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Chapter 8

Elizabeth smiled despite her annoyance and accepted future John's outstretched hand to help her stand up. He gave her a goofy grin and immediately her heart rate sped up. It was good to know John Sheppard would still be this good looking and charming a year or so down the line.

"So? What's with the 'I'm so stupid' talk?" He asked shoving his hands in his pockets.

Elizabeth shrugged. "Nothing. Hey, how exactly can you touch… make physical contact with me?" She asked hoping he would follow her change of topic and not pick up what she almost said.

"You're asking me? That's Rodney's area and don't change the subject." He scolded wagging a finger at her.

"I just told Rodney and yourself that I died in this accident." Elizabeth confessed watching his eyes open wide.

"Let me guess, he wants to confine you in a room so you won't be around anything or anyone?"

"Pretty much."

He sighed. "Yeah, that's what I had planned but Rodney said it wouldn't help. We've already altered the past by being here so things could change and I can't keep you locked away forever."

It was strange to hear future John speak so protectively about her and, although Elizabeth knew that present John had done it several times as well, it felt different because she knew he had feelings for her.

"Well, at the moment that's exactly what they're thinking. So, when is this all going to happen?" She asked watching him sit down and gesture for her to join him.

"It's happened three weeks today." Future John told her and was surprised when she smirked.

"On a Monday? What a great way to start the week."

"Yeah. It was a particularly bad week too." John grimaced shaking his head. "It was around 11.30 am and I was sparring with Teyla in the gym-"

FLASHBACK

John rubbed his shoulder while scowling at his opponent. "That was a new one." He complained.

Teyla merely shrugged. "I have learnt some new techniques from another sparring partner."

"Oh, Ronon, huh? Knew it was an extra mean one!" He said not caring that he sounded like 10 year old. "Been burning the late night oil with him have we?"

Teyla smirked and decided to play him at his own game. "I believe I heard that your and Dr Weir's sparring session did not go as planned the other night."

John stopped circling her and coughed nervously before donning an innocent expression. "Don't know what you're talking about." He said before making a surprise swing for Teyla's leg. Using quick reflexes she spun away and whacked him in the backside. "Ow!"

"I set you up to spar with Dr Weir hoping she would learn from you. But as I understand you were caught in a compromising position." It was Teyla's turn to look innocent.

John rolled his eyes as he tried not to rub his butt to ease the stinging sensation now present there. "Knew that marine wouldn't keep quiet. We were just…practicing some…floor techniques."

"Oh, I see." She said nodding as if she completely understood before laughing at his embarrassed face. Before the ribbing could continue Rodney's panicky voice crackled through the city wide speaker.

"Medical team to lab 3, medical team to lab 3, stat!"

Frowning John grabbed his radio from his bag. Inserting it into his ear he tapped it once. "Rodney, what's going on?"

"There was an explosion in Kavanaugh's lab. I suggest you get here now."

"On my way. Was anyone in there?" He asked making his way to the door followed by Teyla.

There was a pause.

"Rodney? Was anyone actually in the lab?"

"Only one…John, it was Elizabeth."

END OF FLASHBACK

John took a shaky breath. "I ran as fast as I could to get there but…apparently there was no way anyone could get to you." He stopped trying to shake off the horrible memories of running to the lab door only to be pulled back by several people.

Elizabeth swallowed hard watching him try to carry on. "It was only you in the lab. Apparently you were waiting to talk to Kavanaugh when it happened."

As Elizabeth processed the story she couldn't believe that this would have happened so soon. Licking her dry lips she mumbled, "Teyla and I were talking about sparring last week."

"Yeah, tomorrow she would have asked me to give you some training as she was going to the mainland. Things will…things did get interesting. By the end of next week we had…moved beyond friendship." John said fidgeting with his hands.

"That soon?" Elizabeth squeaked amazed at how much her life would have changed over the next week alone. An awkward silence descended upon them and she thought over what to ask next, there were so many questions. "So what happened after the explosion?"

John's pained face turned into a bitter one. "Caldwell happened. After your funeral we contacted the SGC to establish a new commander. Caldwell believed he should be in charge but everyone knew he wouldn't get it because he was military."

Elizabeth nodded. "You can't militarize Atlantis. No country would agree to that!"

"No they wouldn't." John confirmed. "Stargate Command sent another civilian, a Dr Murray who just happened to be an old friend of Caldwell and very pro-military. After that everything was pretty much a joint decision between them. Teams were reorganized, Ronon and Teyla were restricted to 'special' missions…I was assigned to a team as the CO of it only."

Elizabeth stared in shock. "How could they do that!" She cried outraged. "And restricting Teyla and Ronon? They are the foremost experts on the Pegasus Galaxy!"

"Yup, everything went down hill from then on." He admitted watching anger now replace her shock. "It remained that way for four or five months until-"

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Elizabeth shot future John a regretful look and went to answer the door. As it slid open it revealed a remorseful looking John. Before she could say anything he marched into the room stood by the bed. He was completely oblivious to her glances between the two identical men as he began to talk.

"I'm sorry about how I reacted Elizabeth. I was just…I mean…the thought of losing you terrified me and Atlantis needs you." Present John babbled much to the amusement of the future one. "Obviously I can't force you to stay in your room forever but it scares me that I can't protect you like I think I can and-"

"John! Stop a minute." Elizabeth interrupted by walking closer to him. "I appreciate that but, well, future you is here now."

Confusion graced his face as he glanced around the room forgetting it was only Elizabeth who could see his future self. Nervously smiling he leaned forward and whispered, "Where exactly is he?"

"On the bed." She whispered back and received an "Ah!" in return. Once again looking around he said, "Is he explaining about the accident?"

"Yeah. It's going to happen in three weeks." Elizabeth explained looking from one to the other. "Take a seat and I'll tell you what he tells me."

"Um, okay." John agreed moving toward the bed and then changed direction and grabbed a chair. "I'll just sit over here."

Elizabeth bit her lip amused over his actions and sat next to future John. She quickly told present John what she had learned. Then she faced their guest. "Please, continue."

John watched Elizabeth talk to thin air and couldn't help but screw up his face. He couldn't believe she was sitting talking to a future version of himself, as well as the looks she was giving the other him. It was almost like she knew something he didn't, like she had a private joke with future him.

"Atlantis will basically become run by the military and change everything." Elizabeth told him. Then she frowned. "Really? Oh my god!"

"What?" Present John asked hating no knowing what was going on.

"Uh, apparently several of the scientist's began a mutiny." She said as if unable to believe it herself.

"Really?" John asked leaning forward in his seat. "Don't tell me it was McKay."

Elizabeth shook her head while appearing to be listening to someone else. After several seconds of silence she added, "No, along with Dr Murray a large group of scientists arrived by ship. They were from various countries, but the majority were from Russia."

"Damn." John cursed. "I never would have thought-"

"Oh god." Elizabeth whispered looking very disturbed by the next piece of information. "John, there was a civil war in Atlantis."

A/N: Okay taking a breather. Not a cliff hanger but there you go. I'm being nice for once! Hope it wasn't too confusing for ya. I also changed some details in chapter 7 to make more sense with this one. Hope you are still enjoying it!