Chapter Two: We Don't Leave Anyone Behind

Nearly a week later John sat slumped in the mess hall, debating inwardly on quite how he was going to open up this certain rather sensitive topic of conversation. They'd been back on Atlantis a couple of days now , which – thanks to three fully powered ZPM's – had just yesterday left Earth to take a fast but relatively quick trip to a uninhabited planet nearby, covered almost completely by ocean. In the end, the practicalities of keeping Atlantis on Earth, (i.e. the damn cloak never actually being able to turn off without giving everyone in the harbour a heart attack and only having being able to use one gate at a time,) never really worked out. So he'd got to sit in the cool, glowing chair again, and feel really special piloting the largest space ship ever known to man.

And John had to admit, he'd enjoyed being able to look out the windows again without some random guy in boat staring straight over in his direction, (Yeah, he knew he was invisible but...it was just weird.)

"Alright," he thought, dragging his mind back to present day, "here goes."

"You're planning to WHAT?" Rodney yelped, spitting out his mouthful of broccoli and chicken, John wrinkled his nose at the sight of it. Seriously, couldn't the guy consider that some of them were actually trying to enjoy their food?

He took a sip of his drink praying for calm. "I said Rodney, that I'm planning to reactivate Elizabeth's replicator form body, her, 'FRAN' one." He reached over for the ketchup and squirted it over his pie trying to look nonchalant and relaxed but absentmindedly drumming his other hand on the table even so. John risked a glance at his team. Rodney was just gawking at him, his mouth slightly open. The normally controlled Teyla had a troubled look in her soft brown eyes and was frowning, creasing up her forehead and even poker-faced Ronon's gaze was fixed on him. He coughed and looked away. "What?"

"What do you mean what?" Rodney blustered, "you've just informed us you're planning to carry out one of your ridiculous, ill-considered, hair-brained, and not to mention unauthorised, impossible idea's and you just expect us to take it lying down?"

John leaned back, "Rodney, stop overreacting. Ridiculous? Yes. Ill-considered? Yeah probably. Hair-brained? 'Course. Unauthorised? Most likely," he listed, ticking them off on his fingers. "But impossible? No. Reactivating her nanites should be simple."

Teyla cut in before Rodney could go off into a rant again, "Colonel, I do not understand why you wish to go and rescue her now? It has been almost a year since she sacrificed herself to destroy the last of the replicators. Why have you made this sudden decision?"

John shrugged and took a mouthful of food before answering, he chewed, swallowed and then shovelled some more into his mouth, gaze fixed determinedly on his plate. "Sheppard?" Ronon grunted as the pause stretched out longer and longer and it became obvious he wasn't going to reply.

"What?" He asked, not meeting the Satedan's penetrating eyes.

"What's changed?" He growled. "It's been ages."

"I don't know what you're talking about," John said nonchalantly, avoiding the stares he knew the other three were giving him right now.

Rodney suddenly clicked his fingers, "something happened when while you were back on Earth didn't it?" He exclaimed triumphantly, "something that caused you to come up with this crazy plan!"

"And what could possible haven happened while I was on leave that would want me to go and rescue Elizabeth Rodney?" John asked, "Seriously buddy, your conspiracy theories suck."

"No," Teyla said eyeing him thoughtfully, "he is right. This is not usual for you."

Ronon grunted in agreement again, "something's happened."

John could begin to feel his temper mounting and he struggled to rein it in, he'd been expecting this after all; After hardly mentioning Elizabeth for months he'd just come up out of the blue, and announced he was going to go and get her. Of course the team would notice.

"Whatever," he said brushing it off, "Teyla, we were planning to gate back to Pegasus in a couple of weeks anyway right? To see your people? If we take detour – I'll talk to Woolsey –"

"TALK to Woolsey!" Rodney cried, his voice getting high and shrill, "Sheppard are you out of your mind? What are you going to 'talk' about? You can't just waltz into his office and tell him you're going to go and bring a dangerous and out of control replicator back to Earth!"

"This is Elizabeth, we're talking about here," John snapped. Rodney just rode right over him.

"Even if he does authorise it and I put emphasise on the 'if' there, how do you think Stargate Command, the IOA, Homeworld Security and the Pentagon are going to react? Oh, yeah sure, go right ahead, do what you want, I mean its not like last time she showed up there was any trouble, right?"

"Rodney –" John began only to be ignored again.

"In fact I don't even get you, when she was first hit by that beam weapon and the only way to save her was with the nanites you were the one refusing to do it. If I remember rightly, it was Jennifer and I who came up with that and saved her behind your back. When she and the others hacked into the computer last year, you were as suspicious as the rest of us; that she was a threat, that she wasn't who she said she was. What's happened to the cities safety and security now huh?" Rodney paused, bright red in the face and breathing heavily. "Go on, tell us."

John leaned forward, his face dark with anger, "And Rodney, if I remember rightly, you were the one who would go to any lengths to bring her back too, so what's changed for you? Too hard? Too risky? Scared of getting into trouble?"

"No,' protested Rodney, "I just –"

"You said she'd do the same for me," John said, the fury mounting to an almost uncontrollable level as his voice echoed in the large mess hall, "well I am. I thought you'd agree with me. But you don't." He scraped the chair back and stood up, almost spitting with rage, if he couldn't depend on his team, who could he trust? "Sorry to have bothered you."

He began to walk away and Rodney gave an exasperated sigh. "Sheppard come back!" He yelled, "Stop acting like a –" There was a loud thump and slight cry of protest. Ronon had obviously shut him up just in time. Even though he knew he was over-reacting John kept walking, driven by an almost inhumane ambition. He needed to see her again.

And he wasn't going to give up until he did.

Rodney was holed up in his lab, examining an artefact SGA-3 had found somewhere offworld when Teyla and Ronon walked in. Rodney glanced up and kept working. He didn't want to talk to them. He knew what they'd come to say. As far as he was concerned; Sheppard was an idiot, he was the one who should come and apologize, they shouldn't have to go and make it up to him like he was the one who'd actually done something wrong.

"Rodney?" Teyla began after they'd stood there in silence for over a minute.

Rodney gave an absent, "mmm", still not willing to give up trying to ignore them.

"Rodney." Teyla repeated this time it wasn't a question, it was a statement.

He groaned and looked at her, "what?" He snapped.

"We must talk about this," she said, glancing at Ronon for support, he grunted in agreement.

"Oh, talk about what?" Rodney grumbled, "Unlike some people here, I do actually work. My job is important. And I've never really seen the point of –"

Teyla slipped onto the stool next to his, "you know what I mean Rodney. John. His...proposal." She paused and her voice got lower. "Elizabeth."

"Oh," Rodney said cringing involuntarily, "that."

They sat in silence for a minute before he broke it, staring at the ground and slowly turning red in the face, "Well, it's obvious something happened when he went back that triggered it."

Teyla nodded her face serious, "maybe," she said, "but I have a feeling this has been building up for a while. He has always said he never left people behind, why should Elizabeth be the exception?"

Rodney snorted, "Because last time she turned up she was a high-level security risk, Sheppard knew that."

"Since when has Sheppard been one to follow the rules?" Ronon asked, looking bored. There was a long pause, Teyla breathed deeply, there was something none of them were saying and they all knew it.

"I believe this goes deeper than he's showing," she said slowly, "he misses Elizabeth, it has been almost two years since we lost her; he was closer than any of us. Think about how hard it must be. Last time, he hid all of that behind his authority, now...He obviously regrets that." She stopped and went on, "but we know John, he's not going to give up and none of us would expect him too. I am almost surprised he took this long to find a way." Teyla let out another whispering sigh, "but maybe he didn't want to," she finished under her breath.

"But how do we know it's really her?" Rodney asked with frustration, "I mean it could still be a replicator in there, we could be putting everyone in the city in danger."

Teyla met his gaze, "I believe that – after she gave her life for us – you also seemed sure it was her Rodney."

"Does it really matter?" Ronon shrugged, "he wants to get Weir back and he'll find a way, why are we all so against that? Sheppard was right about one thing McKay; after she got hit the first time you were as desperate to get her back as he was. And Teyla's right too, he'll do what he wants." He turned away again, tired by the long statement.

"Yes, yes, we get the point," Rodney complained, "we're either with him or against him." He gave another groan.

"Elizabeth was our friend too," Teyla said quietly, "when she came back last time, we were all so suspicious of her – and she saved our lives."

Rodney swallowed, "yeah."

Woolsey gazed at the four expressionless members of SGA-1, standing ready to beam. He still couldn't quite believe he was letting them do this. Letting them rescue a potentially dangerous replicator was beyond insanity. What was he thinking? He resisted the urge to call the mission off and land the Deadalus, held in the desire to cut everything and send the team back to their offices to file mission reports. He took a deep steadying breath and his poker face held.

If he was going insane (and he was seriously considering that possibility now) at least he has Sheppard's team to blame, they could pay for psychiatric hospital. Since Sheppard had returned nearly a fortnight ago he'd been stubbornly insisting that he go back and reactivate Doctor Weir's replicator body. At first Richard had turned him down flat out, was that man already crazy? (Short answer – yes, almost everyone who'd been to the Pegasus galaxy was.) However the Colonel seemed unstoppable, he'd ambushed Woolsey in the mess hall one day and listed all of the assets Doctor Weir had to offer Atlantis, her leadership abilities, her fluency in Ancient, her previous experience at Stargate command, her knowledge of the city, her negotiating skills, it was like he'd memorized everything in her job original referendum. Richard had almost run back to his office still shouting obstinate no's behind him.

A couple of days later, Doctor McKay and Doctor Keller walked into his office with the list of names of people offering to come on the mission to rescue her. This included almost everyone in the city, half of SGC staff and even some former Atlantians. The damn thing was pages long.

The next week Ronon virtually kidnapped him to practice sparring, for 'self defence.' Richard shuddered to think who he was meant to be defending himself from. However while his whole being was focused on trying to duck the hard sticks that kept swinging towards his head, Ronon was quite able to keep up a (mainly one way) conversation. It was ironic that this time the usually silent warrior was doing all the talking. When Richard managed to pant out what a good job the Satedan been doing at training people, he'd replied that he was only here because it was Elizabeth who'd convinced him to join the team. After a few more swipes he casually mentioned the one time when Elizabeth had saved Earth and the city from a vicious Wraith attack saving billions of lives in the process. Next it was the occasion she'd negotiated with the Genii, or managed to retrieve Sheppard from a time dilatation field. Teyla had mysteriously appeared to watch and started to chip in with stories out how she'd single-handedly managed to hold the city together in the first year.

By the time Keller and Rodney turned up, he'd been subjected to every single thing Elizabeth had done while on Atlantis, every difference made, every decision, every time she'd prevented the city from collapsing, every life she'd saved.

Thinking back, Woolsey still wondered how his restraint had held up until then, what had broken him, happened later. Sheppard returned from an off-world mission and after obviously having heard the whole story from the other four, stormed straight to his office.

"Dammit Mr Woolsey, what else do we have to do?" He asked through gritted teeth.

Richard coughed and arranged some papers, "Much as I admire your – persistence in the matter of Doctor Weir's um, resurrection, surely you must realise it is impossible to attain security clearance for such a rash action." He replied smoothly.

"C'mon Woolsey, you know how it works, there are some people who can pull some strings. You've just got to find them."

"Colonel," He snapped, would he ever get him off his back? "Believe me, at this moment I would like nothing more than to give you what you want, if only to earn a moments peace, but rules are there for a reason. If you know of any people in positions of authority who do actually agree with you, then I MIGHT be swayed, but until then –"

"Colonel Carter, Doctor Jackson and General O'Neill." John answered without missing a beat, Richard looked up. "If you need support, they're it," he explained.

Richard frowned; he hadn't actually expected him to come up with anything. He gave a silent moan and rubbed his eyes. "Colonel, I truly understand your loss, really I do, you were obviously close to Doctor Weir..." Sheppard's expression darkened and Woolsey continued hurriedly, "but there is nothing I can do. I'm sorry." He turned to his laptop, indicating this topic was over – for good.

Sheppard stood up, "Woolsey, if you don't let me getDoctor Weir back, then I resign. But before I leave I promise you, I *will* rescue her, even if it's by myself, alone and without your authority." He leaned on the desk, "She sacrificed herself for us, and I'm finally doing something about it."

It was in that moment, when Richard saw the hard, desperate look in his eyes that he gave in. He wasn't stupid, he'd been taught how to read emotions and everything about Sheppard right now was screaming that this was a man who was on the boarder of madness. He was going to get Weir back and there was nothing Richard could do to prevent him.

So he gave up. A few calls to Earth, a few compromises made, a few pulls at the strings that Sheppard mentioned and it was sorted. He had a feeling O'Neill had intervened personally but for once, he wasn't going to complain. And now they were off.

Woolsey nodded once to the four unreadable faces of his best team and tapped on his radio, "they are ready to beam." The next instant they had vanished in a blinding flash of light and he was alone in the gate room.

It was up to them now.

John piloted the Jumper in a smooth curve, circling the gate. "Look, there they are," Rodney said, pointing to white, motionless forms, floating out in empty space. John swallowed at the sight of them; trapped, stuck, frozen forever; he guessed that was as dead as machines got. John manoeuvred the Jumper around them, his eyes searching for Elizabeth.

"Over to the left," Teyla said softly.

"Make sure it's her," Rodney whined, "the last thing we want is to pick up the wrong one."

John rolled his eyes, "yeah, because I was really planning to do that." He hovered slowly towards the body, hearing the faint vibrations as the back Jumper doors opened. Angling the Jumper down slightly, he backed up. Carefully...carefully... There was the slightest of thumps, gently rocking the Jumper as her body landed on the floor. "Got her!" He said in relief.

"You sure?" Rodney asked, tapping on the console, "Ok, ok! Just checking," he said defensively as John shot him a look. "Let's just get out of here."

They had already visited New Athos first, many of the crew on the Deadalus also eager to see the Athosians. Inwardly John had been subdued at the thought of losing Teyla as well; she was considering remaining behind in Pegasus with her people. However on arriving at the planet had been a shock; just the week before a hurricane had hit the Athosian settlement, killing and wounding over a dozen. Teyla's horrified eyes as she had seen the damage done to her people had been something John wouldn't forget for a long time, and neither were her desperate screams as she searched for Kanaan and Torren among the injured.

After discovering both of them were fine and well John had wondered selfishly if this meant the end to any hope of Teyla returning with them to Earth. He couldn't blame her; she needed to be with her family. However one genuine blessing came out of the whole ghastly mess. The Athosian settlement had suffered so much in the recent tragedy and after already losing so many people under Michael's horrific experiments they needed Atlantis's support more than ever. As Teyla had told the team, they were weary of the struggle and pain they had endured, some were even beginning to believe they were cursed, that the Pegasus galaxy was determined to make them suffer for some past misdeed. They needed a new start, fresh hope, and a future again. In the Milky Way if need be.

So they did. With so few left it wasn't hard to transfer them and their belongings to the Deadalus; Colonel Caldwell was unusually accommodating after Earth granted permission.

As Rodney commented wistfully, it was nice when things worked out as easily as that.

Elizabeth remained unconscious in the prison cells on the whole journey back to the Milky Way. Once there; the team gated her in the Jumper to a small abandoned moon; this had been part of Woolsey's agreement. They could reactivate Elizabeth's nanites, let her build a new body, make sure she was completely safe to be around and then return to Atlantis.

"That's it," Ronon said gruffly, dumping the last of the bags in the room. John nodded absently, laying Elizabeth/Fran (he'd never get used to that, and was glad he didn't have to) on the bed. There was an abandoned village just a few miles from the gate; people had obviously left, fleeing from the Gou'ald, Ori or some other enemy. The houses were a little bare and cold, but they had some furniture, were reasonably sheltered and weren't blown to pieces, like a couple of other places they'd considered. Even if Rodney did complain about the 'medieval standards.'

Right now the doctor was hunched over his laptop, making no effort to help the three of them carry the stuff from the Jumper. "McKay?" John said questioningly, turning to him.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm almost done." He replied, flapping his hand.

"You know you didn't have to do that the moment we stepped through the door," John said, grabbing some water.

"As far as I'm concerned, the less time we spend here the better," Rodney grumbled, "we'll be here ages, while she builds her new human body anyway, I mean look at all that stuff," he gestured to the materials, spread all over the floor.

John shared a glance with Ronon, "yeah, that heavy, heavy stuff that we all worked so hard to bring in." He snorted.

"Whatever," Rodney brushed the comment away, "to be honest this is so basic by now. I mean I'm sure um, lesser brains would find it a serious challenge, but as it's my second time, well, lets say like stealing candy from a baby." He gave them a smug smile.

"Yeah, so basic we're all still waiting." John muttered under his breath. He flopped down against the wall, ripping away the packet of a snack bar.

"Ok, done!" Rodney announced a couple of minutes later, "her energy signature is very weak, the obvious result of being frozen in space for a year but I think I can reactivate these replicator cells with very little difficulty." He looked round at all of them, "hopefully."

John stuffed the last of the food in his mouth and stood up, he nodded to Ronon and Teyla, who took up defensive positions around her body; guns poised.

'We're absolutely sure we want to do this," Rodney said nervously, his gaze darting between Elizabeth and the laptop.

"Well, no actually I'm having second thoughts," John answered seriously, a look of utter shock passed across Rodney's face.

"You've got to be kidding! After everything you put us through –"

"Yes Rodney, I'm kidding," John rolled his eyes at Ronon. "Now can you just go?"

Rodney gritted his teeth but was silent; he tapped a few keys and then closing his eyes, pressed down on the enter button.

Nobody moved. All gazes were fixed on the replicator form. Rodney sneezed once and then snuffled uncomfortably, Ronon's fingers flexed, Teyla swallowed. John didn't budge. His whole being centred towards her. There was utter silence for another long moment and then, so slowly it was almost unnoticeable; Elizabeth's lashes fluttered. Once or twice, three times. John's breath hitched and his stomach squeezed tight. Then, giving a soft moan, her eyes flew open.

They flickered, at first registering shock and even horror, but as they darted everywhere, taking in the whole room, scanning Ronon, Teyla and Rodney before finally resting on him the expression changed to concern.

"John," she said in a soft whisper, "I'm going to kill you."

A smile spread across his face.

She was back.