Chapter 4

As Isabelle clung to her father she could feel him shudder every time a bat flew by and bit him. Every time he sreamed she screamed aswell as fear filled her heart and soul and coursed through her veins. All she wanted was to go home to Atlantis and for her mother to hug her and make all the badness go away. She called out to her mother again and again, knowing full well that she couldn't hear her, thinking it would ease the pain but it only made it worse. She noticed how her father was beginning to tire, his arms became loose around her and his eyes began to close.

"Daddy wake up!"

She started to shake him in a desperate attempt not to lose him when suddenly she thought she heard the voice of an angel. It was calling to her father.

"You can't have him!" She yelled not knowing who at.

Again she heard this angelic voice calling to her father only this time it sounded more familiar and she knew where it was coming from. She reached over and gently placed her finger on the button on his walkie-talkie. Suddenly her father screamed louder than ever and collapsed aound her. Without hesitation Isabelle pressed the button.

"MOMMY!"

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The entire gateroom was silent. Every man and woman recognised that voice and their hearts broke as they heard little Isabelles screams. She shouted again and again her voice echoing around the gateroom.

"MOMMY HELP US!"

Elizabeth couldn't move, couldn't breath. Her daughters cries shook her very soul. She had to help them but the manner of how was hidden by the numbness that had engulfed her.

It was Jack O' Neill who took control of the situation, Isabelle was like a second daughter to him and he wasn't about to let anything happen to her or her father.

"Ford get a team together we're going over there," He ordered and Ford was instantly off gathering the best men.

"Teyla you are coming too, you know that land better than anyone." Teyla nodded so Jack knew she heard him however she was completely focused on the voice which filled the room.

"MOMMY THERE EVERYWHERE! MOMMY ARE YOU STILL THERE!"

Sam, who had arrived sometime in the last minute, looked to Jack and he knew instantly what she was about to ask.

"No Sam I need you to stay here and take care of Elizabeth."

Sam wanted to argue but looking over at her friend she knew her husband was right, Elizabeth was in shock for now but when it broke she would need someone there and she was not about to let that person be Kate Heightmyer.

"Dr. Becket this is O'Neill we have a medical emergency on the mainland report to the gateroom with your best men immediately."

Isabelles screams were still filling the room and it was only now that Jack thought about it that he realized noone had confirmed to the young child that they were even listening.

"Isabelle, honey, can you hear me?" Jack said trying not to sound upset.

"UNCLE JACK, THESE THINGS ARE ATTACKING US AND DADDY WON'T WAKE UP!"

On hearing this Elizabeth seemed to regain some of her focus and she looked at Sam, it hadn't just been a dream she was losing him! Sam was immediately at her side and wrapped her arms around her, holding the young woman as she cried.

"We're coming honey just hold on."

Jack looked up and the saw the best Atlantis had to offer standing infront of him ready to save their friend.

"Team take jumpers one and two and head over to that cave, Ford, Teyla, Becket your with me. Lets move people."

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They were coming for them, Isabelle knew they would. Try as she might the little girl was still unable to wake her father and her whole body shook as she tears wracked through her. She couldn't lose him, not now. The bats had dissapeared out of the cave, but Isabelle didn't care the damage was done and all she could do now was wait.

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He was unconscious, most likely dying. Elizabeth couldn't bare the thought. What was worse though was that Isabelle was their watching it all occur with no one to comfort her. No child should ever have to see that. She heard Sam as the woman attempted to comfort her, saying things like,

"It'll be fine, they'll both be ok. You'll see."

It was a bare faced lie and both women knew it. There was a chance John wouldn't be ok and all they could do now was wait.

TBC