I should have done this in chapter one, but being a brainless wonder, I forgot. I have once again borrowed Nick from Rogue1503. Thanks for the loan! Also, thanks to the reviewersfor the feedback - you guys rock my world.

The Mind of Atlantis - Chapter 9

By the middle of the afternoon, Sheppard was bored again, so naturally he headed for McKay's lab. He stopped in the doorway, noting McKay leaned over the work-table, typing away on his computer. "Hey, McKay, whatcha doing?" he asked as he walked in.

McKay jumped straight up, knocking the stool he had been sitting on over. "Shoot!" He turned around quickly, a scowl on his face. When he saw Sheppard approaching, he leaned back against the bench and stretched his arms out protectively. "Stay back. Don't come any closer."

Sheppard stopped, the confusion evident on his face. "McKay...what are you doing?"

McKay continued to hide the things on the bench. "Go away, Major. You can't activate anything, Beckett will kill me. You don't even need to come close to this stuff so you won't accidently touch anything."

Sheppard rolled his eyes. "Oh for heaven's sake, McKay. I won't touch anything." He continued to walk towards McKay and the workbench. McKay scrambled to gather up the devices and put them on the far end of the bench. Sheppard sat down on the stool next to the one McKay had occupied and waited on the scientist to return to his seat.

McKay sat down, panting from the effort. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be napping or doing exercises or something?"

"I already did my exercises...and the morning walk. I skipped the nap today. Wasn't tired, much less sleepy. I've got to find a way to convince Beckett I'm not in kindergarten. I did work out with Teyla for a while." His expression became more serious as he rubbed his shoulder. "Don't EVER tell her she hits like a girl."

McKay's eyes widened. "What? Why would I do that?"

"Never mind. Long story. What are you doing? Can I help?"

McKay sighed. "I wish. I've been trying to translate the ancient text we found in the training room and anaylze the power outputs and signals during your time in the chair. I was hoping that would help me figure out what happened."

"That's okay. Atlantis has already adjusted the chair. I just need Beckett to clear me so I can go back to training."

McKay looked at him like he was crazy. "Are you nuts? You can't get back in that chair. It almost fried your brain! Not that that would make much difference, considering the subject, but still, you want to keep what little sense you have. There's no way you're getting back in that chair, Major."

Sheppard just smiled. "Oh yes I am...when the time is right. I'm not arguing about this now, McKay. What can I do to help?" He reached over and slid the data pad next to McKay closer where he could see it. "What is this? Is it from the training room?" He looked at it for just a second and then began to read. "It has been decreed by the council that all members of the council and their families, as well as all military leaders and their families, shall be tested for their key abilities forthwith." He looked up at McKay, who was staring at him with his mouth slightly open. "McKay...are you all right?"

"You...you...you read Ancient. How long have you been able to read Ancient?"

"McKay, we talked about this already. I can't read..." He had glanced back down at the data pad and only then noticed that the text on the pad was indeed written in Ancient. "Oh my gosh...I read Ancient. Cool!"

McKay took the data pad and changed the screen, handing it back to Sheppard. "Read this."

Sheppard took it out of McKay's hand and looked down at the signs that somehow seemed as familiar as the letters of the alphabet. "The energy output for sector three, area one is controlled by..." McKay grabbed the data pad and looked at it.

"That's right. You can actually...read Ancient." He looked up at Sheppard, who was disturbed by the fleeting look of fear that crossed his friend's face. McKay hit his radio link. "Elizabeth, I need you in my lab."

They heard her voice answer just a second later. "Rodney, I'm busy right now. I'll drop by later."

Rodney smiled. "Elizabeth...John is with me and...he can read Ancient."

There was a brief pause. "I'll be right there." McKay nodded and smiled.

Ten minutes later, Elizabeth walked quickly through the door. "What do you mean, John can read Ancient?"

McKay handed her the data pad. "Pick any of the files of Ancient text you want and then hand it to him."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at them. She had the strange feeling they were setting her up for a joke and was reluctant to play along. On the other hand, if they were doing that, why would they let her pick the text. He couldn't possible have memorized what all of them said. She finally picked one and loaded it on the screen. "Okay, try that." She handed the pad to Sheppard.

He yawned and looked at it a second. "Trade agreements have been reached with the Mashinti people in the third cycle of the ..."

"Oh my gosh! You really can read Ancient. Why didn't you tell me?" Weir's expression shifted from disbelief to shock as she took the pad back and stared at it.

"Elizabeth, I just figured it out, that's why. I didn't realize I could read Ancient until I looked at it just now."

Elizabeth furrowed her brow in confusion. "How do you not know you can read Ancient? Do you have any other new abilities? How is this possible?"

"It's from the training session. The session itself was a success. I absorbed the information I was meant to get. There were some problems with the method of transfer, but it was still a success. And...I'm not sure what else I can do. There's not a menu...or an index...in my head of new abilities. I just...find them as I need them or try to do something related...or think about needing them. It's hard to explain. I'm sure I'll find out more as I do the simulations on the control panels in the training room."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him. "John...I haven't made my decision on that yet."

He held his hands up defensively. "I know...I know..." He looked nervously from Elizabeth to McKay and back, reminding her of a high school student caught skipping class.

"What else?" she asked. She could tell from his mannerisms that there was something he wasn't telling them and was debating whether or not he should. "Come on, John, give."

Sheppard looked down sheepishly. "Okay...I discovered something else I can do a little while ago." He looked up at them to find them staring at him.

"Out with it, Major! What else can you do? What, are you going to make us wait and unwrap it on Christmas?" McKay had passed impatient several minutes ago.

Sheppard smiled at them and they noted a brief frown of concentration. Then the lights went out and the lab was plunged into darkness.

"Oh crap, not now," cried McKay. "Don't do anything, Sheppard, we won't be able to see it. I certainly don't want to miss whatever parlor trick you've come up with." As he finished talking, the lights came back on. "What was that?" McKay asked, rolling his eyes. "I swear, the power flicks on and off in this place like those tacky blinking lights people put on their Christmas trees. If I didn't know better, I'd swear someone was forgetting to pay the light bill around here. Okay, Major, let's get this show on the road. What did you want to show us."

"That was it, Rodney," Sheppard said calmly. "The lights." Rodney looked amazed.

"That...that was you? Do it again."

"Okay...I'll even add in the hall lights." The lights in the lab and the hall outside went dark for several seconds before suddenly coming back on.

A look of understanding crossed Elizabeth's face. "It was you. I've been dealing with complaints of power flickering on and off in various parts of the city since about lunchtime. It was you, wasn't it?"

Sheppard just grinned like a kid. "I...sort of figured it out by accident. I was wishing the lights in my quarters would go out...and they did. So then I tried it in the hall. And then...I guess I kind of wandered around trying to see how well I could control it. I can do a room or several rooms or whole sector. However much or little I want. I guess I got a little carried away. Sorry!"

Weir closed her eyes and shook her head, her arms crossed against her chest. "John...I swear...sometimes I think you have the mind of a child."

McKay snorted. "Where have you been the last few months? Are you just now figuring this out?"

"Hey...let's not blow this out of proportion. No one was hurt or anything. I was just...conducting a little experiment."

Elizabeth sighed. "You can't just go around turning the lights off on people."

"I know...it won't happen again. I was just...excited. Elizabeth...I'm changing...I can feel myself changing. I'm going to be able to help us...to help Atlantis ...so much more when I've completed the training."

Elizabeth shook her head. "I still don't know about that John. And you should probably check in with Carson. We don't know if these...changes...have done anything to you or not."

"I'm tired of checking with Beckett every time I need to blink. This is supposed to happen. It's the natural progression of things. There's nothing wrong with me." He got up and paced back and forth a couple of times before turning to them, a strained smile on his face. "I can't do this right now. We'll have to talk about this later." He turned and exited the room, leaving McKay and Weir standing in stunned silence.

Without even thinking about where he was going, Sheppard headed for the southwest pier. He didn't realize it, but as he left the populated part of the city, he continued to pick up speed until he was running. He ran until he reached the balcony...his balcony. When he finally stopped, his lungs burned as he gulped in air. Sweat ran down the sides of his face and his limbs trembled with exhaustion. He could tell the lack of exercise the last few months had rendered him very much out of shape. But it felt so good to be really tired. It felt good to breathe hard and hear his heart thumping rapidly in his chest. He had missed it. He closed his eyes and sucked in the cool ocean air. They didn't understand. None of them did...and he didn't know how to explain it. Heck...he didn't really understand what was happening to him either, so how could he explain it to someone else. He had to make them accept the fact that he had to do this and that he would be better for it. He sat down and leaned his face against the slats of the railing, resting until his heart rate and breathing had slowed. He'd probably be in trouble if Beckett ever found out, but he had needed the run, both physically and mentally. He felt more clear-headed than he had in a while.

When he finally headed back, he knew he'd be walking and not running. His left leg was weak and shaky, his limp more pronounced than it had been since before he was released from the infirmary. And yet he walked all the way back. He was just stubborn enough not to take a transporter. He wasn't sure what he was trying to prove or who he was trying to prove it to. He really didn't know why he did it, but he was on the verge of regretting it as he rounded the last corner before reaching his quarters. He was practically dragging his left leg behind him.

He thought the door open when he was still several feet away and closed it behind him as he stumbled into his quarters. He barely made it to the bed in time to fall onto it. He lay there a moment, not sure he could move. He knew he needed a shower and change of clothes, but he was just too exhausted. He was in the process of trying to kick his shoes off without actually having to bend over when his radio activated and Beckett's voice came through.

"Major...this is Dr. Beckett. I need you to report to the infirmary. You missed your afternoon check."

Sheppard groaned loudly. Crap. He picked up his radio and tapped in. "Doc...I thought that was tomorrow."

"Major, I said every two days and I didn't see you yesterday. That means you come in today. I'll expect you in ten minutes."

Sheppard's mind was working overtime. If he went down there now, Beckett would lock him up and throw away the key. He was pretty sure he had been threatened with that very thing recently. He had to stall. "Doc...I just got back from my walk and I'm kind of tired. I just laid down, as a matter of fact. How about I see you in a couple of hours?"

"I have plans tonight, Major. I need you here right now. And no, you can't just wait til tomorrow. If you're not here in ten minutes, I'll come to you."

Sheppard sighed, knowing he was beat. "I'm on my way." He sat up and shoved his feet back in his shoes. Then he got up and began the long, limping trip to the infirmary.

By the time he reached the infirmary, Sheppard was holding onto the wall for support. He had barely taken two hobbling steps into the room when Beckett appeared by his side, supporting his as he guided him to a bed. Sheppard was panting heavily by the time he managed to get up on the bed. Beckett stood back a step and crossed his arms, his expression not very happy.

"Son, you weren't limpin' this bad when I released you. What have you done to yourself?"

"Nothing...I just ra...walked farther than I usually do and I ..."

"You ran? Are you daft? Do you listen to me when I talk to you? I specifically told you NOT to run. You want to tell me why you feel it necessary to ignore everythin' I tell you?"

"I wasn't ignoring you," Sheppard said quietly. "I didn't intend to run...it just...happened. Doc, you have to understand...I needed it so much. I actually felt alive again...I've been so...inactive and stagnant. I've done everything you've told me...up until the run. I guess I just..." Sheppard just shook his head and gave up trying to explain.

"Was it worth it?"

Sheppard looked back up at Beckett. "What?"

"I said, was it worth it?" Sheppard looked carefully at Beckett, but couldn't read his expression.

"Yes...it was worth it."

Beckett nodded. "All right. If it's that important to you, we'll sit down tomorrow and work out a schedule. You'll have to start slow, though. How long did you run today?"

Sheppard was almost too shocked to speak. "Uh..I...uh...about 30 minutes."

"Too long. We'll start you out at about 10 minutes and you can add from there. Come by tomorrow and we'll work it out. Major...I need you to work with me on this." He placed his hand firmly on Sheppard's shoulder. "Son...I know the last few months have been hard on you and I know you're tired of being fussed over...but you've got to let me do my job. I cannot help you if you don't work with me."

Sheppard just nodded, too tired to argue or complain. Beckett gently pushed him back until he was lying down. "Let me give you a quick check and then I want you to rest for a while before you try to get back to your quarters. I'll give you something mild for the pain so you can sleep tonight." Beckett picked up Sheppard's left hand and touched the bruise beginning to color the back of his hand. "What did you do here?"

Sheppard looked at his hand. "Teyla. I talked her into a session of stick fighting this morning."

Beckett made a clucking sound as he shook his head. "Any other bruises or pain?"

Sheppard sighed. "Shoulder." Beckett helped him sit up and pull his shirt part way off. He then poked and prodded the bruising until Sheppard pushed him away.

"It's just a bruise. I'll live."

Beckett grinned. "Okay, Major. You can put your shirt back on." Sheppard put his head and other arm back into his shirt and laid back down. Beckett stood there, still grinning at him. "Teyla does pretty good...for someone who hits like a girl."

Sheppard was flabbergasted. "She told you? She actually told you? I'm surrounded by tattletails."

"Aye. And you best be remembering that the next time you want to sneak somethin' by me."

A few minutes later, Beckett was getting ready to leave when Sheppard put his hand on the doctor's arm. "Doc...do you have a date tonight?"

"Oh...I don't know that I'd call it a date. Dr. Bedford and I are getting together for supper and maybe a walk along the water afterward."

Sheppard looked at him blankly. "Doc...we call that a date."

Beckett nervously ran his hand across his face. "Oh...well...then I guess you could say I have a...date."

Sheppard grinned. "Way to go, Doc. Don't let me keep you."

"All right then. I'll be right back." By the time he returned, Sheppard was dozing and barely stirred as he pulled his sleeve up and injected him with a mild painkiller. Groggy, he opened his eyes a slit. "Thanks, Doc."

"No problem, Major. Dr. Strauhan will be here in a few minutes. I'll instruct him that you are to rest at least an hour before you try to get back to your quarters. We don't want you fallin' on your face in the hallway."

"Kay. Knock her dead, Doc." Sheppard's eyelids slid shut again. Beckett grabbed a blanket and threw over the pilot, knowing full well he'd never make it back to his quarters that night.

"Sorry, Major," he whispered softly. "Looks like you'll be spending the night right here."

TBC