Chapter Fourteen

Rodney stared at the map in aggravation. Not a single note or mark marred the paper. He'd even flipped it over, hoping something was written on the back. Nothing.

At least, we won't get lost in the house.

He shook his head and shoved the map away from him. He sat back in his chair and looked around the briefing room. Sheppard and Woolsey stared at him with identical expressions of expectation.

"What are you expecting? There's nothing on the map that points to the location of all the answers that note mentioned."

"Then I can't let you go, Dr. McKay." Woolsey stood. "That place is too dangerous to send you again."

Rodney narrowed his eyes. "With the way things are going now, I'm going to end up there anyway. I go there in my sleep, damn it."

"I'm sorry, but I can't afford to send you on a wild goose chase. You are restricted from gate travel except on missions."

Rodney pushed himself to his feet. "This is a mission! If I don't find a way to stop this, it's going to continue."

Woolsey shook his head, the man's eyes held both determination and compassion. "My mind is made up. You're not going back there. I'm sorry."

Rodney couldn't believe what he heard. He stared after Woolsey, disbelief rooting him to the floor. Visions of monsters and blood flashed through his mind. He sank back down into his seat and stared at the wall.

"I'm a dead man."

"Don't talk like that." Sheppard's voice startled him. He hadn't expected the Colonel to stick around.

"You heard him. We can't go back there. You have no idea what I'm going through."

"I think I have an idea if that town is anything to go by."

Rodney shook his head and put his face in his hands. After all that's happened, it came down to this. The dreams would continue until they killed him. He knew it'd happen, it was only a matter of time.

"You can't give up, Rodney. You've made it this far."

He glared at Sheppard. "That's because I believed there was a way to stop it. Now, I'm not so sure."

"Since when have you let anything Woolsey said stop you?"

"Oh, I don't know, I was thinking about maybe I should start."

Sheppard rolled his eyes and grabbed Rodney's arms, lifting him out of his chair. He shoved the Colonel away, glaring at him.

"You need to get your head on straight." Sheppard pointed at him, his finger inches from Rodney's nose. "We're going back there and we're going to find a way to bring an end to this."

Rodney folded his arms across his chest. "How? I'm sure Woolsey is going to have every departure documented."

Sheppard smiled. A mixture of dread and excitement bubbled inside Rodney. He knew what the Colonel had in mind before he even said it.

"We're going at night when there's hardly anyone in the control room."

Rodney sighed. "I don't really need to sleep."

Sheppard slapped him on the arm. "That's the spirit. I'll contact you when it's time."

"Great."

~*~

Rodney took a bite of sandwich Jennifer had brought him several hours ago. She'd missed him at dinner and came down to check on him. Thanks to her presence, he'd almost forgotten Silent Hill and the torture it hurled at him.

He had feeling she knew what he planned. The concern in her eyes burned into him. She never asked him why he wore his black offworld clothes or had his P-90 waiting in the corner. He told her anyway.

"I figured you wouldn't let Woolsey stop you."

"If I have to go back there to get answers, I will."

She ran her hand through his hair. "Just don't get yourself killed."

He wanted her to stay, but she'd been called back to the infirmary. He watched her go, wishing to go with her and forget all this.

He stared at the computer screen, waiting for Sheppard's call. He read through the Ancient's journal about his experience, hoping to find something within the words.

I wish I hadn't dropped that diary. It was more forth coming than this.

Most of the Ancient's journal remarked on the experiments he'd performed on the monsters. He'd recovered from the one he performed with lights and moved on to something even more dangerous in Rodney's mind; following one creature to see where it went.

Can we spell idiot? I knew you could.

Rodney read through it and nearly dropped his sandwich. He read it again, not believing it.

I heard the scrapping again and decided to find what made that sound. I followed it, almost thinking it came from the walls. I ended up deep in the city. I turned a corner and there it was. Even though it walked away from me into the darkness, I knew it towered over me.

It dragged something enormous behind it and I knew that was what made the scraping noise. I have no idea what it was, but I didn't follow it any further. I turned and headed back up here. Whatever that thing was, it's not anything I want to see again.

Rodney shivered and turned away from the screen. To know something even worse lurked in the darkness of the bizarre Atlantis made him want to end this even more. He had to get to that house and figure out what it held, if anything.

I just hope it's not a goose chase.

"Rodney, you there?" Sheppard's voice in his ear made him jump.

He slapped his earpiece. "I'm here."

"We're ready to go. We'll meet you at the Gateroom. Sheppard out."

Rodney closed his eyes and sighed. Here we go. Moment of truth time.

He grabbed his pack and a new jacket then headed toward the Gateroom. Only one person manned the controls when he arrived. Sheppard waved his hand to get the man's attention.

"Dial it."

"Dialing."

Rodney smirked. "How'd you get him to co-operate?"

Sheppard shrugged. "Excitement during a boring shift."

"Oh, yeah. Dialing one address is so exciting."

Blue water rushed out into the room then retreated leaving a puddle within the ring. Rodney took a deep breath and followed the others into the gate.

Once on the other side, through the fog, he spotted the jumper sitting where they'd left it. Given some time, he knew he'd be able to fix it. Right now, there wasn't any time.

"Let's go and keep your eyes open."

Ronon spun his gun. "Just tell me where to aim."

"How about anything that moves that's not us?" Rodney snapped.

Ronon gave him a look, but Rodney ignored him. He couldn't keep his eyes off the jumper. He aimed his P-90, his heart racing. A moment later, static broke the silence.

"Nice. Right off the bat." Sheppard raised his gun.

They drew along side the jumper and the static grew louder. Snarling came from within. The creature roared and burst out of the jumper.

"Not another damn dog!" Rodney opened fire before the thing even had a chance to attack them.

It yelped and fell to the ground. Breathing heavily, he looked at the others. They stared at him as if he'd grown another head.

Exasperated, he spread his arms out. "Oh, come on! Don't tell me you're not sick of seeing them."

Sheppard cleared his throat and motioned with his head to follow. "Let's go."

Sighing, Rodney trudged behind Sheppard. Silence reigned in the forest. Nothing moved. Tension grew thick and Rodney expected a creature to attack them at any moment. He held his gun at the ready, aiming it at surrounding vegetation.

The fog grew thicker the closer they came to the town.

I can't see a damn thing.

Excitement and dread warred within him, making him a bundle of nerves. It took all he had not to fire his gun just to relieve the tension.

When is the end of this? We should have been there by now.

To keep from getting lost, he focused on the path before him. He saw the turn in the trail and looked up. Sheppard wasn't in front of him. He spun around only to be met with fog.

"Sheppard!" His voice echoed against the mist. "Ronon, Teyla!"

His heart sped and he turned again, hoping it was only the fog keeping him from seeing his friends. He picked up his pace in case the others had walked ahead.

"Sheppard!"

The mist cleared and the town appeared before him. He stood in the silence, searching for movement on the streets. Nothing moved. He looked behind him, but no one was there.

Damn it. Did I fall asleep?

Taking a deep breath, Rodney stepped into Silent Hill. He took out of the map of the house and tried to determine where it was with the little information on it. Going by the shape, he guessed the house was a Victorian.

There can't be that many house with that style in this town. At least, I hope not.

Sighing, he shoved the map back in his jacket pocket and headed down the street on his right. The house couldn't be far from the church they'd explored.

I wonder where the others went. Am I dreaming again?

He didn't want to know. He wanted to get this over with and return to a normal life.

I just hope that house does have the answers.

Static blared from his radio. He stopped. He raised his P-90 and turned in a slow circle. His pulse raced and he narrowed his eyes to gaze into the fog.

"McKay, where the hell are you?" Rodney jumped at Sheppard's voice.

He pressed his earpiece. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I'm in the town. Where the hell are you?"

"In the town. Teyla said you disappeared."

Rodney rolled his eyes. "So did you. I'm heading toward the house, taking the same street we took to get to the church."

"We must be on the other side of town then, cause nothing is familiar over here."

Great.

"Head toward the church, I'll meet you there."

"Good. Sheppard out."

Rodney ran a hand through his hair. He wanted to kick something, even scream. He hated this town. Grumbling, he stomped down the street toward the church, cursing the entire way.

"Rodney."

He spun, gun aimed. The fog wrapped its fingers around the buildings and down the alleys. He didn't see anything. His radio didn't emit static to tell him a monster was near.

"Stupid town." He turned back around and continued down the street.

"Rodney." The voice sounded closer, almost beside him.

"Where are you?" He turned in a circle.

He came back around and nearly fell backward. Elizabeth stood before him, her hands folded in front of her. Dressed in her familiar uniform, she smiled at him as if everything appeared normal. She stepped toward him.

"Elizabeth." He breathed her name.

"We don't have time, Rodney. Follow me."

He narrowed his eyes. "Follow you where?"

"To the house. Come on." She grabbed his hand and dragged him down the street.

"How are you here?"

"I'm here for the same reason you are."

He yanked on her hand, pulling her to a stop. Surprise clouded her green eyes. Green eyes he wanted to see again for years. He shook his head to clear it. He couldn't afford a distraction.

"What reason is that?"

She smiled and ran a hand through his hair. "You'll see when we get to the house."

She pulled him along again and he had no choice, but to follow. He only hoped the others would arrive at the same time to see Elizabeth. Maybe then he'd know he wasn't insane.

The mist cleared some more and Rodney took in the church looming over them. Stone steps led up to the dark building. Memories of what he saw within sent shivers coursing through his body.

He tore his gaze from the church and spotted his friends hurrying toward him. He waved his hand and looked over at Elizabeth. No one stood beside him. His heart sank as he blinked in astonishment.

She was there a moment ago. Where the hell did she go? I didn't hear footsteps?

Rodney stared at the church, but he hadn't heard a door open or close.

Had she even been there?

"There you are." Sheppard's voice caught his attention. He looked over at his friend, relief washing over him.

"About time. I was getting bored."

Sheppard raised an eyebrow. "In this town? Come on. I think I saw the house that map is to."

"Finally. Lead the way."

Rodney stared at the church. He hoped it'd be the last time he ever laid eyes on it.