A/N: Many thanks to ladygris and dwparsnip for all their assistance with this chapter.

Tissue alert!

Thanks,

Sandy

What If…The Shrine

Sheppard

Chapter 4

The 'gate shut down and Woolsey, hands hanging at his sides, said a prayer for the people he'd just sent into the den of the Typhon. Only this one had many more than just a hundred heads. "I'll be in my office."

Amelia nodded. "Yes, sir."

Seating himself at the desk, Woolsey powered up his computer then leaned back, tugging at his lower lip is thought. Soft footsteps whispered over the carpet as Amelia came to set a cup of hot coffee in front of him and left just as quietly. He barely noticed her as his thoughts had returned to day ten of the Colonel's illness.

He'd been taking a shortcut through the crew quarters atrium, eyes on his tablet when his way was blocked…

Day 10

Woolsey looked up to see John, his posture and attitude aggressive, as if anticipating a fight.

"Who the hell are you? How'd you get access to this base?"

Scarcely looking up, he made to walk around the other man. "Whatever game you're playing, Colonel, I haven't the time or the energy. The IOA…"

John stepped to the side, blocking his path again. "Answer the question. Who are you?"

The base commander knew John was being serious when he heard the unmistakable sound of a weapon being drawn.

"Drop that…whatever it is…" he indicated the computer, "…and get your hands up."

~~O~~

"Major Lorne to crew quarters atrium. Major Lorne!"

Evan shut down the treadmill, grabbed his towel and hooked his headset over his ear on the way to the door. "On my way." He arrived on the barracks level, a bizarre scene laid out in front of him. The senior military officer was holding the expedition commander at gunpoint, spectators all around. The civilians were afraid to move and the off duty military awaited orders as did the on duty military. The situation might have been solved just as it had once before but Carson had ordered that stunners not be used on John in his condition because they had no idea what the impact of having his nervous system temporarily short-circuited would have on the parasite. "What's going on?"

Paul Coughlin turned to the side lowering his voice. "It's Colonel Sheppard, sir."

"I can see that, Lieu…"

"Sir…" the younger man interrupted his superior, "…he doesn't recognize Mr. Woolsey. Won't let us take him and won't relinquish his weapon."

Under his breath, Evan muttered, "Holy flashback, Batman." This was the same place he'd held a weapon on John during his sleepwalking episode while infected with the crystal entity. Whatever had stopped his sleepwalking episodes when he was ten, that event had switched them on again, though thankfully only when he was severely stressed physically or emotionally, though it never got as bad as it had that day. Out loud, he said, "Go get Dr. McKay. Hurry."

"Yes, sir." He backed up, turned and vanished up the stairs leading to the next level taking them two at a time. Afraid it would startle him into doing something he'd later regret, Evan gave orders to Amelia to deactivate the PA system which she carried out immediately. He then stepped forward into the light letting John see him yet careful not to get too close. "Something I can help you with, Colonel?"

"This man is an intruder."

"Sir, that's the base commander, Richard Woolsey." Evan took another cautious step forward.

"I've never seen him before. And the commander's name is…is…her name is…" His face twisted in confusion. "I don't remember. How can I not remember that?" The muzzle of the Glock dipped and Evan reached for it, but John would have none of that. "Oh, nice try, pal." He waved the weapon, gesturing for Evan to stand with Woolsey. "We'll all just stay here until…until…"

John turned in the direction of the stairs as Rodney slowly descended. "John? What's going on?"

They'd learned days ago that John's mind accepted two anchors in the real world, Amanda Cole and Rodney McKay. Amanda was needed in the research lab working on John's illness. If he didn't accept Rodney, then they would send for her.

"Um…Rodney? I-I don't know…" He waved the Glock carelessly at Woolsey, Evan and the others watching. "Who are these people?"

~~O~~

By now, Rodney was at his friend's side. "They're your friends, John."

"And who's that guy?" John's right hand slowly dropped until the weapon was pointed at the floor as if he'd forgotten he was holding it. Rodney wrapped his left hand around the muzzle, gave a small tug and it was released. His thumb automatically found and engaged the safety before handing it to Evan.

"His name is Richard Woolsey."

But John was shaking his head. "No. That's not…" He rubbed his head and the back of his neck. "I…she has…dark hair and a beautiful smile." One side of his mouth turned upward. "I think I loved her once, but she…she went away, didn't she?"

Taking John's arm, Rodney led him down the hall to the transporter. "Yes, she did."

"I don't remember her name." Hesitating to step inside the transporter, Rodney put his arm around John's shoulder, drawing him in.

"Elizabeth."

"Did she love me?"

They reached the Infirmary, the guards that Evan had requested already in evidence. Rodney made a vow at that moment that John would never be left alone again. Not for one minute. One of his friends would be with him always until this was over one way or another.

~~O~~

The sadness on Rodney's face when he asked that question confused John even more. He watched his friend tap the screen, not comprehending what the symbols meant and suddenly they were somewhere else. He let his friend lead him into a big room with beds and lights and the harsh medicinal smell mixed with other unidentifiable odors.

Finally, Rodney spoke. "I'm sure she did, John."

~~O~~

"Alright, everyone who doesn't belong here, clear out. Show's over." Evan's voice echoed around the open area and in short order, only he, Woolsey and the assigned guards were still in evidence.

With a sigh, Woolsey picked up his computer from where he'd set it on the floor. "We disarmed him a few days ago, but now it's obvious that he keeps weapons in his quarters."

Not happy with this turn of events, Evan rubbed his hand down his face. "I'll search them myself and let you know."

"Thank you, Major."

Nodding, Evan took the stairs up to the main barracks level using his override code to let himself into John's room where he spent the next two hours searching for and removing anything that could be dangerous. He found four different handguns, magazines for a P90, a cleaning kit, and an assortment of knives. With a rueful smile, he discovered that John's weapon of choice when it came to knives was KA-BAR.

A short time later he found that it hadn't been necessary to search the room as Carson and Jennifer decided that John needed to stay in the Isolation Room where he could be watched around the clock. Carrying the weapons to his office, he locked them in the credenza behind the desk and booted up his computer to write up the report.

Talus

Evan carefully maneuvered the Jumper between the trees until he found a good landing spot. Once on the ground he ordered two of the Marines to stay with the Jumper. The others were put on their six with Evan and Ronon on point as they moved out. Jennifer, Dave, John, Teyla, Rodney, Carson and Amanda stayed in the middle, all but John and Dave armed.

They had to stop frequently because John tired easily. At one point, a wild animal jumped out at them and John watched with child-like curiosity as the Marines shot at it to scare it away. He'd held the hands of his brother and Amanda though he didn't make a sound. Later, when he'd rested again, he took Amanda's hand and wouldn't let go though he did allow Ronan to help him over and around rocks and logs the last twenty yards before they reached the pool and waterfall. At that point John dug his heels in refusing to go any farther. "Where are we going?"

Standing on flatish area, Amanda pointed at an opening in the rock face. Lichen and other fungi clung to the rocks, trees and plants and everything looked wet. "Up there, John. We're going to have a picnic and spend the day together." The waterfall fell from height of thirty meters, frothing and splashing at the bottom and flinging droplets of clear water all over the area.

"You 'n me?"

"Yes." She gave him a sad smile. "Your team is here, too. So is your brother."

"Dave's here?" He looks around.

"Here, Johnny." Dave had stopped to talk to Carson and Jennifer, rushing back to John's side.

"Can I sit down?"

"No, John." Amanda and Dave each took one of his hands. The man who shielded his emotions behind a wall and seldom allowed any physical contact beyond the casual now seemed to crave the touch of others, particularly Amanda, Dave and Rodney. "We have to get you into the cave."

"Okay."

With the Marines guarding their backs and the entrance, the group climbed up into the cave through an opening in the side of a cliff, Rodney, Ronon, Dave and Carson alternately helping John.

This close to the waterfall and pool, everything had a layer of moisture that made climbing a sticky proposition. Water dripped down the walls making the path through the tunnel muddy in places. Dave slipped and Ronon caught him before he could fall. He thanked the Satedan with a nod.

~~O~~

Once inside the cave, Carson moved to the openings that looked out over the pool of water into which the waterfall flowed as Teyla examined carvings on the center support. Jennifer activated her scanner and began taking readings.

Dave and Amanda urged John farther into the cave but he was stubborn. "I don't like it here."

Rodney came forward nodding to Dave and Amanda. They stepped back as Rodney drew John farther into the shrine. "I know, John. I'm sorry."

"Rodney?" Jennifer called from the back side of the central pillar. Dave and Amanda took his place and he skirted the central pillar to join her. She held out the scanner, their heads together conferring over the readings.

Dave turned to Ronon. "So, what do we do?"

"We wait."

~~O~~

"Perhaps he should stand closer to this tablet." Teyla looked over her shoulder.

"Um, over here, John." Dave pointed and tried to urge John forward but he planted his feet.

"Don't want to."

"But…"

"No." He crossed his arms obstinately. "Wanna go home."

"We will," Amanda assured him. "Soon. Please, John." She tugged on his hand and like a small boy, he complied.

~~O~~

Jennifer held up the scanner when Rodney joined her. "I'm getting very faint energy readings."

"What kind of energy readings?" He took the scanner from her, tapping a few of the keys. "Radiation, but not that I've ever seen. It's…" Rodney turned at John's angry voice mixed with Dave's and Amanda's, moving around the pillar again. "What's going on?"

Ronon had blocked the way to stop John from leaving. Though he'd begun to lose muscular control, his strength was still considerable. Carson came forward, trying to reach between the numerous arms and shoulders blocking the way to give John a sedative. It wouldn't be much, just enough to calm him until the Shrine could do its work.

"John! Stop! I'm sorry but you can't leave. Not yet." Amanda framed his face with her hands, forcing him to look at her and hold still long enough for Carson to administer the sedative. At her touch, he finally stopped struggling and the others stepped away, including Carson.

"I wanna leave. I don't like it here."

"I know. But we have to stay. For a while at least." Dave took John's arm again, and with a small amount of pressure managed to get him over to the tablet inset into the front of the pillar.

"Okay."

~~O~~

John pulled up short, a moan coming from his throat. His mouth opened, he grabbed his head and bent at the waist screaming in pain. Dave and Amanda put their arms around him as he screamed again. He started to scream a third time then just as suddenly fell silent, slowly straightening up. Glancing around the room, he took note of who was there. "Dave?"

"I'm here, Johnny."

"I can see that." John turned around taking in their surroundings. "We aren't in Kansas anymore, are we?"

Rodney sighed in relief. "He's back!"

"Back?" He was confused again only now it was his normal confused. "Where are we and how the hell did we get here?"

TBC