On A Wing And A Prayer

by Jalabert

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asj/jalabert/onawinga.php
Summary: It takes nearly losing Aiden to make John come to terms with his feelings.

"Puddle Jumper One, you're clear to take off."

"Thank you, ma'am," Aiden said. He flipped a switch and turned his eyes toward his commanding officer. John acknowledged him with a nod and smiled.

"Fasten your seat belts, ladies and gentlemen," he said as he began his final systems check. "Please turn off all cell phones and electronic equipment and secure your trays in the upright position. We've got a go ahead from the--."

"I still do not understand what he means when he says that," Teyla said to Rodney.

"I can assure you that understanding the major's inane game is the last thing you need to do," Rodney replied as John continued his speech.

"...Cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet. We've got clear skies all the way to Athosia and should be touching down in twenty-five minutes."

"Twenty," Aiden said challengingly. John glanced at him and smiled.

"You're on."

"Oh, no! No! Not again," Rodney cried. "I'm not going to--."

"Relax, Rodney, it's no big." John said easily. "Lieutenant?"

"On my mark; three, two, one, mark," Aiden said crisply. The shuttle lifted off the ground and rose through the aperture in the bay's ceiling.

"If you two over-aged frat boys want to continue your infantile games, fine, but why must you include Teyla and me in your reckless competitions?"

"Stow it, Rodney," John said. "We aren't breaking any speed limits."

"No; you're merely threatening my life and limb. We could fall out of the sky and crash. Even now I can feel my blood pressure soaring and--."

Teyla placed a comforting hand over Rodney's white knuckled fist. He eased his grip on the armrest just a tiny bit.

"You will be fine, Dr. McKay. Major Sheppard is a fine pilot."

"Thank you, Teyla," John said.

"He has told me so himself on many occasions," she added tartly, earning a snort of laughter from Aiden. John shot her a look.

"Thank you, Teyla," Rodney said. "I am now brimming with confidence in the major's abilities."

"Why don't you tell us about your new toy," Aiden suggested. "It'll help take your mind off things."

"It's not a toy, lieutenant, and describing a piece of equipment is not likely to prevent me from worrying about my imminent demise at the hands of an adrenaline-crazed shuttle jockey."

"Rodney, you're not going to die!" John said exasperatedly. "Not unless I go back there and throttle you," he added softly.

"So what is this gizmo, doc?" Aiden asked with a chuckle.

"This 'gizmo,' as you call it, is a delicate piece of Ancient engineering."

"What does it do?" Teyla asked. Rodney hesitated.

"He doesn't know," John said. "That's why we're taking it to Athosia. He wants to try it out in a place where we can't blow up innocent people." Aiden attempted, unsuccessfully, to stifle another laugh.

"As usual, the major is greatly exaggerating the facts. I have several theories as to what this device does," Rodney said.

"Such as?"

Rodney shot John an annoyed look.

"We'll test my theories when we arrive at our destination."

"It looks like a coffeemaker," Aiden said.

"Thank you for that sage input, lieutenant, but I think it's safe to assume that the Ancients didn't use this device to brew coffee."

"I think it's a seed spreader, myself," John said with a wink at Aiden.

"I hope you're better at piloting shuttles than identifying sophisticated equipment, major."

"How am I doing for time?" John asked.

"Eighteen minutes, sir," Aiden replied.

"Oh great. I'll be a splatter on the ground in less time than it takes to--."

"Don't worry, Dr. McKay," Aiden said. "Major Sheppard won't do anything foolish. He's not so anxious to win that he'd risk our lives."

"Says you," John teased.

"What is the point of these competitions, anyway?" Teyla asked.

"It's fun," Aiden shrugged.

"If there's one thing I've learned since joining the Stargate program it's that there is nothing more dangerous than a bored soldier," Rodney said disparagingly. Aiden reached out to pat his hand reassuringly and Rodney relaxed a fraction, touched by the young marine's sincere gesture.

He was happy to see Aiden loosen up around him. The young lieutenant always seemed to be less at ease with him than John or Teyla. Rodney had always supposed that the marine was intimidated by his superior intellect till John accused Rodney of talking the poor man to death at every opportunity. Whatever the reason for Aiden's previous reticence, he was beginning to warm to Rodney and the astrophysicist welcomed it. So he obliged Aiden with a simplified description of the machine, insofar as he could identify its working parts. To his surprise, both Teyla and Aiden took a genuine interest and asked questions Rodney was more than happy to answer.

"I still think it's a coffeemaker," Aiden teased.

"Duly noted," Rodney said lightly. "If it turns out you're right we'll have to find a planet that produces a reasonable approximation of decent coffee."

"Juan Valdez in space," John said with a grin. "Ford; time."

"Seven minutes, sir. Maybe that's the problem with the Wraith," Aiden mused. "They've never had decent coffee."

"I should think that it would take much more than good coffee to improve the species, lieutenant," Rodney said. Aiden smiled wistfully.

"Too bad Steve isn't still around. We could test my theory."

"Not with this, you can't," Rodney said defensively. "It's a--."

"... A delicate piece of Ancient engineering, yes, I remember," Aiden said, rolling his eyes and turning to face forward. "Six minutes, sir and I don't see any sign of land. Are we off course?"

John shot him a dirty look.

"No. I've taken a different route."

"What?" Aiden and Rodney cried in unison.

"I said--."

"That's cheating!" Aiden cried.

"You didn't specify a route, Ford. You just challenged me to get there faster."

"Suppose your little detour ends up getting us all hopelessly lost?" Rodney asked worriedly.

"With a crack scientist like you on board? Not a chance," John said. "Besides, if this route works out I may use it all the time in future."

"Look, we aren't out here to give you a cheap thrill. We're here to test my device."

"And pick up turnips. Don't forget the turnips, Rodney," John teased.

"Rutabagas."

"Same to you."

"They're rutabagas, major," Rodney said as Aiden began to laugh.

"Maybe in Canada," John said.

"They are orna," Teyla declared.

"They're all the same thing," Aiden declared, hoping to forestall the argument that they'd already had in the conference room an hour earlier. "Turnips, rutabagas, orna; we're picking up a shipment after we test the doctor's gizmo."

"It's a--."

"I see land!" Teyla said, pointing out the window.

"That's wonderful. Now we have something firm and unyielding to crash into."

"Aw, come on, Rodney, You should know that the ground would yield to some extent if the Jumper was to collide with it."

"You are not helping, Major Sheppard," Teyla said firmly. John smiled and exchanged a glance with Aiden.

"She never lets us play."

"There is a difference between playing and taking advantage, as you are no doubt aware, Major Sheppard."

"Yes, ma'am," John said as he turned the Jumper south and headed for a large clearing.

"Where are we? I do not see our village," Teyla said.

"What a bunch of worry warts you are today," John sighed.

"I'm not worried," Aiden replied.

"You're too young to know fear," Rodney quipped. "Perhaps when you reach thirty you'll discover the joys of responsible behavior and develop an instinct for self-preservation."

"Is that true?" Aiden asked John, who shrugged.

"Maybe in Canada," John said with a wink. He set the Jumper down.

"Why are we landing so far from the village?" Teyla persisted.

"We like the Athosians," John said. "We don't want to blow them up."

"With a coffeemaker?" Aiden asked.

"Time, lieutenant?"

"One minute and thirty-seven seconds to spare, sir."

"Hot damn! You know what that means don't you?"

"Sir, yes, sir," Aiden replied with a grin.

"If it means we're flying back even faster, I'll remain behind and you can have someone else come for me."

"It's all right, Rodney," John said soothingly as he escorted him off the Jumper. "I won't fly back even faster. I beat Ford's time."

"I still do not understand the nature of this competition," Teyla said as she gazed at her surroundings. "This is a lovely area."

"Yes it is," John agreed. "Try not to blow it up, Rodney."

"The likelihood of this piece of equipment blowing up is next to nil, as you are well aware. It was your idea to bring it here for testing, major. Of course, you simply wanted an excuse to go racing around the planet in a childish desire to best the lieutenant's time."

"Of course," John chuckled. "Let's get on with it, shall we? Let's get your equipment out of the shuttle, and then I want to take a look at the valley beyond that ridge."

John, Aiden and Teyla helped Rodney to bring out several boxes of equipment. When Rodney opened one of the boxes, Aiden was surprised to discover a second machine identical to the one he'd been shown aboard the shuttle.

"The Ancients had two coffeemakers?"

"The Ancients made several of these machines, lieutenant," Rodney replied. "And they are not coffeemakers. They're some sort of transportation device."

"It's kind of small for a transportation device, isn't it?" Aiden said. "I mean the ones on Star Trek were huge."

"These are meant to be portable, lieutenant. I suspect that they are made to teleport small objects."

"Why?" the inquisitive officer asked. Rodney shrugged and sought a satisfactory answer. After a few seconds he smiled.

"Think of a basic fax machine. It allows you to send information from one place to another, right? Suppose you needed a small object--say a screwdriver to repair the Puddle Jumper. It could simply be transported to you through this device, saving you the necessity of going back to base for it."

"That could come in handy," Aiden concluded.

"Yes, lieutenant; very handy."

"Well, since you two are obviously bonding so well, I'll leave you to work on the gizmo," John said, hooking his weapon to his flack jacket. "Teyla and I are going to check out that ridge."

"Shouldn't you stick around in case he needs you to touch something?" Aiden asked, nodding his head at the scientist.

"Nah, I think this particular device only requires good old Canadian ingenuity."

Rodney shot John a glare, but he simply smiled back. With a wave of his head, he took off with Teyla at his side. Aiden watched them go, as Rodney continued to work.

"Jealous, lieutenant?"

"No!" Aiden said a little too quickly. In point of fact, he was envious. He wanted to be the one climbing the hill with John instead of Teyla. But he kept that thought to himself as he tore his gaze away and returned his attention to setting up the equipment. "What do you need me to do?"

"Well, I think we ought to start with a simple test." He showed Aiden how to operate the machine and then ordered him to take one of them and walk about a hundred paces away. "When you get there, don't touch anything. Contact me by radio."

"Yes, sir," Aiden said as he gamely picked up one of the devices and strode away. Rodney watched him go with a slightly amused smile. When he got Aiden's signal, he told him to turn it on. "Ready; the light has turned blue."

"Good," Rodney said. "Now place something in the base of the machine and push the red button. Then stand back." A moment later a chocolate bar appeared in the machine at Rodney's side. "Very good, lieutenant. I was beginning to feel a bit peckish." He unwrapped the chocolate and bit into it.

"Should you be eating that, sir?"

"Why shouldn't I? We eat MRE's after they've been through the gate. Why should this be any different?"

"I guess," Aiden said worriedly. Rodney stuffed the bar into his pocket and decided to try something larger.

"There's a control to the left of the buttons that allows you to expand the aperture. Open it two notches and let's see if we can send something larger through the device," he said.

"How much larger?"

"That's what I intend to find out," Rodney replied. "Apparently, the tray at the base is meant for small items, but you can direct the beam beyond that, which should allow one to send something as big as--." Rodney looked around. "Hold on."

A moment later, one of the crates used to transport equipment appeared before Aiden.

"Cool!" he said gleefully. "Should I send it back?"

"If you must," Rodney said. The crate reappeared.

"How much bigger can this thing go?"

"We'll find out later. Right now, I am more interested in testing the distance. Carry your machine a bit further on, lieutenant and see if you can place some sort of obstacle between us, such as a tree or a large boulder. Let's see what this thing can do."

**

"You still have not answered my question," Teyla said as she trailed John across the clearing.

"Which question was that?"

"I asked about the nature of your competition with Lieutenant Ford."

"Oh, it's just harmless boy stuff. We just challenge each other for the fun of it. Like Rodney said, it eases the boredom."

"Which of you is winning?" Teyla asked. John averted his eyes and shrugged.

"It's not who wins or loses that's important."

"Then I assume that Lieutenant Ford has defeated you."

"Occasionally," John admitted. "All right, he's beaten me consistently--until today. I beat his time this morning eating cereal and I beat his time to Atlantis."

"Is that why you were stuffing food into your mouth this morning?" Teyla frowned. "It was a most unseemly display." John laughed at her horrified expression.

"Can I help it if there are few things I can beat him at? The kid's got youth on his side. All I've got is wits, experience and skill, which apparently don't amount to a hell of a lot."

Teyla laughed at him and patted his arm.

"Why do you not challenge him at a game in which you excel?"

"Such as?"

"I do not know you well enough to make a suggestion. Can you think of nothing?"

"I can think of lots of things, however..." John let his voice trail off and turned to look back the way he'd come. "Nothing I would beat him at, except flying."

"Lieutenant Ford does not fly," Teyla said wryly.

"Precisely."

"Why do you compete if you have such a small chance of winning?"

"It's fun; and it's not such a small chance," John replied somewhat defensively.

"Is it fun to be defeated?"

"There's always the possibility that I'll win, Teyla," John insisted in spite of his earlier remarks. "That's what makes it fun."

"I do not understand the propensity of the male to constantly vie for dominance," she said thoughtfully.

"I don't have to vie for dominance," John said. "I'm the top dog around here."

"And Lieutenant Ford is the second dog. Is it not in his nature to challenge you?"

"I guess."

"But it is you who challenge him."

"I'm his commanding officer, Teyla. I have to keep him on his toes."

"You are also my commanding officer, and Dr. McKay's," she said challengingly. "You do not challenge us. I think you simply enjoy competing with the lieutenant."

"He has a healthy competitive streak."

"So do I, not that you have ever troubled to notice. Of course, you are too busy playing games with Lieutenant Ford."

"Jealous, are you?"

"I have no desire to stuff my face with cereal or fly a Puddle Jumper at twice its usual speed."

"Your point, Teyla?" John replied, just as he heard Rodney shout for Aiden on the radio. He'd been listening with half an ear to the transmissions between the two of them as they conducted their experiments but there was an urgency in Rodney's voice that John hadn't heard before.

"Ford? Lieutenant Ford? Come in, lieutenant!"

John tapped his com link.

"This is Sheppard, Rodney," John replied. "What's going on?"

"I'm not sure, major. Lieutenant Ford doesn't seem to be responding to his radio," Rodney replied. "I'm standing at the spot where he was working on the transporter but I see no sign of him."

"Is the transporter still there?" John asked with a glance at Teyla. They turned and began to stride back down the hill.

"Yes, it's here and it's still on," Rodney reported.

"You don't think--."

"No, I don't think he was transported," Rodney said hastily. "If he had he would have shown up at my location by the Jumper. Uh oh..."

"Uh oh?" John echoed. "McKay!" He was greeted with silence and John began to run. Teyla quickly outstripped him as John continued to call Rodney and Aiden.

"I don't like this," Rodney said over the radio.

"What? What is it?" John cried as he reached the Jumper. "Damn it, Rodney! Report!" Teyla did a slow turn as she tried to figure out the direction in which Rodney and Aiden had gone. She pulled out her life signs detector and took off at a run. "Rodney!" John called as he pursued the fleet-footed woman.

"He can't have been transported," Rodney said as he looked up and saw the others coming.

"Then where is he?" Teyla asked, looking around.

"I have no idea," Rodney conceded. "But he's not here."

"How can you be sure he hasn't been transported?" John asked.

"If he'd been transported he'd be back there by the Jumper," Rodney reasoned. "This isn't Star Trek, where you can beam someone somewhere. This system can only transport portal to portal."

"Then where is he?" John demanded, echoing Teyla's question.

"How the hell should I know?" Rodney shouted desperately as he fiddled with the machine. "For all I know he just wandered off somewhere."

"Why would he just wander off somewhere?" John asked.

"He has not responded to our hails," Teyla said.

"I know," Rodney said exasperatedly, "but that doesn't necessarily mean--."

"There are no tracks leading away from this spot, only leading to it," she said examining the ground. "Four sets." John studied the footprints.

"Damn," Rodney muttered.

"What is it, McKay?" John said, looking up.

"The machine is dialed to an aperture that could easily transport a man Lieutenant Ford's size."

"Exactly what the hell were you two doing?"

"We had just finished our experiments and he was about to turn off the machine and come--."

"Perhaps he touched the wrong thing," Teyla suggested.

"Probably, but as I already said, if the lieutenant was accidentally transported--," Rodney repeated crossly.

"Bring him back," John snarled.

"I can't!" Rodney said shouted back. "He hasn't gone anywhere! Not on this thing, anyway. "

"Well, do you have any idea where he went?"

"I'm a physicist, major, not a psychic," Rodney shouted. But his tone immediately changed to one of concern for the missing officer. "But I intend to do everything in my power to find out." John turned and walked away.

"Rodney, check out that machine thoroughly," John said. "Stay with him, Teyla."

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To report in," John replied. "We're going to need search and rescue."

"Isn't that premature?" Rodney asked. "For all we know--."

"We don't know anything," John said grimly. "And the sooner we start looking for Ford, the sooner we'll find him."

John returned ten minutes later and he and Teyla began a search of the immediate area. Within a half hour there were two additional teams on the ground and the search had spread to a two mile radius of Aiden's machine. After a while, Rodney abandoned his examination of the transporter and joined John in the search, explaining that the device yielded no clue as to Aiden's whereabouts and he thought he could be of more use in the search. Teyla took two of Bates' men so that there were four teams searching for the lieutenant.

At first Rodney spoke incessantly, explaining every step of the experiments with the transporter device and the precautions he'd taken to assure the safety of both men. He fell silent when he glanced up and saw the stony expression on John's face.

"I'm sorry, major," he said apologetically. "I never imagined that such a thing could happen..."

"Rodney..."

"I know. But I am sorry."

"Understood."

"This isn't just about losing a fellow officer for you, is it?"

"Rodney?"

"I mean I know he's your second in command and a valued member of our team, and an all around nice guy..."

"Look, will you--?"

"Ford's the kind of person everyone wants on his team. He's young, he's eager, enthusiastic--."

"Rodney--."

"He's a good kid. A little ingenuous, perhaps, but--."

"Rodney, please!"

"He's more than all that to you isn't he?" Rodney said. John frowned and walked on ahead. "You're always together in the mess or in the lounge or in meetings. And when you're not with him you're watching him from a distance--at least when you think no one's looking. You keep him close to you on missions when common sense dictates that Ford should be paired with me or Teyla."

"Let's just find him."

Rodney trudged along behind John for several minutes, but he suddenly needed to hear an answer and was convinced that John needed to hear it, too.

"You're in love with him."

John spun around so quickly that Rodney stumbled backward a few steps. He took another step backward as John fixed him with a piercing gaze.

"Yes," he said after a few seconds before turning again and continuing along the path.

"Have you told him?"

"What do you think, McKay?" John said peevishly.

"I think you're probably wishing you'd told him before this--." Rodney abruptly fell silent as John spun around again.

"Well, had I known you were going to fling him to the far side of the planet--." John froze mid-sentence as a horrifying thought struck him. "What if he rematerialized in the ocean?"

"The ocean is at least five miles from here, John. It's not likely that he traveled that far," Rodney said with more certainty than he felt. "On foot," he added.

"How the hell do you know?"

"I--. All right, I don't know for certain, but--."

"But he could be dead," John said dully. He shut his eyes and Rodney swallowed hard.

"Lord, I hope not," he said softly. He sighed heavily and walked on, trying to calculate the likely distance and trajectory Aiden could have traveled from their base of operations. "There's no point in going any farther in this direction; he couldn't have traveled this far without you and Teyla seeing him."

John tapped his com link and hailed the search and rescue teams.

"Anything to report?"

"This is Stackhouse, sir. No sign of anything yet."

"Same here," Bates said.

"Teyla?" John called.

"I have seen no sign of--." Her voice abruptly cut off.

"Teyla?" John said worriedly. "Teyla? Come in!"

"I have found his earpiece," she said.

"What's your location?" John demanded as he turned and started back the way they'd come.

"Wait! I think I have found him, major," Teyla reported. She gave them her coordinates and by the time he reached her the other teams were also closing in on her location. John looked around and saw no sign of Aiden.

"Where is he?"

"He is in that tree," Teyla said, pointing upward. John followed her arm and spotted one grey clad leg about twenty-five feet above the ground. She handed John her binoculars but he couldn't make out the rest of him; Aiden was effectively hidden among the greenery. John realized that had Teyla not looked up, Aiden could easily have remained missing indefinitely.

"How the hell did he get up there?" he asked rhetorically.

"He appears to be unconscious," Teyla said. "At least he has not moved since we spotted him."

John shot Rodney a look that spoke volumes about his feelings for the young man lodged in the tree. He strode over to the base of the tree and looked up, assessing the best way to reach him.

"We're waiting for Bates to arrive with rope," Teyla said.

"Ford may not have that kind of time to spare," John said, ruthlessly swallowing the notion that Aiden might already be dead. He unlatched his P-90 and pulled off his flack jacket in preparation to climb.

"John!" Rodney shouted.

"Tell Bates and his people to follow me," John commanded. "I'm going to do a preliminary assessment."

"Take this," Rodney said, handing him a first aid kit. John nodded and took it from him. "Be careful, major," Rodney said softly. He gave John's shoulder a squeeze and then bent to give him a boost. John managed a tiny smile of gratitude then grabbed hold of a low limb and climbed up onto the lowest branch.

He was halfway up the tree before he got a clear look at Aiden. He was lying across two branches face down, his left shoulder wedged beneath a third. He was unconscious and bleeding from a head wound that slowly dripped blood down the bark. But John knew he was alive from the subtle movement of his body. Buoyed by this discovery, John climbed faster, even as he reported to the others.

"He's alive. Seems to have a head wound and I can't tell what else," he said.

"Sergeant Bates is here. His men are rigging harnesses now and will follow you up," Rodney said.

"Be careful, major," Teyla said.

"Will do," John muttered as he looked for his next handhold. He heard a groan and looked up. Aiden was moving and John felt a surge of panic. "Ford! Don't move," he said as loudly as he dared. He didn't want to spook the man but he didn't want him to roll himself out of the tree, either. After a few seconds, he heard another moan. John accelerated his pace and was soon within five feet of his target. He hazarded a look down and saw a man coming up the tree below him, but Aiden was his primary concern. He paused to assess Aiden's position in the tree. His shoulder appeared to be firmly wedged between two heavy branches. He didn't appear to be in imminent danger of falling and it was likely that his position prevented him from falling to the ground in the first place. John sighed in relief and edged his way toward him as he called out again.

"Aiden? Aiden, can you hear me?" he said gently. Aiden's eyelashes began to flutter and John reached out and touched his wrist. "Aiden, I want you to listen to me carefully. We're up in a tree about twenty meters above the ground." He tightened his grip on Aiden's arm when he felt him tense. "It's okay; you're pretty well wedged in, so I don't think you're going anywhere. Try and open your eyes."

Aiden did as he was bidden and promptly got a glimpse of the ground below. His vision was fuzzy but the disoriented perspective was enough to scare him.

"Whoa!" he cried as John held him firmly.

"Take it easy; I've got you."

"Don't let go," Aiden said hoarsely.

"You can count on that," John assured him as Bates' man approached them. "I can see your head wound; are there any other injuries?" John asked as he opened the first aid kit with his free hand and dug out a pad to staunch the bleeding from the cut on Aiden's temple.

"Ribs, sir," Aiden said as he swallowed. John could see that he was nauseated and attributed it to a probable concussion. "How the hell did I get up here? Last thing I remember--."

"Sir," the rescue specialist called out. "How is he?"

"Looking shaky," John said. "How are we going to get him down?"

"I'm going to loop this rope over that branch up there. Then we can get a harness on him and lower him down."

"He's got busted ribs, airman," John said.

"Well, we can try to get a basket up here, but it might be hard in this canopy."

"I'll make it in the harness, sir," Aiden said. "Just get me out of here."

"Airman?" John carefully scooted out of the way so the soldier could approach the victim, belatedly remembering to release his hold on Aiden's wrist. Aiden followed John with his eyes. "Just hold on, lieutenant. We'll have you down in no time."

"How the hell did I get up here?" Aiden asked again. He sounded weak and tired and John was afraid he might be wheezing, a sign of a punctured lung.

"I haven't the slightest idea," he replied. "But we'll figure that out later. For now I just want you to relax and let us do all the work."

"Relax... Very funny, sir," Aiden said drowsily. John exchanged a glance with the rescue specialist; they both knew that Aiden was going into shock. John helped him to rig the harness and get it around Aiden before they carefully freed his shoulder. Aiden cried out in pain, but they grimly moved on. There was nothing they could do for him in the tree, so they carefully lowered him to the ground, where he was placed in a basket and examined by a medic. John and the other man were also lowered via the harness. By the time John reached the ground Aiden was halfway back to Atlantis.

"He's going to be fine," Rodney said as he handed John his jacket and gun. "I had a word with the medic. He's got broken ribs, a possible punctured lung, numerous cuts and contusions, a broken finger, and a concussion, but he expects a complete recovery."

"Thank you, Rodney."

"Stackhouse and Markham retrieved our shuttle. It's right down the hill."

"Yeah, I saw it from up there," John said with a glance back up at the tree. "How the hell did he end up there?"

"I don't know," Rodney said. "I'll have to ask him."

"I think he'll be asking you," John said as they started walking toward the Puddle Jumper.

"You mean he doesn't remember?"

"He was a little dazed and confused," John replied.

"I was hoping he could provide an explanation," Rodney said, his disappoint evident.

"Hey, you're the scientist on this team," John said lightly. "You figure it out." Rodney smiled and the two men walked in silence. "Where's Teyla?" John asked belatedly.

"She flew back with Ford. We thought one of us should be with him."

"Yeah," John said softly.

"So are you going to tell him?"

John gave Rodney a slightly annoyed look.

"It's not that simple, Rodney."

"Sometimes it's simpler than you think."

"Rodney--."

"Hey, you've got nothing to lose."

"I've got everything to lose! Suppose he doesn't feel the same way? Suppose he decides to out me?"

"Suppose he does feel the same way?" Rodney countered. John stared at him for a moment. "You might not have a better chance."

"Why? Are you planning to fling him somewhere else?"

"In the absence of compelling evidence, I refuse to acknowledge that I had anything to do with him being flung anywhere. But if that's what it takes to get you to speak up, I may well consider it," Rodney threatened. "It should be easy to build a small trebuchet if necessary..."

"Trebuchet?"

"It's a type of catapult, major."

"I know what it is, and if I ever catch you within twenty feet of Ford with anything even remotely harmful to his well-being I'll take you on a Puddle Jumper ride you'll never recover from."

Rodney chuckled softly.

"Spoken like a man in love."

"Damn."

"Talk to him, John."

**

"What do we know about how Lieutenant Ford was transported into that tree?" Elizabeth asked.

"We know nothing as yet," Rodney said, "except that he wasn't transported."

"But I thought--."

"Yes, everyone seems to be convinced that the Ancient device was responsible for the lieutenant's predicament but there's no evidence to support that conclusion. If Ford had been transported he would have rematerialized at the Jumper. I can hardly believe that he did so and then ran off to go tree climbing."

Elizabeth glared at Rodney, who in turn glanced at John, whose thoughts were clearly elsewhere. Rodney felt a pang of empathy; Aiden had been wheeled into the infirmary on his return to base and John and Rodney had been dragged into Elizabeth's office before they could learn anything about his condition. He sighed and shifted in his seat wearily.

"We brought the two machines back and I intend to see if there's some way to replicate the actions taken by the lieutenant to see if we can get some answers--under proper test conditions," Rodney said, rubbing his eyes wearily.

"You were supposed to be under proper test conditions when it happened," Elizabeth replied and Rodney felt guilt wash over him in spite of his conviction that he was not responsible for Aiden's plight.

"Look, we don't know what happened," he said helplessly. "Hopefully, Ford will be able to tell us something later. Have the doctors told you anything about his condition?" he asked with a glance at John, who seemed unwilling to speak.

"He was stable when he arrived," Elizabeth replied. "I spoke with him briefly. He was in a great deal of pain but hanging in there."

"Good," Rodney said. He hazarded another glance at John, who looked haggard and pale. "Why don't I go down to the lab and get started on that analysis? Major," he said turning to John, "you need a shower and a change of clothes."

"John?" Elizabeth said, really looking him for the first time. "Were you also injured?" John looked down at himself as if in a daze. He gasped, rose from the table and walked out without another word. Elizabeth looked at Rodney for an explanation.

"The blood's Ford's," he said distastefully. "Maybe I'd better go and steer him down to medical. We're both a little traumatized by this."

"Rodney?" Elizabeth asked curiously.

"Ford's...special," he said softly. He strode out of Elizabeth's office and caught up with John who was standing in the corridor some distance away. He seemed to be at a loss.

"John?"

"I'm tired," he said. Rodney placed a hand on his shoulder and wordlessly guided him to the infirmary. He knew that there was far more on John's mind than fatigue; he'd fallen into a funk on the flight back to base, Rodney's words of encouragement percolating through his thoughts.

"Major Sheppard," Dr. Holderness said as soon as she saw the blood stain on his jacket. "Over here." She gestured toward an examination table. John went to the table and sat as Rodney cleared his throat.

"The blood on his jacket is Lieutenant Ford's," he explained. "We're here to find out if there's any news on the lieutenant's condition."

"Oh; it turned out he didn't need surgery," the doctor said. "We simply set his finger and taped his broken ribs. I heard he fell from a tree. It's a miracle his injuries weren't far worse."

"He didn't fall from a tree," Rodney said. "He apparently fell into one."

"From where?" Dr. Holderness asked curiously. Rodney and John exchanged a look. Rodney shrugged.

"We're still trying to figure that one out," Rodney replied. "When can we see the lieutenant?"

"Ah, major," Carson Beckett said as he entered the room. He pulled off a surgical gown and discarded it as he approached. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you showed up. The lad is going to be fine. He wasn't born so hard headed for naught."

"Carson!" Rodney exclaimed. The doctor smiled.

"Rodney? What are you doing here?"

"The lieutenant is my friend, too," Rodney said with a pout as he watched Carson walk over to John.

"Let's take a look at you, major," he said gently. Rodney started to explain that John hadn't been hurt, but he realized that Carson had (a) already surmised that John had no apparent physical injuries and (b) discerned that he was in some sort of shock. Carson pulled out a penlight and gazed into the major's eyes. "We'll have Aiden in a proper bed shortly and you can have a brief visit. Then I want you to have a nice lie down. When did you hit your head?"

Rodney looked up sharply and went over to the examination table. John put his hand on his head and seemed to struggle for a moment with his concentration.

"On my way up the tree. Damn branch got in my way."

"You didn't tell me you'd hurt yourself, John!" Rodney said accusingly as he noted the slightly glazed look in John's eyes for the first time.

"I said 'ouch,'" John shot back.

"Concussion?" Rodney asked Carson.

"A mild one, aye; looks like we'll need accommodations for two, Jenny."

"Yes, doctor," Dr. Holderness said as she left to make arrangements. Carson and Rodney looked at John, waiting for the expected protest, but none came.

"I tell you what, Rodney," Carson said. "Why don't you see to it that the major gets cleaned up and changed while I check on our other patient? That way he can be all neat and pretty for Aiden." He winked at Rodney, who returned the smile and took John by the arm and led him to the shower.

"I have a headache," John said dully a few minutes later. Outside the shower stall, Rodney snorted.

"I'm not surprised. Finish up in there. I've got a nice set of surgical scrubs for you to put on."

"Swell," John muttered as he turned off the water. He felt sluggish as he stepped out of the shower and toweled off. He took the scrubs Rodney handed him and began to dress. "You look beat," he said.

"Compared to you?" Rodney smirked.

"I mean you don't have to stay and watch me. I'm feeling a little better."

"Yes, a bracing shower does wonders to revive one," Rodney replied. "Come on, Carson's got a bed ready and waiting for you."

"I don't want to stay in the infirmary," John complained. Rodney smiled; John sounded like himself for the first time in an hour.

"The bed's nice and comfy," Rodney said encouragingly. "It's got a great view, too." As he expected, John looked up and frowned. "It's right next to the lieutenant's bed," Rodney explained. "You can't beat that with a stick." He waggled his eyebrows and left John to his thoughts.

John finished tying the drawstring waistband of his pants and, eschewing the slipper socks Rodney left for him, padded out into the main infirmary area. At the back of the room, several people were gathering around a bed, presumably Aiden's. John hung back, staring at his feet as he listened to people wishing the patient well.

"John?"

He looked up and saw Elizabeth, who'd just left Aiden's side. She looked at him expectantly, but he had no idea what to say.

"Ah, there you are, major," Carson said from behind her. "I was about to send the Rodney in there after you. Come on, then; into bed with you."

"Dr. Beckett?" Elizabeth said, turning to him.

"The major suffered a mild concussion. I'm going to keep him overnight for observation, assuming I can get him into bed."

"I'm going," John muttered. But instead of getting into bed, he joined Rodney, Bates and two other marines at Aiden's bedside.

"Ford," he said. The lieutenant looked up at him and smiled.

"Sir," he said softly.

"You look like shit."

"Thank you, sir," Aiden replied with a chuckle. He closed his eyes, wincing in pain.

"All right, let the lad get some rest now," Carson said, coming over to shoo the marines out of the infirmary. "You can see him again in the morning." He turned to John. "You can visit with the lieutenant for a few minutes, major, but then I want you in that bed. Rodney?"

Rodney lightly patted Aiden on the shoulder and bade him good night before moving away from the bed. He gave John an encouraging smile before he departed. Carson discreetly withdrew, leaving John and Aiden alone.

"Sir, you're in hospital gear," Aiden said softly.

"Well, you know, you looked so damned hot in yours, I just had to get me some," John replied as he sat on the bed adjacent to Aiden's and looked at his heavily taped ribs and shoulder. "Beckett wouldn't let me have any tape, though. Apparently, he used it all on you." The young officer laughed and once again ended up grimacing in pain. "How are you doing?"

"Broken ribs, bruised shoulder, concussion--I feel great, sir."

"I hope that lump on your shoulder is an ice pack," John said with a frown. "I'd hate to think someone accidentally lost a melon under all that bandaging."

"And here I thought I was growing a second head."

"Don't crack jokes, lieutenant. You don't want to be laughing with broken ribs," John said wryly.

"No shit. I know why I'm here; why are you?"

"I hit my head on a branch," John said sheepishly. "Doc said I have a concussion, too."

"You have my sympathies." Aiden closed his eyes and a moment later felt John's hand rest on top of his. He opened his eyes and saw John standing over him.

"You gave us all a bad scare out there today. I thought--we thought we'd lost you."

Aiden had no response to that so he simply averted his eyes.

"I have no idea what happened to me."

"Not even a clue?"

Aiden shook his head and then groaned in pain. John placed a cool hand across his forehead. Aiden closed his eyes and tried to relax.

"Lie still."

"Yeah."

The hand was removed.

"You're going to be fine."

"Yeah."

"Aiden--."

The lieutenant opened his eyes and looked up at him. John opened his mouth and closed it again, struggling to put thoughts into words. After a few seconds, he gave up.

"Get some rest. We'll talk in the morning." John flashed a brief smile and turned away.

"John?"

He turned around and frowned at Aiden.

"Thanks for... Well, thanks for everything today."

John reached out and gave Aiden's hand a squeeze. He reluctantly released it and climbed into bed, turning on his side to observe his companion. Aiden's head was still turned his way, so they stared at each other till Aiden--and eventually John--fell asleep.

**

"I had no idea Major Sheppard had suffered a concussion," Rodney said as he gently kneaded Carson's shoulders. They were in his quarters, where Carson had joined him after one last check of his patients. "I assumed that his sluggishness was due to him running out of adrenaline after first worrying himself sick and then climbing that tree to rescue Ford."

"Don't beat yourself up over it, Rodney. You're not a trained physician."

"I should know enough basic medicine to recognize the signs of concussion," Rodney replied critically.

"You don't believe in medicine," Carson teased. "Besides, you pegged it right for the most part. His concussion was borderline."

"What? You mean--. Carson? Does he or doesn't he have a concussion?"

"His symptoms are marginal, at best. I'd more likely call it shock, but I knew he wouldn't accept such a diagnosis. And after all that stuff you told me about him I knew that the only way I'd get him to rest was to keep him there in the infirmary."

"With Ford."

"Aye, with Ford."

"You sneaky devil."

"It'll do him good," Carson said, shifting slightly to gently remind Rodney to continue the massage.

"I talked to him about Ford today," Rodney said as he resumed his ministrations. "...While we were out searching."

"Rodney, was that wise?"

"What do you mean? It was the ideal time to make him come to grips with his feelings. He's been driving Teyla and me crazy with this crush of his. And if the lieutenant is completely oblivious to the major's feelings it's no great wonder that he didn't crack his skull open when he hit his head in that tree!"

"How did he get into that tree anyway?" Carson asked, leaning his head back to look up at his lover.

"I have no idea," Rodney sighed. "I intend to start looking for answers first thing in the morning." His hands stilled again. "Why shouldn't I have spoken to the major?"

"Rodney, I know you meant well, but Sheppard was in the middle of a desperate search for the man, the lad's fate was still uncertain--.

"As I said; it was the ideal time to get him to acknowledge his feelings--which he did by the way. John admitted that he was in love with the kid."

"Aiden Ford is no kid," Carson said. "What did he say, exactly?"

"Not much," Rodney admitted. "He mostly grunted and glared while I did the talking." Carson sighed heavily. "He was fairly negative about his chances. I urged him to go for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?" Rodney said, leaning forward to kiss the top of Carson's head. He received a loving smile as his reward.

"Well, I hope he does speak up. I suspect that his feelings are not wholly unrequited."

"No?"

Rodney waited for Carson to say more, but the physician closed his eyes and leaned back against Rodney's legs. Rodney abruptly pushed him away and he sat up frowning.

"What did you do that for?"

"Carson! You know something!"

"Aye, I know lots of things, most of which you think are little more than witchcraft," he said as he climbed to his feet and sat beside Rodney on the bed.

"I'm not talking about medicine and you know it," Rodney protested. "Tell me."

"I cannot violate my patient's confidence."

"Oh, don't give me that!"

"Rodney!"

"Tell me, or your shoulders are going to be the only thing that gets rubbed tonight."

Carson chuckled at the remark, but he relented and scooted back to lean against the headboard. He pulled Rodney into his arms.

"All right, but you mustn't repeat this to a soul."

"Not a living soul," Rodney promised. He looked into Carson's eyes. "And especially not Major Sheppard. So what do you know?"

"Right before we taped his ribs we gave him a very strong dose of pain medication. As it was, he all but passed out from the pain, but before he did he had a flashback of some sort. He began thrashing about and screaming for help."

"Could you make out what happened?" Rodney asked sitting up and turning to face Carson.

"No, except that whatever happened scared the hell out of him. The thing is, he screamed for Sheppard to save him."

"He was working with me when he disappeared," Rodney said with a frown.

"But it was the major he cried out for."

"No surprise there; he knows I'm completely inept as a knight in shining armor," Rodney said with self-reproach.

"You're not inept, Rodney," Carson said soothingly. "The point is he wanted John Sheppard to save him."

"...Because Rodney McKay couldn't."

"Because Rodney McKay isn't the man he wants," Carson corrected. Rodney raised his eyebrows in question.

"Exactly what did he say?"

"I'll reveal no more," Carson said firmly.

"But you think there's hope?"

"Aye, there's always hope," Carson said caressing Rodney's cheek. He pulled him into his arms and dimmed the light, using his ATA gene.

**

When Rodney strode into the infirmary early the next morning, he noticed that curtains had been drawn around Aiden's bed. Carson answered his inquiry before he could form the words.

"He's still asleep. And I thought you were headed down to the lab to begin your analysis," he said.

"I just wanted to check on your patients," Rodney said, noting that John's bed was empty.

"You wanted to nose around, you mean."

"Where's Major Sheppard?"

"I cannot say," Carson replied with a hint of impatience. "He was gone when I arrived."

"Did he speak to the lieutenant?"

"Rodney..."

"Answer my question and I'll leave you to your work."

"I've already answered your question: Lieutenant Ford is still asleep. Major Sheppard was already gone when I arrived," Carson said evenly. Rodney sighed and turned toward the door. "Rodney?"

"Don't worry; I'm not going in search of the major. I'm headed straight to my lab. Alas, the only mystery here is what happened to Ford. What didn't happen to him is all too apparent. "

Rodney let his disappointment show as he left the infirmary. Tempted as he was to seek out John and demand to know why he'd left the infirmary, he didn't detour. Based on what Carson had said, Rodney surmised that John had snuck out in order to avoid having to speak with Aiden.

He arrived at the lab and tried to forget about John's love life in order to focus on what had happened to Aiden. He went to his bench, where the two machines sat side by side and began a thorough check of each machine. He'd already done those checks in the field and knew that repeating them was a futile exercise, but he had to start somewhere. After about twenty minutes he began to replicate the experiments he'd done with Aiden the previous day, transporting small objects from one side of the lab to the other. He was absorbed in his work when heard the doors open and close.

"What?" he said bluntly without looking to see who'd entered.

"Is it safe to be in here with those things on?"

Rodney looked up and saw John standing near the door.

"It's perfectly safe," he replied. John took a few tentative steps forward.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm attempting to prove that Aiden Ford was not transported into a tree by one of these machines," Rodney replied with some asperity.

"What if you're wrong?" John asked. Rodney rolled his eyes and turned back to his work.

"What are you doing here?" He turned around again and glared at his visitor. "Why did you sneak out of the infirmary?"

"What--did Beckett issue an all points bulletin?" John shot back. "And I didn't 'sneak out'...exactly."

"What exactly did you do?" Rodney asked, folding his arms. John shrugged uncomfortably and took a seat on a stool. He picked up something that Rodney immediately pulled out of his hand and placed out of his reach.

"I checked myself out early. Early this morning."

"Did you speak to the lieutenant?"

"He was still asleep," John said reasonably.

"Which is precisely why you left, I'll wager," Rodney said disparagingly as he turned back to his work.

"He needs his rest, Rodney! What should I have done--roused him out of a deep sleep to spill my guts?"

"You could have simply stayed there and waited for him to awaken on his own."

"Look, Ford's in no condition to be listening to deep, heartfelt confessions--especially ones he may not want to hear."

"Is that what this is about?" Rodney asked, turning back to John. "You're expecting to be rejected, aren't you?" John shrugged again and Rodney sighed in exasperation.

"What's in this for you, anyway?" John demanded. "Since when are you so interested in my love life?"

"You don't have a love life, John, and it's driving Teyla and me nuts!"

"You and Teyla?" John asked incredulously.

"We've been watching you moon and sigh over Ford for months now," Rodney said, rolling his eyes in disgust.

"Why the hell are you and Teyla--?"

"Never mind why. The important thing is--."

"The important thing is that it's none of your business," John said defensively. "I don't go around prying into your love life."

"My love life is an open book," Rodney replied easily. "Ask me anything. As a matter of fact, I'll volunteer you a thing or two." John opened his mouth to say something but Rodney barreled on. "I was in your position not long ago. I was pining away in silence, loving but afraid to speak for fear of rejection."

"Rodney, if this is about you and Colonel Carter--."

"No, it's not about me and Colonel Carter. It's about me and Carson Beckett."

"You and--? You and Beckett? As in you and Beckett?!?"

"It's always a pleasure talking to you, John. You're such a brilliant conversationalist."

"You're telling me you're involved with the doc," John repeated.

"Yes, John, Carson and I are involved."

"Since when?"

"What does it matter? The point is that I found the courage to speak up and now we're very happily together."

"How long?"

"What? What difference does it make?"

"How long?"

Rodney sighed irritably.

"Three..."

"What was that, McKay? I didn't quite catch that last word."

"Three weeks," Rodney spat. "We've been together about three weeks." John threw back his head and laughed.

"So you consider yourself qualified to offer advice about my love life based on your vast experience with relationships--."

"Hey! At least I have a relationship. I'm not the one in this room who lies in bed every night jerking off to pathetic dreams about the man I can't have."

John immediately sobered. He opened his mouth to make a denial but Rodney cut him off with a look.

"I'm not ready," John said after a minute. "And Ford's not ready. He's just been badly injured. If I come onto him now he's going to think I'm just reacting to his recent crisis."

"So what? Prove him wrong!"

"You have all the answers, don't you?"

"As a matter of fact, I do."

"Then what happened to him out there?"

"Well, I have all the answers except that one," Rodney conceded. "But I can state unequivocally that the transporter system had nothing to do with his disappearance."

"Then what did?"

"I don't know. We'll have to go back there to check it out."

**

"Morning, lieutenant."

"Morning, doc," Aiden said hoarsely.

"Sounds as though you could use a little water," Carson said as he reached for the pitcher at Aiden's bedside. He poured out a cup of water and raised the bed before handing it to the lieutenant.

"I could use a five course meal. I'm starving."

"Well, you slept through dinner last night and Dr. Holderness didn't have the heart to wake you. I'll order up something for you as soon as I've given you a proper once over."

"Thanks, doc," Aiden replied softly. He winced slightly as he squirmed amid the pillows.

"How's the chest?"

"It hurts to breathe."

"That's to be expected. I can increase your pain meds a bit and see if that helps."

Aiden nodded, his eyes squeezed tightly shut.

"Headache?"

"Yeah. Big one."

"That's to be expected, too."

Aiden slowly opened his eyes.

"Was Major Sheppard released?"

Carson hesitated a few seconds before lying.

"Yes, he showed no signs of worsening this morning so we let him go."

"Oh." Aiden closed his eyes and Carson felt a pang of empathy. He patted Aiden on the arm and promised to return shortly. He went into his office and asked the other doctor on duty to look after things before he left the infirmary.

**

"No."

"We have to go back, Liz!" John said emphatically. "You heard McKay! The machines aren't responsible for Ford's 'accident.' There's got to be something else out there to explain what happened. How else are we going to find it?"

"I'm not opposed to having Rodney return to the area to conduct a full investigation," Elizabeth said, "I'm only saying no to you being a part of it."

"Why?"

"Have you forgotten, major? You suffered a mild concussion yesterday. You're in no condition to fly anywhere."

"I'm fine, Liz!" John insisted.

"Not according to Dr. Beckett," she replied. "We just had a meeting to discuss your condition. He specifically said you weren't permitted to fly for at least a week and that you can't return to the duty roster until you're properly signed out of the infirmary."

John glared at her for a moment and then turned on his heel and marched out of her office. Rodney exchanged a look with Elizabeth and suppressed a tiny smile.

"Do you think we should warn Carson?" she asked.

"I daresay he's expecting him," Rodney replied as the smile broke through.

**

"Where's Beckett?" John bellowed as he entered the infirmary.

"Major Sheppard, this is a medical facility not a barroom," Dr. Hannah Johnson replied. She matched his glare unwaveringly. "He's with a patient," she said more gently as she nodded in the direction of the back of the room. John looked up and saw Carson standing by Aiden's bed. Both men were staring at him. John sighed and, cursing to himself, strode over.

"Dr. Beckett, a word, if you please," John said mildly.

"Certainly, major," Carson replied in the same tone. "Would you kindly step into my office?" Aiden frowned as Carson turned and walked away. John paused to look at him for a moment and then followed. By the time he reached the office his anger had returned.

"I'm grounded?"

"You have a concussion, major," Carson said calmly.

"I'm fine and you know it."

"I know no such thing. I haven't been able to examine you."

"Look, this little headache is nothing! I've flown in far worse shape in Afghanistan."

"You aren't in Afghanistan," Carson shot back. "You're on a research base in the Pegasus Galaxy, where flying a Puddle Jumper requires you not only to be physically fit but to have all your mental faculties in proper order as well."

"My mental faculties are fine!" John said through gritted teeth.

"Are they?" Carson replied, encroaching on his personal space. His sense of discretion prevented him from saying more, but if John wanted a fight he was ready to give it to him. Carson was annoyed that the major had left the infirmary without permission, but he was downright angry at John's apparent abandonment of Aiden, who clearly was cognizant of the fact that John was avoiding him. Carson wasn't above using his position as chief medical officer to compel John to stay on base a while and stew over his actions. A bit of forced contemplation might do the man some good.

"See for yourself," John challenged. "Check me out right now!"

"I was in the middle of an examination when you came barreling in, major. I'm afraid you're going to have to wait until I'm free."

"When will that be?"

"Well, after I'm done with Lieutenant Ford, I have three appointments this morning. Perhaps I can see you after I'm through with them."

"You have got to be kidding me!"

"Had you been here this morning I might have seen you earlier," Carson said pointedly.

"All right, doc, you've made your point. The thing is I've got to fly McKay back to the location where Ford was--."

"You won't be flying anywhere for the next week, or until I deem you fit."

"Doctor!"

"Major."

John turned and strode out of the office. But he froze when he saw Aiden frowning in his direction. He took a deep breath and pasted on a smile.

"Good morning, lieutenant," he said as he approached Aiden's bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, sir."

"Still hurts, don't it?" John teased.

"Yes, sir; hurts like hell," Aiden replied softly. He averted his eyes and John felt his heart sink.

"Well, you get some rest. I'll come back later," he said.

"You do that," Aiden said. John sighed and backed away from the bed. When he turned he caught a glimpse of Carson's reproachful look. He ducked his head and left the infirmary without another word.

**

"Do you see anything that indicates what happened to the lieutenant?" Elizabeth asked. Rodney started to reply but Teyla beat him to it.

"There is nothing here," she said plainly.

"Teyla's right; there are trees, dirt, rocks and more trees, more dirt, and more rocks--nothing that gives us any indication of what happened here."

"Are you sure you're looking in the right spot?" Elizabeth asked.

"This is precisely where Ford disappeared from," Rodney said.

"And he did not walk away," Teyla added.

"Sounds like you've got quite a mystery on your hands," Elizabeth said. "Check in with us in a half hour. Weir out."

"So what are your alternatives?" Sergeant Bates asked Rodney and Teyla as he looked around a clearing that was wholly unremarkable save for its recent notoriety as the site of an unexplained phenomenon. "Last time I looked, Ford couldn't fly."

"Perhaps someone else did," Teyla said thoughtfully. Rodney looked up at her. "If you did not transport him perhaps someone else did. Did you not say that this 'Star Trek' had transporters that did not need to work portal to portal?"

"Yes, but--."

"Just because we don't have that kind of technology doesn't mean no one does," Bates reasoned. "She's got a point."

"Thank you, sergeant," Teyla acknowledged. Since the earlier tension between them they'd both gone out of their way to be civil toward each other.

"Ma'am," Bates replied. Rodney rolled his eyes, muttering to himself as he walked away.

Just what I need, he thought, to be saddled with another lovesick fool. Obviously, Major Sheppard isn't the only man with a crush on a member of my team.

"Dr. McKay! Dr. McKay!" Teyla called as she gave chase. "You must admit that my idea has merit."

"Teyla, Star Trek was science fiction, a television show. There are no real transporters, no real Klingons, no--. Never mind; suffice to say that your idea is absurd."

"Why? Are there not 'real transporters' back at the base? Were you and the lieutenant not testing 'real transporters' yesterday? Are there not space craft that can pick up people without landing?"

"No there are not; well, none that I know of, anyway," Rodney replied.

"And suffice to say that if the good doctor doesn't know about it, it can't possibly exist," Bates replied sarcastically. Rodney sighed heavily.

"All right, I'll play along. Let's say that there is such a craft--."

"There was a helicopter in a movie that lowered a rope," Teyla suggested. "And Major Sheppard told me about numerous aircraft that were used in--."

"I'm sure I would have noticed if a helicopter flew overhead with Lieutenant Ford dangling from a rope, Teyla," Rodney deadpanned. Bates laughed.

"Come on, man! She's right and you know it. Someone or something lifted Ford off the ground. You know that, so instead of playing the wiseass why don't you consider the possibility that there's someone out there we don't know about."

"...Picking off our marines?" Rodney asked. "Forgive me, sergeant, but conjecture is not my forte. I prefer to use deductive reasoning based on factual evidence."

"But you have factual evidence," Teyla argued. "Lieutenant Ford was found a mile and a half from here in a tree."

"Something had to carry him there," Bates added. Rodney ran his hands through his hair and sat down on a boulder.

"All right; you're right. When the facts don't lead you to a logical conclusion, look for an illogical one."

"The facts are not illogical," Teyla insisted. Rodney looked up at her and nodded. He was letting his frustration get the better of him.

"Okay, Teyla; since you seem to be doing better than I am at this point, what do you suggest we do next?"

"I suggest we find more evidence," she said.

"Where?"

"At the tree where we found the lieutenant. Let us try and retrace his path."

"Fine," Rodney said, rising, "assuming he traveled in a straight line, we should go..." Rodney did a slow turn and stopped after three quarters of a circle. "...that way."

Teyla led the way, followed by Bates and Markham. Rodney trailed them, thinking.

**

"Have a seat, major," Carson said. John sat on the examination table in a far corner of the infirmary. Aiden was asleep when he arrived--at least his eyes had been closed and John had been too cowardly to investigate further. Thanking his luck, he'd headed for the examination room and said a silent prayer that Aiden would still be sleeping when he left. "How's the headache?"

"What headache?" John said with a fake smile. Carson turned on his penlight and shone it in his eyes. John promptly winced and the doctor suppressed a knowing smirk.

"Follow my finger," he said.

"It'd be a lot easier if you took that damned thing out of my eyes," John complained.

"You don't look any better than yesterday," Carson concluded. "A little downtime will do you some good."

"Oh, for crying out loud!"

"You need to rest, major. I'll not return you to the active duty roster till you do."

"All right, I'll rest."

"It's not a punishment, man, it's a remedy!" Carson chuckled.

"Easy for you to say; you aren't the one stuck here on base."

"I rather like the idea of being stuck on base, major," Carson said as he took John's blood pressure.

"Well, I'm not used to being confined. I'm used to being on my feet and on the move...preferably off the ground."

"That poor lieutenant out there is going to be confined to bed for a week or two and then to base for another two weeks after that. I haven't heard a word of complaint out of him."

"Ford's a nice guy," John replied.

"Yes, and he deserves every consideration," Carson said as he scribbled something on John's chart.

"What does that mean?"

"It means what it means, major."

Carson calmly endured John's piercing gaze till a smile crept over his face; he shook his head and wagged a finger at the physician.

"Oh, I get it. You're in on Rodney's little scheme."

"Excuse me, major?"

"He told me you two were together. He's roped you into joining his little conspiracy, hasn't he?"

"There's no conspiracy, major. Rodney's determined to play matchmaker but my only concern is for my patient. You didn't see him this morning when he woke up and found your bed empty. He looked like a puppy that had been kicked!"

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm ready to--."

"Pardon me if I don't give a damn about your problems," Carson spat back, "but this isn't about you! Aiden has been through a major trauma, John! He needs his friends."

"I don't know what to say to him."

"Why don't you let him do the talking, then? If you aren't ready to give him your heart, fine, but don't deny him your friendship."

John smiled wryly and rose to his feet. He picked up his jacket and left Carson's office as the doctor wrote another entry into John's chart. A minute later he peered out into the infirmary and saw Aiden open his eyes. John was nowhere to be seen.

**

"Here!"

"What have you got, Teyla?" Rodney asked as he struggled to catch up with the agile young woman. Unaware of his exhaustion she ran on, coming to a stop about fifteen feet from the tree where she'd found Aiden.

"It appears to be a piece of Ford's jacket," Bates said as he arrived a second later. Rodney noted that neither he nor his Markham was winded and silently vowed to get more exercise. Bates bent to pick up the piece of cloth. It was the right sleeve and a piece of the jacket's back. "Was he wearing a vest?"

"No; we were just here to do some scientific experiments. There was no need for combat gear," Rodney said as he took the jacket and examined it. "It looks as though it was just torn off of him."

"Whatever picked him up probably dropped him when his jacket tore," Bates suggested.

"That's likely enough, but it still doesn't tell us what picked him up," Rodney said as he looked toward the tree in the distance. "Hello..." He walked toward the tree; Bates and Teyla followed.

"What is it, Dr. McKay?" Teyla asked.

"Another piece of Ford's jacket," Rodney replied. "How did you miss this yesterday?"

"We didn't," Markham replied. "We saw it and that's what made us go in this direction."

"And I found the lieutenant's ear piece," Teyla confirmed. "It appears that he dropped several things," she said as she spied a black cap a short distance away.

"...Like a trail of breadcrumbs," Bates said.

"Well, this is all terribly interesting, but we've already found Ford. We're looking for the thing that took him."

"Can't this stuff tell you anything?" Bates challenged.

"Possibly," Rodney said as he eyed the tattered garment.

"Perhaps there is something to be learned from the tree itself," Teyla said. She walked around the tree and then abruptly started to climb.

"Whoa there," Bates said, grabbing her by the waist and placing her on the ground. "That's a very tall tree. It could be dangerous."

"I have been climbing trees such as this since I was five," Teyla replied evenly.

"Well, you're not climbing this one." Bates said. Stung by her defiant glare, he looked to Rodney for support but the scientist merely shrugged his eyebrows. "...Not without a safety harness," he added sheepishly. Ten minutes later, Teyla and Bates were rigged for climbing and making their way up the tree.

"Keep your eyes on the tree, sergeant," Rodney said teasingly as he watched them go.

"Why aren't you going with them?" Markham asked.

"I don't do trees," Rodney said self-consciously.

"Scared of heights, in other words," Markham concluded.

"Look; I'm probably the most valuable and irreplaceable member of this expedition. I can't afford to take unnecessary risks," Rodney said before he walked back over to the large boulder and sat down. "Besides, I'm hypoglycemic and need to eat something," he muttered as he reached for an energy bar and prepared to wait for the climbers' return.

**

Aiden had fallen asleep again almost immediately but it was not a restful sleep. He squirmed fitfully, occasionally muttering in his sleep. Carson emerged from his office to check on his patient and saw John sitting beside his bed, one hand on Aiden's arm. His free hand held a thick book, which he continued to read even as he absently murmured soothing words to quiet Aiden. Carson observed the scene with a mixture of surprise and amusement before returning to his office.

He'd apparently prejudged John's motives for leaving the infirmary earlier. The major had simply gone to fetch his book. Carson smiled to himself. Rodney will be delighted, he thought as he settled in to get caught up on his paperwork. A moment later he heard a blood-curdling scream and ran out of the office.

Aiden was thrashing about on the bed and screaming. John had dropped his book and was attempting to hold him still. Carson skidded to a halt on the other side of the bed, quickly checking the monitors for signs that Aiden was having a seizure.

"He's having some sort of nightmare, doc," John said, "he's going to bust his ribs again if he--." His words were cut off by a flying elbow to his jaw.

"Hold him still, John," Carson said as he tried to grab Aiden from the other side. John sat on the bed and wrestled Aiden into a bear hug.

"I got you, Ford. I got you," he said softly. "You're just having a nightmare." Aiden's body relaxed after a few seconds and he rested his head on John's shoulder. John sighed in relief. "Good; good. Just relax, now." He held Aiden to his chest for a moment before he recalled where he was and carefully laid Aiden down on the mattress. "You're in Atlantis and you're safe with your friends," he said as he backed off to allow Carson to examine him.

Aiden opened his eyes and stared at John with an odd expression while Carson did a check of his vital signs. Aiden opened his mouth and tried to speak but he only managed a few coughs. John placed a hand on Aiden's arm to comfort him, but Aiden suddenly began to gasp and cough up blood even as Carson pulled off his stethoscope and called for help.

"Let's get him into x-ray!" he shouted. Hannah came running and he barked a series of instructions at her as he began to wheel Aiden's bed toward the operating room. John grabbed one side of the bed and assisted him.

"What's happening?" he demanded.

"He's probably punctured his lung. We've got to get in there and repair it now," Carson said as he pushed the bed through the door. John made to follow, but Carson stayed him with a hand. "You stay here. We'll handle it." John stumbled backward as two nurses rushed past him. He stood and stared at the closed door feeling completely helpless.

**

"See anything interesting?" Rodney asked after about ten minutes of boredom. He'd thoroughly examined the remains of Aiden's clothing but it revealed nothing of import.

"Yes," Teyla said. "The view is quite fascinating from up here."

"See anything relevant to our investigation?" Rodney sarcastically corrected himself.

"Yes," Teyla repeated. "That is what I meant. I see something that might be very relevant to our investigation." Rodney perked up and leapt to his feet.

"What? What do you see?"

"I believe it is a bird's nest."

"What?" Rodney said. "How the hell can that be relevant to our investigation?"

"There is more of Lieutenant Ford's jacket in it."

"Teyla, lots of birds collect bits of thread and fabric to line their nests. Presumably, birds do the same thing here as they do on earth. There are even species that are known to steal all manner of things and --."

"Are any of those species large enough to carry Lieutenant Ford?" Teyla asked.

"Of course not!"

"Well, the one that made this nest certainly is," Bates said.

"Undoubtedly," Teyla agreed. "I have never seen so large a nest."

"That's impossible!" Rodney replied. "There is no living bird large enough to carry a full grown male...not on earth, anyway."

"We are not on your earth, Dr. McKay," Teyla said.

"Well, I still don't believe it. What you're talking about sounds like something out of a bad science fiction movie. I was less than two hundred yards from the lieutenant when he was supposedly taken by this huge bird of yours. I would have seen it."

"With all due respect, doctor--."

"Yes, Dr. McKay, you have been known to miss a great deal when you become absorbed in your work," Teyla said diplomatically, managing to make her statement less accusatory than Bates' would have been.

"Well..." Rodney heaved a sigh and caught a glimpse of Markham smirking. He started to snipe at him when he was distracted by a thought. "Exactly where is that nest?"

"It's about a half a click away and to the north," Bates said.

"Can you get a fix on its location so we can check it out later?"

"Yeah, sure," Bates replied.

"Good. Get a fix on the coordinates and get back down here."

"You're not serious," Markham said. "You want to go after it?"

"Of course I don't want to go after it," Rodney said. "But we may have no choice. If that thing really does exist, its natural habitat is less than twenty miles from the Athosian village. We need to know if our allies are in any danger."

"To my knowledge, there have never been any reports of giant bird sightings in or around the village," Markham said.

"No, but we've been here during the spring and summer, when food is relatively plentiful. As winter approaches, the bird is likely to expand its range and--."

"I get it," Markham said soberly. Rodney tapped his com link.

"Listen up, you two. Markham and I are heading back to the Puddle Jumper to report in. Meet us there."

"Roger that," Bates said.

**

"You think it's a giant bird?" Elizabeth said incredulously.

"I've yet to be totally convinced, frankly, but Teyla and Bates have seen a nest that they claim can hold a bird big enough to carry someone Ford's size," Rodney said.

"That's extraordinary," Elizabeth gasped.

"It's more than that; if what they say is true that bird may pose a threat to the Athosian settlement."

"That could explain why Atlantis was built in the middle of the ocean," Peter Grodin suggested. "I'll get someone to look in the Ancient's database to see what it's got on the fauna of the mainland."

"Good, Peter," Elizabeth said. "Are you all safe out there?"

"We've seen no sign of anything faintly resembling a pterodactyl," Rodney quipped. "How's Ford doing?"

"Not well. He's punctured his lung and has been taken into surgery. John said that he might have hurt himself while having a nightmare. Maybe he's begun remembering what happened."

"See, that's the part of this I don't get," Rodney said as the thing that had been nagging him suddenly became clear. "If he was attacked by a giant creature why didn't he cry out? Why didn't I hear anything?
If I didn’t see what happened I should certainly have heard something."

"I don't know, Rodney. Half of the city heard Ford screaming today."

**

John paced the infirmary restlessly. A nurse had picked up his copy of War and Peace and placed it on the stand but John couldn't bring himself to sit down. He didn't want to even look at the empty space where Aiden's bed used to be.

"John?"

He turned and saw Elizabeth enter the infirmary.

"Is there any word on Ford's condition?"

"No," John said helplessly. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He's young and strong, John. Weren't you the one who declared that he and Teyla were probably indestructible?"

"Yeah, but I had no intention of ever testing that theory," he said hoarsely as he collapsed into a chair. "Damn; I feel so useless! I'm of no help to him here and you won't let me go out there and take part in the search..." Elizabeth pulled up a chair and sat beside him.

"About that search... I just got a report from Rodney. Teyla apparently found a huge nest not far from where Lieutenant Ford was found. She and Bates seem to think that some sort of giant bird carried him off."

"What?" John said doubtfully. Elizabeth shrugged.

"Rodney's not convinced, but they've got the location of the nest and we should check it out. It's less than twenty miles from the village."

"Rodney never said anything about a bird."

"He never saw it."

"How could a giant bird carry off Ford without him seeing it? He was right there!"

"Well, he was some distance away, but I agree with you. Moreover, so does Rodney. It's possible that the nest is simply an artifact that was abandoned long ago, and something else is responsible for Ford's abduction."

"Like what?" John asked, but he forgot his own question when the door to the operating room open and Carson emerged. "Doc?"

"Well, he managed to do a good bit of damage thrashing about like a fish out of water," Carson said wearily. "We repaired two small punctures to his right lung. He's in a bad way but I think he'll be fine."

"Thank goodness," Elizabeth said with obvious relief. John kept his mouth shut lest he said something impolitic and ran his hands through his hair. But Elizabeth asked the question uppermost in his mind. "Can we see him?"

"Not for a while yet," Carson replied. "I'm going to keep him sedated for the time being. I don't want him undoing our lovely handiwork."

"John told me he was having a nightmare."

"Aye, he's been having them since he was admitted yesterday. This last one was the worst I've seen, though. Good thing you were here for him, John, or he might have done more damage."

All John could do was nod as he swallowed hard. Elizabeth frowned curiously but said nothing as a claxon sounded, signaling a gate activation. She activated her com link.

"Dr. McKay's party is returning," a technician said in response to her query.

"Coming?" Elizabeth asked as she headed for the doors.

"Yeah," John said. "This I have to hear." He followed her, but paused in the doorway to look back. "Take care of him, doc."

"I promise, major," Carson said solemnly.

**

"How is Lieutenant Ford?" Teyla asked as soon as she caught sight of Elizabeth and John approaching.

"He's out of surgery and holding his own," John replied. "What's this about a giant bird?"

"All in good time, major," Rodney said. "Teyla and Bates brought back videos of the nest. I want to examine it thoroughly before I buy into their theory."

"If there's no bird back there how did a piece of Ford's jacket get into the nest??" Bates demanded. Rodney froze and turned around to look at him.

"I fully intend to find out."

**

"He's still there," Carson said as he entered Rodney's lab. Rodney used his ATA gene to lock the door in spite of the late hour and then walked over to wrap his arms around his lover.

"How is he?" he replied as he nuzzled Carson's neck.

"Probably as tired as I am, though he'd never admit it. I told him I'd be keeping Ford sedated until tomorrow but he won't leave him. I finally gave up and assigned him a bed."

"Guilt is an amazing motivator," Rodney observed bleakly.

"What has he got to feel guilty about? He can hardly blame himself for Aiden's nightmares!"

"You're assuming that Major Sheppard is being rational about this," Rodney said as he released Carson and sat down. "He probably thinks that if he'd told Ford how he feels the lieutenant wouldn't be having nightmares."

"You've got a point," Carson agreed.

"I do? I was just talking out of my ass."

Carson squinted at Rodney and shook his head.

"Nonetheless, I think you have the right of it. Ford screamed for him this afternoon. I think the major was deeply affected by it."

"Poor John; I'd feel the same way in his place," Rodney said pensively. "I do feel the same way," he admitted after a second. "I should have known that something was wrong. I should have seen him being carried off."

"Rodney, what happened to Ford is no more your fault than it is the major's."

"Carson, why didn't Ford scream when he was taken? By your own accounts he's been screaming since his return; why didn't he scream during his capture?"

"Perhaps he was unable to for some reason," Carson guessed.

"Such as?" Rodney prodded.

"I don't know; maybe he was knocked unconscious or maybe he was too shocked by what he saw to cry out. Or it's possible that his mouth was covered."

"Carson, I seriously doubt that a giant bird swooped down, gagged Lieutenant Ford and made off with him."

"Something could have covered his mouth accidentally," Carson explained patiently.

"How could his mouth be accidentally covered?"

As an answer, Carson walked around the stool so that he was behind him. He abruptly yanked Rodney's shirt up by the shoulders. Carson pulled hard till the collar pressed against Rodney's trachea and though he sputtered and swore his voice was barely audible till he was released a few seconds later.

"Point taken," Rodney said hoarsely. "Remind me to stay on your good side. You're a lot stronger than you look," he said, rubbing his throat.

"From a hundred or more yards away, and given the ambient noise in the area, you may well have missed hearing him," Carson said as he reached out and gently soothed Rodney's throat with the tips of his fingers, "...assuming he was able to yell at all. You know, the lieutenant was badly bruised and bloodied when we brought him in. There could well be ligature marks on his throat or marks on his shoulders but we weren't looking for those specifically. I'll have a closer look when we change his bandages, but they may be gone by now."

"I'm sure someone would have noticed them if they were there," Rodney said, "although based on the condition of the remnants, Ford's jacket probably bore the brunt of the damage."

"It's a right lucky thing it tore, then. It's probably the only reason why he's alive today."

"And he will make a full recovery?" Rodney pleaded. "You're sure of that?" Carson pulled him into his arms.

"Now don't you go getting soft on the lad. He's already spoken for. Come to think of it, so are you."

"Am I?" Rodney asked suggestively as he snuggled deeper into Carson's arms.

"Does that mean you'll be wanting a reminder, then?"

"Always."

"Right, then," Carson said as he leaned in to take possession of Rodney's mouth. "I should have known you'd be a handful," he said a he used his own ATA gene to turn off the lights.

"Carson! You're--."

"Hush, Rodney."

**

John awoke early the next morning to the sound of voices in his room. Confused, he slowly opened his eyes to see Elizabeth whispering to Carson. It was then that he remembered that he'd slept in the infirmary. At the same moment he realized that Elizabeth was questioning his presence.

"Is there something going on with John that I should know about, Carson?"

"He's not having a relapse if that's what you mean," he replied, purposely obtuse. "He was just here late last night waiting to see if Ford woke up. After witnessing his earlier nightmares, I can't say I blame him for wanting to be here."

"I thought you'd sedated him," Elizabeth asked.

"Aye, but he's coming out of it slowly. The major's appointed himself the lieutenant's guardian angel. I think it's guilt, myself. He wasn't there to protect Ford when this happened so he's determined to do it now. Rodney feels pretty much the same way; he's been running himself ragged trying to get to the bottom of this mystery."

"You know, Rodney was right about Ford," Elizabeth said with an affectionate smile for the patient in the bed behind her. "He is special. Something about him just seems to bring out everyone's protective streak."

"You've never seen his protective streak, have you?" Carson snorted, recalling that when Aiden was determined to return to Atlantis to help John defeat the Genii he'd gone about it with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. "But you're right; all of the nurses--male and female--have been hovering protectively since he was admitted and half of Atlantis was in here to visit him yesterday morning."

John frowned and turned over as a pang of irrational jealousy gripped him. He tried to ignore the fact that he might have spent the morning with Aiden had he not fled the infirmary. More significantly, his conscience insisted, had he remained in the infirmary Aiden probably would not have suffered the nightmares that resulted in emergency surgery.

"Shit," John said aloud.

"He wakes," Elizabeth said lightly. She walked around to the other side of the bed and smiled at him. John heard her approach and begrudgingly opened his eyes as Carson joined her.

"Good morning, John."

"Liz," he replied tersely, unsure of how to react in light of Carson's insightful portrayal.

"I see you're taking good care of our star patient," she said with a whimsical smile.

"I am not a mother hen," John said defensively.

"No one's accusing you," Elizabeth replied gently. "I think your concern for Ford is sweet." John sat up too abruptly and winced.

"Sweet?" he said as he rubbed his temple. He was uncomfortable with the notion of Elizabeth teasing him about Aiden. The last thing he needed was for her to suspect the true nature of his feelings. He swung his legs over the side of the bed but the pain in his head distracted him before he could move further.

"Whoa, there major," Carson said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're still recovering, remember? Simon, get the major something for his headache," he said to a passing nurse.

"How's Ford doing?" John asked before he could stop himself.

"He's fine, John," Elizabeth said with another smile. "You're the one I'm currently worried about."

"I'm just peachy," John said gruffly as Simon handed him a cup and a packet of Tylenol. "Thanks." He threw back the pills and water and slowly rose to his feet. Refusing to look in Aiden's direction, he reached for his jacket. "If you've got no objections, doc, I'd like to go and take a shower."

"I think that's an excellent idea, major," Carson replied. John shot him a look, gave him a curt nod that he immediately regretted, and headed toward the door. He was about to leave when he heard a groan and turned around. Aiden's voice was hoarse but his words were clear.

"Please, John... Please, please, please come and find me. I don't want to die! Please..."

John was at his side before Elizabeth and Carson could reach Aiden's bed. He grabbed Aiden's hand and tried to soothe him before he became agitated and tore his sutures.

"I'm here, Aiden. You're not going to die. I'm not going to let you die."

Elizabeth and Carson, Simon and another nurse all took hold of Aiden in an effort to keep him still as John continued to speak words of comfort.

"It's all right, Aiden, you're safe at home with us," John said.

"Save me," Aiden said weakly, his handsome faced creased with anxiety.

"You're safe, Aiden," Elizabeth said. "You're back in Atlantis and safe from any harm." Aiden's eyelids began to flicker and he turned his head toward the sound of her voice. John gave his hand a squeeze and Elizabeth slid her hand down Aiden's arm and took hold of his other hand.

"Dr. Weir?" he managed to croak as he opened his eyes. Carson glanced over at John and saw the major's jaw tighten. But John swallowed his disappointment and took comfort in the fact that Aiden had awakened with a minimum of discomfort. "Where's Major Sheppard?" he asked.

"I'm right here," John said as he gave his hand another squeeze.

"He's been here for you the whole time, Aiden," Elizabeth said. "He hasn't left your side for a moment. So you see; you're perfectly safe. Neither he nor the rest of us are about to let you come to any harm."

John let his hand slip from Aiden's as he stared at Elizabeth in shock. First he'd worried about Carson outing him; now he was in danger of being outed by Elizabeth! He felt Aiden's eyes on him and cleared his throat.

"Well, that's not exactly true," he said, trying to lighten the mood. "I was about to sneak off to take a shower." To John's relief, Aiden's slightly bemused expression morphed into a smile.

"You're entitled, I suppose," he said hoarsely. Simon handed him a cup of water, which he took gratefully. "I was having another nightmare, wasn't I?"

"Yeah," John said as he reached back and pulled up a chair. He took a seat and reached out to hold Aiden's arm. "Can you remember what you were dreaming about?"

"I was in the tree," Aiden said, swallowing hard. "I was lying there, wide awake and unable to move. I could see you and Teyla and the doc on the ground below. You were looking for me and I was trying to call you but I guess you couldn't hear me. I kept screaming as loud as I could to no avail. You left me and headed back to the Puddle Jumper."

Carson sighed and shook his head. Elizabeth gave Aiden's hand another squeeze; when she saw John staring at their joined hands, she withdrew hers and crossed her arms.

"No wonder you were so frightened," Carson said. "That was a genuine nightmare." John shot him a look and turned back to Aiden.

"Ford, do you remember anything about what happened to you? How did you get into that tree?"

"I fell," Aiden said simply.

"Fell from what?" Elizabeth asked. But Aiden could only shake his head.

"I don't know. One minute I was on the ground checking out McKay's gizmo and the next I was falling. I thought I was a goner for sure. I've jumped out of helicopters and planes before. This was nothing like that; I was in freefall but--. I can't explain it."

"And you have no idea what picked you up?" John persisted. Aiden shook his head.

"Did you hear anything?" Carson asked.

"No." Aiden frowned. "I can't remember hearing anything. I think I passed out. What the hell happened to me out there?"

John patted his arm and stood.

"We're trying to figure that out ourselves. You and McKay were working on your little experiments and then you just disappeared. We did a search and Teyla spotted you in a tree. That's all I can tell you for now."

"You found me," Aiden said, closing his eyes. He appeared to be overcome with emotion for a moment, but he sighed and relaxed, the tension fleeing his body as he slowly exhaled.

"Let me take a look at you, lad," Carson said, reaching for his stethoscope.

"I'll go and take that shower," John said. He patted Aiden's arm once more and Aiden looked up at him. "I'll be back," John promised.

"Bring breakfast," Aiden said with a smile.

"No solid foods for you yet, I'm afraid," Carson warned. "We'll get you sorted after I've done my exam."

"I'm glad to see you doing better," Elizabeth said as she took her leave.

"Thanks, ma'am," Aiden said. He turned his head and looked at John, who continued to hover even after his announced departure. "See you in a while."

"Yeah," John said. He suddenly felt exposed and left quickly, afraid that his sappy smile was obvious to everyone. He walked down the hall toward his quarters and practically ran into Rodney when he turned a corner. "Morning," he said cheerfully.

"Morning," Rodney said with a suspicious squint.

"Ford's awake," John explained. "He's looking a bit better, too." Rodney's sappy smile matched his own.

"Excellent news, major. Could he tell you anything about his abduction?"

"No, except that he remembered falling. He's been having nightmares about not being rescued from the tree so it appears that he hasn't been having flashbacks after all."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I've been counting on him to tell us what happened," Rodney admitted.

"What happened to your big bird theory?"

"Well, the footage definitely shows the nest. But there's no sign of the actual bird. I won't concede that it exists until I have some hard evidence."

"Like what, guano on the Jumper?"

"Very funny, major. Ford's recovery has apparently made you even wittier than usual."

John let the remark slide over him; after all, there was no point in denying that Aiden's recovery had buoyed his spirits.

"Keep up the search. Ford wants answers."

"We all do, John," Rodney said earnestly. John nodded and walked on. "Hey; where are you going?"

"I've got a date with a hot shower," John replied. "And I'm running late."

Rodney smiled and watched him go for a moment. Then he turned and headed for the infirmary. He needed to see for himself that Aiden was doing well. He entered the infirmary and saw the curtains drawn around Aiden's bed. He sat and waited for about five minutes till the curtains were pulled back. Aiden looked up as he approached and he greeted Rodney with a warm smile.

"Hey, McKay," he said cheerfully. Rodney returned the smile, trying to mask his worry. Aiden looked a lot better than he sounded. As if he'd been privy to Rodney's thoughts, Aiden cleared his throat. "Sorry," he croaked. "The doc says I'm going to sound funny for a few days."

"Why?"

"You think I understood his explanation?" Aiden asked impishly. Rodney pulled up a chair and hoped that he wasn't hoarse because of all the screaming he'd done during his nightmares.

"So, other than sounding like a 50 year old with a two-pack a day habit, how are you?"

"Well, I've got a huge headache, my head feels like it's two sizes too small for my brain--no jokes, please--and I feel as though that 50 year old with a two-pack a day habit is sitting on my lungs. All in all, pretty good," Aiden finished with a smile. Rodney's face registered shock. "I'm alive, doc," Aiden explained. "It's a good thing."

"It's the best thing," Rodney managed to say over the sudden lump in his throat. He couldn't recover from the sudden surge of emotions as quickly as he would have liked and stared at his hands for a moment.

"Hey, doc," Aiden said seriously. Rodney looked up. "I'm sorry I gave you a scare the other day."

"Gave me a--? You're sorry? Lieutenant--Aiden--you have nothing to apologize for. In fact, I'm the one who should be apologizing. There's no telling how long you were gone before I realized it. I was so busy trying to figure out how--." Rodney fell silent when Aiden's hand reached out and hovered in front of his eyes. Rodney caught it and gave it a firm squeeze.

"Why don't we just move on?" Aiden said simply as he squeezed back with more strength than Rodney would have expected.

"Yeah," Rodney said. He rose and released the hand. Aiden smiled when Rodney smoothed the blankets over him like a doting parent. "So how long will you have to stay here?"

"I don't know. Yesterday, Dr. Beckett said maybe a week, but that was before my surgery. I'm guessing a few extra days."

"Well, enjoy it while you can," Rodney advised. "When you're on your feet again you'll probably be so busy you'll look back upon this time as a vacation."

"No doubt," Aiden said as he lifted his head to peer at the door. Rodney followed his line of vision and saw Teyla enter the facility. Aiden smiled, but Rodney sensed that she wasn't the person Aiden was hoping to see.

"Good morning, lieutenant," Teyla said warmly. "I am very happy to see you looking so well."

"Thanks, Teyla," Aiden said as he accepted her sisterly kiss on the cheek.

"I brought you a present. You may not be able to eat them for a few days, but I know how fond you are of the pulja the ladies make in the village."

"Wow, thanks," Aiden said with a smile. Rodney eyed the covered dish she placed on the stand beside Aiden's bed.

"What's pulja?" he asked.

"It's that little pie they make," Aiden said. "...The one that tastes like sweet potato."

"Cool," Rodney said, his mouth watering. Aiden exchanged a glance with Teyla and she removed the cover.

"Have one, Dr. McKay. I will fetch more from the village when the lieutenant is able to enjoy them."

"In that case, I'll have two," Rodney said, reaching for the little turnovers.

"Enjoy them for me," Aiden said generously.

"You've just had your breakfast!" Carson carped as he approached. "You've got to control your eating, Rodney!"

"I only took two," he said defensively. Teyla offered a pulja to Carson.

"Don't mind if I do. Now if you two don't mind, my patient is falling asleep right before your eyes. He needs his rest."

"I am sorry; I did not mean to tire you," Teyla said.

"I'm glad you came by," Aiden said drowsily. Rodney reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"If you need anything..." he glanced up at Carson, "I'm sure the major will happily provide it for you."

Barely able to keep his eyes open, Aiden strained to look at the door once more, determinedly ignoring the resulting pain in his chest.

"He should be back shortly," Rodney said. "He went to take a shower. Carson will wait on you till he returns," he said with a wink. Teyla bent to kiss Aiden's cheek and she and Rodney went to the door. They stepped through just as John returned to the infirmary. "That was fast," Rodney observed. But John didn't hear him as he approached the bed. Aiden's eyes were closed and he appeared to be asleep. John sighed and sat down.

"You're back," Aiden said, his eyes still shut.

"Yep," John said as he reached out to take his hand. Smiling, Aiden gave the hand a squeeze and promptly fell asleep.

**

Aiden opened his eyes to the sight of Hannah sitting by his side reading John's book. He smiled crookedly and closed his eyes again till he was overcome by coughs. Hannah was up in an instant, easing his coughing with a cup of water.

"Thanks, Dr. Johnson," Aiden said softly. "What's going on?"

"Dr. Weir has called your team in for a meeting. Dr. Beckett too; they're trying get to the bottom of the mystery of your abduction."

"Abduction?"

"That's what they're calling it. Anyway, Major Sheppard should be back shortly," she said, answering the unasked question. She suppressed a smile when the tension in Aiden's body immediately eased. So it is true,, she thought. "Let me get a quick read of your vitals and then there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"What is it?" he asked as she rose and pulled out her stethoscope.

"You'll see."

**

"So where does this leave us?" John asked impatiently.

"It leaves us with nothing," Rodney said.

"Hardly!" Bates protested. "Teyla and I found the nest with Ford's clothing in it. There's some huge bird out there--."

"...Or something else out there that carried him off and dropped first him then the remains of his jacket, which fell into the nest," Rodney insisted.

"How can you tell either way?" Carson asked.

"We have the evidence of our own eyes," Teyla said.

"I'm with Rodney on this," John said. "If there is a huge bird out there, and it's that close to the village, why hasn't anyone seen it? There are tiny birds back on earth that have a hunting range of thirty miles. Even if it hunted away from the village at this time of the year, someone should have spotted it at least once."

"Perhaps that person was taken, too," Bates suggested. Everyone looked to Teyla.

"There have been no reports of any disappearances in the village," she admitted.

"Then we've got nothing probative," John sighed. He rose to his feet. "This is getting us nowhere. I'm going back to the infirmary."

"We're not done here, John," Elizabeth said.

"We've got nothing! Sitting here beating a dead horse isn't going to tell us what happened to Aiden," he snapped. Elizabeth was momentarily stunned by his outburst, but she quickly recovered.

"Let's take a break and come back to this later with fresh eyes," she said. Rodney immediately popped up out of his seat; he and John headed for the door.

"Dr. Weir," Carson said, freezing both men in position. "There's a matter I'd like to broach with you before we go. It's not relevant to the investigation but it concerns Lieutenant Ford. Dr. McKay, major; you may both want to stay and hear this."

**

"Lieutenant Ford, I'm one of the team of doctors in the bio-engineering research program," Hannah said. "Over the past two months we have been testing several types of nanobots we discovered here in Atlantis."

"Nanobots? You mean like those things that nearly killed us down under the piers?"

"It's the same technology, but very different nanobots," Hannah explained. "The ones that attacked your party
were engineered to deliver a deadly virus. But the Ancients used nanobot technology for lots of things, the overwhelming majority of which were beneficial."

"What's this got to do with me?" Aiden asked suspiciously.

"We've just completed our trials on medical nanobots that could reduce your recovery time to a matter of hours rather than weeks."

**

"And you want to test these things on Ford?" John asked incredulously.

"It wouldn't be a test, major. Based on our trials--."

"Trials on pigs and mice," John asserted. "No human trials."

"We've done numerous trials on cloned human tissue," Carson said patiently.

"You'd be risking his life!"

"John," Rodney interjected, "I've carefully reviewed all the reports on the bioengineering project. The nanobots were designed to only repair damaged tissue. By definition, they can do no harm."

"...As I stated earlier," Carson said wearily. "The nanobots would heal the lieutenant's injuries without doing him any harm whatsoever."

"Nanobots nearly killed him less than a month ago," John retorted.

"Those were a different type of nanobots, John," Rodney assured him. "But since you brought that up--again--you recall how quickly they were able to do their dirty deed? The nanobots that nearly wiped us out were designed to deliver a specific nanovirus that killed its victims in exactly six hours. The ones Carson's team is proposing to offer Ford are designed to repair bones, muscle and other tissue in the same amount of time."

"And if they don't?" John asked.

**

"The best case scenario is that this time tomorrow you'll be cleared for active duty. The worst case scenario is that this time tomorrow you'll still be here in precisely the same condition you're in now," Hannah said. "The nanobots repair what they can; what they can't they leave alone."

"And what happens afterward?" Aiden asked softly. "Would these things be in my body forever?"

"No; like the nanobots you encountered previously, they'd be excreted from your body within a day or two. They'll deactivate long before then. They're meant to last only as long as it takes to get the job done."

"That's a shame," Aiden said with a small grin. "It would be cool to keep them around in case I get injured again. They'd be able to take care of it before I was back on base."

"Your idea is not at all far-fetched," the doctor said as she sat down on the edge of his bed. "The Ancients were apparently attempting to create a vaccine specifically for that purpose. But they couldn't overcome the problem of the nanobots being excreted, so they turned their attention to a hypo-injection device that you could carry with you into the field in case of emergency. If you or one of your men was injured, you'd be able to administer an injection; the nanobots would be dispatched immediately to do their thing."

"Cool!"

"Very cool, lieutenant," Hannah said, smiling at his boyish enthusiasm.

"Are there limits to what they can repair?"

"Presumably, but you're nowhere near that threshold. You're the ideal candidate for the nanobots."

"So I'm going to be given these things?"

"That's up to you, lieutenant; the choice is yours," she said, "if Dr. Weir gives her approval, that is."

**

"No way! I'm not going to let you use Ford as a human Guinea pig!"

"With all due respect, Major Sheppard, it's not your call to make," Carson said evenly. He felt a pang of empathy for John, but his first duty was to his patient and he wasn't about to allow John to deny Aiden the opportunity to use Ancient technology to heal his injuries. "Dr. Weir, if you'll give your approval, I'd like to propose that Lieutenant Ford be given the chance to try the nanobots."

"Are you absolutely certain that he'd be in no danger, Carson?" Elizabeth asked with a wary glance at John.

"Absolutely; I wouldn't be here asking if I wasn't," Carson replied. "The moment Ford was admitted we rechecked all the analyses from our last round of trials before we decided to present him with this option."

"Very well," she said after a moment. "Go ahead."

"Liz!" John cried.

"The rest of us will meet again when we have more information," she said decisively.

"Liz, you've got to be kidding me!" John protested.

"It's Ford's decision," she replied. "I'm just giving Carson approval to broach matter with him." She nodded at Carson, who picked up his folder and left the room; Rodney rose to leave with him. John glared at Elizabeth as he slowly rose to his feet. "John? A minute, please." He sat back down and Elizabeth waited till Teyla and Bates left the room before she turned to him. "You're losing your objectivity, John," she said.

"You're damned right, I'm losing my objectivity," he spat back. "You're all sitting here talking science fiction while Ford's lying in a bed down there!"

"This is a scientific inquiry, John! It takes time. You can't just pull an answer out of thin air."

"This is a waste of time!" John shot back as he leapt to his feet. "We aren't any closer to finding out what took Aiden--what did this to him... And now you want to pump him full of untested nanobots!"

"John?" Elizabeth rose to close the distance between herself and the major. All the pieces fell into place at once. "How long have you been in love with him?"

"What?" John cried too hastily. He sighed and fell into his seat as he ran his hands over his face. "I don't know. It just developed over time. It certainly wasn't something I was looking for and I've tried to suppress it. Ford knew nothing about my feelings and I had no intention of telling him. Then all this happened. Finding him in the tree like that and seeing him gasping for breath in the infirmary... I nearly lost him, Liz. I can't... I just couldn't face that."

"Is this going to be a problem?" Elizabeth asked delicately, although she wasn't sure if John could give a credible response.

"No," he said softly.

"You've got to get a grip, John. I need you focused," Elizabeth said. "Aiden needs you focused," she added a moment later.

"I know," he said as he dropped his hands and tried to pull himself together.

"Carson said you haven't been resting."

"I've been resting. I just haven't been able to sleep much," he confessed. "I've been having nightmares ever since I heard him screaming in the infirmary that day."

"Then I want you under--."

She was abruptly interrupted by Peter, who barged in to inform her that a Puddle Jumper was in imminent danger of crashing on the mainland. Elizabeth and John ran to the control room where they made contact with the pilot, who was struggling to control the craft.

"Get Rodney up here," she commanded as John tried to offer what assistance he could. It was quickly determined that the problem was a mechanical one and John was able to calm the pilot sufficiently to talk him through a rough landing a short distance from the Athosian village. By the time Rodney reached the control room the craft was on the ground and he and John immediately started off toward the Jumper Bay to rescue the pilot and his passenger.

"Wait a minute, John," Elizabeth called. "You're not fit to fly."

"Liz!"

"John, you're still on medical leave and you just told me that you haven't been sleeping. There's no way in hell I'm letting you fly a Jumper in your condition."

John reluctantly conceded her point, but he insisted on accompanying the rescue team. Elizabeth agreed to it and John and Rodney left for the mainland along with a team of medics. He returned nearly two hours later and headed directly to the infirmary.

"What's going on?" Aiden asked when John escorted the pilot into the facility.

"A Jumper crashed on the mainland. No serious damage; Petersen has a few bruises, but that's it."

"Why did it crash?"

"Some sort of engine malfunction," John said. "How're you doing?"

"Better," Aiden replied as a nurse came over to take his temperature. Aiden and John exchanged amused glances as she waited for the electronic beep and read the result.

"Your fever is already down a little, lieutenant," she said with a smile. "Would you like some more juice?"

"Yes, please," he replied as John pulled up a chair and sat down.

"A fever? You aren't coming down with something, are you?"

"No," Aiden said as he shifted in the bed to get more comfortable. "The doc said that the fever was just a mild side effect of the nanobots."

"They talked you into letting them put those things into you?" John cried. "I don't believe it! I was gone less than two hours!"

"No one talked me into anything, John," Aiden replied calmly. "Dr. Johnson told me about the procedure and I decided to go for it."

"Did she bother to tell you that those nanobots haven't been tested on humans?"

"Hey, I know from personal experience that they work," Aiden said pointedly.

"And they almost killed you."

"Different ones."

"Yeah, but you have no way of knowing what these will do," John insisted. Aiden smiled and pulled up his top to reveal his chest. John simply stared at him in confusion.

"Amazing, isn't it? We were expecting the healing to work in a completely different pattern, but the nanobots apparently have a hierarchy of their own," Hannah said as she approached the bed with a container of juice. She set it down on the nightstand and bent to examine the flawless skin. "We thought they'd focus on the worst of the lieutenant's injuries and then work their way out to the superficial ones--the bruising--but apparently the little guys attack everything at once. His chest was covered in black and blue marks three hours ago."

"And he's all right?" John asked carefully as he watched Aiden stare at the splint on his broken finger.

"I'm better than all right," Aiden replied. "My headache's practically gone, I can breathe better than I did before I got hurt and my finger is almost completely healed. I can actually feel the pain dissipate as I lie here."

"How about your ribs, lieutenant?" Hannah asked eagerly.

"They're still sore, but I'm in considerably less pain than I was last night."

John sat back in his seat and heaved a sigh of relief. Aiden caught his eye and smiled. Hannah handed Aiden his juice and walked away. John rose and followed her.

"And you're sure there won't be any negative side effects?" he asked worriedly.

"Other than a slight fever, none whatsoever; he's being carefully monitored, major. I wouldn't let anything happen to my favorite patient, would I?" the doctor assured him with an affectionate smile at Aiden, who was unabashedly gazing at John as he sipped his juice.

"You know, those May-December things never work out," John teased the fifty-year old physician.

"I'm kind of rooting for the May-August thing, myself," she said with a sly wink. It took John a moment to grasp her meaning. He quickly averted his eyes as his cheeks colored slightly. But he needn't have worried; the doctor was on her way back to her lab.

"August?" John repeated as he watched her walk through the door, "August! I'm a July at the very most," he muttered as he returned to Aiden.

**

"Lieutenant Ford, I understand you're a medical miracle," Elizabeth said with a smile four hours later.

"I don't know about that, ma'am," he replied with a bit of embarrassment. "All I did was lie here. The nanobots are the miracle workers."

"Undoubtedly, but you're the one who was in a potentially life-threatening condition three days ago. I understand that Dr. Beckett just gave you a clean bill of health."

"Not yet, ma'am; he's awaiting the results of the last round of tests."

"And I have them," Carson said as he reached Aiden's side. "If you were any healthier I'd suspect an equipment malfunction."

"Are you saying that the nanobots had an effect beyond his injuries?" Rodney asked. Carson shook his head.

"Lieutenant Ford is young and athletic. As a soldier, he's far fitter than your average man, ranking in the 90th percentile or better in every possible indicator of health. I just compared his most recent tests to the results of his last full physical before he left the SGC. He's just as fit as he was then, except for his spirometer test."

"What's that?" John demanded.

"It's a test of one's pulmonary function, John," Rodney said.

"Yes, it's a simple test to determine how well a patient's lungs receive, hold and utilize air," Carson said. "As you might imagine, we couldn't even do a spirometer test on Ford prior to this due to his injuries. We did one a half hour ago and his lungs are performing perfectly, better, in fact than they performed at the SGC."

"Cool," Aiden said with a smile. "So can I go?"

"You can go," Hannah said. "This isn't a hotel, you know; we save these beds for sick people." Aiden rewarded her with a warm smile and began to get out of bed. But he paused and looked at the assembled group before him and cleared his throat. John involuntarily took a step forward.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Aiden said. Elizabeth, John, Teyla, Rodney, and the two doctors stared expectantly. "I'd just like a--."

"Ah," Carson said as he stepped back. "Let's give the lad a bit of privacy so he can get dressed." Everyone stepped back except Teyla, who handed him a change of clothes and kissed his cheek.

"I will see you later," she said before she left. Elizabeth also took her leave, as did Hannah.

"I'm so glad to see you well again," she said emotionally. She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze and said goodbye.

"Guess, I'll leave, too." Rodney said. "But let's touch base tomorrow; I'd like to talk."

"Okay, doc," Aiden said as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. He glanced at John and Carson and stood up. A slow smile spread over their faces and John shook his head in wonder as Aiden rose from his bed pain-free. "Wow, this really rocks!"

John could only stare at him for a moment as Carson withdrew. He finally found his voice and backed away.

"Go ahead and get changed," he said as he reached for the curtain. "I'll stick around and walk you back to your quarters."

"Cool," Aiden said. A few minutes later, he drew back the curtains.

"Looking good," John said.

"It feels good to be on my feet again," Aiden replied. He took a few moments to thank each of the medical staff on duty before he left the infirmary and stepped outside for the first time in nearly a week.

"Lead the way," John said as he followed Aiden into the corridor.

"I'd like to stretch my legs a bit."

"Shouldn't you be--?"

"You heard the docs; I'm in perfect health. In fact, I'm back on the duty roster effective 0600 tomorrow," Aiden said. John nodded doubtfully.

"I still think you should take it easy for a few days," he said as several people stopped Aiden to greet him and to comment on his restored health.

"I'm fine, sir," Aiden replied, using the formal term automatically in public. "There's no need to take it easy."

"Humor me?"

Aiden shot him a look and chuckled as he made his was to the observation deck. It was just after dusk and a cobalt blue sky glittered with countless stars. The two men went to the railing and stared out over the water, enjoying the beauty of the warm evening.

"Nice night," John said.

"Yeah," Aiden replied. "The air feels good."

"Yeah. Look, Aiden--."

"We don't have to talk about it, John."

"Don't we?"

"No," Aiden said as he leaned on the railing and turned to look at him, "especially if you're going to try to make excuses for your behavior."

"I was worried sick about you," John whispered. Aiden averted his eyes and shook his head. "At first I was afraid that you'd die out there before we found you and then I thought you were going to die right in front of me in the infirmary."

"And now I'm well; you don't have to worry anymore," Aiden replied. "Thanks." Disappointment was evident in his voice. John frowned in confusion as he turned and walked away.

"Aiden?"

"I think I'd rather be alone right now," he said. John let him go and remained there for a while, trying to figure out what had just happened.

**

"So do you think he'll tell him?" Carson asked as he poured a cup of coffee for Rodney.

"Of course he will," Rodney said confidently. "John's gone through too much to hold back now. Besides, based on what you said, Ford's been sending all the right signals."

"Aye, he has, but as the Bard once said--."

"Must you always be so pessimistic?" Rodney said as the door to his lab opened. He turned in time to see John enter, looking more than a little upset. "Major? I would have thought you'd be spending the evening--or what remains of it--with Ford."

"He wanted to be alone," John said dully. "Oh, am I interrupting something?" he asked when he noticed Carson sitting on the far side of Rodney's bench.

"No," Carson assured him, "I've just come by for a cup of coffee. What happened, man?"

"I don't know," John said glumly. "One minute everything seemed all right and the next he was walking away."

"What did you say to him?" Rodney asked suspiciously. John shrugged.

"Nothing! He said he didn't want to talk. I told him I'd been worried about him and he said that he was fine and that he wanted to be alone," John said with a pout. Carson and Rodney exchanged a glance.

"Exactly what did you say?" Rodney demanded.

"I don't remember," John said exasperatedly. "All I know is that one minute he was carefree and relaxed and then suddenly he looked like he had his own personal rain cloud over his head."

"Oh dear," Carson sighed.

"Why don't you go and talk to him," Rodney suggested. Carson shook his head.

"The young man's been through a great deal this week. He needs a little time."

"The 'young man' is obviously laboring under a misperception and the quicker John clears the air the sooner things will improve for all parties concerned," Rodney said with a slight edge to his tone. Carson glared at him for a moment before turning to John.

"I do hope we've been helpful," he said wryly. John shrugged.

"Coffee?" Rodney asked. John sat down and Rodney went to find another mug.

**

Nearly an hour later, John appeared at Aiden's door and knocked before he had a chance to talk himself out of confronting the younger man. After weighing the advice of each of his friends he'd decided to act on Rodney's suggestion. He needed to clear the air before Aiden arrived at the wrong conclusion. For a moment he feared that Aiden wouldn't answer the door, but just as John started to knock a second time the door opened and he pushed his way in before Aiden had a chance to deny him entry.

"I know you wanted to be alone tonight," John said nervously, "but there's something I need for you to understand right now." Aiden opened his mouth to say something but John forged ahead, not giving him a chance to interrupt. "You said something out on the deck earlier about me trying to make excuses for my behavior. That's the last thing I wanted to do, Aiden. In fact, I intended to do the exact opposite. I need you to understand: everything I did, everything I said, everything I felt back in the infirmary--even when I screwed up and ran--it was all real. I don't want to make excuses for any of it. I've spent the last few months making excuses to myself and it got me nowhere. I won't put you through that. You deserve so much better than that and I'm sorry I've been too caught up in my own head to even think about--."

Aiden placed two fingers over John's lips to silence him.

"It's okay, John," he said gently. But John shook his head and pulled away, anxious to make Aiden understand.

"It's not okay! You think--."

Aiden pulled him into a hug. John took a deep breath and rested his head on Aiden's shoulder.

"I understand, John," Aiden said in a soothing tone. "I'm sorry; at first I was assumed the worst, but I've been sitting here thinking and realized that I was wrong. I jumped the gun and didn't give you a fair chance."

"You thought I'd back away."

"Yeah," Aiden admitted. "I was expecting the 'now that you're all better we can go back to being good little soldiers and forget all this happened' speech." John lifted his head and looked him in the eye.

"No, actually, I was planning to give you the 'now that you're all better we can go at it like rabid monkeys' speech," he said with a smile.

"I'd like to hear that sometime," Aiden said as he lightly ran his hands up and down John's back. He felt the tension in his spine melt away as he leaned in to kiss him.

There was nothing tentative about their first kiss, although it was brief and relatively chaste. They immediately sought another and then another, each one more insistent and more intense than the one that preceded it. John took a few steps forward, slowly pushing Aiden back toward the bed. He pulled away then, and slowly drew Aiden's shirt up and over his head. He reached out and touched the unblemished skin, marveling once again at the miracle of nanobot technology. But Aiden didn't allow him to dwell on it for too long; he pulled off John's shirt and reached for his waistband. John got with the program and reciprocated so that in short order they were naked and pressed against one another. Aiden drew away and laid on the bed, but when he tried to pull John onto him, he hesitated.

"I... can't," John said awkwardly. Aiden frowned and sat up.

"John?" he asked in confusion. John took a deep breath and crawled onto the bed.

"Humor me," he said sheepishly. "I know you're supposed to be in perfect health but let me be on the bottom, just for tonight, okay?" Aiden understood and scooted over to let John lie down on the narrow bed. Aiden crawled over him and settled.

"Better?" John could only nod. Aiden resisted the urge to tease him and smiled indulgently. "So... rabid monkeys?"

"Maybe not tonight," John said with another sheepish look.

"Sober missionaries, then?" Aiden grinned. John pulled his face down to kiss.

They explored each other at a slow, unhurried pace, kissing, tasting, teasing, until John became impatient for more. Aiden was as aroused as John but in no particular hurry to get off, so he imposed his own pace as he brought them both to completion. John barely endured it, but his reward far outweighed his suffering: Aiden was his.

They collapsed in each other's arms and lay where they fell, unwilling to move. After a while, however, John felt Aiden stir and tightened his arms around him. He felt something nudge his leg and began to wonder at it. After a moment, he realized that Aiden was still hard long after his orgasm.

"Are you always like that or did the nanobots give you an extra boost no one told me about?" he asked.

"Does it matter?" he asked, nuzzling John's throat. John raised his head to squint at him.

"Doesn't it matter to you? You've been like that for a while now." John sat up to examine Aiden closely.

"What's wrong?" Aiden asked as he lifted a hand to caress John's cheek. John started to reply when Aiden pushed a finger into his mouth. John pulled it away but Aiden replaced it with his tongue before John could speak. He pulled John down into his arms. John indulged him for a moment but pulled away before he lost himself.

"Aiden, how do you feel?"

"You tell me," Aiden said giddily as he rubbed his erection against John's thigh.

"Is this normal for you?" John asked again. Aiden grinned.

"If I say yes will you chill out?"

"If you say yes, I'm going to develop an inferiority complex," John pouted.

"In that case, I won't answer you," Aiden replied as he reached for John again.

"So how long does it--? How many times can you go before--?"

"You want to talk about it or would you rather put it to good use?"

"I withdraw the question," John said as he settled back and pulled Aiden closer. "And if you want to put that thing to good use I've got a few ideas, if you're up to it."

"I think we've already established that I'm up for it, John," Aiden replied archly.

"Got lube?"

**

John awoke a few hours later and discovered that he was alone in bed. He checked his watch; it was nearly four in the morning--a good time to return to his room. He assumed that Aiden was in the bathroom so he closed his eyes and awaited his return. About ten minutes later, he opened his eyes again. Aiden hadn't returned and, hearing no sounds coming from the bathroom, John leapt out of bed in a mild panic. He went to the bathroom and found it empty.

John grabbed his clothes and threw them on before racing out of the room in search of Aiden. His first thought was that he had taken ill and returned to the infirmary, but a quick glance inside told him that he was mistaken. He overheard two nurses discussing Aiden's miraculous recovery and bemoaning the fact that he was no longer around. John backed away and continued down the corridor poking his head into the lounge, the mess and the workout room. Aiden was nowhere to be found.

He was quickly becoming frantic; he decided to go to the upper level and check out the public spaces up there. For the life of him, John couldn't figure out why Aiden would get out of bed and go perambulating through the city in the middle of the night, not that he dared to speculate. After about ten minutes, John reached the observation deck and saw movement near the railing. He heaved a sigh of relief when it turned out to be his errant lover. As he stepped out onto the deck Aiden turned and saw him.

"John!" he said with a guilty look. "I'd hoped to be back before you woke up."

"What are you doing out here, Aiden?"

"I needed a bit of air," he said as he turned to look out at the glittering ocean. "I guess it was my turn to freak." John walked over to the railing and looked out at the view, waiting for an explanation. "It's been quite a day," was all Aiden said, however, so John tried to piece things together.

"That's an understatement, don't you think? You woke up this morning facing three weeks of painful downtime and by dinner time you were given a clean bill of health."

"And for a grand finale to the perfect day I fucked my CO."

John peered at him, trying to weigh the meaning behind his deadpan delivery.

"It was my idea, Aiden."

"Yeah, but sometimes in the heat of the moment something may look like a really good idea--."

"Having regrets?" John asked carefully. Aiden only took a deep breath and exhaled and John spared a moment to think that for the rest of his life he would never find another sound so reassuring,

"No," Aiden replied, "but I was afraid that... well, I was wondering. You're my CO and we're going to have to work together after this, regardless of how we may feel about each other." John took hold of his arm and led him to the far end of the deck away from prying eyes--in case anyone else was abroad at that hour. Once there, he wrapped his arms around Aiden so that they both faced the water.

"Speaking as your CO, I'm okay with this, Aiden; all of it. I'm very okay with it; in fact, I hope we end all our perfect days in the future that way. The not-so-perfect days, too," he added for good measure. His words seemed to have a calming effect on Aiden, who leaned on the railing and smiled.

"Well, if you're sure you're okay with it..."

"What's the matter, wasn't I enthusiastic enough just now? You don't sound terribly convinced," he said softly, "so I'll put it this way: I, John William Edgar Sheppard--."

"Edgar?"

"Don't ask. I, John William Edgar Sheppard, being of sound mind and --."

"Sound mind?" Aiden teased.

"I'm trying to make a declaration here. Do you mind?" John spat back with mock anger. His tone was highly suspect, however, since he was nuzzling Aiden's neck even as he complained. "Where was I?"

"You were about to say something about your body, I hope," Aiden replied as he let one of his hand wander down John's thigh. John grabbed hold of it and placed it on the rail.

"That's really distracting," he complained before he nipped Aiden on the shoulder as a punishment. "Would you let me finish here?"

"Be my guest."

"Thank you. I, John William Edgar Sheppard, being of sound mind and body, do solemnly aver that--."

"Aver?"

"Aiden!"

"Sorry," he giggled.

"I, John William Edgar Sheppard, being of sound mind and body, do solemnly aver that--." John paused to place his hand over Aiden's mouth. "I am absolutely, positively, completely, totally, hopelessly, insanely, and irrevocably --." Aiden twisted around to look at him. John looked into his eyes and sighed.

"I love you, Aiden."

Aiden simply stared back at him, speechless.

"Too much?" John asked impishly. Aiden finally took a breath and shook his head before he rested it on John's shoulder. John rubbed the back of his neck and held him tightly. Aiden clung to his shirt, overwhelmed with emotion. After a few seconds he gathered himself and looked up.

"Sorry, man, I--. No one's every said anything like that to me before."

"If someone else does, tell him I'm going to kick his ass," John said so seriously that Aiden burst out laughing. John was highly amused by this and smiled as he pulled him into a hug. Not content with that, Aiden raised his head to kiss him. But John pulled away before things spiraled out of control. "Why don't we head back to your room?" he suggested. Aiden nodded and led the way. Shortly thereafter, they returned to bed and fell asleep in each other's arms till they were awakened by his alarm clock.

**

John strode into the dining hall feeling on top of the world. He immediately spied Aiden sitting at a table off to one side, surrounded by marines. He decided against crashing the party and went to sit with Carson and Elizabeth instead.

"Looks like Ford's the big man on campus today," she said as he sat down.

"Yeah, it sure seems that way," John said, indulging himself with another glance. "You are keeping tabs on him, aren't you, doc?"

"Aye; I've already arranged for him to visit the infirmary after breakfast for a recheck," Carson said as he set down his cup. "I'd like to see you this morning as well, John."

"Me?" John asked around a mouthful of cereal. "Why?"

"The lieutenant has received a clean bill of health. You have not."

"Yeah, about that," John said, wiping him mouth with a napkin, "since my team is now back --."

"Come get checked out and I'll determine whether or not your team is back," Carson said archly. John sighed and nodded. Elizabeth smiled behind her cup. Rodney arrived at their table with a tray piled with food. "You're not going to eat all that?" Carson asked disdainfully.

"Not all of it, no," Rodney said sarcastically. "I plan to save some in case I get lost and need to leave a trail of crumbs behind me." He smiled in satisfaction when Carson rolled his eyes and turned to John. "So what's on tap for today? Now that we've got Ford back--."

"Your team is still a man short," Elizabeth said with a pointed look at John.

"I'll get clearance," John assured her. He turned his gaze on Carson, who refused to be bullied.

"We'll see," was all he said.

"Well if we can't get back out into the field today, I'd like to sit down with Ford and go over his account of what happened."

"He say he doesn't remember anything," John said.

"Perhaps he doesn't," Rodney said, "but there are ways to jog his memory. And he may recall things that could give us clues, even if he can't remember specifics."

"It's worth a try," Elizabeth agreed. She looked up and saw Aiden approach. "Good morning, lieutenant. We were just discussing you."

"Ma'am," he said. "Sir, doctors," he said with a brief glance at John.

"Pull up a seat, Ford," John said as he scooted over to make room.

"I was just telling the others that I'd like to spend some time with you today discussing the incident," Rodney explained as the lieutenant sat down.

"No offense, doc, but I was really hoping to get back out there and see if we can find that thing."

"That might be a good idea, Elizabeth," Rodney said, appealing to her. "Revisiting the site might help to trigger the lieutenant's memory."

"You think it's safe for him to go back into the field?" John asked Carson.

"Assuming he checks out fine, I don't see why he shouldn't," the physician replied. John frowned.

"What's wrong?" Aiden asked.

"Well, there's a possibility that the major's still grounded," Elizabeth said.

"We'll tell you all about what happened when we get back," Rodney said helpfully." The remark earned him a glare from John. Carson smiled as he rose to his feet.

"Whenever you're ready, lieutenant," he said as he lifted his tray.

"I'll be there in a minute, doc," Aiden replied. "I'd really like the chance to get back out there, ma'am," he said earnestly.

"If Dr. Beckett gives his blessing, I'm all for it."

Aiden beamed as he as he rose to follow the doctor to the infirmary. Elizabeth also rose and picked up her tray, leaving John and Rodney alone.

"You spoke to him," Rodney said smugly.

"I spoke to him," John admitted.

"Good." Rodney's smile grew.

"You're going to be insufferable, aren't you?"

"No more than usual--not to you, anyway. But Carson's certainly going to hear it."

It was John's turn to smile.

**

"So how am I?" Aiden asked with mild trepidation.

"You're as fit as a fiddle," Carson said reassuringly. "How do you feel?"

"I feel great."

"Any side effects?"

"No."

"...Pains, aches, unusual symptoms...anything out of the ordinary?"

"No..."

"Aiden?"

"Well..."

"Speak, lad."

"It's nothing bad..."

"Out with it, man!"

"Well, I--." He looked up as John entered the infirmary. Carson surmised the problem and nodded.

"It might simply have been performance anxiety," he said softly. Aiden was shocked. Not only did the doctor know what he'd been up to, he seemed to know exactly with whom.

"Quite the opposite, actually. Too much of a good thing."

"Really? How long did it last?"

"We didn't time it," Aiden said as his face colored.

"Any problems performing?" Carson asked diplomatically. Aiden squirmed uncomfortably.

"There were no complaints," he said. Carson patted him on the shoulder.

"Let me know if the condition persists."

John fidgeted with his jacket zipper as he waited for Carson to finish. He was curious as to what he and Aiden were discussing, but eventually decided that he probably didn't want to know, based on Aiden's expression.

"Good morning, major," Hannah said as she passed.

"Morning, doc," John said distractedly. She caught sight of Aiden and smiled.

"Ah, there's our star patient. I want to get a look at you before you leave, if you don't mind," she said.

"Not at all, doc," Aiden replied with a glance at John. He walked over and joined the others, who were looking at Aiden's chart.

"Everything looks very good so far," Carson said. Hannah nodded and pulled out her stethoscope.

"Do you mind?" she asked Aiden. "I'd like to hear for myself." Aiden pulled up his shirt. John leaned toward the doctor and spoke sotto voce.

"You are so obvious," he teased.

"Hey, I've got to get my kicks when I can," she chuckled. "How often do I get to paw a pretty, young marine?" she said with a wink. "Music to my ears," she said a few minutes later, pocketing the stethoscope.

"So I'm free to go to the mainland today?" Aiden asked Carson. The doctor nodded.

"Now let's see if your commanding officer is well enough to go with you."

**

"I was cleared to fly," John said.

"I need the practice anyway," Rodney said.

"That's certainly true," John said as he gestured for Rodney to ease up on the controls. Fifteen minutes later, the Puddle Jumper set down in the clearing where they'd first landed.

"Well that only took a half hour, Rodney," John said. "My grandmother could have gotten us here faster."

"If she could fly a Puddle Jumper," Rodney said.

"Why are we landing here?" Aiden asked. "I was taken a good half mile away from here."

"I realize that, lieutenant, but for the sake of accuracy, I want to start at the beginning and retrace your steps."

"The lieutenant is correct," Teyla said. "You and I have already done this."

"You and I, yes; Ford has not. Lead the way, lieutenant," Rodney said, practically scooting him out of the craft. Aiden clipped his P-90 to his vest--he would take no chances this time--and stepped outside. Providing a narrative of his actions on that fateful day, Aiden guided the team to the last place he remembered being before his abduction.

"What were you doing over here?" Rodney asked as he looked around. "You're approximately five feet from where I found the machine."

"I had to take a leak," Aiden said with a shrug.

"So you took a leak, then what?" John asked as he, too, looked around. Aiden frowned for a minute and then snapped his fingers.

"No; I turned to look for a place nearby to take a leak and I saw something," he said, turning to gaze at a small copse behind him. "I remember now; it was a mirror, or something like a mirror. It was reflecting the sunlight and I started to walk toward it..."

They all started to walk in that direction but didn't get very far before an odd metallic sound pierced the air behind them. The entire team spun around.

"Look!" Teyla cried. Everyone but Aiden dove for the ground as a large bird swooped low over the trees and came their way.

"Found your bird," John said sardonically as he lifted his gun and tried to get a line on it. But it was Aiden who brought it down in a hail of bullets. John grabbed him by the jacket and pulled him to safety as the bird hit the ground a few feet away. They waited a moment before scrambling to their feet to investigate the large creature.

"This doesn't make sense," John said as he got to his feet. "Its physiology is all wrong for a bird this size. It looks like a--."

"It's a robot," Aiden said, running his hand over its flank.

"He's right. It is some kind of robot," Rodney said. He knelt to examine it closely.

"Why would there be a robot bird in the middle of nowhere?" John asked.

"I have no idea," Rodney answered honestly, "but I strongly suspect that it has something to do with whatever it was that the lieutenant saw." He left the bird and walked toward the clump of trees. Everyone followed him as he entered a small clearing. At its center was a dome of mirrored glass projecting about three feet out of the ground. "Your robot bird was probably some sort of sentinel built by the Ancients to protect whatever is under this dome," Rodney said.

"And I triggered it when I entered its security perimeter," Aiden concluded.

"Exactly."

"What is under the dome?" Teyla inquired.

"That's what I intend to find out," Rodney said, reaching into his bag for his tools. John grabbed his arm.

"Is that wise?"

"Major--."

"We've had enough trouble for one week."

"Let me do a simple diagnostic before you go all macho, all right?" Rodney ran a scanner over the dome and grinned from ear to ear and dropped to his knees.

"What is it?"

"Unless I'm greatly mistaken..." Rodney pried open the dome with a small screwdriver. "...And I never am..." His face fell. "It's a cache of ZPMs."

"What is wrong?" Teyla asked.

"They're not what we need. These will power Puddle Jumpers and small equipment. I was hoping we'd find some that could power the city."

"Why would the Ancients plant ZPMs all the way out here?" Aiden asked.

"Well, I imagine they're here in case a Jumper runs into trouble," Rodney said, "or maybe they were put here to keep them from being found by the Wraith. Who knows?" he closed the dome.

"Maybe they were left here in case of an emergency evacuation," John suggested. "I'll bet that there are other caches like this around. We've just never encroached on any of them before."

"So when I got too close it activated the robot," Aiden concluded.

"Why did it throw you into a tree?" Teyla wondered as she looked in the direction where Aiden had apparently been taken.

"It probably dropped him accidentally," Rodney said as he resealed the dome. "We know his jacket tore. I've got to wonder what it would have done to him otherwise."

"I'd just as soon not know," Aiden said. "So now that I've destroyed it, what should we do with it?" he asked when they returned to the giant bird.

"I think we should take it back and study it," John said as he tested it for weight. "It's surprisingly light for its size."

"We don't have to carry it all the way back to the Jumper, do we?" Aiden asked.

"No, I'll go and fetch the Jumper," John said. He started walking back toward the craft when Teyla called him.

"I will go with you," Teyla said as she ran to catch up with him. He shot her a look. "He will be safe this time," she said confidently.

"You know, too?" John asked, mildly surprised.

"What do I know?" she asked innocently, but her smile gave the lie to her words.

"I remember our conversation that day," John said with a smile. "You know I have feelings for Aiden."

"We are all very fond of the lieutenant, major," she teased. "He is well-liked by everyone in Atlantis."

"Is he, now?" John replied.

"Of course, I do not believe that anyone likes him quite as much as you."

"Probably not," John admitted.

"You both look happy. Perhaps you will now stop your senseless competition." Teyla smiled at her companion.

"Perhaps."

**

"I don't get it," Aiden said as he peered at the underside of the bird. "Why didn't you guys see the bird the other day when you were out here?"

"We didn't cross into its protected zone," Rodney guessed. "You did."

"But if you didn't wander into its zone, why wasn't the bird in its nest?"

Rodney looked up at him and frowned.

"I want a look at that nest." He tapped his com link. "How soon will you two be here with the Jumper?"

"Keep your shirt on, Rodney," John replied. "We're coming."

"We have just reached the Puddle Jumper," Teyla said.

"Well, get a move on. We've still got a mystery to solve."

John rolled his eyes, but the Jumper set down a short distance from the giant bird less than three minutes later. Aiden and Rodney had managed to retract its wings, but it was still a tight fit in the rear of the craft. As soon as they were aboard, Rodney had John direct the craft to the coordinates where the nest was spotted. John flew the Puddle Jumper low over the nest as Rodney examined it.

"Wouldn't it be easier to just land and climb up to the nest?" Aiden asked.

"No it would not be easier," Rodney snapped.

"I believe Dr. McKay is afraid of heights," Teyla said.

"I suffer from vertigo," he said defensively.

"It's not that high," Aiden said, but Rodney could not be persuaded. "Well, set us down and Teyla and I will take a look."

"I don't know if that's such a good idea," John said. Aiden gave him a pointed look. "We just got you back," John said defiantly.

"Well, it's good to know that the major is so concerned about you, Teyla," Rodney quipped. But Teyla reached out and placed a reassuring hand on John's shoulder.

"He will be fine. I will make certain of it."

"I'm going with you," John said as he set down.

"Well, I'll just stay here, then," Rodney said. "Have a lovely hike."

"You're with me, McKay," John said as he rose and walked toward the exit. "Aiden, take point."

A short time later the team was climbing a steep hill. For safety, they were lashed together with rope. Aiden and Teyla led the way, setting pitons and carabiners as they went to assure a safe descent. It took approximately fifteen minutes to reach the nest. When they arrived, Aiden climbed over the side of the deceptive-looking structure as the others watched.

"You got to hand it to the Ancients," John said as he ran his hand along the rim of the nest. "They had a flair for aesthetics."

"Indeed," Teyla agreed. "From our vantage point in the tree, it looked very much like the genuine article."

"Watch your step, lieutenant," Rodney said as Aiden carefully picked up the remains of his jacket. "Don't touch the recharger."

"I see it," Aiden said as he squatted to get a closer look at the device.

"So what are we looking at?" John asked impatiently.

"We're looking at squat," Rodney said. "This won't answer my question," he said as he pulled out his camera and handed it to Aiden. "Here; record everything and I'll analyze it when we get back."

"Rodney?" John said warningly.

"Ford asked a good question earlier; why wasn't the bird in its nest the other day? And if it wasn't in its nest, where was it?"

"Good questions," John agreed. "And I take it you haven't found your answer."

"No; I climbed up here at the risk of life and limb for nothing," Rodney said peevishly.

"Not totally for nothing, doc," Aiden said. He had maneuvered around and was looking over the far side of the nest. He lifted the camera and recorded what he saw.

**

"So you're suggesting that when the robot bird lifted you--." Elizabeth gestured for Aiden to continue.

"The bird was considerably lighter than me, even if it was able to lift my weight. I suspect--and Dr. McKay's research corroborates my theory--."

"You've got him talking like you," John complained. Rodney smiled smugly.

"...When it dropped me it was thrown off its flight path, leading it to crash on the far side of that hill."

"How could it have attacked you today, then?" Elizabeth asked.

"The bird wasn't damaged," Rodney said, "anymore than a car being dinged in a parking lot at the mall."

"But it didn't make its way back to the nest," Bates said.

"It didn't need to," Rodney explained. "Apparently, it didn't need contact with the nest in order to recharge, simply close proximity. It's amazing, really. The robot--."

"Long story short, Liz," John interrupted, "we've solved the mystery of 'big bird' and the village is safe."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said with an apologetic smile at Rodney. "Is there anything else we can learn from studying the robot?"

"Absolutely!" Rodney replied eagerly. He promptly launched into lecture mode as John rose to his feet.

"John?" Elizabeth said questioningly.

"I don't feel so well. Maybe I should go back to the infirmary and get myself checked out," he said.

"Maybe I should escort him, ma'am," Aiden said, rising. "He doesn't look so hot." Elizabeth smiled indulgently.

"Why don't you go and see if Dr. Johnson has any nanobots left," she suggested as Aiden took hold of John's arm. "Maybe she can cure what ails him."

They left the conference room laughing, but they didn't speak till they reached John's room. They waited till the door was closed and locked behind them. John pulled Aiden into his arms.

"I've got the cure for what ails me right here," he said.

The End