Note: Another story. Yippie. I'm not really sure where this story fits in. Sheppards a Colonel, but Ford's still around and I mean there still searching for allies for food and supplies and stuff. So just don't try and think what time frame it takes place, okay. You'll just get confused. There's not really any shipping, maybe some moments for all different types, ShWeir, Sheyla, McWeir, whatever ties your shoes. Please read and review, whether you wanna abuse me for my horrible spelling or tell me you loved my story (WHAT THE HELLS WRONG WITH YOU ... kidding, just kidding!)

Disclaimer: I don't own StarGate Atlantis or any of the names, technology etc. you recognise in association with that show.

The Virus!

Chapter 1 - Injuries and failure!

It had been over three days since Colonel Sheppard and his team had departed to Adrenian to negotiate with it's leader for food suplies. She always worried when a team was sent off world. She knew they could all take care of themselves, but the worry was simply part of being a leader. She paced in front of her desk in her office, starring our the window every so often at the StarGate, waiting for some movement, any whatsoever that would mean their return.

The trip was only meant to be a short one, a few hours at the most, but Colonel Sheppard had told her that the Adrenian leader refused to become allies unless they participated in their traditional ritual. The ritual included a ceremony where the leader was to ask the gods for a sign for in regards with the new friendship. If the sign was a bad one, say if destruction and hardship followed, then the allies would be refused and sent on their way; if peace and happiness followed, then the friendship was sealed with an evening feast and their people would have new allies.

A simple procedure, yes, so why hadn't they returned by now? Elizabeth had to wonder whether something had happened, maybe the Colonel and his team had gotten the worst sign yet from any god and had been killed on the spot for fear of ultimate destruction. Maybe the Wraith had arrived and they couldn't escape. Her mind wondered as she thought of each scenario and tried to assure herself that everything was fine.

She couldn't help it, she worried all the time. And each time they would come back, a little battered, a little bruised maybe, but they had always come back. With that thought in her mind she breathed deaply and sat in her chair behind the desk at last.

At that moment the gate behind her sprang to life and sirens sounded around the city.

'Dr. Weir, to the control room. Dr. Weir, to the control room,' Grodins voice came in through her head set. She didn't need telling again, she was on her feet in no time and hurridley making her way to the control room.

As usual, whenever their was an emergency situation the control room was always chaos. People ran backwards and forewards, alarms sounded, computers flashed, people yelled undistinguishable things at her, trying to inform her of the situation.

' ... Wraith ... coming in hot ... evacuation ... came out of nowhere ...' Colonel Sheppards voice came over the speakers as he tried to communicate with Atlantis.

Elizabeth understood. They were always coming in with the Wraith on their tale. At least they were alive. Man they were lucky.

'Understood Colonel,' Elizabeth said. 'Deactivate the sheild!'

The sheild covering the gate shut down and immediatly the gate room was lit up with the weapon blasts breaking through the StarGate. The soldiers in the gate room didn't even need telling, they ducked for cover and sheilded themselves as best they could from the oncoming fire.

Elizabeth tried her best to keep calm, they were shore taking their time. They should have been through by now. People in the gate room were injured, she could see. They needed medical attention and fast. Why wasn't Colonel Sheppard though!

Her thoughts were interupted as a large blast catapulted through the StarGate at emmense speed and slammed into the window of the control room. The room shook, the glass smashed, everyone dived for the floor ...

And then all was quiet. The alarms stopped, the firing stopped and the gentle engine of a puddle jumper could be heard in the gate room below.

Elizabeth opened her eyes, there was a lot of smoke, she couldn't see much. She slowly began to stand, moving each limb slowly but surely to make sure that there was no damage done. Their was a slight numbing sensation in her palm. She examined it cautiously. It was just a small scratch, nothing more. She would live.

'Is everyone alright?' she asked, feeling that it was a rather stupid question, for if anyone was in serious pain, or worse, dead, they wouldn't be able to answer. A few groans were let off around the room and as the smoke slowly began to clear Elizabeth could see several bodies moving slowly. The place was a mess, that was for sure. The window was destroyed, the floor littered with glass shards, yet surprisingly a few computers still blazed with life around the room.

The smoke had almost completly disapeared and Elizabeth was pleased to see that everyone seemed to be sitting up or at least moving. A few injurys here and there, but they would all survive. She made her way to the now open window and noted happily that John and the others were out of the Puddle Jumper. They all seemed to be alive and well. Beckett and a medical team were already making their way to the injured men in the gate room.

Elizabeth sighed loudly as John got her eye and screwed up his face in an apologetic way. It was going to be a long briefing.

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'Seemed as though the Gods didn't want us there after all,' Rodney groaned, looking rather stunned.

The briefing had taken place a day after the incident. Elizabeth had wanted to give everyone some time to take care of their injuries and find out the status report of all of her people. Two men had died in the gate room, others suffered a few major injuries. The people in the control room had all survived, a few scratches here and there, but nothing too life threatening. Elizabeth hadn't had her hand looked at yet, it was nothing at all too serious and she didn't waste Becketts time, especially when there were more important cases.

'Still can't beleive they wouldn't let us help,' John said, fiddeling with a spot on the table in front of him.

He seemed unusually quiet, but he always did when something like this happened, Elizabeth assumed he blamed himself for the events, but as far as she could gather it was just bad luck that did it.

They had remained on Adrenian and awaited the leader's confirmation. Rodney had assured them over and over that there would be no problems, he didn't often believe in what the aliens called 'gods'. Then out of nowhere the Wraith had come. They were forced to flee immediatly. Many Adrenian people were killed, they were able to save some and may have been able to do more, but the Adrenians simply wouldn't allow it. 'Half the weapon fire had been from them,' John had told her, 'they really wanted us outta there.'

Elizabeth had sighed deeply at that point. All that effort, lives lost and they had nothing to show for it. No weapons, no food, no allies ... nothing. John seemed to realise this too for he had once again gone back to poking the spot on the table. She didn't bother reinforcing the fact, she simply let it be, there was nothing to be done now.

'Well thank you all for the report. Colonel, I want you and your team to go to the infirmary as well. Just to make sure your all okay. Then you can all get some rest.' Elizabeth though this would be best. It would be a while untill the control room was up and running again and a while untill she sent another team back out through the gate.

John nodded, got up from the table and left. Teyla and Ford did the same but Rodney remained behind.

'Er, maybe I can help with the control room or something. I'm fine really, I just wanna - um - help out a bit,' he said, speaking more to the floor then to Elizabeth.

'If you insist Rodney, but I want you checked out first nonetheless.'

He nodded his head then pointed at Elizabeth's hand. 'What about you?'

'It's just a scratch, nothing to serious.'

He nodded his head but didn't move, still staring at the ground. Elizabeth raised her eyebrows at him.

'For what it's worth, I-I'm ... sorry,' he said, shifting his eyes and looking slightly uncomfortable.

'It's alright Rodney, this wasn't your fault. Noone's to blame.' She was saying it truthfully and Rodney nodded once more. Elizabeth could tell he wasn't convinced. If helping in the control room made him feel any better then she would let him, she didn't need everyone blaming themselves.

Right ... Right, well, I'll just, go see what I can do then.' He attempted a strained smile and left the room.

Elizabeth shut her eyes and clentched her injured hand. Sometimes being a leader was hard work. She accepted what had happened, worst things had happened before, she just hated having to carry on as though nothing had happened, sending them all through the gate once more so that the same thing could happen over and over. Oh well, she thought, someone has to do it.

She let go of her hand and breathed in deeply before making her way towards the infirmary. Time to check on her people.

end

AN: okay, so I will be back, there is more coming, just thought Id leave it there whilst I update a few others. Woohoo! Party on, yippie! Oh and if you could tell me if the deviders are working. Between coming through the gate and the briefing cause apparently they're not working in my other story. And I know how annoying that can be. Don't blame be but, I tried!