Chapter 3: Escape Attempt
Elizabeth placed Sam on Rodney's lap and walked towards Brian. Even though she's his mother, he took a step back uncertain of what she was going to say. She placed her hand on his shoulder making him flinch slightly. "I know this is a hard time for you and we would like to help, but we need to know who you are and why you're here"
Brian stood there trying to decide whether he should say anything, then he decided on the truth. "I should really speak to the major when she wakes up" he said.
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at the boy's loyalty to his leader. "Why don't you just tell us your names, so we know what to call you" she suggested.
"I guess that couldn't hurt" he said uncertainly. He stood up a little bit straighter "I'm Brian" he said and then pointed to the young girl on Rodney's lap "That's my sister Sam"
"And I'm five years old" Sam said with pride making the adults chuckle.
The young girl sitting on the bed with Ford decided it was time for her to speak up. "I'm Kira and this is my brother David" she said looking down on her brother.
"I'm five too and Kira's twelve" he said trying to mimic Sam's confidence but failing to do so.
Brian looked at Alex, along with the rest of the group to see him clinging to Teyla and still holding on to Sheppard's shirt "That's Alex"
"Alex is six years old" added Sam as she rubbed at her tired eyes.
Brian smiled at his little sister "My CO, her name is Kristy. She and Alex are brother and sister"
"And how old are you? Since we know everyone else's age" Ford grinned looking at Sam.
Sam already jumped to the opportunity before Brian could open his mouth. "Brian is seventeen and Kristy is twenty two" and then she yawned.
Elizabeth looked around and saw that not just Sam, but all of the children were beginning to tire. She checked her watch and saw that it was getting late. "We can finish this tomorrow when the major wakes up" she said to Brian. She then turned to Sheppard "Major, can you find some quarters for the children?"
Sheppard stood up and nodded. "Ford show the children to the empty quarters that are down the corridor"
"Yes, sir" he said and ushered the children out of the infirmary with the help of Rodney and Teyla.
When they were out of earshot Elizabeth turned back to Sheppard "I want someone with them whenever they leave their quarters"
"Do you think they'll be that much of a threat?"
"No, I seem to trust them for some reason, but it's just a precaution I would prefer to take. Do you think it's too much?"
"No, I think it's a good idea, seeing that we all seem to trust these kids more than we should"
"Thank you major, at least I know I'm not the only one" They both stood there silent for a few minutes, lost in their own thoughts.
Sheppard suddenly yawned. "Well… I'm going to bed" he said.
"Yes, it's getting late" said Elizabeth. They said their farewells and left their separate ways to get ready for an interesting morning.
SG SG SG SG SG SG
Kristy woke up with a start. She looked around and saw that she was in the infirmary. The memories of the previous day started playing through her mind and she noticed she was dressed in familiar burgundy scrubs and was attached to several heart monitors and an IV. Hoping yesterday was only a dream she ran her hand up her neck, swearing as she felt the bandage.
"Alex?" called Kristy noticing that her voice was extremely hoarse. No one answered. She called several more times and there still was no response and she began to panic. She pulled out the IV and started ripping off the heart monitor attachments making the monitors wail again. Sliding off the bed she flinched when her bare feet hit the floor. Forgetting about her own aches and pains, Kristy started running for the door. She was half way there when hand touched her shoulder. She grabbed the hand and with lightning speed from years of training, she twisted around pinning it behind the person's back. The person let out a yelp of surprise and then she slammed the person up against the wall rendering them unconscious. Another hand grabbed her upper arm a little more forcefully this time. She spun around and punched the person in the face and they fell to the floor unmoving. She left the infirmary not even taking a glance at the unfortunate victims.
Kristy was able to locate a weapons locker without detection and when she entered it she found all of her and Brian's confiscated gear. She grabbed her zat and a wraith stunner. Peered out of the doorway, she checked if the coast was clear and then started her search for the missing children.
SG SG SG SG SG SG
Teyla was walking down the corridor on her way to the infirmary. She felt someone walking behind her and turned to be greeted by Dr. Weir as she rounded a corner. "Good morning Dr. Weir" she said.
"Good morning Teyla, are you on your way to the infirmary?"
"Yes, Alex asked me if I could see how his sister is doing. He seems to be upset about returning to the infirmary"
"I wouldn't blame him. It must have been very traumatizing"
"Indeed" said Teyla.
When they walked in the infirmary they saw that two nurses were bustling about. They noticed that Kristy's bed was empty and that Beckett was no where to be found.
"What happened? Where's Carson?" asked Elizabeth not seeing who the nurses were tending to
The nurses stepped back to show Elizabeth and Teyla the doctor. He was sitting on one of the beds holding an ice pack against the side of his face. Beckett winced as he repositioned the ice bag. "It seems our patient decided to discharge herself this mornin'" he answered.
"That's the understatement of the century" growled Sheppard, catching the two women's attention. They saw him sitting across from Beckett also holding an ice pack on his face.
Even with a possibly armed intruder running around the city, Elizabeth couldn't help but smile seeing the two men in front of her. She turned to Teyla who was also trying to hide hers.
Sheppard and Beckett saw their expressions and took the ice packs off. Beckett had a large bruise already forming on his cheek and Sheppard had the beginnings of a prominent black eye. "It's not funny" they said unanimously.
Elizabeth tried to compose herself. "Your right…I'll get Sgt. Bates…and his men…to start searching the city" she giggled. She walked out of the infirmary to call Bates and also to get her laughter under control. When she was finished talking to Bates, she turned around to see that Teyla had also stepped out of the infirmary to try and collect herself.
After Teyla was able to talk without giggling she looked at Weir. "Do you think she went to find the children?"
"Probably, Teyla could you go find the children and wait for her?"
"Yes Dr. Weir" she said and then she rushed off towards the recreation room where Ford was currently keeping the children busy.
SG SG SG SG SG SG
Kristy leaned up against the wall in front of the recreation room. She couldn't believe how tired she was. Wiping some sweat from her brow, she walked slowly towards the door and passed her hand over the sensor. When she entered she saw that Sam, David and Alex were watching a movie and Kira was playing a game of poker with Ford and winning. She smiled in relief that they were okay and as the adrenalin started leaving her system she was ready to collapse.
Alex was sitting on the couch patiently watching a really boring movie Lt. Ford picked out. He looked over to Sam and David and saw that they were just as bored as he was. He was about to get up and see what other movies there were when he had a feeling that he was being watched. He slowly turned around and saw Kristy leaning up against the doorframe barely able to stand. He saw how pale she was and yelled "KRISTY!" making everyone else in the room jump.
Kristy dropped her weapons and fell to her knees as Alex jumped off the couch and embraced him when he reached her. "Are you okay?" she asked checking Alex over and forgetting everyone else in the room.
Alex sighed at his sister's over protectiveness "Yes Kristy I'm fine, but shouldn't you be in the infirmary?"
Kristy looked at Alex smiling at her brother's big heart, just like their mother's. "I had to check to see if you're okay"
"Well I'm fine Kristy. Now you get your butt back to that infirmary before you get in trouble" he said putting his hands on his hips giving her the look her mother would give them when they were in trouble.
Kristy grinned "You're right kiddo" She gradually pulled herself to her feet with the help of Lt. Ford, who was now by her side. She looked at Ford thanking him and said "I can make it on my own, Lieutenant"
"Not on my watch, ma'am" he said, leading her out the door towards the infirmary leaving the children behind.
Kristy was surprised that Ford was treating her with so much respect when she has done nothing but attack him and his friends. She also saw how uncomfortable it was for him having to treat her like a superior when they were so close to the same age. "I'll make you a deal Lieutenant, just call me Kristy. None of this sir, ma'am, or major, okay?"
Ford smiled at her "As long as you call me Aiden"
Kristy smiled back and looked down the hallway trying to hide her slightly blushing face. "Deal" she said, dumbfounded that she was blushing at this man just because of his charming smile that make her get butterflies in her stomach. She all of a sudden began feeling dizzy and couldn't stand on her own two feet. She looked up at Ford and saw his concerned face as her vision became hazy, and then she succumbed to darkness.
Ford noticed that Kristy was beginning to have trouble walking. He looked down at her to see that she was looking up at him and then her eyes rolled in the back of her head and she went limp in his arms. "Kristy!" he called. He gathered her in his arms and started for the infirmary as fast as he could. He rounded a corner and bumped into Teyla.
"Lt. Ford what happened?" she asked looking at him and then at Kristy cradled in his arms.
"I need you to radio Beckett for him to get the infirmary ready" he said ignoring her question "My radio is attached to my belt"
Teyla quickly grabbed the radio and called Beckett. "Dr. Beckett this is Teyla, we have a medical emergency" she said as she followed Ford down the corridor.
When they reached the infirmary Beckett had everything ready. "What happened?" he asked as Ford placed Kristy gently on the bed.
"She was really pale and all of a sudden she collapsed" answered Ford. Beckett nodded and steered the two out so he could help Kristy.
Ford and Teyla went to the waiting room and were met with the worried gazes of Kira, Sam, David, and Alex. Ford and Teyla guided them to some seats and then sat down in a tense silence.
After about ten minutes Alex broke the silence "Is she going to be okay?"
Teyla looked at Alex and held his hand squeezing it gently "Your sister seems to be a fighter. I have no doubt that she will be fine"
"I'm bored" said Sam.
"Me too" agreed David.
Teyla turned to Kira "Kira why don't you take the others back to recreation room"
"But…" she started.
"It's okay, I will give you a radio and if we hear any news I will call you" she said handing Ford's radio to Kira.
"Good idea, Teyla" said Ford also understanding that they had to be under guard "I'll come with you guys and you can pick any movie you want"
Both Sam and David brightened up. "Any one we want?" asked David.
"Within reason" answered Ford and he led them out of the waiting room. Before the door closed, he looked back at Teyla worry evident on his face "Please call us as soon as you can"
"I will" she said. When the door shut she looked back at Alex "Would you like to go with them?"
"No" he said pulling his knees up to his chest. They sat in silence until Beckett came twenty minutes later.
"How's my sister?" asked Alex.
"She's doin' just fine, lad" smiled Beckett "She's awake at the moment, if you would like to see her" Alex nodded vigorously and ran into the infirmary.
Teyla smiled at the retreating boy and the looked back up at Beckett, who had a smile on his face. "What is it?" she asked.
"I see that someone has a soft spot for the wee boy" said Beckett his grin spreading even more when Teyla stood there shocked and blushing.
"I don't know why I feel a connection with the boy. I feel I need to keep him safe, like he was my own child" she said and then her eyes went wide as realization dawned on her. She looked at Beckett and he had the same expression as her. "You don't think…" she trailed off in thought. Then they both rushed into the infirmary to verify their assumptions. They walked up to the only occupied bed in the infirmary to see that Alex was holding a now sleeping Kristy's hand, making them have to wait to ask her their questions.
Alex looked up at the adults, tears welling up in his eyes again "She looks really sick. She's not going to die…is she?"
Teyla knelt to his level and placed a hand on his shoulder "Of course not, Dr. Beckett said that she is going to be fine"
Beckett also knelt down "You're sister is just very tired and needs to rest. She'll be better in a couple of days, I promise" In a more lighthearted tone he said "Now, have you had anything to eat today?" Alex's stomach let a little rumbling sound, answering Beckett's question. "Why don't you go to the mess hall and get a bite to eat" he suggested.
Alex's eyes went wide as if Beckett asked him to fly a puddle jumper "I need to stay and wait for Kristy to wake up"
"It's okay, lad. When she wakes up you'll be the first to know" he smiled at the boy.
"You swear?" asked Alex.
"I solemnly swear" answered Beckett.
Alex arched an eyebrow seeing that the promise wasn't good enough. "You pinky swear?" he said rising up his fisted hand with the pinky finger lifted up, much to Teyla's confusion.
"I pinky swear" repeated Beckett also lifting his hand up like the boy's. They hooked their fingers together and shook them.
"Good" said Alex and he slowly walked out of the infirmary and waited at the doorway for Teyla.
Teyla looked at Beckett quizzically at the events that just took place in front of her "What is pinky swear?"
Beckett chuckled "To children it's a promise that is made and can never be broken"
"I see" she grinned and turned to the patiently waiting Alex. "I will see you soon, so we can talk" she said taking a glance towards Kristy.
"Aye…I'll see you later then, Teyla" he said and she left the infirmary after Alex.
(TBC)
Poor Sheppard and Beckett…I had to do some whumping and they seemed to be the perfect targets. It also looks like Teyla and Beckett are starting to piece together the mystery of the children…will the others figure it out too? You're just going to have to wait hehehe