After the most bizarre night's sleep he had ever had he had gone to see Woolsey before heading towards a certain person's office. He had felt calm all morning giving him a strange out of body feeling. It had been disconcerting at first but as the morning stretched on he became accustomed to it even if the thought of a petite archaeologist having possible control of him was a little worrying.

Peering through the doorway leaning on the frame trying to look as nonchalant as possible everything was explained. There were several dozen candles spread around the room giving the room a soft ambient glow. The smell that hit his nose was very familiar. It was the spicy, sweet wooden scent Teyla frequently used when meditating but the room showed no sign of burning incense.

None of the lights were on the multitude of screens, monitors and laptops scattered around were all dark. Stepping quietly he stared at a sack of old books the leather binding them weathered and worn. It was only when he was just a step away that he could see her work. Leaning on the counter running along the wall of the small room he watched her. She was surrounded in the glow of the candles the few sitting on her desk flicking light and shadow across her face. Her fingers danced along a line of large, old book the print barely legible. As her fingers worked right to left her other hand slowly wrote, the letters and words looping and curling. She looked locked in time, a window back to how she would have worked so long ago.

The calm made sense. As distracting and all consuming as it was becoming he could certainly see the appeal of the simple life. His mind and body ached despite it, longing for the rush of action, the thrill of adventure and danger. That thought alone made her hand stop her eyes drift closed. On instinct he stepped towards her desk hand about to reach for her when her breath shuddered out the pen slowly placed in a nearby case.

Still concerned he pulled up a stool beside her. He didn't know what to say or what to do but he knew he had to say something. Words seem to have defeated him however.

"I know you're bored and anxious to do something but I needed just a little bit of peace this morning." Her voice was a quiet whisper, soft but weary. Only when her eyes turned to him did he see just how blood shot they were.

"You didn't sleep well either." It was more of a statement that a question he knew that but he found something a least to say. "I'm sorry."

"Was that you or me?"

"I thought it was you but."

"Maybe it was both of us. A never-ending cycle."

"Could be. We have to go see Keller. Have you had breakfast yet?" It was slight but he was sure he saw her shake her head. "Come on. We'll eat and then get poked and prodded for a while."

"And then you can tell me what you have got planned that you were trying to rope me into."

"I don't know what you mean." He replied trying to look innocent.

"Don't you think you're a bit old for that look?" It took a double take before his mind figured out what she had said, seeing a barely hidden smirk.

Stepping into the transporter he looked at her facing the now closing doors. Hovering his finger over the location on the map he narrowed his eyes at her before pressing.

"I am not old."

Breakfast was brief and interrupted by McKay who still eating a piece of toast trailed behind them muttering about something as they walked to the infirmary. This time however aside from the wires and the screens they also had to contend with Dr Volask. The man was one of long line of people who had stepped into the city's shrink role. The man was nice enough for a shrink but unlike Kate whenever he spoke he always sounded patronising. He was sure the man could read the phone book and still sound the same.

Hooking the up to what looked like a polygraph machine he showed them pictures wanting to elicit a response from the other. Ironically the only thing he felt the whole way through was boredom. When it came to his turn to play sender instead of receiver the fact she dozed off after two cards told him he had sent her his boredom aswell.

Although a little ashamed he couldn't help but chuckle. When Volask's exasperated sigh reach his ears he had the sense to look a little bit guilty but it didn't last very long. Huffing to himself the man got up and disappeared around the corner sending two nurses scattering. With Keller dismissing them both, Merry still slightly red in the face they scrambled free of the equipment making a quick escape.

The moment they stepped out of the doors he grasped her arm pulling her in the opposite direction to the one she was headed. He ignored every one of her protests practically dragging her until she finally gave in.

"Colonel, where are you taking me?" Her voice was stuttered as she attempted to keep up with his fast pace. His hand never left her but he did slow his pace acknowledging just how much shorter she was compared to him. Finding her keeping step with him easily now he pulled down a side corridor and then up a ramp into the control room.

"Chuck is everything set?" He called out rounding the equipment still holding on to her.

"Yes sir just as you requested."

"Good." He walked off again holding onto her arm. He heard her stumble as he moved smirking when he heard her muttered curse. They were part way up the stairs when they came across someone. Stopping he pulled her tighter behind him letting them pass before moving on mentally checking if there was anything that was missing. Coming up with nothing he finally heard her speaking.

"And if you think I'm going along with anything you or your team have concocted well then you can."

"Do you want to get out the city?" He was trying for stern and impatient but seeing her flustered state skidding to a halt so she wouldn't crash into him almost had a chuckle escaping.

"What?"

"Something that Woolsey said had me thinking and I looked into something. You have had your work halted by my team more than anyone else in this city because of the escapades we get ourselves into. It's not exactly what you want but it's as good as I could do." Feeling slightly ridiculous from his outburst he watched her face soften. Giving an embarrassed smile he released her arm content she wouldn't kick him in the shins and run. There was moment between them each just watching the other. He waited for the moment it would become awkward and he would have to shrug his way out of it but it stayed comfortable.

"So what have you got in mind?" Indicating for her to head through the doorway into the jumper bay he walked beside her half leading her to a middle jumper.

"Stackhouse here is going to escort you to the mainland so you can continue the research into the settlement thing." Standing at the floor of the ramp one foot leaning on the bottom he glanced at the man putting away bags and boxes into the overhead netting. He was a little envious at getting out and flying but wasn't sure if he would want to spend his time digging up ruins.

"Ready to go Mer - ma'am?" Stackhouse sounded light and casual until he got to is squeaky, stuttered end. The man's eyes darted to his, a nervous smile on his face.

"Stacky I really don't think the Colonel cares what you call me so long as it isn't out of line." Her voice cut into the man's emanating tension sending him flying to the front red faced.
He waited watching her step onto the ramp still amused at Stackhouse's reaction. His face fell slightly when she paused and turned to him. He hadn't known what she was going to do but the arms that suddenly wrapped around him in a hug was the last one the list. Her barely heard thank you was followed by a brief squeeze before she turned and made her way inside.

He had been too shocked to reach, his back ramrod straight feeling too awkward to move his arms around her. They had worked together a few times and he knew her briefly but that wasn't a reaction that he had planned on. It hadn't been awful but it was uncomfortable for someone who barely knew him. He wasn't keen on hugs from Teyla and he had known her for years.

Still slightly disturbed by Merry's sudden burst of appreciation he took the long way to his office determined to make a mental picture of this woman. Nodding to the few people who passed him offering a light smile here and there he slipped through the door of his office. Noticing for the first time how much the room needed to be cleaned he looked around, the greyish film of dust on the cupboard in the corner blatantly obvious. Mentally putting it on his short to do list he sank into his chair with a sigh.

Punching the button on his laptop he watched it slowly boot up lazily leaning the chair back as he waited. Searching through the database he found the information he was looking for not surprised at having to enter his pass code to access everything. Making himself comfortable he began to read, each passage being another puzzle piece.

For the first time he could feel something he could put a label. Fear. Sheer unfiltered fear that felt like icy fingers gripping his heart. It squeezed sending a sharp pain through his chest pushing the breath from his chest. He could feel his chest tightening as he fought with himself. A part of his mind was screaming telling him to move the other pulling and tugging at him keeping him frozen to the chair.

Forcing a breath into his chest he pushed to expand his lungs to the max. It was painful and hard sending adrenalin flooding through him but his chest constricted again. Every inch he gained he lost in one agonising crush. Each breath was a struggle once again gluing him to his chair.

It was a battle to move his whole body contorting around the agonising freeze from his mind. As more adrenalin surged through his body he fought harder taking anything he could get. Teeth clenched, body shaking he forced his fingers to uncurl from the arm of the chair. His muscles quivered, sweat breaking out across his flushed skin as the battle between his body and mind continued.

A sudden sharp twang had him lurching forward tumbling from his chair. His knees hit the floor hard his hands barely catching him before his face smashed into the ground. Gut knotting he felt his breakfast lurch threatening to reappear. He tried to swallow around the tension feeling his throat starting to close instead. The pinching feeling grew stopping his breathing bringing tears to his eyes as he fought.

Mouth opening gasping for the breath his body couldn't take his vision swam. The desk legs blurred and multiplied before white specks blurred them from sight completely. He could hear nothing over the heavy pounding of his heart in his ears. It pumped so hard he was sure it was moving his ribs with each pulsing beat.

The sudden release sent him crashing to the ground. His throat and chest eased pulling a deep breath into his lungs with a harsh rasp. It was a sweet feeling that overshadowed the ache that remained. Rolling to his back the movement an oversized effort in itself he let his jelly like muscles flop and land as they liked. Staring at the fuzzy ceiling above he let the ancient pattern slowly come into focus. His breathing was back as it was; he heart slowly stopping its heavy drum beat on his ribs. As his mind found some clarity he became more confused as to what had just happened to him.

Gathering himself to his feet he wavered for a moment his hand searching the air for the wall. Finding his balance he made for the door ready to head to the control room. He halted as the PA fired up calling him to the infirmary instead. With a deep aching breath he stepped out of his office his pace slow and unsteady.