A/N: I suppose I should have mentioned earlier where I'm placing this fic in the time line of the series. I don't know if you have picked up on the references to "Hide and Seek," "Poisoning the Well" and "Sanctuary" so of course it happens after those, right after "Before I Sleep" and before "The Brotherhood."
And there's a little SG: 1 reference in this chapter.

Enjoy :) Its nearing a close, looks like two more chapters, so if you have any questions ask them. I dont want to overlook something.

Chapter 8 – Another Exploration

"What took you two so long?" Carson was a wee bit annoyed at the sight of Rodney and Anirul strolling in, late, and laughing.

She took a breath, "I apologize Dr. Beckett, we had to make a stop at the lab."

"Well alright, take a seat on the bed for me would ya?"

"Okay." She sat down on the infirmary bed; Carson had his lab coat on and a clipboard in his hand. He pulled up a chair and sat down; Rodney was standing next to Anirul, hands folded behind his back.

"What exactly do you know of your ancestry Dr. Belacu?"

"I know that you know about some of my ancestors being Ancients so let's just start from there shall we?"

Carson looked up at Rodney with that doctor's glare.

He felt the need to defend himself, "She asked me."

Carson sighed, this woman has him wrapped around her finger, "Please continue Dr. Belacu."

"There is a myth, not a myth anymore I guess, that the Ancients that came to Tialys survived along with the few Tialysians when the Wraith attacked. About a hundred total people survived. Not much is known about that time since they didn't exactly keep personal records, the records actually stop there. But we have suspected that the two societies became one, it would just be natural and reasonable. When Hawat visited me, he confirmed this."

"What did he say exactly?" Carson asked.

"He said the Ascended Ancients were wary of him at first, it would make sense, I mean we are descended from the rebel Ancients."

Rodney questioned, "Rebel?"

Anirul looked up at him, "They defied direct orders to stop their research, fled with valuable equipment… in essence they rebelled. And of course Hawat being able to Ascend without outside aid goes along with being part Ancient."

"What about the ability you told Rodney about?"

"I told him all I know Dr. Beckett."

"I've been thinking," Rodney began. "There was an incident at the Antarctic outpost when that little alien guy was there, god what was his name… Jonas Quinn, that was it."

"Your point?" Carson commented.

Rodney sneered, "I'm getting to it." He continued, "They found a frozen woman there, an Ancient, who healed some infected scientists with the touch of her hand," he held out his hand and pointed.

Carson caught on immediately, "So the Tialysians would have a weaker ability due to their only being part Ancient."

"Exactly."

The reference was lost on Anirul but she jumped back into the conversation, "Sounds logical to me."

Something else had been bothering Carson though, the fact that the day before she activated the machine after being in Atlantis for a mere eleven days. They had been there for months and had no idea what it was. He moved the conversation on, intending to come back to the healing ability later.

"Dr. Belacu, could you describe what you were thinking when you activated the Ancient device?"

"I wasn't really thinking, it was more as if I was recalling something, and just reacting."

"Hmm. Everyone in your whole family are scientists?" Dr. Beckett was obviously thinking about something. He was the only one not looking lost at the moment.

"Yes… well not exactly. You know Rone is also in the military, takes after our father who was a scientist and a Commander. His father was a complete military man, and his mother was a physicist."

He was writing notes down, "And your mother's side of the family?"

"My mother was an astrophysicist; her father was the chief medical doctor on base. That's how he met my grandmother; she worked on the base as an astrophysicist also."

"How about your husband's family, the Brynisins?"

She paused for a second and slowly said, "Most were in government as far as I know… like Paulus was… what exactly are you trying to get at?"

"I'm not exactly positive yet. Give me a moment."

Now Anirul started thinking, "Rodney, are you the only astrophysicist in your family?"

"Yes…" Rodney's eyes narrowed, he didn't like being the only one lost.

"Dr. Beckett, only medical doctor?"

Carson snapped back into reality, "Aye."

Anirul continued, "So your people's family members don't follow their parents' professions?"

"It's not unusual to continue a 'family business' but not to the extent that your people do." Carson replied.

Anirul nodded, thinking. She was still sitting on the bed, hands in her lap; Carson in the chair, leg crossed over the other, and holding his chin; and now Rodney sat down next to Anirul, arms folded. The sight of the three intelligent doctors sitting in silence staring out into nothingness in the infirmary would have been hilarious to everyone, if someone had seen it, but that part of the infirmary was all but empty that day.

They sat like that for a full minute before Rodney titled his head, and directed his speech at Carson, "You're thinking about a type of genetic memory."

"Aye. But not actual memories; knowledge and intense predispositions."

Anirul nodded her head, "Because Tialysian families follow the same occupations."

"Partly," Carson said. "The fact that you knew what the machine did without ever touching it before is the real tip off."

"My grandfather was the medical doctor, must have got it from his side."

Rodney asked her, "What professions did the Ancients that fled to Tialys follow?"

"Well of course there were the scientists working on the compound, so biologists, geneticists, and medical doctors. Then physicists, military personnel, and the government leaders who supported the continuation of the work."

"Are those the only professions that are family-orientated?"

"Now that you mentioned it Dr. Beckett, yes."

"Of course, that adds support to my theory."

Before he could continue Anirul chimed in something else, "You know boys I've only now realized something."

Carson and Rodney looked at each other and thought, Did she just call us Boys?

"When I first talked to Major Sheppard and you Rodney on my planet,"

"You mean when you were holding a weapon on us?"

"Yes, but that's not the point." She sneered.

"Course not." Rodney snarked.

"I felt reassured about you, I knew you weren't enemies, and I trusted you. I felt, and I still feel, this feeling the strongest from Major Sheppard, but I also get it from you two. The three of you have the ATA gene as you call it, and the Major has the strongest am I correct?"

"Aye."

"I must get this feeling because I am descended from the Ancients and can sense the gene in you. The same as I immediately knew you were not the Ancients themselves; the only gene you possess that is not inherently human is the ATA gene."

"You can actually sense the gene is us?"

"Stranger things have happened in this place, a species that feeds off of human life energy for example."

Carson ignored Rodney's comment and continued to speak with Anirul, "You have given me a good amount of information Dr. Belacu. That will be all for today, but tomorrow I'd like you back here for some tests."

"That will be no problem. Since we're done here, where is Lt. Ford? I would like to see him." She stood up.

Carson pointed, "He's on the other side of the infirmary."

"Thank you. Rodney, I'll see you in the lab later I expect?"

"Where else would I be?"

"The cafeteria." She smirked, he shrugged.

Anirul walked over and found Aiden sitting up in the bed, his chest bandaged, talking to one of the nurses.

"Don't let me interrupt."

The nurse blushed, "I was just leaving Doctor," and she walked away.

Aiden turned to Anirul, "Hi Doctor, I was wondering when you would show up."

"I meant to come sooner, but I got a little side tracked earlier." She was standing on the side.

"Don't worry about it; I've had plenty of other visitors."

"I assume Major Sheppard came by."

"Yep, yesterday and this morning." He changed position by bracing himself, he winced a little.

"That's right, it's the afternoon now, I loose track of time. Do you remember much about yesterday after the ruins collapsed?"

He shook his head, "No, just waking up on that machine and being told that you saved my life."

She shrugged, "It was a group effort. If Major Sheppard didn't carry you out as fast as he did it wouldn't have been so easy. Even if I wasn't here, you would have gone into surgery."

"But then I'd have some pretty nasty scars. I've just noticed something this morning, I don't have any scars."

"What do you mean?"

"I had a scar from a dog bite when I was a kid on my left hand," He pointed to where it was, "Now it's gone."

She took a look, "So it is."

"I assume it was that machine."

"It accelerates the body's healing processes, it would make sense."

"Too bad it can't heal bones." He winced a little. She knew he wouldn't want to talk about pain too much, so she didn't say anything.

"I wish it did, then you would be out of here by now free to go on more dangerous missions." She smirked.

"Hey, we couldn't exactly predict that the volcano would erupt when we were there."

"I know Lieutenant. Just a little off-kilter humor."

"You have an odd sense of humor, don't make me laugh, it'll hurt." He could swear she was a lot like McKay, he wondered if he was the only one to notice.

"I'll try not to."

"Good afternoon." Teyla said as she walked up to Aiden and Anirul.

"Good afternoon to you too. Come to check up on our lieutenant here?"

"Yes." She directed her speech at him caringly, "How are you feeling today?"

"Alright."

"Not in too much pain are you?"

"There's some." He didn't want to admit being in agony in front of two women, awfully pretty women. "I'm better now that you two are here."

Teyla and Anirul laughed a little and Teyla said, "I'm sure you have had plenty of other visitors Lieutenant."

"One never knows how popular he is until he's laid up in a hospital bed." He responded.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave, I have some work to do. Glad to see you're alright Lieutenant. I will see you later Teyla."

Before she could leave Teyla called her, "Oh, Doctor?"

"Yes?"

The Makina attack on Anirul had worried Teyla, "I was wondering if you would be interested in some self-defense training."

"Really?" Anirul couldn't think of anyone better to teach her. "I'd be delighted. Do you have a time in mind?"

Teyla thought for a moment, "Tomorrow morning, eight o'clock in the gymnasium?"

"Sounds good. I'll be there." Anirul waved goodbye and walked out thinking about the events of the day, tomorrow might be just as interesting.