"Here Carson," she handed the kit over to him.

It took five more minutes to find a vein and get the IV in ad running. Carson was pushing the IV, making sure he could re-hydrate his body. Teyla was taking his blood pressure, and looked at him seriously.

"He's lucky he's still alive…he's already starting to run a fever, we need to cool him off, he's going into shock!"

"We're almost there Carson!" called John.

"We'd better be!" Carson watched as Rodney's breathing became more shallow and rapid, "hold in there buddy."

Elizabeth Weir walked into the infirmary which she could only describe as a disaster zone, paper, packages, bandages and blankets were thrown all over the floor around Rodney's bed, where Carson was still working on the scientist.

"Carson?" she questioned.

"Now's not a really good time, could you call back…when I'm not saving someone's life!" he growled.

"Carson…" Teyla spoke from his side.

Carson turned and looked to see Elizabeth standing there, "sorry lass, we're almost done here, we've got most of his vitals back to normal, we're trying to bring his temperatures down, he's at 104.2, he's already had one seizure," murmured Carson.

"What happened Carson?" Elizabeth asked making sure to remain out of their way.

"I don't know, John and his friend Ronan brought Rodney into the jumper unconscious. He hasn't woken up since…"

"So maybe I should go speak to him?" Elizabeth inquired.

"We heard Rodney screaming, John said he found Ford staring Rodney down. John didn't cut Rodney down, assuming he was fine and hurried after Ford. Ronan was the one to cut him down."

"My God, is he going to be okay?"

"Aye, eventually, has one hell of a concussion, a sprained neck, ankle, a bruise rib, a sprained back muscle, he probably will be complaining up a storm once he actually feels up to complaining."

"What's bothering you other than that Carson?"

"That his own brother left him there, you know damn well if it had been you, me, Teyla, hell anyone but Rodney, John would have cut him down in an instant."

"I'll speak with him."

"Aye," whispered Carson as he gently packed the ice packs around Rodney's body and on the bruised parts of his legs, back and shoulders.

"You are angry?" Teyla questioned.

"It was his brother….I would expect such things from anyone else, even Ford, but not John. John talks about how close he and Rodney are, but lately, it hasn't been the same."

"They truly have not been the same since the Wraith attacked," Teyla agreed.

"It was the way John said goodbye, I believe that had a lot to do with it."

"They are brothers, they will help one another."

"Aye I know, but I can't help but wonder what will happen to Rodney before the two finally stop treating each other like this."

"Rodney shot Aiden…"Teyla said simply.

"Aye, so I've heard…"

"He has never injured anyone, perhaps a Wraith, but never a human and never a friend."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it I suppose."

"He will sleep for many hours?"

"Aye, at least twelve or so, he's going to be exhausted, he needs the rest, and I'm monitoring his concussion. I'll wake him up every half hour, why don't you go get some rest lass."

"I shall, thank you Carson."

"Car…" came the soft whimper from his side. Carson instantly popped is eyes open and stood up, looking at his friend.

"Rodney, how do you feel?"

"Wat…er," he rasped. Nodding Carson moved over to pour a cup, placing a straw in the cup he gently helped Rodney sip it slowly.

"You okay?"

"Headache…I feel like I…fell outta a tree," he mumbled.

"You did, but you're awake and that is certainly a step in the right direction."

"Ford…where's Ford?" he questioned suddenly.

"We didn't get him Rodney, I'm sorry."

"I shot him Carson…I never shot anyone…" Rodney said in an almost panicked voice, Carson nodded, and gently squeezed his friend's shoulders.

"Aye, I know lad…"

"Anyone home?" John called as he gently peeked into the infirmary several hours later.

"Are you okay?" Rodney inquired.

"Yeah…I'll survive, how are you?"

"Seem to be in one piece…"

"No thanks to that bloody suit, ya nearly killed your self Rodney. There is such thing as extreme. And you, what happened to not leaving your people behind. I hate to break it to ya Colonel, but Rodney is more one of your people now than Aiden. I'm not saying ye should have left Aiden behind, but ye should have at least taken care of Rodney first," Carson spoke firmly to the brothers, his closest friends.

"I know…I'm sorry Rodney…"

"Too tired to care," mumbled Rodney.

"Get some sleep lad."

"Doc…can I sit with him?"

"Aye, but don't bother him, and give him as much water as he wants and needs slowly."

"Okay…thanks Carson."

"Don't thank me, thank your brother for havin' a mighty hard head."