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So John has found a mysterious window. I wonder what kind of trouble he's going to get into?

In The Nick Of Time.

Chapter 2.

John reckoned that finding a needle in a haystack would be easier. After trying every door along the long corridor, he was exhausted. It had taken over an hour to get this far and now he was dead on his feet. If Carson found out the Scot wouldn't be pleased. John guessed this wasn't what the doc had in mind when he'd suggested a short walk.

So far all of the rooms were empty. It was clear some had been labs at one point, but apart from the abandoned workbenches, there was no clue what ingenious innovations had once been discovered there. Despite the air-con flowing through the corridor he was getting hot. Damn this flu. He wiped away the sweat dripping into his eyes with the back of his hand, and tried to ignore the tightness creeping into his chest. His tired legs were another matter. He needed a time out so he slumped down, rested his head against the wall, and closed his eyes. The mysterious window must be somewhere on this level but his fuzzy brain refused to co-operate. He was stumped where it could be. John was on the point of calling it a day when he noticed something weird about the surface of the opposite wall.

He struggled to his feet and ran his hand along the metallic surface. It wasn't obvious to the passerby but when you looked closely, there was a smooth raised edge that went vertically from the floor to the ceiling. On instinct he pushed, and a partition slowly opened to reveal a secret room. John only hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.

It was shrouded in darkness giving no clue to what lay beyond but gradually, like every other room he'd entered in Atlantis, the lights started to come on. Dimly at first, but when the room was completely illuminated, a smile grew on his face. There were rows of tall shelves all heaving with books, stretching out as far as the eye could see. Large ones, small ones, and everything in-between. All of them covered in a thick layer of dust.

It had to be a library. Yet as far as he was aware the Ancients had downloaded everything onto their database. Their scientists had only just scratched its surface, but he wondered how much of this material hadn't been deemed worthy of admission. Regardless, this was too good a find not to share. He touched his radio. "McKay, this is Sheppard. Bet you'd like to know what I've found."

There was static, and John remembered that reception was patchy this far away. "McKay…can you hear me?"

"Yes I can hear you…just about. Where are you? I thought you'd be in your quarters resting by now."

John ignored the comment as he shouted into the radio. "I'm on the level below the north pier."

"What? Did you say the level below the pier?" Rodney didn't wait for a reply before he continued. "I didn't even know there was another level…Anyway what are you doing so far out? You're still sick. Carson is going to have a canary when he finds out you walked that far." The scientist managed to sound both irritated and worried at the same time.

"Who's going to tell him? Besides, I'm fine. And guess what, I found a library." John beamed, and waited for a response.

"Excuse me. Did you say a library?"

"Yeah, and by the looks of things I'm guessing this must be an archive of some kind. You need to get down here. This place is awesome."

Rodney let out a long sigh. "I will…but I'm right in the middle of getting the sensors repaired. Unless we want to risk another undiscovered assailant roaming the base, I'm afraid it will have to wait until later."

John's smile disappeared as he swallowed his disappointment. "Sure…I'll just have a look around – maybe get myself a book. I wonder if they have a fiction section. Do you think they had crime writers?"

"I doubt it." Rodney snorted. "Their lives were so orderly they probably wouldn't even know what a crime spree was. Still, I'm guessing this could have been their recreation centre. Knowing them they wouldn't have thought it important enough to include in the database. In fact...from the smug, supercilious Ancients we've met, I'm guessing this room was sort of a guilty pleasure. That's probably why it was hidden away from the rest of the city. Have you come across a SciFi section by any chance? It might be interesting to read their take on the subject." Rodney was trying to sound offhand, but John wasn't fooled. He stifled a laugh.

"No, at least not so far. From the covers I'm looking at now I think I've just reached the children's section." John paused to pick up a book. "The pictures inside are kinda like our cartoons." He smiled. "This one reminds me of Tom and Jerry."

Rodney's voice went up an octave. "Trust you to find comic books...Seriously, Sheppard, do not...and I repeat do not touch anything! Anyway, what's the point? You can't read Ancient."

"I know a few words," John huffed, indignant. "There's some text below these pictures. Even if it is a kid's book, it will help improve my vocabulary."

"John…you need to get out of there." Rodney warned. "The place might look harmless enough…"

"What exactly are you trying to say, Rodney…That I don't know what I'm doing? In case you've forgotten I'm military leader of this base. I think that makes me perfectly capable of looking after myself." John felt his hackles rise. Just to spite his smart ass teammate he took another book off the shelf and blew away the dust. He started to choke.

"Of course not…but hear yourself. You're still not fully recovered from the flu."

While he zoned out Rodney's voice John opened the book. It was a heavy volume bound in thick red leather, the parchment inside yellow with age. There was no clue to the content from the cover. As there were no pictures inside, he replaced it on the shelf.

"Sheppard…John…Are you okay?" Rodney called out, sounding slightly panicky.

The long walk had taken more out of him than he'd bargained for. He was pissed at still feeling under par, but Rodney didn't deserve to take the brunt of his frustration. John broke out his fugue and his mood. "Sorry, Rodney. I'm coming back up now, but you really need to get down here."

Rodney sounded wistful. "I will…just as soon as I can. You know what these morons are like. If I don't keep an eye on what they're doing, we'll never get the sensors online."

John had been walking while he talked. As he moved about disturbing centuries of dust, the air became stuffy as it gathered round the lights. The room was becoming dingy, so when he saw a bright light straight ahead he was curious to see where it was coming from.

"Whoa…now this is really something else!"

"Sheppard…I thought you were leaving." Rodney muttered. "Okay, fine…I'll bite. What do you see now, a DVD section?"

"I've just walked into a room lined with pictures…scratch that, I think they're holograms. The scenery seems to be moving…A bit like 3D, but cooler." John felt his heart start to race. Every nerve in his body was tingling as he was inexplicably drawn further into the room.

"What do you think it could be – interactive gaming?" Rodney asked, sounding slightly excited.

John saw thousands of different landscapes. There were snow capped mountains with weird looking birds soaring into the sky. Oceans lapping onto sun kissed beaches where foaming white horses broke against the shore. Long rippling deserts surrounded by rugged mountains. One in particular reminded him of Afghanistan. Except the sand was more gold than yellow, and the tall, craggy rock formations were a dark burgundy color. There were also three red suns beaming down from a cloudless sky. A chill ran down his spine as he was reluctantly drawn towards it.

"I'm not sure. Maybe it's a record of all the planets they've visited. There's a console in the middle that lit up when I walked into the room." John licked his lips, feeling anxious. "I know it sounds weird, but this place gives me the creeps."

"Then what are you hanging around for? Get out!" Rodney shouted down his radio.

John could hear the words but they sounded hollow, distant, as if Rodney was speaking from the end of a very long tunnel. Just like the crystalline entity he was powerless to resist being pulled towards the image that seemed to be calling him.

"Sheppard…please tell me you're getting out of there."

"I'm trying..." His feet were slipping, the rubber treads on his sneakers no match for the force that was dragging him forward. John reached out and gripped the console, but couldn't gain any purchase as his fingers slipped off the smooth, metallic surface. A low rhythmic whooshing noise filled the room. Softly at first then getting louder as he desperately tried to stop his slow, but steady progress towards the picture. Helpless to resist John grunted as his his hand was wrenched from his side and pulled towards it.

"Rodney…I don't know what the hell's going on. I'm being pulled towards one of the images."

"What have I been saying for the last...never mind. Just get out of there. Run if you have to!"

John wanted to comply, but he couldn't stop his traitorous hand making contact. A scream ripped from his throat as a sharp, fiery pain shot through his limb and consumed him whole...

ooooOoooo

John's agonized scream made his blood run cold. "Sheppard…John!"

Rodney's heart was hammering against his chest as he rushed towards the door. Radek followed in his wake. "What is it, Rodney?"

"Colonel Sheppard stumbled upon a library. I told him to walk away…but no. Colonel 'I know best' had to poke his nose in and now…I heard him scream, Radek."

"That is not good, Rodney."

"Yah think?" Rodney rolled his eyes at the Czech.

Radek merely scratched his head. "If it is indeed a library, perhaps you should take Doctor Kozlov with you. Her knowledge of the Ancient language is most impressive."

"I was thinking more along the lines of bringing Carson," Rodney snarked, "but I suppose you do have a point. Get her to join me down there…I mean would you please ask her to come. And, Radek – thanks."

With the sensors down, there was no easy way of finding Sheppard. Rodney started retracing John's steps using the scant directions his friend had given him. He was panting, out of breath, when he eventually reached it. Luck was on his side for once, when he found the entrance still ajar. If it had closed over, he doubted he would have discovered it. It was a disturbing thought that he quickly pushed aside. Rodney impatiently glanced at his watch wondering if he should wait for Lorne first, but Sheppard was in trouble so he cautiously went inside.

Stunned by the sight that met him, at first he nearly forgot why he was there. It was so much more than Sheppard said it was. The database was a veritable treasure trove of knowledge, but this library had to predate it. Rodney was itching to have a proper look around, but it could wait. Today he was on a more important mission. John was lying hurt somewhere and he needed to find him.

"Have you located the Colonel yet, Dr McKay?"

Rodney jumped as Lorne appeared by this side. It never ceased to amaze him how these military types were so quiet on their feet.

"Does it look like it…" Rodney responded automatically. When he watched the expression harden on Lorne's face, he wanted to bite his tongue. He was worried, and when he was anxious he could be rude. It was a character flaw he wasn't proud of. "Sorry, Major…I didn't mean to snap. No…I haven't seen him yet, but I think we could be close. The room with the bright light Sheppard described looks to be straight ahead."

"Where is he? Where's my patient?" Carson Beckett appeared, his worried eyes darting around the room. A young woman was with him. She was petite with long, glossy dark hair tied into a pony tail hanging straight down her back. Her ice-blue eyes were scanning the library, wide with excitement.

"Welcome to the party, Carson." Rodney drawled sarcastically then turned to the woman. Her name badge declared her to be Nicky Kozlov. She barely looked a day over twenty. He was either getting old, or the new intake of expedition members were getting younger. Rodney hoped she knew her stuff.

The woman turned and gave him a cool look. Rodney was uncomfortable under her gaze and wondered if she could read his mind. "I might be young, Doctor McKay, but I am the leading authority in my field. What can I do to be of service?"

Her accent reminded him of the short red-haired villainess in one of the Bond films, but this girl was a lot cuter. He remembered Jennifer, and the color flooded to his cheeks. "Colonel Sheppard said he felt a strange sensation when he walked into the room…like he was drawn to it. What does that writing say over the entrance? Is it a warning? Or maybe it's a clue to what purpose it has?"

The young woman examined the Ancient text. "I would not call it a warning as such, and the words do not have a direct translation to English." Her brow furrowed as she hesitated for a moment. "I believe it conveys a welcome to all adventurers who wish enlightenment."

Carson's face creased with worry as he peered through the entrance. "Regardless of what it says, I need to get in there."

Lorne nodded. "I agree, but we need to take precautions. I'll go first…"

The assembled group watched the major slowly enter the room, then heard him let out a low whistle. "I think you'd all better get in here."

Rodney went to rush in, but Carson beat him to it. The Scot's face fell as he saw the shimmering image taking up the entire back wall. "Bloody hell!"

Sheppard was lying unconscious in the middle of a desert. In the cloudless blue skies overhead there wasn't just one, but three blazing red suns beating down on his body.

Lorne went over and placed his hand against it. He yelped as he was thrown across the room, hit the back wall and fell into a crumpled heap. "Gah!"

"Major!" Carson dashed over and started taking the soldiers vitals. Lorne was squirming on the floor, rubbing his head and wincing. Despite Carson's protests he was already trying to get back on his feet.

"You need to keep still, Major. Until I get you checked out, I won't know what kind of damage you've done."

"I'm fine, doc…I just got a shock. That's one kick-ass force field." He flushed, looking embarrassed. "It was a dumb move. I should have known better."

Carson didn't look happy, but as Lorne was already half way up, he helped him the rest of the way. He staggered slightly when he finally got to his feet. Carson didn't let go until he was steady. "Aye, well… you were just acting on impulse lad. I would have done the same. There isn't an open wound, but you have a nasty bump back there. I want you to get that head checked out as soon as possible."

Lorne nodded, and winced again. "Sure…as soon as we get the Colonel back."

Nicky was helping him examine the monitor. Rodney was finding it hard to stay focused when he could see his best friend lying out there, unmoving. The only other time he'd come across something like this before was the portal into the sanctuary. On that occasion John had been attacked by a beast. He'd aged six months in a matter of hours. Rodney hoped this wasn't going to be as problematic.

"What is this place, Doctor McKay?" Lorne asked coming to join them at the monitor.

Rodney shrugged. "It's some kind of portal, to where – I haven't a clue. Sheppard said there were a number of different holographic images on the wall. I'm guessing they disappeared when he touched one…probably the same one where he's in now."

Carson went up to the shimmering wall and looked at the man now getting covered by the shifting sand. "So how do we get him out? We don't know how the portal affected him when he was pulled through, but from what you told me it sounded like a painful experience. The Colonel was already severely weakened by the flu, and by the look of this climate, well…he isn't going to last long in that kind of heat."

"I'm working on it, Carson…" Rodney said through clenched teeth. Truth was he'd never seen anything like this before. He didn't have a foggy what any of the controls were. Rodney was frightened to touch anything in case it made matters worse. He couldn't even do his MALP on a stick routine because of the force field. Damn Sheppard, the man was a trouble magnet. Why did he have to be so nosey?

ooooOoooo

TBC.

Well...John is in big trouble again, just for a change! Hope you enjoyed it, and please review!