The sun was just beginning to rise of the Atlantis ocean, as the jumper flew smoothly over to ocean, just barely skimming the top. General John Sheppard sat in the co-pilot's chair, leaning as far back as he could get, his hands subtly gripping the sides of the seat until his knuckles turned white.

Next to him sat Jay Sheppard, at thirteen years already, the boy was proving to have just as strong a gene as his father, if not stronger as he piloted the ship with ease—perhaps too much ease a little too fast.

"Jay—"

"Yeah Pop?"

"Slow down a bit kid, I'd like to get to my wedding in tact."

"Oh—sorry Pop!"

John sighed as he felt the speed ease up a little, bringing it down to a tolerable speed. Teyla had spent a day on the mainland preparing for the marriage ceremony. They'd decided small was the way to go, involving on himself, her and Jay. They would celebrate when they got home with the rest of their family. Besides, John felt it was important for Jay to feel involved since he was gaining a step mother.

"Atlantis this is General Sheppard and Jay, we're about ten minutes from the mainland, we should be home late tonight; so we're cutting communication now. If there's any trouble let us know."

"Everything will be fine John, enjoy and remember all your lines."

"Gee thanks for the vote of confidence," muttered John.

"Be safe boys and tell Teyla good luck."

The morning started out bad and only went down from there, McKay had spent most of the night watching the readings from section 10-A, finding that something was malfunctioning down there and he had the feeling it was part of the transport system. So by five that morning he called an emergency meeting of twenty-four scientists, including himself. By five-thirty everyone had arrived and they started going over the section which controlled most of Atlantis' main systems including transports, life support, water purifier and lights.

By seven when the rest of Atlantis was beginning to wake and his brother taking off for his wedding, McKay was knee deep in water, and elbow high in oil. Yelling and screaming at other scientists who were seeming to have the same trouble in holding down their equipment. "Rodney? How's it going down there?" Elizabeth questioned around ten.

"It's not, in fact if you know any ancients it would be a great time to call them in for repairs, because we may lose this entire system in twenty or thirty minutes."

"What are the chances of being cut off of oxygen?"

"Well open the doors, and find a way to keep them open if you're concerned about it, but that won't help those of us down here."

"Dr. McKay, the power converter is blinking in the red again," warned one of the scientists.

"Damn! Radek get as many people as you can out of here, no more than necessary!" Rodney yelled as he stepped towards the converter. He should have known better when it started shooting sparks.

"GET OUT!" Radek yelled as the scientists started running "Get everyone off a trans—"

His words were cut off by an earth shattering explosion that rocked Atlantis to its very depths.

Upstairs Elizabeth grappled for something to hold onto as the entire city shook as though taken by an earthquake. "What was that?" The lights had gone out, "Rodney?"

"All the systems are down—"

"Elizabeth? Why is my infirmary pitch black?" Carson's voice came in over her radio and she suddenly said a silent thanks to the powers that be for batteries.

"Chuck dispense the military teams throughout the city, find anyone stranded and help them. Carson could you head—"

"Ma'am, the transports are down all over the city possible casualties."

"Carson?"

"Aye I heard, I'll head down to Section 10-A with a group of my best, and I'll several out to all the transporters, I suggest you tell everyone else to remain where they are for the time being. I need the spot lights out of storage!" he called to someone.

"How many people were in 10-A?"

"Twenty four ma'am…"

"Rodney? Radek—anyone?"

Blue eyes slowly and painfully slid open to look around the pitch black room. They'd made it out, just barely—those were Radek's first thoughts as he looked to the door that was closed. The explosion—his eyes shot open in fear as he realized he, and ten other scientists had made it out of the room just as the explosion rocked Atlantis. He glanced around to see most of them lying on the floor, looking bruised and bumped but barely worse for the wear.

"Radek—anyone?"

"Elizabeth?" he moaned as he gripped the side of his head; stunned when he felt a wet sticky substance on the side of his forehead. "I am here."

"Where?"

"Just outside the control room in section 10-A…with ten other scientists."

"Radek?"

"Rodney seems to still be inside."

"All right, just sit tight Radek, I've got Carson on his way down there."

Radek shook his head, instantly regretting the movement, "Won't work—"

"What?"

Radek took a calming lung full of air before continuing, trying to clear the stars from his vision, "Transporters will be down."

"We know Radek, don't worry someone is coming for you."

The inside of the room was like trying to look through oil or ink. Katie Brown's blue eyes slowly fluttered open as she waited, hoping they'd adjust to the darkness soon. She took the few moments to take in how she physically felt. She grimaced when an unfamiliar pain shot up her left arm, registering that she could feel her other arm just fine she touched the left arm—and quickly found she had at least a broken wrist.

Then she felt cold, but not just a shock cold, but a chilling almost disturbing cold. "Oh that can't be good," she managed to rasp out as she felt her hand around on the ground, "Has to be a ligh—" she didn't finish the sentence when her hand came in direct contact with the cold feeling, it was water, a tiny puddle, but still a very bad sign. "We're gonna blow this whole place up one day," she murmured realizing they didn't take the right precautions at times.

"This is Dr. Weir—" a voice finally jumped out at her over the radio still lodged in her ear. She reached her good hand up and around.

"Dr. Weir, this is Katie Brown—"

"Where are you Dr. Brown?"

Laura allowed her now adjusted eyes to look around, the emergency lights they'd installed through another technical support system had come on, casting an eerie glow around the room. She took a moment to glance at those people she could see, there were two or three she guessed just by looks were probably dead. Grimacing she continued to search the floor, until her eyes landed on a figure in the far corner, a large lab table overturned on his waist down. "I'm in section 10-A, room-oh room twelve I think," she replied as she continued to take toll of her own body.

Deciding she could probably stand, she slowly got to her feet, wincing as her arm pulled tightly over the broken bone. She moved around the room, occasionally tripping over debris, the room was an absolute mess. She methodically went to each person in the room, finding some alive, and some dead, "Dr. Weir, I count at least three people dead in this room, six are critically injured and the other three appear to be unconscious at the moment."

"Katie, is Dr. McKay with you?"

Katie didn't hear the question, because she'd found her boss's body, lying; caught under the lab table, bleeding from a deep gash in his forehead, a thin line of crimson red dripping from the edge of his mouth and ear. She felt her blood run cold a she slowly knelt down beside his immobile figure, "Please don't be dead," became her mantra as she reached out to shaking fingers towards his jugular. Panic soared through her soul as she felt nothing beneath her fingers but chilled skin. "No," she managed to choke as she tried again, and a third time in desperation that she just couldn't find it.

Finally she found it, so weak and thready, just barely detectable, "Dr. McKay," she called gently, tapping his cheeks lightly, careful not to move his neck or body. She took a quick inventory of his body as well, the table had obviously caused internal bleeding or he wouldn't have blood in his mouth, one leg was lying at an awkward angel, and an arm was underneath him.

"Katie, is Rodney with you?" Elizabeth's worried tone broke her out of her revive

"He's in bad shape Dr. Weir—you may want to hurry with the medical teams."

"Katie, we can't get to you yet, is there another way into the room?"

Katie shook her head, but then suddenly her eyes grew wide, "Yes! through section 10-C, you might be able to force it open, the door was originally turned off during the process so it probably hasn't been affected by the explosion."

"I'll let the medics know."

"You're going to get me into that room no matter what it takes!" yelled Carson at the top of his lungs; Radek sat on the floor beside him, holding the sterile gauze to his temple, looking up at the man with respect. It wasn't often Carson growled at anyone, but then they'd never been in a situation this bad before.

"Carson, look it's not like I'm holding back on you here," Lorne returned as he turned his torch back on trying to burn a doorway into the steel doors of Atlantis.

"Then ye best find another way—"

"Carson!" Jack's voice interrupted them as he came hurrying down the hall, his wrist in a cast.

"What the hell are you doing outta bed!" Dr. James Emerson yelled from over in the corner.

"Elizabeth couldn't get in touch with you; there's another way in!" Jack said through a huff of air. Sweat drenching his face, whether from the hard run or from the pain from his broken wrist, Carson wasn't even going to hazard a guess.

"Ye need to get back to the infirmary son, you're injured," Carson stated firmly as he applied a bandage to Radek's forehead, "An' take him with ye while ye're on ye're way up there. That's gonna need stitches lad, but it should hold for now."

"Carson, didn't you hear me?"

"Aye, I did—" pausing he sighed and glanced up at Jack, then back to the doors Lorne was trying to get them through. "All right then son, take me to the other entrance, Todd, perhaps you should come," he called over to Lorne.

The Lieutenant Colonel nodded before turning off his torch, "Cheryl make sure Radek gets upstairs, don't let him fall asleep, and someone call for more backboards!"

Jack led Dr. Emerson, Carson and Lorne through several different hallways, some with less damage than the one they'd just left. Carson practically stalked beside Jack, afraid his charge would drop at any minute. He wasn't doing himself any favors, running around after being stuck in a transport. Although he had to give the man credit, Jack was one of the first people to get out of the transporter and help others out.

"The door is wedged open!" Lorne called as he ran ahead of them to look at the damage, "KATIE!" he yelled as he began to bang on the door. He'd thrown all other concerns aside, "Katie are you in there!" he cried again as he hit the door again, sure his hand was going to shatter if he pounded any harder.

"Todd?" came the soft voice over his radio.

Lorne felt his heart start beating again with relief, "Are you okay?" he asked meekly, almost afraid of the answer.

Katie let out a soft chuckle, "A little banged up, but I'm sure I look better than your hand. Todd, get me out of here," she murmured quietly.

"I will Kate, I promise," he looked back over at Carson, "I need help getting the door opened Doc."

Nodding Carson hurried over to the other side, and together the two men began to pull the door, until finally it began to edge open further, Jack instantly slipped in between, followed closely by Emerson and finally Carson and Lorne.

Carson swept into the room like a man on a mission; gently he moved Katie aside and knelt beside his best friend's head, studying the unconscious scientists. He glanced over Rodney's seriously injured body, taking it all in before looking up to Jack and Lorne; Lorne was holding Katie comfortingly, "We need to get this table off him and move him. Katie, go into the hall and bring the other boys in here with a neck brace and a back board. Todd, Jack be as careful as you can lifting that off his body, no sudden movements."

Carson checked Rodney's vitals as best he could, the scientist's heart rate was weak and thready, his breathing shallow and nearly non-existent. His skin ashen white against the dark brown hair and the crimson red that was drying brown to his scalp and face. "Rodney, if ye' can hear me, we're going to help you son," Carson whispered as he squeezed the man's shoulder, hoping his friend could sense him there.

"Dr. Beckett," Emerson called as he moved the room carefully, he drew Carson's attention towards several other's in the room, "We've got four dead and another five including McKay, critically injured and three still unconscious. I'm starting a triage and putting Rodney at the top of the ladder."

Carson didn't get a chance to nod as two of his medics rushed in carrying a neck brace and back board behind him.

"Good job lad," Carson did his best not to jolt his dear friend as he slid the neck brace under and around Rodney's throat.

Azure, glossy blue eyes flew open and met Carson's ocean colored ones, "Shh, it's okay lad, help is here," Carson whispered, pleased to see that Rodney was reactive albeit not highly. However, as Lorne and one of the medics lifted the table Rodney let out a weak cry of pain. "It's okay, you're all right," Carson crooned as he signaled Emerson to bring the back board closer, "Slide it under but be careful he's obviously got a broken leg and some serious internal bleeding," Taping his radio he waited for a response, "Christopher-"

"I'm a little busy Carson, what do you need?" Came an almost caustic reply. Carson didn't take any offense to the tone; he understood Chris was under just as much stress as he was, if not more manning the entire infirmary as the second in command.

"I need you to prep an OR, I'll be arriving with Rodney in the next thirty minutes."

"Carson, all OR's are in use at the moment..."

"Then ye best make sure one isn't when I get up there lad or else we'll turn the ICU into an OR."

"Very well—Carson are you by chance harboring one of my patients?"

"He came down here of his own will Chris, he's going to be staying with us against his own will," murmured Carson in return a soft smile dawning his face.

"How's Rodney, Carson?" the voice came across concerned and worried.

Carson smiled weakly and looked down at Rodney, it ceased to amaze him how Rodney could be such a pain but still manage to accumulate friends everywhere he went. "He's hangin' in there son."

"Emerson, are you okay to stay down here while we take a couple of these patients upstairs, including Jack?"

"Sure, just send me a couple more medics."

"Very well, Todd, if you would please assist Dr. Brown to the infirmary?"

Smiling Lorne nodded and reached around Katie, without hesitation he swept her off his feet, and proceeded to carry her the entire way to the infirmary.

"You shouldn't have even gotten out of bed! You're hurt!" Rose reprimanded as she glared Jack down.

Carson smiled softly as he came out of the OR nearly three hours later. Elizabeth immediately stood up to meet her friend. She met his blue eyes with her terrified green ones, "How is he?"

Carson smiled softly and gripped Elizabeth's hands, "We have him stabilized for now, but he's lost a lot of blood. We're doing everything we can, it's in his hands now I'm afraid lass. We're moving him into the ICU now, hopefully we'll be able to prevent infection. The next several hours will be the deciding factor."

"Thank you Carson," she whispered softly.

"How are things going downstairs?"

She sighed as she nearly collapsed back into her chair, "It's going to take a long time, we lost a lot of scientists I'm afraid, but it's obvious from what Radek said that Rodney did all he could to ensure almost everyone got out before the explosion. We're going to be doing a lot of cleaning for a long time."

"And the critical systems? How much have we lost in control?"

"Well, I don't know much, we've got power obviously; after that ordeal with John and I three years ago, Rodney and Radek did everything to make sure that if we should ever come under a hostage situation or anything like this, that not all the systems would go down with damage. Obviously he did a good job, however a lot of the city is out. Life support is still on, Radek thinks he channeled it into another station for the time being. The transporters however, are completely offline for the time being and until Radek or Rodney get a chance to look at the system, I'm afraid they're going to remain that way."

Carson nodded, "Radek will be fine, hopefully up and around within a day or two. He can probably go back to his room tomorrow, but I'd like to keep all of them under observation tomorrow, I've sent most of the superficial injuries back to their rooms to make room for the more serious injuries."

"And Jack is still here…"

"Because he left in the first place," smiled Carson in return, "Chris and Rose demanded he stay here as punishment. He's in a boat load of pain, and normally I would agree that he can go back to his room, however it merits some observation after the stunt he pulled."

"John and Teyla will be returning in a few hours," she whispered quietly, "I haven't told them what happened yet—I didn't want to ruin the wedding."

"There's nothing they could do Elizabeth, you did the right thing. They would have only worried. They enjoyed a day with just the two of them. We'll celebrate when things get better. They will get better Elizabeth."

"Can I see him Carson?"

"Aye, only for a few minutes though, you need rest too."

John ran the entire way from the jumper bay to the infirmary, up three flights of stairs. He was out of breathe and sweating when he finally arrived, still in his best suit. The only think showing in his eyes was fear, "Where is he?" he yelled as soon as he stepped through the doors.

Rose looked up first, from her seat beside Jack's bed and pointed to the ICU, "Carson's in with him now."

"Are you all right? Is Chris? Jack?"

"They're fine, go see your brother," she replied gently.

Nodding John ran into the ICU, and there sat Carson, right beside his brother's bed, looking half asleep and just as exhausted, "Carson?"

The Scottish doctor glanced up to see his best friend standing in the doorway, looking completely exhausted and worried. "Infection set in an hour ago—"

"How many died?" John questioned as he moved over to his brother and gripped the pale hand atop the sheets.

"Seven, we lost three more a few hours ago."

"Let's not make it eight then," John murmured as he took a seat beside Rodney's bed to keep a vigil.

Carson noticed the gold ring on John's left finger and let out a small smile, "How's the wife?"

John looked down at his hand, and smiled sadly, "She's putting Jay into bed; said she'd check on Elizabeth and Lauryn if they needed anything and then she'd come and get me out of your way for awhile."

"I'm sorry we didn't tell you John, but there wasn't anythin' ye could have done."

"I know," John replied quietly, "If I've learned one thing over five years on the planet, I've learned we don't have much control here. Not nearly as much as we thought, and unfortunately, when it comes to Rodney and I, I feel helpless at times. It wasn't my fault, wasn't even his fault, I just wish the idiot would be more careful sometimes."

"You an' me both lad, you an' me both."

Carson and John kept watch over the wayward scientist well into the night until Teyla all but physically removed her new husband from the bedside for a shower and some rest. The infirmary was eerily quiet, with the exception of all the blips and bleeps form the various machines struggling to keep the scientist and various other patients alive.

"Dr. Beckett?"

Carson looked up tiredly, offering Rose a sad smile, in the weeks she'd been here, she'd touched many hearts, and Carson was finding he took was affected by this sweet ray of sunshine. "You should be getting some rest love," he said lightly.

She smiled as she came over and took a seat, "Jack was released a little over an hour ago, I made Chris go get some rest. The night shift is here; I took a nep a little over awhile ago. Why don't you go get something to eat, a shower and a little sleep. "

"He's not fighting the infection as well as I'd like," Carson whispered, all but ignoring the comment she'd made.

"Carson, I haven't known you guys very long, but from what I've seen Rodney is a very strong and a very stubborn man. He has two of the top doctors in as many galaxies looking out for him."

"Aye," Carson murmured ruefully.

"He's a good man."

"Yes he is—but don't tell 'em I said that," smiled Carson. He glanced over at her, "How are you adjusting?"

"I spent one year with him, and another year with a completely different man. As much as the Doctor will say that they are the same person. They're not. The Doctor I fell in love with, Chris…he was perfect Carson, I'd never met anyone I cared about so deeply, someone I needed and wanted so badly. But then I met his regeneration, and believe me I wasn't in love with him at first, I was terrified of him, and I missed my Doctor so much."

"But now you have your Doctor back and you miss the other one?"

She smiled and looked down at the hand she held between her's. Rodney's hand, "Am I a bad person?"

"No, everyone wants to be with someone they love. He's struggling too Rose. From the moment he stepped into Atlantis he was struggling to find himself. When we found you….and that you were actually you: We were sure he'd found all that he needed. Maybe you're both struggling to find something or be something you can't be anymore. Rose he's not the Doctor anymore, he's a human and that changes everything, but he's still yours and after all I've seen, I'm sure you've got more to see and do in this world."

"How do you stay grounded," she whispered.

"I'm not, believe me!" he said depressingly, "There was a point when I was almost sent home."

"Why?"

He rubbed his eyes wearily, "I fell apart after being held hostage by a dying man. Rodney and John helped me. Actually Chris was meant to be my replacement. Elizabeth asked him to consider helping me back on my feet."

"Bet Chris just loved that situation."

"Not at all, when he got here he thought he was replacing a complete jerk. He was actually really compassionate, refused to stay if it meant I was leaving."

"So what happened?"

"Laura gave birth to our son," Carson replied with a loving smile.

"Rose?" Chris' soft voice stood in the doorway, offering them both smile, "Emma wants you, she won't take anyone else."

Rose gave him a soft smirk in return before looking at Carson, "Are you going to be okay?"

"Aye lass, always have been before, go get some rest, it's been a long day."

Nodding, she turned and smiled at Chris again, "You all right?"

"Trying not to kill Dr. Kavanagh, but I'll be fine," she snickered when he muttered stupid ape before looking to Carson, "Get some rest Carson."

Rose leaned over and dropped a kiss to Carson's cheek, "Goodnight Carson. Come on Doctor, I think you still need sleep," she looped her arm through his and turned to walk out the door.

Carson smirked as he looked at the two, there was something about him, he could just tell they were going to be just fine. Looking back to his best friend he sighed as he leaned his head against the bed, as soon as his eyes drifted closed he was fast asleep.

To Carson's slightly surprise, Rodney did live through the night, followed by the next. Several days passed by, the remained uninjured scientists began to clean up the catastrophe in the belly of Atlantis. It was four days after the accident when Carson began to notice the change in Rodney's vitals. Hazy blue eyes slid open, and gazed at him for a few moments, before Rodney fell into a fitful sleep.

It wasn't until two days later, that Rodney began to open his eyes a second time. This time it was his wife sitting beside him. Elizabeth had taken to sitting with him every night she had time. Sneaking in after hours just to watch over him, making sure he wasn't alone when he awoke. She casually ran her hand through his soft brown hair, when she noticed his beautiful blue eyes begin to flutter open.

"Rodney?" she whispered as she lifted his hand into her's and took a seat beside him, "You can do it," she continued, running her fingers over his cheek. He moaned weakly as he continued to slowly open his eyes, trying to adjust to the light, "That's it, open your eyes."

Carson heard Elizabeth speaking, and knew instantly Rodney was waking up, grabbing his stethoscope off his desk, he hurried into the private room. Elizabeth quickly held up her hand, continuing to massage the hand in her's. After what seemed like a life time, the familiar blue eyes opened and managed to stay open this time.

Rodney met Elizabeth's eyes first and he smiled up at her. He opened his mouth to speak, but found his throat dry and achy.

"Hey you," she knew exactly what he wanted to say as she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

The doctor moved over to the nearby table, and shook out some ice. He moved over and handed Elizabeth the cup. She helped Rodney lean forward and shook a few ice chips into his dry mouth. "Thanks," he rasped as he fell back against the pillows.

"How do you feel?" Carson questioned, starting to check the vitals again.

"Terrible," he murmured, "Wha' happen?"

"You and several of your scientists were caught in a pretty bad explosion. We lost six people, but everyone else received less severe injuries. You're the last one to wake up actually."

"That's me," Rodney grumbled as he looked up at Carson, "So Bones?"

Carson offered his friend a soft smile and squeezed his hand, "I think ye'll live to see another day, and many more than that. I can get you somethin' for the pain…"

"It's not bad," he replied as he smiled back up at his wife, "C'mere," he scooted over barely and allowed her room to lie down. He wrapped his other arm around her, pressing his lips to her's.

"I'll leave ye two alone," with that Carson slipped out of the room leaving the two best friends and lovers alone to reconnect.

The End