Chapter Three: Even Black Clouds Have Silver Linings

No amount of fatigue in the world could have put Elizabeth asleep that night. Not after the kiss she had just received from John Sheppard. At that moment she felt like she could do anything, write a novel, fly, defeat the wraith singlehandedly, she could do it all from where she was sitting right then. She sat in her bed her eyes wide open and her heart racing as her mine replayed the moment over and over again. She was sure that if it hadn't been so late she may have even squealed like a school girl. She wanted to run to John's room and tell him how she felt, she wanted him to kiss her again. After a while of her thoughts running about she sighed.

"Let's think about this rationally." She said to herself. "You are hi…" Her sentence was cut off by a quiet knock on her door.

She looked at the clock that sat on her nightstand, 1am. 'Who could possibly be at my door this late at night?' she wondered as she got up, and walked to the door. When she opened it she came face to face with John.

"We just got word from the Athosians that one of the boys has gone missing. They've searched everywhere for him and can't find him." John said.

Elizabeth nodded, and switched modes, she no long had the time to worry about this kiss, she had a duty to do. She grabbed her coat off the back of her chair and walked to the jumper bay with John. When they got to the bay they met up with Ronan and Teyla.

"We're going to fly over there, and check things out. He couldn't have gotten far, but it's dark so it's going to be harder to find him." John explained.

"Let's go." Ronan said as he equipped himself.

"Do you really think you're going to be needing all of those?" Elizabeth asked as they boarded the puddle jumper.

"Yes." Ronan said simply as they sat down, and John fired the jumper up.

John flew them over to the mainland as quickly as he could. By the time they touched down many of the Athosians had come to greet them with frantic faces.

"Colonel Sheppard, Teyla, Ronan, Doctor Weir, thank you for coming here so late at night." Halling said walking up.

"No problem, now tell me what you know." John said springing into action.

"Reyden was last seen in his bed when his parents fell asleep. His mother woke up, and found that he wasn't there. We searched the woods surrounding us, but we did not go very deep because it is too dark." Halling explained.

"Alright, we're going to split up and search the woods." John said walking back into the puddle jumper. He reached into a compartment and grabbed night vision goggles out. "Use these." He said tossing a pair to each of them. He walked out of the puddle jumper and grabbed his handgun, just in case. "Don't go too deep if you can't find your way back, and if anything happens stay in radio contact." John said.

Everyone nodded and dispersed through the woods. Elizabeth walked in a straight line, paying attention to the things surrounding her so she'd be able to navigate herself out.

"Reyden please come out." She called looking around and listening for any sign of the boy.

After walking for about forty-five minutes Elizabeth stopped to rest on a rock that sat on the side of the path she was taking.

"Has anyone found anything?" She asked over her radio.

"Not yet." Teyla said. "We are turning back." She added.

Wier was about to let them know that she was doing the same when she heard a small noise not too far off. She stood up, and looked over to where the noise came from, and she saw a small figure lying on the ground. She got up, and ran over to it. When she got there she saw the small boy cradling his arm. She knelt down.

"Reyden, are you alright?" She asked.

"Doctor Weir?" Reyden asked nervously.

"Yes." Elizabeth said simply.

"I believe I've broken my arm." Reyden said through his tears.

"It's alright, I'm going to get you back, and we'll fix you up." She said. "This is Doctor Wier, I've found Reyden. He's got a broken arm, but I'm going to get him back, have Carson there by the time I get back." She said over her radio.

"Will do." John said.

"Are you able to stand up?" She asked. Reyden nodded, and stood up with some help from Elizabeth. The two began walking in the direction of the village. After a half an hour they could see the village up ahead. When the villagers noticed the two walking out of the woods they ran up to help. "Please let Doctor Beckett help him first. He's injured." Elizabeth said.

Carson ran up. "We've got to get him back to Atlantis. It's too dark to see anything here." He said.

Elizabeth nodded, and turned to his parents. "Please, go withDr. Beckettback to Atlantis. He'll get his arm fixed." She said.

They nodded and ran off to follow Carson onto one of the puddle jumpers.

Elizabeth yawned and walked off towards the other puddle jumper.

"You look like you could use some sleep." John said walking beside her.

"That's the understatement of the year. It's been a long day." She said.

"Well, we're going to head back home now. Teyla and Ronan are already on board resting." John said. Elizabeth just nodded and walked into the puddle jumper taking a seat in the back and resting her head against the wall. It didn't take long before she began to drift off, and soon Elizabeth was fast asleep.

"Elizabeth." John said shaking her awake.

"Hum?" She asked as she opened her eyes slowly. Once she realized she was lying down in the puddle jumper she sat up. "Oh geeze. I must have dozed off." She said.

"You were out." John said with a smile.

Her cheeks went a bit red. "Well, I'd better get to bed. I've got to be to work in," She looked at her watch. "Two hours." She said.

John shook his head. "You should sleep in. You look exhausted." He said as they walked out of the jumper bay and towards their quarters.

"I'll be alright." She said.

He cleared his throat and looked around to make sure they were alone. "About the, the kiss, I'm sorry. It was completely unprofessional of me, and I shouldn't…" He started to stammer when he decided the coat was clear.

"It was great." Elizabeth cut in.

He looked at her a bit shocked. "Really?" He asked.

She just smiled at him, and kissed his cheek before turning around and going into her room.