Thanks again for the reviews. Just one chapter left to go! You might think the Ancient is quite random but I wanted to bring this character back because I liked them. Plus, it could happen! So, on we go…
Chapter 12
Elizabeth balled up her fists and tried to remain calm but couldn't help the fear she felt inside. Why would she do this? Chaya has what she wants Elizabeth thought panicky. As the light came closer she suddenly realised it could be John. Beginning to feel hopeful she soon squashed it reminding herself that Chaya would not let him out of her sight now she had him. So Elizabeth was back at square one trying to work out who could be visiting her in her peaceful world. She watched the glow suspiciously as it hovered in front of her and began to grow. Soon it resembled a human form and Elizabeth waited in anticipation for the face to be revealed.
Elizabeth blinked. It was a man. She had never seen him before in her life and stared at him.
"Do not worry Dr Weir." He said calmly. "I am not here to harm you."
At that Elizabeth felt relief and smiled gratefully at the stranger.
"That's good to hear!" she said. "I don't mean to be rude but who are you?"
The man smiled and sat down on the blanket facing her. She couldn't explain it but Elizabeth felt a sense of familiarity with this Ancient.
"My name is Janis." He answered and watched as Elizabeth processed the name. He chuckled when Elizabeth's pensive face erupted into a shock one.
"Janis?" she asked." As in 5,000 years ago Janis?" He nodded. "As in Janis that helped me, the other me, when she travelled back in time? That designed the fail safe on Atlantis?"
Janis continued nodding through out her questioning never losing his patience. When she stopped asking questions she sat there in stunned silence. Janis glanced around the park and then back to Elizabeth.
"I am sorry if I scared you before. It is understandable considering what you have been through these past few months." He said.
Elizabeth sat still looking at him and then suddenly slapped her hands her knees and glared at him.
"You knew!" she asked angrily. "You all knew and did nothing to help me!"
Janis nodded and Elizabeth became even angrier when she realised he was not ashamed of the fact. Standing up she began to pace.
"I have been through hell Janis!" she cried. "She tried to destroy Atlantis! She killed John! All because she was jealous!"
"I know. There was nothing I could do Elizabeth." He told her quietly. "We are not allowed to interfere."
Elizabeth stopped pacing and glared down at him. "Interfere? What the hell was Chaya doing?" she asked accusingly.
"Interfering." Janis agreed. "But at the time I was not allowed to help you. Believe me, I wanted to, but the others wouldn't let me."
Elizabeth looked away from him and took a deep breath. Screaming at Janis is not going to help she realised and sat down next to him cross legged with a tired sigh.
"It's been awful." She said wearily. "So why are you here now?"
Staring into her eyes Janis could see the mental exhaustion and gave her a sympathetic smile.
"To help."
Elizabeth frowned.
"Help? But I thought you said…"
"That was before." He interrupted. Still seeing the puzzled expression on her face he elaborated. " Before she had not done anything that could significantly harm Atlantis itself."
At that remark Elizabeth was about to protest when Janis raised a hand to stop her. She frowned but kept quiet.
"I know all the horrible things she did to you. But she left John Sheppard unharmed. Now with him gone Atlantis is vulnerable. Atlantis is the one thing we want to protect. We cannot provide you with anymore weapons or ZPMs of course. But having him there at least gives you a chance."
Elizabeth nodded slowly taking in the information. Her face suddenly lit up with hope as she realised what Janis was here to do.
"You're here to bring him back, aren't you?" she asked barely containing the joy from her voice.
Janis nodded and grinned as Elizabeth reached forward and hugged him. After a minute she let go and leaned back with a huge smile on her face. She couldn't believe it, he was coming back to her.
"When? How? What…?" Elizabeth began to stutter but Janis shook his head and placed a finger on his lips. Taking the hint she shut up.
"You will know when." He told her and then gazed at her for a minute. "So you survived?"
It took a minute for Elizabeth to realise he was talking about the older version of her.
"Yes. Thanks to you." She said smiling.
Janis smiled back. "Yes, well, you gave me hope." And then whispered, "Although they will never admit it, they are all grateful for your work and presence on Atlantis. Our kind have returned home."
Elizabeth felt pride wash through her. The Ancients, grateful? Wait until she told Rodney. No doubt he would take all the credit! But at least they would know the Ancients were around. Somewhere.
"Right!" Janis said as he stood up. He offered his hand to Elizabeth who took it and pulled herself up. "I'm afraid I have some business to take care of."
Elizabeth nodded and gave him a broad smile. "Thank you Janis." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Again."
Janis returned her smile and then looked at her with a serious expression. "Take care of yourself and believe me when I say you will never have to worry about Chaya again."
With that promise he turned and made his way slowly to the lake. Elizabeth watched in amazement as he began to walk across the water. He's an Ancient Liz. What do you expect? She thought and smiled sadly as he dissolved into a ball of light and vanished. I wonder if I'll ever see him again? She heard a familiar voice call out her name and glanced at the clear, blue sky. That must be Carson she realised. Time to go home.
"I thought you said she would wake up soon?"
"You know I can't tell exactly when a person will wake up Rodney!" Carson muttered peering into Elizabeth's eyes with his light for the third time in the last half hour.
"Yeah, well, that's the problem with medicine Carson, too many ifs and variables." Rodney explained at which medic turned round to glare at his friend.
"Well, maybe next you get injured I'll leave you in the very capable hands of Dr Zelenka or another proper scientist as I cannot be trusted."
Carson almost burst out laughing when he saw the terrified look on the astrophysicist's face and turned his attention back to his patient.
"Look, there's no need for that Carson!" Rodney said trying to keep the fear out of his voice. "I only meant…"
"Rodney?"
Both men jumped as Elizabeth spoke. Carson leaned closer to the Atlantis leader and spoke very softly to her.
"Dr Weir, how are you feeling?" he asked as Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes.
Elizabeth gave him a sleepy smile and replied, "Much better. Thank you."
Carson moved out of the way feeling Rodney hover over his shoulder.
"Oh Elizabeth! Thank goodness!" he said with a relieved voice.
"Yip. Someone was worried you wouldn't wake up!" Carson explained.
"I was only sleeping Rodney." Elizabeth reassured the scientist.
"Of course you were. I knew that!" He said shrugging his shoulders and Carson rolled his eyes. Elizabeth smiled, touched at his concern for her.
Both men's faces suddenly became sombre and she knew what they were about to tell her.
"Elizabeth, we have some news." Rodney began but she held up her hand to stop him.
"If this is about John then it's okay." Elizabeth said smiling. "He'll be coming back to us."
Rodney and Carson just stared at Elizabeth like she had lost her mind but she didn't care. She knew John Sheppard would be returning to Atlantis. Sighing as the men still stared at her she attempted to sit up. As both men helped her get comfy, she began to tell them everything.
Elizabeth finished typing her report and closed her laptop with a satisfied smile. She had just finished catching up on the past week's paper work that had built into small tower on her desk while she had been recovering from her traumatic few days with Chaya. Whilst her story about Chaya had been accepted by her friends she had had trouble convincing them about her encounter with Janis. Although her story did gain some credibility when John's body vanished into thin air with no explanation. Even Rodney had been stumped. But that had been a week ago and now Elizabeth was beginning to doubt her meeting with the Ancient too. Maybe it was just a dream. She told herself feeling her heart sink. Shaking her head she stood up trying to dismiss the disappointing thought and made her way to the office door. Closing it gently behind her Elizabeth bid goodnight to the technicians on night watch and made her way down the stairs.
"Dr Weir." A voice crackled through the radio.
"Yes Carson?" she replied recognising the Scot's voice getting ready to explain why she was still up at this late hour.
"You'd better come see this!" he recommended.
Elizabeth stopped in her tracks and felt her heart soar. She knew exactly what he wanted to show her. And with her heart beating rapidly against her chest she began to sprint to the nearest transporter.
Well done Ms Raven! You guessed correctly and I thought no one would get it! LOL. I liked Janis too, they should definitely bring him back again. One more to come! Woohoo!
