I'm really sorry I took so long! I had to figure out exactly where I was going with it but I've at least got it mostly figured out. Thank you so much Amycat8733 for beta on this!

The four present sucked in a breath at Carson's announcement.

"Carson, are you absolutely sure that is what this is?" Elizabeth asked.

Yes, there is nothing else it could be. Atlantis told him, grief rolling off her.

"Yes."

"So there's nothing we can do?" Rodney asked.

There was a heavy silence before Teyla spoke. "There is something."

The whole room turned toward her, everyone's gaze filled with hope.

"My father once spoke of this illness. He told me of a man who discovered the cure many years ago. I believe I remember the correct world. It was only a rumor and a very unlikely one but..."

"It's all we've got." Elizabeth finished.

"Aye. I'll be coming with ye if ye don't mind. If he has the cure then I should be there. Dr. Cole is more than capable of caring for the Colonel until we get back." Carson announced.

"Alright. Take Lorne and his team." Elizabeth said.

The group broke apart to gear up, a new hope replacing their former depression.

Are you absolutely sure there is no cure in the database? Carson asked Atlantis, more for the sake of asking than the belief that there was more to be found than what Atlantis had already given him.

Yes, Carson, I am sure. There is no reference of a cure and we do not have enough time to explore possible treatments. Atlantis explained, though Carson already knew this.

While I'm gone why don't you do as much looking into anything that may be helpful as you can? That way if this fails we'll at least have a starting point.

They had been searching for the majority of a desperately slow day. Everyone they inquired to about the cure to Mortifero Morbo flapped an unconcerned hand in their direction and told them it was a rumor and to say goodbye to their friend. It took all of Carson's self restraint and more not to start a Rodney-like rant about not giving up on people so easily. Instead he clamped his mouth shut, bit his tongue, and walked away without a word. Curt, yes, but a) they deserved it, and b) it was better than making a fool of himself.

"You should be saying your goodbyes to your friend, Mister. So unless you're here to buy something then you'd best get out of here."

Carson and Major Lorne turned away from the stall, disappointed yet again. "We should radio the other teams and see if they've have had any better luck." Carson suggested, knowing full well that if anyone had anything they would have called immediately.

Evan nodded and tapped his radio. "This is Major Lorne has anyone found anything?"

"I am afraid not, Major." Teyla responded. "Lieutenant Kemp and I have found no information of the disease."

"No such luck here either." Rodney announced on behalf of himself and Ronon.

"Nothing to report, sir." Lt. Cadman answered for herself and Captain Rogers.

Carson and Evan shared a despaired look. "We should head back to Atlantis and report to Weir. Hopefully we can come back later."

Carson stared at the ground as they walked toward the edge of the village. A stone arch cut out of the wall that ran around the whole village served as the gate. They made it outside the village and not a second after the thick wooden gates closed, bright blue shrouded their field of vision and grew into a blinding white that caused them to squeeze their eyes shut. Unresponsive bodies hit the ground.

"Rodney, where are Carson and Major Lorne?" Elizabeth asked when the Stargate closed behind the six returning people.

"We don't know. Major Lorne told us to fall back to the 'Gate but they never showed." Rodney replied.

"We searched throughout the village, but we could not locate them and no one saw anything." Teyla added.

Elizabeth sighed, "Alright we'll have to keep looking, in the meantime you can keep inquiring about this disease. Dr. Cole is continuing Colonel Sheppard's care and she hasn't radioed any change."

"We're gonna go check on him anyway." Ronon announced. Without waiting, he left the Gate room with his team mates on his heels to see his friend.