Elizabeth rushed anxiously to the Gate. Every time John and his team returned from a mission, she had this dread, the sickening feeling in her stomach, that another one of her friends was injured. To some it might seem like an irrational fear, but her it was very rational, and had been a reality too often to be ignored.

Yet again, her fear was played out before her. Ronan was first through the Gate, cradling the lifeless body of Ria in his arms. He was closely followed by John and Rodney carrying the battered body of Carson between them. Teyla came through the Gate last, obviously protecting her colleagues.

Elizabeth immediately activated her earpiece. "Medical team to the Gate Room ASAP. Two wounded."

She ran forward and helped John and Rodney ease Carson to the ground. She looked up at John, a horrified look on her face.

"What happened?" She asked.

"We're still trying to work that one out," he said. Before he could respond further, the medical team arrived, and both Ria and Carson lifted onto gurneys. Carson moaned slightly, and Elizabeth immediately moved to his side. His eyes opened, and he looked up at her, his gaze slightly unfocused.

"Ria?" he asked.

"She's safe," Elizabeth said softly. "Some of your team are checking on her now."

Carson nodded slightly, and then groaned. Nodding had obviously not been a good idea. His eyes fluttered shut as oblivion again claimed him.

OoOoO

Elizabeth walked into the Infirmary, an anxious expression on her face. John and Rodney were standing at the side watching as Ronon and Teyla went through the final post mission checks. Further away, in a quiet corner of the infirmary, Ria lay motionless and Carson was sitting up, his left arm in a sling.

John had noticed the direction of her glance. "They are going to be okay" he said softly. "Ria is just like she was before, physically she is fine. She's just exhausted."

"And Carson?" Elizabeth asked, almost hesitantly.

"He has concussion, and has broken his left shoulder. The doctors say is going to be okay."

"Now he's stopped being sick," Rodney added. "It was gross."

Elizabeth smiled. "I'll delay a full debrief until Carson is well enough."

OoOoO

Two days later they met up in one of the conference rooms. Carson still looked very pale, and grimaced every so often when he moved. But there was a certain air of determination about him that stopped Elizabeth from asking him if he was feeling well enough for the meeting.

"So what exactly happened?" Elizabeth asked. "I know the basics, but what about the specifics." She looked round the table and none of them seemed quite ready to meet her eye.

"Rodney?" She asked, thinking he might be more cooperative than John.

"Well," the scientist started hesitantly. "I left my sunglasses behind, and Carson went back for them."

"And that's when the rock fall occurred?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes," Rodney confirmed. "But there been no indication before that of any instability in the rock face."

"And then what happened?" Elizabeth asked.

This is where the explanation could get interesting. None of the team seemed keen to answer her question. Again, she resorted to forcing an answer.

"Colonel?" She looked directly at John as she spoke. He was looking down at his hands, and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"That is a difficult one to answer," he admitted. "Something, or someone, stopped the rocks from falling, and allowed us to rescue Carson."

"Has anyone any ideas on what caused the rocks to stop falling?" Elizabeth asked. She looked round the group again. "Was it Ria?" she asked directly.

"That's the only logical explanation," Rodney said. "Well, it's not really logical, not in a scientifically proven sort of way, but based on empirical evidence, it seems the only explanation. None of us did anything. And there were no unusual energy readings to explain it. In the absence of any other explanation, I can only conclude that Ria use some sort of telekinesis to stop the rock."

"Carson," Elizabeth said turning to the doctor. "Did you find any evidence of this when you examined her before?"

"No," Carson replied, shaking his head. "But the scans I didn't of her were when she was unconscious, and her brain activity was minimal. Something like that would probably only show up when she was actually using her telekinetic ability."

"Is she an ancient?" Elizabeth asked the group.

John looked round the others, his eyes rested on Teyla and Ronon. He remembered the strange look he'd intercepted between them on the mission. Deciding that the direct approach was best, he posed a question of his own.

"Have either of you two heard of anyone with these abilities in the Pegasus Galaxy?" He asked Teyla and Ronon. The pair looked at each other, uncertainly. After a moment, Ronon nodded.

"There is a legend," Teyla admitted. "It is one that both my people and Ronon's have heard. It is of the people called the Kelta. They are said to be older even than the ancients, and to have the ability to manipulate objects and people with their minds."

"But you don't believe such people exist?" John asked.

"I do not know," Teyla admitted. "It is the kind of legend that parents used to frighten children into doing as they asked. But no one had ever seen or heard of them."

"Ronon," Elizabeth said, turning to the big man. "What about your people?"

"My people also have legends of the Kelta," he admitted. "They were said to be allies of the ancients. It was said that they helped them to fight the Wraith, but then suddenly disappeared."

"What makes you think that Ria is the Kelta?" Carson asked. "We've encountered many races in Pegasus who have varying degrees of mental abilities. Why do you associate her with a seemingly mythical race?"

"It was Colonel Shepherd's reaction," Teyla replied. John gave her a questioning look.

"One of the legends," Teyla continued, "states that one of the reasons the Kelta disappeared was that many people felt uncomfortable in their presence. It caused an irrational fear of them. It is said that many of the Kelta were attacked, and even killed, so they decided to withdraw to protect themselves."

"But if they're powerful enough to stop a rock fall," John said thoughtfully. "Then surely they could protect themselves without disappearing."

"It's said that they're not all equally powerful," Ronan interjected. "Some seemed only to have weak mental powers."

"Is there any way we can tell if Ria is a Kelta?" Elizabeth asked the two natives of the Pegasus Galaxy.

However, it was Carson answered. "Why don't we just ask her?" he suggested reasonably.

Suddenly, the air in the conference room seemed to swirl slightly. And then, before their amazed eyes, Ria appeared.

"Yes," she said. "Why don't you do as Carson suggested, why don't you just ask me?"

She stood there looking at them, an air of defiance about her, her hand resting gently on Carson's good shoulder.