Seconds later, Rodney and Elizabeth re-materialized on a front porch, blinking at each other before looking around.
"Where are we?" Rodney finally broke the confused silence.
"Hello?" A woman opened the door and smiled in relief when she saw Rodney and Elizabeth. "Sam called to say you were coming."
"I'm sorry?" Elizabeth blinked at the woman. The sound of someone coming up the steps of the porch caused Elizabeth to whirled around instinctively.
"Easy..." John caught Elizabeth in his arms. He rubbed her back as she clung to him. The other woman moved past them to draw Rodney into the house. "Better?"
"Where's Lucas?" Elizabeth whispered hoarsely.
"With Kate, back at the SGC." John managed a slight smile. "He's fine."
Elizabeth glanced around at their surroundings. "Where are we?"
"Jack's sister's house." John nodded toward the door. "Let's go inside." Elizabeth allowed him to lead her inside, where they followed the sound of voices back to a warm sunny kitchen.
The woman from before moved forward to take Elizabeth's hands. "Hello, I'm Andrea O'Neill Jack's sister, welcome to the outskirts of Chicago. Sit, I've made tea."
After they'd gotten settled John, his fingers laced with Elizabeth's explained what had happened. "We were taking a break for lunch, Kate and I had taken Lucas to the Officer's Mess for something to eat. Sam was on her way to join us when her friend from the news station called her, saying the station had just received a tip on where Elizabeth was staying and that a news team was being sent out there." John paused a second. "Sam called me immediately, I sent Kate and Lucas on to the conference room, and went to the Security office to meet Sam and General Landry, calling you at the house on the way. We used the extra TV's they had in there to watch the local news stations. As soon as the first station started shooting live footage I knew there would be trouble getting you out of the house. That's when Sam suggested Jack's sister's house and Landry contacted the Prometheus."
"Well, you're welcome here as long as you like." Andrea poured some more tea into Elizabeth's cup. "I've plenty of room, no one ever bothers me out here except Sam and Jack when he's actually in town."
"Thank you." John smiled warmly at her, tightening his fingers through Elizabeth's. "We'll should only be here a few days, if that won't be too much of an imposition."
"Not at all." Andrea stood. "I'm going to go check the rooms upstairs. Please feel free to help yourselves to anything you'd like."
John smiled at Andrea. "Thank you again." She smiled at him and left the room just as his cell phone rang. "Sheppard here." John answered his phone, hanging it up a moment later. "That was Landry, I'm wanted back at the SGC."
"I want to go with you and check on Lucas." Elizabeth stated.
"If that's what you want. Landry said Kate took him over to the infirmary to see Carson for his physical."
"I need some shoes." Elizabeth still slightly in shock from the last few minutes, just realized that she was barefoot.
"I noticed." Andrea swept back into the room, a pair of sandals in her hand. "I think these will be close enough. I heard you're going back to the SGC."
"Yes, I'll make sure Sam is aware of what's happening with our schedule." John replied as Elizabeth slide the sandals on. "Thank you again…"
"It's no bother, I welcome the little bit of excitement Sam and/or Jack send me now and then," Andrea smiled. "Breaks up my day somewhat and reminds me there's an entire world, or should I say universe out there... Oh, one thing, before I forget your son's not afraid of dogs is he?"
Elizabeth blinked in surprise. "I…he hasn't been around them, but he does like animals in general, well enough."
"Good, I've a litter of puppies out in the barn, and my two big ones tend to wander in and out at all hours."Andrea glanced around, "As a matter of fact, I'm surprised they haven't come to investigate all the commotion yet."
"He'll probably love them." John chuckled as Elizabeth stood. "Ready?"
"Yes. Thank you, they fit perfectly." Elizabeth smiled at Andrea. "Should we contact you before we return?"
"Don't worry about it, Sam will let me know when to expect you, I'll have dinner ready then." Andrea returned Elizabeth's smile. "I'll see you both then."
"Thank you again." John pulled out the little Asgard communicator thingy Landry had shoved into his hand right before he'd been transported to Andrea's house, moments later he and Elizabeth re-materialized at the SGC. Glancing at Elizabeth, he tightened his grip on her hand. "You alright?"
"Fine." Elizabeth took a deep breath.
"If you're sure...?" Elizabeth nodded her head. " Kay then why don't you head to the infirmary, while I go find out what Landry wants. I'll catch up with you later." John leaned forward and kissed Elizabeth before going in search of General Landry.
On her way to the infirmary Elizabeth met up with Sam. "So you met up with Andrea OK?" Sam questioned as she fell in step with Elizabeth.
"Yes, she was very kind." Elizabeth smiled, "By the way, thanks for calling John when you did, and thank your friend at the news station for the heads up."
"It was nothing, that's what friends do look out for each other." They fell silent for a moment Sam leading the way through the back hallways. "Andrea did warn you about the dogs, right?" Sam asked as the thought popped into her mind.
"Yes, she said something about puppies?" Elizabeth smiled slightly. "Lucas hasn't ever been around dogs, but he's never really had a problem with animals before."
"That's good." Sam smiled.
"Have you met Lucas yet?"
"We met briefly this morning." Sam smiled. "Lovely child, very well mannered. If I didn't know better I never would have guessed he was John's."
"Wait until you get to know him a little better. Lucas is a spitting image of his father in both looks and personality, he's just better at the whole 'I'm-completely-innocent' look than John is." Elizabeth nodded, a smile crossing her face.
"You should think about introducing Lucas to Cameron Mitchell's daughter Ashley, she's only a couple of months younger than Lucas. I think the two would get along great."
"I'm sure Lucas would like that." The two entered the infirmary. "He hasn't had an opportunity to meet many children near his age."
"Ladies." Carson greeted spotting the two enter.
"Where are Kate and Lucas?" Elizabeth inquired not seeing them any where.
"They just left about 15 minutes ago to go do a little shopping." Carson paused seeing the flash of worry in Elizabeth's eyes, "And don't worry both Teal'c and Colonel Mitchell decided they'd tag along and get some of their shopping done as well."
Knowing that Teal'c was with Lucas made Elizabeth relax slightly, she knew Teal'c wouldn't let anything happen to Lucas or Kate for that matter. She didn't know Mitchell very well she'd only met the man once back in his first year at the SGC, when Atlantis had first made contact with Earth, but that one meeting had been enough to let Elizabeth know that Mitchell was an honest trustworthy man.
"You heard what happened this morning?"
"Something about the press finding you and that Lucas' appointment needed to be switched from tomorrow to today. He's in excellent health, for all that he's been through. He could do to gain some more weight, nutritional supplements will help. I wrote it all down for him to give you when he got home. From what I understand, the psychological testing went well also."
"For all he's been through, he's an amazing kid." Elizabeth smiled, then sobered. "Although, I'm concerned about his social development. He hasn't had the opportunities to be around other children, it overwhelmed him a bit when we were on Atlantis."
"Kate could advise you better than I, or the doctor who spoke with him today might have some suggestions," Carson shrugged, "But I'd say, just continue letting him go at his own pace. Introduce new people and situations slowly, I think he's mature and confident enough to let you know what he needs."
"I thought about bringing Ashley over to meet him." Sam spoke up.
"I think that would probably be a good idea." Carson didn't know Ashley Mitchell really well, but from what he did know of her, her was sure she and Lucas would get along. "While I have you here can I ask if there's any complaints or developments on that little matter we discussed yesterday?"
"Um…" Elizabeth flushed slightly, "No, no complaints, and that little matters being dealt with."
"Good to hear. Kate said you're all staying at General O'Neill's sister's house?"
"It's actually a small farm." Sam supplied, "On the outskirts of Chicago."
Carson lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. "Call me if you need anything else."
Elizabeth smiled. "Thanks again Carson. I'll see you in a few days, Have fun visiting your family."
"Aye I'll tell them you said hello." Carson smiled as he left the room.
As they left the infirmary Elizabeth asked to barrow Sam's cell phone so she could call John.
"If you're calling to tell me the press has already figured out where Elizabeth is staying now, I will not be held accountable for my actions." John answered his phone, seeing Sam's number on the caller ID.
"Well hello to you too." Elizabeth teased.
"Elizabeth?" John straightened up, surprised to hear Elizabeth's voice. "Sorry I just saw the number and well considering what the last call was about...Is everything OK?"
"Everything is fine. Just finished talking with Carson about Lucas. Are you almost ready to go?"
"I've got a few more things to wrap up here. Kate called said she took Lucas shopping, then was going to transport back to Andrea's house."
"Yeah I know, Carson told me." Elizabeth frowned, "How much longer do you think you'll be?"
"No longer than an hour. Do you want to wait here or should I have the Prometheus give you lift back to the house now?"
Sam touched Elizabeth's arm and mouthed something, causing Elizabeth to blink, then nod before answering John. "I think Sam and I will follow Kate's example, then meet you back at the house.."
"If you're sure." John frowned. Elizabeth had been hesitant to venture out on her own since her rescue, and now she was voluntarily going shopping and with Sam none the less...that was a scary thought right there.
"She'll be fine, John." Sam, having a good idea about what was causing the scowl on Elizabeth's face, inserted smoothly stealing the phone from Elizabeth. "We'll call if there are any problems. I'll be with her the whole time."
"That's what has me worried. I only have so much money in my bank account, you know? Put my wife back on would you?" John let out a breath. "I'll see you back at the house." he said when Elizabeth was back on the phone.
"John, I'll be fine." Elizabeth reassured him, throwing a grateful smile toward Sam.
"I'll see you later."
"Likewise." Elizabeth hung up the phone handing it back to Sam.
"So, shopping?" Sam raised an eyebrow.
"I do need to get a few things for John and myself, but what about...?"
"Don't worry I got it covered," Sam linked arms with Elizabeth leading her out of the building to her car. Once at the car Sam pulled a pair of sunglasses and a hat out of the back of the car and handed them to Elizabeth. "You know, you look a lot like that diplomat who was just brought back after ten years in the hands of the Genii."
Putting the glasses on and tucking her hair up into the hat, Elizabeth laughed and affected a slight accent. "You know, I've been hearing that a lot. They say everyone has a double somewhere, little did I know when I came out to visit my friend Sam, that I'd hear about mine."
"Hiding in the open." Sam gestured toward the car. "Shall we?" Laughing, the two women got in the car and drove off.