Chapter 5

The Deadalus slowly touched down, and Elizabeth, Rodney, Lorne and Lessa were the first off the ship.

"Major, escort our...guest to the infirmary. Tell Carson to work with her." Lorne nodded, and gently led the woman away.

"Rodney... get back to whatever it was you were doing." Rodney nodded, and slowly walked away. Elizabeth turned, and walked back towards her room. Entering it, she was again amazed and frightened by the mess that she had made. She was always the one in control, always. Even when that bastard Kolya was pointing a gun at her, she had kept calm, tried to negotiate. And yet somehow John had managed to slip past all her defences, all her self-control, into her heart. She laughed bitterly as she slumped on her bed. She remembered that look of fear in his eyes when he asked her to dinner, as if she was really going to say no after waiting months for him to make the first move! She sighed and stood up, moving over to her desk. She bent down next to it and picked up her chair.

Twenty minutes later she had finally started on the papers still strewn around her floor when the door chimed. Fighting an urge to scream, she slowly walked over to the door, and opened it to reveal Rodney standing outside looking very nervous.

"Elizabeth. Hi. Mind if I come in?" Elizabeth was slightly confused, but stood aside and let him enter. She regretted it the second he looked around the room, seeing the papers across the floor. He turned to look at her.

"I don't suppose you'd believe me if I said I was... spring cleaning?" she asked as she sank down onto the bed

"No." He sat down next to her. "What's going on Elizabeth? This isn't like you."

"I'm not allowed to be a little untidy?"

He shook his head, frustrated.

"That's not what I meant. Back on the planet, in the city. You threatened to blow them all up. I've, I've never seen that side of you before. I heard Lorne talking to one of the marines, he said you sounded like a soldier. To be honest, you were scary in there."

Elizabeth nodded slowly and looked down at her hands, noticing for the first time how tightly they were clasped together.

"It had to be done. If I hadn't threatened them Lessa would never have offered to come back with us, and we wouldn't be able to help John." The last few words came out as a gasp. Rodney leaned back, shocked.

"I, I didn't realise how important he was to you. I mean, I knew that he had asked you to dinner, but... Look, I'm really not the best person to talk to about this, but do you love him?"

"I... don't know. I could've loved him but now..." her voice trailed away hopelessly. Rodney awkwardly put a hand around her, and started slightly as she leaned towards him.

"For what it's worth, I think John cares for you a lot. We can all see it. When he gets better, maybe you can have that date."

"Yeah. Maybe." She slowly pulled away from Rodney, and smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks Rodney."

"Sure. But I still don't think I'm the one you should talk to about this. Maybe Dr Heightmeir?"

"Rodney, I'm an emotional wreck. I'm not crazy."

SGA-SGA-SGA

Several days later, Elizabeth walked into the infirmary. She looked over to where John still lay sedated in restraints, then turned away.

"Carson, Lessa, you wanted to see me?"

"Aye, Lessa here has been very helpful, and we think we've found something." He glanced over to Lessa who stood quietly (and, Elizabeth realised guiltily, Lessa looked quite scared whenever she was in the room. Evidently Rodney had been right, she was scary in Lessa's city)

"Dr Weir, after examining Colonel Sheppard we have come to the conclusion that there is no way to remove his memories."

"I'm sorry, I thought you said you had found something?"

"Yes. Although we cannot remove those memories, we can make him realise that they are not in fact real."

"How?" Carson stepped forwards.

"Basically, before they returned John to the surface they were able to suppress his memories of being transported down to the city and attached to the device. We think we can bring these memories back to the surface. Once he can remember all of this Colonel Sheppard should realise that the memories of the destruction of Atlantis are false, and that he really is home."

Elizabeth nodded slowly.

"Okay, do it." She turned away slightly, and activated her radio. "Major Lorne? This is Weir. I want additional security posted around the infirmary, we're going to try to help Colonel Sheppard."

"Copy that Ma'am. I'll have Ronon there as well."

"Good idea."

Ten minutes later the additional security officers had taken up their posts. Ronon stood a few metres away from the bed, his blaster in his hand. Elizabeth walked over to him, concerned.

"Are you alright Ronon?" He looked at her briefly, then his eyes slid back to the bed.

"He got past me once. Not going to happen again." Elizabeth started to answer, but was interrupted as Carson and Lessa wheeled the machine over to John's bed.

"We are sure that John won't get stuck in there again, right?" Rodney asked.

"Do not worry Dr Mckay. We will not be placing Colonel Sheppard into a simulation, we are merely removing the blocks which prevent him from remembering everything."

Carson took a deep breath.

"Alright, we're ready. He's waking up." Instantly, the already tense atmosphere become electric. John's eyes opened slowly.

"Colonel? John, can you here me?" Carson asked, leaning towards him. John suddenly lunged towards him, and was jerked back by the restraints as Carson stumbled back.

"Don't. Touch. Me." John snapped. Carson recovered, and stepped forwards.

"Sorry Colonel, It's for your own good." Carson nodded to two SF's standing next to the bed. They leaned over and firmly grabbed John's shoulders as he struggled.

"What are you... get off me!" Elizabeth couldn't help but stare at John as he frantically struggled. Every time his mad eyes landed on her she felt a stab of pain in her chest. Carson and Lessa quickly and carefully attached several leads to John's forehead.

"What the...No! Get off! God, help me!" Lessa activated the device, and John fell back into his bed.

"He is stable. I am starting the process." No one spoke for a few minutes, then Lessa looked up.

"It is done. He will now remember everything."

Elizabeth nodded.

"Remove the device." She was shocked by how harsh her voice sounded as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. The machine powered down, and Lessa disconnected the leads. John started to stir again. His eyes were again wild as they opened, but this time they locked onto Lessa.

"You. What did you... a city... machine...my head. Oh God. What did you do to me?" He whispered the last few words. Lessa stepped forwards.

"We wanted to learn about your culture. We placed you in an artificial environment, but your mind took control of it and corrupted the simulation. Everything you recall of the last 6 months...did not happen." Elizabeth stepped forwards.

"Atlantis is safe, John. We're all safe." John's head snapped around, eyes boring into hers. His face froze, then melted into pure relief.

"Elizabeth?" In that moment, she forgot where she was, forgot everything apart from him. She moved forwards, brushing Lessa aside as she threw her arms around his neck. He tried to respond, but was still restrained.

The others slowly filed out of the room, leaving only Carson to watch as John quietly cried in Elizabeth's arms.

AN:

Well I don't know if anyone was really that desperate to read this, but if you were I'm sorry for the long delay. Real life (pesky thing that it is) kept getting in the way. Still, better late than never, and the next and final chapter should be done soon as well (mostly because I've got yet another plot bunny, and oh boy is this a big one!)