Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews!! Rudhweth, I could do that, but give me a week or so, okay? I'm all ready picturing ideas in my mind for that scenario, it could be a lot of fun! No, I've never been published, never sought it out at this point. I've debated submitting my work for a zine but I'll be honest, I haven't gotten up the nerve. Anyway, was able to get this chapter done before the morning was over and now I'm off to get some work done. Thanks for reading and keep the reviews coming, it's a huge encouragement!

Chapter Two

Mistakes Can Be Deadly

"Is anyone else finding it spooky down here?" McKay asked, peering into the gloomy corners of the outpost as they made their way through the main corridor.

"It's just your overactive imagination." Sheppard said.

Beckett was bringing up the rear, and didn't admit his imagination was probably in overdrive also. He didn't care for the dark on a good day. Add in the fact that they were under feet of ice, he couldn't hold back the involuntary shiver.

"If this is like the other outpost, the chair should be..." Sheppard paused at the cusp of the opening into the main room, "...there." He said satisfied.

"Nice to know they were consistent." McKay said. "Do your thing Major, turn on the lights first."

Sheppard nodded and headed for the chair, sitting gingerly in the cool metal, waiting for the chair to recline and activate. He wasn't disappointed. The chair reacted to him almost instantly, and the lights brightened in the outpost.

"I take it this means the ZPM is working?" Beckett asked, watching Sheppard warily, half expecting something bad to happen.

McKay had begun wandering around the edges of the main room, "That would be a yes." He murmured, "How much is left, that's the important question."

Beckett figured any would be worth bringing back, as even a small amount could help. He was startled to see Sheppard's face focus in concentration, "Major?"

"Teyla and Ford, they're here." Sheppard sat himself up, and slipped off the chair, heading for the corridor they had come from, now illuminated.

Beckett followed Sheppard, surprised. How had Ford and Teyla gotten down here? They hadn't gone far when he saw Lieutenant Ford and Teyla standing warily at the end of the corridor; Ford having his weapon up, and looking like someone had dunked him in a bath of icy water.

"What the hell just happened?" Ford asked. "We were looking..."

"...For us." Sheppard interrupted. "I was in the chair when you and Teyla walked over the transport area. I had it bring you here."

Ford nodded, peering around Sheppard's form to see McKay approaching, "How did you get here?"

"The Major's Ancient gene activated the transporter while we were on the surface." McKay explained in a rushed breathe, "Major...you've got to see this." McKay's face was flushed.

"What?"

"There's something here..." McKay was all ready heading back from where he had come, a small corridor off the main room. He stopped in front of a chamber of some sort.

Sheppard's face registered shock, "Son of a bitch, it's...dead?"

McKay shook his head, "I don't think so. It's like the stasis chamber General O'Neill was in."

Ford had come up behind them, with Teyla and Beckett, "It's a wraith." He said, a mixture of disgust and healthy fear.

"Yes, it is." McKay confirmed.

Beckett frowned. He had only seen the part of a wraith that had been brought back for him to run tests. The creature staring gruesomely out of the icy block was worse than he had imagined. "I'm going to have nightmares." He stated, unable to draw his eyes away from the body.

"What's it doing here?" Ford asked.

Sheppard looked at Ford, then at McKay, "If I had to guess, I'd say they were doing the same thing we are. Intel...maybe testing possible weapons?"

"We should see if there is anything here." McKay spun around, looking for more areas to search, "Maybe there's information in the data logs. If we could find something to help..."

"...That would be big." Sheppard finished, heading in the opposite direction, beginning to look for other areas to search. "See what you can find."

Teyla jogged up alongside Sheppard, "Should we not go and let Doctor Weir know what we've found?"

"Not yet. We need more information."

"I don't like this." Teyla said, uneasy, "Something feels...wrong."

Sheppard agreed. Despite the lights and activation of the climate controls, the outpost remained creepy. He was a skeptic of the paranormal, but this place could make him a believer. He could almost imagine the ghosts of the Ancients haunting the rooms.

Sheppard was drawn out of his musing by a loud crash from the direction that McKay, Ford and Beckett had taken. He heard someone swearing...McKay. He looked at Teyla and they shared an alarmed expression. He twisted on his heel and headed back, "McKay?" He called, apprehensive.

"I'm okay." McKay shouted back.

Sheppard and Teyla found McKay standing in a pile of glass, looking sheepish, "I...uh...accidentally bumped into this when..."

Ford grinned, "He thought he heard something, and turned around so fast he almost knocked himself down, instead he dumped this off the counter."

Beckett was wandering around the counter, "Major...this is some kind of lab."

Sheppard looked at him sharply, "Like in Atlantis?"

"I think so."

Sheppard figured that added to the odds they were experimenting with the wraith in the chamber. He knelt down by the glass debris; poking his gun muzzle at the pieces, "Wonder what this was?"

"Major! Get away from that!" Beckett shouted.

Sheppard looked up, and was worried to see Beckett keeping his distance, and pulling Ford and Teyla back. "What?"

"I think McKay knocked down the Ancient's version of a petri dish." Beckett explained, backing farther from McKay and Sheppard.

McKay grew even paler than before, "Oh no."

Sheppard stood up, quickly, "You're kidding."

Beckett shook his head, "No."

"I'm really starting to dislike these guys." Sheppard said.

Elizabeth was reading a book. She rarely found time to read, and the book was her favorite and one personal item. She had teased John about bringing a football game, but she wasn't much better, bringing a book she had all ready read numerous times in her life.

"Doctor Weir? You're needed in the gate room." One of the scientists was standing at her doorway; looking uncomfortable for interrupting her while she was enjoying some much needed privacy. It was evening in Atlantis, at least according to the rhythm of the planet; the sun had set an hour ago. She had found it comforting that this world followed a similar cadence as Earth, with a definitive night and day. It was the woman that was a member of Kavanagh's research team. Simpson, that was her name, "Thank you Simpson."

The woman nodded and hurried away, back to whatever project she was working. Weir got up with a sigh, and put the book away. She headed to the gate room, hoping it wasn't bad news. Seemed like nine out of ten calls from off-world teams was trouble.

Grodin was at the controls. Did that guy ever sleep, she wondered, "What's the problem?" She asked, looking out at the blue pool wavering in the Stargate.

"Doctor Beckett is requesting assistance." Peter explained.

"Why?"

"He believes they've been exposed to a possible contagion. He wants medical supplies and some extra people in haz-mat gear."

Weir closed her eyes, and exhaled, why was nothing easy out here. "Let me talk to him."

Grodin nodded, and toggled the switch. "Carson, what's wrong?"

Beckett's voice came over the speaker, "We found the outpost."

"That's good."

"Actually, no. Doctor McKay broke a dish that I have reason to believe may have contained harmful bacteria...possibly a virus aimed at destroying the wraith."

Weir didn't like the sound of that, "And you've been exposed?"

"Doctor McKay and Major Sheppard were directly exposed, myself, Lieutenant Ford and Teyla, indirectly. I need to run some tests but don't want anyone else to risk exposure. It could be harmless."

"I understand. We'll send them as soon as they can get ready. Is there a ZPM?"

"Yes, but we aren't sure how much power is left. Rodney was checking before Teyla, Lieutenant Ford and myself headed back to brief you and get some help. There's something else."

There was always something else, she thought, "What is it?"

Beckett's voice paused, "There's a wraith...in a stasis chamber like the one General O'Neill was in."

Weir and Grodin shared stunned looks, "Are you sure it's safe?" She asked.

"Rodney believes it's alive but held fast. It can't come out unless we want it to."

Elizabeth relaxed minutely, "That's good."

Peter had notified the personnel required by Beckett, and they were beginning to filter into the gate room. "Carson, everyone is almost ready. They'll be coming through shortly. Good luck, and contact us if you need anything else. Tell Major Sheppard to be careful." She almost groaned as she said it again. She was beginning to feel like a mother hen.

"I will. Beckett out."