The Wishing Well
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate Atlantis or any of the characters associated with it.
Chapter Nine
Sheppard and Anna scrambled to a sitting position and lunged backwards hoping to avoid the opening and, at the same time, maintain a safe distance from the walls.
"I believe that would be step two." Anna said calmly.
They watched, cautiously, as a podium-like device arose from the opening. Once it appeared to lock into position and the room settled, Sheppard stood and stepped over to get a better look.
"Stay back." He made a hand gesture to match his words. "Let me look it over before you…."
"Too late." said Anna from his left. "Can you read Ancient?"
"No. Why?" He gave her his best 'I'm in charge and you just disobeyed me' look.
"Because there's Ancient writing on the surface of that thing and I'm just bored enough that I thought I might read a little before bed." She stood her ground, arms crossed, and returned his pissed off look.
"Fine, you read it." They moved to stand in front of the podium. It was bright white, like everything else in the room, and did indeed have Ancient text written on the slightly angled surface.
Anna studied the writing for long moments, murmuring to herself. "Hmm, interesting… Whoa!...Uh oh!"
Sheppard watched her, thinking she reminded him a little of Rodney. Maybe she and Rod had more in common than he realized. "Anna?"
"Hmm?" She didn't even look up.
"What's it say?" Sheppard asked in singsong voice with exaggerated patience.
"It says 'Anna is way smarter than John because she knows how to read Ancient.' Feel better?..."
"Okay, now you're starting to act like my Rodney and that isn't exactly a compliment! What. Does. It. Say!"
Before she could answer, a glowing white apparition began to flow from the podium. As they watched, it solidified into a human form and gave them a comforting smile.
"I take it you have a better plan?" Lorne stood facing a livid Ronon in the dusky gloom of early evening.
"Only if it works." Ronon bit out. "I have only felt watched while in camp. I think we should remain near Sheppard." He relaxed marginally at the look of acceptance on Lorne's face.
Lorne nodded his head. "I agree. I think, whatever this thing is, it's tied to the Colonel in some way. Let's head back." Both men turned and called for Teyla to join them on the path back to the outpost.
"We are returning to camp?" Teyla was relieved to see both men apparently at peace.
"Yes. We need to remain near Sheppard. I think he is the one it watches, not us." Ronon explained. Teyla hesitated on the trail, uncertain. Ronon continued, "Have you felt anything outside of camp?"
Teyla's eyes grew large with dawning understanding. "No, I have not. I have only sensed a presence when we are near the Colonel." She looked up at the quickly darkening sky. "I feel we should hurry."
Ronon gave a grunt of acknowledgement and headed back at a fast clip, followed closely by Teyla and Lorne.
When the three reached camp, they found Dr. Seace bent over Sheppard, listening to his heart with an uneasy frown.
"Dr. Seace, what is wrong?" Teyla hastened to the doctor's side with an agonized look.
"Colonel Sheppard appears to be in some distress." Dr. Seace moved the stethoscope over Sheppard's lungs. After a moment, her frown deepened. She sighed as she straightened and looked at the three troubled faces forming a protective circle around her patient.
"I'm afraid Colonel Sheppard's body is beginning to show signs of stress. His heart rate and blood pressure are slightly elevated. He has a low grade temperature and his lungs sound odd, but without the proper equipment to scan his chest, I can't really know what is happening to them." She made a few notes on the medical chart then turned to Lorne. "I need to update Dr. Beckett on the colonel's status."
"No problem, Doc. Come with me and I will have one of my men patch you through to Atlantis." The pair moved off toward one of Lorne's soldiers.
Teyla knelt next to Sheppard's cot and rested a hand on his brow. She could feel the moderate warmth of his fever and thought she felt a faint tremor travel through his body. She glanced up at Ronon. "I hope Dr. Beckett and Dr. McKay are able help him!"
"Sheppard is strong. He will fight this until they can help." Ronon knelt on the opposite side of the cot and studied the man who'd helped rescue him from his life as a runner. "Sheppard, don't give up. I take back what I said. You're no coward. It's time to fight." He placed a large hand on Sheppard's shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze before sliding away.
"Chaya!" Sheppard and Anna exclaimed in unison. They faced each other, stupefied.
"You've met Chaya?" they asked each other, again in unison.
"Hello John, Anna. I can answer that." Chaya replied. "Yes, and it is because I have interacted with both of you in your respective realities that I have been sent to assist you in your journey from this place.
"How is it, exactly, that you have 'interacted' with more than one reality? Are there more than one of you?" Sheppard was annoyed.
"John…" Anna interjected with a worried glance at Chaya.
"Once ascended, we can travel freely between realities. I am happy to explain and answer your questions." Chaya indicated they should sit and did so herself. "Please, let us be comfortable while I do so. This may take a while."
Anna picked a spot on the floor across from Chaya and insistently tugged on Sheppard's pant leg.
"John, please do as she asks."
"No. I don't want to cop a squat. Right now, I want answers." He glared at Chaya. "Where the Hell are we? And you'd better tell the truth!" He turned to Anna, mouth turned up in a sarcastic sneer. "In my reality, she has a habit of not sticking with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
John, I really think you should listen…" Anna trailed off.
Yes, please sit, John." Chaya again indicated a spot on the floor.
Sheppard reluctantly took a seat next to Anna, glowering. "This isn't story time at the local library, Chaya. You'd better tell the non-fiction version!"
Chaya graced him with a small smile and a deep nod. "Let me begin by saying you were not meant to be here."
Sheppard opened his mouth, fully prepared to pitch a fit, but quickly closed it again when he saw Anna's disapproving frown.
Chaya continued. "At the peak of the war with the Wraith over 10,000 years ago, we were desperate for a way to beat them. Our scientists began to explore the possibility of escaping to an alternate existence where we could be free of the Wraith."
She held her hands up and gestured around the room, reminding Sheppard of Bob Barker's girls from "The Price is Right" only he wasn't overly impressed with the vacation prize. "This is the result of their work."
"And…" Sheppard asked with a steely gaze, which earned him an elbow to the ribs from Anna.
"And the Ancients soon discovered the experiment didn't work as it should. The Ancients designed this device to allow a person to move back and forth between realities. The 'traveler' came here and traded realities with another after both properly navigated the required protocol, also known as the path. Unfortunately, the Ancients discovered a rather large problem."
"And that would be…" Sheppard received a harder chunk of Anna's elbow. "Ow!" he nudged her back.
"When the traveler entered the new chosen reality, their old reality ceased to exist." Chaya replied sadly.
"What!" Sheppard roared. "Are you saying our realities are gone?" He was on his feet, looming above Chaya.
"No, John. Please, try to remain calm until I have explained." Chaya serenely held her spot on the floor, looking up at the angry Sheppard. He sucked in deep breaths, managed to rein in his urge to hurt someone and reclaimed his spot next to Anna.
"Both realities remain in existence, as neither of you have traveled the path. You are essentially in limbo until you move forward.
"Can we simply choose to return to our respective realities?" Anna flushed at the knowing look she received from Sheppard.
"In your case, that is the only real choice you have…"
"Why?" Anna looked confused.
"Because, neither of you exists in the others reality any longer. It is another malfunction of the experiment and why I said you should not be here." Chaya reached out and patted Anna on the leg, hoping to ease the pain she read on the other woman's face. "Numerous flaws are the reason the Ancient's abandoned the experiment and the outpost."
"So, can we just go back now?" Sheppard watched both women expectantly.
"Unfortunately, no. The original path still exists. Protocol dictates that, before you may return, you must review your lives, find worth and value and share that with each other. The path will then take you to visit your reality, to show each other a brief glimpse into that world."
"That sounds easy enough. Let's just go visit the neighbors so we can go home!" Sheppard started to rise, only to sink back at Chaya's next words.
"John, there is more…" Chaya gave him a steady look.
"Isn't there always?" Sheppard waited expectantly.
"Once you have completed these steps, you must return to this place to decide who will return and who will remain behind."
"Two will enter, only one may depart…." Anna quoted the poem with fear in her eyes.
"That is correct." Chaya nodded and glanced at Sheppard.
"What happens to the one who doesn't "depart"?" Sheppard's body tensed, his pesky neck hair in full alert.
"The one who remains shall cease to exist, and so shall their reality."
"No!... No way!" Sheppard was furious. On his feet, again, pacing the room, "There has to be another way, Chaya!"
"No." Chaya's sad eyes spoke volumes.
"You're an ascended Ancient. Surely you can do something!" John shouted.
"I cannot. You must not stray from the path or your life you'll lose." She quoted more of the poem.
Sheppard made several laps around the room, enraged. "Can we choose door number three, Monty?" At Chaya's confused expression, he amended his question. "A third option! Can we leave together to a third reality?"
"That would constitute straying from the path. You would both perish and both realities would disappear." Chaya stood and moved to Sheppard's side. Resting a warm hand on his cheek, she looked deeply into his eyes.
"You are true of heart, noble and wise. You will do just fine."
Sheppard shrugged away from her touch. "I don't want to do just fine. I want to go home!"
"Then you shall." Chaya turned and stood at the podium. Anna rose and joined her, watching as Chaya pressed a few buttons, made a few adjustments, then spoke. "John, please join us. Your journey is set to begin."
TBC