7

A couple hours later, with the help of the life-signs detector, Elizabeth finds Angela in the East Pier gym beating the crap out of the heavy bag to some loud rock music. She ponders the familiar sound for a moment, recognizing Nirvana. Elizabeth pauses at the door and watches as the woman gets out her frustrations with amazing speed, agility and power for someone she would consider petite.

No wonder she surprised the shit out of Kolya.

"Dr. Heightmeyer would like to talk with you," Elizabeth yells over the music. Angie takes a step back from the bag, spins and kicks it hard. "She wants to make sure you're all right, Angie!"

"I'm fine. I'm better than fine. I'm fucking fantastic!"

Elizabeth steps into the room. "Look, Dr. Beckett's running more tests…" she yells again. "He will--" the music shuts off suddenly, leaving only the deafening silence behind. "--get his memory back."

Angie attacks the wrist tie of her right glove with her teeth. "Won't matter," she says, breathing hard.

"What do you mean?"

She shakes the glove free and it drops to the floor then unties the left. She smirks at Elizabeth. "That's not Johnny."

"What?"

Angie closes the distance between them. She's drenched with sweat, her body practically steaming, her eyes wild with adrenaline. "That's. Not. John."

oOo

"Like bloody hell it isn't!" Carson says. "DNA doesn't lie." Elizabeth and Carson are in his office with the door closed so that John can get some rest.

"I'm only telling you what she said, Carson. Not that I believe it."

"Well, it's the silliest damn thing I've ever heard. Not Colonel Sheppard. I've got all the tests results, it's him. Besides, just look at the lad. I'd know that cocky grin anywhere."

Elizabeth drops her eyes, trying not to smile. Carson can be very amusing when he's upset. "I know. I just wanted to let you know where her head is right now."

"I'll tell you where it is. In Denial Land." He shakes his head. "Not that I'm blaming the poor lass. After what Kolya put her through." Crossing his arms, Carson looks at her with raised brows and takes a deep breath. "Please tell me you sent her to talk with Kate."

"Yes. But that doesn't mean she's going to change her mind."

Carson nods. "It's her way of coping with something she has no control over. We all know she tends to go to extremes in that regard."

"And what about John? I mean, this is only temporary--"

"I can't explain it, Elizabeth. There are no signs of trauma, no skull fracture, not even a bruise or a cut on his body. And I've run the blood work. If he's been given some sort of drug, I can't detect it."

"And there's nothing else you can do?"

Carson shakes his head. "Well, I haven't run the brain scan yet. The bloody thing stopped working two weeks ago and Dr. Morgan finally found the problem. A burned out crystal of all things. Too many visitors to the infirmary, I suppose."

"What would the scan show you that the X-ray or MRI couldn't?"

"It's far superior to our technology. Has the human brain mapped out and can determine any number of anomalies that a regular PT or MRI miss. Aside from that, the most recent data is stored internally, if it's a match the computer will tell me."

Elizabeth nods. "All right. When can you run it?"

"I'd prefer letting the man sleep a while."

"Is that wise, Carson?"

"Elizabeth--"

"I'm not questioning your skills. But if there was something done to him, isn't time our biggest variable to helping him?"

Carson pinches the bridge of his nose. Elizabeth can see how tired he is. "Yes. You're right. I'll have to wake up a couple of people. But we'll run the scan tonight."

"Thank you. Let me know when the results are in."

"Bring Angela with you."

"Really?"

"She's going to have to face it. Better to bombard her with the truth as soon as possible and deal with the fallout afterward."

Elizabeth nods, though she hates the idea of seeing Angie hurting any more. "All right then."

oOo

John's supposed to be resting, but he can't when he's straining so hard to eavesdrop on Elizabeth and Carson's conversation. He's keeping his eyes closed so the nurse doesn't suspect, but his neck is starting to get a kink in it from stretching awkwardly toward the door. He's only caught the occasional word or phrase, but he's guessing the gist of the confab is about the woman whose heart John trampled on earlier. Albeit, unintentionally.

He can't help but feel bad about that. Her dark eyes were so full of disbelief and loss. Suddenly, like a movie playing in his head, John sees her under a table in the infirmary. She's huddling, terrified and bloody. He's coaxing her out. He helps her stand up, getting a firm grip on her upper arms. She smiles, gazing into his eyes with so much innocent hope. "Ryan?" She cups his face with bloody hands. Her eyes go wide and her mouth opens as if to scream but nothing comes out.

John hears the door and opens his eyes. He catches sight of Elizabeth quietly leaving, thinking he's asleep and trying not to wake him. "Elizabeth."

She backtracks to his side. "You're supposed to be resting."

"Yeah, well. You know me."

Her lips twitch into a wry grin. "Yes. I do." Tilting her head, she studies him, resting a hand on his shoulder. Her touch sends a wonderful zing through him, letting him know he truly is home. "How are you? Anything coming back?"

"It's all jumbled up. Feelings mostly." He takes her hand in his. "But…I remember you."

"I know that."

"And desperately wanting to do this." John tugs on her arm, pulling her down so he can capture her lips with his. She doesn't pull away; instead she kisses him back, eagerly, without hesitation. Wrapping his arms around her neck, John manages to urge her closer. She relaxes against his chest, melting into him as she sighs and avails herself for a deeper kiss.

A throat clears nearby and they separate, seeing Carson trying not to look at them. "Would you still prefer the scan tonight, Dr. Weir?"

Elizabeth pulls out of John's grasp and stands besides his bed with her back to him. "Of course--" She lets out a squeak as John runs his hand over her butt then pinches it.

"Ah huh," Carson nods, his brows nearly to his hairline.

oOo

Early the next morning, John's lacing up his boots as Elizabeth arrives in the infirmary. The young woman from the other day—what did Carson call her?—follows with her head held high, and a steely glare for John. So much for a broken heart, she looks ready to kill.

"Thank you for joining us ladies," Carson motions for them to come around to a table where he set up his laptop. "I've run all the tests twice to make absolutely sure. They've all come back conclusive. He is John Sheppard."

"That's not possible!" She turns her dark gaze on John. "He's an imposter. I'm telling you." She looks back at Carson. "Why won't you believe me? Of all people, I know John Sheppard."

Elizabeth rests a hand on the other woman's shoulder. "So do I."

She lets out a shuddering breath. "W..wha…what are you saying, Beth?" She takes a step back, away from Elizabeth's reach. Her brows cinch tight. "You don't believe me either? Are you saying I'm lying?"

"No. I just think…you're a little confused."

She laughs bitterly. "Ohhhh. Confused is it?" She nods repeated, biting her bottom lip. "Why not delusional…or postal?"

"Love, it's not your fault," Carson offers.

She runs a shaking hand through her curly mane. Her eyes dance over the three of them, landing on John. Once again he sees intense grief, betrayal even. She's not as sure of her claim as she sounds. "I see." She takes another step back, within a moment she'll be at the threshold of the door unless someone stops her. She wags a finger between Carson and Elizabeth. "You're wrong." She points at John. "That. Is not my John Sheppard." The door slides open behind her. "He could never be this cruel." Then she turns and stomps out.

Elizabeth is about to go after her, but John's ready to take this one. "Let me."

"Are you sure?"

He nods as he slides off the bed. "Maybe I'm the only one who can help her understand."

"John?"

"Yeah."

She takes a deep breath. "You don't remember—obviously—but she can be," Elizabeth winces as she says this, "unpredictably volatile."

John's brows shoot up. Something about that rings true for him. He gets a flash of her in the infirmary, tackling him to the floor. "I'll keep that in mind."

Elizabeth raises her brows. "I think it's what you like…liked most about her."

John drops his gaze from Elizabeth wounded stare. He goes out into the corridor, seeing her about two hundred feet away, leaning against the wall for support, her head down. For a split second, as he approaches, he actually thinks he's seeing Elizabeth then the thought vanishes. It looks like she's hyperventilating and reaches for her, but she spins on him, twisting his arm and slamming him face first against the wall, his arm behind his back.

"Hey!"

"I never said you could touch me," she growls.

Unpredictably volatile my ass. This chick's nuts! "Look--"

Though hostile, her husky voice is eerily calm as she talks. "I don't know what kind of mind fuck you're trying to play here. But I'm on to you mister." She leans in close to his neck, she sniff. "You may have them fooled, but not me."

"I think you need some help."

She releases him, laughing bitterly again. John rolls his shoulder, testing his arm as he turns around. She glowers, shakes her head, still laughing as she turns away.

John gets a flash of memory; this woman, happy, laughing in another room…the 'TV' room. "Wait." He reaches for her to tell her but as soon as his hand hits her shoulder, she spins, slamming a solid left hook into his jaw.

"I warned you." She hits him again, sending him reeling into the wall.

The first two caught him off-guard, but now he's ready for her. The next throw is a right upper cut to his stomach and he blocks it easily enough. Though he must give her props, she's very spry for her size and packs a hell of a punch.

She spins, kicking at him. He catches her ankle and gives her a shove. Her shoulder smacks the floor but gets up quickly enough to jump at him. They're fighting hand-to-hand basically, though John's trying to keep from attacking her. He simply wants to wear her out so they can talk.

It's when she starts fighting dirty that he gets pissed. He nearly misses the foot as it comes up to catch him in the groin. Luckily, he turns a little and it only nails his thigh. That's when he punches her in the side and she cries out, nearly collapsing in a heap.

Grabbing her by the shoulders, he spins her and slams her back against the wall, not too hard, but enough to knock the wind out of her. Gripping and holding her wrists at head level, John presses himself against her. Only to get another, rather stimulating flash. This time of this beauty very naked and up against a different wall, smiling slyly at him.

Well, she's not smiling now. "I killed Kolya, you think I can't take you out?"

"Kolya's dead?"

She head butts him and he stumbles back clutching his nose. Shit! It's not bleeding but, damn, that hurt like hell!

"See. Johnny would never forget that moment."

"Johnny?" he balks, still holding his nose. "No wonder I forgot you!" The moment he says it, he knows it's wrong. It cuts her deep and he can see agony replace the anger in her eyes. Something like that should only sting if she knows he's telling the truth about who he is. He reaches for her again. "Look, I'm sorry."

When will I learn? She grabs his arm and flips him onto his back with a thud knocking his breath right out. After his head stops ringing, he feels her boot pressed dangerously against his throat.

"Angela!" Elizabeth shouts. John can see her from the corner of his eyes standing in the infirmary door with a shocked Carson's right beside her.

"Hey guys," he chokes. He wonders how long they've been standing there. Did they see the whole scuffle and figure it'd be best to let them fight out their differences? Maybe they had a small wager on who'd win. John watches as she glances over at Elizabeth then back down at him. All the anger seems to melt away, or is pushed by the appearance of an audience. Either way, he's grateful for the reprieve.

"Just tell me where he is and I won't hurt you." Her voice cracks. "Just give him back to me."

John shoves her foot away from his throat, sits up and scoots back until he hits the wall. Catching his breath, he shakes his head, staring at her. "I am John Sheppard. I'm sorry if you don't believe me. I can't help that."

She drops on all fours in front of him, sudden tears dripping from her enormous brown eyes. Eyes like a child, full of innocence and dreams. She searches his face, stares into him as if searching his soul. "I'll beg if you want me to," she whispers. He can feel how desperate she is. See the anguish in her face. But he can also see that part of her knows the truth, she just doesn't want to believe it.

John shakes his head again, guilt eating away at him. "I am truly sorry…"

"Angie," she whispers, realizing he doesn't know her name. There's a moment of hope in her eyes, hope that he will recognize the name, all will come back to him and her nightmare will end.

John's horrified that he's doing this to her, hurting her so terribly, but he has no choice. He doesn't know this woman. That spark of hope dies as she watches him. Her eyes cloud over and when she closes them, tears slip silently down her cheeks. Biting her top lip, she nods then hangs her head.

Elizabeth and Carson come up behind her. "Angela."

"C'mon lass." They help the young woman to her feet. She winces, clutching her side. "Your ribs," Carson starts. "Let me check--"

"I'm fine." Angie shakes free of them and backs away, swiping the tears from her cheeks as if they're bugs.

"No, love, you're not." He turns to John. "Did you hit her ribs? Their still tender."

"I…didn't know…" John's searching Elizabeth for understanding, but all he sees is more pain. For Angie. Obviously the two are close. But that doesn't make any sense, especially after the way Elizabeth kissed him last night. He can still feel her in his arms. It's right. It's perfect.

God, I'm so confused!

"Bright side," Angie chuckles coldly. "At least I'm not catatonic." She gives two thumbs up and her deep voice is way to chipper to be truthful. "Goody for me." She rolls her shoulders back and holds her head high as she looks to Elizabeth. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised he remembers you."

"Angie--" Elizabeth reaches for her, trying to be comforting.

"No…" she raises both hands, backing away again and Elizabeth recoils as if scalded. Angie's eyes drift from Elizabeth to John then back. She swallows hard. "He's all yours now, Beth." She smiles weakly, her lips trembling. "Take care of him." Then she takes in a shuddering breath and runs away before Carson can get to her.

Elizabeth looks to them. Carson nods. "Go after her then," he says.

She taps her headset. "Dr. Heightmeyer, this is Weir." She rushes down the corridor.

Carson shakes his head as he reaches down to help up John. "You okay son? Think we need to check for broken bones?"

"Naw. Just my bruised ego." He grunts. "She didn't hurt anything vital." He's sore all over, though, from what she did do to him. "I get the impression she could have…if she wanted to."

"Aye, ya got that right." Carson pats his shoulder.

"Did she really kill Kolya?"

"Aye…and—forgive me for saying—he deserved it after what he did to her." Carson watches John carefully. "You truly don't remember the lass? You refused to leave her side once she got out of surgery." John shakes his head. "This is a sorry state of affairs. She's been through so much. And with Ronon missing still…"

"Ronon?"

"Big man…long hair…cheeky disposition. Except when it comes to Angela anyway."

John shakes his head again. "You never told me where Ford is."

Carson sighs. "Lt. Ford…?"