PART THREE

'Can it wait Teyla? I'm on my way to the infirmary right now,' Elizabeth was approached by Teyla as she was leaving the office.

'May I walk with you?' When she received a nod, Teyla continued to talk. 'I am not sure if there is any connection with what has been happening to Colonel Sheppard and the others, but Laranne has been talking to Dr Brown about creating a garden on Atlantis.'

'Go on.' Teyla had Elizabeth's full attention now.

'When I showed Laranne around two days ago, she asked where people went to relax. She said that Atlantis should have its own garden so that we would not have to travel so far,' Teyla told her. 'I introduced her to Dr Brown and I know they have been spending some time together. Perhaps others have heard about this and decided to introduce plants into their own working spaces.'

'It's possible,' Elizabeth frowned, trying to find some way that would logically explain the sudden appearance of so many plants in the City. 'But it doesn't explain Colonel Sheppard's actions – he took a Jumper and was missing for several hours. He deliberately misled the maintenance crews so his absence wouldn't be missed.'

'It does not seem like him,' Teyla agreed and left Elizabeth to enter the infirmary alone, steeling herself to deal with the loud protests coming from inside.

'And about time too,' John snapped as soon as Elizabeth entered. 'Beckett wouldn't let me leave until you arrived. Can I go now?' He glared at the two security personnel keeping a wary eye on him, barring his exit.

'Not until I've spoken to Dr Beckett,' Elizabeth told him coolly, not letting him forget that he had behaved inappropriately.

'For crying out loud,' John huffed as he sat back down on the bed ungracefully.

'What have you got?' Elizabeth asked as soon as she was alone with Dr Beckett.

'I've examined a number of affected people, including Colonel Sheppard, and the results all show the same thing.' Carson pointed out the brain scans on the screen. 'They've all got an identical pattern here. The only difference I can see is that the pattern is more pronounced in Colonel Sheppard, which may account for his extreme behaviour. What I don't fully understand is what caused it.'

'You mentioned some unusual brain activity when you examined Laranne,' Elizabeth was looking thoughtful. 'Teyla has just told me that Laranne is interested in creating a garden on Atlantis and has been spending time with Dr Brown.'

'I don't see how it could spread to other people though, it's not like it's a disease.' Beckett considered his next step. 'I'd like to carry out some more tests on Laranne, ask her a few more questions. It may be a good idea to isolate anyone we know who has the ancient gene.'

'Do you think we're in danger?' Elizabeth asked.

'I don't know, but if she can influence the actions of our people…'

'Agreed. What about Colonel Sheppard?'

'He should stay here for the time being,' Carson decided. 'He's not going to like it though. And I'd better have Dr Barrett here as well – I'm just as likely to be influenced as anyone and he can keep an eye on me.'

'Very well,' Elizabeth nodded her acceptance of all of this. 'Now we'd better go and deal with Colonel Sheppard.'

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'I knew we shouldn't trust her,' John snapped as soon as Elizabeth had brought him up to date. 'You'd better stop McKay from working on that ZPM immediately and I'll take a team…What?' He looked wary as he saw Beckett and Elizabeth glance at each other.

'You're going to have to remain in the infirmary,' Beckett told him the unwelcome news.

'Why? It's not like I'm the only one who's been affected.'

'Perhaps,' Elizabeth stepped in. 'But you were the only one to leave the City and take a Jumper without authorisation.'

'Well, there was that,' John accepted this reluctantly. 'I still don't see why…'

'John, I'm not asking you,' Elizabeth told him firmly. 'You are to remain here until Dr Beckett releases you. Is that understood?'

'At least get someone to let Ronon know I'm not going to be able to make our training session – I'm due there right about now,' John bit out before flinging himself back on the bed where he lay staring angrily at the ceiling.

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'Teyla,' Laranne looked up as the door opened. 'What…' Her voice trailed off as she realised Teyla was accompanied by two security officers.

'There have been a number of incidents in Atlantis since you arrived,' Teyla explained, watching Laranne closely. 'Dr Beckett would like to see you in the infirmary to carry out some more tests.'

'What sort of incidents?' Laranne said in surprise, reassuring Teyla that whatever had happened had not been intentional.

'Some of the people here have been behaving strangely, and Colonel Sheppard took a ship without authorisation to fetch plants from the mainland.'

'But…that is not possible, it should not have happened,' Laranne looked alarmed and confused.

'You know something?' Teyla asked gently.

'I am not sure, I need to consider this.'

As they made their way to the infirmary Laranne remained silent, but as they drew closer she slowed down.

'I have to…have to…' Without waiting to finish, she turned around, swiftly knocking the security staff off their feet before tackling Teyla and racing off down the corridor. As she ran, Laranne struggled to control herself, trying to understand her own actions but failing to do so as she was consumed by that overwhelming urge to run. Somehow she managed to evade the security patrols, instinct telling her where they would be and how to avoid them, but just at the point when she realised how lost she had become, she was halted by three men in her path, all aiming weapons at her.

'Stop right there,' one of them called to her. 'We're not going to hurt you unless you do something stupid.' They approached her cautiously until the one who had spoken lowered his weapon and spoke into his radio, watching her carefully the whole time. 'This is Major Lorne, we've got her.' He listened for a few moments before speaking to Laranne again. 'You're to come with us.' Nodding at the other two to follow, Major Lorne grasped Laranne's arm firmly and escorted her back the way she had come, the corridors becoming more familiar until she realised they were on their way back to the infirmary.

Once more as they approached the infirmary, Laranne felt an overwhelming surge of anger and frustration and attempted to break free from Major Lorne's grip, but, forewarned by what had happened previously, he was prepared. As Laranne made her move, Lorne grabbed her by both arms, holding her securely to prevent her from getting away again. Even so, he was hard pressed to keep her under control until help arrived in the form of Dr Beckett and Teyla, closely followed by Colonel Sheppard who wasted no time in letting his frustration fly.

'What the hell is going on here?' John exploded as he took in the situation. 'What is your problem Lorne? You're not trying to hold a wraith there, if that's the kind of shape you're in I'm going to have to schedule extra time with Ronon for you.' Ignoring the surprise on the faces of those watching him, John turned on Laranne next. 'As for you, I should get them to throw you in a holding cell. All this talk of the 'Key of Life' was just a ruse…'

'Colonel Sheppard,' Beckett shouted over the increasing volume of John's ranting. 'If you don't back down right now I'm going to have to sedate you. What's it to be?'

'Come with me, John,' Teyla stepped in just then. 'You are not yourself at present.' John tried to resist, but one look at Beckett's normally placid face persuaded him otherwise and allowed himself to be led away.

Calming his voice again, Beckett turned to Laranne who had ceased to struggle as she watched John's outburst in shock.

'I need you to come with me. Will you do that?'

Laranne hesitated, unable to disobey the request of a healer but instinct still telling her to run. Major Lorne loosened his hold on her but still retained a grip on her shoulder.

'Laranne, I don't think what you're feeling is normal for you,' Beckett continued, putting his theory into practise and hoping it would work. 'I need you to try and focus your thoughts and calm down. Close your eyes and breathe, that's it. In. And out. In. Out. Clear your mind of everything. That's right.' He fell silent and waited, watching as Laranne visibly relaxed. 'Ok, are you ready to come with me?'

Laranne opened her eyes, much calmer now and in control of herself and turned to Major Lorne. 'I apologise for giving you so much trouble.'

'No worries,' Lorne replied, still not trusting the changed mood to last. 'Do you want me to stick around?'

'I've got it now Major, I don't think we'll have any more trouble.'

'Are you sure?'

'It'll be fine, thank you,' Carson assured him before turning to Laranne. 'Now, let's get you inside and try to find out what's behind all this.'

To be continued...

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