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Chapter Three: What Child is This?

Cody struggled to get to his feet from where'd fallen after suddenly being transported from Santa's workshop. The thick mud he'd landed in was making that rather difficult, since every time he tried to move, his legs would slide another way. The snow globe in his hand certainly didn't make things any easier. A little ways off, Cassidy stood with Rudolph--in cat form--and was giggling at his antics.

There was no sign of the man Snippy the elf had caught at the workshop, or the other one they'd been warned was there also. Cody frowned and grabbed a protruding tree-root, pulling himself out of the mud. For a moment, he lay catching his breath, before he stood up decisively. They had to put as much distance between them and the two men as they could.

"Okay, Rudolph...lead the way," Cody said, pocketing the snow globe, "Santa's got to be near here, if Snippy was telling the truth."

The cat gave what Cody took to be an assenting meow and bounded off into the thick foliage. Cody rolled his eyes, grabbed Cass' hand and quickly followed Rudolph as best as he could. At first they were traveling to fast for him to notice much about where they were, but then the reindeer must have realized that two little kids couldn't travel that fast that far and slowed to a walking pace.

The trees were taller than the giant redwoods he'd seen one time, and much bigger around. Cody stared at them, wondering where on Earth they could be. He was pretty good with geography, but he had never seen trees of this type, in any of the books he'd read. Maybe it was a special place, like the North Pole. Something skittered across a tree, and he stopped to stare. He'd thought it was a squirrel, but it wasn't. It didn't look anything like anything he'd ever seen, even in story books.

It was the size of a rabbit, with big bat ears, two wings and four legs. It's face was long and pointed like a dog's, but it had two big bottom teeth like a goat's. Cody gaped at it for some time until a warning yowl from Rudolph caused him to look up to see two boys a little older than he was with bows and arrows pointed at him. They were both dark haired and had dark eyes.

"Are you elves?" Cass asked, completely unafraid, "like in Lord of the Rings?"

Cody shot her an annoyed glare as the two boys traded confused glances.

"Lord of the Rings?" the shorter boy asked, "elves?"

"Where did you come from?" the taller boy asked, "because you are not Athosian. Did the Atlanteans send you?"

Cody's face brightened. Atlantis. That explained a lot of things. What better place for Santa to be than the lost city that people had been searching for for a long time? And he and Cassidy were going to get to see it! Timmy and Jason were going to be so jealous when they found out. Not only did he get to go to the North Pole, but Atlantis too!

"We're here to find Santa," Cass said before Cody could say anything, "Snippy sent us. Because Christmas will be over if we don't find him before Christmas Eve." She blinked innocently up at them.

"Yeah, have you seen him?" Cody asked, "Because if you have, that'll make things lots easier for us."

The taller boy lowered his bow a second after the shorter one, a confused frown still on his face. "I do not know what you are talking about. What is Christmas?"

Cass gasped in surprise and horror, clasping her hands over her mouth and gazing at the boy as though he'd grown a second head. Then she lowered her hands and gave him a very sad look. "You don't know what Christmas is? Oh that's just awful! Well don't worry, we're gonna find Santa, and then everyone will..."

"I know what Christmas is!" the shorter boy suddenly cried out, a happy grin on his face, "Major Sheppard was telling me and Father about it when he was here yesterday."

"Oh," the taller boy said, face clearing immediately, "well, out with it Jintoh, what is it?"

"It's a ritual the Earth people celebrate. They decorate their homes with lights and colorful objects and animals called rain deer--I guess they help with the rain?--and they exchange presents. We're all invited to participate if we want. Father has said that I may."

Cody began frowning again as the boy spoke. Earth? Maybe this place was so secret that they considered the rest of the planet as separate. Or maybe it was an entirely different world altogether. Excitement coursed through him at the prospect. A new planet. Possibly with aliens. Maybe Jintoh and his taller friend were aliens, and just looked like people so they wouldn't frighten them.

"That's not what Christmas is!" Cass objected, "Mommy said it was about being with your family, and believing in faith, no matter how rich or poor you were. And that you should always give to others before you give to yourself."

Cody pulled Cass to his side and put his hands over her mouth. If they were aliens, he didn't want them to take offense and do weird experiments on them. "Uh...my sister talks a lot," he explained apologetically, "And that is what our mother told us Christmas was about. But uh...presents and lights and stuff...they're tradition. See, this special baby was born on Christmas Eve..."

"Santa?" Jintoh asked, recalling the name.

"No," Cody shook his head, ignoring Cass' struggles, "his name was Jesus. And all over the world people came to give him gifts, because he was believed to be king of the world. Even a poor little drummer boy. Anyway, every year people give each other gifts in honor of that birthday. And they call it Christmas."

The boys both nodded eagerly, their eyes shining. Cody smiled, feeling much better. Obviously these aliens liked hearing stories.

"But...who is Santa then," Jintoh asked, "And why will Christmas be over if you do not find him in time?"

Cass broke free and glared at Cody before kicking him in the shin. "Big meanie!" she said, sticking out her tongue. Cody glared back and clutched his leg. "Santa is important because he found a way to give presents to all the little kids in the world who were poor. He's magical, and without him, the Christmas magic will be gone. It is gone, already, but if we find him in time, then he'll be able to make more."

"Come with us," the taller boy said suddenly, "I think maybe Dr. Weir and Major Sheppard should know you are here." He started walking in the direction Rudolph had been going."

Cody swallowed nervously, hesitant. He didn't like doctors much. Then he had to break into a run when he realized that Cass and Rudolph had already begun following the boys and were quite a ways ahead of him. Maybe the aliens would protect them from the two men who were certain to be following them.

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Elizabeth took a deep breath before walking into Rodney's lab, only to find him with his head on his folded arms on top of the table. She found herself smiling in indulgent amusement. He was rather adorable with his mouth hanging open and drool hanging out the corner. She hated to wake him, but after what Sheppard had told her, she knew this needed to be said. The happiness of everyone on base was her responsibilty. And she hated to see Rodney in particular unhappy.

Taking a step forward to wake him, she stopped when he began muttering in his sleep.

"That's right Snippy. Red paint. Red paint is the best. No no, Rudolph...don't get into that...No one...believes..." the last was said with a sad little voice that broke Elizabeth's heart to hear. She had no idea what he was going on about, but had a sudden urge to pull him into a hug, to make that sadness go away.

With a quick shake of her head, she stepped forward and lay her hand on his shoulder, gently shaking it. At first, he just snorted and muttered something unintelligble. She shook him a little harder and his head came up like a shot. He looked around wildly, blinking and muttering still, before his blue eyes settled on her. The tenseness she had felt when he woke up drained out of his body, and he began playing about with the tools laying on the table.

"I was resting my eyes, because I've been at this all day. I certainly wasn't sleeping," he assured her.

Elizabeth couldn't help but grin at his antics. "I never said you were," she said in amusement.

:"Was there something you need Elizabeth? Because I really am busy?"

Still grinning, she perched up on the table, making him look up at her. She knew he was embarrassed at having been caught sleeping on the job and was trying to cover it up with brusqueness. While it might work with anyone else, Elizabeth didn't let it faze her. "Acutally yes, there was. Major Sheppard..."

Abruptly an angry look crossed his face and he cut her off, "Let me guess, he told you I was being all Bah Humbug about this whole Christmas thing. Well, it is my business you know. I'm keeping to myself. He didn't have to..."

"Rodney," she broke in sternly.

Rodney's mouth shut with a snap and he folded his hands in his lap, staring up at her mutely.

"Thank you," she said gratefully, "Major Sheppard was only concerned about your well-being."

"Yeah right," Rodney muttered, then looked down at another stern glance from her.

"Rodney, you know that people here on Atlantis respect you, right? Even if sometimes you can be a little...."

"Egocentric? Annoying?"

Elizabeth again couldn't help but grin, and was relieved when he grinned back. "To begin with, yes. But," she held up her hands to forestall any comment he might make, "you are still respected. I for one, consider you a very close friend. If there's anything you want to talk about...?"

Rodney stared at her, his expression growing more and more serious as the silence stretched between them. For a minute, it looked as if he might actually open up to her, but then he shook his head and smiled, touching her hand gently. "Thanks Elizabeth. That...really means a lot to me. And...I'll try not to be such a Grinch?"

Elizabeth sighed and smiled, turing her hand over and squeezing his in her grip before nodding. "Sounds good to me."

He smiled in return, and they sat there looking at each other, still holding hands.

Someone cleared their throat from the doorway, and causing Elizabeth and Rodney to jump and quickly pull their hands away. Elizabeth looked over at the door and nodded to Peter.

"Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Weir," the technician apologized, "but there's a problem on the mainland."

Elizabeth frowned. "What kind of problem?"

"Halling wouldn't say. He said he needed to speak with you or Major Sheppard, and you were closer."

Elizabeth nodded and rose. Before she followed Grodin out of the lab, she turned back to Rodney and said, "Remember, I'm always willing to listen."

tbc....