Chapter Four – More Secrets

Alora remained in a light coma for two more days while Dr. Weir began briefing the department heads on Alora's true identity to control the rumor mill that was running on all cylinders. Meanwhile Teyla, Lieutenant Ford and even Rodney McKay made visits to the infirmary. Colonel Shepherd on the other hand made a conscious effort to stay as far away as possible. On the third day Alora woke completely but agreed to another night in the infirmary so Dr. Beckett could keep an eye on her. Upon her release from the medical facility Alora made straight for Dr. Weir's office.

"I'm glad to see you feeling better Alora," Dr. Weir said indicating that the other woman should take the seat across from her desk.

"I'm doing much better, I'll be 100 by tomorrow," Alora assured her, "I do want to apologize for the position I've put you in. Please let me know what I can do to take any heat you might receive from your superiors when you report this."

"I'm going to report this directly to General O'Neill and the President, we'll need their support to keep some of the other elements in Earth's governments from demanding you return with the Daedelus." Dr. Weir said, "We've got two weeks before Colonel Caldwell arrives, just take it easy and we'll worry about that when it happens."

"Thank you." Alora said then exited the office.

She made her way to the commissary for a much needed meal. The looks she was getting from the staff did not go unnoticed. Alora sat alone in the commissary and ate quietly then went directly to her quarters where she rested for the rest of the day. The next day she resumed her schedule with the scientists, although now that her secret was out they could move a little faster and more people could be brought in. Three more planets that held the ore needed for the ZPM components were put on the mission list and two of them produced favorable results.

A week after being released from the infirmary Alora was scheduled to meet with the senior members of the expedition for an update on the ZPM project. While everyone else arrived on time, Colonel Shepherd walked in late, it was the first time Alora had seen him in person since being released. During the meeting Colonel Shepherd said little and when he did it was mostly one word statements. As soon as the meeting was adjourned he waited until Alora left before rising from his chair. He quietly followed her at a distance, fighting with himself over what to do next. As he followed her down one of the corridors music in the form of a voice carried back to him. It was Alora. The words seemed to be in the language of the ancients but the melody was familiar.

Colonel Shepherd stopped dead in his tracks as his mind was assaulted by a flood of memories. After a few moments he shook his head to clear the memories as anger clouded his features. With new determination Shepherd followed Alora to her quarters. He didn't even bother to knock, just waved the doors open and stepped inside. Alora heard the doors open and spun around to see who had entered so rudely and was surprised by the look on Shepherd's face.

"Who are you?" he demanded angrily as he approached her.

"What do you mean?" Alora said with confusion and fear.

"I recognize your scent, and I recognize that song you were just singing," he said, "And I heard what you said in the gateroom when you were healing me. What did you mean by 'I just got you back, I'm not loosing you again.'?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Alora said as she shrank back against the wall to get away from him.

"I think you do and I don't need to be able to read your mind to see that. Now tell me, what aren't you telling us?"

Seeing the look in his eyes, Alora admitted defeat and hung her head.

"This isn't the first time I've resumed corporeal form." She answered softly, not meeting his questioning gaze.

"It's not?" he asked with his anger now softened with confusion.

"I did it once before… thirty-five years ago…on Earth," she said then brought her head up to look at him.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she continued, "I fell in love with a young man. After I retook this form we married. We had a son."

The tears slid down her face and her breath caught with emotion as she fought to keep from breaking down, "When he was still young we were in an accident. It happened so fast. I automatically ascended and Martin died before I could help him."

At her words Colonel Shepherd's eyes went wide and he took a step back from her.

"I tried to return, I tried to go back… but the others stopped me. They said they wouldn't allow me to tamper with fate again," Alora said through the tears as she tried to reach out to him.

Shepherd took two more steps back from the pain in her eyes and the truth they held as she finished, "I didn't abandon you John, I didn't run away."

Several emotions flashed across his face before he turned and ran from the room. As the doors slid shut, Alora fell to her knees sobbing.