Damn, but my Elizabeth chapters seem to be short. Sorry about that. Also to the guest who asked about the returned personnel, yes they currently they have all died. Sorry for not putting that in there.
After so many hours of silence the quiet moan from the back of the cell made Elizabeth jump. Spinning round from where she'd been crouched by the bars keeping watch her eyes instantly locked onto the lieutenant's still form. For a moment she was quiet again before letting out something closer to a whine than a moan, her fingers curling into a fist by her side, her chest rising and falling with sharp, uneven breaths. Quickly moving over to her, Elizabeth crouched by her side and took hold of her hand, feeling as Jennifer's fingers unclenched before gripping around her palm. Unwilling to break the silence Elizabeth waited, part of her unsure that Shann was even waking up, almost certain she was just feeling pain in her sleep but the grip she had on her hand told her otherwise. With her free hand Elizabeth reached out and brushed the stray strands of hair away from the lieutenants face, feeling for the first time the burning temperature of her skin, her heart sinking at its implication. The thought of losing another member of the expedition was unbearable.
Feeling Elizabeth's cold hand against her face jolted Shann's mind completely awake, her eyes blinking open, the dull light from the ceiling reminding her of where she was. Her first instinct was to sit up, her abdominal muscles tensing sending a knife of pain through her stomach. She couldn't help but scream, her knees pulling up to her chest as she rolled on to her side, her hand pulling free of Elizabeth's as her arms wrapped round her shins.
Startled by the sudden noise and movement, Elizabeth lost her balance ending up sat on the floor in an ungainly heap. In front of her she could hear the lieutenant's heavy gasps for breath. Kneeling forward again, Elizabeth took hold of Shann's shoulder, careful of the puncture wound, and eased her onto her back. "Easy, easy," she soothed, the words coming more on instinct than conscious thought. She could do nothing as she watched the young woman's chest quickly rise and fall, her panic stricken blue eyes flickering around the cell, before finally settling on Elizabeth's green ones. "Slow your breathing lieutenant," Elizabeth ordered, watching as Shann gulped in a few more breaths before consciously fighting to slow them.
"What happened?" Shann gasped out the moment she could, her voice so little and so quiet compared with the scream she had just let out.
"Don't worry about that now," Elizabeth murmured, her eyes drawn to the darkening stain on Shann's shirt. "I need to look at your shoulder," Elizabeth said, looking the lieutenant in the eye. Waiting for her to nod, Elizabeth gently pulled her shirt away from her shoulder, dreading what she would see before sliding it down her arm slightly. The small wound was oozing blood, both front and back, just enough to worry her, leaving her feeling irrationally guilty at being unable to help her. Pulling the shirt back into place, Elizabeth frowned, looking at Shann again. Her eyes were open and focused now, her head raised slightly watching Elizabeth's blood stained fingers. "It's not too bad," Elizabeth added, watching as Shann's eyes closed again, her head falling back to the floor with a quiet thump.
"I don't remember them doing that," she said, her face creasing with a frown.
Elizabeth didn't know how to explain, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to find the words. "You got that when they brought you back." Her voice was strained, her mind replaying what has happened in her head. "I think it was a demonstration." When Jen didn't respond Elizabeth let it drop, grateful that she didn't press her for more answers.
For a moment they were both still before Shann blinked opened her eyes again. "Help me sit up."
Elizabeth frowned, "I'm not sure that's such a good idea."
"Probably not," she said, even as she pressed her palms against the floor and began levering herself up a little, biting her lips in pain. Instantly sliding her hands under shoulders, Elizabeth helped her, taking most of her weight and easing her back against the cool stone wall. By the time she let go Jen's face was pale and sweaty, her breath catching in her throat again. Sitting back on her heels, Elizabeth watched her look around the cell, reorientation herself to their surroundings wincing when her gaze caught on the bloody pool where she'd been lying.
Turning away, Elizabeth looked back over to the cell opposite. When the creatures had left their latest victim in there they'd kindly left the light in his cell on. After hours of watching for any sign of movement from him, Elizabeth had finally worked out who it was, surprised she hadn't recognised Dr. Marshall on sight. She tried shouting over to him time and time again, checking the doors at the bottom of the hall every time she did, overly aware of what was lurking on the other side. After watching for a minute and receiving no response from him, Elizabeth turned back to Jen, unsurprised to see her examining the wound on her stomach. "What did they do to you?" she couldn't help but ask again.
For a moment, Jen continued to poke and prod at the deep slice in her skin, her short nails catching under the thread as she pulled it slightly, wincing in response. Finally, she pulled her shirt back down and looked at Elizabeth, her head resting against the wall again.
"I'm sorry to report ma'am but Harris, McNeil and Burren are dead." Elizabeth bowed her head at the news, she'd suspected as much but hearing confirmed tore at her soul, guilt creeping in at the edges of her mind. They had been under her command; It was her who had ultimately approved them for Atlantis. Approved them to come to their death, her mind jeered. Trying to push the thought away Elizabeth turned back to the one member of her expedition she could help, aware that she had avoided her question. Jennifer met her stare with one of her own before heavily exhaling.
"I think they took out my liver and maybe a kidney," she said hesitantly, watching as Elizabeth blinked at her words. "I'm not sure. I'm guessing they put them back." She paused for a moment, gathering her scattered thoughts. "They injected me with something. Made my head fuzzy but I could feel everything they did." Again she paused, her eyes falling shut, the effort to keep them open too much. Elizabeth was almost certain she'd fallen asleep again, so much so that she went back over to her, crouching by her side. Her eyes rolled open again, focusing on Elizabeth. "I think they liked it that way."
Elizabeth nodded, frowning as she did, thinking about the pain everyone must have gone through. "I have to agree. I believe they are doing to us what was done to them."
"An eye for an eye. How very biblical of them." Jen muttered, her dark humour breaking the tension slightly. "We didn't do this to them though."
"No, the Ancients did." Zeke's voice made Elizabeth jump. Quickly she spun around and went to the bars, looking over at him stood opposite her. To her he looked defeated, his shoulders slumped and black rings under his eyes, his arms hanging limply by his sides. "The Ancients did this."