Elizabeth looked up as the door to the room burst open and another John Sheppard came in. "Elizabeth, come with me," he told her, offering a hand. "You'll be safe; I promise."

"Don't listen to him," the real John said.

"You can make this all end," the other one promised. "Just take my hand."

Almost as if she wasn't controlling it anymore, her arm raised. "'Lizbeth, stop," John told her. "Fight them. You know what they're trying to do. Don't let them win. We're trying to help you; you can beat them, you just have to hold out a little while longer."

She closed her eyes, not having to want to deal with the dual visions anymore. "I just want to go home."

"I can take you home, Elizabeth. I can take you anywhere you want to go." With speed that surprised even Sheppard, her hand suddenly shot out and punched the nanite vision in the face. He crumbled away to bits of metal.

"Nice hit," John said with a small smile.

"Thanks."

"You ready?" he asked, holding his hand out to her. Elizabeth nodded and put her fingers within his.

"Let's go."


John sighed with relief as Elizabeth's seizures finally stopped. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she looked around for a moment, confused. "Morning," he said with a little grin.

"Hi."

"The nanites appear to be completely dormant," Carson reported, looking at the monitors across the room. "I think it worked."

Elizabeth looked down, realizing that John was still holding her hand. His eyes followed hers, but he made no move to let go, a casual smile on his face. "Thank you," she told him.

"No problem…just, let's not have to do this again."


After a day of just-to-be-sure tests, Elizabeth was getting really sick of being poked and prodded. It didn't help that half of her nightmare world had also revolved around doctors and needles and drugs.

"Carson, I really just need to get out of here," she finally wound up telling the Scotsman. "I can come back in the morning if you want to put me under a microscope some more, but I just…I've had enough for the day."

He was a bit taken aback, but none of his tests so far had revealed anything to be concerned about. "All right…Come see me tomorrow and we can finish up and talk about when you could start working again."

"Thank you."


She got changed into her normal BDU pants and a red long sleeve shirt and got out of the infirmary as quickly as she possibly could. It was dinnertime, and she actually felt hungry for the first time in a couple days, but didn't want to be surrounded by people in the mess hall. It was a little too much, too soon.

Just as she'd hoped, she found Teyla in one of the training rooms, stretching out after practicing with a couple students. "When were you released from the infirmary?" the Athosian asked her as they sat down together by the window.

"Just now, although I'm sure Carson wishes I was still there."

"He is simply concerned for your well-being, as we all are."

"I know, I just…I really wish none of this had happened at all and I'm sick of the reminders that it did."

Teyla nodded. "I understand."

"Thank you for everything that you've done around the city these past few days. I apologize for anyone who didn't respond well to your leadership."

She smiled. "That is quite all right…I believe that a few of your crew are now somewhat frightened of Ronon, however."

Elizabeth laughed a little. "I wouldn't be surprised. Hopefully Carson will let me get back to work tomorrow."

"Do not worry; we can continue to assist you as you recover…Have you had your evening meal yet?"

"No. I guess I probably should, though."

"I should be meeting with Ronon and John in the mess hall; you are welcome to join us."

She nodded. "Thanks."


John wound up being ten minutes late to dinner. "There you are!" he said to Elizabeth as he approached the table. "I've been looking all over for you! I brought a tray to the infirmary and found it empty. Why didn't you tell me Carson let you out of lock-up?"

"Sorry. I just went for a little walk, and wound up talking with Teyla, and now we're here."

"You feel okay?"

"Yes, John, I'm fine. Honest. That's why I got let out of 'lock-up,' as you put it."

"Now that you're finally here," Ronon pointedly said, "Let's get some food." The girls went together to fill their plates from one section of the line, and John and Ronon wound up at the other end. Sheppard didn't miss the look the ex-Runner was giving him.

"What's that smirk for, Chewie?" he asked.

"Nothing. Just you and Dr. Weir."

John raised an eyebrow. "What about us?"

"Sometimes you're like an old married couple." John almost dropped his tray.


TBC...