The single figure ran as fast as his twig like legs could carry him, tripping over branches, and rocks on the forest floor, every once in awhile he chanced a glance back to see if she was still chasing him.
He stopped suddenly, noticing she was nowhere in sight, he gasped for air as he searched wildly around him; she'd been right on his tail. He looked back towards the city, surely they had heard his cry of panic, surely they must have known…but then no one truly believed in her.
He searched through the dark woods, looking for any hint of her, and that's when it came, the icy tendrils that could be described as he fingers, as they wrapped around his humanistic shoulder. He felt a shudder fill his very being, his stomach began to churn, his pulse sped up, and his breathing became rapid as he slowly turned to look the creature in the face.
He let out a wild cry as she floated through the air like a ghostly figure, her fingers still wrapped around his shoulder. As he looked into her clear vacant eyes, he knew at the very moment, he was as good as dead.
Elizabeth was already seated at their usual table with Carson and Teyla when Rodney chose to enter, everyone's head immediately turned when they heard a normally docile baby being quite fussy as she squirmed, whimpered and fussed in Rodney's arms.
Rodney himself looked exhausted, as though he'd been up all night with his little girl. He moved over to Elizabeth and all too quickly deposited the girl into her arms. Elizabeth instantly took the burden, whose cries suddenly became louder and far more distressed.
"Shh, Hey, you're okay," Elizabeth whispered as she cuddled her little girl closely, gently caressing the back of the girl's head, but the cries were frantic and frightened. If people hadn't been looking when Rodney walked in, they were all were watching now in concern.
Moments later Rodney returned with a tray of food and wearily took Lauryn back into his arms, her cries continued, but not as loud. Carson and Teyla watched as the parents tried desperately to feed the child, but she continued to squirm away, screaming at higher octaves every time a spoon or any food came close.
"Is everythin' all right Rodney?" Carson finally asked, knowing what the answer was.
"No!" cried Rodney in annoyance, "She's been like this since two this morning, cranky, I have tried everything from singing to her, to giving her a bath. I ended up giving myself a bath, and somehow my singing didn't do much either. I can't explain it, but I'm exhausted and I just want her to stop," he mumbled as he leaned his head against her's. She continued to whimper; suddenly she moved her head around, twisting in her daddy's arm as she latched onto him, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. Her cries again softened by continued.
"Shh, daddy's here honey," he murmured as he rubbed her back, her head leaning against his shoulder and neck, he could feel her tears wetting his skin.
"I could give her a sedative if you'd like," Carson offered, not knowing what else to do. "Is she runnin' a fever?"
"No, she's fine, perfectly healthy from what I can tell, she won't eat, she won't sleep, and she just clings to me and cries."
"Maybe she just misses her daddy," offered Elizabeth as she gently rubbed the baby's back.
Lauryn instantly moved away from Elizabeth's touch, as though wanting no one but her daddy's comfort. He sighed and wrapped his arms tightly around her, enveloping her in his strong loving arms, pressing a kiss to her head he sighed, "Maybe that would be a good idea Carson," Rodney replied.
"Are you going to be up to the mission today?" Elizabeth asked.
"We have to go; this is the only chance we have to talk to these people. No, I'll be fine, and so will this little angel," he whispered as he continued rubbing her back in slow circles, her cries still penetrating the air.
"Ye know Rodney, perhaps she senses somethin', after all Farha said that was one of the many talents she's developed…"
"Maybe…but I hope not," Mumbled Rodney as he continued to rock the whining child.
"Perhaps she is simply like all young children…and havin' a…I believe Colonel Sheppard calls it 'Cranky Day'?" Teyla smiled softly as the other three patrons at the table chuckled softly.
"Well its way too early for the third option," retorted Rodney gently getting a grin from Elizabeth and Teyla.
"Ye never know Rod, she may not have the same time frame or problems Earth women do," Carson returned.
"No Carson," Teyla smiled gently, patting his hand, "I assure you all women…in many of the planets among this system…have a monthly problem, you simply call it different names, but I assure you we all start around twelve and continue well into our forties…" she grinned.
"Thank god I have another decade before she hits that age," mumbled Rodney, unable to think of his sweet angel biting off his head because she was having female problems.
"Don't worry lad, ye've got plenty of time, let me see her," Carson offered, understanding his friend was probably getting to the short end of the stick when it came to his patience.
Rodney gently handed over his daughter, Lauryn cried aloud for a moment, then turned in Carson's arms and looked up into his blue eyes, "There, there lass, Uncle Carson has ye…see, yer da is right over there," Carson said pointing to Rodney.
Rodney had taken Elizabeth's hand at this point and was smiling softly at his baby girl. He felt his heart breaking as she reached out to him with her stubby little fingers and arms, wanting her daddy back. Sighing Rodney stood from his chair and gently removed Lauryn from Carson's loving grip. Instantly she clung to her daddy again.
Rodney watched from the gate room, as Laura held Lauryn in her arms, the child crying again…or still crying depending on how one wanted to look at it. Still reaching out to her father; he felt his heart breaking as he looked at Elizabeth.
"Be safe," Elizabeth called, feeling fear well in her chest as she suddenly sensed the same thing Lauryn must have been feeling.
Rodney sent a nod in return, as he glanced one last time at his daughter and stepped through the wormhole with his teammates.
Elizabeth turned to look at Lauryn and Laura, Lauryn suddenly collapsed against her Aunt Laura, a single word penetrating her small lips, "Daddy." Moving over to her daughter, Elizabeth accepted the child easily; as the baby fell asleep Elizabeth's shoulder, no doubt exhausted from the many hours she had spent fussing. Although, Elizabeth could tell this was merely the beginning of whatever Lauryn was sensing.
The world seemed about as advanced as America had been back in the early 1970s. Their gate sat in the heart of the city, surrounded by buildings that stood stories high; they were easily one of the most advanced races Atlantis had met yet. Their roads were paved with something akin to cement. These people were ahead of the game. John wasn't even sure he wanted to know how the Wraith hadn't touched their planet yet.
"This is…" Teyla shook her head, unsure what to say, absolutely amazed by what she saw.
"Impressive," Rodney's thought stumbled through his mouth as he took a look around at the beautiful city that reminded him of a cross between New York and Chicago.
"It is quite beautiful…Colonel Sheppard, where are we to meet the Sovereign Matree."
John suddenly began to pat his pockets, grinning he slipped out a piece of paper, "That building to the left, the Jenivee Building, second floor, third door on the left," John replied, then quickly stuffed the paper back into his vest pocket.
"You wrote it down?" Rodney asked surprised at his brother.
"What? So I don't have a photographic memory like you…not everyone is perfect. Now if you'll focus we should be going," John said grabbing his brother by the shoulder of his vest and propelled him towards their building.
He was a tall man, unlike many rulers on other planets they had visited; he was young, probably in his early forties, with dark black hair that was quickly graying. He looked sure of himself and his ways of governing, he looked powerful, like someone not to be reckoned with. He was tall, probably just over six feet, and on the lanky side. His smile was trusting, his gestures were kind, and his words friendly.
"We will be pleased to do business with you, as I have told you, and you have seen, our medicine is quite limited, and we have a large forest that we can provide you both some power technology and the lumber you require."
"That would be wonderful Matree, our people on the mainland wish to begin working at becoming more advanced, and any help you could provide them is gladly accepted. And we are more than willing to help you in the medical department…we would like to meet those in your hospital at some point, and perhaps some of the others we will be getting to know."
"Of course, I would also like to meet these people you speak so fondly of, if this is possible?"
"I'm sure it can be arranged," John replied grinning as he looked at his friends, for once this would be a mission that would go over without a problem.
"Your Lord!" cried a man as he came running into the office.
"Midean, what is it?" the Sovereign replied quickly standing, worry etched on his face as he looked at the obviously younger man.
"Another has been found! He has the plague!" cried the younger man called Midean.
"Oh dear heavens, Colonel…you wish to see our medical facility, now is as good a time as any, come!"
The team was rushed across the street towards another large hospital directly across from the meeting building. They hurried inside, "What happened Catapet?" Matree questioned.
"It is the plague…"
"I'm sorry the plague?" Rodney asked, looking around the hospital like building.
"You have not heard of the Angel of Death?" Catapet spoke with wide eyes.
"These are the people who plan to help us with our advance in medicine… This is Colonel Sheppard, Dr. McKay, Teyla and Ronan, this is our head Healer, Catapet, he is excellent in diseases…however the Angel of Death is one we cannot stop."
"I'm sorry…but who or what is this angel of death?"
"Every ten cycles…she comes out of her forest, normally she does not leave the forest, and she hunts only those who cross into her territory. However during the ten cycles…we lose fifteen perhaps twenty lives during this time of perhaps…a corellian…"
"Corellian?" Ronan asked.
"It is what the people on Earth would call Months," Teyla translated nodding.
"What does "she" do?" John asked, not liking what he was hearing.
"She touches her victim," Catapet replied looking seriously at the newcomers.
"That's it?" Rodney asked looking around and suddenly wondering what the trouble was all about.
"You sound surprised…the death begins slow, first exhaustion…weakness in the body…for the first twenty-four hours the person has then the ability to infect anyone else he or she touches. After that they are safe around other people, but they begin to die rapidly, body weight is lost…they become deathly ill."
"How many is this?" John jumped in as he looked at the doctor.
"Twelve," Catapet answered quickly.
"How many have actually died?" Teyla inquired looking at John with an expression of fear and worry written all over it, "And how many have survived?"
"None have survived, not in the fifty cycles she has haunted us…this time we've lost eight of those who have come in."
"We'd like to help…but we need more information Catapet, do you ever remove blood…from the patients?"
"Of course…only for necessary testing," answered the doctor.
"We need you to take a couple of samples, I'd like to take them back to our head doctor on Atlantis, he might be able to find a way to save these people…Teyla you stay here and find out how these people are afflicted, I want to know everything that happens, Matree, could you tell Rodney everything you know about this…person?"
"Very well, but what shall you do?"
"Ronan and I are going to take the blood back to our infirmary on Atlantis, and try to find out more information, maybe help your people if we can find a way to."
John and Ronan greeted Elizabeth and Carson with a grim expression as they moved into her office, "How's Lauryn," Ronan asked before John could.
"She's sleeping, under a mild sedative, Laura is with her," Carson replied taking a seat on the couch by the wall.
"Do you know what's wrong with her?"
"No, she's perfectly healthy….she's just frightened…Now what's this about a plague?"
"Yeah, this is the blood from the four remaining living victims of the plague, as well as the newly infected person. Catapet, their head Doctor, says no one has ever survived her wrath in the past fifty years."
"Are you sure we should be getting involved in this?" Elizabeth questioned.
"No, not really, but…Elizabeth we can't just offer them the help then suddenly turn our backs and run when we become scared. The way the plague was explained to us, although brief, this female…whoever it is, never leaves the forest except for a month every ten years…"
The young Canadian Technician cut his words off as he came into Dr. Weir's office, "Ma'am, Teyla and Rodney just dialed in…with further information."
Elizabeth nodded, "Thank you Lieutenant," she quickly tapped her ear piece, "Talk to me Teyla."
"Can you hear us?" Rodney asked quickly.
"Yeah we hear you Rod," John quickly replied.
"Okay…so apparently the Matlerian Society is a perfectly and pleasant planet, they have little to no crime, they have strong moral codes and like all societies they have their myths. This one however is deadly true. Fifty-two years ago in the month that we call August, a woman died of what everyone assumed to be a virulent strain of the flu…they however thought it was a plague, few others died from it, in fact she was one of only three people. She was absolutely delirious one night when she ran into the forest. The guards of the city headed into the forest the next morning after her…her body was never found. They believe she died and is haunting the city, punishing them for not helping her when she died. Anyway, they believe that by one single touch she can infect anyone with the plague she died from…"
"What kind of symptoms are we talking?" Carson spoke up.
"Fever, chills, muscle cramps, swollen glands, I asked the doctors if they saw anything like this before…since I myself have suffered from such an affliction. They say it is normal for people to suffer from something called Diflence, or the flu is what Rodney called it. However, the doctor also said the difference isn't in the symptoms but in the blood…"
Before Teyla could get out another word there was a loud scream from the edge of town, her head shot up, Rodney also looked up, and instantly ran to help, "What happened?" he asked as he moved over to a young child lying on the ground.
"Don't touch her!" cried another man with long flowing silver hair and old wise eyes.
"What happened?"
"She's been touched!" the man spoke.
Rodney looked up at him in confusion; with another quick look around he stood slowly, searching the area, standing just over the little girl's body, as everyone continued to back away. He began to turn slowly, searching for any sign of the woman they had spoken of.
Suddenly he felt ice like fingers wrap around his shoulder, a shudder ran through his body as his eyes grew wide, his stomach began to churn, his pulse sped up, and his breathing became rapid as he slowly turned to look the creature in the face. His mouth dropped open, but no words to escape as she floated in front of him, her fingers still holding his shoulder; he looked through her clear eyes and felt another shudder sweep through his body.
Teyla watched from afar in horror as Rodney stared face to face with the very creature they were trying to ride themselves of, she felt her own stomach churn as Rodney's face went white, seconds later she dropped to the ground and she disappeared.
"Teyla…what's happening?" Elizabeth jolted her from the thoughts.
"We…Dr. Weir…we have a problem. Dr. McKay has just been…touched…he's been infected."
"We…Dr. Weir…we have a problem. Dr. McKay has just been…touched…He's been infected."
John felt his heart plummet at those words, as though someone had just kicked him in the gut, a gust of air left his mouth, his mouth was open.
Elizabeth didn't look very different, her mouth, open like a fish out of water. She found herself unable to find the words of anything to say. She couldn't ask if there was some mistake…nothing…she felt empty.
Carson felt his heart speeding up, when suddenly his ear piece clicked twice and Laura's voice rang through his head, "Carson…Lauryn's awake and screaming louder than ever. Carson…are you there?" Laura asked again after a few moments of silence.
"Teyla…" Elizabeth was finally able to break the silence as she tried to quickly regain her senses, "I'm sorry….did you just say Rodney has been infected?" she repeated softly.
"Yes…he and a very young looking girl…what do you wish me to do?" Elizabeth could tell even Teyla was at a loss for words, the quiver in her voice apparent instead of the usual strong and sure voice.
"No!" bit John suddenly, startling all three occupants of the room, perhaps even himself, "No!" he screamed again, he stood up quickly, nearly sending his chair on its back and stormed to the gate room, "Cut the power!" John growled.
"But sir…" the Tech replied as he looked over at Elizabeth.
"Cut it Lieutenant," Elizabeth whispered, eyeing John, she was fairly sure where this was going, "John, you heard him, you can't touch him even if he is infected, not for twenty-four hours…"
"No!" John shook his head and looked at Carson, "He's not dying on some unfamiliar planet, I won't leave him there…they don't have Carson, Lieutenant redial the gate now!"
This time the young technician didn't hesitate, he quickly dialed the address, "Carson…got get a hazmat suit…"
"Aye," nodding, Carson ran faster than he ever had before, making his way back to his infirmary.
"John he could infect everyone here…"
"I don't care!" John suddenly snapped back at her, "When Carson gets back here, have him bring the Hazmat through the wormhole, we'll be waiting on the other side," with that John glared at Ronan and they quickly descended the stairs, stepping through the horizon.
Elizabeth just looked at the gate, she could fee the tears welling in her eyes as she thought about what was going to happy, they'd said themselves, no one had ever survived this…however more times than not, someone said that about Rodney, or John or any of them, and somehow they'd all bounced back.
When Carson arrived in a hazmat suit, holding a second on he was stunned to see John sitting inches away from his brother, who was now conscious and sitting up. They seemed to be having a fairly calm conversation; Rodney didn't look like he was dying.
"Does he know he's been infected?" Carson asked as he spotted Teyla standing by the DHD.
"Yes…he knew as soon as he woke up, he immediately tried to get away from John…his brother would not allow it, John promised not to touch him if Rodney just sat down and tried to relax. They have been like that ever since…"
"Thank ye lass…any idea what they are talkin' about?"
"No…Rodney would not let anyone else near him but John…"
John looked at his brother and smiled sadly, he wanted nothing more than to grab Rodney in a hug and never let go, he knew that was certainly what his brother could use. "You'll tell Jeannie right?" whispered Rodney, snapping John from his thoughts.
"Rod, you're not going to die, you've got Carson on your side, has he ever let you down before?"
"No…but Jon…I…" he shook his head.
"Listen to me buddy, we're going to figure this one out too, okay, I had Carson bring some Hazmat suits, and we're bringing you back to Atlantis, okay?"
"No! What happens if I infect everyone?"
"That's not gonna happen Rodney, I promise, okay, we're going to get you into the protective gear, just like Carson is, then we're going to walk you back to Atlantis into one of the isolation rooms for the next twenty hours, I'll stay there with you."
"But what if…"
"Rodney, there are no what ifs, okay? If I don't touch you then nothing is going to happen to me, now let's get you into the gear okay?"
"I don't want to die John," whispered Rodney.
John cast his eyes down, trying to rid the tears that were rapidly forming in his hazel eyes, that touch had been a promise of death…the only way they would figure this out was if Carson found something, and even if he did they only had a limited amount of time before they could help Rodney…before he was too far gone. "I don't want you to die either, so let's get you home, okay?"
"Hello Rodney," Carson whispered as he came over, with the hazmat head piece, he looked at each of the brothers, "We're going to get you into the Hazmat suit, I think you'll be safe without the head gear, but I brought it just incase Atlantis decides you need it, how do ye feel lad?"
"Fine…I feel fine…how's Lauryn?"
"She's not so hot lad, why don't we get you suited up, come on," Carson said handing the suit to his best friend. Carson's eyes met John's in a moment of understanding, this wasn't about them, it wasn't even about Lauryn, it was about saving their best friend from dying a horribly slow death. At that moment, Carson knew he'd go to any length to save Rodney, if it meant spending hours in the labs testing every possible blood sample for an antidote, he'd do it, as long as it meant they're wayward scientists would live to tell the tale.
Elizabeth sighed as she watched through the window, she hadn't gone in yet, John had been in there the entire time. Elizabeth had been busy with Lauryn and trying to calm her down. They had brought Rodney back just under twenty-four hours ago, and already Carson had locked himself in the labs desperately trying to find a way to save his best friend.
"It's been twenty-five hours love, it's safe to go in," Carson's voice behind her caused her to jump.
She turned and smiled softly at him, "How's he doing?"
"He's running a fever of 101.8, his glands are swollen, and he's rapidly losing weight that I can't even begin to control. Meanwhile I've spent every waking moment of this day trying to find some way to save him…truth is Elizabeth…we may have finally hit our barrier."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean they always ask how long we can go on like this; being lucky…I think we've hit the end of our rope…"
"Why can't you find anything for this, but for regular flu we always could?"
"We can't always find the cure Elizabeth we can find inoculations, and truthfully I've found a way to inoculate everyone on the planet as well as John, Teyla and Ronan if they wish to continue working with this planet…however I can't find anything that will help stop this from happening."
"You have to keep trying Carson," Elizabeth whispered as she reached out and squeezed his shoulder, "You're sure he's can't infect us anymore?"
"Positive, it's been well over twenty-four hours since he was infected, he should be fine."
"Good," with another squeeze to Carson's shoulder, Elizabeth slipped into the room and moved over to the hospital bed, where she dropped a kiss to Rodney's forehead. "Hang in there Rodney, Carson's working on something."
"I love you," he whispered looking at her.
"Hey, you're not dead yet Rodney, okay…you've got a lot of time ahead of you," she whispered gripping his hand.
John looked at the two and smiled sadly, he gently put Rodney's other free hand back on the bed before slipping out of the room, to give these two a moment to themselves, "He knows he's dying," John whispered as he closed the door.
"He's strong John, ye just have to believe in him."
The days began to meld together, the young girl that had been infected moments before Rodney had been fairing better than him, until she hit day five, when her health began to digress rapidly to the point of that Rodney was currently at. Carson sighed, he was currently hooked up to oxygen, heart and brain monitors, he had three or four IVs running in and out of him, he was dying, and he was well aware of it.
Anyone that called McKay a friend had been in to see him over the course of the past five days, many were surprised when they had first seen the state of the scientist, he had lost a good thirty or forty pounds, he was running a dangerously high fever that Carson was having trouble regulating, he was the picture of death.
John and Elizabeth had were Rodney's constants, if one wasn't in there then the other always was. Many nights Carson had come in to find Elizabeth cuddled up next to Rodney's labored breathing form, talking to the dying scientist, telling him all about her day, and about Lauryn sometimes just telling him about times they'd had the past two years, sometimes just talking to hear a voice and feel reassured. Carson had noticed however, that no matter how often she was there, when she was around, Rodney usually did better.
He had indeed found an inoculation shortly after getting the samples, however there was still no cure to be found, he'd sent the drug to all those on the planet, telling them explicitly to distribute it evenly and make sure everyone got it. Three people had already been touched by the woman and showed no sighs of the illness.
Two days ago three of the remaining six people with the disease had died, now the only ones left was the man who had been touched nearly six or seven days ago, the little girl and Rodney remained, the man would probably go in a matter of days maybe less than that. Carson didn't want to think about Rodney or the little girl, any longer and he knew he'd have to put Rodney on life support.
Sighing he rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hand, he couldn't remember the last time he'd slept…well that wasn't true, he could remember it, he just didn't think it was after coming to Atlantis. Even if he did find the cure at this point, there was a very good chance there would be so little left that he'd only be able to save one person…that was his biggest fear, finding the cure and only having enough to save either a tiny child or a middle aged man, what kind of choice was that.
"Bones…" came the soft voice from the doorway, Carson cast a bloodshot glance at the haggard form of John, "Rodney wants to talk to you buddy," John whispered, "I think he knows it's getting close."
"Aye, he'd be right…I'll be right there lad."
As promised Carson staggered into the isolation room a few moments later, looking as exhausted as the rest of the occupants of the room. He moved towards the head of the bed, gripping his best friend's hand and smiled softly, "Hullo Rodney," Carson whispered, trying to get past the lump that was quickly developing in his throat.
"Just you and me? Please?" whispered Rodney.
Carson glanced up around at Elizabeth, John, Teyla, Ronan and Laura. They all quickly nodded and filed out of the room. Carson quickly returned his sober blue eyes back to those of his best friend and gripped the man's hand tighter, leaning his hip against the bed, "What's wrong Rodney?"
"I'm dying," Rodney managed to choke through bursts of air. "How long?"
"I don't think you even have a day left lad, truthfully, sometime tonight…"
"Don't try and save me," he mumbled.
"Rodney please don't ask me to do that…"
"Carson…unle…sss you find something…don't please, don't…I hate living like….this…I can't…watch them…."
"Rodney, you're my best friend, you can't ask me to just let you die, I can't do that," replied Carson.
"That's…why…I'm asking," Rodney said piercing Carson with his firmest stare.
"Very well…if your heart fails…I'll let you go…but if I find an antidote…" Carson shook his head and let his chin drop to meet his chest, "I can't lose ye lad," whispered Carson, his voice catching, "Please just give me a little more time," Carson whispered as he looked up, his bloodshot, tear filled eyes looking into Rodney's identical ones.
"We've…been here before…I believe Bones," chuckled Rodney, coughing tiredly as the laugh made his chest ache.
"You hang in there Rodney, I'll save ye, I always have," Carson replied.
"Love ya…like a brother," whispered Rodney, his own eyes beginning to fill with tears.
"Damn it Rodney!" cried Carson, "Aye, that's why this hurts to have to let ye go if I can't save ye…."
"It won't…be your fault."
"That doesn't make it hurt any less lad, believe me. I should get back to work, just hang in there a little longer, hold on till the end for me lad."
"Kay…" whispered Rodney, his eyes growing heavy.
"Promise me Rodney; promise me you'll hold on."
"Promise," he managed before falling into a deep sleep. Carson sighed as he looked down at the face of the man who had somehow managed to bring out both all the frustration in the world and al the loyalty in the world. There was no man Carson had ever considered a brother like he did Rodney. Carson had a brother, and while he loved him, Carson knew he loved Rodney just as much as he adored his brother. It was like watching someone kick your brother and you in the gut.
"This sucks," whispered Carson; he quickly gave the hand one last squeeze before heading back to his lab, hoping that by some chance of God, he could find the antidote and soon.
Night descended upon Atlantis, the hallways were empty as everyone had either gone to sleep or was working hard. John stood outside the isolation room, watching the lone figure in the bed desperately trying to continue drawing air into his lungs, each gasp a little harsher than the last, cuddle directly against his back was Elizabeth, as she gently caressed his hair, holding him tightly, lying in front of him was Lauryn, tears running down the little baby's eyes, John had no doubt she knew exactly what was going on, she could sense it, she'd been sensing it before any of them had.
John shook his head, he couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when everyone had stopped seeing Rodney as a annoying, boisterous scientist and started seeing him as the hero he was; when people had stopped seeing him as someone who would eventually fail, and began seeing him as one of the team and as a friend. Tonight if Rodney McKay died, Atlantis would lose more than a Head scientist, she would lose a friend, a hero, a brother, a lover. She would lose a piece of her…she would lose the brains that was Atlantis. If Rodney died tonight, the mourning would be unlike anything they had ever seen.
"John…" came a voice behind him.
John turned to see Carson, his clothes the same as the past two days, his hair in every direction, but what really caught John's attention was the needle in hand and the look in the tired man's eyes. It was the look of hope. "Carson?"
"I think I may have it…" Carson whispered softly, almost afraid that if he mumbled the words the antidote he'd just concocted would disappear.
"What the hell are you waiting for!" John opened the door and shoved the doctor in, propelling him at Rodney. John quickly swept Lauryn up in his arms, she protested, immediately missing her daddy.
"Carson?" Elizabeth asked, opening her sleepy eyes.
"Ye don't have to move lass…I'm just going to administer this…" Carson paused as he quickly removed the cap to the needle, and slid it into Rodney's bicep, they didn't have time to waste. All eyes were on Carson and Rodney; Carson's eyes were on his monitors.
What had been an unsteady blip from the heart monitor slowly began to even out to a normal register of 80-100 beats per minute. The labored breathing began to ease slightly, Rodney's blue eyes slowly fluttered open. Elizabeth smiled weakly, tears running down her cheeks as she gently removed the mask from his nose and mouth, "Hey there," she murmured unsteadily.
"Hey…stranger," he replied weakly looking at her.
John clapped Carson on the back, grinning as Elizabeth pulled Rodney closer and pressed a kiss to his forehead, "Carson?" she asked again.
"I think he's going to be just fine…John, are you feeling up to a late night delivery?"
"You bet!" John grinned as he handed Lauryn back to Elizabeth.
Carson smiled, "You did it Rodney, you held on…now get some sleep, you too lass," Carson directed, he then led John out of the room.
Elizabeth smiled as she pressed her forehead against his, "I love you," she cried as she gently caressed his slowly coloring cheeks.
Between them lay Lauryn, for the first time truly content as she curled up against her father, holding tightly to his scrub top. Rodney smiled as he looked down at his daughter then back up at his best friend and girlfriend, "I love you too," he whispered. His lips suddenly captured her's, he was exhausted, in pain, but he'd live…he would survive this one just like all the others he'd survived.