Colonel Sheppard and his team bring back strangers who claim to be Athosians. But are these people all that they seem? And why do Sheppard, Lorne and Beckett regret this, and Rodney feels left out.

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the Stargate Atlantis characters, but I hope I've given them a fair representation in this story.

Characters: This will involve all the main characters from Stargate Atlantis, but if you read my other fanfics, you'll probably guess that Carson will have quite a major role to play in this. However, there will be a good bit of action for all the other regulars especially Rodney and John

Spoilers: As yet, I'm not sure if there will be any references to actual episodes. If there are, I'll warn you in advance.

I'd like to thank TJ here who is acting as beta for this, and who suggested the idea for the story in the first place. Thanks, my friend.

Elizabeth was sitting in her office with Carson. They were ostensibly discussing the health of various members of the expedition. But in truth, they were just chatting in the haphazard way that friends do. They shared a pot of tea and some cookies that Elizabeth had managed to scrounge from the cooks.

"These are good," Carson said, wiping a crumb away from the corner of his mouth. "My Mum made great biscuits like these." His eyes took on that far-away look that always followed any reference to his Mum.

Elizabeth envied him that close relationship. When she went back to Earth she felt strangely lonely; especially now that Simon had found someone else. Yet here on Atlantis, she felt at home. She felt useful and appreciated. And there were people here she truly cared about.

Elizabeth and Carson were roused from their musings by the voice of the sergeant who was manning the 'Gate.

"Dr Weir," his voice said clearly. "Could you come to the 'Gate room, please."

Elizabeth glanced at Carson, her eyebrows raised.

"I'm on my way," she replied into her comlink.

"I wonder which of the teams has got into trouble this time?" she said to Carson, as they walked the short distance to the control room.

"If I were a betting man," Carson replied. "I'd go for Colonel Sheppard's. Major Lorne isn't off world at the moment."

Elizabeth gave him an amused look. "You could very well be right."

The Canadian sergeant looked up at Elizabeth and Carson as they approached. "It's Colonel Sheppard's team," he said, confirming Carson's guess. "There's not a problem, ma'am," he continued. "They just wanted your permission for something."

Carson couldn't resist shooting a glance at Elizabeth who returned his grin.

"Elizabeth?" John's voice came through the radio.

"What's the problem, Colonel?" Elizabeth asked.

"And what makes you think there's a problem?" came the deadpan reply.

"Just a wild guess," Elizabeth responded.

She could hear John laugh, and the voices of the rest of the team as echoes in the background.

"We encountered some people here," he said. "They appear to be Athosians, they're asking if they can come to Atlantis so they can re-join their people."

"How did they get there in the first place?" Elizabeth asked. "I thought that planet was meant to be unoccupied."

"The details are slightly hazy," John said, vaguely. "They've been travelling for a long time, using the Stargates, trying to get home."

"There are stories of groups of my people being taken to other planets," Teyla interjected. "My father tried to determine if these stories were true, but he could find no definite evidence of where these people had been taken."

"Are any of them in need of medical attention?" Carson asked.

"They all seem fine, doc," John replied. "They have their own medic, and she's been looking after them during their wanderings."

"OK," Elizabeth said. "Bring them through the 'Gate."

Along with John, Rodney, Teyla and Ronon, a group of around twenty people came through the Stargate. They were a mix of men and women and they all looked as if they had been on the move for many years, carrying packs that looked as if they held all their worldly possessions. They also had that slightly grubby look that people who did not live in a civilization with running water had.

In addition to the people, there were a number of small furry creatures, who clung to the people. The little creatures seemed very timid, hiding their faces in the clothes of the people who held them. One slightly braver creature looked up, staring at Elizabeth before it hid its face in the neck of the person who held it.

Elizabeth gave John a questioning look.

"These are their doca," he said, indicating the creatures. "They are their pets, and rely on the people to look after them. If they didn't feed them, and look after them, they wouldn't survive. We couldn't leave them behind."

Elizabeth almost smiled, seeing this softer side of John Sheppard. He wasn't quite the tough warrior he tried to pretend he was.

Elizabeth stepped forward to greet the new arrivals.

"I'm Dr Elizabeth Weir, head of Atlantis, welcome."

One of the women stepped forward. "I am Tollany, and I am the medic for my people. Thank you for allowing us to come here and to be re-united with our people."

Elizabeth bowed in response.

Carson came forward. "I'm Dr Carson Beckett," he introduced himself. "I'm the Chief Medical Officer here. If there is anything I can do to help you with your people, I'd be happy to help you."

"Dr Beckett has been a great help to our people since we came to Atlantis," Teyla said, with a smile at Carson.

"Thank you, lass," Carson said returning the smile. "Now," he continued, raising his voice slightly. "I normally do medical checks on teams who have been off world, and anyone they might bring back with them. I would be grateful if you would all come to the Infirmary with me so I can carry out these checks."

The newcomers exchanged anxious glances. There was obviously some reticence about this idea.

"Is there a problem Tollany?" Elizabeth asked.

"My people do not believe in intervention medicine," Tollany said, speaking slowly and choosing her words carefully. "We only believe in treating whatever symptoms my people display, using herbs and other naturally occurring remedies. We do not believe that technology should be used in the treatment of people."

Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up, and she looked over at Carson, who rolled his eyes every so slightly.

"There was a branch of my people who held these beliefs many generations ago," Teyla confirmed. "It is said that they cut themselves off from the rest and lived as they chose. It must be that these people are descendants of them."

"I would still like to check you over for general health, if I may," Carson said persistently. He gave Tollany his gentlest, non-threatening smile.

She turned to look at her people, as if assessing their feelings on the matter, before turning back to Carson and nodding her assent. "That would be acceptable."

oOoOo

Two hours later, Elizabeth went to the Infirmary to check up on their new arrivals. She had managed to find accommodation for them in one of the recently explored parts of the city. They had asked if they could have their own area to set up home, until they got used to living among other people. Both Elizabeth and Carson had felt that this was a good idea. It would also help to isolate them in case of any infection they might inadvertently carry into the city.

The scene that met her as she reached the door of the Infirmary caused her to stop, and have a gentle laugh.

Carson was working with the new arrivals, doing some basic checks on them, but his work was being hampered by the doca. Every time Carson reached to take someone's pulse, the doca would lean over and start licking his fingers. He laughed and gently lifted the creature out of the way, but it wriggled its way back to prevent him from working again.

Rodney was also having trouble with the creatures, although his response was not so good humoured. He was trying to restrain one of the creatures while one of Carson's staff was dealing with the pet's owner. But no matter how he tried to restrain it, the little creature wriggled and squirmed and always ended up cuddling up to its owner.

"Stupid creature," Rodney said, looking down at his hand, where the doca had managed to nip him. It had just been a gentle nip, but still it was stinging.

"This is the last time I try to help you, Carson," he said, slightly acerbically.

"Aye, Rodney," Carson replied gently. "But you've been a big help."

John was sitting in the corner. He seemed to be having more luck with the doca he was looking after. It was curled up in his arms, snoring slightly.

Teyla and Ronon stood to the side observing the activities. One of the doca kept eyeing up Ronon. It seemed slightly scared, and definitely wary. Elizabeth wasn't surprised by that. Her initial reactions to the big man had been similar.

Tollany approached her.

"Dr Weir," she said, gently. "Have you been able to find a home for us?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Indeed," she replied. "Major Lorne," she indicated the tall man who had just joined her in the Infirmary "will show you to your accommodation."

Lorne smiled at the small woman before him. She reminded him of Teyla in a way, which given their common ancestry was hardly surprising, but she seemed more vulnerable than the Athosian leader.

"If you'd care to follow me, ma'am," he said politely. Ronon and Teyla exchanged an amused glance. It seemed that the medic had found herself an admirer.

As the new arrivals filed out of the Infirmary, the medic's doca jumped over into the unprepared arms of Lorne, almost dropping the small animal in surprise. The little creature gave him a gentle nip of censure.

Once they reached the area they had assigned the new Athosians, Lorne took his leave slightly reluctantly.

"If you need anything, just let me know," he said to Tollany before he left. She gave him a grateful smile.

As soon as he left, the new arrival turned back to her people. The look on her face changed from the smile she gave Lorne to one that was far less pleasant. As she surveyed her people, the doca all moved together, into the middle of the group. As the others watched, the doca transformed from the cuddly creatures, into beings that were strangely human, and yet strangely feline.

"Very good," Tollany said, her voice now very different from the soft tones she had used with the Lanteans. "Stage one has now been completed. We must move on to stage two."

One of the creatures who had been doca stood up and bowed before her.

"We have identified three people so far who hold the blood of the ancestors," the creature said, in a voice lisping through very sharp teeth.

"Very well," Tollany said. "Let us target them, while identifying others. We shall increase our strength with the help of blood that flowed through the ancestor's veins."