Chapter 2

Isabelle stood at the top of the steps facing the Stargate waiting for her father. She was so excited about going out in the Puddle Jumper, they were even going to stop by the mainland and see Jinto and the other Athosians. Isabelle liked Jinto, he was funny and always played with her even though he was twelve years her senior. Although she was excited Isabelle also felt really guilty because her mother wasn't coming. When her mother was helping her dress this morning Isabelle got the sense that something was wrong.

------Flashback---------

"What's wrong mommy?"

Isabelle looked into her mother's eyes, what she saw was something she had never seen in her mothers eyes before, it looked like fear. Elizabeth just shook her head and buttoned up Isabelle's pants. She looked so adorable. For her birthday Jack had gotten a mini pair of Atlantis bdu's made for Isabelle and whenever she went out to the mainland or anywhere other than Atlantis Isabelle insisted on wearing them.

"Nothings wrong honey, now come on we don't want to keep your daddy waiting."

--------End Flashback-------

Isabelle didn't believe her mother for a second and went straight to her father. He said he knew and promised that he would take care of it. Isabelle knew he would because when her daddy made a promise he kept it. She didn't have to wait much longer as her father soon entered the gateroom. She ran down the steps and he picked her up and swung her over his shoulder.

"Put me down Daddy!"

John just laughed and ran up the steps towards Elizabeth's office. Elizabeth saw them coming and went towards the door.

"I have brought our new prisoner to you ma'am, how should we punish her?" John asked putting on a highly overdone evil villian voice.

"Well now," Elizabeth said sounding a little bit like the witch from The Wizard of Oz. "I think we should tickle her and then take her for a spin."

Elizabeth reached up and started tickling Isabelle who was still slung over her fathers shoulder. The little girl squeeled and squirmed as she tried desperately to get down. Elizabeth's had came down and rested on John's cheek.

"Have a nice day and take care."

"I will." John said as he leant down and kissed his wife.

"EEEEWWWW"

John and Elizabeth pulled apart and laughed at how their daughter had reacted.

"Bye honey," Elizabeth said as she walked around so she was facing Isabelle's face.

"Bye mommy."

As John left the room, Elizabeth couldn't stop the anxiety that was rising inside her. She couldn't explain her fear, they were only going to the mainland it wasn't like anything was going to happen to them, right?

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The day on the mainland went fairly well, Jinto played with Isabelle for a few hours while John checked with Halling that everything was ok. Before they left Jinto invited John and Isabelle to see the new cave he had discovered which was covered with what looked like Ancient writing. The cave was in the middle of the forest, in a section John had never explored before. John was a little nervous of bringing Isabelle along but decided that she would be safer with him.

As they entered the cave Isabelle reached up and took hold of her fathers hand. She said she was fine and that she was having fun but the firm grip she now had on John's hand made him think otherwise. The cave was long, dark and narrow, Jinto's torch showed the writings that covered the walls and made the cave look quite scary, even for John. After walking for a few minutes the cave

widened into a large room, again covered in ancient writing.

"This is fantastic!" John thought. "Elizabeth would love to see this."

John's eyes scanned the room taking in every detail. It was absolutely magnificent. He had no idea what any of it said but he knew Elizabeth would be able to work it out. Over the last few years her understanding of the ancient language had greatly increased and she was able to tell at a glance what any synbol in Atlantis meant. John was torn from his musings by a hand tightening its grip on his hand. He looked down to see Isabelle clinging to him, visibly shaking.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" He asked as he bent down on his knees to look her in the eye.

"I'm scared Daddy, can we go?"

As the little girl answered her father her eyes began to well with tears. John was shocked to say the least, Isabelle was a right little explorer and nothing ever frightened her. However if she was scared he would not keep her here.

"Jinto I think its time we..."

John was cut off by a loud scream from beside him.

"DADDY!"

Isabelle was pointing to a spot in the corner. As John shon his flashlight on the spot, he noticed that the walls appeared to be moving. He quickly picked up Isabelle and began to back out of the cave. He didn't get far before a swarm of bat like aliens flew at them. John bent down on the floor and covered Isabelle with his body hoping the swarm would pass them over and fly out of the cave. However they flew in circles around the two figures. John was able to see Jinto hiding in the corner, untouched by the bats. He was about to signal the boy to run when one of the bats flew past and bit his arm.

"AAAARRRRGGGHHH"

John moved his body so that the bats had no way of getting at Isabelle, but as the pain surged through his body he wasn't sure how long he could protect her. Suddenly another bat attacked him and then another. The pain John was feeling was unbearable and he screamed out as if it would make it stop. Isabelle was now shaking, she knew her father was in pain and was terrified of what might happen. A thousand what if's ran through the little girls mind and her shaking increased and strangled cries erupted from her. She only managed to say one word,

"MOMMY!"

TBC