The mood in the city grew steadily worse over the following 24 hours as each team reported back in. The story was the same on every planet – there was no trace of Jennifer anywhere. On the inhabited planets they even made contact with the local populations in the hope that they'd seen strangers come through the Gate, but each time they were met with disappointment. Several of the Gates had been well used since the time of the abduction – the addresses were collected, but it was becoming increasingly obvious that the operation had been very well planned.
Lorne and his team, after a brief round trip to the Pegasus Planet, visited the Tower planet – partly to check on Vena Hant's story but also to see if anybody there had any fresh information. To say they were angry when they returned would be an understatement.
Evan paced from one side of Sam's office to the other then back again, half a dozen times before coming to a stop in front of her desk.
"Have you calmed down yet?" she asked with a sigh.
"They're just so damn arrogant!" he fumed. "We were passed from one person to the next for over 5 hours, eventually ending up where we started. Half the people we spoke to denied any knowledge of the Hants or their bodyguards, the other half didn't have a bad word to say about any of them. After Petar Hant died – his death was ruled an accident, by the way – Vena and her party kept pretty much to themselves. Nobody saw them leave, or at least that's what they're saying and if it wasn't for one of the serving girls the whole trip would have been a complete waste of time".
"And she told you what exactly?"
"That two of the Tower guards disappeared roughly 4 days ago – apparently Sola was one of their drinking buddies".
"So that's a couple of days before Jennifer was taken. You think they were what – the hired help?"
"It makes sense. There's no way one person or even two could have taken our guys down like they were – not even if they were cloaked. Three or four I could just about understand and one of those may have been the pilot if we're right about the Jumper".
"That seems to tally with what Corporal Broad reports". At Evan's look she added "Soon after you left to get Ina – a good idea, I might add – Dr Sharpe started reducing the amount of sedatives Broad and the others were receiving. The Corporal was the first to come around enough to make any kind of sense. He confirmed that they flew over the two bodies in the meadow, Jennifer wanted to check them out but he refused to let her and they carried on to the Gate where they were ambushed. He saw neither their attackers nor a Jumper but he did see Dr Keller go down first – hit only with a stun weapon, thank God".
"Any of the others see or hear anything?"
Sam shrugged. "Philips thinks he heard Calin's name mentioned right before he lost consciousness, but he wouldn't swear to it".
"What I don't understand – not that I'm complaining, mind – is why any of them were left alive? Whoever attacked them had plenty of time and opportunity to complete the job".
"We'll make sure to ask when we find them, Major. In the meantime, go and get something to eat, then some sleep – you look like you need it".
"Begging the colonel's pardon but maybe you should follow your own advice" Lorne suggested.
"I intend to...... after I've spoken with Teyla".
"Ah, our secret weapon. You plan on having her keep an eye on Madame Hant?"
"I'm hoping that Teyla will act as her personal guide and that just maybe Vena will tell her stuff that she wouldn't tell us, being outsiders. We may be lucky and get some clue as to where the Doctor is".
"Any more news on when we can expect the Daedalus?"
"Six or seven hours was Caldwell's last report – provided the engines don't blow up first from McKay's recalibrations, apparently they're now running at 124.6 percent efficiency".
Lorne didn't exactly look thrilled by the news. "In that case Ma'am, I'm definitely gonna grab a quick dinner and a couple of hours shuteye before the shit hits the fan".
As Lorne left the office Sam radioed Teyla with her request and on receiving the expected answer arranged to meet the Athosian in the Infirmary. Next she contacted Dr Sharpe who informed her that he was quite happy to release Vena to her temporary quarters as long as her condition was monitored for at least the following 12 hours.
It was a weary Colonel who finally collapsed onto the bed in her quarters an hour later after having seen to Vena and checking on her own personnel and the still comatose Carron who now occupied a bed well away from the main area of the Infirmary. His two guards were under strict instructions to only allow authorised medical staff access to him, along with Sam and Lorne.
By the time the Daedalus reached Atlantis everybody on board was on edge. Rodney was a walking wreck having forgone sleep since the moment he'd heard the news about Jennifer, in order to personally supervise the running of the engines. John, Ronon and Laura were not much better off, having spent countless hours trying to plan their next move and just.... talking. Col. Caldwell, still smarting over the destruction Ronon had caused, was becoming concerned over the dwindling stocks of coffee in the ship's mess.
"Jeez. How do you expect me to keep this ship running?" Rodney had whined when questioned about said coffee, as Sheppard added it to his mental list of things he had to fix when he got home.
Col. Carter's alarm started beeping at her seconds before Chuck's voice was heard on the PA announcing the imminent arrival of the Daedalus. Wishing that she was just about anywhere else in the Universe, she radioed the Control Room to tell them that she was on her way.
They were in her office waiting for her when she arrived. Rodney slumped in a chair barely keeping his eyes open, John perched on the edge of her desk talking quietly to Caldwell and Laura and Ronon leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest – a coiled spring just waiting to explode.
"Col Sheppard, Rodney, Ronon – it's good to have you guys back. Colonel Caldwell, thank you for the rescue. Lieutenant, I wasn't expecting you this trip".
The men nodded their greetings while Laura jumped to stand at attention and saluted smartly.
"Yes Ma'am. New orders Ma'am. Permanent transfer to Atlantis requested and approved Ma'am". Her clipped responses were delivered with a noticeable smirk.
"Knock it off Cadman". Sheppard rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Yes Sir". Laura relaxed her stance, her grin fading when she saw Caldwell's disapproving look.
Sam looked more closely at those in her office, taking in the signs of exhaustion even in John and Ronon. "Do you want to get some sleep before I update you on the search or......?"
"Nah" drawled John "we've still get a few hours left in us before total collapse. We're good".
Sam didn't look convinced especially when soft snores were heard from Rodney's chair.
"Okay, so maybe McKay's not that good" conceded Sheppard.
Rodney jerked awake at the sound of his name. "I'm okay. Plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead. Just make sure there's coffee – lots and lots of coffee".
Caldwell frowned. Sam looked at him quizzically until John explained and also requested engineers to rebuild the Daedalus's gym. Once that had been arranged and the Colonel had returned to his ship the mood lifted fractionally.
With a wry smile Sam addressed Ronon. "Thank you for not destroying the whole ship".
"Thought about it" was all he said in reply.
"Colonel, why don't you tell us where you're up to" Sheppard asked, deflecting the conversation away from Ronon before he could say or do something that he would later regret.
"We've checked every address that was dialled from the Pegasus Planet; we've been to the planet that the Hant's went to, questioned Vena Hant and the Marines who were with Dr Keller....."
Rodney, predictably, interrupted. "What about the signal from her sub dermal transmitter?"
"It was the first thing we looked for Rodney..... obviously. We're getting no readings from it at all. Which either means somebody's removed and destroyed it, she's in a shielded area somewhere or she's....."
"Dead" finished Ronon.
Sam nodded.
"No. She's not dead. I would know..... I would feel it if she were. Which means she's out there somewhere, probably alone and scared, waiting for us to find her. So how do we do that?" The last part of Ronon's speech came out as a loud growl, as he pushed off the wall to stand directly in front of Carter.
"Take it easy Ronon". Sheppard laid a hand on his forearm.
"Why?" Ronon shrugged him off and moved towards the door. But before he could reach it, it was pushed open and a whirlwind blew in.
"Thank the Ancestors, all of you are safe". Teyla's eyes were bright with unshed tears as she greeted the members of her team and Laura in typical Athosian fashion – gripping Ronon's arm tightly when it was his turn.
"Do nothing foolish" she warned. "She will need you when she returns". Her tone was quiet yet forceful as she added "She will be back – do you understand me, Ronon?"
He looked back at the others as he repeated his question. "How are we going to find her, if we have no new information?"
It was surprisingly Rodney who provided the only possible answer. "We go over everything again. Check every single address connected - however remotely – to her disappearance".
"And you and I are going to revisit the Tower planet" put in Sheppard. "Maybe we'll have better luck than Lorne...... after all, you're way more intimidating than the Major".
"Best you don't let him hear you say that" quipped Laura. "You'll hurt his feelings".
"But before that, Madame Hant wishes to speak to you. She says that it is a matter of honour". Teyla finally let go of Ronon as she delivered her message.