Author's Note: Remember; Melony thinks Beckett's name is Becker, so sometimes - when it's Melony's point of view, I'll be referring to him as Becker, and when it's everyone else, he'll be Beckett.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Mitchell took a moment to down several Tylenol. It wasn't like she was running the risk of an overdose, since Talon was there to make sure that didn't happen – and she had a feeling her head was going to be pounding more before the day was done.

Ask them how they know –

"You've seen one of these Wraith things?" Mitchell asked before Talon could finish the statement.

All of the people in the room nodded.

"I watched it suck the life out of Colonel Sumner," Sheppard told her, softly. From the look on his face, it was obviously something he hadn't enjoyed. Mitchell could understand that.

They're sure it wasn't something else, pretending to be a Wraith to frighten them?

Good point.

"You're sure it wasn't something else, pretending to be a Wraith to frighten you?"

"It was a Wraith," Weir said. "We've come upon several other societies of people here, and they've all seen these Wraith – and all of their worlds have been plagued by them."

"Apparently the Wraith keep people much like we on Earth keep cattle – or goats," McKay said, finding his voice for the first time since he'd been chewed out. "They feed on a world until the population is low, then they move on. They hibernate for centuries at a time – presumably to give the populations a chance to grow in numbers – then they come back and feed again."

Mitchell couldn't help the face she made.

"What a grisly cycle..."

"Yes."

"So we're in the middle of one of the feeding cycles?"

Sheppard shook his head.

"We're at the beginning of it."

She rubbed her head again, willing the aspirin to take affect, and felt Talon start to soothe the pain, despite his own aches and weariness. She gave him a nudge of thanks, and felt the headache lessen.

Are you satisfied that what they're dealing with truly are the Wraith things? Melony asked her symbiote.

It does sound similar to what I have heard of them

"What –"

"Colonel, you really ought to get some rest," Beckett told her, cutting off her next question. "You've already had one nasty shock today, I don't like the thought of adding too much more to it..."

She shook her head. Now that the pounding was going away, she was feeling better, and despite the fact that Talon really could have used a rest, the symbiote was just as keen to get the answers as his host was.

"I'm fine, Doctor Becker, thank you," she told him, turning back to Sheppard and missing the amused look McKay gave the doctor when Mitchell got his name wrong. "Tell me about Colonel Sumner, Major. From the beginning..."

"We have mission reports of all the events of the past months," Weir told her before John could start talking. She really didn't want to hear this story again – she'd heard it so many times already that she occasionally would have a nightmare about it. "I'll bring you copies so you can see what's been happening..."

Mitchell nodded.

"Carson?" Weir asked, "How much longer will the Colonel here be in the infirmary?"

Beckett shrugged.

"It depends on her symbiote. When she feels like leaving, they can." Who was he to say otherwise? He turned to Mitchell. "I'll want to do a check-up a little later, just to make sure the beam didn't cause any side affects we haven't found yet, if you don't mind?"

And miss the chance to hear him say something else in that accent? Not a chance.

Mitchell nodded.

"I can leave, now, then."

"You're sure?"

I can leave now, right?

There's nothing wrong with you, Talon confirmed. As long as you're not planning on going anywhere and doing anything strenuous, you can get out of bed, sure.

"I'm sure."

"We found some things that we were pretty sure were your personal things," Weir told her, as Mitchell made sure she was wearing clothing – bright red surgical scrubs – and tossed the blankets back. "We put them in quarters for you."

Between the rough welcome and the story of the Wraith, Mitchell had forgotten that she was actually standing in the lost city of Atlantis. She took a moment to look around the infirmary. Despite the fact that all of the machines looked nominally familiar, there was a definite alien quality to the room.

"Is there a bed in my quarters?" She asked. "Or did the Ancients sleep on something else?" Like a bed of nails, or a pile of bubbles...

She felt Talon's amusement at the thought, and saw Weir smile as well.

"No, they had beds. We brought sheets and bedding, but they left us with a fair amount of furniture."

"We're still finding new things every day," McKay added.

"Really?" She'd have thought they'd have explored the place by then.

"Yes."

It sounds as if they've run into problems of their own

True.

"John? Why don't you take Colonel Mitchell to see her quarters, and I'll bring the mission reports there."

Sheppard looked at Mitchell, who shrugged.

"That's fine with me." She frowned. "I'm not going to get zapped the minute I enter another room, am I?"

McKay shook his head.

"The device has been deactivated."

"You're sure?"

"Of course."

"Positive?"

McKay made an annoyed noise in his throat, forgetting for a minute that he was in awe of her.

"Yes, Colonel Mitchell, I'm positive."

Satisfied, Mitchell reached down and touched the shirt she was wearing.

"I'm going to need some clothes."

If I get zapped, I'm going to toss him out a window

Melony hid her amusement at that, and watched as Becker shooed everyone out of the infirmary.

"I'll be right outside, Colonel," Sheppard told her as he headed for the door with Weir.

"I'd like a chance to speak with you fur-"

"Get out," Beckett interrupted, putting his hand on McKay's shoulder and giving him a slight push towards the door as well.

"I'm going, don't push..."