*Standard disclaimers still apply, I do not own Stargate, this is meant for entertainment*

Thanks again to Sam for keeping me focused and chasing away the bunnies. Darn bunnies, why do they have to look so cute, always inviting me down their rabbit trails.

And now back to our story.

"What do you mean he's gone? You mean to tell me that an entire team of voodoo specialists couldn't keep an eye on one half-dead Colonel!" Dr. Rodney McKay stood in marked disbelief, gazing once again at the empty, rumpled sheets which covered the lonely hospital bed, as though by simply staring Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard would somehow magically reappear. "I mean we just got him back from who knows what sort of hellish experience and now he's gone again." Rodney's voice dropped in volume and tone "He's going to be alright? Isn't he Carson?"

An equally distraught, though far less vocal, Dr. Carson Beckett sat slumped at his desk, looking over his notes with Dr. Weir, trying desperately to understand how things had unravelled so quickly for his most frequent patient. Although, to be fair, this latest twist was only the most recent development in SGA-1's current saga. If Carson wanted to be technical, the most recent fiasco had begun a week earlier with SGA-1's ill-fated mission to P7R-3J6.

What was it with that team and "simple missions"?

Carson wearily turned in his chair and made eye contact with Rodney whose responses were thankfully being soothed by Teyla. Carson gave a small, silent shout of thanks for the Athosian woman's unflappable presence and inherent knack for calmly her high-strung team mate down in these rather frequent, high-stress situations.

"My so-called voodoo specialists, as you insist on calling them, did their best Rodney. We couldna risk putting him in restraints. Between his history, our lack of information regarding just what the bloody hell happened to him on the planet, and the fact that the man was and still is delusional . . . the potential risk of adding to his mental trauma just didna seem worth it. I couldna do it to the lad, not when he was in such obvious distress. I had me best staff watching him. Nobody expected SGA-12 to come staggering in at 3am after encounter a forest fire on whatever wretched planet they happened to have been stuck exploring. Everyone feels terrible as it is without you laying more blame. There just simply wasn't enough manpower" Carson dropped his head and slumped back into his chair, all energy seemingly fleeing his body.

"And why wasn't there enough manpower? Hmm? Answer me that Carson. We all know Sheppard has 'unique' abilities, you should have planned for every contingency, every possibility. You should have been ready!"

"Now listen here, I spent the better part of a day patching up what those monsters left of our Colonel back into one piece, not to mention the next twelve hours sitting by his bedside watching his vitals and keeping him stabilized . Believe it or not Meredith Rodney McKay, even we doctors need to get some real sleep, in a real bed, on occasion, we canae all live on coffee alone. Do ye not think I've been sitting here reliving every bloody decision I made last night, can ye not pull yourself out of yer own worry long enough to realise that others may blame already themselves!"

Rodney jumped back, eyes widening "I . . . I didn't realise Carson. I didn't mean. It's just, I -"

"I believe what Rodney is attempting to say, Doctor, is that we know you did your best with the information you possessed at the time. We know that you would go to great lengths to protect those under your care and never intentionally cause them harm. However, now, we must all put aside our guilt and blame and focus on finding John. He is alone, injured, and delusional in Atlantis, an area which John could better navigate than half of the personnel while sleeping." Teyla re-examined the city schematics Rodney had brought with him.

"And it's rainin', hard. Takes a lot of a man who hasn't been recently tortured" Ronon added, entering the room and shaking the water droplets out of his hair.

"That is most disconcerting news Ronon." Teyla slumped at Ronon's arrival.

"Aye lass, you could say that again, John's in no physical condition to be surviving that monsoon for very long. Not to mention the fact that no one with his current mental or emotional state should be left alone for any great length of time."

"I take it you were unsuccessful in your quest to locate John in the immediate vicinity?"

"Lorne's still got teams looking in cubbyholes and such, brains looking at scanners but we found evidence of someone heading towards the southern city core."

"Of course, even delirious Sheppard would still make this as difficult as possible."

Teyla jumped back, distancing herself from Rodney "Are implying that John would do this on purpose?"

"Alright everyone settle down. As Teyla has already said, sitting around laying blame, on ourselves or others, will do no one any good." Elizabeth's voice was firm from the corner where she was going over the scant details of John's escape "Now, Carson, you are most familiar with John's status. What do we need to tell the search teams so they can best help John once he is located?"

Carson's shoulders straightened as he looked Elizabeth straight in the eye "Right you are lass, I assume SGA-1 will coordinate with Major Lorne's team to recover their leader?" Looking over and receiving visible confirmation he continued, "All right then, obviously he'll need medical attention as soon as possible. However, while I'm en route, basic survival training comes into play: get him dry, out of the elements if he's exposed, keep him warm, check for any major injuries, if he's hypothermic the cold may have actually slowed any bleeding, proving to be a godsend rather than the usual detriment."

"And I'll work to reconnect transporters in the south sector, Carson. That way once Sheppard's found we can have you to him in five minutes or less"

"Thank ye Rodney, that could make a world of difference in John's survival and recovery."

"Alright Carson, we will inform the teams and -"

"Not quite lass, there's one more key element I'm afraid we need to cover. John may not actually recognize you or the members of the search teams. He'll have to be approached with extreme caution, and depending on his status, you may have to earn his trust before he allows you to aid him."

"Carson" Elizabeth's tone held a hint of an unidentifiable emotion "Is there something you haven't been telling us?"

"Aye, normally I wouldna say anything, due to patient privileges and such. Considering John's training though, to remain quiet would mean putting all of ye in unnecessary danger and potentially escalating an already delicate situation. When I was sitting with the lad, after his surgery and such, he would begin to mumble whenever he reached a semi-conscious state. He seems to believe he's either in Afghanistan, P7R-3J6, or some hellish combination of the two."

Ronon and Teyla both scanned their Milky Way counterparts at Carson declaration. Although, Teyla had heard grumblings about Afghanistan during her time in Atlantis, few expedition members had proven willing to actually discuss this part of their home world. Ronan, for his part, had heard even less. Rodney, much as he hated it, understood Carson's implications far too well.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, Rodney straightened himself up and quietly walked to the door, motioning for Teyla and Ronon to follow. Pausing in the doorway, Rodney turned looked Carson in the eye, and with solemnity spoke "I'm sorry for blaming you earlier Carson, we'll let you know the minute we find him"

With that Rodney led the rest of SGA-1 out the door with a determination born of quiet dignity and concerned worry, united in their quest to bring John safely home.