A/N: This is my first fanfic concerning the events after 'Lifeline'. A few things to consider, this fiction doesn't take into account any appearances of Weir after this episode, and I have also changed Sheppard's team slightly for various reasons. Hope you enjoy it!

'Okay, tell me this, if there's been this advanced civilization right under our noses all this time, why is there no record of them in the database?' John asked, as he strapped his tactical vest on.

'The Ancients have been gone for a very long time...maybe they, I don't know, developed. This may come as a surprise to you Sheppard but the world wasn't created with computers and cell phones,' Rodney replied.

Choosing not to rise to incredibly tired McKay's bait, Sheppard rolled his eyes at Ronon who was absent-mindedly switching between modes on his gun. They were late. Again. Sheppard was pretty sure that if he had allowed himself to look up to the window of Woolsey's office he'd have been met with yet another look of disappointment. They were becoming a more and more frequent with each mission. It wasn't as if it was even Sheppard fault; Teyla was a Mother now and her priorities lay elsewhere.

'Oh for goodness sake, this is getting ridiculous. I say we just leave without her,' McKay snapped.

'We are not leaving without her.'

'It's not like she really contributes anything anyway.'

At this, Ronon set his gun to 'kill' and raised his eyes to meet Rodney's, who shifted slightly and raised his chin defiantly.

'She's saved your ass on more than one occasion,' Sheppard pointed out.

'Hey! I could have got myself out of there.'

'When I found him, he was screaming like a little girl,' She said, strolling past McKay.

'Cadman,' McKay sighed.

Facing one another, the look of amusement of Laura's face matched by the look of irritation of McKay's, they continued the ongoing battle which felt like it had existed forever. When Teyla had left Atlantis to be a Mother, Laura had felt like the natural option to replace Teyla. That was assuming, of course, that she and Rodney would be able to stop sniping at each for just a single second. They hadn't. Well, barely anyway. It didn't matter what happened on a mission; Cadman saving Rodney's life, Rodney saving Cadman's life, it never stopped. John liked a bit of banter to his team, but this was taking it beyond that. Although, as badly as John was taking it, Woolsey was taking it so much worse. Every debrief was followed by a 'chat', during which the words 'dynamics', 'respect' and 'chemistry' were all mentioned repeatedly and indifferently.

Turning away from Cadman and McKay, John nodded at Ronon and stepped though the now established wormhole. Since they had received the MALP telemetry Rodney had barely been able to contain his excitement at what was 'so obviously' an advanced society and insisted on the team visiting this planet immediately. Their purpose, as pressed by Woolsey, was to establish diplomatic relations, with the possible view of a treaty between the two societies. It had struck Sheppard that, despite Woolsey relevant experience, Woolsey had made the definite decision not to come on this mission, trusting John, the strong and silent Ronon, and the two bickering adults increasingly resembling school children. Probably not Woolsey's wisest decision, John smiled to himself.

'Just look at that,' Rodney said, with uncharacteristic pleasure.

'It's a tall building,' Ronon said, looking at Rodney with confusion.

'It's not just a tall building. Look at the shape...the curvature,' Rodney sighed.

'Geez Rodney, if you like it so much, why don't you just ask it out?' Laura said, with a slight grin.

'What I mean Lieutenant, is that a building like that is a feat of engineering,' Rodney said, icily.

While it may have been a 'feat of engineering', it wasn't exactly the most beautiful building John had ever laid his eyes upon. The base seemed to be formed into the shape of some sort metal donut, while the bulk of the building, which formed a skyscaper overlooking the gate and surrounding landscape, had been built into twist oval shape, made of a grainy-looking metal. As much as Rodney was enjoying the view of the building, John had a feeling the view from the building would be much easier on the eyes, with untouched countryside and trees surrounding them. Actually, now he thought about it, it was actually a rather strange set up...one building and the rest of the countryside untouched? How did they grow food? Where did they all live? While he still wasn't feel the evident excitement of Rodney, his intrigue was certainly piqued.

Approaching the windowless doors to the base, they were stopped in their tracks by the sliding open of the doors to reveal a young woman wearing a burgundy trouser suit, rushing out to meet them. She stopped before them and bowed her head slightly, before looking up at them with the most stunning...purple eyes. Well, that was certainly new. A quick once over confirmed that all apart from her irises were human, but it was still somewhat of a shock.

'You have come to us,' She said, with almost relief in her tone.

'Yes. I'm Colonel Sheppard, this is Lieutenant Cadman, Doctor McKay and Ronon. It's nice to meet you.'

'Welcome. I am Isha. It was you who sent the robot?' She asked.

'Yes. It's actually called a MALP, we use it to check out planets before we come through the gate. You know, check out to make sure there are no big scary monsters,' Rodney said, positively leering.

'The gate. Why we never thought of calling it that. To us, it is the 'entity'. Although I suppose a more accurate description would be the 'unkown entity' I suppose,' Isha said, with a nervous laugh.

'Unknown entity?' Sheppard repeated.

'Why yes. For all our knowledge in our own galaxy, the 'gate' has very much remained an entity for us,' Isha said earnestly.

'Well, perhaps, that might be something we can assist you with,' John said kindly.

'You would help us? Oh! But I am forgetting myself. I must take you to our leader. Come, come,' She said, beckoning the team to follow them into the building.

There were so many questions that John was wanting to ask, and he could practically feel Rodney bursting with them, but he walked in silence, taking in the depressing decor of the building as they were led through corridors and finally into a lift, which was certainly not a regular occurence in the Pegasus Galaxy and only added to his interest. It struck John, as they exited the lift and were led onto yet another corridor, that the inside of the building was much like the outside, with the same grainy metal and soulless feel to it. There were no homely touches; no plants, not paintings, just metal walls, ceilings and floors. At the end of the corridor, they came to a door, still of the same metal, but somehow grander, bigger and more imposing that every other. Something told John they had reached their destination. Isha opened the door slowly, revealing the small room, in the centre of which was control station, so out of place with the other decor of the room. The complicated technology of the control station was placed on a woven rug, surrounded by comfortable chairs and sofa, and in the corner of the room was what John was pretty sure was a liqueur cabinet. Sat behind the control station was man, who John could only assume to be the leader of whom Isha has spoken of. Behind the slightly-crinkled, soft purple eyes, was a strength, a command of respect. He stood up, and walked over to the group shaking his head in smiling amazement.

'We have waited so long,' He said bowing his head, before bringing it up again and smiling.

'Well I'm glad we've ended your wait. I'm Colonel Sheppard and this my team; Mckay, Cadmen and Ronon,' John said awkwardly.

'I am Mande, the leader of this are Pegasusians I am to assume?' He asked warmly.

'Pegasusians? You mean, you're not from this galaxy?' Rodney asked, frowning in confusion.

'We are not. We are explorers from the Merlicia Galaxy.'

Raising his eyebrows slightly in shock, John turned to look at Rodney who he sensed would be handling proceedings for awhile.

'Ha, that's funny because we're in a similar position ourselves. I'm guessing this...building is actually a ship?'

'It is, and I would be honoured to show you the whole of our ship. I sense you are a man of Science, like myself,' Mande said.

'Actually, we were wondering if we could maybe get to know a bit about each other first,' John cut in, before Rodney could agree to another tour. Ship or no ship, it was mundane.

'Of course, you must be tired. Sit, sit.'

The team took seats around the control station, awkwardly looking around the room, as Mande took it upon himself to pour drinks for them all. He then turned, carrying a tray of glasses containing a green substance and offered them each a drink, which John accepted and took a sip from, which he immediately regretted and winced slightly at the bitter taste. Mande took a drink himself which he drank in one swift mouthful, and moved towards a door at the back of the room, which he held open and called 'Teelia'. From the other side of the door, the gentle sound of footsteps could be heard. The first thing he saw was the hair. The brown curly hair. It was longer now. His eyes rose and he met hers. Those green eyes. How they had haunted his dreams.

'Elizabeth,' He let out breathlessly.