Chapter 5

A/N Ok so I know my chapters are really short and my updates are few and far between but i am really busy with work so please bare with me.

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Blackness was all around him, his body felt numb, he could hear someone calling his name but it sounded like they were miles away. He could barely make out what they were sayin and didn't have the strength to open his eyes too see who was addressing him. He tried to remember where he was, what had happened to him. He remembered saying goodbye to Elizabeth, taking Isabelle to the mainland and then going into the cave..the cave.

'Those bats attacked us. Isabelle!'

He now knew who it was that was calling to him. He tried to call back but couldn't, his mind was screaming her name but there was no sound from him. His little girl was alone. Again he tried to open his eyes to make any sort of movement but nothing happened.

'What am I dead?'

Dead, dead. Elizabeth's dream! Elizabeth dreamt he died. He remembered how shaken he had been and the very thought of it and swore that it would not come to pass. He would not leave her or their daughter!

'I will not die! I will NOT die! I WILL NOT DIE!'

However even as he repeated this mantra to himself he couldn't help but notice how tired he was becoming. Unconsciousness was upon him but he continued his mantra up to the point where he succombed to his tiredness.

'I WILL NOT DIE!'

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Isabelle knew that her father wasn't dead, he was still breathing. She feared that he would never wake up, like so many of the other people who called Atlantis home and whom she called family.

"Daddy wake up," she sobbed even though she knew it was useless.

"Daddy you promised you'd never leave me! Now WAKE UP!"

Her fear for her father began to turn to anger. She was angry at the Ancients who felt the need to write in a cave full of bats. She was angry at Jinto for showing it to them in the first place. She was angry at her uncle for not getting there sooner. At her mother for not being there to comfort her and most of all she was angry at her father for breaking his promise. He was leaving her.

She remebered when her father once went missing her mother prayed to the ancients to bring him back. Wiping her eyes she kneeled before her father and began a silent prayer.

"I don't know if you can hear me but if you can please bring my Daddy back. I know you are powerful, you could do it if you really wanted to. Please I don't want to lose my Daddy! He has to see me grow up, has to tuck me into bed, has to see my Mommy again. Please whoever is listening bring my Daddy home."

Once again the young girl broke down into tears and wrapped her arms around her father.

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Isabelle hadn't known that through her prayer the walkie - talkie was transmitting. All of Atlantis heard her prayer as did the men in the Jumpers on their way to help her.

As Elizabeth heard her daughters prayer she dropped to her knees and began to recite one of her own.

"I know your watching, you always are. Please bring my husband home. We can't lose him. I can't lose him. He has to see Isabelle grow upinto the beautiful woman we both know she will become. He has to hold me when I'm sad, protect me when I'm in danger, comfort me when I'm afraid. He has to hold his unborn child! He promised he'd never leave us! Bring him back!"

Sam watched as her friend began to rock back and forth as tears wracked her body. She watched as Elizabeth ran a hand over her abdomen all the while repeating his name. She couldn't help her own tears from falling at the thought of losing John and in the process losing Elizabeth.

"Jack where are you!"

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Jack had heard the prayers of both mother and daughter and now he could hear the pain in his wife's voice. He had to save him, had to save all of them. His first fear was what the daeth of John would do to Isaballe. She was so young, she needed her father. Next came Elizabeth, he knew how his friend would cope. She would lock herself away, completely let herself go. When she finally came out she would over work herself and the Elizabeth that John loved and who loved him in return would have died along with him.

'I will save him,' he said to himself.

"We're just about to land Sam, don't worry."

Don't worry. What a stupid thing to say. Jack didn't dwell on it though as he set the Jumper down as close to the cave as possible. Seconds later Jumper 2 joined them and the men and women filed out. Jack grabbed his P-90 and went to join them.

"Ok everyone. Let's bring our people home!"

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Isabelle could hear voices coming down the passage. She instantly recognised her Uncles and her aunt and began to call them.

"Uncle Jack, we're down here. Uncle Carson hurry. Aiden, Teyla please hurry!"

As soon as the adults heard the childs voice they quickened their pase down the passage. When they enetered the room they Isabelle sitting on the floor with her arms wrapped aound her unconscious father. Carson was instantly at her side followed closely by Jack.

"Uncle Carson. the bats were biting him and now he won't wake up!"

Carson Beckett looked at the little girl and saw the pain in her eyes. He could only imagine what she'd been through and if he could give his ownlife to take it all back he would in a second. Jack picked Isabelle up to let Carson look John over while one af his aids checked on Jinto who was also unconscious in the corner.

"Uncle Jack it's all my fault. He was trying to protect me." Isabelle said through tears eyes.

Jack tightened his grip around her and started gently rocking her.

"This isn't your fault princess. There was nothing you could have done."

Carson stood up and indicated to his team to put John on a stretcher.

"I think the bats venom may have been poisonous 'cus the poor lad is running a fever. He's unconscious at the moment but he's still breathing. The same with Jinto. I won't no any more till i get them to the infirmary."

"Ok people you heard the man, lets move out."

When they arrived back at the Jumper thry could hear Sam's frantic calls.

"Jack? Jack do you have them? Jack are you there? Jack O' Neill you answer me this instant!"

Once John, Isabelle and Jinto were settled Jack answered.

"That's a positive Atlantis, we have John, Isabelle and Jinto and are heading home. ETA ten minutes."

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Everyone in the Gateroom let out a sigh of relief on hearing the news. But the fear in Elizabeth did not go away...

TBC