Chapter 2

Major Lorne, Teyla, and Ronon moved through the dense forest.

"This is a waste of time." Ronon remarked sourly. "We've already searched this area."

"Maybe so, but the jumper's searching further away, so we're going to search this area again!" snapped Lorne

"I agree," interrupted Telya. "We must not stop until we find Colonel Sheppard and Doctor Mckay."

"Yeah, if we don't find Sheppard Weir'll have our asses." Lorne commented.

"What about Mckay?"

"Well yeah obviously she's really worried about Dr Mckay, but let's face it, Colonel Sheppard is…." He was cut off by a small beep. He glanced around, confused, then looked down at the life-signs detector in his hands

"We've got something. One life sign, 20 metres that way." They moved quickly through the trees, breaking into a run as they saw a body slumped on the ground.

"Mckay!" The doctor lay unconscious.

"Sgt Malarky, this is Lorne. Dial Atlantis and have the Doc stand by, we've found Mckay unconscious and are bringing him in." Ronon picked Mckay up and slung him over one shoulder. Teyla followed the three men, looking confused.

"I do not understand. We had already searched the area. How did we not find him?"

"If he had been there, we would've found him. Someone put him there for us to find" said Ronon. Lorne shook his head.

"That's impossible, the UAV showed no signs of life anywhere near this forest, and it's huge."

"Well then how did he get here?"

SGA-SGA-SGA

Elizabeth stood in the control room. Major Lorne was on the screen in front of her as Doctor Mckay was carried through the gate.

"I don't understand Major, you're saying that someone put him there? Who?" On the screen, Lorne's face grimaced.

"I don't know Doc, but so far we haven't seen anyone, and the puddle jumpers haven't detected anything either. And so far, there's no sign of Colonel Sheppard."

Elizabeth nodded slowly, trying to keep a straight face. From the look she was getting from Major Lorne, it was clear she was failing.

"Alright Major, keep looking."

She walked slowly out of the control room, and back into her office. On the desk was a stack of reports which needed to be read. Somehow, she doubted she would get through any until he was home and safe.

SGA-SGA-SGA

Two days later, Elizabeth was once again standing on the balcony, staring out across the city. Rodney was still unconscious, but Carson said he was "stable" They were still searching for John, but so far there was nothing. Every time the gate activated her chest clenched, she was getting headaches from the stress. And every damn time the gate opened she had to put on her poker face and try to stop the pain from showing.

"Unscheduled off-world activation!" Elizabeth sighed, and walked into the control room.

"Receiving an IDC. It's Major Lorne"

"Lower the shield!" She couldn't avoid the note of excitement creeping into her voice. As she looked over to the gate, she saw Major Lorne, Teyla and Ronon, and other members of the search party come through. Then she saw him. John was unconscious, carried between two soldiers.

"Oh my God." She ran down the stairs to Lorne.

"Where was he?"

"He was lying in the open less than 500 metres from the gate. There's no way we could've missed him!" Lorne exclaimed, clearly frustrated.

"Alright, get him to the infirmary. We'll debrief in an hour." She turned and walked away, trying to keep herself under control. She walked out onto the balcony, and once again leaned on the railing. She stood there, until a voice quietly intruded.

"Dr Weir?" turning, she saw Teyla.

"Dr Weir, is everything alright?" Elizabeth smiled slightly, painfully aware of the tears trickling down her cheek.

"Yes I'm alright Teyla. It's just….been a long two days."

"Yes." Teyla turned as if to leave, then paused, and turned back. "May I ask you something?" Elizabeth nodded. "Did something happen between yourself and Colonel Sheppard?" Elizabeth blushed, and looked away.

"No, but we had arranged to have dinner. I was hoping that something might happen."

Teyla smiled sympathetically.

"Well, perhaps they will both wake up soon. As I recall, Rodney mentioned that he had a date as well."

"Yeah, Dr Brown has barely left the infirmary in two days. But don't tell him that when he wakes up."

Teyla smiled broadly

"I would never dream of it." As she turned to go, Elizabeth looked up.

"Teyla? Thanks."

SGA-SGA-SGA

"I still don't understand it. How could he have just appeared there?" Elizabeth looked over to Major Lorne, sitting at the conference table.

"I don't know Doc, but he did. We'd walked over that spot dozens of times, and then he was just… there." Suddenly, Carson's voice emerged from her radio.

"Elizabeth it's Carson. We're getting rapid eye movement here. I think they're starting to wake up." Her head jerked up

"I'll be right there. Major, consider this debriefing suspended." She turned, and hurried towards the infirmary. On the way, she met Teyla and Ronon.

"You've heard?"

Ronon shrugged.

"I think the whole city's heard. You people love to talk." He stopped as they entered the infirmary. Carson waved them over to where Rodney lay.

"He just woke up. Said the last thing he remembered was walking in the forest with Colonel Sheppard."

"Is he going to be alright?" Teyla asked.

"Aye, I think so. He's sleeping normally."

"Doctor Beckett! Colonel Sheppard is waking up!" A nurse called out.

Elizabeth pushed past the surprised doctor, reaching Johns bed as his eyes started to open. He looked around, confused, then his eyes focused on her face. He stared for a moment.

Then he started to scream.

Oh don't you just love a cliff-hanger? I know I do! I also love reviews by the way...