"What the hell is your problem?"
"What?" was all John could say. He blinked a few times and looked around the lab before looking back at Rodney. "What are you talking about? What's going on?" He realized distantly that Rodney was holding an ice pack to the back of his head.
"You attacked me in the hallway, that's what's going on."
"What?"
"Rodney, relax." Carson said, "It's a very mild concussion, you'll be fine."
"Fine? I was fine before I got knocked out, now I'm not fine."
"Whoa Rodney, I didn't attack you. I wouldn't—" he stopped, "But then again, I don't really remember."
"Sure. Whatever." He said, and stormed off. He pouted under the pretext of looking at one of the machines in the corner.
"Personally, I think I Rodney could use a knock on the head, but I don't think it should be a policy. What exactly is going on with you two?"
"I don't know." He glanced at Elizabeth, and remembered his promise that he would tell anyone about the visions. But he had to assume that the promise only held as long as their lives weren't in jeopardy. "Actually, I might have some idea what's going on. Since we found that pod, we've been having—visions."
"Like dreams?"
"Yes—No—I don't know. At first I guess, but now they're coming out of nowhere."
"Well, maybe it's stress." Carson offered.
"Sure, but then every person on this mission would be a hallucinating mess."
"You have a point there."
John shook his head and looked over at Rodney, who had returned to the bed, and was looking at the control panel. He poked a few buttons and the bed emitted a low, negative sounding chime. He tried again, and the chime sounded again. "Why doesn't this thing work for me?" He said, glaring at Carson. "I've had the gene therapy."
"If the gene wasn't working, it wouldn't respond to you at all, Rodney. It won't let you in because you don't have clearance."
"What? That's ridiculous; how would it know something like that? Wait—" he said, taking a few steps forward. "How do you know something like that?"
"I just do."
"But this text is written in ancient. You can read ancient?"
John shrugged, "I guess I'm just full of surprises."
Elizabeth stirred in the bed and mumbled something, and all three men turn to look at her. She opened her eyes slowly, looking first at John. She looked as if she wanted to say something, but she caught sight of the others and reconsidered. "What happened? Where—"
"Don't worry Elizabeth." Carson said, "You're still on Atlantis, at a lab near the center of the city. Well, we're not really sure what happened, but John found you in your quarters and he said you weren't breathing. He took you here and managed to activate this machine."
"You left something out." He said, indicating the ice pack.
"Well, then there's that—"
"What happened?"
"Apparently I…attacked Rodney in the hallway." John said.
"Apparently?" Rodney grumbled.
"Calm down Rodney, I wasn't exactly in my right mind."
Elizabeth seemed to notice the sheet of blue for the first time. "How do I get out of this thing?"
Carson looked at Rodney and he shrugged his shoulders. "How should I know?"
"Here." John said. He pushed between them and tapped a few keys on the panel, and the sheet dissolved. He ignored the jealous glance Rodney gave him.
Before she could move, Carson checked her pulse and smiled. "Well, how are you feeling?"
"Great, considering. This machine is incredible." She sat up, and John held out an arm to help her. This time, he couldn't help but notice the twinge of jealousy on Rodney's face.
He released her, and cleared his throat, a bit awkwardly. "Well, I'm going to go, file a report or something." He said, and walked off.
"Elizabeth, seeing as how I have no idea what this machine has done to you, I'd like to run tests, and keep you under observation for a few days."
"Of course." She said
"We'll keep you here for the time being, I'll have a team bring down some supplies." He smiled and walked out.
Elizabeth sighed and rubbed her neck before looking up at Rodney. "So, I'm guessing you'll want to tear this thing apart to see how it works."
He smiled despite his bad mood, and reached for the control panel. She stopped him with a hand. "Just not yet; I still need a place to sit."
"Sure." He said, and was silent for a long time. "I know you practically just came back from the dead, but I have to know—"
"Why was John in my bedroom?" She said, smiling, "I don't really know how to explain it."
"Give it a shot." Rodney said, exasperated.
"It started when we found the pod. Both John—Major Sheppard and I started having these visions. They go back ten thousand years, to when the Ancients occupied the planet. We are two people who lived there, Major Sheppard is an Atlantian General named Deri, and I am a woman who lives on the Mainland, Maia."
"You do realize that this sounds totally insane, right?"
"But it's not insane Rodney. I don't know how, but I know this is real. This really happened."
He sighed. "Whatever you say."
"In any case, I believe that whatever is happening to us in these visions is starting to affect our real lives. I guess you could say we're acting them out."
He raised an eyebrow.
"No, it's not like that. It just so happens that they we're in the same room at the last…point. So naturally he came to me, here on Atlantis. Maybe he just knocked you out so you wouldn't get in the way."
"Well, that makes me feel a lot better. Thanks—why are you smiling at me like that?"
"You're jealous. You think there's something between me and Major Sheppard, and you're jealous."
"I'm not jealous. Why would I be jealous?" He paused, "I mean, there isn't anything to be jealous of—right?"
"No, of course not." She sighed and grabbed his hand, "I don't know what's happening to me. I just need some time, okay?"
He smiled at her sincerely, "Fine."
"Well, seeing as how I just came back from the dead, I'd better get some rest." She lay back on the bed, and noticed that he didn't let go of her hand. "You don't have to stay."
He smiled again. "It's all right. I don't mind."
Did I post yesterday, I can't remember. If not, sorry, but I'm super busy with school and work and other work and the novel. Oh well. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Eveie