You guys are so nice with these reviews! I'm sorry I'm keeping you waiting with this story but it's been the best I could do. ErabuHikari asked me to explain Sg1's encounter with the virus so there's a wee summary( a bad one too) below for those who didn't see the episode (it also makes my chapter look longer! LOL.)

Season six (with Jonas) called Frozen

A group of scientists are exploring the area where Carter and O'Neill found the second gate in Antarctica in season 1 Solitudes. They find a woman, with some wounds, frozen solid and Sg1 go along to see her. They defrost the woman who is actually still alive and amazingly her wounds heal too. Jonas communicates with her and discovers her name is Ayiana. She's an Ancient and Dr Fraser theorises that she is the first evolution of their kind (us being the second evolution). Leading to an O'Neill classic line – "Darwin would be crushed!" But everyone else apart from Ayiana becomes ill and they guess it came from exposure to her or the blood samples they took. She starts to heal everyone but this causes her to become weak and collapses before she can heal O'Neill. Both are dying but it's Aiyana who loses her battle and they end up putting a Tokra symbiote into O'Neill to cure him. He then gets captured by Ba'al yada yada yada…(another episode linked to this one.)

There, told you it was bad! That's just the very basics so I'm sorry if others are annoyed at it or any mistakes I mentioned. If you would like a more detailed synopsis I would recommend Gateworld.

Chapter 4

John jerked awake when he heard Elizabeth mumble and scolded himself for falling asleep. He was sure he hadn't needed it but obviously his body thought otherwise. Glancing at his watch the illuminated screen showed he had been dozing for almost half an hour.

Running a mucky hand through his already messy hair Sheppard returned his focus to Elizabeth. Placing the back of his hand on her forehead he was shocked but happy to feel her temperature had gone down as well as the dampness' disappearance.

"Hey doc! I think Elizabeth is getting better. She's not so warm now and she's not sweating as much." He informed Beckett who frowned.

"How's that?" He wondered out loud then snapped his fingers. "When you healed her cut you must have removed some of the infection."

John smiled finally feeling like he had done something to help her. "So, she's gonna be okay now, right?"

The silence on the other end told him otherwise and he growled in frustration.

"I'm afraid Dr Weir isn't out of the woods yet son." Beckett explained solemnly. "We're still having trouble reaching you both and her main wound hasn't healed yet, has it?"

Sheppard glanced at her bloody side and sighed. "No, the bleeding's stopped but there's nothing clean here I can replace her bandages with."

Just then the woman in question's eyes flickered open and blinked a few times. At first she donned a puzzled expression clearly disorientated but then seeing Sheppard's tired, grubby face took a shaky breath.

"Hey. Still here are we?" She asked hoarsely and her companion nodded obviously relieved to hear her talking.

"Yeah. There's still too much rubble in their way. But you know Rodney, soon he will have dug us out and be bragging about his rescue attempts to anyone or things with ears."

His attempt at lightening the atmosphere worked as he and Elizabeth chuckled before she launched into a coughing fit. "Sorry." He quickly stuttered placing his hands on her shoulders as they bounced off the floor.

"No…don't be. We needed it." She assured him and then frowned at him. "Unless I'm in some warped reality I thought I was dying?"

"Eh…" Was all John could say trying to find the words to explain his 'power'. No doubt the diplomat would be delighted in the news but would then ultimately order him never to use it, as she knew the downside too.

"John? I feel better." She reinforced sounding bewildered. "How is that possible?"

He didn't want to answer her knowing she would soon deteriorate again if the others didn't reach them soon. But she needed to know the truth.

"Um, a little while ago something…amazing happened. I, uh, healed a cut on your face." He explained slowly watching her face carefully. At first she looked sceptical so he added while waving, "With my hands."

"What the-?" Elizabeth muttered still in disbelief while John hid his smile hearing her reaction. "You have…"

"Yep, Ancient healing powers." Cocking his head to the side he said, "Cool, huh?"

"Um, very." She said although still looking unconvinced. "So you healed a cut. Doesn't explain exactly why I feel overall better."

"It would seem the Colonel removed most of the infection from your system while he healed the cut." Beckett jumped in giving Elizabeth a fright.

"Geez doc! Buzz in next time!" John exclaimed seeing the leader momentarily startled.

"Sorry!" He replied grinning sheepishly at the others around him. "So, you do feel better Dr Weir?"

"Yeah. Still sore, a little dirty and sweaty… so probably smelly too, but other than that I feel fine." She quipped causing various members of the rescue team to sigh in relieve.

However, the grave look on Carson's face worried Rodney. Casting him a quick glance the medic shook his head. "Dr Weir, I'm afraid…I'm afraid the infection will come back unless we get to you soon."

Staring questioningly at John he looked away unable to watch her reaction at the news.

"What do you mean?" She asked wishing Sheppard would look at her. Even from the side of his face she could see his guilt. It felt as if she should know why this hadn't worked properly but couldn't remember.

"If Colonel Sheppard tries to heal you completely he could become infected with an Ancient virus." Carson explained and immediately Elizabeth recalled the events from SG1's mission report about the frozen Ancient Ayiana.

"He could die." She stated understandingly attracting the officer's attention again. The silence told her she was right and nodded. "Just as well it was only a small cut then."

Gazing at each other for a minute John spoke into the radio. "Give us a minute please guys."

"Aye. Call me if you need me." He told them and switched his radio off.

"Huh? Why'd he do that?" Rodney grunted while trying to lift a piece of rock off of a huge pile. He was met by several shocked and annoyed expressions. "What?"

"Elizabeth I-"

"No."

"You don't even know-!"

"Yes I do and I'm telling you no!"

The anger and fear in her voice surprised and scared the Colonel having never heard her use that tone before. Watching her grimacing in pain as she tried to sit up he placed a hand on her back for support but she immediately tensed when he did.

"Don't touch me." She warned in a low voice and proceeded to grunt and groan as she manoeuvred her tired body over to the other wall that was still half standing. Looking back at Sheppard, Elizabeth could see the hurt in his eyes and realised just how nasty she had sounded.

"I didn't mean it like that-" She hurriedly explained. "I don't want you to…you know…heal me by accident." He seemed to understand her reasoning but still showed signs of offence.

"Did you have to move so far away?" He asked moodily reminding Elizabeth of small child about to go into a sulk. And Sheppard was not pleasant to be around when sulky. Cute but unpleasant.

"Yes." She said smiling sadly at him. "Cause I know you John Sheppard and at least this way I can try and kick you if you try to heal me."

Her voice was light and full of humour but her eyes betrayed her amusement. Elizabeth was terrified and felt her heart tug when John looked at her pleadingly.

"Please Elizabeth. I can't watch you die." He begged but she was absolute in her decision.

"I couldn't live with myself if you cured me and then died yourself John. Don't ask me to live with that guilt, it's not fair!" She said raising her voice ready for a battle.

"Fair? I have the power to save you and no one will let me!" He cried angrily leaning forward. "Atlantis needs their leader!"

"They have Caldwell and you. I'm expendable John." Even as she uttered the words Elizabeth realised how harsh it sounded but knew it was the bitter truth.

"What?" He asked gaping. "Like hell you are! You run this city and you do a damn fine job at it whereas me-"

"They need fighter pilots and someone with your experience in dealing with the Wraith-"

"They need someone who everyone, civilians and military, look up to-"

"You have the ATA gene and in my book that trumps all!"

Elizabeth's loud statement echoed around the dark ruined room as if emphasising her point. Both were breathing heavily trying to regain some composure after their short but heated fight and Elizabeth tried again, this time lowering her voice.

"As long as Atlantis has you it stands a chance of returning to greatness." Holding up a hand to stop his protests she pressed on firmly. "Please John. I am asking you as a friend not to risk your life for mine."

The sincerity in her eyes as she said 'friend' caused a lump to rise in his throat. Damn it Sheppard you should have tried harder! He thought regretfully wishing he had been more forceful during the argument. Gazing sorrowfully at Elizabeth it was now John noticed she looked slightly paler again.

Watching as her eyelids fluttered open and then close John knew the infection was grabbing hold of her again and clenched his fists as she whispered wearily, "Please, promise me…"