public override object Get( IDataReader rs, int index )
{
    if( Environment.UseStreamsForBinary )
    {
        // Is this really necessary?
        // see http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/cpguide/html/cpconobtainingblobvaluesfromdatabase.asp?frame=true
        // for a how to on reading binary/blob values from a db...
        MemoryStream outputStream = new MemoryStream( 2048 );
        byte[ ] buffer = new byte[2048];
        long fieldOffset = 0;

        try
        {
            while( true )
            {
                long amountRead = rs.GetBytes( index, fieldOffset, buffer, 0, buffer.Length );
                fieldOffset += amountRead;
                outputStream.Write( buffer, 0, ( int ) amountRead );

                if( amountRead < buffer.Length )
                {
                   break;
                }
            }
            outputStream.Close();
        }
        catch( IOException ioe )
        {
            throw new HibernateException( "IOException occurred reading a binary value", ioe );
        }

        return outputStream.ToArray();
    }
    else
    {
        //TODO: not sure if this will work with all dbs
        return ( byte[ ] ) rs[ index ];
    }
}