The Shrine - Recap

Rodney has made tapes of himself in a state of mental deterioration after 15 days, with dr. Keller helping him. McKay talks about he’s forgetting everything he ever knew and can’t piece any thoughts together.

Jeannie Miller has come to Atlantis and is watching the tapes. She demands to know why they didn’t warn her sooner, and Keller admits that she didn’t notice the symptoms until it was too late. Woolsey informs Jeannie that they did everything they could to get her there… before Rodney dies.

The Past

Sheppard and his tam go on a mission to find out what happened to an Atlantis research team investigating glacier warming. They go through the Stargate and Woolsey decides to take a quick break and grab some breakfast, but an unauthorized wormhole opens up. They put up the force field and then Sheppard calls to inform them the entire valley is flooded and they’re stranded atop the Stargate. They can’t drop the wormhole due to the water pressure so they have to wait until the Stargate cuts out automatically. As they wait, Rodney starts running a temperature. Later they arrive back at Atlantis and Keller has Rodney confined in the infirmary under observation.

The Present

Keller goes in to reassure Rodney and make sure he’s able to see his sister. He’s barely able to remember his name or hers and a crying Jeannie steps outside. Ronon is there and tells her that there is a way that she can be with McKay the way she knew him. so that she can say goodbye. She then goes to see Keller who explains that a parasite known as “Second Childhood” in the Pegasus Galaxy has gained a foothold in Rodney’s brain because of his lowered resistance and exposure to the cold water. Keller insists that she can treat it and that Rodney doesn’t have any other option.

The Past

Rodney is still under observation and insists on getting a full meal. He cheerily invites Keller to join him.

The Present

Keller blames herself for not noticing the symptoms sooner because she was taken with Rodney’s new attitude. Jeannie asks Keller about Ronon’s plan to take Rodney to a Shrine where he can be temporarily cured.

The Past

Ronon explains to the others that he was six years old when his family took his grandfather to the Shrine of Talus. There his grandfather regained his mental facilities and was able to teach Ronon how to hunt, and then died with dignity. They’ve determined that the Wraith have a base on the planet after their battles with the Replicators. Woolsey doesn’t believe the mission is worth the risk and notes that his grandfather died of Alzheimer’s but had a brief remission. Woolsey wonders if Ronon’s had a similar remission but Ronon insists that the Shrine temporarily cured his father and that he owes it to Rodney. Teyla and Sheppard insist on going but Keller refuses to grant permission unless McKay understands the dangers. They go to see him but it’s clear he has no idea what’s going on. Keller refuses to let them take Rodney to the shrine.

Keller insists that she can cure Rodney but Jeannie asserts her right as next-of-kin and allows the others to take Rodney to the Shrine of Talus. They send a MALP through the gate to release a smoke bomb and draw the Wraith fire. Sheppard and his team, along with Keller and Jeannie, fly a cloaked Jumper through the Stargate and past the Wraith and on to the Shrine.

The Past

A frightened Rodney runs to Sheppard’s quarters, having woken up and discovered his friend wasn’t there. Sheppard goes out to the pier with him for some beers and Rodney wants to say goodbye before he’s unable to recognize Sheppard. John insists that he’ll remind Rodney who he is if he needs to.

The team arrives at the Shrine and they go into the cave. Dr. Keller picks up energy readings and Teyla finds a tablet with Ancient markings on it. When they move Rodney next to the tablet, he regains his faculties and is angry that they cured him temporarily. He had made his peace with his condition and said his goodbyes, but now he’ll have to go through it again. Jeannie accepts the blame and admits she wanted one last time with Rodney to say her goodbye. Rodney accepts the situation and they prepare a feast, but Keller believes the cave’s restorative powers have a scientific explanation. She detects radiation traces which Rodney confirms belong to the Ancients. Keller takes Rodney out of the cave and he immediately collapses in pain. She realizes that the parasite in his brain contracts when exposed to radiation, and expands when its victim leaves. In the past, the victims died of radiation poisoning after a day. Keller can operate on the parasite when it’s contracted… but she doesn’t have any surgical gear to conduct the operation.

They have no way to go back to Atlantis for the equipment or have a second Jumper bring it: the Wraith would realize what was happening and come after them. Sheppard takes Keller to the ship and has her pick out the repair tools she needs for makeshift surgical items. She warns that there’s no way she can cure Rodney under these conditions, but he warns that if she doesn’t then Rodney is dead for sure. They go back to the Shrine and explain what Keller has to do. Rodney is less than thrilled but has no choice. Keller renders him unconscious and begins to operate. However, when she opens a hole in Rodney’s skull using a drill, the parasite moves out of Rodney’s brain. Ronon dispatches it once it’s clear and on the floor, and Rodney is cured.

Back on Atlantis, Rodney is recovering as Jeannie sits vigil at his side. He thanks Dr. Keller for her help and asks her to join him for dinner. She goes back and goes over one of the last tapes Rodney made: one where he admits he loves her.

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