{010}
Screams of unfocused and overwhelming terror resonated through the empty corridors of the Hive Ship. There was no one. Only cold and impregnable darkness, but the sensation of being watched crept over me like a tidal wave. Tentatively, I called out to the darkness surrounding me. No one answered. Only the ghostly echoes of the screams answered my call. I closed my eyes against them, the ghostly cries too much to bear. My hands went to cover my ears against the painful caterwauling sounds until they slowly died down. The ominous feeling they left behind still cocooned me.
A wisp of a shadow brushed by my shoulder. Spices and the smell of aftershave. Turning, I followed the familiar presence.
"Daddy?" Tears stung my eyes as I rushed down the desolate halls. One after another I searched for some form of escape. "Sheppard?" Still, I was only met with silence. Another shrill cry pierced the air; shattering the emptiness around me. The soft thudding of my bare feet against the fog covered floors was the only sound that could be heard as I raced towards the cry. My heart was beating like a jack hammer in my chest as I moved closer and closer.
Merging into a large cavernous room, I skidded to a halt. The smell of fear still hung in the room, clinging to the recycled air. The tension palpable. A wave of sorrow crashed over me, and I shit my eyes tight against the feeling. I knew this room. The familiarity and emotions were hard to deny. They say that memories can be forgotten but the feeling of that memory is left behind. Right now, it felt as if someone was wringing my heart out.
Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes, advancing into the room in small steps trying to gain a view of everything around me. Whispers followed my every step. Half conversations that I couldn't understand. It felt as if I was on the wrong side of a veil.
I felt myself falling. My attention had wavered and now it was too late. Groaning, I attempted, and failed to push up from the floor. There was something wet beneath me. The smell of iron invaded my senses and a soulful cry left my lips as the wetness clung to my skin. A shadow loomed over me, blocking the lights from the ceiling above. My heart soared, hoping that it was Sheppard or my father.
There was only a girl.
Long wet hair obscured her face. She wore the same black cargo pants and tank top I had on; her feet bare. I cocked my head to the side. The girl did the same. Neither us moved after that. Each of us taking in the other. Then I saw her move, sliding her arm behind her back before drawing out a gun. In the blink of an eye she had it raised at me and pulled the trigger…
Sweat soaked and screaming. That was how I woke. Firm hands gripped onto my shoulders, attempting to hold me down. What was going on? My wild eyes flitted from face to face but there was nothing to see. They were blank. It's a trap.
Instinct kicked in as I kicked out at one of the faceless figures holding me down; releasing the pressure on my shoulder. I managed to swipe at another figure, his grip wavering, allowing me to scramble from the bed towards the only exit I could find.
My mind felt as if it were on autopilot. My body ducking and weaving out of the reach of anyone who attempted to grab at me—then I sprinted.
Blood was rushing through my body like a volcano, my legs burning beneath me. My chest was heaving in an attempt to gain access to air as I continued down the hallways at an Olympic pace in a desperate attempt to get away.
Where was I? Where was my father? Sheppard? Had they left me?
My breathing was ragged to the point where I could no longer breath. Body glistening with sweat, my vision blurring, but still I pushed forward. Anxiety whirled around me as I ran through one hallway and then another.
I felt lost and confused.
Slowly, the inky blackness of unconscious seeped into the corners of my mind, settling over me like a blanket, and then I knew no more.
He found her crumpled on the floor, eyes closed, breathing steady but shallow. Connor removed his jacket, gently laying it over her shivering form. He made sure to keep his movements slow and calculated in an attempt not to spook her.
"Dr. Weir," He spoke softly into the radio. "I've found her. East Pier hallway by the transporter. I'll bring her back up."
"Let me bring down a medical team." Beckett's Scottish accent broke through the radio.
"I don't want to spook her again." Beckett gave the go ahead, but Connor knew the man was pacing like a caged animal behind the calm façade. Turning his attention back to the girl, Connor took a long breath before kneeling down next to her.
"I'm going to pick you up." He told her quietly, attempting to keep her informed. Hoping that by talking to her she would be less inclined to run. Not that she would make it far in her condition. Connor placed one hand under her back and the other beneath her legs, slowly lifting her into his arms as if she weighed nothing.
Alex let out a quiet whimper, nestling her head into his shoulder as if seeking comfort. The Marine let a small smile play on his lips as he made his way towards the transporter. He liked the feeling of having her in his arms, her warmth causing him to feel something he hadn't in a long time towards a woman.
The walk back to the infirmary was relatively quick. The discovery of the transporters had been a god send. Saving everyone the hassle of taking staircase after staircase. Once he read the med bay level, Beckett came rushing forward with a gurney. Slowly, he unloaded the precious cargo on the bed and watched as the good doctor wheeled her away.
There were no dreams this time. Not that I remembered. I cracked an eye open and tried to orient myself. My head was pounding, and my mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton. A billowing white curtain surrounded me, segregating me from the rest of the room. I didn't need to guess where I was. The overwhelming smell of bleach and sanitizer told me I was in an infirmary.
"She should come around any moment now." Beckett's warm Scottish accent filled the space just outside my curtain.
"I still don't understand what happened?" That was Weir. "She just took off?"
"Poor lass had a night terror," Beckett explained. My brow furrowed. I don't' remember that. "Her fight or flight response kicked in when she woke from it. It's likely she wasn't even aware of what was going on. Her body was running on automatic; taking her as far as it could from the perceived danger."
That explains why my legs felt like I had run marathon, but it didn't explain how I ended up in this makeshift infirmary. Were we still on Atlantis? Or did they evacuate?
"Do you think it had anything to do with what happened on the Hive Ship?" Sheppard's smooth voice joined the group. What had happened on the Hive Ship?
"Definitely not," Was Beckett's reply. "Her brain activity when you brought her back from the Wraith and her brain activity now are completely different. In fact, I doubt she will even remember anything that happened on the ship."
What? The fogginess in my mind kept growing the more they talked. Why couldn't I remember anything? Where was my dad? Searching my memories, I came up empty. The last thing I remembered was—it was all too cloudy. There was nothing my mind but fragments and pieces that didn't quite fit together.
"What I want to know is what stimulated the attack on the ship," Connor's gravelly voice spoke up, sending shivers down my spine. Something flashed in my mind; cedarwood and campfire. A warmth settled over me as I thought about it. "The moves she used were more complicated and advanced than any special forces or seal team back on Earth. Alex doesn't have anywhere near that type of training."
How the hell would he know? The man barely said two words to me at any given time unless it was to bark an order at me.
"From what I can tell, her system was completely overwhelmed by adrenaline.," Beckett explained simply. "Her brain was lit up like a Christmas tree with activity that most humans don't have access to. The problem is, Alex isn't merely human. I don't know what is new for her and what is normal. For all we know this could be a progression of her state into becoming—whatever it is Ancients become."
Apparently kicking Wraith ass is a new part of the path to Ascension, because it wasn't in the "Thor's guide to being an Ancient'. Not that I could recall anyway…I may have only half listened to whatever Thor said about becoming ascended. That was more Daniel's thing than mine.
"In your report you mentioned that she injured her hand on a machine in a building you searched." I looked down at my right hand. There was an obvious scar in the middle of my palm and the back of my hand. That hadn't been there before. Something flashed again. The feeling of a jagged spike through my hand, yelling Connor's name.
Shit.
"It was a lab of some kind. We didn't have time to figure out what it was for though."
I remembered going into the city with Connor and his team. Joking with Leeman. Then everything became blurry, as if the memories didn't want to be accessed.
"What about a repeat event?" Weir was concerned. Couldn't blame her. "Should we be worried about her harming anyone on the base?"
"Not at all," Beckett assured her. I let out a small sigh of relief. "The way Sheppard described it; Alex only reacted to the Wraith. She completely bypassed him and his team. I believe that whatever it was that was manipulating her was only meant to seek and target Wraith."
Wait? I took out Wraith? That was laughable. My hand to hand was decent and I could shoot like a champion, but I doubt I could take out one Wraith, let alone two or more.
"What about ways of detecting it?" Weir continued. Ever the scientist. "Or stopping it completely?"
"I don't even know what 'it' is," Beckett admitted sheepishly. "I have no idea what I am dealing with here. As far as I am concerned, everything about Alex is exactly as it was before we left Atlantis. I'll keep looking though."
I snorted. Oops. The curtain separating me from them was yanked back, revealing an amused Sheppard with Weir, Beckett, and Connor all staring me down.
"Hey guys." I gave a small wave.
"How long have you been awake?" Sheppard asked bemused, a twinkle in his eye. I shrugged nonchalantly causing Sheppard and Connor to roll their eyes simultaneously. "You know what they say about eavesdropping."
"It's the only way to obtain reliable information." That got everyone smiling.
"Alright," Beckett ordered. "Everyone out so that I can examine my patient." My eyes widened in mock horror, trying to make the best out of a lousy situation.
"Don't let him keep me." I pleaded dramatically. "I'll do anything. I hate exams." Everyone just kept smiling as they left. Traitors. Connor lingered for a moment, studying me, but the minute my eyes met his he turned on his heels and left. I was left momentarily stunned by his abruptness. There wasn't much time to linger on his odd behavior before Beckett was shining a light in my eyes.
Rude.
"Bright," I complained turning my head away. "Didn't they teach you bedside manners in doctor school?" Beckett chuckled as he continued his exam.
"Must have skipped that class." Beckett winked in good humor. I couldn't help the smile I gave him as I peered curiously around at my new surroundings.
"What is this place?"
"The Ancient's idea of an infirmary," Beckett marveled, awe in his voice as he gestured around at the equipment. "Not bad either. There is still some technology we cannot seem to operate. Some we don't even know what they do, but the ones we can operate seem to be similar to the ones on Earth."
Glancing around, I took in the white washed walls and sterile environment. It wasn't too dissimilar from the infirmary at the SGC; but with its hues of blue and brown scattered around, it felt warmer and more inviting. The concrete walls at the SGC made the infirmary seem more like a morgue.
"How long have I been out?"
"A little over a week," Beckett wrapped a blood pressure cuff around her arm. "You missed quite a few things."
With that the Scott launched into a long tale of what had been happening on Atlantis while I was playing sleeping beauty. Apparently, McKay had shown courage while dealing with an entity that been trapped in a research lab. Sheppard had almost been killed by a blood sucking bug while stuck in a 'puddle jumper' partway through the event horizon. I tried my best to listen to the good doctor, but my mind kept wandering away from me.
There were still so many unanswered questions. Why hadn't my father come to see me? He would have been the first person through the door. Disproval on his face and a bottle of single malt in his hand. He had once told me that he took a bottle with him on every deployment.
There was something dark nagging at the back of my brain, but the memory remained buried.
"Where's my dad?" I blurted out, fearing I already knew the answer.
"Oh, love," Beckett sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. The conflict was written all over his face; sadness lining his normally jovial features. He went to speak when a sudden interruption halted him. Bates and Stackhouse came rushing into the infirmary; an injured airman between them. Beckett left my side with an apologetic glance and ran for the airman.
"What happened?" Beckett waved over the medical team.
"Wraith attack," Stackhouse replied grimly. "Never saw it coming."
"Let's get him on the bed." The doctor ordered. Taking the moment of chaos, I quietly pulled the curtain back around the bed, changing into the clothes laid out for me on the chair. Someone had been thoughtful. I peeked around the corner of my curtain to make sure the coast was clear before sneaking out of the infirmary, trying not to be too suspicious.
The hallways were brimming with people rushing from one thing to another, many of whom cast curious glances my way while others stopped to stare. Apparently, my Rockstar level had grown some. These weren't the looks I normally got back at the SGC. The ones I got once everyone found out I was an Ancient. No. These stares were worse. They held pity.
Everyone knew something I didn't.
Quickly, I made my way down a maze of corridors away from the hub of people. Who knew Atlantis was enormous? I sure as hell didn't. Without directional signs, I found myself easily lost in one of the back hallways within less than an hour.
"Damn it." It was the same hallways I had been through less than five minutes ago.
"Maybe you should consider being properly discharged from the infirmary next time," The rough gravelly voice permeated the emptiness around me, sending goosebumps up my skin. Why did he have this effect on me? Wait? Where had he come from? "Then you could have asked for a proper tour instead of ending up lost in an uncleared section of the city."
Smirking, I turned to face the Lieutenant.
"Are you stalking me?" Connor shrugged nonchalantly.
"You could call it that." My eyes rolled.
"Well," Batting my eyelashes dramatically, I smiled at him. "Do you think you could show a girl back to civilization?"
"Maybe." He teased. Part of me couldn't believe he was teasing me. This was not the Connor Geraghty I remembered. Maybe I ended up in a parallel universe. Wouldn't be the first time.
"Maybe?" Sighing, I dropped my façade. "What does that mean? You gonna leave me down here to starve?" Great, Alex, now you sound like a petulant four-year-old.
"Don't be so dramatic," Connor smirked, chuckling a bit. God how I loved that sound. "You'd die of dehydration long before you starve."
"Thank for that." I stated drily. "You want something don't you?"
"Maybe." Connor smirk turned impish. God, I really did end up in an alternate universe. Who the hell was this guy? Anytime I had ever tried to have a conversation with him in the past it had been like pulling teeth. Now he's flirting? Wait…was he flirting? It's been a while since someone flirted with me.
"What?" I was mildly suspicious.
"Have dinner with me."
"Did I miss something?" Connor raised an eyebrow at me. Damn, he did that better than The Rock. "Besides the last week funny man. Did the Pegasus Galaxy put up a Chili's or something?"
"Nope," The corner of his mouth twitched into what could almost be a smile. I had never seen him smile before. Smirk, yes. Smile? No. "But we do have an amazing ocean view from the west pier which is a great place to watch the sunset."
Eyeing him suspiciously, I leaned against the wall; arms firmly crossed against my chest. The more he talked the more I felt like I was still unconscious in the bed in the infirmary.
"What if I say no?" I challenged. "Will you leave me down here to die? Cause, that doesn't sound like a positive motivator for me to say yes knowing you would leave me down here to rot if I turned you down."
Connor's impish smirk deepened, his normally steely eyes glistening with mischief as he stepped towards a pair of brown, closet-like doors that were tucked away in the corner. How had I missed those?
With a wave of his hand the doors opened to reveal a small elevator.
"This is the way out. Whether or not you say yes or no," He gestured. "But if you say yes, it is on your terms. We don't have to do dinner right away. Only when you feel comfortable." His expression told me he was serious.
Bounding past him into the elevator; my face lit up in amazement as a large screen appeared before me on the far wall. A bird's eye view of the city. On it, glowing circles that Connor stated were indicators of where the transporter could take them.
"Okay." I nodded as he pressed one of the glowing circles. Fuck. The next thing I knew we were outside the control room. God, Star Trek had nothing on this. If only the city could fly, I could be Captain Kirk.
"Okay…" Connor probed tentatively. He looked nervous. "To dinner?"
"Sure, why not." I smiled at him, trying to appear nonchalant. In reality, my heart was beating out of my chest. "But I don't do dressy very well. Actually, I don't even own a dress." Connor gave a small smile. Damn, that smile could cause every pair of panties to drop in a ten-mile radius.
"Well, at least we have that in common," He admitted. 'Now, Dr. Weir wanted to see you. Her office is right over that skybridge."
"Wonderful," I muttered. Definitely gonna be in trouble for my little episode of Shawshank Redemption. At least I didn't have to tunnel anywhere. Connor leaned in and gave my shoulder a small reassuring squeeze.
"Let me know when you're ready for that dinner," He whispered in my ear, his breath hot against my skin, causing me to shiver. The smell of cedarwood wafted around her. It smelt familiar; if we had been this close before. "Don't rush it. I'll be here whenever you're ready." Nodding, I began my walk of shame towards Dr. Weir's office.
"Oh," Connor's voice caused me to stop and turn back towards him. "I'll pick you up outside your quartered tomorrow at 0600 for the meeting. Don't need you getting lost again."
"How do you know where my quarters are?" Narrowing my eyes at him, I raised an eyebrow in mock suspicious. "I don't even know where they are." Connor smirked as he turned to leave.
"Call me psychic." He waved goodbye as he made his way towards the gate room. Smiling, a warmth filled me as I thought about what a date with him would possibly look like. The fact that I was missing a huge chunk of memory, where we apparently bonded, slightly bothered me. Despite that, I was more than happy about the development.
Turning to see the grim face Elizabeth wore in her office, that smile faded quickly. Time to face reality.
A/N: Thank you everyone for the reviews and the follows! I love them! They keep me updating faster!
Till the next time..