Okay, I am SO SO SO sorry about the extreme delay. I have being having some major RL problems that started last November, and haven't got much better. The edited version goes like this:

My friend got hit by a car
I got a Saturday job
I had two pieces of coursework, and regular college work
My best friend was having some major problems, and needed a friend
It was Xmas
I was sick with flu
I got even more college work

Now, I have all of this story typed up, so I will be uploading it over the next couple of days. And I can completely understand if you all hate me and don't review. But do, my life is pretty screwed at the mo and I need something...

Chapter 10: Glimmer of hope

"Found anything?"

"Not yet. We're still looking."

"Okay, I need you to let me know as soon as you find something."

"Sure Beckett. Ford out."

Carson sighed and turned back to the bed. Elizabeth was lying in the bed hooked up to machines measuring just about everything. She wasn't deteriorating, but she wasn't getting any better either. She just appeared to be in a coma.

Rodney was sat on a chair next to her. He looked worried, and tired. Sheppard had been gone for nearly three hours and it was beginning to get late. Beckett hoped there were scanners on the puddle jumpers that would find the other jumper.

Rodney looked across at Carson.

"No sign yet?"

"No. They'll find him."

"They've got to. If anything happens to him, she'll die too."

"Neither of them is going to die Rodney."

Carson walked across and stood next to him. He looked down on Elizabeth's pale face.

"Sheppard's not stupid, he'll have done something."

"Yet he was stupid enough to take the jumper, knowing full well the effects."

Both of them sighed.

"It's getting dark."

"Then bring up the scanners again."

"We tried that, and got nothing."

"It's a large planet."

"Lieutenant…"

"I am not leaving the Major out here. If he dies, so does Doctor Weir."

The pilot fell silent and brought up the scanners again. Ford scanned them quickly, and then stopped.

"There."

He pointed to the bottom right corner of the screen. There was a tiny little dot flashing.

"Right."

The jumper began to turn as they sped off in the darkness towards the dot. When they reached it, it had grown dark. They couldn't see into the sea below.

"We could do with some lights."

The pilot smiled as he said this to Ford, and all of a sudden, the sea below them was illuminated. Floating right beneath them was a puddle jumper.

"How are we going to do this?"

"I have no idea. What we need to do is either get into the puddle jumper or try to tow it back to Atlantis."

Once again, as soon as Ford had said it, a beam shot out of the jumper and struck the downed jumper. It seemed to wrap around the whole of the jumper and it floated up off the sea.

"How did you do that?"

"I was just thinking about what you said."

"That's close enough for me. Let's get back. I'll radio Beckett."

"That's great news Ford. I'll meet you in the jumper bay."

Carson began to hurry around the infirmary getting together nurses and equipment.

"Carson…Carson what's going on?"

"They've got the jumper and they're coming in."

"Sheppard?"

"We don't know yet. Look, I need to go."

"Okay."

Rodney stood back and let the team leave with a gurney. He walked back across to Elizabeth and sat down again.

"As soon as Sheppard's back, you better wake up or else this place is gonna be in chaos by tomorrow."

The first thing Elizabeth realised was that her head was pounding. The second thing was that she was awake.

She opened her eyes slowly, and regretted it as the light above her blinded her.

"Ow," she muttered.

"Oh crap."

That was John, she knew that for definite. He sounded like he was nearby.

"Hey Elizabeth."

"Rodney?"

She opened her eyes again and looked next to her. Rodney was sat smiling at her.

"Good to see you awake."

"How long have I been out?"

"About five, maybe six hours."

Elizabeth groaned loudly and closed her eyes again.

"You're not going back to sleep are you lass?"

"Yes."

She opened one eye and raised her eyebrow at Carson.

"But you're not going to let me, are you?"

"Unfortunately not."

"That's right."

"Stop being lazy Elizabeth."

She turned to the opposite direction and found John sat up in the bed next to her.

"Don't start John, this is your fault."

"And who was it that provoked me?"

"Well if you hadn't started turning it into a real fight!"

"Hey, what do you mean I started it?"

"Will you two stop acting like bairns!"

John and Elizabeth fell silent. Elizabeth closed her eyes while John crossed his arms and stared off into space.

"Thank you. Now, I don't care who started it, but you two have got to sort this out. Oh god, it's happened, I am working with children."

Carson raised his hands up before walking off.

"Rodney."

Rodney looked across.

"Yes Carson?"

Carson glared at Rodney until he finally got the picture. He stood up and hurried off.

For a while, the pair remained silent. Then John turned and looked at her.

"Elizabeth?"

She turned her head and opened her eyes.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry, this is just a little too much to cope with."

"I'm sorry too, we need to work together on this."

"That's right."

Both John and Elizabeth turned to look between their beds at the sound of the too familiar voice.

"Serai?"

"Yep."

John groaned loudly and fell back against the pillows. Elizabeth just didn't move.

"I guess you two aren't too happy to see me?"

"Got it one, so, what this time?"

She turned to John and smiled softly.

"I have a way to help."

"Really?"

Elizabeth sat up on the bed and began to smile slightly.

"Yes. There is one last thing we can try."

"What?"

"Address the Founders."

"The who?"

"The Founders. The ones who came up with the idea of the Guardian of Atlantis. We can address them and attempt to get the pair of you separated. However, we need a better reason than, 'We can't stand each other.' If you get my picture."

John shook his head slowly.

"I got nothing."

He watched Elizabeth closely. At first, she looked deep in concentration. Then she began to bite her lip and look more nervous.

"Elizabeth?"

"Well, I may have something."

He leaned further forward and began to grin.

"What is it?"

"Before I came to Atlantis, I was in a relationship on Earth. His name was Simon. I could say that I am already in a relationship and want to remain loyal to him."

"That could work. I'll have to go and check the room is still accessible."

Serai suddenly disappeared. John glanced across at Elizabeth. She looked sad, and his grin quickly faded.

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

She looked across at him, her eyes clouded with confusion and other thoughts.

"About Simon, about you having to leave him behind. It must have been tough."

"Not really. The toughest part was leaving me dog behind."

She tried to smile.

"Elizabeth."

"I know, pathetic."

"Do you miss him?"

"Sometimes. Then I try to convince myself that what I'm doing here is more important. Then I remember that love is more important than some job. Then I cry a little, and then I pretend it never happened and get on with it. A few hours and I'm so immersed in my work I've forgotten all about him. Oh god, that sounded terrible."

"It's okay. I won't tell."

Elizabeth smiled across at him, and John's grin returned.

Carson suddenly appeared at the end of the beds.

"Everything okay? I thought I heard a voice."

"Serai was here."

"Oh great."

"It's okay, we may have a way out of it."

"That's even better, but until then you two need to rest."

Elizabeth smiled and settled back.

"You're the doctor, doctor."

Carson nodded and walked off. John sat for a few seconds before turning to Elizabeth.

"He doesn't look like Valentino Rossi."

"Who?"

John just grinned before settling back to sleep. He always enjoyed knowing something that Elizabeth didn't.