A/N Chapter 8. That's it.

? Space?

"Here are the results you wanted, Carson." Jana slipped the folder into his hand and kissed him on the cheek, holding herself back only because they were on duty.

"Good. Now, lets see if anything showed up." Carson opened the folder and studied it, his eyes flitting amongst the pages of information. Jana set her head on his shoulder, reading things as he flipped through.

"That's odd." Jana stopped Carson from flipping the pages any further.

"What's odd?" Carson was a bit slower at reading, so Jana pointed it out to him.

"These are the results of the amniocentesis. How in the world does the Ancient gene show up there?" Jana tapped the graph in question, which clearly showed that Liz's unborn child carried the Ancient gene.

"I don't know, but it shouldn't be possible. Neither Liz or Rodney have the gene, at least not naturally."

"So the gene therapy didn't do this?" Jana had grabbed the folder and held it closer to read the information that went along with the graph.

"It shouldn't have been able too. I artificially introduced that gene, so he has it, but I didn't think it had actually integrated into his genetic code. This could be what's caused this coma-like state." Carson moved over to Liz's bedside, checking her vitals again. For all intents and purposes, she was in a coma, except her brain activity was more like that of someone with a concussion. Her child was in the same exact state, which was what had Carson most worried. Babies couldn't handle being in that state for long, and it had already been four hours. Nothing he had tried to wake her had worked, at least, not yet. The only thing he hadn't quite tried was time, but he was beginning to get tired of waiting.

"What do you mean, it could be the problem? You don't think the baby actually got this from Rodney, do you?" Jana moved to the other side of Liz's bed and picked up her hand. She squeezed slightly, but Elisabeth gave no response.

"It's the only thing that makes sense."

"So, if the baby has the ancient gene, but Liz doesn't, that could cause this. It's like the two systems are fighting each other." Carson looked up and smiled brightly at Jana. "What did I say?"

"If you have two computers that won't communicate with each other, what do you do?" Carson moved to one of the medical refrigerators and began rummaging around.

"Upgrade the slower one. But what does – " Understanding dawned on Jana's face, but was quickly replaced by concern. "Carson, are you sure it's a good idea to introduce the gene while she's in this state?"

"If I don't do it now, I may not have another chance. She's been getting worse little by little. Soon her body won't be able to withstand the strain that would be put on it by the gene. Don't you remember how Rodney was right after I gave it to him?"

"He was very tired for a while, I remember that." Jana paused, and then cleared her voice. "I think we should do it. It might save her life. You are sure it wont make her worse, right?"

"If it does, it will be only a little worse. She'll be alright, don't worry." Carson grabbed the needle and bottle he had, filling the syringe with the clear liquid. "Well, here we go." Carson slid the needle into Liz's IV and injected the serum.

"Now what?" Jana rubbed her thumb along the back of Liz's hand. This was a woman she looked up to, respected as a leader, and here they were injecting her with a substance that could do God-knows-what.

"We wait. If it's going to work, it will be within the next half hour or so. Don't worry, lass, she'll be alright." Carson turned to the door as an irate Kavaugnah came bursting in to the infirmary, clutching his right hand to his chest.

"Get it off me! Get it off now!" The doctor of science's hair had come loose from his ponytail and was swinging madly about his face, making him look like a crazed madman.

"Calm down Doctor. Now, what seems to be the problem?" Kavaugnah didn't answer, but instead shoved his hand in Carson's face. "Uh huh, and what is that, if I may ask?"

"I don't know, just get it off me!" The scientist was shrieking quite loudly now, and a few passers-by poked their heads into the infirmary to see who had made Carson mad enough that he was hurting them. When they saw it was only Kavaugnah yelling, most everyone smiled and went about their business as usual. A couple of airman even had the guts to shoot a thumbs-up his way, but the irate scientist saw those and flew into a temper-tantrum that would put any toddler to shame. He leaped up onto one of the beds, frantically clawing at the gooey substance covering his hand. If Carson wasn't mistaken, it was growing ever so slowly.

"Jana, dear, could you come get a sample of this? And get one of the isolation rooms ready." Jana turned to walk off when another string of profanity escaped the scientist's lips. Carson turned back to her and sighed. "I say Iso room 4 ought to be good.

Jana stifled a giggle. Iso room 4 was completely sound proof, as well as the fact that the doors only opened from the outside. It was often held as a threat, but this time Carson was serious. She told one of the nurses to go and prep the room for a patient, all the while grabbing a sample kit. She handed the kit to Carson, who took his sample as quickly as humanly possible. He pushed the scientist in Jana's direction, nodding to show that he was ready to go. She spoke quietly to him, telling him about how important this discovery could be to Atlantis, which seemed to inflate his ego enough to quiet his shouts to soft grumbles. Jana locked Kavaugnah in the Iso room and walked off, whistling a happy tune to herself. Walking back into the main infirmary, she noticed that there was an unexpected spectator.

"Elisabeth, it's good to see you awake. Let me go and get Carson." Jana disappeared into the testing lab, and after a few words were spoken, came back out followed by the doctor in question.

"Good morning, lass. Lets see how you are." He started checking the array of machines that had been hooked up to her, adjusting some and removing others, until the only thing left was the tube in her throat.

"Now, just give me a good cough on three, ok?" Liz nodded her head to show she understood. The tube was uncomfortable to say the least, and she couldn't wait to have it out.

"One… Two… Three!" Carson pulled gently on the tube, and with the help of her couch, it slid easily out of Liz's mouth. "Ok, its ok, drink this." A cup with a straw sticking out of it was pressed to her lips and she took a few tentative sips, letting the cool water slide down her throat.

"Rodney?"

Carson and Jana both looked at each other, not sure if they should tell her the news. Liz saw the look that passed between them and croaked out, "Late?"

Seeing no point in lying to her any longer, Carson nodded his head and answered her. "Over 16 hours late. Peter has dialed in repeatedly, but they aren't even getting a radio signal. Sgt. Bates recommended against a search team. He said it was too risky." Liz became visibly paler, and Jana held up the cup for her to get another drink. She put the straw in her mouth, but her eyes were scanning the room.

"Why am I here?" Her voice was becoming stronger now, clearer.

"Well, we were hoping you could tell us what happened. Peter says he brought you some reports you had asked for, then, a few minutes later, you screamed. He says you yelled Rodney's name. By the time anyone got there, you were passed out. This is the first time you've woken up, actually." Liz did the math in her head. If Peter had brought her the reports 3 hours after the start of the mission, and they were 16 hours overdue, that meant she had been asleep for almost… 25 hours.

"I've been asleep that long?" Carson and Jana nodded grimly, obviously worried about her. Another thought hit her. "Dr. Beckett, please tell me my baby is OK. Please."

"Actually, we think he is the cause of all this." After a brief pause, he continued. "Some how, your baby has the Ancient gene. We expected this with Teyla and John, because he was born with it, and the Athosians have something similar to it, just a bit further down the evolutionary path. But neither you or Rodney have it, at least, not naturally."

"So how did this happen? Was it Rodney's artificial gene?"

"That's what we think. I don't pretend to understand how it happened, but we think that the Ancient gene has actually become part of Rodney's DNA, instead of just being an activator." Carson stopped and looked to Jana, not sure if he should tell her the next part of it. He didn't have to worry, however, as Jana beat him to it.

"We also had to introduce the gene to you, Dr. Weir. We figured that the difference in yours and your baby's genetic codes was what was keeping you in a coma like state."

"It's alright, Dr. Foster, you did what you had to do." Liz leaned back into the pillows a bit more. All this activity was beginning to wear her out.

"You should rest. I'll wake you if any news comes." Carson turned to leave, but Liz's voice stopped him.

"Tell Bates to send a rescue mission or I will throw his ass into an opening wormhole. There are four good people out there that I am not going to be responsible for killing. Make sure they are prepared for anything." Liz finally leaned back and closed her eyes.

"Aye, I'll deliver the message personally." Carson left the room while Jana made her way to the labs to test Kavaugnah's pink goo.

"Dr. F- I mean, Jana, did Carson say he? As in, my son?"

"That he did. Congratulations. Now, sleep." Liz closed her eyes and let the tiredness envelop her, but not before she saw a picture of Rodney. He was bandaged, but alive. Liz knew she should tell someone, but sleep overcame her completely before she could make a sound.

? Space?

Teyla slowly opened her eyes and looked around the room. She was still in the hospital room, but no one was around. Something held her hand, albeit very loosely, and she turned to look at whatever was causing the disturbance. What greeted her eyes was a sight she thought was only a dream. John lay on a bed near her, his hand holding onto hers. On his forehead was one of the circular devices. The last time she had woken up, she had heard the other men talking about them. Apparently, it was supposed to keep her asleep, but didn't seem to be working very well. Teyla reached up and fingered the device on her head. She tried wiggling it, but it was actually embedded in her forehead. It couldn't be that deep, so she decided to chance it. She tugged experimentally and found that the pain associated was minimal compared to what she would have expected.

After a hard pull, the device was lying in the palm of her hand. Part of her said she should have left it, but somewhere deep inside she knew something was wrong. Teyla sat up and was hit with a wave of nausea. After a few deep breaths, she was able to hold down whatever lunch she may have had, although she didn't really know what time it was. The quiet sound of footsteps reached her ears, and Teyla lay back on the bed, placing the device on her forehead just as the doors opened. Two of the men entered and looked at all of the patients.

One of them seemed particularly interested in her, and she wondered for a moment if they knew she had pulled the device free. Only when he spoke did she realize it wasn't the device he was interested in at all.

"Once they are freed, I think I'm going to keep the woman. She's far better looking than any of the females here." No! She was John's wife, and would die before this –man- could get his slimy hands on her. They continued to talk, then, after what seemed to be an eternity, they left the room.

Teyla sat up again, this time without the nausea, and turned to John. Maybe, by pulling off the devices on them as well, all of them would be freed. Fighting in a group was much more preferable to fighting alone. With that thought, Teyla began pulling on the device imbedded in John's forehead, hoping it was as shallow as hers had been. It slid out easily, and it was only a few minutes until he woke.

"Teyla?" She held a finger to her lips, trying to tell him to be quiet. John seemed to understand, and sat up in his bed. He grabbed his head as soon as he was upright, and Teyla placed her hands on top of his.

"Nausea?" He only nodded his head slightly, and continued to sit there for a few more minutes. He finally released the squeeze-hold on his head and looked her in the eye.

"I was so worried about you? Why are you out of bed?" He reached out and pulled her into a tight hug, his lips capturing her own. They stayed like that for several minutes, until the need for air broke them apart.

"I will explain everything in time. Meanwhile, we must remove these from Lieutenant Ford and Dr. McKay." She held up the pair of circular devices in her hand, showing him the problem. "Somehow, they are drugging us with these. We do not belong here, nor are we being helped beyond the barest of means."

John just nodded his head, still to groggy to come up with a good argument. He flipped his legs over the side of the bed and stood, his legs protesting at having to bear his weight so soon. He stood still for a moment, letting his body adjust to being upright. Finally, once he was comfortable standing, he smiled.

"Time to break out."

? Space?

A/N Oh yes, I did graduate from Evil Academy. Top of my class, actually. Don't worry, chapter 9 is partway done already, and shouldn't take that long to get up. Anyways, much luv to everyone who reviews!

P, L, aEF,

FaC