"Dr. Weir!" Beckett's Scottish brogue lashed in Elizabeth's ear, making her jump. Her hand flew to her earpiece, wondering why his voice seemed so loud. Or had she been so lost in her own thoughts that it merely seemed loud? "Yes, doctor?"

"I thought you should know, my patients are awake and asking for you."

"On my way!" Elizabeth shoved aside the papers that contained military procedure for a memorial service. There was no way in hell she accepted the fact that John and Rodney were dead, but she wanted to look over the papers, just in case something had happened, which it hadn't, but this particular hour was the only chance she would have to sit and review. Not to mention she already had a few people ask if there would be a service of any kind.

It hadn't even been twenty four hours since the sub went down, but everyone seemed to know what the chances were. The submarine had been located by radar, demolished. There was no way John and Rodney could survive that. It became increasingly apparent that Teyla and Aiden had managed to find a way to transport off, and that John and Rodney simply weren't in time. . .or dead already. . .and maybe the other two simply didn't have time to carry their bodies through the transport.

Maybe they were trapped, and drowned. A small part of her hoped that they were transported elsewhere, it was possible, wasn't it? But where? It was the one thought that, while she read over the military standards for a memorial service, prevented her from ingesting it, causing her to read the same paragraph over and over again. She was all too glad for the distraction, one that hopefully would provide some answers.

The infirmary was silent, with most of the patients sleeping through the late hour. The lights seemed dimmer than she remembered. Nurses padded around softly, muttering to each other and consulting their charts, or computer screens, or the giant Ancient terminal that had been discovered and situated in the corner, acting as a database for every bit of information the medical team could tap into, with plenty of room to spare. It was an at-the-touch retrieval system. Much easier to access than the laptops that dotted the sterile room like flat silver mushrooms.

They were in the far corner of the room. While most of the privacy curtains had been drawn, theirs remained open, probably so Elizabeth would be able to spot them upon entering. Teyla was sitting up, listening to Aiden intently as he propped on an elbow, his back to Weir. Elizabeth approached quietly, unable to keep her smile to herself. Teyla noticed, and returned her own. Aiden looked over his shoulder, pushing himself to a sitting position. "Hey, Dr. Weir!"

"Lt. Ford, Teyla. I'm glad to see you're awake, how are you feeling?"

"A bit fatigued, but well, thank you," Teyla assured her softly. She looked at Aiden, and an unspoken message passed between them. "We were told that Major Sheppard and Dr. McKay did not return with us."

Elizabeth studied the floor and crossed her arms in front of her chest. The posture revealed how ill at ease she was. Teyla frowned, not liking what she saw. Her eyes sought Ford's and he cleared his throat and spoke. "Doctor Beckett says we were found in the gateroom. He tells us we came out of nowhere."

"Yes, there was some sort of transportation. . . we detected a massive energy reading just before you arrived." She was looking right at him now, but her arms were still crossed. "Did you activate such a device on board the submarine?"

"No Ma'am," Ford looked confused. "We – there was a breach in the hull, and all this water came rushing in. I thought we were dead. I sure didn't think we'd end up here."

"You say we were transported?" Teyla asked.

Elizabeth let her arms fall to her side. "Yes, there was the energy reading then a bright flash of light. Someone yelled out, and the two of you were found in front of the gate on the floor. You mean you don't remember anything about it?"

"I think I remember a light," Aiden said, "but I thought it was that whole 'going down the tunnel' thing. I don't remember coming here."

"Nor do I, although I too remember seeing a light." Teyla considered this. "Is it possible we were transported by somebody else?"

"Who?"

"The city!" Ford stiffened. "By whoever was in the city!"

Elizabeth's eyes drew tight. "Wait, what city?"

"We found another city, underneath the water. We were headed right toward it, about to crash into it, when we were transported."

"So. . .you're saying there are inhabitants down there, who saved you to protect their city?" Elizabeth fell into the chair at Aiden's bedside. The shock of hearing about another underwater city had taken the strength from her. Why was she so tired these days?

Ford's eyes were wide as a possible solution formed in his young mind. "We never had a chance to survey for life signs, at the time we were trying to figure out how to divert the sub so we wouldn't crash. But I remember one thing."

"Yes?"

"It - it looked an awful lot like Atlantis, to me."

"It struck me the same, Lieutenant," Teyla said in surprise.

Elizabeth shook her head and leaned forward. "Okay, so you're saying that not only is there another city down there, but it is another Atlantis?"

"It's possible, Ma'am. And there's one more thing," he glanced down as he gathered his thoughts, "if that is a city, and we were transported away from it, is it possible that Major Sheppard and Dr. McKay were transported into it?"

Elizabeth blinked slowly at the hope he had given her. "You think they are in the city. Why?"

"I don't know, Ma'am. But they aren't here, and it wouldn't make sense to save us and not them."

Elizabeth slowly rose. "Do you think you can locate this city on a chart?"

Ford's eyebrows raised as he considered. "I can try." He regarded her evenly. "But we don't have another sub to go after them in."

"Surely the Atlanteans had more than one. We just have to find it."

"Except that the one we were in busted, what makes you think the other one will be safe?"

Weir's expression was stern. "We're looking, Lieutenant."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"In the meantime, I want the two of you to rest. Enjoy yourselves. Because come morning there will be plenty of work to do."

Teyla nodded. "I will be happy to assist you in any way."

"And I'm grateful for the help." She nodded in return, and patted Aiden's shoulder. "Thank you, Lieutenant. You just gave me the hope I desperately needed."

Ford looked a bit startled. "You're welcome."

Weir smiled and all but ran from the infirmary.