Carson sat beside Rachel's bed. The last of the fever patients were released early yesterday, but Rachel still lay unconscious. The soft sound of the baby's heartbeat soothed Carson as he did research on his laptop at a roll-over table next to her bed. He sighed, looking over and gently brushing her hair away from her face. "I wish ye'd wake up, lass. I'll let ye yell at me all ye like, if ye'd just wake up."

Carson sighed as he watched Saera Parrish and some of the other women leave the infirmary. They were fine, the fever broke, no other effects. He spared a glance for Rachel, quiet and still on her bed, eyes closed to the world. To all appearances, she simply seemed asleep and a little flushed... He went into his office and saw that he had an urgent email waiting...

FROM: Radek Zelenka, Ph.D.
TO: Carson Beckett, M.D.
CC: Rodney McKay, Ph.D., Lt. Col. John Sheppard

RE: Fever Starting Point

Carson-

We have analyzed the movement and timelines you sent to Rodney and I. As far as we may extrapolate, the great majority of affected gene carriers were in a Lab that was catalogued and tagged last week in Corridor L-26. A piece of equipment with possible medical use was tagged and delivered to your infirmary. I believe it may have contributed to the effect, as the delivery route corresponds with the movement of affected people. I am taking the liberty of having a couple non-gene carriers return the machine to the original lab, as I believe one of the words translates to "shielding".

-Radek

~~personal~~

Carson, I cannot begin to express my sorrow at what an idiot I was to allow them to move anything we hadn't translated. And Rezavý was with me that day, working in that lab... I will never forgive myself for what it has done to her. I will pray to Morena and Dodola that she and the child come through this without harm. I will be in to sit with her tonight...

Love, Radek
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Carson shook his head. Radek couldn't have known, none of them could have. At least the machine would be put back. He forwarded the email to Sgt. Lenoir and Dr. Jackson, letting them know that there was something to focus on for their translations and search. Perhaps one could search the database and one could translate off the machine and its surroundings at the lab...

Carson sighed and rubbed at his eyes. The words on the laptop screen were starting to blur this late at night. The first two women to fall ill were just about to be released, tomorrow morning if their fever came down that last half-degree. He'd spoken with all of them except Rachel, and Radek had input the data into a flowchart to track their movements. If Carson gave the normal incubation of a fever its usual 24 hours, then it was bloody difficult to tell where this had started. A large group of people were in the mess hall, but the specifics of the fever ruled out food poisoning. Another large group of scientists had been clearing new labs, 'bagging and tagging' as they sometimes called cataloguing new finds.

He got up and walked over to Rachel's bed. The nurses had turned her over, but she was still unconscious and so warm to the touch. A quick glance at her vitals showed no change. Carson's mind suddenly flashed on standing like this near a woman he'd liked, nowhere near as much emotional investment... but one he'd still mourned. God, to lose Rachel... It would be infinitely more devastating than Perna. He smoothed her hair away from her face and leaned in to kiss her cheek, hearing only the hiss of the oxygen tube. Carson whispered into her ear. "Please, love, wake up. You're worrying us all so much. Come back to us, Rachel." There was no response but her steady breathing. Not that he expected one yet.

Carson bit back a sting at the corner of his eye and told his charge nurse he was getting some rest. It was a hard thing to do, but he left the infirmary to try to get a little sleep.

TO: Carolyn Lam, MD
FROM: Carson Beckett, MD
RE: Gene Carrier Fever
ATTACHMENT: Records.zip

Dr. Lam-

Greetings!

I'll get right to the point. We've a bit of a problem here in Atlantis. All of the females with the ATA gene, natural or therapied, have come down with intense dizziness and a high fever. I've attached the records and treatments so far. I'd appreciate it if you could offer any insights, perhaps ask Dr. Jackson if he's read anything about similar symptoms. We're searching the Ancient database here as well. So far, the symptoms seem to come on fast, and last about 48-36 hours. Only one patient has experienced unconsciousness due to the fever, and has not yet awakened. That would be Dr. Rachel MacGregor. She is also the only patient who is approximately 15 weeks pregnant. I'm sure the two are tied together, but I cannot get the fever to reduce in her. It's stabilized, as you can see from the records. Please respond as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Dr. Beckett

Carson managed to keep a straight face the whole time he sat at his desk, all the way up through Shelly leaving the room. He was quite practiced by now at seeming to be perfectly calm, perfectly composed, and his normal researching self whenever people wanted to talk to him early on his shift. Once the door closed, he reached down and patted the soft thatch of hair between his legs. Carson rumbled, "Aye, that's it. There's a good lad. Now suck it a bit deeper, Dr. Moore."

There was something vaguely gratifying to Carson's Scots sensibilities about having had the majority of the Englishmen on Atlantis on their knees under his desk at one time or another.




((OOC-no offense intended, it's just crack.))

Carson sighed and sent out a priority red announcement.

TO: ALL Atlantis citizens/Personnel
FROM: Carson Beckett, M.D.
PRIORITY RED - MUST READ

( the warning )

Carson sighed. Two people came in this morning complaining of dizziness, bad enough to barely keep standing. Then, just before lunch, two others from Linguistics came in with high fevers. They had cooling blankets on them and were giving them antibiotics, but nothing seemed to help. He was fretting about the possibility of serious damage if these damned fevers didn't get under control. Maybe the last Daedalus trip had brought another round of the flu. Really, they were going to have to give Novak some flu shots or something...

John was off-world. Rodney and Radek were working late, as usual. Carson was actually home first for a change, which is why he was sitting in the fading light of the bedroom when Rachel came in. He watched as she started a little bit, then smiled nervously at him. He'd changed to casual clothes, leaving off his socks and shoes as he relaxed in their easy chair. Carson didn't return the smile. In fact, he frowned a little as she took off her jacket and toed off her own shoes and socks. Finally, she stopped and just looked at him.

"What? Are you going to tell me what's bothering you enough to sit around in the dark, or just glare at me until I guess?"

Carson remained calm. "I was wondering when you were going to tell us that you went out on the boat on what was basically a first contact team, even if it wasn't off-world."

She sighed and tooke off her shirt, tossing it on the end of the bed. "John's still off-world and no one else knows how to pilot our boat, at least yet. David and Chuck went with us." She unbuttoned the BDU's as he spoke again.

"That's not really the point, though, is it?" Not realizing that it was like Radek's loss of accent when he was upset, Rae was getting slightly nervous the more Carson remained calm and collected. "There are several points, Rachel. One, you went out with, I'm willing to bet, a life vest that doesn't fit quite right anymore. Two, Chuck and Lorne are both military, regardless of how little you see of Chuck with a weapon. Three, you were on a boat in the middle of the ocean with an unknown species. If they'd been hostile and attacked the boat, you would have been on their territory if you'd survived. And last but not least, I'm rather bloody cranked at Elizabeth for letting you go at all."

Carson watched the video trials of the allergen treatment on the cattle. Well, they could hardly be called cattle. They looked like and tasted like beef, but they were the size of sheep. He'd requested 20. 1 had reacted poorly to the allergen compound injection and died. After an autopsy on that one, it was determined to not have been in the best of health to start.

Another two had to have three shots of the allergen compound before it took hold genetically and was detectable. One of the captive Wraith, whom John had affectionately dubbed "Ringo", was able to feed off of the cattle that were slow to respond to the allergen. The remaining 7 cattle took on the first injection, and the Wraith was quite ill after attempting to feed on them. 3 of the 7 were also ill after being fed upon, but were not measurably aged. The remaining 4 had made the Wraith quite sick and the cattle were unharmed. Ringo was currently slipping into hibernation and his body systems were failing.

John and Lorne had brought back two Wraith, the skinny one and a fighter minus his face mask. "George" was in a seperate cell and was the slender, more finely dressed type of Wraith, in the typical long leather coat and snarling disdain. The remaining 10 cattle had taken the injection and tested well right off. George was given one and fed upon it after a few days of starvation. Carson told himself it was necessary as he watched the tapes of the Wraith on the floor of his cell, writhing and shrieking in pain.

TO: Elizabeth Weir, Ph.D.
FROM: Carson Beckett, M.D.
RE: Medical Notification

Dr. Weir-

Per protocol, I am required to notify you when a citizen of Atlantis has a health status chage that will affect their work. I assure you, all precautions are being taken and it is the determination of the medical department that there will be no detriment to the person's work flow.

That being said... Rachel MacGregor is pregnant. After further investigation, I discovered that her birth control implants failed approximately 11 weeks ago, before her trip with Dr. Zelenka to Earth. I've written up the details in her chart and have remanded her care to Dr. Susan Baker for pre and postnatal attendance. Dr. MacGregor has an approximate due date of March 14, 2007 by the Earth Calendar. She has expressed her intent, and has the supoort of the medical department, to keep the child and continue working in her current position. I've given her a list of precautions as to physical limitations, but her job has become mainly research and administrative in any case.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask myself or Dr. McKay as to her work schedule, or Lt. Col. Sheppard regarding any security issues.

Sincerely,
Dr. Beckett

~~encrypted~~
We've thought of nearly everything, Elizabeth. At full power, we're safer here than on Earth. Yes, we're reviewing the protocols for alterations.

TO: Lt. Col. John Sheppard
FROM: Dr. Carson Beckett
RE: Testing levels

Good morning!

Well, you may not think it's a good morning after you read this. As much as I hate to make this request... My work on the Wraith allergen factor has progressed past mammal testing stages. John... I need a live Wraith and some cattle for the next level of testing. I wouldn't ask this if I didn't absolutely need to. This isn't like the retrovirus, the allergen factor would make them *unable* to feed on humans. I can't progress any further without this level, unfortunately.

Thank you,
Carson

Carson was stunned when Rachel burst through the doors of the infirmary, bracing one of her scientists. He and nurses surrounded the man, getting him to a gurney. "What happened? Dr. Antonelli! Someone get Dr. Antonelli, this looks like a bad burn!" He restrained himself from wincing when he saw the condition of the man's hand.

Carson wondered what was real anymore. Rachel was gone to lunch and work, to do a quick check-in before their "weekend". John was in the bedroom, resting well and getting his strength back. Radek and Rodney had left to take care of a few things as well. He leaned on the balcony, ignoring the sound of the balcony door for the time being. One of the R's must be home.

Carson knew his shoulders looked tense, so he spoke after a moment. "When we take our belief in them with us to a new places, do you think our gods go with us? Or are there new one in the new place, and they just pretend to be what we know, to make us really worship them instead? Not the Ori, not the Goa-uld... Real deities. How do you know if your god came with you or not? Do you... Do you just believe the evidence of what you find?"

Carson smiled brightly as the door to their quarters opened and he wheeled John through. Radek was close behind, smiling just as brightly. After shutting and locking the door, he patted John on the back. "Right then, love, inta bed with ye. Bed rest for three days, and light duty for two weeks after, that should do ye." Carson called out. "Rachel! Rodney! Are ye home? I've brought our stray Colonel home..."

Rachel's voice came from the home office down the hall. "Be right out, hon!" Rae came down the hall a moment later, followed by Rodney. he held something that sort of resembled a life signs detector... Rae was wearing a cut-off tshirt and shorts. John grinned, and Rachel pointed at Rodney. "I told *this* husband, I'm not going naked in the living room, since any one of you could open the front door and Gods know who's on the other side. Bedroom, bathroom, maybe when we're ALL home, maybe. Otherwise, I will at least have this much on." She went over and hugged John very carefully, giving him a big kiss before kissing Carson and Radek. "Mmmm... Hello, beloveds. I missed you guys. Looks like John got some good rest."

Carson kissed her and smiled before passing her off to Radek. "Aye. Radek dozed next to him. None of us sleep well apart from the others anymore. Let's get John into bed, then we've got some things to discuss."

Carson brought a small bandage and some antibiotic cream into his office and thought the place locked and soundproofed. Taking Rodney's hand in his, he quickly examined him and wrapped it up. "Ye can take the bandage off tomorrow. Put the cream on it 3 times a day and ye'll be fine, it's just a wee nip."

He moved over to start some tea on the hotplate. "I'd make us coffee to celebrate, but the smell on our breath might set her off. I don't want her any sicker than she has to be normally. And there's ways ta fix that, too."

Carson fixed two cups, then handed Rodney a cup of hot sweet tea and dragged a packet of biscuits out of the desk. At least the man would have his chocolate. he sat on the couch next to his husband. It really hadn't quite sunk in... "How is it we turned out the practical ones, love? It's done now. We're going to be fathers. I'll have to put it in my briefings to Elizabeth. Although we knew with the population there would be a percent that had the chance of implant failure. Who do we think will be the loudest or worst objectors? There's bound ta be some women that'll be bloody jealous. Fortunately, Rachel's in great health and I don't see any reason for her not to work. At least with the entire administrative and least dangerous hands-on parts. She's not going to be happy, but I'll ban her from the labs if I have to."

Carson stood outside the bathroom door, waiting for Rae to emerge. She finally came out with her face damp and still pale. He just smiled while she apologized. Seeing that no one was around, he grinned even wider. "What say we run some tests on ye, lass?"

Carson sat in his office, trying not to put his head in his hands. After taking a deep breath, he tapped his comm.

"Rodney? Would ye please come ta the infirmary? i need ta see ye in my office."

Carson's in the gateroom with the trauma team less than a minute after they stepped through and lowered John to the floor. They're by his side in seconds, assessing the situation and getting him on the gurney. The arrows are obvious, but the blood pouring from the wounds indicate some substance has also infiltrated the Colonel's body. "What the hell's on these things?" Carson managed to get out in between orders to the team. Dr. Parrish hold out a sample case with a matching arrow tip in it. Carson looks at her. "Ye're a chemist, lass, go analyze it. Get with Dr. Petersen, she's the toxicologist. Get me the results asap, it's obvious there's at least an anticoagulant on it.

Right, people, clear the way!" Carson taps his comm as they run. "Shelly, I need a CBC, chem 7, PTT, metabolic and tox screens, ABG, chest x-ray and the scanner. Get 4 units of Bneg ready and lavage kit. We're coming in hot."

Carson looked up when he overheard Shelly cooing over something. Not normally a sound he heard from his charge nurse. Major Lorne stood there in his gear, apparently ready for his post-mission checkup... But clinging to his pants leg was a small little girl. She was dirty and looked quite scared. Carson took off his lab coat so that he was just in his khakis and white t-shirt, heading over.

"Good to see you back in one piece, Major. And who's your wee guest?"

He looked at the child, smiling at wide brown eyes, and crouched slowly in front of her. "Hello, little lady. I'm Dr. Beckett. What's your name?"

(Click here to post your own answers for this meme.)

✓ I miss somebody right now.  (Two of my spouses are far away, but at least they're safe.)	✓ I don't watch much TV these days.	✓ I own lots of books.  (They're just not here.)
× I wear glasses or contact lenses.	× I love to play video games.	✓ I've tried marijuana.
✓ I've watched porn movies.	× I have been the psycho-ex in a past relationship.	✓ I believe honesty is usually the best policy.
✓ I curse sometimes.	✓ I have changed a lot mentally over the last year.	✓ I carry my knife/razor everywhere with me.  (Does a scalpel on workdays count?)

( it goes on... )