That Gut Wrenching Feeling

Rodney tried to stamp down the panic; John was hurt again. What was it with that man, couldn't he go one day or mission without becoming injured. He defied even Rodney's stats. On the other hand if anyone could make it through, John could. Sheppard had proven it time and again in the short time Rodney had known this Sheppard.

Coming over the mound of rubble entered the building to find Teyla sitting beside John looking very worried. Rodney could see a steady rise and fall of John's chest and that told him at least John was still alive.

Looking around he tried to figure out what happened. Then he saw it, he'd never seen one in real life but he knew enough that you didn't go near one and if John was unconscious this close to one he'd stuck his head into one.

Having nothing else to do with his fears Rodney went on the attack. "You let him stick his head in that thing, didn't you?"

Teyla laid a hand on his shoulder. "Rodney, you were not here. There was nothing I could do to stop him. His head was in there before I knew what it was. It was like he knew just what to do, like someone had shown him. What was I supposed to do?"

"Something- Do you know what that thing does? It dumps more knowledge into your brain than it can handle and it then takes over until you die. Ask Dr. Jackson or Sam about it, they lost Jack O'Neill that way."

Teyla placed her hands on Rodney's chest to give herself some space. "How does arguing help us or John. Rodney, we need to take John back to Atlantis and get him medical attention."

Rodney looked over at the device and drew a deep breath. "You're right. We don't have much time. I know the story and so do you but I've never looked up the official report."

John stirred on the ground and groaned. Rodney stepped around Teyla and knelt on the ground next to John.

"Hey John, are you alright. Can you hear me? Why on Earth did you stick you head in that think? I know they told you about them in the briefing package." His finger stabbed in the direction of the ancient repository.

Teyla spoke exasperated. "Rodney this is not helping anyone. You really must calm down and let John speak. I am sure he had a very good reason for doing what he did."

John blinked. "Um who are people. I don't know any of you or what you are talking about. Stick my head in what?"

Motioning to the others Rodney said, "Step back let's give him some room. You really don't recognize us?"

"No, I don't, to at all. Who are you and where am I?"

John stared at the people surrounding him and tried to sort through the information rolling around in his brain.

He closed his eyes and tried to fit the pieces together. He'd put his head in some ancient device and that was what got him into this mess. Images, memories and other things became jumbled up and seemed to overlap with other memories that he was pretty sure weren't his. The ancient device must have added someone else's memories but he couldn't separate them enough from his own to know just whose they were. But he could feel the second set vying for control and he didn't know how long he could keep a hold of himself before losing to the rising tide.

Clenching his hands into fists he recited what he did know, trying to keep himself from slipping beneath the flood of thoughts, memories and knowledge.

He was on a planet, not him home, that was far from here, infact he was pretty sure it was in another galaxy. His name was Lieutenant John Sheppard, United States Air Force, that much he remembered.

He opened his eyes tried once more to figure out who these other people were. The woman had called the one Rodney but the other two were a blank. He should know them, they were his team and his friends...? But there was someone else, the woman in the white dress. She threw her head back laughing at his joke as she placed her hand on his chest and called him by name, but it wasn't John. His own had reached up to cup her face and called the woman Jayla. He fought to hold onto the memory for it was the key. Jayla had something he needed to know but it sank below the surface and was lost.

He had to find Jayla she was here- John held out his hand out. "Rodney help me up please."

Rodney whole face brightened. "You remembered me?" He asked extending his hand to John.

John got to his feet and swayed momentarily before he was able to right himself. "No, not really. I mean I have memories of you but I can't seem to put them in any sort of order or recall your name. I knew your name because the lady called you it."

"Oh yes, that makes sense. So you're okay then? After all you were stupid enough to-"

Ronon stepped between them. "Rodney, you are beating a dead Wraith. It's done and now we have to deal with it. Let's take Sheppard back to Atlantis before he gets all smart and dies?"

The woman turned to the big man. "You've encountered these devices before, Ronon? My people never discovered this one and we have lived here for many generations."

"Nope Jackson and I talked about them when I first got here. That man can't hold his liquor at all. Drank him under the table after one drink, but he yattered on for hours. He never describe it through, I wouldn't have known that think was one. Besides Sheppard should know better than to play with Ancienty stuff he's the one with the gene."

John thought back over Ronon's words and not really listening to the rest of the conversation. He fought to put more pieces into place trying to create some semblance of order. One memory rose forth out of the sea. A great city rising out of the ocean four piers and a central tower. They entered the force field and then it slowly sank back into the ocean again as the water closed over the dome.

"Wait a minute did you say Atlantis?" He had another memory, he was in the same ship and they left the bubble and a feeling of great loss as the city disappear from view. They would not be able to return, the Alterians were leaving, giving up the fight with the Wraith to flee. "It sank into the sea right?"

Rodney puffed up. "Well that's not quite what happened. The Ancients left the city when-" Rodney stopped and ran his hand through his hair when he felt everyone watching him. "Yes, sank."

"So we're from Atlantis but we haven't always lived there right?"

"That is right." This was Ronon again. "Rodney and the expedition from Earth, where you are also from, found it a few years back. Then Daniel Jackson the expedition leader, well he woke up the Wraith and caused a big mess-"

John tuned out again as the words stopped making sense. In the distance he saw Jayla disappear around a corner of a rubble pile as the world began the shimmer and then changed in the blink of an eye. The destroyed buildings became whole and the cracked streets looked newly paved and unbroken. John turned in a slow circle as he was overwhelmed by the new sights, smells and sounds. This was Athos thousands if not millions of years ago, before the Wraith destroyed the city. Reaching out he touched the tree next to him. The bark was rough against his fingers and her could smell the fruit dangling from the tree.

Jayla exited a building and crossed over to John. Manon, "Janus has agreed to help me with my plan, but time is short. The Alterians have begun to make plans for the retreat back to Earth, and we don't have much time. Once the Wraith have destroyed the Alterians they will set their sites on advance people like us."

Manon raised his hand placing it on Jayla's arm. "Are you sure about this? If the Wraith discover what we are doing it will make our people the first target."

"It will not matter, the Wraith will come and we can not stop them, but we can hope that someone in the future can. We just need to give them the resources to do it." She looked around her. "Now we must go."

Someone touched John on the back, startling him from the memory. The sensations of the past slowly melted away leaving him once more among the ruins of the destroyed city. Blinking a few times John tried to get back there, back to Jayla and Manon. He had to know what the plan was, what were they going to do that would make them a target for the Wraith?

But he couldn't get back there, not yet. His hand hovered in mid air above the place where the tree had once grown.

"Are you alright John. You gapped out for a minute." It was Rodney's hand resting on his shoulder. "I really think we should take you back to Atlantis. Something is definitely wrong with you. Carson need to take a look at you."

Panic crawled through John, he knew they were correct on one level, he should return to Atlantis, stay with him team but an overpowering desire to go to- He stepped away from the others holding out his hands. "No, I'm not going back! I have to go to-"

John spun around as Jayla appeared to him once more. "Mannon are you coming. Did you get distracted by the trees again. The fruit is delicious but you've already discovered that it will not grow in our soil."

"I know my dear. I had another thought that might just save us if the Wraith find out what we are doing. We have ships of our own, why not take to the stars and hide there. If we have no home, maybe the Wraith will not be able to find us."

"Interesting idea. We can discuss it and take it to the council when you have some facts and figures. Time grows short for all the humans in this galaxy. Without their help, I fear this war is lost. The best thing for our people might be to hide. Let's return to the gate and go home."

The order pulsed through him and he could not resist. He opened his mouth to tell the other where he was going and what he was doing but he no longer had control of his own body. He was able to resist a moment longer before he took off running.

As he streaked through the Athosian village the children cheered him and tried to run with him but he was too fast. He could hear the rest of his team trying to keep up, but his body was being pushed beyond it capabilities.

Slowing down he reached the gate and dialed an address and then he was gone.

Rodney stood there shocked for just a moment as John took off running without a word to them. They chased him but they could not keep up with him, not even Ronon the former Runner. They reached the gate just as he disappeared and Rodney fought to memorized the fading symbols.

"I know where he's gone. Emetine, I should have pushed harder to get our mission to go there approved, and maybe this wouldn't have happened."

Pacing a bit on the spot he made some decisions. "Okay Teyla you return to Atlantis and let them know what has happened and Ronon and I will follow John with the Jumper. Once you've told them what happened, follow us to this address." He quickly noted the symbols on a piece of paper for her. "And bring Carson if you can as well as backup. Who knows how long it will take us to find John."

She nodded. "I will see you soon." Then she touched Rodney's shoulder. "He will be alright. John seems to always come out these things just fine."

"I know but until we know he's okay, I'm going to worry." Rodney motioned to Ronon. "Come on, let's get to Emetine if I don't kill us first. There is a reason I don't drive."

Rodney managed to pilot the Jumper safely through the gate a few minutes later and searched for a clear spot to land among the debris. If the city on Athos had been destroy this one had all but been obliterated. There were only a few structures that even looked like buildings and this went on for kilometer after kilometer.

Because of the flat nature of the ruins they could see John as he descended a pile of rubble about half a kilometer away heading to one of the remaining structures. All he and Ronon could do was follow.

This story is complete on my site if you would like to check the last few chapters Google my penname and you will find me. I love to hear from you whether you liked it or loved it. :0P

Also I have published two original pieces of work on Kindle you can find a link to them on my website as well.