Chapter 2: Shattered Reality
The city was a buzz of liveliness when John and the team returned through the Gate. Keller had been waiting with a stretcher and a med team and John lowered Elizabeth onto it gently. He followed them all the way to the infirmary as Keller insisted that he get checked out to ensure that Elizabeth hadn't been made infectious. It felt a bit like déjà vu, taking the long walk through the corridors. Just the reverse journey he and Elizabeth had taken when they left for that fateful mission a year ago.
He was nervous. Too many thoughts were flying about his head. Plus the security team that also escorted them seemed to be on edge. Not that he blamed them. If it really was their Elizabeth, then even with all the Replicators destroyed, she could still pose a threat to them all. She was part Replicator, and who knew what they had done to her.
Still he was trying to be positive. If it really was their Elizabeth then he had finally fulfilled his promise to bring her home. He had so much apologising to do. So much to tell her about what had happened during her absence. He knew her journey would be difficult, fitting into normal and putting things back to the way they were but he wouldn't abandon her ever again. He would finally put things right for her.
But he knew he was getting ahead of himself. Though this walk seemed to be taking an eternity. It was just the apprehension. The wait. It always was with these situations. After four years in the Pegasus Galaxy he should have been used to it. But he doubted he ever would. When they finally arrived in the infirmary, Keller ushered Elizabeth into an isolation room to begin scans and to verify her identity. He was separated from her and placed in his own isolation room and placed under a scanner.
It didn't take long to discern that everything was ok and he wasn't under attack. John practically bolted from the room back into the main infirmary. Heading to where Elizabeth was being seen to. As soon as he got there Keller exited the room and guided him away towards the video feeds. Too much like she had when she'd told him Elizabeth might not survive.
"It's her." She simply states, anticipating his question. He felt like jumping with glee but he could tell by her tone that all was not well. "As far I can tell, there's been no physical trauma. But she's still unconscious and I have no idea why."
"What did they do to her?" He asks but it's more to himself than anyone else. He's looking at the screens, at Elizabeth's serene calm face as she slumbers. His brow furrows with worry. He couldn't help but feel this was the calm before the storm.
"I wish I knew." Keller answers anyway a sigh escaping her lips. She felt responsible for what happened to Elizabeth. After all it was her idea to reactivate the nanites in the first place.
Silence enveloped them as they both stared at the monitors. Time seems to stop as they think about the ramifications of Elizabeth being back on Atlantis. Though obviously relived that she back where she belongs, they both know there's a lot to figure out.
Unfortunately for them they're about to realise just how bumpy and long this road is going to be.
John and Keller see on the screen that Elizabeth's eyes snap open and her green eyes dart around, taking in all her surroundings. A nurse notices her awakening and goes over to talk to her, to reassure her that she is safe when trouble stirs.
Just as the nurse reaches her Elizabeth grabs hold lf her arm and twists her around. Locking her arm behind the nurse' back, threatening to snap the bone. She vaults off the bed and slams the poor lady into the wall.
Keller is too stunned to move but John is already moving and so are the other medical and security personnel. The other nurses go to aid of their colleague while the two security officers go to restrain Elizabeth. As John enters the room he his shocked to see Elizabeth smashing her elbow into one of the men's faces and trying to escape the other one's grasp.
"Elizabeth!" He calls her name to try and get her attention and is about to dive into the fray when she wrenches herself free and throws the marine over her shoulder onto the floor.
She screams at him and the next thing he knows, she's tackling him to the ground with her hands around his neck. His hands automatically grab her wrists trying to pry her off him but she's stronger than she appears.
"Just stop it! Just end this!" She screams at him as her nails dig into his skin about to draw blood.
He doesn't understand what she means and he's desperately trying to get air into his lungs, to yell at her to stop.
"Elizabeth calm down!" Teyla's voice comes from somewhere and then Ronan's arms wrap around her and tear her from him.
Keller runs in with a syringe, obviously containing a sedative and Ronan roughly holds out Elizabeth's left arm and the kind doctor instantly injects it. He leans forward and watches in astonishment as she looks at all of them with deep hatred engrained into her once lovely green eyes.
"Curse you." Elizabeth spits out and her body slowly gives up struggling to escape. Her eyes lock onto his and her voice waivers and begins to slur. "I'll get you one of these days…Oberoth."
A/N: Sorry that it's been so long since I updated this story and the fact this Chapter is fairly short but I've been busy on other projects but I'm hoping to work on this more now. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
