Stay with me
Chapter Five
When Elizabeth had regained her bearings, she quickly looked around, to find herself alone in the infirmary. What had she just experienced? Was it a dream? It had seemed so real, and when John had held her hand, it had seemed so…true. She had felt the warmness of his skin touching hers. Frowning, Elizabeth suddenly made a decision. Walking from the infirmary, she decided to go check his records for references of John's family. If the vision had appeared real, she could mention it to someone. If not, no one never need know what she had seen.
Minutes later she was pulling John's file from her cabinet, locked away in her office. Opening it past the pages she had already skimmed through at the beginning of the expedition, she found the small page with information on John's past life before military.
Psychological Evaluation Report
Doctor. Diana Morgan.
Name: John Sheppard
Age: 19
John Sheppard in my professional opinion is fit to join the USAF. After a long period of assessment, he as proved that after the events surrounding his families death as a child, he has moved on. Although still carrying some guilt over the death of his mother and brother by his fathers hands, he appears not to suffer the same traits. I suggest keeping an eye on him for his period of service.
Elizabeth sighed, and rubbed her forehead slightly. Great. So if it wasn't a dream, what was it? A vision? Some kind of strange connection? For now, she decided with a quick glance back at the file, she would keep her little experience to herself. Just in case.
Deciding she would take some time to shower and change out of the old clothes she was wearing, Elizabeth walked from the room, now aware of the person who sneaked from the darkened corner, walking to the computer, and pulling up the report.
He smiled an evil knowing smile.
"I have you now, Elizabeth…" He whispered softly, closing the programs and walking from the room, a spring, now in his diabolical step.
"So," McKay said in his usually quick voice, "Then the device transmits a secret code with the message back to here, Atlantis, which is then decoded in a matter of seconds and transmitted in an audio format."
Elizabeth, caught on her way back to the infirmary, looked at his with raised eyebrows.
"So it's a communication device."
"No! It's more then a communication device! It's a CODED communication device!"
Elizabeth frowned, the beginnings of a headache setting in her head as she let out an exasperated sigh.
"And the significance is exactly…?"
McKay looked flustered. He obviously thought the conversation was taking a turn for the worse.
"Well, it's not really the significance as much the interest."
Elizabeth closed her eyes before speaking.
"Rodney, I really have somewhere to be…"
Rodney nodded quickly.
"I know you do! But I just wanted to tell you a quick update! Anyway, that wasn't the real reason I wanted to talk to you. Are you sure your okay?" He asked, laying a comforting hand on her arm, "you look pale."
Elizabeth nodded.
"I'm fine Rodney. Now if you'll excuse me, I really want to get back to the infirmary for a few hours."
McKay nodded.
"Well, I think I'll join you. I haven't seen John in a few days."
As they walked toward the infirmary doors, they were surprised to see one of them swing open suddenly. Shouts filled their ears as an awake John Sheppard ran from the small room.
Elizabeth moved into his path as he stopped and looked around worriedly.
"John?" She half-asked, half whispered hopefully. He looked at her for a long few seconds.
"Who are you?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
Elizabeth sighed, taking a small step forward.
"I'm your friend John. Your in Atlantis. Your safe here."
John sneered.
"Yeah right. Atlantis. I joined the USAF a few months ago. What kind of frat joke is this?"
Elizabeth reached out for his hand tentatively, but he pulled back quickly. Hurt flashed across her face before she was able to push it back behind the mental barriers she had built around herself.
"Follow me John." She said quickly, motioning with her hand behind her back for Rodney to back off. He did so and Elizabeth held the door open for the infirmary. Nineteen year old John hesitated.
"It's okay," She whispered soothingly, "you have my word no one will harm you. I just want to show you something." He nodded and followed her, past Carson and the nurses who watched them.
Carson's face clearly stated 'I hope you know what your doing'. She led him past the beds and the equipment he had broken in his escape, to the bathroom at the far end. Opening the door, she pointed to the mirror.
"Take a look." She whispered.
Looking suspiciously at her, John squeezed past and looked at himself. In a matter of seconds his face went from suspicious, to shocked. He slowly felt his face, then looked at his aging hands.
"You are suffering a kind of amnesia John." She said gently, "You've been here in Atlantis for nearly a year."
His hand, needing support, reached out blindly for hers. Elizabeth took his hand firmly, but suddenly, just as soon as their hands touched, pain ripped through Elizabeth as her breathing came in short gasps, and her world went white as everything else but her and John fell away into the eerie whiteness.
Ttfn!