Carson and Rodney made their way through the forest, looking all around them. Carson looked over at his best friend to see his gun drawn looking ready for whatever it was he planned on fighting.

"You hear anything?" Rodney called slightly.

"No…"

"Huh…" he murmured.

Suddenly a Wraith dropped behind Carson, throwing the doctor aside Rodney turned to see his friend hit the ground and the Wraith come moving towards him. Unsure of what else to do, Rodney immediately began shooting, everything he had. Rodney gasped in pain as the Wraith pushed him to the ground. He began to scramble to get away. When suddenly Ellia appeared, she began to fight the Wraith, stunning Rodney and Carson both to silence. They watched in horror as she finally snapped the larger Wraith's neck. Rodney felt the bile form in his throat, as he tried to mek his way to his feet. However before he could think further, Ellia began to ascend upon him, moving closer.

"Easy! You went to all that trouble to save my life…it's a shame to kill me now?" He cried out.

He was stunned for just as she reached out to put her hand to his chest a shot rang out loud and clear through the forest. Rodney watched her whirl around the glare at a stunned Carson before leaping into the forest.

"Are you okay Rodney?" Carson asked as he hurried over to his friend. Carson could miss the telltale signs of Rodney beginning to hyperventilate. His hands began to brush over his chest, trying to see if he was really alive. Carson, unsure what else to do for his friend at this moment reached out and gently squeezed his arm, "it's okay Rodney, you're still here lad."

"I…he…she…reaching….what the hell was that?" He suddenly cried.

"The retrovirus is having the opposite effect from what we intended." Replied Carson.

"I guess so!" mumbled Rodney suddenly as he continued to probe his chest.

"Ah, God!" Carson replied as he looked back at his friend who was still pasty white and terrified. If he couldn't get Rodney to focus quickly, he would go into shock. "It's all right lad, you're going to be fine," Carson whispered again.

"Dear God lad, what happened to you?" Carson asked no more than fifteen minutes later when John came over to him, his right arm covered in blood.

"I had a little run in with a Wraith…are you all right?" John asked suddenly.

"Aye…we'll be fine…"

"Rodney?" John asked watching his brother. Rodney seemed to still be in a trance he looked up at his brother, and John could see the fear in his brother's eyes. "How ya doin' buddy?"

"Uh…" Rodney couldn't speak he just shook his head.

"Let's go! I need to get them home now!" yelled Carson.

"This really isn't necessary, Doc." John said as he was pushed back onto the gurney, Carson looked at his arm which was still covered in blood.

"Yes, it is. You've got a serious laceration on your arm and you've lost a good deal of blood," replied Carson.

"Yeah, enjoy the ride, Colonel. They're makin' me walk." Rodney shot back in return.

"You have a splinter, Rodney!" Carson returned.

"Yes, a very nasty, painful splinter," Rodney grumbled.

"You'll be fine lad, just sit still," Carson directed as he stripped off the field dressing. It looked disgusting, "this might hurt a wee bit…"

"OW!" screamed Rodney from his bed.

"I'm sure it will," mumbled John as he looked back at his brother.

"This doesn't sting?"

"No…" John replied in confusion.

"I know y'have a high threshold for pain, but this ... " Carson stopped at the sight of the arm, there wasn't a mark on his arm

"This is what?" John finished.

"Gone…" whispered Carson.

"What?"

"The feeding mark. It's completely healed…" Carson said as Rodney joined them on the otherside of the bed.

"Maybe the wound wasn't that bad," suggested John.

"Then where'd all the blood come from?" Carson inquired in confusion.

"I don't know, maybe it just looked a lot worse than it was…" John said again.

"I don't see evidence of any cut at all."

"That's weird, because it hurt like hell…" John explained.

"You're sure the skin was broken?"

"I'm pretty sure. There was a lot of blood! Maybe it was hers?" John spoke unsurely.

"It was definitely human….Wraith don't have blood, it's black remember?"

"I don't know. Maybe it was a nosebleed…" he was pulling at strings at this point, but he didn't care.

"Is that supposed to be a joke, Colonel?"

"Believe me, this isn't funny," John replied.

"Give me half a day to run your bloodwork and analyze it with the data we already have. We'll figure it out."

"And until then?" John asked.

"You're welcome to look over my shoulder." Joked Carson smiling at his friend.

"That's tempting, but ..." John shook his head smirking.

"Just go about your day…make sure your brother is okay…" Carson said smiling.

"The retrovirus isn't breaking down in his system like we hoped it would…" Beckett explained several hours later. He had been horrified by the sight of the scaly bump on his best friend's arm. He felt bad, but was now putting him through a series of tests.

"You're positive?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Yes. In fact, it's beginning to alter his DNA. If this is allowed to continue, he'll devolve into a creature similar to what Ellia became…"

"How long do we have?" Elizabeth asked looking over at him.

"I'm not sure exactly."

"Ballpark! Months, weeks?" Elizabeth said in a low but sharp voice.

"Days. We have days." He mumbled in return.

"Okay, what's the plan?"

"I've injected him with a viral inhibitor. It should slow down the retrovirus as far as his cognitive abilities are concerned, but I'm afraid that's it so far. We're exploring various treatments that may or may not be effective, so ..."

"No, Carson, we don't have any time to explore. C'mon, there's gotta be something in the Ancient database that can help you find a treatment!"

"I know, Elizabeth. We're doin' our best!"

"I'm sorry, I know. Of course you are," Elizabeth replied sighing softly.

"Elizabeth…"

"I'll tell Sheppard if you go break it to Rodney…"

"How do I tell him this?" Carson asked sadly.

"Just talk to him Carson…"

"Right…" whispered Carson softly

He hated being here, having to have this conversation, it wouldn't be any easier than telling someone their loved one had just died. He knocked on the door.

Seconds later he heard the padding of feet and the door 'whooshed' open. Rodney stood clad in a pair of sweat pants and long sleeve shirt. Carson could easily guess the man was caring for his daughter.

"Carson…how's John?"

"He…uh…there's been some complications Rodney…"

"What kinda complications?"

"The…the retrovirus I created…got into his system…Rodney…"

"Carson just spit it out!" Rodney growled.

"I'm sorry…it just, it's altering his DNA…within days he'll look like the bug that attached itself to his neck…"

"WHAT?"

"I'm sorry Rodney…he's in the infirmary…."

"Will he die?"

"Does it matter? Rodney, he'll cease to be the John Sheppard we've known and love for a long time in a few days…I promise I'm doing my best…"

"I…" Rodney looked stunned, lost on what to say.

"I'm sorry…we felt you should know and that a friend should tell you…"

"Thanks…" mumbled Rodney.

"I put him in a medically-induced coma for now. I was afraid he might break through the restraints," Carson whispered.

"That's a good call, Doctor," Caldwell spoke. They all seemed oblivious to the single figure that stood at the other end of the infirmary, but Carson wasn't.

"So what now?" Elizabeth questioned.

Carson quickly shot Rodney a glance and continued, "the retrovirus has wreaked havoc on his system and it's taking over."

"What does that mean?" Elizabeth prodded.

"It means if we don't find a way to stop the retrovirus in the next twenty-four hours, what's left of the John Sheppard we know will be gone."

Elizabeth and Caldwell slipped out a few minutes later, still oblivious to the scientist. Rodney finally made himself known as he wandered over to the bed and looked down at his brother. Reaching out, perhaps in a little fear he gripped on of the scaly hands.

"Seems like we just got back on track," whispered Rodney.

"We'll get him through this lad," Carson said from behind his best friend.

"I know…It's just, one minute we're safe and comfortable with each other, and then the next minute something bad happens and we're back to either wanting to kill each other or fearing for the other person's life. It's getting old," whispered Rodney.

"He's my brother too Rodney," whispered Carson as he gently squeezed Rodney's shoulder.

They remained like that for a few minutes, Rodney trying to give strength for his brother to hold out, while Carson tried to give his surrogate brother strength to hang on to their hopes.

"I love you John…" whispered Rodney finally. Leaning down he pressed his forehead against John's now blue one and sighed, "you're the best brother I could have, thank you for saving me."

Rodney quietly slipped into the hospital room and smiled sadly at his sleeping brother. Two hazel green eyes turned to look over at him. John cracked a weak smile.

"How ya feeling?" Rodney asked.

"I feel like I was run over by a truck…are you okay?"

"I'm not the one who was turned into…sorry."

"About what?"

"Everything…" Rodney whispered.

"Rodney, you have got to stop this apologizing all the time, this wasn't your fault…none of it. I'm fine, and you seem to be okay too."

"John…you have to understand one thing…I don't care who I piss off, really out of everyone in this world I could care less how many people hate me…but you…"

"I do understand Rod…and no matter how hard you try you will never be able to get rid of me that easily. I was mad, I admit that, but you're still my brother…and I still love ya."

"So we're okay?" Rodney asked.

John grinned and stuck out his hand, he waited, before Rodney finally took it. The two held fast, "we're great little brother, and I'm sorry too pal."

Rodney grinned and nodded, "so…chess?" Rodney said pulling the out chess board and pieces behind him.

John chuckled softly, "sounds great, set 'em up partner!"

Carson stood back by the door to the isolation room and smiled softly as he watched the two brothers, it felt good, to see them together like this again, for once…for the first time in weeks things looked like they'd be back to normal again.